Minutes 03-11-2025-Work Session Meeting

Browse Search

5 Janice Tyler, Director of the Department on Aging, said there is a proposal to build senior housing on Homestead Road across from the Seymour Center and they are very excited about that. Jacqulyn Podger of the Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee said they visited five adult care homes included in the total of 49 visits they made to assisted living and nursing home facilities. She said that a new adult care home opened on Yorktown Drive. She said this committee has ten people and they work to advocate for resident rights, safety, and to promote quality of life with administrators after their visits. She said they were invited to participate in several angel tree activities during the past holiday season. Commissioner Fowler thanked them for the work they do and said she is glad to see them back in action after COVID. Jacqulyn Podger said their allotment is 14, but if they never meet that number, they will be fine. Vice-Chair Hamilton asked if their will be a replacement for the ombudsman. Jacqulyn Podger said they have not hired anyone yet. Janice Tyler said there is a hiring freeze. Vice-Chair Hamilton asked if the rising number of older adults will require additional members on the commission, especially considering that an ombudsman is not available. Jacqulyn Podger said recruitment must be on-going. She said that she talked to two people recently who wanted to apply. Commissioner Fowler asked who will do the training since the ombudsman position will do is vacant. Jacqulyn Podger said that the state does the bulk of the training, and it will still be available. Alison Stuebe of the Board of Health reminded the Board of the Board of Health's mission and the structure of the Board of Health. She said they established three main priority areas, the first is access to care. She said access to care is key. She said they are seeking individuals that are eligible to enroll in Medicaid since the state expansion. She said they have considered what it means to support access to care. She said that a person may not know where to go, how to get there, or what they need. She said they are recruiting county residents to take pictures that show what access to care looks like. She said that the second committee is behavioral health. She said they have been requesting an amendment to the unified development ordinance to prohibit the location of vape and tobacco shops within 1,000 feet of where youth gather. She said they are also looking into the effects of social media and screen time on children and teens. She said Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools are celebrating screen free week May 5-9th. She said that means for social media and they are encouraging everyone to engage with beautiful Orange County rather than their screens. She said the third group is connections to community. She said they see housing as a vital condition for health and well-being. She said that 17% of homeowners are housing burdened and 47% of renters are cost burdened. She said this affects all of Orange County. She said they need people that work in Orange County to be able to afford to live there. She said it is clear they cannot build 10,000 housing units but it is important to think about zoning principles in place that will allow them to build. She said it is a dynamic policy environment around public health. She said on May 30th, there will be a NC Measles Symposium and they can learn about what to do if the measles come to NC. She said they are kicking off the thriving hearts grant and this is to support mothers in ten counties in NC. She asked the Board to consider a full-time grant writer. Commissioner Fowler said it has been a pleasure to serve on the Board of Health and she looks forward to continuing the work. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how they determined which doors to canvas when looking for Medicaid recipients.