Minutes - 12-09-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• Plan far two multi-purpose senior centers -one in northern Orange and one in southern Orange • Plan and develop an adult day health center {central Orange) • Promote and establish dental care services in institutional settings • Expand certified nursing assistant (CNA) training for institutions and homebound • Assist family homes with required paperwork to operate • Identify alder persons who are Medicaid eligible and are not being served Commissioner Jacobs complimented Florence Saltys for all she does for seniors in the County. Commissioner Carey complimented Florence Soltys far all her hard work. He made reference to the Charles House in Carrboro and asked if there was a health model anywhere in the region and Florence Soltys said that there might be one in Raleigh. Commissioner Brown asked about the CNA training, which is 80-120 hours with a focus on task orientation. Cherie Rosemond said that it is being taught at the Skills Development Center. However, the training does not include behavior attitudes and how to deal with the aging population. Also, there are not enough people to take the class. John Link suggested working with Economic Development and some of the other advisory groups and agencies an helping the private nursing and adult care homes with the various issues. Commissioner Jacobs said that another possibility that we could look at is helping someone establish a nonprofit to organize this because a nonprofit could apply to the County for help to assist the homes. Jahn Link said that there are an amazing number of people who would like to be a caregiver far $10.00 an hour. He noted that the private agencies require the caregivers to sign a document, which says that they cannot work for a competitor for six months after they leave employment. Board of Health -Jonathan Klein, Chair Dr. Jonathan Klein said that the most important thing is that they have developed and are in the process of finishing their strategic plan. Because this is a large amount of material, it would be helpful to have a work session with the County Commissioners to go over this strategic plan for Health services. They have a very energetic Health Director and a highly professional, hard working staff to deliver important public health services. Their concern is that they know they do not have the adequate health resources to carry out the public health services that the County needs. As a result, they have focused on mandated services, which is the minimum level of services and are not adequate. They feel that even though money is expended that they do not save that much money in the long run. Financially in the long run it is more expensive not to have adequate public health services. Some of the inadequacies are that the salaries are low so there is a high turnover rate. The salaries should at least be partially adequate. In the Environmental Health division, they need three additional people to staff that division. Commissioner Brown made reference to page 21 and noted that 121 swimming pools were inspected in the County but a reference was not made to adult care facilities. She would like to bring forward the issue of more inspections for nursing care facilities. Commissioner Carey made reference to the Health Board's goals for next year and asked if they will meet state standards for inspections and re-inspections. Ron Holdway said that they are running about 85°~ within the timeframes and he expects that to be worse next year. Commissioner Carey wants to know what is necessary to meet those levels 100°l0. Dr. Klein said that they have the information on haw many people they need to bring up their service level. Commissioner Brown made reference to the draft strategic plan that was in the retreat notebook and complimented the Health Board on this initiative. John Link made reference to communicable disease and the increase of 350°~ since 1969. He asked about the major incidences in Orange County.