HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 010819 ORANGE COUNTY
ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING
Minutes
January 8, 2019
PRESENT: Heather Altman, Mary Altpeter,Alex Castro, Peggy Cohn, Vibeke Talley, Dick White,
Michael Zuber
EXCUSED: Colin Austin, Keith Cook,Alicia Nelson
STAFF: Myra Austin,Annie Deaver, Lisa Berley, Kathie Kearns, Mike Komives, Ryan Lavalley,
Cheri Rosemond, Beverly Shuford,Janice Tyler
The meeting was called to order at the Seymour Center by Chair Peggy Cohn. The minutes of the
November 6, 2018 meeting were approved by consensus.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Janice Tyler announced that the Department on Aging is a recipient of a 2019 Bridge Builder Award. The
ceremony will be held on January 20 at the Friday Center.
Office space at the Seymour Center has been increased by installing a glassed-in area in the lobby. Staff
from the Department and other agencies may utilize this space by reserving through the Front Desk.
The Seymour Center expansion project is scheduled to begin soon with the first phase to include the
addition of 55 parking spaces.
NEW BUSINESS
The Advisory Board on Aging 2019 Meeting Schedule was approved as distributed.
The OC CARES Final Report presentation on today's agenda will be postponed until the February 12
meeting. Alex Castro requested that the Aging Advisory Board receive the final copy of the 2018 Annual
Report submitted to the Board of County Commissioners in December.
2017-22 MASTER AGING PLAN
The staff person assigned to each Workgroup presented a summary of the activities for the previous
quarter.
Outdoor Spaces: Myra Austin stated that volunteer-led nature walks have been planned to resume in
March. Future Senior Times will include an Outdoor Activity page to promote this and similar options.
No new information was available for the Town of Chapel Hill's plans for its bond funds.
Transportation: Lisa Berley stated that communication improvement among the providers continues to
be a major accomplishment of the workgroup. Both Chapel Hill Transit Easy Rider and OC Public
Transportation now have fillable forms on their websites. Fliers advertising the availability of door-to-
door service were delivered through CHCa Meals on Wheels and will be distributed through Orange
County Rural Alliance (OCRA) and Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM) Meals on Wheels. UNC
Healthcare is developing guidelines for its paying of patient transportation.
Housing: Cheri Rosemond announced that the Orange County Senior Housing Report is now available.
The Lloyd Farm project received final approval from the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. The Affordable
Housing Coalition is advocating for a 5% minimum in new rental units.
Ryan Lavalley reported on the work of the Home Preservation Coalition, including a grant opportunity to
further coordinate and fund home repairs. The home repair project utilizing SALT volunteer labor has
implemented a sliding fee scale for mobility-related home modifications.
Social Participation and Inclusion: Myra Austin summarized the process for surveying potential Senior
Center Without Walls participants. She also provided an update on the In Praise of Age public television
program.
Employment: Mike Komives has assisted nine older adults in finding employment. A second Job Fair is
being developed for Summer 2019.
Community Support and Health: Annie Deaver summarized the services provided by the Aging
Transitions Division during the previous quarter. The process for referring individuals to the EMS Stay
Up and Active program was refined.
Yvette Missri reported that two new volunteer opportunities are being launched: mail/money
organizing and healthcare navigating. The Handy Helpers Project continues with an interim coordinator.
Students from Chapel Hill High are visiting Signature Heath Care residents on a regular basis. An End of
Life workshop was held in the Fall and another is being planned for Spring 2019.
Communications: Beverly Shuford was recognized for coordinating the Department's website makeover
and will provide a demonstration at a future meeting. She will assume responsibility for recording the
Advisory Board minutes when Kathie Kearns retires in March.
Ms.Tyler announced that the next Aging In Community workshop on Becoming A Creative Genius Again
will be held on January 29.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Tyler, Secretary