Investor Presentaiton
ATTACHMENT B-OAA INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
(i) public education to identify and prevent elder abuse;
(ii) receipt of reports of elder abuse;
(iii) active participation of older individuals participating in programs under this Act through out-
reach, conferences, and referral of such individuals to other social service agencies or sources of
assistance if appropriate and if the individuals to be referred consent; and
(iv) referral of complaints to law enforcement or public protective service agencies if appropriate;
(B) the State will not permit involuntary or coerced participation in the program of services described in
subparagraph (A) by alleged victims, abusers, or their households; and
(C) all information gathered in the course of receiving reports and making referrals shall remain confi-
dential except --
(i) if all parties to such complaint consent in writing to the release of such information;
(ii) if the release of such information is to a law enforcement agency, public protective service
agency, licensing or certification agency, ombudsman program, or protection or advocacy system;
or
(iii) upon court order.
In addition to §§ 51.5-134 through 143 of the Code of Virginia, and 22VAC30-60 of the Virginia Adminis-
trative Code, DARS also publishes an Aging Services Standards Manual for AAAs and a LTC Ombudsman
Policies and Procedures Manual for local ombudsman entities to use for the delivery of Title VII services
to older adults. Staff from DARS and the Office of the State LTC Ombudsman monitor the AAAs for com-
pliance with all applicable laws, regulations and policies, and as needed, provide training and technical
assistance to support improved compliance efforts. Taken together, these support the assurance of com-
pliance Section (705) (a)(1) of the OAA.
With regard to Section (705) (a)(2) of the OAA, DARS is committed to receiving the opinions and feed-
back of older adults, caregivers, AAAs, providers, advocates, external partners, and other stakeholders
as evidenced by the plan development process. The process included a series of public hearings across
Virginia that specifically included OAA services consumers, a comprehensive stakeholder meeting, ongo-
ing engagement with the DARS advisory boards, and a final opportunity for written public comment on
the draft plan. In the development of Area Plans, AAAs also conduct needs assessments, host public
hearings or town hall meetings, and review satisfaction surveys and feedback received throughout the
previous year. DARS staff reviews the Area Plans for these elements.
DARS, the State LTC Ombudsman, local ombudsman entities, AAAS, VICAP counselors, the Senior Medi-
care Patrol program volunteers, and Virginia's NWD partners are committed to providing information and
assistance to individuals to access benefits and exercise their rights. Through person-centered planning,
CRIA, OC, and other services, the aging network explores options and supports individual efforts to ac-
cess benefits and exercise their rights. These actions support Virginia's assurance that the Common-
wealth is in compliance with Section (705) (a)(3) of the Older Americans Act.
In accordance with Section (705) (a)(4) of the OAA, state general revenue funds as well as federal OAA
funds are allocated to AAAs designated as local host entities for the LTC Ombudsman Program (funding
distributed in accordance with terms of the Interstate Funding Formula and indexed to the locality's pro-
portion of the state's LTC beds). Title VII funds are not used to supplant funds under this subtitle.
In Virginia, the LTC Ombudsman Program's services are provided to individuals who reside in LTC facili-
ties, and with state general funding, to those receiving community-based LTSS. While practices are in
complete alignment with the OAA and federal regulations for LTC Ombudsman Programs, efforts are un-
derway to bring the Virginia's regulations into alignment with the federal ones. Although an often long
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