GOALS:
To address the basic needs of our elder population.
To optimize the physical and mental health and the well-being of elder population.
To maximize the independence of our elder population.
To promote social and civic engagement that benefits our community while enhancing the lives of seniors, including lifelong-learning, meaningful employment and volunteerism.
ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS
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Awareness of Services - Older
adults linked to supportive services in the community to accommodate their
changing needs.
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Housing - All parts of Denton County offer an array of safe and affordable housing options that meet the diverse
needs and preferences of individuals as they age.
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Financial Security
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Guardianship services
OPTIMIZING PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
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Access to Affordable Health Care
- Older adults can access affordable mental and physical health services,
including medication.
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Physical Activity and Nutrition
- Older adults enjoy a range of support, choices, and activities that ensure
they remain healthy and active as long as possible.
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Promote and educate mental
health prevention and awareness.
MAXIMIZING INDEPENDENCE
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Transportation - Older adults
have an array of transportation options that are safe and responsive to their
needs and preferences.
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Community-Based Services - Older
adults have opportunities and necessary supports to make choices and live
independently.
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Caregiving - Personal, community
and cultural supports for successful caregiving are strengthened.
PROMOTING SOCIAL AND
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
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Social and Civic Engagement -
Plentiful and diverse opportunities are available for older adults to remain
fully engaged and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
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Lifelong Learning - Increase
learning opportunities for older adults.
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Employment - Provide
opportunities for meaningful work for older adults.
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Promote opportunities to
strengthen spirituality among older adults regardless of religious affiliations
and beliefs.
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Promote Volunteerism
Outcome 1 - Addressing Basic Needs:
Awareness of Services - Older
adults linked to supportive services in the community to accommodate their
changing needs.
Housing - All parts of Denton County offer an array of safe and affordable housing options that meet the diverse
needs and preferences of individuals as they age.
Financial security & Legal services
access, information and support
Goal 1.1: Awareness of Services - Older adults linked to supportive services in
the community to accommodate their changing needs.
Objective 1.1.1: Access - Increase the number of older adults and their
families who are aware of and have access to appropriate cultural- and
age-sensitive information that enables them to make informed choices about
community programs and services.
Objective 1.1.2: Communication and Promotion - Increase awareness among all parts of our community
of the value and contributions of older adults as well as the services for
older adults.
Objective 1.1.3: Diversity - Strengthen aging and health service provider
capacity to receive and share information that is useful for diverse client
populations.
Objective 1.1.4: Empowerment - Encourage community-wide recognition of the value of
older adults.
Goal 1.2: Housing - All parts of Denton County offer an array of safe
and affordable housing options that meet the diverse needs and preferences of
individuals as they age.
Objective 1.2.1: Home Design and Modification - Promote the design and modification of homes
to meet the physical needs of individuals as they age. Make
“Visitability” a design choice.
Objective 1.2.2: Housing Options - Increase the range of housing options in all
parts of Denton County—from community based intergenerational options
to age-segregated congregate facilities—that are available to
individuals as they age.
Objective 1.2.3: Affordability - Increase older adults’ access to an array of
affordable housing options.
Objective 1.2.4: Support and Services - Establish an infrastructure for providing the
necessary information and services to enable older adults to take
advantage of an array of housing options.
Objective 1.2.5: Green Building - Support money saving environmentally sound green
building designs.
Goal 1.3:
Financial Security -
Objective 1.3.1: Support programs such as the Texas Money Management Program that help older
Texans manage their income.
Objective 1.3.2: Create innovative approaches to increase employer-sponsored pensions,
improved coverage and benefits, and greater employee participation.
Objective 1.3.3: Provide and support Guardianship services.
Goal 1.4: Legal.
Objective
1.4.1: Raise awareness of the need
for legal planning, legal rights, available low-cost legal assistance, and other
legal matters.
Objective 1.4.2: Increase access to legal assistance such as standardized forms,
benefits counselors, and hotlines.
Objective 1.4.3: Expand funding and develop local volunteer guardianship programs.
Objective 1.4.4: Educate professionals and citizens to recognize the signs of elder
abuse.
Objective 1.4.5: Create awareness of community supports available when elder abuse is
suspected.
Addressing Basic Needs - Selected indicators:
Affordable housing is available to community
residents.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who spend more than 30 percent/30 percent or less than 30
percent of their income on housing.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who want to remain in their current residence and are confident
they will be able to afford to do so.
Housing is modified to accommodate mobility and
safety.
Percentage of
householders age 65+ in housing units with home modification needs.
The neighborhood is livable and safe.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who feel safe/unsafe in their neighborhood.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who report few/multiple problems in the neighborhood.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who are satisfied with the neighborhood as a place to live.
People have enough to eat.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who report cutting the size of or skipping meals due to lack of
money.
Assistance services are available and residents know
how to access them.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who do not know whom to call if they need information about
services in their community.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who are aware/unaware of selected services in their community.
Percentage of
people age 65+ with adequate assistance in activities of daily living (ADL)
and/or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).
Access to Affordable Health
Care - Older adults can access affordable
mental and physical health services, including medication.
Physical Activity and
Nutrition - Older adults enjoy a range of
support, choices, and activities that ensure they remain healthy and active as long
as possible.
Mental Health Promote education and access to
services.
Goal 2.1: Access to Affordable Health Care - Older
adults can access affordable mental and physical health services, including
medication.
Objective 2.1.1: Access - Increase collaboration and integration of
health care and social services in order to improve access.
Objective 2.1.2: Elder Care Expertise - Increase health care providers’ expertise in
elder care issues.
Objective 2.1.3: Caregiver support - Increase family and friend caregivers’ knowledge,
skills and support.
Objective 2.1.4: Advocacy - Increase community expertise and support
advocacy efforts on issues related to health care and the
expanding older population.
Objective 2.1.5: Education - Support efforts that educate and empower older adults
to practice healthy behaviors.
Goal 2.2: Physical Activity and Nutrition - Older
adults enjoy a range of support, choices, and activities that ensure they remain
healthy and active as long as possible.
Objective 2.2.1: Capacity-Building - Increase community capacity to deliver
affordable, effective, and culturally appropriate health and wellness
programs for older adults.
Objective 2.2.2: Funding - Increase funding for planning and effective
prevention programs.
Objective 2.2.3: Accountability - Improve program effectiveness through appropriate
evaluation, utilizing professionals with expertise in prevention, community intervention
and evaluation.
Objective 2.2.4: Access - Preserve independence through increased
access to effective, evidence-based health and wellness programs
targeted to meet the needs of people across the continuum of
strength and frailty.
Objective 2.2.5: Outreach - Create a culture and environment that
supports healthy choices.
Objective 2.2.6: Work with senior centers to transform their image and adapt to the
changing interests of today’s older adults.
Objective 2.2.7: Encourage organizations to promote innovative programs that address the
diverse needs older people.
Objective 2.2.8: Work with appropriate entities to consider offering reduced-rate
recreational activities for older adults.
Objective 2.2.9: Develop non-commercial recreational activities that encourage
low-income elders to participate within their communities.
Goal 2.3: Mental Health
Objective 2.3.1: Promote prevention of mental illness and suicide by
creating awareness of services and assistance.(Suicide rates of those 65 and
older are higher than any other age group.)
Strategy 2.3.1.1: Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness and how
they differ from “normal aging”. (An estimated 20 percent of older adults
experience mental disorders that are not a normal part of aging.)
Strategy 2.3.1.2: Reduce the social stigmas associated with mental illness.
Optimizing Physical and Mental Health and Well-Being
- Selected indicators:
Community promotes and provides access to necessary
and preventive health services.
Rates of
screening and vaccination for various conditions among people age 65+.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who thought they needed the help of a health care professional
because they felt depressed or anxious and have not seen one (for those
symptoms).
Percentage of
people age 65+ whose physical or mental health interfered with their activities
in the past month.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who report being in good to excellent health.
Opportunities for physical activity are available
and used.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who participate in regular physical exercise.
Obstacles to use of necessary medical care are
minimized.
