PSSN MINUTES
August 27, 2009

ATTENDEES: Gesemyer Art (Visitor), Debby Baldrige (Crossroads Hospice), Annette Balis (Home Instead Senior Care), Eric Bloniarz (Medical Services,Inc), Kattie Crumley (Senior Helpers), Denise Czech (Crossroads Hospice), Terry Fagan (Atlas Rehab), Ronn Franczkewski (Bankers Life), Kathy Guckelberger (DJFS), Jane Gwinn (FCS/Senior Track), Carol Hass (Area Agency on Aging), Nedra Hill (Mobile Meals), Rochelle Johnson (Always Best Care), Dorothy Jones (Po. Co. Society of the Blind), Michelle Kairis (Colman Adult Day), Laurel Kane (Portage Home Health), Katie Kloetzly (Streetsboro Senior Center), Diane Knaser-Forsythe (Care Tenders), Jessica Koller (Anna Maria at Home), Laura Lester (ExactCare Pharmacy), Lisa Little (Home Instead Senior Care), Allison Machel (Area Agency on Aging), Donna Manos (Always Best Care), Genel Nichols (Kent Ridge at Golden Pond), Pam Olsin (Caring Home Health), Evelyn Peck (Reed Memorial Library), Marsha Piatt (Visitor), Barb Pochedly (Po. Co. District Library), Jennifer Reynolds (Harbor Light Hospice), Claudette Rogers (FCS/MAP), Crystal Shanley (FCS/Senior Track), Marta Williger (Williger & Peters), Mandy Zantow (FCS-RSVP)

President Genel Nichols called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and called for introductions and announcements.
Genel Nichols announced that Ellen Piper, a KSU graduate, will be available to help with accessing our website and making sure that all agencies are logged in appropriately
Claudette Rogers announced that 23 sites are scheduled for October Medicare Updates, please see Claudette for complete listing for your area
Annette Balis announced that Home Instead Senior Care in Aurora have moved locations and working on an open house, date TBA
Eric Bloniarz announced that the “Green” office will host an Open House on Sept 1st from 4-7pm
Laure Lester announced that ExactCare Pharmacy is a new way for clients to access their prescriptions through the mail, see Laura for more information
Jessica Koller announced that the car show last month raised nearly $7000 for the Alzheimer’s Association
Michelle Kairis announced that Coleman Adult Day opened a new site hosted by Anna Maria, see Michelle for more information
Dorothy Jones announced that on September 28th at 2pm, Christopher Baris will be speaking at the First Church of God in Ravenna on New Milford Rd, contact Dorothy for more information
Marta Williger announced the article this month (Update on the Law) is reviewing Medicaid and State Planning
Mandy Zantow passed out flyers for the National Day of Service, set for September 11th, see Mandy for more information
Genel Nichols announced that the series, “When Dementia Comes Home” will be having another forum on September 24th at Kent Ridge at Golden Pond, all are welcome to attend
Lisa Little announced that SAMA (Senior Sales and Marketing Association) will host an open house on September 8th from 4-7pm at Viking Vineyards in Brimfield

PROGRAM: Speaker Liz Mullroy, the Education Director with the Alzheimer’s Association, provided a 1 hour CEU presentation on “Maintain Your Brain” and discussed dementia and Alzheimer’s and how it affects each person differently. Liz spoke about “Use it or lose it” stressing the importance of activity for our seniors, both mental and physical exercise. Liz reviewed cases and sited examples of Dementia and Alzheimer’s and covered areas of stress, healthy lifestyles, and daily habits. Liz discussed the affects of healthy aging verses symptoms of aging with Dementia. For more information on Alzheimer’s or other related topics, contact Liz Mullroy at Liz.Mullroy@alz.org

Secretary’s report:
Claudette Rogers made a motion to pass last month’s meeting with no corrections, Jane Gwinn second the motion, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s report:
Eric Bloniarz reported that our budget is at $3,600 and is still accepting last minute membership dues and will update that budget at next meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Community Relations: Jane Gwinn reported that the committee met on August 19th and discussed Santa for a Senior and the Giving Tree and possibly a senior dance in the spring, information to come. Next meeting on September 8th at Loyalton in Ravenna.

Education Committee: Claudette Rogers reported that the committee met and have set programs for meetings through April 2010. Claudette also reports that the committee is in need of members. No meeting scheduled.

Client Services: Kathy Guckelberger reported that committee will re-focus the concentration of Client Services this year and focus more on goals and surveys about senior concerns. Next meeting is the Friday before the PSSN meeting, at Kent Ridge at Golden Pond.

Membership: Genel Nichols reported that the committee is desperately in need of members and invites anyone interested to contact Genel for meeting times/locations.

Old Business: Membership applications are past due, while many agencies submitted completed forms today. Just a reminder, brochures for PSSN will be made soon and only paid members will have their information included in the brochures.

New Business: Genel Nichols passed around a sign up sheet for PSSN committee members, all encouraged to participate with a committee. Liz Mullroy requested a copy of the attendance sheet be sent for CEUs. Genel Nichols proposed that PSSN donated $200 to the Memory Walk this year, an increase from our donation last year of $150. Members voted and Dorothy Jones made a motion to pass the donation amount of $200 and Jane Gwinn second and the motion passed. Reminder for next meeting, topic in on “Elder Abuse”, presented by our member Kathi Guckelberger.

Claudette Rogers made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Jane Gwinn second the motion and the motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.

The next meeting will be held September 24th at
Community Room at ROC at 8:30 a.m.
Care Tenders will provide refreshments

Respectively submitted by,
Crystal Shanley
Secretary