Master Plan for Aging

Count Me In, Contra Costa!

November 17, 2022

EVENT AGENDA

TABLE TOPICS

Click Here to See Table Topic Discussion Outcomes

Contra Costa County is in a housing crisis. Seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to find accessible housing and afford rent, groceries, prescriptions and other necessities. There are a myriad of housing solutions such as rent control, more affordable (truly affordable) housing, shared housing, accessory dwelling units and more. This table will discuss how we ensure people with disabilities and older adults keep and retain their accessible housing.

As we age or have disabilities, transportation becomes more and more difficult to navigate. The systems are not created inclusively and most people who can no longer drive find it difficult, if not impossible, to get where they need to go when they need to get there. This table will discuss how we ensure all Contra Costans can get where they need to go when they need to get there.

Most outdoor and community spaces were not built with young humans and older adults both in mind — and certainly not with the disabled in mind — think about all of the swing sets in sand…how does a parent who uses a wheelchair or a grandparent who uses a walker access the swings with their children/grandchildren? This table will discuss how we ensure outdoor and community spaces are inclusive today and in the future.

Preparation and planning with and for older adults and people with disabilities is especially important to prioritize, given the higher risk of death or harm due to emergencies and disasters. This table will discuss improving technologies and communications that address the access and functional needs of residents during disasters, which can also improve preparedness and response to these growing populations.

Age-friendly communities are naturally in alignment with environmentally friendly initiatives, including low-emissions transportation systems; walkable and low vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) neighborhoods and cities; and in-home energy-saving modifications. This table will discuss how community planning can factor in climate impact and safety, including disaster resiliency, in new, updated, and rebuilt housing and transportation.

Health Care is very child and family centric and does not hold much expertise for aging. As we age, our bodies react to medications and illness/disease processes differently. Who cares for us and how is vital to our ability to continue living in the community. This table will discuss how we work with our existing systems of care to infuse aging and disability accessibility into the provision of care.

Recognizing health as a part of our everyday lives, not just when we visit a physician, how do we bring this lens into our healthcare system and into our homes? This table will talk about how we can create bridges between our healthcare providers and the community service providers like Meals on Wheels, friendly visitors, home care, and so much more.

California is home to some of the foremost geriatric experts in the country, yet we have very few in our Contra Costa system. Expanding Geriatric Emergency Department certification and increasing geriatric training opportunities will ensure our health care system is staffed by teams including geriatricians and gerontologists, as well as nurses and social workers with geriatric training. This table will discuss what our system should look like and how we get there.

Contra Costa can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with renewed commitment to innovation in quality care, including such areas as value-based payment and architectural redesign to smaller, more home-like environments. Our health system played a key part in providing PPE, containment strategies, spread prevention and training to our skilled nursing facilities. This table will discuss how we can ensure Contra Costa utilizes existing strengths, like our Strike Team and Empowered Aging to ensure high quality care while we work at the state level to see reforms and standards enforced.

In August 2020, Governor Gavin Newson signed Executive Order N-73-20 to deploy affordable and reliable broadband throughout the state. Closing the digital divide by increasing access to the internet and digital devices will improve the ability of older adults and people with disabilities to connect to family and friends, health care providers, and to access additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This table will discuss how we accomplish this in Contra Costa.

As the most racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse state in the nation, California can lead in combatting ageism, ableism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, and all prejudices, while expanding opportunities for all older adults and people with disabilities to be economically, civically, and socially engaged, without experiencing discrimination or bias. This table will discuss strategies to be more culturally responsive through training, data collection, public campaigns, and targeted equity and inclusion goals in workforce, service planning, and service delivery.

Scaling flexible work and education models, including virtual options, and preventing age discrimination in the workplace, can increase the inclusion of older adults and people with disabilities, while utilizing their talent, professionalism, knowledge, and expertise. Volunteer programs for community priorities can intentionally and effectively recruit, support, and connect adults of all ages through volunteer centers, schools, community sites, libraries, and more. Older Contra Costans have much to contribute to our society and to younger generations. This table will discuss developing opportunities for multi-generational exchanges, volunteerism and employment opportunities for aging and disabled Contra Costans.

