CHAPTER
16. Bridge to Recovery for Adult Day Services: COVID-19 Mitigation and Resilience Grant Program to Combat Senior Isolation
9860.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Public health experts acknowledge that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to circulate in the community for an extended period of time, posing a significant threat to the health and well-being of the most vulnerable members of society.
(b) Experts, providers, participants, and caregivers concur that two years of isolation and limited social engagement has led to steep declines in cognitive function and mental and physical health for many vulnerable older adults and persons with disabilities.
(c) While alternative
adult day services have been provided since March 2020, access to in-center “hands-on” support has been severely limited by infection control requirements.
(d) To combat senior isolation, safe access to in-center adult day health care and adult day programs is essential.
(e) Due to the economic impacts of the pandemic, adult day health care and adult day program facilities require financial assistance to implement science-based mitigation measures that will combat the spread of virulent infectious disease over the long term.
9861.
Subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, the Bridge to Recovery for Adult Day Services: COVID-19 Mitigation and Resilience Grant Program to Combat Senior Isolation is hereby established within, and shall be administered by, the California Department of Aging, to improve the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable at-risk older adults and people with disabilities through safe access to vital services in adult day health care and adult day program settings.9862.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) “Adult day services” means services provided by licensed adult day health care facilities as defined in Section 1570.7 of the Health and Safety Code or licensed adult day programs as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, or adult day health care centers operated by a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organization as defined in Section 14592.
(b) “Eligible entity” means a licensed adult day health care, licensed adult day program, or PACE site, designed to serve older adults with chronic health, cognitive, or mental health
conditions. An eligible entity may be a nonprofit organization, for-profit organization, or local government entity and shall be licensed at the time of application.
(c) “Department” means the California Department of Aging.
(d) “Grant Program” means the Bridge to Recovery for Adult Day Services: COVID-19 Mitigation and Resilience Grant Program to Combat Senior Isolation.
9863.
The department shall administer the grant program and, according to the grant program, award grants to qualified entities for the following purposes:(a) Infection prevention and control by implementing evidence-based infection mitigation measures to prepare for current and future infectious disease and emergency scenarios. This may include, but is not limited to, the following measures:
(1) Improvements to building ventilation and air flow and filtration.
(2) Adding or modifying usable space to increase opportunity for social distancing.
(3) Increased sanitation and infection control measures.
(4) Modifying or purchasing equipment and vehicles for transportation that facilitate social distancing and person-centered programming.
(5) Improving patient access to telehealth services.
(b) Actions to address the adult day service facility workforce shortage and comply with staffing ratios for participant health and safety.
9864.
(a) The department shall award funds to qualified applicants based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:(1) The applicant currently provides or intends to provide in-center congregate services as defined by the department.
(2) The applicant’s statement of need for financial assistance to implement COVID-19-related facility mitigation measures.
(3) The applicant’s explanation for how the funds will support or
and sustain infection prevention and control and or adult day services workforce resiliency.
(b) The department may establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants to qualified entities, and may adopt regulations necessary to implement and administer the grant program.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may pay funds to a recipient in advance of the expenditure of funds by the recipient for implementation of the grant program, instead of in the form of a reimbursement after the expenditure of funds for that program, in
an amount equal to or less than 90 percent of the grant amount provided in the recipient’s grant agreement.
(d) A recipient shall be subject to reporting and auditing requirements, as determined by the department.
9865.
(a) This chapter shall be inoperative after two years from the date of an appropriation, and as of that date is repealed.(b) The department shall post on its internet website when two years from the date of appropriation have passed.