Senior Services Committee

CITY OF VERONA SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE JUNE 9, 2020 VERONA SENIOR CENTER MINUTES 1. The meeting of the Senior Services Committee was called to order by Katie Kohl at 6:03 p.m. 2. Roll Call: On roll call: Charlotte Jerney, Katie Kohl, and Christine Posey were present. Also present: Stephanie Ehle, Senior Center Director; and Ellen Clark, City Clerk. 3. Approval of the minutes from the February 11, 2020 Senior Services Committee meeting. Motion by Jerney, seconded by Posey, to approve the minutes from the February 11, 2020 Senior Services Committee meeting. Motion carried 3-0. 4. Director’s Report  The locks on all the doors were replaced by J & K Security Solutions. Keys given to people renting the facility are for exterior doors only. Ideally, a key fob for tracking who is entering and exiting the building will be installed on one of the doors later this year.  The summer intern position has been put on hold. This may be revisited in the fall.  Presenting programs in the virtual world is working well, and has been well received.  The Meals on Wheels program has been adapted to the COVID world. They are delivered once a week to approximately 20 people, with enough food delivered to provide for at least one meal a day for a week. The Center is working with the food pantry, Festival Foods and TNT Catering for food choices.  A drive-up meal option has been added, with 45 meals being served today, June 9 th. TNT Catering from Middleton is doing a great job with the food choices for the drive- up option, and Ehle is receiving great feedback. When the Center re-opens, TNT Catering will be the new provider for congregate meals, as well. Posey asked if there is a local catering option. Ehle replied most local businesses cannot match the $5 per meal price point or offer a different meal 5 days a week that isn’t repetitive. TNT matches all of our needs, and is also able to puree foods.  Staff is being very cautious about re-opening the Center. The u-shaped space at the front desk will be closed in with tempered glass. The hole in the kitchen wall will also be closed. These will be permanent fixes. Kohl asked about social distancing. Ehle replied they will be using rubber disks that can be moved around on the carpet to mark six feet. The number of pieces of furniture will be reduced, as well, as each piece will have to be cleaned every time someone uses it.   A soft opening is planned for July. Virtual programming will continue, using YouTube, Facebook Live, Zoom presentations, etc. Only one or two programs will be held each day. Case managers are reaching out daily to those without the connectivity to participate in virtual programming. Only ten program participants will be allowed in the Center at any one time for live programs.  Painting the exterior of the building while there are fewer people at the Center is being considered. She is looking for feedback regarding possible colors for the exterior. She is also consulting area contractors and Sherwin Williams. 5. Building security Update This item was discussed in the Director’s Report. 6. Reports on Programs and Case Management: Programs  Seniors will be signing up for programs using an online program, so they will already be registered when they arrive and the Center, and will not have to stop at the front desk.  There were four Facebook Live presentations in May, called the “Kindness Podcast”. Four more Zoom presentations are scheduled for June.  A new YouTube Channel has been created for the Senior Center. Any programs or events that have ever been recorded are on the channel. MATC Occupational Therapy students created several programs for the channel, as well.  Staff worked on creating new exercise options, including Parkinson’s specific, yoga, aerobics, and more. Many of the current exercise instructors are providing virtual exercise programs through Zoom, as well.  Virtual bingo and trivia are in the planning phase.  The Chronicle was rewritten to provide virtual ideas and links, as well as ideas for entertaining things to do at home. Kohl expressed her appreciation to Alasa for providing so much virtual programming. Case Management  Case managers are reaching out to their full caseloads every week. Jan is sending snail mails to those that do not have the technology to communicate electronically.  The Caregivers Support Group began meeting again on June 2 nd via Zoom. They will continue to meet via Zoom on the 1 & 3rd Tuesday of the month. The Center opened its own Zoom account, so the participants can talk as long as they want when they get together.  Helping Hands funds were requested to provide a Kindle to an isolated senior.  Seniors with food insecurity receive weekly food packages, as well as a weekly check-in via phone from their case managers.  Case managers have been scheduling medical appointments, ordering groceries and providing mental health resources to seniors and their families.   Case Managers have been working with the Verona Police Department and Fitch- Rona EMS for clients having social, security or mental health concerns. They have also been making check-in phone calls to their clients.  Several spouse and family member deaths have taken place during the confinement period, bringing about new challenges, such as mourning during isolation and the inability to have a traditional memorial service. Others have been coping with not being able to visit loved ones residing in care facilities.  Case Managers participated in a Zoom webinar with two physicians from Boston University regarding what can be expected when COVID subsides. Both physicians agreed that there will be an increase in people with mental health issues at the end of the pandemic.  June 15th is world elder abuse awareness day.  Working on finishing Boston University Geriatric Certificate. 7. Future needs/planning efforts for the Senior Center and Verona seniors Jerney explained she requested that this be added to the agenda. There had been some discussion about whether the Senior Center is outgrowing its space, but we do not seem to be working off any data about this. She wonders if the Senior Center could be integrated into some of the building plans in the Sugar Creek Elementary School project. The need would have to be established, and discussions should probably start about it now. Kohl stated the CDA did discuss a community center/senior center as part of the plan. The chosen developer will conduct community meetings to determine how the buildings in that project will be used. Jerney stated this committee would be a good place to bring some attention to this need. Posey asked Ehle if this is anything she has researched or thought about. Ehle stated when she became the Director, there was only one program offering at a time. Since then, the Center is getting busier all the time. She does not think we are out of space yet, but with the growing baby boomer population, things will change. It would be great to have a larger exercise room, but that will come later. Posey suggested they ask for Census data, and wondered about the possibility of leasing space, versus building a new building. As baby boomers get older, there will be a lull. It may be smart to use spaces that meet the needs at the time. Ehle would like to see intergenerational activities, and if they continue to have 45 people participating in drive-up dining every day, she will need a larger kitchen soon. She has seen other facilities in which there was more going on with less space and less staff. It could be good to couple the Senior Center with a community center or some other community service. It may encourage more people to participate in the facility. Jerney stated a mix of people and ages may be good. It may be possible to keep the existing building, and have some programs at other locations, as well. Ehle would like to partner with the recreation department, hosting programs for children at the Center that take place while the seniors are there. It would be wonderful for  intergenerational development. Another possibility may be to provide recreation programs to seniors at a discount. Jerney and Posey commented that they like the intergenerational concept and co- sponsoring of youth activities. 8. Other Business The next meeting will be held in August. Posey requested that an email be sent to the committee in July regarding how the soft re-opening is going. 9. Adjournment Motion by Jerney, seconded by Posey, to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Motion carried 3-0.