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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes OSHKOSH COMMITTEE ON AGING MINUTES TH JANUARY 5 2006 Attendance : Corky Abraham; Claude Bennedict; Dr. Caudle; Donna Altepeter; Kristin Cimera; Ann Jungwirth; Jerry Konrad and Kara Klein. Excused members included: Joan Rogers and Toby Rosenberg. Staff Members were Sue Kreibich, Aging Services Manager and Bobbie Luft, Office Assistant. Special Guest was Shirley Mattox, City Council Member. Chairman: Corky Abraham read a letter written by Ernie Kandler requesting his resignation be approved. M/S/C (Caudle, Bennedict) accept Ernie Kandlers resignation. Aging Services Manager: Sue Kreibich spoke to all members about the Senior Connections person the Center has available now. If funds were available there would be enough for two full-time Senior Connection employees, MaryBeth has seen 36 people at the Senior Connection desk in the month of December. She is going to check into which dentists accept no insurance or Medicaid patients. She will also check into locating any programs for dental work at no cost to seniors. Correspondence: Ladies Benevolent Society is accepting proposals for 2006. Oshkosh Seniors Center did receive a grant in 2005 to help fund fitness assesments. Corky requested the committee should find out if a grant would cover Boris Frank? Mary Schmidt sent a response letter answering questions that had been asked at her last visit to the committee. She announced that all programs are being looked at for cuts not just the Older Americans Act. Medicare cost will increase 13.2% raising the monthly premiums to $88.50. Shirley Mattox will check to see how many other committees within the City do not have Council member representation. New Business: All members gave a list of what they felt were the top five concerns for older adults in Oshkosh. List below is the list of Concerns from Members. Heat assistance Affordable transportation Depression/Mental Health exposure more information Church relations Cost of living Medical Safety Legislator-need a voice Senior care Methods planned to care for seniors Medicare Part D- problems Relocate from nursing home to family care or into their home Benefit specialist Developing advocacy System to make awareness of state/federal changes Public awareness of Senior Center services System to work better with city council Developing healthy lifestyles Volunteer program to help with senior needs. Dental programs for uninsured/low income Proposal to provide funding for seniors to stay in their home availability of low income housing Library of information developed- frequently asked questions Public focus groups to find out from seniors what worries they have. More programs throughout UWO and high schools. Homestead tax credit Ways to identify frail and elderly in community Continue with outside speakers Listed below are those that might be able to provide assistance in working on the issues at hand. Merging of list Senior Connection: heating assistance; transportation; safety; SeniorCare; homestead taxes; dental care; Medicare part D; Advocacy; promote center programs; depression; limited income; church relations; developing healthy lifestyles; library of information developed for frequently asked questions; Benefit Specialist Committee: develop questions of frequently asked questions; focus groups; develop advocacy; system to work better with City Council; continue with outside speakers City Council: legislator-need a voice; City Council to work better with Committees Benefit Specialist: ways to identify frail and elderly in community; relocate from nursing home to family care or into their home; system to make awareness of state/federal changes; proposal to provide funding for seniors to stay in their home availability of low income housing All members are to have available at the next meeting a list of days and times that would work for meeting times. It was suggested that it might be time to change days and time of meetings to accommodate those individuals that still work, but would like to provide service to the committee. M/S/C (Konrad; Altepeter), the meeting be adjourned at 9:15 a.m. Respectively Submitted, Bobbie Jo Luft Oshkosh Seniors Center Office Assistant