HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes 08 13 2024Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
Tuesday, August 12, 1 – 3 pm
Seymour Center Hybrid
MINUTES
In Attendance: Ann Bradford, Jackie Podger, Vibeke Talley, Sandy Walker, Tracy Holsinger, Jon Wilner, Jerry
Gregory, Jeffery Charles; Friends Board: Sheila Evans (Seymour Center Friends); Guest: Dan Leonard and Staff:
Janice Tyler, Beverly Shuford, Rachel Whitney, Cydnee Sims, Brandi Beeker, Shenae McPherson, Kendall
McMillan, Marilyn Hohl, Leiha Edmonds (virtual), Dawn Smith (virtual), Kathleen Goodhand (virtual).
Absent With Notice: Rachel Bearman, GiGi Rashdi
1. Janice welcomed everyone to the meeting. She informed the group about Dick White’s passing. The
group reflected on his legacy and shared fond memories. Janice circulated a card for the board to sign
and let us know about his service.
2. Introductions were made. Dan Leonard is visiting today as an interested board applicant.
3. Approval of Minutes – June 11, 2024
Director’s Report
4. Staff updates
a. Beverly Shuford is retiring September 1- she will be on vacation the last two weeks of August.
Bev has done great work over the years, and we will miss her! Applause all around. Her
retirement party is on August 29 from 4-6 p.m. at the Passmore Center and everyone is invited.
b. Kim Lamon-Loperfido resigned in late June and Kendall McMillian has been promoted to the he
Aging Transitions Administrator position. Janice has not received approval yet to post Kendall’s
old job.
c. Aging Transitions/Volunteer Connect 55+ Aging Specialist has been posted and interviews are
scheduled for August 16.
d. Volunteer Coordinator position has been posted and interviews will be scheduled for the week
of August 19.
5. Janice asked everyone to check out the new Endless Possibilities activity guide; there are a lot of
programs/events scheduled for the coming weeks.
a. New EP process- transitioned away from N&O and McClatchy because of budgeting, lack of
contract, and required insertion into all of N&O subscribers across Wake County, which is not
appropriate for us. We now have contracts directly with the same printer and graphic designer.
Endless Possibilities volunteers are delivering the publication to over 100 locations in the
county. The last invoice before dropping McClatchy was more than double, so now we are
saving a lot of money. We can use that money for more ads, locations, etc. We also have more
autonomy in our EP schedule.
6. Transportation input sessions: will be held here [Seymour] and Passmore. The transit plan is being
updated for services in the county.
New Business
7. New lunch caterer- applause! Beau Catering on Weaver Dairy Road. Excellent food. Fresh fruit!
8. Elect a vice chair- Anne Bradford is taking a leave of absence early Sep. to Nov. No one volunteered at
this time, so we will revisit this at the next board meeting, as we will need a board member to chair the
meetings for September – November.
9. Board Appointments
a. Welcome to Dr. Tracy Holsinger!
b. The board has two vacancies. Applications were reviewed. Janice suggested Dan Leonard and
Dr. Joanne Wilson, MD. Dr. Wilson would add needed diversity to our board. Tracy knows her
and speaks highly of her work ethic! Cyd, Rachel, and Shenae know her as well. She is newly
retired.
c. Janice will invite Dr. Wilson to our next meeting.
d. Dan shared that he earned his associate degree in nursing, bachelor’s in biology, and master’s
in pathology, worked in labs and various hospitals, was a psych nurse for 10 years, got involved
with OCDOA through Fit Feet, and is now eager to return to volunteering.
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
10. Anne gave instructions to MAP workgroup leaders: Please share a brief overview of Year 2 Highlights.
a. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings- Cyd shared handout with table: 4 educational opportunities reached 135
seniors, Spanish & Mandarin speakers; exceeded goal for creating outdoor space for older adults;
discussed AARP grant for pedestrian safety and is following up with the community on progress.
b. Transportation- Brandi shared: increased access to transit for through programming; completed first
transportation helpline survey; 40 EdTap transportation utilized in last year; 230 rides completed past
year; helpline served 180 callers each quarter. Upcoming popup event has survey with great things
proposed with support of our workgroup- more MOD cars, rerouting Hillsborough loop to be two routes
which will cut down on times significantly. Janice is reapplying for grant that supplies Brandi’s position.
