HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdvisory Board on Aging Minutes_2_10_2026 Orange County Advisory Board on Aging
Tuesday, February 10, 1 —3 pm
Passmore Center and Virtually
Minutes
In Attendance: Tracy Holsinger, Sandy Walker, Jackie Podger, Jerry Gregory, Daniel Leonard,
Vibeke Talley, Rachel Bearman, Joanne Wilson, Virtual: Mary Lucas; Guest(s): Rafael Velez;
Micki McCarthy MSW(c) (virtual); Staff: Janice Tyler, Marilyn Hohl, Shenae McPherson,
Jacob Toomey, Latonya Brown, Cyd Sims, Jeanne Chamberlain; Excused Absences: GiGi
Rashdi, Jon Wilner, Jeff Charles
1. Welcome-Tracy welcomed the group.
2. Introductions and Announcements-The group went around the table and online to do
introductions.
3. Approval of Minutes—January 13, 2026.The minutes were approved.
Director's Report
4. Staff Updates—Seymour Center Evening Facility Manager position is posted. Closing this
Thursday. Many applications have been submitted!
5. CPAAA Annual Monitoring visit—Rescheduled due to inclement weather to March 9-11.
6. Restoration at the Passmore Center due to water event. AMS has been quickly working
on it.
7. 1001h Aging Well Together Radio Show on Feb. 26. Janice and Marilyn will be the guests.
8. UNC School of Social Work Legacy Speakers Series—March 5—Friday Center. Aging is
the theme this year.We will be tabling at this event.
9. Meeting update with community partners and serving the unsheltered population,
including hosting Cold Weather Cots at the Seymour Center. This is a continuing
conversation happening with SORAD, Emergency Services, etc.
10. VITA Tax Season has started—Service runs from Feb. 1 —April 15.
11. Orange County Senior Games registration is open through March 27. Latonya shared
the sign-up goal is 325 participants! We are looking to upgrade our medals.
12. New March-May Endless Possibilities publication has arrived.
Spring EP Launch Party-Feb. 17 9 a.m. -Seymour Center
13. Just a sample of events this month. Review Endless Possibilities for a complete list.
a. Black History Month Celebration Activities
Annual Black History Month Breakfast was held on Feb. 7 at Hargraves
Center
Black History Month Movie Series at Passmore Center
b. Love Is In the Air Dance/Banquet with Hannah Ruth Foundation-Feb. 7 4-6 pm -
Seymour Center
c. Lunar New Year- Feb.13 12-2-Seymour Center
d. Intergenerational Tech Fair-Feb. 21 10 am-1 pm - Bonnie B. Davis Center
e. Second Act in the Workforce-Feb. 26 10 am-Seymour Center This event is to
prepare folks for the Job Fair-April 13 at the Seymour Center co-sponsored
with DSS
14. Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Success Report-Jeanne Chamberlin, SHIIP Program
Manager. Jeanne shared a PowerPoint titled, "Orange County SHIIP 2025"and shared
statistics. OC SHIIP saved $577,000 and helped 840+ individuals this open enrollment
season.
2022-27 Master Aging Plan
15. Second Quarter Year 4 Reports
a. Community Supports and Health Services:
Objective 7.1: Develop supports and resources to promote mental/ behavioral health
Strategy 7.1.1: Offer training to increase knowledge for community members and
professionals.
7.1.1 a At least 6 trainings offered quarterly
Mental Health trainings offered in partnership with Alliance, OCHD, and DSS: over 65
participants trained in CRM, QPR, and AMHFA(DSS)
7.1.2c Creation of organizational and agency partnerships forth e dissemination of
materials identifying services and providers.
16 events attended with a total 2,562 of people reached. Shared information on area
resources and information on community resources, 988 and 211. Provided other agency
specific information/resources (OCHD)
7.1.3d. Caregiver support programs are created and implemented.
R Place respite program continues to serve 16 friends living with dementia and their care
partners as well at 30 volunteers with a weekly social engagement program offering 4 hours
of respite care at the Seymour Center. (OCDOA)
Objective 7.3: Coordinate local efforts to enhance affordable health care support.
Strategy 7.3.1: Increase utilization of support services.
Wellness Program hosted Brain Health Symposium (OCDOA)
• 4 partnering agencies
• Providing Brain Health resources via 4 sessions
• 20 people attended on a Saturday
MedAssist/UNC/Cedar Grove Community Center hosted the fall Mobile Free Pharmacy
event in October.
• Served 709 participants/56 homebound individuals/ 138 uninsured individuals.
• Over 46%were people of color.
Objective 7.4: Expand services to help older adults age in community
Strategy 7.4.1: Expand available support for older adults from communities of color.
Partnering with Friends of Chapel Hill Library and starting book program for MOWOCNC
clients. (MOWOCNC)
Strategy 7.4.2: Continue to develop Orange County as a dementia-capable community.
7.4.2a. The number of trained staff at partnering agencies is increased to ensure dementia-
friendly health services.
