Minutes
Bexar Senior Advisory Committee
Friday, December 13, 2002 – 10:00 a.m.
Members Present:
Sue Ackerman Chris Alderete Julia Castellano-Hoyt
Norma Cheeves Laura Cisneros Barb Dampman
Elsa Davis Ray Foley Hon. Ruth Jones-McClendon rep by
Santos Hernandez Ida Kenny Bill Heineman
Pastor Ernie Lantz Lewis Marshall Winn Murnin
Sterling Neuman Nancy Rheams Alicia Rodriguez
Rev. Gene Sheppard Katherine Schwesinger Jimmy Toubin
Bonnie Truax Dorothy Whitenack
Ambassador-At-Large: Steve Saldana
Members Excused:
1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order by Pastor Ernie Lantz, Chairman.
2. Roll Call and Secretary Report – Roll call was taken by Laura Cisneros, Secretary.
3. Approval of the Minutes of November 8, 2002 – Upon correction to minutes to reflect Pete Irwin representing Winn Murnin and name correction for Tito Villalobos Moreno under #7.E., minutes were approved as presented.
4. Citizens To Be Heard – Mr. Homer Lear, T.S.H.L. member and National Silver Haired Congress representative wished everyone a very Happy Holiday and thanked everyone for the cooperation given to the Texas Silver Haired Legislature. Mr. Lear reported that there are 20 direct resolutions and 14 support resolutions that have a direct impact on seniors. There are two major resolutions, one at the state level that will retain the Texas Department on Aging and the other at the National level and that is to push for prescription drugs to be affordable and optional.
5. Staff Report – Carol Zernial, Bexar Area Agency on Aging Director reported the following:
§ Attended the recent N4A Board meeting in Baltimore and there is concern regarding the Medicaid Program. N4A recognizes this and looks to support this at the national level. Assistance will be for the very low-income and catastrophic levels of prescription needs.
§ Last Acts Organization will hold a conference call on Dec. 18th and if anyone is interested, please let her know and she will provide the telephone information.
§ Texas Joint Conference on Aging will be held on April 13-16, 2003 in Ft. Worth.
§ Updated BSAC members on Bexar AAA Access and Assistance Programs citing their accomplishments as well as areas of concern
At this time, Nick Monreal, Managing Local Ombudsman was introduced. He pointed out that the Ombudsman program is at 93% per capita. Mr. Monreal introduced Suzanne Ruff who reported on the authorized Electronic Monitoring stating that any nursing home resident can have this device installed, either at their own expense or at the expense of the facility. Texas Nursing facility residents have the right to receive information about prescribed psychoactive medication from the person who prescribes the medication or their designee and have the option to refuse to consent to the prescription of psychoactive medications.
It was reported that Mr. Dan Rosenberg, Assisted Living Pilot, of the 114 assisted living facilities in San Antonio/Bexar County, Dan has visited 80%. Mr. Rosenberg further added that two additional pilot sites have been added by the Texas Department on Aging, one in Dallas and the other in El Paso.
Mr. Monreal further reported on the Bexar AAA Ombudsman Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and distributed a handout explaining the program in detail. Mr. Monreal further reported on the READII: AACOG/Bexar AAA Outreach Collaborative effort in partnership with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will assist in the development of an Outreach Action Plan for the Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII), focusing on the elderly 65 and over.
6. Chairperson’s Report – Pastor Ernie Lantz thanked all BSAC members for their support and participation during 2002 and wished everyone a very happy Holiday Season.
7. Subcommittee Status Reports
A. Access & Assistance Subcommittee – No Report
B. Allocations Subcommittee – No Report
C. Family Caregiver Support Program – Mr. Saldana reported that there is no committee report, however, a meeting is scheduled in January.
D. Information, Special Events and VISTA – Ms. Davis reported that the committee has been planning the Senior Day 2003 at the Capitol event. At this time, Ms. Laura Cisneros reported that several committee members had attended the recently formed City/County Elderly Commission. Mrs. Doris Griffin and Ms. Elsa Davis presented a mini proposal requesting money to assist with the transportation. The Commission stated that they will not be allocating funds to any organization. However, they did commit to sponsor one bus for their 17 commission members. Mr. Neuman asked whether anyone had contacted Ms. Gloria Seitzman at Jewish Family Services in an effort to obtain a comparable bus charter price.
E. Nominations/Bylaws and Legislative asked for ratification on the following:
§ Bylaws Revision – Article III – Membership Section C. 1.
§ Motion was made to accept the Three Year Membership presented and seconded by Ms. Julia Castellano-Hoyt. Motion passed.
§ Motion was made to accept the Alternate Memberships presented and seconded by Ms. Bonnie Truax. Motion passed.
§ Motion was made to reverse member status of Johnnie Davis to Victor Garcia and reverse alternate status of Victor Garcia to Johnnie Davis. Motion was seconded by Mr. Jimmy Toubin.
§ Read into minutes proposed change to: Article II – Activities – E. Require this Committee’s involvement in the on-going evaluation of agencies and programs that we fund. PROPOSED CHANGE: Require this Committee’s involvement in the on-going evaluation of agencies and programs funded by the Texas Department on Aging (TDoA) and all other funding sources.
8. Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Outgoing Officers; Outgoing Members and Alternate Members.
At this time, Mr. Al Notzon III, Executive Director, on behalf of the Alamo Area Council of Governments thanked each and every member of the Bexar Senior Advisory Committee, Staff, Chairman and Officers for their work performed this past year. Mr. Notzon informed that the Board of Directors relies on the advice from BSAC as it relates to senior issues in Bexar County.
Ms. Carol Zernial introduced Ms. Rosella Espinoza and Ms. Belinda Guzman who have recently been hired for the Caregiver Program and also introduced Ms. Diane Teran who has been with the AAA Department for several months but had not been introduced.
9. Adjourn – There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.