Protecting Our Older Adults

Updates from the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency   

Delivery of Food and Other Essential Needs  

Free Testing for COVID-19  

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Support During COVID-19 

Protecting Our Older Adults

During times of crisis, we know our older adult populations face an increased risk for abuse and neglect. The COVID-19 pandemic has made our senior neighbors even more vulnerable to physical, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as more difficult to protect our elders from abuse and neglect. Additionally, we are seeing new scams that take advantage of the uncertainty created by this global health crisis and prey on the concerns and fears of our vulnerable neighbors in order to gain access to their money and property.  

The Alameda County District Attorney’s (DA) Office is committed to protecting our vulnerable older adults from scams, abuse, and neglect. For  information on identifying the signs of abuse and reporting suspected abuse, please visit the DA’s Office’s Elder/Dependent Adult Protection page. If you suspect abuse or neglect, please contact Adult Protective Services at 1-866-225-5277. The DA’s Office also provided a guide to identifying COVID-19 scams in their March 2020 newsletter. 

In addition, the DA’s Office has published a guide on addressing COVID-19 concerns for families whose loved ones are residents of a long-term care facility. Family members should attempt to contact the facility with questions, but if the facility’s staff and administration are unresponsive to your concerns, this guide provides information on additional resource available.  

Updates from the Alameda County Health Care
Services Agency 

The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) invites faith based leaders to attend their regular stakeholder calls to receive pandemic updates and support for faith communities during the COVID-19 crisis and Shelter in Place orders. The next virtual forum will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 9:00 AM. Please take a moment to register and submit your questions here.  

To join the Zoom meeting, click the following link: https://zoom.us/j/95909219224?pwd=cFlHR1VoMEZ4S0lJRzdsbWM3RmZUZz09 

Meeting ID: 959 0921 9224 
Password: 130261 
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Password: 130261 
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Delivery of Food and Other Essential Needs 

Many of Alameda County’s older adults face additional hurdles to accessing food during the COVID-19 crisis. Going to the grocery stores and pharmacies increases the chance for exposure, which can be devastating for our high-risk neighbors. For some, the cost of delivery services creates an even greater barrier to accessing food and other essential supplies during this pandemic. In an effort to address these disparities and to support our neighbors in need, government agencies, local non-profits, and even networks of individual community members have created a network to deliver these basic needs safely to vulnerable populations.  

Alameda County Great Plates Delivered: The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is now accepting applications for the Great Plates Delivered program. This food delivery program will provide adults over the age of 65 or adults over the age of 60 who are high-risk with meals from local restaurants. Great Plates Delivered is for older adults who are unable to access meals while sheltering at home and are ineligible for other nutrition programs. If you live in Alameda County (excluding the City of Oakland) and are interested in this program, fill out SSA’s intake form to be screened for eligibility. City of Oakland residents should visit the city’s Great Plates Delivered page for application instructions. 

Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels programs throughout Alameda County are continuing to serve homebound low-income seniors with healthy meal deliveries during the COVID-19 crisis. For residents in Oakland, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Ashland, or Hayward Acres, visit the SOS Meals on Wheels website to apply for meal deliveries. For residents in the City of Alameda, visit the Alameda Meals on Wheels website to apply for meal deliveries. 

Oakland At Risk: Oakland At Risk is a grassroots effort serving high-risk individuals in Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro. This community network pairs healthy adult volunteers with a neighbor in high-risk populations (seniors and people with underlying health conditions) to help them access groceries and prescriptions. Please note: this is a community-led effort run by private citizens.

Free Testing Sites for COVID-19 

There are a number of free testing sites available in Alameda County. They provide low-income and uninsured residents with a much-needed health care resource during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) maintains a list of free testing locations on their Testing for COVID-19 page. ACPHD also maintains a list of known testing sites, including locations for the general public, sites for members of specific health plans, locations for specialty populations (e.g. veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness), and urgent care facilities.  

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Support During COVID-19 

Alameda County WIC’s nutrition and breastfeeding support services continue to be available for eligible low-income families during COVID-19. WIC uses an electronic card and app to deliver benefits remotely, allowing recipients to access their benefits safely during this public health crisis. In addition to remotely adding benefits to recipients’ cards, WIC offices are able to provide remote support services and intakes over the phone at 510-595-6400. For more information on eligibility guidelines and program services, visit the Alameda County WIC website.  

Public Comment Procedures for Board of Supervisors Meetings During Shelter in Place

Procedures for Board of Supervisors meetings are subject to change to improve videoconferencing tools. Please check the Board of Supervisors' website for the most up-to-date guidelines.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will continue to conduct essential government business at our regularly scheduled Board meetings.

• Agendas are posted on the Board of Supervisors' website: 
  http://acgov.org/board/.

While in-person participation is limited to essential personnel, we are committed to providing the public with live broadcast and remote opportunities to participate in public comment during the Shelter in Place order. The following guidelines allow for public participation in Board meetings while following safe social distancing practices:

Remote Viewing/Listening:
Members of the public who wish to watch the Board of Supervisors meetings, are encouraged to view the live stream online at: 
http://acgov.org/board/broadcast.htm.

We recommend against using Internet Explorer to view the meetings. We recommend using Google Chrome or other browsers to view the meetings.

Public Comment via Teleconference:
Members of the public may address the Board of Supervisors on a matter on the agenda or during the Public Input portion of the meeting on a matter not on the agenda but is an issue within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction.

To observe the meeting by video conference, please click on this link to join the webinar at the noticed meeting time.

• If you are using a laptop:
  Use the "Raise Hand" button to indicate you would like to speak or provide public comment. When you are called to speak, unmute your speaker.
• If you are listening to the meeting by phone:
  Use the numbers listed on the Zoom/Teleconferencing Guidelines. 
  Dial *9 to raise your hand to speak.
  If you decide not speak, you may hang up and dial back into the meeting or simply notify the Clerk you do not wish to speak when you are unmuted and asked to speak.

Written Comment (accepted until the start of the meeting at 9:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted on the meeting agenda).

To provide written comment on an item on the agenda or to address the Board about an issue during Public Input, you may send an email to CBS@acgov.org.

Please include your name and note the agenda item number you want to address or whether you intend for comment to be included in Public Input. Copies of all written comments will be provided to the Board Members and will be added to the official record.

ADA Accessibility: If you require a reasonable modification or accommodation for a disability, please email the Clerk of the Board at CBS@acgov.org or call (510) 208-4949.

• Oakland Undocumented Relief (OUR) Fund: Offers financial support for immigrant Oaklanders who have lost income due to COVID-19. To apply for or donate to OUR Fund, visit Centro Legal’s website. 
• Legal Aid at Work (Ayuda Legal Laboral) Resource Guide: offers a list of financial services available to undocumented workers in California who have been impacted by COVID-19. This resource guide is updated on a weekly basis and is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. 
• Immigrants Rising resource guide provides a list of resources available for undocumented immigrants. Recursos para inmigrantes sobre COVID-19 en español—utilice este enlace