Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-05-26 Council on Aging MinutesCOUNCIL Oki. AGING 'regular Meeting held on Dray 26, 1971 The regular monthly meeting of the Council on Aging was held on arTednesday evening, Yjay 26, 1971, at 7:30 P.M. at the 'Recreation Building of the Housing for the Elderly in 'leading. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Gardner, the Chairman. Whose present in addition to J1r. Gardner were Mr. Evans, Ir. Farnham, Mrs. Beaton, Mrs. Louanis, and It% Stratton, forming a quorwri. Upon motions duly made and seconded, it was unanimously. VOTED.-, o accept for the records the Secretary's report for the meeting heTT-o April 29th_t adjourned from April 28th, copies of which had previously been fox warded to all members of the Council,, b0~ That Mrs. Nathialie C. Beaton be appointed permanent Secure- Lary of the Council, and that a letter be sent to the Selectmen, of the Town of Reading so informing them. VOTED: That Mr. Donald D. Gardner, the Chairman, be authorized to approve for the Council and sign all, bills to be paid by the `Iowa from funds allocated for the use of to Council, and that a letter be sent to the Select- mess so informing them. I41r. Farnham then presented his up-to-date findings regarding the Hot Lunch Program. Frozen dinners could be provided by the Monarchs Food Company of Everett, They would include meat, potato, and a vegetable at a cost of 35~ each with a total minimum cost of $50 each time. Twenty different menus could be chosen from or rotated. They would be supplemented with mil,k, salad, dessert or soup, bringing the tonal, up to an estimated. 48, . While the State now supplies an overage of 30%, in the fall. it is expected this -will. drop to W, making an overall total of 55-570. The dinners can be kept frozen for a year and unfrozen for three days. It is necessary to have a convection oven, which would cost about $1,100. It is possible that the School.Depart- ment may have one or two of these. 144 meals can be served at one time in 20 minutes. At present the system is being tried out in Boston. Mrs. Sias came into the meeting at this point, and IV.r:. Farnham said that Lynn is considering this type of food service for a deals o: ieel.s program, Mr. McGrane of the Bureau of Services to Older Americans has felt that this will take the place of other programs, but that he couldn't be too encouraging about the possibility of State money to support the program in vier of the long waiting list of towns who have already applied, It was noted that a regional program is now being put on by students in Methuen with a bus bringing all the older people to the lunch center. Mr. Farnham wondered. whether frozen lunches would be attractive to the elderly, and whether it might not be necessary to have some sort of a social program in conjunction with the program. The trays containing the lunches vmuld 'be disposable and the transportation of them would be simpler than with lunches served in the usual. mB ner. It would still be necessary to have the approval of the School, Department,, and it was still a question as to whether the payments made by the Mhssachusetts vepartnrent of Education would be directly to the School. Department Mr. Farnham said he would get in touch v:~ith the ktIionarch 'Food Company to see if they would set up a sanple luncheon for some members of the Council so that the quality could be better judged. Mrs. ouani.s brought up the matter of the Bus Trips for the elderly. After some discussion, the following schedule was established. June 22nd - to Fitzwilliam, N. Ho - 2 MLchaud buses (46 seats each and with toilet) for a total of 92 people. Cost. $151.30 each, total ~P 02.60. Mrs. Louanis said she had 72 reservations already. It was decided that if by chance the buses are not filled by elderly people from leading, she may fill them -with some from out of torn, but that reading people should be given first chance; also, since the 72 reservations were from the Golden Age Club, people not in that organization be given first chance at the remaining 20 seats. August 11th - Second Council on Aging ride - 2 buses. September 15th - Third It U U ff H 10 Mrs. Louani_s said she was planning to consult with one of the bus drivers who had taken groups to a good many places about other desirable destinations. Plymouth and Fall Uver were suggested as possibilities by members of the Councilo She also reported that the Golden Age Club is sponsoring rides on July- th and probably September 7th, in addition to a special 3-day trip to the Cape and Marthals Vineyard. Mrs. Janet .pierce, entered the meeting at this point, to report on progress on the Sumner Program, e'n.ich she and 'Mr. Evans had been working on. After further discussion the following schedule took shape: June 23rd - Cookout and Games July 7th Square Dance with the Checkmates and Mr, MLlburr, J. Dixon as caller at a cost of July 21st - Cookout) It is likely that the ;uanni.powi.tt Players August 4th - will provide a program for one of these dates. August 18th - Cookout and entertainment. Mrs. Pierce said she had contacted both the uannipowi..tt players and the Colonial Chorus and that both had reacted favorably, to tl~ suggestion that they provide programs, but that it was necessary for them to consult with their boards and of ficers before making a definite commitment, other possibilities are a Barbershop Quartet or young peoples singing groups. It was decided that the elderly should bring their ovra meat to the cookouts, but that other food, would be provided if not donated Mrs. Pierce 2# suggeUxt ghat the 100 which had, been alotted in the budget be spent for a movie screen, picnic utensils and./or 5-gallon thermal jugs for serving punch. The members of the Council decided to leave the finalization of the remaining details of the Summer Program up to Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Evans its. Pierce then presented to the meeting the budget of the Title :III Community Program for the Elderly for the year April l,, 1971 through March 31, 1972, together with a summary of other facts relevant to the continuation of the program