Minutes 04-14-2022-Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 centers and never ceased their operations. She said they provided over one thousand meals via curbside delivery and partnered with law enforcement for some of the home deliveries. She said that it was key that they were not isolating at home. She said the department provided over one thousand virtual events during the pandemic. She said the department developed the master aging plan which the Board will receive in the summer. She said the master aging plan takes place every five years. She said every older person in Orange County should see themselves in the plan. She said the Department on Aging collected surveys from more than one thousand respondents in Orange County with focused outreach to communities of color to ensure representation. She said that the Departments of Aging in Wilmington and Durham just developed their master aging plan and they highlighted the guidance of Orange County's plan in their press release. She said Janice Tyler conducted fifteen interviews within Orange County government leaders and there were seven different workgroups with 33 meetings, and they included over 150 different community members. She thanked Commissioner Greene for representing the Board at the meeting. She said they use the WHO's age friendly community framework in developing the 2017-2022 plan. She said the use of that framework was useful in guiding the plans that they continued this in the current Master Aging Plan. She said it focuses on eight topic areas. She listed the emerging issues that were included in the work plan included in the agenda packet. She said they also want to address the lack of transportation in bringing older adults to the senior center. She said the board is working to recruit applicants to the board that will improve the diversity of the membership. Chair Price asked if there is someone to manage the transportation needs. Janice Tyler said they have a mobility manager, but that this issue is different. She said the issue the mobility manager runs a volunteer driver program. She said they are talking about Orange County Transportation beginning to run their transportation program for seniors again. She said they are planning to resume this service on April 25tn Chair Price asked if Medicare only covers the transportation if they are going to a doctor's appointment. Janice Tyler said only Medicaid does and that Medicare does not cover the cost. She said the cost to ride transportation to the senior center can be high. She said it can be three dollars each way so it would cost six dollars round trip to go to the senior center but if they are further out, it is $12.75 each way making it $25.50. Dr. Heather Altman said $25.50 is a lot to pay for someone to get a free meal and some activities and that these costs are not covered by any program. Chair Price said she is surprised the cost is still that high because this has been a topic of discussion for many years now. Commissioner Fowler asked if the board is communicating with Housing on senior affordable housing needs. Janice Tyler said yes, and that they have made progress, but they have a long way to go. She said they are very involved with the Master Aging Plan work group. She said there is a long way to go for housing for older adults. Chair Price said there was a lot of need from the community for the senior centers to reopen. She thanked them for all their work. Janice Tyler said that they have been reopened in some capacity since July 2021, but they had capacity restrictions. Dr. Heather Altman said the Board of Commissioners serve as ambassadors and asked them to continue to spread the word that they are open. Commissioner Bedford noted that six of seven commissioners are over sixty and that the master aging plan is very impressive. She said she was glad to hear that other communities notice that. She said it was shocking to discover hidden hunger among the senior population.