Minutes From Tuesday, February 12 Meeting

AGING AND DISABILITY NETWORK OF SARATOGA COUNTY MEETING
Minutes for February 12, 2013
Held at St. Edwards Church, Clifton Park

Present: Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga), Mary Rickard, Ben Nichols,  (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Kim Swire (Choices at St. Peter’s) Rick Amico (St. Edwards Church), Reed Lehan (Saratoga County DSS), Marie Geizer (Home Instead Senior Care) Kym Hance (Home Helpers),  Catherine Tucker (Ameriprise Financial), Holly Pajak (Redesign in Mind), Ann Quinn,  Karen Clark ( Home Health Care Partners), Karen Laing(Your Health Advocate), Donna Rudzenski (Shenendehowa Village), Amy Hughes (Saratoga Co Veterans Peer to Peer Mentoring), Beverly Custer, Dana Pleskovic, Melody Nunez (Mechanicville Community Center), Cheryl Lawyer (NABA), Katie George (Eddy Lifeline), Jess Froehlich (Eddy Daybreak Adult Day Program), Candy Rivera Whitehead (NYS-EPIC), Crystal Swinton, Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga), Diana Martin(Wesley Evergreen ADS)

Introductions
Cindy Harrington welcomed all attendees and announced that the next meeting will be held on March 12 at the Malta Community Center.  Next month topic is Veterans Services and information about the new Peer to Peer Mentoring Program.

Participants introduced themselves.

Announcements

Today’s Topic and Presenters:
Palliative Care-Presenters Linda Reveal and Elizabeth Hannah

What is Palliative care and what is the difference between Palliative care and hospice?

Palliative care is when a person is actively seeking treatment.  Their illness is progressive but not terminal.  There are goals for treatment and for managing symptoms.

Hospice is end of life care for when the diagnosis is 6 months or less  and treatment is declined.

Certain kinds of insurance will pay for palliative care but generally a skilled need is necessary.  It is paid under the clients home care benefit and they need to meet certain criteria. Senior Blue and some MVP plans have palliative care benefit.

A Palliative care nurse will talk about end of life issues, what to expect, symptoms and pain management.

The Eddy Visiting Nurse Association uses an interdisciplinary team that includes a medical director, social worker, chaplain, registered nurses and a palliative care physician.  Also includes complimentary services such as Reiki, massage, PT, OT and home health aide if necessary.

Handouts were available to that explained about Advance Care Planning and Palliative Home Care.