March 13, 2025 Minutes

Weld Area Agency on Aging - Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting Location: Zoom Invite & Area Agency on Aging, 315 N 11th Ave., Bldg. C., Greeley, CO
Meeting: Thursday, March 13, 2025 (Thursday) 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Minutes

1. Roll Call

   • Board Members

     • Attended

       • Susan Collins, DeAnn Cure, Father Steve Karcher, Vice-Chair-Alan Kress, Ruth Leitel, Valeria Ortiz, Commissioner Peppler, Aaron Sanchez, Anne Curry Sanchez, Gillian Smith, Lynn Young

     • Absent

       • Kay Broderius, Chair-Nancy Haffner, Jami Shepherd, Diana Vasquez

   • AAA Staff

     • Attended

       • Tami Grant, Department of Human Services Deputy Director
       • Kelly Morrison, Home & Community Supports Division Director
       • Meredith Skoglund, Community Outreach Manager
       • Michelle Roper, Administrative Assistant

   • Guests

     • Jessi Like, AAA Registered Dietitian

2. Approval of Minutes:

   • Motion made by Vice-Chair Kress to approve the minutes from February 13, 2025. Member Smith made first approval and Member Young made second approval. All approved.

3. Program

   • Friendly Fork & Meals on Wheels Programs

     • The purpose of Nutrition Services is to:
       • Reduce hunger, food insecurity & malnutrition
       • Eligibility based on age, not income or resources
       • Many report this is their main meal of the day
       • Promote socialization
       • Promote health & well-being
       • In 2024, the Friendly Fork served over 81,000 meals and Meals on Wheels served over 42,000 meals.
     • The role of the Dietitian is:
       • Menu Planning
         • Meals contain 1/3 of the nutrition an older adult requires in a day. Older adults are encouraged to eat 3 meals a day.
         • Each Friendly Fork meal provides at least 667 calories, and Meals on Wheels provides a minimum of 600 calories. Dietary protein makes up 20% or more of those calories. As we age, if the proper amount of protein is not consumed, the body will take protein from the existing muscle tissue for maintenance. This is called sarcopenia.
         • Nutrition education through group classes is offered at least 4 times a year. 1-on-1 nutrition counseling sessions are offered upon participant request. Requests for counseling can be made when filling out the registration form. Contact information is provided at each site for anyone wishing to have counseling as well as sent out each month through the Meals on Wheels flyer.
         • Food Safety and Sanitation training for volunteers and food service staff occurs yearly.
       • Q: Vice-Chair Kress – Are the counseling sessions done in person or virtual?
         • A: Staff Member Like – They can be done at our offices, in their home or over the phone.
       • Q: Member Curry Sanchez – Does the 1-on-1 counseling get promoted any other way besides the flyer, such as Radio PSA’s?
         • A: Staff Member Like – It is promoted through the Greeley Tribune and notices at meals sites.
       • Q: Commissioner Peppler – Can someone older reverse Sarcopenia?
         • A: Staff Member Like – It depends on their diet, physical activity and their overall health.
       • Q: Member Collins – Can function improve?
         • A: Staff Member Like – It can help to improve the actions of daily life.
       • Q: Vice-Chair Kress – Are Boost drinks recommended?
         • A: Staff Member Like – They are not meant for long term use, recommended as supplemental only.
       • Q: Member Sanchez – How much of the budget for AAA goes into this program?
         • A: Staff Member Skoglund – 50% of the budget.
       • Q: Member Collins – With the nutrition program being a part of the Older Americans Act, is there an amount that they can’t cut from the budget?
         • A: Staff Member Skoglund – We can only use the money we are given but it is our #1 priority.
       • Q: Vice-Chair Kress – Where is the food sourced from?
         • A: Staff Member Like – The UNC kitchen orders their food form Sisco food service. By ordering in bulk, they get a cheaper price. 93% of the food is U.S. sourced.
       • Q: Member Sanchez – How much of the budget for AAA goes into this program?
         • A: Staff Member Skoglund – 50% of the budget.
       • Q: Member Karcher – Would it be more cost effective to use plant protein than meat protein?
         • A: Staff Member Like – The body doesn’t have to take as many steps to breakdown animal protein so you have to eat less of it than plant protein to get the amount that the body needs..

4. Committee Overview, Sign-up, and Committee Reports

   1. Nutrition

      • Member Young – Jointed the Friendly Fork Advisory Committee. The committee will be taking a tour of the UNC kitchen next week.
      • Staff Member Skoglund – UNC would like to host a lunch tour for the AAA Board on May 15th at 11am. This would be in place of the Board meeting that was scheduled for May 8th.

   2. ADRC

      • Nothing to report.

   3. AARP Livable Communities

      • Submitting grant applications.

   4. Fraud Updates

      • Same scams continue. Be vigilant, don’t click on links, call the source to confirm. AARP provides great Fraud resources.

   5. Legislative & CCA

      • Refer to email updates from Member Shepherd.

   6. 50+ Art Show

      • Member Sanchez – Sending out sponsorship forms.

   7. Beyond 60

      • Staff Member Skoglund – Still looking for articles. Runs weekly and articles can be up to 400 words.

   8. Monitoring, Oversight, Request for Proposal

      • HCSD Director Morrison - The contract with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is ending in June for the Colorado Choice Transitions program. This program is intended to get members of the Medicaid program out of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to the community using home and community-based services. It has not been very successful. Weld County would need to hire an additional person to do this work but financially are unable to do so based on the state budget.
      • HCSD Director Morrison - Provider contract negotiations are happening in April and May of 2025 for new contract amendments effective July 1, 2025.

5. Board Participation Reports:

   • Members Sanchez & Curry Sanchez – Attended the Anschutz fair and spoke to the individuals that put together the fair. Recommended it should be done all over Weld County and they stated they are willing to come to Greeley.
   • HCSD Director Morrison - Will look into hosting here in Greeley at Island Grove but separate from the Senior Symposium.
   • Member Smith – Working on making a visit to Lochbuie for lunch.

6. General Agency Updates:

   • Nothing at this time

7. Upcoming Events

   • Greeley/Weld Senior Foundation: May 25, 2025
   • 50+ Art Show: September 24, 2025
   • Senior Symposium: October 2, 2025
   • Project Connect: October 16, 2025
   • Caregiver Appreciation Day:  November 7, 2025

8. Adjournment

   • Motion to adjourn meeting. All agreed.

9. Next meeting

   • Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 9:00 – 11:00 am