Area Agency on Aging Serving Buncombe, Henderson, Madison & Transylvania Counties Volume VI, Issue 3
Advocacy, Assistance, Answers on Aging
August - October 2011
Community Resource Connections for Aging and Disabilities: Improved Access to Long-Term Services and Support
T
he Land-of-Sky Community Resource Connections (CRC) Leadership Team is proud to announce the launching of the Land-of Sky CRC for all people with disabilities, elders and family members seeking information and assistance about long-term services and support in the community. The Land-of-Sky CRC is part of a federal and state initiative to reduce the confusion that many have experienced in trying to find services, often resulting in making multiple telephone calls before finding help. Through formal agreements made with key aging and disability partners throughout Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties, the Land-of-Sky CRC offers a streamlined approach to accessing services. Core functions of the CRC include: 1. Information and Assistance 2. Options Counseling 3. Streamlined Access to services and public funding 4. Transitions partnerships with hospitals and nursing facilities 5. Quality assurance and evaluation How do people contact the CRC? There is more than one way to access the system. If someone does not know where to start, a call to United Way’s 2-1-1 system will result in an appropriate, personalized transfer to the best agency for the caller. Callers may also contact their local agency directly. Key organizations in the collaborative include: Council on Aging of Buncombe County; Council on Aging for Henderson County; Madison County Community Services; Transylvania County DSS; Western Highlands ACCESS; and Disability Partners. For more information visit www.CRClandofsky.org.
CRC Leadership Team
Front L-R: Faith Ashe, Madison County Community Services; Nancy Smith-Hunnicutt, Mission Hospitals; Ruth Haines, Consumer, Disabilities Advocate; Bart Floyd, Disability Partners Middle L-R: Rachael Nygaard, United Way’s 2-1-1 of WNC; Jerry Brewton, Disability Partners; Carol McLimans, Land-of-Sky AAA; Donna Case, Council on Aging of Buncombe County; Shanaia Powell, CRC Navigator at Transylvania County DSS; Wendy Marsh, Council on Aging of Buncombe County; Wendy Sause, Community Care of Western North Carolina; Christina Giles, Land-of-Sky Regional Council Back L-R: Linda Kendall Fields, Land-of-Sky CRC Coordinator; Bob Tomasulo, Consumer, Elder Advocate; Pat Hilgendorf, Consumer, Elder/ Family Advocate; Cathie Beatty, Buncombe County DSS; Caron McKay, Council on Aging for Henderson County; Barbara Hinshaw, Land-of-Sky AAA Ombudsman; Steve Michaels, Western Highlands LME
A Celebration of Life in memory of Joseph T. (Joe) Connolly will be held on Tuesday, August 30 from 10 – 11:30 am at the NC Arboretum. Joe served as a devoted community leader in his exemplary roles as Director of the Land of Sky Regional Council ‘s Area Agency on Aging and formerly as director of the WNC Alzheimer’s association, the WNC Aids Project, as well as board member for various community agencies. Informally, Joe served as a friend, ally and mentor to many. Joe completed his journey with brain cancer on May 31, 2011. Join us now as we honor, celebrate and remember Joe Connolly with the backdrop of trees at the NC Arboretum. If you wish to share short memories, stories or sentiments about Joe please contact Christina Giles at christina@landofsky.org.
Website: www.landofsky.org/aging
Phone: 828-251-6622