Senior Centers provide older adults a space to make friends, remain active and improve their wellbeing through a variety of programs and services. While many senior center programs focus on fun, senior centers also offer a critically important service to older adults who may struggle to stay socially engaged and remain connected to their community. Rufty-Holmes Senior Center in Salisbury recently invited staff from Centralina Area Agency on Aging to celebrate 35 years of excellent service and showcase their recent national reaccreditation.

Have you ever wanted to wander the streets of the western towns you see in movies? It may seem like a Hollywood dream, but you may not know that a cowboy capital exists right here in our region. Check out our new member spotlight to learn more about the history of this cowboy paradise and what you need to know ahead of time before planning a visit.

Despite an overwhelming desire to live independently, some older adults may need assistance maintaining their homes as they “age in place.” To address these unmet needs, Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is now offering Housing Home Improvement and Chore Enhanced programs, which are designed to help older adults keep up with essential repairs and maintenance inside and outside their homes. Through federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, Centralina AAA developed these new programs that will allow older adults to remain safe and secure while living in their homes longer.

Long-term care Ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, family care homes and assisted living facilities. They provide information about how to find a facility and what to do to get quality care. Ombudsman are also trained to resolve and mediate problems if the resident gives them permission to share concerns. Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) houses the Ombudsman program that serves our nine-county region. We have five Ombudsman who serve over 17,000 residents living in our long-term care homes. Debi Lee, Centralina AAA Assistant Director and former Ombudsman, explains, “People who live in long-term care have lost so much—independence, dignity and control. Having a specific advocate who can assist the resident in negotiation, persuasion and mediation to resolve concerns gives them hope that things can improve.”

On February 28th, several of Centralina’s regional Ombudsmen attended the Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care (FOR) 2023 Legislative Day in Raleigh. The purpose of the event was to meet with legislative representatives to advocate for and support issues currently affecting aging communities across our state. Members of the North Carolina Ombudsman Association went into the full-day event with several talking points to share and openly discuss with legislators. We took an expanded look at some of the issues our Ombudsmen championed that day.

In 1991, the National Association of Counties established April as National County Government Month. This annual observance celebrates the successes of county initiatives and allows for an opportunity to provide information to communities about how their county serves and advocates for their residents. Since 1968, through regional collaboration and local action, we have seen our counties grow and expand their efforts to focus on challenging and top-of-mind issues involving workforce, housing, education, transportation and more. This month, we’re highlighting previous county success stories as well as exciting projects they have currently underway with Centralina.

On February 28th and March 1st, the North Carolina Association of Workforce Boards and it’s Executive Directors Council, in partnership with the NCWorks Training Center and NC Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions, hosted the very first NC Youth Forum in Greensboro, NC. This first-of-its-kind training event allowed over 150 youth leads and youth service providers the opportunity to network and learn best practices from others working in the field. Our very own Centralina Workforce Development Board NextGen Program Leader, Solomon McAuley, presented a workshop on youth engagement. His presentation dove deep into what the term means, how it’s evolving and how leaders can consistently empower and encourage youth and young adults across our state.

The City of Gastonia and Gaston County received the 2022 Region of Excellence Award for Local Government Innovation for their partnership in building inspection services. Their teamwork is a positive example of the success that comes from cities and counties working together towards a common goal. This project provides an effective solution to address a challenge in the community, delivering a measurable impact at the local government level.

Across the country, the regulatory environment for medical and recreational marijuana is changing rapidly. Based on the history of legalization nationwide, once a state legalizes cannabis for medical purposes, the legalization of recreational usage often follows within several years. Both medical and recreational legalization, especially recreational, have implications on land use regulation, permitting processes, law enforcement operations, administrative procedures at the local and state levels, equity considerations and more. The North Carolina General Assembly is currently considering the Compassionate Care Act, which would establish the statutory and organizational framework for legally using cannabis products to treat debilitating medical conditions. What would these new laws mean for NC local governments, and how can communities best prepare for the future of medical and recreational cannabis?

Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) pursues volunteerism all year round through their annual “Centralina Year of Giving” initiative. As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, we’re highlighting several of the volunteer efforts WDB provided throughout the region this past year.