ACOA MEMBERSHIP

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGING Active Members = 30 Vacancies = 8 Minutes for October 21, 2020 Pending= 2

Call to Order: Susan Frederick, council President, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present: Martin Aufhauser Arthur Kee Sam Sakai-Miller Jagjit Bhambra Joanna Kim Selby Summer Selleck Mary Bruns Jill Kleiner Sara Shafiabady Deborah Card Shirley Krohn Frances Smith Megan Casey Nancy Leasure Kathie Thompson Jim Donnelly Steve Lipson Terri Tobey Kevin Donovan Frank Napoli Ron Tervelt Jennifer Doran Nuru Neemuchwalla Lorna VanAckeren Rudy Fernandez Brian O’Toole Dennis Yee Susan Frederick Erin Partridge Gail Garrett Gerry Richards

Guests: Penny Reed, Rossmoor Counseling Services Greg Wanket, prospective member from Martinez Debbie Toth, Choice in Aging Chelsea Velez, Choice in Aging

Staff Present: Tracy Murray, Director of Aging and Adult Services, Glenda Pacha and Anthony Macias

Roll Call: Anthony Macias called roll; quorum established as 31 members present.

Announcements:  None.

Approval of Today’s Agenda:  Approval of meeting agenda with the change of moving the Legislative Workgroup Report to beginning of reports, motioned by Rudy Fernandez, Arthur Kee motioned second, agenda approved with change.

Approval of September 2020 Minutes:  No changes, minutes approved as submitted. Approval of September minutes motioned by Arthur Kee, second motion by Erin Partridge. Motion passed. Joanna Kim- Selby abstained, as she was not present at September meeting.

Minutes – Advisory Council on Aging Page 1 August 2020

Public Comment: None Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Program Manager’s Report – Tracy Murray, Director Aging and Adult Services (AAS) Bureau  The county is working on budget for next year. We presume state cuts to county, but no specifics yet.  Currently, Contra Costa’s IHSS is on a corrective action plan until we raise rate of annual re- evaluations to the state standard of 80%. We are now at 69%. This is a great improvement.  Interim program manager for AAA not be hired and will wait to hire permanent replacement. Recruitment start in November/December. Expected to occur in January/February.  The AAA staff has been doing a great job during this period working on the CARES Act contract.

Committee and Work Group Reports: Nominating Committee – Nuru Neemuchwalla  Slate of nominations for officers finalized and presented later in today’s meeting. Membership Committee – Jennifer Doran  Currently two Member-at-Large (MAL) vacancies.  Concord, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Pablo local/city seats remain vacant.  In the New Year, committee will work on building diversity on the council.  New council members and assigned “buddies”: Sarah Shafiabady/Lorna Van Ackeren, Megan Casey/Arthur Kee, Sam Sakai-Miller/ Frank Napoli.

Planning Committee – Kevin Donovan  Finalized Program Review format used for contractor presentations.  Reaching out to Tracy, agencies, Senior Coalitions, ACOA members to gain information about identifying unmet needs of older adults, especially in underserved parts of county; focus on how we allocate our AAA funding.  December contractor presentations from Senior Nutrition Services & Ombudsman programs.

Health Workgroup– Susan Frederick  Discussed Senate and Assembly Bills that AARP is supporting passage.  Reviewed legislative bills the governor signed recently.

Legislative Advocacy Workgroup – Shirley Krohn  Press release Shirley sent regarding top legislative priorities from 2020 is not up to date. Please disregard.  California Senior Legislature representatives will begin “walking the halls” of the State Capitol to begin getting support for bills of interest to older adults/seniors.  AB480 Salas Mental Health bill would create a state level position to oversee Mental Health issues in California has been pulled. The position will be included in the Master Plan on Aging proposal.

Minutes – Advisory Council on Aging Page 2 August 2020

Senior Mobility Action Council (SMAC) Transportation Workgroup- Mary Bruns  Finalized annual newsletter for 2020 and sent out.  Finalizing the county transportation infographic.  Workgroup will recess in November and December.

Nutrition Council – Gail Garrett  No report.

Housing Workgroup – Gerald Richards  Bertha Lopez from Hume Health Center spoke on Rapid Response Program to keep people from becoming homeless at meeting.  Report from Lenore McDonald on PACE program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) opening a center in Concord.  Working on the Committee’s Annual report.  Housing Authority announced a three-day opening of waiting list Nov 2-5.

Elder Prevention Workgroup – Jim Donnelly  Elected Jim Donnelly to chair workgroup and Frank Napoli as co-chair.  Revision of Elder Abuse Prevention PowerPoint presentation.  Next meeting on Dec. 8, please attend, review the presentation and give us feedback.  Revised workgroup Purpose and Responsibilities document.  The Workgroup wants to expand past just presentations at Senior Centers.  Please join us!

Technology Workgroup – Steve Lipson  Discussed Apple and Google alliance formed in June; they created a framework so others can develop apps for anonymous COVID19 contact tracing.  Continued review of ACOA website.  Working with senior center and senior serving agencies to help market the Senior Center/Agencies services to the community.  Senior Center directors are excited to promote past their normal geographic borders.

LGBTQ community representative - Summer Selleck  No Report.

