NC Marks Elder Abuse Awareness Month

ByCaseyPolaski

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEEAD), June 15, is commemorated across the world. In North Carolina, this awareness event is extended from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day and recognized as Vulnerable Adult and Elder Abuse Awareness Month.

Executive Order Directs Statewide Support for NC’s Aging Population

Last month Governor Roy Cooper kicked things off by signing Executive order 280, which will support North Carolina’s aging population. The order has multiple directives. The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Commerce will convene a Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership group to bolster the caregiving workforce. The order also directs the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to improve access to outdoor spaces, the NC Department of Transportation to improve transportation options, and the NC Department of Information Technology to improve access to broadband and digital literacy. It also directs NCDHHS to reform and improve the Adult Protective Services.

“Our rapidly growing and diverse older adult population strengthens our state and communities,”

Governor Cooper said. “We’re going to continue our work to make North Carolina the best place in the country to grow older.”

BSRI Aging Resource Staff Join APS Reform Team

The NC Dept of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) has selected professionals from various agencies and organizations across the state to help with these improvements. Three design teams will guide the process. The Consistency of Practice and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Reform Design Team will provide recommendations about strategies; the APS Statutory Improvement Reform Design Team will collaboratively provide direction and suggestions for improvements to APS statutes; and the Community Stakeholder Engagement and Education Design Team which will encourage all NC counties to have Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDT) in which community service providers meet to regularly to share information about improving services to elderly and vulnerable adults.

Brunswick Senior Resources’ Aging Resource Specialist Casey

Poplaski will represent Brunswick County as team lead for the APS Reform Design Team MDT Subgroup.

“I am fortunate to have been selected to serve with my colleagues from across the state to improve Adult Protective Services. I feel like this is a lifetime opportunity, to be a part of something that is going to have a positive impact on the people of North Carolina for generations to come,” Poplaski said.

WEEAD events throughout the month of June will help educate the community on how to prevent and report abuse and how to advocate for policies that protect older adults and make NC an agefriendly state. Check your local senior center calendars for event times and dates.