NORC Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Conference call held on March 7, 2008
In attendance:
| Attendees | Representing |
|---|---|
| Eileen Mullarkey | Long Term Care, Dept. for the Aging, NYC |
| Mary Kanerva | Aging & Adult Service, Catholic Family Center |
| Fredda Vladeck | Aging in Place Initiative, United Hospital Fund |
| Ronald Soloway | Gov't and External Relations, UJA- Federation of NY, Inc. |
| Ken Harris | NYAHSA Ctr for Senior Living and Community Services |
| John Krout, PhD | Gerontology Inst. and Prof. of Gerontology, Ithaca College |
| Joseph Pofit | Long Term Care Campuses and Senior Housing, Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany |
| Rick Iannello | Albany Guardian Society |
| Richard Leavitt | Resident of Fairport Baptist NNORC |
| Anschell Weiss, PhD | Consultant/ Resident of the JFS NENY Neighborhood NORC |
| Natalie Gordon | Member of AARP National Policy Council and AARP Board of Directors |
| Evelyn (Evie) Rich | NYC Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action, Member of NYC NORC Coalition |
| T. Franklin Williams, MD | Professor of Medicine Emeritus at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry |
| Ellen O'Connor | Fairport Baptist- observed and provided comment, but not a member | Michael J. Burgess | NYSOFA | Cyndy Marshall | NYSOFA |
| Gail Myers | NYSOFA |
| Larry Shapiro | NYSOFA |
| Eileen Griffin | NYSOFA |
| Donna DiCarlo | NYSOFA |
| Digna Swingle | NYSOFA |
| Marcus Harazin | NYSOFA |
| Absent from the call: | |
| Marianne Fahs | Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity |
| Stephanie Pinder | Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, Inc. |
| Anita Altman | Gov't and External Affairs, UJA Federation of NY, Inc. |
| Joseph Cybulski | Rensselaer Unified Family Services Dept. of Aging |
1) Minutes from the prior Advisory meeting on February 8th were reviewed. Fredda stated that there was one error that needed to be corrected in text labeled #5. The reference was regarding population thresholds and it should have been related to resources. Evie Rich e-mailed a change after the meeting that she was quoted incorrectly about the population at Lincoln Housing Outreach. The minutes were revised and attached.
2) Larry began the discussion by relating that the NORC-SSP and NNORC programs are "aging in place" programs. These programs need to be providing support to the "aging in place" that is happening at a more than usual level. Normal aging in municipality probably averages 15 percent -20 percent for persons 60 and over. Larry mentioned the possibility of NYSOFA having statewide distribution with regional competition for funds. A strategy could be that these funds would be distributed to all eight regions and the highest scored program on the RFA (Request for Application) being awarded. If none in the region are submitted then distribute to another region with the next highest score. Also, NYSOFA Director discretion was discussed and explained that in the legislation discretion relates to match decisions. Larry explained that the Committee will to meet in April and again in May to finalize legislative proposals. For the summer the Committee may not need to meet, but then resume in the fall.
3) Is 40 percent (60+) a good representation of aging in place? T. Franklin Williams, MD, along with Robert Leavitt and Joe Pofit stated that the percentage could be lower. Dr. Williams offered 33 percent as an appropriate number. Eileen Mulkarkey stated that DFTA has the percentage set at 45 percent. Discussion took place about concerns for rural communities being not able to reach these percentage thresholds. Some members asked if there should be different percentages for different regions. Fredda Vladeck commented that perhaps there needs to be a different model for rural and that all aging needs cannot be addressed by NORCs. It was noted that Area Agencies on Aging offices are located in every county and NYSOFA provides support and oversight to these offices to provided needed services for seniors. Mike Burgess spoke about different aging in place models that are occurring across the state, along with the NORC model.
4) Reviewed NNORC Draft legislation (document provided prior to conference call).
- Proposed:
Section 3, line 55
Delete "a residential dwelling" since it does not constitute s neighborhood.
Committee Action:
Consensus was reached and proposal approved. - Proposed:
Section 4, line 2-3
Delete "which is made of low-rise buildings six stories or less in height".k
Committee Action:
Consensus was reached and proposal approved. - Proposed:
Section 4, lines 1-2
Delete "in at least forty percent of the units". Change to forty percent of the population being 60+". - Proposed: NNORC have a minimum count of 160 seniors (of total population of 400) OR
have a minimum count of 120 seniors (of total population of 300) Fredda stated that the original legislation does not include a minimum count. It was raised to consider a minimum count of 120
seniors (33 percent of the total 360 population). Economy of scale and the right count of
seniors to justify funding were discussed at length. Several members feel that NYSOFA needs to
determine the cost issue when RFAs are reviewed and that the responsibility is on the agency to
make this determination.
Committee members were asked to state their preference for: (minimum count number not determined at this time)
40 percent with no minimum count- six members in favor
40 percent with a minimum count - one member in favor
33 percent with no minimum count- five members in favor
33 percent with a minimum count- no members in favor
Committee Action: 40 percent with no minimum was the majority preference. Several committee members did vote that they were approving of either 40 percent, or 33 percent without a minimum. - Proposed:
Add "and can contain units with common ownership that do not qualify under NORC-SSP definition".
Committee Action:
Agreement was made to discuss in a future meeting. - Proposed:
Add "and without the entire neighborhood having common ownership"
Committee Action:
Agreement was made to discuss in a future meeting.
5) Larry requested that all members review the Senate bill 6965 that was provided and give comment to NYSOFA staff by e-mail or phone. This will further discussed at the next meeting. Note: Since the call an e-mail was sent to request response to this proposed bill by COB 3/21/08.
6) Meeting in April will include discussing the issue of match. (If programs became smaller because of possible changes in the population thresholds consideration needs to be made about whether they will be able to meet the match requirements.) Also, the agenda for the meeting will include common ownership definitions as they pertain to NNORCs and review of proposed legislative changes for NORC-SSP.
Meeting date discussed and was set for Friday, April 4, 2008 from 1:00-3:00.