Several home and community based programs utilize volunteers to deliver services such as home-delivered meals and many evidence-based health promotion programs. John Thompson, NCSTHL Speaker, stated, “budget cuts to programs that enable older adults to stay in their home and out of long-term care facilities, will present a greater opportunity and need for volunteerism.”

Ellen Whitlock, chair of the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service said her agency has added a new program called NC Eldercare. Through this community-based service, care teams will make home visits to older adults to address their needs. Whitlock added that her agency is always looking for ways to engage new and older adult volunteers. Currently, North Carolina has a volunteer rate of 28.5 percent and 203 million hours of service, which equals $4.4 billion worth of service.

During the second day of the meeting, senior Tar Heel Delegates voted on the top five priorities to send to the General Assembly for its 2013 session. The new 2013 legislative priorities for the STHL include: 1) Maintain funding for senior centers; 2) Restore funding to sustain Project CARE; 3) Mandate pre-employment and random drug testing for employees of nursing, adult care homes and adult day care facilities; 4) Strengthen and fund North Carolina’s Adult Protective Services program; 5) Recurring funds of at least $7 million for the Home and Community Care Block Grant.

Polk County is represented in the STHL by John L Johnson and Ernest Giannini.

– article submitted by John L. Johnson