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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