Burlington Aging Council

Remote Meeting of the Burlington Aging Council Tuesday December 19th 2023 3:00pm – 4:30pm ZOOM MEETING MINUTES Attending: 12-19-23 Member Status Name Attendance 1 member representing an organization supporting New Americans in Vermont Symphorien Sikyala x Frederick Neu / 1 member representing a healthcare provider xx Janet Nunziata 1 member representing a long-term care organization in Burlington VACANT 1 member representing an affordable housing organization in Burlington Molly Dugan 1 member representing an organization working to fight food insecurity in Vermont Jane Catton x 1 member representing an organization providing advocacy and support for older adults in Vermont Kelly Stoddard Poor 1 member representing a senior center in Burlington Andrea Viets x 1 member representing an organization providing mental health services in Vermont Alison Miley x 1 member representing an organization providing transportation services in Vermont Christopher Damiani 1 member representing the City’s Community and Economic Development Office Brian Pine* x 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Barbara Shaw-Dorso x 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Glenn McRae* x 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Martha Molpus 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Charles J Messing x 3-5 older adults living in Burlington Lorna Kay 1 member representing an organization advocating for racial equity, inclusion, and belonging in Burlington VACANT *co-chairs Support provided by Marcella Gange, CEDO. 1. Motion to approve agenda 11 19 23 APPROVED 2. Motion to approve minutes 11 21 23 – no Minutes available 3. Public Comment - NONE 4. Update/Review of work on Burlington Action Plan on Aging Well – Drafts available here: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CityCouncil/Boards-Commissions-Committees/burlington-aging-council DRAFT Social Connection and Engagement DRAFT Family Caregiver Support DRAFT Financial Security DRAFT Optimal Health and Wellness DRAFT Housing, Transportation and Community Design • (Charlie) – Include information on the job training and connection programs offered by A4TD in the Financial Security section, and possibly the Social Inclusion section.  • (Barbarba) – End of Life Planning, Estate Planning should have a place in Financial Security and possibly other sections. • (Janet) In a final review the plan should surface a number of crossover areas. These might be a good way to prioritize actions. • (Lorna via Brian) Need to address the failure of the long term care sector, nursing and long term rehab (see State Auditor’s report on failure of the state inspection and licensing role). How do we include key issues that might be beyond the power of the City to address? They should be highlighted in the plan to provide for City action to advocate. We should look to the State plan to see how to connect to this issue in the state efforts that are and will be undertaken. • (Jane) The roadmap approach in the AgeStrong Vermont plan (https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/hpd-bh-age-strong-roadmap- draft-nov-2023.pdf) is a good possible template for our plan to follow, and has a number of points that we should make sure to draw parallels to and connect to, making the most of coordinated action. • All members will review the most recent version of Working Group Documents and send their comments, corrections, additions to Glenn (glennmcrae56@gmail.com) by January 12th. He will compile all of these and submit back out to the council by January 16. The Council will meet on January 23rd instead of January 16. o DRAFT Social Connection and Engagement o DRAFT Family Caregiver Support o DRAFT Financial Security o DRAFT Optimal Health and Wellness o DRAFT Housing, Transportation and Community Design 5. Ongoing Discussion: Completion of draft, timing for presentation to Administration/CDNR/City Council A. Timing: Generally agreed that BAC should work toward having a plan to submit in early April to engage the new leadership in the mayor’s office and City Council. We want to have a quality project, not a rushed one. B. Engagement: In addition to having a draft plan, BAC will need a process to take that draft in front of other key stakeholders for review and critique before submission to the City. Need to identify those stakeholders and opportunities for engagement. C. Making the Case: It was pointed out that to make the case for City Action we need a good plan, well presented, prioritized, and providing pathways to implementation and attracting needed funding. IN ADDITION we also need community advocates to make the case illustrating the need and the opportunity in an Age-Friendly City from their personal experience and perspective. We will need some organizing effort to surface these stories and willing advocates for the roll-out. D. Libby, our intern who left us in early December, was able to move the 5 areas of focus forward, but there is still work to do. Our internal review process will address some of this in the next month. To move from here to where we want to be in April we will need additional assistance. CEDO still has some funds available to pay for this. The assignment includes: a. Moving our body of work, previous overviews and documents, as well as the five issue areas, into a comprehensive plan. We can look to the Age Strong Roadmap format for some guidance. (https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/hpd-bh-  age-strong-roadmap-draft-nov-2023.pdf). We should also be connecting to and referencing it as much as it makes sense in our final product. b. The document should also: i. have a well presented 2-page brief that captures the essence of the plan and presents the high-level priorities, including key city positions needed to carry this work forward and high priority investments. ii. note the work that has already spun off of BAC efforts (HomeShare Pilot, Family Caregiver proclamation, Memory Café, and reference the ongoing work of all partners providing critical services and opportunities in the City. iii. have an Annual Calendar noting special opportunities, e.g. Family Caregiver Month, and a long term timeline for key benchmarks. c. The plan document should also address the role (and membership) of BAC in the future. E. Brian will be collecting ideas for who BAC might engage for this work. CEDO will be able to decide and hopefully engage the required assistance. Members are asked to think about anyone who might have enough subject matter expertise/familiarity whether inside their organization or connected to the broader community who might be able to carry out this task in the timeframe discussed above. 6. Any other business and motion to adjourn - 4:00pm NEXT MEETING – NEW DATE: January 23, 2024.