Percentage of
people age 65+ with a usual source of care.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who failed to obtain needed medical care.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who had problems paying for medical care.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who had problems paying for prescription drugs.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who had problems paying for dental care or eyeglasses.
Palliative care services are
available and advertised.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who know whether palliative care services are available.
Transportation: Older adults
have an array of transportation options that are safe and responsive to their
needs and preferences.
Community-Based Services: Older
adults have opportunities and necessary supports to make choices and live independently.
Caregiving: Personal,
community and cultural supports for successful caregiving are strengthened.
Goal 3.1: Transportation - Older adults have an array of transportation options
that are safe and responsive to their needs and preferences.
Objective 3.1.1: Access - Increase use of public fixed route transportation.
Strategy 3.1.1.1: Improve coordination among entities that support or provide
transportation, including state agencies, the private sector, elected
officials, volunteers, and faith-based organizations.
Objective 3.1.2: Usability - Improve usability and availability of
specialized, point-to-point service programs and other
specialized and volunteer transportation programs.
Objective 3.1.3: Options - Support informal transportation options.
Strategy 3.1.3.1: Educate consumers about all transportation options available in the
community
Objective 3.1.4: Partnership and Advocacy - Improve transportation options through
partnerships and advocacy.
Objective 3.1.5: Driver’s Safety - Protect older adults and the community from
driving injuries and accidents.
Strategy 3.1.5.1: Encourage and promote safe driving through driver training and
education.
Strategy 3.1.5.2: Help older people recognize possible impairments and make necessary
adjustments to remain safe.
Goal 3.2: Community-Based Services - Older adults have opportunities and necessary
supports to make choices and live independently.
Objective 3.2.1: User-Friendly Service System - Increase collaboration and integration of health
care and social services in order to improve access for customers and formal
and informal caregivers.
Objective 3.2.2: Adequate, Sustainable and Diverse
Funding - Assure adequate resources
directed to maintaining quality of life for long term living.
Objective 3.2.3: Customer Choice - Preserve independence through development of
a service system that supports self-determination and provides
customer education, autonomy and informed choice.
Objective 3.2.4: Evidence-Based Practices - Provide effective services, particularly
prevention services, through use of scientifically-tested
practices that have evidence-based support.
Goal 3.3: Caregiving - Personal, community and cultural supports for successful
caregiving are strengthened.
Objective 3.3.1: Outreach and Access - Increase the number of caregivers who have
access to and receive appropriate caregiver information and
support.
Objective 3.3.2: Advocacy - Encourage community-wide recognition of the
contributions of family caregivers and advocate for enhanced support.
Objective 3.3.3: Caregiver Services, Choices and
Convenience - Increase the number
of caregivers who utilize caregiver education and support
services.
Objective 3.3.4: Encourage employers to create supportive work environments and policies
such as flex-time and telecommuting.
Objective 3.3.5: Create coordination among the aging network and service providers to
strengthen community capacity.
Objective 3.3.6: Urge employers to sponsor eldercare services so caregivers can maintain
employment.
Maximizing Independence - Selected indicators:
Transportation
is accessible and affordable.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who have access to public transportation.
The
community service system enables people to live comfortably and safely at home.
Percentage of people
age 65+ with adequate assistance in activities of daily living (ADL).
Percentage of
people age 65+ with adequate assistance in instrumental activities of daily
living (IADL).
Caregivers
are mobilized to complement the formal service system.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who provide help to the frail or disabled.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who get respite/relief from their caregiving activity.
Social and Civic Engagement -
Plentiful and diverse opportunities are available for older adults to remain
fully engaged and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Lifelong Learning - Increase
learning opportunities for older adults.
Employment - Provide opportunities for meaningful work
Promote opportunities to
strengthen spirituality among older adults regardless of religious affiliations
and beliefs.
Promote Volunteerism
Goal 4.1: Social and Civic Engagement - Plentiful and diverse opportunities are available
for older adults to remain fully engaged and make meaningful contributions to
their communities.
Objective 4.1.1: Connections and Contributions - Increase the number of older
adults involved in formal and informal volunteer activities.
Objective 4.1.2: Increase civic involvement of older adults in efforts to
improve the quality of life in Denton County.
