Governor's Policy Roundtables—Excerpt from the Preliminary Report
A series of six Governor's policy roundtables on Building a Livable and Senior Friendly North Carolina were held across the state. These roundtables were produced through a collaborative effort from the Office of the Governor, the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, the UNC Institute on Aging and the state's Area Agencies on Aging.
The roundtables engaged a diverse and informed group of stakeholders to help identify major issues facing North Carolina's aging population that will require effective policy and programmatic responses. The more than 600 participants included older adults, aging boomers, caregivers, leaders from NC's aging and adult services network, government officials, representatives from local businesses and organizations, educators and researchers—among others.
Here is a sampling of the top 3 issues identified at two of the six policy roundtables, Greenville: Health and Aging& Wilmington: Safe Communities
1. Need to strengthen link between healthcare and community service providers – integrating aging and medical services, enhancing communications, developing holistic approach, expanding support and resources for family caregivers
2. Shortage of trained health and allied health professionals who support an interdisciplinary approach (geriatricians, nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, mental health clinicians, social workers, etc.)
3. Insufficient training and support for family caregivers – importance of respite care, including caregivers of persons with dementia and grandparents raising grandchildren, stress relief, access to resources
The GEM Center, a community based non-profit program, is already in place and addressing many of these issues. We have developed a holistic approach of care for families facing dementia by providing 20 hours a week of respite for both care partner and person with the disease. GEM has provided a support group for care partners since 1999 and on-going community education to inform both formal and informal caregivers about the disease and how to effectively care for a person with dementia.
GEM has provided dementia education for our community to students, community groups and college students. "Caring Effectively" our next classes will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern Shores September 14 – October 19th from 7-8:45.
Please support GEM and our efforts to care for Dare County Senior Citizens and their Families by joining us at 9am Saturday September 11 at Festival Park and "Walk for the Mind"
For more information or to register call Gail at 480.3354 or email her at gsonnnessso@gamil.com
Note: to view the entire report go to www.thegemcenter.org and go to Governor's Policy Roundtables
Gail E Sonnesso M.S.
Executive Director
The GEM Center, Inc.
Where Group Respite is Therapeutic for both our Participants, and their Families.
(252) 480-3354
