2026-09-28 - Commission on Elder Affairs

00:00All right. Well, welcome back everybody.

00:02>> Thank you.

00:02>> Nice to see you all.

00:04>> Um,

00:06we do have quorum so we can start

00:08calling meeting um play. Do I have a

00:11motion to um approve the minutes from

00:17not last month but from June 15.

00:20>> Motion.

00:22>> Do I have a second?

00:23>> Yes.

00:24>> All in favor?

00:26>> Opposed?

00:27>> So moved. We also have a motion to

00:30approve the senior center committee

00:32report from September 8th. I have a

00:34motion for that. Motion to approve.

00:37Thank you. Do I have a second?

00:39>> Second.

00:40>> Second.

00:41>> Thank you.

00:41>> All in favor?

00:43>> Any opposed?

00:45>> We have an upcoming.

00:46>> So approve. So um we do have a guest

00:49speaker today who's running a little bit

00:51late. Um is that Shma? Sema Sema Dixit.

00:57Um she is from HHS. She's the HHS

01:00commissioner. So she will be here. I'm

01:02just running a little late. So in the

01:04meantime, we'll I'll turn it over to

01:10>> Okay, so welcome back.

01:13>> Where did the summer go? We're headed up

01:16and it's definitely not in this room.

01:17Sorry.

01:20>> Um and we want to get you out on time.

01:24So, I will start my report and then

01:27we'll take a break as soon as it gets

01:29here. Um, if you read past year, you'll

01:35see there's a list of um plan

01:50back.

01:52>> So, you know, if you want to take note

01:55of it

01:57for you. And um and then the next page

02:02is the monthly report. However, this

02:06time it's for the whole first quarter

02:10since we didn't meet over the summer.

02:13And a reminder that our fiscal year

02:16starts July 1. Um, so we have a bit to

02:22catch up on, but we'll talk fast. Um,

02:27we and the city manager are still

02:31sticking with the strategic plan through

02:342029. So, the first page are the goals

02:39that relate to that or objectives.

02:42And um I'll just

02:46run through the uh main highlights.

02:51Um we continue with age and dementia

02:54friendly Worcester. Um Patty will catch

02:58you up on um the very active dementia

03:03um

03:04group and golf this summer.

03:09um we

03:12um

03:13remain

03:15um very diverse and very active.

03:19I'm not going to go over the numbers

03:22involved, but that um proves out that

03:25statement. And um many many people live

03:30outside our zip code, so we're still

03:33serving a wide variety of people from

03:36all over.

03:38um are

03:41um

03:42various training for people who are um

03:47pursuing something related to human

03:49services and especially senior services

03:53has progressed over the summer. This

03:57what's listed here started in um July,

04:02August, September. And I'll tell you

04:05about a couple of things and Patty and

04:10um Linda can highlight some of their

04:12own. I am mentoring

04:17an um a student that's part of the CDC

04:24workplace accelerated accelerator

04:28initiative. He's actually working with

04:31DPH, the city DPH, but they needed um

04:37someone who had a few years like old me

04:43to talk about the way the city operates,

04:47organizations,

04:49etc. So, I have a monthly meeting with

04:51them. Um

04:54and just mentioned this Norwood

04:58Norwich

05:00um university

05:02um did some research here come see

05:06already on um or came here to do some

05:10research on seniors attitudes towards

05:13someday using driverless cars to get

05:17around. So, I'll be interested to hear

05:19what they have to say. And also,

05:21Worester Tech is doing some research on

05:25robot robotics. We've already had a

05:28robot um visit once and they're coming

05:32back.

05:34Um and Sema, so glad you made it. Uh we

05:38were just filling in time for when

05:41you're ready. I'm sorry. Um do you have

05:44um a PowerPoint or

05:45>> No, I don't have a PowerPoint. No, I'm

05:47going to speak.

05:48>> That'll be easy.

05:48>> And I hope I don't bore all of you on

05:51this already dull

05:53>> already dull um afternoon. But I'm going

05:56to stand so I can see everyone.

05:58>> I'll get you water and why don't

05:59>> Oh, no. I'm good. I don't don't worry

06:01about it. I just want to make sure this

06:02phone is off because when I intend to

06:03keep it off, I keep it on. [laughter]

06:07>> Yeah, it's I'm always doing the opposite

06:09thing. So,

06:10>> and meanwhile, I will introduce my new

06:14supervisor, Seat Dix, Commissioner of

06:16Health.

06:17>> I really have to supervise Amy because

06:19[clears throat] she's only done this job

06:20for 40 years and me for seven and me for

06:23seven months. So, you can imagine how

06:25much I have to provide oversight to Amy.

06:27>> You support me and I appreciate it. And

06:31you've certainly

06:32>> hit the ground running. So, we're

06:35looking forward to

06:36>> It's an honor

06:36>> hearing. So, um, good afternoon everyone

06:41and apologies for being late. Um, MC

06:44Medixit. I am the not so new anymore

06:47health and human services commissioner

06:49um, in the city of Worster. Honored and

06:52privileged. I have been working uh, in

06:55health and human services for over 26

06:58years here in the United States. I was

07:01um, previously in India. Uh I went to

07:04school for TUS uh and uh I worked at

07:07Mass Department of Health and then with

07:09the American Cancer Society, New England

07:11Medical Center briefly before I went to

07:13Rhode Island Department of Health where

07:16I worked for 22 years in different

07:18capacities in all areas and finally

07:22retired um not retired, left uh but um

07:26as the deputy commissioner for the state

07:27and I was the acting commissioner during

07:29COVID and after um so I have extensive

07:32public health experience. This is my

07:34first time with city government. Um new

07:37um let's see

07:40uh senior centers. So I have five areas

07:43in the health and human services. Um

07:46let's start with uh department of public

07:49health division of public health under

07:50senior um under health and human

07:52services which is uh one of the oldest

07:56and most uh earliest uh public health

07:58accredited department in the country. We

08:02were the first ones division of public

08:03health to be accredited by the national

08:05public health standards. We have 12

08:08programs there that range from

08:12um flu clinics and vaccinations and

08:14tracking infectious diseases to maternal

08:18and child health um to tobacco control

08:22ordinances and education to uh public

08:26health excellence which is training to

08:29um emergency preparedness for health and

08:32human services disasters uh which we saw

08:35in COVID extensive ly. Um there is also

08:39a built-in environment program. There is

08:42the opioid and overdose drug abuse um

08:45and how to oversee that. We have the

08:48diversion to care grant which talk which

08:51focuses on um diverting people who have

08:57um either overdosed or have been

09:00incarcerated

09:01or are undergoing treatment for

09:04substance abuse. How do we divert them

09:06versus once they complete their section

09:0835 or their section 12 or their

09:11incarceration to um promoting and in not

09:16so much enforcing but promoting and

09:18connecting them to care and social

09:20services.

09:21Um we work extensively on data through

09:25the division of public health um in

09:28order to see how we are doing as well as

09:32make a case for further funding

09:34primarily funded through the city taxes

09:37and um the mass department of health and

09:40some federal dollars. So that's the

09:42biggest division public health which has

09:45about ideally should have 24 employees.

09:47Currently we have bunch of vacancies so

09:49maybe 19.

09:51Um we work very closely with the food

09:54and water inspections in the

09:55inspectional services division to ensure

09:58that the food and the water served in

10:01the city of Booster. The drinking water

10:03as well as the food in all the retail uh

10:06food licenses which is restaurants is um

10:10hygienic,

10:12healthy,

10:14um stored and um served at the proper

10:17temperatures [clears throat]

10:19um has the right amount of

10:21refrigeration, heating, uh spaces,

10:24public bathrooms and sinks and um

10:27avoiding infections and all of those. um

10:32every time they see an outbreak or they

10:34see something unhygienic, they report to

10:36our

10:38nurses

10:40who um then go and investigate to ensure

10:43that the transmission is contained. So

10:45we play a very important role in the

10:47healthy water like water wells, testing

10:49the wells and um the food that is

10:51serving all of the restaurants you have

10:53licensed in the city of Worcester. Um we

10:56also keep our eyes on the West Nile

10:58virus that you may or may not have heard

11:01mosquitoes um tuberculosis patients so

11:04on and so forth. Um that's division of

11:07public health. Our second division uh

11:09one of our divisions is um youth

11:11opportunities right in this building on

11:14the third floor. And what Youth

11:15Opportunities does is their primary

11:18focus is running the reco which you may

11:20or may not have heard which is a

11:22recreation booster summer camp which um

11:25provides a free summer camp for kids

11:27from the ages of 7 to 12 uh between July

11:31and August for 6 weeks anywhere between

11:35uh 300 to 700 kids every year depending

11:39on the year. Um the second program they

11:41work on is preventing and um

11:46youth violence by working with the

11:49police departments as well as youth

11:50organizations around the state such as

11:52the YMCA and others uh through grants

11:55from the um state department. It is um

11:59uh the the strategy behind it is to

12:01engage youth and to keep youth

12:03connected. Those the youth that are at

12:06risk of being involved in violence or

12:09crime or taking the wrong path as well

12:12as the other youth keep them busy.

12:13Provide after school services for them.

12:16Have engagements for them if they are at

12:17the risk of taking the wrong path. Um

12:21and we have the information connect them

12:23to care diverge all of those things to

12:25basically reduce youth crime and we've

12:26some seen some good results. Um the

12:29youth opportunities also provide summer

12:31employment depending on the grants from

12:33different places uh to youth in the city

12:36during summer. They run things like

12:38babysitting classes, the community youth

12:40advisory board providing variety of

12:43opportunities to understand and learn

12:44from youth what could be done to make um

12:48booster a safer, healthier um place for

12:52youth to grow, develop emotionally,

12:54socially uh mentally, physically

12:57healthy.

12:58The third area under HHS is veteran

13:01services where we receive federal

13:03funding from veterans administration to

13:06serve the veterans who have lived in

13:09Worster, have um given their lives, who

13:11are alive or may not be uh alive but

13:15their families are in helping them

13:17receive their pensions, their um their

13:20monetary monthly checks, connecting them

13:23to education should they want to study

13:25further or their families. connecting

13:27them to employment, connecting them to

13:29homes and case management if they may be

13:32help homeless, connecting them to

13:34behavioral and physical health services,

13:38um so on and so forth. So that's veteran

13:41services. Um the next area that we have

13:44which is fairly large is um meaning it's

13:47a priority is um homelessness and

13:50housing. Um Worster is known for

13:53homelessness and it's getting worse with

13:55the um [snorts] with the increased

13:58inflation housing limited housing

14:01expense and the rates of housing rentals

14:04as well as to buy. Um so we have um we

14:08have currently developed since I came on

14:10board a strategic framework that you may

14:12or may not be aware. We are working

14:14extensively with the state um as well as

14:18with um um uh EOHLC which is the

14:21executive office of healthy healthy and

14:23living livable communities, department

14:25of public health um everybody to uh a

14:29run a winter shelter that as winter is

14:32coming up, we have overflow shelters, c

14:36we have recovery coaches who do case

14:38outreach and case management on the

14:40streets um and work with the different

14:43social service agencies who provide

14:47care, counseling, um substance abuse

14:51treatment,

14:52um narcone for opair overdose and

14:56connect the homeless to care or to sober

14:59housing or temporary housing or

15:02permanent housing or whatever needs

15:04maybe to the best of their ability.

15:08We also have the opioid over overdose um

15:11abatement program. Uh you may or may not

15:14be aware uh pharmaceuticals had

15:18in imperfect practices of um prescribing

15:22medications and as a result starting

15:25last 15 20 years ago um there was a lot

15:30of overprescription of painkillers and

15:32medications and um drugs and um which

15:36resulted in a huge epidemic of the

15:38overdose and opioid. Um the it started

15:42we started tracking data and it was

15:44quite a peak from starting 2010 onwards

15:48but 2020 to 22 was the highest number of

15:53opioid and overdose deaths largely

15:56because of the isolation due to COVID

16:0019. But we saw a huge number of deaths

16:04nationally and the Supreme Court um with

16:08a whole um lot of support from health

16:11departments, health and human services,

16:13centers for disease control and

16:15prevention sued the pharmaceuticals who

16:18were overprescribing and did not have

16:20controls in place to monitor the

16:23prescription drugs and all of those

16:25[snorts] uh and did not control the

16:27prescription in the market.

16:30So as a result of that in 2023

16:33um in order to settle that the US

16:36Supreme Court um in their lawsuit the

16:39pharmacies were ordered to pay states to

16:43conduct opioid overdose prevention

16:46mitigation programs since they had they

16:49were held responsible for the damage. As

16:52such, every state received X number of

16:54funding from different pharmaceuticals,

16:56Walgreens, CVS,

16:58um all all kinds of pharmaceuticals. And

17:01um uh Worster as a city has received is

17:04going to receive between 2023 to 2039.

17:08So over a period of 16 years

17:11approximately $14 million

17:14um to do harm reduction and um treat

17:18people who are addicted to opioid,

17:21prevent opioid overdose deaths through

17:24narcine nlloxxone, prevent use of

17:27opioid. Um and as such we are following

17:30data and there are number of best

17:32practices that seem to have worked in

17:35bringing these deaths and the numbers

17:36down such as harm reduction, providing

17:39shelters, providing substance abuse,

17:41providing narcane may or may not have

17:42seen and um for the first time in the

17:45history this year Massachusetts as a

17:48state has had less than 1,000 deaths in

17:51the last one year. So that was the

17:53number of um deaths that had happened um

17:57between the years of 25 and 26

17:59nationally there was a 40% reduction in

18:03the number of opioid deaths because of

18:05all the prevention control work that is

18:07happening 40%. It was 60% in

18:11Massachusetts. In the country it was

18:1340%. In Massachusetts it was 60%. In

18:16Worster it was 65% reduction in opioid

18:20related deaths. So something we are

18:22doing is working even though we have lot

18:24of homeless people and lot of drug use

18:26on the streets and it's not allowed.

18:28Just so you know open drug use is

18:30prohibited in the state of

18:32Massachusetts. So we are working on

18:34opioid related work in terms of issuing

18:37grants to agencies who have done work

18:39that data shows is working

18:42um such as narin aloxxone distribution

18:44is a huge thing right you see somebody

18:46who's overdosed as soon there's a cold

18:48blue lot of our community agencies uh

18:51police departments fire departments have

18:53the naroxone to prevent the death and

18:56get them um the care they need so that's

18:59a big huge program um under under um

19:02health and human services.

19:04Last but not the least is the senior

19:06center which is my happy place because

19:08it just kind of runs under Amy and her

19:11team's very able um capabilities. And uh

19:14the only complaint we receive is when

19:16it's closed for snow and the patrons who

19:20look forward to coming are not able to

19:22come because that's the highlight of

19:24their day. Uh but other than that it

19:27truly is a place uh a happy place not

19:30just for me but for um the seniors in

19:32Booster thanks to you know participation

19:35from everyone a very seasoned leader and

19:37the team here. Um and our hope and goal

19:41is to continue those services as much as

19:43we can. Um try to see where we could

19:47bring in some collaboration with other

19:49areas of the health and human services

19:51department. For example, um uh we are

19:55seeing homelessness among seniors now.

19:58So we are trying to see if we should do

19:59like a homeless shelter for 55 or 65

20:02plus individuals which was not very

20:04common before because that's an age

20:06group typically that we don't see but

20:08now because of the circumstances we are

20:10seeing a lot more cases. Um, another

20:12thing that we are working on which which

20:14I'm working on which is not really a

20:15program but is very important is

20:17bringing together the health care folks

20:20in the city of Worster and for that to

20:22that effect I have um started monthly

20:24health access and um capacity work group

20:28which has the leads from UMass Hospital,

20:32St. Vincent Hospital, um Edward Kennedy

20:37Health Center, Family Health Center,

20:39Wooster Free Healthc Care and uh the

20:41refugee and immigrant support um and

20:44empowerment group and then um we are

20:46trying to see and the behavioral health

20:48agencies and trying to see what it means

20:50for Mass Health now to be dropping off a

20:53lot of uh clients in November. what does

20:55it mean when the OB3 uh legislation

20:58comes into effect in January and how

21:00many people in Worcester will be without

21:02health care and what would be the

21:04inventory of the places that would help

21:06um citizens go and reertify and see if

21:09they have access to other services so on

21:11and so forth and to that effect we are

21:12trying to get um we recently met with um

21:16the state um and the health insurers to

21:18see you know which plans are not

21:20covering specialties and booster so

21:22every time people don't have to be

21:24referred to Boston and how changes could

21:26be made. We haven't made any progress

21:27yet, but I'm starting.

