HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes 08-09-22 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging Meeting
August 9, 2022
Passmore Center
MINUTES
In Attendance: Heather Altman, Colin Austin,Jerry Gregory, Vibeke Talley, Sandy Walker, Dick White; STAFF:
Shenae McPherson, Beverly Shuford, Janice Tyler, and guest, Diana Alcox (OCDoA Communication Volunteer)
Absent— Excused: Jeff Charles, Rachel Bearman; Unexcused: James Harris, Lucinda Poole
1. Introductions and Announcements
a. Everyone introduced themselves and welcomed visitor and new OCDOA communication
volunteer and NCCU student, Diana Alcox
2. Approval of Minutes—June 14, 2022
a. Accept with correction of AARP to ARPA (section 7.d)
Director's Report
3. Staff Updates
a. Lisa Meinert, formerly our Care Partner Collaborative Program Coordinator is now the new
Passmore Center Facility Manager/Program Assistant. This was Dawn Smith's position prior to
becoming the new Passmore Center Programs and Operations Manager
b. The posting of the position vacated by Lisa, closes this evening
c. Martha Grove Hipskind has been hired as the Handy Helper Project Manager. She comes with a
background in aging and retired from Triangle J Area Agency on Aging. The position is 6 hours
per week.
4. Seymour Center Great Hall flooded on July 13. The drainpipe on the older section of the roof fell due
to massive rainfall. Remediation continues; the sheet rock has replaced and the department is working
with insurance to replace the floor. If insurance makes a decision by the end of the week, it will be 3-4
weeks to get materials, then the floor will be installed and relined
5. Operation Heat Relief— Fan Distribution Program
a. The program has purchased 80-100 fans to give to Orange County residents 55 and older, one
per household. Triangle J and a local church fund the program. A little of the money will go
toward window air conditioners. In addition, one air conditioner was donated
6. Farmers' Market Food Voucher program —160 persons served
a. Distributed vouchers to 160 qualifying person. If you use the voucher at the Carrboro Farmers
Market they double the $40 value to $80
7. Seymour Center 151"Anniversary Celebration
a. This event is postponed due to the flood damage. Rescheduled for Dec. 1
8. "You Can't Hold Back the Spring" Documentary of Bob Seymour's life of community service
a. Friday, Sept. 9 10 a.m. and Saturday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m.
9. A Celebration of the Community Service of Robert and Pearl Seymour—Sept. 17, 4 p.m. Binkley Church
and live streamed
a. Binkley Church is hosting a celebration of Robert & Pearl Seymour's contribution to the
community. Janice will be speaking at the event
10. On-site food caterer, Rymakees Cafe
a. We are very pleased with our new caterer. The food is cooked at the Seymour Center and
brought to Passmore. Everyone is happy, food is delicious and fresh. The caterer is staff and
applicants should contact her to apply
11. COVID Update and Department operations
a. Curbside meals are funded through a NC DHHS DAAS waiver. The funding will stop at the end of
September. After this, unless there is a dramatic rise in COVID, participants will need to dine
indoor. Those who are not comfortable dining in, will need to come inside to pick up a meal to
go. We currently serve 160 meals a day, including the meals for the Soltys Place Adult Day
Health Program
b. There are a number of COVID-19 cases in our department. This new variant is very contagious,
everyone should remain vigilant to help reduce the spread. Everyone is encouraged to get
boosted, especially older adults. The next vaccine coming in the fall. Paxlovid antiviral is
available
c. Monkey Pox: OCHD has 70 doses of vaccine in Orange County Health Dept. Durham County has
a large stock and has been sharing with surrounding counties
New Business
12. Get Booster, Orange County: "I got boosted because..." video— Beverly Shuford and Diana Alcox
a. OCHD has produced the "Get Boosted Orange County" video to encourage Orange County older
adults to get boosted. We can still submit a video of our board or individuals explaining why
they got their booster shot. Sandy Walter volunteered to be recorded
13. FY 22-23 Budget
a. ARPA funding from TJCOG-AAA$386k for noon lunch program, subcontract with Orange County
MOW for home delivered meals, family caregiver support, and innovative work, such as
development of the hoarding taskforce. We will be hiring a temporary staff person to work with
on the hoarding taskforce and also to do outreach to underserve communities and faith based
communities). A portion of this funding will also be used to pay for transportation services;
reducing the waitlist for ramps with the Handy Helper Program; expanding evidence based
exercise programs; development of older adult peer support counselors, behavioral health &
wellness program; and updating our call management system
b. Transportation funding to transport participants daily to the Senior Centers
i. OCPT will be moving back to providing five days per week service in the coming weeks.
They are working on hiring drivers and upgrading their fleet. They are still looking for
additional funding. OCDOA is going to use a portion of our ARPA funds to supplement
until they get their funding back in place. Drivers must have a CDL, and receive training
on assisting older adults and mobility-impaired clients. Working to expand the mobility
on demand program.
14. Aging Board appointments—Two vacancies—One vacancy requires Carrboro Town Limits residency.
i. Looking for diversity on our Board. Three current are under 60, new positions must be
over age 60. Our four applicants are from central or northern Orange.
ii. Board will vet applicants and reach out to applicant Saru Salvi to invite her to the next
meeting.
iii. Three of the four have also applied to the Nursing Home and/or Adult Care Home
Advisory Boards. We will reach out to Autumn Cox, Orange County Ombudsman, and
Kim Lamon-Loperfido about the three who have applied to the ADH/NH committees
iv. Continue to recruit for Carrboro vacancy
15. Report about Soltys Place
a. 1yr ago Soltys Place entered into a relationship with Teepa Snow, Positive Approach to Care
(PAC). She, her team and folks on the board worked to get the center open. The Soltys Senior
Care Board chose not to renew with Teepa right now and may continue some training with PAC
in the future. Soltys Place still has the same director, Melissa Bryant. Melissa has many years of
Adult Day Program management
2017-22 Master Aging Plan
16. Completion of the Year 5 matrix of accomplishments
a. Cass Dictus has completed the 2017-22 MAP evaluation report. We were very successful in
achieving the majority of our goals. The MAP Ripple Effect is on display in the Seymour Center
conference room
b. Considering asking Cheri Rosemond and team to do a formal presentation to the MAP Steering
Committee
c. There were 3-4 minor corrections made to the 2017-22 MAP, since our last meeting. If you
need copies for distribution, please see Janice
17. Updated MAP Evaluation —90% of goals were either met (73%) or in progress (17%)-Congratulations to
everyone who helped make the 2017-22 MAP a success!
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
18. MAP presentation to the BOCC moved to Sept. 13 or 20
19. MAP workgroups are prioritizing and organizing work for Year 1 of 2022-27 MAP
a. Getting workgroups work prioritized and organized. The department is looking for a new person
to manage the MAP Matrix, attend the 7 workgroups quarterly to document work and
progress.
20. Recruitment of new MAP intern or contract staff is in progress
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
21. Dementia Friendly Business Campaign -Janice
a. Lisa just moved out of the Care Partner Collaborative position. The vacant position closes this
evening and we have an internal candidate. One task on the agenda for this position is to
update the DFB training video
22. Senior Tar Heel Legislature— Dick White
a. Resolutions are being reviewed and have been narrowed down to 14 recommendations. One
resolution from Dick has made the cut of the first 14. Dick read his proposal to the Board which
focused on Senior Housing in Rural Areas and Communications Access with a request to the
board to consider whether to support or not. Discussion followed. It was determined to send 2-
3 bullet points to DAAS requesting information and data on where we are now with these
issues. Heather and Dick will work on this. Dick will present the information at the virtual Senior
Tar Heel Legislature meeting for their review and as they narrow down the 14. The Board will
also give our recommendation based on the final top 5 for October Legislature Sr. Tar Heel
meeting
23. Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
24. Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee—Vibeke Talley
a. Up and running, doing visits, retraining and reports. Back in facilities as of mid-July and made
two visits in July. Positive findings in the two facilities visited
25. Friends of the Passmore Center—James Harris
26. Friends of the Seymour Center
Adjournment
Next meeting: September 13, 2022 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. —Seymour Center and Virtual