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Home My WebLink About7-21-22 Commission packetIf you will need disability related accommodations to participate in this program or event, please contact LaTasha DeLoach at latasha-deloach@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5225. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Senior Center Commission Thursday, July 21, 2022 4 PM Senior Center Assembly Room Agenda 1. Introductions/Welcome—A. McConville 2. Minutes (June 16, 2022) 3. Public Discussion for items not on the agenda 4. Operational Overview—DeLoach  Senior Center programming update  Senior Center master plan update 5. Commission Discussion— A. McConville  Senior Center master plan discussion  Commissioner’s report of community correspondence  Future agenda Items 6. Adjourn **Next meeting is Thursday, August 18 at 4 PM ** Meeting Packet Contents: 1. Agenda: Thursday, July 21, 2022 2. Minutes: Senior Center Commission, Thursday, June 16, 2022 Preliminary Minutes June 16, 2022 1 MINUTES SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION June 16, 2022 ASSEMBLY ROOM, IOWA CITY/JOHNSON COUNTY SENIOR CENTER Members Present: Jeannie Beckman, Angela McConville, Linda Vogel, Paula Vaughan, Karen Page, Doug Korty Members Absent: None Staff Present: LaTasha DeLoach, Kristin Kromray Others Present: Jeff Kellbach, Lindsay Glynn, Lindsey (Jeff’s intern) CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by McConville at 4:00 PM. RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE April 21, 2022 MEETING: Motion: To accept the minutes from the April 21, 2022. Motion carried on a vote of 5/0. Vogel/Page PUBLIC DISCUSSION: None. DISCUSSION OF LOW INCOME SENIOR SERVICESAGING: McConville stated she invited Jeff Kellbach, Johnson County’s Aging Specialist and Lindsay Glynn, director of Aging Specialists in Cedar Rapids, to discuss the complexity of getting services to seniors, particularly low-income seniors. Kellbach discussed some of the various organizations and entities in our area that serve seniors and the various types of programs that are available. He works closely with Heritage, the Area Agency on Aging that serves a multi-county wide area that includes Johnson County. Kellbach and Heritage work to help people figure out what services and programs they might be eligible for and how to apply. Jeannie Beckman joined the meeting. Preliminary Minutes June 16, 2022 2 McConville asked how people find out information about these programs. Kellbach stated that the county has an online directory, but that he also takes many referral calls from the Senior Center, other organizations, and individuals. Vogel relayed a situation in which she thought someone she was in contact with likely did not have access to information and may potentially be hesitant to reach out for assistance. She asked how the “unreachable” are helped. DeLoach wondered about a campaign to call people who have land lines, noting that people who still have a land line and are listed in the phone book may be the demographic of people to check in with to make sure they know of all available services. Vogel wondered if there could be an article in the newspaper to bring some attention to the services offered. Additionally, she stated that the article could have the viewpoint of neighbors helping neighbors and asking people to check in on those around them. Glynn stated that if a low-income older adult can get involved with one organization that can snowball into receiving services from multiple organizations. She noted that the people in the area who work for the various senior services and programs have good relationships and communication, which is essential. Often that first contact is the most difficult and most important. Korty asked if there were any programs that directly assist people who can not pay their bills. Kellbach said he would interview the person and gather information to see what programs they would be eligible for. He gave some examples such as health services, food assistance, transportation, utilities assistance and subsidized housing. There are some programs that would assist on a limited basis for unexpected bills. Korty asked if there were any shared housing or reverse mortgage information that he assisted with. Kellbach stated he did not know about any shared housing options. He stated that reverse mortgages are complex, and they could be a potential option for some people, but it is a specialized type of contract and he only knows of one person in Des Moines that currently does them. Vogel asked what someone should do if they believe a person is not taking care of themselves. DeLoach noted that a well-check preformed by the police might be the best option. Kellbach talked about the complexity of moving towards assistance with someone who is not interested in services. If the situation was critical then the Department of Health and Human Services might be contacted. Paula wondered about the number of people who are not being reached. Kellbach noted it is difficult to tell. Glynn stated that because people are getting services are different organizations it is difficult to know who exactly might not be being assisted at all. Vogal asked if there is a coordinated database that all Preliminary Minutes June 16, 2022 3 organizations use. Glynn stated that this is called a platform and there is often a cost associated with them. There are multiple platforms available and so what ends up happening is providers must choose which one to go with, creating a fragmented system. She noted there is value in having providers grouped, but it is a complex issue. Vaughn asked if Johnson County would be willing to fund a platform. Kellbach noted that Johnson County is currently part of a platform called Unite Us. McConville noted that it would take funding and more staffing for a concerted effort to pull something like this together. She noted that the Heritage board has open seats, and these are the types of issues they discuss at their meetings. OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW: DeLoach reported the member, volunteer, and donor event was well attended and there had been great feedback. The July/August program guide will be available soon. The Senior Center will be closed August 11th for a staff in-service day. The parking department is anticipating the completion of construction in the ramp in the next month. Exterior building work should begin this summer. Staff is starting the process of reaching out to the community through surveys and focus groups to see how the community feels about staying in this building or moving to another location. This process will take about 10 months. COMMISSION DISCUSSION: Korty left the meeting. Vogel noted the May Public Works Open House was a success. Motion: To Adjourn. Preliminary Minutes June 16, 2022 4 Senior Center Commission Attendance Record Name Term Expires 7/15/21 8/19/21 9/16/21 10/21/21 11/18/21 12/16/21 1/21/22 2/17/22 3/17/22 4/21/22 5/19/22 6/16/22 Jeannie Beckman 12/31/22 X X NM X X O/E X NM X X NM X Victoria (Susan) Carroll 12/31/24 -- -- -- -- -- -- X NM X -- -- -- Lorraine Dorfman 12/31/21 X X NM X X X -- -- -- -- -- -- Susan Eberly 12/31/23 O/E O/E NM O/E -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Zach Goldsmith 12/31/21 O/E X NM X X X -- -- -- -- -- -- Douglas Korty 12/31/24 -- -- -- -- -- -- O/E NM X X NM X Angela McConville 12/31/24 X X NM X X X X NM X X NM X Karen Page 12/31/23 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X O/E NM X Paula Vaughan 12/31/22 X O/E NM X X X X NM X O/E NM X Linda Vogel 12/31/23 O/E O/E NM X X O/E X NM X X NM X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting -- = Not a member