(a) The purpose of this chapter shall be to establish a program to serve frail elderly individuals 65 years of age and older who are certifiable for placement in a nursing facility. This program shall be known as the Multipurpose Senior Services Program, and shall be structured and carried out in a manner consistent with Section 1396n(c) of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(b) This chapter clarifies the intent of the Legislature that the Multipurpose Senior Services Program shall continue:
(1) To prevent premature disengagement of older individuals from their indigenous communities and subsequent commitment to institutions.
(2) To provide optimum accessibility of various important community social and health resources available to assist active older individuals to maintain independent living.
(3) To provide that the frail older individual who has the capacity to remain in an independent living situation has access to the appropriate social and health services without which independent living would not be possible.
(4) To provide the most efficient and effective use of public funds in the delivery of these social and health services.
(5) To coordinate, integrate, and link these social and health services, including county social services, by removing obstacles that impede or limit improvements in delivery of these services.
(6) To allow the state substantial flexibility in organizing or administering the delivery of social and health services to its older individuals.
(7) To provide access to social and health services by providing information and outreach activities in the community.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 859, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)