Council On Aging-Southern California Inc

Programs: Health insurance counseling and advocacy program (hicap)the program provides educational seminars, individual counseling, and limited legal assistance with medicare and related insurance coverage to help medicare recipients maximize benefits and minimize costs in orange, riverside, san bernardino, inyo, and mono counties. Counseling is avaliable by phone or in person at more than 92 sites throughout southern california. Volunteers must complete 28 hours of training, 15 hours of internship, and pass a california department of aging test.

advocates for nursing home residents (long-term care ombudsman service)the state certified long-term care ombudsmen protect the rights of approximately 28,000 older adults living in nursing and residential homes located throughout orange county. The long-term care ombudsmen make announced and unannounced visits to 1,100 facilities across the county. Certified ombudsmen successfully complete a 36 hour certification training program and log 12 hours of mentored field training. To maintain their certification ombudsmen receive 1-2 hours a month of in-service training from experts in the field of gerontology and presentations on other relevant topics.

preventative mental health department (pmhd)the 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. To volunteer for our friendly visitor and reconnect socialization programs individuals must complete a two and a half hour training session, attend in-service meetings, and participate in ongoing monitoring from council on aging staff.

answers guide: answers guide is orange county's only comprehensive source for information on housing, caregiving, healthcare resources, and community services to help seniors and their families successfully navigate the aging experience. There were 70,000 guides published and distributed annually. Senior protection program and financial abuse specialist team (fast): a program that refers individuals to appropriate community resources and educates them about protecting themselves or a loved one from fraud committed by scam artists, caregivers, friends, and family members. Combined total other program services: