HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes_9_9_2025 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
Tuesday, September 9, 1 —3 pm
Seymour Center and Virtually
Minutes
In Attendance: Jeff Charles, Jon Wilner, Vibeke Talley, Daniel Leonard,Tracy Holsinger,
Rachel Bearman, Sandy Walker, Jackie Podger, GiGi Rashdi, Mary Lucas, Joanne Wilson;
Guest(s): Rafael Velez; Staff: Janice Tyler, Marilyn Hohl, Kendall McMillan, Lana Dennis,
Rachel Whitney, Leiha Edmonds, Cydnee Sims, Excused Absences: Jerry Gregory, Sheila
Evans
1. Welcome-Tracy started the meeting.The table and the virtual attendees did
introductions.
2. Introductions and Announcements
3. Approval of Minutes—August 12, 2025. Minutes were approved.
Director's Report
4. Staff Updates—Aging Transitions/Volunteer Connect 55 +Specialist— Lana Dennis. Lana
introduced herself and shared her career path to aging.
Wellness Program Assistant position-Waiting to be posted. Janice is in
communication with HR waiting for approval.
5. Celebrating National Falls Prevention Month with Let's Step into Steptember. Janice
shared the STEPtember forms.
6. September is National Senior Center Month. Activities are in the ER
7. Ageism Awareness Day—October 9. One event for that day is the Age Friendly Ecosystem
Summit(see more below).
8. Age Friendly Ecosystem Virtual Summit with George Washington University's Center for
Aging, Health, and Humanities—October 9, 16, 23, 30. Janice shared a flyer for the
event with the group. Two speakers are from North Carolina (AARP and Attorney
General Jeff Jackson's office).
9. Medicare Open Enrollment—October 15- December 7. We expect to serve over 1,000
individuals.
10. Direct Care Worker Awards Nominations and Celebration on Nov. 13. Nomination
forms are available for pickup.You can also submit it online at:
www.orangecountync.gov/SHARPAwards
11. Handy Helper Program Volunteers needed! Interested people can go to Laura or
Shenae.
12. The Fall issue of Endless Possibilities is here! Lots of new activities scheduled!
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
13. Summary of Year 3— Leiha Edmonds.
• 188 indicators for this MAP and 83% are either In Progress or Complete. Our
Employment Workgroup had a pause for Yr3, so data is labeled TBD. The workgroup
had been restarted. Thank you's were shared for those on MAP Workgroups. Yr4 is
bringing easier progress reports for Indicators and will evaluate the impact of MAP
Indicators. Leiha also shared the 2027-32 Planning monthly calendar.
14. Final Year 3 Reports
a. Housing
3.2.1 a. The Senior Housing Guide is updated every two years.
• The 2025 update is almost complete, pending a few last-minute revisions
3.1.2c. New senior housing development applications under review by the local
government staff are reviewed by OCDOA staff for inclusion of livable design elements
• OCDOA is in contact with DHIC regarding design of Maddry Meadows, which is
planned to be built across the street from the Seymour Center. The developer has
received LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit)funding and is expected to move
fo rwa rd.
3.2.1 a. Data identifying race-based, socioeconomic status, and income-based housing
demographics in Orange County are collected.
• Orange County Home Preservation Coalition program evaluation is underway
3.3.3c. Land-banking initiatives are continued, with additional provisions and policies that
facilitate long-term residents to age in their communities, particularly individuals from
diverse racial communities and those who cannot afford and are not eligible for major
necessary home repairs.
• Land banking student has conducted analysis of county wide data on gentrification
and land banking opportunity.
• The Town has a funding agreement with the Northside Neighborhood Initiative for
administrative expenses for the operation of the NNI's land bank.
b. Social Participation and Inclusion
• Reaching multi-lingual through our partners with Refugee Community Partnership,
El Centro and new Bi-lingual Mandarin staff member
• Opportunity for future MAP goals surrounding social inclusion for illiterate older
adults
• Curriculum development underwayfor ageism education for all 8th graders across
the county which will be implemented by Dr. Ryan Lavalley
• Next MAP workgroup meeting is Monday September 15th at 2pm at
Pass more/virtual
c. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
1.1.1 c. Older adults are educated on how to access information about participating
in local government planning and are encouraged to contribute to meetings/ hearings
about outdoor spaces and buildings.
