Adults & Aging Services 650-25-20

(Revised 10/01/2025 ML #3955)

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The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Mission Statement is to help North Dakotans of all ages enhance their well-being and quality of life by supporting equitable access to the social determinants of health, which include economic stability, housing, education, food, community, and health care.

 

Adults & Aging Services administers programs and services that support older adults and adults with physical disabilities to live independently in their own homes and communities if they choose.

 

Planning and Service Area:

• Adults & Aging Services is designated by the Governor as the sole state agency to administer programs and services under the Older Americans Act (OAA).
• The State of North Dakota received designation as a single planning and service area to carry out the functions of both the State Agency and the Area Agency on Aging as outlined in the OAA.
• Regional staff, located throughout the State work directly with Adults & Aging Services in program administration and implementation, and the provision of direct services. The eight Human Service Centers have been designated as focal points.

 

State Plan on Aging:

• The State Plan on Aging serves as a planning and compliance document for the provision of services for North Dakota’s older individuals. Developed as a four-year plan, it outlines specific focus areas, goals, and objectives to implement the Plan.
• Public hearings are conducted to obtain input to when developing the State Plan on Aging.

• The State Plan on Aging is posted for 30 calendar days for public review and comment on New State Plans before being submitted to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to review.

• The State Plan on Aging must be submitted 90 days in advanced of the proposed effective date of the plan and a draft must be submitted to the appropriate ACL Regional Office at a minimum of 120 calendar days in advanced of the proposed effective date.

 

Advocacy:

• Adults & Aging Services advocates for the needs of older individuals as appropriate and as time, resources, and Department policies permit.
  
  

Confidentiality:

• Adults & Aging Services is governed by the confidentiality policies of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Service Chapter 110-01.

 

Conflicts of Interest:

• All vendors awarded shall be accordance with the Code of Federal Register’s, OAA’s, and North Dakota’s Ethics Commission rules and laws (North Dakota Century Code | North Dakota Legislative Branch (ndlegis.gov)) concerning conflicts of interest.

• Adults & Aging Services stipulates conflict of interest exists in the following situations or circumstances:

  • Having or acquiring a personal or financial interest that could influence judgment when making decisions.

  • Entering into a contract, sale, lease, transfer, purchase or grant with the State when an employee, officer, agent, or any member of that person’s immediate family, a partner, or an organization having a financial or other interest in the selected award.

• All vendors awarded have a duty to disclose to Adults & Aging Services if there is a possible conflict of interest whether it is financial or could provide personal advantage.

• If there is a potential conflict of interest, Adults & Aging Services along with the Legal Section of the Department of Health and Human Services, will review the requested documents to determine if one exists.

• If a conflict of interest exists, appropriate actions will take place.

• All awarded vendors must have written policies to follow to avoid conflicts of interest in the delivery of OAA services on the local level.

Grievances:

• A recipient of services may file a grievance in writing to the Director, Adults & Aging Services. The grievance statement must list the facts related to the grievance, the nature of the grievance, and request for resolution. The grievance should be made in writing within thirty (30) days of the action. A response to the grievance will be made within five (5) working days of receipt.

 

Direct Services Provided by Adults & Aging Services:

• Information and Assistance Services: The North Dakota Aging and Disability Resource-LINK (ADRL), a toll-free line that is staffed by state intake specialists to connect individuals to information about long term services and supports (LTSS).
• Ombudsman Services: The State Ombudsman, along with local ombudsmen, receives, investigates, and resolves concerns on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities and tenants of assisted living facilities. Volunteer ombudsmen are certified to assist with the program. (North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Service Chapter 695-01, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.)
• Adult Protective Services: Addresses the safety of vulnerable adults who are at risk of harm due to the presence or threat of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Program is offered statewide through regional and contracted staff. (North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Service Chapter 690-01, Adult Protective Services.)
  
• Options Counseling: Regional staff provides options counseling as identified in the program service standard included in this service chapter.
• Family Caregiver Support Program: Regional staff provides family caregiver support program services as identified in the program service standard included in this service chapter.

Contracted Services:

• Health Maintenance Services: Provides a combination of services to assess and maintain the health and well-being of older individuals.
• Legal Assistance Services: Provides legal advice and representation by an attorney to older individuals with economic and social needs.
• Nutrition Services: Provides meals and related nutrition services in congregate (group) settings and home delivered.
• Tribal Home Visits: Provides periodic visits to isolated older individuals residing on American Indian Reservations to monitor their health and well-being, and to identify additional service needs.
• Additional contracts and/or commercial relationships will require State approval and will have a focus on increasing availability of home and community-based services and supports.

 

Fiscal Requirements:

• Intrastate funding formula (IFF)- Distribution of Title III funds via the intrastate funding formula or funds distribution plan and of Nutrition Services Incentive Program funds shall be maintained by the State agency where fund must be promptly disbursed.

• Non-Federal Share (match)- State agency shall maintain statewide match requirements, where:

  • The match may be made by State and/or local public sources.

  • Non-Federal shared costs or match funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-king contributions must be accepted if the funds meet the specified criteria for match. A State agency may not require only cash as a match requirement.

• State or local public resources used to funda program which uses a means test shall not be used to meet the match.

• Proceeds from fundraising activities may be used to meet the match as long as no Federal funds were used in the fundraising activity. Fundraising activities are unallowable costs without prior written approval.

• A State agency may use State and local funds expended for a non-Title III funded program to mee the match requirement for Title III expenditures with the non-Title III funded program:

  • Is directly administered by the State agency;

  • Does not conflict with requirements of the Act;

  • Is used to match only the Title III program and not any other Federal program; and

  • Includes procedures to track and account expenditures used as match for a Title III program or service.

• Match requirements for direct service providers are determined by the State agency.

• A State agency may determine a match in excess of required amounts.

• Other Federal funds may not be used to meet required match unless there is specific statutory authority.

• The required statewide match for grants awarded under Title III of the Act.

 

Technical Assistance:

• Aging Services provides technical assistance to organizations, agencies, associations, or individuals representing the needs of older individuals.