North Cook News

Evanston Commission on Aging met Dec. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission:

DECLARATION OF QUORUM

With a quorum present, Chair Factor called the meeting to order at 4:06pm.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES of November 7, 2019

The COA minutes from November 7th, 2019 were approved as written.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Long-Term Care Committee (LTCC)

1. LTCC Chair Litrea Hunter noted that Committee members attended the fourth and final site visit of the year after last month’s meeting. The tour of Dobson Plaza was well received; members discussed the new addition to the building and the remarkably long tenure of many staff members, which is not always the case in long-term care settings.

RELEVANT COMMITTEE REPORTS

Age-Friendly Evanston Task Force (AFE)

Commission on Aging, Draft

1. AFE’s last meeting is on Tuesday, December 12th. While there isn’t much formal business on the agenda, there will be a celebration to say thank you to all who have participated in AFE over the years. All are welcome!

Dementia-Friendly Evanston (DFE)

1. Results from evaluations collected at the November 9th event at the Evanston Public Library will be reviewed at the DFE meeting next week. Ms. Thompson noted that DFE members are already starting to discuss events for 2020 with the first slated for March.

Affordable Housing (AH)

1. Chair Factor noted that the last AH meeting was canceled but has been rescheduled for December 10th at the Levy Center.

CHAIR REPORT

No Chair Report this month.

VICE CHAIR REPORT

No Vice Chair report this month.

STAFF REPORT

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Ms. Thompson provided the following information:

1. The Good Memories choir concert will be held on December 12th at the Evanston Public Library; all are invited to attend. This choir is for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers.

2. Ms. Sadler provided an update on activities by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in Evanston’s long-term care facilities since the last meeting.

a. The Grove was visited by IDPH in October to review changes purportedly implemented in response to the significant fine imposed earlier this year for improper care. No deficiencies were identified.

b. The Annual Health Survey conducted at Presbyterian Homes on September 5th yielded no tags, but their Life Safety Code survey led to five tags.

c. Aperion Care’s Annual Health Survey on November 20th garnered eight tags, including issues surrounding residents self-administering medication, failure to report alleged abuse by staff, a medication error rate of 16%, and five deficiencies related to food preparation and serving, particularly with pureed foods.

i. Aperion’s Life Safety Survey led to 12 tags, including three that were also incurred at last year’s survey related to failing to conduct fire drills and maintain sprinkler and fire alarm systems.

Commission on Aging, Draft

Additionally, a staff member was parked in front of a fire exit during the survey and a space heater was located in a staff workspace.

ii. The facility also garnered 11 tags related to deficiencies in their emergency preparedness plan.

d. Ms. Sadler noted that she will be reviewing all tags from the past few years to determine which issues seem to be most prevalent in Evanston nursing homes so the Ombudsman office can decide when, if, and how to intervene. Frequent Life Safety Code violations will also be communicated to the Evanston Health Department.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Grandparents Raising Grandkids (GRG) will enjoy their annual holiday party Saturday (December 14th) from 11am to 2pm at the Levy Center. Generous donations collected from current and past COA and LTCC members will be used to purchase gift cards for all 30 GRG members.

2. Ms. Thompson will be meeting with Mr. Patrick Hughes and LTCC member Ms. Sue Canter to discuss accessibility tour as discussed during last month’s COA meeting. More information will be provided once a tour date is secured.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Ms. Thompson provided details regarding the Commission’s progress toward goals identified in the two-year workplan. In 2020, the Commission will need to host two additional community meetings, topics for which will be discussed in upcoming meetings. Ms. Thompson will inform COA members of the date of the next Legislative Breakfast, which typically counts toward advocacy goals.

a. Members discussed having a greater presence at City Council meetings, particularly when items of importance to older adults are on the docket.

COMMUNICATIONS

1. The Long-Term Care Commission will not meet in December, but will meet as scheduled on January 8th, 2020.

2. The Commission will not meet in January; the next COA meeting is scheduled for February 6th, 2020.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was moved and seconded to adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved at 5:08pm.

https://www.cityofevanston.org/home/showdocument?id=54772