Senior Task Force 2025 Vision Presentation (11/27/24)
- Joan Hagey Sanders, Jo-Ann Byrne Sockolov, Ken Frederick Background: The all-volunteer Task Force was established in 2023 to determine IF the Town should create a specific focus on Seniors. After many focus groups, internal & external discussions and several public “Senior Focused Seminars”, our current conclusions are:
(Note: As always new information and insights will modify conclusions and proposals over time) 1) The “Senior Community” in Atherton:
a) Size: ~ 25% of residents (~ 1,700) are over 65 years old & >35% are over 55 years old - The % (and number) of seniors in Atherton is growing steadily, while the % (and number) of children is decreasing
- Currently, the actual number of seniors is greater than twice the number of children 12 and under
b) Segments: The Senior Market “Community” is actually a collection of market segments that vary by:
1. Age; (55->64, 65->74, 75>84 & 85+ segments have significantly different needs)
2. Financial resources: Some have enough financial resources for all their needs, while others may seek services from outside agencies
3. Local Connections: Those with local children/relatives/very close friends require/desire fewer outside services
4. Need for “Social Connections”: Some have & seek many social connections, while others are more independent, self-reliant and have other priorities c) Lifestyle: Observations from meetings & discussions
- Virtually all of our seniors are “busy with their life” and have a very hectic schedule - Thus scheduling “face to face” group meetings is problematic - Although “loneliness” is a real concern in many localities, it I not an obvious major issue in Atherton (Although there may be isolated seniors that are hard to identify) d) Corresponding with Seniors in Atherton:
- Many seniors (see age segments) rely primarily on US Mail and other “non-technical” methods for communication (such as “Bulletin Boards at key locations”, word-of - mouth, etc..
- Although most seniors have and use computers and cell phones, they are (in genera) not as active on them as younger generations & do not use as any sites as younger residents - Thus, they can be overwhelmed when asked to check a myriad of electronic sources for information
e) Other Attributes of Atherton Seniors:
- The Task Force is seeking more information on the items/subjects that are of critical interest to our seniors.
- For example what social activities & educational topics are of real interest to our seniors?
2) Possible unmet needs & desires of Atherton’s Senior Community:
a) Intensive research & “networking” with local organizations, revealed that almost all identified needs already have providers – but they may not be known to our Seniors b) The Task Force believes that the Town should not duplicate any service/program that is local, readily available & delivers the appropriate service well c) Identifying any new “Unmet Needs” requires establishing a good communication & feedback system with seniors that identifies their true needs & then determines what is & what is not currently available
d) In order to identify true unmet senior needs & provide the solutions (either by an existing source or a new program), we must:
1. Know the contact details of our seniors
2. Communicate effectively with them
3. Deliver the service (by referral to an existing provider, or , as a last resort, by a new program)
4. Collect feedback from the seniors & continue the improve the process 3) The Senior Task Force:
a) Started with > ten volunteers, but the extensive time commitment has led to attrition to now only three active members (Several others do join the meetings at times, and we invite others & need to expand our number of volunteers) b) We will “streamline” the volunteer’s time requirement & clarify the “Roles & Responsibilities” in order to recruit more volunteers & effectively serve our seniors c) The “Stakeholders” in serving our seniors are:
1. The Seniors themselves
2. The Task Force
3. The Town
4. San Mateo County Library
5. Others?
- i.e., the existing & any new community service providers in our area (Little House, etc.)
- Other vendors & suppliers of services to seniors & their families d) Senior Seminars in 2024:
- As well as many smaller “coffee conversations” with other committees and various stakeholders, the Task Force & Town staff have sponsored two larger seminars:
1. May 9: Initial Senior Seminar (an initial “trial” seminar) - Topics: Security Tips for Seniors, Avoiding & Surviving Falling, Geriatric Medicine - Attendees: ~ 35 in person & ~ 25 on Zoom
- Costs: Town: Staff time for meeting support
Police Department: Paid for Bulk Postcard mailing
Task Force: Organized agenda, speakers and purchased refreshments
2. October 23: Brain Healthy Aging & Memory Seminar (sponsored by Kensington Place)
- Topic: Senior Memory Topics
- Attendees: ~ 30 in person, others on Zoom
- Costs: Town: Staff time for meeting support
Task Force: Publicity and support as appropriate
Kensington Place: Organized agenda, speakers, mailing costs and refreshments Note: Both seminars were well received and highly rated by those that attended - The Memory Seminar had the advantage of a much lower level of effort for the Town & Task Force; but such “vendor-sponsored” Seminars are limited to their business model topics
- The Town/Task Force sponsored Seminars should probably be limited to topics that are not available as standard presentations by vendors.
4) The Key Stakeholders & their proposed role:
a) The San Mateo Library System (& Atherton Library in particular):
Proposed Role: Provide a “Senior Communications Center in the Library & sponsor key educational programs.
1. The library is currently considering establishing a “Senior Information Center”
2. It already has a range of educational sessions focused on Seniors that are held across the entire library system & at times in Atherton - The challenge is how to move forward with the “Information Center” and how to better coordinate & publicize their Senor educational programs to Athertonians b) The Atherton Town Staff: (Internally or via outside contractors) Proposed Role: Administratively support the 2025 Senior Support Vision - It will primarily require database (names, addresses, contact details, etc.) management, mailings and very limited procurement of services & products for specific Senior Programs & Seminars
c) The Senior Task Force:
Role: Work closely with the designated staff at the library & town to:
1. Support & publicize the Library’s Senior Initiative
2. Identify and propose initiatives that serve a currently “Unmet Need” of Atherton’s seniors (Again, if there is an existing service available in the library system, or elsewhere locally) the Task Force will publicize it & not duplicate it 5) The 2025 Senior Task Force Proposed Plan: (i.e. Our “ask” of the library & Town) a) The Library:
1. Senior Information Center:
Create a “Senior Information Center” in the Atherton Library as an initial model in San Mateo County
- Potentially based on the Senior Centers established by Alain Kleiman in Edison NJ
2. Continue & expand the “Older Adults Programs & Services” presently offered by the library;
a. Recent programs have been:
- Tech Skill Building
- Draw Together Silver Series
- Gem Painting
- Safe Driver Course
- Author Talks
- Mahjong
- Maker (print Holiday cards, etc.)
- Memoir (writing workshops)
- Balance (avoiding falling)
b. The Task Force recommends that they assist the library in identifying, sourcing and publicizing these Programs & Services for Atherton seniors b) The Town of Atherton: (Via Staff or outside contractors)
1. Create and manage the database of all stakeholders: residents, vendors, suppliers, etc.
2. Coordinate the “outreach”, communications & particularly the mailings And, the financial request for 2025:
3. Create an administrative mechanism for the Task Force to obtain outside services that have been authorized “in principle & budget” by the Council, but NOT finally approved until the Town staff authorized the expenditure - For example, the Task Force may recommend collecting & analyzing data in order to make recommendations for special seminars and programs, such as:
a. A key issue may be acquiring a list of seniors in Atherton (including addresses, e-mails, etc.
- Such lists are available through various vendors
b. There may be technical training/hands on training seminars that are not offered by the library or other traditional organizations that would greatly benefit our seniors
- Rather than go thought the lengthy process of gaining Town Council approval for each small, unforeseen requirement, we recommend that the Council pre-approve a nominal amount as funds that can be expended IF (& only if):
1. The Task Force makes a comprehensive proposal
&
2. The Town Manager approve the proposal
- The requested amount is $10,000, but it will only be spent IF proposals are accepted and approved by the Town Manager