Council on Aging, February 2, 2017

HOLDEN COUNCIL ON AGING

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Conference Room – Senior Center

Present:  Susan Sullivan, Faye Ellis, Wayne Howard, Maureen Locke, Rebecca Tornblom,

Peter Lukes, Jim Robinson, Louise Charbonneau, Maureen Buffone.

The Meeting was called to order by Sue Sullivan at 8:00 a.m.

The Minutes from the January 5, 2017 meeting were approved and accepted.

F.H.C.O.A. REPORT

            Faye reported the account balances as follows:

                        Commerce Bank                                                                     $15,510.26

                        Leominster Credit Union (furnishings acct.)                          $2,896.91

                        Leominster Credit Union C.D.                                               $24,206.46

                        LCU Trip Account                                                                  $5,592.93

            The Friends paid $150.00 for Marti Sawyer’s performance on January 11, 2017. 

            The surveys went out with the February newsletters to over 1,600 households.  There was concern among some of the Friends members that the survey may not reach all of the seniors in town.  There was discussion on updating the list and remailing the surveys to those on the updated list.  The consensus was that it would be too expensive.  Peter will ask the I.T. personnel if we can get an electronic version of the list of people over 65, so that in the future, we can merge and update the two (2) lists without duplicating.  The Friends suggested putting an article in the Landmark regarding the survey so that anyone who did not receive a survey can obtain one to complete.  Sue Sullivan will send a press release to the Landmark.

            The reimbursement procedure has been discussed and will be presented at the Friends’ meeting on Monday.

            The Friends would like to give something out to the students at the pen pal party in June.  A couple of years ago, sunflower seeds were given out.  Last year, there was nothing given out, partly because the pen pal party was combined with a tour of some of the town offices, i.e. town clerk.

HELP AT H.O.M.E. REPORT ~ Jim Robinson

        Jim reported that the Help at H.O.M.E. donations for the fall/winter campaign total $14,979.77.  Eight (8) disbursements were made averaging $400-$450.00 per disbursement.  As of December 31, 2016, the combined balances for Welcome Aldrich and Help at H.O.M.E. total $64,253.87.  Jim anticipates the level of requests to pick up.  They push it quite aggressively at the light department.  It has been a mild January, which may have lessened the requests.  The cost of heating oil is down, as well.  The staff continues to do a good job making sure the requests are appropriate.  Some responsibility is put on the recipient to maintain a payment schedule and find additional avenues for assistance.

BOARD OF ELDER SERVICES REPORT ~ Richard Mansfield

        Rick Mansfield invited Kathie Hudson, director of programs at Elder Services of Worcester to today’s meeting.  Kathie has been employed by Elder Services for 35 years and has a vast amount of knowledge on the programs and services offered by Elder Services.  She outlined the programs, including Home Care Services, Information & Referral, Protective Services, Nutrition, Respite, Clinical Assessment Eligibility, Family Caregivers, to name a few. 

            Elder Services has an excellent referral department which anyone can call to receive information.  They have added more and more protective services and staff. 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT ~ Louise Charbonneau

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Monday, February 13 …   Free Legal Clinic 10:30-12:30  Attorney Arthur Bergeron from the firm of Mirick O’Connell  will hold free 15 minute appointments to answer any  legal question you may have. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 508-210-5570. 

                                         …  Home Cooked Meal … will be a homemade turkey dinner.  Dinner will include roast turkey; stuffing; cranberry sauce; smashed potatoes; butternut squash; rolls; butter; dessert and beverage.  Cost of this meal will be $3.00 for Holden elders and Senior Center volunteers and $6.00 for out of town elders.  A portion of the cost is being sponsored by a generous grant through the Holden Senior Center Fund set up by the Sjostedt Family at the Worcester Foundation.  We sincerely thank them.

Wednesday, February 15 … Adult Coloring from 1-3

Thursday, February 16 … Book Discussion Group 10:00 … will discuss the book Home by Harlan Coben.

Monday, February 20 … The Senior Center will be closed in observance of Presidents Day.

Monday, February 27 … Isiah Thomas, Printer … The Holden Senior Center will host a visit from Isaiah Thomas, patriot printer 1:00 p.m.  A professional actor in period clothing and wig will impersonate Thomas, tell his life story using historic documents and graphic images from the collection of the American Antiquarian Society.  We sincerely thank the Holden Women’s Club for generously sponsoring this program.  (After our newsletter went to print the Actor cancelled the original date of February 15.)

UPDATING WEBSITE

We have recently added to the town’s website/Facebook page the survey, information on a transportation grant, as well as links to several Outreach forms (Help at H.O.M.E. app.; food pantry, book express, etc.

SURVEYS

The February newsletters with the surveys enclosed went to the post office on Tuesday, January 31. Louise would like to thank our newsletter mailing volunteers for taking the extra step of putting in the enclosure.  The return box has been put in the lobby, as well as a sign that if an elder did not receive the survey, but would like one, to go to the window and we’ll happily provide them with one.  Now the waiting begins …

AARP TAX PREPARATION

We have received word, that despite a glitch with the new software, we will be offering appointments for free income tax preparation through AARP volunteers.  The preparers have requested more time for each appointment because of the new software, so, appointments will go quickly and there are fewer of them.

STATISTICS

Louise thought now that we’ve passed the half way mark, she would provide the board some mid-year statistics:

Event Statistics           8852/636 (over 60)                  121/9  (under 60)

Service Statistics         469/110   (over 60)                  75/16   (under 60)  (Nov. & Dec. not entered)

Transportation            1803/86   (over 60)                  686/13 (under 60)

OLD BUSINESS

             None.

NEW BUSINESS

            None

CITIZENS ADDRESS

             None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 a.m. 

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Maureen Buffone