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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/13/1994FORT COLLINS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD Minutes Wednesday, July 13, 1994 CALL TO ORDER The July meeting of the Senior Advisory Board was called to order by President Kay Rios at 2:07 P. M., on Wednesday, July 13, in the construction trailer on the site of the new senior center, 1200 Raintree Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado. A quorum was present. ATTENDANCE Members Present Kay Rios, chair Yvonne Myers, vice chair Stan Ulrich, secretary Wayne Moellenberg Margaret Watts Ed Johnson Marjorie McTaggart Jane Goodhart Mary Alice Spelts Excused Member Jill Taylor Absent Member Jane Davis CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Guests Tom Frasier, General Services, Fort Collins Carolyn Harmes, General Services, Fort Collins Staff Barbara Schoenberger, SAB Representative Jennifer Klink, RSVP Steve Budner Council Liaison Gerry Horak No guest wished to make a statement. NEW BUSINESS Dial -A -Ride Presentation Tom Frasier reported that Dial -A -Ride was implewented on March 7, 1994, and that the program has had tremendous success. Ridership has consistently Page 2, SAB Minutes, Jut 13, 1994 been 40 to 50 percent above predictions. This translated into more than 42,000 trips so far in 1994, and ridership could increase to 60,000 before the year is over. Along with success, however, comes one big problem: money to fund the program. Projections at the moment indicate that Dial - A -Ride will be $90,000 short by December. The situation now is that we are paying for success because the costs have gone beyond allocations. To solve the problem, General Services is now looking at possible solutions. One of them is to renegotiate contracts with Shamrock, Care - A -Van and SAINT. Another solution is to try to seek additional funds from other city and county agencies to offset the losses. Still another solution, Tom continued, is to initiate a possible fee or fare structure for ridership. This approach would be in line with city policy because the city has a fare policy that states if the primary benefactor of the service is the individual, then the program should try to recoup as much of the cost as possible. If the service provided is of benefit to the individual and to the city,..then there is some flexibility on setting a fee or fare. * To determine the potentials of what a fare could do, the General Services Department had appointed a committee to study the transportation systems of other front range communities. The coitunittee's findings showed that other front range cities already charge customers, rangiag from $.75 in Greeley to $5.00 a ride by RTD in Denver. The median fare was $1.50 per trip. The General Services Department, Tom stated, is now studying the options that are availalbe, and the persoa;el in his department are now "making the rounds to present the facts and to receive feedback from the groups. When the department completes its presentations, he and the others will compile all the information that they had gathered and present it to Council on August 16 without a proposal. Just the facts, ma'am! During the discussio« segment of the presentation, Kay asked if any provision had been made for low-income seniors who are not ADA-eligible. Tom replied that they had looked at a possible rebate system for low- income seniors, but they had not reached a decision. Unfortunately, he added, the cost per ride remains the same for all riders. Wayne Moellenberg. expressed:the thought that riders would appreciate the service much more if they had to pay a token amount and then they wouldn't be accepting charity. He suggested that a small fee should be charged. Ed Johnson suggested that multiple rides should be encouraged to reduce costs, and Tom replied that one-third of the rides are now wultiple rides, but even when one of the carriers carries multiple fares, it still charges the city for each individual ride. If three riders are in one vehicle, the company still charges for three individual fares. That statement drew a strong negative reaction from the members of the Board. In response to a question on the effects of a fee on ridership, Tom stated that after Boulder started to charge a $2.00 fee, ridership increased,. and ridership also increased in Pueblo and Colorado Springs after a fee was initiated. * In answer to an unrelated question, Tom stated that .the future of the present site -of the senior center is still in doubt. The city has many options, he added, but the Must likely one is that the city will sell the building and use the proceeds to buy more land downtown to provide more office space. The city had -first looked at the option to renovate the building and use it for additional office space, but that would be Lou Page 3, SAB Minutes, (ay 13, 1994 • expensive. Several other options, however, are available. Before he left, Tom assured the SAB members that each one would get a copy of the report that the General Services Department will present to the Council on August 16. Ed Johnson suggested that a copy of the report should be included with the minutes that each will receive before the August meeting. Paint-A-Thon * After Tom Frasier's presentation, Kay went to the first item under Old Business, Paint-A-Thon,and called on Ed Johnson for an update. Ed reported that he had reviewed 16 applications and only one was outside the city limits. Whea.he first started his inspections, he said, he wasn't sure that trailers or modular homes.would be included. The applications did include five modular homes and two metal trailers, and he looked at them anyway. The modular homes will be included, but the metal trailers were rejected because they are toe difficult to paint and they would have required special talents. Besides, Ed stated, must trailer parks restrict the homes to a certain color and only approved paints can be used. One other was not approved because it had a "For Sale" sign in front of the house, and Ed felt that part of the equity should be used to provide the paint. He also felt that the owner wanted the house painted to make it more presentable for prospective buyers and not for his own enjoyment. Ed summed up his report by saying that we have twelve painting crews and 13 houses to paint, but one crew could possibly double up because one house was brick and only needed the trim painted and another one only needed the carport painted. P,iaper Decks *The second item discussed was the continuing saga of the "now you see 'em, now you don't" diaper decks. Kay distributed a letter that she had written to Jean Helburg, and in it, she had expressed her opposition to the installation of diaper decks in the new senior center. Jean replied that the diaper decks had already been purchased, but they will not be installed in the senior. center. They will be installed in another facility. The rash (no pun intended!) of indignant remarks about diaper decks and incontinent seniors should -now be put to rest. Senior Center Update An update of the new senior center was deleted from the agenda because the SAB was meeting on the senior center site and the members planned to take a tour of the facility immediately after the meeting. New West Fest * Discussion of New West Fest was postponed until the August meeting on Wednesday, August 10. Kay did remind the members, though, to give her a call if they had ideas for the booth. Introduction of New Members The first item under New Business was the introduction of new members. Of Page 4, SAB Minutes, Jul 3, 1994 the three new members, two were attending the meeting: Jane Goodhart and Mary Alice Spelts. The third one, Jane Davis, was absent. As president, Kay welcomed them officially to the Board. Service Reports * 1. Seniors Airborne. Kay reported that she had nothing new to tell the Board about Seniors Airborne. 2. Office on Aging. Stan Ulrich reported that the Office on Aging Advisory Council is working on scheduling their required visitations. Shelley McGraw stated that the OOAAC is conducting a self -assessment survey and that Dial -A -Ride is accommodating many more persons than originally anticipated. When Dial -A -Ride started, she said, ridership was expected to be 135 daily, but the number is now 210. It is expected to reach 235 daily very soon. Sixty-four of all the riders are ADA-eligible, and she stated that funding will become a future problem. Rena Mackrill reported that the Strategic Planning Program is working well and she also gave an update on the Senior Chuckwagon Frozen Meal Program. Lyn Thor and Laurel Rubin are working on a cooperative program that will train seniors how to talk with their doctors, how to interpret pre- scriptions and how to handle macy aspects of health care. Rena also reported that a gerontology student from UNC will be working with Elizabeth Kelley, the ombudsman. Shelley also announced that three public hearings will be held in Estes Park, Wellington and Loveland to assess the needs in those towns. A public hearing will be held later in Fort Collins at which time the OOAA will present its four- year plan and Needs Assessment results. The date for the Fort Collins meeting will be set later. * 3. Aspen Club. Because Jill Taylor was attending a retreat, Kay reported for the Aspen Club. Kay stated that the Aspen Club has scheduled two programs for the remainder of July. A class on circulation problems in the lower extremities will be presented on July 21, and glaucoma screening is scheduled for July 27. If anyone is interested in any of the activities, he/she should give Jill a call at the hospital. * 4. Senior Center Council. No report was given for the Senior Center Council. * 5. Friends of the Senior Center. Kay reported that the only news from the Friends of the Senior Center was that the Development Coordinator had resigned. Barbara Schoenberger added that the Friends of the Senior Center will be hosting a potluck picnic on July 28, at Rolland - Moore Park at noon. All attendees will be invited to join a tour of the new -senior center during the event. Choices for Senior Living * Kay announced that Choices for Senior Living had closed