Tishaun Harris-Ugworji

This amended Virginia State Plan for Aging Services, developed by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, outlines the strategic direction for supporting older adults and caregivers within the Commonwealth. It focuses on five key goals: providing high-quality Older Americans Act programs, delivering evidence-based programs for healthy and engaged lives, promoting access to services for those with the greatest economic and social needs, increasing awareness and access to person-centered long-term services and supports, and improving resources for all caregivers. The plan aims to enable older Virginians to live and thrive independently in their communities.

This document outlines the legislative and budgetary recommendations for the 2026 legislative session by the Commonwealth Council on Aging. The key focus areas include increasing funding for Home and Community-Based Services through Area Agencies on Aging, enhancing the Nursing Home Inspection and Enforcement Process, establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board, and strengthening Nursing Home Transparency, Data, and Oversight. Additional priorities involve increasing funding for the Statewide Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and Public Guardianship Program Slots, securing state general funds for the Virginia Memory Project, extending the sunset for the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission, and increasing funding for No Wrong Door's Statewide Resource Database (VirginiaNavigator). These recommendations aim to improve care, access to services, and oversight for older adults, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities in Virginia.

This document outlines the Commonwealth Council on Aging's legislative recommendations for 2026, aimed at enhancing support for older Virginians and promoting age-friendly communities. Key priorities include increasing funding for home and community-based services, the nursing home inspection and enforcement process, the Statewide Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, and Public Guardianship Program slots. Additionally, the recommendations advocate for establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board, strengthening nursing home transparency and oversight, providing state general funds for the Virginia Memory Project, extending the sunset for the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission, and increasing funding for No Wrong Door's Statewide Resource Database.

This document outlines the strategic direction for the ACCESS program, a federal grant focused on providing comprehensive, coordinated entry into services and supports for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The plan establishes five primary goals: ensuring effective treatment for individuals with TBI and co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders; providing comprehensive supports for caregivers of individuals with TBI; increasing access to culturally relevant brain injury-specific programs and community resources; integrating input from individuals living with TBI into the work of the Virginia Brain Injury Council; and driving service development and progress measurement through accurate data and evaluation. These efforts aim to enhance the quality and accessibility of services and support networks for individuals with TBI and their caregivers.

The Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board's biennial report outlines its activities, accomplishments, and legislative recommendations for the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program (PGP). Key strategic priorities and recommendations include developing comprehensive training for Local PGP multi-disciplinary panels and circuit court judges, securing funding for a PGP case management database system, and increasing annual funding for all PGP client slots. These initiatives aim to strengthen program oversight, improve data integrity, and address the evolving needs of vulnerable adults within the PGP.