The Department may enter into agreements and contracts, adopt regulations, and adopt policies and procedures to implement and coordinate services to older adults under this title.
The Department may collaborate with county agencies, area agencies on aging, nonprofit organizations, or other persons that establish local interagency committees.
The Department shall establish, coordinate, and supervise a program to provide single points of entry within each planning and service area.
Each area agency on aging shall operate a single point of entry program to assess the needs of older adults and their caregivers and provide appropriate services.
The following services shall be provided through a single point of entry:
providing current information on available programs, services, or benefits;
determining the service needs of each older adult who requests service;
processing requests for service from older adults;
through widely publicized local outreach facilities and communications systems, providing access to available public and private programs and services for older adults, including:
transportation services;
health and nutrition services;
financial assistance;
social services;
educational services;
services available through volunteer organizations or private agencies;
appropriate housing arrangements;
health insurance counseling;
employment and volunteer opportunities;
respite care services; and
other programs, information, counseling, or benefits for older adults;
monitoring the outcome of requests for service or information; and
arranging with other agencies for individual assessment to determine the service needs of older adults in need of long–term services and supports.
To the extent possible, each single point of entry shall be:
located in a senior citizen center; and
available for access at least 5 days a week.
Area agencies on aging shall make agreements with nonprofit organizations or other persons as needed and provide staff on a regular basis at the single points of entry to:
provide information and services to older adults; and
administer agency programs.
Each planning and service area shall have a telephone information and referral service that is available on a 24–hour basis.
The Department shall develop, coordinate, and administer with area agencies on aging or other persons a system to provide services to older adults in need of long–term services and supports to allow older adults to age in a location selected by the older adult with appropriate services, supports, and housing opportunities.
The services may include:
integrated screening and evaluation;
development of an individual plan of care;
in–home services such as home repair or other home modifications, shopping assistance, homemaking, chore services, personal care, meal delivery or preparation, transportation services, health services, and other supportive services;
community–based services such as day care, food and other meal coordination, and other efforts to assist older adults or adult caregivers;
a subsidy for the costs of an assisted living program as defined in § 19–1801 of the Health – General Article;
any other service that may mitigate the risk of impact to, or improve resilience of, housing or services of older adults by natural, technological, or human–made threats and hazards, including climate change; and
any other service authorized by the Department.
To be eligible to participate in the system, a county, area agency on aging, nonprofit organization, or any other person shall comply with Department standards.