Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
Multipurpose senior centers are required to meet the
standards and conditions specified by the Division of Aging. In addition to the
federally mandated standards, the Division has the following
requirements:
(1) Program:
(a) Senior center programs shall consist of
group activities, individual services and community service opportunities in a
variety of areas such as health, education, recreation, social work, nutrition,
and other supportive services;
(b)
Senior centers shall have an advisory council composed of center participants
and individuals from the community who are knowledgeable about the needs and
interest of older people and about community resources, and who have skills and
expertise necessary for guiding the center;
(c) The center's participants and older
adults in the center's service area shall have continuous input into the types
of programs offered by the center;
(d) Senior centers shall provide for
necessary coordination with other services and programs in the service area by
co-locating staff and services of other programs at the center or referring
individuals needing services to other service providers; and
(2) Staffing. Each senior center
shall employ a senior center activity director who can give leadership to the
total function of the center and insure that the stated purposes and goals of
the center are carried out in the best interest of the participants. The
qualifications of the director may vary with the size of the center, the
emphasis of programs and services and the type and degree of participants'
needs. The areas of knowledge and skills identified as a major importance for
directors are:
(a) knowledge and understanding
of individual development--the physical, social and emotional growth patterns
of all ages, with special knowledge of the physical, social, emotional and
spiritual aspects of the older years and interest in learning more;
(b) knowledge and understanding of groups,
and the skill and ability to help people in groups work together to achieve
their goals;
(c) knowledge about
the learning process for all ages, with special emphasis on the learning
process and pattern of older people, including motor learning; and the
understanding and ability to help older people use their learning ability, and
overcome blocks to their own learning;
(d) knowledge and skills of administration,
including supervision of paid and volunteer staff;
(e) knowledge and skill in developing an
atmosphere and structure, conductive to a democratically based self-government
to operate in the areas of decision-making appropriate to the
participants;
(f) knowledge and
skills in several areas of program activities;
(g) skills in community
organizations;
(h) knowledge of the
research being done in the field and how it applies to the work of the center;
and
(i) public relations knowledge
and skills.
Senior centers shall employ adequate numbers of qualified
staff to assure the satisfactory operation of the center.
(3) Facility:
(a) All facilities used for senior center
activities shall comply with all applicable state and local health, fire,
safety, building, zoning and sanitation laws, ordinances or codes;
(b) All senior center facilities shall be
adequate in size and designed to carry out the center's program of activities
and services;
(c) All senior center
facilities shall be environmentally comfortable and conducive to participant
use;
(d) All senior center
facilities shall comply with the minimum handicapped accessibility requirements
of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968; and
(e) All facilities shall have procedures for
fire safety including:
(i) provision for fire
drills;
(ii) inspection and
maintenance of fire extinguishers;
(iii) adequate number of smoke detectors;
and
(iv) training by fire
department personnel.
Authority
G.S.
143B-10;
143B-138; 45 C.F.R., Chapter
XIII, Part 1321;
Eff. October 1, 1980;
Pursuant to
G.S.
150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without
substantive public interest Eff. September 6,
2016.
