AGING AND LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE

 

Monday, November 5, 2007

Administrative Center – Room 3220

9:00 a.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Roger Plesha, Ann Fisher, Jason Gillett, Jerry Sebranek, Sharon Hampson, Lyell Montgomery, Ray Ebert (exc/arr @9:04) 

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Jim Ehrsam      

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None       

GUESTS & STAFF:  Pam Semb, Pete Eide, Noreen Kuroski, Jim Gausmann, Steve O’Malley, Jim Speropulos, Mary Powell, Cheryl Stephen

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Roger Plesha, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Fisher/Sebranek to approve minutes of October 18, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously; Ehrsam and Ebert excused. 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Sebranek/Fisher to accept and place on file the following consent agenda items:

·         Commission on Aging Minutes of October 2, 2007

·         Celebrating Hmong Health & Caregiving – Wednesday, November 7, 2007

·         Ripples & Waves – Lakeview Newsletter

Motion carried unanimously; Ehrsam and Ebert excused.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

 

VETERANS SERVICE UPDATE

Jim Gausmann noted the following:

·         Held 10th Annual Veterans Stand-down Assistance Fair on October 23rd; approximately 300 veterans attended; it was another successful event.

·         Former Surgeon General of the Army, Dr. James Peak, was nominated to the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs; hopefully his appointment will help with the current problems of Veterans Affairs.

·         VA hospitals are doing more outsourcing of surgeries.  Waiting lists are out of hand.  Facilities are also overwhelmed with mental health cases which is a nationwide issue.

·         Veterans Day is Sunday, November 11th.  There is a ceremony in La Crosse at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 10th at Our Saviors Lutheran Church and concluding at the La Crosse Legion at 11:00 a.m.; plus other special Veterans Day events at other communities throughout the County.

 

SPECIAL FUNDING AGEADVANTAGE AWARDED $22,700 – OUTREACH & SERVICES FOR THE HMONG POPULATION

Noreen Kuroski noted receipt of grant award in amount of $22,700 to be used toward outreach and services for the Hmong population.  The Aging Dept. has a part-time employee of Hmong decent who assists in these types of services; this grant will cover that cost for one year.  On November 7th, there is a Hmong Elders Health Fair; last year had about 60 participants and this year plan to expect about 80.

 

SHIP GRANT $5,000 FROM THE STATE FOR MEDICARE D ASSISTANCE FOR 65+ POPULATION

Noreen noted receipt of $5,000 from the State; only eleven agencies in the State received additional funding.  It will be used for additional hours toward Medicare Part D assistance as provided by a part-time employee.

 

STRAP GRANT FUNDING UPDATE

Noreen noted nothing new to report.  STRAP Grant award winners were to be notified by the end of October, but not heard as of to-date.

 

2006 AUDIT FOR HILLVIEW HEALTH CARE CENTER

Pete Eide noted the 2006 Hillview Audit was distributed at the October committee meeting.  Hillview is in good financial condition as compared to other county-run nursing homes, but still have challenges; need to continue to look for additional revenue sources as well as contain staffing costs.

 

ASSISTED LIVING FEASIBILITY STUDY

Pete noted Hillview received a draft copy of the study.  A final report will be given at the December committee meeting.  Steve O’Malley noted a placeholder of $2.6 million can be placed in the capital improvement budget for Hillview; a final decision would be made by this committee and 2/3’s vote of the County Board.

 

CARROLL HEIGHTS UPDATE

Pete noted as of today, there are 8 open apartments at Carroll Heights.  People are moving toward facilities that offer additional assistance.  It was determined not to raise the monthly rate based on need to be more competitive.  The apartments are also being upgraded/renovated when vacated.  One option could be to convert some of the apartments into assisted living; this will be a topic for future discussion.

 

LAKEVIEW COLLABORATION UPDATE & REVIEW THE DRAFT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Steve O’Malley, Pam Semb and Bill Shepherd reviewed.  Highlights as follows:

·         Due to Lakeview having to pick up the difference in actual costs for housing Medicaid patients from other counties, this collaboration effort will allow payment from the member counties, that being daily cost difference of $39/day per patient.

·         This is a unique arrangement and agreement among 10 counties (La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Crawford, Chippewa, Juneau, Sauk, Richland, Marinette and Rock).  It will be a statewide model which is why WCA Attorney is involved in its final planning.  It’s being created as nonprofit corporation under Ch. 181, Wis. Stats.  Each County will pay $5,000 as a one-time membership fee.

·         It will have a board of directors that will make advisory and policy decisions.  Jurisdiction over Lakeview will remain under the Aging & Long Term Care Committee and the County Board.  The board will be known as the Mississippi Valley Health Services Board of Directors.  The makeup of the board will be 3 from La Crosse County and one from each of the other counties.  The President and Vice President of the Board will be from La Crosse County.   The board may meet quarterly or as needed.  Filling of beds is based on client needs; each county has equal opportunity.  Currently, Lakeview is full. 

·         Noted the Attorney General, as done in the past for similar effort, can give a legal opinion but has no authority.

·         Noted other similar models/arrangements, such as municipal owned nursing homes of Galesville and Westby, have similar agreements.

·         There is no other solution, unless do like other counties have done, sell and get out of the nursing home business.

·         The Intergovernmental Charter Contract will need each of the member counties full county board approval. This document and several others will be reviewed at the December 5th meeting of the collaboration counties.  Committee members were invited to attend this collaboration meeting at 6:00 p.m., December 5th at Lakeview.

 

INPUT & QUESTIONS RE 2008 DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS

Supervisor Ebert noted presentation at WCA Conference by Racine County representative relating to contracted services vs. employees for their nursing home.  Both Pam and Pete said this has been looked at and there was little savings; staff looked at quality of services also.  Noted laundry services are already contracted out; other possibilities could be food or housekeeping.  Supervisor Hampson noted quality of care vs. minimal cost savings. 

 

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS

·     Request by Shelby Youth Baseball

·     Bethany Riverside Director Views on Future Services

·     Hillview Assisted Living Study

 

NEXT MEETING

Monday, December 10th at 9:00 a.m.  Note:  cancellation of the joint meeting with Health & Human Services Board on December 10th.  Committee members are invited to attend the Lakeview Collaboration meeting with the other counties planned for December 5th, 6:00 p.m. at Lakeview.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Committee Chair Plesha declared the meeting adjourned at 10:34 a.m.   

 

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder