Office for Aging reports staff additions, dietitian resignation and program changes to restaurant dining tickets

Office for Aging staff told the Advisory Council that three new Aging Services Aides — Stanley Noble, Sean Hogan and Mary Kate Bykowski — will join the county nutrition team.

Staff announced that the county's contracted registered dietitian, Kristin Stewart, resigned after 15 years. Until the 16-hour-per-week position is filled, the county will use the Association on Aging's registered dietitian to cover duties. An RFP will be released to recruit a replacement.

The Office for Aging also said it recently updated memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with restaurants participating in the Restaurant Dining Program. Restaurants will receive increased reimbursement and will be given a standardized menu to use for the program. Staff said suggested participant contributions remain $4 per ticket and that eligibility requires being 60 or older and a Washington County resident. Staff said the county tightened how many tickets participants may receive each month because of limited county funds and that the program will pause if funding is exhausted.

Separately, Lori Prock of the Council for Prevention described the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE), a six-week, evidence-based group program on topics including substance use, medication management and suicide prevention for older adults. Volunteer Barbara Price described monthly caregiver support sessions and said she is pursuing grants to expand services.

The council received these updates as information; no personnel votes were recorded during the meeting.