OFFICE ON AGING ADVISORY COUNCIL

Unapproved Meeting Minutes

July 8, 2004

1:30-3:30 PM

Held at 1501 Blue Spruce Drive

Room 135B

Fort Collins, Colorado  80524

 

 

Members Present:	Steve Budner	Carolyn Funk	Gerry Hinks
	Reggie Kemp	Olivia Larry	Elnora McCloughan
	Barbara Nuss	Paulette Pardun	Carol Rehme
	Karen Reinhardt	Mary Shultz	Lloyd Spawn
	Earl Stevens	Stan Ulrich	Hal Wilson
Members Absent	Paul Bell	Bill Benton	Johanna Inman
	Ray Martinez	Thomas Nix	Ken Tharp
Staff Present:	Tina Barker	Donna Brumbaugh	Ruth Coberly
	Tina Hugo	Margaret Long	Katy Mason
	Glen Rathgeber	Stacy White
Guests Present:	Nancy Arthur	Tom Bender	Erik Kaufhold
	C. Dean Miller	Gary Thomas

 

CALL TO ORDER

Mary Shultz called the meeting to order.

 

INTRODUCTIONS

Mary recognized the following guests, Erik Kaufhold, Americorp Vista for the VOA Handyman program; Nancy Arthur, Service Coordinator at Oakbrook II; and Gary Thomas, Executive Director of SAINT.

 

OPEN DISCUSSION/COMMUNITY INPUT

There was no open discussion or community input.

 

ADJUSTMENTS, THEN MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES OF June 10, 2004

Steve Budner requested that his name be removed from the Senior Attainable Housing Committee section in the Agenda, and that Stan and JoAnn’s names need to be added. Corrections to page 2:  the Legislative Breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. not p.m.

 

Earl Stevens moved to accept the minutes, Steve Budner seconded the motion.  Minutes accepted as submitted with the one correction.

 

CHAIR REPORT

Mary Shultz reported that she attended a centenarian celebration at Merrill Gardens. 

 

Mary also reported that business cards for the Office on Aging Advisory Council are available and would be useful at the Networking Luncheon. 

 

PROVIDER PRESENTATION – SAINT (Senior Alternative in Transportation)

Gary Thomas, Executive Director of SAINT gave a report on the services provided by the organization.  A 5-minute video from Channel 27’s Showcase Fort Collins was viewed.

 

Gary thanked the advisory council for the financial and promotional support provided by the Office on Aging. 

 

SAINT provided 17,633 rides last year which included approximately 300 clients in Fort Collins and 200 clients in Loveland.  The goal of SAINT is to support independent lifestyles which include getting seniors to medical appointments, hair appointments, grocery shopping, etc. They take all appointments on a first come first serve basis. 

 

SAINT runs completely on volunteer drivers who drive their own private vehicles and receive .30˘ a mile reimbursement.  SAINT only needs enough money to keep the office open and running.  Their major supporter is the United Way.  The award from the Office on Aging is just over $19,000.  Their entire budget is $125,000.  They have a suggested donation of $1.00.

 

SAINT prefers to take reservations in advance because they can get booked up to two weeks in advance.  They currently have 125 volunteers and provide trips within Loveland and Fort Collins.  Gary reported that the decision behind staying within Loveland and Fort Collins is based on the volunteers spending 1-2 hours getting someone out of the city when they could have given 2-3 rides within the city during the same time. 

 

SAINT has many dedicated volunteers that keep regular driving schedules.  The volunteer requirements are:  must be over 18, have a reliable vehicle, a good driving record, and have the state minimum insurance.  SAINT also has an umbrella insurance policy that covers volunteers when they are transporting seniors.

 

BIOGRAPHY

Karen Reinhardt was born in Washington State.  She married shortly after graduating from high school and had four children, all two years apart. 

 

In 1969 Karen started a daycare business.  Karen gave up childcare in 1980 and went back to school.  She received two associates degrees; one in business and one in Scientific Technical Communications. 

