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Strategic Plan for Aging Well in Jefferson County

PROJECT Project Title: Strategic Plan for Aging Well in Jefferson County
NominationDate: 1/31/2012 4:46 PM
Local Government: Jefferson County
Cooperating Government: 
Summary:
By 2030, the number of people 60 and older is expected to double in the state of Colorado, and especially in Jefferson County, the third most populous county in the state. In the spring of 2008, Jefferson County Department of Human Services embarked on a large-scale strategic planning process titled “Aging Well.” The project has brought many stakeholders together to collaborate on how best the county can prepare for the projected doubling of the senior population over the next two decades. The ultimate vision for all who’ve participated in this process is to see Jefferson County be a thriving community for aging well. Mission Statement: To develop and implement strategies creating inclusive, livable communities through sustainable partnerships and integrated services. The project focuses on six different topic areas all of which meet or enhance the Metro Vision 2035 Plan: • Basic Needs • Caregiving and Supportive Services • Health, Mental Health, Wellness and Prevention • Housing • Social and Civic Engagement • Transportation and Mobility/Local Coordinating Council
Problem:
The population is going to double. The biggest increase in the number of seniors will be in the years 2013-2020. With demand for senior services already increasing, and budgets tightening - how can the community plan for the future to ensure needs are met? In a survey that was completed in 2010 - the top three needs identified by those over 60 were: 1. Seniors need to remain socially and civically engaged 2. Seniors need information in order to plan for the future 3. Seniors want to remain as healthy as possible with access to quality medical care Agencies serving seniors in Jefferson County needed to work together more closely in order to steamline services and spend limited funding more efficiently. The following represents some of the agencies working on this project: Jefferson County Department of Human Services Seniors' Resource Center Jefferson Center for Mental Health Numerous Parks and Recreation Centers City of Lakewood City of Wheat Ridge St. Anthony Hospital RTD/access-a-Ride Volunteers of America Jefferson County District Attorney's Office Total Long Term Care Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Mullins Youngdahl Design Company Numerous in-home care agencies The Legal Center Consumers Etc.
Description:
A Leadership Committee, comprised of professionals from all areas of senior issues including housing, legal issues, nutrition programs, transportation, planning and zoning, law enforcement, citizens, etc., began meeting monthly and now meets quarterly. The Leadership Committee formulated the following vision and mission statements: Vision: Jefferson County: A thriving community for aging well. Mission: To develop and implement strategies creating inclusive, livable, communities through sustainable partnerships and integrated services. Six workgroups were formed which tackled sub-topics within the main workgroup topic. Workgroup chairs met monthly following the Leadership Committee meetings and workgroup members and their subcommittees met monthly or more often. The workgroups began by defining and narrowing their topic areas. There was a great deal of information for each topic area and it was important for the workgroups to define their topic and focus on the most important issues. The workgroups found the task at hand to be overwhelming as Jefferson County does have many resources for seniors; however, the gaps quickly became apparent. The primary outcome of the first year was the development by each of the six workgroups of a report which includes an acknowledgement page of who participated on this group, an introduction, the process used, trends, strengths and assets, gaps, report wrap-up, and appendices including terms and definitions used in the report. Workgroups also began researching best practices and models for potential replication or expansion within Jefferson County. The first year of the project focused on what resources already exist in the county as well as identifying the gaps, waiting lists or barriers to receiving these services. The second year of the project focused on identifying promising practices and models that may be replicated in Jefferson County to make it a "thriving community for aging well." Also, the committees identified appropriate decision makers, e.g., mayors, city councils, planning and zoning departments, etc, to approach in order to implement some of the promising models. A first of its kind Aging Well Summit was held in June 2010. A community assessment survey of 3,750 residents over the age of 60 was administered, analyzed and reports provided to the county as a whole as well as for each of its larger municipalities. In the third year, small seed funds were received for four projects. In addition, the 2011 Summit on Aging, hosted by the Aging Well in Jefferson County Project, was held featuring presentations by notable speakers and more than a dozen exhibitors showcasing resources available to seniors and caretakers. There was also a Mobile Computer Training Lab on site dedicated to internet training for seniors. Outcomes Goals and Measures A 276-page report was written based on the information these workgroups found over two years. Trends, Strengths, Assets, Gaps as well as Short-term Strategic Plans (2011-2015) and Long-term (2016-2030) Strategic Plans were developed for each of the workgroups. In addition, a number of topics crossed all workgroups and are included in this report. These are Accessing Information and Resources, Advocacy, Special Populations (People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders, and Homeless Elders), and Sustainability. This report and all of the information from the project can be found on the Jefferson County Aging Well website at http://humanservices.jeffco.us. http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/jeffco/adultsvc_uploads/aging_well_report/AW_exec_sum.pdf Goals for Basic Needs • Strengthen the disaster response capacity of senior and disabled community members in Jefferson County • Provide adequate nutrition resources to meet the needs of the growing older adult population • Assure older adults will receive adequate financial resources to meet their basic needs • Provide adequate legal resources to meet the basic needs of older adults for civil legal services and for senior-specific services from the criminal justice system Goals for Caregiving and Supportive Services • Provide tools for caregivers to be effective in their roles • Develop options for respite services that support caregivers and promote aging in place Goals for Health, Mental Health, Wellness and Prevention • Increase appropriate, reasonably-priced, and timely care to seniors by establishing one or more sliding fee senior medical/mental health clinics • Increase healthy behaviors among older residents in Jefferson County • Increase access and utilization of mental health services for seniors • Support the addition of a geropsychiatric inpatient services unit within Jefferson County • Jefferson County will have