HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-07-10-LFA-min.pdf .soty
MEMORANDUM
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TO: Lexington Board of Selectmen CC: Dr. John Lawson
Superintendent
FROM: William R. Page, Chairman Lexington Public Schools
Lexington Forum on Aging Committee
DATE: January 10, 1979
In this memorandum, I am making specific recommendations for
the implementation of Resolutions 8 , 15, 2, 9, 10 voted by the
Lexington Forum on Aging. These Resolutions were transmitted to
the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen in my letter of July 7, 1978 .
The key resolutions in this group of resolutions is Resolution 8.
The other resolutions in this group (15, 2, 9, 10, and 16) can all
be implemented through the action which we will recommend on
Resolution 8.
In developing these recommendations, the Lexington Forum on
Aging Sub-Committee on Health Legislation has consulted with the
Lexington Board of Health, the Lexington Human Services Council,
and the American Association of Retired Persons Executive Committee,
the Lexington School Administration, and the Lexington Council on
Aging.
Resolution 8, as unanamously adopted at the May 17 session of
the Lexington Forum on Aging reads as follows :
"That the Board of Selectmen appoint a
Lexington Community Health_Commi-ttee whose
functions will—include the following:
A. Innovating community health education
programs in cooperation with the Lexington
Public Schools, and with the other organiza-
tions concerned with local and area health
education and services for people of all
ages, and B. Gathering and publicizing
information on developments in nutrition,
medicine, medical research and physical
fitness.
That this Lexington Community Health
Committee have an appropriate organizational
relationship with an existing town agency. "
Our recommendationsregarding the impimentation of this
resolution are listed in the attached table.
JS HOvryN
The Lexington Forum on Aging Committee stands ready to
help in this implementation if and as requested by the Board z!
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of Selectmen. ; 1 �
1C'S MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON MASSACHUSETTS 02173 • TELEPHONE 617) B62 OSOC t�XirvZ� {
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS 8, 15, 2,
9, 10, (AND 16)AS ADOPTED BY THE LEXINGTON FORUM ON AGING:
1. That the Board of Selectmen request the Town Manager
to appoint a Lexington Community Health Committee for a one year
period to explore the most appropriate ways of implementing the
functions described in Paragraph 7 below; the Committee to have a
temporary dual reporting relationship to the Board of Selectmen and
to the Board of Health, with the understanding that the committee
will, at some appropriate time, be integrated into the Human Services
Council organizational framework.
2. That the exploration of the implementation of
• Resolutions 15, 2, 9, 10, and 16 be assigned to the Committee to be
formed under Resolution 8.
3. That the primary function of the Lexington Community
Health Committee be providing of health information to the citizens
of Lexington, in large part, by coordinating the dissemination of
existing health information.
4. That the Lexington Community Health Committee report to
the Town Manager as one of the several organizations in the Human
Services Council which include the Board of Health, the Council on Aging,
and other organizations having a direct interest in the adequacy with
which health information is made available to the citizens of Lexington.
5. That the Lexington Community Health Committee consist of
fifteen members, five of whom will be appointed for a one year term,
five for a two year term, and five for a three year term, (with all
memberships after the first two years being on a three year term basis) ;
that these members be selected to represent various age groups in
Lexington, including students of high school age; that these members
be selected to include representation from the health related occupations
such as pharmacists, dentists, occupational therapists, opthalmologists,
chiropodists, and other health professionals, health research scientists,
writers, and social workers.
6. That after the first year of committee operation considera-
tion be given to providing the Lexington Community Health Committee with
part-time staff; that this staff be added to the Health Department
staff and report administratively to the Health Director; and that this
staff have a health education. (For a trial period of one year, the
understanding would be that no requests would be made by the committee
to the Health Director for help in exploring the functions described
in Paragraph 7 below, because of an already high workload being carried
by the Health Department. )
7. That in carrying out its primary function of providing and
coordinating the dissemination of health information, the Lexington
Community Health Committee be encouraged to explore the following
sub-functions as options:
A. Collect and disseminate information on medical
services available to the citizens of Lexington.
B. Innovate community health education programs.
C. To provide information on self-care, including
nutrition and exercise.
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D. Provide information on the physical and
social environment where changes in that environ-
ment would lead to better health for Lexington
citizens.
E. Obtain financial support from Federal,
State and area agencies for the information
dissemination function.
F. Initiate and/or support legislative
programs and expenditures aimedat acquiring
information useful to the maintenance of health
and to extending the healthy years of life, and
inform the public about legislative programs.
G. Provide information on food additives,
labeling of food contents to provide clarily in
labeling, generic drugs; provide information that
helps people protect themselves against health
quackery and deceptive practices.
H. Provide information which will help to
contain the raising costs of health care. Support
programs to avoid accidents that lead to illness,
disabilities, and death in and around the home and
in motor vehicles.
L. Provide, as part of the above functions, the
other information dissemination functions listed
in Jacob B. Gardner' s memorandum of October 13, 1978,
to the members of the Ad Hoc Forum on Aging Task Force.
M. In taking all of these actions, cooperate
with the Lexington Public Schools, The Minuteman Home
Care Corporation, The Mystic Valley Mental Health
Association, and with other organizations and
individuals concerned with local and ala health
education and services for people of all ages; enlist
the help of Lexington residents with expertise in the
health related professions; avoid duplicating any
information coordination and dissemination activity
already being performed adequately by some other
organization.
WRP/mfh
1/9/79