Concerns about long-term care

 

At the center of this photo on Thursday were our speakers, Lynn and Peter Young (not to be confused with Doug and Cynthia Young on left; the two couples are not related to each other). 

Lynne and Peter recently retired from careers in senior care, at places including The Eddy in Troy and the New York State Department of Health. They recommended planning for old age, eg having a health-care proxy, making your directions clear, and considering purchase of long-term care insurance.

 Hospice care, said Peter, "is dramatically under-utilized in the US," while some people find themselves receiving "aggressive care" in hospitals which they may not want. At the state policy level, staffing levels are "extremely low" in nursing homes, while reimbursement rates (eg for Medicaid) are also "extremely low," and the two problems are connected.

They recommended websites for research including www.medicare.gov/care-compare/ .

RIP Paul Perreault

 

Paul Perreault, who is seen at the center of this photo taken at our meeting last November 21, was an outstanding Rotarian and a friend to most of us. We mourn his recent death at the age of 82 and send condolences to his family. Paul exemplified the ideal of a gentleman and a scholar. His obituary, along with information about calling hours, can be found here. At this morning's meeting, we named our annual scholarship in his honor.

Also this morning, Town Supervisor Cynthia Young discussed water districts, police funding, and a "budget crunch." She said a pedestrian crossing will be constructed across Route 9 from Town Hall to Ellsworth Commons.

Last week, our speaker was Joyce Crawford, RN, manager of clinical operations for The Community Hospice in Saratoga, Washington and eastern Montgomery counties.  

Not all patients die in hospice, she said. Some recover and "graduate" from the program, which is mostly funded by Medicare and free of charge. Some younger patients are covered by private insurance. Most are at home or in a nursing home. She also mentioned Mary's Haven and The Gateway House of Peace, two small local facilities where patients are usually in their last months of life. While hospice is professionally run with doctors, nurses, aides and social workers, it is also supported by volunteers, along with private donations which fund "extras" such as massage.

School Boards Association

Caroline Bobick, deputy director of governmental and external relations for the New York State School Boards Association, was our speaker on Thursday.

She said NYSSBA will be focused on potential changes in the Foundation Aid formula coming up for review in the Legislature. Among local concerns, she said, are what are widely seen as unrealistic state mandates regarding the conversion of school bus fleets from gasoline to electric power. 

NYSSBA is also concerned about issues relating to student mental health, such as phone use restrictions and shortage of counselors. 

Caroline and her husband David live in Luther Forest in Malta with their two young children. She has taught and done volunteer work in Turkey, Honduras and Nicaragua, and has been involved with the International Center of the Capital Region.

The previous week, we had an excellent holiday dinner at Buona Sera restaurant on Route 9P in Malta. We will take a break this week, and meet next on Jan. 2 back at The Ugly Rooster. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

 

Mindfulness and Meditation

 

Nicholas Cassius Clay, at rear on left, prepares to speak at our meeting last Thursday. 

A coach and advocate of mindfulness and brain-heart coherence, he talked about "nonjudgmental awareness" and "the challenge of being present." Meditation exercises can start the mind-body connection, he said, and "the bridge is courage."

Clay is a past president of the Schenectady Rotary Club.

No meeting tomorrow, Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving.

Business, Food, Books, Water

 

At our business meeting Thursday, President Chris Havens discussed the possibility of continuing to aid the area in Lesotho served by Qholaqhoe Mountain Connections, which is winding down its operations. QMC's Linda Gorham told Chris in a Nov. 6 email that "there is definitely a need for donations for the food/hunger crisis in the area", which has been stricken by drought. Linda suggested that donations for that purpose could be arranged via wire transfer to St. Charles High School in the QMC area, and club members agreed to pursuing this option.

Members also agreed with Chris's suggestion that we undertake a food drive next February or March to benefit the food pantry at the Malta Community Center. 

Later Thursday, our member Bob Conner spoke about Juneteenth to the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club, and sold and signed copies of his books with all proceeds (about $140) donated to the club's planned water project in Kenya.

Bob was invited to the Rensselaer County meeting by Phil Kellerman, who spoke to our club last month.

From Community Center to Community

 Kristan Gottmann, Malta's director of Parks,
 Recreation and Human Services, was our speaker last Thursday. She focused mainly on the last-listed part of her duties, centered on the food pantry at the David Meager Malta Community Center. It is supported by organizations including the Town of Malta/GlobalFoundries Foundation, Price Chopper, Stewart's, Saratoga Casino, Pitney Meadows, the US Postal Service, and other donors including the public.

There has been a "huge increase" in demand in recent years, she said. In addition to food, the "human services" include Thanksgiving bags, the holiday Christmas tree program for children, and winter clothing. The human services operate year round, when necessary making referrals to other services and agencies.

Kristan also talked about the many recreation, sports, arts, education and other opportunities available through her department at the Community Center and in the parks of Malta.  

   

"It's a lovely place. We're lucky," she said.

Pancakes and (nonpartisan) politics

The pancakes and fixings (sausages, eggs, juice, coffee) will be served for breakfast this Sunday Oct. 27 at the Malta Ridge Fire House, Hearn Road and Route 9. It's our first fund-raiser in a while. Prices are still $7 for adults and teens, $3 for kids aged 6-12, and free for those under 6. Be there or be square.

On Thursday, our speaker was club member and state Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (in yellow jacket at end of table). She took questions about energy mandates (she's skeptical) and GlobalFoundries (the structure of a new tax deal would be up to the Saratoga County IDA). She said improving health care is her top priority, noting that the quality of dental care is an indicator of longevity; and said Medicaid reimbursement rates are too low. 

"We need much better public transit up here," she said, which would, for example, provide a way for employees of Malta hotels to get to work.