Alameda County, California Print
Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
4/18/2019
Lead Agency: Alameda County Department of Adult and Aging Services
Government Agency
Action Plan Download
Alameda County's Age-Friendly Action Plan focuses on four areas: Housing & Economic Security, Health Services & Community Supports, Communication & Information, and Social Participation & Civic Engagement. The plan aims to foster an age-friendly community by addressing issues related to long-term services and supports and valuing aging and well-being. The plan reflects the needs of the county's diverse and aging community and is continually evolving to meet those needs.
Action Plan Highlights
Housing
To address homelessness and displacement of older adults, strategies include leveraging Home Safe Funding and providing outreach and case management services to unsheltered older adults. Emergency shelters need to be appropriate for the needs of older adults, including accessibility, nursing care, medication storage, and service animal accommodation. Skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities need to inform older adults about discharge planning. Finally, a coordinated entry system should be created specifically for homeless and at-risk older adults.Health and Community Services
Efforts to support older adults and individuals with disabilities include educating them on simplified Medicare options and penalties, as well as holding regular listening sessions on health and wellness topics. Advocacy at the state level includes a campaign to recruit and retain undocumented immigrants as caregivers and waiving the state's Social Security Number requirement for undocumented persons not legally residing in the US and for those legally present and waiting for their SSN.Communication and Information
Efforts to support older adults and adults with disabilities include helping them access secure, low-cost, or no-cost broadband, providing tablets and training on their safe and competent use, and funding in-person and telephonic healthcare and service delivery options for those who cannot or are not ready to use digital options. Consideration is given to adjustments on the tablets to accommodate various needs, such as enlarged font sizes, screen readers, and voice-activated software. Stakeholders will educate clients about the CHAT/DC program and be a referral source to get them connected.
