Woodland Village hosted a public meeting on Monday afternoon, June 17, at 2 p.m. Woodland Village Community Administrator Becky Greenfield and LIFE PACE Intake Manager Adrian Rolle as well as a couple of attendees spoke with me following the meeting. They explained that Bristow Fire Department Chief Charles Conkling spoke first, addressing Issues associated with fire, storm, and generalized safety. Rolle followed Conkling in speaking, introducing attendees to the LIFE PACE program.
Bristow Fire Chief Charles “Chuck” Conkling represented the Bristow Fire Department and addressed safety concerns, including appropriate actions to take in the event of a fire or severe weather. While discussing fire safety concerns, Chief Conkling educated attendees to place a flag or sign in the window rather than attempting to break the window and flee in the event of a fire. Attempting to flee by window, especially for elderly and disabled individuals, poses additional risk of injury and loss of life. For example, if someone attempting to flee via a broken window becomes injured, they may then become trapped without a way to alert first responders to their location. Further, first responders fighting the fire will be put at additional risk while searching for, aiding, and evacuating injured individuals.
In addition to learning about fire safety, attendees were taught about the importance of seeking a tornado shelter when one is readily available; however, in the absence of such a shelter, we should all seek the interior most area of our homes away from exterior windows and doors. Confining ourselves to interior rooms, like closets, during storms offers the best protection when storm shelters prove unavailable.
Regarding severe weather and community tornado alerts, Chief Conkling addressed Bristowans’ concerns about the audibility of storm sirens throughout the community, noting that additional sirens bear a cost of $150K each, according to those in attendance. He reportedly also stated that a grant writer is writing a grant in hopes of securing funding to purchase 3 additional sirens. If acquired, the sirens will be placed in or near Cape Drive
See Safety , Page Three
courtesy photo on South Chestnut Street, the newly begun construction of the Wildflower Meadow neighborhood south of Vertical Aerospace, and on North Chestnut Street. When asked about siren testing intervals, attendees noted that Chief Conkling stated that Bristow’s sirens will be tested each first Wednesday of the month at noon; however, sirens were not tested in June. No one could recall why.
Following Chief Conkling’s presentation, Rolle addressed attendees. He offered a succinct yet thorough introduction to the PACE program. He explained that PACE is a Medicare program provider, providing medical care as well as home and community- based services “to help seniors remain in their homes and community”. Rolle described how the PACE program delivers a complete health package for enrollees with that mission in mind.
In adherence to the program’s primary goal of keeping participants active and healthy in their homes and community, PACE offers in-home care, transportation to medical appointments, case management, hospital and skilled nursing assistance, medical specialist access, durable medical equipment, occupational, physical, and speech therapies, inhome personal care based services, personal emergency response systems such as medical alert buttons, caregiver respite care, and social and relational skill building and interaction through adult day centers. PACE also meets the mental, physical, visual, hearing, and dental health needs of its participants, offering “whatever is medically necessary”; moreover, PACE addresses nutritional needs through nutritional supplements and home delivered meals.
Of specific note, Rolle stated that PACE does not have a donut hole, unlike with Medicare. Furthermore, PACE offers prescription assistance and provision of sorted and delivered medication minders and sealed medication bubble packs to participants when needed.
To enroll, individuals must be 55 years of age and older, living independently, and meet program guidelines, including medical and financial aspects. For more information and to apply, contact 918938-7653. Additional information can be found at www. LIFEPACE.org.
Rolle also wants Bristowans to know that If PACE enrollments expand in the Bristow area, PACE will increase its presence to a more permanent degree, including by adding local jobs.