REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025 AT 12:00 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Commission on Aging may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Ryan Sperling, 512- 974-3568, Ryan.Sperling@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Richard Bondi, Chair Teresa Ferguson, Vice Chair Austin Adams Suzanne Anderson Martin Kareithi Faith Lane Fred Lugo Gloria Lugo Judi L Nudelman Jennifer Scott AGENDA PROCLAMATION Luan Tran Preston Tyree Henry Van de Putte Asif Zaidi Proclamation – Ageism Awareness Day – To be presented by Councilmember Marc Duchen CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Aging regular meeting of September 10, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation regarding community engagement efforts for the Quality of Life Study. Presentation by Laura Cortez, CEO, and Nirali Thakkar, Engagement Consultant, Cortez Consulting. 3. Discussion regarding Austin Public Health’s response to City Council on Resolution 20250605-084. Presentation by Halana Kaleel, Public Health Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Public Health. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion and possible action to approve the amended Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan. 5. Approve the Commission on Aging’s 2026 Annual Schedule. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the Community Outreach Working Group regarding progress on the transition plan and recent meeting with the Foster Grandparent Program. 7. Update from the FY25-26 Budget Recommendation Working Group regarding its progress tracking the Commission on Aging’s budget recommendations throughout the approval cycle. 8. Update from the Federal Budget Reduction Working Group regarding the impact of federal budget reductions on Medicare. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative …
Commission on Aging REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 10, 2025 The Commission on Aging convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Bondi called the Commission on Aging Meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Richard Bondi (Chair) Faith Lane Gloria Lugo Henry Van de Putte Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Teresa Ferguson (Vice Chair) Austin Adams Suzanne Anderson Martin Kareithi Fred Lugo Jennifer Scott Luan Tran Preston Tyree Absent: Judi L Nudelman, Zaidi PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Patricia Bordie- Ageism Awareness Day APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Aging Regular Meeting of August 13, 2025. The minutes of the August 13, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Van de Putte’s motion, Vice Chair Ferguson’s second on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Kareithi was off the dais. Commissioners Nudelman and Zaidi were absent. 1 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on working group formations, accessibility frameworks for City of Austin digital products, upcoming events, and working group updates discussed at the August 27 Joint Inclusion Committee meeting related to the Commission on Aging. Update by Chair Bondi. 3. Presentation regarding the status of the Quality of Life Survey. Presentation by Emily D. Tisdale, M.Ed., Executive Director, University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community; Amanda Heckelsberg Wolfe, M.A., Senior Project Director, University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community; and Nirali Thakkar, LMSW, MPH, Engagement Consultant, Cortez Consulting. Item 3 was postponed until October XX and November XX on Commissioner Van de Putte’s motion, Commissioner Lane’s second on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Kareithi was off the dais. Commissioners Nudelman and Zaidi were absent. 4. Discussion regarding amendments to the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan, as prepared by the City. Discussed. 5. Update regarding amendments to the City of Austin FY2025-26 Budget related to Commission on Aging recommendations. Update by Chair Bondi. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the Quality of Life Transition Working Group on actions taken or planned to transfer the trust-based relationship from the vendors to the Commission and age friendly staff. Update by Chair Bondi. 7. Update from the Federal Budget Impact Reduction Working Group on the group’s progress to determine the impacts of Federal budget cuts on older adults. Update by Commissioner Van de Putte. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Presentation from Cortez Consulting on Quality of Life …
APH Staff Response Resolution 20250605-084 Presented by Halana Kaleel, PH Community Engagement Specialist Resolution 20250605-084: Age-Friendly Austin Adopted on June 5th, 2025 by Austin City Council, this resolution directs the City to enhance resources and programming for older adults. Austin Public Health is leading the response and progress will be reported out at the October 9th, 2025 City Council meeting. Resolution Directives: • Assigning a point of contact in each City • Exploring reimbursement options for in- Department home care • Prioritizing new senior centers and • Securing additional funding for home • programming Improving transportation options for older adults • delivered meals Implementing key recommendations from the 2022 audit City Services for Older Adults • Developing fraud prevention initiatives • Exploring the feasibility of an older adult internship or volunteer program Resolution 20250605-084: Resolution 20250605-084: Age-Friendly Austin Key Progress and Initiatives City Staff has made progress on several fronts: • Improved Communication: The Austin Senior Services Hub was launched in November 2023 to centralize resources for older adults. Austin Public Health is also conducting "Listen and Learn" sessions to help city departments better engage with seniors. • Action Plan Update: The Age Friendly Action Plan (AFAP) is being amended to include clearer metrics and responsibilities, with a new 2026-2030 plan scheduled for completion in July 2026. • Community Partnerships: The City is partnering with organizations like Meals on Wheels, Family Eldercare, and the Austin Geriatric Center to provide home-delivered meals, financial literacy services, and culturally responsive in-home care. • Fraud Prevention: The Austin Police Department is planning a Seniors Fraud Awareness Month for March 2026 and is working with partners to distribute educational materials. Resolution 20250605-084: Age-Friendly Austin Senior Centers and Programming There is a focus on expanding both space and programs available to older adults: • New Senior Center: Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) has identified Northeast Austin as a priority for a new senior center. The Gus Garcia Recreation Center Senior Wing project has been proposed, with community engagement underway for a potential 2026 bond program. • Intergenerational Programs: In Fiscal Year 2025, APR hosted 153 multigenerational events and programs, including family yoga and activities at community gardens. • Current Funding: APR currently allocates over $2.8 million for senior services across six different budgets. Resolution 20250605-084: Age-Friendly Austin Critical Resource and Staffing Needs While progress has been made, several key initiatives require identifying funding to move forward …
Discussion and Action: Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan Amendment Purpose: To present, discuss, and request approval of the amended Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan. This amendment results from a comprehensive review and collaboration with City departments, AFA partners, and AFA workgroups, all aimed at strengthening the plan's effectiveness in serving Austin's older adults. Background: In 2016, the Austin City Council adopted the original Age-Friendly Action Plan. In 2022, an audit by the City Auditor identified several findings and recommendations, including suggestions for enhancing the plan. This amendment is designed to make the plan more robust and actionable, directly addressing the audit's recommendations by: Including quantifiable indicators to better measure progress toward goals. • • Clarifying roles and responsibilities for each strategy to ensure accountability and effective • implementation. Incorporating demographic data to ensure all efforts are equitable and serve diverse groups of older adults. Key Changes: The proposed changes include refining goals, improving strategies, and adding specific metrics across the eight domains to align with best practices and stakeholder feedback. Additionally, several strategies have been marked as complete or removed where efforts have been successfully implemented or are better addressed in other parts of the plan. Action Requested: The Commission on Aging is asked to discuss and vote to approve the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan Amendment at their October 8th, 2025, meeting. This amended plan is intended to guide the City's efforts from 2025 until a new plan is developed in 2026. The Commission on Aging’s approval in their advisory capacity will ensure the plan remains a living document that is responsive to the community's needs and allows the City to effectively measure its progress in creating a more age-friendly Austin. See Appendix A for a draft recommendation to Council for Commission on Aging consideration. 1 of 26 Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan Amendment Last Updated: September 2025 History of Age Friendly Austin Action Plan In 2012 the Mayor's Task Force on Aging was formed by Mayor Lee Leffingwell. In their final report published in 2013 the task force recommended that Austin be designated as an Age Friendly Community under AARP. The task force recommended the formation of the Commission on Seniors (now the Commission on Aging) to serve as an advisory committee to make recommendations on programs and policies to City Council, the City Manager, to City Departments, and to be advocates for issues that impact older adults. In 2015 the Commission …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE AGE-FRIENDLY AUSTIN ACTION PLAN AMENDMENT Draft for commission consideration WHEREAS, the Austin City Council adopted the original Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan in 2016, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for older adults in Austin; and WHEREAS, a 2022 audit by the City Auditor identified several findings and recommendations for the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan, highlighting opportunities for enhancement; and WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan Amendment (the Amendment) has been developed through a comprehensive review and collaborative process involving City departments, Age-Friendly Austin partners, and Age-Friendly Austin workgroups; and WHEREAS, this Amendment directly addresses the City Auditor’s recommendations by: Including quantifiable indicators to better measure progress toward goals; • • Clarifying roles and responsibilities for each strategy to ensure accountability and • effective implementation; and Incorporating demographic data to ensure all efforts are equitable and serve diverse groups of older adults; and WHEREAS, key changes within the Amendment include refining goals, improving strategies, and adding specific metrics across the eight Age-Friendly domains to align with best practices and stakeholder feedback; and WHEREAS, several strategies have been marked as complete or removed where efforts have been successfully implemented or are better addressed in other parts of the plan; and WHEREAS, this Amendment is intended to guide the City's efforts from 2025 until a new Age- Friendly Austin Action Plan is developed in 2026, serving as a critical interim framework; and WHEREAS, approval of this Amendment will ensure the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan remains a living document that is responsive to the community's evolving needs and allows the City to effectively measure its progress in creating a more age-friendly Austin; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMISSION ON AGING: The Commission on Aging recommends that City Council adopt the Amended Age Friendly Action Plan and support its implementation.
