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STATE
OF NEVADA
DIVISION FOR AGING SERVICES
SERVICE
SPECIFICATIONS
EMERGENCY SERVICES
(Revised
4/03)
Any
exceptions to these Service Specifications must be requested in advance in
writing and approved by the Administrator.
SERVICE DEFINITION:
This service provides emergency services, including but not
limited to a rental or mortgage payment, utility hook-up, monthly utility bill
payments, food, medical care, prescription medication, transportation and/or
other services deemed essential to the health and well being of a senior
citizen.
SERVICE CATEGORIES AND UNIT MEASURES:
Emergency Service: The provision of funds to
pay for shelter, food, utilities, medical needs, transportation and other
services deemed essential to the health and well being of a senior citizen.
One unit equals one payment of an essential service.
(i.e. A rent payment would be one unit and a utility payment would be one
unit.)
An eligible couple receiving the essential service would
count as two unduplicated clients and one unit of service.
SPECIFICATIONS:
1.
Eligibility:
1.1
State of Nevada funding: Any senior citizen who is a State of Nevada
resident.
1.2
Federal funding: Any senior citizen who is 60 years or older.
1.3
Residency may be established by a Nevada driver’s license or identification
card, a rental or utility bill, voter’s registration or other official
documentation.
2.
Required Services:
2.1
Provide emergency services to a senior or a couple living in the same
residence one time during a fiscal year.
2.2
Limited emergency services up to $1,000 per family unit per year.
2.3
Provide information about other community and emergency resources.
3.
Optional Services:
3.1 Assist a client to develop
a financial plan in order to better manage his/her finances.
3.2
Provide emergency food without a complete assessment of need.
4.
Service Prohibitions:
4.1
Staff will not operate as the client’s legal guardian or executor.
4.2
Staff shall not execute client’s personal financial affairs or estate.
4.3
Staff shall not become involved in issues related to a criminal matter.
4.4
Staff shall not investigate elder abuse allegations but must refer suspected
abuse to the appropriate agency within 24 hours.
5.
Operating Procedures
5.1
Program shall develop written procedures for the equitable distribution of
emergency funds.
5.1.a
Criterion shall be based on urgency of need, safety and additional costs
incurred by late fees.
5.1.b
Procedures are subject to approval by the Division for Aging Services.
5.2
An assessment is required to determine need that includes verification of
income and expenses.
5.2.a
Referral and assessment may be provided by any established human service
agency or completed by the program.
5.3
Documentation may include basic personal and financial information such as
social security, pensions, tax documents, bank statements, billing statements,
past due notices and/or eviction notices.
5.3.a
A photo identification will be checked.
5.3.b
Family support system and other agency assistance will be queried.
5.3.c
When physical, mental or transportation limitations exist that prevent a
client from coming into the agency to apply, the assessment should be
conducted in the client’s residence.
5.4
An agreement form will be required that specifies the terms and conditions of
the emergency award and must be signed and dated by the client.
5.4.a
The agreement shall authorize the agency to negotiate and/or make direct
payments to creditors.
5.4.b
A cost sharing agreement with the client may be included when the client has
some funds to pay for the expense.
5.5
When food is requested, the program may wish to provide emergency food, either
from a food pantry or by direct purchase by the program, prior to
conducting/completing an assessment of need.
5.5.a
A modified assessment of need may be used for emergency food requests.
5.5.b
The client must sign and date a form that verifies the receipt of emergency
food.
5.6
A waiting list will be kept that prioritizes funding by the type and urgency
of the emergency service needed. Waiting list documentation must include, at a
minimum, the client’s name, address, and telephone number, the date the
client was placed on the waiting list and a description of what each client
needs.
Clients
with the most urgent needs are to receive priority consideration. The program
must establish a procedure for updating the continued service needs of clients
placed on the waiting list.
6.
Training
6.1
Training shall be required for all paid and volunteer personnel on elder
abuse.
6.1.a
Documentation will be maintained on the date of the training including the
type of information provided, the name of presenter, and dated signature of
participants.
6.2
Paid and volunteer personnel will be instructed on client confidentiality
requirements.
6.2.a
Signed and dated agreements to observe the confidentiality of all client
information will be maintained.
7.
Quality Improvement/Performance Indicators:
7.1
The program shall implement a survey of performance indicators to determine
the impact that the service has on the health and well being of clients and to
use in assessing and improving program performance.
