Agenda

When the Eaton and Palisades Fires struck Los Angeles County in January 2025, the Aging and Disabilities Department’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA) mobilized rapidly to safeguard older adults and individuals with disabilities. Working with our LA County Emerging Aging and Disability Resource Connection partners and local providers, the AAA identified affected clients, minimized service disruptions, and supported displaced residents in burn areas. In coordination with the County’s Emergency Operations Center, the AAA ensured service continuity, facilitated resource distribution, and advanced recovery efforts. The department also contributed to legislative efforts supporting AB 1069 to strengthen emergency response systems for vulnerable populations. This session highlights lessons learned, effective cross-agency collaboration, and strategies to enhance community resilience and protect high-risk residents during disasters.

The OAA requires that States and Area Agencies on Aging coordinate their Title III planning, programs and services with Tribes and their Title VI planning, programs and services. The opportunities to improve outreach and service delivery to Native Elders through this coordination are plentiful, best practice examples of which will be highlighted

When someone reaches out for help, that initial outreach is the first, and most critical, touchpoint for trust between aging services organizations and the communities they serve. Yet millions of older adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing face barriers with traditional communication channels, creating gaps in equal access and engagement. This workshop explores these challenges, highlighting where current systems fall short and where improvements are needed. Learn how organizations are reimagining customer experience through accessibility-first communication design, and how assistive technologies and inclusive practices can ensure equitable access so that no one is left out or overlooked.

In this session, the International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2) will provide instruction on using culturally adapted resources to promote brain health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. while highlighting the connection between cognitive wellness and elder justice. Participants will learn how these resources are developed, best practices for implementing them in tribal communities, and how honoring the history, rights, cultures, sovereignty, and inherent value of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples supports both brain health and the safety, dignity, and protection of elders. Addressing both Brain Health and Elder Justice improves the lives of Tribal Elders, their families and the overall health of the communities in which they live.

Across the United States, older adults are increasingly aging with disabilities or acquiring them as they age, yet many aging and disability systems continue to operate in silos. This session explores how San Francisco is modeling a disability forward approach that can inform national practice. Presenters will highlight the Disability Cultural Center, the Age & Disability Affordable Housing Implementation Plan, Age and Disability Friendly SF, & new approaches to designing accessible public spaces, illustrated through major capital investments. The session will examine ableism, belonging, and what it takes for communities to embrace disability as a natural part of the aging journey. Attendees will gain practical strategies they can adapt to foster equity, connection, and inclusion in AAA and Title VI programs across the country.

Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) are living longer and most are living with aging caregivers. While individuals with I/DD have similar aging-related needs, they also have some unique support needs that require cross-sector innovation and capacity building to improve system navigation and access to services. As part of Master Plan on Aging, California is strengthening state and local partnerships to bridge supports across aging and disability service systems. Learn about how California is leveraging the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities Bridging Aging and Disability Network initiative and the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center State Advancement Lab (SAL) to plan for improved service coordination and develop training focused on the needs and resources available to aging individuals with I/DD.

This session highlights the successful replication of San Bernardino County’s Age Wise Program, a non-traditional behavioral health model serving high-risk, underserved older adults. Through a “no wrong door” approach, Age Wise ensures seamless access to services regardless of entry point. Presenters will share insights from technical assistance efforts, including training, consultation, and implementation support. Attendees will learn how to adapt the model to meet local needs, with data-driven outcomes demonstrating improved housing stability, access to care, and client well-being. This session offers practical strategies for organizations seeking to enhance behavioral health services for aging populations.

For 17 years, several Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Missouri and SAGE have worked together to create welcoming, affirming services for older adults—efforts that led to the development of the SAGE National Resource Center - Friendly Aging Network (FAN) Toolkit. Funded by ACL and piloted across six states, this toolkit provides a practical, adaptable roadmap for building inclusive networks that combat isolation and strengthen community connections. This session is more critical than ever: a recent SAGE survey revealed that 50% of respondents reported feeling isolated, left out, or lacking companionship. Join us to explore the toolkit and gain actionable strategies for creating local networks that foster belonging and deliver affirming, community-tailored services.

How can AAAs strengthen their outreach ecosystem to better reach diverse and underserved communities, deepen connections, and increase equitable awareness of services that support aging well? This session shares practical, equity-focused strategies from Aging and Disability Services’ multi-approach outreach framework, including partnering with trusted community messengers, expanding language access, delivering health promotion workshops, promoting social connection, aligning internal systems, and attaining the true resources needed for equitable outreach and engagement. Presenters will highlight operational changes, key collaborations, capacity-building efforts, outcomes, and lessons learned about engaging culturally and linguistically diverse communities more effectively. Participants will engage in peer learning and leave with tools, budgeting considerations, and partnership models they can adapt to enhance their own outreach and engagement of older adults and caregivers from different communities.

Each day, we create opportunities, face challenges, and gain experiences that shape how we serve others. Recognizing that every person’s journey is unique, ACL partnered with the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) and the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to strengthen SMP, SHIP, and MIPPA grantee competencies in Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) Practices. NCAPPS defines PCT as focusing language, values, and actions on respecting individuals and their loved ones, emphasizing quality of life, well-being, and informed choice. This session introduces key PCT concepts and terminology, guided reflection, group discussion, strategies for asking demographic questions, and practical tools. Although developed for specific grantees, the PCT tools are valuable for anyone working in client service organizations.

Older Black Californians encounter greater barriers to aging with dignity, health, and community compared to others. This panel will identify gaps in behavioral health, wellness infrastructure, and caregiving support, and propose culturally responsive reforms aligned with the California Master Plan on Aging (MPA). The focus is on investing in Black-led organizations, community models, and culturally rooted care to reduce health disparities and promote statewide racial equity. The panel’s goals are to advance health equity for older Black Californians, elevate community-led wellness and behavioral health solutions, and reimagine caregiving for aging adults. Objectives include highlighting persistent health disparities, sharing empowering practices, discussing barriers and policy shifts, and fostering dialogue among advocates, policymakers, and providers to strengthen wraparound services.