A series of six policy roundtables on Building a Livable and Senior Friendly North Carolina were held across the state from April 22 to June 2 in Greenville, Greensboro, Asheville, Boone, Charlotte and Wilmington.
These roundtables were produced through a collaborative effort involving the Office of the Governor and her Advisory Council on Aging, the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, the UNC Institute on Aging and the state’s 17 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 responses from the public and private sectors and the state and local levels. The more than 600 participants included older adults, aging boomers, caregivers, leaders from NC’s aging and adult services network, senior advocates, government officials, representatives from local businesses and organizations, educators and researchers—among others.
A few of the issues identified include the link between healthcare and community service providers; awareness and understanding among people about their choices in care and the possibilities for aging-in-place; transportation and accessibility of housing; training and support for family caregivers; abuse, neglect and exploitation; skills training and job options for older workers; and opportunities for lifelong education, training and engagement.
These issues will help lay the groundwork for identifying strategies that will be the focus of the Governor’s Conference on Aging in the Research Triangle Park on October 13-15, 2010.