COMMITTEE ON AGING MINUTES
February 5, 2013
This meeting and all other meetings of this committee are open to the public. Proper notice has been posted and given to the press in accordance with Wisconsin statutes so that the citizenry may be aware of the time, place, and agenda of this meeting.
Chairperson Patricia Craig called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Waupaca County Courthouse, 811 Harding St., Waupaca, WI 54981, DHHS – Room #2123.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wayne Laux, Patricia Craig, Kenneth Renning, and Mary Mathwig.
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Steve Stead
MEMBERS ABSENT: Janice Lytie
ALSO PRESENT: Christie Gonwa, Peggy Strey, Kristine Wiegman, Darlene Kramer, and Beverly Laux.
I. ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
Motion to accept agenda made by Mary Mathwig and seconded by Kenneth Renning. Motion carried.
II. REVIEW AND ACCEPT MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 27, 2012: A motion was made by Wayne Laux to accept the minutes of November 27th, seconded by Kenneth Renning. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None
III. ADRC/AGING DIRECTOR GENERAL REPORT – Christie Gonwa - routed information on:
· Becoming an AARP Activist
· Wisconsin Coordinated Transportation Cooperative – Wisconsin’s newest cooperative. A non-profit to help people with transportation to medical appointments. Are hoping to replace Logisticare in the current bid.
· Chippewa Valley Timebank – a reciprocal approach to volunteers; giving back to those who give. Perhaps we can utilize a similar approach once the not for profit is in place.
· The next COW (Calumet-Outagamie-Waupaca) advisory committee meeting will be held on 3/14. Christie invited all COA members to attend this meeting as John Schnable, OAA Programs and Special Projects Manager with GWAAR (Greater Wisconsin Area Agency on Aging Resources, Inc.) will be speaking. Todd Romensko of Calumet County will also be presenting on the consortium’s budget. The meeting will be held at the Bordini Center (5 Systems Drive, Appleton – across from Fox Valley Technical College) at 2:00 PM.
· A public meeting to talk about our and others experiences with Logisticare will take place on February 22nd. Representative Kevin Peterson will attend from 9:00 – 10:30. An invitation is also being extended to Senator’s Luther Olsen and Robert Cowles. City and town representatives will be invited along with County Board, DHHS Board and other committee board members, along with our volunteer drivers and other partners of transportation interest. Christie will on WDUX’s Breakfast Show on 2/7 and submit a press release to area newspapers in hopes of securing a wider audience.
IV. AGING NETWORK REPORT
A. GWAAR Program Update – included in agenda mailing. Christie reviewed. There were no questions.
B. Other – No discussion.
V. NUTRITION PROGRAM
ü Clintonville Site Manager Jessica King resigned her position effective January 22nd. Interviews for her replacement will take place soon after the application deadline of 2/7/13. This is a 26 hour per week city/county position as the City of Clintonville employs 11 of those hours and the county the other 15. The wage is the same for both. There are two senior aides who are of great help during this transition, but unfortunately one lost her husband to unexpected death on 2/3 so extra help is needed. Volunteers will absorb the gap whenever possible; however, county employees Peggy Strey, Kristine Wiegman, and site managers Joanne Samack (Waupaca), Mona Golla-Kolosso (Manawa), and Kim Ebert (New London) have volunteered their assistance for this and next week. The current expectation as that extra help may be needed until the aide returns or the position is filled.
ü Christie is looking into computer equipment for the sites as many use their own computers because the ones at their sites are old and inefficient.
ü 2012 meal statistics were routed. October’s figures were questioned. Peggy will investigate.
B. Activity Responsibilities of Managers at non-senior center sites
Clintonville and New London are the only two sites that have county/city partnerships where the site managers are both city/ county employees giving them more work hours than the others. Marion used to have this same partnership but that ended a few years back. Interest in similar partnerships with other area communities has been lacking. This committee may be an excellent voice in communicating that partnership need to their city governments and others, viewing it as a “community” effort. When time allows Christie will make visits to city administrators/mayors etc. in hopes of expanding awareness and developing those relationships.
