NY Connects State Long Term Care Advisory Council Meeting Upstate Meeting Minutes June 11, 2008
Welcome and Introductions - Michael Burgess- Director, NYS Office for the Aging
Referred the group to the minutes from the March 11 LTCAC meeting.
Referred the group to the public education items that were on display in the room -
consisted of various 'give-aways', such as pens, note pads, mugs, bags, etc.
Informed the audience of the upcoming Community Empowerment conference, scheduled for
November 12 and 13 at the Saratoga Hilton and City Center.
Informed the audience that NY Connects would be presenting its second annual Excellence in
Leadership award to Chrystal Abers from Cattaraugus County.
NY Connects Program Update - Thea Griffin - Director, NY Connects NYSOFA
Informed the audience that NY Connects has reached the 2 ½ year benchmark.
NY Connects is at various levels of implementation across the state. In Year 2 the focus
has been on the stabilization and enhancement of program operations.
Discussed the delivery of I & A, public education and Long Term Care Councils and provided
an overview of the number of counties that were operational and conducting these core
functions.
Expanding Home and Community Based Long Term Care Services -
Money Follows the Person Grant and Nursing Home Diversion Grant - Bruce Rosen - Director,
Nursing Home Transition Waiver and Project Director, Money Follows the Person, NYSDOH
(POWERPOINT MADE AVAILABLE)
Q: In regards to the Nursing Home Diversion Grant, who will provide housing
once residents are transitioned? Where will you find staff and providers? A: The legislature has provided $5 million for rental subsidies. Housing will also be available through the Section 8 program, money used in the past, and the TBI program.
Community Transitional Services - when the consumer moves from the nursing home to the
community their security deposit will be covered, as will the cost of furniture, moving and
the cleaning of the home. Rental subsidies will cover the costs of ongoing rent. The
Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) can save 30%+ of the consumer's income (the consumer will be responsible for non-essential items). Environmental modifications can be
provided through Access to Home monies. The issue of staffing continues to be an ongoing
problem. The Office of Long Term Care is currently looking at the workforce shortage. Q: Can staff from the Nursing Home Diversion Grant program provide technical
assistance to NY Connects staff? A: The Regional Resource Development
Specialists can meet with programmatic staff to inform them of services and to coordinate as
NY Connects is growing to discuss what can be done to enhance the programs. Q: Do you have a target for the numbers that you would like to serve? A: There will be no less than 5,000 served in the first 3 years from the date
of approval (2007). It is our hope to serve 1,000 in the first year, 2,500 in the second year
and 5,000 in the third year. Q: What about nursing home residents that are
not on Medicaid? A: Individuals served under this grant must be on
Medicaid. Q: If a Medicaid eligible individual needs to go back to a
nursing home, the time it takes for them to get Medicaid is now 3-7 months. A: This shouldn't be a problem; it is based on the county's ability to
process the Medicaid paperwork. Other Discussion: Q: Could you provide us with an update regarding the current situation in
NYC? A: NYC sent NYSOFA a letter declining participation in program year 2
of NY Connects. Currently, DFTA continues to have discussions regarding the modernization of
senior programming. NYSOFA is examining what the options might be with or without the city's
participation. Q: Could you provide us with a summary of 3-1-1 in NYC? A: 3-1-1 provides I&R on all services in NYC (ie: parking, pothole
complaints, etc.). It acts as NYC's portal. The city contracted with 2-1-1 to create a linkage
between the 2 numbers, but NYSOFA doesn't view this as NY Connects. Ana Winans added that
3-1-1 is available in NYC, but it is very city-specific to municipal services. They received a designation for 2-1-1 and the number was launched in April. Q: Could you provide clarification regarding the needs assessment as it
relates to MDS communication? A: The MDS described the person in the
nursing home. The PRI/Screen determines whether or not the person needs to be in a nursing
home. We'd like to use a universal tool, but the sticking point is that data is collected in
both.
Supporting Caregivers - Gail Koser - Assistant Director, Division of Policy, Management
and Public Information, NYSOFA (POWERPOINT MADE AVAILABLE)
Q: Are
there consumers on the user survey? A: Consumers will be a part of the
survey. Q: Are you going to segregate the data from caregivers from other
individuals? A: Yes. Comments:
Consumers need an easy way to provide input regarding services or a particular issue or
idea.
There should be open-ended lines of communication.
Consider having a website and/or a 1-800 number available for consumer input.
It is important to differentiate between information and assistance. Approximately 46%
of callers will either receive a follow up call from NY Connects, a direct linkage, or their
family, friends or neighbors will be contacted.
It is important not to lose site of the children in the LTC system; their parents need
to look at this survey. There is a shortage of respite/caregiver and transportation services
for provider as well as the money that used to be available through Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families.
Experiences in Long Term Care - Maxcine Johnson, Consumer/Albany County LTCC Member
Discussed the difficulty in obtaining handicap accessible housing with children
Discussed the difficulty with transportation - issues with STAR in terms of pick up times.
Discussed difficulty in finding appropriate services - trying to determine where to go and
who to call is very overwhelming.
Stressed the importance of quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Opportunities and Challenges to Person-Centered Planning and Care - Bruce Darling, Executive Director, Center for Disability Rights
Explained person centered and person directed care.
Empower individuals to make own decisions and provide them with viable choices.
Include consumers and caregivers at the table when policy and programmatic decisions are
to made on their behalf
Think of terminology and attitudes tht impact older adults and people with disabilities
i.e. Ageism versus 'ableism'
Q: Is person-centered planning part of the Nursing Home Diversion Grant? A: The RRSD will be assisted in developing service plans by the consumer - the TBI waiver is already doing this and may want to encourage groups to provide training to the
NHD service coordinators.
Pubic Information and Education - Pamela Polacsek, Advisory Council Member/Public Relations, Saratoga Bridges
Recognize the importance of name recognition - branding should be a priority
There should be a consistent and clear message that is promoted to the public
NY Connects should be recognizable to all
Understand who needs the message and how you will get it to them
Don't forget the 'hard to reach' populations - cultural and ethnic populations, rurals,
etc.
Ensure that everyone can reach NY Connects
Reach out to the professional community - organizations and providers - partners can help
to promote.
Know your community and the ways of disseminating information to people.
Legislative Update and Council Feedback - Laurie Pferr, Executive Deputy Director, NYSOFA
Laurie provided members with an update on current legislative and budgetary issues
Next Steps and Closing
Summary of important discussions from the day.
Next Council meeting is October 29 at the Beltrone Living Center.
