HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-20-1998 - 8dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. g-d
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 20, 1998
SUBJECT: Authorization to Contract with Respite Care Providers
DEPARTMENT: Dept. on Aging and Public Hearing: No
Purchasing Department Budget Amendment Reqd? No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1996 RFP defining qualifications of
a service provider
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry Passmore, ext. 2000
Pam Jones, ext. 2650
Telephone Number-
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 967-9251
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
PURPOSE: To seek authorization to enter into agreements with in-home care providers.
BACKGROUND: In the past the Department on Aging has utilized a portion of its
Eldercare operating budget to purchase in-home respite service from local providers.
This service places a trained aide in the home of a frail older adult in order to relieve the
caregiver that is usually a family member. The average allocation of service is six hours
per week.
The NC General Assembly, recognizing the need for additional in-home care service
statewide, has provided funding distributed by a .population-based formula, which has
substantially increased Orange County's allocation over the past two years. The
County's F.Y. 1998-99 budget includes approximately $90,000 to be used for this
purpose. Approximately $73,000 of this amount is provided by the State Division of
Aging, who reimburses 90% of the cost of providing the service.
Historically, proposals have been solicited from interested providers and a contract
struck to provide the service for a specific period of time. Due to the inability of the
providers to hire and retain qualified personnel, however, they were not consistently able
to honor the terms of the agreement.
In order to maintain the flexibility necessary for successful service delivery the County
has found it prudent to use several providers contingent upon their availability. The
inconsistency in the Provider's ability to offer service upon request makes it inefficient to
approve annual contracts. Therefore, the Board is being requested to authorize the
Manager to sign agreements with service providers as maybe necessary to provide the
services for F.Y. 98-99. The Board's policy regarding such matters stipulates that the
Manager may only sign professional service agreements up to $5,000. It is likely that
over the course of the year, one or more service providers may exceed $5,000.
The County will continue to contract with qualified service providers pursuant to both
State mandated requirements and the criteria established by the County. The Request
for Proposal that was solicited for this service in 1996 is attached to provide a point of
reference as to the required qualifications of the providers with whom we contract.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Manager to sign agreements for
respite care providers. Such authorization shall not exceed the amount budgeted for this
function in the operating budget for the Department on Aging.
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