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STATE OF NEVADA
DIVISION FOR AGING SERVICES

SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS

FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING GRANTS (ILG)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
(Revised 11/05)

Any exception to these Service Specifications must be requested in advance in writing and approved by the Deputy Administrator.  

PURPOSE:   

The Division for Aging Services (DAS) has been authorized under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 439.630 to grant Nevada Tobacco Settlement funds to governmental, private and non-profit agencies for the purpose of providing services to Nevada Seniors to assist senior citizens with independent living, including programs that provide:

1)                 respite care or relief to family caregivers

2)                 transportation to new or existing services

3)                 care in the home that allows senior citizens to remain at home and avoid institutional care. 

To promote quality of service, DAS has established service specifications that contain the administrative and operating procedures for funded services. DAS will use the service specifications as the basis for assessing program performance. The service specifications that each grantee must follow consist of GENERAL REQUIREMENTS and the SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS established for each funded service. 

If the service has not been previously funded by the Division and service specifications do not exist, specific service specifications may be established during the initial grant period. 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: 

A.        Pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 200.5091 - 200.5099 all grantees must report suspicion of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or isolation. 

B.        Pursuant to NRS 202.2491(1)(c)(1) all grantees must comply with state law regarding smoking in public places. 

C.        Grantees must comply with fiscal management policies issued by the Division for Aging Services in the most current  “Program Instructions - Nevada (PINs).” 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

1.         Eligibility: 

1.1       Persons served under Independent Living Grant funds must be senior citizens at least 60 years or older. 

1.2       Grantees are required to target services to Nevada's seniors to assist them with "independent living."  Frail and homebound seniors should be targeted. 

2.         Documentation Requirements: 

2.1             Grantees are required to meet the program reporting requirements for Independent Living Grant funded programs as established by the Division for Aging Services. Independent Living Grant reporting is in addition to reporting requirements for other funding sources. 

2.1.a       An Independent Living Grant quarterly report will be submitted to report program activity derived from ILG funds only. The reports are due by the 15^th of the month following the end of each quarter. 

2.1.b       Grantees supported with Title III grant funds will continue to report on NAPIS and include Independent Living Grant funded activities that fit NAPIS program reporting criteria. 

2.1.c       Current State Volunteer Programs will continue to report on the Volunteer Program reporting criteria. 

2.1.d       Grantees supported with State Transportation Grant funds will continue to report on the State Transportation report form. 

2.2      Grantees are required to submit a written copy of the following Operating Procedures to DAS at the time of each program assessment, whenever a revision is made to a policy/procedure, or at the request of DAS: 

2.2.a       Client donations

2.2.b       Advocacy, Information and referral assistance

2.2.c       Grievance procedure

2.2.d       Suspension and termination of client from services

2.2.e       Emergency procedures

2.2.f         Vehicle accident procedures, if applicable

3.         Operating Procedures: 

3.1       Client Donation Procedures: 

3.1.a   The opportunity to make confidential voluntary, non-coercive contributions is required. Means testing and denial of service based on non-contribution are prohibited. 

3.1.b   Establish procedures to protect the privacy of individuals regarding their contributions. 

3.1.c    A suggested donation amount shall be established for services provided by the grantee.  A participant may be required to participate in paying for services based on a specific program's fee schedule. Fee schedules must be submitted to the Division for Aging Services for review and approval prior to implementation. PIN 30

3.2       Information and Referral Procedures: 

3.2.a   Grantees are required to establish, develop and utilize a comprehensive list of resources available to seniors within their service area. 

3.2.b   Any client who needs or requests assistance in completing a referral shall be provided an appropriate level of assistance. 

3.3       Client Grievance Procedure: 

3.3.a   A formal grievance procedure for client concerns must be established for occasions when the client is not satisfied with efforts made by the program to resolve their concerns. The formal procedure must clearly define the steps that the program will take to resolve formal complaints. The procedures must:  

(1)       specify that complaints are to be submitted in writing

(2)       provide for an impartial review

            (3)       ensure that complaints are acted on in an expeditious manner

(4)       stipulate that assistance will be available to clients who require help in preparing a written complaint. 

3.3.b   Grantees that contract with other agencies for the provision of services must establish a procedure to ensure that client complaints are directed to the grantee agency. A complaint tracking system must be maintained to include: 

(1)       date of complaint

(2)       client name, address, and telephone number

(3)       client’s perception of the problem

(4)       date of follow-up with the contractor, and

(5)       action taken to resolve the complaint.

3.4       Procedure for Suspension or Termination of Clients from Service: 

3.4.a   Grantees are required to establish a written procedure that defines the steps that will be taken to suspend or terminate clients from service. A suspension or termination is to be undertaken only after all other reasonable measures for resolving the concern have been exhausted. The procedure must contain the following provisions: 

(1)       description of behaviors that are considered grounds for suspension or termination, if circumstances allow

(2)       documentation of the incident

(3)       procedure for warning the client prior to suspension

(4)       written notification of suspension/ termination provided the client

(5)       client appeal process. Whenever feasible, clients are to be placed on temporary suspension. 

3.5       Emergency Procedures: 

3.5.a   Grantees are required to develop written procedures for staff to follow in addressing client medical emergencies. The procedures must address the basic steps staff members need to take in responding to an actual or potential emergency. Programs providing services in the homes of clients should also develop procedures when clients do not answer the door or cannot be located during a scheduled visit. 

3.5.b   When services are provided in a facility, grantees are required to develop written emergency procedures for fire, flood, earthquake, bomb threat, physical assault/threat and other natural and technological disasters that might require emergency response and/or evacuation of the facility. 

4.         Training: 

4.1       Elder Abuse Awareness: 

4.1.a   Persons providing direct service to seniors shall be provided with an annual in-service training on recognizing the signs of elder abuse and the Nevada Elder Abuse Law (NRS 200.5092 - 200.5099). Documentation must include:  date of training; name, title and agency of presenter; and signatures of staff in attendance.

5.         Quality Improvement: 

5.1       Sub-Contractor performance Review: 

5.1.a   Grantees that contract with other agencies for the delivery of service must develop standardized criteria to evaluate the performance of the contractor. Performance evaluations must be conducted and documented annually. 

6.         Special Compliance Requirements: 

6.1       Confidentiality: 

6.1.a   Grantees must obtain a client’s informed consent prior to disclosing information about the client to other agencies. In compliance with Division for Aging Program Instructions – Nevada - PIN 2: the Division’s ability to evaluate the grant will not be denied or hindered. This includes access to any document or record that is pertinent to administering the program. This also includes the right to interview participants/clients, grantee personnel and program staff, in accordance with confidentiality regulations.  

Providers of legal assistance are not required to reveal any information to DAS that is protected by attorney client privilege. 

6.1.b   Grantees must establish procedures to limit access to client records to appropriate staff and ensure that client records are stored in a secure manner. 

6.2       Service Prohibitions: 

6.2.1   Staff shall not accept tips, gifts, loans, or fees from clients. 

6.2.2   Staff shall not smoke in client homes or while transporting clients. 

6.2.3   Staff shall not purchase alcohol or illegal substances for clients. 

6.2.4   Staff shall not borrow the client’s car or other personal belongings. 

6.2.5   Staff shall not bring family members, other people or pets to the client’s home without client’s permission and supervisory approval. 

6.2.6   Staff shall not eat the client’s food.

Questions or Comments for the Division for Aging?
Please call or e-mail a Regional Office.
We look forward to speaking with you!

Last Updated: 09/18/08

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