November 14, 2024 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, November 14, 2024 (Thursday) 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Roll Call:
- Board Members
  - Attended:
    - Kay Broderius, Commissioner Buck, Susan Collins, DeAnn Cure, Nancy Haffner, Alan Kress, Aaron Sanchez, Anne Curry Sanchez, Teresa Schunter, Vice-Chair Jami Shepherd, Lynn Young
  - Absent:
    - Father Steve Karcher, Ruth Leitel, Valeria Ortiz, Gillian Smith, Diana Vasquez
- AAA Staff
  - Attended:
    - Kelly Morrison, Home & Community Supports Division Director
    - Meredith Skoglund, Community Outreach Manager
    - Michelle Roper, Administrative Assistant
  - Absent
    - Tami Grant, Department of Human Services Deputy Director
    - Jill Colavolpe, Home & Community Supports Division Deputy Director
  - Guest:
    - Monica Wickstrom & Gabi Snyder, Home & Community Support Division – Area Agency on Aging
Program: ADRC (Aging & Disability Resources for Colorado) & In Home Program - Monica Wickstrom
- The ADRC provides a coordinated access point to long-term services and support for adults 60+, adults 18+ with a disability in need for long-term services, their caregivers and veterans of any age. The person must live in Weld County with two or more deficits in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.
- ADL (Activities of Daily Living) include bathing/showering, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting.
- IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) include managing finances, transportation, shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, managing medications, using the telephone.
- The process to get assistance is:
  - In-home visit to go through ADL’s and IADL’s to determine what they can and can’t do based on a 1-5 scale.
  - Go through plan of care, what do they need help with.
  - Determine how many hours a week they need.
  - The person needing assistance can choose who they want to provide services but it can’t be someone that lives with them. ADRC has (8) contracted providers that are on direct bill.
  - Q: Member Collins – Does this fill the gap between who can afford care and people on Medicaid?
    - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Yes, if a person needs more care, they are referred to Long-Term Care.
  - Q: Member Cure – Would this program help a spouse that needs a break?
    - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Not on this program, that would fall under the Caregiver Respite Program.
- This is at no cost to the client unless they choose a provider that charges over $29/hour.
- There is currently a wait list for new clients with a wait time of a year.
  - Q: Member Collins – What is the annual budget for these services?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – $205,000 per year and processed through 6-month vouchers.
  - S: Staff Member Skoglund – Thanks to the Weld County Commissioners additional funding, we did not have to cut internal programs this year.
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How many clients are currently being served?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – 41
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How is payment made?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – If it’s a contracted agency, they bill us and if it’s a private individual, the client sends in a voucher for reimbursement.
- For the waitlist a prioritization worksheet is used looking at demographics and needs, who has the highest score / needs.
  - Q: Commissioner Buck – If someone knows they will need services in a year, can they get on the waitlist?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – They can but they may not know what their needs will be at that time.
- Weld County ADRC has been used as a reference for other regions on this tool.
- The only services that we do not provide is medication management as it must be done through skilled nursing.
  - Q: Member Haffner – Are the clients referred to skilled nursing for that service?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – The contracted agency can provide that service but the cost would be the client’s responsibility.
  - Q: Member Kress – Is the assessment a basic clinical or a questionnaire?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – It’s an in-person assessment asking question and getting their response in a 1-5 range being:
    - 1 = Independent
    - 2 = Verbal
    - 3 = Some help
    - 4 = Lots of help
    - 5 = Dependent
  - It also includes observations while meeting with the client but not requesting a demonstration of ability to perform actions related to the questions.
  - Q: Member Kress – Can the provider offer any verbal input about medication such as a reminder of pills not taken or need to be taken?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – The provider does an intake assessment and the provider might cover that.
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How many minorities are being served?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Currently 7 out of 41.
  - Q: Member Curry-Sanchez – 2-4 hours a week is good but not much, can the time be broken up?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Some providers have a 2-hour minimum requirement and sometimes they go over 4 hours depending on the need but no more than 6 hours.
  - Q: Member Collins – How many live by themselves?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – 90%.
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How do they hear about this program?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – We have information at meal sites but it’s hard to advertise when there is a year-long waitlist. We also hand out information at fairs and through the HelpSource guides.
  - Q: Member Broderius – If there was more money could more people be served?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Even if there was more funding, there would still be a waitlist due to the need. The clients being served will continue unless they move out of Weld County, pass away or go on to Long Term Care.
  - Q: Member Collins – Can someone use services temporarily?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – We have found that does not happen.
  - Q: Member Haffner – Are clients on the program for 6 months at a time?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Clients are on and stay on till they drop off (move, pass away or go on long-term care).
  - Q: Member Sanchez – When did the program begin?
  - A: Staff Member Skoglund – In 2005, the Colorado Department of Human Services obtained a federal grant to begin the design and start implementation process of ADRC.
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How many clients are still on the program and the wait list?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – 15 on the waitlist, and the waitlist is capped at 15.
