To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Contract Empowered Aging 26-27 OAA Renewal
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Empowered Aging in an amount not to exceed $611,677 for the provision of Long-Term Care Ombudsman services pursuant to the Older Americans Act for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
82% State, which is funded through the California Department of Aging (State Ombudsman Program, State Public Health Licensing and Certification Program, Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account, and Skilled Nursing Facility Quality and Accountability Funds); 18% Federal, which is funded through the Older Americans Act; all of which is budgeted in FY 26-27.
BACKGROUND:
Empowered Aging provides Long-Term Care Ombudsman services to seniors and disabled adults in long-term care facilities. Services include mediation and conciliation services in the resolution of inquiries and complaints from older, long-term care residents and patients, participation in family councils for support of families of long-term care facility residents, and investigation of reports of physical abuse of all dependent adult and elder residents of long-term care facilities. They also provide advocacy services and educational resources to empower residents, their families, and the aging community at large.
Contractor was selected through County procurement process, deriving from Request for Interest 773 and received initial Board approval (C.33) on September 13, 2024. Subsequent staff reports received Board approval as follows: on October 7, 2025, the Board approved a contract renewal (C.54); and on March 31, 2026, the Board approved a contract amendment (C.53). This action seeks to execute a contract renewal with Empowered Aging in an amount not to exceed $611,677 for the provision of Long-Term Care Ombudsman services for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Seniors and disabled adults in Contra Costa County will not receive Long-Term Care Ombudsman services through this contractor.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This contract supports the fourth of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing.”