Minutes of ESCOTA General Meetings

Minutes from the Thursday, February 10, 2011 General Membership Meeting

Date of Meeting: Thursday, February 10, 2011
Presentation: Community Organizations and the Family Caregiver: Smoothing the Rocky Roads of Transitions
Speaker: Carol Levine, MA, and Jennifer Rutberg, MSW

Reeva Mager called the meeting to order at 3:30p and welcomed the group.

Sara Peller, Associate Executive Director of Programs at DOROT, hosted the meeting and spoke about the development of the organization and its commitment to providing services to older adults.

Announcements:

Check our website (escota.info) for details and updates.

• Marsha Flowers of Senior Bridge announced an upcoming event “Transitioning Heart Patients from Hospital to Home.” The event is taking place on Thursday, February 17, 2011. 5-6pm: Wine & Chocolate Reception, 6–70pm: Program, 7–7:30pm: Q&A. Location: 845 Third Ave, (between 51st and 52nd), 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Online attendance available at http://www.SeniorBridge.com/seminar. RSVP REQUIRED: http://www.SeniorBridge.com/seminar, For more information contact Maggie Ferrari at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 212-994-6153.
• Nancy Hayes from The Hallmark announced a Partnership Networking Breakfast taking place on February 22 from 8-10am. For reservations, contact Marisol Borrero at 917-522-1322 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by February 18th.
• New York Academy of Medicine has upcoming event “Health Care Reform Implementation: Effect on Providers” on March 15, 2011 from 5:15- 7:30 PM. Location: The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029

Presentation:

Community Organizations and the Family Caregiver: Smoothing the Rocky Roads of Transitions
Family caregivers often turn to community organizations before and after a major caregiving crisis. Many crises involve transitions, the moves from one care setting to another, such as from home to hospital. This presentation discussed the role of community organizations in helping family caregivers before, during, and after a transition, and the resources available to all through the Next Step in Care project.

Speakers
Carol Levine, MA, Director, Families and Health Care Project, directs the United Hospital Fund’s Families and Health Care Project which focuses on developing partnerships between health care professionals and family caregivers, especially during transitions in health care settings (http://www.nextstepincare.org). Before joining the Fund in 1996, she directed the Citizens Commission on AIDS in New York City from 1987 to 1991, and The Orphan Project, which she founded, from 1991 to 1996. As a senior staff associate of The Hastings Center, she edited the Hastings Center Report.

Jennifer Rutberg, MSW, Senior Program Manager, Families and Health Care Project, joined the United Hospital Fund as senior program manager in 2009. At this New York nonprofit health policy and philanthropic organization, she is continuing her work in community-based care, with a focus on dementia care and caregiving. She holds a master’s degree in social work with specialization in gerontology from the University of Pennsylvania.

• The United Hospital Fund was founded in 1879 with a mission to improve healthcare for all New Yorkers and the nation. Key issues addressed by UHF include system redesign and chronic care.
• Next Step in Care is a program that focuses on seriously and chronically ill patients when family caregivers are significantly involved in their care. It addresses transitions to and from hospitals, nursing homes, certified home care agencies, etc.
• The goals of Next Step in Care include changing provider practice and providing information and tools to family caregivers.
• Carol Levine discussed identifying the family caregiver and using a broad interpretation when defining family. She spoke about Transitions in Care and why family caregivers are so important to successful transitions.
• Jennifer Rutberg took the group through the website http://www.nextstepincare.org. This website offers a wealth of information for providers and family caregivers. Materials are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.

Please refer to http://www.nextstepincare.org for more information on this program.

You are welcome to contact Jennifer Rutberg with any questions about Next Step in Care, suggestions for new materials, or for tips on how to use Next Step in care materials with family caregivers. The best way to contact her is via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00pm.

Next Meeting:

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011
Location: Carter Burden Luncheon Club
Presentation: New York State 2010 Elder Abuse Summit: Research Finding and Action Agenda
Speaker: Ken Onaitis, MSW and Jean Callahan, Esq., MSW

Respectfully submitted by Amy Stern, Co-Secretary

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