its doors as of June 30, 1994, because of financial difficulties. One of the reasons, Kay explained, was that Choices had lost its 501 (c) (3) status when it broke away from Neighbor to Neighbor, and it was unable to acquire a non- profit status of its own. Choices was in the process of applying for a non-profit status, but bureaucracy slowed down the process and Choices. ran out of time. Ed Johnson moved that Kay should write a letter to the Office on.Aging and Neighbor to Neighbor to support the work that Choices *Page 5, SAB Minutes,'ly 13, 1994 • had been doing and that we would like the program to continue and will support any efforts in that direction. Marjorie McTaggart seconded the motion, and -it carried unanimously. Show and Tell Kay Rios. Kay announced that the Natural Resources Advisory Board Educ- ation Committee is offering an environmental action award and that the SAB had been asked to nominate someone for the award. Nominations will be accepted until August 10. If anyone has any nominations, he/she should contact Barbara.. Steve Budner. Steve stated that he wanted to clear up the controversy about the diaper decks by emphasizing that project money had not been spent to purchase them. The money had come from Recreation Reserves, and the Recreation Department will use the diaper decks on another project in exchange for an item that can be used in the senior center. Stan Ulrich. No report. Jane Goodhart. No report. * Marjorie McTaggart. Marjorie displayed a Concerned Senior Citizens of Colorado newsletter and said that someone should notify them that the deadline for the Paint -A -Thou had passed. She added that the project was going to be discussed at the CSCC's next meeting. Kay said that she would notify Judy Curby and inform her that the deadline had passed. Ed Johnson. Ed reminded the ladies who, were going to tour the senior center that they must have appropriate shoes and attire for the tour and that everyone must .wear a hard ,hat. Vanity will have to play second fiddle, he concluded.' Margaret Watts. Margaret mentioned that she had called Jean Helburg after the last meeting and objected to the inclusion of diaper decks in the new senior center. * Barbara Schoenberger. Barbara reported that the pet carriers that had been donated to the Vet Pet Program.had been cleaned, sanitized and prepared for animal transport by Bob Rankin, director of Handyman Services at RSVP. * Kay Rios. Kay stated that she had received a letter from Helpline, which was soliciting a donation of $25.00 to get our organization listed in their publication. Kay said she would fill out the application with a protest that Helpline is doing a disservice to the community by not listing non -profits that help seniors. Steve Budner. Steve polled the Board to find an appropriate time for the next Building Team meeting. The consensus was to ho];d the meeting on Wednesday,. July 27, at 2:00 P. M. in the Senior Center. ADJOURNMENT Since there was no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 3:27 P. M. A tour of the new building followed adjournment. r1 July 18, 1994 TO: Ann Azari Gerry Horak Chris Kneeland Alan Apt Bob McClusky Gina Janette Will Smith FROM: Kay Rios Chair Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board SUBJECT: Indian Hills Village As the current chairperson of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board, I would like to comment on the Indian Hills Village project which was just given a number of variances by the City Planning and Zoning Board. I am interested in this project because our Board has been appointed by Council to address issues of concern to seniors in the area. It is with that responsibility in mind that I offer the following comments. I find the concept of the Village to be intriguing and innovative and one which, I'm sure, will address the needs of a number of citizens of all ages. Since the anticipated tenants include "empty nesters and retired people," I would ask, however, that you consider the following concerns: PARKING• 1) As the Field Supervisor for the Colorado State University Office of Parking Management for the past 17 years, I consider myself somewhat of a "parking professional." Given that experience, I believe that a parking stall width of 7' is quite small. In fact, the Institutional and Municipal Parking Congress recommends 8 to 8 1/2 feet width for any low -use or residential areas. In addition to that, consideration needs to be given to the changing needs of a mature body. Getting out of a car, for a more mature person, usually requires that the door be opened to its full span. So this width would seem to be extremely limiting and could cause serious future implications. 2) Handicap accessibility should be of utmost concern. The number of stalls provided should not correspond to the overall parking numbers, but rather based on each individual setting. For instance, in a lot that has 41 stalls, one or two handicap spaces may be sufficient. But if those stalls are broken up into several different areas around the development, then more handicap spaces would probably be required since proximity becomes a key factor. 