Bexar County Assisted Living Task Force Training Opportunity
Date: Monday, September 18, 2006
Location: City of San Antonio Development Services Building, 1901 S. Alamo, SAT 78204 - Training Room B
Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Topic: A comprehensive "Focus Group" orientation, of the Resources and Mission of the Bexar County Assisted Living Task Force, by:
Ramon Mendez, Assistant Director - Neighborhood Services
Department COSA
Dotty Acosta, Assisted Living and Adult Day Care Program Specialist - DADS
Sherry Bailey, Director of Utilization and Management - Center for Health Care
Services
Janice L. Brister, Program Manager - TEAM Z, Region 8 Regulatory Services
Division
Eric C. Timaeus, Program Manager - Life Safety Code, Region 8 Regulatory
Services Division
Karen Bailey, Resource & External Relations Specialist - Texas Family and
Protective Services
Nick Monreal, Managing Local Ombudsman, Long Term Care Services - AACOG / Bexar
Aging
Intended Audience for Training:
City Council Staff, other City Departments engaged in community services/advocacy, as well as community neighborhood groups, homeowners associations, etc.
Purpose/Goal of Training:
”Over the last few months, Councilwoman Sheila McNeil has been working closely with several of our neighborhood associations in trying to handle the many complicated issues revolving around group homes, assisted living facilities, and community homes. In our initial research, we have uncovered quite a mess, and I can only imagine how widespread the problems are with adult assisted living facilities across San Antonio," said Paul Jimenez, City Council Aide, District 2. "In District 2, we have a large number of these facilities, both licensed and unlicensed - and many residents are complaining - both inside the homes, and in the adjoining neighborhoods. Nick Monreal and the Bexar County Assisted Living Task Force will be able to provide us with the tools we need to effectively handle these issues so as to protect both the neighborhoods as well as the residents of the various facilities”.
Need:
The phenomenal growth, in the last decade alone, of the Personal Care and Assisted Living industry, is a reflection of Long Term Care resident population needs. When families that cannot afford the more expensive and traditional Nursing Home and Larger Assisted Living Facility care, they find themselves turning to less expensive and less regulated elder care providers. The elderly who are not fortunate enough to have living caregivers, and become senior orphans, are prime targets for financial exploitation, abuse and neglect.
Task Force Mission:
To offer education to providers, consumers and neighbors of personal care facilities, and to serve the community through coordinated efforts to share resources with the goal of identifying and assisting unlicensed facilities to obtain compliance; and encouraging the Assisted Living industry to address the pressing needs for facility and healthcare employment expansion in San Antonio.
About the Task Force:
The Bexar County Assisted Living Facility Task Force was first organized by the District Attorney’s and City Attorney’s Offices, to gather information and to address issues in unlicensed board and care and assisted living facilities. AACOG has been a catalyst in sustaining the Task Force structure, facilitating the education and enforcement coordination between local, state, and federal agencies. Currently Nick Monreal, the Managing Local Ombudsman, for AACOG's Bexar Area Agency on Aging is the Task Force Chairman. Task Force Members include: the City of San Antonio’s (COSA) Neighborhood Services Department, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, COSA City Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services/Regulatory Division, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Center For Healthcare Services, Veteran’s Administration, Alamo Community College District /Gerontology Departments, Texas Healthcare Association, City and County Elected Officials, Alamo Area Council of Governments / Bexar AAA Ombudsman Program.
Contact Information:
Nick Monreal
Managing
Local Ombudsman / Long Term Care Services
Bexar Area Agency on Aging
Alamo Area Council of Governments
(210) 362-5236
nmonreal@aacog.com