HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes_12_9_2025 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
Tuesday, December 9, 1 —3 pm
Passmore Center and Virtually
Minutes
In Attendance: Jon Wilner, Joanne Wilson,Vibeke Talley, Rachel Bearman, Mary Lucas, GiGi
Rashdi, Jackie Podger, Tracy Holsinger, Sandy Walker, Guest(s): Rafael Velez, Danielle
DeCaprio; Staff: Janice Tyler, Marilyn Hohl, Dawn Smith, Shenae McPherson, Kendall
McMillian, Cyd Sims, Rachel Whitney, Leiha Edmunds, Latonya Brown; Excused Absences:
Daniel Leonard, Jerry Gregory, Shelia Evans, Jeff Charles
1. Welcome-Tracy started the meeting and the group went around the table &online and
did introductions.
2. Introductions and Announcements
3. Approval of Minutes— November 11, 2025. The minutes were approved.
Director's Report
4. Staff Updates
a. Seymour Center Facility Manager—Position is posted. There is an internal
candidate of interest, and the process should go quickly.
5. Serving unsheltered persons at the Seymour Center. Janice shared the status of
unsheltered individuals and the potential of creating a bag policy in collaboration with the
Library with the assistance of the County Attorney. Danielle DeCaprio spoke about how her
SORAD team can support us.The Street Outreach team is a great resource.They were
understaffed, but are now at full capacity, and can do rounds more frequently to support
unsheltered individuals.
Danielle shared the building at 2700 Homestead is a year away from hosting cold weather
cots, and a day center is a couple of years away. She offered training/meeting with her
Street Outreach team. Cyd shared that it would be extremely helpful, especiallyfor our
weekend staff. Danielle shared the 1 st and 311 Saturday of the month in 2026 will have Street
Outreach.
Danielle shared the County Manager/BOCC just approved the lease for cold weather cots,
but future activities/day center programming is unknown as of right now. Janice shared that
a multiple year wait for a day center may be too long; there are concerns about both the
participants at our centers, as well as older and younger unhoused individuals.
Jackie asked about a theoretical bag policy for Seymour/Passmore and how that would
work. Jacob shared his experience at another county's library that limited bag size and
number of bags.
Joanne shared her perspective about Seymour and Passmore's main goal to serve our
seniors and how that could potentially be compromised and/or how it can change with the
presence of younger individuals in the building.
Janice and Cyd discussed the importance of Center staff having professional support to
best serve those with mental illness, those experiencing homelessness, etc.
6. Project EngAGE Retreat— December 10. Shenae shared the event will be awesome and a
great opportunity to bring graduates back together! Rachel shared the Meals on Wheels
Project EngAGE graduates are excited!
New Business
7. Meeting Attendance. Janice read the policy on Advisory Board attendance to remind the
group.
8. FY25-26 Budget—Working on ITGC project request for Rec Trac upgrade. Janice shared
that we had a meeting on 12/8 with IT to share our requests for Rec Trac upgrades and
updates. It will be a quick turnaround with the budget due mid-February.
9. Changes in SNAP benefits.The new work/volunteer requirement for older adults
receiving SNAP benefits has been implemented.
Orange County Food Security List at go.ncsu.edu/feedorangecounty.
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
10. First Quarter Year 4 Reports from Workgroup Leaders
a. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
• Tracy shared Eagle Scouts may be a great place to make trails as their project.
• Met with workgroup in late October—Year 4, Quarter 1. Priorities for Year 4:
• 1. Partner with lead agencies to bridge the disconnect by offering specific
classes/workshops/tabling or pop ups events that will help older adults
understand and participate in local government planning for outdoor spaces. In
turn, this will ensure that older adults are at the forefront and their needs are
given great consideration for outdoor projects. Starting with levels of
engagement, inclusion and empowerment.
o Examples would be to offer classes as follows: How public hearings work,
how to voice concerns or submit feedback or speak at meetings. In
addition, providing printed notices at centers so that they are aware of
meetings and when held. Making sure printed materials are available in
multi-languages.
• 2. Improving Accessibility and physical barriers-free spaces including, improved
trails (which DEAPR- Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and
Recreation is focusing on), or walkable spaces-that are pedestrian friendly. The
right infrastructure makes outdoor activities safer and more feasible for older
adults. For example, with proper trails, handrails, rest areas, and other
supportive features in place (water fountains), older adults of varying abilities
can safely participate in activities like hiking. Additionally, accessibility features
Like textured pathways, audio cues, and tactile elements can make outdoor
experiences enjoyable for those with low vision or who are blind, that would
otherwise be inaccessible to them. Gentle grades than steep inclines, winder
paths for wheelchairs and walkers, nonslip surfaces and accessible parking
close to entrances, strong way finders and cell phone reception (technology).
Jacob share his example of when he took a group hiking and the conversations
regarding accessibility)
• 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
• Hosted another County trail plan on Sept 24 and 28. This gave community
members a chance to give feedback on the plans. In addition, they are planning
to attend community pop-up events - OC Roadshow, and Soccer.com Center
scheduled for October for an even wider reach. They also offered an online
survey which will close on Nov 9th for another way for voices to be heard.
OCDOA
• Working with lead agencies to share meetings and hearings that older adults
may participate, ensuring their voices are heard.Will post information at both
centers.
• 1.2.1 b. Ad iffe rent park is highlighted quarterly, on the OCDOA website and in the
Endless Possibilities Activity Guide,with the encouragement of participation by
everyone.
OCDOA
• Homestead Park and Aquatic Center-which has received several improvements
including hvac installed, roof repairs, deep cleaning of the flooring, improved the
Locker rooms'shower spaces, drained the pool to complete repairs, and
pressure-wash the pool deck among other infrastructure upgrades.
• Outdoor center improvement: Worked with our Asset Management Services to
create signage to encourage use of our bike racks at Seymour Center. Hopefully
there will be an increase use of this outdoor amenity once the signs are
installed. The signage will be in 3 different languages with a bike symbol for
better directives.
• Outdoor group acknowledgement: Even during the cold weather our gardeners
at both centers are still attentive. There are still conversations regarding the trail
around the pond located at Meadowlands/Passmore Center and we hope to get
some movement at some point in the future. Passmore gardeners had a small
set back. Avan landed in the garden, which busted down the fountain, and many
decorative items, however, all is replaceable and thankfully, no one was injured.
b. Social Participation
• We continue to build our relationship with the Refugee Support Center and
continue to brainstorm for outreach
• We have been added to their event list in hopes of tabling at some of their
planned events
• The Department on Aging is officially a partner with Orange County Schools.
Shenae, Samantha and I joined the onboarding presentation for the partnership.
• Both Orange County and Chapel Hill Carrboro schools seem excited for the
class but slowed down with getting on the schedule with each teacher
• Did find out that Chapel Hill Carrboro schools will end up being about 20 classes
for the year
c. Community Support and Health Services
• Objective 7.1: Develop supports and resources to promote mental/
behavioral health
Meals on Wheels Orange County NC: Piloting new intake with scales and scoring
models related to social isolation and loneliness to better determine needs of
clients
• 7.1.2.c Creation of organizational and agency partnerships for the
dissemination of materials identifying services and providers.
Orange County Health Department: 18 events attended with a total 775 of
people reached. Shared information on area resources and information on
community resources, 988 and 211. Provided other agency specific
information/resources.
• OCDOA and UNC hosted the first community outreach meet and greet for the
FOCUS-OAC group, July 2025. (we hosted 2 additional community partners and
3 community members with lived experience)
• 7.5.1 c. Scheduled offerings are increased to account for varying schedules
and class preferences.
