The Senior Advisory Committee has been keeping the subjects of financial reports and budgets on its agenda, even though their involvement in both has been diminished in the past two years. With the establishment of an office of human services, the committee’s budget has been rolled into that of the new department and is now overseen by Human Resources Manager Allison Carley.
In the past, the Senior Advisory’s “budget” was comprised of two main parts, wages for a part-time senior coordinator and operating expenses for the activities held for seniors at the Block Island Community Center and other venues. Over the years, the SAC has purchased computer, video, and sound equipment for the center so that they can hold programs and show movies. Two years ago the SAC received a mini-split under a grant from the Block Island Solar Initiative so that the community center could have air conditioning.
Also included in the budget were elder services like the Senior Ride Service, which is usually at least partially funded by a grant from the state of Rhode Island. Other programs overseen in the past by the committee have included home safety assessments and equipment installation such as grab bars.
SAC Co-Chair Sandra Kelly told her fellow board members at their meeting on March 18 that under the “new method,” the board would give suggestions to Carley that they hope will be incorporated into the final budget. “It doesn’t mean we don’t go to meetings and have our say,” she said.
In addition to taxpayer money and grants, the Senior Advisory Committee also receives donations from the general public. Kelly said this year the total of donations currently stands at $7,732, all of which “came from people in the community.” Any funds not spent this year will roll into next year’s budget.
SAC member Jennifer Phillips asked if those donations were being acknowledged with thank-you letters.
Kelly, who used to do the thank you’s herself, said she would check to see if there were any new donations that needed acknowledgment, agreeing that it was important to thank people.
As far as next year’s budget, Kelly said, “We haven’t seen it.”
Member Chuck McMellon asked if the committee, which does have a budget subcommittee, would still be doing an “interior budget,” meaning a carve-out of specific expenses.
Less time spent on finances means that the committee can spend more time on planning programs.
The name for the position of senior coordinator has been changed to that of healthy aging coordinator and is currently being held by Brigid Price, who has been working in that position since the fall. In giving her report to the committee, Price said that one thing she has learned is that programs need to be set up two months in advance, and she has been busy setting up several special programs.
The next special program will be on April 8 and conducted by AARP on driver safety. This is a program for those 55 and up and is meant to be an update of “new road design, traffic laws, and how to adjust your driving to compensate for physical changes…” The course is one four-hour session (including lunch) and those who complete it may be eligible for a “multi-year discount” on car insurance, according to an AARP brochure on the program. Participants must sign up in advance. The cost to participants is $25 each.
Price is also hoping to coordinate with the Block Island School as it is bringing back an improvisation and comedy writing/performer artist that worked with the school last year, on a program specifically for seniors. While some at the meeting thought it might be too soon after the program on driver safety, others pointed out that the two programs were “totally different.”
Another programming idea is to take seniors on periodic “island tours,” perhaps involving Kim Gaffett of The Nature Conservancy. Price hopes to have these once per month.
“Then we have the falling,” joked Price, referring to a program she hoped would draw island interest. Price had brought this program up at a previous meeting and the thought of an eight-week program on falling had some scratching their heads. However, Price had arranged for Sheryl Parente, who will be conducting the program, to come and speak during Lunch Bunch later that day.
Parente, working under a grant to the University Of Rhode Island’s Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center, told the Lunch Bunch crowd that the program was focused on increasing activity levels in older adults by working on flexibility, strength, and balance. Each session is up to two hours and divided into two with one focus on exercise and another on discussion. “The other primary goal is to reduce the fear of falling in older adults,” Parente told The Block Island Times.
The program, called “A Matter of Balance” will be held each Wednesday from 11:30 to 1:30 starting on April 23. Parente said each session would start with a “good morning stretch and deep breathing.” Based on the size of the room, Parente estimated there was room for 15 to 20 participants, and by the end of Lunch Bunch, several people had signed up.
So far, for May, Price has a movie planned for May 13 and an art project planned for May 15.
One program that needs to be set up well in advance is the summer trip to Theatre by the Sea. Kelly said they have reserved 20 tickets for the July 16 performance at 2 p.m.) of “Waitress.”
Kelly also reported that water aerobics would be returning at Champlin’s Marina’s pool and that the program would be coordinated by the Recreation Department. Otherwise, “we’ll thin out our activities in July,” said Kelly. “There’s so much going on in the summer.”
As the group brainstormed about other possible programs, Phillips suggested reaching out to Rob Martin to do a magic show.
“I would like to do that as an evening activity,” said Price.
“You can have wine and cheese and make it disappear,” quipped one member of the committee.
Caption: SAC Co-chair Sandra Kelly introducing Sheryl Parente at Lunch Bunch on March 18. (Photo: R. Meyer)
