Joint Meeting Governor's Advisory Committee on Aging
Aging Services Advisory Committee
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 (9:30 AM – 2 PM) State Capitol, Albany, New York
I. Call to order and attendance
In attendance:
| Governor's Advisory Committee | Aging Services Advisory Committee |
|---|---|
| Sulieka Cabrera-Drinane | Priscilla Bassett |
| James Chang | Elizabeth Bird |
| Dr. Michael Cohen | Sharon Boyd |
| Loretta Donlon | Peg Corbett |
| Cheryl Loria-Dinolfo, Esq. | William Dionne |
| Richard Menapace | Carlton Doane |
| Thomas Nagowski | Antoinette Emers |
| Dan Sambol | Dr. Linda Leest |
| Lani Sanjek | Terry Russ |
| Nelsa Selover | Jerry Shroder |
| Irene Stein | John Spiegler |
| Robert Taylor | Clifford Whitman |
| Dottie Zuckerman | |
NYSOFA Staff
Michael Burgess, Director
Marcus Harazin, Deputy Director, Division of Community Services
Andrea Hoffman, Bureau of Long Term Care Services & Caregiver Supports
Gail Koser, Assistant Director, Policy, Research and Legislative Affairs
Laurie Kotecki, Secretary I
Jack Lynch, Deputy Director, Finance and Administration
Reza Mizbani, Public Information Officer
Gail Myers, Special Assistant to the Director
Laurie Pferr, Executive Deputy Director
Nick Rogone, Director, Community Affairs and Public Participation
Guest
Beth Tailleur, New York State Commission on National & Community Service
- Welcome and Introductions
Aging Services Advisory Committee Chair Linda Leest convened the meeting and welcomed new member, John Spiegler of Steuben County. Dr. Leest highlighted the goals of community empowerment, a theme for the morning’s discussion and reiterated that the work to engage communities in creating an environment for all to grow up and grow old in must be on top of the work to preserve, not replace, key services for older New Yorkers. She identified the need for state advocacy to ensure that the budget for aging services protected core programs.
Governor’s Advisory Committee Chair Lani Sanjek welcomed new member Robert Taylor of Otsego County. Ms. Sanjek indicated that economic security issues will be the focal point for afternoon discussions. She also discussed the need for federal advocacy to stabilize Medicare and Social Security, two programs that are the foundation of efforts to lift older residents out of poverty. Ms. Sanjek identified that NYSOFA’s federal legislative agenda included guiding principles on Medicare policy that should be used when discussing federal health care reform. She noted that opponents of reform are misinforming the public on changes being proposed. The minutes of the May 5, 2009 meeting were approved as written. - Community Empowerment & Civic Engagement
Director Burgess introduced the topic of Community Empowerment, noting that communities are taking the lead to have active people coming together to help one another. Conferences and planning are taking place in several areas as a county-wide effort, in other places it is happening neighborhood by neighborhood. The list of 15 grants made by NYSOFA was distributed. Members were informed that information has now been posted to a distinct section of the NYSOFA web page.- Inventory update
The Regional Happenings section of the NYSOFA website includes a partial inventory of local activities that support aging in the community. Members were asked to review the material in this section and identify local activities in their communities that should be added. Some identified services in their areas that could be described as “NORCS without boundaries or senior centers without walls.” Some identified new transportations services, involvement of local seniors on committees redefining downtown areas of small cities and expanding senior residences. Other mentioned the involvement of faith-based community programs such as parish nursing models. - Review of Tools for Community Empowerment
Gail Myers presented a powerpoint that was designed to assist community members in advancing community empowerment efforts. Members discussed how they might use this tool. The powerpoint will be posted to the NYSOFA web site. - Development of an action plan for Committee members on Community Empowerment
Director Burgess indicated that he would like to embed community empowerment/livable communities as part of each area agency on aging’s annual plan. Members discussed opportunities to share the message, noting the importance of having the leaders of houses of worship involved to spread the message to the community. Others noted the importance of educating local politicians, such as community boards in New York City and town supervisors and board members. - Health care consumer navigator
Director Burgess and Ms. Koser described the development of an idea to use volunteers to assist older community residents immediately following a hospitalization to reduce preventable readmissions. Director Burgess has met with RSVP Directors to urge them to include this as a volunteer opportunity. Parameters for training and management of the volunteers will be developed as part of NYSOFA’s implementation of an ADRC grant from the federal government in Albany and Tompkins Counties. - New York State Commission on National & Community Service
Beth Tailleur presented a powerpoint on Americorps and volunteer efforts. She requested feedback on efforts to stimulate older volunteer recruitment. Members agreed that one on one recruitment works. Volunteers need to be supported, and assignments need to be meaningful. It was noted that retention is hampered when a volunteer reports and there is no work assignment.
- Inventory update
- Director’s Report
Director Burgess identified the fiscal challenges that the state faces and notes that the Governor and the Legislature plan to address a deficiency budget. Ms. Stein noted the need for advocacy to ensure funding for core programs. Ms. Boyd noted that if there are further reductions in aging services there could be unintended consequences with a reduced local share when matching funds have been contributed by the local community. Ms. Selover identified that there are areas in the NYSOFA budget where expansion is needed, such as the need for caregiver resource centers throughout the state, not just in certain designated counties. Mr. Dionne noted that budget reductions, even in small amounts, are not low impact cuts; the value of the programs are not truly reflected in the amount of the appropriations. Ms. Cabrera-Drinane reported that agency budgets are already bare bone due to reductions in funding from federal, state, local and private sources. Members adopted a motion to delegate to a workgroup the task of developing a written recommendation urging NYSOFA to communicate with the Governor’s office that reductions in funding are placing agencies at risk of no longer being able to deliver the services critical to the survival of older New Yorkers. Furthermore, members stressed that reductions in services that support community-based services will result in increased costs to the state due to anticipated nursing home admissions. - General Counsel Update on Regulatory Issues
Jennifer Seehase described the timeline and process for changes to the regulations governing the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly program (EISEP) ancillary services. She noted that the next step will be to include consumer directed care in the EISEP regulations. Ms. Selover and Ms. Sanjek represent the Advisory Committees on a workgroup that will be helping to develop the draft changes. Ms. Seehase indicated that other issues will be addressed in the future, including review of the case management regulations. - Economic Security
Ms. Sanjek reported that Wider Opportunities for Women is spearheading discussion of a more meaningful measurement of what it costs to live with quality of life. There will be recommendations from the group on the development of an Economic Security Standard that is more appropriate to measure poverty.
Ms. Cabrera-Drinane shared information on the SSI Coalition’s efforts to turn back an Executive Budget proposal to reduce Supplemental Security Income benefits. She urged members to advocate for SSI recipients who are the poorest of the poor, mostly older people or those with disabilities, the majority of whom are women. Members concurred that the Director should be urged to express concerns regarding cuts to SSI. - Council Member Open Discussion
Members discussed Senior Day and recommended that the 2009 format be continued for 2010. Following questions, members were apprised of the status of the NYS Department of Health Long Term Care Assessment Center grant, to be implemented in two areas: Brooklyn and Ulster/Orange Counties. Ms. Pferr reported that NYSOFA had worked closely with DOH to develop the RFP and that the final version included several references to NYConnects. She anticipates that the Orange/Ulster County grantee will be able to demonstrate how the Assessment Center works with NYConnects. - Next meeting date: May 4, 11A-4P
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