21:30So, that's sort of the uh breadth and

21:32the scope of um health and human

21:34services. Um we are supposed to have 53

21:39staff. We currently have 46. So, we are

21:42doing some recruitments. Um and um yeah,

21:47that's kind of where we are right now.

21:49But I'm happy to answer any questions.

21:53Yes.

21:54>> Yeah. When you made mention about uh

21:56food and water quality in the

21:59restaurants and such in the Worcester

22:00Worcester area, I'm just curious is does

22:03that is that privately owned restaurants

22:05or does that include the chains as well

22:07too?

22:07>> Everybody.

22:08>> Everybody.

22:08>> So typically you need a city license to

22:10operate.

22:11>> Um and they apply for licensing.

22:14>> [clears throat]

22:15>> Like if it's a new place then you know

22:16they have to make sure that they have

22:18the septic tank or whatever septic

22:20clearance that they're not around

22:22someplace where there could be some um

22:24contamination. They have to have a

22:25certain bathroom. They have to have

22:27certain access. They need to have a

22:28sink. They need to have the cool the the

22:31storage for cold storage for heating.

22:34All of those um they need to have

22:35certified food train food um safety

22:39training by at least one or two people

22:40depending on the size of the restaurant.

22:43um uh and all of those things. So once

22:45all of they apply for a license, they

22:47submit everything, building code, fire,

22:50whatever it may be, and then an

22:52inspector goes and make sure it's good

22:53for opening and then they open business.

22:56Once they open business, either somebody

22:59says sends a complaint or it could be a

23:02surprise inspection depending on what

23:05the schedule is of inspectors and they

23:07would go and make a visit and if they

23:10find everything okay then it's okay.

23:12Sometimes the violations are very

23:14very extensive to the point where they

23:17have to ask for a voluntary closure and

23:19if they don't um abide the owner then

23:23there has to be the city solicitor has

23:25to do like a written order to close it.

23:28If they do a voluntary closure then they

23:30have they get cited like you have to fix

23:33this this and then then the reinspection

23:34is done and they open it. Sometimes

23:36there may be we get a call that a bunch

23:38of people ate at X Y and Z and they were

23:40sick. Then they let our nurse know. Then

23:43our nurse does case interviews to find

23:44out when did you eat there, what did you

23:46eat there and tries to connect and see

23:48if there was a transmission of

23:49gastrointestinal disease or something.

23:52So that's the aspect of food

23:53inspections.

23:55>> Yeah,

23:57>> you touched upon I work for mass health.

23:59So that's why my question will be about

24:01mass health. you touched upon some of

24:02the issues that will be that will be

24:05impacting pretty much everyone from mass

24:07health including the people

24:10>> uh including the changes in the fall

24:13this year [snorts]

24:14>> um I mean among

24:16>> things that will be happening is mass

24:18will be doing redeterminations more

24:20frequently so in order to basically

24:23confirm that you're still eligible for

24:25mass health services you will need to

24:26resubmit a bunch of documentation to

24:28mass health otherwise you will lose

24:31coverage

24:32And um every time this every time people

24:36receive a packet from mass help stating

24:39that they need to complete something,

24:40some of them respond and some of them

24:42don't.

24:43>> Various reasons. Some people just uh

24:45never

24:46>> may have moved and never updated the

24:48address with mass health.

24:50>> Yeah.

24:50>> Some people never open the letter uh the

24:52you know the envelope, never read it. Uh

24:56so the reality is that some people will

24:59be losing coverage.

25:00>> Yes.

25:01What can the city do about it? Maybe is

25:04there education wise or

25:06>> Yeah. Um it's interesting that everyone

25:09looks at the city and the city doesn't

25:11have that many controllers.

25:13>> I totally I'm just kidding.

25:14>> I'm just kidding. I've worked for

25:17government all my life so I'm used to

25:18it. Um what we are doing is um there are

25:21trainings for social workers around the

25:23city that are being held through um uh

25:28multiple um nonprofits as well as

25:30through Mass Health. We are also

25:31inviting Nassau to come here. Uh I've

25:34been in communication with them to uh we

25:36are sending out mailers as much as

25:38possible. We are putting out information

25:40in community agencies. We are asking

25:42people who receive phone calls at

25:43community agencies to have certain me um

25:46messages including if you receive an

25:48envelope from ASL do not ignore it you

25:52know so we are trying a bunch of those

25:54things we have um a list of all the

25:56people in Massachusett

25:58who are certified to do reertification

26:00that you could take your paperwork

26:02because not only do they not should they

26:04not um ignore the paperwork they should

26:07also take it they may not be able to

26:09follow it I may not be able to follow

26:11I'm the commissioner of fine animal

26:13services but when I look at it it's like

26:14oh my god I don't even know whether I'm

26:16eligible or not right every time it

26:18happens when you sign up for something

26:20so we have made a list of where they

26:22could go and get help in understanding

26:24what they need to do to continue

26:26coverage and all of those so we trying

26:28it's not enough but I think at least

26:30there is a sustainable group that is

26:32working we meet once a week um and then

26:35trying to see so it's multi it's multi-

26:38um round Okay. From mass health

26:40perspective, losing coverage. Those who

26:42lose coverage, what are their options?

26:46Uh the federally qualified health

26:47centers and the hospitals don't have

26:48enough primary care.

26:50>> Another problem. Next problem is the

26:53cheaper health insurers which are mass

26:55health insurers, health connectors do

26:58not cover specialties. So we have to

27:00send them to Boston when they may not

27:02have the resources to go to Boston. you

27:04know they don't they don't have these

27:05fancy cars that they're like okay I'm

27:07going to go and get an appointment at

27:08Dana Farber they don't so it's multi

27:11multiple things we are bringing to

27:12attention to the state officials to see

27:15if you know how we could facilitate

27:18them giving in something from their

27:21authority to the health insurers what

27:22can we do to spread the word so yeah

27:25there's a lot of work happening I I'm

27:27not I'm not going to lie and say we're

27:29doing a whole bunch and it's all going

27:31to but we're trying wherever we can

27:34the homeless community is growing up.

27:36How what the booster is doing to help

27:39the people.

27:41>> Uh so what is booster doing to help the

27:43people? Woo is um

27:46trying to understand who is homeless,

27:48trying to see where they are connected

27:50to care, trying we are working on a

27:52winter shelter to start by end of

27:54November if not before early December.

27:56Um we are trying to ensure that no bed

28:00is underutilized. trying to we have come

28:03up with like a we're trying to create a

28:04dashboard so we know where the beds are

28:07and where there is a vacancy whether

28:08it's a sober house or all the whole

28:11gamut. We've done a big map which is on

28:12our website which kind of shows where

28:15the food pantry is where the social

28:16service organizations are whether all of

28:19those um and we're trying to increase

28:21outreach

28:24but they may not want the service that's

28:27so it's you know trying

28:34Um, you mentioned that the older

28:36population you're seeing more

28:37homelessness among seniors. Do you know

28:40to what percent like the rate the

28:43>> I don't have the data but um a lot of

28:47time what happens is because we

28:48ourselves have 2.5 outreach workers not

28:51and we now only have one but um and then

28:53there are total of 13 outreach workers

28:55through the different social service

28:57agencies in the city. Um,

29:02a lot of them they call them frequent

29:04flyers because you know the outreach

29:06workers see them on Chandler Street and

29:08then see them on Lincoln Street and then

29:10see them on Shrewsbury Street and then

29:12see them in a park and see them at the

29:14Commons and so they know them. So a lot

29:16of a lot of homelessness services are

29:20only used with relationship building

29:22because there's no there has to be a

29:24trust, right? I come and see you,

29:25somebody comes in and asks me today, do

29:27you need a bed? Do you need any care? Do

29:29you need behavioral services? Do you

29:30have clothes? Do you have food? I will

29:33only respond if I see somebody asking me

29:35that for the next few days and there is

29:38a trust. So we collect a lot of

29:40anecdotal information that we are not

29:42allowed to share because of the grand

29:44requirements.

