HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.02.022 COA August MinutesOshkosh Seniors Center
200 N. Campbell Rd.
Oshkosh, WI 54902
(920) 232-5300 (920) 232-5307 FAX
OSHKOSH COMMITTEE ON AGING (COA) MINUTES
August 2, 2022
A.) Ms. Richey called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.
B.) PRESENT: Judy Richey; Julie Kiefer; Heidi Basford-Kerkhof; Mike Ford; Julie Davids; Pat
Jirovetz
EXCUSED: Joanne Murphy Spice; Bryn Ceman; Cheryl Hentz
ABSENT: Julie Maslowski
STAFF: Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager; Bobbie Jo Nagler, Activities Coordinator
C.) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 7, 2022 minutes approved as written: Mr. Ford moved to
approve the minutes as written; Mrs. Kiefer seconded; ALL IN FAVOR, Motion carried (6) to
accept the minutes as written.
D.) CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS: Ms. Richey introduced Ms. Jirovets to the
committee.
E.) PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: NONE
F.) PRESENTATION:
a. Rebuilding Fox Valley-Paula Condor stated she, Chief Stanley and Chip Wood have
been working on a program for Falls Prevention. She explained the mission of
Rebuilding Fox Valley was to keep homes safer and healthier to allow people to live in
their homes longer. She stated residents need to be income qualified to receive home
modification and repairs. Ms. Condor stated the majority of residents they help are
elderly and/or disabled. She listed the five programs Rebuilding Fox Valley does; Fall
Prevention; National Rebuilding Day (with 100-200 volunteers); Building a Healthy
Neighborhood; Community Strong and Individual Projects. Types of
modification/repairs are; hand rails, stairs, electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping,
flooring and model remediation. She explained all services were at no charge to the
qualified resident; however there was a cost for skilled labor and supplies. Ms.
Condor explained funding comes from grants, corporate sponsors and fund raising.
She stated most of the work is completed by staff and volunteers, when skilled labor is
needed the hire them.
Chief Stanley stated he had been with Oshkosh Fire Department (OFD) for four
years. He explained OFD number one call is for falls; OFD responded to 10,000 calls
last year over 1,700 of those responses were for falls. Chief Stanley urged everyone to
discuss the new fall program at the Seniors Center with Mrs. Wollerman, Senior
Services Manager.
Chip Wood, Rebuilding Together Fox Valley (RTFV), shared a presentation
regarding items that would be installed to a qualified individual’s home. See
Attachment A- (FRFV Presentation) See Attachment B-(RTFV Contact information) See
Attachment C- (RTFV Pamphlet) Mr. Wood stated FRFV was working on a three year
grant with Community Foundation. He stated a kit costs $250.00 and with installation
it would cost $500.00 and this is at no cost to qualifying home owner. He explained
the approximate time to train a volunteer is three months, there is four hours of
training with two job shadows. Mr. Wood stated FRFV has installation complete
within two weeks of contact. Ms. Richey questioned if FRFV conducts installation in
apartments. Mr. Wood responded at this time they do not, however, the renter has the
ability to request to the management their needs. He stated the renter may have to
pay for the cost items. Mrs. Davids questioned how long the organization has been
established and the number of families/individuals that have been helped. Mr. Wood
replied they have been around for 22 year and in Oshkosh for the last three. He stated
in 2021 they completed 788 home repairs, 136 individuals and 75 homes, for 2022 they
are at 668 home modifications with four months left in the year. Mr. Wood explained
the goal for the specific falls prevention work shop is 250 and have completed 361. He
explained with a few other modifications to prevent falls that were not listed on the
grant there was 446. He stated volunteer hours were last year were 1195 generates to
$194,000.00 in kind revenue. This year so far 1991 hours. Mrs. Davids stated she
appreciates all that has been done. Mrs. Condor explained what the fall prevention
program would like to do is get the aware out and repairs complete prior to a fall. Ms.
Richey explained many individuals are too stubborn and in denial of needing
assistance. Mrs. Davids questioned if there was a high percent of calls due to alcohol
consumption. Chief Stanley reported no that was not the case. He explained FIONA
the case study patient; female, in her own home, falling in kitchen or bedroom, around
70 years of age and has not been drinking. He stated the general complaint is due to
weakness. He explained with repeat calls of picking up and putting back in bed was
not fixing the problem, with this program it would be an intervention to assist with
preventing a fall. Mrs. Basford Kerkhof questioned what the OFD does with repeat
calls of and individual falling and realizing they are not safe. Chief replied, yes, they
do reach out to Human Services, gather resources from ADRC and the Oshkosh
Seniors Center. Chief stated the ADRC had been the 1st group receiving referrals and
they have been great to work with. He agreed with Ms. Richey many individuals are
too stubborn or in denial to ask for assistance, many have a fear of being forced out of
their home. He stated the programs were here to provide choices and assist to keeping
individuals in their homes longer, not to take away their rights.
b.) Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, shared a video showing the BIODEX-
Balance System and what it has to offer, https://youtu.be/H17MJrvNUZc
She explained the Seniors Center is working with OFD with the Falls Risk Program.
She explained per referral the Center will conduct a fall risk screening that is
approximately a two minute assessment, with two other assessments and a six week
exercise program to help with strength. She stated many of the staff have been
trained on the machine. Mrs. Wollerman stated fall risk screening with start in
September with referrals from OFD and open to the public for a fee in October. Ms.
