Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, March 05, 2019
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
UPDATE ON THE JOSEPH B. JR. AND MARY ANNE O’NEAL STROKE CENTER (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
This item is on the agenda at the request of Mayor Robles. Staff has prepared a brief report regarding the status of attendance and participation at the Joseph B. Jr. and Mary Anne O’Neal Stroke Center since fees were implemented in November of 2017.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
CONSIDER the report and RECOMMEND a course of action based on the current participation of residents and non-residents.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE any other action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
In November of 2017, per Council action, staff implemented monthly fees for non-residents in the Joseph B. Jr. and Mary Anne O’Neal Stroke Center. Non-residents are required to pay a $70.00 monthly fee to attend the Stroke Center, and Carson residents continue to participate free of charge. Over the past 16 months, overall attendance decreased by 48%. From 2017 to 2018, the Center’s active membership, (meaning members who attend at least once a month), dropped from 82 survivors to 43 survivors. During the months that membership fees have been covered by donations, the Center has seen as much as a 23% temporary increase in attendance.
Below is the Center’s average monthly membership for the past three years, broken down by resident numbers and non-resident numbers.
2016 2017 2018
Residents 37 40 24
Non-Residents 41 42 19
Total 78 82 43
Many of the stroke survivors in the Center’s database are considered low income or live on a fixed income. In many cases, household income decreased due to one or more adults in the family being removed from the workforce at the time of the stroke. Some became permanently disabled, while others became full-time caregivers for their loved ones. The $70.00 monthly fee has proven to be a financial hardship for most non-resident stroke survivors resulting in reduced participation.
For example, the 2017 Thanksgiving Luncheon was canceled due to a lack of participation. The 2018 Holiday Party had the lowest attendance (70 people) compared to 120+ in years past. Chair volleyball is occasionally canceled due to low attendance.
As of December 2018, 14 non-residents left the program permanently due to an inability to pay.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
Based on an average of 19 non-resident members per month, if all paid the $70.00 per month fee, the gross membership fees collected would be approximately $15,960.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Stroke Center Attendance Update Report (pgs. 3-9)
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Prepared by: Dani Cook, A/Community Services Program Manager