Empowered Aging GivingTuesday 2022

At Empowered Aging, we currently serve nearly 500,000 older adults and adults with disabilities across three counties – Contra Costa, Alameda, and Solano. We advocate for 4,044 residents in 188 facilities throughout Solano County, 9,793 residents in 504 facilities in Contra Costa, and 15,000 residents in 363 facilities in Alameda. Every day these numbers are growing. By 2060, the population over 60 is projected to grow nearly 200% in each of these counties. 

The programs and resources we provide to long-term care residents, seniors living in our neighborhoods, and adults with disabilities are free. And none of that would be possible without our community. Yes, we work daily to build relationships through advocacy and collaborations with other nonprofits and multiple levels of government, but it’s the gifts from foundations, grateful families, individuals, and concerned citizens that fuel our work with the true measure of success being lives changed.  

 This GivingTuesday, you can rise to the challenge and give older adults and adults with disabilities a stronger voice and more comprehensive supports as we prepare to expand our reach in 2023. More compassionate care, more connection, more engagement, more joy, … and more hope!

If you’re not familiar with all the work we’ve done this last year, here’s a snapshot of your generosity at work:

• We’ve responded directly to the long-term care staffing crisis through our Healthcare Career Pathway program, which provides a meaningful track to sustainable employment as CNAs for students with addressable barriers. This program was also a pilot program of the Governor’s Master Plan for Aging and, as a result, received additional funding for a statewide expansion. 
• Our 2022-2023 cohort of MSW Interns has reached its highest program recruitment numbers to date as we work to train the next generation of social workers and help to address the shortage in gerontological advocacy.
• Thanks to government funding, we’ve enhanced the quality of life for many long-term care residents through robotic pet distribution in Solano and Alameda counties to combat loneliness and social isolation, and to support those living with cognitive impairments.
• We relaunched our Elder Justice Program in Solano County, facilitating access to care and services that elder abuse victims and their families need. This program was also one of ten recipients to receive funding via a federal grant. 
• Our team has worked hard to maintain ongoing advocacy for improvements to the long-term care industry at the state level and to state legislators. 
• Empowered Aging was selected to speak out for seniors and their families across the nation during the Congressional House Health Subcommittee hearing. Our testimony was critical in examining the impacts of COVID-19 and how we progress in supporting our long-term care residents. 
• Empowered Aging has also presented at several conventions across the country about Long-Term Care and the Healthcare Career Pathway program as a proven solution to the national direct care staffing crisis. 
• We’ve had the opportunity to extend our reach in the community through several positions and partnerships, including serving on the Technical Advisory Panel for the Solano Family Justice Center (SFJC) Advisory Committee, the Council for Age-Friendly Communities in Alameda County, the Contra Costa Family Justice Center Strategic Plan Focus Group, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan Task Force, and the Contra Costa’s Master Plan Local Playbook IMPACT Steering Committee.
  
  

Can we count on you to rise to the challenge this GivingTuesday? 

For more information about Empowered Aging and our person-centered advocacy through programming, visit www.EmpoweredAging.org. Know an individual or company who wants to join our mission by making a donation before the end of the year? Please share the link to this page with them or have them get in touch with us by sending an email to Info@EmpoweredAging.org.