29:46There is there are a lot of people

29:47coming from all over the state to

29:49booster because Wooster offers shelter

29:51facilities from Boston by train or

29:53neighboring um towns or elsewhere.

29:56Similarly, we are hearing that there are

29:58a lot of 55 plus people who may be out

30:00of jobs or may not have a home or may be

30:04the only ones in their family or they

30:06may happen to be a veteran but there is

30:08definitely like there are a lot of

30:10anecdotal notes not so much that's

30:12something we report or make public and

30:14we are learning that youth as well as 55

30:16plus typically homelessness was

30:18something that was seen more [snorts] in

30:21like 30 to 50 range or something like

30:24you know 25 like but now we are seeing

30:26more youth as well because it's so

30:29expensive and the housing shortage is so

30:31huge and we are also seeing 55 plus for

30:34sure I don't have the numbers but it's

30:35pretty well established

30:39>> do we know speaking about homeless

30:42people uh do we know

30:44if not the percentage but at least the

30:46rough proportion of the people who are

30:49homeless who are elderly how many of

30:53them have some BH age substance use

30:56disorder.

30:57>> I I may in the database but I don't have

31:00it now. We trying and that's one of the

31:02big challenges that we are trying to

31:04address is there's no data.

31:06I may go to Chandler Street today.

31:10I may stay there overnight cuz I don't

31:12have a bed. I mean I I'm homeless. I may

31:15take a hot breakfast and I'll walk away

31:17and the weather is good for 2 days I'm

31:18staying in a um in the park. Then I may

31:20go elsewhere. Then I may go elsewhere.

31:22Then after 17 days I go to Queen Street

31:24and the whole thing starts again my

31:26intake. So we are trying to see what we

31:28can collect in terms of data to at least

31:31know who's going in and out of the

31:33system who's has mental health needs who

31:36has who needed substance abuse substance

31:39use treatment who needed clinical

31:41medical treatment. um because it's so

31:44challenging like the numbers are in a

31:46year we have said Wooster gets anywhere

31:48between 12 to,400 homeless people in a

31:51year um at any given point on any given

31:55day it could be anywhere between 150 to

31:58250 or more but chronic homeless is 60

32:03like because it's so transitionary and

32:06that's part of the issue is how do we um

32:10measure and how do we collect data

32:16I have to add one more just because of

32:17what you just said in terms of the

32:19different facilities that are you know

32:23do the intake and

32:25>> there it seems to me like there is no

32:28they kind of work in silos and trying to

32:30have the data so if somebody comes

32:32>> I'm trying I'm trying they all get

32:34different funding some get from the

32:35state some get from her some get from

32:38public health some get from the federal

32:41government uh and they all have their

32:43own requirements. So I'm trying we are

32:45trying to see if um we have a steering

32:48committee for homelessness uh for all of

32:50the social services to serve on and that

32:52is our goal and hope that

32:55instead of the disintegrated effort if

32:57we can coordinate it's never going to go

32:59away but at least we are able to do a

33:02better job with providing services.

33:06>> Since I work on myself I believe I've

33:08heard that there was some kind of state

33:11database of people with history

33:13homelessness.

33:13>> So that is the HMIS housing [cough]

33:17[clears throat] housing management no

33:19homelessness management information

33:22system HMIS which is housed by through

33:26the continuum of care grant and program

33:30which is housed by CHA central

33:33Massachusetts housing alliance. Okay.

33:35>> So their database is there but not every

33:37agency is inputting data there.

33:40Right? They are not because some people

33:44think giving a pair of socks is

33:46outreach. Some people think doing a

33:49complete intake and seeing what your

33:51mental health is, your behavioral health

33:52is, your substance abuse is, your is

33:55complete intake. So, you know, we're

33:58trying we're trying to standardize

34:00outreach and try to get some trainings.

34:02We're going to, you know, that is the

34:04thing that um not everybody enters in

34:06HMIS. If they did, that would have been

34:08easier. Yes.

34:11>> There's all kinds of issues about

34:13sharing information and business

34:14information.

34:15>> Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

34:16Yeah. For sure.

34:18>> Well, I see that you go to a a shelter,

34:21you have to go to 7 to 7:00 in the

34:23morning. So, you are not going to be out

34:26of you're not going to have a house the

34:28next day. So, you have to get out on

34:29this shelter at 7:00 in the morning. So,

34:31it's like one night to sleep and the

34:34other night where I'm going to be.

34:35>> Right. And that is that definitely is an

34:39issue.

34:39>> Um that is an issue. The other issue is

34:44>> uh I need services but I'm going to I'm

34:47expected to go to this building between

34:499 and 5.

34:51And you know if I was that if I was that

34:54smart and sane and in control of my life

34:56I would not be homeless and in need of

34:59services. Right. Uh the third issue is I

35:03don't want to be connected to care. I

35:04just need a bed tonight

35:06>> and I don't want treatment. I don't want

35:09to be staying here even if there is a

35:10bed for three more nights. I just I came

35:13here today because it's too cold and I

35:15have a headache, but I don't want to

35:16stay. I don't want to be in a permanent

35:18housing. I don't want to be in a sober

35:19housing. I don't want to take treatment.

35:22So, right, it's both sides.

35:25>> It's hard. Yeah.

35:27>> Yeah. So, it's hard. It's hard.

35:32I just wanted to state the obvious that

35:34um

35:37unhoused folks find their way here and

35:40it's a warm place to be during the day

35:43and uh warm lunch um for free

35:48>> and um Linda leads the charge in um with

35:54senior services and [cough]

35:56[clears throat]

35:57um in conjunction with EIS.

36:01HHS and uh St. Paul's Elder Outreach

36:05that we also fund and um various other

36:09partners.

36:10>> We can't be in silos and expect to um

36:16>> make any real difference, right?

36:18>> But on the other hand, the information

36:20sharing issue makes it extremely

36:23frustrating.

36:24>> Yeah. We try to find the golden medium

36:26um at least me and my team and all of us

36:30is without sharing. We don't need to

36:32know what their condition is. We don't

36:34need to know what drugs they are on. We

36:36don't need to know

36:38any HIPPA violations. But even if we

36:41just know somebody's name and that what

36:44their need is in terms of behavioral

36:46health or you know whatever can I'm

36:50hopeful that at least one layer if we

36:52know that will still help us

36:54many ways um because

36:59we can do anything more is not an

37:01option. So that is the hope. I don't

37:04know. We'll see.

37:10It's not like uh it's not like there are

37:13200 homeless people. If we get 200 beds,

37:15it'll all be installed. It doesn't work

37:17like that, unfortunately. Um so, yeah,

37:22black and white.

37:25>> Say not black and white.

37:26>> N shades of gray.

37:28>> Yes.

37:31>> Any other questions?

37:37Okay, but we have no other questions.

37:39Thank you so much.

37:40>> Of course.

37:44We certainly have your plate full.

37:47>> Thank you. I'll stay for a few more

37:48minutes and then go down. Thank you.

37:50>> All right.

37:50>> And thank you for all you do because

37:52certainly it's not easy to give your

37:54time. Everybody has only so many hours

37:55in a day. So I have a lot of respect for

37:57people who come and serve and we get

37:59paid so you're working. But can I still

38:01on a few?

38:07>> Okay. Um, so I wrote down this is where

38:11I

38:13stopped and uh where I stopped was

38:16talking about fostering a cultural

38:18collaboration between departments and

38:20breaking down silos which is very

38:23pertinent and which we do our very best

38:27to to do.

