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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 061014ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes June 10, 2014 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Virginia Brown, Peggy Cohn, Ed Flowers, Lorenzo Mejia, Donna Prather, Dick White EXCUSED: Alex Castro STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Ethan Lechner, Yvette Missri, Cherie Rosemond, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order by Chair Heather Altman at the Central Orange Senior Center. Following introductions it was announced that former Capstone Team member Yvette Garcia-Missri has been hired as the staff support for Project EngAGE. The minutes of the May 13 Advisory Board meeting were approved by consensus. In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler referenced the Department’s monthly column in the Chapel Hill News. She announced that the new County Manager Bonnie Hammersley will arrive in late June. Ms. Tyler also reported on her involvement in the Coalition on Aging’s Advocacy Day on June 3. More than 200 advocates, wearing red, visited their local legislators to lobby against cuts to Home & Community Care Block Grant and Medicaid services. She had just received a Coalition email stating that some of the funding has been restored. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program hosted its annual Recognition Dinner on June 5 at the Friday Center. The RSVP Advisory Council sponsored a Gatsby Gala fundraiser to pay for this event. During New Business Ms. Tyler announced that she will appear before the Board of County Commissioners this evening to defend the Department on Aging’s FY 14-15 budget request. She summarized the requested increase in funds for additional Saturday hours at the Seymour Center, additional meals for the Senior Lunch Program, and money for equipment repairs and replacement formerly paid by Asset Management. She added that the Outside Agency funding requests will also be reviewed at tonight’s BOCC meeting. Discussion followed about the current status of the Mobile Dental Project for long term care residents. Mary Fraser began the Master Aging Plan Update by announcing that a Steering Committee meeting will be held on the normal Advisory Board meeting date in July. Carol Woods will host and provide lunch. She stated that Yvette Missri is revising the curriculum for the Project EngAGE class that will begin in September. Changes include expanding the number of sessions, reordering the material presented, streamlining content, and including more time for group interaction. Candidates for Class 2 will be reviewed at the August Advisory Committee meeting. Discussion followed on the qualifications for those candidates, with agreement that the minimum age should be 55 years. Ms. Fraser reported that the Class 1 graduates are meeting on the first Monday of each month and they have divided into three senior resource teams. Their activities include working with neighborhood organizations and the Sheriff Department’s Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) project and Neighborhood Watch. Lorenzo Mejia requested an information sheet to use for recruitment. This year’s emphasis is on candidates from diverse ethnic groups rather than different geographic areas of the County. Mary Fraser announced that the new Mobility Manager will begin work on June 16. This individual is currently the Community Outreach Specialist for TTA. An Occupational Therapy graduate student has also been hired on an interim basis to promote the new rural routes to be launched in July utilizing the ½¢ sales tax revenues. Janice Tyler added that the new OPT Director, Peter Murphy, is committed to improving client satisfaction among riders. Housing Study Coordinator Cherie Rosemond reviewed the document she presented at the previous month’s meeting that outlined Orange County’s housing resources, future options, and shortcomings. Questions were raised about the number of long term care facilities and concentrations of senior residents in apartments/condos. Ms. Rosemond stated that one conclusion of this study might be that housing options are available for low and high-income individuals but not the middle class. Dick White asked what next steps are planned. Mary Fraser responded that a summer intern will interview municipal and county planning department staff to share the identified future options and explore their feasibility. One particular issue is the zoning limit on the number of unrelated persons who can live in one dwelling. Another issue is providing incentives for builders to get involved in Orange County’s senior housing market. Ms. Rosemond asked the Advisory Board for recommendations to receive the Housing Study: Board of County Commissioners, any Aging In Community series attendee, Orange County Department Directors, MAP Steering Committee members, heads of existing senior housing complexes, Habitat for Humanity members, Orange County realtors, Chamber of Commerce. Advisory Board members expressed thanks for Ms. Rosemond’s work on the Housing Study. It was suggested that the Interim Housing and Community Development Director be contacted and informed. Additional comments will be accepted through June 20 before the document is finalized. Mary Fraser summarized the May 31 follow-up meeting for those who had attended the Aging In Community series and wanted involvement in developing the next phase. The consensus was that the AIC series should continue. She also announced that a second summer intern from the School of Public Health will be interviewing long term care administrators and staff to identify the barriers to providing ‘person-centered care’. Heather Altman asked how this project relates to the current competition for meaningful activities development. Those projects must be submitted by August with a September recognition of the winning facility/agency at a September Board of County Commissioners meeting. Committee Reports: • A new administrator has been assigned to Carolina Pointe; Britthaven is rumored to reopen this year. • All Orange County long term care and assisted living facilities have signed up for Music In My Mind along with Soltys Adult Day Health Center and Charles House. • MIMM is exploring the legal issues associated with sharing music downloads; community residents may also be given the option to participate if hardware is available. • Carolina Villages has a new interim executive director. • Beverly Blythe has been elected Chair of the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center; Rita McIver is the new Vice-Chair. • Katherine Leith is beginning her second term as Chair of the Friends of the Seymour Center; plans are underway to develop a new Board member training. • The new Chatham-Orange Community Resource Connection Coordinator is Melissa Black, a former Department on Aging Capstone team member (she also serves as Durham County’s CRC Coordinator); Project EngAGE graduate Donna Scandlin has agreed to serve as a CRC consumer representative. • Senior Tar Heel Legislature will include two of Orange County’s recommendations (Homestead Exemption and Universal Design) in its Legislative Priorities listing; Dick White reported that the STHL delegates were assigned the book “The Power of Persuasion” as part of their training on advocacy techniques. Janice Tyler questioned STHL’s lack of representation at the Coalition on Aging Advocacy Day. • OCIM has a new Meals On Wheels Chair; there are currently 32 recipients; in the past the enrollment had been as high as 58. • CH/Carr Meals On Wheels strategic planning committee continues to meet; the program is seeking a new location for meal distribution to volunteer drivers; Chatham County recently received a $35,000 grant from Walmart for frozen meals delivered weekly to its very rural participants. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on August 12 at the Seymour Center. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary