It is found and declared as follows:

(1)  Rhode Island has a very high percentage of elderly persons, and the percentage of elderly persons is expected to increase.

(2)  Rhode Island elderly and disabled persons desire access to the complete range of long-term care services.

(3)  Coordination among existing long-term care programs needs continued improvement.

(4)  Rhode Island needs to adopt goals and values for public policy regarding long-term care such as those stated in the “Long-Term Care Plan for Rhode Island 1995-2000” as prepared by the long-term care coordinating council, pursuant to chapter 20 of Title 40.

(5)  The citizens of Rhode Island deserve a long-term care system that:

(i)  Is consumer-driven and includes consumers in long-term care policy development; and

(ii)  Is seamless, with coordinated funding and administration; and

(iii)  Encourages consumer rights, information, choice, quality of care, safety, and quality of life; and

(iv)  Accommodates the preferences of consumers, most of whom choose to remain independent and in their own homes and the community for as long as possible; and

(v)  Offers a balanced array of services that are cost-effective and meet consumers’ needs.