38:29um any

38:32um anything I I'm not going to just read

38:35the whole thing that's in that box on

38:37first page.

38:38>> Um but uh from the senior support team

38:43to the Vernon connected advisory

38:47committee with the city serving as a

38:50pooling center.

38:52Um

38:54we were just really happy to host the

38:57HHS all staff meeting. So 50 or so folks

39:04um worked with SEMA to get to know each

39:06other better. Um

39:09and just moving along. Um in terms of

39:14training,

39:16um I had um the interesting

39:21experience of going to my first day at

39:24the leadership academy which um I give a

39:27lot of credit to the city administration

39:31for developing um something um great

39:36in um great need and uh addressed well.

39:40So, I have six more sessions of that and

39:43then there um Patty and Linda might want

39:47to highlight trainings that they've been

39:49to. Uh

39:52our funding, as I noted in the report,

39:57um really there are no surprises. So, um

40:02we know what our budget is. We're making

40:05the most of it

40:07unless something happens, you know.

40:10um with a bunch of this. Um then you see

40:13pages and pages of programs. We start

40:18over and provide the fiscal year and

40:21this is one way that we keep track of

40:24what we're doing and it's really as

40:27amazing as it looks. So um and it's both

40:32um it's programs that happen here as

40:36well as remote um programs that you can

40:40see anytime at YouTube. So I strongly

40:44urge you to sample what interests you on

40:48um YouTube or Facebook. Um and Patty

40:53will highlight some of our programs when

40:56it's her turn. Um

40:59>> could I ask a question about Sure. Um I

41:01mean I understand there are programs but

41:03do we have anything uh any resources or

41:07any type of education related to

41:11>> uh basically scammers and people who try

41:15to pull up all kinds of fraudulent

41:18things on

41:19>> Yes.

41:19>> other people including elderly people.

41:21>> Yes.

41:22>> We do thankfully we do lots of them.

41:25>> Yeah.

41:26>> Um

41:26>> Yes. Um,

41:30one every quarter.

41:31>> Yeah. And it depends different. Um, like

41:35we have the W Police Department does a

41:37really good one and they're actually

41:38coming again uh pretty soon.

41:42They do one. We have the um

41:44>> DA comes the DA's office. Kevin,

41:48>> our tech person does a lot of the phone

41:51stuff and has a tip in the scoop. The

41:53consumer rights also have a tip here.

41:55also do programs plus family services.

41:59>> Yeah.

42:01>> Has done one here.

42:02>> Yeah.

42:04>> Dementia family group.

42:07>> So we have lots of

42:08>> Yes. But unfortunately it doesn't stop

42:11the scammers. So we just are raising

42:14awareness and helping people who have

42:17>> lost a lot.

42:19>> We still get calls from people who have

42:21lost thousands of dollars.

42:23>> Yeah. And I assume this includes let's

42:26say

42:28a more fortunate sort of situation when

42:30they did not lose thousands of dollars.

42:32Maybe they realized that it was a scam.

42:35>> But

42:37some do catch it.

42:38>> The issue remains sort of like well they

42:40might have my social security number.

42:43What do they do next? What do you

42:45provide information?

42:46>> Yes. Yes. And we'll help if need be.

42:49We'll make all the calls with them and

42:52>> change accountation and all the

42:54recommended.

42:55>> Yeah. Contact the attorney general.

43:03>> A lot a lot of

43:05>> smaller banks are really good with that

43:06too,

43:07>> right? The smaller banks are

43:09>> Yeah. Not the bigger ones, but the

43:10smaller ones.

43:12>> If they're being scammed, the the

43:14managers, they'll tell them this is this

43:17is a sky. You know, because they know

43:18they're most of them are very well

43:20trained on this and they will they'll

43:23>> but a lot of times they don't believe in

43:24it. They they really think it's real

43:27>> because because what happens is they

43:28they pray on your emotions. Thank You

43:30know, so what they'll do is they'll um

43:33it'll be something really fearbased

43:36>> or something um you know, win the

43:39lottery. They keep thinking won the

43:41lottery and they don't want to it's

43:43urgent. You have to do this now or

43:46you'll miss that that that kind of

43:47thing. It's urgent. If if you don't do

43:49it within the next 24 hours, you So they

43:51they really want to believe this and

43:53they know they pray on the these

43:55emotions. That's what the scammers do.

43:57And so even though the bank is telling

43:58this is a scam,

44:00a lot of times they don't they don't

44:02want to believe that.

44:04>> And then when they realize they've been

44:05scammed, they're embarrassed and then

44:07they don't want to reach out to get help

44:09in regards to that.

44:11>> And there is I'm asking actually I've

44:12got an interesting colleague with myself

44:14>> the other day literally earlier this

44:16week. Um I did not win a lottery. Was it

44:20fear based? Was it

44:22>> of yes

44:24>> I have to say they and they sent as we

44:27were speaking on the phone I was like

44:29first like this is nonsense you know

44:31whatever uh but again they they know how

44:35to

44:35>> because they know a lot about you what

44:36they'll do is they'll dig for

44:37information on you everything from your

44:40Facebook page

44:41>> uh they they know everything about you

44:43and so they like if you have a like say

44:45you have a son or daughter who's out way

44:47for college they'll know this they'll

44:49tender with the police and they'll say,

44:51"Oh, your son so and so was in trouble."

44:54and that they'll make it really bad and

44:58you need to cooperate but you can't tell

45:00anybody because XYZ and they

45:04but even if you try to even if you you

45:07have an elder or something like that who

45:09knows hey it's a scam and they try to

45:11get out of it scammers can will call and

45:15say they'll go online get even people

45:18who have died anybody and say like this

45:21person this person this person I've had

45:22elders come up to me and say

45:24This this is my wife who's been dead for

45:2630 years and they're saying that they

45:28have them on the phone right now,

45:30>> which is

45:31>> which would be a red flag of course, but

45:33in this case it was someone that

45:36pretended to be a police person.

45:41>> Police

45:43getting

45:45them come to the door dressed like

45:47police officers. I just had someone

45:49scammed out of $5,000 because they said,

45:52"Here we are.

45:55fake utility things over say they

45:58they'll know that you're trying to get a

45:59dumpster. They'll know you're trying to

46:00get propane propane. They'll know you're

46:02trying to get

46:03>> and they'll they'll they'll have a

46:06stolen credit card or something like

46:07that and they'll send their own thing.

46:09They'll take the money and they'll

46:11they'll the elder will be like, "Oh

46:12yeah, you must be it." And then they'll

46:14keep sending them and sending them and

46:15sending them and then you're the one

46:17who's on the hook for the money. I mean,

46:19it's it's crazy.

46:20>> Yep. And the crypto is that what it's we

46:23the machines and the machines go to

46:26there's trying to get those to be

46:28stopped.

46:29>> Yeah. So once you once you um yeah give

46:32money over to crypto it's gone. That's

46:34it. It's gone. But um if it's like a

46:38domestic wire, you can get that back

46:40because uh if you act quick enough, you

46:43can do that because what the bank will

46:44send a wiring call. Okay? And then

46:46they'll also send an identification

46:48letter to retrieve those funds. And as

46:50long as you you get that book, usually

46:52it'll sit there for a little while. A

46:54lot of times the frosters are are are

46:55are not that quick. Some of them are,

46:58but some of them aren't. And I've seen a

47:00lot of them where they we sent the wire

47:01call in time enough, they block the

47:03account and then they're able to send

47:04most of the funds back. But if it's an

47:06international wire, once that's gone,

47:08it's gone. But if it's a domestic wire

47:10and also depending upon the bank as

47:12well, you know, but

47:13>> Yeah. And if you go through Apple Pay or

47:16PayPal or one of those, like if they

47:19have you put like you're a friend to my

47:21friend or something so it doesn't look

47:23like you were scammed and you don't get

47:26it back because you

47:28>> willingly gave them the money. Like it's

47:31a whole

47:32>> Do you find it's more domestic or

47:35overseas that it

47:36>> Oh, it's it's

47:37>> both. Just

47:38>> It's both both. Yeah,

47:40>> it's both. Just curious. Um

47:42>> there was a big ring in like New Jersey

47:44and New York that they broke. Yeah, they

47:48Yeah, they're all over. But that one

47:50they it they got just about everybody

47:52involved in it. But

47:54>> any new tactics to the banks are doing

47:57to prevent this or help?

47:59>> Um they're they're it's mostly training.

48:02They train, but they can't I mean if the

48:04person demands their money, they can't

48:06stop them, right? You know, if the

48:08person says, "I know that I want this. I

48:10want this $20,000 withdrawal. It's my

48:12money." The bank can't say, "And we're

48:14not going to give it to you." They'll

48:16try to persuade them this is this is a

48:18scam. They'll try to go through the

48:20steps. And I I've been on on call with

48:23people and I I've did they tell you

48:25this? Did they tell X-wife? Did they

48:26tell you this? Did they tell you that?

48:27They go, "Yeah, they did. They tell you

48:29this, this, and this." Yes, I did. They

48:31go, "Yeah, there's a reason why I know

48:33this because they this is a scam." And

48:35then the kind of the light bulb goes off

48:37once you tell them what what the scammer

48:39say, you know, the light bulb. Oh, maybe

48:42this is a scam, you know.

48:44>> And the AI, you know, only makes it

48:47>> Yeah.

48:48>> Now they're doing the video calls, too.

48:51>> The AI they can they do voice cloning.

48:53They can make a sound like uh for

48:55instance that your granddaughter if they

48:57get a if they they can get a recording

48:59of the person's granddaughter from their

49:01you know, hi I'm so and so. Leave a

49:03message. They just from something like

49:04that.

49:05>> Now they can voice clone that and use

49:07that and make a sound like that that

49:08person.

49:09>> It's crazy.

49:11>> Yeah, it's

49:14And some people just want to have a

49:16friend.

49:18>> That's they just want to have a friend.

49:21>> They they want, you know, that that uh

49:24that fiance over in in in Europe

49:27>> that you never met isn't real.

49:29>> Yep.

49:31It's it's a big

49:33>> all right to very interesting topic or

49:36conversation to get going but we try but

49:40as soon as we think we've told them all

49:43then there's a new one

49:45>> you know it's like we can't keep up

49:49>> it

49:53is

49:55>> so sounds like we should focus on that

49:58issue maybe in another

50:03Um,

50:06so I'm going to skip a lot. Patty will

50:09tell you about facility and grounds. Um,

50:13I'm happy to report that we are fully

50:15staffed and that's the way we're

50:18staying.

50:21What else? Um our um

50:27our leases and licenses are pretty much

50:29all in place where we generate over

50:33$70,000

50:34a year um in rents for the city. Um and

50:41that's despite the fact that we are not

50:44getting a new tenant um

50:48to replace um senior companion and RSVP

50:52who left um due to federal cuts. Instead

50:58um it is looking very positive that the

51:01veterans office from HHS will be moving

51:04up to the third floor along with the

51:05youth office. So, we're getting to be

51:08more of an HHS hub. Um, I'm happy to say

51:13that, uh, Roger Communities is still on

51:19track for developing

51:21about 100 units.

51:24Um, going really, really slowly, but

51:27they have to do their due diligence. And

51:31um

51:33um we've seen various staff and

51:37engineers etc. here doing their thing

51:40and um we are hopeful

51:43still. Um

51:46we continue to be very busy. Marketing

51:50continues. We have um the number of

51:54subscribers

51:56online to our newsletter

51:59increased by 250 people just over July

52:02and August. Um

52:05you know so everything can just

52:07continues to increase. Uh senior

52:11services and dementia friendly did

52:14special outreach over this summer.

52:18Um,

52:19Edith Morgan interviewed me for Seniors

52:23Speak. That's another thing you can tune

52:25in to anytime. WCCA TV, cable TV, um,

52:31not the government channel. Um, and the

52:34most exciting thing, if we all think

52:37positive and it happens, we had a visit

52:40from Chronicle WCVB.

52:45Um and um they focused on the diner and

52:52um the intergenerational aspect of

52:55students and seniors eating here. Um and

53:02it was I think it was just this past

53:04Friday. It seems long time ago, but I

53:06think it was. Um so we don't know when

53:09it'll be aired. It will be aired as part

53:12it should be aired as part of a piece

53:15they're doing on unique p places that

53:18people connect and eat. So

53:24uh you know so participants were

53:27interviewed and students so that would

53:31be really nice exposure

53:34for us.

53:36Um

53:38and we also continue in our various

53:42collaborations and leadership roles and

53:46um various organizations

53:50both statewide and and city.

53:54So I will turn it over to

53:59but I'll

54:01just wanted to mention though our

54:02newsletter changed from senior center

54:04communications to LPI in January.

54:07learned all that, switched from word to

54:09publisher,

54:11everything was going good. LPI has all

54:13their own stuff, graphics, everything.

54:16No sooner did we get kind of comfortable

54:18and not all that. Then publisher

54:19shutting down October 1st, if you didn't

54:22know, if you have any documents, you got

54:23to get rid of them. Got to get them out

54:25of publisher. And we switched over to

54:27Canva and our first submission was last

54:30month. and Shirley, our program

54:33assistant, um, thank goodness she did a

54:36ton of work on that to get us formatted

54:39and up to speed. So, now everything is

54:40switched over to Canva. So, every time I

54:43feel like we learn something new, we're

54:44on to the next thing. Um, I don't know

54:47if anyone else is experiencing all that

54:49stuff, but that was what we had to work

54:51with. In regards to building services,

54:54um, a lot of the same issues. HVAC

54:56issues. I think it's better in here now,

54:57but we've been having ongoing um, issues

55:01for forever. I think I just should weave

55:03this on my notes every month. Um, it's

55:07been really really cold on the second

55:08and third floors lately. um in the other

55:11end of the building uh DPF organized and

55:16um now if we need something like a

55:19special project, something hung

55:21repaired, we have to get a craftsman um

55:24request one.

55:27So anyway, can't make that stuff up, but

55:30fourth floor um now has to be locked per

55:32the Worester Fire Department and that's

55:34been completed uh just for safety

55:37reasons.

55:38>> What's happening there? I mean, I know

55:40that was

55:42>> um just they don't want people walking

55:44around up there. Uh it's just not good.

55:48It's not healthy, not safe.

55:50>> It's the over our offices, not the old

55:53old building.

55:54>> Yeah, just on this side. Um

55:58still waiting on the fall landscaping

56:00projects. Not sure if it will happen.

56:01And I already said, well, you can cancel

56:03this and you can cancel that because

56:04it's kind of late in the season. But I

56:06hope a few more things will be done

56:07before they do the final mowing and

56:09everything. The rain gardens did a major

56:11upgrade after a slow summer and that was

56:13really nice. They planted some trees if

56:15you get a chance to look outside. It's

56:17really looks nice right now. Um they're

56:20hopefully catching all the rain that's

56:21coming and waiting on some repairs. This

56:26is another ongoing issue. Just um

56:30various things like the doors, those did

56:32get done. We have leaks going on. Um

56:35there was minor one on the fourth floor

56:37today, but those all tend to trickle

56:38down and then a painting projects that

56:42just repairs from a lot of the leaks. So

56:44there's things like that going on.

56:47Uh had another spectacular summer, lots

56:50of great concerts, the um car show,

56:53another big hit. So I won't go into all

56:56the details on that, but it was a good

56:58summer. and September uh new program the

57:02UMass Parkinson support group has moved

57:04here. Uh I think parking was a big issue

57:06and access and people do you know like

57:10that we have uh you know easy parking in

57:13the back. Um we just did last week

57:16thanks to Dawn and Suki in Walgreens 120

57:19immunizations um one clinic. I'm sure

57:22they'll come back if we need more. Well,

57:24she actually offered if there's any any

57:26more that we need, they would come back.

57:28But, uh, very well organized and very a

57:31lot of outreach by Dawn to get people to

57:33come and and get their immunizations.

57:36Um, fall prevention today. I don't know

57:38if that was on your list. Um, but we

57:41highlighted that in the September scoop,

57:43which I don't know if people know, but

57:45you can get this online now. You can,

57:47you know, get it really quick and easy.

