Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee Meeting: Sep. 24, 2025

Meeting Overview On September 24, 2025, the Buncombe County Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee held a virtual meeting via Zoom. The session focused on reviewing fiscal year expenditure reports, analyzing the impact of aging services from the previous fiscal year, and defining the committee’s core mission and operational philosophy.

Key Decisions The committee took two formal votes during the meeting. The first was to approve a revision to the agenda, which passed. The second was to approve the meeting minutes, which also passed. No other formal votes were recorded.

Discussion Highlights The committee began by reviewing the Units of Service and Supplemental Aging Funding reports for August 2025. Staff provided updates on funding usage, noting that while several providers were ahead of schedule, the Senior Companion Program was behind due to current workload. A significant concern was raised regarding Pisgah Legal, which was reported to be 250% over budget, highlighting high demand for legal services. Due to uncertainty surrounding state funding, the committee urged providers to spend conservatively until the budget is finalized. Additionally, the committee noted that they are awaiting the final execution of the Mayhex contract, which is currently delaying invoice submission to finance.

A comprehensive year-end summary for Fiscal Year 2025 was presented, detailing the positive impact of funded programs on community members. Highlights included the Blue Ridge Pride Generation Plus gala, which fostered connection and addressed social isolation, and the Council on Aging’s Nutrition Program, which provided a lifeline for residents through the Farmer's Market Nutrition Voucher program. The committee emphasized the importance of quantifying program impact through data; for example, Mountain Care Talks reported that 84% of participants said adult day services helped delay long-term care placement.

The discussion also covered a document from Eugenio Perez regarding transportation needs, which highlighted the importance of data visualization to demonstrate program impact. A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to defining the committee’s core mission. Recurring themes included supporting older adults in maintaining safety, living in the least restrictive setting possible, and contributing to society. The committee discussed the fragmentation of social service access and explored NC Care 360, a referral system intended to streamline services and improve coordination among providers, though it was noted that some providers are not currently participating. The history of a proposed Active Aging Center was also reviewed to understand why it was not implemented.

Follow-ups Several specific action items were assigned during the meeting. Billy agreed to follow up with the Senior Companion Program to ensure timely data entry and to explore options for encouraging providers to participate in NC Care 360. Susan volunteered to draft a revised statement of the committee’s core mission and philosophy, incorporating feedback from the discussion. The committee also agreed to consider how to incorporate questions about provider coordination and client access into the application process.

Impact This meeting underscored the critical role of the Home and Community Care Block Grant in supporting vulnerable residents of Buncombe County. By reviewing detailed expenditure and impact data, the committee is working to ensure that funding effectively addresses community needs. The focus on refining the committee’s mission and improving coordination among providers aims to create a more unified and effective support system for older adults in the county.