AI-assisted research summary: The department must designate aging and disability resource centers, and those centers must provide information, counseling, access help, and multiple ways to contact them.
1. The department shall designate aging and disability resource centers to establish, in consultation with other stakeholders including organizations representing the disability community, a coordinated local aging and disability service system. In addition to services required by the department by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 17A, aging and disability resource centers shall provide for all of the following: a. Comprehensive information, referral, and assistance regarding the full range of available public and private long-term living and community support services, options, service providers, and resources within a community, including information on the availability of integrated long-term care. b. Options counseling to assist individuals in assessing their existing or anticipated long-term care needs and developing and implementing a plan for long-term living and community support services designed to meet their specific needs and circumstances. The plan for long-term living and community support services may include support with person-centered care transitions to assist consumers and family caregivers with transitions between home and care settings. c. Consumer access to the range of publicly-supported long-term living and community support services for which consumers may be eligible, by serving as a convenient point of entry for such services. Aging and disability resource centers shall offer information online and be available via a toll-free telephone number, electronic communications, and in person. 2. The following entities shall be eligible to be designated as an aging and disability resource center by the department: a. An area agency on aging established on or before June 30, 2024. b. A public or private nonprofit agency, or any separate organizational unit within the public or private nonprofit agency, that has the capabilities to engage in the planning or provision of aging and disability services only as directed by the department. 3. Aging and disability resource centers shall assist older individuals, individuals with disabilities, family caregivers, and people who inquire about or request assistance on behalf of members of these groups, as they seek long-term living and community support services. 4. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section. 2009 Acts, ch 23, §39; 2012 Acts, ch 1086, §14; 2013 Acts, ch 18, §29; 2013 Acts, ch 140, §19; 2018 Acts, ch 1049, §17; 2019 Acts, ch 59, §68; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §153, 162 2024 amendment to subsection 3 effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §162 Subsection 3 amended