Council On Aging-Southern California Inc

Advocates for nursing home residents (long-term care ombudsman service): the state-certified long-term care ombudsmen protect the rights of approximately 29,000 older and disabled adults in orange county and 15,000 in riverside county who reside in skilled nursing and residential care facilities. The long-term care ombudsmen investigate allegations of abuse and neglect of long-term care residents and make unannounced visits to 1,600 facilities across both counties. Certified ombudsmen successfully complete a 36-hour certification training and log at least 10 hours of mentored field training. To maintain their certification, ombudsmen receive 2-4 hours per month of continuing education relevant to ombudsman work.

Behavioral health & wellness department (bhwd):the department offers county-wide prevention and early intervention to older adults who are experiencing mental health barriers later in life. The goal of the department is to improve the biopsychosocial health and overall well-being of community-dwelling older adults in orange county. The bhwd is comprised of three programs: reconnect, friendly visitor, and the program to encourage active, rewarding lives (pearls oc).reconnect: this program is designed to identify and reduce mental health symptoms and risks in isolated and older adults in orange county. The goal of the program is to increase social functioning by reconnecting clients with meaningful community activities that reinforce healthy life patterns and good mental health.friendly visitor program: this program provides frail, isolated, older adults and persons with disabilities who have no family members or support system with healthy companionships, social interaction, and nurturing relations to help them achieve mental, physical, and spiritual health.pearls oc: this program educates older adults about depression and helps them develop the skills they need for self-sufficiency and how to lead more active lives through the support of pearls coaches. This short-term, evidence-based program is tailored to support older adults who are experiencing depression, isolation, and other chronic health issues.

Senior protection program (spp) and financial abuse specialist team (fast): the program provides educational awareness of financial elder abuse issues on a national and community level while providing referrals to appropriate agencies for the investigation of financial abuse cases. Spp is also part of the fast which is a multi-disciplinary volunteer group that assists adult protective services, the ombudsmen, law enforcement and attorneys in resolving complicated matters of abuse.smilemakers program: the program is volunteer service group that coordinates, solicits, and distributes donated personal holiday gifts to individuals in licensed care facilities throughout orange and riverside counties. Concierge care navigators(ccn): concierge care navigators is led by a registered nurse and gerontologist team who specialize in geriatric care management and advocacy. Ccn nurses create online, personalized care plans for clients in conjunction with their family and health care providers. The plan includes medical and non-medical goals and is accessible 24/7. Ccn nurses work with clients to implement the plan, providing advice, insight, and support. The program ended in november 2023. Answers guide: the council publishes and distributes an online 128-page answers guide which includes information on health care, caregiving, housing, finance, legal, insurance, community resources, as well as helpful checklists. In addition to promoting the organization's programs and services, answers guide assists in connecting seniors and those who care for them with information and resources.