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b~MORANDUM continued Page 3 An important function specifies that the committees can establish linkages with the operators of the homes and the county Department of Social Services ~n order to maintain the spirit of the Bill of Rights. This linkage is important in that it should assure the implementation of the provisions as they are stated in the law, and provides for m mechanism Eo assist the county Department of Social Services in identifying violations of these rights. The law also provides that the committee shall have access [o the facility, its residents, and the staff. Finally, in order for a facility to be kicensed it must cooperate with the committee, where they exist. The Division of Aging, in [ts advocate role for the state's older adult population strongly endorses the concept of local community advisory com- mittees, that on the one hand shall work to improve the quality of life for the institutionalized elderly, while at the same time increase the community,s in- volvement in assisting institutions to better serve this group of people. Under this new law, it is up to the county commissioners to decide whether or not to select a community advisory coramittee to help implement the intent of the law. --r ..... c..rom ~o~,.ln~ w~t~ ~he 7, ~,u~sing Home Community Advisory Cofnmittees for over the past two years that there are important benefics for the county in having an active advisory committee. Our records show that ~n addition to the required quarterly visits to each nursing home, the Nursing Home Advisory Committees have m~de over 3,000 individual visits to residents in the homes during the past year. This significant display of concern and involvement by volunteers throughout the state is being recognized around the tionalized elderly. Moreover, the state's legislators are very supportive of this initiative~ thus encouraging the appointment of the committees in the law. Since there are no funds to support this initiative, they did not wish to man- date this part of the law on the counties. However, the selection of committees involves a volunteer program, End the Department of Huma~ Resources is prepared to assist the committees in implementing their functions as specified under the law. Specifically, the Division of Aging through its Long Term Care Ombudsman Program will train the committees about their roles and responsibilities under the law, and will provide ongoing technical assistance to committee members. The county Departments of Social Services as well as the Area Agencies on Aging will also assist in this endeavor. With the tightening and reduction of govern- ~ent funds to support human service progroms, it is imperative that we use volunteer ~esources where possible to fill the gaps, and we believe that this program is capable of doing just that. We hope the county commissioners see the merit in this program and will appoint community advisory committees to serve the residents of domiciliary homes by January 1, 1982. If there is any way in ~%i'ch the Division of Aging can assist you, please contact us. It is our understanding that you will be receiving a complete copy of the Domiciliary Home Residents, Bill of Rights in the near future (if you have not received it already) from the Department of Human Resources. This will thoroughly explain the provisions of the law: and the role of the community ad- visory committees. The following information will hopefully be of assistance to you in selecting appropriate individuals ~o serve on the committees. County Commissioners are authorized under the law to: a) Appoint community advisory committee at their own option in a county h~ving at least one licensed domiciliary home. b) Determine size, composition, and length of terms of community advisory committee. The law does impose the following require- ments on the composition of the committee: o,- I