Gray Matters

Funding from the Orange County General Fund in support of the Office on Aging has not kept pace with the rapid increase in senior population. Allocation to Office on Aging from the 2015-2016 Orange County Grand Jury Gray Matters - A Look at The Orange County Office on Aging OC General Fund in 2005-2006, prior to the recession, was $2.20 per senior per year. Over the past five years the allocation dropped to only $1.32 per senior person per year in FY 2015-16.

Lack of resources for the Office on Aging hampers its ability to accomplish its mission and mandates as required by the California Code of Regulations-WIC 9400-9404. The Office on Aging is required to be the County’s lead planner and advocate for seniors, working with public and private partners to create an updated, coordinated countywide strategic plan to better leverage and integrate all available resources to address the rapidly growing senior population. Organizational Issues at the Office on Aging

The position of the Division Manager for the Office on Aging is only a part time position, shared with the Veteran’s Service Office. Increasing outreach and Call Center demand require full time management at this level.

Limited funding to support staff positions results in chronic vacancies within the Office on Aging, negatively affecting service and responsiveness.

Limited staffing resources prevent the pursuit of grants to support senior services. Information and Assistance

The Office on Aging website is outdated and needs technological modernization immediately. There is no provision for access by mobile device or on-line chat capability. Senior Nutrition and Ombudsman Programs

The County of Orange provides no on-going budgetary support beyond the original contract to non-profit subcontractors for the recruitment of volunteers.

Orange County provides no budgetary support to the non-profit agency that publishes the “Answers” publication beyond the cost of individual county department advertising. Senior Non-Emergency Transportation Program

Annual and semi-annual mechanical vehicle inspection is the responsibility of the Office on Aging, but no licensed mechanic is on staff to do this. 2015-2016 Orange County Grand Jury Gray Matters - A Look at The Orange County Office on Aging

Mileage verification of each Senior Non-Emergency Medical trip is the responsibility of the Office on Aging, an inefficient, labor intensive effort requiring manual input of subcontractor supplied data.