AGING AND LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE
Monday, October 6, 2008
County Administrative Center – Room 3220
10:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Roger Plesha, Ann Fisher, Andrea Richmond, Jerry Sebranek, Margaret Wood, John Medinger (arr @10:06), Audrey Kader (arr @10:15)
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Brad Pfaff
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
GUESTS & STAFF: Pam Semb, Pete Eide, Jim Gausmann, Noreen Holmes, Kelly Kramer, Steve O’Malley, Gary Ingvalson, Mary Powell, Cheryl Stephen
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Committee Chair Roger Plesha called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Sebranek/Fisher to approve meeting minutes of September 8, 2008, and joint meeting minutes with Public Works & Infrastructure Committee of September 8, 2008. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff excused; Medinger and Kader absent.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Sebranek/Wood to accept the following Consent Agenda items:
· Commission on Aging minutes of September 2, 2008
· Shelby Youth Baseball Project Underway
· Annual Veterans La Crosse Stand Down at Onalaska Armory on October 14th from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (flyer handed out)
· The Hillview Family Newsletter
· Ripples & Waves – Lakeview Newsletter (handed out)
Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff excused; Medinger and Kader absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None requested.
INFORMATION RE BETTS PLACE FOR PEACE – CBRF FOR VETERANS
Jim Gausmann noted a state licensed community-based residential facility located in Rockland that has mostly veteran residents, is under investigation by the State Dept. of Health Services due to an anonymous phone call to the County Veterans Service Office who in turn contacted the State as well as local Human Services. The State did a desk review at the facility on August 28th and noted many violations per their letter to the current owner; copies of the letter were distributed. Main concerns are quality of services and financial issues (lack of credit and overdue accounts to food distributors and pharmacy and non-payment of real estate taxes for 2006 and 2007) – all of which violate the CBRF license requirements. Committee members requested an update at the November committee meeting.
INFORMATION RE VETERANS (PRIVATE PAY) AT NURSING HOMES & PRESCRIPTION
DRUG ISSUE
Pete Eide noted a complaint was received from Onalaska American Legion representative due to an issue involving a private pay Veteran resident at Hillview who wanted them to use the medications as received through his Veterans Services (bottle packaged). State law requires all nursing homes to have pharmacies place prescriptions in individual bubble packs for each patient, and per state law, Hillview cannot allow use of bottled medications for any of their residents. In this particular case, medications had to come from Hillview’s contracted pharmacy. Informational.
DISCUSSION ON MASTER PLAN, ASSISTED LIVING AND HOSPICE FOR HILLVIEW
Pete noted he and staff are still working on final numbers for an assisted living facility; plan to bring information to the November committee meeting. Continuing discussions with Gundersen Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp who want to partner with Hillview on a community-wide Hospice Center; this would complete the continuum of care as provided by Hillview.
PROPOSED COUNTY SMOKING BAN ORDINANCE AND EFFECTS ON LAKEVIEW RESIDENTS
Pam Semb noted on the Health & Human Services Board agenda is a county-wide workplace smoking ban ordinance. She noted the effects on Lakeview’s chronic mental health patients who smoke and in which Lakeview is their designated home; out of 180 residents at Lakeview, about 1/3 of them smoke. Currently, Lakeview has designated smoking areas inside and outside. Discussion on possible exemption for Lakeview residents. Supervisor Fisher noted the ordinance is for smoke-free workplaces – why would it affect the residents at Lakeview in which Lakeview is their home? MOTION by Kader/Richmond, in view of concern for the medical need for smoking at Lakeview for a particular population, they have grave reservations as to the total countywide smoking ban in the workplace, and therefore, request an exemption for Lakeview. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff excused. Steve O’Malley said he would inform the HHS Board at their meeting on Tuesday as to the action taken by this committee.
UPDATE ON MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HEALTH SERVICES (MVHS)
Steve gave an update. County staff held a 2nd meeting with State officials who have relayed concerns as to MVHS structure and Medicaid financing; they were informed of the partnership over a year ago and are now questioning its existence. Andy Phillips is working hard on the matter as well as other organizations that support it. Plan to hold a special meeting of MVHS to consider restructuring. This collaboration/partnership is being presented at the WCA Conference next week.
REVIEW 2009 BUDGETS FOR AGING UNIT, VETERANS SERVICE, HILLVIEW, CARROLL HEIGHTS, AND LAKEVIEW
Steve reviewed the following 2009 budgets, noting most increases are due to wages and benefits.
Aging – Requested meal donation increases for congregate and home-delivered meals; the increases are needed due to actual cost increases; costs will be retrieved though increased revenue and tax levy. The Commission on Aging supported the increases which are included on the County fee listing. Aging has a tax levy increase of about $37,000.
Veterans Services/Veterans Relief – no significant changes; tax levy increase of approximately $10,000.
Hillview – no tax levy requirement.
Carroll Heights – no tax levy requirement. Has $2.6 million in long-range capital improvements as a place holder for an assisted living facility.
Lakeview – has $1.9 million tax levy requirement though this is lower than previous years. Also requesting 3.8 new positions (1.0 for custodian and 2.8 for resident aides) as needed due MVHS partnership and increase in number of patients. Also noted high cost of utilities and need for capital improvements; $345,500 in 2009 for such.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
· Update on Betts Place for Peace
· Update on MVHS
· Hillview Master Plan (Assisted Living & Hospice Care)
NEXT MONTHLY MEETING
Monday, November 3rd at 10:00 a.m.
MOTION by Richmond/Wood to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff excused. The meeting adjourned at 11:06 a.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder