HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-7 Dementia Friendly CommunityCONSENT ITEM
E-7
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: TROY L. BUTZLAFF, ICMA-CM, CITY MANAGER
FROM: LOUIE F. LACASELLA, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
DATE: OCTOBER 3, 2016
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION 2016-C64 EXPRESSING THE CITY’S COMMITMENT TO
BECOMING A "DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITY"
SUMMARY:
More than five million people nationally are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to
grow by 40% percent the next decade. These numbers do not even include those affected by other types
of dementia. The City through the Police Department’s HALO program, Library’s Neighborhood
Connections and various other departments programs have provided support to individuals in the
community who experience forms of mental illness, which include dementia. Silverado Sierra Vista
Community is interested in making Azusa a "Dementia Friendly Community" and has requested a
resolution of support. The proposed action adopts Resolution 2016-C64 expressing the City’s
commitment to becoming a "Dementia Friendly Community" and taking necessary actions, which
include participation on a task force, to continue to create a community that is informed, safe and
respectful of people living with dementia and their families.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following action:
1) Adopt Resolution 2016-C64 expressing the City’s commitment to becoming a "Dementia
Friendly Community" and taking necessary actions, which include participation on a task force,
to continue to create a community that is informed, safe and respectful of people living with
dementia and their families.
DISCUSSION:
More than five million people nationally are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to
grow by 40% percent the next decade. These numbers do not even include those affected by other types
of dementia. Individuals affected include friends, families and neighbors. Further affected are family
caregivers, who tirelessly care for their loved ones. Alzheimer's takes a devastating toll on caregivers.
Nearly 60 percent of Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high
or very high; about 40 percent suffer from depression. Due to the physical and emotional toll of
caregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers had $9.7 billion in additional health care costs of their
own in 2014.
Approved
Council Meeting
10/03/2016
Dementia Friendly Community
October 3, 2016
Page 2
In 2015, the White House Conference on Aging, called on all state and local government agencies to
consider ways to address the growing dementia population. Silverado Sierra Vista Community has
accepted the challenge and would like to make Azusa one of the first Dementia Friendly Communities in
Southern California. To that end, they have requested that the City Council adopt the attached
resolution (Attachment 2) expressing the City’s commitment to becoming a community that is informed,
safe and respectful of people living with dementia and their families.
One of the objectives in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community is the formation of a community
task force. The task force is responsible for determining and delegating action items, meeting regularly
to assess progress, and oversee planning of community events related to the Dementia Friendly
Community effort. The task force will be made up of various community based groups, external
agencies and various City Departments including: the Police Department, Senior Center, Library, Los
Angeles County Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, healthcare providers,
educational organizations, nonprofits, faith-based community, public utilities and residents. Silverado's
role would be to assist in the establishment of the task force, provide expert guidance, supply training
resources and support new ideas. Silverado would also assist public relations efforts behind this
initiative.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Louie F. Lacasella Troy L. Butzlaff, ICMA-CM
Management Analyst City Manager
Attachments:
1) Silverado Sierra Vista Community’s Dementia Friendly Proposal
2) Resolution 2016-C64
ATTACHMENT 1
City of Azusa
Becoming a Dementia Friendly Community
Vision: To help people with dementia feel included and supported by reducing the stigma associated with cognitive decline.
Mission: To create a community that is informed, safe and respectful of people living with dementia and their families, and has supportive features across all community groups to foster quality of life for everyone.
Why is this important? More than five million people nationally are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow by 40% percent the next decade. These numbers don’t even include those affected by other types of dementia. Individuals affected include our friends, families and neighbors. We have an opportunity to address it first hand in our own community. Further affected are family caregivers, who tirelessly care for their loved ones and deserve added support from through the community. Alzheimer's takes a devastating toll on caregivers. Nearly 60 percent of Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high; about 40 percent suffer from depression. Due to the physical and emotional toll of caregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers had $9.7 billion in additional health care costs of their own in 2014. Becoming a Dementia Friendly Community can address this. In fact, after the White House Conference on Aging in 2015, its members called on all state and local government to consider ways to address the growing dementia population. The city of Azusa has an opportunity to lead the way to become one of the first Dementia Friendly Communities in Southern California, and to inspire other cities in LA County to follow suit.
What does this mean? It means getting various community groups involved, including government, fire and police departments, Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, Healthcare providers, Educational organizations, nonprofits, faith-based community, public utilities, and local citizens. The first step is to form a committee, with representatives throughout the Azusa community. The committee is responsible for determining and delegating action items, meeting regularly to assess progress, and oversee planning of community events related to the Dementia Friendly Community effort. *Silverado Support: Silverado's role is to help establish the committee, provide expert guidance,
supply training resources, ideate, and support new ideas. Silverado will also drive the PR effort
behind this initiative.
Proposed Goals
The committee’s initial goal is to plan a community-wide kick-off event with food, information
booths, speakers and other interactive elements to begin educating the public and to announce
elements of the initiatives. Future goals will be determined by a committee (Action Team) based
on how each community group might better serve the needs of those affected by dementia.
Below is a proposed list of ideas each community group can take as part of this initiative: (Specific
actions will be determined by committee (Action Team) and the willingness of specified
Community Group to comply to recommendations.)
Community Group Action Item
Local Government/
Administration
City Hall has updated resources for families caring for someone with dementia or related disease. Create a webpage to house resources, support groups, sign a pledge of support, and to see a list of participating businesses and organizations City employees can complete a Dementia 101 online training from Silverado to better understand the disease. The public transportation system can add a "dementia" or "cognitive impairment" notation to disability signage
Fire Department First responders can complete online dementia training, plus go through a Virtual Dementia Tour.
Police Department
First responders/Halo Officers can complete online dementia training, plus go through a Virtual Dementia Tour
Businesses
Businesses train a manager or service provider, and cascade the learnings to all employees Brain Fitness poster designed and distributed to local gyms and other businesses Private transportation system to add a "dementia" or "cognitive impairment" notation to disability signage
Healthcare Providers
Workshop day where Virtual Dementia Tours are scheduled, social workers attend, learn how to screen for dementia Ongoing Support Group events for various subsets of individuals and families affected by memory loss Create a toolkit with guides and other dementia resources that can be given out free of charge by doctors and by the city
Education/University
Team up Social Workers with Nursing Students, and do home visits with the elderly Provide opportunities/classes for students to learn more about dementia and decrease stigmas
Nonprofits Team up Social Workers with Nursing Students, and do home visits with the elderly
Ongoing Support Group events for various subsets of individuals and families affected by memory loss Nonprofits complete at least the Dementia 101 online training from Silverado Formal program that links people with dementia to volunteering at local nonprofits
Families/Citizens
PSA's (Public Service Announcement) runs on public access television. Provide educational classes for community to learn more about disease and decrease stigma. "10 Warning Signs of Dementia" collateral sent to all members of the community, with info on Silverado Learning. Opportunity to go through a Virtual Dementia Tour to better understand Dementia.
Legal/Finance
Develop and schedule "financial abuse" workshops aimed at helping the elderly Bankers/tellers to receive Dementia 101 training, as well as how to look for out of the ordinary requests
Faith Community
Churches train leadership, and cascade the learnings to all staff members. Provide support groups and updated resources
Utilities
Provide dementia training to employees - with a variation of training: wandering, notice that trash isn't taken out, bills paid
Next Steps:
Gain city council approval/City Resolution of support.
Add new members to the committee
Develop a timeline for the initiative
Plan a kick-off event
ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLUTION 2016-C64
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING CITY OF AZUSA’s
COMMITMENT TOWARD BECOMING A “DEMENTIA FRIENDLY
COMMUNITY”
WHEREAS, more than five million people nationally are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and
that number is expected to grow by 40% percent the next decade; and
WHEREAS, the City of Azusa has made a significant commitment to individuals with
mental health issues through programs and services offered by City departments; and
WHEREAS, City of Azusa departments are sensitive to the issues of mental health and have
improved accessibility to city services; and
WHEREAS, this commitment will increase awareness of dementia and decrease the stigma
for those who live with a disease that causes memory and thinking impairments; and
WHEREAS, a Dementia Friendly Community works to improve the quality of life for all
those who are affected, both for individuals with memory challenges and their caregivers, by educating
employees in local businesses on how to recognize and best assist a person with dementia.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Azusa City Council supports the City’s
participation in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community in partnership with the Silverado Sierra
Vista Community and the wider community, including residents, businesses, non-profit organizations,
faith-based organizations and other groups and service providers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City will work with the Dementia Friendly
Community task force to create a community that addresses the needs of individuals living with
dementia as well as their caregivers.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 3rd day of October, 2016. _______________________________ Joseph Romero Rocha Mayor ATTEST:
___________________________________
Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF AZUSA )
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2016-C64 was duly adopted by the
City Council of the City of Azusa at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 3rd day of October, 2016, by
the following vote of the Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
___________________________________
Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr.,
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________________ Best Best & Krieger, LLP City Attorney