HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Advisory Board Minutes 091019 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
MINUTES
September 10, 2019
Seymour Center
Board Members Present: Mary Altpeter, Colin Austin, Rachel Bearman, James Harris, Vibeke Talley, Richard
White; (Staff) Myra Austin, Annie Deaver, Ryan Lavalley, Shenae McPherson, Cherie Rosemond, Beverly
Shuford , Janice Tyler
Absent and Excused: Heather Altman,Jenny Womack
Absent: Keith Cook
1. Introductions and Announcements
a. Colin Austin, Vice Chair presiding, offered welcome. Colin announced that his office,
Hillsborough Wills &Trusts, is having an open house on September 19, from 4— 6 pm. Everyone
is invited. 1000 Corporate Dr., Ste. 109, Hillsborough.
2. Approval of Minutes—August 13, 2019
a. Approved with one grammar correction
3. Any other Agenda items
a. None
Director's Report
4. Staff updates
a. Lisa Berley's Retirement Celebration September 13 from 3-5 p.m.
i. Lisa Berley, Transportation Specialist, retired on August 31. Everyone is invited to her
retirement party.
b. Staff updates
i. Alison Smith, former VC 55+Volunteer Coordinator, has moved to the Transportation
Specialist position
ii. Bobby Cobb, former site manager for the Efland-Cheeks Community Center, has been
hired as the new VC55+Volunteer Coordinator. He started on September 8.
iii. New Pastoral Counseling Intern, Katherine Neal, Duke Divinity Graduate School - Clinical
Pastoral Education Program. She will be with us 2.5 days a week, focused on exploring
social groups at both centers to expand social connections with older adults. Office
hours at Seymour: Mondays & Fridays; Passmore: Thursdays
iv. New UNC- MSW intern, Erin Spreng will be assisting with the VC55+ Project EngAGE
program on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
v. Out of 12 possible projects, we have been selected for a capstone team by UNC School
of Public Health BSPH undergraduate students. The team is a diverse group of 5 women
who will focus on helping with faith outreach, specifically to people of color. They are
tasked with finding liaisons in faith communities, discovering community needs and
creating a strategy to move forward, including partnering with the UNC Hospital-
Hillsborough to provide services to the underserved in the community
5. Brain Health Academy—Sept. 18—Oct. 30 from 6:30—8:30 p.m., Seymour Center
a. All invited to attend, see attached flier
6. 2020 Complete Count Committee:
a. Janice is on the Orange County Census Team. She reported that people will only get a card in
the mail with a code specific to them. The census must be completed online. Janice is assigned
to the Complete Count Committee and tasked with identifying "Be Counted Sites" with internet
access where people may complete the Census. Volunteers at the Be Counted sites can help
persons access the computer, but cannot fill out the census for them. If an individual cannot
type or use the computer, assistance may be given to call the Census Bureau. If individuals do
not respond online or via phone, they will get a paper copy in mail, then three in-person
attempts at door. Janice stressed that it is very important to get everyone to respond and get
an accurate count; it determines funding for future years. April 15Y is Census Day, the process
will run through the fall until the completed census is presented to the President on December
31
7. UNC Healthcare —Hillsborough Campus— First Dementia Friendly Hospital in NC- Celebration to be held
on Sept. 26 1:30-2:30 p.m.
a. Everyone is invited. The hospital administrator and staff are very proud of this accomplishment.
Janice is planning on attending.
Continuing Business
8. Board applications review: 3 applicants
a. Reviewed three applications and discussed their strengths and qualifications. Note: The
Advisory Board on Aging consists of a total of 12 members: 7 must be 60+, 5 can be 60-. Two of
the new applicants are under 60. We need: 1)To replace Michael Zuber in the Chapel Hill town
limits—Jeff Charles is pending BOCC appointment in this position, 2) Someone from Adult Care
Committee to serve on this board, and 3) We are searching for a person to represent central
and northern Orange County.
b. The board felt that candidate, Lindsay Bailey, could be a strong member and provide a
connection to UNC as an affiliate of that system. The Board recommended that Lindsay be
approved. Janice will send a recommendation letter to the BOCC. We will invite applicants to
reapply next year if they don't get appointed this year. Janice will introduce candidate, Holly
Meschko, to Cherie who will ask her to serve on the MAP Housing group.
c. Requirements for serving on the Board: Must meet requirements (attend 75% of all monthly
meetings), serve on a MAP workgroup, possibly serve or help with a special project when
needed
d. Annie to follow up with asking Adult Care Home Committee member to apply to serve
9. Board Survey to receive input on meeting times, frequency of meetings, etc.
a. Janice was not able to get the survey out prior to this meeting. Things to consider at that time:
Is the time of day a challenge, should we shorten the meeting, how can we streamline our
meetings and be more efficient. The Board made the decision to table this item until after the
new members are appointed.
10. Seymour Center Renovation Update
a. Janice reported that there has been no progress since last meeting. We are still waiting on a
permit from the Town of Chapel Hill. Janice talked to the County manager to see if they could
connect with Town of Chapel Hill to see where we are in the process. The new Asset
Management Services manager has been hired and hopefully will be able to move the process
forward.