 

In 1986 she went to work for an agency providing care for the elderly and disabled.  In 1997 she decided to go to school in Los Angeles majoring in gerontology.  Karen made the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and received her bachelor’s degree in two years.  In 2001 she earned a dual masters degree in social work and gerontology. 

 

Following graduation Karen went to work at the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center in Lancaster.  She worked there for three months before having to leave due to health issues. 

 

In October of 2001, Karen moved to Loveland.  She hopes to put her education and experience to good use as she continues to be a part of the Advisory Council.

 

UPDATE OF OFFICE ON AGING

Margaret thanked Lloyd Spawn for helping secure a donation to purchase a projector for the Office on Aging.

 

Update on Statewide Needs Assessment

The results of the statewide needs assessment should be out by the beginning of August.  This study will hopefully give a reliable picture of the needs of Larimer County seniors and will help with upcoming funding decisions. 

 

Update on State Audit

The State Auditors office has completed a report on the State Services for Older Coloradans.  The findings of the audit will be made public July 12th.  Margaret will be attending and the meeting will also be broadcast over the internet. 

 

Report on State On-site Visit

The Office on Aging participated in an on-site visit from state staff last month.  The state will complete a written report and the Office on Aging will share the findings when available.

 

COMMITTEE & STAFF REPORTS

Education Committee

The Legislative Breakfast will be Sept. 24th at 7:30 a.m. at the Fort Collins Senior Center. 

 

If members would like to schedule speaking engagements for the Speaker’s Bureau please use the form that is located on the sign-in table or e-mail thugo@larimer.org with your request.

 

Executive Committee

The new advisory council member orientation was held this morning.  The committee will now be focusing on on-site visits and discussing how the Office on Aging will handle funding cuts. 

 

Health Committee

Next meeting is July 27th. 

 

Membership Committee

Stan introduced the three new members:  Reggie Kemp, Olivia Larry and Paulette Pardun.

 

Nutrition Committee

The Office on Aging is in the process of setting up a meeting for the Nutrition Coalition which includes Loveland Meals-on-Wheels, Fort Collins Meals-on-Wheels, VOA and the OOAAC Nutrition Committee.  The focus of this meeting will be to determine how to deal with funding cuts.

 

Senior Attainable Housing Committee

The Retirement Housing Foundation is in the process of applying for HUD funding to build a subsidized housing apartment complex  in Loveland. 

 

Loveland Housing Authority is also in the planning stages of developing a new senior community. 

 

Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee is in the process of planning on-site visits and deciding how to handle funding cuts.

 

Staff Reports

Because the advisory council new member’s orientation was cut short, the Office on Aging staff used this portion of the meeting to finish discussing their individual roles.

 

Katy Mason, Outreach Coordinator:

• Liason to FirstCall 211
• Medicare drug card & $600 credit outreach
• Senior Tax Work-Off Program
• Various Outreach & Committee Participation

 

Stacy White, Caregiver Support Coordinator:

• Caregiver program coordination
• Various PR projects
• Printed Resources - Senior Yellow Pages and Senior Housing List
• Various Outreach & Committee Participation

 

Donna Brumbaugh and Tina Barker (formally Cheatum), Ombudsman:

• Advocate and mediators for long term care residents
• Educate the community
• Visitors – compliance by law
• Volunteer Coordinator (Tina)
• Broker for cases out of their scope of responsibility (i.e., refers to Police Department, Health Department, Adult Protection, etc.)

 

SENIOR ADVISORY REPORTS

Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board

Nothing new to report.

 

Loveland Senior Advisory Board

Cherry Pie Festival will be at 6:00 p.m. on July 17th located at 5th & Lincoln at the Museum in Loveland.

 

Loveland will also be hosting a large sculpture show August 6-8.

 

Foundation on Aging

Mary reported that the Foundation on Aging is currently looking at outsourcing their funding. 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stan Ulrich circulated a petition regarding Tabor and Amendment 23. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Mary adjourned the meeting.