Town of Brookline FY23 Program Budget
Human Services l Council on Aging
Program Description
The Brookline Council on Aging (C.O.A.) is responsible for planning, coordinating, and providing comprehensive services for Brookline residents age 60 and over. The Council works with other Town agencies and community providers to enhance the quality of life for our elders. The Council’s goal is to maintain independence, dignity, and connection throughout the life span. Membership on the C.O.A. board includes representatives of six Town departments, 11 citizens, and 15 associate member citizens. Core services include transportation, geriatric social work, home care, advocacy, legal assistance, employment assistance, information and referral, and volunteer opportunities. The C.O.A. operates the Brookline Senior Center at 93 Winchester Street, a centrally located facility where those 60 and older can go for socialization, activity, and services. Programs include: breakfast, lunch, health clinics, health education programs, exercise classes, Asian outreach, Russian outreach, ESL classes, computer lab, Adult Education classes, art exhibits, and recreational opportunities.
FY23 Objectives
- Implement new programs for those socially isolated due to COVID-19.
- Provide online programming in a variety of subjects.
- Post-COVID-19 pandemic, continue to work with Public Health officials in maintaining a safe environment at the Brookline Senior Center.
- Apply for American Rescue Plan Act grant (ARPA funding) to offset the impact of COVID-19.
- Apply for private, state and federal grants that provide funding related to COVID-19 pandemic.
- Provide services to those who do not have access to the internet by working with Brookline interactive group and other community organizations.
- To fundraise private money to support Council on Aging transportation programs covering full salary cost of van driver, substitute van driver, substitute bus driver, extended operation of bus including nights and weekends and all fuel costs.
- To increase the number of participants utilizing subsidized rideshares options.
- To advocate that rideshare revenue resources allocated to the Town of Brookline be utilized in part by a senior transportation program.
- To maintain funding for the TRIPPS program through the transportation network funding and other grant opportunities.
- To maintain an Alzheimer's respite program that provides caregivers support and services so that Brookline residents with Alzheimer's have the option of staying at home. This program is funded with a state grant.
- To recruit, train, support and utilize volunteers at the Brookline Senior Center.
- To advocate for and provide jobs for vulnerable low income elders at risk of poverty.
- To provide geriatric assessments, counseling and case management services to Brookline older adults and their families.
- To provide high quality, affordable homecare to Brookline older adults and their families.
- To provide information, support and referral services to Brookline older adults and their families.
- To provide a variety of interesting daily/diverse programs at the Senior Center.
- To collaborate with Brookline elder care agencies to provide quality programs and services.
- To continue to explore efforts on diversity to ensure all elders are served. This includes recruitment of minority staff, board members, volunteers and participants.
- To continue to provide diversity programming for Russian, Asian and Hispanic older adults. This population requires translation services and educational programming.
- To continue to provide leadership to BrooklineCAN-Brookline Community Aging Network.
- To assist the nonprofit in fundraising activities to cover the cost of personnel, programs, services and supplies not covered by the Town.
- To work with other Town departments and agencies on intergenerational activities.
- To conduct outreach to Brookline older adults with special emphasis on increasing their access to benefit programs such as SNAP, Fuel Assistance, Food Commodity program and Medicare benefits.
- To obtain CDBG funding for critical programs of transportation for low income older adults.
- To continue to provide leadership to the Age Friendly Cities Committee.
- To continue implementing the action steps submitted to WHO Age Friendly Cities Project.
- To expand fitness offerings to low income older adults with special emphasis on Brookline Housing Authority residents.
- To continue to be responsible for the Tax Work Off program. Each participant will provide 111 hours of service to various Town departments.
- To maintain the renters program ($10,000). This program provides a similar relief to the Tax Work off program for those who rent.
- To continue to partner with LGBTQIA+Aging Project on training and supportive programs for LGBTQIA+older adults.
- To conduct annual survey of Senior Center participants and/or volunteers.
- To continue to provide support and services to Brookline residents and their families with Alzheimer’s disease including hosting a Memory Café program.
- To continue an active food insecurity program for low income Brookline elders.
- To continue providing durable medical equipment exchange program to Brookline older adults and their families.
- To update and distribute in print and online the Elder Resource Guide.
- To continue to expand weekend and evening programs at the Brookline Senior Center.
