Washington Heights & Inwood Council on Aging (WHICOA) November 19 th, 2004 Development of Community-Based Partnerships in Minority Aging Research The Gerontological Society of America's 57th Annual Scientific Meeting Washington, DC
Dancing & Birthdays 100 th birthday celebration! -now 104 years young
New Friends & Activities
Demographics Seniors over age 65 comprise ~13 % of the population 70% of residents are Latino 54% Dominican- 88,300 38.9 % Foreign born, not citizens 48.7% non- high school graduate 30% Uninsured 33% Medicaid
WHICOA Mission Statement to encourage the expansion and insure the coordination of services to the elderly in order to improve the way of life of the elderly citizens of Washington Heights & Inwood.
History WHICOA has been the inter-agency planning and advocacy organization for aging services providers and related organizations in Northern Manhattan for over 32 years (founded in 1972). WHICOA is composed of over 50 local community- based organizations and service providers.
Organizational Strength The strength of the coalition lies in its years of continuity and the close working relationships among its members. 9 open general membership meetings per year. Executive Committee, Senior Center Directors, Case Managers and other committees meet monthly. Outstanding history of advocacy for changes in public policy at the city, state and federal level.
Current Issues Facing our Seniors NYC-DFTA s Frozen Meals Accessible Transportation Affordable Housing Safety NYC Dept. of Health has ranked WH & Inwood in the bottom 10 out of 40 neighborhoods for access to care in NYC. Federal Entitlements: Medicare; Medicaid Social Security Rising Cost of Prescription Drugs
EXECUTIVE BOARD Fern Hertzberg* Nelson Peralta* Sharon Asherman Adeena Horowitz Susan Bendor Leslie Foster* David Johnson Consuelo Mora- McLaughlin* Edith Prentiss* Rebecca Prentice Carel Rosemary Cortez Maria Luna* Rita Palter POSITION Co-Chair Co-Chair Secretary Treasurer Committee Chair Committee Chair Committee Chair Committee co- Chair Committee Chair Members at Large Members at Large Members at Large Members at Large ARC XVI Fort Washington Inc. Senior Center Columbia University Medical Center CALME/CHUM YM/YWHA Senior Center Selfhelp Community Services Yeshiva University-Wurzweiler School of Social Work Isabella Geriatric Center Washington Heights Community Services, Inc./ STAR Senior Center Columbia University Medical Center-NOMASS Supportive Services for Seniors Ft. Washington Houses Senior Center & Services for the Elderly, Inc New York Presbyterian Hospital-Allen Pavilion Seniors Helping Seniors AFFILIATION Washington Heights & Inwood Institute for Retired Person (WHIRP) * Indicates CALME Community Advisory Board member
WHICOA Accomplishments 1978-Washington Heights-Inwood Services and Transportation program (WHIST) Provides 30,000 one-way trips per year 1983-The Meals-on on-wheels program. (STAR Senior Center). Provides 55,000 meals yearly; 250 clients each week 1984-Mental Health for Homebound Elderly Program 1994-Annual Legislative Breakfast community leaders & residents, cbo s,, elected officials 2004 theme was The New Medicare: Winners & Losers. Congressman Charles Rangel - keynote
Pros: Why WHICOA Partners with Academic Institutions? Additional healthcare services for senior population Institutions have clout with seniors Exposure of students to seniors Expanded funding opportunities Cons Dependency on commitments from the Institutions Inability to fund these services on a ongoing basis
Program Partnership Example 1988- Community Caregiving 6 day-week bilingual respite/activity program for Alzheimer's clients; social adult day program serving 120 seniors and their families annually. Columbia U officials participated in planning and start-up of program. Positive: prior research results were included in program design Negative: no institutional funding available
Funding Partnerships Examples Grant application to CMS- Medicare Drug Discount Outreach and Training 2004-Bilingual Medicare Outreach, Education and Enrollment initiative $5K grant from the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation $1K grant from the Dorothy Rose & Albert E. Blumberg Fund Grant application to NCI- Cancer Education and outreach Grant application to NIH Stroke Health Education WHICOA Community Resources Directory
WHICOA Community Resources Directory th Edition 5 th WHICOA, along with CALME & NYPH, has published 10,000 copies per edition of the bilingual Community Resource Directory. Bilingual tool used by community seniors and others to assist local residents in obtaining services within our community.
Student Partnership Examples 1995-The Washington Heights and Inwood Student Project: Project: 5 WHICOA community service agencies in partnership with Yeshiva University to help increase services to seniors introduce social work students to gerontology. 1999-WHICOA sponsors Medical, Nursing, Occupational & Physical Therapy, Dental students from Columbia University Medical Center at local senior centers. Over 200 healthcare students have participated in this rotation.
Bilingual Health Education & Recruitment Lectures for Seniors In conjunction with the Columbia Center for the Active Life of Minority Elders (CALME) over 200 health lectures since 1999
Bilingual Health Education Materials
Health Screenings Medical, Dental, Nursing, Physical Therapy and Social Work students serving our seniors
Health Screenings
Research Partnerships Value to WHICOA Provide needed health screenings and services to seniors Bilingual health education materials Information on research outcomes Usability in program and service design Value to RCMAR/CALME Increase minority elder research participation WHICOA/CALME Concerns Gap in translational research findings to the community Over researching same population at local senior centers Dependent on partnership for services Lack of long term continuity Inconsistent level of commitment
2004 Research Information Day at Isabella Geriatric Center
Seniors at Research Day
Rita Palter, age 90, does she understand these posters and research outcomes?