Senior & Disabled Services
For citizens of Lane County, fiscal year 2002 contained many uncertainties, notably, September 11; the war on terrorism, including the invasion of Afghanistan; the February windstorm; the downturn of Oregon’s economy; and the difficulties faced by the Governor and the Legislature as they attempted to craft a politically acceptable solution to the continuing erosion of state revenues. Despite the turmoil associated with these events and phenomena, Senior & Disabled Services (S&DS) continued to deliver high-quality and innovative services to Lane County senior citizens and people with disabilities.A snapshot of achievements includes:
- A joint Advisory Councils ad hoc committee laid the foundation for future private sector resource development work.
- A plan for increasing the safety of pedestrians with disabilities was developed and implemented.
- Two new services for seniors—family caregiver support services and medication education services—were launched.
- New deli-style lunches were tested by participants in the Senior Meals Program and, based on positive reviews, were added to the menu in the Program’s 13 group dining rooms on July 1, 2002.
- An educational video aimed at preventing abuse of seniors and people with disabilities by paid and unpaid caregivers was developed and produced.
- Advocacy for improved accessibility for people with disabilities on Lane Transit District’s (LTD) Breeze buses was undertaken by the Disability Services Advisory Council.
- A new computer program—the Pre-Nursing Home Admission Screening Log—was written by an LCOG programmer for use by S&DS staff.
- With Medicaid and Oregon Project Independence (OPI) funds, long-term care services were provided to an average of 3,080 seniors and people with disabilities each week.
- The demand for S&DS-administered financial and medical assistance services was very strong during the year and, as a result, caseloads grew by 9.2 percent. At year-end, 7,798 seniors and people with disabilities were receiving these services from S&DS.
- To increase the safety of S&DS clients, staff performed 3,609 criminal record checks on in-home care workers and owners, operators, and staff of adult foster care homes. Staff received and responded to 1,423 complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors and people with disabilities.
- Over 800 frail, homebound seniors not eligible for publicly financed long-term care services received case management and in-home assistance from the Senior Outreach Program.
- Close to 170,000 meals were provided to 1,777 participants in the Senior Meals Program.
Area Agency on Aging and Disability Services Plan Administration
Long-Term Care and Financial Services
Document: S&DS Budget and Expenditure
Summary for 2001-02