57:49Um, easy to read. Uh there was a

57:52dermatology talk last week that was um

57:55well received and I know she's already

57:57getting referrals and then there was a

57:58vascular talk on Friday which I missed

58:01but I heard was really good. The

58:03upcoming include for October um oh well

58:07you were going to do multicultural

58:09right?

58:09>> Mhm.

58:10>> Okay. And then um upcoming uh FA fire

58:13safety talk by the Worester Fire

58:15Department, multicultural celebration.

58:18Um a vet clinic with the second chance

58:21um which we were really happy to get. A

58:23lot of seniors have pets,

58:25>> can't afford, right? Can't afford the

58:28care. So this is a huge one for us.

58:31>> Mobile mobile unit.

58:35>> Yeah. We're hoping that we get a good

58:37amount of people to come for that

58:39because we don't often have I we've

58:41never had anything like that since I've

58:43been here.

58:44>> They they advertise on Facebook. Uh

58:46second chance puts it on Facebook and

58:48then people call their number to

58:49schedule between 9 and 1. They were

58:52fantastic.

58:53>> We're taking the um reservations.

58:55>> Oh, are you?

58:57>> Yeah. For us so we can have a sense. But

58:59yeah, excited about that. Yeah,

59:01Eversource is doing an energy efficiency

59:04experience, also mobile outside. So,

59:06learn how to save money on your heat and

59:09all that stuff. Some new programs in

59:11cute include a ukulele group, a rummy

59:14cube group, and tap dancing. You can't

59:17make any of those up, but they all are

59:19popular. Um

59:22so that leads me to the highlighted

59:24program for dementia friendly wister in

59:27October is the mind electric um with Dr.

59:31Priya Anandan and we're having a

59:33resource fair, sponsored lunch, a whole

59:35day kind of experience and lots of um

59:39great sponsors who are connected to

59:41dementia friendly Worister. Um we, as

59:44Amy mentioned, we had great success with

59:46the golf and now they want us to write a

59:48grant and do it again next year. Um

59:50started small, got new people, got

59:53existing people from our memory cafe. It

59:56really was spectacular. you could just

59:58sit there and and watch people golf and

1:00:01enjoy the scenery. Um, anyone could go

1:00:04golfing. It could be per the person with

1:00:06the memory loss and then there was an

1:00:08LPGA um person who was teaching us how

1:00:12to golf. We drove the carts down. You

1:00:14could sit and color on the deck. It was

1:00:16great. And then they offered a free

1:00:17lunch. I mean, you couldn't ask for a

1:00:19better program and we met a lot of new

1:00:22people who are coming to our memory cafe

1:00:24now. So, it was a really nice program

1:00:26which we'd like to do again.

1:00:28Um, in regards to dementia friends, we

1:00:31had some students here over the um,

1:00:33summer with our respit program and um,

1:00:36they were spectacular. They were from

1:00:38Wister Academy and they like made

1:00:40things, they did things, they were

1:00:42interactive

1:00:43which um led one of the parents who

1:00:46belongs to another program ask if we

1:00:50could do something more

1:00:51intergenerational

1:00:53with people with memory loss in

1:00:54multicultural. We're tying it all in.

1:00:56We're getting the students trained and

1:00:58they're writing a grant. So, we have a

1:01:00little bit of everything in there, but

1:01:01they're great to work with and the

1:01:04students really want to come back. They

1:01:06ended up being three of them, but they

1:01:07want to get a whole class involved or

1:01:09more classes involved.

1:01:10>> Didn't she do a shell project or

1:01:12something? She mushroom. What was that?

1:01:14Shells or mushrooms?

1:01:16>> Mushrooms. She

1:01:17>> look like shells.

1:01:18>> They also have these boxes which were

1:01:20great for the rest of people. It was

1:01:22like a maze. You put a ball in there and

1:01:24then they just they made four of them.

1:01:26They were just these huge boxes. It was

1:01:28amazing. And so we keep the boxes in

1:01:30there and anybody gets bored, they can

1:01:32do this maze. And they were having fun

1:01:33with it. So then we also had um some

1:01:37first and well it's I think it's second

1:01:39year med students from uh UMass Chan

1:01:43School approach us about our memory cafe

1:01:45asking if we wanted volunteers. They

1:01:48organized this whole uh group of

1:01:50students to come and I said well if

1:01:52they're going to come then um would you

1:01:55know would you like to be trained? So

1:01:56they're going to be trained for dementia

1:01:58friends and this is going to be like

1:01:59future medical doctors. So, I'm really

1:02:01happy to get them at least a little bit

1:02:03of something in that. They don't get

1:02:05much training. So, they don't.

1:02:06>> And then we h um we had Holy Cross

1:02:09students come through their community

1:02:11program.

1:02:12>> That's the one you were talking about,

1:02:13Norine. She already has them coming.

1:02:15They're doing a program with um ESL for

1:02:18the Chinese elder group, but now we want

1:02:20to see if they want to get trained as

1:02:22part of their community partners

1:02:23program. So, that's another one. and

1:02:26then talk um we're going to have a talk

1:02:29on the guide program with elder services

1:02:32in January which which Christine who is

1:02:35um part of our memory cafe program she's

1:02:38going to do do that and that's all about

1:02:40get getting funds through Medicare for

1:02:43um caregivers to use for services with

1:02:45their loved one who has a memory

1:02:47impairment. So

1:02:48>> that's a new program.

1:02:49>> Yeah. Well, it's new it's an eight

1:02:51>> I know it's new to us.

1:02:52>> Yeah, it's an eight-year program. It's

1:02:54in the third year. Um, but it is new

1:02:57relatively to us in the area and we're

1:02:59learning more about it and trying to get

1:03:01people on it to get some benefits from

1:03:03it.

1:03:04>> Um, I'm sure there's more, but I really

1:03:10hope sorry.

1:03:12Um,

1:03:14I wanted to say our shine counselors

1:03:17will be busy. Um, Anna Christina, our

1:03:21staff person is a shine counselor. We're

1:03:24getting another um, shine counselor

1:03:27through the elder services. Um,

1:03:30who got trained through elder services

1:03:32will be coming on part-time during open

1:03:35enrollment. Mass College of Pharmacy,

1:03:37who's been on regular since last open

1:03:40enrollment, um every Monday, is stepping

1:03:43back through open enrollment, but they

1:03:45will be here for two dates to do um

1:03:48prescription plan um assistance. So, um

1:03:52hopefully we'll get through um last

1:03:56year, I don't know, they saw over 500

1:03:58people, I think, or more with calls and

1:04:01visits. So, um

1:04:04there's changes coming for plans. So,

1:04:08we're just anticipating um we're going

1:04:10to be busy with that. Um this summer we

1:04:15did uh quite a bit of outreach. We went

1:04:18to the out to lunch that the city has on

1:04:20the Carmen. Um we had um a worker go to

1:04:26the Asian festival and we also went just

1:04:30last weekend, not this past rainy

1:04:32weekend, a good weekend. Um before that,

1:04:36we were at the night out market, the

1:04:39night market. that I couldn't believe

1:04:42how many people were there and it was

1:04:46one staff because we didn't know it was

1:04:48the first time for that

1:04:50>> and she was very busy. People were

1:04:53stopping by cuz that place was yeah

1:04:57really really crowded. So um that was

1:05:00some really good outreach. So we're

1:05:02getting the word out. People are you

1:05:05know small numbers are coming from what

1:05:07we're doing. So, um, we always have room

1:05:11for more, I guess, [laughter]

1:05:14with the people that come through. And

1:05:17then we're having our multicultural

1:05:19event on October 28th. So, we're having

1:05:24uh different programs from the different

1:05:26cultural groups here. Music, dancing,

1:05:31um somebody will probably recite the

1:05:33drumming group. We'll have the drumming.

1:05:36Um a fashion show. Um so, that'll be on

1:05:40the morning of and uh we always finish

1:05:43with just playing different music from

1:05:46different cultures with everyone dancing

1:05:48and or singing. Um, that's what they

1:05:51love and it really brings everybody

1:05:54together.

