HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil on Aging Annual Report 2006 Council on Aging "Gateway to Healthy Aging"
Service is provided to and for 4,600 elders.
Irene M. O'Brien, Director of Elder Services
Board of Directors:
William P. Callahan, Chair Maria Rosati, Vice Chair
Margaret V. Shaheen, Secretary Pricilla Cole, Treasurer
Elizabeth Poirier, Al Movsesian, Patricia Long, Jack Graham, Peter Aziz
Administrative and Support Staff:
William Auriemma James Coakley Charles Rivers
Louise Aziz Paula Crudale Doris Rosten
James Beattie Donna Delaney Nancy Stevenson
Gilda Blackstock Robert Kolebrick Pat Sweeney
Marge Caron Jeannie McCukser Virginia Chilpian (Able)
Nutrition Support:
Judy A. Lalmond Susan M. Weisman Barbara Joseph
Division Name: Community Service Division
Division Director: Raymond Santilli
Department Name: North Andover Council on Aging/Senior Activity Center
The Council on Aging/Senior Activity Center is located at 120R Main Street next to the
Town Hall.
Council on Aging/Senior Activity Center is a vital link in the service delivery network
which older persons and their families may avail themselves of. Council on Aging
provides a multitude of services for seniors including, but not limited to application
assistance, social support, health and recreational services, medical screenings,
wellness programs, meals and nutritional workshops. Councils on Aging are the
gateway to help seniors and their families access many supportive services.
During 2006, 283 Volunteers contributed 42,911 hours of service. Total savings to the
community $292,984.25. Meals on Wheels delivered 13,999 in North Andover and
2,896 in house congregate meals were served.
The Outreach Coordinator provided counseling, crisis intervention and referral services
for 1,632 clients, as well as providing home and hospital visits to assess needs, for
MOW, Brown Bag and Boston Food Bank programs. Outreach participates in off site
blood pressure screening, and acts as a medical advocate for many clients. This
department coordinates Friendly Visitors and Telephone Reassurance, providing
companionship for the frail and isolated elders. In addition, being an active liaison with
Fire Department, Police Department, Board of Health, and Housing Authority as well as
making referrals to other agencies. Elder Service Director and Outreach Coordinator are
also mandated reporters for elders at risk from abuse or self-neglect.
Community Services: Triad seniors and law enforcement working together to educate
and provide services, which enhance quality of life for elders so that they may stay safe
in their own homes. Our knitters have provided scarfs and mittens for children in
Lawrence and contributed to fundraising activities. The Cuddles Program has provided
over 2,000 dolls to local hospitals, Alzheimer's units and throughout the United States
this past year.
The dramatic increase in the 85 plus population in North Andover presents the Council
on Aging with new challenges and greater demands such as cutbacks in home care
services, increases in cost of medication and health care insurance; higher taxes has
created a new generation of seniors who are caregivers for their aging parents.
The loss of the Program Manager's position in January of 06, has affected the three
remaining full time employees. The Program Manager worked very closely with the
Director in helping to develop new programs and to provide current information
pertaining to issues that affect the quality of life for our elders. The coordination of the
Tax Relief Program, Newsletter Publication, updating the tracking system, recruiting of
volunteers for medical transportation, nutrition volunteers, special event volunteers, and
weekly press releases are all tasks that have added additional stress to an already
overworked staff.
Grant and Funding Received or Requested for FY 07
• Formula Grant Fiscal Year 2006 award amount; $28,470 this grant is designated
to support the part time positions of custodian, van driver; 2 receptionists, 12.5
additional hours to Outreach and to help defray first class newsletter mailing cost.
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Service Incentive Grant Award
• Salem Five Volunteer Recognition Dinner Grant Award $2,500
• Title 3 B collaborative Fiscal Year 2006 VNA/North Andover COA
Funding is managed by the VNA portion of the Title 3 funding is used to supports
the Senior Wellness Walk- in Clinics.
• North Andover Cultural Council Grant.
Friends of the North Andover Senior Center Inc.
The Friends of the North Andover Senior Center Inc. have established two new
programs. The first is a "Scholarship for Seniors"who may have difficulty paying class
fees offered here at the Senior Center. The second is the "Emergency Fund for
Seniors." This fund may be used for such things as utility bills, rent, food, or
prescriptions.
Support given to the Council on Aging by the Friends of the North Andover Senior
Center:
• Purchase of Laptop.
• Funding mailing of the quarterly newsletter.
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mobility Assistance Program fundraised
$15,378.50 purchased transportation bus.
Accomplishments during FY 07
• Warrant article submitted to amend the current amount through the overlay
account established in the Property Tax Work Off Program from $10,000 to
$12,000. Passed on Town Meeting floor. In October, a lottery was held to select
20 names from a pool of 37 applicants. These 20 volunteers have been
assigned to departments within the Town.
• Development of two new Bereavement Groups in collaboration with Beacon of
Hope and Journey through Change.
• Triad Program Introduced "Is your Number Up" with the support of ACE
Hardware.
• To update current Policy & Procedure Manual used by the Council on Aging
Board of Directors.
• Staff education, Samaritans held a two-day workshop aimed at suicide
awareness in the older adult.
• Senior Citizens Appreciation Dinner held in collaboration with North Andover
Superintendents Office for Older American Month
• Continued collaboration with North Andover Housing to better serve low income
elders
• Spanish Language Program was introduced with overwhelming success.
• Intergenerational Programs Collaborative with Brooks School: Community Day
Programs, Computer Training, North Andover High School Student Outreach
Computer Program
Objectives for Fiscal Year 08
• Applied for Capital Funds for the implementation of improvements to the Senior
Center.
• To launch a fundraising campaign with the Friends for improvements to the
Senior Center FY08
• Apply for Formula Grant through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for FY08
• Apply for Service Incentive Grant FY08
• Apply for Improvement Grants, through Foundations, Salem Five, Banknorth,
Bank of America, using 501 C3 status.
• Apply for Cultural Council Art Grant
• Collaborate with Elder Services for Title 111 nutrition funding FY08
• Apply for Grant through Salem Five for volunteer appreciation luncheon.
• To continue hosting five meetings a year collaborating with Elderly Housing; in
addition to establishing off site programs utilizing the availability of space at
housing
• To submit warrant article to add $3,000 in funding to support 5 more workers for
the Tax Work Off Program. Funding comes through the overlay account.
• To host Health Awareness Fair during Older American Month
Respectfully Submitted,
Irene M. O'Brien
Director Elder Services