SECTIONS 9400-9404

9400.  (a) The Legislature hereby declares and recognizes the areaagencies on aging to be the local units on aging in California thatare supported from an array of sources, including federal fundinglargely through the federal Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3001,et seq.), state and local government assistance, the private sector,and individual contributions for services. (b) Area agencies on aging shall operate in compliance with theOlder Americans Act and applicable regulations. (c) Each area agency on aging shall maintain a professional staffthat is supplemented by volunteers, governed by a board of directorsor elected officials, and whose activities are reviewed by anadvisory council consisting primarily of older individuals from thecommunity. (d) Each area agency on aging shall create a plan that considersavailable data and population trends, assesses the needs for servicesprovided under this division reflective of the community needs,identifies sources for funding those services, and develops andimplements a plan for delivery of those services based on thoseneeds. Each plan shall include developing area home- andcommunity-based systems of care that maintain individuals in theirown homes or least restrictive environment, providing better accessto these services through information and referral, outreach, andtransportation, and advocating for the elderly on local, state, andnational levels. (e) Area agencies on aging shall function as the community link atthe local level for development of home- and community-basedservices provided under the department's programs. (f) The area agencies on aging shall implement subdivision (b) ofSection 9100 at the local level, with particular emphasis oncoordinating with the local systems to enable individuals to live outtheir lives with maximum independence and dignity in their own homesand communities through the development of comprehensive andcoordinated systems of home- and community-based care. Nothing inthis division shall preclude local determination and designation ofservice coordinators other than area agencies on aging, fordevelopment and implementation of the long-term care integrationpilot projects set forth in Article 4.05 (commencing with Section14139.05) of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9. (g) In fulfilling their mission, area agencies on aging shallbuild upon the resources and the commitment unique to each communityand shall be guided by a 10-point description of a community-basedsystem that shall do all of the following: (1) Have a visible focal point of contact where anyone can go orcall for help, information, or referral on any aging issue. (2) Provide a range of service options. (3) Ensure that these options are readily accessible to all olderindividuals, whether independent, semi-independent, or totallydependent, no matter what their income. (4) Include a commitment of public, private, and voluntaryresources committed to supporting the system. (5) Involve collaborative decisionmaking among public, private,voluntary, religious, and fraternal organizations, as well as olderindividuals and consumers in the community. (6) Offer special help or targeted resources for the mostvulnerable older individuals, those in danger of losing theirindependence. (7) Provide effective referral from agency to agency to ensurethat information or assistance is received, no matter how or wherecontact is made in the community. (8) Evidence sufficient flexibility to respond with appropriateindividualized assistance, especially for the vulnerable olderindividuals. (9) Have a unique character that is tailored to the specificnature of the community. (10) Be directed by leaders in the community who have the respect,capacity, and authority necessary to convene all interested personsto assess needs, design solutions, track overall success, stimulatechange, and plan community responses for the present and for thefuture.9401.  Area agencies on aging and other county agencies that provideservices to older adults through an established multidisciplinaryteam, including the county departments of public social services,health, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, and the publicguardian, may provide information regarding older adult clients onlyto other county agencies with staff designated as members of amultidisciplinary team that are, or may be, providing services to thesame individuals for purposes of identifying and coordinating thetreatment of individuals served by more than one agency. The countypatients' rights advocate shall report any negative consequences ofthe implementation of this exception to confidentiality requirementsto the local mental health director.9402.  The Legislature hereby declares and recognizes each areaagency on aging advisory council as a principal advocate body onbehalf of older individuals within a planning and service area. Areaagency on aging advisory councils shall operate in conformance withapplicable federal requirements. The local advisory councils shallmeet regularly and provide advice and consultation on issuesaffecting the provision of services provided locally to olderindividuals.9403.  To the extent provided for in paragraph (2) of subdivision(a) of Section 18773 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, theLegislature hereby recognizes the Area Agency on Aging AdvisoryCouncil of California, comprised of the chairs of the local advisorycouncils.9404.  An individual's receipt of services under the In-HomeSupportive Services Program (Article 7 (commencing with Section12300), Part 3, Division 9) shall not be the sole cause for denial ofany services provided by area agencies on aging or theircontractors.