Meeting Minutes
FEBRUARY 22-24, 2005
BARANOF HOTEL - JUNEAU, AK
APPROVED MAY 17, 2005
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
22, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Banarsi Lal, called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Members in attendance:
Frank Appel, Robert Head,
Sharon Howerton-Clark, Dan Karmun, Banarsi Lal, Ed Zastrow. A quorum was present.
Members not in attendance
: Michael Black, Betty
Keegan, Ray Matiashowski, Priscilla Thorsness
ACoA Staff:
Linda Gohl, Nancy Karacand, MaryAnn VandeCastle,
Lillan Bradley
INTRODUCTION OF
GUESTS
Marianne Mills,Pat Branson,
Jim Carroll, Karleen Jackson and Joel Gilbertson. Michelle Holloway, GEC, joined via teleconference.
ADOPTION OF THE
AGENDA
Added Jim Shine – Alaska Traumatic Brain Injury Board(TBI), Thursday at 11:20 a.m. No objections. Approved.
ADOPTION OF THE
MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 2-3, 2004 MEETING
Motion:
Sharon
Howerton-Clark and Ed Zastrow to adopt minutes of December 2004 meeting.
REPORTS FROM STATE
AGENCIES
JOEL GILBERTSON – DHSS
COMMISSIONER
*Commissioner Gilbertson and
Karleen Jackson. . Philosophies of department:
1.
Promoting self-sufficiency;
independency has a different meaning to different population groups. Seniors live as long as possible as
independently as possible.
2. Acknowledging that not everyone can be
self-sufficient; invest in strong safety net.
3. Develop better infrastructure for
underserved areas/groups and focus on prevention.
Of the bills presented by the
governor this session the one concerning senior care legislation is HB 106
SeniorCare Program which extends the $120 monthly cash benefit for very low
income from December 31, 2005 to June 30, 2007, and adding a new program for
those with incomes up to 300% of poverty, where the state would pay the annual
deductible and monthly premiums when the federal government implements the new
Medicare Part D drug benefit program expected to occur January 1, 2006. Seniors will need to make a decision to opt
in or out of the plan. If they opt in,
they will then have to choose a plan in which to participate. There will probably be at least two
different options for Alaska. 1)
Individual will have to pay a premium and deductible, a total of $670 (a
$35-36/month) the first year. 2) State
will pay the premium and deductible; however, $670 must be paid out of pocket
before they get their first dollar of benefit. There has been some resistance, not to the concept, but to the
cut-off. This group [ACOA] needs to
weigh in on this. Also, another bill HB
105 increases dental service coverage for adults for those eligible under
Medicaid. The real impetus is seniors
as it will cover either the upper or lower part of new dentures per year.
Medicaid has become long-term care
insurance for Americans, regardless of income. State is now paying for 95% of long-term care beds (skilled
nursing). This will require much
federal work to build a long-term care system that takes the burden off Medicaid,
which was never intended for this purpose. The Pioneer Home in Palmer will also become a Veterans’ home with 79
beds. It’s moving slow but coming
along. No one is forced to leave or
relocate. The vets have to be age 65+.
States are still digesting what it all means. CMS involved. Federal program
has a subsidy for seniors. SSA involved
because they provide the subsidy for low-income seniors. The department will continue to staff senior
information office; work with AARP and senior centers. Right now this is all conceptual.
Question from Dan Karmun: “Are
there any other combo facilities?” Yes,
there are veterans in all our Pioneer Homes. They are being denied benefits. If they stay in a “veterans’ home”, they
get a per diem veteran’s benefit. The
goal is to convert the other homes, but they have to meet federal standards
which require improvements to the facility.
Linda Gohl: “regarding the claw
back provision, is it set in federal statute?” “Yes, however it raises concerns of “federalism” at the state
level. Feds knew states would save
dollars on Medicaid due to Medicare part D as prescriptions are currently
covered by the state but those individuals would be covered under the new
federal program. The states won’t be
paying drug costs for dual eligibles. So the claw back provision allows the federal government to determine
how much each state should be charged for the converted coverage. This will cause an increment in our budget,
could be as much as $72 million. The
states are now paying the bulk of the Medicare drug costs. The hope is that Congress will revisit the
bill before implementation starts and fix it up front. CMS is opposed to changing the formula.
DIVISION OF SENIOR
& DISABILITIES SERVICES (DSDS) REPORT: STEVE ASHMAN – DSDS
DIRECTOR.
It costs approximately $285 million
for approximately 6,000 plus people with 3,300 or so on PCA [Personal Care
Attendant] Medicaid program and remaining on 40% on Medicaid Home/Community
Based Waivers, which includes 700 nursing home residents. The department is asking for an increase of
$16.7 million for Medicaid. The PCA
program is the “wildcard” when trying to project future costs and general fund
needs. Pioneers’ Homes now bill
Medicaid for their eligible residents. The state is looking at alternatives to current waivers. Look at best
practices, look at growth in population needing services and come up with a
plan for the future. The division
would like to continue nursing home transition program when that federal grant
expires. Rita Walker has transitioned
78 people out of nursing homes back into their own communities. The FY06 budget
includes a General Fund increase of $225,000 to continue this program. Letters of support to Legislators from the
Commission would be helpful. The cost
of nursing home care is $155,000 per year. Educating the legislature that it’s that high because Alaska chooses to
fund critical access hospitals by funding nursing home care. Stand-alone nursing homes are not affiliated
with hospitals and can be $200 per day.
Asking for $750,000 increase in
general relief which pays for vulnerable adults in assisted living homes; this
is just to maintain funding to meet legislative mandate for this program. DSDS will do whatever is necessary to
maintain the State Plan. The budget
includes one new position for the adult protective services program.
The data conversion project on the
DD side should be resolved this week, which will help speed up payments to
providers for Medicaid billings. The
Division is now using the same assessment tool for both DD and senior HCB
Waivers, from the state of Maine. The department will soon be issuing an RFP for professional services,
related to a long term care study. Task Force for the Real Choice Systems Change Grant is preparing a
report for a self directed waiver for consideration by the department.
Break at 10:30 and back on record at 10:50.
DSDS REPORT: LISA MORLEY – SENIOR GRANTS PROGRAM
COORDINATOR:
Currently working on RFP to go out
in March for meals, rides, national senior service corp programs, and homemaker
services. Combining other home and
community based care: Innovative respite was funded by Mental Health Trust,
only ADRD people were eligible. There
are frail elders without ADRD and who don’t qualify for waiver who need “a
little bit of help.” (Chore) If same 12 providers are interested, we can
negotiate with them rather than doing a competitive RFP for Care Coordination
and Respite and combining funds for these with ADRD services. Providers have 45 days to respond. The grants will be awarded sometime in May. Also separate RFP may be issued for the
National Family Caregiver Support Program as well as for Adult Day Services,
depending on letters of interest we receive. Every program will get visited at least once in every grant cycle. This will be a three year grant cycle for
the RFPs.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Marianne Mills, Director Southeast Senior Services:
Thanked the DSDS and ACoA staff for all of
their efforts and hard work on behalf of seniors.
Rosemary Hagevig, Executive Director, Catholic Community Services,
Juneau:
Received several grants to
purchase and remodel a building to house their adult day program, HUD, block
grant, and Rasmuson Foundation, and are using CCS reserves to build a new
garage at the site to house the Care-A-Vans. Are also considering adding a “memory garden.” The project should be completed sometime this summer. They will be vacating the space at Mountain
View Senior Apartments now used for their adult day program.
Richard Rainery, Executve Director, Alaska Mental Health Board:
Mr. Rainery reported on recent legislative
advocacy activities of the AMHB and offered to join forces with the ACoA in our
advocacy efforts. Discussed federal
funding and possible changes to the mental health funding where approximately
1,000 seniors could lose eligibility for services by 2010.
PIONEERS’ HOME ADVISORY BOARD REPORT: Ed Zastrow, Chair.
For FY06
there will not be any increases to the rates or five levels of care. 2006 budget includes increment for 6 new
positions which are needed as there is more demand for Level III care. The new
average age of entry to the homes has increased to 84 – 87 years old. Discussed other items in the departments
Budget Overview, pages 31-39 for the Pioneers Home system. Pat Branson asked if the Long Term Care
Study as proposed by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services will
include the PH system, and Steve Ahsman said it will, and also home and
community based care services. Levels
of care in the PH system may be adjusted.