2017-22 Master Aging Plan
11. Quarterly MAP updates
a. Housing— Ryan Lavalley, Cherie Rosemond and Dick White
i. Ryan Lavalley, Handy Helper (HH) Coordinator, reported that a formalized team has
been established. The team consists of: 3 HH leaders, 2 runners to Lowes Home
Improvement/Home Depot to purchase materials, 5 additional HH, including a licensed
general contractor, plumber and electrician, and an appliance specialist. Keeping a
central project database updated is helping to move and track projects. PiAP intern,
Morgan Cooper, is helping support the HH program
ii. Home Preservation Coalition (HPC) coordinates a meeting for all home preservation
agencies in Orange County. HPC meets monthly to share info, resources and specific
projects to ensure that the work gets done. Amelia Sutton is the new Orange County
Housing & Community director. Ryan and Janice will try to get on her calendar to share
what HH & HPC have been doing and how see how she can help
iii. The MAP process has been instrumental in bringing parties to the table. Data collection
creates county-wide data that helps with advocacy and grant writing
iv. Cherie Rosemond reported that the MAP Housing Workgroup is a place of learning and
coming together. The group is considering new housing options, homelessness,
affordability, and renovating/repurposing box stores for senior housing. The Self-help
Credit Union granted award from Chapel Hill for affordable housing on Homestead Rd.
v. Success story— In a little less than 2 years of effort, we have seen a 30% increase in
senior designated housing!
vi. Dick White reported that a Housing Locator position has been created to identify where
housing is and what needs to be done to get people into housing immediately.
Converting fading spaces in shopping centers into housing. Coalition discussions develop
collaboration to 1) address the use of public land for affordable housing, 2) housing for
households below 30%, and 3) facing the fact of an increased threat against home parks
and how to maintain them. Presented to local government to address housing concerns,
zoning regulations, increasing public space for housing, lack of collaboration and an
analysis of homelessness. Tremendous report addressing the problems and what it
takes to solve them.
b. Social Participation and Inclusion — Myra Austin
i. Myra Austin reported that the Senior Times has two new designations to identify
programs that promote social participation & inclusion: 2 for "Intergenerational
Programs," and r indicating that the program "Might be enjoyed by someone with
cognitive impairment, together with a care partner"
ii. Surveyed SALT recipients regarding "Senior Centers without Walls." Myra will tally the
results and report back.
iii. All of the In Praise of Age (IPOA) videos have now been copied onto CD. The next Senior
Times will detail all of the titles available and how to check them out. There are two
copies per episode, one for each center. We are working with Jill Passmore and the
People's Channel to produce new episodes.
c. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings— Myra Austin
i. Myra reported that the workgroup meets bi-annually and the next meeting will be in
October.
ii. There is a new section in the Senior Times advertising "Active Outdoor Programs
throughout Orange County." The section includes: Outdoor Adventures for Adults Age
50+ with Carrboro Recreation & Parks, Outdoor Adventures with Chapel Hill Parks&
Recreation, Nature Walks, and Public Parks/Spaces, Greenways and Trails information
iii. Will get local parks & recreation departments to place their brochures in both senior
centers.
iv. Lost workgroup member from the County Planning Department. We are trying to get
the Planning Director to appoint someone new to the MAP Outdoor Spaces & Buildings.
d. Communications and Information — Beverly Shuford
i. Social media engagement has increased each quarter.
ii. Successfully migrated to a new, more robust web and e-newsletter platform.
iii. Shared information at 22 community events resulting in 1235 face-to-face contacts.
iv. Increased non-technical outreach through face-to-face contact, print advertisement,
local radio interviews and public service announcements.
v. Requested two communications interns through PiAP: One to assist with producing a
radio show, scheduling/coordinating interviews, and creating Facebook campaigns and
videos; one to coordinate and produce In Praise of Age. This would be a great
opportunity for an intern to build their portfolio and gain experience. Thus far, no one
has applied. Cherie will continue looking for interns.
Continuing Protects
12. Project EngAGE Class Five begins September 12
a. Starting this Thursday, 14 participants will begin their 13-week training. Class Five is a diverse
group representing the entire county, especially central/northern Orange County. Everyone is
excited about the class and to get started.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
13. Dementia Friendly Business Campaign —Annie reported that Lisa Meinert is in charge of the Dementia
Friendly Business Campaign and that 103 business have been trained, finally breaking the benchmark
of 100 trained. 1100 employees have been trained thus far. A majority of the business are over their 2-
year mark since the initial certification. Lisa is reaching out to them and begin scheduling the
recertification training
14. Senior Tar Heel Legislature— Dick White (see 11.a.vi)
15. Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee—Vibeke Talley reported that this committee will
also meet 4 times a year and will continue the required site visits. Both the Adult Care Home
Community Advisory Committee and the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee meet on the
same days, back to back
16. Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee —Vibeke Talley reported that the committee voted to
decrease the number of times that they meet to 4 times per year starting in 2020. This is the minimum
requirement and they will see how it works. The committee is still required to do quarterly visits to
each of the 5 Orange County nursing homes. Janice asked Vibeke to be sure that Autumn Cox, (Triangle
J AAA) and the BOCC know of the change
17. Housing—(see 11.a. Housing)
18. Friends of the Passmore Center— No report
19. Friends of the Seymour Center— No report
Adjournment
Next meeting: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 1-3 p.m. Passmore Center