Office of Aging and People with Disabilities gives committee overview of long‑term care programs and workforce challenges

The House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services heard an informational briefing from the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) on the agency’s programs, funding, licensing responsibilities and workforce challenges.

Jane Ellen Whiteance, APD deputy director for policy, told the committee the agency touches roughly 400,000 Oregonians annually through programs that serve older adults and people with disabilities, including information and assistance, long‑term services and supports, adult protective services, brain injury services and licensing for care facilities. Whiteance said APD administers Oregon Project Independence (both classic and Medicaid matched variants) and partners with Area Agencies on Aging to deliver Older Americans Act‑funded services.

Whiteance outlined APD’s funding mix and infrastructure: about 59 percent of the agency’s budget comes from federal funds, roughly 35…