California's First Master Plan on Aging Released

SBSS is extremely pleased to announce that California's first Master Plan for Aging has been released . SBSS President and CEO Rigo Saborio served as a member of Governor Gavin Newsom's Stakeholder Advisory Committee, to represent our most vulnerable, highly diverse older adults at the highest state level.

California's Master Plan on Aging is a 10-year blueprint for system-wide change that uplifts older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers in a compassionate, inclusive, and equitable way. As the older population of California is predicted to double by 2030, the Plan addresses the most pressing issues older adults face - now and over the next ten years - as well as the tremendous challenges we face across health care, social supports, housing, transportation, technology, and our workforce.

Today, the old specters of ageism, ableism, and systemic racism are exacerbated by COVID-19 and its impact on older adults, particularly those in Latino, Asian, Black, and Native American communities. The Master Plan will help reframe our collective current thinking, and improve the health and wellness of all Californians.

The completion of this Plan is a major milestone, yet it will take ongoing commitment from local and state leaders, public-private partnerships, and strong investment to realize a truly golden age for California's older adults.

We will continue to work with Governor Newsom, legislature, local leaders, and private partners, and we look forward to keeping you updated on the Plan's progress. Follow the Plan's conversation on social media at #MasterPlanForAging, and on the SBSS Facebook and Instagram.

Statements from the Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee:

Equity
“California is one of the most racially, ethnically and linguistically diverse states in the nation. Equity issues impact access to services across the state for under-represented, under-served and under-recognized communities. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee affirms the importance of equity in addressing the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, including the workforce, thereby eliminating disparities caused by systemic barriers. It is critical that the Master Plan for Aging include programs that advance equity and that meet the needs of specific populations within the aging community experiencing disparate outcomes in aging due to systemic inequities they have faced throughout their lives. This includes: Black, Latino, Native American, and Asian Pacific Islander , those with limited English proficiency, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and women.”

Long-Term Services and Supports: Affordability and Access
“California’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) system is unaffordable, difficult to navigate, and lacks the capacity to meet population needs, including significant workforce challenges. Instead, we need an adequately-financed system with universal access to LTSS that ensures that all individuals can live where they choose with the services and supports they need to honor their values and preferences.”

Building Age- and Disability-Friendly Communities
“Every Californian should live in and be engaged in communities that are age-friendly, dementia-friendly, disability-friendly, and equitable for all. A livable community is one that is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing and transportation options, and offers supportive community features and services that can serve all residents—regardless of age or ability. Once in place, those resources enhance personal independence, allow residents to age in place, and foster residents’ engagement in the community’s civic, economic, and social life.”

Skilled Nursing Facilities
“The COVID-19 crisis has had a devastating impact on nursing home residents and staff. We need to re-imagine nursing home care in California by developing a strategy for ensuring quality services through a combination of leadership, workforce development, appropriate payment incentives and regulatory oversight.”

Health Care
“Older adults and people with disabilities should have access to an affordable and integrated health, behavioral health, and an LTSS system that is responsive to the individual as a whole—not idiosyncratic silos based on funding source, administering agency, or local oversight entity. A successful Master Plan will outline an approach that ensures individuals can readily access the information and services they need, when they need it, and where they need it —regardless of eligibility distinction, income level, or place of residence. As such, affordability and access are critical elements to address in the Master Plan.”

Economic Security and Safety
“As we age, we all deserve to be economically secure and to be safe from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and the harms of natural disasters and other emergencies. If our basic security and safety needs are not met—in a way that also ensures our dignity and self-determination—we will not be able to achieve the other, laudable and important goals of the Master Plan for Aging.”

Alzheimer’s Task Force and the Master Plan for Aging
From former First Lady Maria Shriver, Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness, “…it has never been more important to stay the course in preparing and implementing a set of big, bold, and brave recommendations we believe are key components of California’s Master Plan for Aging. Families in every corner of our state are counting on us to take action.”

