ALL CLIENTS WILL BE SCREENED AND REFERRED BY THE OFFICE ON AGING Service activities shall include: Determining that services are needed due to the fact that there is no family member, other responsible informal caregiver, or other formal transportation program available or capable of providing such services. Transporting the consumer for food, clothes and other essentials or running essential errands, such as picking up prescription medicines or going to the bank. Accompanying the consumer to a service/facility that includes providing all necessary assistance that the consumer needs in order to utilize the service/facility: such as climbing stairs, entering doorways, crossing streets, and carrying packages. Ongoing monitoring by the provider to detect changes in consumer’s condition, and providing referral to establish a necessary linkage with the appropriate agency. NOTE: In the event that consumers normally using Assisted Transportation services are occasionally unable to accompany the service provider on a regularly scheduled and essential errand, due to illness or other circumstances, the service provider may perform the errand without the consumer and may count this as a "one way trip" of Assisted Transportation services. STANDARDS: Assisted Transportation service shall meet or exceed the following standards: Services shall be structured to serve the frail, at risk, and/or homebound elderly person who, without this help, would remain isolated from services. Only essential errands shall be provided to enable the program to serve the greatest number of older persons in need. Services shall be provided in a manner to ensure that primary decision-making ability remains with the individual being served. The Assisted Transportation provider shall be trained and sensitized to the situations and needs of the older population, including the special skills needed to aid in the service. A mechanism shall be in place to enable providers to work cooperatively with other involved agencies as to consumer status and problems. Proper supervision shall be available to workers to help resolve problems, conflicts, and to provide additional technical assistance as needed. Programs shall maintain adequate insurance coverage to protect workers from the risk inherent in the transportation of consumers. Persons performing Assisted Transportation service shall possess a valid driver's license and a safe driving record. Services can be provided using mass transit, the provider's own vehicle, consumer's own vehicle, or any other vehicle for which permission has been granted to be used for Assisted Transportation. Compensation should be paid to the provider who utilizes his/her own vehicle or a mass transit system for the provision of Assisted Transportation. Participants shall be referred to the AAA for any other services that may be needed. The provider agency shall maintain records, prepare reports, and perform other administrative responsibilities as required by the Area Agency on Aging (AAA)/Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) and NJ Division of Aging Services. The provider shall make every effort to provide the service in an accessible location and manner. In areas where a significant number of participants do not speak English as their principal language, this service or information pertaining to this service shall be provided in the language spoken by those participants. Plans shall be established, as appropriate to the service, for emergencies and/or service cancellation. The provider shall contact the participant and/or provide the service in event of emergency or anticipated service schedule alteration/cancellation, etc.
