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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - Senior Advisory Board - Annual ReportCity of Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Annual Report 2008 Mission Statement: As determined by the Fort Collins City Council, the Senior Advisory Board shall serve as a supporting agency for all services, activities, and issues that affect seniors in Fort Collins. Outreach • Four outreach meetings were held in 2008 at the following sites: Northside Atzlan Center, Lemay Ave. Health & Rehab Facility, Fort Collins Senior Center, and MacKenzie Place. Tours of the facilities preceded the meetings. • Issues raised at the outreach meetings included: 1. The need for State and Federal action to provide a type of "medical assistance program" that provides financial assistance for Medicaid patients to be transferred to an assisted living facility following discharge from a short term rehab program. 2. Transportation issues: a.) readily accessible transportation options between Fort Collins and MCR b.) increase bus service to/from the Senior Center, even when CSU is not in session. c.) extend bus route to the Harmony Park & Ride. d.) as options were decreased for transportation to/from retirement facilities with the cut back in Dial -A -Ride, services need to be revisited. 3. Increase the hours of operation for the swimming pool at the Senior Center 4. Remove the unsecured mailbox in front of the Senior Center 5. Invite City Council members to attend the Senior Advisory Board meetings 6. Host a Senior Advisory Board outreach meeting at the Harmony Library • In cooperation with the Loveland SAB and the Office on Aging, sponsored and planned the annual Bridging the Gap Networking Event for area senior service providers. • Members of the Senior Advisory Board participated in the following events: -AARP: Trip to the Capitol; Annual Conference on scams entitled "Are You Protected — Have you Been Had?" -Alzheimer Association Care Give Training -Aspen Club Medicare Advantage program -Cemetery Stroll -Holiday Market at the Senior Center -human Relations Commission Breakfast -Joint meeting with Loveland SAB -Joint meeting with Fort Collins Senior Center Council -Older Worker Job Fair -Picnic in the Park -Pathways Past Poverty Community Open House -Rocky Mountain Senior Games -Senior Art Show at the Senior Center -Senior Law Day -Sundance Music Festival and Chili Cook -Off -Transportation Summit sponsored by NMPO -Transit Strategic Planning session -United Way "State of the Community" luncheon • Members of the Senior Advisory Board participated in the following ongoing activities: -AARP -Colorado School & Public Employees Retirement Association -Colorado Activities Professionals Association -First Presbyterian Church: Mature Members -First United Methodist Church: Senior Adult Council -Fort Collins Senior Center Expansion -Front Range Forum -Golden Girls Kiwanis -Instructor: "Strong Women Strong Bones" -Aspen Club exercise class -Instructor for art classes at Senior Center and Rigden Farm -Library of Congress project: record Veterans' histories -Loveland Food Bank -Meals on Wheels: home delivery -Office on Aging Advisory Council -Pathways Past Poverty -Public Employee Retirement Association -Poudre Retired School Employees Association -Sunshine Singers -Senior Sports Club -Senior Center volunteers for numerous activities/events -Senior Center volunteer driver -RSVP: grocery delivery programs -Toys for Kids project -UniverCity Connections - Westerners Chorale Advocacy • Members of the Senior Advisory Board have worked closely with various transportation entities including the Transportation Board, Transfort, PTAG, and UniverCity Transit task force to provide input on transportation issues that affect seniors. • The Mayor, the City Council Liaison to the Senior Advisory Board, attended an SAB outreach meeting and provided an update on transportation issues. • Senior Advisory Board members have supported activities sponsored by the Fort Collins Senior Center. (see above: board member participation in events and activities) • Members of the Senior Advisory Board have been actively involved in the Senior Center Expansion Initiative and have kept the SAB informed of the work of this committee as they move to the marketing phase and begin to seek financial support. Communication • Established "communication committee" which has had several articles related to Senior Advisory Board and senior issues published in local media outlets. • Senior Advisory Board officers met twice during 2008 with the Mayor in order to provide an update on the work of the Board and to highlight senior issues. • Senior Advisory Board invited City Council members to attend the Art Show at the Senior Center --an opportunity for social interaction with Board members and seniors. • Members of the Senior Advisory Board have agreed to attend at least one City Council meeting during the year in order to become familiar with the procedure should a member need to appear before the City Council on behalf of seniors. • Senior Advisory Board members have maintained liaison relationships with the following boards, commissions, and/or groups: AARP, Aspen Club, Affordable Housing Board, and CSU Center on Aging, Elder Care Network, Human Relations Commission, FC Senior Center, Larimer Co. Office on Aging, Meals on Wheels, Poudre Retired School Employees, and VOA/RSVP. • An SAB member will serve on the newly formed Bicycle Board. • Speakers who gave informative presentations at the Senior Advisory Board meetings in 2008 included: -Dave Colliton - Fort Net: information for seniors facing financial crises and foreclosure -Craig Foreman- Parks & Recreation Dept.: update on Parks Master Policy Plan -Mary Atchison- United Way: Pathways Past Poverty program -Jill Stillwell -Cultural Services Director: update on Master Cultural Plan -Jean Helburg-Parks and Recreation: update and Recreation Master Policy Plan -Shellie Leach & Sue Baccari- Women's Commission: brainstorming senior women's issues Yvonne Myers, Susan Barton- Columbine Health: complexities in selecting Medicare coverage The Senior Advisory Board celebrates recognitions received by a Board member in 2008: Peggy McGough was a nominee for: Senior Volunteer at the United Way luncheon and Senior Human Relations Award at the Human Relations Commission breakfast, and she received the Senior Service Award at the Bridging the Gap Networking Event.