32 community partner members received dementia friendly community training. (OCDOA)
b. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings:
Goal: Optimize the usability of outdoor spaces and buildings for older adults
Key Updates & Highlights (1.1.1.c, 1.1.1 d, 1.2.1d)
• DEAPR will hold an Advisory Board Meeting in March to align Bike and Pedestrian Plans
prior to presentation to the BOCC.
• Phase II-B of Blackwood Farm Park has been approved.
• Volunteers with Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation are actively working to
support the revitalization of the historic Hollow Rock General Store.
• DEAPR conducted listening sessions in two locations (Southern Human Services and
Bonnie B Davis Center)with participation from older adults.
• OCDOA featured Southern Community Park(Chapel Hill), a 72-acre facility, is now the
second largest park in Orange County and includes trails, picnic shelters, play areas, dog
park, courts, and multiple fields in the current Spring Endless Possibilities.
• Mebane continues construction to expand its Greenway Network.
Programs & Engagement Opportunities (1.2.1 a)
• OCDOA offered The Great Outdoors in Orange County Series: Staying Active in Cold
Weather in partnership with Chapel Parks and Recreation.
• OCDOA Senior Centers ongoing outdoor activities include Farmers Markets, Garden
Clubs, FitLot classes, and Outdoor Tai Chi.
• OCDOA special events include:
Picnic with Pride (Oct 3) sponsored by LGBTQ SRT—over 70 participants
NC State Fair trip (Oct 21)-26 participants
Eno River hiking outing(Nov 7)—3 participants
• DEAPR is sponsoring The Nature of Orange Photo Contest, ongoing until May 31St(youth
and adult divisions)—contestants are encouraged to take photos in County park,
specifically focused on water and wetlands
Municipal& Partner Updates (1.2.1 a, 1.2.1 d)
• Hillsborough will host portions of the Orange County Senior Games sponsored by OCDOA
and other municipalities in town parks.
• Hillsborough continues collaboration on the Countywide Trails Plan and Bike &
Pedestrian Plan with DEAPR.
Accessibility& Future Improvements (1.2.2 b, 1.2.1 f)
• Hillsborough added new benches at Cates Creek Park
• Town of Hillsborough will request shade structures at the entrance to the Riverwalk and
additional accessible picnic tables for FY27.
• Town of Hillsborough plans to submit a universal design resolution for development of
parks, greenways, and public spaces for approval in March.
•Trail access between Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center and Fairview Park was
improved with stable surfacing and a culvert.
c. Housing:
3.2.1 b.The Aging in Community speaker series is revitalized and 2-4 learning events
per year are held.
• 2 Events are in the scheduled for Spring 2026
o March 11 4-5:30pm "Navigating Today's Tech"
o April 15 4-5:30pm "How to hire Contractors"
3.2.1a. Data identifying race-based, socioeconomic status, and income-based
housing demographics in Orange County are collected.
• Gathered Affordable Housing List from OCAHC. Will consider how this fits into
Larger data needs.
3.3.1a. The Orange County Home Preservation Coalition (OCHPC)effectively collects
race-based data for homeowners and tenants requesting services from and served by
the coalition.
• A program evaluation of the coalition was completed and published online in
December 2025
3.3.3a. Sustainable funding is allocated to support minor home repair programs that
specifically target small to medium size projects (e.g., OCDOA Handy Helpers),
including administrative support and materials for repairs.
• Choosing Home funds were received by OCDOA to meet$5-10K repair job types
• Handy Helpers continues to be funded with stable flow of projects
New Business
16. FY 26-27 Budget. $21.5 million deficit. Departments have been asked to fill out
Department Functions Inventory forms.
Tracy asked the definition of"mandated,"Jancie said Aging is not a mandated
department, but departments like health department, safety, etc. are.
17. Aging Board Report to BOCC on March 10 at 7 pm at Whitted Building in Hillsborough.
18. Board Appointments. Janice shared Rachel's term expires and there will be a vacancy.
Jackie's term expires in June, but she can be reappointed-Jackie shared she would like
to continue. Janice encouraged Rafael to apply to be a board member since he is
currently involved as a guest. Next meeting we can review applicants as a board.
Committee Progress Reports if needed:
19. Senior Tar Heel Legislature—Vibeke Talley, STHL Delegate and Rafael Velez, STHL
alternate delegate. Vibeke shared STHL is meeting on March 3 &4 in Winston Salem.
They are tabling again and received 11 letters from the available letter template so far.
Rafel suggested packaging them together and including a cover letter. Representatives
and Senators would get the packaged letters. Vibeke suggested sending them to OCCC
and Manager's Office. Joanne also suggested emailingthe PDFs of the letters.
20. Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Joint Community Advisory Committee—Jackie
Podger. Jackie shared they had their meeting last month and they discussed the
ongoing conversations about interactions with Carolina Pointe Pruitt.
21. Friends of the Passmore Center- no report.
22. Friends of the Seymour Center- no report.
Next meeting: March 10 from 1 —3 p.m.—Seymour Center