For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Administrative action" means an action or decision made by an owner, employee, or agent of a long-term care facility, or by a governmental agency, which affects the service provided to residents covered in this chapter.
2. "Commission" means the commission of elder affairs.
3. "Comprehensive and coordinated system" means a system for providing all necessary supportive services, including nutrition services, in a manner designed to:
a. Facilitate accessibility to, and utilization of, all supportive services and nutrition services provided within the geographic area served by the system by any public or private agency or organization.
b. Develop and make the most efficient use of supportive services and nutrition services in meeting the needs of elders.
c. Use available resources efficiently and with a minimum of duplication.
4. "Department" means the department of elder affairs.
5. "Director" means the director of the department of elder affairs.
6. "Elder" means an individual who is sixty years of age or older. "Elderly" means individuals sixty years of age or older.
7. "Equivalent support" means in-kind contributions of services, goods, volunteer support time, administrative support, or other support reasonably determined by the commission as equivalent to a dollar amount.
8. "Federal Act" means the Older Americans Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., as amended to and including February 1, 1986.
9. "Focal point" means a facility established to encourage the maximum collocation and coordination of services for elders.
10. "Greatest economic need" means the need resulting from an income level at or below the poverty threshold established by the bureau of the census.
11. "Greatest social need" means the need caused by noneconomic factors which include physical and mental disabilities, language barriers, and cultural or social isolation including that caused by racial or ethnic status which restricts an individual's ability to perform normal daily tasks or which threatens the elder's capacity to live independently.
12. "Information and referral source" means a location where a department of elder affairs or any public or private agency or organization:
a. Maintains current information with respect to the opportunities and services available to elders, and develops current lists of elders in need of services and opportunities.
b. Employs, where feasible, a specially trained staff to assess the needs and capacities of elders, and to inform elders of the opportunities and services.
13. "Legal assistance" means legal advice and representation by an attorney including, but not limited to, counseling or other appropriate assistance by a paralegal or law student under the supervision of an attorney, and includes counseling or representation by a person who does not possess a juris doctorate, where permitted by law, of elders with economic or social needs.
14. "Long-term care facility" means a long-term care unit of a hospital, a licensed hospice program, a foster group home, a group living arrangement, or a facility licensed under section 135C.1 whether the facility is public or private.
15. "Multipurpose senior center" means a community facility for the organization and provision of a broad spectrum of services, which shall include, but not be limited to, health, social, nutritional, and educational services and the provision of facilities for recreational activities for elders.
16. "Resident's advocate program" means the state long- term care resident's advocate program operated by the commission of elder affairs and administered by the long-term care resident's advocate.
86 Acts, ch 1245, § 1004
C87, § 249D.4
C93, § 231.4
Referred to in § 135C.37
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