DRAFT MINUTES
Council on Aging
Minutes of Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, 5 Broad St.
Members Present: Chairwoman Pat Donahue, Elaine Heredeen, Dolores Nangle, Donna Clifford, Alice Williams, Jane Sarnowski
Members Absent: Domingo Alvarez, Pamela Greaves, Joan Lovely
Others Present: Doug Bollen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and Bill Woolley,
Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Service
Recorder: Stacy Kilb
Also Present: Kay Walsh, Board, North Shore Elder Services
The meeting is called to order at 6:40PM.
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
A vote will be taken to waive the reading of (or read) and accept (or amend) the Minutes of
the previous meeting held on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
A vote to waive the reading and accept the minutes is made by EH and seconded by AW; it passes unanimously.
2. COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CHAIRPERSON
· Discussion on update of First Aid
The Chairwoman asks about the updates. Woolley says it was never released or formalized; it is just a starting document. HR was contacted and said to “just call 911,” but a more extensive discussion is required. As of now they are relying on personal discretion. The City does not have any written policy at all. This is a work in progress.
In the past, relying on discretion has worked well.
3. VISITOR – Kay Walsh. Salem Representative on North Shore Elder Services Board of Directors will update COA Board on programs and services at NSES.
Ms. Walsh outlines her qualifications and how North Shore Elder Services works. She has also been on the Council on Aging in the 1980’s. Salem puts people on the board of NS Elders; there are 5 COA’s involved: Peabody, Middleton, Danvers, Salem and Marblehead.
She reviews why it is this way – for example, Beverly isn’t involved. The money they have is never enough; it comes out of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. There are 27 Aging Service Access Points (ASAPs), of which North Shore Elder Services is one. Money is distributed according to the number of seniors and their needs.
She describes the formation of the Office of Elder Affairs, which provides services to allow disabled elderly people to be safe at home. They also manage long -term care services to eligible Mass Health residents, as well as social and nutritional services under the Older Americans Act (Federal, where the money comes from). Statistics must be provided to be eligible for money. Federal money goes toward congregate meals. ASAP money depends on those statistics.
She reviews figures of how much money was designated from 2005. We get level funded every year so she doubts it has changed. There is a big issue with meals-on-wheels going to people who aren’t actually homebound. The figures are for all of Massachusetts. Anyone who is over 60 is eligible to come to congregate meals. Other services are delivered according to need.
Chairwoman PD asks about some of the housing establishments and supportive care is discussed. The idea is that frail elderly people can stay at home in a community setting – it is not assisted living but there is oversight with a careperson on site. They must have mental and/or health problems. NS Elders brings in their services to keep elderly people from dialing 911 or going to the hospital over small issues.
Different facilities such as Fairweather are discussed – this is not supportive care. Ms. Walsh thinks congregate meals are a good idea and wishes there could be more supportive living situations, though budget won’t allow.
For congregate meals the recommended donation is $2.25 but meals actually cost more. If people come in and don’t pay, and we can’t force them, the issue is that when you don’t collect enough, it makes it troublesome because of budget. NS Elders does fundraising, but it is difficult for them to meet the needs. They are mandated to serve meals 5 days a week, but acute needs elders that fall under the “care” area get in-home care. That’s billable through Medicaid. Some weekend deliveries do occur. The cost of food is going up but the money coming in isn’t increasing to match.
They try to cluster together those that need the extra help. The idea is to move the people who need it most to the 40 beds with the most assistance.
Ms. Walsh outlines the other services provided by North Shore Elder Services, which are numerous. They include:
· Bookkeeping and tax services
· The “At Your Side Medical Advocacy Program”
· Protective Services
· Nutritional Services
· Nursing Assessment
· The SHINE program
· Adult Foster Care
· Home Care Services
Chairwoman PD summarizes that NS elders is responsible for distributing Federal funding which is more or less correct. Collection of records/ receipts can be difficult if elders misplace them.
A major concern of North Shore Elders is the transfer of patients, e.g., care transitions, such as moving from the hospital to rehab, a nursing home or their home. Return visits comprise a large part of the cost of health care – when seniors are sent home without proper follow-up, many come back within 24 hours. There is a pilot program going on at Salem Hospital and individuals will be assessed at home.
Ms. Walsh describes the setup for NS Elders board members. Each town has 2 board members that serve for 3 years, except that Ms. Walsh is filling in for someone, plus her three years. Members can run for one more term but may serve no more than 2 terms. Ms. Walsh represents Salem and advocates strongly for supportive living. She thinks it is important to keep the social and physical activities going, and get elders out of their houses. NS Elder services provide long-term, not acute care.
They just hired a new woman, Hope Watt- Bucky director of Client Services.
She recommends that our COA members become advocates along with NS Elders, by writing letters to Senator Barry, or emailing John Tierney.
