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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 090914ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes September 9, 2014 PRESENT: Heather Altman, Peggy Cohn, Teri Driscoll, Donna Prather, Jack Vogt, Dick White EXCUSED: Virginia Brown, Alex Castro, Ed Flowers, Dan Hatley, Lorenzo Mejia, Jeane Suddarth STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Anna Rose Miller, Cherie Rosemond, Charlotte Terwilliger, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order at the Central Orange Senior Center by Chair Heather Altman. Following introductions the minutes of the August 12 meeting were approved as distributed. Mary Fraser introduced the special report on Long Term Care (LTC), an initiative of the Master Aging Plan (MAP), and its findings being shared with both the Aging Advisory Board and representatives of the Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committees. Ms. Fraser summarized the activity of the LTC Collaborative during its first year, culminating in the recognition of three care organizations with Long Term Care Quality Service Awards at the September 16 Board of County Commissioners meeting. She stated that the Collaborative is focusing on promotion of ‘person-centered care’ during year two. The first activity was an in-house interview of the administrative staff at each Orange County facility conducted by UNC MPH Student Intern Anna Rose Miller. MAP Housing Consultant Cherie Rosemond was asked to analyze the survey findings. Ms. Rosemond made the following observations from her review of the surveys on person-centered care in Orange County facilities: • Direct care worker turnover rate in NC is 80% • Management and staff will have to convert from task-based care to individually-designed schedules • Person-centered care would require a major change in morning routines for the staff • Facilities would have to be accepting of personal home décor for each resident • Care aids would need to be included in care planning meetings • Dining schedule would have to be adaptable to personal preferences Successful implementation of person-centered care would require: • Staff feeling the support of management • Clear communication between staff and management • Training not valued as very important • Rewards for staff buy-in would not necessarily be monetary • Facilities would need to implement a neighborhood or family model Barriers to successful implementation would include: • Staff turnover • Offering competing activities • Staff shortages • Complexity of change • Corporate expectations Anna Rose Miller continued the presentation on the long term care facility staff survey by stating that facility administrators identified the following barriers to implementation of person-centered care: • Constant chaos brought on by staff absences • Understaffing and turnover, a result of the state average pay rate of $9.50/hr • Regulations that do not promote the flexibility that person-centered care requires • Lack of increased finances necessary to implement person-centered care • Insufficient leadership to motivate and sustain change • Family members have little understanding and support of person-centered care Discussion followed on the role of the facility administrators and the directors of nursing in implementing change. Ms. Miller identified future actions to bring change, such as grants for nursing homes, sharing ideas among facilities, and increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate. Dick White asked that today’s power point presentation be emailed to the Advisory Board with next month’s minutes. Heather Altman added that the staff who participated in this survey should also be recognized. Mary Fraser announced that the first Long Term Care Quality Service Awards will be presented at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on September 16. She summarized the activities that each organization (Acorn, Carol Woods, LiveWell) implemented to improve the care provided to clients. Janice Tyler informed the Advisory Board members that the Project EngAGE Class Two was beginning September 11 with representation from throughout Orange County. The Aging in Community series focusing on housing options will resume September 23 with a presentation at the Friday Center. Registration will continue to be handled through Charles House. A housing information expo will be held on October 25 at the Seymour Center. During this four-hour information session presentations will be made on a variety of subjects. Mr. White requested that summaries of those presentations be distributed to those Advisory Board members unable to attend. The Friends of the Seymour Center and the Chatham County Council on Aging will share in the proceeds from the upcoming Goat Parade. This fundraiser is sponsored by Galloway Ridge Retirement Community and will culminate with a gala event on November 15. The UNC School of Pharmacy is organizing its annual Aging In Stride 5K on November 1, beginning at the campus Bell Tower. Dick White reported that the Senior Tar Heel Legislature has narrowed its legislative agenda to ten issues for consideration during the next General Assembly session. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be held on October 14 at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler Secretary