Minutes of ESCOTA General Meetings

Minutes from the April 2, 2009 General Membership Meeting

Date of Meeting: Thursday, April 2, 2009
Presentation: Change is a Process: Helping Older Adults Change Addictive Behavior
Speaker: Brett Saarela, LCSW

Elizabeth Figueroa of SPOP called the meeting to order at 3:25pm and announced there is a part-time job for a Spanish-speaking LCSW at her agency. Applicants can email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Announcements:

Amy Berg spoke of SPOP’s social day care program, which is a supportive day care program for the frail elderly. To refer, please contact Amy Berg at 212-787-7120, ext 140.

Barbara Danish described her free bereavement and follow-up programs, which are run by trained volunteers.  Barbara Danish can be reached at 212-787-7120, ext 520.

Presentation:

Brett Saarela gave a power point presentation, “Change is a Process: Helping Older Adults Change Addictive Behavior.” Brett‘s presentation included:

• Stages of change model: movement is possible in either direction
• Pre-Contemplation: not yet thinking of change
• Contemplation: recognizing a problem but not ready to take action
• Preparation: acknowledging a problem
• Action: experimenting with behavior change
• Maintenance: beginning to feel normal in new behavior
• Exit: change has become the new normal
• Relapse: any return to old behavior
• Applying the model to assessment: where is this person in the change process
• Applying the model to treatment: treatment planning and goal setting
• Applying the model to outcomes: move ahead to next stage of change
• Complexity of change
• Stage-specific techniques: pre-contemplation
• User Log and example of the log
• Cost-benefit analysis and example
• Stage-specific techniques
• Change Plan Worksheet
• Stage–specific techniques: Action
• Urge Log and example
• Stage specific techniques: maintenance and exit
• Lifestyle balance pie
• Stage specific techniques: relapse and example

Next Meeting:

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 3pm
Location: Stanley Isaacs Senior Center, 415 East 93rd Street at First Avenue
Presentation: TBA
Speaker: TBA

Respectfully submitted by Connie Gemson

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