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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 061113ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes June 11, 2013 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Virginia Brown, Ed Flowers, Dan Hatley, Lorenzo Mejia EXCUSED: Alex Castro, Thelma Perkins, Donna Prather, Jeane Suddarth, Richard White STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Janice Tyler, Sheryl Zimmerman The meeting was called to order by Chair Heather Altman at the Seymour Center. Following introductions, Cheryl Zimmerman was recognized as the professor with the UNC School of Social Work who is interested in serving ex-officio on the Advisory Board on Aging. Dan Hatley offered a motion that the minutes of the May 14 meeting be approved as distributed. Ed Flowers provided the second. Motion carried. Janice Tyler requested that discussion of the results of the new meeting time survey be added to the agenda. She announced that all Advisory Board members had been added to the Senior Center listserv. She also stated that no one from this Board who would be eligible for appointment to the Town of Chapel Hill’s Obey Creek Compass Committee will be able to serve at this time. Mary Fraser distributed the 2013-2014 MAP Implementation Plan that indicated the initiatives started in year one, the new initiatives for year two, and the items that were the responsibility of the Advisory Board. She plans to hold a MAP Management Committee meeting in July and provide an update of year one activities at the August Advisory Board meeting. She announced that four UNC School of Public Health summer intern projects have been initiated. She summarized those projects as follows: • Develop a directory of all faith-based groups in Orange County; distribute electronic and paper survey about each congregation’s senior membership with an offer to meet individually • Initiate implementation of Project EngAGED, including a key informant survey • Explore social media options for Department promotion • Develop exercise for health and wellness campaign; develop communication channels with medical service providers Ms. Fraser reported that the Triangle Area Regional Planning Organization Update had been approved by Board of County Commissioners, enabling the award of the NCDOT Mobility Manager funding. Lorenzo Mejia asked about skill requirements for the new position. Several members asked for a copy of the draft job description for the time-limited position with a salary comparable to the Aging Transitions social work staff. Ms. Fraser also announced that Orange County Emergency Services in collaboration with the Department on Aging and UNC have developed a referral protocol for falls prevention and intervention. The program is called “Stay Up and Active.” Magnet and self-assessment cards will be left with those who do not wish to have a formal referral to the Department on Aging. Leo Allison asked about the telephone reassurance service that the Department currently provides. Discussion followed ways to promote both services. The first meeting of the Long Term Care Learning Collaborative was held the previous week. The session was well-attended by a wide range of providers. Dan Hatley offered to engage the Adult Care Home Committee to promote this initiative to assisted living facility staff. During the housing update it was noted that there is interest in expanding beyond the traditional options, as noted by the attendance at the recent forum on intentional communities. Mary Fraser announced that the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention had agreed to enter into a contract with Orange County for research scientist Cherie Rosemond’s assistance on the MAP-funded Orange County housing and long term care initiatives. All Advisory Board members were invited to attend the next MAP Management Meeting planned for July 9. At this meeting the agenda will be set for the next MAP Steering Committee. Janice Tyler announced that the Department on Aging’s budget request for FY 2013-14 will be reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners that evening. She added that the Town of Chapel Hill has reduced its funding for the Senior Lunch Program by 20% ($3,900) in next year’s budget. Sequestration has resulted in reductions in the Home and Community Care Block Grant for both the current and next fiscal year. Discussion followed on the impact of the funding cuts. Ms. Tyler concluded by stating that there will only be 100 Farmers’ Market vouchers available for active Senior Lunch Program participants this summer. During committee progress reports the following announcements were made: • Carolina Villages Project is recruiting a part-time Director • Friends of Central Orange Senior Center elected new officers at its recent annual meeting; $12,000 was raised from the Las Vegas Night fundraiser • Friends of Seymour have also elected new officers: Katherine Leith – Chair and Patrick Toal – Vice Chair • Two new members have been appointed to the Adult Care Home Committee; the Songs for Seniors project has begun and Heather Altman suggested utilizing high school students who need community service hours and project volunteers; a suggestion was made to involve the Music and Memory Inc. training in a LTC Learning Collaborative seminar • Orange Congregations In Mission is considering relocating to a larger facility and IFC celebrated its 50 years of service • Soltys Adult Day Care has served 5,000 meals through May Janice Tyler announced that a 1:30 – 3:00 meeting time for the new fiscal year was favored according to the doodle poll she conducted. Sheryl Zimmerman stated that her teaching schedule would not allow her to attend on Tuesday afternoon during fall semester. Conducting another poll was suggested. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. The next Advisory Board meeting will be held in August. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary