CHAPTER 7AREA AGENCY ON AGING SERVICE DELIVERY[Prior to 5/20/87, see Aging, Commission on the [20] Ch 8][Prior to 1/27/10, see Elder Affairs Department[321] Ch 7]177.1(231) Definitions. Words and phrases as used in this chapter are as defined in 17—Chapter 1 unless the context indicates otherwise. The following definitions also apply to this chapter. The appearance of an acronym after a defined term indicates that the definition was taken from that source.
"Legal assistance" means legal advice and representation provided by an attorney to older individuals with economic or social needs and, to the extent feasible, includes counseling or other appropriate assistance by a paralegal or law student under the direct supervision of an attorney and counseling or representation by a nonlawyer where permitted by law.
"Multipurpose senior center" (OAA) means a community facility for the organization and provision of a broad spectrum of services, which shall include, but not be limited to, provision of health (including mental health), social, nutritional, and educational services and the provision of facilities for recreational activities for older individuals.
"Nutrition Services Incentive Program" "NSIP" means the Nutrition Services Incentive Program established under the OAA.
"Site" means a facility designated for provision of congregate meals or other nutrition-related services.
"Therapeutic menu" means a soft, low-fat, low-sodium, or controlled calorie menu.
Related ARC(s): 8489B177.2(231) Service delivery. If the requirements of 17—Chapter 6 are met, each AAA may contract for service delivery or provide services directly. All applicable terms, procedures and specifications of the department shall be followed contingent upon the source of funding under the Act. At a minimum, the contract for nutrition services shall include nutrient requirements for meals; food safety, including time limits for transporting food; use of project income; length of contract; cost per unit; participant evaluation surveys as available; and performance requirements to ensure accountability and monitoring.Related ARC(s): 8489B177.3(231) Outreach for greatest need. Each AAA shall conduct outreach efforts to identify the older individuals with greatest economic or social needs and to inform the older individuals of the availability of services. The outreach efforts shall place special emphasis on rural, low-income, minority and American Indian older individuals.Related ARC(s): 8489B177.4(231) Delivery of service. 7.4(1) Facility and focal points. Each AAA shall designate a focal point for a comprehensive and coordinated system of services in each served community, giving special consideration to the designation of multipurpose senior centers that currently or potentially can accommodate the collocation of services, where feasible. 7.4(2) Focal points. The area profile submitted by the AAA as required in 17—Chapter 6 shall specify the communities and facilities which are designated as focal points. 7.4(3) In the designation of focal points, the AAA shall consider: a. Communities with the greatest incidence of older individuals with the characteristics as given in 17—7.3(231) and the efforts of voluntary organizations in the community; b. The needs of participants and the delivery pattern of services funded under the Act and from other sources; c. The location of current multipurpose senior centers and congregate nutrition sites; d. The geographic boundaries of communities and natural neighborhoods; and e. The location of facilities suitable for designation. 7.4(4) Developing collocation of services at the focal point. The AAA shall: a. Encourage service providers to coordinate and collocate their services; b. Coordinate with public and private agencies, institutions and elected officials in the community to achieve maximum collocation, coordination, and access to other services or opportunities for the elderly; c. Ensure that information and referral and emergency service programs are provided; d. Ensure that services funded under the Act will be based at, linked to, or coordinated with focal points; and e. Establish guidelines for operating schedules which are convenient for older individuals in the community.Related ARC(s): 8489B177.5(231) Funding for services and program facilities. 7.5(1) The AAA may distribute funds received from the department to a public or private nonprofit agency for construction, acquisition, remodeling, leasing or renovation of a facility, including a mobile facility, to be a focal point for providing programs or services. a. In distributing these funds, the AAA shall obtain the approval of the commission before contracting for the construction of a facility. b. The commission may approve the construction of a facility after considering the views of the AAA and reviewing material from the AAA that documents that there are no suitable facilities available to be a focal point for service delivery. 7.5(2) The AAA may make an award for purchasing or constructing a facility: a. If there are no suitable facilities for leasing; b. If the AAA’s budget shows that sufficient funds are or will be available; c. To meet the nonfederal share of the cost of purchase or construction of the facility; d. For effective use of the facility for the purpose for which it is being acquired or constructed; e. To pay the cost of professional and technical personnel required for the operation of facilities used to provide services to older individuals under the cost-share terms and conditions set by the department. 7.5(3) Shared facilities. In a facility that is shared with other age groups, funds received from the Act may support only: a. That part of the facility used by older persons; or b. A proportionate share of the costs based on the extent of use of the facility for services or programs for the older individuals.Related ARC(s): 8489B177.6(231) Compliance with health, safety and construction requirements. A recipient of any award from the department for a facility housing a program or service shall comply with all applicable state and local health, fire, safety, accessibility, building, zoning, and sanitation laws, ordinances and codes including:- Rules of the state fire marshal adopted pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 17A, which apply to the occupancy type of the facility;
- Applicable requirements for accessibility of the facility to persons with disabilities, including but not limited to provisions of the state of Iowa building code, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, federal Fair Housing Act and related regulations; and
- Provisions of any local building code in force in the jurisdiction in which the facility is located and any provisions of the state of Iowa building code which apply statewide. If the facility is located in a jurisdiction in which no local building code is in force, the facility shall comply with the state of Iowa building code in its entirety.
- Select and designate as a site any location where meals are served in a group setting with federal AOA nutrition funds or contributions from an AOA federal nutrition program, or both;
- Provide a site in as close proximity to the majority of eligible individuals’ residences as feasible, preferably within walking distance, or where transportation is available;
- Provide for hot or other appropriate meals at least once a day, five or more days a week. In a county where there is a site providing meals five or more days a week, additional sites may be established which provide meals one or more days a week. Efforts shall be made and documented to the department annually to increase the number of serving days to a minimum of three days each week;
- Coordinate with other community providers to arrange meals for older individuals on holidays that occur on regularly scheduled serving days and also to the general public in weather- and disaster-related emergencies, where feasible.
- Reasons for the action;
- Impact on eligible individuals;
- Impact on nearby meal sites; and
- Impact on provision of nutrition-related services.