Agenda 05-13-25; 4 - Advisory Board on Aging – Appointments Discussion

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33 • Hosted our annual Direct Care Worker Awards celebration. List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored Annually. • Provide Orange County representation to the Central Pines Area Agency on Aging Board and the Senior Tar Heel Legislature. Board Representatives work on developing legislative priorities for the local, regional and state levels. • Keep community partners up to date on the Master Aging Plan, including providing quarterly updates of the MAP matrix. • Make recommendations to the BOCC of potential legislative issues to be included in the Orange County legislative agenda. • Review and provide recommendations on applications for the County's Outside Agency Grants. • Continue to offer the Annual Direct Care Worker awards. This type of recognition is needed more than ever with the dire shortage of direct care workers in our county and across the state. Describe this board/commission's activities/accomplishments in carrying out BOCC goal(s)/priorities, if applicable. Through the MAP process this board addresses the BOCC goals of promoting and protecting the well-being of all older adults, including addressing diversity, economic issues and the ability to age in community. The Aging Board is committed to endorsing board applicants that reflect the diversity of Orange County and its older adult population. Describe the collaboration relationship(s)this particular board has with other advisory boards and commissions? This board has representation on the Joint Community Advisory Committee (formerly the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committees) and also has representation on the Intergovernmental Parks and Recreation Commission. A representative of this board serves on the Central Pines AAA Advisory Board. Identify any activities this board/commission expects to carry out in 2025 as they relate to established BOCC goals and priorities. If applicable, is there a fiscal impact(i.e., funding, staff time, other resources) associated with these proposed activities (please list). This board will continue to advocate for affordable senior housing; support our community to help all older adults to have the choice to age in community; expanded transportation for rural Orange County; improvement of the quality of care in long-term facilities, including supporting efforts to strengthen the direct care work force both for long term care and in-home services; and continue implementation of the 2022-27 Master Aging Plan with support from a charitable gift donation and many partner organizations and with specific focus on meeting our goals related to racial equity as named in the plan. What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? • Need for more affordable and accessible senior housing, especially rental units and an emerging concern of the number of seniors living in sub-standard housing. The support of Fiddlehead Corner and their UDO Text Amendment Application to request that Family Care Facilities be designated as permitted use in the MFD-CD zoning category. This amendment would support other communities that want to incorporate licensed assisted living services to support aging in place. • Continued work on improving the quality of care in long-term care facilities within the county. • Further development of a dementia capable county including partnerships with local businesses, non-profit and faith-based organizations. • The level of financial insecurity of older adults, including the emerging issue of older adults needing to remain in the work force. Collaboration with DSS and Durham Tech for more employment training. • Addressing the increasing need for in-home services and supports, including the needs of older adults serving in caregiving roles and the shortage of direct care workers. Caregiver burden is becoming a major concern for many persons and families living in our community. • Continue addressing issues that surfaced particularly during the pandemic, including social isolation, hoarding, access to services, persons aging alone in our community, and the increasing frail older adult population.