Health & Wellbeing Countywide Health Issues Why it’s important: Diabetes hospitalizations are high across St. Louis County for 65+ adults. Mental health hospitalization rates are generally higher for 65+ adults in North County and West County than in South County. West County 65+ adults fare worse for most indicators measuring substance abuse. There are significant disparities in the years of expected life span from birth in St. Louis County, which correlate with education, income, and race. The highest years of life span are predominately found in the affluent central-west core of St. Louis County and the lowest years of expected life span are in areas with lower incomes, concentrations of poverty and minority populations. Goal 1: Address the countywide health issues of mental health and diabetes through accessible, age-sensitive services, prevention, and education. Actions/Recommendations: Health & Wellbeing Concentration of Health Disparities Why it’s important: There are clear health disparities in St. Louis County. Older adults living in North County fare worse for indicators related to primary care, cardiovascular health, respiratory health, and diabetes. There are significant disparities in the years of expected life span from birth in St. Louis County, which correlate with education, income, and race. The highest years of life span are predominately found in the affluent central-west core of St. Louis County and the lowest years of expected life span are in areas with lower incomes, concentrations of poverty and minority populations. Goal 2: Increase access to primary care and improve respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes among older adults with health disparities. Actions/Recommendations: Health & Wellbeing Living Independently Why it’s important: Of St. Louis County’s 90 municipalities, there are 25 with full service recreation centers that provide a variety of fitness and recreational activities, many targeted to older adults. Full service recreation facilities tend to have the most programming options; conversely, cities lacking such facilities appear to have less varied options unless they partner with others. The majority of older adult services offered by municipalities are through departments of parks and recreation. Additional opportunities to collaborate and partner with other departments and organizations with complementary services may help expand the range of service options for older adults. Most municipalities in St. Louis County are not large enough to have full-time professional social workers or gerontologists; shared staffing among cities is a suggested model for consideration. Nearly half of adults age 65+ with a disability indicate they have some physical, mental or emotional condition that makes living independently difficult, suggesting the need for homecare services, caregiver support, and access to residential care and living options. Goal 3: Increase the level of community-based services offered by municipal and local public service providers to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults Actions/Recommendations: Convene a symposium for municipal officials and other local public service providers on the important role professional gerontologists or social workers have in addressing older adults’ needs. Increase the availability of professional gerontologists or social workers offered by municipalities by encouraging shared staffing of professionals to expand consultation, programming, and case management services for older adults. Train staff in local Parks Departments to meet special needs of older adults. Provide a better link between County Older Resident Program (CORP) service managers and Public Health Nurses. Examine the current configuration of CORP service areas and redefine as needed. Provide a core set of services through comprehensive coordination within all CORP service areas. Implement and sustain the Functional Needs Registry. Goal 4: Enable older adults to remain in their homes for as long as possible by creating and expanding high quality home and community-based services for physical, mental and social wellbeing. Sub-Goal 4.1: Expand and promote programs that deliver homemaker, personal care, “friendly visits,” and meal services to older adults. Sub-Goal 4.2: Increase awareness and availability of programs that provide accessible and affordable training and support to formal and informal caregivers. Sub-Goal 4.3: Encourage the adoption of geriatric assessments as to ensure older adults are able to safely remain in their homes. Actions/Recommendations: Health & Wellbeing Physical Fitness Why it’s important: Of St. Louis County’s 90 municipalities, there are 25 with full service recreation centers that provide a variety of fitness and recreational activities, many targeted to older adults. Full service recreation facilities tend to have the most programming options; conversely, cities lacking such facilities appear to have less varied options unless they partner with others. The majority of older adult services offered by municipalities are through departments of parks and recreation. Additional opportunities to collaborate and partner with other departments and organizations with complementary services may help expand the range of service options for older adults. Goal 5: Increase collaboration, coordination, and promotion of publicly provided recreational opportunities for older adults. Actions/Recommendations: Research models for shared municipal recreational facilities and programs, and promote partnerships among municipalities to expand recreational and fitness opportunities for older adults. Train staff in local Parks Departments to meet special needs of older adults. Health & Wellbeing Economic Security Why it’s important: Nearly half of seniors live alone and the vast majority of them are women, which may suggest the need for different approaches to outreach, services, and living options. Nearly half of single senior women face economic insecurity Senior African American households are nearly twice as likely to face economic insecurity More than half of senior renters face economic insecurity Goal 6: Improve the economic security of older adults, especially women living alone, renters, and African American households, by targeting support programs and services. Actions/Recommendations: