Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 031015ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes March 10, 2015 PRESENT: Heather Altman, Mary Altpeter, Alex Castro, Keith Cook, Ed Flowers, Winston Liao, Donna Prather, Dick White, Peggy Cohn EXCUSED: Virginia Brown, Lorenzo Mejia, Jack Vogt STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Yvette Missri, Janice Tyler GUESTS: Caroline Perry The meeting was called to order at the Central Orange Senior Center by Chair Heather Altman. Following introductions Alex Castro announced that Graig Meyer has been appointed to the General Assembly’s Aging Committee. He suggested that Representative Meyer be invited to a future Advisory Board meeting to learn about Master Aging Plan initiatives such as Project EngAGE and the Aging In Community series. The minutes of the February 10 meeting were approved following clarification on Dan Hatley’s presentation. The Board requested Housing Specialist Cherie Rosemond provide information on standards for adequate space for retirement housing. The motion to approve was made by Alex Castro and seconded by Keith Cook. In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler announced that the March 5 Faith Community Symposium at the Central Orange Senior Center was well-attended with 16 congregations represented. The presenter was Wake Forest Baptist Hospital’s Gary Gunderson, an expert in the field of congregations and health. Follow-up for this session will include contact with each congregation in attendance by a representative of the Project EngAGE Faith Based workgroup. The NC Coalition on Aging’s (NCAOA) Senior Advocacy Day at the General Assembly, postponed due to weather, has been rescheduled for March 17. The Senior Tar Heel Legislature will be lobbying on the same day. Ms. Tyler asked Advisory Board members who want to carpool to email her. She also announced that longtime senior advocate Mary Bethel is retiring from her position in the North Carolina office of AARP. Ms. Tyler concluded her report by announcing that Orange County Government will hold a County Expo on April 10 at University Mall. Triangle J Area Agency on Aging staff monitored the Department on Aging’s use of its Home and Community Care Block Grant funding in mid-February. The department was once again commended for its outstanding work and service to the community. The ‘pitch day’ for a UNC School of Public Health Health- Behavior Capstone graduate student team for the next academic year will take place on March 18 and Advisory Board members are invited to attend. And the Department has submitted an application for funding to enroll 500 older adults in the SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) program. In New Business Chair Altman asked that Ms. Tyler outline the topics that should be covered in her Aging Advisory Board update to the Board of County Commissioners on March 19. The public hearing for the OPT paratransit proposal has been rescheduled for March 17. The Advisory Board had previously decided to address the issue of affordable fares and the need for better publicity. Ms. Tyler also expressed her hope that the Senior Center program staff be given sufficient advance notice prior to the route expansion to plan for additional afternoon activities. Ms. Tyler announced that four applications will be reviewed by the Advisory Board on Aging for Orange County Outside Agency Funding for FY 15-16: A Helping Hand, Chapel Hill/Carrboro Meals on Wheels, Charles House and Guiding Lights. Funding recommendations must be completed by March 27. Board members Dick White, Donna Prather, Winston Liao and Mary Altpeter agreed to meet with Janice Tyler on March 20 to review and score the applications. Project EngAGE Coordinator Yvette Missri distributed a progress report on the activities of the 28 graduates now working in Orange County. Questions were raised about the involvement of Orange Congregations In Mission in the Senior Rural Hunger Team’s activities. Alex Castro suggested that the Department on Aging host a Hunger Workshop to bring all of the stakeholders together. Ms. Missri noted that all Teams are developing action plans with measurable objectives. Discussion followed about the relationship between the Project Engage Village Model Team and the existing Carolina Villages project. Ms. Missri concluded by stating that UNC School of Nursing Professor Mary Lynn Piven will present the Healthy Ideas program at the bi-monthly combined meeting of the Project EngAGE graduates on March 19. In Cherie Rosemond’s absence Janice Tyler announced the March 25 Tiny Houses presentation as part of the continuing Aging In Community series. All local government planning departments will be represented at this event. Alex Castro reported that a Complete Streets workgroup has been formed and will be assisted by a retired professor in the field who has recently relocated to the area. Ms. Tyler announced that the Department on Aging is seeking four UNC School of Public Health -Health Behavior graduate students to work for 240 hours each this summer on topics related to Master Aging Plan initiatives. One of the topics will be the transition from the former federally-funded volunteer division to the new Volunteer Connect 55+ program with a focus on the volunteer needs of the Department on Aging and its many community service efforts. All volunteers currently enrolled in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at the Department will be transferred to Volunteer Connect 55+. The expectation is that some of these summer interns would continue with the Capstone Team project of Aging Preparedness in the fall. Ms. Tyler offered to send the link to the Capstone Team promotional video which highlights previous assignments at the Department on Aging. Mary Altpeter suggested including testimonials of former Team members in the recruitment process and highlighting the Team’s accessibility to the Department Director. Three Committee Progress Reports were submitted via email prior to the meeting and are attached to the minutes for review. Keith Cook reported on his attendance at the Efland Community Listening Sessions. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Janice Tyler, Secretary Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee Report The Orange County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee (OCNHCAC) met March 3, 2015. Recent site visit reports for Brookshire, Carolina Point and Signature Healthcare of Chapel Hill nursing homes were approved. The site visit for Carol Woods was postponed twice due to weather conditions. That visit will be completed before the end of March. All of the Orange County nursing homes are participating in the music and memory program. Those programs are well received by residents and their families. We had the administrator and chaplain from Signature Healthcare of Chapel Hill as our guests. We heard and discussed the ongoing programs and efforts of Signature Healthcare. We were very impressed with what is happening at this facility. It is clear that the Chapel Hill nursing home is receiving excellent directions and support from Signature Healthcare corporate offices. Aside from this support, they are preparing for some major renovations to the facility here. Everything is going well for OCNHCAC. As of the end of March their new chairperson will be Teri Driscoll. We are looking forward to our regional CAC meeting on March 18th. I will be representing OCNHCAC at the Orange County Board of Commissioners work session on March 19th. Respectfully submitted Ed Flowers Committees Progress Reports submitted by Alex Castro Jr. Chapel Hill Carrboro Meals on Wheels A total of 2893 meals delivered in February 2015 versus 2731 in 2014 in spite of adverse weather. The facilities committee is heavily involved in a search for a new home that will meet the growth needs of the organization. A volunteer appreciation luncheon was hosted by the board of directors on February 25th at the St. Thomas More Friends and Family Hall. About 120 volunteers and their guests attended. Orange County Unified Transportation Board The board meeting of February 18 was cancelled because of adverse weather. The BOCC was to receive an update on the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan at their meeting of March 5 which was also cancelled because of adverse weather. The presentation is now scheduled to be made at the March 17 BOCC meeting. The transportation board will review the Draft OPT Para-transit Plan and proposed Increase in Service at the March 18 meeting. Triangle Transit will hold a Light Rail Transit open house between 4 and 7PM at the UNC Friday Center. Music and Memory Report submitted by Donna Prather The user group met in January and February. Representatives from Carol Woods, Charles House, Soltys Center, Right at Home, and Carolina House attended one or both meetings. Each program is working through challenges involved in implementing the music and memory project (e.g., creating storage space, developing individualized playlists, educating staff, and getting staff involvement). Families appear to be very supportive but also appear in general not to have much time to participate. Britney Wiggins, the coordinator for the project, plans to focus her attention on helping the Stratford, Signature, and Carolina Pointe with their efforts. Given the challenges of implementing the music and memory program, it has been proposed that the Quality Services Awards be given in September rather than May.