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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSBM 9.12.19Page 1 of 3 http://houstontx.gov/health/Aging/ ombudsman.html# SENIORS BOARD MEETING Minutes , September 12 , 201 9 -draft Presiding : Candyce Beneke (initially); Selby Clark The meeting was called to order at 2:0 5 p.m. Roll call: Candyce Beneke , Joan Johnson, Tom Brombacher , Stan McCandless, George Baker , Judy Faulkner, George Hilderbrandt, Carlos de la Torre, SelbyAClark,ACarolAO’Neill,ACandaceATenBrink,ASusanA Davis, Elizabeth Wilder , Patric i a Nore n, Susan White, and John Barne s. Absent: Toby Brooks, Ann Crowley, Karen Kenny Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of June 13, 2019, were approved. Guest s : Greg Shelly (Ombudsman program director), John Barnes (City Council liaison) Visitors : Ali d a Drewes (West U. resident); Dorothy Z ink (Resident/Good Neighbor Team) Introductions: As there are new members on the Seniors Board, each member was asked for a brief self - introduction. Resident Comments : 1. ConcernAaboutAtheAabsenceAofAaAseniors’AcenterAwhereAseniorsAcanAcongregate 2. Concern about saf ety, noting that a West U. senior had been assaulted recently 3. Concern about accuracy and timeliness of minutes of board meeting 4. Concern about the absence of a dog park in West U. 5. Concern about the lack of transparency in the activities of sub -committees 6. Asked about the lack of a recent increase in the senior homestead exemption in West U. 7. skedAaboutAtheAuseAofAaA“DisabledAParking”AspaceAbyAaAcityAcarAwithoutAaAtag.A[TheAuseAwasA associated with a drop -off of a disabled resident.] Presentation by Greg Shel ly , Program Manager, Harris County Long -term Care Ombudsman Program Mr. Shelly gave a 20 -minute presentation of scope and activities of the program, noting that every licensed facility in the country has an ombudsman program. The Harris County program serves 104 nursing homes and 295 licensed assisted living units. He explained that the purpose of the program is to intervene on behalf of the elderly in long - term care facilities to assure quality of care. He noted that the average cost was $3,500/month. Fewer than ten professionals on staff are supported by about 70 volunteers who are assigned to visit the facilities . Many quality -related issues may be traced to the high turn -over in the facilities, owing to low pay to social workers (sometimes less than $10/hour) and unsatisfactory workplace conditions. Turn -over of staff administrator may be as frequent as four months. He observed that residents value their independence. Unlike other programs where a public official is required to report a sub -standard service or condition, in the ombudsman program such service or condition may be reported only with the consent of the resident. Senior Board Meeting, Minutes of September 12 , 2019 Page 2 of 3 https://www.medicare.gov/nursing homecompare/search.html https://www.westuparks.org/ Difficult issues are often with disputes among family members regardin g care and power of attorney . Another difficult situation is involuntary discharge of a resident from a long -term facility. Information about the quality of nursing homes may be found on the Medicare website with a searchAforA“nursingAcomeAcompare ”A(seeAin sert). Council M eeting R eport : John Barnes Councilman Barnes reviewed the negotiations and engineering review of Poor Farm Ditch, noting that the easement is owned by the Harris County Flood control district but that South Side Place had ceded the area to property owners . He reported that City Council had reported a tax rate increase, and that hearings had been scheduled for September 23 and 30 at 6:30 p.m. A Senior Needs Assessment effort i s underway to determine how to better communicate with seniors and to understand their needs.1 He commented that the City is looking for public -private partnerships in the fashion of Friends of West University Parks Fund (see insert). Observing that sidewalks are often blocked by cars, creating inconvenience and a safety issue for children in stollers and others in wheelchairs, the City intends to enforce the free sidewalk rule. He mentioned a City chance to the Zoning Ordinance that limits the construction of 2 nd -story balcon ys. Parks and Recreation: Susan White https://www.westutx.gov / She r eport ed on the remodeling of the Rec reation Center Customer Service area , which had been funded by Friends of the Park. She described plans for park updates at Whitt Johnson Park and Colonial Park Pool . Senior Needs Assessment in preliminary planning stages, pending budget approval. APAC Report Notes from the September 5, 2019 Harris County Area Planning Advisory Council (APAC) will be sent by email. 1 Board member George Baker urged Councilman Barnes to continue to support the development of a cellphone app for West U. activities and notices. Senior Board Meeting, Minutes of September 12 , 2019 Page 3 of 3 https://www.facebook.com/wobhlm /videos/895467430785308/ Good Neighbor Team: Dorothy Zink She described the activities of the committee and the service provided to the 180 residents over 85. She said that while some residents will not let a visiting team member in the door, while others invite the member to come inside. Senior Services report: Patricia Noren 1. TheA“contra”AdancingAseriesAcontinues,AmeetingA1 st & 3 rd Saturdays from 7:30 -9:30 p.m. $10. 2. “Hi Neighbor” magazine has been mailed to 1,500 homes . 3. Plant Swap is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 4. Festival of the Arts is scheduled for October 12, 2019 5. Mentioned that Toby is featured on a Facebook video of West University Place about Senior Services (see insert [and video]). Old Business : None .2 New business: None. Adjournment : The meeting was adjourned at 3 :37 p.m. Next meeting: October 10 , 201 9 at 2:00 p.m. Submitted: George Baker 2 At the Senior Services meeting in June, George suggested that lawyer Ruth -Ann Toups be invited to give a lecture on estate planning, as she had given an excellent presentation at an event that he and Susan attended. Toby said that the best time would be in the fall.