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ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING <br />JAOI(CHESINUT, CHA/R Posr OFFICE Box 8 t 81 <br />MARYANN PFTER. V/CE CHA/R HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278 <br />JERRYM PASSMOAE, SEC <br />W W W. CO, ORANGE..NC.. US/AGING <br />Tune 5, 2005 <br />ICazen McCall, Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing <br />UNC Hospitals -School of Medicine <br />IOI Manning-Drive <br />Chapel Hill, NC .27514 <br />Dear Karen: <br />At the Advisory Boazd on Aging's May meeting, Jerry Passmore reviewed the proposed Department on Aging budget and <br />indicated that UNC Healthcare was cutting in half its support for the Senior Wellness Program to $25,000, While the <br />Boazd is grateful to UNC Healthcare for the continued support, we are very concerned about the decision and humbly <br />ask that you reconsider. <br />As you are aware, your funding supports the Wellness Coordinator position responsible for offering a variety of programs <br />throughout the county and the surrounding area for older adults. During 2004, services were provided to approximately <br />16,141 persons. Many of the older adults are at a low socio-economic level and do not have the financial means to seek <br />private prevention programs at local health spas or the iJNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont, The Department on <br />Aging's Wellness program, through its community-based fitness/exercise classes, health education programs, support <br />groups, individualized services like massage therapy and acupuncture, and special clinics, i.e. Fit Feet, blood pressure <br />monitoring, vision and hearing screens and glucose and cholesterol screens, enhances the physical health, mental health <br />and social well-being of older adults, enabling them to live as independently and productively as possible. <br />Chief Executive Officer, William Roper, MD, MPH, recently conveyed at a public meeting that one of L1NC <br />HealthCare's core values is to serve the community. The "Our Vision & Our Values" document of the hospital states that <br />it is dedicated "to finding ways to improve the health of all North Carolinians and that it is central to ZINC HealthCare's <br />leading, teaching, and caring". The Aging Advisory Board believes it is important to continue full funding of the <br />Wellness Coordinator position, especially since we will be moving to a new Chapel Hill Senior Center next year, with <br />expanded space for health and wellness programs. The Departrnent on Aging has also discussed with Dr. Tan Busby- <br />Whitehead the strong possibility of'having a satellite clinic of the Program on Aging at this new center.. <br />We are excited about new creative partnerships with ZINC Healthcare and the Medical School's Program on Aging that <br />foster creative, joint planning to maximize limited healthcare dollars and improve the health of older adults in our <br />community. <br />Sincerely, <br />/Jack Chesfiut, Chair <br />Cc: Dr William Roper, C.E.O. tTNC Healthcare <br />Jerry M. Passmore, Department on Aging Director <br />John Link, County Manager <br />Moses Carey, Chair of Board of County Commissioners <br />Dr, .Tan Busby-Whitehead, Program on Aging Director <br />Mary Roth-McClurg, Chair of Senior Wellness Advisory Board <br />3 <br />tyy¢~P ¢/ Oe <br />b°°~ ~ op <br />,. <br />v~ ~~. <br />¢~/L ¢¢,¢~:d <br />TELEPHONE I9I9j ZRE-2000 • FACSIMILE Ig ~ 9j EAR-3ORR • E-MPIL jpassmore@co..orange. nc. us <br />