SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE SUBMITTAL OF THE AGING & INDEPENDENCE SERVICES AREA PLAN 2024-2028 AND SUBSEQUENT AREA PLAN 2024-2028 DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services serves as San Diego County’s federally designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and administers programs designed to serve the needs of the region’s older adult population. The California Department of Aging (CDA) and the statewide network of 33 AAAs share responsibility for planning California’s present and future aging and long-term care needs.
Every four years, the Older Americans Act requires each AAA to submit a new Area Plan describing its activities over the upcoming four years as well as its efforts to identify the needs of older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. The Area Plan outlines planned activities aimed at providing coordinated and accessible services to address community needs within the AAA Planning and Service Area. The AIS Area Plan 2024-2028 was developed with substantial community input and reflects the most vital needs of this population throughout San Diego County. Today’s actions request the San Diego County Board of Supervisors authorize submittal of the AIS Area Plan 2024-2028 to CDA, and authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency, or designee to sign and submit subsequent Area Plan 2024-2028 documents.
Today’s actions support the County vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind, as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by ensuring the County will continue to receive federal and State funding to administer needed programs and services for older adults and persons with disabilities.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Authorize submittal of the Aging & Independence Services Area Plan 2024-2028 to the California Department of Aging and authorize the Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to sign the required documents.
2. Authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency or designee to sign and submit subsequent Area Plan 2024-2028 documents as required by the California Department of Aging.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
According to population projections from the California Department of Finance, of the nearly 3.3 million people currently residing in San Diego County, approximately 710,000 are adults aged 60 years and older. By 2030, that number is expected to increase to more than 850,000. Additionally, the population residents over the age of 85 is projected to diversify and grow more than any other age group in the county. The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS) provides a wide array of services to meet the needs of this growing population and ensures the welfare of older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers. To understand and respond to the needs of the community, in fall 2023, AIS conducted 17 community feedback sessions with older adults, caregivers, persons with disabilities, and service providers across a range of topic areas and localities throughout the county. Feedback sessions were held at senior centers, community centers, and similar locations with support from partner and service organizations. Information was made available in all County threshold languages to remove potential language barriers. Feedback gathered from community engagement opportunities informed the Area Plan 2024-2028.
Community input and collaboration are also fostered through the Aging Roadmap community teams. The teams are comprised of community members, subject matter experts, and County staff to develop and implement goals in the 10 priority areas of the Aging Roadmap, the regional vision and framework for supporting healthy aging for people of all ages. Continued investments to enhance and expand programs for older adults and persons with disabilities ensure that all residents can age in place and access needed services, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s proposed actions support the County of San Diego (County) Sustainability Goal #1 to engage the community in meaningful ways; Sustainability Goal #2 to provide just and equitable access to County services; and Sustainability Goal #4 to protect health and well-being of everyone in the region. This will be accomplished by continuing to work with partners to improve and expand programs and services that contribute to the safety and welfare of older adults and persons with disabilities. Obtaining community feedback through various avenues remains a cornerstone of planning activities that aim to align resources, programs, and services that meet the needs of the community. The Aging & Independence Services Area Plan 2024-2028 is designed to improve overall health and well-being and reduce barriers for underserved populations, which benefits individuals and communities at large.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with today’s action to submit the Area Plan to the California Department of Aging. Submission of the Area Plan will allow AIS to continue to qualify for an estimated $19,400,000 in annual Older Americans Act funding. There will be no change in net General fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
The Aging & Independence Services Advisory Council reviewed this item at their regular meeting on March 11, 2024 and recommended approval.
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services (AIS) serves as the region’s federally designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and administers a variety of programs and services for older adults and persons with disabilities who reside in San Diego County. The California Department of Aging (CDA) and the statewide network of 33 AAAs share responsibility for planning California’s present and future aging and long-term care needs. Every four years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) requires each AAA to submit a new Area Plan describing its activities over the upcoming four years, including efforts to identify the needs of older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. The Area Plan outlines planned activities aimed at providing coordinated and accessible home and community-based systems of care to address community needs and develop services within the AAA Planning and Service Area.
On July 7, 2020 (7), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the submittal of the Area Plan 2020-2024 to the California Department of Aging. As a result of this action, the County has received OAA Title III and Title VII funds over the past four years. These funds have supported evidence-based health promotion programs, home-delivered and congregate meals, family caregiver support, dissemination of information and assistance through the AIS Call Center, protection and advocacy through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, case management services, legal aid, and health insurance counseling.
