Age Us

TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES OF ALL AGES TO VALUE AND CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS.

BUILD AND STRENGTHEN CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES TO BETTER SERVE LOW INCOMEOLDER ADULTS IN OREGON BY ACCOMPLISHING THE FOLLOWING:1. CONTINUED DEVELOPEMNT OF A NEW MODEL OF INNOVATIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME OLDER ADULTS IN RURAL AREAS2. CONTINUED TO PILOT CIRCLES OF CARE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN RURAL WASCO AND HOOD RIVER COUNTIES IN OREGON TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS WITH VARIOUS SERVICES SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, YARD WORK, GROCERY SHOPPING, MINOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, ETC. AND EXPANDED PROGRAM TO INCORPORATE MORE YOUTH VOLUNTEERS. 3. CONTINUED SPECIALIZED COVID-19 OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM TO OLDER ADULTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN OREGON REACHING OVER 20,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND INCREASED FOCUS OF WORKING WITH COUNTY LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO REACH MORE OLDER ADULTS. 4. CONTINUED WEBSITE AND ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP FOR THE TIES THAT BIND PROGRAM FOR GRANDPARENTS AND KINSHIP CAREGIVERS RAISING CHILDREN THAT FILLS THE UNMET NEED FOR TRAINING, PEER SUPPORT AND RESOURCES. HELD FOCUS GROUPS, THAT FOCUSED ON KINSHIP CAREGIVERS FROM CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FAMILIES TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND TO UNIQUE NEEDS AND SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY. 5. CONTINUED TO CO-CONVENE OREGON'S AGE-FRIENDLY ECOSYSTEM NETWORK TO SERVE AS CATALYST FOR RELATIONSHIOP BUILDING, BEST PRACTICES SHARING, AND INTENTIONAL COLLABORATION WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY ACROSS GENERATIONS AND OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.6. PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL SENIOR CENTERS TO INCREASE THEIR PROGRAMING CAPACITY AND STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

INCREASE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR VERY LOW-INCOME ADULTS IN OREGON BYACCOMPLISHING THE FOLLOWING:1. PRODUCED ANNUAL AGELESS AWARDS EVENT TO HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF OLDER ADULTS 75 AND OLDER. 2. INCREASED AWARENESS OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES OLDER ADULTS FACED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ON AGING TO THROUGH SPEAKING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, LOCAL LEADERS, AND PROVIDING TESTIMONY TO THE OREGON LEGISLATURE. 3. CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL BRIEFING PUBLICATIONS THAT HIGHLIGHT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITES OF THE CHANGING AGE STRUCTURE IN OREGON.

IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT RESPONDS TO OREGON'S CHANGING AGE STRUCTURE THAT ARE STRENGTHS BASED AND EQUITABLE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS. 1. COORDINATED AND FACILITATED VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ON AGING THROUGHOUT OREGON TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. 2. LAUNCHED "SHARED FUTURE OREGON" TO ADVANCE A MULTI-SECTOR PLAN FOR LIVING AND AGING3. IDENTIFIED AND ENGAGED OTHER STATES THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ACTIVATED COMPREHENSIVE PLANS FOR AGING AKA MULTI-SECTOR PLANS FOR AGING TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.