OFFICE ON AGING ADVISORY COUNCIL

Unapproved Minutes

October 14, 2004

1:30-3:30 PM

Held at 1501 Blue Spruce Drive

Room 135B

Fort Collins, Colorado  80524

 

Members Present:	Bill Benton	Steve Budner	Carolyn Funk
	Reggie Kemp	Thomas Nix	Barbara Nuss
	Carol Rehme	Karen Reinhardt	Mary Shultz
	Earl Stevens	Ken Tharp	Stan Ulrich
	Hal Wilson
Members Absent	Paul Bell	Gerry Hinks	Johanna Inman
	Olivia Larry	Ray Martinez	Elnora McCloughan
	Paulette Pardun	Lloyd Spawn
Staff Present:	Donna Brumbaugh	Tina Hugo	Margaret Long
	Katy Mason
Guests Present:	Nancy Arthur	Tom Bender	Carol Cowan
	Nancy Wallace

CALL TO ORDER

Mary Shultz called the meeting to order.

INTRODUCTIONS

Mary recognized Nancy Arthur, Service Coordinator with Oakbrook II, Nancy Wallace, Legal Services Provider for Wallace & Kling, and Carol Cowan, an interested citizen.

OPEN DISCUSSION/COMMUNITY INPUT

There was no open discussion or community input.

ADJUSTMENTS, THEN MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES OF September 9, 2004

Margaret Long mentioned that we need to clarify paragraph on page 4 under Nutrition Committee regarding the RSVP and handyman program to reflect that both programs continue to operate. 

 

Carolyn Funk moved to accept the minutes.  Tom Nix seconded the motion.

CHAIR REPORT

Mary Shultz noted that Earl Stevens received the Senior Service Award for volunteerism at the Bridging the Gap Networking Luncheon.

Carol Rehme commented regarding the Bridging the Gap Networking Luncheon.  As the executive director of Vintage Voices, she felt it was very successful as she was able to network a great deal and make many contacts.

 

Mary inquired if anyone attended the Shine on Harvest Moon Dinner Dance sponsored by McKee Seasons Club.  Katy Mason responded that staff from the Office on Aging attended.  Katy reported that McKee did a great job.  The purpose was to raise money to support publishing the Senior Yellow Pages. 

PROVIDER PRESENTATION – Wallace & Kling

Nancy Wallace, attorney in Fort Collins, has had a contract with the Office on Aging since mid-1990.  The contract provides legal services for people over the age 60.  Nancy provides legal advice only, which means that she does not represent clients in court or at hearings.  She does provide some document preparation like Powers of Attorney, but does not do wills and trusts.  The contract is for approximately for $15,000.  Nancy bills the Office on Aging on an hourly rate which is discounted at $90/hr.   Nancy only bills the Office on Aging for actual client contact hours.  The donations that she receives are quite high, partially because people expect to pay for legal services.  Nancy has found that the donations she receives are not in proportion to client’s income or assets.

 

A majority of Nancy’s cases are related to Medicaid and/or other health care issues.  She also provides a lot of services related to the following issues: consumer, bank, landlord/tenant, fraud, and bankruptcy.  Nancy mentioned that she has also been receiving complaints about doctor bills.  Nancy does provide a standardized notice that clients can use to send to creditors and doctors.

BIOGRAPHY

Donna Brumbaugh, Lead LTC Ombudsman, gave a brief biography of herself.

UPDATE OF OFFICE ON AGING

Update on Statewide Needs Assessment

Margaret Long has received the Statewide Needs Assessment.  There are two surveys; one is specific to Larimer County and the other survey is for all of Colorado.  Margaret plans to have a few copies of the Larimer County survey available for interested committee members.  Margaret will e-mail the link of the two surveys to the committee, but recommends that it not be printed as they are very large documents. 

 

Margaret reported that the survey was a good investment.  The survey notes that between 2000 and 2012, there will be an increase of 51% of seniors in Larimer County.  This data will assist the Office on Aging in developing the 4-year plan.

 

Update on State Audit

Margaret reported that there is still tremendous amount of work that the state has to complete to meet their deadlines. 

