Kern County Grand Jury • 2023-2024

Kern County Aging and Adult Services Senior Care Services

Published: July 13, 2023 19 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 6 findings

F1
The Aging and Adult Services office and facility were clean, well maintained, and the staff was friendly and helpful. This makes for a helping and welcoming environment for clients needing assistance.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Kern County Board of Supervisors (BOS) should work with the Department of Aging and Adult Services to develop strategies to find additional ways to promote the services available through the Department, i.e., local television, newspaper articles, billboards, and buses. This should be completed by July 1, 2023. (Findings 1, 2, 3, and 5)
R2
The BOS should work with CAPK and GBLA to develop a plan for promoting all the services available to the aging adults including 2-1-1 Kern County throughout 27 the community. This should be completed by July 1, 2023. (Findings 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)
F2
The last Kern County Grand Jury Report (2019-2020) was posted and visible to the public on the Department’s lobby bulletin board, projecting an appearance of openness to the Grand Jury recommendations.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
It is a concern that many homeless and mental health cases are repeat clients, thus requiring a need for case management work on an ongoing basis.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Wait times on the 2-1-1 Kern County call centers may be 30 minutes to an hour, during which clients may get discouraged and hang up.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The BOS should work with the Department and the 2-1-1 Kern County to develop strategic procedures to reduce the call wait-time for those needing assistance. This should be completed by July 1, 2023. (Finding 4)
F5
With the increase of the aging population in the County, additional funding and staff will be needed to assist the elderly within the next decade. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury would like to thank the individuals who provided information for this report. All the staff at the Aging and Adult Services Department, 2-1-1 Kern County, Adult Protection Services, and Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance were very helpful and welcomed the Grand Jury. The Department’s offices were clean and very pleasant, with a large variety of informational brochures available to the walk-in clients. The reporting of elder abuse and elder concerns is a top priority, and it is very important to make sure that all elder adults get the proper assistance. Concerns regarding the aging population are taken very seriously at all levels of government. National, State, local websites and 1-800 hotlines are available for information and assistance, 24/7.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The BOS should work with the Department’s Director to determine its needs for the next decade, due to the increase of the elderly population projections. This should be completed annually before July 1 of each year. (Finding 5) NOTES: • The Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department and the Kern County Board of Supervisors should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • The 2-1-1-Kern County and Community Action Partnership of Kern should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • The Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury RESPONSE DEADLINES: • REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS: Kern County Board of Supervisors • REQUESTED 90 DAYS: Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department is invited to respond to this report. • REQUESTED 90 DAYS: 2-1-1 Kern County and GBLA are invited to respond to this report. RESPONSES ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PENAL CODE §§933(c) AND 933.05 TO: • PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 28 • TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code §929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury.
F6
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act signed into law March 27, 2020, provides over $2 trillion of economic relief to workers, families, small 29 businesses, industry sectors, and other levels of government that have been hit hard by the public health crisis created by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
No recommendations for this finding

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