THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 11, 1995 TAG: 9508100227
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
The Mayor's Committee on Aging and the Task Force on Aging are two separate entities, but both have the same goal - to see that the needs of the elderly are recognized by the city.
There is a difference, though. The Mayor's Committee on Aging, created in 1972, has a direct link to Mayor Meyera Oberndorf. Its 18 members advise and assist the mayor with elderly issues. Russell Dyke, newly appointed chairman of the group, calls the committee an extension of the mayor.
``We are very pro-active and are heavily into advocacy,'' said Dyke, a seven-year member of the committee who also serves as the community council coordinator for local AARP chapters. ``We establish priorities and identify the needs of seniors and interact with other committees. We have a public information role.''
The 2-year-old Task Force on Aging, on the other hand, is more of an informational sharing group for professionals who work with and for the elderly, according to chairman Laurmel Buergey. The 101 members meet monthly. Its bylaws say its purpose is to serve as a forum to share information, promote interagency understanding, work together as advocates, educators and legislative activists to address issues.
``The task force is primarily a group of professionals engaged in various programs for the aging,'' said Buergey, admissions counselor at Marian Manor Retirement Community. ``We advocate, too - we hold a legislative breakfast every spring. We look into issues prior to the General Assembly meeting times and then go up to share our ideas with the legislators.
``I think we're broader in scope,'' she added. ``The Mayor's Committee is more in keeping with problems with the city. But I think the organizations complement each other.''
Dyke believes so, too. They're both into outreach, he said, and many members belong to both groups (including Buergey). Dyke noted four major community concerns that the mayor's committee is especially concerned with this year. A subcommittee has been started for each one:
Health care - This will be active because of health care reform and Medicare spending, said Dyke.
Housing - There is a need for more assisted living and adult day care programs in the city, as well as low-income housing, Dyke said.
Legal and legislative issues - The Virginia Guardianship Association and the Guardianship Task Force have several projects in progress to develop a corps of reliable volunteers to substitute for the sheriff as fiduciaries of last resort, he said.
Transportation - Dyke said seniors need transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping and visits to the recreation centers.
``Solutions to the transportation problem are difficult to come by since it involves funding,'' he said. ``But we have real resources with volunteers who can drive seniors to doctor's appointments and shopping.
``I think it's a beautiful program for churches to buy into,'' he continued. ``The people resource is out there.''
Other issues the mayor's committee is looking into are elder abuse (creating a peer support program with Adult Protective Services), volunteerism (creating a long-term, citywide volunteer network to support existing programs) and crime prevention. All of these issues came out of a public forum that was held this spring, Dyke added.
``Kevin Rack (the former mayor's committee chairman) will be presenting these issues to City Council in the near future,'' he said.
Something that both organizations have in common is the lack of a budget, although task force members pay yearly dues of $5. Everyone involved volunteers, no one more so that the respective chairs. Both Dyke and Buergey said that they serve the groups because of personal and religious commitments and try to integrate their faith with their service.
``The real purpose of life is to have interacted with love to other people,'' said Dyke. ``This is where you get the real kicks out of life.''
Buergey agreed.
``I want to preserve the dignity and quality of life of the elderly, but not at the expense of future generations,'' she said. ``I worry what kind of world we're leaving our children. This is the biggest embarrassment to members of our generation.''
Dyke is concerned with the future, too, and hopes that the government can address the economic problems rationally.
``This isn't popular, but our system will go bankrupt unless we cut benefits somehow,'' said Dyke. ``Our society is replete with greed. People want something done, but not to their budget.
``Seniors don't have to be a privileged group,'' he added. ``The main thrust should be to enjoy your later years without any special handouts.'' MEMO: The Mayor's Committee on Aging meets the last Wednesday of each month
at 2 p.m. in the mayor's conference room. Call the mayor's office at
427-4581 for more information. The public is welcome.
The Task Force meets the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at
various locations. Each meeting includes an educational program and is
open to the public. Here are the programs for the rest of 1995:
Sept. 14 at First Colonial Inn - AIDS update
Oct. 12 at Access Home Care - current trends in depression
Nov. 9, location to be announced - healthy eating habits for life
Dec. 14, location to be announced - humor in healing.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Russell Dyke is chairman of the Mayor's Committee for the Aging.
Laurmel Buergey is chairman of Virginia Beach Task Force on Aging.
RESOURCE GUIDE
The Virginia Beach Task Force on Aging has 2,000 copies of the
updated 1995 Resource Guide available for $1 apiece. The
large-print guide lists phone numbers for community and city
services, hotlines, AARP chapters and local programs, banks with
senior programs, recreation centers, adult day care, disability
services, social clubs, educational services, city council members
and government officials, home health agencies, housing options,
nursing homes and much more. The Resource Guide is available through
every task force member or by calling Mary Linstedt at 459-2523,
Marilyn Fall at 464-4800, Laurmel Buergey at 340-6417 or Gordon
Morton at 420-1788.
by CNB