Minutes of ESCOTA General Meetings

Minutes from the September 10, 2009 General Membership Meeting

Date of Meeting: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Presentation: Elders and the Human-Animal Bond
Speaker: Susan Phillips Cohen, DSW

Reeva Mager called the meeting to order at 3:35 PM and welcomed the group. Ms. Mager thanked Jo Brown, Director of the 92nd Street Y’s 60+ program, for hosting today’s meeting. Ms. Brown informed the group about the 60+ program, which provides well older adults with high-level intellectual stimulation and a place to socialize. There are 75 classes offered per week. A counselor and HIICAP volunteer are also on staff.

Announcements:

COHME has a social work case manger position available to work with our elderly clients and their families involving “Close collaboration with nursing, home health aide staff, ensuing comprehensive quality home care as well as quality of life. Liaison with other health care/ social service providers as well as a variety of potential referral sources. Salary flexible.” Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Carol Kamine-Brown, Executive Manager, COHME.

Selfhelp's Nazi Victim Services Program provides comprehensive case management services to Holocaust survivors in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Services include counseling, housing assistance, chore services/housekeeping, social programming, assistance with restitution applications and American benefits/entitlements, and information/referral. For more information, call 212-971-5475 or visit http://www.selfhelp.net.

Part-time experienced LMSW or LCSW needed for an independent care management company. Call Ellen Polivy 212-750-6242. E-mail resume and cover letter should be sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Presentation:

Elders and the Human-Animal Bond, with Susan Phillips Cohen, DSW
The Animal Medical Center (212-329-8680) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Benefits of Pets and Other Animal Interactions: Companionship, protection, assistance, socialization, mental stimulation and learning, less disease, exercise, eating, stress reduction
• Pet Selection: Be mindful of type, temperament, age of the pet, everyday care
• Housing: An issue in NY
• Planning Ahead: Ordinary activities, finances, care of pet if elder is unable
• Sick Pet Care: Comprehension (does/can the person understand what’s going on with the pet?); transportation (can you get the pet to the doctor?); medicating (can you get the medicine into the pet in case it is needed?); finding support, costs
• When the Pet Can’t Stay With the Person — Alternative Placement: Temporary care (ie., client hospitalization), permanent placement, sudden loss of owner, formal vs. informal systems
• Special Issues: Pet loss and loneliness, mental health issues
• Mental Health/Hoarding/Neglect: Having a pet can be a great thing for your mental health, but sometimes mental health problems interfere with the ability to manage a pet
• Competence (Dementia): Real & Perceived — understanding, deciding, resisting
• Alternatives to Pet “Ownership”: For those who cannot have/manage pets: AIBO (artificial intelligence robot) cat and dog, other pets in the environment — pets in the neighborhood, urban wildlife
• Animal-Assisted Therapy: Visits paid to institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, etc). New York Companions provides therapy dogs for private in-home visits (pay for visit service)

Agencies that provide assistance with pets:

• JASA Pets project (Hugh Kramer): assists seniors in Manhattan over 60 with cats or dogs. Volunteer workers. Help with dog walking/changing cat boxes, assistance with bills (can provide $250 per year per client), etc.
• Center for Animal Care and Control: Pets for Life NYC (formerly Safety Net)
• Mayors Alliance for NYC animals
• Companion Animal Network
• Animal Medical Center (limited funds available for indigent seniors)

Animal Medical Center Pet Loss Support Group:
Every other Tuesday, 6:00-8:00 PM. No charge, but donations are requested.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00pm.

Next Meeting:

Date: October 8, 2009
Location: Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Senior Center
Presentation: New Power of Attorney Law
Speaker: Robert Freedman, Esq.

Respectfully submitted by Amy Stern, Secretary

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