New fitness instructor Eric Zeilger-increased class offerings and increasing
total participation
FitLot- 15; Groove Line Dance - 15; Sit to Be Fit (Arthritis class)-35; Pilates- 12
Eric is also a multilingual instructor(can provide instruction in Mandarin and
Spanish)
Jacob Toomey is also a FitLot instructor and has gotten participants to be happy
working out outside in the cold!
• Strategy 7.5.2: Educational programming to increase residents'awareness
of and comfort with class offerings
7.5.2b. Hosting of health education classes is expanded in rural areas.
Orange County Health Department: Provided 4 presentations serving 106
participants
Shenae shared how this is a great accomplishment in serving our rural older
adults and educating them on the services available to them!-
• 7.7.3b.Affordable Green Burial financial options are identified and
expanded
The Bluestem Community Fund Committee has awarded the full amount for a
natural burial to 2 recent applicants to the Fund.
d. Housing
• 3.2.1 a. The Senior Housing Guide is updated every two years.
o The 2025 update is published on the website and distributed regularly
• 3.2.1 b. The Aging in Community speaker series is revitalized and 2-4 learning
events per year are held.
o 2 Events are in the works for Spring 2026, one about working with
contractors, and one about navigating technology
• 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.
o OCDOA continues to be in contact with DHIC regarding design of Maddry
Meadows
o OCDOA and CPL have connected with DHIC new potential senior housing
development and will be reviewing plans/consulting as development
moves forward.
• 3.2.1 c. A chart with data from Orange County and the Towns about the percent
of affordable housing stock that is available to those earning 30%, 60%, 80%,
100%, and 120%AMI is produced and disseminated, especially to organizations
and individuals from racially diverse communities. Include how many
households are in each AMI group.
o Affordable Housing Analysis is being conducted by partners in the
development workgroup of OCAHC
• 3.3.2d. Education workshops catering to older adults continue to be offered
around minor to major home repairs. Notification of workshops is disseminated
to organizations and individuals from racially diverse communities.
o Hope Renovations has developed an educational series that caters to
older adult homeowners. We will be proposing it to Coastal Credit Union
for funding.
e. Employment
• Janice reported for Estella Johnson, our Employment Specialist.
• Job Fair focused on mature older adults on April 18 at Seymour. Partnering with
DSS. Goal to have 35 businesses represented at job fair.
• Estella reported her first job placement success last week!
11. Planning for 2027-32 MAP
• Leiha shared that the survey design team at Indiana University is working on topic
areas for each workgroup's survey.
• Early 2026 will have all workgroup leaders doing piloting/quality checks so that the
2027-32 MAP Community Engagement Survey can ready for May 2026
• Leiha is working with a UNC MPH student who will help with dissemination for the
survey over the Summer.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
12. Senior Tar Heel Legislature-Vibeke Talley, STHL Delegate and Rafael Velez, STHL
alternate delegate. Vibeke shared the leaders want to promote food collecting&
distributing and our senior centers will be used for collection; will be working with our
ongoing food collection. Rafael shared what he suggested to his workgroup: letters sent
to legislature members from Passmore and Seymour participants that have letterhead,
are handwritten, signed, etc., for representatives to make the difference when they
read- have a format for these letters and they can share and/or pick up at the
information table and then they bulk mail them out. Marilyn said she can work on
creating a template.
13. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Joint Community Advisory Committee-Jackie
Podger. Jackie shared Pruitt Carolina Pointe are in the process of developing a new
rehabilitation hallway with 6 trac vent beds, which would be the only in Orange County.
Brookdale Senior Living Friend for Life is offering referrals where you can earn $3,250 for
a referral, which would be taken out of the residents' bill.
14. Friends of the Passmore Center- Dawn shared the Holiday Market was a huge success!
There will be a vendor survey sent out as well.
15. Friends of the Seymour Center-Janice shared they had a successful Biltmore trip!
Jon shared the second Art Across the Generations will be March 51" and 1211 at the Art
Center.
Adjournment
Next meeting: Tuesday,January 13 from 1 -3 pm-Seymour Center