HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 110618ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
November 6, 2018
PRESENT: Heather Altman, Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Alicia Nelson, Vibeke Talley, Dick White,
Michael Zuber
EXCUSED: Mary Altpeter, Colin Austin
STAFF: Kathie Kearns, Yvette Missri, Cherie Rosemond, Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Chair Peggy Cohn. Janice Tyler
shared the impact of the current OWASA water crisis on Senior Center operations.
A motion was made by Dick White and seconded by Alex Castro to approve the October 9
minutes as distributed. Motion carried.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ms. Tyler announced that the senior housing section of the new Greenfield Commons
development on Legion Road is scheduled to open in March 2019. There will be 68 units
available. Cherie Rosemond stated that the Orange County Senior Housing Report inventory is
being updated. It was noted that these apartments are available to all applicants regardless of
county of residence. Alex Castro shared that the OC Habitat Board decided to give preference
to Orange County residents for its properties. Ms. Rosemond will pursue this possibility with
Greenfield Commons management.
Janice Tyler summarized the recent meeting with a representative of the UNIPER Care
Technologies to discuss using this technology to promote the Senior Center Without Walls MAP
objective. She reviewed the process and costs associated with the Project. Discussion
followed about how this might be made available to Orange County residents.
The final report for the OC CARES grant project that ended in August is being prepared for
submission. UNC’s Jenny Womack will be invited to present her findings to the Advisory Board
at its December meeting.
The plans for the expansion of the Seymour Center are being finalized. The architect stated
during the previous day’s meeting that the plans are 95% complete. Ms. Tyler summarized the
move of the Wellness classroom space to the lower level and the conversion of some of the
existing space to three new staff offices. The bids are anticipated to be advertised on
December 7 and completion is estimated for December 2019. Dick White asked about the
feedback on the renovated space at the Passmore Center and was told that all comments were
favorable. Ms. Tyler concluded by stating that a glassed-in office is being installed in the lobby
of the Seymour Center to accommodate additional requests for space.
2017-22 MASTER AGING PLAN (MAP)
Yvette Missri began the Community Support and Health Services Workgroup report (postponed
from the October meeting) by announcing that all positions created by the OC CARES grant
project have been continued by the Department on Aging. Additionally, Melissa Hunter has
been hired in the new Aging Transitions/Volunteer Connect liaison social worker position. She
noted other MAP initiatives in partnership with the Project EngAGE Senior Resource Teams
(SRT):
• IT class increases
• Volunteer assistance household management and bill paying
• Faith-based outreach breakfasts at the UNC Hillsborough Hospital
• Resource guide focused on mental health
• Orange County Rural Alliance (OCRA) continued service growth
• Community food box distribution (200+ households)
• Neighborhood Connections SRT outreach events to promote the ‘village’ concept
• End of Life Senior Resource Team (SRT) conversation groups on options
• Long Term Care SRT partnership with Chapel Hill High students with special needs to
develop programs at Signature Health Care
NEW BUSINESS
Yvette Missri provided an update on the Community Based Participatory Research project.
Representatives of the Efland and Cedar Grove communities have met six times in recent weeks
to form the Rural Orange Action Partnership that will identify initiatives to help these
communities’ needs. Two grant proposals are being prepared for submission to the Z Smith
Reynolds Foundation to support this work.
Myra Austin reviewed changes proposed for the Senior Center Conduct Code which each
regular participant must sign when registering. Discussion followed on current practices. A
motion was made by Alex Castro and seconded by Dick White to approve the revised Code as
distributed. Motion carried.
Heather Altman briefly summarized the Concept Plan Application for a Habitat/Carol Woods
Community. As stated in the application: “Habitat of Orange County, NC and Carol Woods are
teaming up to develop a thoughtfully designed residential community that will provide a
significant amount of affordable housing for those earning between 30% and 80% of the Area
Median Income, assisted living, and moderately priced market rate housing for seniors, each of
which are needed in Chapel Hill.”
Janice Tyler distributed a draft of the Annual Board Report to the BOCC and asked Advisory
Board members to send her comments. She added that the MAP 2017-22 Year One report will
be attached to this report when submitted. Alex Castro suggested adding a MAP executive
summary. Heather Altman recommended highlighting one item from each of the MAP
domains.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary