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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 021417 ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes February 14, 2017 PRESENT: Colin Austin, Peggy Cohn, Winston Liao, Lorenzo Mejia, Yvonne Mendenhall, Donna Prather, Dick White EXCUSED: Heather Altman, Mary Altpeter, Keith Cook, Teri Driscoll STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Yvette Missri, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Lorenzo Mejia. Introductions included UNC MSW graduate student Julia Griffin. Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board that Teri Driscoll will be submitting her resignation due to family commitments. The minutes of the December meeting were approved following a motion made by Dick White and a second by Winston Liao. Director's Report Ms. Tyler announced that the National Institute for Senior Centers has sent official notification of Orange County Senior Centers' certifications. This will automatically qualify the Senior Centers as North Carolina Centers of Excellence and a larger share of the State Senior Center Development funds from the General Assembly. A formal recognition of this accomplishment is planned for Older Americans Month in May. Senior center renovations are being planned with work to begin at the Passmore Center as soon as this Fall. Redesigning the Southern Human Services campus access is delaying decisions on the Seymour Center expansion plans. Discussion followed on the senior population growth projections for Orange County. Ms. Tyler informed the Advisory Board that Seymour Evening Facility Manager Julie McManus has resigned and the Human Resources Department is advertising the 30 hour, permanent position. Theo Letman has been hired as the Director of the newly created Orange County Public Transportation Department. And the Orange County Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Director has resigned and County Attorney Annette Moore has been appointed as the Interim Director. Dick White suggested she be invited to attend the next MAP housing subcommittee meeting. New Business Mary Fraser summarized the increased demand for in-home services that has developed in the last several years. The Aging Transitions division targets those individuals slightly above the Medicaid income limit of$980 per month for service up to nine hours per week. Last fiscal year's increase was a result of both the growth in the potential population and the marketing of services through the OC CARES project. The current year's resources are further impacted by the significant increase in the in-home agencies' hourly rate that resulted from the Living Wage increase and less client interest in the less-expensive adult day care service. These factors have forged a stronger alliance with the Department on Social Services to identify funding needs countywide. Donna Prather asked if Aging Transitions has started a waiting list. Forty clients are currently receiving in-home services contracted by the Department on Aging. The Department's FY17-18 budget will include fund requests for credit card processing fees, Senior Center replacement furniture and audio equipment improvements, and volunteer background checks. Yvette Missri reported that Volunteer Connect 55+ currently has 400 persons enrolled. Three members volunteered to participate in the Outside Agency application review: Yvonne Mendenhall, Donna Prather, Dick White. Ms. Tyler noted that the County Manager will meet with each of the 60+ applicant agencies, along with the assigned County Department Director, as part of this year's review process. Master Aging Plan (MAP) Mary Fraser referenced the Year 5 MAP Goal Implementation Status report that was distributed with the Advisory Board meeting notice. She circulated a list of the MAP Update work groups' membership and asked for suggestions. Approximately 150 persons are involved in this planning process and a wide variety of agencies and organizations are represented. The five work groups were convened in late January and almost all have met two times. The MAP Steering Committee will meet on February 23 to review the work done to date. The Leadership Team will be a part of this meeting. Peggy Cohn added that a subgroup of the Housing work group has formed to address specific issues related to substandard housing. Continuing Projects Yvette Missri summarized the activities of Project EngAGE and its Senior Resource Teams, including recruitment for enrollees in the Fall 2017 training class and the volunteer recognition event and end-of-life forum scheduled for late April. Ms. Cohen asked about the possibility of making a podcast of the end-of-life program. It was also suggested that the Project EngAGE training include emphasis on the issues identified in the current MAP Update. Lisa Meinert has been hired as a full-time Caregiver Respite Program Coordinator with the OC CARES grant project. Mary Fraser estimated that about 2,600 Orange County residents have dementia. Committee Reports Lorenzo Mejia announced that a Dementia Friendly Business marketing campaign has been launched on WCHL radio. Approximately 60 businesses have completed the DFB training to date. Yvonne Mendenhall reported that the providers at last month's Long Term Care Collaborative asked how they can help with advancing the goals of the committee. Donna Prather stated that their interest in recruiting and providing support for facility volunteers is encouraging. Mary Fraser added that applications for the next SHARP Direct Care Workers awards will be taken through mid-April. Dick White announced that another Senior Tar Heel Legislature lobbying event is being scheduled for the current General Assembly session. Yvonne Mendenhall shared that the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee is varying its facility visitation assignments. The Smiles Surprise goody bag distribution continues to be well-received. Yvette Missri stated that the Falls Prevention Senior Resource Team is working to identify two Medicaid facilities that would host its future Strong Independent Academy. Janice Tyler stated that Nursing Home representative Teri Driscoll will be submitting her resignation from the Aging Advisory Board. When her term as Chair of the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee ends next month the new Chair will be asked to fill this Board vacancy. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary