Presenter urges regional plan for dementia‑skilled nursing care for unhoused older adults

A presenter (identified in the transcript as Speaker 9) urged the committee to pursue a regional response with neighboring Jefferson County to address dementia‑skilled nursing and supportive placements for older people experiencing homelessness.

The presenter said Jefferson County’s by‑name shelter list includes 272 people being tracked; 118 (43%) are age 55 or older, 58 are unsheltered and 30 are over age 70, with the oldest person cited as 91. The presenter said local health‑system data indicate many older unhoused people who use emergency departments would have benefited from more structured long‑term settings, but that the region currently has limited capacity and that placements are often out‑of‑area.

“This is a regional issue,” the presenter said, asking the committee to consider a joint work plan or regional committee of county commissioners and stakeholders to craft long‑term solutions and funding strategies. The presenter noted examples from other jurisdictions and encouraged information‑sharing among cities and counties.

Committee members acknowledged the concern and asked staff to consider how regional coordination could be folded into broader homelessness and housing strategy discussions; no formal action was taken at the meeting.