C-number: C-86-24-008-X-00
Revision: 00
Vote — approved
Ayes: Clint Hickman, Jack Sellers, Thomas Galvin, Bill Gates, Steve Gallardo
Item Text
99. IGA WITH CITY OF SCOTTSDALE SENIOR SERVICES Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Maricopa County by and through its Department of Public Health and the City of Scottsdale Senior Services. The purpose of this agreement is to provide activities related to the social isolation experienced by seniors and disabled adults during the COVID pandemic. City of Scottsdale will educate and prepare seniors and disabled adults to focus on ways to re-integrate to daily activities through socialization by way of brief COVID Pandemic educational engagement, educational field trips, and furnishing pandemic-preparation safety kits. This agreement will begin on July 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024, with a not-to-exceed amount of $125,000. Funding for this IGA is provided Centers of Disease Control (CDC) Health Disparities Grant. Scottsdale Senior Services at Granite Reef and Via Linda Senior Centers are well recognized for their robust socialization and recreation activities, classes, meals programs and support groups. As with many entities involved with large populations of seniors and adults with disabilities, and under the advisement of the CDC, ADHS, and MCHS during COVID, service provision and access to the facilities came to a sudden halt. Post COVID however, services have been slow to open-up due to calculated timeframes for allowing the patrons to return to the facilities. To this date, service provision and in-person contact is nearly 80% of pre-COVID levels Monday through Friday with upcoming Saturday openings starting July 8, 2023. Similarly, many seniors were (still are) hesitant to participate in small group settings, within close proximity at congregate meals programs, support groups or being within certain facilities and activities that they had previously frequented before the various waves of the COVID pandemic. For many, this is still the case when venturing to medical/doctor and pharmacy appointments, food/grocery shopping, using public libraries, senior activities, taking advantage of field trips, open park activities, and wellness socialization and using public transportation. It has been documented and observed by our social work team that increases in social isolation for seniors and adults with disabilities, particularly homebound individuals, has a detrimental impact on their view of daily activities necessary to be part of their community. Scottsdale seniors and adults with disabilities are no exception to this. Scottsdale’s common urban areas are full of health and wellness activities, great walkways, bike pathways, outdoor venues, and access to many public facilities. However, the low numbers of attendance for the targeted populations are noted by the absence of many of our “regulars” who have chosen not to venture back to public centers and the amenities for fear of compromising their health. (C-86-24-008-X-00)
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