Q&A
Collaboration with city agencies and implementation challenges
0:46:12
·
5 min
Council Member Hudson asks about NYC Aging's collaboration with other city agencies and the challenges faced in implementing the Community Care Plan. Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez outlines several initiatives and challenges:
- Training programs for frontline workers in H+H facilities to increase awareness of aging services
- Collaboration with the Department of Education to train young people on ageism
- Partnerships with DOT for community audits and micro-mobility solutions
- Creation of community officers focused on older adults in each NYPD precinct
Additional details:
- The growing number of older adults poses a challenge in implementing the plan
- Different age groups (60-64, 65-80, 85+) have varying needs and service utilization patterns
- The department is evolving its approach to better serve each age group, including partnerships with libraries and parks for the 60-64 age group
Crystal Hudson
0:46:12
We were we're working with the MTA around a lot of their bus redesign, you know, of the various lines making sure that that we're addressing exactly those needs in in some of those communities Yeah.
0:46:24
To make sure that they're not removing bus stops that already exist and that they're expanding the number of bus stops on particular lines.
0:46:33
Can you describe the ways in which NYC aging works and collaborates with other city agencies and stakeholders to ensure comprehensive implementation of the plan?
0:46:41
And how does the plan interplay with the senior advisory council on the cabinet fold in New Yorkers?
0:46:46
I know you addressed this a little bit.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
0:46:47
Yeah.
0:46:48
It it's an integral part of the work that we do with the cabinet members.
0:46:54
One of the things that we knew is healthcare professionals are one of the group of people that older adults interact with the most.
0:47:05
And so what we've done is we've designed a training program in all of our h and h programs to ensure that frontline workers are meaning frontline, meaning those that give access to the client, not frontline like first responders.
0:47:22
But frontline workers are aware of what the aging services are, and so we've trained a lot of them.
0:47:31
Almost the entire force has been trained in aging services.
0:47:35
And then, you know, this is not a one shot trade.
0:47:37
It's not one and done.
0:47:38
You know, we have to go back and and as people change, we know that this is an ongoing thing.
0:47:43
Another one is the work that we're doing with the Board of Education.
0:47:46
That's now called Department of Education.
0:47:49
I'm no longer Board of Education.
0:47:51
Department of Education, where we are training young people on ageism.
0:47:56
Which we know is one of the keys to holding all of this in place if we wanna be an age inclusive city.
0:48:02
And the partnership that we have from DOT that has grown tremendously in terms of doing these community audits, looking at micro mobility, So everything emerges from that.
0:48:13
And the work we did with the police department, NYPD, which was to look at creating a liaison, a person in each precinct that becomes the community officer who focuses on older adults, and we've done an incredible amount of training of those individuals so that they are aware of the services, but they're also the the link in the community for that.
0:48:37
So all of it is emerging around that.
Crystal Hudson
0:48:40
Okay, great.
0:48:41
Thank you.
0:48:41
And I'm I'm just gonna ask a a few more questions, and I'm gonna turn it over to my colleagues for their questions as well.
0:48:47
But what challenges has the city faced in implementing the plan?
0:48:50
And in what ways does NYC aging believe that the plan can be improved.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
0:48:55
You know, I I wanted to The challenges are is the growing number of older adults.
0:49:01
Right?
0:49:02
And do you have the population?
0:49:04
Thank you.
0:49:09
When we look at the population, we've got to be responsive because they each have different needs.
0:49:16
Right?
0:49:16
So when I look at the 60 No.
0:49:20
I want the 1 by the by the categories.
0:49:23
Yeah.
0:49:25
Okay.
0:49:25
So when we look at 60 to 64, we realize that that is the lowest number of people who are attending older adult clubs.
0:49:33
So what does that do?
0:49:35
Makes us think, well, where are they going?
0:49:37
Right?
0:49:38
And so right now, we're doing a partnership with the New York City libraries.
0:49:41
We're doing a partnership with Parks department because we know that they go to those facilities.
0:49:46
So how is it?
0:49:47
And that comes out of the cabinet.
0:49:48
So we're looking at, okay, how best to serve them because we know that they're going somewhere.
0:49:52
Right?
0:49:52
And so how we best can serve them.
0:49:54
And then we know that the the the if you wanna call it, the sweet spot.
0:50:00
But the the the largest number is from the 65 to 80 category of older adults.
0:50:07
Those are the ones that frequent the older adult clubs.
0:50:10
Those are the ones that and then 85 plus are getting our home delivered meals.
0:50:14
So we're looking at all of our services by age category also.
0:50:19
To see what do I need for this group, what do I need more for that group.
0:50:23
And that is an integral part of how we're also making decisions.
0:50:28
So we look at geographic, we look at age cohort, We look at income, and we definitely look at ethnicity because that is ever changing.
0:50:37
And so those are the things that sort of drive this plan and keeping pace with that.
0:50:44
Okay?
Crystal Hudson
0:50:46
And so how can the plan be improved?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
0:50:52
The plan could be improved, and I wanna say improved.
0:50:57
I'm gonna say evolved.
0:50:58
The plan can be more responsive because I don't think you can improve a plan that's already pretty comprehensive.
0:51:04
You need to evolve it.
0:51:05
And for us to look at exactly what I just said before, what do we what do we do to engage?
0:51:11
That's sixty to sixty four year old.
0:51:13
What do we do to make sure that we enhance services for that 85 plus who still wants to stay at home?
0:51:20
I got a ninety five year old just like that.
0:51:22
Mhmm.
0:51:22
And what do we do for that that sweet spot, which is the bulk of the older adult population, which is six 65 to to about 80.
