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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 100813ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes October 8, 2013 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Virginia Brown, Alex Castro, Ed Flowers, Dan Hatley, Lorenzo Mejia, Donna Prather, Jeane Suddarth, Richard White STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order at the Central Orange Senior Center by Chair Heather Altman. Corrections were made to the September 10 minutes regarding the number of charter members in Carolina Villages (15) and the attendance at its outreach sessions (75-100). A motion was made by Alex Castro and seconded by Dan Hatley that the minutes be approved as revised. Motion carried. Two items were added to the agenda under New Business: changes in State voting regulations and the Department on Aging website. Janice Tyler summarized the recent MAP public input sessions held at the Seymour and Central Orange Senior Centers. The sessions were beneficial to both community residents and service providers. Several persons expressed interest in becoming involved in the MAP process. Ms. Tyler announced that the Department on Aging has formally agreed to serve as a site for Affordable Care Act information. Some agencies have received funding to promote enrollment in the new health care system. Mary Fraser stated that the Department on Aging’s focus will be persons 55-65 years of age. Ms. Tyler informed the Advisory Board that staff from Triangle Transit Authority, Department on Aging and the Planning Department recently met to discuss the transportation needs of rural Orange County seniors that might be addressed with services expanded by the new ½¢ sales tax revenues. Heather Altman referenced the Planning staff’s input during the recent MAP Year 1 Assessment meeting. Discussion followed on the complex planning and delivery networks for Orange County transportation services. A visit to the new Chapel Hill Transit director was recommended to discuss underserved areas and frequency of service. A letter from NC Division of Aging and Adult Services Director Dennis Streets was distributed confirming the availability of service delivery funding through October despite the federal government shutdown. State employees’ furloughs, however, are delaying the NC Department of Transportation’s issuance of the contract for the recently-funded Mobility Management project in Orange County. Donna Prather asked if any other Department on Aging positions had been suspended. Ms. Tyler stated that some State funds are being withheld pending the outcome of the Federal shutdown but no existing permanent employees has been impacted. 1 Mary Fraser explained the dilemma regarding the recruitment of a bi-lingual social worker for the Peer- To-Peer program. The Department on Aging is pursuing employment subcontracts with both major local universities as a possible solution to the current temporary employee’s work visa issue. In her announcement of upcoming events Janice Tyler mentioned the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Police Departments’ collection of unneeded prescription drugs, Project Connect, and the Aging In Stride 5k fundraiser for the Department’s Aging In Place fund. Mary Fraser distributed an updated MAP Implementation Status chart for Year 2. Highlights included: • The new year’s UNC Capstone student team held its first Project Engage advisory committee meeting • The first in the Aging in Community series, Sarah Susanka’s presentation, had more than 250 persons in attendance; plans are underway for the Winter 2014 series • OC Planning is organizing a universal design workshop for local builders and developers • Both Orange County Meals-On-Wheels programs are expanding their service areas • Emergency Services has launched a new initiative for the prevention of falls in the home The Chair suggested that a list be compiled of the MAP accomplishments to date that have had a direct impact on seniors in Orange County. The Advisory Board members expressed appreciation to Mary Fraser for her outstanding work in coordinating the MAP process and its progress reports. In New Business Dan Hatley stated that former State Senator Ellie Kinnaird has expressed interest in working with the Advisory Board on a voters’ rights campaign. It was suggested that she be invited to a future meeting to discuss a plan of action with the hope of developing a model that could be replicated in other areas of the State. Janice Tyler added that new State Senator Valerie Foushee is scheduled to address the Village Elders in early 2014. Lorenzo Mejia reported that he met with Information Specialist Beverly Shuford to review plans for an update of the Department on Aging’s website. Orange County Government has secured a new content platform that will address many of the past navigational concerns. Ms. Shuford will share ‘mock-ups’ of the new site. Janice Tyler added that the Department will establish its Facebook presence following the completion of the website update. The form for submission of the Advisory Board’s annual work plan for the County Commissioners was distributed. Janice Tyler proposed that the Department staff complete a draft report for the Board’s review at its November meeting. Mr. Mejia noted that, since space is limited, attachments can supplement the report information. Mr. Castro added the accomplishment list suggested earlier by the Chair would be good information to submit to the Commissioners. Other items to be attached to the annual report: MAP Year 1 chart of activities, Project Engage flyer, Long Term Care Collaborative activity summary. The report narrative should address the use of Capstone students, the level of interagency collaborative work and opportunities for community input. Dan Hatley stated that the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee completes detailed reports following its visits to the Orange County facilities but the public is unaware that they are available and unable to locate them on the Orange County website. Lorenzo Mejia added that the Department on Aging should consider search engine optimization, focusing on key words in its website redesign. Discussion followed on how this could be achieved. 2 Committee Reports • Heather Altman announced that Carolina Villages is unofficially beginning business on October 15. The public announcement of its operation will be held in early 2014. • Leo Allison stated that the Friends of Central Orange cancelled its Harvest Moon Ball due to the low number of advance ticket sales. The Bermuda cruise fundraiser has completely sold; plans are underway for a spring cruise. • There was discussion about an official representative from the Friends of the Seymour Center to this Advisory Board. Jeane Suddarth was recently appointed to the Friends Board; Katherine Leith is its Chair. Janice Tyler summarized the conversations underway between both Friends organizations and Department staff to assure that the three travel sponsors are not in competition with one another. She also announced the upcoming Friends of Seymour board retreat. • Discussion of the future of the Chatham-Orange Community Resource Connection is underway as the staff coordinator is leaving the area and State funding has been eliminated. • The Adult Care Home Committee continues to promote the Songs for Seniors program. Committee Chair Dan Hatley expressed his concern with new members being appointed to the ACH without first attending a committee meeting or being responsive to attempts to contact. • Richard White reported on the Senior Tar Heel Legislature meeting he recently attended. He summarized the priorities that the STHL has identified for 2014: funding for Senior Centers, Project Care, adult protective services, Home and Community Care Block Grant funding, and increasing the staff-to-patient ratio in long term care facilities. Heather Altman noted that a number of local agencies utilize the Senior Tar Heel priorities as a base for their legislative agendas. • Alex Castro stated that Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels recently held a successful Food Truck Rodeo fundraiser and a strategic planning retreat. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary 3