Tracking Data Statewide to Understand Outcomes and Influence Policy

On Monday, September 8th, in the Wilson Conference Room at Embassy Suites in Richmond, VA more than thirty leaders of the Age Wave initiative from across the state of Virginia gathered to exchange ideas, successful tactics and learnings they had gleaned from their Age Wave work in various locations. The goal of this forum was to provide an opportunity to learn with and from one another in an effort to create aligned traction across the state relative to Age Wave efforts. The meeting was initiated and coordinated by Sara Link of the Greater Richmond Age Wave Readiness Coalition and Marcia DuBois from DARS (Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services). It was lead by facilitator Anne Chamberlain from Floricane LLC. Topics ranged from funding and marketing strategies to work force development and data management. Below are the shared ideas captured on small post-its as the day progressed:

Open Space Round 1 Measurement Tools Prior Reports • Tracking data statewide to understand outcomes and influence policy • Measure changes in your community vs. measuring impact of your efforts • Surveying and targeting diverse representative population • Is data being collected and used to do good? • Do homework on previous community work and incorporate it into new plan. • Review other reports and plans in similar communities • Value in showing process improvement along the way • Performance measures of most things we do must be able to be translated to health outcomes • We need to be good stewards of data • Have a purpose for data collected (show progress, need, marketing)

Strategies • Teaching outcomes vs. outputs • Outcomes vs. Outputs • Programs (i.e. non-profits, org. programs, etc) need to have commitment to program evaluation including process and outcome evaluations. Need dedicated funding for evaluation • Process evaluations and start early with tracking • Health Data • Reducing readmission • Social isolation • Tie service provided to real outcomes and not just tick marks • NWD can be utilized to track changes with individuals in the community over time. How to access outcome data from real place • Opportunity: Loopback Analytics • How are people better off as a result of this program? • There’s a lot of data, but not a lot of analysis—funding (analysis) • Connecting survey data to a unique person to better draw conclusions • We need to analyze our data that we are producing for program evaluation—early and often • Shared data across time • Include process as well as outcome data • Logic models-consistent across state • Multiple data mgmt. systems—challenge—none of which work for entire agency

Funding Strategies Funding Sources • Need sustainability plans for ongoing operational funds • Recognize that incremental funding from existing sources is a good funding strategy—- Don’t need a big grant to get started • Social entrepreneurship by non-profits (use of B corporations) • Collaborative funding • Private sector employer partnerships for investment funding • Virginia Company Capital—low cost loans for capital projects • Include funders in planning process! • Diversify funding • Partner with private sector. Develop outcome measurements to sell ideas. Better to target services for their employees who are caregivers

Marketing Ideas Media • Showing relevant outcomes using data • Develop a budget / Make marketing a priority • Media is your friend. They get the importance of planning for aging pop! • Social media campaign to engage grassroots in changing view of aging

Intergenerational • Livable communities for all ages—-what helps older adults helps everyone • Intergenerational approach—-involve student in planning process • Marketing Strategy • 3 population groups on every community • 1. Those who are older adults now • 2. Those who are caregivers of older adults now • 3. Those that will be 1. or 2.

Website • Websites— Important to link local and national initiatives • Website development or marketing tool—Needs to be aligned: local—>regional—>state— >national

Brand/ Positive, Unifying message • Authentic messaging • Livable communities—engaged—pays it forward , plans ahead multi-generational • Flip the script—“Eliminating Senior isolation”, “helping loved ones stay home” • Tool kits • Age Wave planning • Welcome to aging • Caring for a loved one • Internal Marketing • Get you people on the same page • Capitalize on Age Wave planning • Bridge the agency’s strategic plan w/ the age wave planning • Livable communities are safe and secure for citizens and businesses • We must build trust with our elders in order to learn their needs and share them with others • Messaging to address ‘ageism’ common theme marketing/ brand • Changing the message about aging • Reinforce opportunity of aging

