Council on Aging of Johnston County Helps Seniors Enjoy the Golden Years
carl boykin, clayton senior center, council on aging of johnston county, health care, retirement, seniors,
The staff and volunteers at the Council on Aging of Johnston County make a difference in people’s lives every day.
The private‚ nonprofit agency that was chartered in December 1972 provides services that enable older adults to live quality lives with dignity and independence. The council’s programs are aimed at seniors 60 and older.
“With baby boomers getting up in age‚ our services will be needed more and more in the very near future‚” says Donna Creech‚ executive director for the Council on Aging of Johnston County. “We offer everything from thriving senior activities centers to programs where the elderly themselves can volunteer their time and service in order to further fulfill their own lives.”
Creech says one of the most recent programs that the council offers is specific training for caregivers who look after the elderly.
“More adults than ever are being cared for in their own homes instead of under institutional care‚” she says. “For that reason‚ we train in-home caregivers because they themselves wear out and can often die before the patient they are serving passes away. We teach caregivers how to cope with the stressful situations they are in and how to care for themselves while they are caring for others.”
The Council on Aging operates with a $3.5 million annual budget. Federal and state governments fund approximately 70 percent‚ while the remaining 30 percent comes from individual donations.
“Today‚ we operate 15 programs and have 58 employees‚” Creech says. “Our programs include 126 subsidized apartments‚ in-home aides‚ a lifeline emergency call system‚ eight senior centers and home-delivered lunches.”
The council also manages a JCATS (Johnston County Area Transit System) bus/van service‚ with 25 vehicles in its fleet.
“It can be difficult for seniors to get to their doctor’s office without our help‚” Creech says. “We want the public to know that we are here for them‚ especially in the case of a medical-transit issue.”
Creech says that as for volunteerism at the council‚ there are currently more than 400 people who volunteer for various elderly-based activities throughout the county.
“Volunteering among seniors is growing because it keeps folks active and involved in life‚” she says. “Volunteering can include delivering noon meals to homebound seniors‚ grocery shopping for a frail adult or providing minor home repairs for someone. We are all going to get old someday‚ and the Council on Aging is here to help whenever that time occurs.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Ian Curcio
