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| Accomplishments |
| Media |
| Under the leadership of our Public Relations Committee, we have established the BPOA as a credible source of information on issues affecting older adults. |
- Boston Globe
- “Life in Hub seen hard for many over 50,” June 11, 2003.
- “Time’s Toll: City officials see aging properties, landlords as concerns,” July 1, 2003.
- “Reaching out to gay elders,” January 18, 2004.
- “Drive aims to boost services, funding for senior citizens,” February 6, 2004.
- “Getting our seniors in the right path: Effort to ease way for elderly pedestrians,” November 14, 2004.
- Quincy officials seek safety zones for seniors,” July 31, 2005.
- Letters to the editor, 2005, 2006.
- Boston Herald
- “Preying on the elderly,” four-day investigative series, August 2 – 5, 2004.
- “Mayor Menino announces elder business district,” October 14, 2004.
- “Elder Affairs secretary enjoys growing responsibility,” July 25, 2003.
- Letters to the editor, 2005, 2006.
- Boston Magazine
- “The Old and the Restless”, October 2006
- Bay Windows
- “Prime Timers Standing Up: Gay Elders Raise Their Profile,” June 10, 2004.
- Chronicle
- “Looking for Answers to Age Old Questions,” September 24, 2003.
- WBUR
- Data from “100,000 Voices” presented during news segments, June 11, 2003.
- Associated Press
- Non-profit for seniors obtains $750,000 grant for health care initiatives,” February 6, 2004.
- AARP Bulletin
- “The New Urban Penalty,” June 2004.
- Elder Friendly Business District story 2007
- Planning Commissioners Journal
- Article about BPOA’s Elder Friendly Business District Pilot, 2006
- Mission Hill/Fenway Gazette
- “Elder-friendly program starts in business district,” November 12, 2004.
- “Stop & Shop Re-institutes Grocery Deliveries,” July 2006.
- Senior Resource pullout section published in October 2005 and 2006
- BNN: Produced 25 shows on the following topics:
- Bridging the information gap; Help for older adult homeowners; Aging is not for the faint of heart; Fraud – how not to be a victim; Getting around town; Aging with pride – the GBLT Aging Project; Staying safe is not just a matter of luck; Caregiver survival tips; Making our voices heard; Elder Friendly Business District update; Mental health and aging, Social Services Summit report and recommendations, Housing report and recommendations, Heart Smart, In the know-Information and Referral, Got Respect Campaign, Eye Health and Eye Care, Staying Safe and Cool, HIV, STDs and aging, BPOA year end reports.
- Plus guest appearances on other BNN shows.
- Neighborhood Network News
- Brian and Joyce appeared to talk about “100,000 Voices” report.
- Featured in National Main Streets National Conference brochure and publicity, June 2006.
- Testimony
- Presented oral and written testimony to the Governor’s Transition Team, 2007
- Testimony published in Mass Home Care publication, 2007
- Presented oral and written testimony at the Listening and Learning sessions hosted by the EOEA and DMH on mental and cognitive health issues of older adults.
- Newsletters
- Coverage of BPOA’s work has appeared in a number of agency/issue specific newsletters.
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| Research/Publications |
| A core competency of the BPOA has become “telling an effective story.” Whether on a global scale, as with “100,000 Voices,” or now with the intricacies of a specific issue, such as mental health, housing or social services, we have succeeded in bringing together data and information to shape stories that have and will influence policy, legislation, program development and funding. |
- “100,000 Voices on Growing Older in Boston: Understanding the Experiences and Needs of Boston’s Older Adults,” April 2003. (4,000 printed copies distributed + online downloads).
- “Boston’s Vision for Aging with Dignity: A Community-Wide Plan to Enhance Support for Boston’s Older Adults,” February 2004.
- “View of Aging in Boston: Mapping Demographics and Supportive Services for Boston’s Older Adults,” February 2004.
- “An Analysis of Issues Facing Boston’s Developers of Affordable Elderly Housing with Services,” Brandeis University, April 20, 2005.
- “Cultural Diversity Focus Group Report,” JSI Research and Training Institute, June 2005.
- “There’s No Place Like Home” Housing Summit Report, released December 2006.
- “Understanding Elder Homeowners”, released December 2006.
- “What does it take to keep and elder at home?” released February 2006.