ACOA President’s Report – Susan Frederick  Resilience…The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness.  Resilient people have solid goals. But it is impossible to have solid goals during this pandemic because the goal posts keep moving back, which indicates a lack of achievement, retreating to previous opening plans and sometimes forward which world indicate achievement moving to new opening goals.  We all have a reservoir that is satisfactory for short-term episodes both positive and negative.

Minutes – Advisory Council on Aging Page 3 August 2020

 The amount of resilience you have depends upon your personality…..Positive individuals have more resilience.  It is very difficult to remain positive when faced with fires, smoke, and social isolation but I have seen examples of this positive personality trait in the Council as well as in others.  References: o Developing Resilience-Bounce back from setbacks with mind tools.com o 10 tips for building Resilience/the Resilience Coach o https://verywellmind.com

Presentation: Master Plan for Aging (MPA) – Debbie Toth Master Plan for Aging: The Four Goals 1. Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) we will live where we choose as we age and have the help our and we need to do so. Californians will have access to the help we need to live in the homes and communities we choose as we age. Californians of all ages will prepare for the challenges and rewards of caring for an aging loved-one, with access to the resources and support we need. 2. Livable Communities and Purpose We will live in and be engaged in communities that are age- friendly, dementia-friendly, and disability-friendly. Housing allows additional infrastructure to succeed and older adults to live in and be engaged in communities that are race, gender and disability equitable, age-friendly, dementia-friendly, and disability friendly. Paired with affordable housing, accessible and affordable transportation allows community access. Every Californian must be able to participate in their communities through Civic and social . Paired with full access to health care, parks and public spaces, and work opportunities, we can advance the promise of a Livable California for All. Especially when accessible, affordable housing and transportation exist at all stages of life. 3. Health and Well-Being We will live in communities and have access to services and care that optimize health and quality of life. Inclusion: The system must address disparities across racial and ethnic groups, disability, geography, income, immigration status, language, religion/faith, gender identity, sexual orientation, and status. o Holistic: People do not live in silos. Social, emotional and functional supports has as much to do with Health and well-being as it does with medical care. o Person-centered: Systems must be based on needs of person rather than the needs of the system o Choice: All older adults and people with disabilities should have access to range of supports based on individual needs, desires and preferences o Comprehensive: Health care delivery must include access to all care, including wellness, behavioral health, dental, vision, and with access to telehealth and related services. 4. Economic Security and Safety We will have economic security and be safe from abuse, , exploitation, and natural disasters and emergencies throughout our lives. The recommendations for Goal 4 fall into three broad categories, with several subcategories under the first category:

Minutes – Advisory Council on Aging Page 4 August 2020

1. Economic Security o Economic Security for All o End Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness o Expand Work Opportunities 2. Elder Justice & Abuse 3. Emergency & Disaster Preparedness & Response MPA Summary Presented to Cabinet Level Work Group 1. Fix the Long-Term Services and Supports System Enact a public financing program that guarantees LTSS for all Californians. Reform the system. Establish a right to home/community-based services. 2. Assure that California has Housing that is Affordable to All Provide accessible/affordable housing options. Address the homelessness crisis. 3. End Poverty and Health Inequities Ensure economic security for all. Bolster programs that help older and disabled Californians meet their basic social and health needs.

Consent Items:  Letter Supporting Measure X  Approval of Penny Reed for MAL seat #1

Approval of Consent Items motioned by Jim Donnelly, seconded by Marty Aufhauser. Motion passed

Presentation of Slate for 2021 ACOA Officers – Nuru Neem  The Slate of Officers for 2021 is: o President – Jim Donnelly o 1st Vice President – Jill Kleiner o 2nd Vice President - Summer Sellick o Secretary – Dennis Yee o Treasurer – Dennis Yee  Vote at December meeting  The slate is as approved as above however, the by-laws change to combine the first and second Vice Presidents and the Secretary and Treasurer offices are pending Board of Supervisors approval. The revision presented to the Family & Human Services Subcommittee of the Board of Supervisors on Oct 29. If approved, then it presented to the Board of Supervisors for final approval in November.  If the by-laws revision is approved in November, the slate will be revised: o President – Jim Donnelly o Vice President – Jill Kleiner o Secretary/Treasurer – Dennis Yee

Minutes – Advisory Council on Aging Page 5 August 2020

Announcements and Correspondence- Susan Frederick  Susan will establish ad hoc committee to increase ACOA diversity with a goal of making ACOA members “look more like community we serve”. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please let Susan know.  Technology and Housing workgroups meeting in November. All other committees and workgroups recess in November.  Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan Town Hall – Mary Bruns announced that they are taking public feedback 6-7 on Tuesday night. Encouraged folks to speak up, speak out, and attend. Funding for these transportation projects unclear. Debbie and Mary to send more information (talking points and background information) to Anthony for distribution to ACOA  Jennifer - West County folks – please attend!

Regional Coalition Update: - Debbie Toth, Choice in Aging  Discussed the October virtual Scan Foundation conference.

New Business for next meeting:  ACOA Election of Officers  Presentation from Older Adult Mental Health

Public Comment  None

Next ACOA Meeting December 16, 2020

Susan adjourned meeting at 11:25 am.

Minutes – Advisory Council on Aging Page 6 August 2020