ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
ADVISORY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Wednesday December 3, 2008
Herman M. Holloway Sr. Campus-Lewis Building
Conference Room 258
I. Call to Order: Katie McMillan – Chairperson
II. Members present:
Katie McMillan – Chairperson
Pamela A. Williams – Administrator, Adult Protective Services
Marki B. Mosley – New Castle County Police Department
Yvonne (Eve) Davis – Wilmington Dept. of Licenses & Inspections
Ben Inloes – Bay Health Medical Center
Lisa Zimmerman –Chief of Operations, Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance
Anthony Frabizzio ESQ. – Heckler Frabizzio
Brenda Ledesma – DSAAPD, APS SSW/CM
Linda Brittingham – Christiana Care Health Services
Janice Pulkowski – DSAAPD, APS SSW/CM
III. Excused absent:
Walter Donaldson – Director of Investigations, Bank of America
William Dunne – Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Stefanie Donovan – Office of the Public Guardian
Mary Ann Connell –Chief Operations Administrator, Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities
Harris Taylor – Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Marian Kenville Moore – Deptartment of Justice
IV. Minutes from last meeting:
Katie McMillan opened the APS Advisory Council meeting
and welcomed everyone. Ms. McMillan presented a motion to accept the September 10, 2008 minutes and asked Council members for any changes. Liza Zimmerman approved the minutes and Marki Mosley seconded.
V. Old Business: None
VI. New Business:
Ms. McMillan introduced the guest speaker, Lisa Geiser from Fox Rehabilitation.
Guest:
Ms. Geiser informed the Council about the services and
programs offered by Fox Rehabilitation to the Geriatric population
in their homes.
· Fox Rehabilitation is a private practice of Physical and Occupational
Therapy services.
· Their programs are covered under Medicare Part B.
· Regions covered are in New Castle County, Delaware;
New York, New Jersey, Pittsburg and Virginia.
· Services in Kent and Sussex County will be offered when additional
full-time therapists are available.
· Speech Therapy will be offered in July 2009
The current programs are:
- Home Safety Program/ Home Safety Assessments
- Low Vision Program
- Pain Program
- Driving Assessment Program
- Physical and Occupational Therapy program
- Dementia Management
- Fall Prevention and Management
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
- Geriatric Reconditioning and Strengthening
VII. Legislative update:
· Ms. Williams distributed information on Legislation SB 227, known as the
Gold Alert. This legislation enables local, regional and statewide notification
of a missing Senior Citizen (defined as a person over 60), a missing
suicidal person or a missing disabled person. The bill expands the
communications network area to provide greater assistance to investigating
law enforcement agencies in their searches for missing persons-similar to
the Amber Alert for missing children.
· Ms. Williams also distributed information on The National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR). The NCCNHR will be working to pass major long-term care consumer bills as they are reintroduced in the 111th Congress.
Are your Senators and Representatives on this List?
VIII. Staffing:
Ms. Williams informed the Council of Adult Protective Services (APS) staff shortages in the New Castle County (NCC) and Kent/Sussex County offices. Currently NCC APS has 2 vacancies and K/S has 1 vacancy.
The Division Director is requesting special permission from the Secretary of DHSS to hire for these vacancies.
IX. Publicity/ Outreach:
· Ms. Williams distributed name plates and name badges for each Council Member. Business Cards were also suggested for the Council Members
which can be used as a form to promote elder abuse awareness. Ms. Williams also advised Council that a public relations campaign is being considered, possibly in the spring, using advertisements on billboards, radio and on Dart buses.
· Ms. Williams informed the Council that the Criminal Justice Council (CJC) was awarded a grant to replicate the Massachusetts BPI project, which is a multi-disciplinary approach that provides protection from abuse for persons with disabilities. APS is one of six partners on the grant that will participate in strategic planning, data analysis, and outreach.
X. Case Review: Brenda Ledesma, APS NCC, Senior Social Worker/Case Manager
· Ms. Ledesma presented an APS Case of Inadequate Self Care. The clients are an elderly couple in their 80’s. The couple lived in deplorable conditions. The home was extremely cluttered and they had very little food . Ms. Ledesma made a home visit to the couple and decided to have them transported to the local emergency room. The wife passed away in the hospital and the family still has not claimed the body. The husband remains in the hospital. Ms. Ledesma will give an update on the case at the next Council meeting.
· Ms. Williams asked Inspector Davis what is the minimum standard used before the City of Wilmington can give a citation for clutter. Inspector Davis stated that there must be access to each window, door and hall way.
XI. Roundtable:
Ms. Williams opened the meeting for Council members to share any new information from their Divisions or agency.
· Ms. Zimmerman (Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance) informed
the Council that APS can contact her and she may be able to expedite the application process for APS clients.
· Ben Inloes shared information regarding liver disease patients.
· Anthony Frabizzio stated he will keep the Council informed on any new laws
pertaining to Elder Abuse.
XII. Adjournment:
Next Council Meeting:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Herman M. Holloway Sr. Campus, Lewis Bldg; Room 258