HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging & Disability Advisory Committee - Minutes - 9/15/2014
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Department of Human Services
117 East Fifth Street
P.O. Box 100
Washburn, WI 54891-0100
BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES
Bayfield County Courthouse, Conference Room B
Monday, September 15, 2014 at 3:00p.m.
Committee Members Present: Richard Compton, Patty Carver, Betty Schell and Jim
Crandall
Committee Members Absent: Susan Sederholm, Martha Oie, Red Cliff Elder Program
Rep., Kenneth Jardine and Ron Stauske
Staff Present: Carrie Linder, Denise Ruberg, and Sheila Mack
Call to order and introductions: Due to the lack of a quorum, an official meeting
could not be held. The informal meeting was called to order by Carrie Linder at
3:03p.m. and introductions were made.
Review of the July 21, 2014 Meeting Minutes: Tabled due to lack of quorum.
Public Comment – Limited to 3 minutes per person: No Public Comment
Elect Chair and Vice Chair: Tabled due to lack of quorum.
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment – Sheila Mack, Elder Benefit Specialist:
Sheila Mack, Elder Benefit Specialist for Bayfield County gave a presentation on the
following:
Medicare Part D and why it is important to check if your Part D plan
will still be the best drug plan for you next year. Each year all of the drug
plans change their premiums, copays, and formularies, so even if one is happy
with their current drug plan, it won’t be the same next year due to the changes,
so it may not be the best plan for that person next year. Sheila assists
individuals with finding the best drug plan for them during the Annual Enrollment
Period between October 15th and December 7th each year. Individuals can also
go to Medicare.gov and do the planfinder themselves to find the best drug plan
for the following year. Sheila has written instructions on how to find the best
drug plan at the Medicare.gov website and she gives them to individuals who
want them.
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SeniorCare: SeniorCare is a Wisconsin prescription drug program, and if
individuals enroll in SeniorCare, they do not have to enroll in Medicare Part D.
Individuals 60 and older can enroll in SeniorCare anytime of year. However, one
glitch with SeniorCare is that SeniorCare will not pay for self-administered drugs
while someone is in the hospital, but Part D will.
Medicare supplements, cost plans, and Medicare Advantage
plans: Sheila stated that the best place to get help with deciding which of those
plans to take is the Medigap HelpLine.
Sheila handed out her and the Northern IM Consortium business cards and also
brochures and documents that pertain to the programs that she went over.
WI DOT 85.21 Specialized Transportation Program: The WI DOT 85.21
Specialized Transportation Program provides financial assistance to counties providing
transportation services for elderly and disabled persons. Increases in the grant and
partnerships with BART allowing for use of the grant as match for additional Federal
funds has resulted in the DOT trust fund to reach $90,000. We will have to provide a
plan for expending some of the trust fund in the 2015 85.21 application. Past activities
have included increased transportation services in the Iron River area, which is being
reviewed again. Another area identified includes individuals discharged from the
hospital after hours who need transportation home. Input from the committee is
welcome and more information and plans will be forthcoming.
Nutrition Program updates:
A. Staffing Updates: Emily Bainbridge’s, last day of employment was September 4,
2014. Dana Hodowanic has been doing well as the new Barnes Meal Site
Facilitator. Job duties have changed for Roberta Meyers, who was hired as .5
FTE Adult Protective Services and .5 FTE Aging Services and Sheila Mack, Elder
Benefit Specialist. Support staff are taking on some of the administrative duties
allowing for Roberta and Sheila to spend increased time with clients.
B. Elderly Nutrition Program Contracts: ENP contracts can be extended a maximum
of 3 years; 2014 is the end of the first year. The process is lengthy and has not
resulted in any interest from additional vendors. Linder is recommending
extending the current contracts for 2015; committee members in attendance
agreed.
ADRC Udates: Jack Holevatz is now a full time employee and works half of his time
as Bayfield County Aging and Disability Specialist and half of his time as a regional
ADRC of the North Information and Assistance Specialist. The transition has been a
positive one for all employees.
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OTHER: (Informational Items)
A. Emergency Preparedness Month: September is Emergency Preparedness month.
It is important for people to understand their own personal responsibility in being
prepared for an emergency situation. Carrie provided a hand-out regarding
preparedness for older adults.
B. Local Educational Opportunities: There are two upcoming conferences, Carrie
handed out brochures.
1). Senior Moments: Normal Aging versus Dementia on Thursday, September 25,
2014 from 6:30p.m. – 8:30p.m. (5:30p.m. is Buffet Dinner & Booths) at the
WITC Conference Center. There is no cost to attend this conference.
2). 13th Annual Caregivers Conference being held on Friday, October 17, 2014
from 8:30a.m. – 3:45p.m. at the AmericInn in Ashland. The cost is $20.00 per
person which includes: Refreshments, snacks, lunch, conference sessions and
materials.
Future Meetings: The next meeting date is scheduled for December 8, 2014.
Motion to Adjourn: Carrie unofficially adjourned the meeting at 3:57p.m.
Minutes submitted by,
Denise Ruberg Clerk II