The AIS Area Plan 2024-2028 details how AIS will utilize funds received through OAA to provide services that meet the identified needs of older adults, persons with disabilities and their caregivers throughout the county. The planning process for the AIS Area Plan 2024-2028 included several avenues of collecting input from older adults, public agencies, government entities, and other organizations that serve the region’s older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers.
Community Feedback Sessions
In October and November 2023, 17 community feedback sessions were held throughout the county to provide an opportunity for older adults, persons with disabilities, caregivers, community stakeholders and other focus populations including low-income, Spanish speaking, and LGBTQI+ individuals, to identify the most significant issues and needs that are important to them. To maximize accessibility of the sessions, translators were made available upon request and a virtual session was offered for those that were not able to attend an in-person session.
Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults
In August 2023, CDA partnered with Polco, a civic participation entity aimed at developing and administering representative surveys, to administer the Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA) among AAAs across California. Results were consolidated into a report in November 2023. The report provides a statistically valid survey of the strengths and needs of older adults as reported by older adults themselves. It is intended to enable local governments, community-based organizations, the private sector, and other community members to understand more thoroughly and predict more accurately the services and resources required to serve an aging population.
Other Engagement Efforts
In addition, AIS participated in a feedback session with aging network professionals including public agencies and government entities to discuss the evolving needs of the older adult population, and share and seek information, resources, and upcoming plans. Furthermore, AIS gathered feedback through the County “Engage San Diego County” online platform and through an internal AIS staff survey conducted in 2023.
Recurring themes that emerged from the community feedback sessions, CASOA survey responses, and other engagement efforts highlighted the need for reliable and accessible transportation (public and special purpose); increased access to information and resources; concerns about social isolation; training and support for caregivers; problems with housing (affordability and accessibility); challenges with healthcare (physical and mental); safety (risk of falls, fraud, scams, and mobility concerns); economic issues (cost of living, employment); and resources for older adults experiencing homelessness. These themes informed the development of the AIS Area Plan 2024-2028.
The programs and services described in the AIS Area Plan and funded by OAA are part of the Aging Roadmap, which is the regional vision and framework for supporting healthy aging for people of all ages. On September 24, 2019 (4), after extensive community engagement, the Board directed the launch of the Aging Roadmap to ensure the region has policies, programs, and initiatives that equitably support the needs and leverages the contributions of the growing population of older adults in communities throughout the county. Led by AIS, in collaboration with other County departments, the Aging Roadmap considers the future needs of the growing older adult population, and provides a guide that allows for innovation, flexibility, and coordination to best meet these needs. The priorities voiced by the community informed the development of programs and initiatives in the Aging Roadmap. The ten priority areas in the Aging Roadmap are: Health & Community Support; Housing; Social Participation; Transportation; Dementia; Caregiver Support; Safety; Preparedness; Silver Economy; and Medical & Social Services System. The Aging Roadmap serves as the local “Master Plan for Aging” and is built on successful collaboration and community needs assessment processes that encompass OAA programs and the AIS Area Plan.
The AIS Area Plan references the broader set of programs and community initiatives that make up the Aging Roadmap and describes how these complement the OAA programs. The Aging Roadmap Action Plan 2024-2028 is included in the Area Plan as an appendix to show the comprehensive nature of the County programs and initiatives in all ten priority areas identified by the community as important needs. Other County efforts are also described including efforts in collaboration with community committees to create a more dementia- and age-friendly community.
Today’s actions request the Board authorize submittal of the Aging & Independence Services Area Plan 2024-2028 to CDA and authorize the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency, or designee, to sign subsequent Area Plan documents. If approved, submittal of the Area Plan 2024-2028 will enable the County to continue receiving critical funding for programs that support the region’s older adults and persons with disabilities.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the County of San Diego 2024-2029 Strategic Plan Initiatives of Sustainability (Resiliency), Equity (Health), and Community (Quality of Life), and the regional Live Well San Diego vision by continuing services that assist vulnerable older adults and persons with disabilities throughout San Diego County.
Respectfully submitted,
SARAH E. AGHASSI
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Aging & Independence Services Area Plan 2024-2028