Agenda 03-10-2026; 1 - Boards and Commissions – Annual Work Plan Summaries

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14 operations. Received a I'm Still Here grant to assist in replicating this program in our community. Program received a NACo Achievement Award and the Governor's Award for Volunteer Services this year. • Funding of the FitLot at the Seymour Center to support older adults to remain physically active. • Dementia Friendly Business Campaign continues with trainings to local business and government • Hosted our annual Direct Care Worker Awards celebration. 4. Please list any 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. • 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. 5. Describe this board/commission's activities/accomplishments in carrying out the goals identified in the Orange County Strategic Plan. General information about the Strategic Plan is available nere. • Aging Department collaborates with other county departments to have County transportation information included in 90 outreach events each year. • Collaborate with other county department to reach residents in all zip codes of the county with digital literacy workshops offered annually. 6. Describe any collaboration between this board/commission and other 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 a representative of this board serves on the Central Pines AAA Advisory Board. 7. Identify any activities this board/commission expects to carry out in 2026 that are related to the Orange County Strategic Pla, . General information about the Strategic Plan is available . If applicable, please list any fiscal impact (i.e., funding, staff time, other resources) associated with these proposed activities. Goals listed under#5 will continue. 8. What concerns or emerging issues does this board/commission anticipate for the upcoming year that it plans to address or wishes to bring to the BOCC's attention? • Increasing older adult population. According to Carolina Demography Orange County saw a 48.5% change in its 65+ population from 2011 -2021. (2011 -9.7%/2021 - 14.4%). Concerns that county resources to the department are not keeping pace with the changing demographics. The 60+ population is 23% of our total population and the fastest growing of that demographic is the 85+ that is expected to change 271% between 2022-2042. • 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 increasing property tax burden and older adults being able to remain in their homes and the ability to maintain their homes. • 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. • The level of financial insecurity of older adults, including the emerging issue of older adults needing to remain in the work force and the expanded work requirements for FNS and adults age 55-64. Collaboration with DSS and Durham Tech for more employment training. • 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. • 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.