Item Coversheet
Town of Miami Lakes
Memorandum
To:Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
From:Honorable Councilmember Luis Collazo
Subject:Older American Act Funding and Elderly Affairs Programming
Date:12/5/2017
Recommendation:

Purpose of the Proposed Item:
Supplemental Funding for Elderly Affairs Committee Lunch Bunch Utilizing Older American Act Funding

Major Points of the Proposed Item:

One of the most successful programs The Elderly Affairs Committee has been hosting has been its Lunch Bunch. The Lunch Bunch provides an opportunity for our seniors to meet and enjoy a meal and an activity together. The program is typically held in the summer months (June – October), on alternating Wednesdays each month. The Elderly Affairs Committee has received feedback from many of its Lunch Bunch participants that this is a program that they wish could be expanded year round. The Elderly Affairs Committee met and voted that they would like to see if opportunities existed through alternative funding sources to support this program year round, without increasing the need to expand the budget for this program. During that meeting several members of the Elderly Affairs Committee suggested funding programs utilizing Older American Act funding as a means to accomplishing this goal.

Reason for Action:
Older American Act Funding allows for congregate meal programs, like the Lunch Bunch, to be implemented at congregate meal sites for seniors. These monies are allocated to the State of Florida, through the federal Older American Act, and directed through Area Agency on Aging providers. In Miami Dade County, the area agency on aging provider is the Alliance for Aging. Many municipalities partner with their local Area Agency on Aging providers to offer expanded funding for programs utilizing Older American Act resources. This type of programming creates a social network hub which improves the quality of life for our elderly residents, and supports balanced nutritional support for those most in need.

Action Desired:
I would like to direct staff to explore the possibility of partnering with our local Area Agency on Aging in order to expand the Lunch Bunch program, and obtain additional funding to offer congregate meals to our seniors on an ongoing basis.

Fiscal Impact: Small