Agenda 05-24-22; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 1 developed their master aging plan and they highlighted the guidance of Orange County's plan in 2 their press release. She said Janice Tyler conducted fifteen interviews within Orange County 3 government leaders and there were seven different workgroups with 33 meetings, and they 4 included over 150 different community members. She thanked Commissioner Greene for 5 representing the Board at the meeting. She said they use the WHO's age friendly community 6 framework in developing the 2017-2022 plan. She said the use of that framework was useful in 7 guiding the plans that they continued this in the current Master Aging Plan. She said it focuses 8 on eight topic areas. She listed the emerging issues that were included in the work plan 9 included in the agenda packet. She said they also want to address the lack of transportation in 10 bringing older adults to the senior center. She said the board is working to recruit applicants to 11 the board that will improve the diversity of the membership. 12 Chair Price asked if there is someone to manage the transportation needs. 13 Janice Tyler said they have a mobility manager, but that this issue is different. She said 14 the issue the mobility manager runs a volunteer driver program. She said they are talking about 15 Orange County Transportation beginning to run their transportation program for seniors again. 16 She said they are planning to resume this service on April 25tH 17 Chair Price asked if Medicare only covers the transportation if they are going to a 18 doctor's appointment. 19 Janice Tyler said only Medicaid does and that Medicare does not cover the cost. She 20 said the cost to ride transportation to the senior center can be high. She said it can be three 21 dollars each way so it would cost six dollars round trip to go to the senior center but if they are 22 further out, it is $12.75 each way making it $25.50. 23 Dr. Heather Altman said $25.50 is a lot to pay for someone to get a free meal and some 24 activities and that these costs are not covered by any program. 25 Chair Price said she is surprised the cost is still that high because this has been a topic 26 of discussion for many years now. 27 Commissioner Fowler asked if the board is communicating with Housing on senior 28 affordable housing needs. 29 Janice Tyler said yes, and that they have made progress, but they have a long way to 30 go. She said they are very involved with the Master Aging Plan work group. She said there is a 31 long way to go for housing for older adults. 32 Chair Price said there was a lot of need from the community for the senior centers to 33 reopen. She thanked them for all their work. 34 Janice Tyler said that they have been reopened in some capacity since July 2021, but 35 they had capacity restrictions. 36 Dr. Heather Altman said the Board of Commissioners serve as ambassadors and asked 37 them to continue to spread the word that they are open. 38 Commissioner Bedford noted that six of seven commissioners are over sixty and that the 39 master aging plan is very impressive. She said she was glad to hear that other communities 40 notice that. She said it was shocking to discover hidden hunger among the senior population. 41 Dr. Heather Altman said that UNC Hospitals ripped the Band-Aid off on that issue and 42 that they are looking more into solutions. She said they have continued to partner with Meals- 43 on-Wheels to provide meals as well. 44 Janice Tyler said the lunch population doubled during the pandemic. 45 Dr. Heather Altman said there really is no reason for anyone in Orange County to go 46 hungry. 47 Commissioner Greene said she was part of a presentation that presented at the 48 Passmore Center. She said it was about a documentary based on Alicia Spencer's life. She 49 there are people in the community that did not even know about the Passmore Center and had 50 never been there or utilized the services. She said that one employee was there voluntarily and 51 not getting paid and that is a testament to the program and Janice Tyler's leadership.