HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes_10_14_2025 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
Tuesday, October 14, 1 —3 pm
Passmore Center and Virtually
Minutes
In Attendance: Jon Wilner, Vibeke Talley, Daniel Leonard,Tracy Holsinger, Jackie Podger,
GiGi Rashdi, Jerry Gregory, Sandy Walker;Virtually: Rachel Bearman, Joanne Wilson;
Guest(s): Rafael Velez; Staff: Janice Tyler, Marilyn Hohl
Excused Absences: Sheila Evans, Jeff Charles
Absent: Mary Lucas
1. Welcome-Tracy started the meeting.
2. Introductions and Announcements
3. Approval of Minutes—September 9, 2025. The minutes had one correction. They were
approved.
Director's Report-Janice attended a multi-disciplinary symposium on Aging and the Family
by UNC Global Affairs, the UNC Center for Aging and Health, and the Nagoya University
Graduate School of Medicine and shared that she learned about what caregiving, health,
and living as an older adult looks like in other Japan.
4. Staff Updates
a. Wellness Program Assistant position- Interviews in process.
b. Seymour Center Evening Facility Manager Assistant-Applications have been
received.
c. Fitness Instructors— Updates on changes were discussed.
5. Ageism Awareness Day-Janice and other staff visited the new NCDHHS building in
Raleigh.
6. Age Friendly Ecosystem Virtual Summit with George Washington University's Center for
Aging, Health, and Humanities— Remaining sessions October 16, 23, 30. Janice
encouraged people to sign up for the remaining sessions.
7. Medicare Open Enrollment—October 15- December 7. Janice expressed her gratitude for
our SHIIP Counselors.
8. Direct Care Worker Awards Nominations and Celebration on Nov. 13-there are 31
nominations so far.
9. NC Coalition on Aging Pioneer Award to Janice Tyler- luncheon ceremony was held in
Raleigh.WCHL also featured Janice as a Hometown Hero.
10. Upcoming Events:
It's Heavy Out There—Let's Talk—Oct. 14 5:30—7 p.m.—Seymour Center
Medicare Changes and Choices—Oct. 16 1-2:30 p.m. - Passmore Center and
Oct. 21 1-2:30 p.m. Seymour Center
Journey to Brain Wellness—Oct. 18 9:30 a.m. —2:30 p.m.—Seymour Center
Advance Directives 101 —Oct. 23 4-6 pm—Seymour Center
Scam Awareness in Orange County—Oct. 30 10 a.m. —Passmore Center
Veteran's Appreciation Breakfast— Nov. 11 8:30 a.m.— Passmore Center
New Business
11. Successfully transitioned the takeaway lunch program- MOWOCNC will serve meals to
the homebound individuals that were previously served. Janice recently was working with
New Hanover County on the development of their next Aging Plan and had an opportunity
to talk with them about their lunch program. An outside caterer prepares 1,200 meals a
day in their kitchen, and their program is still doing drive up/takeaway meals for about 250
people.
12. FY 25-26 Budget updates
a. Federal Government Shutdown-We are continuing business as usual for now.
b. Choosing Home Program grant- $56,627. Will be used for home repairs in tandem
with the Orange County Housing Department and Home Preservation Coalition.
$62,000 from MAP will also be used for home projects.
c. PEAS (Providing Elders Additional Sustenance) Grant -$34,430. We will work with
Fieldstone Farm to provide food boxes (vegetables, cheese, bread, soup, etc.)worth up
to$40 every other week($70 worth of food a month) for older adults 60+who are living
with cognitive impairment.
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
13. Workgroup Leaders meeting update
Planningfor 2027-32 MAP.Workgroup leaders met last week to discuss community
surveys and brainstorming for the next Master Aging Plan. The previous survey is available
online in the MAP document in the very end pages. This survey will go out next summer
throughout Orange County with emphasis on reaching our underserved communities, and
will be available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Subject area posters will be created
and shared with findings from survey to have another layer of community input; this is a
community plan, not just our department plan. Workgroups will work together to come up
with feasible, community-driven goals.
Dan asked about available resources for our unhoused populations in Orange County.
Janice shared there are future plans for a day center on Homestead Road that will be a
collaboration between UNC Chapel Hill and Orange County. Tracy shared that she read
they will be able to support individuals strugglingwith substance abuse.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
14. Senior Tar Heel Legislature—Vibeke Talley, STHL Delegate and Rafael Velez, STHL
alternate delegate. Met last week in Raleigh. Agenda: 1.Wanted to amend bylaws
(currently each county has 1 vote: delegate 1 vote, alternate no vote) to give vote to
delegate- did not pass. Vibeke said there are counties with one delegate/one vote, so
this does keep it more equitable. Quorum is 40 attendees and expanding it would make
it 80- last week was 70ish total. Other wording amendments were voted into the bylaws.
2. Elected new officers, Vibeke is happy with the results. New speaker, Gail Woody, is
dynamic and motivating. Efforts will be targeted and delegated for specific initiatives
and communicative across counties.
15. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Joint Community Advisory Committee—Jackie
Podger. Committee is continuing to visit facilities. The Graceful Living Facility has
switched and now is accepting Medicaid patients again after relocating 18 residents.
Not yet able to visit PruittHealth Carolina Point because of a COVID outbreak. The
committee is meeting tonight.
16. Friends of the Passmore Center— Holiday Market, Nov. 22 9:30 a.m. —2 p.m. The Mah
Jongg tournament this past Saturday was a huge success, and they raised approximately
$3,000 for programming.
17. Friends of the Seymour Center—Trip to Biltmore, Dec. 3-5
Adjournment
Next meeting: November 11 from 1 —3 p.m.—Seymour Center