Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 1.djvu/241

 PUBLIC LAW 98-288—MAY 21, 1984

98 STAT. 193

"(e) For purposes of this part, the terms 'low-income person' and 'person of low income' mean— "(1) any person whose income is not more than 125 per centum of the poverty line defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) and adjusted by the Director in the manner described in such section; and "(2) any person whose income is not more than 100 per centum of such poverty line, as so adjusted and determined by the Director after taking into consideration existing poverty guidelines as appropriate to local situations. Persons described in paragraph (2) shall be given special consideration for participation in projects under this part.".

Disadvantaged persons.

SENIOR COMPANION PROJECTS TO ASSIST HOMEBOUND ELDERLY

SEC. 15. Section 213 of the Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: "(c)(1) The Director is authorized to make grants or contracts for senior companion projects to assist homebound elderly to remain in their own homes and to enable institutionalized elderly to return to home care settings. "(2)(A) The Director is authorized to recruit, subject to subparagraph (B), senior companion volunteer trainers who on the basis of experience (such as, doctors, nurses, home economists, social workers) will be used to train senior companion volunteers to participate in and monitor initial and continuing needs assessments and appropriate in-home services for senior companion volunteer recipients. The needs assessments and in-home services shall be coordinated with and supplement existing community based home health and long-term care systems. The Director may also use senior companion volunteer leaders, who on the basis of experience as volunteers, special skills, and demonstrated leadership abilities may spend time in the program (in addition to their regular assignment) to assist newer senior companion volunteers in performing their assignments and in coordinating activities of such volunteers. "(B) Senior companion volunteer trainers recruited under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not be paid stipends. "(3) The Director shall conduct an evaluation of the impact of the projects assisted under this subsection based upon a sample survey of projects so assisted. In the third year of such study, the Director shall prepare and submit a report to the Congress. Such evaluation study shall include information on— "(A) the extent to which costs of providing long-term care are reduced by using senior companion volunteers who receive stipends in the provision of long-term care services; "(B) the effectiveness of the provision of long-term care with the use of volunteers; "(C) the extent to which health care needs and health related costs of the senior companion volunteers themselves are affected because of their involvement in the project; "(D) the extent of coordination with other Federal and State efforts aimed at enabling older individuals to receive care in their own homes; and "(E) the effectiveness of using senior companion volunteer leaders and of involving senior companion volunteers based on the training of the volunteer leaders and volunteers.".

42 USC 5013. Grants. Contracts with U.S.

Report.

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