HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOA Minutes 1-7-20Oshkosh Seniors Center
200 N. Campbell Rd.
Oshkosh, WI 54902
(920) 232-5300 (920) 232-5307 FAX
OSHKOSH COMMITTEE ON AGING (COA) MINUTES
January 7, 2020
A.) Ms. Richey called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
B.) PRESENT: Sue Ashton; Heidi Basford-Kerkhof; Julie Kiefer; Lurton Blassingame; Ron
Duerkop; Julie Maslowski; Judy Richey
EXCUSED: Xandy Kloeckl
ABSENT: Deb Allison-Aasby
STAFF: Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager; Bobbie Luft, Activities Coordinator
C.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 3, 2019 minutes approved as written. Mr.
Duerkop in F. d) change the word ends to veto and the last bullet point repeats, delete this.
Mr. Duerkop moved to accept the minutes with changes, Mr. Blassingame seconded.
Motion carried to accept the minutes with changes.
D.) Citizens Statements- Bryn Ceman, Program Supervisor ADRC. Mrs. Ceman stated she is
attending outreach programs for various cultures; Hmong New Year Event and Unity in
the Community will be again this year. She stated January 30th there will be a business
expo, this will provide service awareness. January 13, Family Night, Young Adults;
volunteeroshkosh.org, she stated this was a great place for opportunities with
volunteering or volunteer needs; ADRC will be hosting in April a Community Education
Event, focusing on Estate Planning/POA; she stated she has calendars she can pass out to
individuals that have the list of evidence based classes on them; Welcome to Medicare
presentations from Joan/Julie, RSVP for these.
Bobbi Thompson introduced herself, from Brookdale Appleton, on the west side of
Appleton.
E.) NEW BUSINESS:
Ms. Richey reported that 17% of adults age 65 and older are isolated; 26% have an
increased risk of early death due to subjective feeling of loneliness and 46% of
women age 75 and older live alone. Ms. Richey passed out a sheet explaining the
difference between isolation and loneliness (attachment A); How Lonely Are you
Quiz (attachment B); How Connected Are You (attachment C) and Risk Factors for
isolation & Loneliness (attachment D) Mrs. Basford-Kerkhof explained that many
people that are alone tend to be taken advantage of. Mr. Blassingame stated that the
#1 health issue in America is loneliness and that affects your mind and body.
Mrs. Wollerman announced that the Oshkosh Seniors Center will find out if they
will be awarded a Helen Bader Grant; this grant would reach out with technology to
those that are isolated. Mrs. Kiefer stated Healthy Neighborhoods would be
involved to see the needs of the individuals that are isolation within neighborhoods.
Mrs. Maslowski stated, technology is about making connections. Ms. Richey stated
funeral homes are utilizing technology to allow those that cannot attend a funeral
participate from a distance in real time. Ms. Ashton stated that 46% of people do not
know their neighbor. She explained there is a website that neighborhoods have that
share information about happenings within that neighborhood. She stated you do
however, need to be invited from a member. Mr. Duerkop stated that he believed
the name of the page was Next Door, he suggested to search for neighborhoods and
something should come up.
F.) OLD BUSINESS:
a) Strengthen our Partnership with Neighborhood Assoc. and Other Partners-Lurton
Blassingame- Mr. Blassingame stated there had not been a meeting the last two months;
the meetings are held at the Oshkosh Seniors Center the 2nd Monday of the month.
b) Affordable Transportation and Delivery Services for Seniors-Judy Richey-None
c) Create Community Design & Policy that supports an Age Friendly community-Jean
Wollerman- Mrs. Wollerman stated that Mrs. Basford-Kerkhof and Mrs. Ceman had
met and will create an Age Friendly Community Group, she will report more about it at
the February meeting.
d) Improve Communication and Visibility of Available Services to Seniors-Ron
Duerkop- Mrs. Maslowski announced there will be an Oshkosh Senior Resource Group
meeting at 9 am at Bella Vista next Wednesday. Ms. Richey stated that if anyone is
interested in working in a work group contact herself or Mr. Duerkop; the work groups
may include non-COA members.
Mr. Duerkop shared prescription drug price reduction (attachment E); Bill 479
(attachment F); Older American Act, F30-57 (attachment G); Medicaid funds to
Follow the Person (attachment H); Affordable Care Act (attachment I); Secure Act
(attachment J) and Medicare covering Opioid Treatments (attachment K)
Ms. Richey reported on accidental 9-1-1 calls, she stated there were 2,038 in 2019 in
Winnebago County (attachment L)
G.) OTHER BUSINESS:
Discussion and information pertaining to scams targeting senior citizens- Mr.
Duerkop announced the President signs Anti-Robocall Bill into Law Attachment
(M), he stated there were 47.8 billion calls in 2018 an increase of 57% from 2017
and 2019 is expected to be higher.
Ms. Richey shared Consumer Advocates Warn Against abbreviating the year 2020
(attachment N)
Ms. Ashton announced the flu season this year is the worst it has been in the last
40 years; incubation time is 01-4 days; use caution 11 have died Wisconsin;
Winnebago County has a high volume of hospitalizations from the flu; headache,
fever and body aches. She encourage all to receive the flu vaccination.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Blassingame moved to adjourn at 8:59 am, Mr. Duerkop
seconded, motion carried to adjourn at 8:59 am.
NEXT MEETING:
February 4, 2020
8 am City Hall, Room 404
Respectfully Submitted,
Bobbie Luft
Activities Coordinator, Senior Services