Pennsylvania Code › Title 6 - AGING › Part I - Department of Aging › Chapter 15 - PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS › PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION › Section 15.12 - Administrative functions and responsibilities of area agencies on aging

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
General
				  responsibilities.
An area agency on aging shall administer the
				  delivery of protective services under this chapter in its planning and service
				  area. The functions and responsibilities of the area agency on aging in
				  administering protective services include the following:
(1) The development and submission of a
				  protective services plan under subsection (b).
(2) The oversight of the delivery of
				  protective services for older adults, either directly or purchased under
				  contract with another agency, in compliance with the area agency's approved
				  protective services plan, this chapter and other applicable State and Federal
				  regulations or statutes. The plan shall assure that the agency will provide for
				  the receipt of reports of need for protective services, the conduct of
				  investigations of reports, the assessment of need and the development of
				  service plans throughout the period covered by the plan. The plan shall also
				  describe sources for specific services that may be required by older adults who
				  have been assessed as needing them, and policies pertaining to arranging for
				  specific services if and when needs for specific services exceed
				  supply.
(3) The coordination of the
				  protective services related activities of local agencies and organizations
				  having substantial contact with potential victims or perpetrators of abuse,
				  neglect, exploitation and abandonment. These agencies and organizations include
				  the following:
(i) Local domestic violence
				  agencies.
(ii) County assistance
				  offices.
(iii) Local mental
				  health/mental retardation programs.
(iv) County offices of children and
				  youth.
(v) Law enforcement
				  agencies.
(vi) Legal services
				  agencies.
(vii) Emergency medical
				  service agencies, hospital emergency rooms and social services staff.
(viii) Home health agencies.
(ix) Drug and alcohol prevention and
				  treatment organizations.
(x) Clergy
				  associations and councils of churches.
(4) The local extension of the Department's
				  ongoing campaign of public information and education about the need for, and
				  availability of, protective services for older adults.
(5) The collection and submission to the
				  Department of data on protective services activities. The data shall be
				  recorded and reports submitted as required by the Department. At a minimum, the
				  following information shall be included:
(i)
				  The number of substantiated and unsubstantiated reports.
(ii) The number of reports made in various
				  categories of need for protective services, such as physical abuse, financial
				  exploitation, neglect, abandonment and the like.
(iii) The demographic information on persons
				  reported to be in need of protective services and on alleged perpetrators of
				  abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment.
(iv) The origins of reports.
(v) The remedies and referrals.