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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 17, 1999 <br />SUBJECT: Authorization to Contract with Respite Care Providers <br />DEPARTMENT: Dept. on Aging <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Sample Vendor Agreement <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No.. 24 <br />Public Hearing: No <br />Budget Amendment Reqd? No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Jerry Passmore, ext. 2009 <br />Telephone Number - <br />Hillsborough <br />732 -8181 <br />Chapel Hill <br />967 -9251 <br />Mebane <br />227 -2031 <br />Durham <br />688 -7331 <br />PURPOSE: To seek authorization to enter into agreements with in -home care providers. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In the past the Department on Aging has utilized a portion of its Eldercare operating <br />budget to purchase in -home respite service from local providers. This service places a <br />trained aide in the home of a frail older adult in order to relieve the caregiver that is <br />usually a family member. The average allocation of service is four hours per week. <br />The NC General Assembly, recognizing the need for additional in -home care service <br />statewide, has provided funding distributed by a population -based formula which has <br />substantially increased Orange County's allocation over the past three years. <br />Historically, proposals have been solicited from interested providers and a contract <br />struck to provide the .service for a specific period of time. Due to the inability of the <br />providers to hire and retain qualified personnel, however, they were not consistently able <br />to honor the terms of the agreement. <br />In order to maintain the flexibility necessary for successful service delivery the County <br />has found it prudent to use several providers contingent upon their availability. The <br />inconsistency in the Provider's ability to offer service upon request makes it inefficient to <br />approve annual contracts. Therefore, the Board is being requested to authorize the <br />Manager to sign agreements with service providers as may be necessary to provide the <br />services for FY 99 -00. The Board's policy regarding such matters stipulates that the <br />Manager may only sign professional service agreements up to $5,000. It is likely that <br />over the course of the year, one or more service providers may exceed $5,000. <br />