Aging Advisory Board Minutes 061014

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ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes June 10, 2014 PRESENT: Leo Allison, Heather Altman, Virginia Brown, Peggy Cohn, Ed Flowers, Lorenzo Mejia, Donna Prather, Dick White EXCUSED: Alex Castro STAFF: Mary Fraser, Kathie Kearns, Ethan Lechner, Yvette Missri, Cherie Rosemond, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order by Chair Heather Altman at the Central Orange Senior Center. Following introductions it was announced that former Capstone Team member Yvette Garcia-Missri has been hired as the staff support for Project EngAGE. The minutes of the May 13 Advisory Board meeting were approved by consensus. In her Director’s Report Janice Tyler referenced the Department’s monthly column in the Chapel Hill News. She announced that the new County Manager Bonnie Hammersley will arrive in late June. Ms. Tyler also reported on her involvement in the Coalition on Aging’s Advocacy Day on June 3. More than 200 advocates, wearing red, visited their local legislators to lobby against cuts to Home & Community Care Block Grant and Medicaid services. She had just received a Coalition email stating that some of the funding has been restored. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program hosted its annual Recognition Dinner on June 5 at the Friday Center. The RSVP Advisory Council sponsored a Gatsby Gala fundraiser to pay for this event. During New Business Ms. Tyler announced that she will appear before the Board of County Commissioners this evening to defend the Department on Aging’s FY 14-15 budget request. She summarized the requested increase in funds for additional Saturday hours at the Seymour Center, additional meals for the Senior Lunch Program, and money for equipment repairs and replacement formerly paid by Asset Management. She added that the Outside Agency funding requests will also be reviewed at tonight’s BOCC meeting. Discussion followed about the current status of the Mobile Dental Project for long term care residents. Mary Fraser began the Master Aging Plan Update by announcing that a Steering Committee meeting will be held on the normal Advisory Board meeting date in July. Carol Woods will host and provide lunch. She stated that Yvette Missri is revising the curriculum for the Project EngAGE class that will begin in September. Changes include expanding the number of sessions, reordering the material presented, streamlining content, and including more time for group interaction. Candidates for Class 2 will be reviewed at the August Advisory Committee meeting. Discussion followed on the qualifications for those candidates, with agreement that the minimum age should be 55 years. Ms. Fraser reported that the Class 1 graduates are meeting on the first Monday of each month and they have divided into three senior resource teams. Their activities include working with neighborhood organizations and the Sheriff Department’s Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) project and Neighborhood Watch. Lorenzo Mejia requested an information sheet to use for recruitment. This year’s emphasis is on candidates from diverse ethnic groups rather than different geographic areas of the County.