Alignment • Linking national and state resources • Compelling narrative • We need to change the conversation on aging and eradicate ageism! • Getting the Age Wave on the radar (politicians, policy makers, business leaders) • Info graphics with visuals of impact Alignment Opportunities • Emphasize the intellectual capital that seniors possess • Critical to engage political leaders/ Engage their support • “Time Banking” as a model for sharing services among public consumers • Partnership’s key— No one needs to own issue of aging shared leadership • Different stakeholders can lead different initiatives • Relationship building—helping communities develop social capital • Livable communities align a lot of opportunities to build from • Include a variety of community experts; ex: Housing • Needs to be a community effort • Prison re-entry planning needs to focus on needs of older people re-entering • Data alignment with health and human services and area agency on aging • Explore partnership development • National branding • Many different problems solved by “livable communities” • Reduced isolation • Greater access to health care and services • Improved access to resources • Importance of affordable housing as part of “livable communities” to create multigenerational neighborhoods • Collaboration and partnerships are key • Business partnership opportunities • Support businesses—-employee caregiver, ICU support, etc • Business opportunities • NC firm that offered simple home maintenances support (e.g., light bulb changing, HVAC)

Training/ Workforce Development • Mentoring opportunities • High impact and low money • Train/ Educate key thought leader in positive aging and how to avoid ageism • Train our current and future workforce in positive aging and avoiding ageism

Round 2 Defining Livable Community • Intergenerational! • Self Determination, “We are us and us is we” • Start with the positive, what is healthy-livable about our community • What are the key parts of livable communities?- non-negotiable • Certify a community as livable/ age ready (like storm water readiness) • What does a healthy/ livable community look like? Who defines it? • Livable communities- not just an issue of affordability/ amenity—so that we don’t miss out on the benefits and participation of many and varied citizens

Data Management • Align with business, education, funders, associations, intergenerational, government at all levels • Identify common key indicators of communities implementing Age Wave plans to be traded and reported at the state level • Peer Place= Virginia Best Practice; Age Wave initiatives will benefit data management in Peer Place ( No Wrong Door)

Elder Management • Benefits of networking with groups rather than presenting to • Importance of messaging to older adults—Why are they needed? • Reframe Senior engagement to focus on making a difference on key issues and having a voice in creating change

Learn more about specific “projects” and/or “initiatives” (Age Wave plans) that are currently implemented or being piloted Learning Process • Include the voice of older adults at all levels • Challenge keeping the momentum going • Age Wave planning needs to be consistent and ongoing—not static Learnings Innovation • Technology can facilitate wider access to supports • Peer Place • Innovative Senior Champions Program • The work we do should be community changing Learnings Ageism • Ban (Bar) tsunami • Attitudes of ageism are persuasive, even among professionals

Achievements/ Successes • Community College partnership for caregiver education • Faith community program/ reptile program • Senior as advocates for Age Wave initiatives • Caritas Model • Diversified funding • Not one size fits all • Importance of supporting grassroots efforts—helping neighborhoods and communities develop their own models of neighbors supporting neighbors Age Wave Leadership Forum Participants Amateau Gigi United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg Baker Donna Jefferson Area Board for Aging Bender Joan Colonial Heritage Community Foundation Boone Sandy Culpeper Wellness Foundation Boyden Richard Colonial Heritage Community Foundation Brink Robert Deputy Commissioner, Division for Aging (DARS) Brooks James AARP Richmond Chesser Michele Joint Commission on Health Care Dillard Ginger Jefferson Area Board for Aging Dr. Watson Thelma Senior Connections, The Capitol Area Agency on Aging Dr. Welleford Ayn Department of Gerontology, VCU DuBois Marcia DARS Estes John Richmond Memorial Health Foundation Faruk Ali DARS Hammer Dueck Kirsten Fauquier Health Foundation Hartley Diane Senior Services Coalition of Greater Williamsburg Head Betsy Home Instead Senior Care Inker Jennifer Department of Gerontology, VCU Jameson Leontine AARP Foundation Jensen Christine Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health Kestner Pam Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources Link Sara Greater Richmond Age Wave Readiness Coalition Lynn Sharon Fairfax Area Agency on Aging Markwood Sandy N4A Miller Chris Aging Together Miller Kathy Division for the Aging, DARS Rohrer Patricia Fairfax County Government Center Rothrock James Commissioner, DARS Speas Tiffany Peninsula Area Agency on Aging Wade Leigh Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging Woodruff Jacquie Fairfax Area Agency on Aging Zielinski Cathy Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission