CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 19, 2016
PREPARED BY: Debbie Vasquez, Older Adult Services Supervisor/Community Services
APPROVED BY: City Manager
Title
ACCEPTANCE OF RECOGNITION OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL INTO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GLOBAL NETWORK OF AGE-FRIENDLY CITIES AND COMMUNITIES AND SENIOR SERVICES UPDATE
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
1. Accept the recognition of the City of Morgan Hill into the World Health Organization Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities; and
2. Accept the Senior Service programs and services update.
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Maintaining fiscal responsibility
2016 Focus Areas
Developing Our Community
Enhancing Our Services
Participate in Regional Issues
REPORT NARRATIVE:
At the November 18, 2015 City Council Meeting, staff provided an overview of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Age-Friendly” City designation process. Reflected in that report, were two major global trends: rapid aging and increasing urbanization.
On April 6, 2016 staff gave a report on the World Health Organization’s “Age-Friendly Cities” Initiative and the City Council adopted a resolution:
1) Designating Morgan Hill’s commitment to become an “Age-Friendly” City;
2) Authorizing the Mayor to sign a letter of support; and
3) Authorizing the City Manager to execute the application form to the World Health Organization for designation of Morgan Hill as an “Age-Friendly” City.
On June 24, 2016, the City of Morgan Hill was welcomed as a new member of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities and is paving the way as a leader for other cities in this County-wide initiative. The Santa Clara County Cities Association has also made Cities becoming “Age-friendly” one of its priorities for 2016. This designation has committed Morgan Hill to an intentional planning and improvement process to better meet the needs of our older adult residents.
Three projects were identified and submitted with our application to the World Health Organization. Projects submitted with the WHO application are listed below and described in detail in Attachment 1.
Short-Immediate-Project #1: Improve Communication and Information
a) Launch a Newspaper Column
b) Age-Friendly Educational Campaign
c) Improve the dissemination of information
Short-Immediate-Project #2-Improve Access to Community Support and Health Services
a) Internship Site-Gerontology, Nursing, Health Science, etc.
b) Case Management at the Senior Center
Long Range- Project #3: Foster the use and availability of alternative transportation options
a) Shuttle Service-Senior Center and Senior Housing
b) Explore and evaluate other transportation options
Although, only three projects were selected to be included with the application, it does not prohibit the City from continuing to work on other projects that may be identified.
Progress to date:
Short Term Goals
Project #1-Improve Communication and Information
• Launched our Age-Friendly Newspaper Column-we have had 3 articles specifically related to Age-Friendly in Morgan Hill Life.
-Age-Friendly Overview-Donna Weisblatt
-Transportation-Cricket Rubino
-Social Participation-Heather Perlitch
• Created a Sub-Committee for Outreach to Isolated Seniors-Committee is focused on getting information out to Senior Housing locations, and getting input from isolated seniors.
• Website
-Added an Age-friendly page to the City of Morgan Hill website.
-Added a Senior Advisory Committee page.
• Campaign to get County-wide Age-Friendly Survey out to Community.
• Regular Communication through FB, website, email blasts, newsletters.
• Senior Resource Fair attended by over 30 vendors and 150 participants.
Project #2-Improve Access to Community Support and Health Services
• New Partnerships/Collaborations: -Westmont, The Lodge, Alzheimer’s Association, Hospice, Live Oak Adult Day Care, Sourcewise, Gilroy Senior Center, County of Santa Clara, CAFÉ.
• Internships-Worked with two interns from San Jose State. One intern worked on the Age-friendly initiative through Café. One intern worked on the Senior Resource Fair and is currently working to establish a volunteer program.
• In early stages of a Partnership with Live Oak Adult Day Care to provide Case Management.
Long Term Goal
Project #1-Transportation
• Established a transportation sub-committee
• Researched various models of transportation delivery
• Represented South County at several VTA Next Network workshops in San Jose and Gilroy.
• Organized a joint meeting with Gilroy and VTA representative Larry Carr.
• Older Adult Services Supervisor appointed as Chair of the Sourcewise Advisory Council Transportation Committee.
The Senior Advisory Committee will continue to work toward achieving these goals and will utilize the County-wide Age-friendly survey results to help create Senior Services long range plans. In addition, as a City Leadership team we will strive to engage more teammates in collaborating and coordinating efforts across other departments to move this work forward.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Collaborate
The community was involved through focus groups, and additional outreach efforts have been made to engage the community in completing the county wide “Age-friendly” survey. Special outreach efforts will continue to be made to involve our older adult population, and seniors that might be isolated. As indicated in project #1 of our short term goals, communication and information engaging the community are top priorities.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
The Council could provide further input and direction to staff as we continue to plan for the future of Senior Services.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
On November 18, 2015, the Council accepted the staff report which included information on the “Age-friendly” City initiative.
On March 15, 2016, the Parks and Recreation Commission received a report on the “Age-friendly” City initiative.
On April 6, 2016 staff gave a report on the World Health Organization’s “Age-Friendly Cities” Initiative and the City Council adopted a resolution:
1) Designating Morgan Hill’s commitment to become an “Age-Friendly” City;
2) Authorizing the Mayor to sign a letter of support; and
3) Authorizing the City Manager to execute the application form to the World Health Organization for designation of Morgan Hill as an “Age-Friendly” City.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with joining the World Health Organization’s Global “Age-friendly” cities network.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Not a Project
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
Age-Friendly Projects