SECTIONS 9630-9631 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 9630-9631

9630. As part of its role in providing leadership in advocating on
behalf of older individuals, the department shall make efforts to
increase public awareness about areas of importance to California's
older individuals, their families, and other caregivers. These
efforts to increase public awareness and education may be
accomplished through the use of public service announcements, radio
and television commercials or infomercials, access on the internet,
newspaper and other periodical editorials and letters to the editor,
public and corporate symposiums, symposiums or educational efforts by
public or private schools, colleges, and universities, and mass
transit and outdoor signage.

9631. (a) The department shall establish an Aging Information and
Education Fund, from funds made available pursuant to the annual
Budget Act, to implement public awareness of various issues,
including at least the following areas:
(1) Medication management--to call attention to the large
percentage of older individuals admitted to hospitals solely due to
the mismanagement of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs, the need
for proper and timely use of medications, and the role of the
attending physicians in prescribing medications and their interactive
potential for harm.
(2) Elder abuse prevention--to work in conjunction with state and
local law enforcement entities to bring focus to the need to protect
older individuals from physical, emotional, and fiduciary abuse, so
that they may continue to live with peace of mind about their safety.
(3) Toll-free line for linkage to local service networks--to
develop and make the public aware of a single statewide toll-free
telephone number for access to local information about services
available to the community for older individuals and persons with
functional impairments.
(b) The sources of funding that may be used for this purpose
include any nonprofit foundation, funds privately donated by
individuals, and one-time-only funds designated for state operations.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize any
expenditures that are not otherwise allowable by the originating
source of the funding.