Area Plan

Summary of Area Objectives in Priority Order

Priority Area A: ACCESS

Rationale: The aging network can pride itself on offering a variety of integral services to promote the quality of life for older adults, their families and care providers.  However, in order to be of any benefit, these services must be accessible to the aging community.  According to needs identified during the Senior Resources-Agency on Aging’s efforts to developed this Area Plan, concerns expressed can be captured under these broad categories: information and referral, access, public education and elders in greatest economic and social need. During the course of this Area Plan Senior Resources-Agency on Aging is committed to making it easier for older people to access an integrated array of health and social supports.

Goal 1.1: Increase the number of older persons (including elder who may be at an increased risk of vulnerability due to economic and social factors) aware of, and empowered to connect to, health and social supports available to address elder issues.

Objective 1.1: In accordance with the needs of the eastern planning and service area, Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will strengthen its’ capacity to provide information to the aging community to facilitate access to a variety of community resources that can address elder matters.

Priority Area B: Healthy Aging

Rationale:  On the average, persons in the United States can expect a long life. The segment of the American population aged 65 and older is growing, with life expectancy rising from just 47 years for persons born in 1900 to 77 years for those born in 2001. The factors that created this dramatic increase in longevity are also responsible for a major shift in the most common cases of death, primarily chronic disease and degenerative illness. During the course of this Area Plan Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will work to help older people stay active and healthy. 

Goal 1.1: Broaden Senior Resources-Agency on Aging’s ability to mobilize the aging community’s awareness and compliance with the tenets of healthy aging.

Objective 1.1:  Strengthen Senior Resources’ capacity to educate and mobilize the aging community to respond to health issues and to mitigate older adults’ risk of poor health.

Priority Area C: HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES

Rationale:  The vast array of services captured under home and community-based services can be employed as a coordinated system of services to meet medical, social and environmental needs of older adults and their caregivers. Frequently these services are utilized in a manner that permits seniors to age in the community as opposed to unnecessary institutionalization.  According to the National Association for Area Agencies on Aging, Inc., two-thirds of persons aged 65 and older need some type of assistance with activities of daily life like eating, bathing or dressing. The vast majority of persons with these needs, more than 80 percent, receive their care from family and friends. Fewer than 20 percent receive this care in an institutional setting. During the course of this Area Plan Senior Resources-Agency on Aging is committed to supporting families in their efforts to care for their loved ones at home and in the community.

Goal 1.1:  Capitalize Senior Resources-Agency on Aging’s ability to connect the aging community with home and community-based services within the eastern planning and service area.

Objective 1.1:  Enlarge Senior Resources-Agency on Aging’s capacity to capture and exchange information on the breadth of home and community-based services available within the planning and service area in order to assist the aging community in the identification, access and usage of such resources.

Priority Area D: ELDER ABUSE

Rationale:  Elder abuse can be defined as the commission of any intentional act to harm an older adult or the deliberate omission of care as a means to expose an older adult to risk. There are seven major types of elder abuse:  physical, sexual, emotional/psychological, exploitation (financial), neglect, abandonment and self-neglect. Older adults are at risk of abuse from their loved ones, their caregivers and even themselves. During the course of this Area Plan Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will work to ensure the rights of older people and prevent elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Goal 1:  Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will assist in the prevention, detection and response to abuse of seniors in Eastern Connecticut.

Objective 1.1:  Senior Resources will increase the number of persons aware of elder abuse issues and educated on how to respond. 

Priority Area E: TRANSPORTATION

Rationale: Eastern Connecticut is comprised of 56 municipalities within 4 counties (either in part or entirety), 4 transit districts, 3 regional council of governments, 3 regional planning agencies and dozens of transportation providers. Each of these entities works independently to provide community transportation. This fragmentation has had a distinctly negative impact on older adults seeking a ride, with many persons discovering that “you can’t get there from here.” During the course of this Area Plan Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will work to support the transportation needs of older adults in Eastern Connecticut.

Goal 1.1:  Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will maintain its’ capacity to mobilize members of the planning and service area on transportation for older adults.

Objective 1.1: Senior Resources will further the awareness of mobility concerns in Eastern Connecticut. 

Priority Area F: QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Rationale:  In an effort to promote and retain effective and responsible management, Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will model and encourage the demonstration of quality management techniques. 

Goal 1.1: Senior Resources-Agency on Aging will work to promote effective and responsible management.

Objective 1.1: Senior Resources will engage in activities to promote effective and responsible management.