- “Hidden Issues, A Boston Perspective on Mental and Cognitive Health and Substance Abuse Among Older Adults”, Mental Health Committee Report, released January 2007.
- With the Coalition for Senior Housing, “Aging In Place Successfully With Affordable Housing and Adequate Services: Is It Feasible?”, release 2007.
- With Northeastern University’s Center for Urban and Regional Policy, conducted an assessment of over 200 older adults living in the Mission Hill Neighborhood of Boston to determine baseline views and experiences on neighborhood safety, use of businesses and services, and physical function.
- “Your Future,” BPOA’s newsletter (6 issues produced and distributed to mailing list of nearly 600).
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| Major Events |
| Convening key leaders or decision makers in a particular sector can serve as a catalyst for long-term change. By creating a place for facilitated discussion on a particular topic, and encouraging joint planning and action, leaders move toward a common understanding of important issues and a shared direction for moving forward. |
- “Housing Boston’s Older Adults: Meeting the Needs of a Shifting Demographic and Policy Trend for Boston and the Country,” December 1, 2004.
- “Annual Meeting,” February 17, 2005.
- “What does it take to keep and elder at home?” May 6, 2005.
- “Philanthropy and Aging: Funding the Future,” October 7, 2005.
- “Annual Meeting,” February 16, 2006.
- “Creating an Elder Friendly Business District” (national conference) June 2006
- “Mental and Cognitive Health report release event”, January 2007
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| Community Education and Outreach |
| As a grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we are encouraged to be a “teaching and learning” community, sharing what we know with those around us. One major vehicle for spreading the word about issues facing older adults is community presentations. |
- “Building the Future of Aging”: Social Workers Grand Rounds, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 2006
- “Mental and Cognitive Health and Substance Abuse Among Older Adults”, Boston Commission on Elder Health and Long Term Care Task Force, 2006
- “White House Conference on Aging,” BPOA board members and friends, Joanne Handy, Juergen Bludau, Beth Babcock, Franklin Ollivierre, and Seymour Friedland, are delegates, December 2005.
- “Understanding Medicare Part D,” BNN Episodes, September 27 and October 25, 2005.
- “Building a Future for Aging: Working Together in Support of Older Adults,” MCOA Annual Fall Conference, September 22, 2005.
- “Introduction to Aging Issues in Boston,” Boston University First Year Student Orientation Program, Elder Track, August 30, 2005.
- “Creating Community Through Service,” Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Office of the Governor, “The Aging of Massachusetts: Inherent Challenges and Opportunities,” June 6, 2005.
- “Neighborhoods: New Faces in Long-Term Care and Supportive Services Systems,” American Society on Aging Conference, March 10, 2005.
- “Using Data to Tell an Effective Story,” Brandeis University – Heller School, Strategic Management course, Guest Lecturer, February 9, 2005.
- “Making Your Community Boomer Ready,” Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show, January 7, 2005.
- “A Framework for Success: ‘Centrality’ and Community Partnerships,” Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, November 21, 2004.
- “Careers in Aging Services,” Newbury College, November 17, 2004.
- “About the BPOA,” Foster Grandparents Program meeting, ABCD, October 28, 2004.
- “About the BPOA,” Boston PrimeTimers meeting, October 16, 2004.
- “About the BPOA,” Brookline Council on Aging, October 13, 2004.
- “A Vision for Aging with Dignity: Working Together to Improve Mental and Cognitive Health Supports for Older Adults,” Caring Communities Save Lives: Suicide Prevention Across the Lifespan Conference, May 18, 2004.
- “Boston’s Vision for Aging with Dignity: The Boston Partnership for Older Adults,” Tufts University Medical School, “Aging and Public Health: An Interdisciplinary Perspective,” Guest Lecturer, March 31, 2004.
- “Boston’s Vision for Aging with Dignity: The Boston Partnership for Older Adults,” Boston Medical Center, February 20, 2004.
- “100,000 Voices on Growing Older in Boston,” Committee to End Elder Homelessness Annual Meeting, November 19, 2003.
- “About the BPOA,” Mass Aging and Mental Health Coalition Annual Meeting, November 5, 2003.
- 11 Listening and Learning Sessions, scheduled throughout Boston in 2005-2006.
