Adult Protective Services

Adult protective services safeguard vulnerable adults through investigations of reports alleging abuse, neglect, self-neglect or exploitation, and arrangements for the provision of emergency or supportive services necessary to reduce or eliminate risk of harm.

Skilled Nursing Home Service

The Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman visits residents in long term care facilities and advocates for their Resident Rights, the quality of care as well as quality of life. For more information about the Ombudsman’s role, the services provided, and a list of your rights, visit the Ombudsman Page. Contact information is also found on the Ombudsman Page.

In Times of Disaster or Emergency

The Area Agency on Aging has a specific plan to handle emergencies related to maintaining the functions of the office, providing services within the community, or coordinating with emergency staff in the individual counties. The plan includes a list of contacts and a description of each staff member’s responsibility during a disaster.

IDAHO COMMISSION ON AGING DISASTER PLAN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SENIORS IN THE EVENT OF NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER OR OTHER WIDESPREAD EMERGENCY

The Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA) is actively involved in the emergency management planning and operations of the State of Idaho as a supporting agency. The Administrator of ICOA has appointed a staff member as the Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Coordinator, and two other as the alternates. These individuals work with the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS), state agencies and the regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to plan for and respond to the needs of seniors in an emergency event. The State of Idaho`s Executive Order No. 2010-09 and the Idaho Emergency Operations Plan assign specific emergency support activities to the ICOA and the AAAs in assisting and in supporting local and state government prior to and during emergencies and disasters.

As the primary agency, BHS notifies the appropriate persons/agencies and activates the Idaho Emergency Operations Plan (IDEOP). The ICOA supports with following functions:

• Assessing the needs of the elderly and homebound elderly including older individuals with access and functional needs.
• Coordinating senior services through the AAAs during natural or man-made disasters.
  Providing information/assistance to their clientele and the public.
• Coordinating senior citizen centers for shelter, mass feeding, and rest centers.
  Identifying homebound/isolated elderly clients.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Aging Network composed of State and AAAs, Native American Tribal Organizations, service providers and educational institutions have the legislative mandate to advocate on behalf of older persons and to work in cooperation with other federal and state programs to provide needed services. The authority and responsibility of ACL and the Aging Network to provide disaster services is found within the charge from the Older Americans Act to serve older persons in greatest need and from Title III, Sec. 310, and Disaster Relief Reimbursements, which provides for limited resources to fund disaster response services.

Older adults and people with disabilities are frequently overlooked during the disaster planning, response, and recovery process. Emergency management planning integrates older adults and people with disabilities of all ages—and their caregivers—into community emergency planning, response, and recovery. ACL provides the following link https://www.acl.gov/node/315 with best practices to support the needs of older adults and people of all ages with disabilities during an emergency.

Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the American National Red Cross and The Administration on Aging further demonstrates the commitment and responsibility of the Aging Network to prepare for and respond in disaster relief situations. This SOU emphasizes the Aging Network’s ability to perform two basic types of disaster assistance service, which are:

• Advocacy and Outreach – assuring that older persons have access to and the assistance necessary to obtain needed services, including locating older persons; getting medical attention if needed, including medications and assistive devices; assisting in the completion and filing of applications for financial and other assistance; and follow-up monitoring to assure needs are met.
• Gap-filling – to assure that needed services and follow-up are provided beyond the timeframes and restrictions of other relief efforts if necessary. OAA funds can be used for chore, homemaker, transportation, nutrition, legal, and other temporary or one-time only expenses which help older persons retain maximum independent living.
  Methods of Cooperation agreed upon and encouraged in the Statement of Understanding include; disaster planning and preparedness, sharing statistical and other data on elderly populations, establishment of disaster advocacy and outreach programs, and making congregate and home delivered meals programs available to the general public during a disaster.

To help meet these obligations, to insure business continuity and to meet the needs of older citizens in an emergency, the Idaho Commission on Aging is required to develop an emergency disaster plan. To view the complete plan, including the BASIC COMPONENTS of the plan, the LOCAL EMERGENCY COORDINATORS, and a LIST OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, please download the AAA V Area Plan