COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA SENIOR CARE COMMISSION

Transcription

1 COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA SENIOR CARE COMMISSION FISCAL YEAR WORK PLAN And ACCOMPLISHMENTS Members Colleen Hudgen, Chair Mary Lou De Natale Susan Fowle Karen Sepahmansour, Vice Chair Pearl Caldwell Eve Orton Thomas Kinoshita Anne Mack Martha O Connell Brian Brennan Tung Nguyen Bob Gill 1

2 MISSION STATEMENT: The Senior Care Commission s purpose is to be actively involved in collaborating with our county, state and federal programs and assessing existing services for seniors by identifying areas of unmet needs and finding solutions for those unmet needs, fostering programs that promote independence, good health and quality of life for persons over 60. Our three major standing committees include: community care, institutional care and the legislative committees. Through our standing committees, we implement the mission by expanding community awareness and education, participating in concerns involving the quality of care or lack of it, for example, elder abuse, and, by tracking current legislation and advocating for senior legislation in collaboration with the Board of Supervisors through our Children, Seniors and Families Committee. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The commission was established in 1987 by County Ordinance as the primary advisory group to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on senior issues. One significant outcome of the commission over the previous years was the Senior Summit in which a variety of senior groups collaborated with the county services, APS, the main participant and organizer, to highlight senior issues related to health, social services and needs assessment. The success of the summit was the public information, resources, recognition and educational opportunities that the seniors and agencies shared and were able to utilize either individually or collectively for changes or additions to their programs. Other outcomes of the prior years included previous members participating in other collaborative groups, for example, a former member participating in an assessment along with the City of San Jose Senior Commission to utilize the assessment for a 10 year plan for seniors which help the Aging Services Collaborative to emerge. Some members participated in the Aging Services Collaborative as well. Another prior collaborative has been participation of one member in the North Bay Hospital Assessment Team to share in the senior portion of the report. In the recent years, members have conducted neighborhood forums in collaboration with the county in different locations to address concerns pertinent to those neighborhoods, for example, transportation. By venturing out into the community, historically the commission is meeting its goals of educating, advocating and involving seniors in their own health, social services, legislative, institutional and community needs. 2

3 1. Visit to Senior Centers to identify the activities that fit in with our mission as commissioners to see how our seniors participate in their achievement of cognitive, health, social and nutritional betterment. PRIOR YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS GOAL/OBJECTIVE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING GOAL STATUS A. Colleen Hudgen -Visit to Milpitas Senior Center Reported back Completed regarding the activities and information that the senior center has to contribute to the social, health and well-being of seniors B. Mary Lou De Natale-Visit to the Palo Alto Senior Center, Mountain View Senior Center and reported back C. Visits to Yu Ai Kai reported back 2. Participated with the Aging Services Collaborative for the Caregivers Conference on November. 3. Participated in many legislative committees and Council On Aging activities. 4.Brought information as a liaison regarding Children, Families and Seniors Committee Karen Sepahmansour participated in the Caregivers Committee of the Aging Services Collaborative which met regularly to plan the event. Multi-lingual accommodations were made with our organizers who included Christina Irving, staff person Amy Aken and others on the committee. Anne Mack participated in the California Senior Legislature. Eve Orton and Pearl participated in legislative committees of COA Tom Kinoshita informed us regarding these meetings as they related to seniors. Completed Ongoing Ongoing 5. Have speakers on IHSS program Jim Ramoni addressed the Commission several times. Completed 3

4 FISCAL YEAR 2012 WORK PLAN GOAL/OBJECTIVE 1.Fill Commission Vacant Seats Review Bylaws for possible recommendations to Board Of Supervisors for filling vacancies and other changes possibly needed. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES Collaborate with county through both our Children, Senior, and Families Committee, the Board of Sup and Social Services and fill much vacancies- now 4 needing identification of district and/or allowable appointments PRIORITY RANKING TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION By June 2011 or August Community Care Committee Fill membership members with community participants; identify meeting times with appropriate notice to the public. Identify some seniors independent housing and, mental health needs and gaps in services; identifying diverse community needs. 3.Insitutional Committee Identify meeting membership outside community membership also allowed. Identify times of meeting and give appropriate public notice. Provide current information on Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities serving seniors within Santa Clara County. Information to be collected, organized at the time of visit to present to the Board Of Supervisors at the end of each year. Identify3 housing/mental health speakers for appearing at our meetings. Identify 2 possible housing sites for Visits Possible appointment of ad hoc committee For a multicultural senior event regarding cultural information sharing, etc. A visit form is to be completed and submitted to the Committee Chair and presented at the monthly Senior Care Commission Meeting. Visit a minimum of one facility a month and report back to the commission Data-#of beds, type of health insurance accepted, recreation for patients, staff to patient ratio, facility citations for last 12 months. Scheduled by Committee with recommendation s in the next couple of months i.e., May, June.2011 and ongoing. Tentative schedule proposal of first visit within the next 2 months- May June 2011 and ongoing. 4

5 4. Legislative Committee Goals are to interact with the Board Legislative Committee and Children, Families and Seniors Committee; review the Board s legislative priorities, identifying senior social service legislative issues and make recommendations. *Analyze current state and county budget as it affects seniors Schedule presentation of a speaker, legislative liaison-i.e., Katie Brown for a visit regarding senior issues. Work with other groups to educate ourselves regarding senior legislationa. California Senior Legislature b. Council On Aging Legislative Committee c. League of Women Voters d. Congress of CA Seniors e. State and Federal Legislators Schedule for May regarding Seniors impacted by Budget-State or Federal Other ongoing Needing tentative schedules/times Chair and committee members decide 5

6 ONGOING PROJECTS PROJECT Review who is reporting to our commission and also review who is attending different community meetings necessary to our mission as advisors to our Board. Review our bylaws for recommendations to our Board as they relate to appointments/quorum as well as other pertinent changes as we may need for seniors Committee Chairs, members Identify our regular presenters Liaison to San Jose Senior Commission-Martha O Connell Public Health Department-Deborah Gennette? Community Care Chair Institutional Care Committee Chair Legislative Committee Chair Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Bd. of Supervisors Health And Hospital Committee of The Board ACTIVITIES Inform all of Children And Families Committee Meetings/Times/ Do we need to rotate? Same person can always go? Check with Children and Families and Seniors Committee regarding Aging Services Collaborative input so that we can connect regarding senior agenda related to our Mission. Check meetings Bylaws to be brought to April 13th Meeting. 4 vacancies need to be filled as soon as possible with transitions for new members in terms of input and committee involvement. Announcement of Committee Chairs, Times of Meeting, Interests, Members. April 13, Check Meeting of Health And Hospital Committee of the Board of Supervisors/Liaison 6