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Advisory Board on Aging <br /> MINUTES <br /> Tuesday, September 14, 2021 <br /> 1—3 pm; Virtual <br /> In attendance: Heather Altman, Colin Austin, Rachel Bearman,Jeff Charles,Jerry Gregory,James Harris, Vibeke <br /> Talley, Dick White; (Staff) Cass Dictus, Anshu Gupta, Kim Lamon-Loperfido, Shenae McPherson, Cherie <br /> Rosemond, Beverly Shuford, and Janice Tyler. <br /> Absent: (Excused) Jenny Womack <br /> 1. Welcome <br /> a. Janice Tyler welcomed everyone back to the board meetings <br /> 2. Introductions and Announcements <br /> a. Janice announced that due to COVID the County manager has directed meetings to continue <br /> virtually until further notice <br /> b. Welcome Kenesha Wood, UNC MSW student intern <br /> c. Chair, Heather Altman, welcomed the group and thanked Janice and OCDOA staff for keeping <br /> everything afloat throughout the pandemic <br /> d. Group introductions followed <br /> 3. Any other Agenda items <br /> a. Change in agenda order — Moved MAP agenda items after announcements to accommodate <br /> those who have to leave early <br /> Director's Report <br /> 4. Challenges of COVID— Hybrid programs, curbside lunch, supporting caregivers, hybrid staff schedules, <br /> etc. <br /> a. Aging Helpline calls are up. Suggested by board to create additional programs to help <br /> individuals "age in place," in their current home <br /> b. Bottom-line, we never closed. Kudos to the OCDOA team for their dedication onsite still serving <br /> older adults and their families <br /> c. Curbside 1000+ meals a week M, W, F and still growing. Challenge: how to serve those who <br /> were transit dependent. All municipalities police departments including the Orange County <br /> Sheriff's Office delivered meals to those transit dependent. However, in the last couple months <br /> those helping to deliver meals had to phase back into their regular work. Shenae McPherson, <br /> VCSS+, is seeking drivers to deliver meals. Some people were being fed by us and by Meals on <br /> Wheels; they can only be served by one or the other, not both. This has been corrected. CARES <br /> funding enabled us to keep meals going and feed folks. Contracted with Meals on Wheels <br /> ($90k) to increase meals to Orange County residents who qualify <br /> d. Shenae (VC 55+) continues to distribute food boxes (300+) monthly to qualifying participants. <br /> The Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement continue to help with Food Box distribution and <br /> delivery <br /> e. OCDOA has reinvented ourselves with virtual and hybrid offerings; purchased equipment with <br /> CARES funding to aid in offering live virtual and pre-recorded programs <br /> f. We will be in a rebuilding program going forward as many people may not return and others <br /> have been lost. July 1, reopened for on-site group programming. There has been reluctance to <br /> return and some still don't know we are open. Delaying promotion of open until Delta variant <br /> subsides. Meal program curbside at direction of Health Director until further notice. Those <br /> picking up meals have remained connected socially while waiting in the drive thru line. <br />