Objective 4.1.3: Develop a social marketing campaign/ communication plan that
confronts aging stereotypes and promotes a culture of engagement, vitality and
activity based on contributions of older adults.
Objective 4.1.4: Foster meaningful connections with family, neighbors and
friends and increase awareness of mutual assistance that occurs between generations.
Objective 4.1.5: Recognize the importance and benefits of social engagement on health
and wellness.
Objective 4.1.6: Promote services and programs in the community to reduce isolation
(e.g., telephone reassurance and volunteerism).
Objective 4.1.7: Encourage multicultural, intergenerational programs, activities, and
services.
Objective 4.1.8: Promote the utilization of technology such as the Internet.
Goal 4.2: Lifelong Learning - Increase
learning opportunities for older adults.
Objective 4.2.1: Increase collaboration among existing providers of older adult
education.
Objective 4.2.2: Increase awareness of free or reduced rate courses at public
colleges/universities, community education programs, services available through
public libraries, distance learning and the Internet.
Objective 4.2.3: Encourage education institutions to modify teaching techniques to
accommodate older learners. Strategies include allowing more time, using more
concrete examples, and promoting self-pacing.
Objective 4.2.4: Support older learners by including a multidisciplinary curriculum,
stressing commonalities between older adults and other learners, and
emphasizing easy access to buildings of learning.
Goal 4.3: Employment - Provide opportunities for
meaningful work for older adults.
Objective 4.3.1: Increase older adults’ work-related skills through
training.
Objective 4.3.2: Get involved with your Local Workforce Development Board to
establish an older worker advisory group that develops programs and policies to
ensure that older adults have the opportunity to participate in the workforce.
Objective 4.3.3: Create awareness of job training and employment services available in
the community.
Objective 4.3.4: Educate employers of the benefits of hiring, training, and retaining
older workers, and of establishing innovative job designs (e.g., telecommuting)
to accommodate older workers.
Objective 4.3.5: Ensure that the employment, education, and training needs
of older workers are addressed by participating in local planning and policy
activities and collaborating with existing organizations.
Goal 4.3: Promote opportunities to strengthen
spirituality among older adults regardless of religious affiliations and
beliefs.
Objective 4.3.5: Encourage individuals and organizations to recognize the impact spirituality
has on the lives, health, and wellness of their members, specifically older
adults, and to increase outreach efforts in their communities. (The close
connections among members of spiritual organization help meet specific wellness
needs.)
Objective 4.3.5: Work with spiritual organizations to assess their communities,
determine the spiritual needs of their older-adult members, and provide
multiple options so they can remain spiritually connected.
Goal 4.4: Promote
Volunteerism
Objective 4.4.1: Increase volunteer programs’ flexibility and consider changing benefits
to increase older-adult participation (e.g., enhanced prescription drug
benefits).
Objective 4.4.2: Create volunteer positions that are compelling, meaningful, satisfying,
and intergenerational.
Objective 4.4.3: Increase outreach, direct mailings to members, special events, word of
mouth, to spread the message about volunteerism.
Objective 4.4.4: Support opportunities that capture older adults’ imaginations,
interests, and needs.
Promoting Social and Civic Engagement - Selected
indicators:
Residents
maintain connections with friends and neighbors.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who socialized with friends or neighbors in the past week.
Civic,
cultural, religious and recreational activities include older residents.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who attended church, temple or other in the past week.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who attended movies, sports events, clubs or group events in the
past week.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who engaged in at least one social, religious or cultural activity
in the past week.
Opportunities
for volunteer work are readily available.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who participate in volunteer work.
Community
residents help and trust each other.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who live in "helping communities."
Appropriate
work is available to those who want it.
Percentage of
people age 65+ who would like to be working for pay
NOTE: Outcomes,
objectives and some of the selected indicators are from The AdvantAge
Initiative Indicators List (Essential Elements of an Elder-Friendly Community)
and some are based on Aging Texas Well Domains of Wellbeing, and others are
based on Best Practices gleaned from Gerontological resources. These have been
adapted for Denton County Texas use. We will have to naturally add, delete,
change or modify this list to best meet the needs of the citizens of Denton County. An Elder Friendly and Senior Ready Denton County is a sustainable
investment in a livable community that is the best choice for all ages. …dec
Ten Best Practices for
communities to consider, that address the needs of an aging population:
1.
Preventive health care,
such as health and “lifestyle” education, immunizations and screenings, to reduce
injuries and the onset of chronic diseases, as well as a range of in-home
health assistance to help people stay in their homes longer.
2.
Nutrition education to
promote healthy eating throughout a person’s lifespan, as well as nutritious
community-sponsored programs such as home-delivered meals for those who have
difficulty or are unable to prepare their own meals.
3.
Age-appropriate fitness
programs and recreational facilities that offer walking trails, benches,
fitness equipment.
4.
Larger, easier-to-read
road signage grooved lane dividers, reflective road markings and dedicated
left-turn lanes. Driver assessments and training to promote safe driving for
all ages, especially after strokes or other health incidents. Transportation
options for people who cannot or do not want to drive.
5.
Special planning and
training to help public safety personnel and other first responders locate and
assist older adults during emergencies and disasters.
6.
Tax assistance and
property-tax relief for those in financial need and programs to protect older
adults against fraud and abuse.
7.
Home modification
programs that make necessary adjustments for people with special needs. Zoning
and subdivision plans that promote a variety of affordable, accessible housing
located near medical, commercial and other desired services, as well as shared
housing options for older adults and their caregivers.
8.
Job training, re-training
and lifelong learning opportunities, as well as flexible employment options to
attract and retain older workers.
9.
Opportunities to engage
older adults in community boards and commissions, as well as purposeful
volunteer activities in local government and non-profit organizations.
10.
Single point of entry for
information and access to ALL aging information and services in the community,
and the strategic expansion of necessary services to support the older adults
to age with dignity and independence in their home and community.
SOURCE: 2006 “Maturing of America” study
(Selected)
Elder Friendly: “An Elder-friendly community anticipates and prepares for the aging of
its citizens resulting in policies and actions that maximize opportunities to
age successfully.” Source: Based on: Guide to Elder-friendly Community Building (2004)
Senior Ready: A Senior Ready community includes housing that serves the multiple
needs of a growing aging population integrated with transportation &
community services. Senior-Ready adds another dimension that makes
Elder-Friendly communities sustainable and functional. Integrated systems of
transportation, housing and community services designed to address the needs of
all age levels in the community, is the heart of a Senior-Ready community.
Livable Community: “A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate
housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility
options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of
residents in civic and social life.” ---AARP
Activity of Daily Living
(ADL): Transferring (bed to chair,)
Bathing, Dressing (zippers - buttons,) Personal grooming (wash face, brush
teeth,) Eating (holding fork, cutting food, drinking,) Toileting. Other
activities: Walk across room, use stairs, lift 10 lbs.
Instrumental Activity of
Daily Living (IADL): Prepare own
meals, Shop for groceries and personal items, Managing your money, Using
telephone, Doing heavy housework (scrubbing floors, washing windows,) Doing
light housework (light cleaning, straightening up,) Getting places (outside of
walking distance,) Doing laundry, getting to and from activities such as going
to the doctor and shopping, but must be mobile. The mobility requirement does
not exclude persons in wheelchairs or those requiring mobility devices and managing
your medications
At-risk elderly person is an
individual 62 years of age or older who is unable to perform one or two ADLs.
Frail elderly person means an
individual 62 years of age or older who is unable to perform at least three
ADLs.
People with disabilities
include those individuals who:
a. Have a disability as defined in
Section 223 of the Social Security Act;
b. Have a physical, mental, or
emotional impairment expected to be of long, continued, and indefinite duration
that substantially impedes the individual’s ability to live independently; or
c. Have a developmental disability
as defined in Section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill
of Rights Act of 2000, (42 U.S.C. Section 15002).
Poverty Guidelines, Research,
and Measurement via Website: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml
v
FYI
Denton FIPS=48121
Denton Public Health Region=3 Administrative Region=2/3 administered
from a regional office in Arlington.
