Minutes 05-04-2021 Virtual Business Meeting

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9 While the Department on Aging offers outstanding programs and services to older adults year- round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access the home- and community-based services they need to live independently in their communities. It is also an occasion to highlight how older adults are engaging with and making a difference in their communities. In this era of COVID-19, there are shining examples of how older adults are contributing to the strength of the community. The Project EngAGE Senior Leaders are connecting with older adults in their communities to make sure their needs are being met during these difficult times. Leaders are making phone calls, picking up food, delivering senior center lunches, sewing facial coverings, and pitching in wherever there is an unmet need. The End of Life Choices Senior Resource team saw an unmet need and created a document to aid in emergency planning during this COVID-19 health crisis. This new document is not intended to replace persons' advanced directives, but is to be used as a tool to provide additional information should you be diagnosed with COVID-19. Tech volunteers at the Seymour Center put their skills and creativity to work and transitioned very quickly into offering our computer classes in a virtual environment. This was critical in helping many older adults learn how to use their computers to connect to virtual center programs and to their family and friends. Volunteers have also helped make it possible for the County to serve almost a 1,000 curbside meals weekly helping the many older adults in the community that are food insecure. And lastly, with COVID-19 occurring during tax season, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers should be congratulated for developing a secure process for assisting persons with tax preparation that does not involve a face to face appointment. Last year this program was recognized by the IRS for its innovative work during the pandemic. Today there are over 30,000 Orange County residents who are 60+ and of that group over 1,900 who are over age 85. As large numbers of baby boomers reach retirement age, it is the goal to keep them physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Lifelong participation in community, social, creative and physical activities have proven health benefits, including retaining mobility, muscle mass and cognitive abilities. But older adults are not the only ones who benefit from their engagement in community life. Studies show their interactions with family, friends, and neighbors across generations enrich the lives of everyone involved. With COVID-19, the celebrations and activities honoring Older Americans Month are being curtailed, but the County still encourages older adults to celebrate "Community of Strength." With social distancing and the Seymour and Passmore Centers not being open to group activities, the County challenges everyone to stay connected through phone calls, virtual gatherings, and participate in virtual and parking lot programs. This is a time for everyone to celebrate the strength of the community by remaining resilient; calling neighbors; saying thank you to frontline workers; and demonstrating a willingness to help the community recover from this pandemic and prepare for whatever the new normal is. Commissioner McKee introduced the item. He said there are over 30,000 people in Orange County over the age of 65. He said over 1,900 are over 85. He said his mother and mother-in-law are in that group, and do not see themselves as older. He said this month has been acknowledged since the 1960s.