adequate medical personnel to meet the needs of seniors Goals for Housing • Models of affordable senior housing are implemented in communities throughout Jefferson County • Increase number of communities in the county with Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinances • Promote senior-friendly residential housing development • More LGBT housing options for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders Goals for Social and Civic Engagement • Mature workers will have viable employment opportunities in Jefferson County • Strengthen collaboration among faith-based organizations/communities, services and resources for seniors • Lifelong learning opportunities will meet the needs of adults 60 and over • Mature adults in Jefferson County will have a variety of meaningful volunteer opportunities which utilize their skills and experience, enhance their well-being, and meet real needs in the community Goals for Transportation and Mobility/Local Coordinating Council The Transportation and Mobility Workgroup transformed into a Local Coordinating Council (LCC). Their goals and objectives changed in order to coincide with their new vision. The following goals and objectives resulted: • Specialized transportation services for underserved populations in Jefferson County will be better coordinated • The Transportation and Mobility Short-Term Strategic Plan for Aging Well will continue to be implemented, monitored and updated in collaboration with partners • Strong communications and advocacy strategies exist with many committed partners giving consistent and unified messages about specialized transit for human services populations The project moves Metro Vision forward in a variety of ways but mainly to respond to the impacts of growth in the aging population and to assist in the planning and development of the region. By having multiple collaborations, we are creating more effective and efficient use of resources. Key accomplishments across all major areas of focus as well as positive stories from individual clients suggest that the effort is already having an impact on our community: Key Accomplishments for Basic Needs • First Jefferson County Senior Law Day held on June 11, 2011 • Printed and distributed Nutritional Resources throughout Jefferson County • Health Passport Program co-located at the Department of Human Services Key Accomplishments for Caregiving and Supportive Services • Selected “The Educated Caregiver” DVD series as a tool • Purchased and distributed 20 sets of the DVDs throughout the county along with a Facilitation Guide for Group Leaders • Held 4 Caregiver Workshops based on the DVDs • Developed a marketing tool to raise awareness about information available to seniors and caregivers Key Accomplishments for Health, Mental Health, Wellness and Prevention • Began developing plans for enhanced senior services through Metro Community Providers Network (MCPN) for a clinic in Jefferson County which will provide a variety of services in one location. • Held yoga activities in the community to act as focus groups to increase health/wellness • Supported Senior Reach in a SAMHSA grant application to screen seniors for depression and prescription drug misuse Key Accomplishments for Housing • Researched the Village Housing Model in the U.S. and supported an individual looking to create a Village in south Jefferson County based on Washington Park Cares Model. • Reviewed Jefferson County’s Master Plan highlighting areas that focus on seniors (i.e. density bonuses, tax incentives, fast track permitting) • Began developing a Housing Matrix to evaluate and rank qualities relevant to successful senior communities Key Accomplishments for Social and Civic Engagement • Shared with others information from the Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults administered in Jefferson County, spring 2010, that the #1 need reported by seniors is civic engagement • Partnered with Jefferson County Libraries on a mobile computer training lab that offered free classes to people over the age of fifty. Fifty-six classes were held with 343 attendees. • Began working with Metro Volunteers on promoting their Volunteers with Impact and Purpose Program Key Accomplishments for Transportation and Mobility/Local Coordinating Council • Formed a Local Coordinating Council for human services transportation (LCC) • Developed bylaws and received a second grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) • Provided funding to Seniors’ Resource Center to open a café type model in Southwest Plaza Mall with senior transportation a focus These accomplishments and the implementation of the Jefferson County Strategic Plan for Aging Well from which they stem will have positive effects on the quality of life for generations of families for years to come. The timing of conducting this multi-year planning process and developing a wide-ranging Strategic Plan for Aging Well was fortuitous – we worked ahead of the curve rather than working in crisis-response mode. We knew the population of older adults was going to increase but we did not know the effect it was going to have on all of the systems until we delved into the topics and brought the community together. The county and its human services stakeholders are now in a better position to be proactive having the Plan in place as a guidepost to the future. Partnering, collaborating, and being willing to bring resources together will be key to creating communities where aging well is the norm. Jefferson County now has a stronger network of partners who have developed a joint plan together and who have committed to implementing it together. Those working to create livable and vibrant communities throughout Jefferson County can return to the vision and mission of the Aging Well Project when needed. Reflection can confirm whether the direction headed makes sense or whether realignment of priorities or resources is needed. As the economy ebbs and flows in the coming years, the vision and mission statements for this project can serve as a focus point for stakeholders and other interested parties. Many items were deemed priority, reflected in the numerous goals, objectives, and action steps outlined in the short- and long-term strategic plans. Though this is a somewhat daunting challenge, there are now visible and vocal organizational and individual advocates who have stepped forward in developing the Plan who have also committed to carrying the Plan out together. In essence, this Plan reflects the articulation of an explicit agreement that the well-being of residents in their later years will affect all communities and multiple generations of county residents. The strength of late life resources and quality of life for seniors also enhances life for their children, grandchildren and for others who care about them. Stakeholders who put the plan together and those who have heard about it to date have reported their belief to the Department of Human Services that having this plan in place strengthens the entire system of human services for Jefferson County.
Modification Details:
The project managers researched similar concepts throughout the country, however, the model created in Jefferson County is one of a kind, is still actively in use and is sustainable into the future.

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