Marketing is an issue of ongoing concern as older people and those caring for them need to be aware of available services, like Meals on Wheels. Newspapers are shrinking and television and other forms of advertising are expensive. Spreading the word with cost effective media can be a difficult effort. Kristine suggested providing the printed resources for stuffing in church bulletins, which would be a great help and much appreciated by church staff. It is believed that pharmacies, medical clinics, and hairdressers etc. would be good areas to spread the word.
VI. AGING PROGRAMS UPDATES
A. Volunteer Program – Kristine Wiegman
§ Over 1100 Christmas cards, created by local clubs and school groups, were distributed to our homebound meal recipients as well as local shut-ins at nursing homes etc. It was a very successful and much appreciated effort.
§ Mission of Hope is an organization that sponsors a special day annually (August) in New London for providing sorely needed services (haircuts, shoes, and a variety of other offerings etc.) to those who can’t afford them. They recently contributed 24 quilts/blankets, and many bags of hats and mittens to the needy via our agency. They are also planning to give away 200 bags of groceries to our homebound seniors this August.
§ Volunteer Appreciation Week is 4/22 - 4/26. This year’s theme is “Volunteers Plant Seeds of Kindness”. Kristine has contacted Jung’s for a donation of 500 seed packets, something they did a few years back.
§ Mayors for Meals were celebrated last year for the first time. Kristine will plan for it again this year. It is a great way for cities to become familiar with the elderly nutrition program and bridge the gap
B. Transportation Program – Transportation continues to be a challenge re: Logisticare. It is not impossible to say we can’t go back to square one, so… more to come.
C. National Family Caregiver Support Program –A caregiver seminar will take place in Waupaca on 11/1 and work is being done on other offerings to bring equitable support to the residents in the northern half of the county.
VII. AGING AND DISABILTY RESOURCE CENTER REPORT
A. Waiting List Update – There are 81 people in hover status. On July 1st the wait list will officially end. Quite a few were enrolled in January but, they filled attrition slots. There were also many January referrals.
B. Nursing Home Relocation Activities – Jennifer Schimmelpfenning is meeting with the social workers and administrators of area nursing homes as part of the community relocation initiative. Christie goes with her when she can. St. Joe’s of New London has been outstanding in their referrals. We had our first Wisconsin Veterans Home referral too. Jennifer has now passed the functional screen test she so can go out independently, which was something she was not able to do before this.
C. Inclement Weather Policy for COA Meetings – It is a good idea to have a policy in place for those moments when weather is questionable. Suggestions included cancellation and rescheduling to mirror that of the school district’s weather related decision in whatever community this committee is scheduled to meet– with a clause to automatically reschedule within two weeks to ensure that action items are attended to timely. Does the County Board or DHHS have a policy currently in place? It was thought not, however, it will be looked into. It was suggested to check with other counties for their policies on this. If meetings are cancelled the members would like to be called with confirmation of this, rather than rely on radio or other forms of media. Christie will create a draft policy for this committees review.
D. Other
Ø Dar Kramer routed the Advisory Committees Regional Report for February 5th. She invited all to attend the February 13th training at Appleton’s FVTC with keynote speaker Brandon Erkkila, an excellent resource on Alzheimer’s and Dementia related issues. The training is from 8:30 am to 4:30 am. If you would like to attend all or even part of the training, contact Christie Gonwa (715-258-6275) or Darlene Kramer (920-849-1493, Ext. 542). Lunch is included, so please be sure and let Dar know, so they can plan accordingly.
There are three representatives involved in developing resource packets for the ADRC; one from each county. They are: Linda Camp, Waupaca County; Joanne Dewhurst, Calumet County; and Bonne Elias Planner from Outagamie County. They are also working on better data tracking and collection. From what they have discovered the medical community does a very low percentage of referrals to the ADRC. It is felt the medical community needs to be a stronger referral source. Waupaca County intends to move to a new data collection program called The Clinical Manager.
Ø Peggy will make binders for all committee members.
VIII. NEXT MEETING –March 26, 2013 – Waupaca Nutrition Site – Trinity Lutheran Church, 206 E Badger ST., Waupaca – 9:00 A.M
IX. ADJOURN – Motion by Wayne Laux, seconded by Mary Mathwig to adjourn at 10:10 AM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by
Peggy Strey,
Program Assistant
Aging and Disability Resource Unit