Agenda - 05-18-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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3 1 friends. She said the NHCAC cannot go into nursing homes at this time, and, as such, she 2 does not have updated information. 3 4 Commissioner Dorosin left the meeting at 7:13 p.m. 5 6 Commissioner Hamilton expressed sympathy with the isolation of nursing homes. She 7 asked if anyone is going into facilities. 8 Autumn Cox, Regional Ombudsman, said the Division of Health Service Regulation has 9 been monitoring nursing homes all year, and the Ombudsman program has also had full access 10 since October 2020, and on an as-needed basis prior to that. She said routine visits are still not 11 happening, and there is not a date that volunteers from the CAC can begin visiting again. She 12 said there are 6 new volunteers waiting to be trained, and she is working through that process 13 with them. 14 15 Commissioner Dorosin rejoined the meeting at 7:14 p.m. 16 17 Commissioner Bedford said CARES Act funds paid for tablets. She asked if there is 18 anything else the Board can provide to help with the isolation. 19 Autumn Cox said 1 to 2 tablets were purchased for facilities, as well as data service for 1 20 year. She said after 1 year, the tablet can be used on Wi-Fi, or the facility can purchase a data 21 service. She said CARES Act funds were also used for PPE. She said there is currently not 22 enough PPE for volunteers. 23 Commissioner Bedford encouraged Cox to reach out to the County Manager if anyone 24 needs PPE. 25 Autumn Cox said PPE will likely only be a medical mask. 26 Commissioner Bedford said this situation has highlighted the need in nursing homes, 27 and she hopes things can be better in the future. 28 Chair Price asked if there are enough volunteers for the board. 29 Autumn Cox said she covers a three county area, and volunteers dropped off 30 committees across the state in mid 2020, and it is her goal to keep this board as intact as 31 possible. 32 33 Commissioner Dorosin left the meeting at 7:20 p.m. 34 35 Chair Price referred to the tablets, and asked if there was a process to determine which 36 facilities received them. 37 Autumn Cox said it was based on need, and most private pay facilities did not receive 38 any. She said the Medicaid facilities received more. She said those facilities with more than 39 100 residents could receive two 40 41 Commissioner Dorosin rejoined the meeting at 7:21 p.m. 42 43 Chair Price asked if the number of Medicaid facilities in Orange County could be 44 identified. 45 Vibeke Talley said four nursing homes take Medicaid. 46 Chair Price asked the County Manager to consider if the county could help pay for the 47 data service plans in future budgets. 48 Chair Price said some companies are donating PPE, and encouraged Autumn Cox to 49 reach out to the County for PPE if there is a need.