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Executive Summary: The number of adults sixty and older in Cache Valley will increase by approximately 130% by the year 2030. Within the next 6 years, it is anticipated that the number of seniors will surpass the number of children in elementary schools. As a result of the changing demographics of our region, all aspects of public and private sectors in Cache Valley will be affected.
A beginning strategy for addressing the needs of adults 60 and older in Cache valley include the following four areas:
Goal #1 – Identification of Specific Needs. Objective – Due to the expected demographic shift, it is recommended that a needs assessment be completed to help determine the development of services and programs for the senior population.
Actions 1.— Complete a needs assessment of community individuals
ages 40 and older to identify current and potential needs of the senior age
group between 2006 and 2020.
Actions 2.— Complete a needs assessment of community leaders
to obtain information regarding the needs of communities in providing services
to seniors in specific locations.
Goal #2 — Provision of Information about Community Services
A recent survey conducted in Utah by CareSource Charitable Foundation found
that while older adults are the major users of health care and other services,
26% indicated they did not know how to obtain appropriate medical or other supportive
community services. Objective – Counties and cities within Cache Valley should
coordinate efforts to support 211 ( a statewide community resource for information
about community services) and promote its widespread use.
Actions 1. — Financially support 211 (currently operated out
of the Volunteer Center).
Actions 2.— Promote the use of 211 through a community wide
marketing effort. (See attachment “2-11 Promotion Ideas”).
Actions 3. — Coordinate various service providers “Resource
Guides” into one guide to be maintained by 211.
Actions 4. — Utilize the Chamber of Commerce to promote the
use of 211.
Goal #3 — Provision of Adequate of Transportation.
Objective — Adequate and accessible transportation for elderly
and disabled adults should be available throughout Cache Valley.
Actions 1. — Coordinate efforts with all transportation providers
to ensure adequate transportation is available to seniors and disabled adults
who require assistance from their door to a vehicle. Current provisions are
simply inadequate or laden with regulations that make it difficult for a large
number of eligible participants.
Actions 2.— Explore alternative transportation ideas such
as Independent Transportation Network utilized in Portland, ME., and Charleston,
S.C.. which incorporate donated cars and volunteers to provide door to door
assistance.
Actions 3. — Develop interstate agreements as needed to provide
public transportation across state lines.
Goal #4 – Provision of Adequate Health Care Resources.
Objective — Enhance collaboration with all health care providers
to promote and develop adequate health care resources.
Actions 1. – Support the Cache Community Health Council including
representation from the Cache County Council and Franklin County.
Actions 2. — Communicate emergency preparedness plans directly
to seniors and disabled adults. This could be accomplished by enhancing collaboration
with local senior providers including, but not limited to home health agencies,
senior centers, Bear River Area Agency on Aging, mental health centers, pharmacies.
Realizing that some of this communication already occurs with long term care
facilities, many of these service providers come into regular contact with seniors
and disabled adults who may still be residing in the community.
Actions 3. — Encourage caregiver friendly business practices.
Currently 58% of employees in Utah are also caregivers to a senior or disabled
adult.
Actions 4. — Support senior centers with funding to accommodate
increasing requests for congregate and home delivered meals and the development
of adequate facilities and programs.
Respectfully submitted,
Cache Vision 2020+ Aging Sub-committee
Michelle Benson, Aging Sub-Committee Chair
Area Aging Services Director
Bear River Association of Governments
Ginger Anderson
Logan Regional Hospital
Board Member
Rod Pack, Community Liaison
Sunshine Terrace Foundation
Jill Parker,
Prevention Coordinator
Bear River Health Department
Judi Robinson
Southeast Idaho
Council of Governments
Area V Agency on Aging
Sara Sinclair, CEO Sunshine Terrace
Foundation
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