Council Continues to Work to Be “Age Friendly”
President Pro Tem Michael Stinziano works to
provide vital resources to those affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia
The
65+ population of Central Ohio is expected to double in the next 35 years.
President Pro Tem Michael Stinziano is committed to making sure
individuals are able to enjoy that time in their own homes.
Since
his first year on Council, President Pro Tem Stinziano has served as the chair
of Age-Friendly Columbus, an initiative working to ensure a high quality of
life for people of all ages and abilities. Outlined in its strategic plan of
action, the goal of the initiative is to ensure future generations will
flourish and thrive in place through easy access to services, amenities and
opportunities.
Building
on this work, last year President Pro Tem Stinziano served on a statewide Task
Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The group focused on education and
awareness, training and care standards, long term care and data collection. It
held five meetings and heard testimony from individuals, non-profit
organizations, family members and community leaders.
“This
group is striving to promote collaboration among cities, counties and the
state,” said Stinziano. “By working together to create programs and better
care for those in need, we are able to reach and support residents throughout
Ohio.”
The
task force issued a report earlier this month. In addition to budgetary
recommendations for 2019, the group highlighted two key areas for legislative
action.
These
proposals include establishing:
- dementia training requirements for long-term services
and support providers
- clear definitions and guidelines regarding the Ohio
Department of Aging’s respite and other supportive services for
cognitively impaired individuals, their families and other caregivers
“Making
sure our residents can age in place includes reliable access to quality
services and well-trained support staff,” said Stinziano.
For
more information visit: https://agefriendlycolumbus.org/
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