- To continue food commodity program which provides monthly non-perishable food items for low-income elders.
- To continue to host and provide support to the MA Association of the Blind assisted technology program (VIBRANT).
FY22 Accomplishments
- Collaborated with Town department and social service organizations to ensure that the older adults received information and services related to COVID-19.
- Collaborated with Public Health and Emergency Services to assist older adults in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines, this included providing transportation to vaccine sites and providing vaccines to homebound residents.
- Ongoing delivery of essential social services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social workers continued counseling case management and support. Staff also provided older adults with help in completing applications with fuel assistance, SNAP benefits, Medicare benefits and other essential financial programs.
- Created and implemented programs and services to reach vulnerable older adults at risk of social isolation and loneliness.
- Successfully pivoted programs to an online platform during COVID-19 shut down of public gathering. Offered a variety of programs from Art to Zumba.
- Secured a grant of $39,016 from CDBG Cares Act for food insecurity programs to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable older adults.
- Brookline Council on Aging received an EARMARK grant from the Department of Elder Affairs to provide Alzheimer's respite care.
- The Brookline Council on Aging and MA Association for the Blind continued to operate VIBRANT. This program provides assisted technology training and support to vision impaired seniors.
- The Brookline Council on Aging was awarded a Service Incentive Grant to provide tablets and internet connections for those older adults without technology access.
- Received the grant from Brookline Community Foundation to support food insecurity programs.
- Our pilot Expanded Transportation Program, utilizing rideshare, continued with private donations to increase transportation options for Brookline seniors.
- Successfully raised enough private money to fund entire Van program, substitute drivers and fuel expenses of the van and elder bus.
- Partnered with LGBTQIA+ Aging project to provide bereavement support groups, educational programs and social opportunities for LGBTIQIA+older adults in the community.
- Partnered with Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center to provide translation, outreach and programs to Asian older adults.
- Assisted over 217 individuals with income tax forms partnering with AARP and using their trained volunteers.
- Received a grant from a family fund from Boston Foundation to support popular art classes held at the Brookline Senior Center.
- Partnered with Town Assessor to provide property tax relief to Brookline seniors. This year, we were able to increase our participants in Tax Work off program to 35. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, many pivoted to working with socially isolated older adults.
- HELP Program continues to provide essential home care services at an affordable rate to 570 elders.
- Partnered with Goddard House, Center Communities, JF&CS, Brookline Adult Education and BrooklineCAN to provide programs and educational forums for Brookline Seniors and their families.
- Successfully received support in the amount of $134,031 from the nonprofit Brookline Multi-Service Senior Center Corp. for salaries, supplies and program supports.
- Continued Careers in Aging Program providing high school and college students opportunities to volunteer with older adults.
- Produced twelve issues of monthly news and events that was widely distributed. The news and events provides valuable information on programs and services.
- Conducted annual survey of Senior Center participants focusing on transportation issues.
- Revised and re-printed the eighth edition of the Elder Resource Guide and distributed 1,500 copies as well as updated it on the web page.
- Increased operation to include limited night and weekend programs to allow for expansion of programs and services.
- Provided transportation services utilizing a taxi discount program, van and elder bus.
- Provided ongoing leadership to the volunteer community initiative BrooklineCAN (Brookline Community Aging Network).
- Secured $31,492 from CDBG federal funds to partially support the TRIPPS Program.
- Maintained Brookline’s status as a World Health Organization Age Friendly Town and developed an action plan to promote aging in place.
- Provided programs and translation services to assist Asian, Russian and Hispanic elders.
- Continued to offer Alzheimer’s Support Group in both the day and evening for family members coping with Alzheimer’s.
- Assisted elders seeking part time work with workshops and support groups as well as job placement services.
- Continued monthly Memory Café program. This program offers support and stimulation for those experiencing memory problems.
- Continued a food commodity program that provides non-perishable grocery items once a month to low income elders.
- Recruited, trained and supervised 471 volunteers who provide essential services and programs at the Brookline Senior Center.
- Continued to provide durable medical equipment loans to the community.
- Maintained a fitness program including strength training, exercise classes, and individual fitness counseling for Brookline older adults.
- Advocated and restored the 94K that was cut from FY21 municipal funding during the COVID-19 crisis.