PURPOSE:
To promote quality of service, the Aging and Disability
Services Division (ADSD) has established service
specifications that contain general guidelines. ADSD will use
these service specifications as the basis for assessing program performance. The
service specifications that each grantee must follow consist of GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS, according to the funding source, and SERVICE-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
established for each funded service.
SERVICE DEFINITION:
This service provides emergency services, including but not
limited to: a rent or mortgage payment, utility hook-up, monthly utility bill
payment, food, medical care, prescription medication, transportation and/or
other services deemed essential to the health and well-being of an older
individual.
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 an older individual.
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 Any individual who is 60 years of age or older and a State of
Nevada resident.
1.1.a A current Nevada driver’s license or identification card, rent or
utility bill, voter’s registration or other official documentation may be
provided as proof of residency.
2. Required Services:
2.1 Provide emergency services to an older individual, or an older
couple living in the same residence, one time during a fiscal year.
2.2 Limited emergency services up to $1,000 per household, per fiscal
year.
2.3 Provide information about other community and emergency
resources.
3. Optional Services:
3.1 Assist a client in developing 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 to ensure equitable
distribution of emergency funds.
5.1.a Criteria 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 Aging and Disability
Services Division.
5.2 An assessment, which includes verification of income and
expenses, is required to determine the needs of the client.
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 benefits, pensions, tax documents, bank
statements, billing statements, past due notices and/or eviction notices.
5.3.a A photo identification must be checked prior to the delivery of
services.
5.3.b The client’s family support system and other agency assistance must
be queried prior to the delivery of services.
5.3.c When physical, mental or transportation limitations exist that
prevent a client from coming into the agency to apply, the assessment may be
conducted at 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 with and/or
make direct payments to creditors.
5.4.b A cost sharing agreement with the client may be included when the
client has funds to pay for the some of the expenses.
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 a complete 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.
6. Training:
6.1 Paid and volunteer personnel will be instructed on client
confidentiality requirements.
6.1.a Signed and dated agreements to observe the confidentiality of all
client information will be maintained.