The federal Older Americans Act is one of the primary funding sources of activities provided by Senior Resources. Area agencies on aging, like Senior Resources, conduct listening sessions, distribute surveys and review state, local and national efforts to identify the needs of older adults and gaps in services to meet those needs. From that research, a four year Area Plan is developed which outlines the activities which will be conducted over the four year period to provide a comprehensive and coordinated system of services. The following are the priorities for the period of October 2017 – September 2021.
2025-2028 AREA PLAN GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES, AND MEASURES
LONG TERM SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
Goal: Empower older individuals to reside in the community setting of their choice
Objective 1: Strengthen the aging network by promoting a person-centered approach within a No Wrong Door (NWD) framework.
Objective 2: Empower and assist older adults and their caregivers.
Objective 3: Identify and assess gaps and seek potential solutions in support and services for older adults living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), and their families and caregivers at the community level.
Objective 4: Support a comprehensive and inclusive statewide network of Senior Centers, and Municipal Agents to share information and program resources.
Objective 5: Promote inclusiveness through outreach to population groups with the greatest social and economic need.
HEALTHY AGING
Goal: Strengthen opportunities for equitable access to evidence-informed nutrition and wellness programs in the aging and public health networks.
Objective 1: Enhance delivery of evidence-informed nutrition education and counseling to increase nutrition awareness and knowledge and improve nutrition status among older adults in underserved groups.
Objective 2: Strengthen nutrition services to address malnutrition.
Objective 3: Increase awareness of health equity among partners in the aging network to remove barriers to health program participation.
Objective 4: Increase public knowledge and awareness of brain health and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD).
Objective 5: Promote access to information and services for older adults and their family caregivers.
ELDER RIGHTS
Goal: Protect elder rights and well-being and prevent elder abuse, fraud, neglect, and exploitation
Objective 1: Identify new members and increase sustainable stakeholder participation throughout the aging network consistent with the Coalition for Elder Justice in Connecticut and other organizations.
Objective 2: Empower marginalized or disempowered groups, including those in long term care facilities, to increase participant knowledge of resident rights, as well as the role and duties of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP).
Objective 3: Support the State’s initiative to offload excess nursing home beds by approximately 2,500 and rebalancing of the long-term care continuum, while protecting resident rights.
Objective 4: Increase equity for Connecticut residents, including those in nursing homes, residential care homes, and assisted living communities, by expanding their access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and ensuring their voices are heard by public officials.