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How many clients left the program?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – 3
  - Q: Member Sanchez – How many clients normally drop out?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – 10 on average.
  - Q: Member Collins – Do most clients have IADL’s? IADL’s can cause them to have to move out of their home?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – Yes, providers will take clients shopping, etc. It has been found that most clients need help with clipping nails.
  - Q: Member Sanchez – Does the program help with loneliness?
  - A: Staff Member Wickstrom – We partner with North Range peer counseling which has had great feedback.
- Program: Wellness – Gabi Snyder
  - Currently certified in the following classes:
    - Matter of Balance
    - Tai Chi
    - Walk with Ease
    - Strong People
  - Other classes offered are:
    - Chronic Disease
    - Aging Mastery
    - Stress Busting for Seniors
    - Powerful Tools for Caregivers
    - CDSMP Diabetes
  - Creating flyers to promote classes at each meal site and will advertise in other areas.
  - Trying to spread classes around to all areas and planning for next year.
  - Given out survey to get feedback and please send in suggestions.
    - Q: Commissioner Buck – How do you reach out to people interested by email or phone?
    - A: Staff Member Snyder – It depends on how they wish to be contacted which is managed through a mailing list.
    - Q: Member Haffner – Is Walk with Ease done inside or outside?
    - A: Staff Member Snyder – It depends on the weather and if there are resources to walk inside.
    - Q: Member Sanchez – How old is the oldest participant?
    - A: Staff Member Skoglund – 91.
    - S: Member Haffner – Highly recommends the Aging Mastery Class to all.
    - A: Staff Member Skoglund – It’s a unique class with videos, local guest speakers and a different focus every week.
    - Q: Member Schunter – Are these federal programs?
    - A: Staff Member Snyder – Yes, and there are other classes we can offer but it’s expensive for the training.
    - A: Staff Member Skoglund – Out of the state, Weld County offers the most classes.
Approval of Minutes:
- Motion made by Vice-Chair Shepherd to approve the minutes from October 10, 2024. Member Young made first approval and Member Sanchez made second approval. All approved.
Committee Overview, Sign-up, and Committee Reports:
- Nutrition:
  - Staff Member Skoglund – The December Prime Rib dinners will be served on 12/16 and 12/19 for a suggested donation of $5.00 per person. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time. Only 550 meals will be served per day. The Windsor meal site will only be serving on 12/16.
- ADRC:
  - Staff Member Skoglund – Robert Mesiner from the Greeley PD presented on local scams to be aware of.
- AARP Livable Communities:
  - Staff Member Skoglund – Surveys were handed out at the Senior Symposium with approximately 30 completed.
- Fraud Updates:
  - Vice Chair Shepherd – Reviewed handouts sent to Board via email.
- Legislative & CCA:
  - Vice Chair Shepherd – Will be meeting twice in December.
- 50+ Art Show:
  - Member Haffner – Next meeting on November 19th. The event was successful with new art categories added, received so many great comments. Enjoyed speaking to the artists about what inspired the artwork. Artists are looking forward to coming back next year.
  - Member Sanchez – So grateful to have that LINC Library as the venue.
  - Staff Member Skoglund – Should be able to get more art shown next year.
  - Member Shunter – The change in venue helped to increase the number of attendees.
- Beyond 60
  - Staff Member Wickstrom – Need more authors and articles. Been reaching out to previous authors. Articles can include things happening, classes, etc.
- Monitoring, Oversight, Request for Proposal
  - Staff Member Skoglund – The pre-audit was turned into the State on 10/31 which is being reviewed to determine if an on-site follow up will be needed.
Board Participation Reports:
- Member Collins – Noted the recent article about the elevator at the Greeley Senior Apartments being non-operational for months.
- Staff Member Skoglund – Colorado Legal Services is involved.
- Member Shunter & Member Sanchez – Attended “Embracing Aging on the Square – CU Anschutz Center on October 11th. So many great programs. There is a new state law that anyone over 60 can get an epi-pen for $60 or nasal spray for $200 from any pharmacy. The Experiencing Dementia presentation was very intense and noted that a debriefing would need to happen after the experience. It was stated that when someone is diagnosed with Dementia that 75% give up on life right away.
- Member Young – Highly recommends the Poudre River Trail Tour. A volunteer takes you on the tour in a carriage pulled by the bike.
- Member Haffner – You can receive 4 free covid tests through CovidTest.gov.
General Agency Updates:
- Staff Member Skoglund – The Program Coordinator position has been posted and requested they be bilingual. Interviews have been conducted and should have a selection by the December meeting to announce.
- Upcoming Events
  1. 50+ Art Show: TBA
  2. Senior Symposium: TBA
  3. Project Connect: TBA
  4. Caregiver Appreciation Day: TBA
  5. Greeley/Weld Senior Foundation: May 25, 2025
Adjournment:
- Motion to adjourn meeting. All agreed.
Next meeting
- Thursday, December 12, from 9:00 – 11:00 am