Special Programs for the Aging_Title VII, Chapter 2_Long Term Care Ombudsman Services for Older Individuals
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
The principal role of this Ombudsman Program is to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen also promote policies and practices needed to improve the quality of care and life in long-term care facilities and educate both consumers and providers about residents' rights and good care practices.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Funds are awarded to States to develop or strengthen service systems through designated State Agencies on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging and other local entities. Funds under this Title and Chapter are included in State aging plan covering 2, 3, or 4 years, with annual revisions as necessary, submitted for approval to the Assistant Secretary for Aging. Funds are used to design and implement programs for the provision of long-term care ombudsman services for older individuals living in long-term care facilities.
Who is eligible to apply...
All States and U.S. Territories which have State Agencies on Aging designated by the governors.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR, Parts 74 and 92.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Consult the appropriate Regional Office for State application instructions. (See Additional Contact Information - FMR Help for listing.)
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
The Administration on Aging awards funds through a statutory formula to State Agencies on Aging.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Funds are awarded to State Agencies on Aging annually, based on the Federal fiscal year.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
States are entitled to these grants by statute.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is subject to the State Plan Coordination Section of E.O. 12372. State plans are covered under this Section, but Intergovernmental Consultation Review is excluded. This program requires coordination in accordance with 45 CFR 74 and 92.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR 16.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
Applications are submitted for a 2-, 3-, or 4-year period and revised as necessary.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Older individuals residing in institutional long-term care facilities or requiring assistance in entering or transferring from such facilities.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$8,267 to $1,309,732; $228,599.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $13,361,581; FY 04 est $14,276,270; and FY 05 est $13,361,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
75-0142-0-1-506.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Not applicable.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2002, 55 grants were made to States and related jurisdictions. It is estimated that 55 grants will be made in fiscal year 2004 and in fiscal year 2004. The principal role of the Ombudsman Program is to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents. Ombudsmen also promote policies and practices needed to improve the quality of care and life in long-term care facilities; educate both consumers and providers about residents' rights and good care practices. programs. Projected Ombudsman accomplishments for 2003 include: identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents; provide information to residents about long-term care services; represent the interests of residents before governmental agencies and seek administrative, legal and other remedies to protect residents; analyze, comment on and recommend changes in laws and regulations pertaining to the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents; educate and inform consumers and the general public regarding issues and concerns related to long-term care and facilitate public comment on laws, regulations, policies and actions; promote the development of citizen organizations to participate in the program; provide technical support for the development of resident and family councils to protect the well-being and rights of residents; and advocate for changes to improve resident's quality of life and care.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Awards are made on a non-competitive basis.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
One year.
Formula and Matching Requirements
No matching is required. The statistical factor used for fund allocation is the State population of persons 60 years of age and over and the source is the most recent data available to the Assistant Secretary for Aging. In addition, minimum allotments are established for smaller States and Territories. Statistical factors for eligibility do not apply to this program. This program has maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements. See funding agency for further details.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
SF 269 Financial Status Report (Semi-annual), and the annual program report.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of State and Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards is exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
Financial records must be kept available for 3 years after submission of expenditure reports and 5 years after final disposition of non-expendable property in accordance with the regulations at 45 CFR 74, Subpart D.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Older Americans Act of 1965, Title III and Title VII, Chapter 2, Public Law 89-73, as amended; Public Law 90-42, 81 Stat. 106; Public Law 91-69, 83 Stat. 108; Public Law 93-29, 87 Stat. 30; Public Law 93-351, 88 Stat. 357; Public Law 94-135, 89 Stat. 713; Public Law 95-65, 91 Stat. 269; Public Law 95-478; 92 Stat. 1513; Public Law 97-115, 95 Stat. 1595; Public Law 98-459, 98 Stat. 1767; Public Law 100- 175, 101 Stat. 926; Section 705, Public Law 100-628; 42 U.S.C. 3022- 3030(d); Public Law 102-375; Public Law 106-501.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
45 CFR 1321, 74, and 1327.