REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025, 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 Luan Tran Preston Tyree Henry Van de Putte Selina Yee Asif Zaidi PROCLAMATION AGENDA Proclamation – National Family Caregiver Month – 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 October 8, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. 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; and Amanda Heckelsberg Wolfe, M.A., Senior Project Director, University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community. 2. Presentation regarding cuts to Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for older adults. Presentation by Beth Corbett, Vice President of Government Affairs + Advocacy, Central Texas Food Bank. 3. Discussion regarding the progress of Resolution 20250605-084. 4. Discussion regarding feedback on the Aging Boldly Conference. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the formation of a working group to perform an in-depth analysis of the Quality of Life Survey Report to fully understand the report and associated recommendations. 6. Approve the formation of a budget working group to formulate budget recommendations for the FY2026-27 budget. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request …
Commission on Aging REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 8, 2025 The Commission on Aging convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Ferguson called the Commission on Aging Meeting to order at 12:12 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Teresa Ferguson (Vice Chair) Luan Tran Henry Van de Putte Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Martin Kareithi Faith Lane Fred Lugo Judi Nudelman Jennifer Scott Preston Tyree PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Aging regular meeting of September 10, 2025. The minutes of the September 10, 2025 meeting were approved on Commissioner Van de Putte’s motion, Commissioner Scott’s second on a 9-0 vote. Chair Bondi and Commissioners Adams, Anderson, Gloria Lugo, and Zaidi were absent. 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. Presentation by Laura Cortez, CEO, and Nirali Thakkar, Engagement Consultant, Cortez Consulting. 1 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. 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. The motion to approve the amended Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan was approved on Commissioner Scott’s motion, Commissioner Van de Putte’s second on a 9-0 vote. Chair Bondi and Commissioners Adams, Anderson, Gloria Lugo, and Zaidi were absent. 5. Approve the Commission on Aging’s 2026 Annual Schedule. The motion to approve the Commission on Aging 2026 Annual Schedule and eventually schedule a November 2026 meeting was approved on Vice Chair Ferguson’s motion, Commissioner Van de Putte’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Tyree was off the dais. Chair Bondi and Commissioners Adams, Anderson, Gloria Lugo, and Zaidi were absent. 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. Item 6 was taken up before Item 5 without objection. Update by Commissioner Tran. 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. Withdrawn without objection. 8. Update from the …
Amanda Heckelsberg Wolfe, MA Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study Understanding & Supporting Our Aging Community Overview: Key Players City Partners ◼ City of Austin - Office of Equity and Inclusion, Austin Public Health ◼ Commission on Aging (CoA) ◼ Center for Aging & Community (CAC) – Research lead ◼ Cortez Consulting Services (CCS) – Community engagement team ◼ Community Organizations - 30+ partner organizations across all districts Project Timeline • August 2024 – study planning began • January 2025 – first IRB approval obtained Planning • January-March 2025 - Focus groups conducted (9 groups, Focus Groups 181 useable participants) • February 2025 – second IRB approval obtained • July-September 2025 - Survey distribution period (1,027useable responses) Surveys • Summer 2025 - PhotoVoice sessions at RBJ Residences • September 25, 2025 - PhotoVoice exhibit at RBJ • November 2025 – Study ends Photovoice Why Focus on Older Adult Quality of Life in Austin? The Growing Reality ◼ 25% of Austin's population (243,750 people) are 50 years or older ◼ Residents 65+ are the fastest-growing age group ◼ By 2035, adults 65+ will outnumber children under 18 nationally Austin's Diversity Challenge ◼ 32% Latinx, 9.5% Asian American, 7.5% Black, 48% White ◼ 38% live alone, 11% live with disabilities ◼ 13% live below federal poverty level ◼ Nearly 1/3 speak a language other than English at home The Problem ◼ Previous city surveys successfully reaching white women from limited districts - missing the voices of many of Austin’s residents Ms. Carol August 10th, 2025 - Austin City Hall Let us in! The difference between 55, 75, and up is huge. Every age group of older adults has different needs. Older adults are such a big population in Austin. We should be represented. Our Participant Contributors Populational Inclusion Sample Size Asian or Asian American 262 Black or African American 131 Latino/a/e/x or Hispanic LGBTQIA+ People with disabilities Income at or below 60% MFI 147 134 419 488 All districts proportionally represented D6 = 30 (smallest) D10 = 146 (largest) Caregivers 292 Who Participated ◼ Total Survey Participants: 1,027 older adults ◼ Total Focus Group Participants: 172 older adults ◼ PhotoVoice Participants: RBJ Residences seniors Representation Achieved ◼ 26 languages spoken (18% spoke at least two languages) ◼ All 10 City Council districts and the metropolitan area represented ◼ Intentionally oversampled previously missing groups Participant Demographics Participant Age Distribution (n=1,070) 5.5% 0.4% …
Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in Central Texas Presentation to the Commission on Aging Impact of recent federal legislation on SNAP and programmatic solutions CTFB | Commission on Aging_ CTFB_11/12/25 Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in Travis County • 612,475 Central Texans face food insecurity (1 in 5) • 101,934 are older adults (60+) • 33,094 in Travis County (1 in 6) • 12,074 enrolled in SNAP • 3,774 between 60-64 Average SNAP benefit in Travis County: $363/month CTFB | Commission on Aging_CTFB_ 11/12/25 Impacts of Reconciliation Bill - SNAP • Changes to work requirements for SNAP eligibility • Increases cost share for states (Admin and Entitlement) • Elimination of SNAP Nutrition Education program Increase in ABAWD work requirement age limit to 64 – effective 11/01/2025 Fulfill 20 hours/week to remain eligible for SNAP 50% administrative cost to states, sliding scale for entitlement cost based on error rates Potential impact in Texas: $1.1B CTFB | Commission on Aging_CTFB_11/12/25 Impacts of Federal Shutdown – SNAP • HHSC announced delays in SNAP benefits for the month of November on 10/27 due to the shutdown • Subsequent guidance from USDA authorized partial payment of benefits using the SNAP contingency fund • HHSC is abiding by that most recent guidance (despite ongoing litigation) • First time in history SNAP benefits have been delayed Some recipients began receiving partial SNAP payments on 11/10 Capped at 65% of monthly benefit amount, some households receive 0% November benefits will be reimbursed in full for all recipients once the government reopens CTFB has increased food at distributions by 50%, spending $1M/week to keep up with increased need CTFB Programs for Older Adults CTFB | Commission on Aging_CTFB_11/12/25 Senior Programs Our Senior Programs provide older adults with access to essential groceries through CSFP, HOPE, and Golden Harvest Markets, offering convenient options like delivery and proxy services to ensure nourishment and independence. CTFB | Commission on Aging_CTFB_11/12/25 Direct Programming for Older Adults CSFP in Travis County HOPE in Travis County Golden Harvest Market • Federal food box program authorized in the Farm Bill • States set caps on the number of participants • CTFB sites: 23 • CTFB clients: 3,048 individuals (max allotment) • CTFB program established as an alternative to CSFP to increase our ability to serve older adults • 10 sites located at community centers, apartment complexes and partner agency locations across the county • NEW CTFB program …
