Project Recommendation #1
Project Recommendation #1
The Area Agency on Aging will create a community outreach, engagement, and communications plan, and an annual calendar for the Age & Disability-Friendly Merced County initiative.
California's 5 Bold Goals: Inclusion & Equity, Not Isolation; Affording Aging
AARP's 8 Domains of Livability: Communications & Information
Sometimes older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers fail to take advantage of services offered by a community solely because they are not aware of the opportunities that exist. Residents receive information about programs, services, news, events, and social opportunities through a variety of different communications channels, whether in-person, online, or in print. It is important that the Age & Disability-Friendly Merced County initiative, including the Area Agency on Aging and its many partners, prioritize in-language communications that address the unique needs and challenges of individuals and their communities, to make every effort to ensure all older adults and people with disabilities learn about and have access to critical services.
As a new initiative, Age & Disability-Friendly Merced County will prioritize its community relationships by creating a comprehensive outreach, engagement, and communications plan that details what information it will provide, through which communications channels, and to which constituencies. Based on feedback from residents, this planning process will target opportunities to develop and/or promote a senior and disability resource directory, in both digital and hard copy formats. It will also prioritize in-person resource fairs and community events that engage local residents in the initiative, providing progress updates and seeking continuous feedback. These opportunities (and others) will be promoted through an annual initiative calendar available to the public.
Communications with older adults and people with disabilities in Merced County are only going to improve through building trusted interpersonal relationships at the household, neighborhood, and community level. Luckily, there are many engaged community leaders across the county who are willing to work with the Area Agency on Aging to help disseminate information, make referrals to service providers, encourage participation among residents, and coordinate transportation to and from in-person events. Whether available in-person, online, or in print, the information is only valuable if it can be accessed, and especially with these two populations, that means personal assistance and offering a helping hand.
In addition to this approach, Merced County has existing senior and disability resource directories and hotlines, including 211 (administered by the United Way of Merced County).
Utilizing existing Merced County Area Agency on Aging staff capacity, an Age & Disability-Friendly Merced County comprehensive community outreach, engagement, and communications plan, including an annual calendar, can be completed within twelve (12) months of the adoption of this Action Plan by the County Board of Supervisors. With support from community partners and/or a consultant(s), this timeline estimate could be expedited.
By June 30, 2027, Merced County will have increased participation in core adult and aging services and programs by 20% over fiscal year 2023-24 baseline attendance and/or enrollment.
As part of an annual survey of older adults, Merced County will assess its success promoting targeted adult and aging services and programs in different communities across the county. In comparison to a baseline rating determined at the start of fiscal year 2025-26, 30% more older adults will be aware of these programs by June 30, 2030.
As part of the next Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA®) report, 50% of Merced County older adults will assess the availability of information about resources for older adults as excellent or good.
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