1:05:56>> It really does.

1:05:57>> That's what we love.

1:05:58>> Right. That's what we love. Right. It

1:06:00does. Um, it amazes me every year when

1:06:03we do it how just everybody just has a

1:06:06good time and like we do the conga line.

1:06:10Everybody's getting in. They're telling

1:06:12people, "Come on, come on, get in. Get

1:06:14in." And yeah,

1:06:15>> people are just Yeah, it's just a good

1:06:18good day. Morning. morning. Now it's the

1:06:20morning.

1:06:21>> I forgot to mention the day after that

1:06:22is the blue bash. So,

1:06:24>> oh yeah, Vanessa has been working hard.

1:06:26She already has 22 kids coming to this

1:06:29and uh every year it gets a little

1:06:30bigger. And this year we're going to

1:06:32recruit the seniors to help and do all

1:06:34the interactive stuff. And we already

1:06:36have several who are interested. Um and

1:06:39they're going to also march around not

1:06:41just to the offices and and whatnot, but

1:06:44go around all the tables because we got

1:06:45requests for that. Can you please have

1:06:47them wrapped around the table so we can

1:06:49all see them? So, we're gonna do that.

1:06:51>> And two other things I forgot, not fun

1:06:53like that, but community legal aid um

1:06:55has been here. They came last week and

1:06:58did a free estate planning clinic for

1:07:01people who were financially eligible for

1:07:03that. So, they did wills, trust, power

1:07:06of attorneys for free. And also they're

1:07:09coming back um in October to pretty sure

1:07:14it's October getting all my clinics

1:07:16mixed up but to do um help with people

1:07:19who are having issues with their

1:07:21Medicare

1:07:22>> are trying to dispute something or get

1:07:24something. So people who have problems

1:07:27with their Medicare, not to help them

1:07:29pick a plan or you know understand what

1:07:32Medicare is, but if they need to appeal

1:07:34or call for issues. So, we're very

1:07:38thankful for everybody who's been coming

1:07:40to help us. What did I forget?

1:07:42>> One more thing. It was way back in July.

1:07:46Um, in one morning in cooperation with

1:07:50elder services, we gave out 50 farmer

1:07:55500 farmers.

1:07:57>> Right.

1:07:58>> Seems so long ago.

1:07:59>> Yeah, it does. And it and it went in an

1:08:02hour and a half.

1:08:03>> We did all that

1:08:04>> food. farmers market coupons, right?

1:08:08>> And it's not you don't just hand them

1:08:10out. There's forms and eligibility.

1:08:14>> We're a welloiled machine with that now.

1:08:18>> Even though I go, "Oh, here's the day."

1:08:21But it it does it's we have it down.

1:08:24>> Yeah. Go smooth now. Everybody helps.

1:08:27>> Yep. We have people with their what do

1:08:29you megapones calling out now? Everybody

1:08:32gets a number and we line up this way

1:08:35and only 10 in at a time and yeah. Yeah,

1:08:39we got it down.

1:08:40>> And then the farmers market was here at

1:08:42the mobile market so people could go out

1:08:45and use the coupons

1:08:48>> with the cost of all the maintenance

1:08:50issues that you're having.

1:08:53Is the city close to the point where

1:08:57they start to look at

1:09:00a possible new facility that would be

1:09:03the senior center? I know that they're

1:09:06looking at

1:09:08that whole at the building 1926 building

1:09:15the age of the buildings in Wor problem

1:09:19and sometimes the cost

1:09:22hits

1:09:25and so um

1:09:29you have to ask yourself at what point

1:09:32does the city say

1:09:37Let's start to look at a newer facility

1:09:40because even though it's money that they

1:09:43will invest

1:09:45but in 50 years time

1:09:49is that a better investment

1:09:53then continue to patch what you have.

1:09:57It's a question that I think at some

1:10:00point they may need to start to think

1:10:02about because a lot of your reports

1:10:05today about maintenance issues

1:10:09issues in the building and it's already

1:10:13maintenance issues.

1:10:15>> Is it getting worse maintenance wise or

1:10:17is it that it's more difficult to bring

1:10:21where it needs to be brought here? Well,

1:10:24you know, there there are

1:10:27um like this portion of the building was

1:10:31built in the 60s

1:10:34um where we have the offices and the

1:10:36activity room that was um in the 50s.

1:10:42And then there's the 26 wing that is

1:10:45going to be it's not going to be knocked

1:10:47down. It's going to be renovated. So

1:10:50if you have the money, you do it. So

1:10:55where things like for instance kitchen

1:10:58equipment, you know, they have a useful

1:11:00life. And then

1:11:02um and the same for roofs. So

1:11:05>> 26 years old now. So everything that was

1:11:09new is no longer new,

1:11:10>> right?

1:11:11>> So

1:11:13>> and this building has had HVAC issues

1:11:15since way at the beginning. It was not

1:11:17done properly in the beginning. So,

1:11:21>> we're always probably going to have

1:11:22HVAC,

1:11:23>> right? But would we like a brand new

1:11:27building?

1:11:27>> Sure. [laughter]

1:11:34>> Um,

1:11:36>> you never know. And you know so

1:11:40>> I guess in appropriate forms it can be

1:11:43discussed

1:11:44>> but part of the apartments will be in a

1:11:46new building.

1:11:48>> Yes that's true.

1:11:49>> Well in the

1:11:50>> yeah brand new renovated

1:11:53>> right updated some will be new.

1:11:56>> That's not this part. [laughter]

1:12:01But these maintenance issues that you

1:12:02mentioned, is it like a

1:12:05a regular volume of issues that you're

1:12:07seeing or is it like higher than

1:12:09>> maintenance?

1:12:10>> Maintenance. Yeah.

1:12:12>> Uh

1:12:14I think it's the response time that's

1:12:16changed because of the way they changed

1:12:18their protocol. So, and that's not on

1:12:21them. That's the city has a whole new

1:12:23financial system. So, they can't just

1:12:25get a purchase order and go. They have

1:12:28to fault like we have to do, too. So

1:12:30they can't just like we used to be like

1:12:32call the you know the vendor in they

1:12:35give us a quote right there and fix it

1:12:37emergency type situation. They don't we

1:12:40can't do that anymore. You have to come

1:12:42in evaluate

1:12:44then set up a time to come back to fix

1:12:47it after the purchase order. So

1:12:49everything seems to be taking a little

1:12:50bit longer. So unfortunately

1:12:53it's

1:12:54>> and we've always had issues.

1:12:56>> Yeah. And we've always been this.

1:12:59Although I do feel like with the kitchen

1:13:01and whatnot, we have had a lot. And I

1:13:03think it's just equipment's aging, it's

1:13:05it's 25 years old and it's getting a lot

1:13:09of use more that I mean the more people

1:13:11we have in here because we have grown,

1:13:13then the more usage of everything, which

1:13:16means more problems or more

1:13:19>> like the doors have taken and money. If

1:13:22you don't have the money to fix a door

1:13:23issue, you we do peace meal and then

1:13:26it's you still end up with a problem

1:13:28because we still have the door problem

1:13:30which we talked about three years ago

1:13:32because they haven't put new doors in.

1:13:33>> So there is a funding issue.

1:13:36>> Well, they they have to pick and choose.

1:13:38I think

1:13:40>> yeah priority

1:13:41>> priority issue

1:13:42>> for big you know the big expensive those

1:13:46doors I'll tell you offline how much

1:13:49they're going to cost

1:13:55>> yeah there's a lot more red you have to

1:13:57go through a lot more channels

1:14:01>> well thank you everyone for coming it

1:14:03definitely was an interesting meeting

1:14:05today with lots of thoughts but out

1:14:08there. Um, our next meeting is October

1:14:1126 at 4:00 in person.

1:14:15>> Um, do and so if there are no more other

1:14:18comments, do I have a motion to end the

1:14:20meeting?

1:14:23>> Do I have a second?

1:14:24>> Second.

1:14:25>> All in favor?

1:14:27>> Any opposed? [laughter]

1:14:30Thank you all.