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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board, acting as the Governing Board of the El Dorado County Area Agency on Aging (AAA):
1) Approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 Update to the 2024-2028 Area Plan on Aging (Area Plan), a plan that AAA is required to prepare and submit to California Department of Aging (CDA), identifying goals for service delivery that reflect the priorities of the Older Americans Act; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Transmittal Letter for submission of the FY 2026-2027 Update to the 2024-2028 Area Plan to the CDA.
FUNDING: 31% State, 19% Federal, 1% Charge for Services, 6% Donations, and 43% General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
CDA administers programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in long-term care facilities throughout the State of California (State). These services are provided regionally or locally by contracted public or private non-profit agencies that are designated by the State to address the needs and concerns of these individuals, known as an AAA. California’s aging network is geographically divided into 33 Planning and Service Areas (PSAs). Within each PSA, the local AAA shares responsibility for planning and administering services that address long term care needs for aging clients. Within El Dorado County, HHSA’s Community Services Division (CSD) is designated by the Board to administer the local AAA, identified as the PSA 29. As such, CSD is responsible for planning, coordinating, administering, and monitoring local AAA programs and services that are funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA).
AAA is required to submit an “Area Plan” every four years to the CSD that describe its efforts and planned activities to best serve the needs identified by older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in their designated PSA. The 2024-2028 Area Plan titled “We All Age -- Just Differently,” covers the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028, and was approved by the Board on July 30, 2024 (Legistar file 24-1091). As a component of the ongoing maintenance of the approved Area Plan, the County is required to submit an annual update each year to CDA in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 1.8., Chapter 3, Article, 3, Section 7304. Annual updates must be approved by the governing board of the El Dorado County AAA.
HHSA staff, with input from the Commission on Aging (COA), developed the FY 2026-2027 Update to the 2024-2028 Area Plan for submission to the CDA as required by the federal OAA. This is the second update to the 2024-2028 Area Plan. COA works closely with HHSA CSD leadership and staff to help ensure that community interests and issues faced by seniors in El Dorado County are reflected in the Area Plan. They assist in the development of goals and objectives, soliciting information and feedback in the community, and supporting the development of strategies to help meet the needs and interests of older individuals throughout El Dorado County, including their caregivers. The COA held the required Public Hearing to solicit feedback from the public on the FY 2026-2027 Area Plan Update during their regular meeting on June 18, 2026.
The FY 2026-2027 Update to the Area Plan provides a description of significant accomplishments that occurred during FY 2025-2026 and provides FY 2026-2027 guidance for the ongoing provision of senior services in El Dorado County. Examples of FY 2025-2026 accomplishments are described in the attached Area Plan Update and include but are not limited to:
AAA
1) Bilingual services are available through the Information & Assistance program.
2) The Senior Nutrition program utilized Modernizing Older Californians Act funding to purchase 200 shelf stable ready to eat emergency meals, in addition to new dishes and dining room chairs for congregate meal participants.
3) Volunteers are able to self-schedule coverage for home delivered meal routes, which has streamlined scheduling processes.
4) A new seven-passenger minivan was purchased to serve as the new Senior Shuttle to increase services and access to nutrition.
5) Senior Legal Services successfully assisted older adults with a variety of legal challenges, including landlord-tenant disputes and elder abuse cases, to help seniors recover money and vehicles, and has also facilitate agreements between parents and adult children that allow seniors to age in place and remain safely in their family homes.
6) Collaboration with community partners is a continued ongoing effort, which allows the AAA to bring client services closer to the over 60 population residing throughout the County.
7) Senior Activities continue to grow with new activities and classes.
8) You Are Not Alone (YANA) Telephone Reassurance program, with the help of the Sheriff’s Team of Active Retirees (STAR) and AAA volunteers, have made 8,636 calls to the program’s 44 participants.
9) AAA was able to continue the Fall Prevention program through March 2026, serving 47 unduplicated seniors and providing 603 units of service, including: grab bars; handrails; stair rails; ramps; shower mats and stools; step modifications; toilet seats and risers; nightlights and smoke detectors. These are critical services that help El Dorado County older adults remain independent and support their ability to successfully age in place in their own homes.
Accomplishments of the COA (the advisory council for the AAA)
1) The COA focuses on Senior Housing to advocate for affordable, age-friendly housing near public transit through engagement with the County Board and Planning Commission in FY 2025-2026.
2) The Outreach Team continues to attend community events during FY 2025-2026 and continues to provide outreach packets to local churches, community service groups and other agencies to promote senior services in El Dorado County.
3) The COA re-elected two California Senior Legislature members to continue representing the Area Agency on Aging, collaborating on rural issues, engaging in Senior Rally Day, and updating the Commission on senior-related legislation.
Through the implementation of this plan, the AAA seeks to provide far-reaching education and understanding of the choices and opportunities that exist to enhance the quality of life of El Dorado County’s older residents. The five goals and 26 objectives of the four-year plan have been updated with their 2025-2026 status.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board, as the Governing Board for the El Dorado County AAA PSA 29, decline to sign the Transmittal Letter, the AAA will be out of compliance with federal and state regulations which could result in a potential loss of funding.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
1) 08/04/2020 Legistar file 20-0946, HHSA 2020-2024 Area Plan on Aging
2) 05/18/2021 Legistar file 21-0692, HHSA 2021-2022 Area Plan Update
3) 05/17/2022 Legistar file 22-0797, HHSA Agency Area on Aging 2022-2023 Area Plan Update
4) 07/25/2023 Legistar file 23-0648, HHSA FY 2023-24 Area Plan Update
5) 07/30/2024 Legistar file 24-1091, HHSA Fiscal Year 2024-28 Area Agency on Aging Plan
6) 07/15/2025 Legistar file 25-1021, HHSA Fiscal Year 2025-26 Area Plan Annual Update
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Commission on Aging
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact associated with this agenda item. Annual updates are required to continue to receive funding for AAA programs.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two original Transmittal Letters; and
2) Clerk of the Board to return fully executed transmittal letters to HHSA Older Adult Services and Area Agency on Aging (PSA 29) at 937 Spring Street.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency