HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 040913ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
April 9, 2013
PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Dan Hatley, Lorenzo Mejia, Thelma
Perkins, Donna Prather, Jeane Suddarth, Richard White
STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Beverly Shuford, Janice Tyler
CAPSTONE TEAM: Melissa Black, Jennifer Frank, Deanna LaMotte
The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Chair Heather Altman. Beverly Shuford was
introduced as the Department’s newly-hired Communications Specialist. The minutes of the March 12
meeting were approved as distributed following the motion made by Alex Castro and the second from
Leo Allison. Mr. Castro suggested that the Advisory Board and Department on Aging staff consider
volunteering for the Habitat for Humanity Brush with Kindness Project.
Janice Tyler announced that the Department has been assigned a UNC School of Public Health Capstone
Team for academic year 2013-14 and four summer 2013 practicum students. Heather Altman stated
that the Carolina Villages Project hopes to obtain a Capstone summer intern to assist its new Director.
The Chair called upon the representatives of the current Capstone Team to present a summary of its
final report. Melissa Black, Jennifer Frank and Deanna LaMotte summarized the research, survey and
focus group activities. They reported on the facilitators and barriers identified for the specific topics of
exercise and communications. Implementation of the Team’s recommendations will be the focus of two
summer interns. The full reports will be emailed to all Advisory Board members.
Mary Fraser reviewed the MAP Year One implementation status report. She noted that progress had
been noted for most of the indicators. No announcement has been made by the NC Department of
Transportation regarding the Mobility Management. grant application. Ms. Fraser informed the
Advisory Board that the UNC Center for Geriatric Medicine has added its support to the Orange County
Emergency Services “Up, Able and Active” home safety assessment project. Janice Tyler praised this
Board for the implementation of MAP Year One without additional financial resources. A Year One final
report will be presented to the Advisory Board in July and then to the Board of County Commissioners.
Alex Castro suggested that updates be submitted to the BOCC on a more frequent basis.
Janice Tyler reported that she had met with the County Manager and Budget Office staff that morning to
review the Department on Aging funding request for FY 2013-14. This request includes funding for the
evening and weekend Senior Center staff formerly covered by the Friends organizations. Also included
is the Carol Woods contribution that will be used for MAP implementation in Year Two. Information
about the effects of sequestration has not yet been received from Triangle J Area Agency on Aging. The
reductions will impact service in both the current and next fiscal years. Discussion followed on
sequestration’s impact on the Department on Aging service budget. No cuts are anticipated for the
Family Caregiver Support Program or Health Promotion/Disease Prevention funding.
Mary Fraser reported on the work of the Long Term Care Learning Collaborative. This MAP
subcommittee is focusing on recognizing activities that support the Adult Care and Nursing Home
residents and staff. The first proposal is to establish an award for innovative activity planning. This
campaign will be announced at the May 8 Resource Connections Fair. Ms. Fraser also stated that the
Department will be contracting with Project EngAGED to provide the roadmap for a grass roots
volunteer information network in Orange County. Heather Altman has been appointed to the Carolina
Villages Board of Directors. Beverly Shuford stated that more than 75% of the tables available at the
Resource Fair have been reserved. Janice Tyler added that May is Older Americans Month and the
Board of County Commissioners will be issuing a proclamation at their May 7 meeting. Alex Castro
announced that the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO) is sponsoring a Stakeholder
Workshop on the Locally Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan at the Southern Human
Services Center on April 26. This plan affects the transportation services in the unincorporated areas of
Orange County. Janice Tyler stated that the NC Association on Aging’s annual training conference will be
held April 17 – 19 in Raleigh. An ‘advocacy boot camp’ for staff and advisory board members will be
held as part of this event.
During Committee Reports Heather Altman stated that Carolina Villages is looking for charter members
for its Chapel Hill-based organization that provides guidance in navigating the health, personal, social
and home services necessary for safe and meaningful aging in the community. Leo Allison announced
that tickets are still available for the Friends of Central Orange’s Las Vegas Night fundraiser on April 20.
The organization will hold its Annual Meeting on May 10. Janice Tyler reported that the Friends of
Seymour continue to search for a funding source to replace its United Way funding for the Wellness
Program. Consumer representatives are needed for the Community Resource Connection (CRC) Project
advisory board. Dan Hatley stated that the Adult Care Home Committee will have a booth at the
Resource Fair to promote its “Songs for Seniors” campaign to collect music players and contributions for
facility residents. He also stated that the recent changes in the State’s personal care reimbursement
laws have not resulted in anyone losing their placement in Orange County.
Lorenzo Mejia summarized the telehealth conference he attended in Raleigh as a follow-up to the GigU
presentation made at an earlier Advisory Board meeting. He reported that the current bandwidth
available in the Chapel Hill area is sufficient to support bringing services into individuals’ homes. The
barrier to providing these off-site medical services is the lack of funding for computer hardware.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The May 14 meeting will be held at the
Central Orange Senior Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary