Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING September 8, 2021 PRESENT: Jennifer DeLuca Kelley Sylvia Tracy Heger Edward Duffy Laura Miola Joanne LaFerrara Ann Kardamis Herbert Day *Present Via Zoom: Charlene Bonenfant Lori Gonsalves ABSENT: Edward O’Brien Mary Beth Forshaw Meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Charlene Bonenfant Ann Kardamis made a motion to accept the June 9, 2021 meeting minutes. Herbert Day seconded. All in favor. Board Meeting Reports 09.08.2021 Charlene Bonenfant, Director Department of Human Services Staff Board Report 9/8/2021 Charlene began the meeting with thanking former Board member Barry Burke for his service and then introduced our newest board member Edward Duffy.  City and Grant Funding updates - We will be receiving just over $250,000.00 in ARPA funds over the next fiscal year – we are in the final stages of solidifying a plan for this funding and will have a full report on this for you at the October meeting.  Vaccination Clinics – the city is currently using the VaxBus to outreach the unvaccinated. There is not a plan in place at this time for the “third shot”; the COVID coordinator will follow up with us when more information is available. Charlene emphasized that the Department of Public Health is calling it the 3rd shot and not a booster shot and right now Pfizer is the only approved 3rd shot. Charlene stated that the COVID Coordinator is planning to use the VaxBus for the 3rd shot.  Renovations - THA and our office is currently reaching out to Bristol Elder Services and the State Representative to see if it is possible to receive $10 million from either the ARPA funds or the new infrastructure funds to see if we can have a full renovation inclusive of the infamous sprinkler system. The new building will have two floors and a larger Senior Center.  Collaboration on Housing with Programming – Once the ARPA funding is finalized we will be conducting activities meetings with a hopeful kick off of January 1, 2021. More details to follow. Charlene added we will also be using Community Rooms throughout Housing as Satellite Senior Centers throughout the community.  Charlene mentioned that Edward O’Brien, Chairman of the Board, is still collecting data from the community needs assessment. *Charlene Bonenfant Reported for Mary Beth Forshaw in her absence: Mary Beth Forshaw, Community Relations Counselor Department of Human Services Staff Board Report 9/8/2021  Mary Beth expended all of her United Way funds and $250,000.00 Earmark funds from Senator Marc Pacheco. The earmark funds assisted multiple agencies such as the soup kitchen, housing, TACT with food insecurities. It assisted our agency with grab and go events and with utility and rental emergencies.  The current programs are awaiting funding from the United Way and will also be receiving ARPA funds for rental and utility assistance. Jennifer DeLuca, Assistant Director Department of Human Services Staff Board Report 9/8/2021 Old Business:  1122 Elder Telephone Contacts  442 Home & Office Visits  319 Nursing Interactions  30 New Referrals New Business:  Intern started 9/2 to assist with Case Management in EO specifically at Mobile Home Parks.  Peer Friendly Visiting Program currently has 5 matches of volunteers that will be introduced this week.  EO Program continues to fully operate with COVID precautions in place Outstanding moment since the last board meeting:  High amount of new complex referrals coming in, all cases have been assigned and contacted within the new referral time frame. Herbert Day asked for further clarification on the “new complex referrals”. Jennifer answered that Outreach is getting more calls for couples and elders needing help with new issues that developed during or due to COVID and some being isolated. Tracy Heger, Senior Center Coordinator Department of Human Services Staff Board Report 9/8/2021 Old Business:  Wed., June 9th – Oldies Lunch at Hopewell Park – 20 seniors attended  Thurs., June 10th & June 17th - 1 day of meals in a bag – Grab n Go at the office – 177 picked up Remainder (23) were given out by Outreach Staff to their clients interested.  Thurs., June 10th – Craft Project – Flip Flop Door hanger – 6 seniors attended   Wed., June 16th – Luau Grab n Go at the Nursing Home – 197 seniors picked up a lunch consisting of Teriyaki chicken breast, veggie stir fry, glazed baby carrots, fruit cup and pineapple upside down cake.  