Members of the Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Maya Altman, MPP, Health Plan of San Mateo; Jan Arbuckle, City of Grass Valley; Donna Benton, Ph.D., USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology; Hon. Cheryl Brown, California Commission on Aging; Former Assembly Member; Laura Carstensen, Ph.D., Stanford Center on Longevity; Janny Castillo, St. Mary’s Center; Bruce Chernof, MD, FACP, The SCAN Foundation (retired); Jennie Chin Hansen, RN, MSN, FAAN, Former CEO of the American Geriatrics Society; Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Ph.D., California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies; Craig Cornett, California Association of Health Facilities; Susan DeMarois, Alzheimer’s Association; Peter Hansel, CalPACE; Andy Imparato, Disability Rights California; Clay Kempf, Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties; Mercedes Kerr, Belmont Village Senior Living; Darrick Lam, MBA, MSW, ACC Senior Services; David Lindeman, Ph.D., Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society; Shelley Lyford, MA, Gary and Mary West Foundation; Marty Lynch, Ph.D., LifeLong Medical Care; Shireen McSpadden, California Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Christina Mills, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers; Berenice Nunez Constant, MPH, AltaMed Health Services; Jeannee Parker Martin RN MPH, LeadingAge California; Kevin Prindiville, J.D., Justice in Aging; Jodi Reid, BA, California Alliance for Retired Americans; Rigo Saborio, MSG, St. Barnabas Senior Services; Judy Thomas, J.D., Coalition for Compassionate Care; Fernando Torres-Gil, M.S.W., Ph.D., UCLA; Debbie Toth, Choice in Aging; Nina Weiler-Harwell, Ph.D., AARP California; Brandi Wolf, Service Employees International Union local 2015; Heather M. Young, PhD, RN, FAAN, UC Davis; and Beverly Yu, United Domestic Workers of America/AFSCME local 3930.

Vaccines for Older Adults in CA: What We Know

With so much information out about vaccines, sometimes it can be hard to know what is most accurate for you or a loved one’s situation. Below we’ve re-posted a break down of what we know, brought to you by our friends at Justice in Aging:

Earlier this month, Governor Newsom announced the state was opening up COVID-19 vaccinations to those age 65 and over, in addition to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. 

In light of this news, advocates may be getting many questions from older adults they work with about the vaccine. Some may be trying to sign up for a vaccination appointment and encountering barriers. Details are changing quickly and some information may differ depending on the county. This is what we know now: 

What vaccines are approved?

As of January 21, 2021, the federal government has granted emergency use authorization of two vaccines, one manufactured by Pfizer and the other by Moderna, to adults 18 years old and older. Several other vaccine candidates are still undergoing clinical testing. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, 21 and 28 days apart respectively. 

How much does the vaccine cost? 

These vaccines should be provided at no cost to all, regardless of insurance or immigration status. If the individual has insurance, providers administering the vaccine are allowed to bill a fee to insurance for administering the vaccine, including Medicare and Medi-Cal. If the individual does not have insurance, providers can request reimbursement for administration of the vaccine through the federal government’s provider relief fund. Advocates should advise older adults to be on alert for potential scams, like paying to get a vaccine earlier. 

Is the vaccine safe? 

The two vaccines currently being distributed have gone through a rigorous FDA approval process, and California, along with several other states, empaneled a group of scientists to conduct an independent review. The clinical trials included a diverse mix of races and ages, and the vaccines have shown a 94-95% efficacy rate against becoming ill with COVID-19. 

When can older adults get vaccinated?  

Every local health department is operating on its own timeline, and large health systems like Kaiser may have their own timeline too. Governor Newsom announced on January 13, 2021 that local jurisdictions could start vaccinating older adults 65+ along with certain categories of essential workers. Advocates should check with their health system or local health department on the status of the vaccine rollout in their county or system, and for instructions on how to obtain the vaccine.  

In addition to checking with the local health departments and individual health care systems, California announced a new system to let people know if they are eligible to receive a vaccine, and if not yet eligible, to register for a notification via email or text when they are eligible. That system is called My Tool. A pilot version is available in English and Spanish. People seeking more information about COVID-19, including vaccinations, can also call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-422-4255.  

Where can older adults get vaccinated?

