Minutes from August 10th Meeting

AGING & DISABILITY NETWORK OF SARATOGA COUNTY MINUTES

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Present: Ann Quinn (Home Health Care Partners), Alice Richmond (Saratoga Co. OFA), Karen Clark (Home Health Care Partners), Cathy Tucker (Ameriprise Financial), Robin Blostein (Eddy VNA), Kathy Wallace (SAIL), Shelly Glock (IPRO), Richard Amico (St. Edward the Confessor), Elaine Gerwin (CEO), Shelli Crogan (Interim Health Care), Lori Holmes (Interim Health Care), Ben Nichols (Saratoga Co. NY Connects), Melissa Cuoco (Schuyler Ridge Nursing Home), Kim Swire (CHOICES at St. Peter's), Jennifer Baldwin (Saratoga Hospital), Linda Little (Parish Nurse Calvary Episcopal Church), Carol Joyce (Wesley), Laurie Glogowski (Wesley Evergreen ADC), Amie Tollison (CDTA), Kevin O'Brien (CDTA), Jill Ordonez (United Way 211), Peter Whitten (Shelters of Saratoga), John Penzer (Shelters of Saratoga), Tara Ricard (Madison & Saratoga Hearing), Sharron Cataldo (Raymond Watkins), Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga), Holly Pajak (Redesign in Mind), JoAnne Martel (NYSAAAA), Jennifer Frigolette (Attentive Care), Noreen Jones (Stonequist), Karen Britt (Alzheimer's Assoc. of NENY), Tina Foehlinger (Home Instead Senior Care), JoAnn Zales (National Grid)

Upcoming meetings:

September 14, 2010 – Discharge Planning Challenges and Opportunities: Enhancing Transitions of Care. Aging & Disability Network Blog asks members to please email any barriers to successful discharge that you would like discussed. Panel members will include

• Cindi Lisuzzo, Direct Care Manager, Saratoga Care

• Jennifer Baldwin, LMSW, Saratoga Care
• Steve Wright, Cardiology Program Director, Ellis Hospital
• Amy Snyder, NY Connects NYSOFA


October 12, 2010 – Rory Fluman, NYSOFA, Older Driver & Pedestrian Safety Project
Location: United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs


November 9, 2010 – Understanding Dementia Panel. Panel members include:
Location: St Edward the Confessor Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Rd, Clifton Park, NY

• Diane Van Dusen, Manager of Clinical Dementia Services, Eddy Alzheimer’s Services Cohoes
• Karen Britt, Western Region Program Manager, Alzheimer’s Association
• Lucy Phelps, Dementia Care Manager, VA Hospital


December 14, 2010 – Networking and Holiday Get together
Location: Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Drive, Malta, NY


**We will hold meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month 2:00-3:30 p.m. unless otherwise indicated


“Our mission is to promote community awareness of the programs and services available to Saratoga County residents who are aging and/or disabled, and their caregivers, so as to better meet the needs of these ever increasing populations.”

Introductions & Announcements

• Alzheimer’s Association Capital Region Memory Walk to be held on Saturday 9/25 at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. 9 til 10:30 am registration, 10:30 walk kickorr, refreshments at noon. For more information, http://capitalregion.kinters.org.

• Saratoga County Office for the Aging HIICAP program offering Medicare Basics on Monday 9/13 from 2 – 4:30 pm at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St, Saratoga Spirng. Presenter is Eric Hausman, National Government Services. For more information, please call 363-4033.

• Evergreen Adult Day Services has moved to 357 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa. Hours are 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. On September 21 there will an open house from 4:30 – 6:30 PM. Offer free trial day for clients.

• Saratoga Vital Aging Network is partnering with Saratoga County Office for the Aging New York Connects for a conference to be held on October 20, “In My House, About Me, Without Me”. A Saratoga County Community Conversation on Diverse Pathways to Alternative Living Options for the Elderly. The conference will be held at The Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs.

• STAR CDTA has curb to curb service for those eligible.

• Shelters of Saratoga offers home safety inspections to help prevent accidents. SOS is holding a garden luncheon to benefit the homeless. “One Fine Day” on Tuesday August 17 from 1 PM to 4 PM at Union Gables Bed & Breakfast.

Speaker- Edward Wilcenski, Esq. of Jones, Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC, 5 Emma Lane, Clifton Park. 518-373-0333. Ed is an estate planning attorney in an Elder Law practice, including the younger disabled population. The title of Mr. Wilcenski’s presentation is “The Perfect Storm”, focusing on the challenges faced when aging caregivers can no longer advocate for their sons and daughters with disabilities. When families are providing assistance three phenomenon can come together to create this perfect storm:

1 - Aging of caregiver population (possibly had access to waivered services)

2 – Decrease in Medicaid funding (change in laws with Deficit Reduction Act, OPWDD change the definition for qualifying for waivered services)

3 – Maturing of the oversight system, ie: Power of Attorney, Guardians. There are more strict standards and greater supervision.

There are three things plans should include.

1 – Empowered agent with legal authority.

Will and trusts, Health Care Proxies and guardianship @ types of guardianship include a. Under 17 or TBI any age guardianship, surrogates court, simple. Do not need a lawyer to continue into adulthood. Can use NYSARC if no family. b. Article 81 guardianship – lose capacity over time. Supreme court. Two physician affadavits, court evaluator, annual report, need attorney.

2 – Maintain eligibility for benefits with access to as much of own assets as possible.

Supplemental special Needs Trust. Medicaid trust is irrevocable. Fully discretionary but if Medicaid paying don’t use principle’s money. Includes money management and oversight, protects Medicaid eligibility. If someone else puts in money than a 3rd party trust (money leftover goes to family). Do with own assets it is a 1st party trust – over 65 recognized disabled than leftover goes to Medicaid. A pooled trust any age NYSARC.

3 – Informing advocates what your intent is for the disabled person.


Respectfully submitted,

Alice Richmond, Aging Services Coordinator
Saratoga County Office for the Aging