HomeMy WebLinkAboutAging Board Minutes-10-10-2023 Orange County Department on Aging
Advisory Board on Aging
MINUTES
Tuesday, October 10, 1 —3 p.m.
Passmore Center Hybrid
Present: Colin Austin, Ann Bradford, Rachel Bearman,Jerri Gregory,Jackie Podger, Vibeke Talley; Staff: Beverly Shuford,
Janice Tyler, Anshu Gupta
Absent: Sandy Walker, Richard White,James Harris,Jeff Charles
1. Welcome
2. Introductions and Announcements:
a. We are hosting an art exhibit that touches on important issues. Some of the art represents the
emotions and experiences of the artist and me be unsettling or objectionable by some. We are
happy to host the art exhibit and will provide a disclaimer that this art or future art is not a
representation of the views of Orange County NC or OCDoA. In addition, a notebook will be
provided for visitors to share their feelings and express themselves in response.
3. Approval of Minutes—September 12, 2023
a. Approved
Director's Report
4. Staff updates
a. Jeanne Chamberlin's retirement Dec. 31
i. Our VITA/SHIIP Coordinator, Jeanne Chamberlin, is retiring Dec 31. Jeanne hopes to
come back after one month of retirement as temporary part-time as the SHIIP
Coordinator. The VITA Coordinator position would need to be filled. This is a unique job
that requires unique skills, but we have a potential candidate who has been working
with VITA and who would be a good fit. The VITA Coordinator/Program Assistant would
be over our Handy Helper program and potentially two new programs, mail
management and patient advocate program as part of the 20 hours a week position.
The VITA position work is more during VITA season.
b. Kathleen Goodhand —Outreach worker
i. Kathleen Goodhand has been hired. She retired from the Orange County where she
worked in DSS, HR and the Health departments. Kathleen has signed her employment
paperwork and will start soon. The position is funded by ARPA funds through next
September. The previous person who held the Outreach Worker position focused on
tabling and the faith community. We want to expand our outreach work in different
ways.
c. Posting Senior Centers Administrator position
i. The County Manager and FIR have signed off on posting the position. We are reviewing
the job description and hope to post by the end of the week. The posting is internal
only.
d. Abby Riddick— Program Assistant for R Place
i. We are using National Family Caregiver Grant funding to hire an assistant to work with
the R Place Respite program. Abby is an MSW student in the 3-year program, she will be
working a few hours a week.
e. Employment Specialist
i. We are actively looking for a person to continue the work of Mike Komives and most
recently Liz Bonus-Blankenship. While we are in this recruitment phase, Robert
Bradford, our other Employment Specialist who is leading our MAP workgroup efforts,
will be temporarily assisting folks with inquiries for job assistance. If you come across
someone who is interested, please let Janice know. If we do not fill in the next 2-3
weeks, we may post the position. The position is 10 hours a week.
5. Early Voting at Seymour Center and Election Day voting at Passmore Center
a. It will be very crowded at the Seymour Center with the local elections and early voting.There
will be a lot of people coming through the center. The Passmore Center is a voting precinct and
will be very busy on Election Day.
6. Asset Management Services (AMS) projects for FY 24
a. Janice reported that we have turned in next year's budget with our list of things that we need
regarding our building, kitchen equip, windows, etc. We are getting on AMS' list so they can put
together their budget.
b. Janice encouraged everyone to take notice of the new furniture at Seymour. It brightens the
place up. The furniture was purchased with grant money and gives the lobby a facelift.
Passmore utilized funds to purchase new, lightweight tables.
7. Direct Care Worker Awards
a. The Awards will take place on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4:30—6 pm, at the Seymour Center. Mark
your calendars. Ann Bradford is involved with the Direct Care Worker Awards and reported that
the Awards' committee extended the nomination deadline to allow for more nominations to
come in. This has been the case in years past as well.
Old Business
8. Five-Year Strategic Plan for Orange County and MAP
a. Orange County is putting together a 5-year strategic plan. Janice, and other department
directors, will spend a day with commissioners and a day with department directors in sub-
committees to discuss the survey results for the plan. Janice will also be working with MAP
leaders to pull out key goals and strategies that we hope will be included in the County strategic
plan. We will see what gets into the plan.
9. Community Health Assessment— Focus Groups are now being scheduled.
a. The survey closed with 540 surveys completed. Thanks to all who completed the survey. The
Health Department is now moving to the focus group component. Janice encouraged them to
do a focus group in Mandarin on Nov 30, at 10 am. There will be multiple focus groups
throughout the County, including one at the Passmore Center on Oct 30, at 10:30 am and the
Seymour Center on Nov. 2 at 10 am.
b. Another strategic planning effort is the revision of the County Land Use Ordinance and Janice is
a part of the workgroup. A community workshop talking about the land use plan will take place
at the Bonnie B Davis Center on Oct 26. It is important that our communities of color are
reached for input.
New Business
10. Elect a Vice-Chair
a. We need a vice-chair for the Aging Board. A couple of names were nominated from the floor,
but Colin recommended that we should make it known to everyone, since we are missing
several members today. All agreed that we should postpone the nominations, but we need to
make this decision soon.
b. Colin's service on the Board has been extended for 1 year, through next summer. Want to have
the Vice-Chair in place for continuity and to lead meetings in the Chair's absence. Board
members serve 3-year terms can serve two back-to-back terms. Colin will send an email to the
board sharing the opportunity and talking about the position. We are looking for someone to
be the Vice-Chair for the rest of this year.
11. Board Vacancies
a. In June, James Harris will finish his second term and cannot be reappointed. Colin will also
finish his term.
b. Saru and Michael resigned. Saru is now in the current Project EngAGE cohort.
c. Some applicants are under 60. The plan is to look over the applications. Janice talked about a
few of the candidates and mentioned that we need to consider the diversity on the board.
i. Jonathan Wilmar has experience at the Art Center.
ii. Judy Miller— nursing background
iii. George Miller— For Profit business
d. Janice will ask the commissioners' office to advertise for board openings.
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
12. MAP Steering Committee
a. The MAP Steering Committee is to be scheduled in November—Janice is trying to figure out a
date, maybe after the elections so that the new mayors are in place.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
13. Senior Tar Heel Legislature— Dick White/Vibeke Talley
a. The STHL met on October 41" & 51" in Raleigh. Vibeke Talle reported that there was an election
of officers to the STHL with good representation (at least 70 counties were represented). The
history of the Senior Tar Heels was reviewed. Kelly Crosbie, Director, NCDHHS Division of
Mental Health presented on Mental Health and Aging. The State is encouraging that Adult
Protective Services develop multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) in all counties. Kristy Preston from
UNC School of Government, talked about the value of these teams and which professions could
be included to improve services to older adults. She stated the Multi-disciplinary Teams can do
case review of individual clients, can do system review or a hybrid model.
14. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee —Jackie Podger
Jackie Podger reported that the first meeting will be Nov. 7 at 5 pm. They will meet to form teams to
conduct the work of the committee.
15. Friends of the Passmore Center—James Harris
a. No update
16. Friends of the Seymour Center
a. No update
Adjournment
Next meeting: November 14,from 1—3 pm—Seymour Center &Virtual