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Home My WebLink About2023-10-04-COA-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON COUNCIL OF AGING BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 4TH, 2023 IN PERSON AND ZOOM (HYBRID) MEETING PRESENT: JOHN ZHAO, SUDHIR JAIN, SANDRA SHAW, SUE ROCKWELL, ELLEN CAMERON, LAURREN FIOLA, JYOTSNA KAKULLAVARAPU, JULIE BARKER. STAFF: MELISSA INTERESS, MICHELLE KELLEHER, CHRISTINE DEAN, KELSEY ROLLINS GUEST SPEAKER; WAI CHONG John called the meeting to order at2:33pm and took attendance. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None NEW BUSINESS: John brought up about our attendance and Michelle needing to send emails about who will attend in person. Discussing whether to go forward in the winter via zoom or hybrid or in person. Concerned about needing a quorum each month. Discussed that zoom is easier for some and others prefer being in person. In the summer people travel, and snow could become an issue going forward. No decision has been made. John presented Melissa Interess (who is leaving as the Dir. of HS) gift from the COA board and wished her the very best. Thanking her for working, helping us and the Seniors in Lexington. John also mentioned we need to update our/revise our charge for our chapter. We need 1-2 volunteers to draft and then bring it to the members of the COA board. Laureen will work on the mission statement. Looking for a 2nd person to work with her. REVIEW AND APPROVAL of September minutes. One correction made. UPDATE FROM WAI CHONG- HEALTH OUTREACH CLINICIAN. Wai has been working in Lexington for 1 year and 8 months. He works 20 hours a week. He is on the road for about 10 hours for visiting homebound Seniors. Currently visiting 22 monthly. He checks their blood pressure, provides emotional support and provides resources. He also administers vaccines when needed. Noticed that getting good Home health aides has been an issue since covid. He does at times bring a LISW (Melissa/Sharon) with him to help meet them and talk to the Seniors to decrease their anxiety. Michelle will make home visit with Wai as well. Works with the Lexington Fire Dept (using a Dana Home grant) for the Knox Box program. 110 have been installed. The Knox box is installed by the Fire Dept with a spare key so it’s available when needed. They also have a “Fire for life” card in the kitchen, with all their information. Work with Lexington Police for the Wandering Bracelet Program. With “Safety Net”. They have 10 bracelets. They wear bracelets as a tracking device. They are $500 each but can qualify if in need. Safety net bracelet uses radio waves if one needs to be located. Families call 911, and the Lexington Fire Department is in charge of the program. Vaccines-Wai works with the Health Department and Theatre Pharmacy for vaccines. Works with Theatre Pharmacy if Lexington Public Health can’t pay for them. Wai has flu clinic, covid vaccine clinic. Pneumonia and RSV vaccine are $295 each so need pre bill insurance via Theatre Pharmacy for these. Many vaccines are offered: covid, pnuemovax, flu, DTAp, shingles, rsv and others. Hard to get vaccines at doctor’s office with Medicare Part D. Wai has monthly Wellness clinics, by appointment or walk in. Julie Barker asked about Isolation/ Mental health. Wai has the Seniors talk to the LISW to assess them and see what support is needed. UPDATES REGARDING RESIDENTS LETTER ABOUT SENIOR LUNCH PROGRAM Via letter from a Lexington Senior resident requesting better lunches. Our lunches are not Brookhaven anymore and come from Minuteman Senior Services. Brookhaven doesn’t have the staff to support our previous lunch program Bedford’s lunches are provided by Carlton Willard. We do also have 2 Indian lunches per month that are very popular. (48 Seniors for $2) We discussed every town is different and its complicated to get food delivered, need to be Serve Safe and other factors. Will try to get connected with Kelly Wright the Executive Director if MSS to get her feedback. We discussed the lunches are important for the Seniors to have lunch together and socialize. Julie