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Meeting Minutes -' U I V E U
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Council on Aging
Date: 2018-11-14 Time:
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session:
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Barbara Carney (Associate Member), Jolyn Ek, Margaret Havey, John
Parsons, Pocja Parsons (Associate Member), Thomas Procopio, Sandy
Shaffer, Marilyn Shapleigh, Debby Small, Brian Snell, Jayna Stafford
(Associate Member), Jane Burns (Admin)
Members - Not Present:
Joan Coco, Sally Hoyt (Associate Member)
Others Present:
Paul Scharr
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marilyn Shapleigh
Topics of Discussion:
Call to Order by Thomas Procopio at 6:33
Acceptance of Minutes from Oct: Accepted.
Elder Services Report - Oct Report(Admin): Jane Burns reported on Ideas from the Mass
Council on Aging Annual Conference including: training programs on Uber and Lyft, bullying,
and protective service program changes. There was also an intensive program led by the
architect who designed the Pleasant St Center; topics included discussing building a center,
design concepts, and working with your town to see these things happen. Next year
(October) the conference will be in Danvers at the Ferncroft; Ms. Burns encourages the COA
to"check it out". The Senior Services statistics continue to indicate some leveling off
reflecting capacity usage (e.g., the 12-passenger van only holds 12, etc.) It continues to be
a challenge to get people to sign in with their key cards. Accepted.
Financial Report - Report Oct (Admin): We haven't touched Schroeder since August.
October interest has not yet been posted. Consequently, funds will be available If we do a
Christmas dinner. Christopher's Restaurant has donated the Thanksgiving dinners.
Accepted.
MVES Report: This month the MVES voted to merge the oversight committee with the
advocacy committee due to committee overlap and the small number of people in each
committee. The Belly Full of Laughs fund raiser will be in January. A federal grant for the
Memory CaM is administered by MVES; lane Burns reported back to the MVES on program
events and shared an article on Dementia Friendly Reading that was published in Readings.
Both were extremely well received, and the presentation generated a lot of Interest in the
Dementia Friendly Reading Initiative.
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Old Business:
Dementia Friendly Reading: The monthly Leadership meeting was held this morning
(11/14). The group is making good strides. Meeting minutes will be starting and hopefully
will be included in COA packets going forward. To facilitate progress, the leadership group
has broken into sub-committees. One is working on criteria to be considered Dementia
Friendly, one is working on a strategic plan. They are recruiting sector leaders - (sectors
include library, retail, public safety, banks, dining, faith, community groups, youth
organizations, transportation, medical, ...) who will act as point person for reaching out to
organizations in the sector and report into the leadership team. To be a member of a
leadership team, volunteers are asked to attend a minimum of 10 leadership meetings per
year and either be a sector leader or join a sub-committee and continue to be an advocate
and recruit. Meeting days are being determined. lane Burns will update the COA when
days are picked. The Congregational Church and by the Reading Neighbors Network have
both requested a Dementia Friends presentation; lane Burns is aiming for January for the
former and has scheduled Dec g'h for the latter. The Leadership group will be meeting with
the Marlborough group to get their input and mentoring. The Marlborough group is 3 years
into the project (in contrast to Reading's 1 year).
Thanksgiving Meal Delivery: Christopher's restaurant has donated 30 meals. Margaret
Havey, Sandy Shaffer, Joan Coco, Debby Small, and Thomas Procopio will be drivers. All
will meet at Christopher's Restaurant on Wednesday 11/21 at 1:00. Jane Burns distributed
routes and Instructions to each. Kerry Valle will be available if there are any questions or
issues (Jane Burns will be on vacation).
Jane Burns talked to Kerry Valle and Alyse Warren about whether or not we should continue
to do a big meal delivery at Christmas. The feeling was that the big delivery is not
necessary because so many are covered at that time of year. A small number however are
truly alone; Ms. Valle and Ms. Warren expect to be able to handle the delivery to these
individuals, but will call upon the COA for assistance if necessary. This plan may be updated
at the December COA meeting. Funding will come out of the Schroeder fund.
Myseniorcenter App - Funding Request: Our statistics are affected by those who do not
sign in. There is a smart phone/ tablet app that allows someone to freely wander around
the center and scan people's cards or sign them in. This can also be taken on the road, so
we could for example use it for off-site programs (e.g., at the library). Also, if we put the
App on a tablet on the reception desk, It might be more convenient than the hallway. There
would be a one-time $300 fee for the App; it can be loaded on as many devices as needed
(unlimited license). Jane Burns will talk to IT about a tablet that could also be used
potentially for other purposes such as Kerry Valle's client visits. A motion to approve $300
for the Myseniorcenter App from Burbank was made by Brian Snell, seconded by John
Parsons. All in favor. If necessary, Jane Burns may come back to the COA to discuss
funding for a tablet.
New Business:
Special Events - Hillview: Hillview Is this coming Saturday - 215 will be attending, which is
down by about 100 people from last year.
Brunch on Christmas Eve morning. New Year's Eve - Wingate at Reading is sponsoring an
Italian Buffet. Dec 3'" the Reading Police Dept is running a program on gun ownership and
older adults including what to do about a loaded weapon in the home when a member of the
family In the home has Alzheimer's disease, wills & Inheritance, and records transfer.
Next Meeting: December 10, 2018
Motion to adjourn by John Parsons, seconded by Jolyn Ek. All In favor. Meeting adjourned
at 7:34 by Thomas Procopio.
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