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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 100912ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes October 9, 2012 Present: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Virginia Brown, Alex Castro, Keith Cook, Ed Flowers, Dan Hatley, Thelma Perkins, Donna Prather, Jeane Suddarth, Jan Wells, Richard White Staff: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order at the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center by Chair Heather Altman. Alex Castro requested a correction to the September 13 minutes that the Orange County Voice may be holding town hall meetings in October. He added that these events have been postponed until 2013. A motion was made by Dan Hatley and seconded by Jan Wells to approve the September as corrected. Motion carried. In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler stated that the Southern Human Services Center Master Plan Update will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners at the October 16 meeting. She announced the 8th Annual Aging In Stride 5K will be held this Sunday, October 14 with proceeds benefiting the Department’s Aging In Place fund. A new telephone system is being installed at the Seymour Center which will require new numbers for all staff. A list of new numbers will be sent to the Advisory Board next week. Only the front desk, Helpline and fax numbers will remain the same. Orange County has hired a public information officer who can be a resource for the communications plan being developed by the Capstone Team. Ms. Tyler concluded by summarizing her trip with Mary Fraser to Washington DC to share information on aging-friendly communities with a delegation from France. Alex Castro commented on the NC Planning Association’s award bestowed on the 2011-12 Capstone Team for the Master Aging Plan. Mary Fraser reported that attendance at the September 20 MAP Steering Committee Meeting was low and that she and Ms. Tyler plan to set up individual meetings with those key leaders who did not attend. She distributed a chart tracking MAP Year 1 implementation status and asked Advisory Board members to review the items assigned to them. For Task 2.5.2 she noted that the challenge is that most transportation providers do not assist with getting riders out of the house and into the vehicle. Keith Cook pointed out that there is currently no incentive for providers to assume this additional liability. Dan Hatley responded that a ‘Good Samaritan’ law may be needed. Jan Wells suggested bringing providers together to ask for suggestions to meet this need. Discussion followed on these types of MAP issues not linked with an existing resource that will be the future work of the Advisory Board. It was decided that a task force could be formed to tackle these issues, possibly meeting prior to the Board meeting each month. In reviewing Task 6.2.1 Alex Castro noted that he has not yet been officially appointed to the Orange Unified Transportation Board. Members Jan Wells, Leo Allison, Dan Hatley, Ed Flowers and Jeane Suddarth volunteered to join Alex for ½ hour prior to the next Advisory Board meeting for a discussion of transportation issues and next steps. Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board that the Department on Aging has submitted a request to Carol Woods for additional funding for communications, outreach to the Chinese community and other projects. These funds will be earmarked for Year 2 MAP Implementation strategies that require additional revenues. Ms. Tyler added that the Friends organizations, if needed, can serve as conduits for funds, as with the United Way allocation for the Wellness Program. Mary Fraser provided an update on the activities of the current Capstone team working on MAP implementation. She stated that the five students are working on a social marketing campaign. They are currently conducting literature reviews. They are also interested in promoting wellness through exercise. Staff have been meeting with the Team to develop a plan to utilize polling places to conduct a survey on how older adults receive information. The plan is to survey one day at each of the four early voting sites and at ten polling sites on November 6. Alex Castro asks staff to send out an email for sign-ups, asking each Board member to take one shift. Janice Tyler stated that the Board of Elections has already approved this plan and a volunteer training will be held on October 29. Under New Business, Ms. Tyler asked for volunteers to serve on the Aging and Technology Workgroup to advise UNC on its GigU Initiative presented at the August Advisory Board meeting. Ed Flowers, Keith Cook, and Alex Castro agreed to serve. Additional representatives from the community may also be invited. Janice Tyler will send out a poll to determine the best time to hold training for the new Advisory Board members. Kathie Kearns stated that the Advisory Board has two vacancies: one representing the Friends of Seymour and one from the general public. Thelma Perkins introduced Virginia Brown as a candidate for that position. Ms. Brown returned to her native North Carolina ten years ago after retiring from the Los Angeles Health Department. She has recently served on the Human Services Advisory Commission. The Chair welcomed Ms. Brown. Discussion followed on the large numbers of Orange County advisory boards and how to identify those who have the biggest impact in issues that affect older adults. Following discussion it was suggested that staff or chairs of key departments be invited to present at future Advisory Board meetings. During Committee Progress Reports, Leo Allison stated that the Friends of Central Orange’s Harvest Moon Ball was successful and the upcoming Eastern Caribbean cruise fundraiser is sold out. Heather Altman reported that the Community Resource Connections is making application for other funding to continue its efforts. Dan Hatley announced that the Adult Care Home Committee has three new members, bringing total appointments to nine. Nursing Home Committee Chair Ed Flowers stated that no announcement has been made about the future of the recently-closed Britthaven facility. Jeane Suddarth announced that she and Jan Wells attended the Senior Tar Heel Legislature meeting and that 2013 Legislative Priorities were distributed with the Advisory Board meeting notice. Alex Castro reported that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels Food Truck Rodeo held the previous Friday at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market was a success. Leo Allison added that OCIM’s Meals on Wheels program purchases its food from Kelsey’s Café in Hillsborough. There are currently 28 recipients. Alex Castro shared information he received at the OUT transportation board meeting about the 1/2₵ sales tax on this November’s ballot. Jan Wells stated that Mary Ann Weston is the Department on Aging’s representative to the Carolina Villages Board of Directors. Meetings are taking place with various service providers and a training for caregivers is scheduled for November 15. In concluding Committee Reports, Ed Flowers reported attendees at the recent Senior Care open house were primarily clients and their families. Virginia Brown was excused from the meeting and a motion was made by Thelma Perkins and seconded by Jan Wells that Ms. Brown be recommended to the Board of County Commissioners for appointment. After confirming the 3:00 transportation task force meeting prior to the November 13 Advisory Board the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary