2015 Aging in Texas Conference The Aging Agenda

2015 Aging in Texas Conference The Aging Agenda: Serving Older Adults through Coordinated Care Systems in the New Millennium

Learning Objectives Participants will learn: how to create an Aging Agenda specific to your community how to develop partnerships that will advance Aging Agenda recommendations how to utilize various tools to review progress made on the Aging Agenda how we are enhancing the existing Agenda

About the Harris County Area Agency on Aging Who is the Harris County Area Agency on Aging? q Part of a nationwide federal grant program authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965. q Grantee agency for Older Americans Act Services for Harris County. q Part of the City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services. q One of the largest Area Agencies on Aging in the state of Texas.

The Aging Agenda: Serving Older Adults through Coordinated Care Systems in the New Millennium Aging In Houston, Harris County, TX

About the Harris County Area Agency on Aging Organizational Chart Mayor City Council Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) Harris County Area Agency on Aging/ Care Connection Aging and Disability Resource Center Area Planning Advisory Council

Houston Department of Health and Human Services Strategic Roles HDHHS serves as a: Catalyst Facilitator Broker Evaluator Advocate Safety Net Provider Change Agent

The Aging Agenda – What is it? The Aging Agenda is a product of organizations collaborating to meet the needs of older adults in the Greater Houston area by : o Surveying the older adult community to determine the most pressing needs as identified by the population o Developing workgroups to specifically address each of the eight identified domains o Documenting a Plan of Action to address each of the eight domains o Pooling scarce resources to innovatively guide service delivery “ This Aging Agenda is an attempt to move beyond generalizations and extrapolate from facts beyond our own experience to an accurate view of the broader community. ” Stephen Williams, Director Houston Department of Health and Human Service Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

Development of the Aging Agenda The Aging Agenda was initiated by a Catalyst from a partner agency The idea: Create a roadmap to guide the community response to address the needs of older adults Houston/Harris County was ahead of the game Commission on Long Term Care 2013 Report Advancing an Agenda on Long Term Services and Supports areas of recommendation: Service Delivery Workforce Financing

Development of the Aging Agenda Facilitator and Champion were needed to move ideas forward Resource Broker HDHHS & HCAAA identified as the Facilitators Facilitation included: Establishing information gathering format Providing staff to convene meetings Writing the document Creating timelines Research Hiring a writer and book designer Paying for printing

Managing Your Community Response Group Activity Discuss a collaborative community response you are or may have been involved in What structure did you use to formulate a response? How did you maintain group cohesiveness? Discuss Successes and Challenges

Development of the Aging Agenda Research conducted to identify domains Partners identified from community organizations to lead domains Domain leads, HCAAA, HDHHS identified domain participants from partner organizations Domain and participant roles delineated Lots of communication and ownership stressed

Development of the Aging Agenda Who were/are some of the partners? National Organizations Academic Institutions State and Local Government AARP Baylor College of Medicine Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services American Red Cross Texas Southern University Texas Department of Family and Protective Services YWCA Texas Women’s University Various Agencies of Harris County and the City of Houston University of Houston Local for- profit and not- forprofit agencies University of Texas Medical School at Houston University of Texas Nursing School at Houston Domain leads from the following organizations: Taking ownership: What’s in it for me?

Development o f the Aging Agenda Eight Domains identified: q Access to Quality Care q Basic Needs q Civic Engagement/Volunteerism and Employment q Health and Well-Being q Housing q Spirituality, Culture, Recreation and Lifelong Learning q Safety and Security q Transportation and Mobility Subsequently, the workgroups categorized: q Key Indicators of Current Status and Challenges q Promising Practices q Recommendations for Action

Development of the Aging Agenda Unchartered Territory Bringing partners together was challenging…why? Territorialism Bias Fear Lack of trust Some organizations and people had never worked together But, as we worked together, great things started to happen!

Development of the Aging Agenda Meeting structure and format: Used the Assessment and Proposed Strategies document Frequency: Met once a month in person; Email and phone correspondence facilitated by domain lead Domain name with history and vision Our vision: What outcomes do we want to achieve? Indicators and data Unmet needs SWOT Analysis

Development of the Aging Agenda Meeting structure and format: Used the Assessment and Proposed Strategies document Issues needing more information Evaluating current programs and the system of care Best practices and promising programs Organizational and individual leaders and resources Other resources Recommend activities

Development of the Aging Agenda A day in the life of a domain participant After meetings, domain leads sent information to HDHHS Facilitator compiled information for document

Development of the Aging Agenda There was great momentum initially, but… Needed to keep domain leads and participants engaged and motivated Long timeframe for document development Partners had competing demands Domain leads and participants stopped participating

What has your organization created that is similar to the Aging Agenda? Group Activity Discuss your efforts/collaborations How have you kept people engaged in your process? What were your greatest challenges? What were your results/successes? How are these projects moving forward?

Development of the Aging Agenda Creating the product Decided on a format What is the utility? Long and short version created Compiled workgroup meeting notes Facilitator worked with writer, document designer and printer Celebrate!!!!!

2015: What are the next steps? Seven years later, we wanted to know: Where are we as a community? What have we accomplished? Are we ready for the future?

Aging Agenda Progress Report The Aging Agenda Progress Report answers questions about what has been accomplished as a community Some important resources needed to assess progress Catalyst Broker Facilitator Identify an assessment process

Aging Agenda Progress Report Tools used to assess progress—Approach to gather information Emailed correspondence to domain leads New domain leads identified Established timelines Corresponded via email and over the phone with leads on the current state of the domains Completed community surveys with professionals and consumers on the current state of the domains

Aging Agenda Progress Report Domain Name Where We Were (2008) Where We Are (2015) Access to Quality Care Need fairly Compensated direct care workers… 2015, U. S. DOL added stds. for minimum wage and overtime protections for “Domestic Service” Workers. Civic Engagement/ Number of older adult volunteers who serve intensively has dropped. 2010, Houston receives $200 K grant to promote Volunteerism Health & Well-Being Need evidence based health, nutrition and disease management programs & more preventive health programs Significant expansion of evidence-based programs & promotion of Medicare Prevention and Wellness City-wide implementation of Affordable Care Act programs Volunteerism /Employment

Aging Agenda Progress Report Domain Name Spirituality, Culture, Recreation & Lifelong Learning Where We Were (2008) Existing barriers to available activities and venues include vast geographical area and access to activities that promote… Where We Are (2015) 2014, The Academy for Lifelong Learning @ local CC for continued intellectual and personal growth (5 campuses) Evidence Based Programs in the community i. e. AMOB, Tai Chi Crime prevention, Fire Safety, 2010, The Elder Justice Act; New Safety & Security Home Safety, Financial Collaborations-Houston Financial Security/Fraud Protection Abuse Specialist & Elder Fatality Review Teams The Senior Adult Assessment Center, Healthy Homes Transportation & Mobility Need additional transportation 2013 – Complete Streets Initiative FY 2014, Houston UZA received funding; more accessible $2. 4 Million 5310 Funds for the walkways, crosswalks, and older adults and persons w/ streets for those with limited disabilities; 2015, City Of Houston mobility joined AARP network of age friendly communities.

Aging Agenda Progress Report Domain Name Where We Were (2008) Where We Are (2015) Basic Needs Of Harris County residents living in poverty, 6% were seniors 65 and over. Of all residents 65 and over in Harris County, 12% had incomes below the poverty level (U. S. Census, 2000). HCAAA has increased support services by offering assistance in the form of a payment to a third party provider for service or goods that support/ supplement the basic needs of older individuals or their caregivers. Housing Of those seniors who have limitations in their abilities to perform activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, 70% live in spaces without handrails or grab bars. HCAAA increased Residential Repair Services by repairing or modifying dwellings occupied by older Individuals. HCAAA’s Healthily Homes Falls Prevention program has provided education and modification to dwellings of older adults to increase safety of the homes.

Aging Agenda Progress Report preview shared at Harris County Area Agency on Aging/Care Connection ADRC Bridges 2015 Conference (2016 Bridges Conference, Houston, TX – May 12 -13, 2016) Anticipated Progress Report release date: Fall 2015 The Progress Report does the following: Keeps the conversation going Continually causes the community to think about ways to partner, improve and assist Serves as a source document

Lessons Learned Find a champion to support your cause Be willing to bend a little – flexibility is key Promote/leverage your organization’s good works Do not be afraid to partner with established and grassroots organizations Embrace growing pains Know your strengths and weaknesses Recognize that collaboration is a journey Keep your eyes on the prize!

Moving Forward to Create Your Aging Agenda We hope these tools will help your organization to affect change in your community Thank you!