1. (a) Primary Service. Adult Placement Services are activities necessary to assist aging or disabled individuals and their families or representatives in finding substitute homes or residential health care facilities suitable to their needs when they are unable to remain in their current living situations. Activities include completing an initial screening and assessment while providing counseling to help the individual and his family or representative to determine the need for initial or continued placement; assisting in the process for completing necessary financial applications and medical evaluations; helping to locate and secure placement in a suitable setting and level of care; supporting an individual and his family or representative in the individual's transition from one location to another; and providing counseling and other services to help the individual adjust to the new setting and maintain the placement. Adult Placement Services also include assisting individuals, when requested, to return to more independent settings in the community, or to relocate in more appropriate settings when new levels of care are needed.

   Adult Placement Services must be provided by every county department of social services.

2. (b) Components. None.
3. (c) Resource Items. None.

4. (d) Target Population. An individual is considered to be in the target population if Adult Placement Services are appropriate and desired based on one of the following client needs:

   1. (1) Adults who are unable to maintain themselves in their own homes independently or with available community or family supports.
   2. (2) Adults who are living in substitute homes, residential health care facilities or institutions, and who need assistance in relocating due to changes in the level of care needed or other factors indicating that alternative settings may be more appropriate.
   3. (3) Adults who are living in substitute homes, residential health care facilities or institutions, and who need assistance in returning to more independent living arrangements in the community.

   4. (4) Adults who are living in substitute homes or residential health care facilities, and who need assistance in adjusting to or maintaining their placements due to individual or family problems or a lack of resources.

      This target population includes wards for whom the director or assistant director of the county department of social services is the guardian.

5. (e) Once an individual is determined to be in the target population, Adult Placement Services are provided in the following order of priority:

   1. (1) Adults receiving protective services for whom Adult Placement Services is in their protective services plans.

   2. (2) Adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation because:

      1. (A) they need assistance with activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, or health care and they have no caregiver, or the caregiver is not able, willing or responsible to provide the amount or type of assistance needed; or
      2. (B) they were previously abused, neglected or exploited and the conditions leading to that situation continue to exist.
   3. (3) Adults who have problems which place them at risk of losing their current living situations.
   4. (4) Adults who do not meet any of the first three priority groups but whose quality of life would be improved with Adult Placement Services.

History Note: Authority G.S. 143B-153;
Eff. March 1, 1994;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. May 20, 2017.