- Focus groups with primary care providers who have little to no formal training in geriatrics to determine existing knowledge of caring for older adult patients and to test use of assessment tool developed by BPOA Health Committee (one conducted, one scheduled, one to schedule).
- Focus groups with older adult patients to better understand their experiences in the primary care setting (four to be conducted).
- Presented at the National Mainstreets Conference on the Elder Friendly Business District Pilot, June 5, 2006.
- Conducted, “Train the Trainers,” sessions for the Elder Friendly Business Certification Program, May 2006.
- Presentation at N4A Conference by BPOA Board Member, Dale Mitchell “Cultural Competency”
- Presented at MCOA Annual Conference on the Elder Economic Security Standard and its uses on a community level, October 2006.
- Presentation at Joint ASA NCOA Conference, “Community Building for Long Term Care”, March 2007.
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| Funding and Resource Allocation |
| A well-functioning and effective service delivery system must be well funded. However, making the case for increases or changes in traditional funding streams, or cultivating new sources of funding, can be a daunting task. These goals require a coordinated effort to define the issues, communicate the need and propose effective and efficient solutions. |
- “Philanthropy and Aging: Funding the Future,” October 7, 2005. Gathering of over 25 individuals representing private, community, and family foundations to discuss the importance and impact of grantmaking in this area. Keynote speaker: Jane Isaacs Lowe of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Grantmakers in Aging.
- Foundation Consultation: Meetings with trustees of Sailors’ Snug Harbor of Boston, Grimes-King Foundation, United Way to discuss importance of grantmaking to address key issues in aging.
- Joint Fundraising:
- The Boston Foundation: Funding technology and training to support the provision of coordinated information and referral services in Boston.
- Farnsworth: Funding the Cultural Diversity Focus Groups and report and the “What does it take to keep and elder at home event?”
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation: Funding the Cultural Diversity Focus Groups and report and the “What does it take to keep and elder at home event?”
- Tufts Health Plan: Funding the Cultural Diversity Focus Groups and report and the “What does it take to keep and elder at home event?”
- Roberta Thall Foundation: Funding for communications and resource development.
o BPOA Operating Resources: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, AT&T, Verizon, Grimes-King Foundation, private donations, The Boston Foundation, and Delta Dental Foundation.
- Combined funding (New England Baptist Hospital, Mainstreets Foundations, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MA) in collaboration with Boston Mainstreets Program and MATCH-UP Interfaith Volunteers, for Elder Friendly Business Certification and Training program.
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| Hub of the Wheel: Coordination and Collaboration |
| The BPOA has been described as the “hub of the wheel.” It is a place where organizations and individuals can come together and look out over the whole system. It is a place where boundaries and turf can be left aside to work together toward common goals that benefit the system and ultimately older adults. |
- Coordinated Information and Referral: Developed and implementing a plan to coordinate the provision of information and referral services to older adults, caregivers and service providers in Boston through a network of community–based organizations supported by on-going training and shared technology.
- Suffolk County Elder Protection Roundtable: Re-established this group which includes representatives from the Boston Police Department, the Attorney General’s, the District Attorney’s Office, Protective Services and direct service providers and meets bi-monthly to discuss challenging cases and engage in joint problem solving.
- BPD Training and Protocol Changes on Elder Abuse, Neglect and Financial Exploitation: Over 360 officers, recruits and command staff trained on their mandated reporter role, what to look for, and how to report; Efforts underway to enhance protocols and internal reporting system.
- Elder Homeowners Network Support Group: the group met bi-monthly and produced the “Report on Boston Homeowners”.
- Elder Economic Security Standard: BPOA has supported and has several staff and board members on the advisory committee of this important project. Run by UMass Boston, they produced a report to quantify in dollars, and by category, the real costs of living for older adults in Boston.
- Charles H. Farnsworth Fellowship in Aging Policy Research: Brian Souza is a member of the Advisory/Selection Committee for this important fellowship, which seeks to support Ph.D. candidates in engaging in research that will positively influence aging policy.
- Senior Housing Coalition: Worked with CHAPA to launch statewide Senior Housing Coalition, a group of housing and service providers, trade associations and affinity groups developing a shared legislative/lobbying agenda targeted at spurring the development of affordable housing with services for older adults in Massachusetts.