Ms. Walsh does not know how many people work for NS Elders. There are many sub-committees.
She tells an anecdote about her brother in law’s mother. The process was much less painful, and in the best interest of his mother, because of NS Elder Services.
The organization makes policies but they vote on them. Chairwoman PD asks if MA is unique. Ms. Walsh says it is one of the stronger ones. MA is also a medical state. Ms. Walsh feels we must improve home care and are too quick to send people to nursing homes. The lobby for nursing homes is much stronger, so that is an issue. Home care is a smaller group.
Long term care insurance will pay for these services as well. Chairwoman PD discusses the possibility and when to start LT care insurance. The younger you start, the better, though underlying medical issues can be a problem.
NS Elders also does transportation vans that come to North shore, though Salem must bid for them. Woolley outlines how it works – we are not just getting vans, but paying driver salaries; when we ask, NS Elders usually comes through; we pay 20% - the van is subsidized and requires lots of paperwork.
DN asks about PACE, which is a unique and independent program that NS Elders can refer people to. It is an alternative model of home care. It is in East Boston, now Lynn and Beverly, for those who have a need only. It requires some support from family.
Chairwoman PD thanks Kay Walsh for her introduction to NS Elder Services. Ms. Walsh explains the need for Salem residents and elders to know what’s out there. Chairwoman PD comments that maybe NS Elders needs to advertise itself better, but they lack funding. Hospitals and their case managers do refer lots of people, and care transitions programs will help with that as well.
Ms. Walsh reminds the Council of the many acts that are upcoming that have to do with elder services, and urges them to call or write about them.
Some problems such as medications, access to goods and accountability are discussed. She comments that NS Elders does not go out to the hospitals; it is up to case managers to come to them. People being readmitted due to lack of support will count from now on, and hospitals will be accountable.
4. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/Assistant Director
· New Senior Center – update on status of new Community Life Building
They are still in the fundraising phase to raise money for the interior –they need $250K in addition to the $400K in the budget. Designs have been chosen for inside. Bollen is told groundbreaking will be in the summer. They are trying to find someone to lead the fundraising.
· Activities: Update on Programs and Special events coming up
Not covered.
· Attendance Report - Transportation, Social Service & Nutrition attendance will be reported
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Service |
April 2010 |
April 2011 |
Joined Council on Aging |
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Social Services – Over 60 |
232 serviced 401 times |
168 serviced times 409 |
Social Services – Under 60 |
19 serviced 34 times |
9 serviced 14 times |
Events |
1475 |
1381 |
Transportation |
1486 |
1610 |
Meals – Congregate |
548 |
586 |
Meals on Wheels |
1992 |
222 |
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· Announcement of COA Board training
This will be June 14th in Hamilton from 1:30-4PM at the Community House.
· Submit to COA Chairman Domingo Alvarez’ resignation letter.
Chairwoman PD has the letter from Domingo and reads it to the Council. The mayor has also accepted the resignation. Our newest board member went to the City Council meeting, waited over an hour, then left not realizing she might still be called. Now she must go back since she must be present to be appointed. She will be attending our next meeting as a board member.
· Report on new van radios installation
Installation will happen next week of all equipment in the vans and on the hospital.
· Will the board meet in June, July and August?
Traditionally they do not meet in July and August; in June the Chairwoman would like to put together a nominating committee in preparation for election of officers in the September meeting, which we have never done before. She would like to form this committee in June. The Chairperson is appointed for three years but the VP, secretary and treasurer are elected.
A special meeting can be called if anything urgent comes up in July and August.
· Report on work being done by SSU interns to produce a PowerPoint presentation for our department, which will include information on the move to a new building.
Woolley is trying to get a couple of interns and hoping one will help with a PowerPoint to promote COA and Parks & Rec. Services.
· Requesting ideas for maintaining the Spanish aspect of COA programming, without grant funding
Now that grant funding has run out, Woolley wants to maintain progress so far by keeping interpretations and translations of the newsletter. There is a lot of interest in these services.
5 TREASURER’S REPORT Update on budget and accounts
A copy has been passed out. The budget will be up soon, probably in the first two weeks in June. They are seeking level funded and the closing of the Power plant has not affected us yet.
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Chairwoman PD would like to form a nominating Committee in June but there are no reports right now.
7. NEW BUSINESS
This must be put on the agenda within 48 hours of the meeting so please contact Bollen or the Chairperson in advance if you think of something. The COA members feel constrained since they are advisory only and do not have any authority to make decisions. Few of their decisions impact seniors or the City.
8. VISITOR COMMENTS – Opportunity for Visitors to speak
9. NEXT BOARD MEETING will be on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
10. VOTE TO ADJOURNMENT
EH motions, AW seconds, and all approve.
The meeting ends at 8 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Stacy Kilb
Clerk, Salem Council on Aging
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