HomeMy WebLinkAboutNH CAC Minutes 08022022 Orange County Nursing Home Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes August 2, 2022
5:30pm, Seymour Center, Chapel Hill, and Video Connection via "Teams"
Call to Order by Vibeke Talley, Chairperson
o Members Present: Vibeke Talley, Martha Bell, Jackie Podger, Carol Kelly, Autumn Cox, Kim
Lamon-Loperfido, Stephanie Boswell and Kelly Kester(joining us via the "Teams Video"
system)
o Members Unable to attend: None
o Visitor: Dr. Robert Ashburn: Autumn and Vibeke introduced Dr. Ashburn, Board Certified
Chaplain(APC-BCC), now retired, with LTC chaplain's experience and experience with close
family member in a nursing home,who has made application to join the committee.
o Resignation: Thomas Hardin
OLD BUSINESS: Minutes May 2, 2022 reviewed and approved with slight change re: membership.
o Committee Member Recruitment: the brochure presented at the May 2022 was reviewed. All
agreed it could use revisions in terms of the importance of the committee's role as well as a
redesign for marketing purposes to attract readers to the material. Autumn encouraged members to
send suggestions to her. Although there are posters explaining the role of the Committee in some
facilities, it is not consistent. The issue will be brought up at the Nov 2022 meeting.
o COVID Precautions. Autumn reviewed the NC and county statistics. She explained different
ways used by facilities to identify levels of COVID activity within the buildings, emphasizing
there are few restrictions on visitors in each facility,but stressing proper hand hygiene and wearing
of masks when necessary. There are no visitor restrictions, nor is a visitor required to identify
vaccination status.
NEW BUSINESS
o Site Visit Reports:
• Signature Healthcare (07/27/2022). Approved as written. Members had laudatory comments
regarding discussions with the NHA, and noted his responses to current issues, including
renovation safety, the use of contract personnel for staffing (nursing), attempts at salary
adjustments for Signature staff, and noticeably improved activity program which residents
were enjoying.
• Peak Resources Brookshire (07/25/2022): Approved with changes. Covid protocols in
place. Overall residents felt staff to be very caring, friendly, and performing duties well.
Mixed reviews from residents about food temperature but pleased with facility cleanliness;
team members comments re: unlocked and unattended areas, a resident call light issue was
immediately addressed by the NHA while committee members were in the building.
o Facility Assignments: Vibeke made new assignments for all members. Autumn was asked to
clarify the visitation process. With enough members, at least two will be assigned to visit
facilities together. However, they are not required to be together when visiting with residents,
family members, or staff. Pertinent comments collected by members are included in the Site
Reports.
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o Ombudsman Report(Autumn Cox, Ombudsman)—including updates regarding facilities'
staffing, concerns, Covid numbers, Staff and Resident Vaccination Status.
• General Staffing Issues: All facilities in our county continue to report staffing issues
necessitating the use of contract/Per Diem from Staffing Agencies. All are trying to eliminate
the use of agency personnel but have had minimal success to date.
• Committee Applications: Rev Ashburn's application for membership was unanimously
approved. Autumn will forward recommendations to the next meeting of the Orange County
Commissioners. Autumn also mentioned another person of interest had contacted her office
and she would report further at our next meeting.
• Resident and Staff Vaccination Requirements: Autumn addressed a member's question re:
NC vaccination requirements for staff. no requirement for all staff to receive Covid
vaccinations. An Adult Care Home can require visitors and unvaccinated persons to use
appropriate PPE, e.g., mask, but there are no requirements for proof of vaccination.
According to CMS Nursing Home staff must have vaccinations.
• Facility Dashboard Status: The state updates health reporting of Covid incidents for
residents and staff members, usually posted on Fridays. All facilities in our Area have had
continued few staff and number of residents ill and on quarantine. Autumn cautions about
reading numbers because many can be incorrect because of reporting and posting date
requirements. She also mentioned most facilities are doing every two-week testing for Covid
among staff.
o Department on Aging Report (Kim Lamon-Loperfido,AFA Certified Dementia Care
Partner,Aging Transitions Administrator, OC DOA)—including recent and upcoming
program announcements:
• OC Master Aging Plan for 2022—2027—completed, awaiting final approval from the
OC Commissioners. Full copy of the plan can be found at the OC DOA Website.
• Sept 8, 2022, 5p—15 h anniversary Seymour Center celebration—all are welcome.
• Fan and Air Conditioning Operation for Heat Relief: The OC DOA has such items
available for county residents who may be in need. This program has been going well.
Contact is through the OC DOA at the Seymour Center site for those with disabilities and
ages 60+who may need heat relief.
• The Aging Transition Staff—currently undergoing a week-long education program
taught by Teepa Snow, a renowned OT in our area who assists understanding dementia
related topics and techniques.
• SHARP Awards (Orange County Department on Aging and the Senior Health
Advocacy and Resource Partners of Orange County)-nominations are being accepted
for Direct Care Workers to be honored by the County Commissioners open until
November 3, 2022,when awards will be announced. Note the OC DOA Site for further
information. The program has been well accepted since its 2016 beginnings.
Reminders:
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• Quarterly Activity Reports due Oct 2022 (which will begin a new fiscal year)
• Next Meeting: 1 November 2022 5:30pm Seymour Center.
Respectfully submitted
Martha Bell, Secretary
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