Dallas officials present senior‑services strategic plan; consultants cite 470 responses and six goals

City consultants and staff on Wednesday briefed the Quality of Life committee on a strategic plan to coordinate senior services across departments and community partners.

Tabitha Taylor, the city’s age‑friendly officer, and consultants from Guidehouse said the plan responds to a demographic trend: the older‑adult population in the region has grown significantly and is projected to continue increasing. Consultants reported about 470 survey responses and several listening sessions consolidated into the plan’s needs assessment. The consultants said the draft organizes priorities into six strategic goals and roughly 40 strategies with action items categorized as short‑, medium‑ and long‑term.

What staff told the committee: the plan aims to elevate and align existing programs across city departments, improve outreach and communications for older adults, expand volunteer and partnership opportunities and enhance emergency‑preparedness work for older residents. Staff noted the senior services team is small (five people) and presented the plan as a way to coordinate broader departmental and community resources.

Council members asked for more detail on current activities, how the plan builds on existing partners (for example, Meals on Wheels and North Texas Food Bank were discussed) and where specific responsibilities will sit. Consultants and staff said more detailed action items exist in the full draft and can be shared with the committee next month. Staff put forward a tentative timetable for bringing the final plan forward for adoption in early 2026.

Next steps: staff will provide the committee with the full draft and the detailed action items and continue engagement with the Senior Affairs Commission.