SAGE COMMISSION
CHARTER
Background
Following the critical work of the Community Health System 2020 Commission, one of the most important follow-on efforts is the future health care and service needs of our
region's burgeoning aging population. FLHSA is convening the Sage Commission to examine the system of integrated services necessary for older adults (age 65 and over).
The Commission's work will be conducted in the context of the following factors:
- The growth of the aging population;
- The inappropriate use of hospitals by older adults, as identified by the 2020 Commission;
- The lack of an integrated method for forecasting health care and service needs for the aging;
- The barriers that exist to older adults obtaining the right care, at the right place and that inhibit wellness and functional ability;
- Fragmented financing systems that prevent access to affordable care and services;
- The inappropriate use of higher cost, long-term care resources; and
- The need to attract a well-qualified workforce to address the needs of the elderly.
Study Purpose, Scope, and Process
Purpose:
The Sage Commission is to:
- Articulate a vision of person centered aging services for the year 2020 and beyond.
The vision will be articulated in a written plan which will:
- Identify the range of integrated services needed to help older adults in the Finger Lakes region maintain independence and obtain quality health care;
- Present trends which demonstrate changes in the health status of older adults and their utilization of services;
- Identify consumer preferences and future policy directions for senior services;
- Indentify the programs and services which are needed to:
- Optimize the health and functional status of older adults;
- Reduce premature/unnecessary morbidity and mortality;
- Reduce disparities across sub-populations.
- Include a method for simultaneously forecasting the needed capacity for each of the major service components;
- Identify the barriers to achieving the major elements of the vision;
- Specify advocacy work that may be required to make the proposals achievable;
- Serve as a guide for programmatic and financial investments for the community;
- Propose actionable strategies to achieve the vision; and
- Propose a system for measuring and monitoring the performance of the aging service system to:
- Facilitate timely identification of problems, and
- Hold the stakeholders accountable
Scope:
The plan should address the health status and needs of the adult population 65 and older who reside in the 9-county Finger Lakes region, with special attention given to
ways to minimize disparities in health status and improve access to appropriate care.
Process:
FLHSA will convene a Sage Commission of approximately 35 people who reflect the diversity and wisdom of those who use, provide, and pay for older adult and aging services
in the 9-county region. The Task Force will have a chair and co-chair. Members of the Commission will be asked to serve on, and in some cases, facilitate its
associated work groups.
Roles and Accountability:
FLHSA Board of Directors:
- Approves the study charter;
- Approves the Commission composition;
- Determines whether the Commission has met its charter by accepting the report.
FLHSA Staff:
- Proposes Commission and work group membership;
- Provides staff support to the Commission and workgroup;
- Provides information, data, and written materials as needed.
Work Groups:
- Provide expertise on specific subject matter to the Commission members and staff.
Consultants:
- Selected, engaged and charged with providing a model to forecast and simultaneously simulate needs for elements of the senior service system under
alternative scenarios which
- maximize consumer choices for programs which address care needs;
- quantify work force needs; and
- forecast costs.
The Commission will use a number of work groups reflecting major system elements which will:
- Further articulate the vision for each system element;
- Define the disparities between the "preferred state" and the current status of that element;
- Identify 3-5 priority steps to move the element toward the preferred state, taking into account: impact, feasibility, and organizations with primary
responsibility.
Stage 1 - First 6 Months
Time Frame: Stage 1 (First 6 months' deliverables)
- A vision statement which describes the desired health system for older adults which should be in place by 2020.
- Identification of values that will inform the system of services.
- Identification/quantification of vulnerable/underserved populations.
- Identification of the element of the system.
- Identification of major vulnerabilities/stresses on aging services:
- Determination if any of the vulnerabilities requires immediate action;
- If so, what type of action is required by whom.
Time Frame: Stage 2 (Deliverables for months 7-18)
