HomeMy WebLinkAboutWUSSB 01-08-15West University Senior Services Board Meeting January 8, 2015 Present: Pieter Vrancken (Chair), George Baker, Michelle Moore, Janet Vrancken, John Palmer, Candyce Beneke, Mary Ryerson, Joe Mitchell, Virginia Lootens. Absent: Stan McCandless, Philip Bryant, Sarah Ballanfant, Selby Clark, Becky Arnold. Staff: Toby Broo ks. Guests: Councilwoman Joan Johnson, Councilman Dick Yehle. Residents in attendance: Mrs. Alida Drews, Mrs. Judy Faulkner, Mrs. Linda George Smith , Carlos De la Torre. There being a quorum, the meeting was called to order at 2.05PM. The Chairman noted th at the results of a vote taken in favor of retaining the current name – “Senior Services” – had been omitted from the Minutes of the previous meeting and undertook to circulate amended minutes to the Board. The Minutes were accepted with this change. Activ ities (Toby Brooks): A Potluck on New Year’s Day attracted 35 participants. Music was provided by a group of hand -bell players . New classes were started for Spanish, Yoga and water colors for beginners. APAC (Virginia Lootens): At the January 8 meeting, St ate Representative Sylvester Turner installed new officers: Pat Pullins Chair, Lynn Foley First Chair, Bridgette Samuel Second Chair, Augustine Stout Secretary and Virginia Lootens Assistant Secretary. Deborah Moore Representative from AAA (Area Agency on Aging) reported that AAA’s plan was approved by the State of Texas. (A full copy of the plan is available on the website : www.cityofhouston.gov which links to the Harris County Agency on Aging. Senior Guidance D irectories are available, contact Paula Johnson AAA. The budget was completed and all funds have been allocated to it. Hom e delivered meals was the recip ient of the most funding. AAA awarded the meal contract to Valley Foods after a bid process. Health mai ntenance was the next largest funded section: eyesight and hearing assistance, incontinence supplies are funded as a bridge to help seniors develop their own long term resources. Residential repair is the next funded section , with the State of Texas placin g a cap of $5,000 on each award. It is possible to get a waiver if more funds are needed on a case by case basis. There is a wait list for these funds. Each applicant must have 3 bids on their project. Home modification Project for fall -risk Older Adults i s the next funded section. Applicants are evaluated through a home inspection. The 1115 waiver is required to select Medicare/Medicaid patients who qualify as low income applicants . Each applicant must take the fall prevention training classes in order to get funding . This procedure is called “Matter of Balance”. Legal assistance is provided by Lone Star Legal Aid as contractor. Transportation is provided through a credit card -like system, where each recipient gets a card for a dollar amount of usage. Recen tly AAA received a small grant for increasing access to public transportation resources for seniors. This educational program is ongoing. AAA Harris County is the only AAA agency in the US to get such a grant for such services. Mental health services for o lder adults are provided by contract through the Hope Clinic and through the Montrose Counselling Center. Maximus Enrollment Broker for Managed Care enables older adults to enroll in one of the managed care programs. Problems exist with the coordination of other elder benefits with the managed care programs. Since Senior s can be passively enrolled, an e ducational program sponsored by Maximus will begin in March to help avoid the problems being encountered. Contact Paula at AAA on 832 -393 -4620. Pat Pullins’ report focused on the Basic Needs Community Survey. The most important needs listed in order were: 1) Food; 2) Fear of Isolation; 3)Income support – ways to pay for needs; 4) Affordable senior housing; 5) In -home services; 6) Transportation. AARP is conduc ting a major survey on elder isolation. New officers are being assigned to standing committees. Virginia Lootens will be assigned to advocacy. Approval is sought of new LGBT Resolution of Marriage Equality for Same sex Couples. Council (Joan Johnson): No C ity Council Meetings were held between December 20 and January 12 due to Holidays. A special City Council Meeting was held at 1PM on Friday December 19, 2014to meet with Dr. Richard Murray, Director for the Survey Research Institute at the University of Ho uston, to discuss a survey requiring input from a large majority of West University Residents. After a discussion with Dr. Murray, it was decided that the City of West University would send out an informational letter to all West U residents telling them a bout the Long Range Plan that proposes a City Campus in the block between University, Amherst, College and Auden. The letter would also indicate that a Survey would be coming to them in a few weeks following the letter. This would be followed by a Survey f rom Dr. Murray’s Institute to obtain information from our residents regarding this plan. The letter to West U residents is currently being refined. The next Council Meeting will take place on January 12, 2015 and will address
the commercial code on zoning particular ly as it affects the area on Edloe and the stretch of Kirby between University and Tangley. Good Neighbor Team (Michelle Moore): The 134 blankets distributed in December were well received. The Team will meet on January 15 at 1PM to prepare for s pring delivery and will recognize volunteers who made the blankets. PARD (Toby Brooks): Board Members have received the weekly work reports from PARD. No additional comments are needed. Previous Business (Pieter Vrancken): The name change issue will be cov ered in the amended minutes of the previous Board meeting. New Business (Pieter Vrancken & various members): Reference was made to a Needs Assessment carried out in 1997/8 previously distributed to Board Members. A summary of the main recommendations of that assessment was distributed at the meeting (attached). Members were able to see that the vast majority of items had been addressed through the creation of the Good Neighbor Team, The Handymen and transportation services as well as the publications (Hi Neighbor, West U Leisure) issued by staff and the various programs (ongoing and temporary ) organized by staff. Members felt that it is desirable that a fresh assessment be conducted to pinpoint any needs which are still not being met. Pieter Vrancken refer red to demographics sent to the Director of PARD by Roger Martin Properties showing that there are 3,573 residents over 55 in the city (2,324 between the ages of 55 & 64, 800 between the ages of 65 & 74 and 449 over the age of 75 ). These numbers are based on the census of 2010. He asked Toby Brooks how many copies of Hi Neighbor are currently distributed. Toby Brooks said that the most recent issue of Hi Neighbor was sent to 1,700 (1,000 residents and 700 non -residents). Toby justified the large number sent to non -residents on the grounds that their attendance at various classes & programs made these economically viable for residents. Pieter Vrancken felt that it is desirable that we have a better knowledge of who our resident constituents are. Toby Brooks s aid that it might be possible to reach all homes through their water bills and ask how many people 55 and over live in the home. Pieter Vrancken asked Councilwoman Joan Johnson whether funds might be made available by Council for a new Needs Assessment . Co uncilwoman Johnson felt that Council would consider a proposal if properly documented. A committee was formed headed by George Baker and including Candyce Beneke & John Palmer to consider the next steps forward. The meeting was adjourned at 3:12PM