- Geriatric Health Assessment Tool: Developed by the BPOA’s Health Committee, this one-page tool is designed as a guide for primary care providers with little or no training in geriatrics, but who will continue to see increasing numbers of older adult patients. The tool encourages providers to think of health in terms of function and urges screenings and other preventative measures traditionally outside the scope of routine care. Expected release date, Spring 2007.
- Physician Group: In line with above, a group of physicians, together with representatives from the National Heritage Insurance Company (Medicare Carrier) completed the identification of billing codes for the assessment tool discussed in the previous bullet. These guidelines are intended to counter the traditional thinking that primary care providers (PCPs) can’t engage in functional screenings with their older adult patients for fear they won’t be able to bill for the time. In reality, all the items we are asking PCPs to focus on in the assessment tool will have an associated billing mechanism. Focus groups were held with two physician group practices and one interview was conducted by phone. Six focus groups were conducted with older adults.
- Elder Friendly Business District Pilot: Launched a first-in-the-nation program to bring together older adults, small businesses, city departments, and large businesses to create a business district and community more safe and convenient for older adults. Replication in 4 business districts in 2007. Implementation of Elder Friendly Business Certification program, 2007
- BPOA Governance Structure in Place: The existence of the BPOA and its governance, staff and committee structures is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. It is to be celebrated as a vehicle through which the aging services community in Boston can come together to think, plan, act, and transform.
- “Got Respect: Give It To Get It”: The BPOA has been the coordinating force in this public safety awareness campaign aimed at teens and seniors. This partnership is with the Boston Police Department, MBTA Transit Police, Boston Public Schools and the BPOA.
- Home Care Roundtable: Based on recommendation from the Social Service Summit, “What Does It Take To Keep an Elder At Home,” the BPOA has convened key partners to discuss issues, cases and best practices in a Roundtable format on an ongoing basis.
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| Advocacy |
| The Advocacy Council has submitted letters of support and position on the following issues: |
| 2007 |
- Testimony given at Boston Housing Authority public hearing in support of a proposed change to increase the number of housing units available to older adults in public housing.
- Support approved for Act to increase Personal Care Allowance, Act Establishing the Public Guardianship Commission, and the Nursing Home Discharge Bill.
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| 2006 |
- Mass Home Care FY 2007 Budget Request: The Advocacy Council voted to support the following budget line items: Choices #4000-0600,Supportive Housing (Boston)#9110-1604, Managers& operations#9110-1633,Homemaker wage add on#9110-1635,Protective Services#9110-1636,Geriatric Mental Health#9110-1640, and Family Caregivers#9110-1650. A letter in support of the above mentioned line items was sent to the Boston Delegation.
- The Advocacy Council wrote a letter of support to City Councilor Consalvo supporting his Senior Citizen Tax Work Off Abatement Program.
- Request to support Line Item # 9110-9002 local aide for Municipal Councils on Aging was tabled because it likely will not directly impact Boston’s seniors.
- Request to support FY 2007 Prescription Advantage Budget Request was unanimously approved. A letter of support was sent to the Boston Delegation.
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| 2005 |
- MassHealth Equity (Outcome: Bill heard, no action taken)
- Equal Choice (Outcome: Senate adopted by 38-0 vote)
- Geriatric Fellowships (Outcome: Program funding cut)
- Home Care Budget Increase (Outcome: Budget increased)
- Public Guardianship Oversight (Outcome: unknown)
- Protective Services Budget Increase (Outcome: $1.3 million budget increase passed)
- Support for a fire safety proposal submitted by the Injury Prevention and Control Program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (12/05)
- Support an Amendment to the Supplemental Budget addressing Prescription Drug Coverage (filed by Senator Montigny)
- Support for Senate Bill #2143 (Senate Ways and Means). The bill requests DPH to conduct a study of the number of adults, seniors, and children who are visually impaired in MA to provide data on the numbers so that services can be planned.
- Letter of thanks to the House and Senate Chairs of the Energy Committee for the HEAT legislation (H4473) that added $20M as a supplement to the federal fuel assistance funds.
- Support for Senate Bill 2143 (a bill that requests that DPH conduct a study of the number of adults, seniors, and children who are visually impaired in Massachusetts)
- Letter of support to restore the Personal Needs Allowance for Nursing Home Residents H.D. 2207, S.D.1997
- Letter to oppose cuts to Section 202 Program
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