Similar to the annual flu shot, most older Californians who live in the community will be vaccinated at health providers like hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, or pharmacies. Counties are also ramping temporary mass community vaccination sites. For residents of long-term care facilities, facilities had the option to sign up with a federal partnership program with CVS and Walgreens to administer the vaccine at facilities through on-site vaccination clinics or coordinate with their local health department.  

How can an older adult get to a vaccination site?  

For older adults who do not have the ability to get to a vaccination site, their health insurance plan may offer transportation to and from the site, including pharmacies. Individuals should check with their Medicare Advantage or Medi-Cal plans for specific details on what type of transportation is offered and how to make an appointment.  

Why do some older adults have to wait a long time to get the vaccine?  

Although the state has recognized that many older adults, especially older adults of color and those in disadvantaged communities, are at greater risk of COVID-19 infection and death and has prioritized them in vaccine distribution, right now demand far outweighs supply. California is still receiving a relatively low number of vaccines every week. Older adults may have to wait several weeks or longer to get an appointment for the vaccine.  

What are some of an older adult’s rights during the vaccine process? 

All civil rights laws, including those specific to healthcare and entities receiving federal and state funding, apply. For example, older adults with limited English proficiency should be given meaningful access to language assistance services when getting a vaccine, including interpretation services and translated materials when appropriate. In addition, vaccination sites should comply with federal and state accessibility requirements, and no older adult should be denied a vaccine because of assumptions of their life expectancy or quality of life. Finally, California law strictly limits what personal information can be shared, and only de-identified information will be shared with federal authorities.  

For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations in California, please visit California's Vaccinate All 58 website. Information on Vaccinate All 58 will be updated on an ongoing basis. 

SBSS Partner SoCalGas Helps Seniors Save Energy and Money

We are proud to partner with SoCalGas to help bring relief to seniors who are struggling to pay their gas bills. If you would more information about this program, or learn how you can sign up, please contact us at st.barnabasseniorservices@sbssla.org.

Thank you, SoCalGas, for providing this wonderful service and helping low-income seniors live well, feel well, and age well!

A New Apartment for Better Health

Like all of our SBSS clients, we miss Marshall’s friendly face and warm nature.  He has been coming to St. Barnabas Senior Services since 2016 and every day, we looked forward to seeing him enjoying his favorite shows with his SBSS friends.  

However, coming and going from his apartment was a challenge for Marshall.  He lived in a second-floor walk-up apartment with no elevator.  His health conditions made going up and down the stairs nearly impossible.

The trips up and down the stairs made his conditions worse, and he would often need his health treatments after going up the stairs.

Our case managers had been working with to help him secure a first-floor apartment.  In November 2020, he secured a spot in a new senior housing complex - with an elevator! - making coming and going much safer for Marshall.

However, as the moving expenses, security deposits, and first month's rent began to pile up.  With Marshall’s extremely limited income, the expenses of moving were yet another hurdle he faced.  He reached out to his case manager Gabriela for help, and she secured the needed funds from our California Community Foundation Pass It Along Emergency Fund to cover these one-time costs. 

Marshall is now fully moved-in, and staying safe, healthy, and happy in his new apartment. "This helped to get me out of a bad situation. The nurses at the ER will probably miss me! Thank you."

At the core of the CCF Pass It Along Fund, recipients are encouraged to pass along at least two acts of kindness. Marshall plans to donate some of his old clothes to others in need, and reconnect with his nieces from the comfort of his new home – just in time for the holidays.

Thank you, California Community Foundation, for helping Marshall feel well and age well.

Family Caregiver Support Program Loves2Care

A very special thank you to the often unsung heroes in the SBSS community, family caregivers like David, who are helping family members age well every day. We hope David's story will inspire other caregivers to seek help and other resources so that all family caregivers can continue to provide the best care for their loved ones.

FCSP primary services include an assessment with an assigned case manager who acts as a consultant and guide throughout the caregiver journey; the case manager develops a care plan addressing family caregiver needs, goals, and provides any outside referrals; the case manager consultant also keeps in touch with caregiver clients through check-in calls and emails. Our services are currently offered virtually. Learn more about FCSP.