Our Healthy Aging Initiative works to ensure that older adults spend more years in good health and engaged as vital members of our community. Our fastest growing population, adults 65 and up—from the baby boomers to those surpassing age 85—comprise an incredibly diverse group with varied needs as well as valuable assets to contribute to the community at large. We work to meet these needs by:

• Promoting physical activity for older adults
• Supporting caregivers
• Providing older adults with nutrition and a social connection
• Supporting civic engagement for older adults
• Providing leadership in the community to support the health of older adults

 

Promoting Physical Activity for Older Adults
Physical activity may be the closest thing we have to a “magic bullet” to promote healthy aging. Regardless of age or fitness level, there are a host of physical activities that are beneficial, appropriate and even enjoyable for every individual. We are constantly exploring opportunities to expand best-practice-based physical activity for mature adults.
The Health Trust does this by:

• Funding community organizations to develop or expand physical activity programs for adults age 65 and over.
• Sharing resources, like our Healthy Steps Guide, with community members and proven best practices with service providers.

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Supporting Caregivers
Rosalyn Carter once stated, "There are only four types of people: those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who receive care, and those who will be caregivers in the future." 80 percent of long-term care in this county is provided by a family member. Nearly 80 percent of adults will receive care from a family member or loved one as they age. Anyone who has ever cared for a loved one knows that it is a stressful job, yet caregivers may not be aware of or know how to effectively utilize the services available in the community. When caregivers have the support they need, they do a better job—not only caring for the health of their aging loved one, but also maintaining their own health and well-being.
The Health Trust does this by:

• Providing caregivers with easy access to the resources and tools they need to navigate the health care and social services systems.
• Working with the Aging Services Collaborative Caregiver Team to educate caregivers about resources available in our community and to provide them with vital support.
• Conducting a training and placement program for volunteers and paid workers to provide caregiver consultation.
• Supporting organizations (through grants) that meet the diverse needs of caregivers in our community.

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Providing Older Adults with Nutrition and Social Connections
While many older adults enjoy the comfort and dignity of living at home, the task of preparing healthy meals can become an ever-increasing challenge. Moreover, a person residing at home—especially if living alone—may feel isolated. To assist these individuals with nutritious eating and to make it possible for them to remain supported in their homes, The Health Trust creates opportunities to access good foods and make personal connections by:

• Operating our well-loved Meals on Wheels program which furnishes almost 100,000 meals each year to homebound seniors and disabled adults. Meals on Wheels clients also enjoy daily personal visits from Meals on Wheels volunteers which often blossom into long-lasting friendships.
• Participating in community partnerships and using our Food Basket to deliver nutritious groceries and food staples to those still living on their own

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Supporting Community Engagement
Adults who have lived 65 years or longer have significant experience, expertise, and corresponding skills to share with our community. Their civic participation also yields enormous health benefits and social connections for them personally as they contribute to the world and maintain vitally important relationships.
The Health Trust promotes this by:

• Building community partnerships and providing grants to expand opportunities for both civic and social engagement so that older adults can continue to “engage as they age.”

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Providing Leadership in the Community
With the population of seniors rapidly expanding, and budgets shrinking due to state and local cuts, our network of services for this group is becoming increasingly fragile. All too often, services are not connected to one another, and mature adults and their caregivers tend to “fall through the cracks.” The Health Trust serves as an advocate for older adults, convening and connecting those who work in the field of  aging. As part of this work, The Health Trust is a core leader of the Aging Services Collaborative, providing lead administrative support and expertise, strategic vision and outreach to strengthen the web of services that support older adults.
The Health Trust does this by:

• Serving as a core leader of the Aging Services Collaborative of Santa Clara County in conjunction with Santa Clara County, the City of San Jose, and the Council on Aging in the identification and development of resources, the effective coordination of services and collective advocacy efforts to support older adults.

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