Tues., June 22nd – Ice Cream Social at Hopewell Park – 36 seniors attended & nursing students from Bristol Plymouth HS giving Blood Pressure checks.  Tues., June 29th – 64 meals of a cooked rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes & butternut squash from Trucchi’s were delivered to Dighton Housing for their residents. Paid from an earmark from Senator Marc Pacheco.  Thurs., July 8th – Movie – The War with Grandpa – 18 seniors attended  Tues., July 20 – Fantastic Feud – 16 seniors attended  Thurs., August 5th – Movie – Knives Out – 13 seniors attended  Tues., August 10th – Oldies Lunch – 28 attended  Wed., August 25th - Movie – Gran Torino – 18 attended  Thurs., August 26th – Ask the IT Guy – 6 seniors attended-Tracy added that Ask the I.T. Guy will now be hosted twice a month at the request of the Seniors.  The week of June 21st & August 23rd were shred weeks – 76 seniors took advantage of the program from bins brought by the Taunton Federal Credit Union  We started 2 new 5 week programs at Hopewell pool: Aqua Chi & Senior Swim hours – 70 seniors attended both programs in the 5 week period.  A monthly bereavement group was started in August facilitated by Pastor Larry Smith.  On August 31st we started a 5 week Pfilates group that 23 seniors attended  Our IPhone / IPad group was starting up in August but our volunteer instructor moved out of state. We will be looking to replace him. New Business:  Sept. 15th at 9:30 am– Wisdom Wednesday Grab n Go at the Nursing Home – Breakfast sandwich, home fries & Orange juice will be given out to 150 seniors who register. Other city departments will be there to give out inspirational goodies.  Sept. 15th at 1:30 pm –Celebrating New England – Story teller, Davis Bates presents the diverse cultural heritage of the New England Region.  Sept. 16th at 1:30 pm – Healthy Bone & Veggie Broth – Dave Wheeler from Therapy Gardens will present and let participants sample different kinds of broth and teach how to make it. Recipes and tips will be given out.  Sept. 20th – start taking names for Open Enrollment – Open Enrollment is Oct. 15th – Dec. 7th  Sept. 23rd at 1:30 pm – The New Bedford Local Consumer program will talk about scams and identity theft.  Our Walking Group will end for the season on September 27th, & be replaced with another fitness class.  Craft Grab n Go project for 30 seniors starting Oct. 1st – Burlap Ribbon Christmas Tree  An 8:45 Monday Fitness class will replace the walking group starting Oct. 4th  Zumba will start on Tuesdays at 11:15 am on Oct. 5th – after Pfilates ends.  Oct. 6th – 9 am-11 am Flu / COVID vaccine Clinic by appointment at the Senior Center – Noted that this is for first time shots and not a booster or 3rd shot.  Oct. 6th – Health Fair 9:00 am-12:00 pm at the Senior Center will host 8 or 9 vendors.  First and Third Wednesday of every month starting Oct. 6th – 10 am – 12 pm – Blood pressure & Glucose Screenings. This will start off at the Health Fair with our Nurse on staff Marie Breen.  Oct. 12th at 11:30 am at the Nursing Home – Heart to Home Meals donated 150 meals for a Grab n Go. Outstanding moment since the last board meeting: Our new Aqua Chi class at Hopewell Pool was a success and the participants are excited to have it come back next year!! We should also be able to add a couple of more weeks to the program now that the pool renovations have been completed. Lori Gonsalves TOTF (Taunton Opiate Task Force) 9/8/2021  08/30/21 was Overdose awareness day.  8/31/21 Overdose awareness Day event was held at Liberty Union Park.  255 Flags were placed at the event.  231 Purple flags were placed for the non-fatal overdose cases in Taunton in 2020.  24 Red flags were placed for the fatal overdose cases in Taunton in 2020.  To date in September 2021 the amount of overdose cases are already almost at the total case count for 2020.  COVID is a contributing factor to the increase in overdose cases due to an increase in mental health issues.  The Overdose Awareness Day event had 21 resource tables, speakers, and food from Our Daily Bread.  Lori thanked Mary Beth for all of her work and assistance with the event. Herbert Day made a motion to adjourn @ 10:35 a.m. Seconded by Joanne LaFerrara. All in favor. Next meeting: Wednesday, September 8, 2021 (Charlene noted that should the Delta variant cause a rise in COVID cases the next meeting will be held via zoom for all.)