c. Housing- Kendall shared handout with table: 2023 senior housing guide by Ryan Lavelly and student
updated every 2 years and is great resource for senior housing; Longleaf Trace being added- limited
income restricted housing, great location, 50/60 units; MPA student doing research and made action plans
and handouts; new data analysis in OC and Hillsborough for home repairs. Janice shared Greenfield
Commons had outside people come in before our local people, so we need to prioritize our local people
first going forward. Jancie emphasized getting people housed is major priority.
d. Social Participation, Respect and Inclusion- Rachel shared handout with table: all Aging staff completed
a training with Autism Society, which included a walkthrough of the building to make recommendations
for neurodiverse people and for programing; completed English, Spanish, and Mandarin welcome packets
and the Lobby Communications Project, restarting Coffee & Introductions program; shoutout to Kathleen-
related to outreach for low vision and other minority serving events. Want to do education in school
system in ageism and/or aging education. Rachel will share contact info for the Autism society.
e. Employment- Leiha on Zoom reporting for Robert: reestablishing Employment workgroup; getting
employment and referrals done; engagement of partners like Durham Tech but also faith-based groups;
refining website for accessibility.
f. Community Support and Health Services- Shenae shared handout with table: graduation of Project
Engage class 6 with 13 new senior leaders, up to 77 in total; OCDOA End of Life Senior Resource Team
offered End of Life expo, over 34 vendors, over 180 people served, first program of its kind in Orange
County, asked to do it again already; Alliance Health hosted Med Assist event and provide over 50
homebound client with over the counter medicine, served over 600 people, second partner with them
and looking for 3rd.
g. Communication and Information- Bev shared handout with table: two things other groups touched on is
website and Lobby Communications Project, which shows things funnel through communications; see our
updated website for much more appealing and user friendly; attended over 15 community events over
450 people; Endless Possibilities was improved as well; new e-newsletter platform to see better data and
user friendly. Dan spoke about inclusivity of Latino older adults, and we have significantly expanded
programs for our Spanish speaking population as that population has also grown significantly.
10. Kick-off of Year Three- Janice needs us to reconnect with who is on what workgroup because it is a
requirement of each Aging board member to serve in a workgroup.
• A member is needed for outdoor spaces because James Harris’ time on board has maxed out and he
has rotated off the board.
• Workgroup assignments:
o Jon- social participation
o Dan- also wants social participation
o Tracy- prefers health but is flexible
• Janice will reach out to GiGi regarding Outdoor spaces.
• Leiha has the Year 3 matrix ready. This is an important year to get the more difficult projects
completed in Year 3 and 4, as Year 5 is spent preparing for the next MAP.
• Our MPA student intern completed work on recommendations for the update of the Orange County
Land Use Ordinance. Those recommendations have been submitted to the Planning Department and
the consultants. This is our opportunity to ensure that age-friendly policies are reflected in the UDO.
• New County Manager- Travis is making headway on County Strategic Plan.
• All Ages, All Stages is being announced publicly 9/27.
• The next US President will determine whether a White House Conference on Aging will be held.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
11. Senior Tar Heel Legislature - Vibeke Talley- hosting monthly meetings on Zoom for discussions on what to
bring up to legislature next year; soon to be deciding what issues will be brought forward in October; that will
finalize what 5 issues and resolutions will be brought forward in the Spring. Dan suggested a large church for a
meeting place in Raleigh for a meeting. Will be tabling monthly at Seymour to share info about what they’re
doing, 29 people stopped by to talk and had great discussion; 34 people stopped by at Passmore last month,
showing that efforts to spread awareness to those unfamiliar with it were successful. It is not advertised in the
current EP but could add it to e-newsletters. Tabling happens 2nd Wednesday of every month.
12. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Joint Community Advisory Committee - Jackie Podger- still doing
visits; multiple people completed 35 hours of training and can now apply to start doing visits. Visits happen
once a quarter.
13. Friends of the Passmore Center- no representative present.
14. Friends of the Seymour Center- Sheila Evans- Friends did not meet in the summer. Yearly retreat has been
postponed waiting for new people joining in Sep. Sep 24: 90’s + Afternoon Tea at Seymour happening and still
being sponsored by them. Next cooking class will be plant based. Friends are helping with catering for the
Murder Mystery Dinner party. Other programs: Lunch and Learn; Mid-Autumn festival. Speed Dating for
Friendships.
Adjournment
Anne appreciated posters and reports from Aging staff from Year 2. Closing thanks shared. Janice
encouraged members to take copies of the new EP.
Next meeting: September 10 from 1 – 3 p.m. –Passmore Center & Virtual