HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-12-13 Council on Aging Minutesi
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NG, MASS.
December 13, 2004 2005 JUN I I 10*- 3 1
Council on Aging Meeting at the Reading Senior Center
49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Ma 01867
Present: Richard Anderson, Betty Cronin, Dottye Foxon, Sally Hoyt, Edwina
Kasper, Kristin Kinsella, Carol Patterson, Barbara Powers, Carole Scrima, Ruth
Goldberg and Richard Cardillo, Interim. Administrator
Betty Cronin called the meeting to order at 6:34.
• Minutes of the November meeting accepted. - motion by
Dottye, 2nd by Sally
• Richard presented his November Administrator's Report.
• Discussed ways to get more people involved in our programs and increase
daily meal attendance. Will look into increasing publicity in the local
papers, the Chronicle and the Advocate. The Special meals are usually
sold out. Dottye suggested a piano player for sing-a-longs - or to play
once a week during mealtime. Will try the music department at the high
school for help.
+ Financial Report - Richard reported the budget is in good shape. There is
a good chance Reading will get the 14 passenger van, all equipped, from
the state grant. We pay $10,000 - $11,000 for our share from the Burbank
Trust. Sally wanted to make sure the van would be able to go out of
Reading and perhaps take people to Boston for legislative meetings.
+ Adopt-a-Family helped 52 families at Thanksgiving and will help , 6
families at Christmas with a complete meal and gifts for the children.
• New Business - Richard passed out State Ethics Commission Bulletin.
Mystic Valley Elder Services will be starting a new program, They will
provide grant money to towns to recruit volunteers to act as "Friendly.
Visitors" under the direction of a MVES Social Worker, Discussed
whether Community Parish Nursing's objectives would duplicate this
programs.
* The Board agreed to mail Pleasantries three times a year instead of four.
• Dick reported on the MVES Independence Fund. MVES is planning a
fundraising to help people who are just a little over the Medicaid limit.
They want to raise $500,000 and put it into a trust and spend about
$25,000 per year on this program. Chances of Reading elders getting any
of this money are very slim.
• Dick talked about the Community Choice Program for those eligible for
Nursing Home care who would rather stay in their home with services
than go into a home.
• Dottye.gave her report as an ad hoc member of the Hospital Committee
( Peter, George from the Fin Com, and various members of the community
are members of this committee to determine if Reading needs a hospital or
what kind of medical facility we might need, if any. $25,000 from the
Hospital Trust is still available yearly for needy citizens of Reading for
emergency medical rides, etc. Winchester Hospital, Lahey Clinic and
Melrose/Wakefield Hospital are also involved in this study. Someone
from the state must be included to certify a need for the hospital or
facility. Next meeting is January 6, 2005, which Dottye will be able to
attend, but then she goes south for a while. Betty will pick someone from
the Board to fill in until Dottye returns.
Sally filled us in on the User pee that was accessed to Nursing Homes,
which they in turn passed on to private pay patients. This extra charge can
amount to hundreds of dollars a month. The Silver Haired Legislature has
filed a bill to repeal the law.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm: - Motion by Ruth, 2 d by Carole.
Next meeting Monday, January 10, 2005 at 6:30 pm..