A small coalition of agencies was
formed in 1998 in response to the closure of a university-operated
community-based perinatal services clinic and the challenges indicated in
subsequent Denton County Health Department reports of alarming increases in infant
mortality rates for Denton County Texas. The formation of this partnership is
significant in that it devised successful strategies to address disparities in
infant mortality rates, and following that success, chose to examine other
health-related issues facing the County.
In 2000, after months of studying
best practices in community organization, the coalition officially became the
Healthy Communities Coalition of Denton County with the purpose of addressing
the unmet health-care needs in Denton County. Several committees were appointed
and these committees became 14 Work-groups charged to help identify,
prioritize, and develop strategies responding to issues of disparity within
specific population segments. After incorporating feedback from its Work-groups,
the Coalition held a county-wide public hearing in October of 2002 to engage
communities and their respective leaders in the vision to achieve 100% Access
and Zero Disparity in Appropriate and Affordable Health Care for Denton County.
Today, the 125-member Coalition
includes a diversity of elected and appointed city, county and congressional
officials, and state, regional, and county public service agencies and
organizations. Functions represented in the Coalition include city and regional
planning and governance, economic development, commerce, transportation,
banking, insurance, public health, mental health, primary and tertiary health
services delivery, public education, public welfare, higher education, law
enforcement, non-profit and faith-based services, the media, voluntarism, and
philanthropy. The Coalition appointed the Geriatric Services Work-group in 2000
as a work unit charged to identify, prioritize, and develop strategies around
issues of access and disparity within the senior population.
The 48-member Work-group consists
of the leadership and constituency of key geriatric services providers in Denton County, Texas. The Work-group participants include senior advocates and consumers,
and the leadership of hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, senior
housing, adult day services, senior centers, home health care, independent care
management, law enforcement and adult protective services, social services,
mental health and mental retardation, the area agency on aging, and two
universities. The Work-group is co-chaired by a hospital and a university
representative and functions as a "committee of the whole" wherein
each member has one decision-making vote. The co-chairs serve on and report all
Work-group actions to the Coalition.
Over the next three years, the
Work-group held bi-monthly meetings and focus groups and reported to the
Coalition 28 issues affecting the wellbeing of senior residents of the County.
The most pervasive deficits in the current system include the shortages of appropriate
and affordable housing alternatives (where appropriate is defined as housing
that accommodates an individual’s functional abilities; where affordable is
defined as housing expenses at or below 30% of total income) and severe
shortages of direct care workers throughout the County. These findings support
the need to conduct strategic planning to improve long term care/supportive
services in Denton County.
Since 2004, the coalition has
continued with bi-monthly meetings hosted by Co-Chair Susan Conn in the Denton Regional Medical Center community room in Denton. In 2004 a Website was created for
the group’s activities called, “Denton County Senior Services” to serve as a
communication, organizing and service connection tool. In 2005 and 2006 the
group concentrated on two priorities: sustainable, affordable housing
alternatives and direct care initiatives. The Housing and Training taskforces
were created to deal with these priorities. Also in 2006, a Texercise group
formed to support a pilot Texercise program called Denton Texercise Two-Step:
Exercise and Nutrition Education. A partnership for Walk-Across-Texas/Texercise
was formed with the Texas Cooperative Extension Service. Since North Central Texas Community College received a major grant for CNA, CMA and LVN training,
the “Training” committee’s work was ended, for now. The Housing taskforce
conducted a successful Housing Summit for Denton County, participated in UNT’s
High Performance Green Building Conference featuring HUD and EPA. Speakers from
the taskforce participated in the Texas State Conference on Aging in March,
2007.
Leading to creation of an Advocacy
group in January 2007, legal, guardianship, transportation, services funding
and potential for service fragmentation due to changing demographics, along
with mental health service needs, increased need for Alzheimer’s care, utility
assistance and home modification and weatherization needs issues arose in
meetings of the group. As the Housing Taskforce developed a framework for an
Elder Friendly and Senior Ready Denton County, these issues almost joined
themselves, redefining the focus for future activity. Advocacy is an
atmosphere of planning, building on private/public partnerships collaborating
on the common ground of the values espoused in the Older Americans Act.