• DEAPR- Orange County Trails Plan Community Workshops hosted on May 18 and
May 21- open to all
• OCDOA-Will invite all agencies to speak or provide information tables in lobby at
both senior centers in year 4 for better education and will post flyers of outreach
events hosted by partnering agencies.
1.1.1 d. Interactive strategies are developed to solicit input from older adults,with emphasis on
racially diverse community members, regarding parks, outdoor spaces, and community
development needs.
• TOCH-Vision Zero- Homestead/Walk Audit of Homestead hosted on June 17th -
Janice and Cyd joined this walk and gave input for older adults who bike and walk
this road to the center.
• DEAPR- Perry Hills Mini Park is now open to the public. Spearheaded by community
of people 65 and over to provided outdoor activities in an underserved community-
Grand Opening was on June 21 st
• Town of HILLS-Walk Fairview Day- an event to gather information, give input and
capture a diverse community. Event will be on Saturday, August 9t"from 8:30am-12
noon
1.2.1 a. Older adults' use of outdoor spaces is encouraged through multi-cultural special
events and educational programs organized by and/or for older adults.
• City of MEBANE- Greenway is now open! It's a 3-mile round trip walk from downtown
to the Senior Center
• OCDOA-Shreds and Meds- Outdoor event at Passmore and Seymour (4/7 and 4/8)
• Spring Picnic at Hargraves partnership with Town of Chapel Hill Parks and
Recreations (5/2)
• Town of HILLS- Uproar Festival of Public Art featuring 60 outdoor work of art
throughout the downtown communities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough.
Event runs from August 1-23.
Mention: Town of HILLS
• Suggested to focus on getting the word out on greenways and parks that are closed
due to flooding caused by hurricane Chantal. Encourage people to stay out until
further notice.
o A section of Riverwalk is now open to the public. Gold Park still remains
closed for repairs.
Cyd shared a flyer from DEAPR regarding feedback on Orange County's trails through Trails Plan
Community Workshops.
Janice shared that Employment Workgroup met with DSS, whose work matched with our
Indicators, and they will be filling out the matrix to show what has been completed. In the
coming months SNAP beneficiaries aged 55-64 will be required to work in order to qualify
to receive benefits or there is an exemption if you are disabled, so we anticipate an
increase in persons requesting assistance from our Employment Specialist.
15. MAP workgroup assignments—Still need board representative for Employment. Jackie
has agreed to serve on the Employment Workgroup. Mary is joining Community Health and
Support Services.
New Business
16. Takeaway lunch program update. Janice shared the takeaway meal program was
extended for two weeks to be able to transition the homebound participants to Meals on
Wheels OC.
17. FY 25-26 Budget updates. Janice shared the Home Community Care Block Grant was
not cut, but the intergovernmental funding formula calculation changed the amount (-
$7,600)we receive. We are not asking Senior Care and DSS to contribute.Aging will
take on the difference. We are getting 2 grants. The PEAS (specifically for folks with
cognitive impairment) grant: $34,430 will be used to purchase food boxes for R Place
and Soltys Place participants and if funding allows clients receiving services through
our Aging Transitions Division. We plan to work with an Orange County CSA farmer to
provide the boxes. The other grant is for Choosing Home Repair($56,627 grant+
$62,000 MAP). We are partnering with the Housing Department for contractors and
assistance in selection of projects. This funding is for higher-level projects that cannot
be managed by Handy Helpers. Handy Helpers is currently installing about 1 ramp per
week.
Jon will be working with the Arts Center to develop a 2-day music and/or drumming
workshop next time instead of 1.
250-300 people came to Seymour Open House on Sunday, September 7! The German Club
provided the delicious food.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
18. Senior Tar Heel Legislature-Vibeke Talley, STHL Delegate and Rafael Velez, STHL
alternate delegate. October 27 and 28 are next meetings.
19. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Joint Community Advisory Committee-Jackie
Podger. Jackie provided a handout on the different types of long-term care available in
Orange County and provides information about Medicare acceptance. This quarter
added a new family care home, Cates Family Care Home. Jackie talked about
differences in fines for newer facilities versus established and/or repeat offender
facilities.
20. Friends of the Passmore Center-October 11 is the Mah Jongg tournament.
21. Friends of the Seymour Center-90's+Afternoon Tea will be held this Thursday,
September 11.
Adjournment
Next meeting: October 14 from 1 -3 p.m.- Passmore Center