AGENET REPORT, Pat Branson, Chair, and Executive Director for the
Senior Citizens of Kodiak:
AgeNet has been around for a number of years and
is comprised of senior service providers across the state. Anyone concerned with meeting senior needs
is welcome to join. We have received
legislative priorities for 2005 and we’ll be advocating for them in the next
few days. Our efforts to enhance ACoA’s
power by adding a provider/caregiver seat to the membership is moving forward. Home community based services saves the
state money versus nursing home care, and seniors do best in their own homes
and communities when services come to
them. This gives them more independence and helps them live longer. John Bittney is AgeNet’s lobbyist.” Senior Citizens of Kodiak received $307,000
from the Rasmuson Foundation to expand our facility for adult day services, and
will allow us to offer services 7 days a week.
AARP REPORT: Marie Darlin, AARP
Coordinator for AARP Capital City Task Force:
Marie introduced Liz Lucas, the new statewide AARP
president. AARP has 79,000 members in
Alaska. AARP is supporting senior care
and dental legislation and it’s going to be important to be heard when these
get to the Finance Committee. Other
legislation includes hearing screening for newborns, etc. AARP is the biggest organization of
grandparents and does not want seniors pitted against children’s needs. We are following the Pioneers Homes bill. The medical malpractice (see handout for
AARP’s view) we are a consumer advocate. We’re watching legislation ‘crimes against elderly victims’ closely as
its very important. If you have any
questions, please call me or the Anchorage office.”
ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORP. REPORT: Jim McCall, Housing Relations Manager.
Funding for senior projects: 16 entities in December had approached
AHFC and four applied for building funds and three were awarded: Willow, six
units for $887,000, Nikiski eight units for $360,000, and Lowden Tribal Council
ten units for $321,000, a total of 1.5 million for 25 units. Most of the applicants are mental health
beneficiaries rather than seniors.
Pre-development planning grants
have been awarded: $20,000 each to
Kenai, Palmer, Soldotna, Aleutians, and $10,000 each to Nilnilchik and
Fairbanks.
There is also a $642,000 loan for
Sterling Area Seniors for ten units of housing that is completed that has seven
one-bedroom and three two-bedrooms units. Moose River Manor for nine unties, seven one bedroom and two, two
bedroom units. Other proposals being
considered: Palmer’s proposed assisted living by converting ownership for
Mountain Rose Estate (east of the state fairgrounds) to assisted living; Haines
proposal of $3.5 million for 12 units for assisted living; seed money awarded
to Ketchikan to use for applying for a construction loan; Cooper Landing is
moving forward with six units; and a $5.4 million loan from AHFC and $ 7 – 8
million from HUD for the McKay building for 58 beds for 1 st
and 4 th
floors, for assisted living known as the ‘McKinley Towers’ in Anchorage. The remaining ten floors will be
apartments. Mark Marlow is the
owner. There are many changes happening
within ADRC and SILC. There is a moratorium
on the state’s housing choice voucher program due to HUD cutbacks, and no more
vouchers are being issued to states.
A study was done that indicated
Anchorage had a need of 208 additional assisted living beds. The Older Persons’ Action Group (OPAG)
survey indicated there are currently 89 vacant beds. Most believe that smaller assisted homes are not competition for the
larger homes, so they are discounted often in the surveys. AHFC’s Comprehensive housing plan is out for
comment the deadline is March 31
st
.
The federal grant project for Aging
and Disability Resource Centers was awarded by the U.S. Administration on Aging
to AHFC for $800,000 last April. The project is for 3 years. AHFC subcontracted with the State Independent Living Council to
administer the project, with Melanie
Peterson as the project manager. Two
pilot projects are up and running, one in Kenai and the other in Juneau with
the Southeast Alaska Independent Living, where Joan O’Keefe manages this part
of project. At Steve Ashman’s request,
Jim said AHFC would be willing to assist the department in disseminating
materials from CMS on medicare program changes during their public
events/trainings, and at the resource centers.
NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR ALASKA NATIVES, AMERICAN INDIANS, AND
NATIVE HAWAIIAN ELDERS REPORT: Dr. George Charles and Janelle Smith.
UAA selected gerontology as their central
focus for their successful grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Dan Karmun has been very helpful in
setting up meetings to develop protocols for Alaska Natives. The goal is to
bring together agencies in coordinated culturally based planning; have multiple
partnerships, i.e. GEC, AOA, ANTHC, etc.; conferences of elders; record and
describe values of Native elders to understand appropriate Native health care
standards; elder abuse; less alcohol; make sure elders are more active and
respected, the changes will happen. Cultural genocide and cultural holocaust, these terms came up over and
over which resulted in social turmoil in villages and inadequate support to
care for elders. The removing of the
elders from their communities has had negative consequences. Tribal and community healing are enhanced
when elders are treated with respect. The summary papers are on our web site (see handout).
Dr. Brian Saylor prepared a
statistical report on health status of Alaska Natives: proportion of elders in
Alaska Natives is smaller than in other races. The frail elderly population is growing fastest, especially in urban
areas of the state and suggests a migration of elders from rural to urban
communities maybe due to lack of services. Fewer differences in causes of death among elderly of all races; cancer
and heart disease; but, Natives have more unintentional injury death and more
chronic conditions than American Indian elders. Chronic conditions were related to income and education
level. Most frequent limitations:
walking, heavy housework. Accidents and
injuries generate more inpatient days for Native elders than any other
cause. Alaska Native elders in urban
areas use disproportionate level of medical services. Elders prefer assisted living and nursing home care.” (They will send out hard copies.)
REVIEW SCHEDULE FOR
VISITS WITH LEGISLATORS:
Nancy Karacand, Planner II: reviewed schedule for visits with
legislators and legislative priorities. Linda Gohl will testify today at House Judiciary committee hearing on
Rep. Stoltze’s proposed legislation pertaining to increasing the penalty for
crimes against those 65 and older, unless the Commissioners want to. We have sent letters of support on the House
HESS Committee members to extend the sunset date for the Suicide Prevention
Council, the Governor’s expanded dental and senior care programs, and will be
sending letters to the Senate Committee members for the Senate versions. We sent out a survey to all Legislative
Advocacy committee members prior to this meeting asking what to recommend to
the full commission as legislative priorities. Some priorities have changed since that time. Other legislative items:
-
ADRD as eligible criteria for Medicaid funding
probably won’t occur this year as this would require that the state submit
an application to the feds and require increases in the general fund. This
would be a hard fight right now given the political climate in the
legislature. But, we’ll continue
to pursue.
-
We support DSDS requiring agencies target ADRD folks
for grant services. Also, the
self-directed waiver that the Task Force is considering might open way for
“universal worker” which might help.
-
Support senior grant program at its current level;
APS funding increase; nursing home transitions program continuation using
new general funds; and expanding Medicaid dental to include preventive
dental care for older Alaskans.
-
Senior grant services funding: DSDS director will
confirm in writing that the department will use existing general funds of
$330,000 in FY06 to restore grant funding levels to FY04 for adult
day/care coordination, and $437,500 in GF/MH for the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority (AMHTA) project match, ADRD Support Services ($250.0) and
Innovative Respite ($187.5), will be rolled into available funding for “in
home services” under the senior
grant program. Excess AMHTA funds
not awarded in FY05 (ADRD) will require a roll forward request to the AMHTA
as well as to the department for increased MHTAAR receipt authority in
FY06. Will ask that the department
include in FY07 budget an increase to GF/MH by $437,500, the amount we did
not receive for FY06 from AMTHA for ADRD services.
- ID theft and crimes against seniors
- Change DOA seat to public member seat on ACoA.
Suggestion was made to have
legislative bills, detailed background and other pertinent information made
available for each bill at an earlier time so ACoA members have more time to
prepare. Linda stated this would
require a full-time staff person during session, or an intern, devoted to doing
nothing else but work and research on legislative issues. At the present time ACoA doesn’t have the
budget for the position or office space. Nancy Karacand offered to work this evening preparing a document
summarizing the priority bills and issues and have it available for hand out to
members on Wednesday.
Recessed at 3:30.
Members
went to the Capital from 4:00 – 5:30 for appointments with legislators.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Banarsi Lal, called the
meeting to order at 9:12 a.m..
ROLL CALL
Members in attendance:
Frank
Appel, Sharon Howerton-Clark, Dan Karmun, Banarsi Lal, Ed Zastrow. Steve Ashman joined at 9:45 a.m. as he was
at a House Finance Committee meeting, and Michael Black joined at 11:00 a.m.
Members not in attendance
:
Betty Keegan, Ray Matiashowski, Priscilla Thorsness
ACoA Staff:
Linda Gohl,
Nancy Karacand, MaryAnn VandeCastle, Lillan Bradley
ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY REPORT: Jeff Jesse, Executive Director; Nelson Page, Trustee.
Jeff and Nelson updated the members on
the Trust’s legislative priorities: Bring the Kids home, Adult Dental,
prevention program for alcohol and drug dependency, Governor’s SeniorCare
Program, Pioneer Home increment for staffing, nursing home transition
program. Met with several members of
the House finance committee this morning. Discussed advocacy approaches and methods that the Commission may want
to consider implementing before end of this session. Letters of support and testifying at committee hearings and
meeting with legislators and staff face to face are good methods. Nelson stated that the medicaid budget has
seen 18-20% increases over the past two years,
Bill Hudson, Former Alaska Representative.
Mr.
Hudson was
invited to speak to the Commission and present his perspective on how to
advocate legislators, what is effective and to respect that their time is
spread thin. Make appointments, keep
your appointments, be prepared by knowing your subject very well and succinctly
state what it is that you want them to do. Position papers are best if kept to one page. Know who their constituency is and establish a good repore with
their staff and key staff on specific subjects. The Commission thanked Mr. Hudson for taking the time to meet
with them and for his advice.
ACoA COMMITTEE REPORTS
ACoA Legislative Advocacy
Committee: See Nancy Karacand’s handout
detailing legislative priorities as discussed on Tuesday. Staff prepared materials and assembled
“intro to ACoA” packets, and delivered to the Capital building last week.
PUBLIC COMMENT
11:30 a.m. No one on line
Jim Shine, Alaska Traumatic Brain Injury Board (ATBIB) Chair.
Mr. Shine
informed the members of the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries
in the state based on results of a federally funded study conducted by the
Division of Behavioral Health (DBH). Alaska is 5
th
of 14 states with a 17% higher rate than those
states of TBI. 84.4 per 100,000 people
affected by TBI. Services are
splintered and families receive no support, but they are the primary
caregivers. Seniors have the 2
nd
highest injury rate, and highest for undiagnosed. It takes 9.6 years before children and seniors are diagnosed
correctly with TBI. DBH has implemented
a mandatory screening tool for use by all behavorial health grantees. Statewide
provider’s training began in March 2005 and second program will occur March
2006. Mr. Shine offered to submit a
written report to Commission staff. Mr. Shine thanked the members for their Executive Directors active
participation on the TBI board.
Kay Branch, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC
). The Chair invited Ms. Branch to speak to the
members and provide an update on the ANTHC elder needs assessment study which
will be completed in March. Ms. Branch
will provide a full report on the outcome of the study at the Commission’s May
meeting. She also informed the group
that the Hospice organization in Anchorage is hosting a palliative care
training May 10-12.
Recessed until Thursday at
9:30. Members will continue with
appointments with Legislators for the rest of the day, and from 8:30 – 9:30
Thursday morning.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Banarsi Lal, called the
meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Members in attendance:
Frank
Appel, Steve Ashman, Robert Head, Sharon Howerton-Clark, Dan Karmun, Banarsi
Lal, Ed Zastrow. A quorum was present.
Members not in attendance
:
Michael Black, Betty Keegan, Ray Matiashowski, Priscilla Thorsness
ACoA Staff:
Linda Gohl,
Nancy Karacand, MaryAnn VandeCastle, Lillan Bradley
OUTCOME OF LEGISLATIVE VISITS
Each group gave a report on what
responses from Legislators. All
supported senior issues, but many had concerns about increases to the general
fund for new programs or expanding programs, such as the SenorCare legislation.
All members asked legislator’s staff if they received the ACoA introductory
packets sent last week.
Frank Appel and Sharon Howerton met
with Lyda Green, Paul Seaton, MIke Chenault, Fred Dyson, and Mike Hawker. Ed Zastrow and Bob Head met with Bert
Stedman, Kevin Meyer, Peggy Wilson, Bittner (staff), Bruce Weyhrauch (staff),
Lesil McGuire, Kim Elton. Ed also had
an evening constituent meeting with Peggy Wilson, Kim Elton and Bert
Stedman. Banarsi Lal and Dan Karmun met
with Wilken, Kelly, Olson, Rep. Foster’s staff, Kohring, and Holm. Rep. Stoltz was unable to make his
appointment although Banarsi waited for an hour.
Ed Zastrow attended the House
Finance Subcommittee meeting this morning before his first appointment, and
heard the DHSS’s presentation of their FY06 $1.7 million budget. Commissioner Gilbertson asked for support of
the members for general fund increments for essential services.
Follow up activities include staff
contacting Betty Keegan, Legislative Advocacy Chair, to schedule the next
committee meeting. Frank Appel
suggested surveying the members regarding appointments with Legislators and
what worked well and what didn’t.
HB 156 – Changing the
Membership of ACoA Board:
Marianne
Mills, Southeast Senior Services and on behalf of AgeNet asked the Commission
to consider asking that language in the proposed legislation be changed from a
public member seat to a provider seat which would replace the existing
Department of Administration seat. AgeNet
members visited legislators, LeDue, Gary Stevens, Wilson, Coghill and the
sponsor, of the bill, Rep. Holm asking for their support for this change.
Barbara Cotting from Rep. Holm’s
office asked the Commission to consider AgeNets’ request and suggested it would
be helpful if they took a vote today before the bill moves to the next
committee. Otherwise this organization
will continue to testify at each committee hearing in both the House and Senate
in support of their requested change. If the Commission supports the change, then Rep. Holm could introduce a
committee substitute prior the bill being scheduled for a hearing in House
Finance. Marianne stated that the
other beneficiary boards all have allotted seats for service providers in their
respective statutes.
MOTION:
Ed Zastrow and
Steve Ashman moved to support AgeNet’s request that the Department of
Administration seat on the ACoA be designated as a provider seat.
Discussion:
Members offered
that a provider could be an asset to the board; if the seat remains a public
seat, Governor can make the decision to appoint a provider; would there be an
age requirement? Should there be an
experience requirement?
MOTION:
Ed Zastrow and
Steve Ashman moved to postpone action on the motion until after lunch, and was
approved unanimously.
Recessed to attend Senator Ted Stevens presentation before a Joint House
and Senate Floor Session at 11:00 a.m.
The meeting reconvened at 1:04
p.m.
MOTION:
Steve Ashman moved to amend motion, and Ed concurred, that
HB 156 be amended, and that the DOA seat be changed to a senior services provider, regardless of age,
and be a recipient of a Division of Senior and Disabilities Services senior
services grant. The motion passed
unanimously.
ACoA COMMITTEE REPORTS
Planning Committee:
Frank
Appel, Chair, provided updates on
status of holding White House Conference on Aging events planned for April 21
and 22 in Anchorage and referred members to Tab 17 of the meeting packets and
MaryAnn VandeCastle’s overview for community held forums, survey for seniors,
letters of invitation to engage local partners, and he schedule for Juneau
forum. On behalf of the planning
committee, Frank complimented MaryAnn for the detailed and good work she has
done planning these events and documents.
