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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-30-HSC-rpt.pdf RECEIVED `To: The Board of Selectmen SELECTMEN From: Beatrice Phear `D0194 Mate: April 30, 1981 APR 3 fr The planning committee of the Workshop on Elderly Needs has asked me to send the attached summaries to you and give you a brief report. T=he workshop, attended by approximately 120 people, was opened by Bill Page who introduced Margery Battin as the keynote speaker. Mrs. Battin's talk on the growing -elderly population, the myths about the elderly, and the municipal role in elderly services was very well received by the participants. The workshop then broke up into seven small discussion groups for an hour and reconvened to hear the faciltators' rer_orts. 'The planning Corrn ittee was very pleased with the workshop attendance, but more particularly pleased by the sense of sharing between consumers and providers. The yfact that the workshop was able to function with no money save the Town's postage -:and- copying demonstrated not charity but a commitment to moving together and a generous donation of time and energy from a large number of people. The workshop made no "resolutions" and drew no "conclusions", for that was not the purpose; however, the planning committee felt that several issues emerged that 'confirmed the response to the Elderly Needs Assessment: 1. _There is a strong desire for a series of classes and counseling assistance on financial issues: investments, budgeting, taxes, retirement planning, etc. This is being communicated to the Adult Education coordinator. 2. Maintaining your own home has a complex mix of considerations such as congregate housing, accessory apartments, and chore services. This needs to be further explored; perhaps a workshop on this subject alone would be well received. 3. There appears to -be a need for a comprehensive information exchange that includes 24 hour hot line access, a clearing house for data on health or educational programs, and ideally a job skill and service bank so that the elderly and younger people can help each other. The planning committee wants to thank you for helping to make the workshop possible. cc .',embers of the Planning Committee Steve Baran „.Karen Bettacchi *Tail Cronin _Marcia Feakes :Jack Gardner ;lone Garing -Eileen O'Leary 4Erank Martin ^Frank Stowell Lore Jean Kern WORKSHOP ON ELDERLY NEEDS SUMMARY OF REPORTS FROM FACILITATORS April 1981 A Home Services, Peter Sugarman Nine people (6 consumers, 3 providers) Major Topics: paying for services; finding people to do services Dominant Needs: many - respite care, chore, home health aide Recommendations: volunteerism (school students, coop exchange of services) encourage the vocation of home care through training Nutrition, Betty McCarty Thirteen people (10 consumers, 3 providers) Major Topics: nutrition information for salt diets; myths regarding nutrition -sites; meals on wheels Dominant Needs: companionship as part of meals; continued interest in modified diets Recommendations: specific diet questions regarding food appropriate for therapeutic diets especially low sodium Preventive Health Care and Clinics, Anne Scigliano Twelve people (9 consumers, 3 providers) Major Topics: services that are available explained; services not well utilized Dominant Needs: better coordination; better utilization Reco.•mnendations: send CoA newsletter to age 55+ Housing, Joe Rooney Twelve people (7 consumers; 5 providers) Major Topics: cost too high for people just above low and moderate income; problem of staying in the home Dominant Needs: help in coping with staying in their own home (financial and physical) ; housing to meet needs of $8,000-$12,000 income, young and old Pecommendations: less luxurious and more affordable units, consider accessory apartments, congregate housing, solar home Consumer and Financial Issues, Barbara Rubin Fifteen people (11 consumers, 4 providers) Major Topics: Finances (budgeting and investments) ; medicare (health care programs and costs); tax assistance Dominant Needs: Handling finances on fixed income; routine or maintenance care not covered for health (need services:eyes, teeth, feet, perscriptions); measures to cover numerous gaps -Recommendations: Adult education programs, preretirement, more information on investments, tax person at CoA to -assist elderly; change health care coverage (expand) 'Transportation, Sara Arnold Six people (3 consumers, 3 providers) ,Major Topics