Minutes 03-11-2025-Work Session Meeting

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4 Denise Duffy said there was a lot more need in the community and they worked with DSS to provide scholarships. Chair Bedford said there will be a budget amendment on a future agenda to provide more funding for scholarships for summer camps. Commissioner Greene thanked the commission and staff for their hard work. Commissioner Portie-Ascott also thanked the commission. She asked when they would hear about the staffing needs at the Arts Commission. Chair Bedford said recommendations would come at budget season. Ann Bradford of the Advisory Board on Aging said they met today and wanted to report that they have 12 members, and they are very engaging, talented, and eager to learn. She said they have doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and the county should be proud of the group of people they have. She said they focused on the Master Aging Plan. She said at 2 years in on the current plan, they have made 68% progress. She said that she was a student intern with the Department on Aging during the first Master Aging Plan the county completed. She said they are now at the 2022-2027 plan. She said all members of the advisory board are on a work group and there are over 150 community partners that work along with the Department on Aging. She said the individual work group leaders give quarterly updates to the advisory board. She said the master aging plan is known nationally. She said the state is using the Orange County Master Aging Plan matrix as a plan for their own. She said they have a radio show, and it is hosted by Heather Altman weekly. She said they are also one year into Our Place and that is a volunteer respite program for caregivers. She said they are beginning to work with the Jackson Center to see if there is a way to reproduce this program. She said caregiver burnout is huge so anything that can be done to provide the caregiver respite and positive engagement is helpful. She said Project Engage recently graduated a class and they are focusing on end-of-life needs. She said the Sharp Awards recognize direct care workers of older adults. She said they hope the legislature will listen to the needs of older people. She said that it is important to keep funding up to complete the master aging plan. Chair Bedford said that a previous commissioner, Anna Richards, was very impressed by the quality of the Master Aging Plan. Vice-Chair Hamilton thanked the advisory board for their work. She said because of their work, the legislative issues for the county have included the needs of older adults. Chair Bedford said in the letter they want to discuss later in the agenda, notes that DSS shared that 19% of Orange County Medicaid recipients are older adults or disabled individual and that statewide it is 50%. She said that is why that funding is critical. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about in-home services. Ann Bradford said there are funds that help provide limited assistance in homes. She said it is in-home care, which is different than respite care. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if there is a number of affordable housing units the advisory board would like to see for older adults. Ann Bradford said she does not have a number off-hand, but she hopes that there could be at least 100 homes for people who are unhoused to keep them safe. Chair Bedford said that there a lot of older adults who live in homes that are dilapidated. She said they are working with the housing department to try to shift funding to make sure it is making the highest impact. Ann Bradford said she is aware of the needs and the repair waitlists are very long. She said those are extensive repairs. Commissioner McKee said there are likely hundreds of homes needed. Ann Bradford said it is a problem. Commissioner Carter said 9,555 units are needed for homeowners making less than 50% AM I.