53-6-602. Purpose -- policy. (1) The legislature finds that in keeping with the traditional concept of the inherent dignity of the individual in a democratic society, the elderly or persons with disabilities should be able to live as independently as possible.

(2) The legislature further finds that:

(a) the ability to continue to live in a person's own residence or in the least restrictive setting best serves the health and dignity of the elderly or persons with disabilities;

(b) state programs of assistance for the elderly or persons with disabilities should be coordinated in a manner that best serves the interests of the recipients;

(c) state programs of assistance for the elderly or persons with disabilities should encourage the development of services that support the maintenance of lives as independently as possible;

(d) state programs of assistance for the elderly or persons with disabilities should encourage the development of affordable services for persons seeking services, whether financed through private means or public means;

(e) the elderly or persons with disabilities should be able to obtain insurance and other means of private financing for services that are affordable and readily available; and

(f) state agencies are required to carry out their various responsibilities for the provision of assistance, the protection of the elderly and persons with disabilities, and the licensing of facilities and professions in accordance with this part.

(3) The legislature declares that the policy of this state is to:

(a) respect the dignity of persons in the provision of state-sponsored and state-funded services for the elderly and persons with disabilities by seeking to maintain the maximum level of independence possible for those persons receiving services;

(b) foster the development of community services that allow a person to choose to remain in a person's own residence or in the least restrictive setting;

(c) foster coordination of services for the elderly or persons with disabilities among the various public and private programs; and

(d) foster the development of private means of financing services for the elderly or persons with disabilities.