Buncombe Commissioners preview: health and homes

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ Tuesday, April 17 meeting agenda features a presentation about adult care homes and their impact on the county. Adult care homes differ from nursing homes, and are residencies for older or disabled adults who may require 24-hour supervision and assistance with personal needs.

County Commissioners will also receive an update on the county’s health rankings. According to the report, there were mostly positive trends this year. For example, the percentage of preventable hospital stays declined another 2 percent this year. However, there were also some negative trends, too. Adult obesity increased 2 percent this year, and though adult smoking is declining at 22 percent, it is still higher than the national benchmark of 14 percent.

The agenda also includes a public hearing related to a block grant received from the North Carolina Division of Community Investment and Assistance for Scattered Site Housing. Currently, there is $400,000 available to the County for a three-year period. The grant allows the county to secure owner-occupied rehabilitation services for a limited number of low-income persons in Buncombe County. Currently, the county contracts with Mountain Housing Opportunities to administer this program.

Unrelated to health, the agenda also includes a public safety report.

The board will meet at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, in the commissioner’s chambers, located at 30 Valley St. A short pre-meeting review of the agenda will begin at 4:15 p.m.

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