ORANJ - MEETINGS

Fall 2010 Plenary Meeting

On October 20, 2010 more than 100 residents and guests attended the 43rd semi-annual meeting in the beautiful dining room/auditorium of Harrogate in Lakewood, NJ.

As morning speaker, Michele K. Guhl, President and CEO of NJAHSA (NJ Association of the Homes and Services for the Aging), described its main func-tions as advocacy for bills, policies and regulations affecting these services and as providers of educational programs for their staffs.

Senator Robert W. Singer, currently representing the 30th District in NJ, and serving his 23rd year in the Legislature, was the afternoon speaker. He touched briefly on a variety of issues that require serious scrutiny, such as our vastly ex-panded pension system and the enor-mous outlay for educational programs along with its disparities and deficiencies. Closer to home, he discussed his concern about a looming deficit in physicians, especially general practitioners, and the spiraling costs of medications, fueled in part by advertising.

Spring 2010 Plenary Meeting

HIGHLIGHTS OF PLENARY MEETING,
APRIL 21, 2010 AT APPLEWOOD ESTATES

The 40th plenary meeting of ORANJ was held in their beautiful new diningroom and performing arts center, and attracted 150 CCRC residents and guests. The morning speaker, Deborah Breslin, Director of SHIP, covered the main provisions of the current Medicare program and described recent changes and those on the horizon.

Medicare costs and out-of-pocket expenses are expected to rise mainly because the aging baby boomer generation is about the become Medicare eligible and will put pressure on existing facilities and services. In NJ private insurance plans, often called Medicare Advantage, are disappearing. Preventive services, including annual physicals, and HIV screening will be expanded and the dreaded “doughnut hole” in prescription drug plans will gradually disappear. Hospice provisions will be added to all plans and “At Home Recovery” to some.

Ms. Breslin urged her listeners to educate themselves about choices and options by using www.medicare.gov or 800-635-4227. The site is open 24/7 and she strongly suggested calling before 10 AM and after 4 PM. For technical information, use www.cms.hhs.gov. In addition, the SHIP program has over 300 counselors statewide, who are trained to give unbiased information. Call 800-792-8820 for an appointment.

In the afternoon, Keith Robertson, Senior VP of Ziegler Capital Markets, made a presentation on the CCRC industry with a focus on CCRCs with financial problems. The most serious problems concern lower than projected occupancy levels and working capital. Options for communities that run into serious problems are 1.“Expense Management” meaning, controling costs such as management salaries, 2. Acquire or affiliate with other organizations to benefit from economies of scale, 3. Restructure debt, and, as last resort, 4. File for bankruptcy. He reported that, on the whole, CCRCs in NJ have done well, especially the more mature communities.

For residents, he urged them to protect themselves by reviewing their CCRCs’ financial information before they enter a CCRC and, after entry, to review audits annually and ask questions of management. If bankruptcy does occur, the residents, as unsecured creditors, have little leverage except to threaten to leave or to file a class action suit. In general, state attorney generals will support residents’ welfare if a bankruptcy occurs.

Fall 2009 Plenary Meeting

On October 21, 2009 the Fall plenary meeting was held at Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, NJ. The meeting attracted a record attendance, which was commented upon by all the speakers.

full report

Spring 2009 Plenary Meeting - Summary
Held at The Fountains at Cedar Parke on April 15, 2009

The primary speaker was Stephen Maag, JD., Director, Assisted Living and Continuing Care for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). His presentation consisted of two parts, 1. current issues relating to fair housing and transfers versus aging in place, and 2. social accountability among not-for-profit providers.

Mr. Maag’s second topic, social accountability, is particularly important because of 1,850 CCRCs in the US about 82% are not-for-profits. They receive tax exemptions on the assumption that they serve a community or governmental need in return. These exemptions are increasingly being challenged in the courts especially as communities with budget deficits look to increase their revenue streams.

In the afternoon, Charles Graziano, aid to Congressman Adler of the third Congressional District of Southern NJ, spoke briefly of items concerning seniors that are under discussion in the Financial Services and Veteran Affairs Committees

.. Full Report of 2009 Spring Meeting

-Ellen Handler, Chair, Communications Committee of ORANJ

2008 Fall Plenary Meeting Attracts Largest Ever Audience

About 125 people attended the Fall, 2008 meeting of ORANJ on October 15 at Arbor Glen. In welcoming the audience, James Wells, the CEO of the CCRC commented on a number of positive changes that he had noted. These included the greater empowerment of residents along with greater involvement of residents in governance of their CCRC. He also said that “the ears of management are more open.”

-Ellen Handler, Communications Committee, ORANJ

...Full Report of 2008 Fall Meeting

2008 Spring Meeting of ORANJ Devoted to Environmental Issues

The spring semi-annual ORANJ meeting took place on April 16 at Medford Leas. After a brief business meeting, the morning was devoted to a presentation by Solomon Randall, Founder and Executive Director of NJ Sustainable State Institute, a Rutgers University think tank devoted to strategies to enhance sustainability in NJ. “Sustainability” or “Sustainable Development” means protecting the resources and systems that support us today so that they will be available to future generations.

...Full Report of 2008 Spring Meeting

The 2007 Fall Plenary Meeting

The Plenary Meeting of ORANJ on October 16, 2007 at Franciscan Oaks in Denville attracted about 120 attendees from 16 members CCRCs. Among the attendees were Joan Duggan, CEO of the NJ Homes and Services for the Aging and Peter Desh of the Department of Community Affairs in Trenton.

The morning speaker was Candy Ashmun, a private consultant on environmental matters including land use and preservation (www.anjec.org) accompanied by Michelle Byers of the NJ Conservation Foundation (www.njconservation.org).

.. Full Report of 2007 Fall Meeting

The 2007 Spring Plenary Meeting

On April 18, 2007, ORANJ held its plenary meeting at the Pines at Whiting. 104 members attended, representing 19 CCRC communities and 3 guests.

In the morning session, Steven Schragis, founder of One Day University, described his programs. Four or five of the most popular professors of Ivy League colleges are asked to speak in a day of classes. The program is popular with seniors. It was suggested that individual CCRCs might be able to work with him to develop programs for members of one or groups of CCRCs.

In the afternoon session, two nurses from the Living Independently Group described various devices and monitoring techniques for keeping people safe in their own homes.

The 2006 Fall Plenary meeting

On October 18, 2006, Michael Patterson from AARP addressed the fall meeting of ORANJ (the Organization of Residents Associations of New Jersey) at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, NJ. The meeting attracted a record turnout of over 100 people from various CCRCs (Continuous Care Retirement Communities) throughout the state. The presentation on brain health is part of a national Staying Sharp initiative, which is a joint project of NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community, (formerly the National Retired Teachers Association): and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives.

Summary of Mr. Patterson's address

2006 Spring Plenary Meeting

Koza Address - Responsive Leadership
At the 2006 Spring Plenary Meeting of ORANJ, Dennis Koza, CEO of Medford Leas, described the five “Truths” a CEO needs to believe for effective communication with residents of a CCRC. The first truth is: The residents pay my salary. ,,Koza Speech..

Catherine Kelly of Seabrook spoke on the Health Insurance Portability Accountabiility Act and Ford Livengood of the Essex County Fraud Unit spoke on identity theft.

Minutes of the 2006 Spring Meeting

2006 Meeting of the South West District - Representatives of Southwest Disctrict CCRCs met to share information so that ideas and best practices may be disseminated among CCRCs. Meeting Minutes