To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tracy Repp 565-5982, Paul Dunaway 565-3673
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) FY 21-22 Area Plan Update
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the AAA FY 2020-24 Area Plan Update for FY 2021-2022 and authorize the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the Transmittal Letter to the California Department of Aging.
end
Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County AAA is required by the California Department of Aging to develop an Area Plan every four years and update it annually. The plan establishes annual goals and objectives that serve to improve the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers in Sonoma County.
Discussion:
The Board of Supervisors has been designated as the governing body of the Sonoma County AAA by the California Department of Aging (CDA) since 1980. The AAA is responsible for planning, developing policy, and advocating for the needs of older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. The AAA is also responsible for administering the Older Americans Act federal funding. This federal funding assists older adults and people with disabilities to remain home and in the community as long as possible.
The California Department of Aging distributes federal funds to local AAA’s for the provision of services to older adults (persons 60 and older). The Sonoma County AAA receives nearly $2.75 million annually from the CDA and contracts with local community-based service providers to support programs such as home-delivered meals and senior lunches at congregate sites, case management, support for caregivers, transportation, and other supportive services and programs.
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Area Plan Update
As described in Title 22, Chapter 3, Article 1.8 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), each AAA is required to develop and maintain a four-year area plan informing the community of needs and available services and service gaps, as well as the AAA’s plans to address these issues during the four-year planning cycle. As part of this Area Plan, goals and objectives are developed reflecting the results of the extensive needs assessment completed in 2019. This needs assessment was included in the four-year 2020-2024 plan approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 28, 2020.
Each fiscal year, the AAA is required to provide the California Department of Aging an update to the four-year plan. The FY 2021-22 Area Plan Update provides a progress report on objectives identified in the 2020-2024 Four-Year Area Plan. The objectives are a combination of contractual requirements and ongoing evaluation of older adult needs in Sonoma County.
People 60 years of age and up now comprise a larger proportion of the population of the county, state, and country than ever before in history. Sonoma County’s older adult population comprises 134,385 individuals, representing 27% of the county’s total population. The projections of older adults for 2030 are 167,053 individuals representing 33% of the county’s total population, an 18% increase in approximately 10 years.
To accomplish the goals and objectives set forth in the Four-Year Area Plan and effectively administer the Older Americans Act funding locally, the AAA maintains a strong voice in the community on issues affecting older adults. FY2021-22 Updates to the Objectives include:
A) Convene Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council members and community partners for the AAA Housing, Civic Engagement, and Transportation Committees to evaluate issues related to older adults and adults with disabilities, and create short, medium, and long-term recommendations to inform policy makers and stakeholder on issues impacting these vulnerable communities.
B) AAA Advisory Council members and AAA staff join County of Sonoma Initiatives including Aging Together and Age Friendly Cities ensuring the inclusion of the needs and contributions of older adults in every conversation as well as move forward the “Five Bold Goals” of the Governor’s 10 Year Master Plan for Aging.
C) Plan and implement outreach efforts that target the eligible population, with special attention to rural residents who have no broadband internet or electronic media service, Spanish speakers, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual clientele. Publicity and outreach plans will include specific strategies for addressing challenges to reaching rural residents, minorities, and underserved groups.
D) Implement training, policies, and hiring practices for AAA and service provider’s staff that support and promote cultural competency and inclusivity and that demonstrate an ability to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to diverse populations such as Latinx, Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer or Questions (LGBTQI+) and/or other minority and underserved groups.
The AAA contracts with non-profit agencies to provide services free (voluntary contributions accepted), for older adults and caregivers such as: information and assistance via a dedicated phone line: 565-INFO, meals, transportation, legal services, care management, adult day programs, caregiver support programs, Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy (HICAP) and Ombudsman services.
As COVID-19 became a pandemic in 2020, services and service providers supporting older adults had to quickly modify service delivery models to continue to meet the needs of older adults during such difficult times. Services have been provided virtually, through Zoom and WebEx platforms. Meals programs instituted “drive-up/pick-up” sites making multiple packages of meals available. This model has allowed for approximately 197,000 additional meals delivered to older adults throughout the county. In total meals served, 232,829 meals were delivered from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020 and 429,860 were served from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021, which shows an 84.6% increase from 2019-20 to 2020-21.
Updates
On occasion, case management, caregiver support, and legal services programs were able to meet people in-person through “porch or door” appointments or at tables outside agency offices, following proper social distancing and face-covering protocols.
COVID-19 brought to light how isolation has increased the decline in the health of older adults, especially those that live alone, due to stress, loneliness, and not having an ability to schedule or delaying medical appointments. There have been many campaigns to put electronic devices into the hands of older adults to be able to stay connected digitally (computers, tablets, Google personal assistant devices). These campaigns also brought attention to how many older adults do not have broadband internet access to support these devices. Daily telephone call programs to isolated older adults were able to expand their programs due to receiving federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES ) Act emergency funding. Petaluma People Services Center, a non-profit agency serving all ages, has recruited 3,000 volunteers to call 3,000 isolated older adults daily. Each volunteer and participant have made a real friendship through this process.
The FY 2021-22 Area Plan Update was approved by the AAA Advisory Council at its Public Hearing on April 21, 2021.
In order to continue receipt of this important federal funding, please approve the Area Agency on Aging FY 2020-2024 Area Plan Update for FY 2021-2022 and authorize the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the Transmittal Letter to the California Department of Aging.
Prior Board Actions:
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has annually approved the Area Plans and Updates as presented to the Board by the Area Agency on Aging at the following meetings:
April 28, 2020: Board approved the Area Agency on Aging Four-Year Area Plan 2020-2024
April 30, 2019: Board approved the 2019/20 Area Plan Update
May 08, 2018: Board approved the 2018/19 Area Plan Update
May 16, 2017: Board approved the 2017/18 Area Plan Update
May 24, 2016: Board approved the Area Agency on Aging Four-Year Area Plan 2016-2020
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY 21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
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Total Sources |
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0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - California Department of Aging FY2021-2022 Area Plan Update
Attachment 2 - California Department of Aging Transmittal Letter
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Area Agency on Aging 2020-2024 Area Plan