1The purposes of the Department of Elderly Affairs are to:11(1) 12Serve as the primary state agency responsible for administering human services programs for the elderly and for developing policy recommendations for long-term care.
35(2) 36Combat ageism and create public awareness and understanding of the potentials and needs of elderly persons.
52(3) 53Study and plan for programs and services to meet identified and projected needs and to provide opportunities for personal development and achievement of persons aged 60 years and older.
82(4) 83Advocate quality programs and services for the state’s elderly population and on behalf of the individual citizen’s needs.
101(5) 102Coordinate interdepartmental policy development and program planning for all state agencies that provide services for the elderly population in order to prevent duplicative efforts, to maximize utilization of resources, and to ensure cooperation, communication, and departmental linkages.
139(6) 140Recommend state and local level organizational models for the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of programs serving the elderly population.
160(7) 161Oversee implementation of federally funded and state-funded programs and services for the state’s elderly population.
176(8) 177Recommend legislative budget requests for programs and services for the state’s elderly population.
190(9) 191Serve as a state-level information clearinghouse and encourage the development of local-level identifiable points of information and referral regarding all federal, state, and local resources of assistance to elderly citizens.
221(10) 222Assist elderly persons to secure needed services in accordance with personal choice and in a manner that achieves or maintains autonomy and prevents, reduces, or eliminates dependency.
249(11) 250Promote the maintenance and improvement of the physical well-being and mental health of elderly persons.
265(12) 266Promote opportunities for volunteerism among the elderly population.
274(13) 275Promote the prevention of neglect, abuse, or exploitation of elderly persons unable to protect their own interests.
292(14) 293Eliminate and prevent inappropriate institutionalization of elderly persons by promoting community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care.
314(15) 315Aid in the support of families and other caregivers of elderly persons.
327(16) 328Promote intergenerational relationships.
331(17) 332Oversee aging research conducted or funded by any state agency to ensure that such activities are coordinated and directed to fulfill the intent and purposes of this act.
