Aging Advisory Board Minutes 120815

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ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING Minutes December 8, 2015 PRESENT: Mary Altpeter, Alex Castro, Keith Cook, Dan Daniel, Teri Driscoll, Ed Flowers, Winston Liao, Lorenzo Mejia, Yvonne Mendenhall, Donna Prather, Dick White EXCUSED: Peggy Cohn STAFF: Myra Austin, Mary Fraser, Julia Hill, Kathie Kearns, Yvette Missri, Cheri Rosemond, Mary Kate Schapley-Quinn, Janice Tyler The meeting was called to order at the Central Orange Senior Center by Chair Alex Castro. He welcomed newly-appointed board member Dan Daniel. The minutes of the November 10 meeting were approved as distributed following a motion by Keith Cook and a second by Ed Flowers. The Chair distributed an issue statement on sidewalk additions he was adding to the agenda under New Business. Janice Tyler noted that Orange County is committed to making the needed access improvements to the Seymour Center. Ms. Tyler began her Director’s Report by announcing that the Department had been honored the first- ever Innovation in Practice Agency Award from the UNC School of Public Health for its work with the Capstone Teams. In addition to this recognition, the Department will receive $1,000. The Chair suggested that the Board of County Commissioners issue a proclamation recognizing the Capstone students’ contributions to Orange County. Ms. Tyler continued by stating that the November 18 press conference announcing the Administration for Community Living (ACL) grant for caregiver support received both local and national coverage. The FY15-16 budget process has begun with the request for Capital Improvement Projects (those of $100,000 or more). Ms. Tyler summarized the proposed projects for both senior centers. The Chair asked how much funding was available. Dick White requested a status report on the Seymour Center generator. Ms. Tyler also stated that Asset Management has assigned a new Facility Maintenance Coordinator to replace Richal Vanhook who retired October 31. The three new permanent positions funded by the ACL grant are being recruited. The Sportsplex will celebrate its 10th anniversary on December 11 and the public is invited. Myra Austin summarized the National Institute of Senior Centers Accreditation process and stated that the Department on Aging’s goal is to complete the application by Spring 2016. Discussion followed about the benefits of gaining this designation and the steps involved. The information must be updated every five years and the fees are being paid by the Friends of the Seymour Center. Two students from the Department’s current UNC Capstone Team gave a progress report on this academic year’s Aging Preparedness project. Julia Hill and Mary Kate Schapley-Quinn summarized the preliminary findings from the early voting survey conducted at the Seymour Center. Suggestions were made for expanding the diversity of the sample surveyed. Other questions raised were related to terminology and the strategy for grouping aging issues into eight categories. Mary Fraser added that