1998-06-04 - Committee on Aging - Minutes � �"/ �
Buffalo Grove Joint Commission on Aging
Meeting Sucnmary
June 4, 1998
Members in Attendance-Harriet Rubinstein,Gina Sheade,Bonnie Factor,Phil Versten,Village Trustee
DeeAnn Glover and Dan Schimmel.
Guest in Attendance-Warnine Krueger
. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Rubinstein at 7:15 pm.
The meeting summary from March 26, 1998 was approved by voice vote as move to approve was made by
Gina Sheade and seconded by Harriet Rubinstein.
Conespondence-None reported
REPORTS
Resource Library- Gina reported that she worked on the resource library on that day"to work on simplifying
the cataloguing system. She requested labels for this process and provide Dan with a listing of what she
needed. Dan will provide the typed labels on June 25. Gina will pick them up from Senior Coordinator Teri
Ebner.
Park District-Dan reported that Teri would not be stepping into the full time position until the fall season
starts. She decided that she wanted to spend as much of the summer with her children as possible. He also
reported that senior programs were going extremely well and that bingo had 64 the previous day. So many
that the park district moved the program into the larger multipurpose room. The park district is investigating
options on how to find more space. Phil offered the Youth Center and will check into the scheduling at that
location.
Dan also reported on the progress of the Fitness Center and Golf Learning Center facilities. As part of the
report he informed the commission of the recent trip to Springfield by park district staff and Board members
and the meetings scheduled with State Representative Clayton and State Senator Petersen. Due in part to this
effort,Verna Clayton worked to include the Route 83 Overpass for Pedestrian and Bikes in last minute State
funding. This was secured and it looks like the Park District,Village and Rotary Club will all conkribute
funds towards the construction of the overpass. (Park District and Village contributions are$75,000 with
Rotary donating$25,000). The entire project is$4�0,000.
Villa�e Re.�ort-Phil reported on the Village adopting May as National Elder Law Month and Senior Law
Month.
There had been questions from Harriet concerning providing public nurses. Phil had investigated and
found that in most cases, where nurses are available, they are funded by the township.
Phil passed around the "Basic Crisis Intervention Resources for Northwest Cook County" pamphlet. It can
serve as another resource for our Crisis pamphlet.
Phil reported that Village President Sid Matthias is running unopposed for the State Representative position
being vacated by State Representative Verna Clayton.
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Old Business -
Refrigerator Magnets -Dan reported that they have been ordered and that they are expected in the
next week. They will be distributed free to park district residents enrolled in the Senior Club.
Phil and Dan will also make them available for a small fee to others. The cost was shared by the
park district and the village.
Emergency Guide -Harriet and Dan reported on the distribution of the letter seeking input from
other agencies. Due to content, the letter was held up and is being redrafted by Dan with
Harriet's approval to make sure we get what we want.
SALT: Seniors and Lawmen Working Together - Warnine Krueger, Certified Senior O�cer of
the Police Department Came to report on the different initiatives of the Police Department.
She has been pulling records on emergency dispatches involving seniors. She is hoping to
develop a mailing list so that information can be distributed on her programs.
Warnine does home visits to seniors to help inform them and to provide assurances on
services. She also serves as a resource to help them in their day to day safety concerns.
Citizen Police Academy - She is just about to graduate her second"class of CPA graduates.
She reports that these people are also willing to visit home bound seniors and may be
willing to be the man power behind an"Are You OK?" program.
Warnine is also trying to set up a "chores" volunteer help program to help seniors.
New Business -
Dan updated the Commission on the Veterans Rights issue regarding hospital care for Veterans.
Dan had asked Steve Perlis to investigate and he had supplied us with some information. Another
packet that Harriet got at a Wheeling Township meeting was distributed. Basically, Veterans are
to report to VA hospitals with their discharge papers to register. This has been misread by many
to mean that if they do not register, they would lose access to all VA Hospital benefits. At this
time, that is not the case. Warnine was going to get some more information from a friend of hers.
Warnine warned Commission members to inform seniors and others of fraud scams involving
phones. Apparendy, people identifying themselves as Ameritech technicians call and through
some questions, are able to secure the homeowners phone line and make phone calls to anywhere.
It is a simple process and one originally designed to help repairmen check on lines. She reminded
all of us to not take requests like this at face value. Get the name of the technician, name of
. supervisor, and call 611 to validate that technicians are working on your line.
Bonnie shared a possible fund raising project. It would incorporate the sale of an"emergency
beacon." This light replaces your outside light. Under normal conditions, it operates like any
other bulb. When you double click it, it flashes continuously. The hope is that others notice the
lamp and call the police. The bulb costs $5.99 at volume discounts. No decision was made.
The Senior Newsletter published by the Park District was distributed.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 1998.