Information and Assistance (I & A) provides older adults, their families and caregivers with information, referrals and access to agencies and programs that can help them with senior-related services. Along with the website, I & A is a focal point for the dissemination of information by the Office on Aging. Utilizing a state-of-the-art call center, trained professionals provide personalized information and referrals through the use of a computerized database of information of public and private human service programs.

Services include information and assistance on health, housing, adult day care, legislation, nutrition and transportation, follow-up, and community education to groups serving older adults.

The Information and Assistance team is also instrumental in community outreach and visible at local events with its Info Van. The Info Van is a service which provides information to individuals and communities with limited access to other methods of information distribution. The Info Van materials are multi-lingual, concentrating on the primary languages spoken in Orange County. The Info Van allows the Office on Aging to provide a direct link of services and information to those in most need.

Some of the services that the Information and Assistance team provides are:

• A free Information and Referral Line

* If you are calling from outside of Orange County, California, or from a cellular phone.

• Direct links to service providers throughout the County
  
  
• Translation services available for most languages
  
  
• Referrals to out-of-county I & A programs
  

• Distribute senior information through public and private entities
  
  
• Outreach to underserved communities
  
  
• Develop public forums for effective information dissemination
  
  
• Maximize exposure of senior issues through collateral materials
  
  
• Facilitate collaborations with organizations serving older adults
  
  
• Develop and support Office on Aging Website
  
  
• Conduct Senior-focused events that are educational and informative

The Policy and Planning group develops long and short term plans to identify and address the needs of the older adults of Orange County. It collaborates with other agencies and organizations to gather and analyze information relating to the needs of the older adults of the county. Based upon the information and statistical data gathered, the Policy and Planning group:

• Develops and disseminates all annual plans and updates annual plans that are required under state and federal law
  
  
• Serves as the lead on the County of Orange Interagency Committee on Aging
  
  
• Coordinates the Interagency Committee on Aging’s annual publication of the Condition of Older Adults Report. Please click here to view a summary of this report
  
  
• Monitors state and federal legislation as it relates to and impacts older adults and the community-based organizations that serve them;
  
  
• Collaborates with community-based organizations to develop and facilitate coalitions to conduct needs assessments, and to help reach the older adults in the county who are in the most acute need;
  
  
• Provides support to the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council (SCAC) of Orange County. For more information about SCAC, please click here
  
  

The Office on Aging is responsible for planning and overseeing the effective use of federal Older Americans Act and state Older Californians Act funds to provide services to older adults, generally defined as persons aged 60 and older. The Office on Aging has the option to administer these funds and programs directly or through non-profit and governmental agencies. If a program and its funding are outsourced, the Office on Aging monitors these programs to assure that the goals are being realized in the manner prescribed by the state and federal regulations.

The Office on Aging administers 13.2 million in services through 22 program contracts, many of which have multiple service types, budgets and requirements. Contract Analysts are responsible for coordinating the contract Request for Proposal process, evaluating fiscal viability, negotiating contracts, writing contract language in legal form, monitoring and analyzing expenditures, authorizing expenditures, providing technical assistance, authorizing payments, monitoring program performance and quality, assuring required data collection and making recommendations for improvement.

Federal and state funded programs that the Office on Aging oversees are listed in Funded Programs section of this website.

Since the implementation of the original board approved Senior Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, (SNEMT) plan of May 2002, many lessons have been learned and much information has been gleaned from those experiences that have required the need to redirect SNEMT to implement a Phase II plan. The direction of Phase II will broaden the program service delivery to ensure we adopt a county-wide, uniform model that is cost effective, reliable and continues to provide Orange County’s older adults with critically needed special transportation services to assist their essential place in community life.

As the AMMA Study was the basis for the construction of the original plan, the concepts, principals and findings still remain vital to the success of SNEMT. The AMMA Study determined that non- emergency medical trips tend to be very individualized with unpredictable return times and special passenger requirements. Where mass transit and large transportation providers continue to not provide the individualized attention, assistance and services needed for trips to chemotherapy, dialysis, physical therapy etc., the SNEMT programs provide that crucial service. The human service aspect (assisted transportation) for non-emergency medical transportation is a proven key element to the success of these services and will continue to be a core component of Phase II.

PHASE II ELEMENTS

Effective April 1, 2005

Client Requirements:

1. Age 60+ (when medical need and/or income level justify transportation need)

2. Not ACCESS eligible and/or not currently enrolled in ACCESS

3. User fees or donations or in-kind contribution equal to a minimum of $2.00 per one way trip

4. Waiver or exception of trip fee for low-income clients experiencing extenuating financial circumstances

5. Target priority of service to older adults age 85+ regardless of income level but based on medical need

Minimum Service Requirements:

• ADA accessible vehicle requirements
• Out of county service within 10 mile radius of client’s residence
• Recognizing that seniors have specific transportation needs that include but are not limited to: door to door service, communication issues, interactions with healthcare providers and other assisted transportation issues that may arise
• Maximum trip length not to exceed 15 miles from client residence – exceptions for Veteran’s Hospital Long Beach and Kaiser Lakeview Anaheim hospital upon request
• Limit 8 one way trips per client per month with exception of on-going medical treatments such as chemotherapy, dialysis, and radiation treatments

The OoA will continually monitor the new senior non-emergency medical transportation service capacities and continue to take the lead role in facilitating, implementing, and coordinating appropriate improvements. We plan to continue our collaboration with OCTA and Cal Optima to continue to find alternative transit resources and work cooperatively to develop and improve current transit services.

OoA acknowledges the guidance, assistance and support it has received from its collaborative partners, HCA and OCTA, as well as the valuable insight received from each of the dedicated SNEMT programs. OoA believes that continuation of SNEMT is not only essential but critical in tackling the growing issues of transportation service to older adults in our county. The Board of Supervisors and the collaborative partners have already done a great service to the older adults of Orange County through their support and oversight of SNEMT. OoA will continue our commitment to administer the maximum use of TSR funds to provide the most trips possible and will make every effort to leverage the TSR funds so that we can all continue to make Orange County the best place in America to grow older with dignity