SECTION 340:105-10-92. Chore service standards

(a)   Policy. The chore service provides assistance to persons 60 years of age or older who have difficulty with one or more of the instrumental activities of daily living, which are: heavy housework, yard work, or sidewalk maintenance.

(b)   Authority. The authority for this Section is Section 1321.11 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(c)   Procedures.

(1)   Service provider. The service provider:

(A)   verifies that the participant receiving chore service has a functional, physical, or mental impairment that prevents the participant from providing the service for self, and that an informal support network, for example, family, friends, or neighbors capable of meeting the participant's needs, is unavailable or insufficient. This information is verified by the completion of Forms 02AG002E and 02AG003E, Older Americans Act Assessment, Parts I and II;

(B)   initiates a written service plan for each participant based on the results of Form 02AG002E;

(C)   conducts home visits to each participant at least twice each fiscal year to evaluate service provision;

(D)   ensures the safety and protection of the participant at all times in the provision of chore services, for example, not spraying chemicals around a participant who has breathing problems;

(E)   may use up to $150 per participant annually from funds awarded for the chore service program to purchase materials and disposable supplies for completion of chore tasks;

(F)   ensures all staff persons receive in-service training at least twice each fiscal year that is specifically designed to increase their knowledge and understanding of the program and participants and improve their skills at tasks performed in the provision of service.

(i)   Comprehensive records identifying dates of training and topics covered are maintained in each staff person's personnel file.

(ii)   An individualized in-service training plan is developed for each staff person when performance evaluations indicate a need; and

(G)   checks references on all chore service staff persons.

(2)   Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The AAA:

(A)   incorporates the chore service standards into the AAA Title III policies and procedures manual;

(B)   provides technical assistance to chore service providers regarding the standards; and

(C)   uses the standards as an indicator in the evaluation of service provider proposals and in the assessment of funded projects.

(d)   Cross references. See OAC 340:105-10-50.1(a)(3) and 340:105-10-51.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 249, eff 10-9-97 (emergency); Added at 15 Ok Reg 1692, eff 5-11-98; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1983, eff 6-11-99; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1170, eff 5-13-02; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1325, eff 6-1-07]