Real Systems Change Grant:
Banarsi Lal gave a status of each component of this federal grant from
CMS. ACoA members Betty Keegan, Frank Appel, Dan Karmun and Banarsi Lal, and
Nancy Karacand, staff are members of the Task Force Committee. PASS grant pertains to the personal
attendant training program at UAA; nursing home transition grant where 78
clients have transitioned from nursing homes back to their own home or
apartment which has been very successful and the department supports. This grant ends June 2005. Intent is to change the waiver to allow
personal household items be covered under Medicaid; a new waiver “self
directed” or now calling a “new freedom” waiver, includes a demonstration
waiver to transition this new method. The Governor’s Council on Disabilities has contracted with UAA to
prepare the application to CMS on behalf of the State to add this to the Waiver
program. The department would have to
agree and sign the application. The
GCDSE also hired a technical person from University of Oregon to help with this
project; quality assurance project includes a surveying waiver clients to
include providers and clients in their homes. At the next meeting the Task Force Committee will decide what projects
are a priority, and will be asking that the department sign a request for a no
cost extension to CMS so the remaining funds will not lapse and the project may
move forward for implementation.
Gerontology Education and Training Committee
: Ella Craig, ad hoc member for this committee,
and member of the University of Alaska Geriatric Education Center (GEC)
Committee called to give a status
report. In February the GEC held a
celebration during the 50
th
Anniversary of UAA. There are three GEC advisory boards
representing southcentral, interior and southeast Alaska, of which the interior
and southeast boards have recently met. The GEC is planning the many agenda items and providing help in
coordinating the Full-Lives direct service workers’ training conference to be
held in Anchorage on April 21
st
. The GEC has began a certified Eden Alternative Associate training
program for assisted living and nursing home workers.
PUBLIC COMMENT
DHSS, Division of Public Health.
Karen Lawfer, Russ Stevens and Paula Recchia, presented an overview
of recent health and disease prevention programs; Take Heart, Physical
Activity, and Injury and Fall Prevention. Karen stated the department is applying for a $1.0 million Center for
Disease Control grant and would like to partner with the Commission in any of
health promotions for seniors. If
awarded this grant, they will be surveying the entire state. Karen will be a presenter at the Full
Lives Conference.
RURAL LONG TERM CARE COORDINATOR REPORT: Nancy Webb, Coordinator.
Nancy has been working with service and health care providers in
Nome to pursue next steps for planning assisted living home facility. They will be soliciting for a contractor to
develop feasibility study, and she recommended that they use AHFC’s list of
pre-development contractors to solicit interest. Also working to transition existing independent living facilities
where some units would accommodate more frail elders and also provide in home
services. Nancy will also do some
follow up with Kawarek Association and
members of the Native Village of Unalakleet in April to assist with assisted
living home plans in their community. The Nome Community Center received a $50,000 pre-development grant from
the Denail Commission. Dan Karmun
stated that the Norton Sound Health Corp. developed memorandums of agreement
with each tribal organization/village in the region to coordinate health care
and social program needs for their region. Nancy stated a pending assisted living facility project in Port Graham
which her predecessor worked on is not feasible at this time. Nancy said she would do some followup to
answer Frank’s question regarding why Angoon has vacant apartments in their
senior housing facility.
ACOA MEMBER REPORTS ON ACTIVITES
Members each gave a brief report on activities related to
senior issues or on behalf of the Commission, since the December 2004
meeting.
FALL ACOA MEETING:
ACoA staff prepared a budget for
holding the next meeting in either Kodiak, Fairbanks, Ketchikan or Soldotna
(Kenai area.)
MOTION:
Sharon
Howerton-Clark and Ed moved that the Commission meet in Kodiak for their rural
outreach meeting. Discussion. Motion was withdrawn.
Discussion continued and members
decided to narrow the communities to either Kodiak or the Kenai Peninsula and
to take a verbal vote. The majority
votes were to hold the meeting on the
Kenai Peninsula and to visit several
communities for site visits, September 27, 28 and 29, 2005.
During the May meeting staff will present
scenarios for various senior center site visits.
Next ACoA meeting will be held May 17 – 18
and a Future of Aging in
Alaska ACoA community forum on May 19
th
, at the Lake Lucille Inn,
Wasilla, Alaska.
Members have a visit scheduled,
thanks to Ed Zastrow for arranging, Friday, February 25
th
at the
Juneau Pioneers’ Home in the a.m., and will attend the ACOA WHCOA event at the
Juneau Senior Center from 1 – 4:00 p.m.
ADJOURNED at 4:10 p.m.
