Tempe City Council has accepted close to $500,000 in grant funds from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to support aging and older adults by enhancing its programs and services to be more inclusive and culturally appropriate.
A resolution that was approved at the May 18 council meeting accepted and disbursed $499,083 to the city's Office of Education, Career and Family Services for use in its programs and services with older populations. The city was awarded the funding by MCDPH on April 20 for its proposal “Enhancing Community Connectedness in Tempe and Guadalupe.”
Explained by Senior Management Assistant Rachael Brickner in a city report, the city will move forward using the grant funds to expand its digital equity, dementia support, and literacy volunteer opportunities to a more diverse group of older adults with “Age-Friendly Community Outreach Specialists” in targeted ZIP codes and neighborhoods.
“Grant funds will support immediate staffing needs for outreach positions, a technology coordinator, curriculum developer, bilingual program facilitator and bilingual music therapist,” Brickner wrote.
According to the report, the city’s programs already have a high rate of utilization and community engagement, but its program demographic is primarily Caucasian with limited participation from Black, Indigenous and other people of color.
The Centers for Disease Control provided funding to MCDPH to “address health disparities that were created or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic,” noting that the pandemic had a “devastating” impact on individuals 65 and older through Maricopa County.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the effects of healthcare disparities and social determinants of health (like accessibility to healthcare) that certain populations face, including underserved ethnic and racial minorities and other vulnerable populations like older people.
“Older adults are among these vulnerable groups and are the fastest growing demographic in Arizona,” Brickner stated. “But the virus’s impact on older adults goes beyond a higher risk for serious infection.”
Along with the risk of infection, older adults have had limited access to care for all their conditions as well as social, psychological and economic hardships.
“Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults: Rapid Review,” a study referenced in the city report, provided information on the impact COVID-19 had on older adults.
Its findings highlighted the presence of psychological symptoms, decrease in social interactions, exacerbation of ageism, and the deterioration of physical conditions among older adult populations during the pandemic.
A CDC foundation study also found that older adults had struggles in connecting with loved ones, getting basic household supplies, food and healthcare. Older adults often relied on the support of their caregivers, who ended up bearing the stress of both managing their needs and the needs of those in their care.
“Now more than ever, community-based agencies are vital in supporting and preparing older adults (with and without caregivers) for small- and large-scale emergencies,” Brickner stated.
Some of the challenges older adults face during emergencies and in recovering from the pandemic include food insecurity, transportation, access to healthcare, technology, grocery shopping, picking up medication and social connectedness.
The report emphasizes that the community must consider these challenges in supporting older adults, which the city will hopefully address using the grant funds to improve its programming through community outreach and program development.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org
To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
Tempe City Council,
COVID-19,
Maricopa County Department of Public Health,
Office of Education,
Career and Family Services,
Enhancing Community Connectedness in Tempe and Guadalupe,
older adults
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