1) While the layout appears well planned, I believe that consideration should be given to storage. Empty nesters and retirees are not without adult "toys" and sporting items such as fishing gear, skis, bicycles, golf clubs, etc. Especially given the make-up of the current and upcoming generations of seniors, we can expect them to stay more active for much longer. So they must be provided some form of storage. The inside units, themselves, do not appear to accommodate that. That would probably not be an issue if there were room for storage in the garages. But if the garages are at the minimum width of 201, then it would appear that storage would not be possible in the garages. Storage must also be accessible and not require hanging from or storing on rafters or at heights. 2) This also seems like a very narrow width for parking two cars. Again, even as we hope to remain more active into later years, our perceptions and our manual dexterity is still usually affected with the increasing years. This could make parking difficult, especially if a close turn is required before entering the garage. Again, this appears to be a much needed type of development and I commend the designers on their attempts. I would ask, however, that you seriously consider the above in making final determinations as to variances involved in this project. It would also seem especially important that ADA requirements are adhered to in this instance even those this is a private area. A letter was sent to the City Planning and Zoning Board commenting on the issues above and requesting a response. We have not received a response but understand that all of the above was, apparently, overlooked in the variances which were given. Sincerely, Kay Rios Chair Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board 160 Circle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80524 (303) 482-0753 July 20, 1994 Larimer County Office on Aging 1525 Blue Spruce Fort Collins, CO 80524 ATTENTION: Shelly McGraw Dear Shelly: On behalf of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board, I am writing this letter of support for the services that have previously been rendered by Choices for Senior Living. We were extremely disappointed to hear of the financial difficulty in which this agency has found itself. It is regrettable that, at this point, the agency has been forced to close its doors. The services which Choices for Senior Living has provided in the past are services that are greatly needed by the senior population of Larimer County. That statement is supported by the increase in the number of clients which Choices staff have assisted over the past few years. We would ask that, as a leader in exercise whatever influence you services are again offered to the you encourage your Board to take divert funding or at least move agency or person who would be traj services offered by Choices. It i not currently happening. the area of senior service, you have in making sure that these senior population. We ask that some form of action that would towards designating a specific .nod and available to provide the .s our understanding that this is Please let us know if there is something that our Board can do to help remedy this situation. As a "no -profit," volunteer organization, we do not have any financial resources available to us, but we are willing to offer our time and efforts in this direction. Please advise us as to the direction your agency will take in this regard. Sincerely, Ray Rios Chair Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board 160 Circle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80524 cc: Rusty Collins, Neighbor to Neighbor Gerry Horak July 31, 1994 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: On behalf of the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board, I would like to voice concern over the mandatory $25 fee and the statement that for those who do not pay, "HelpLine will not commit the resources it takes to maintain accurate information of those organizations." Our board is a NO -PROFIT, volunteer organization, but that does not mean that we are not a helpful, necessary service to the senior community. We have been lucky enough to have the City of Fort Collins pay our fee in the past, but this may not continue. Even if it does, we are concerned that there are other groups who may be in the same situation and may not be able to pay this fee.. We feel that it would be a dis-service to the community which you serve if you did not list them simply because they were unable to pay this fee. We understand the need for the fee and, for those organizations who have the wherewithall to pay, the fee is not unreasonable. But we ask that you seriously consideration the implications of such a threat to not maintain the information if the fee is unpaid. Rather, we ask that your agency look at having some form of write- off or exemption for groups/organizations/agencies who may not be able to pay. Sincerely, Kay Rios Chair Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Pennsylvania s Statewide Initiative Links Libraries, Services, Elders What happens when a step-by-step effort is made to meet "The Information Needs of an Aging State?" In one district, senior centers and libraries launch a fax network for two-way queries and responses T here districts in public library dere ate 2 the vast library Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. They vary widely. Some are big city service hubs, as in the Philadelphia area. Others serve modest rural settings in counties that reach into the moun- tains and hollows of Appalachia. But. since 1992, libraries of all sizes in Pennsylvania have worked together to sharpen a long-standing state -level emphasis on the importance of library services for older adults, their families, and —in a growing number of instan- ces —their caregivers. Starting with a three-day institute that mobilized information and interest, the State Library of Pennsylvania has followed up with seed money grants that are enabling public library districts to begin entirely new initiatives or to build upon ongoing projects. A few examples testify to the variety of efforts now under way. BETHLEHEM DISTRICT: Libraries in this district now have dosed -circuit rti television magnifiers capable of enlarg- ing text or graphic material up to 45 times the original size. Among the m;uty anticipated uses of the equip- ment: helping out when it comes time to .ort out receipts and other docu- mentation needed at income tax time. Staff specialist Karen Gartner would like to see the day when the type in terminal screens can be enlarged to help persons with low vision. "Without a doubt," she adds, "that will come at some point." WILKES-BARRE DISTRICT: Nine libraries and seven senior centers are getting ready to participate in Project ElderLink, which permits fax exchange of information on services available at either end. Consultant Mary Ann Yunki reports that "excellent coopera- tion and brainstorming" with the area agency on aging have opened up the prospect of elders at libraries getting answers about senior center services, or persons at centers making fax or phone requests for magazine articles or other written materials. "We're very eager to get this project into operation," adds Yonki. NORRISTOWN DISTRICT: An early task here was to compile a booklist of special usefulness to older adults and caregivers. Widely distribut- ed at shopping malls and special events, the list actually supplements a long-standing district "Mini -Bookmo- bile" service described by Library Di- rector Laurie Tynam as a van equipped with racks and2,I)00 information items 1.111, 111411 It .I, I IUIIAI1) '.. bhI GII I I I.II It I.F VIIII e "The Department of Aging will commit itself to several initiatives. ♦ Encourage its network of 52 Area Agencies on Aging to publici?e through their local planning and service area, information about services offered by older persons by public libraries. ♦ Encourage distribution of educational materials and resource tnformation on aging j to local libraries ... I + Assist local libraries in expansion of their outreach efforts to locate older persons who could benefit from library and information services." —LIADA M. RHODES, t P@VPlSYLVANIA SECPErAltY OF AGPIG it I.1-stlrrl'. \II11'.It 1994 19 Older Adults A Bookllst oa D rrr�r��rrrr�rr Montgomery Ubrary District that invite browsing by elders. Fiction is featured, but so are resources of special helpfulness to retirees. As in other districts. Norristown conducted sensitivity training for local library personnel. "We had a small theater group visit and perform skits," Tynam reports. One episode, for example, demonstrated the situation of an older woman seeking information about signs of breast cancer, yet regarding it as a sensitive subject. She is served by a staff person who understands the situ- ation and is gently responsive to the halting queries. PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT: Mary Floumoy of The Free Library of Phila- delphia is enthusiastic about a staff training workshop, "Serving Older Patrons" offered in March. It included a performance by Full Circle, the im- provisational theater troupe from the Center for Intergenerational Learning at Temple University. The extensive list of activities in this district also includes an information fair on housing choices for older adults and focus group dis- cussion on topics including informa- tion needs of seniors. ELSEWHERE IN PENNSYLVA- NIA Grants approved by the State Library of Pennsylvania arc highly responsive to local needs. In the Al- toona District, for example, district libraries had a tradition of good mate- rials and scr ices for older adults, but recognized that they were not well advertised. Brochures and a television commercial were created to reach elders directly. Bucks County assigned a librarian and a gerontologist to eval- uatc the input from focus group delib- erations to help shape long-range strategy. The Pottsville District estab- lished Senior Information and Re- sources Centers in all libraries. Here and elsewhere Ili-Fulkal kits encour- aged intergencr tional sharing or in- creased