Barker mentioned having a survey about lunches, but need to hold off for now, till we have more idea of the future change. Jyotsna suggested adding Chinese meal and add variety of food. John will write a letter and send it to board via email for review before sending the letter to the Senior who raised the issue. STAFF REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES CHRISTINE DEAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CENTER: (please note Christine’s staff report was earlier in meeting to do time conflict) Cardio Room – replaced new elliptical machine, and new TV. Replaced TV in game room. Two new Ping Pong tables on order (pending FCOA funding approval). Resurfacing Billiard tables (funded by the Rotary club) Ferris basketball court will reopen Oct 6th. Other resurfacing is still ongoing and moving along. Fall classes- Lex walk in the Center track funded by the FCOA. 20 people signed up for Forever Fit 9 funded by Dana Home grant) KELSEY ROLLINS, SENIOR SERVICE COORDINATOR: Programs-Life Binder Workshop is running now. Illusionist -October 11th. Modern Pronouns- Oct 18th. Harvest Fest (3rd year) Oct 21st. – more Seniors signing up. Diwali- Oct 26th. MICHELLE KELLEHER, SENIOR SERVICES DIRECTOR: WALKMASS CHALLENGE- Lexington has the most participants signed up but need to log in our steps. Parking passes renewals- 1000 people and processed about 500 of them. New passes will be smaller and placed outside of the window. Flu clinics- one was 2 weeks ago, one last week, and one on Oct 5th. Looking for a new Human Service Director. Have a Municipal Assistant (Maura) 8-10 hours per week. Melissa Interess, Director of Human Services- stated her goodbyes and gratitude to the COA. LIAISON REPORTS: MINUTEMAN SENIOR SERVICES; Sudhir Jain: Program “Matter of Balance”- ongoing for 8 weeks. “Powerful tools for caregivers” in Wilmington. MSS will be at the Lexington Housing Board Fair- October 25th. Meals on Wheels drivers now wearing Masks. MSS is concerned about potential Federal shutdown in November. TRANSPORTATION; Sudhir Jain: 400 $200 Lexpress passes with unlimited rides have been purchased. Drafter 4 options for going forward 1. Increase funding for Lexpress and have additional fix routes 2024-2026. 2. Cease Lexpress 2024 and only serve seniors and people with disabilities 3. Hybrid service on demand with Lexpress 4. No change. FCOA: Sudhir Jain: FCOA received a grant request for2 Ping Pong tables requested about $850-1000 each. COMMISSION ON DISABILITY: Laureen Fiola: In August- discussed voting accessibility.? Seniors need rides to voting places.? if Seniors are registered to vote at home. If Low vision machine is available at polls. Sue Rockwell stated they do have them but aren’t the best. RECREATION COMMITTEE: Julie Ann Shapiro: No update LEXINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY: Sue Rockwell: Meeting next week. August update- Vine brook almost completed. CAAL was very helpful with relocations. Fiscal year report- Federal and State Reserves doing well. Repositioning to get money from Federal Government for future pending projects. VISISON FOR LEXINGTON: Jyotsna Kakullavarpu: Committee has two openings. Looking for New Communicator Director. Work in future with DEI and Disability Commission for demographic data. HOUSING PARTNERSHIP; John Zhao: HPPB Vote- to recommend Lexington Select Board endorsing the State legislation program. For Real estate transfer fee, and to establish an adhoc study committee on how to implement. Also, land availability and how to implement. REFT if the state passes the legislation. Also, HPB is working on the townland acquisition process as we need more for affordable housing. MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE: Ellen Cameron and Jyostna Kakullavarpu: No update. LEXINGTON CENTER COMMITTEE: Sandra Shaw: Bus stop moved to 1666 Massachusetts Avenue. Depot lot redesign. The Minuteman Statue area finished soon. Roundabout near Battle Green almost completed (Harrington/Bedford street) STRATEGIC EQUITY ADVISORY TEAM (SEAT): Ellen Cameron: no update. Submitted by Ellen Cameron