FISH, Minuteman Home Care, Lexpress Dominant Needs: bundles; publicity of available services; Volunteers needeufor FISH Recommendations: go into apartment complexes; CoA helper to go out with elderly; Lexpress pass for seniors at peak times Dealing with Stress, Ann Gillis 110 report form turned in WORKSHOP ON ELDERLY NEEDS SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE Ap0 1 1981 32 questionnaires were returned, representing approximately 300 of the people who attended the workshop. The age of the respondents was: under 65 - 6 65-75 - 16 over 75 - 6 Seven of the respondents were providers; twenty-five were consumers. They attended the following discussion groups: Consumer and financial issues 9 Preventatiye Health Care and Clinics 1 'Nutrition 5 Home Services 6 Housing 2 Transportation 3 Dealing With Stress 6 The respondents checked the following comments regarding what they liked best or least about the workshop: Best Least Keynote Speaker 23 0 .Discussion Grotip 23 1 Help with Personal Problem 4 2 Resource Infor#nation 12 2 ..Knowledge Gained about Elderly 6 4 Planning for Elderly 6 3 When asked if they gained information, the response was: yes 22 (especially in consumer and financial) No 6 Other kinds of workshops that were suggested include: Health care and clinics 2 .,Financial/budgeting/taxes 8 Home care/maintenance 3 Volunteerism/neighbors 2 Crafts 2 Planning by providers 2 Contact for bereaved 1 Stress 1 Vocational training 1 • WORKSHOP ON LEXINGTON ELDERLY NEEDS REPORTS FROM THE COMMITTEE - LORE KERN Name of Discussion Group - Comsumer and Financial Issues Name of Reporter - Barbara Rubin Number of people in the group - 16 4 designated resource people Most of the rest were senior citizens Major Issues Discussed 1. Budgeting - How to budget in view of inflation and fixed income. 2. Investments - How to invest wisely - Need more information. 3. Medicare end Health Costs - Measures to fill the gaps in health care. i.e. routine health care is not paid for. 4. Tax assistance. Recommendatlobs A. More courses and programs for Pre-Retirement. Better planning for retirement. B. Adult Education Programs on budget, tax shelters, finances. C. Health Care - How to get coverage for eyes, eyes, ears, teeth, feet, prescriptions and other non-covered things. Write to congressmen. D. Programs to maintain good health - Dancing classes, exercise classes, walks. E. Middlesex Community College has a free hot line for consumer issues. See sheet *2. Name of Discussion Group - PrT ev _t_LvP Health Care and Clinics Name of Reporter - Anne Scigliano Number of people in the group - 14 3 designated resource people Most of the rest were senior citizens Available Services Symmes has cancer screening clinics, health education programs. Service organizations have hypertension, glaucoma, diabetic and hearing screening. Board of Health runs the Flu clinic and well - elderly clinics. -2- Local pharmacist has special knowledge and can alert and advise. 4, Cooperative Elder Services - for the frail elderly - the Adult Day Care Health Center - Kate Meyer, Director Call 861-9276. Problems Many services are not well utilized. A better coordination of clinics is needed to avoid duplication acid avoid specializing. A clearing house is needed for dates. Also a possible newsletter is needed to indicate what's going on. Name of Discussion Group - Dealing with Stress Name of Reporter - Anne Gillis Number of people in the group - 17 See attached sheets for completed report. 3 Name of Discussion Group - Transportation Name of Reporter - Sara Arnold Number of people in the group - 6- including 2 resource people Topics of Discussion MMHC provides transportation for medical appointments. Has one wheelchair van. FISH - trips in Lexington, not just medical . Shopping, etc. Some medical trips outside of Lexington. Lexpress - has fixed routes. Problems More publicity of what is available. FISH needs more volunteers. Lexpress - sometimes the stop is too much of a walk for seniors. • -3- Possible Solutions r, Lekpress to make several stops in senior apartment complexes. Senior passes for elderly busing during certain hours. Arranged pick-ups on special hours. If Name of Discussion Group - Housing Name of Reporter - Joseph Rooney Number of people in the group - 13 - including 3 resource people Topics of Discussion Problems of housing in Lexington are very complex. Cost of housing is too expensive for elderly to retire here. Elderly can't afford to keep home up on fixed income. Elderly with income below $8000 have senior housing projects. Above this income limit there is no housing. Apartments are scarce and expensive. Name of Discussion Group - Home Services Name of Reporter - Peter Sugarman Number of people in the group - 8 - including 3 resource people Topics of Discussion Physical home care - direct hands-on-care. Chore - Client's environment. Respi-type - Help for the total family. Pay for services - Finding people to do the services. Help is hard to find. � c -4- Possible Solution Volunteers - a skill bank of elders - directed at elders. .00 Schools teachingcourses of homemakingand home health aide work to students. Possible job bank - after school , Saturdays and summers. Name of Discussion Group - Nutrition Name of Reporter Elizabeth McCarthy Number of people in the group - 13 - including 3 resource people Topics of Discussion Discussed food in general , some diet limitation of the elderly. Meals-on-Wheels program. Bedford nutrition site needed Some myths dispelled - these meals were not charity. Served nice food, low in sodium. Pleasant socially: Needed volunteers. Needs Importance of companionship at meals. Understanding how to modify your diet. Resource for special diet questions. WORKSHOP ON ELDERLY NEEDS• APRIL 14, 1981 DISCUSSION GROUP REPORT /- Name of Discussion Group - Dealing with Stress Name of Reporter - Anne Gillis Number of people in the group - 17 4 designated resource people 1 social worker in nursing home 1 director of volunteers in hospital 2 younger women with League of Women Voters r Most of the rest were older citizens including head of AARP, active COA volunteer running chorus group, pastoral assistant, nursing home visitor, former FISH volunteer, visitor from Florida •very active in RSVP, etc. Topics of Discussion 1 . Stress What is it? a) Positive aspects - Prompts us to organize ourselves, plan ahead, mobilize our strengths/skills. b) Age-related crisis:caustng:stress - retirement and associated lack of structure and diminished income. • - loss of support systems - children moving, death of relatives and friends. - failing health and decreased mobility in advanced age. 2. How to feel better a) We need to be needed and to keep busy and active - can do this through volunteer work. Examples given by group and suggested by hospital volunteer director, i .e. meals delivery and telecare. Agreed that there are not enough sufficiently challenging and meaningful organized volunteer activities. We need to be more aware of the needs of others around us and to organize more volunteer programs to help those less well than ourselves , i .e. "listening ministry", telephone checking and reassurance, etc. b) We need to pursue our skills and interests and keep our bodies in good condition - through groups organized around activities i .e. art, crafts, music/dance, bridge, exercise - there seem to be quite a few such activities in Lexington. A member of the group will be involved in Elder Hostel program this summer (living and taking classes on college campuses in other parts of the country) . c) Reaching out for help when we have had major life crisis or change - Through peer support groups such as widow-to-widow, group for relatives of senile people (Alzheimer) , stroke club, cancer support groups, etc. - By seeking pastoral counsel or counseling from mental health workers, hospital social workers, etc. - More difficult for the home bound - Mental health workers should go to them. -2- Dominant Needs Communication - two way to identify the people who need help - and the sources of help available to them - It is up to all of us to "take someone in need by the hand" so that they can become more involved with others in social activities and with organizations that offer help. People also need to learn to recognize when they are becoming adversely affected by stress and need help in changing what can be changed and accept- ing what cannot be changed. Conclusions/Recommendations In addition to the above, it was suggested that there be a 24 hour "hot line" for advice and referral as COA has limited hours and frequently people don't know what to do in a crisis (MVMHC has 24 hour service limited to psychiatric crisis) . Another suggestion was that a comprehensive resource directory be made available to all and updated regularly (Minuteman Home Care Corp. has a directory but few in group have seen it) . Perhaps the social and mental health agencies could run workshops on coping with stress itself.