attention to local history. The kits trigger mcnwrics through slides, video or audio cassettes, sheet music, pictures, booklets, skit scripts, and items to touch. State librar' evaluators already see an increase in statisensitivity and de- velopment of working relationships with other community agencies that serve older adults. A state evaluation adds: "The commitment to continue activities that heighten awareness of the library for the target group is im- portant as changes in library use pat- tems for any group must be accom. plished over a longer period of time." (A relatedphotolston• appoint on page 30.) HOW IT ALL BEGAN The State Library of Pennsylvania has been around for some time. The date on its logo is 1745. Venerability notwithstanding, the library keeps up with trends, including the increased numbers of older persons within its jurisdiction. "Quality service for older adults has been a special concern of our staff for many years, • says Library Development Division Assistant Director Elizabeth Ann Funk So much so that in 1991 a Task Force for Older Adults began planning a state -level institute that would bring new levels of attention to the relation. - ships of libraries and elders. The Institute, in August 1992, was a top-drawer event, complete with inspirational speakers, practical workshops, and considerable attention to Pennsylvania demographics. It was pointed out, for example, that Pennsylvania ranks second among all states in the percentage of population 60 and over, and that Pennsylvanias 85-plus population increased by 32 percent between 1980 and 1990. Penn- sylvania now has about 2.4 million people 60 and over. 20.5 percent of the population. Institute costs were underwritten from federal Library Services and Con- struction Act (LSCA) Title I funds. LSCA was tapped, too, for an additional S300,000 for grants intended to expand services for older adults. The State Library continues to sponsor a task force on library services for older adults - The Pennsylvania Library Association is helping. Funk adds: "We also continue to have a great deal of support from the state AARP offices as wrc J as cooperation from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, and are work- ing toward closer ties with the area agencies on aging in the state." Trish Skaptason, Senior Administrative Librarian at the U.S. Department of Education, regards the Pennsylvania approach as unusual. Many stat", she reports, have channeled LSCA funds for elder -related services. But only New Jersey and Pennsylvania have taken a statewide approach. 20 PERSPECTIVE ON AGING update Coalition Targets Hypertension A Coalition fur Hypertension Educa- tion and Control (CHEC) is taking aim at consumer misconceptions about high blood pressure. Poll findings released by CHEC reveal that many patients are having problems controlling hypertension even though they regard it as a serious medical problem. One third of pa- tients who experienced side effects have stopped taking or skipped doses of their mcdicine;s a result. "This doesn't have to be the case," says Man'in Moser. M.D., Professor of ivledicine at Yale Uni%ersiry and one of the nation's leading experts on hyper- tension. "Ncry therapies have been developed that effectively control blood pressure and do nut negatively affect quality of life. People can have their pressures controlled and feel well at the same time." CHEC is an alliance of the Associa- tion of State and'rerritorial Health Officials, The National Council on the Aging, the National :Medical .Woeia- tion, Lederle Laboratories, and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. The American Heart Association and the American Medical Association also support the initiative, which augments the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National High Blood Pres- sure Education program. A new consumer brochure. "Em- power Yourself to Control the Pres- sure," is available. Copies may be ordered from CHEC at 1.800/664- 4447. Multiple copies are available for wn ice providers. Russians Plan for Senior Centers Ul��tl i;h t Al ltq fl..AIiI:Rt;i is Ito„ ., i,t.n i+ m ,,I r.., I+c,n rr,i:r,, inil u,! a r,!;r,h .tl+'I'.11 t 11 1 11 cr pretm,4 n, nrcctrn�,c rr �.0 �ICc�I, ul itsrrhlrt pr+IvLttion. -I hi, i, : manor c,,,m (,.into( front . [,it + trance hr.nn,ti+i rimi„irid tr;unrm, in %%11 nungb I I7cl,. Inr I+rn- vitict,,+I ,,I i.c, lu uldcr .IduIt, in Ru„i.: II d.it, +d thrit l l ji ci,it tcrtc dc,+artl o � !+I,uinnr, .irol Jr, rlr �I+nth sent+n .Cn1Cr I+n n,t din, u,i m,.t net. t Ltn,!.ilr , I + r t,um ++I Al 11\, �,'rrtnr Crrn, � ,hinJ•u�h,ur�l �r 11 1,•+ •nr,-nt t,It[ : the Russi.tn I+attial+.iIt, wmtnit- mcnt iudial ge..lol,itr,h+,tt.tt- h.t>i� rusonrCeS and r a het di insult coliditiuns. Rtn,i.t', nnn,r+acnvnental if+r+!