Santa Clara County Launching Pilot Program For Older Adult Care

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA -- County Supervisors have decided to provide a $772,000 grant to help launch a one-year Adult Care Subsidy Pilot Program to provide at-risk seniors with daytime care and transportation.

The decision to fund the program followed a three-year effort by the County’s Senior Care Commission to identify obstacles in Adult Day Program enrollment.

“Adult Day Programs are all about helping our valued older adults and their caregivers thrive because these programs give our residents a sense of purpose and fulfillment,” Supervisor Cindy Chavez, the chair of the Board’s Children, Seniors and Families Committee, said.

Adult Day Programs (ADPs) are licensed by the state and offer socialization, nutrition, exercise and other activities to adults with cognitive and/or physical impairments during the day. Most commonly, they support older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, providing the families and caregivers with respite and the ability to remain in the workforce.

In 2016, the Senior Care Commission conducted a preliminary study by holding focus groups at each ADP and discovered there were a combined 190 vacancies. The results prompted the Commission to request $50,000 in funds from the Board of Supervisors to continue the study.

In partnership with the County Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), the request was granted, and a competitive process was initiated to select an outside consultant. Dr. Monique Parrish was hired to take a deeper look at the causes of the vacancies and provide recommendations.

Cost and transportation were identified as the two main hurdles preventing people from accessing these services.

The funds are expected to help ease the financial burden for seniors and caregivers who need access to qualified care and will reduce the number of vacancies in enrollment at the County’s 11 ADPs.

“The County gave us full funding for one year of the pilot. That’s a major accomplishment, but now it’s up to us to demonstrate success in the first year so that we can make the case for continued support,” Gail Osmer, Chair of the County Senior Care Commission, said, adding that the next step is working with the County to hire a program administrator.