###
We recognize that among our
challenges are the changing demographics of our population and our ability to
meet future needs in our community. In addition to more than doubling our
population in the next few decades, we are an aging population, with
Baby-Boomers expected to increase the over-65 population in Denton County up to 20% of our numbers, 4-times the current rate. Moreover, we are living
longer; our over-85 age group is the fastest growing segment, and all this as
the “Sandwich” generation continues to grow and increasingly serve both as
parents and primary caregivers of aging parents with needs especially as we
live longer and fulfill our desire to live at home and remain as independent as
we can, for as long as we can.
In keeping with the values
adopted in the Older American's Act, and as participants in The Aging Network,
one of our first priorities is to create an atmosphere of planning by including
stakeholders from all sectors of our community, and building on private/public
partnerships collaborating to challenge issues that threaten the wellbeing and
sustainability of our community, now and in the future. We will begin by
mapping out implementation of Older American Act services to priority
populations, and discuss the Area Agency on Aging - AAA 2008/2010 strategic
plan objectives in context of developing local strategies into three areas:
Housing, Community Services and Transportation, that will make, and sustain,
Denton County as an Elder Friendly and Senior Ready place to live.
We are members of the Denton County community dedicated to the
wellbeing of our older citizens in the context of a sustainable and livable
community that makes Denton County a good place to live for all who live here.
We come from Denton County employers, educational, government and health care
institutions, service providers, volunteer agencies, and more. We are private
and public citizens, caregivers, service providers, government representatives,
educators, professionals and amateurs, planners, builders, architects,
doctors, lawyers, volunteers, and we all live in and care about the future of
Denton County, Texas!
One of our first priorities is to create an atmosphere of
planning by including stakeholders from all sectors of our community, and
building on private/public partnerships collaborating to challenge issues that
threaten the wellbeing and sustainability of our community, now and in the
future. To advocate is to educate, to advocate is to lead,
and we plan on doing both. In keeping with the values adopted in the Older
American’s Act, and as participants in The Aging Network, we are advocates, and
intend to provide, “In accordance with the wishes of the older
individual, advocacy on behalf of the older individual for needed services or
resources.”* And that is good for all of us, for now and for the future.
(*Older American’s Act: {U.S. Code TITLE 42 CHAPTER 35 SUBCHAPTER I [Sec.3002] [21]
[B] [V]})
Healthy Community Coalition “Creating a Healthy Community”
Involved with support to Denton County’s Childhood vaccination program, The Peoples Clinic, Housing Summit, Denton County Two-Step Texercise program, Denton County Senior Services, and more, we are just
beginning to meet the challenge. In keeping with the values adopted in the
Older American's Act, and as participants in The Aging Network, one of our
first priorities is to create an atmosphere of planning by including
stakeholders from all sectors of our community, and building on private/public
partnerships collaborating to challenge issues that threaten the wellbeing and
sustainability of our community, now and in the future. Our private/public
partners include members of the Aging Network, church, education, health
institutions, government, business, community organizations, and includes
citizens of all ages and walks of life, officials, professionals, formal and
informal caregivers, and together, we support an agenda of advocacy for
housing, community services and transportation that will make, and sustain,
Denton County as an Elder Friendly and Senior Ready place to live.
Mission:
To address
issues and problems of availability and access in the County to health,
education, housing, transportation, and community and supportive services
needed by the growing population of older adults by engaging in research,
planning, and development activities that positively impact quality of life for
seniors in Denton County.
We
support our mission by dedicating leadership and resources to helping secure Denton County as an "Elder Friendly & Senior Ready" place offering
sustainable, appropriate, affordable, accessible and adequate housing,
community services and transportation to a growing population of seniors while
meeting the future needs all age segments of our growing population.
Vision:
Denton County, "Elder Friendly & Senior Ready" offering
sustainable, appropriate, affordable, accessible and adequate housing,
community services and transportation to a growing population of seniors while
meeting the future needs all age segments of our growing population. We
envision a community with 100% Access and Zero Disparity. We strive to make
available to our older citizens, who need them, comprehensive programs that
support:
·
The best possible physical and
mental health which science can make available and without regard to economic
status;
·
Suitable housing, independently
selected, designed and located with reference to special needs and available at
costs which older citizens can afford;
·
Full restoration services for
those who require institutional care, and a comprehensive array of
community-based, long term care services adequate to appropriately sustain
older people in their communities and in their homes, including support to
family members and other persons providing voluntary care to older individuals
needing long-term care services;
·
Efficient community services,
including access to low-cost transportation, which provide a choice in
supported living arrangements and social assistance in a coordinated manner and
which are readily available when needed, with emphasis on maintaining a
continuum of care for vulnerable older individuals;
·
Freedom, independence, and the
free exercise of individual initiative in planning and managing their own
lives, full participation in the planning and operation of community-based
services and programs provided for their benefit, and protection against abuse,
neglect, and exploitation; and
·
The fullest diversity of the
population and respect individual beliefs.
Values:
We believe
in the inherent dignity of senior citizens and their right to live as
independently as possible and to have access to the fullest array of community
services and supports achievable to help sustain their independence. We value
the inclusion of senior citizens and their care providers in all aspects of the
planning and evaluation of the services and supports that they receive.
Role of Seniors Advocacy
·
Serve as the "eyes and
ears" of local seniors and their caregivers
·
Review and comment on policies,
programs and actions that affect seniors
·
Communicate with local, state and
elected officials, testify at public hearings
·
Provide leadership, guidance and
education, make community presentations
·
Support local organizations
serving seniors and increase communication
###
--- DADS Aging Texas Well, offers 16 1-page issue fact sheets,
covering Domains of Wellbeing that we can learn about to prepare for aging from
an individual and societal perspective. Specific to Texas, these fact sheets
cover trends, policies,
programs and services areas in Texas, and list some ways to get involved in
each topic area.
http://www.dads.state.tx.us/news_info/publications/kits/atw_kit.pdf
http://www.agingtexaswell.org
Outcomes, objectives and
some of the selected indicators are from The AdvantAge Initiative Indicators
List (Essential Elements of an Elder-Friendly Community) and some are based on
Aging Texas Well Domains of Wellbeing, and others are based on Best Practices
gleaned from Gerontological resources. These have been adapted for Denton County Texas use. We will have to naturally add, delete, change or modify this list to
best meet the needs of the citizens of Denton County. An Elder Friendly and Senior Ready Denton County is a sustainable investment in a livable community that is the
best choice for all ages. …dec
(Research note: Federal
Information Processing Standards, FIPS State Code 48, FIPS County Code 121, Denton County, Texas = 48121).
Role of Seniors Advocacy
n
Serve as the "eyes and
ears" of local seniors and their caregivers
n
Review and comment on policies,
programs and actions that affect seniors
n
Communicate with local, state
and elected officials, make community presentations, testify at public hearings
DCSS Advocacy Taskforce/Committee
Andre Villarreal - Executive
Director of Day Stay for Adults <andre@daystay.org>
Gail Saunders - Mayhill Hospital
Counselor, Oasis Program <revmsw3@aol.com>
Margaret A. Jover, Ph.D.
"Maggie" - Texas Cooperative Extension < m-jover@tamu.edu>
Bryon Mecham, CSA - At Home
Personal Care <bryon@athomeprc.com>
Kendy Fletcher - Co-Owner Ray of
Sunshine Lewisville/Highland Village <roslewisville@yahoo.com>
Diana M. Corona - Executive Director RSVP Denton County <dmcorona@rsvpdentoncounty.org>
Our mission: To dedicate leadership and
resources to helping secure Denton County as a "Elder Friendly &
Senior Ready" place offering sustainable, appropriate, affordable,
accessible and adequate housing, community services and transportation to a
growing population of seniors while meeting the future needs all age segments
of our growing population.
A
vision: 100% Access & 0% Disparity!
David
E. Comeau, M.S., Gerontologist
Doctoral student in applied gerontology at the University of North Texas.
Healthy
Communities Coalition of Denton County - Geriatric Services Workgroup
Denton County Senior Services - Online
Directory Web Portal "Denton County Senior Services"
