File #: Res 1614-2008    Version: * Name: Dept for the Aging to ensure that no services or meals to seniors will be lost as a result of the senior center RFP.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Aging
On agenda: 9/24/2008
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Department for the Aging to ensure that no services or meals to seniors will be lost as a result of the senior center RFP.
Sponsors: Bill De Blasio, Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Melinda R. Katz, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Darlene Mealy, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, James Sanders, Jr., Helen Sears, James Vacca, Thomas White, Jr., David Yassky, Alan J. Gerson, Kendall Stewart
Council Member Sponsors: 20

Res. No. 1614

 

Resolution calling upon the Department for the Aging to ensure that no services or meals to seniors will be lost as a result of the senior center RFP.

 

By Council Members de Blasio, Brewer, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Katz, Koppell, Liu, Mealy, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr., Sears, Vacca, White Jr. , Yassky, Gerson and Stewart

 

                     Whereas, The Department for the Aging (DFTA) is a mayoral agency in the City of New York with a mission to work for the empowerment, independence, dignity and quality of life of New York City's diverse older adults and for the support of their families through advocacy, education and the coordination and delivery of services; and

                     Whereas, In December 2006, DFTA began a comprehensive review of its services, which led to an effort to modernize three core services beginning with a request for proposal (RFP) for case management services in October 2007, and continuing with an RFP for home delivered meals in May 2008, and an RFP for senior centers to be released in October 2008; and

                     Whereas, According to DFTA’s concept paper released in January 2008, the modernization of senior centers will include a comprehensive health and wellness approach, including activities such as walking clubs, blood pressure screenings, and exercise classes, as well as social and intellectual wellness components; and

Whereas, The new senior center model will have a two-tiered approach whereby a neighborhood senior center will continue to provide core services, including meals and social services, while at the same time offer health and wellness activities; and

Whereas, In addition, a variety of small, medium and large multi-service centers will serve each borough by providing an array of enhanced health and wellness programs and serving as community centers, offering greater diversity in services and programming and connections to other community resources; and

Whereas, Although seniors, advocates, and elected officials support the idea of improving service delivery to seniors, there are concerns that such modernization efforts may result in a decline or loss of services in many neighborhoods around the City; and

Whereas, Concerns include whether enough funding exists to implement proposed changes, for example certain changes which can be expensive to implement, such as evidence-based programs; and

Whereas, There is also concern that core services may become lost and that potential inequities may be created across the service sector due to the varied capacity of individual senior centers; and

Whereas, DFTA indicated in a February 2008 Council hearing that 44% of senior centers are underutilized and that a possible scenario resulting from modernization would be the closing of such centers, despite the fact that the only measure used to determine the utilization rate of a senior center is the number of meals served; and

Whereas; New York City expects to see a 45% increase in the age 65 and over population by 2030, representing one-fifth of the City’s overall population and outnumbering school-aged children; and

Whereas, The City’s seniors depend on senior centers for congregate meals, social activities, benefit and information referral services, and as a gateway to civic participation; and

Whereas, It is imperative that the modernization efforts are adequately planned and implemented to best meet the needs of the City’s senior population now and in the future; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the Department for the Aging to ensure that no services or meals to seniors will be lost as a result of the senior center RFP.

 

SO

LS# 6142

9/19/08

12:46pm