Without limiting the foregoing, the department is authorized to:

(1) Promote the health of and medical services for the aging in working with professional associations, hospitals, and institutions;

(2) Promote the rehabilitation of incapacitated older persons;

(3) Establish a state-wide coordinated program with participation of employers, employee's organizations, and state and local agencies to promote greater and more suitable employment opportunities for older persons;

(4) Establish a program of research and education on housing of the aged by either public or private means as well as by the establishment of self-sustaining cooperative dwelling projects for aging persons;

(5) Plan and promote recreational facilities for the aging;

(6) Develop a program of adult education designed for older persons on subjects of particular concern to them;

(7) Encourage the further research in the colleges and universities of the state on problems of the aging;

(8) Encourage training of personnel to handle problems of the aging;

(9) Promote community education in the problems of older people through institutes, publications, radio, television, and the press;

(10) Provide consultation to communities and groups developing state-wide or local services for older people;

(11) Provide consultation to the various departments of state government concerning matters relating to the aging;

(12) Inquire into and make recommendations to the appropriate agencies, public or private, on any matter affecting the behavior, care, or welfare of the aging;

(13) Enlist the aid of public and private agencies concerned with the welfare of the aging; and study and report on the functions and facilities of governmental agencies and institutions charged with the care, control, protection, and rehabilitation of the aging;

(14) Serve as a communications clearing-house for information in the large and complex fields of human relationship in respect to aging;

(15) Conduct or participate financially in conducting demonstration projects with counties, municipalities, or public or private agencies concerned with problems of the aging;

(16) Do any other thing it deems necessary to promote the health and well-being of the aging citizens of this state not inconsistent with the purposes of this article or the public policies of this state; and

(17) Appoint such committees, on a nonpay basis, as it deems necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article.