after Title III funds will be discontinued on March 31, 1972, and a list of local or ani.zations who have contributed to the program in the past, all of which are attached to, and made a part of, this report. She reported that workshops had already started to make things for the Fair in October and were progressing smoothly. The possibility of having some tables out of doors, possibly under canopies, in order to relieve then eat con- gestion inside the Recreation Building was discussed and felt to be advisable. She also said that Als. Etling, the Ceramics teacher, would be moving to Acton, but that she expected to be able to drive to Reading to continue her teachings his. Pierce left the meting at this point. hr. Gardner then asked Mirs. Sias if she would take charge of setting up a program of service to elderly shut-ins and those in nursing homes, which she said she would be glad to do. She reported that through a survey conducted by the Cold. South Church, 16 people (some of them children) had already volunteered for this type of wore Other names suggested were Mrs. Pacin.o and Mrs, Mi.chelini.. It was also suggested that Ruth Schubarth, a nurse at the Reading Nursing dame, could be of help in providing the names of people there who might need attention, of this sort, It was thought that the idea of groups of young people having older people as pen pals should be looked into as well as whether younger and older people on a one-to-one basis could identify with each other sufficiently well, which Mrs. Sias offered to investigate;. DO. Gardner displayed an attractive poster advertising Senior Citizens MJonth (Ely), which had been posted in a number of places, and also gave to each member a brochure entitled "Second ,elder" on the 1971 White House Conference o aging in Washington next November A Mrs. Sias also mentioned a pamphlet called "Brighter Vistas" listing good church programs. 00. Gardner showed a governmental magazine cabled P ging€' available for 2.00 a years XXXkkXxkUxtk1XXX Mention was made of the vary excellent paintings done by the elderly in the Community Program classes, which were on exhibit in O. iemer€s paint store on Maven Street, MO. Ri.emer° had reported that several offers to buy some of these paintings had been received, but that those who did the paintings were re- luctant to part with them. to re paintings of the elderly will be exhibited later at the Art Shoe on the common, and it is effected that there will be an exhibit of Ceramics in Charles's wiry ow. Mr. Gardner said that, because of transportation difficulties and the danger of breakage, there would be no entry at the exhibit of crafts of the elderly at the new Boston City Hill. The suggestion was made that possibly in the fall consideration be given to starting seminars or discussion groups for the elderly regarding problems or topics of interest to thee., 30 Mr. 3 rnham informed the meeting that during the summer the North- shore Circle Theatre had Wednesday and Saturday matinees. Yb the lgednesday matinees they would give a 20% discount for 25 or more of the elderly in a group, and for the Saturday matinees a special rate of L-1 per ticket with no requirement as to the number of people in the group--these would likely be very good seats. He said he would check: with I~r. Brock.,ay of the Y.M.C. to see if the '?Y' van could be used on any Saturdays for this purpose, . Gardner said he had talked with the loading Nursing dome about the possibility of using the van for short rides for some of the patients, but had been informed that very few people could go without a nurse, and the home did not usually have enough nurses to let some of them go along. The matter of publishing a bulletin for the activities of the elderly in Reading was then discussed. It was decided that this should be mimeographed and issued about four times a year and that it should be called the 1 l"derberries"--a name suggested by Mrs. Sias, NO. Farnham offered to check into the cost of a bulb mailing permit and of the mailings themselves, Mr. Gardner thought that costs might be met by having local advertisements in the bulletin, and he said he would investigate this possibility, It was decided that the first edition of ''Elderberries" should go out within the next couple of weeks and should include information about the Summer Program, bus rides and, other current items Mrs. Beaton had prepared a list of elderly people by marking a Reading Tower Street list and cross-checking it with Gulden Age Club and Keen- agers membership lists. It was not possible to compile an entirely complete list since all ages are not given in the 's'own listo However, she had obtained 1,875 names of individuals, which would make a mailing of 1089 pieces by sending a single piece to married couples, Mrs. Beaton also reported that Mr. Babb though not able to attend this meeting, had informed her that the ddAson ` es? ey Company would be willing to provide computerized mailing stickers provided they had a neatly typed list. Several members of the Council were willing to divide the list and see that this was done so that the first mailing could go out very soon. MY. Stratton was asked about the Tetired Persons Club (men) of ike-. ,,'ield, of which he is a, member, and, it was :Felt that such a group might formed in Reading at some future date. Upon motion duly made and seconded., it was un aimousl.ya VOTRD. That the regular meetings scheduled for the fourth Wednes- days of June, July, and August be cancelled., and that a meeting be scheduuled instead for Thursday, Junelp, 1971, at 7:3 P.M. at the Recreation. Building of the Housing for the Elderly, at which time particular emphasis would be given to recommendations to the Reading Housing Authority for the Community Program for the Elderly, and that the secretary be asked to send notices to this effect to all members and post one on the Town Bulletin Board There being no further business to come before the meeting, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to adjourn; and the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10:45 P ,M, spec-tfully submitted, Nathalie 0. Beaton Secretary 4.