•, u,r 1/+p'rli r, , lest . J V i � r 1 A'+:ftlnitl( )o I'FIUPFCRC I'. ON. WIN(; system of ongoing, long-term support for those in need is exemplified by the Moscow Charity House, cornerstone of service delivery in Moscow. Found- ed in 1991. this independent charity fund is one of the new organizations of Russia, symbolizing its ongoing transformation. In training exercises. Russian and American participants developed a .44ission Statement for the Moscow Senior Center and planned three community organizing initiatives: an ff intergenerational support program for students to provide friendly visiting and chore services to homebound elders; a volunteer recruitment plan; and a plan to involve two religious institutions in outreach to frail elders in Moscow. All Institute materials have been provided to Salvation .army personnel in Moscow. The materials will be translated and made available to the.. Russian delegation as resources permit The Institute looks forward to continu- In Memphis, It's "Zoofari Walkers" Memphis. Temnmwe, is proud of its zoo. It keeps reaching out to the com- munity in new and different ways. And now the community is reaching back. Specifically, more than-80 per- sons of age 60 of above became "Zuo- fari Walkers" in 1993. and even more may join in this year. Similar in some respects to orga- nized walking programs in shopping malls, the Memphis project has specific health promotion aspects. R.N. Cheryl Henderson. director of a wellness project at St. Joseph Hospital in Mem- phis. told an audience at a recent con- ference of the Southern Gerontological Society that the program is intended to provide regular exercise in "a safe and entertaining environment" while im- proving blond pressure and reducing cholesterol levels of participants. Another partner is the Division of Community Health at Memphis State University, responsible for research on health improvementsamong the walkers. The 1993 pmgram began in the spring. nrporred consultant to Brandon. "when there were lots of babies at the zou." The same strategy is in effect this year. Brandon also described a booming social network that has taken shape amung the walkers, who are becoming avid zuo supporters and volunteers. Their newsletter recently described opportunities for them to become docents who "might handle animals, ing collaboration with Russian col- leagues through the Salvation Army. The event was the product of a working relationship between the Russian Institute on Aging; the Salva- tion Army, Moscow; the National Association of State Units on .aging (NASUA); and the Delaware Division of Aging. The 17-member delegation was led by Sandra Foster, Director of Social Services and Project Director for Aging, Salvation Army, Moscow. participate in special events, give talks at schools, help keep up the zoo li- brary, and greet the public with infor. mation about conservation and our animals here at the Zoo." Zuofari relies, not on a big budget from public sources, but on modest membership fees and local spunsors who help pay essential expenses. Consultant Brandon is in touch with zoos in several other cities. The idea just might be catching on. Meanwhile, for potential activists in other commu- nities, she and C:her•I Henderson have written a manual on huw to start a zoo -walking program. with postage. it's S 14.95. Brandon's address: P.O. Box 1094. Santa Rusa Beach. FL 32459. `Everyday Heroes' Make Most of Life In assessing quality of life among older persons, researchers and practitioners should recognize the amazing resil- ience of"everyday heroes." This was the advice given by Linda K. George at the annual conference of the Southern Gerontological Satiety in Charlotte. N.C. Dr. George, president of the Geron- tolugical Society of America, is associ- ate director of the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development at Duke University. Among the mo,t persistent of re. warch findings. she .aid, is that older persons are likely to rank their quafiry of life higher than younger persons are likely to give them credit for: One ,study shows only IS percent of persons above age 65 rate life satisfaction as fair or poor. It is therefore important for policy - makers and practitioners to engender a sense of empowerment among older persons, thus maximizing positive attitudes that result from a sensa of control. One example given by Dr. George: positive results among patients who have control of anti -pain medica- tions while they arc undergoing some firms of,urgery. ICL1'-llifT@.1I11F.R 1994 31 Gerontology Programs Aim at Practitioners More than 1,000 gerontology pro- grams are now offered at more than 500 universities, two- and four-year colleges, and professional schools in the U.S., Canada, Spain, and Australia. This finding is reported in the Sixth Edition of the National Directory in Gerontology and Geriatrics published by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). It reports a 25 percent increase in the number of programs since 1986. Twenty-eight academic disciplines and professional fields from associate to post -doctoral level are represented in these programs. Two of the directory's co -editors — Pamela F. Wendt and David A. Peter- son of the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern Califor- nia —in a statement to Perspective on Aging, emphasized that gerontology Briefs The American Association of Retired Persons projects that in 1994 older Americans will spend extraordinary personal sums for health care: "Not including the health care costs of resi- dents of nursing homes and other institutions, older Americans' out-of- pocket costs are projected to be $2,803 per person, on average, in 1994, up from $1,323 in 1987." An AARP re- port, "Coming Up Short: Increasing Out -of -Pocket Health Spending by Older Americans" documents expen- diture categories. It was prepared by AARP's Public Policy Institute and The Urban Institute. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging has spon- sored a survey that finds nearly four out of every five U.S. adults (79 per- cent) favor expanding the federal gov- ernment's role in increasing the supply knowledge can improve the ability of professionals in aging. They cited national surveys report- ing that more than 85 percent of pro- fessionals working in aging recommend that others intending to work with the elderly should get gerontology educa- tion in school. They add: "This is not surprising when other professional practice areas are consid- ered. Medical and allied health profes- sionals, attorneys, engineers, and so forth all recognize the utility of their college education. The employers of these professionals understand that hiring college -educated professionals is cost effective and produces quality." The AGHE directory costs $55 for per- sons in AGHE member institutions and $85 for other persons. Prepayment may be sent to AGHE, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, #410, Washington, DC 20036. of affordable housing for low -and - moderate income elderly. Strong sup- port (83 percent) was expressed for continued governmental assistance to nonprofit groups that develop such housing. Watch out for neck strain sometimes caused during shampoos at hair styling parlors, warned the New York Times on May 4. A "Personal Health" article by Jane E. Brody cited studies showing that increased blood flow to the brain can occur, increasing the risk of stroke and lesser forms of brain damage. "The elderly," reports Brody, "are especially at risk because with age major arteries tend to become clogged with fatty deposits that reduce the passageway through which blood must flow. The elderly are also more likely to have arthritic changes in their necks and irregular bony spikes on their cervical vertebrae, both of which can increase the risk of vertebral artery compression when their necks are A = Annual Meeting S = Special Meeting 1994 Sept. 22-23: "Aging and Hearing Loss: Issues in Service Delivery." Gallaudet University (S). Wakefield, Mass. 508/ 374-3701 V/TTY Sept. 27-30: "Together for Tomor- row: An International Conference Promoting Intergenerational Cooper- ation." Vesper Society Group Search Institute (S). Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. 800/888-7828 Oct. 21-23: Joint Conference on Law and Aging (A). Washington, D.C. 703/765-7497 Oct. 27-30: "Prevention: The Key to Health for Life' (S). Charleston, W.Va. 5181465-6927 Oct. 30-Nov. 3: American Public Health Association (A). Washington, D.C. 20217895600 Nov. 7-10: American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (A). Orlando, Fla. 202/508-9441 Nov. 18-21: American Speech -Lan- guage -Hearing Association (A). New Orleans, La. 301897-5700 Nov. I8-22: Gerontological Society of America (A). Atlanta, Ga. 202/842-1275 1995 January 21-24: The National Council on the Aging 1995 An- nual Conference (A). Dallas, Tex 202/479-6991 Feb. 23-26: Assn. for Gerontology in Higher Education (A). Fort Worth, Tec 202/429-9277 Mar. 7-16: American Society on Aging (A). Atlanta, Ga. 415/882-29I0 Sept. 17-21: International Federation on Aging (S). Jerusalem, Israel. 514/ 287-9679 turned in ways that caused no trouble in their younger years." Persons of any age who have experi- enced dizziness or loss of balance were advised to avoid extreme neck posi- tions. Hair can be washed with the head bent forward, instead of back, noted Brody. 32 PF.RSPEcrIVEONAGING 5uriedlcufpture C8mpetition Outdoor work of art for the new Fort Collins Senior Center Sculptors must be full-time residents of Larimer County Realistic or abstract sculpture that fits in a 7-foot by 76ot area will be considered DEADLINE: Friday, Oct. 7, 1994 Applications available August 1 at the Senior Center,145 E. Mountain Ave. Criteria: M • Written description • Preliminary graphic proposal in two-dimensional format (not to exceed 24" X 36") • Estimated budget • Timeline • Resume • Signed statement that the proposed work will not be placed at any other site within 100 miles of Fort Collins Send completed application to: City of Fort Collins New Senior Center / Art and Sculpture Committee 145 E. Mountain Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 r, For more information concentutg the official application package, call Steve Bu at (303) 221-6861. NOTE. The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations 6a for access to City services, programs, and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. cry °f 14rkti andd R aaaitinn fim Please call 221-6861 for assistance, 7DD 224-6002.