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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes 021412ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes February 14, 2012 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Keith Cook, Ed Flowers, Mary Fraser, Haryo Marsosudiro, Thelma Perkins, Mike Simons, Jean Suddarth EXCUSED: Jan Wells STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order by Chair Heather Altman at the Central Orange Senior Center. Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board that applicant Keith Cook had been extended an invitation to attend and would arrive late due to a previous commitment. The minutes of the January 10 meeting were approved upon the motion by Alex Castro and the second by Peggy Cohn. Janice Tyler reviewed the list of applications for Orange County Outside Agency Funding that had been referred to this Advisory Board for review and recommendation. A scorecard has been provided by the County Manager’s office. Leo Allison, Alex Castro, and Jan Wells volunteered to participate in the review process again this year. Ms. Tyler stated that the Board of County Commissioners is in the process of reviewing the general policy documents of all Orange County Boards, including the Advisory Board on Aging, the Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committees. She also stated that the transfer of the Department on Aging guardianship cases to the Department of Social Services will be finalized the following Monday. Ms. Tyler announced that DSS social worker Carla Allison has been selected to be assigned to the Department on Aging as the social worker stationed at the Central Orange Senior Center. Pam Tillett will now divide her time between the Seymour and Central Orange Senior Centers, focusing on developing and staffing the Department on Aging support groups and working with caregivers. Occupational Therapist Jenny Womack has also joined the Aging Transitions Division through a contract with UNC Dept. of Allied Health. Her responsibilities will include developing driving safety programs, home safety assessments and supervising students who will manage the equipment loan program. Also, Mary Lynn Piven will be providing mental health counseling services at the Centers. Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board that she has been appointed to the UNC Health Care Community Advisory Committee. In discussion of Advisory Board vacancies it was noted that Mary Fraser must resign due to her recent selection as the Department on Aging’s new Aging Transitions Division Supervisor. In addition to Keith Cook, applicant Tracey Yap was also contacted about possible appointment to the Advisory Board but declined at this time because of her new Nursing Home Committee membership. Members offered suggestions and were encouraged to have candidates make application to the Board of County Commissioners Office. Janice Tyler announced that the April Advisory Board meeting will be held at 10:00 am at the Seymour Center in order to follow the MAP Steering Committee meeting and to allow the Capstone Team to attend. Mary Fraser announced that all five MAP workgroups have completed their meeting schedules. The Capstone students have taken the objectives and strategies and are reordering them to align with the NC Division of Aging’s Plan. A draft of the Plan will be sent to the Steering Committee one week prior to its February 29 meeting (8am-10am,Carol Woods). Following their input, the draft Plan will go out for public comment through mid-March. There are several ways to provide comment: copies of the Plan available at the senior centers with comment sheet, on-line distribution through the listserv with an on-line survey, seven public comment sessions throughout the Orange County community. Following the public input period, the draft Plan will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and then the Advisory Board on Aging before its presentation to the Board of County Commissioners at the May 1st Meeting. The Plan will have an accompanying document with information too specific for the Plan itself. The Chair suggested that the media be contacted to promote the public comment sessions and Advisory Board members were encouraged to attend. Alex Castro suggested organizing a volunteer group to work with the entities identified to implement the MAP strategies after the completion of the planning process. Mary Fraser announced that a post-MAP celebration was being planned for all involved and the formation of this group could be announced at this event. Janice Tyler added that there is interest in reconvening the Steering Committee at least once a year. Ms. Fraser suggested that a summer practicum student could assist in organizing the monitoring of the MAP’s strategies’ implementation. Ms. Tyler announced that the proposal submitted for next year’s Capstone Team had received initial approval. The date scheduled to present the Department’s proposal to the Capstone students is March 16. Janice Tyler raised the issue of assigning dollar amounts to Master Aging Plan implementation. She plans to meet with Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey to discussed the concerns expressed during the process of the validity of attaching such numbers to a strategic plan. She stated that she has already met with Department on Aging Supervisors to identify ways to redirect current efforts to meet some of the stated objectives with no increase in County support. Leo Allison and Haryo Marsosudiro reported that the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center is beginning its 2012 major fundraising effort. A website for the organization has been launched (www.friendsofcosc.net) and membership letters will be sent out soon. The Las Vegas Night fundraising event will be held on April 21st. This year’s attendance goal is 330 persons. Mike Seymour reported that the Friends of the Seymour Center’s January solicitation letter campaign had raised less than previous years. An application to support the Johnson Intern Program and extended evening/Saturday hours has been submitted to the Town of Chapel Hill. Discussion followed on the need to increase the community support of the Friends organization. Heather Altman spoke of the continued success of the Community Resource Connection. Ed Flowers announced that another Orange County Nursing Home has been placed on the provisional licensure list. Janice Tyler stated that there are still Senior Times drop boxes that need to be placed and maintained in the community. Jean Suddarth promised a report from the Senior Tar Heel Legislature following its major meeting in mid-March. Ms. Tyler announced that State Division of Aging Director Dennis Streets has asked Orange County to present its Master Aging Plan at the March 27 Governor’s Advisory Council meeting to encourage other communities to consider developing a plan. Ms. Tyler also stated that the Senior Lunch catering contract will be rebid this Spring. She briefed the Advisory Board on the involvement of the Title V Senior Employment Program in providing staff for the Senior Lunch Program and the change in its mission to becoming a retraining program for unsubsidized employment. With this change the Department must budget for more paid staff to replace the Senior Worker enrollees, which will result in less funding for meals. The United Way funding for persons with disabilities under the age of 60 was not utilized during 2011. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler Secretary