 

Report on State On-Site Visit

Margaret reported that the state has sent their on-site visit report.  Margaret will write up the Office on Aging’s response to the audit.  There were no big problems written.  Some of the things that were mentioned were that the Office on Aging needs to write their own policies and procedures manual, beef up on-sites visits, and reduce carryover.  Margaret will give a copy of the audit findings along with the responses at the next council meeting or towards end of the month of November. 

Update on Budget and Funds Available for Contract Services

Margaret met with the Executive Committee to look at trimming the budget.  We are looking at cutting $38,000 out of the contracts.  The Office on Aging is in the process of setting up appointments to communicate the cuts to the providers.  The next council meeting will be a publicized as a public meeting because the one-year plan will be reviewed. 

 

Update on Update on the Nutritional Supplement Program

Margaret reported that the nutritional supplement program has been canceled.  This program has been cut back over the years.  There are about eight people that have been impacted.  This program is administratively expensive to run.

County Budget—Senior Tax Work-off Program

Katy Mason reported the Senior Tax Work-off Program funding for 2005 is at risk.  The Office on Aging has run this program for five years. Although it is not an Older Americans Act program, it makes sense for the Office on Aging to administer the program.  The need for this program is great because the Homestead Exemption is not funded at this time.  A lot of people are struggling to stay in their homes and the $350 (maximum) helps the seniors greatly in paying their property taxes.  In 2004 there were 109 applications received with very little advertising done.  The Office on Aging turned away 46 people.  There is a $20,000 budget in which 63 people were hired and worked in Larimer County departments.  It is a win/win program because we are helping seniors and the county departments that have had cutbacks.  It is up to the commissioners whether or not this program will be cut.  Information was distributed on how to contact the commissioners to let them know how the community feels about the program. 

 

COMMITTEE & STAFF REPORTS

Education Committee

Steve Budner reported there will be a 9:30 a.m. meeting on Friday, October 15^th where they will discuss several upcoming Speakers Bureau presentations.

 

Executive Committee

Mary reported that there was discussion regarding the proposed budget cuts.

 

Health Committee

No report was given.

 

Membership Committee

Stan Ulrich commented that there are no updates in membership.

 

Nutrition Committee

No report was given.

 

Senior Attainable Housing Committee

Stan Ulrich reported that the committee discussed compiling a list of current availability (i.e. waiting lists) of senior subsidized housing.

 

Transportation Committee

No report was given.

 

Staff Reports

Donna Brumbaugh reported on the flu shot situation.  Flu shots are in great demand.  The county only received a small percentage of what they were supposed to get.  The Office on Aging is working with the Health Department and a decision was made to follow the CDC guidelines for dispersing the vaccines.  The priority is for residents in long term care which are deemed to be the most vulnerable.  The first 1,600 vaccines will be allocated to nursing facilities.  The Health Department cannot force doctor’s offices and pharmacies to reallocate their vaccines. 

 

Katy Mason reported on the progress on analysis of the Medicare Drug Card and $600 Credit.  Katy received a report that McKee has processed 250 applications eligible for the $600 credit.  The Office on Aging has processed approximately 60 applications.

 

Katy announced that the December Advisory Council meeting is canceled in lieu of the Christmas gathering which will be on December 16^th at the Fort Collins Senior Center. 

 

SENIOR ADVISORY REPORTS

Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board

C. Dean Miller reported that the Senior Advisory Board has decided to make a concerted effort to focus on the expansion of the Senior Center.  The Chili Cook-Off participation was down; there was not a lot of money raised. 

 

Loveland Senior Advisory Board

Earl Stevens reported that the Advisory Board will be offering a senior’s beginners computer class on October 26^th and October 28^th from 3:15 – 5:30 at Thompson Valley High School.  Registration is $10. 

 

Earl has copies of the Senior Marketplace article on Caring Conversations. Registration deadline is the October 22^nd. 

 

Foundation on Aging

Mary was not able to attend the last meeting. 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stan Ulrich announced that AARP will be holding their annual meeting on October 21^st.  The topic is “Identify Safe and Fraud Smart.”  Continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Mary adjourned the meeting.