§ 7.41 Geriatric service demonstration program.

(a) The office shall establish a geriatric service demonstration program to provide grants, within appropriations therefor, to providers of mental health care, substance use disorder services, compulsive gambling services, or any combination thereof, to the elderly, including organizations that provide health and aging services as well as mental health, substance use disorder, and compulsive gambling organizations. The office is also authorized, under the demonstration program, to foster and support collaboration between providers of home care services licensed or certified under Article 36 of the public health law and mental health providers for the integration of health and mental health care, and for all other enumerated goals of this section. Such program shall be administered by the office in cooperation with the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the state office for the aging and such other state agencies as the commissioner shall determine are necessary for the operation of the program.

(b) Grants may be awarded by the office to providers of care to older adults with mental disabilities, substance use disorder, compulsive gambling, or any combination thereof, for the purposes which may include one or more of the following:

(1) Community integration. Programs which enable older adults with mental disabilities or older adults suffering from substance use disorder or compulsive gambling to age safely in the community and prevent the unnecessary use of institutional care;

(2) Improved quality of treatment. Programs for older adults which improve the quality of mental health care, substance use disorder or compulsive gambling services in the community or in residential facilities;

(3) Integration of services. Programs which integrate mental health and aging services with alcohol, drug, health and other support services;

(4) Workforce. Programs which make more efficient use of mental health, substance use disorder, compulsive gambling, health and aging services professionals by developing alternative service roles for paraprofessionals and volunteers, including peers, and programs more effective in recruitment and retention of bi-lingual, bi-cultural or culturally competent staff;

(5) Family support. Programs which provide support for family caregivers, to include the provision of care to older adults by younger family members and by older adults to younger family members;

(6) Finance. Programs which have developed and implemented innovative financing methodologies to support the delivery of best practices;

(7) Specialized populations. Programs which concentrate on outreach to, engagement of and effective treatment of cultural minorities or veterans as defined in § 85 of the civil service law;

(8) Information clearinghouse. Programs which compile, distribute and make available information on clinical developments, program innovations and policy developments which improve the care to older adults with mental disabilities or suffering from substance use disorder or compulsive gambling; and

(9) Staff training. Programs which offer on-going training initiatives including improved clinical and cultural skills, evidence based geriatric mental health, substance use disorder and compulsive gambling treatment skills, and the identification and management of mental, behavioral and substance abuse disorders among older adults.

(c) The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.