HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 101211 1
ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
October 11, 2011
PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Alex Castro, Ed Flowers, Mary Fraser, Haryo
Marsosudiro, Thelma Perkins
EXCUSED: Mike Symons, Jan Wells
STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order at the Central Orange Senior Center by Chair Heather Altman.
She welcomed Thelma Perkins back following her reappointment to the Board.
In reviewing the minutes of the September 13 meeting Ms. Altman noted that Jean Suddarth’s
last name was misspelled in the last paragraph. Leo Allison made the motion and Alex Castro
provided the second that the minutes be approved as corrected. Motion carried.
In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler announced that the two position vacancies in the Aging
Transitions division have been posted by the Human Resources Department. She summarized
the changes that have been made to the Eldercare Manager position, reducing it to a ¾ time
position and utilizing the balance of the funding for purchasing occupational therapy services.
Ms. Tyler informed the Advisory Board that Orange County has recently established a social
media policy and held ethics training for Department Heads. She reported on her participation in
the Healthy Carolinians annual meeting and the Town of Chapel Hill 2020 Vision process. She
reminded those present of the ¼ cent sales tax referendum that is included on the November 8
ballot.
Under Old Business the Director announced that both Leo Allison and Thelma Perkins have been
reappointed to this advisory board by the Board of County Commissioners. The Chair stated that
Kay Wilbourne, a resident of Cedar Grove Township, attended the September Advisory Board
meeting Ed Flowers spoke of her status in the community and her involvement with its library.
A motion was made by Alex Castro and seconded by Thelma Perkins that Ms.Wilbourne be
recommended to the Board of County Commissioners for appointment to the Advisory Board on
Aging.
Janice Tyler announced that the Advisory Board on Aging’s 2011 Annual Report and Work Plan
is due to the Board of County Commissioners office on December 9. The Department on Aging
staff will prepare a draft of the Report and distribute it to the Advisory Board electronically prior
to its November 8 meeting.
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Master Aging Plan Co-Chair Mary Fraser distributed a membership list of the Steering
Committee that held its first meeting on September 14 at Carol Woods. Prior to adjournment that
day each attendee was asked to commit staff and information resources to the MAP planning
process. The Community Kick-Off was held on October 5 at the Seymour Center with more
than 110 persons in attendance. From that event and utilizing the input that had been gathered
throughout the summer, six topics have been identified: Health and Wellness, Housing Options,
Navigation and Transportation, Aging In Place, and Community Engagement. Additionally, four
themes have been identified that cut across all categories: Affordability, Geographic
Distribution of Services, Underrepresented Groups, and Workforce Preparedness. The MAP
planning process will use the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services’ State Plan as a template.
Ms. Fraser referred to the priority listing and comments summarized by the Capstone students of
the feedback from the Kick-Off event. The vast majority of the attendees were quite pleased
with the process and outcomes. A listing of constructive criticisms was also included in the
student summary. Note was made that the Senior Times and word of mouth were the most
popular ways of hearing about the Community Kick-Off. Discussion followed on additional
persons in the community who should be invited to participate in the MAP planning process. Leo
Allison suggested that Advisory Board members could attend different workgroup meetings
without being formally appointed. The Chair commended the work that went into the Steering
Committee meeting and the Community Kick-Off event. Alex Castro added his appreciation for
the work of the Capstone students.
Ms. Fraser announced that the Department on Aging’s Transition staff will be implementing a
new depression screening program in cooperation with UNC. This process will include the
services of a psychiatric nurse and will track individuals for a three month period following
screening.
In his Committee Progress Report Haryo Marsosudiro announced that the Friends of Central
Orange’s Harvest Ball was successful with more funds raised than the previous year. Leo
Allison added that the Friends have established a Legacy Wall at the Center, with the dedication
held the previous week. In the absence of the Friends of Seymour representative, Janice Tyler
stated that the October 1 yard sale earned more than $5,500. Jean Suddarth summarized the
Senior Tar Heel meeting and announced that a delegation was travelling to Washington DC the
following day to lobby legislators about issues of interest to NC older adults.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary
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