Through new statewide coordinated efforts focused on prevention and equity, California can strengthen prevention and responses to elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, and fraud with person-centered, data-driven, and culturally competent approaches. This table will discuss how we plug into statewide, nationwide and our own local efforts to protect older adults and the disabled from fraud, abuse and neglect.

Family caregivers need supports — such as paid family leave, multilingual training resources, virtual care options, and respite — so that the role remains rewarding and caregivers can maintain health, well-being, and income while caring for a loved one. Given that lower-income women, particularly women of color, disproportionately provide family caregiving, resources and support should be tailored and prioritized accordingly. This table will discuss how we elevate and coordinate these efforts in Contra Costa.

The caregiving workforce can be grown through caregiver training and professional development opportunities, along with livable wages, job placement support, and improved job quality. Higher wages will help paid caregivers work toward financial security, alleviate economic disparities, and better reflect the true value of their work. This table will discuss how we can ensure these opportunities are available in Contra Costa.

Our county and state must invest in innovative solutions to prevent older adult homelessness, by reducing barriers to accessible housing programs and services, while promoting the transition of those experiencing homelessness to affordable and accessible housing models, with supportive services — we need to ensure this is being implemented locally. This table will discuss what Contra Costa is doing in this space and how we can end homelessness right here.

How do we ensure Contra Costans are able to afford living and retiring here? What programs exist to help educate and support residents with savings and supplementing the cost to live in such a high cost area? How do we ensure our healthcare and food, for example, are available and affordable? This goes for rent, transportation and home care. This table will discuss strategies to ensure Contra Costans can age in place.

The Federal/State safety net for older adults and people with disabilities, Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), has not kept up with inflation or poverty levels. A recent state budget agreement proposes to begin to address the SSP in January 2022. The hunger and nutritional needs of older Californians need greater assessment and coordination to provide affordable and culturally appropriate foods through CalFresh (SNAP), food banks, meal delivery at home, congregate meals at day centers and long-term care facilities, farmers markets, and medically tailored meals, among others. This table will discuss what we are doing in Contra Costa to take advantage of state programs and prevent poverty and hunger locally.

The WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities was established in 2010 to connect cities, communities and organizations worldwide with the common vision of making their community a great place to grow old in. As a response to global population aging and rapid urbanization, it focuses on action at the local level that fosters the full participation of older people in community life and promotes healthy and active aging. The mission of the Network is to stimulate and enable cities and communities around the world to become increasingly age-friendly. This table will discuss how Contra Costa and our cities and towns can become a part of this initiative.

How do we ensure people can have their wishes supported as they transition? This table will explore palliative care, hospice and other dignity-based support around death and dying well.

This table will discuss the coming together of Contra Costa’s Area Agency on Aging and the Independent Living Resource Center. This table will educate members on the ADRC model and talk about what other partners need to be involved, where they have seen it done well, and what three things need to happen to ensure we do it right!

SPEAKERS

MPA Bio - Michael Harris

MPA Bio - Jill Kleiner

MPA Bio - Karen Mitchoff

MPA Bio - Marla Stuart

MPA Bio - Debbie Toth

MPA Bio - Ana Bagtas

MPA Bio - Dr. Louise Aronson

MPA Bio - Susan DeMarois

MPA Bio - Andy Imparato

MPA Bio - Kim McCoy Wade

MPA Bio - Dr. Sarita Mohanty

MPA Bio - Dr. Nari Rhee

MPA Bio - Tracy Murray

PRESENTATIONS

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Supported by a grant from The SCAN Foundation – advancing a coordinated and easily navigated system of high-quality services for older adults that preserve dignity and independence. For more information, visit www.TheSCANFoundation.org.

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Historical Master Plan for Aging Events

Master Plan for Aging

Craft It Your Way, Contra Costa

June 24, 2021

Recognizing that California’s over-65 population is projected to grow to 8.6 million by 2030, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order calling for the creation of Master Plan for Aging to be developed by October 1, 2020. The Master Plan will serve as a blueprint that can be used by state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote an age-friendly California.

Our President & CEO, Debbie Toth, was appointed to the Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee and has been helping to shape the Master Plan to help serve seniors from all backgrounds in the Bay Area and throughout the state.

You can find background on the Master Plan for Aging at the California Department of Aging, or see what we’re doing locally to get involved and help shape the future of aging in California!