1 Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) Advisory Council Annual Highlights
February 6, 2025
Prepared by: Carmen E. Reyes
Human Services Agency and VCAAA Leadership
Melissa Livingston, Director of the Human Services Agency (HAS), addressed the council regarding the transition in leadership. Elaine Martinez was appointed Deputy Director for Aging and Disability Services. While Monique Nowlin was named as the AAA Director designation.
Committed to the continuity of leadership and continue to ensure the work as Advisors and Advocates continues to move forward.
AAA reduced funding this year due to the expiration of temporary funding from the pandemic, which had previously augmented programs through the Older Americans Act. Area Agency on Aging. An approximated 4 million reduction in general fund contributions to the AAA budget, due to the loss of a one-time pandemic funding.
Due to reduction in funds, an increase in food insecurity had created a need to collaborate with the cities to mitigate these issues. Some sites have requested respective cities to help supplement program cost. According to Camarillo Health Services, it received supplement from City of Camarillo – presently there is a wait list of 100 individuals. Annual Monitoring to occur in December and January for total of 17 sites.
Staff conducting Senior Nutrition sites cost analysis assessment to determine contracts/agreements and/or budget revisions if needed based on site status. Future site visits are planned January 2025.
Note: Senior Nutrition Program provides nutritious meals and services, including nutrition screening and nutrition education, to help older adults remain independent and in their communities. The OCNP includes: Congregate Meals Program. Home-Delivered Meals Program. [email protected]
California 2030 (Defining the California Aging Network For the CA 2030 project, the California Aging Network refers to the California Department of Aging (CDA) and the 33 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), was launched in late 2022 to develop strategies and tactics to ready the California Aging Network for the future. In light of resources and attention devoted to aging and aging issues through the development of the state Master Plan for Aging, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing number of Californians aged 60 years and older, the time had come to recognize the importance of a nearly 50-year old aging network and identify how it can evolve to meet the challenges of a future that looks very different than the past the California 2030 Plan.
California Department of Aging convened the California 2030 Steering Committee because in the year 2030, statewide over 30% of the population will be over the age of 60. According to former VCAAA Director, Victoria Jump (Steering Committee member), Ventura County, has hit the tipping point sooner and as of 2019 have more older adults than children in this County. The Steering Committee was tasked to look through the qualitative and quantitative data and make recommendations to the State to prepare at the local level for the tremendous growth and need 2 for services for older adults. Additionally, their goal is to make the AAA network look more alike than different. There are specific recommendations for funding, but it appears no one is elevating aging related budget concerns.
California 2030 https://aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0za6LzT7Mylpzw%3d%3d CA Master Plan on Aging - https://mpa.aging.ca.gov/
HAS/VCAAA Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2024-2028 the purpose of this document is to provide the public with the goals, proposed services and strategies for FY 2024-2028. The delivery of programs and services in FY 2024-2025 is contingent upon the availability of funds from all sources (Federal, State and County). Strategic Plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors (BOS) April 2024. Plan draft summary link: https://s38652.pcdn.co/wp- content/uploads/2024/02/PSA18_Strategic-Plan-FY-2024-2028-Summary-of-Draft.pdf. updated BOS approved plan has not been posted on VCAAA website yet. 2024 LEGACY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED - The 2024 LEGACY Awards, which recognize the contributions of Ventura County residents and organizations that dedicate their lives to helping older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers to live optimally, were presented on Wednesday morning at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Advisory Council meeting. Since 2018, the VCAAA Advisory Council’s Optimal Aging Committee has annually presented LEGACY Awards to a local business/organization, to Dementia Friendly business/organizations, and to community members/volunteers. 2024 winners are:
Volunteers Assisting the Elderly (business/organization) Santa Clara Valley Hospice (Dementia Friendly business/organization) Marty Blumenthal (community member/volunteer)
Sylvia Fulton (community member/volunteer)
About 2024 winners:
CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly Award for
Business/Organization:CAREGIVERS, founded in 1984, developed a community-based model to meet a growing need for assistance for older adults. The organization’s mission is to promote the health, well-being, dignity and independence of frail, homebound older adults through one- on-one relationships with carefully screened, trained and trusted volunteers. CAREGIVERS provides non-medical, in-home support services and transportation, helping to prevent premature placement into board and care facilities and making it possible for these older adults to continue to live in the comfort and security of their own homes. The assistance of CAREGIVERS volunteers increases these older adults’ confidence and self-esteem and significantly improves their quality of life.
SANTA CLARA VALLEY HOSPICE - Award for Dementia Friendly Business/Organization:
Santa Clara Valley Hospice has served residents within the Santa Clara River Valley, including Santa Paula, Piru, Fillmore, Somis, Saticoy and East Ventura since 1980. It has a mission of continuing commitment of support and care through service, compassion and empathy for those with terminal and life-limited illnesses and their families. Their services are free of charge through donations from the community. Santa Clara Valley Hospice received “Dementia Friendly” status in 2019 and provides caregiver support groups, training and respite care. They 3 also have a free medical supplies program that has distributed more than 100,000 pieces of equipment to those in need.
MARTY BLUMENTHAL Award for Community Member/Volunteer: Marty Blumenthal began his involvement with Senior Concerns when his wife Debbie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He took on the role of caregiver for his wife, and also began volunteering as a home- delivered meals driver for the organization in 2021. He would bring his wife with him on the deliveries so that they could stay active together and give back to the community. Inspired by Senior Concerns’ work, he joined their Board of Directors, and has been very active in generating support and raising awareness of the organization’s mission. To help him better assist his wife, he joined a caregiver support group, and he has been an advocate for helping others. He is also active with the Alzheimer’s Association, the Westlakers and the Westlake Yacht Club.
SYLVIA FULTON Award for Community Member/Volunteer: Sylvia Fulton joined the City of Oxnard’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) back in 2007. Seventeen years later, Sylvia is still going strong with the program at the age of 97. She has been an instructor with the RSVP Bone Builders program the entire time. Starting as a participant, then as an instructor, she has gone to become a master trainer and is a constant advocate for the program, her fellow instructors and its participants. She has amassed almost 8,300 hours of recorded service, with plenty more hours undocumented. In 2017, at the age of 90, she and another volunteer were honored by the Ventura County Fire Department for actions taken to pull a woman out of a home that was on fire. Sylvia credited her years of weight lifting in Bone Builders for the ability to help the panicked neighbor.