Condor questioned if there was literature that they could provide to others. Mrs.
Wollerman replied there was and she would meet with FRFV to compile all the
materials together.
G.) OLD BUSINESS:
a.) Discussion 2017-2019 Strategic Plan- Ms. Richey provided three handouts regarding
committee’s purpose; subcommittees and 2012 plan session. See Attachment D-
(2017-2019 Strategic Plan Information updates & 2012 Plan Session) Ms. Richey went
through the 2017-2019 Strategic Plan key Points. See Attachment E- (2017-2019
Strategic Plan) She explained action taken for each key point; I. Strengthen Our
Partnership with Neighborhood Assoc. and Other Partners-some has been done and
with Mrs. Kiefer being the Chair of her neighborhood association had some great
ideas to start bringing in; Improve Access to Affordable Transportation and Delivery
Services for Seniors-the ADVOCAP program really has been able to step up and
meet many of the needs, she stated a drawback is contacting the ADRC first to be
enrolled in the program and individuals feel threatened when they have to contact a
government agency, once people make contact they are happy and it provides
transportation out of town; Creating Community Design & Policy that Supports an
Age Friendly Community-progress had been made, the collaboration with ADRC
and the Seniors Center to an extent and other groups however, there is a long way to
go; Improve Communication and Visibility of available services to seniors-made
some progress, televised meetings, senior expo, diversity programs and presenters.
She stated there was a long way to go; Improve Access to Home Services was not
one of the original four the Committee was addressing, she stated the Health
department had compiled a list of volunteer and services for home improvements
and safety.
Mrs. Keifer stated she believed the Committee was on the right track however the
achievements were hard for a committee that meets once a month. She sated she
would like to review the plan and consider an update. Mrs. Wollerman stated the
Parks Department would be completing another strategic plan and they would be
reviewing if the Committee on Aging should complete another. She stated she is
waiting to hear back from Mr. Maurer. She stated group would need to decide if
they want a formal plan with a facilitator or work as a group. Mr. Ford believes a
plan was worth doing and considered it to be helpful. He stated there was a group
of students from his strategic planning course that could possibly do a study for a
project. Mrs. Wollerman suggested Mr. Ford discuss with Mr. Maurer. Ms. Richey
stated that would be a great intergenerational project as well as a savings on budget
dollars. Ms. Jirovetz suggested to wait to see if a facilitator would be approved as
many needs have changed since COVID. Mrs. Keifer questioned if City Council ever
receives recommendations from the Committee and how they would receive them.
Ms. Richey stated accomplishment and recommendation had been done annually by
a COA member. She questioned if the Council would like the committee to go back
to that and continue going forward. Mr. Ford stated that would be a great idea and
suggested going before the committee would be more formal and powerful.
Ms. Richey stated Larson/Winchester Lions Club does not build wheel chair ramps
within the City of Oshkosh as there were too many challenges with the codes
through planning and zoning. She explained a woman on social media had been
very vocal regarding the difficulty of getting a permit to build a ramp to get her
husband in/out of the house. She stated there was a stumbling block if there was
such a hard time getting permits that the Lions Club will not even try any longer
with the City. Ms. Richey stated she had heard complaints regarding the quality of
the sidewalks by Raulf Place (formerly Mainview). Mrs. Keifer stated she was
impressed with the City making investments with the designs of the parks to include
families with disabilities. Mrs. Wollerman explained the City had just went through
an ADA audit and everything was reviewed and had received a report of what areas
needed to be improved. She stated the audit was very valuable for the City.
Mrs. Wollerman explained III. C in the Strategic Plan was in the hands of the
ADRC and they were working within a five year plan. She suggested they be asked
to present to the Committee and bring all up to date.
H.) NEW BUSINESS:
I.) BUSINESS:
a. Mrs. Kiefer stated the Learning in Retirement Program at USO have the new class
catalog for viewing.
b. Mr. Ford urged the committee to decide if they would like to continue to meet in
person or back to holding the meeting virtually; Ms. Richey replied that reading the
room is difficult with virtual meetings and asked if all would favor to meeting in
person, she stated there were too many problems with WebEx. Ms. Jirovetz would
like to continue meeting in person.
c. Mrs. Basford Kerkhof stated she would hold off reporting on scams until next month.
d. Mrs. Wollerman provided all member with a monthly newsletter from the Oshkosh
Seniors Center, she stated the Del Rays would be playing at the Leach today and ticket
cost was $8; Food Truck Friday would be on August 19.
e. Mrs. Murphy Spice stated she would be teaching a Tai Chi class on Thursday’s from
1:30-2:30 pm starting August 25, 206 State St.
f. Ms. Richey reminded everyone to dial 920 for all calls due to the 988 suicide & crisis
lifeline. See Attachment F- (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
g. Ms. Richey shared an information sheet. See Attachment G- (Commissioner of
Insurance, After a Storm)
J.) ADJOURNMENT: Mrs. Kiefer moved to adjourn at 9:15 am, Mrs. Davids seconded, ALL IN
FAVOR, Motion carried (6) to adjourn at 9:15 am.
NEXT MEETING: September 6, 2022;
8 am City Hall
Respectfully Submitted,
Bobbie Jo Nagler
Activities Coordinator, Senior Services