July 8, 2025
10:30 a.m.
PKS Town Hall

Call to Order: Cindy Schersching

Agenda

Old Business

We had a great turnout for both forum events: May 15 – Caregiving and June 9 – Dementia. While a limited number of Council members attended our regular meeting, we had a good discussion of what worked, what didn’t work as well as we thought, and what’s next.

Two strong follow-up ideas emerged:

• Host a round table with several local experts to discuss caregiving and dementia resources, community ties, and ways to expand the support network.
• Host a round table with community members who are living with caregiving challenges to explore neighbor-to-neighbor resource sharing.

The discussion also touched on the lack of specialists at our local hospital, even with the Mayo Clinic connection. This remains a barrier to aging in place. One step forward may be to invite key hospital personnel to participate in future discussion groups.

New Business

• Communications across COSA and to the community: John Clarke suggested using USPS postcards. He and Cindy will review this option.
• Interest in inviting back Angela Pridgen, Lead Ombudsman with the Area Agency on Aging, for a forum on patient rights and long-term care placement guidance.
• Zoom forums: The Town does not have resources to support Zoom access.
• Expanding exercise options is still under consideration. What classes should be offered? Do we have participant input?
• John Macheca identified Nacho’s in Atlantic Station as a social gathering place, replacing Hotel Alice.
• Exploring the concept of incorporating “age friendly” standards into COSA activities. Volunteers are needed to initiate this approach.

Minutes

Ongoing Business

Continued discussion on the lack of specialists at Carteret General Hospital, even with the Mayo Clinic connection. This issue again became evident when a PKS resident was unable to receive appropriate specialist care. Transport to New Bern was not facilitated. This situation is not uncommon and remains a serious concern.

Two follow-up ideas were proposed:

• Host a round table with medical professionals to discuss resource availability, strengthening community ties, and ways to better support caregivers.
• Host a round table with community members living with caregiving challenges to explore resource sharing and mutual support.

A list of potential hospital board and foundation contacts was circulated. Members were encouraged to reach out where they had personal connections. Several individuals were identified as possible participants, including Dr. Brooks, Mary Carlyle Brown, Kathy Driver’s contacts on the Hospital Foundation Board, and PA Sara Bedard.

New Business

Expanding exercise options remains a priority. Chair yoga had 13 participants last week. Leon Mann Center has agreed to fund community training for a new Tai Chi instructor, as the current instructor may be lost.

Agreement to use Nacho’s in Atlantic Station as the new social gathering place, replacing Hotel Alice.

Agreement to invite back Angela Pridgen, Lead Ombudsman with the Area Agency on Aging, for a forum in the fall focused on patient rights and long-term care placement.

Our next meeting is August 12, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in the Betty Carr Room of the A.C. Hall Municipal Building.