Orange County NC Website
The DoA Information Specialist has been a member of an inter- <br /> agency county committee that is developing a central information <br /> gathering and maintenance system to be entered into the county <br /> government computer. The system will be established as a permanent <br /> resource with regular updating of data and regular review by the <br /> interagency committee. DoA plans to purchase a computer this year <br /> to further inventory special brochure information on aging, and <br /> the resource library available in our Senior- Center. <br /> • <br /> 3. Highlights <br /> For Orange County elderly, the Dept. on Aging has become increasingly <br /> a source of information and. assistance to community resources. Well <br /> over 900 older adults have- received individual information. assist- <br /> ance this past year involving= 2.,.000 contacts, up from 750 I&R requests <br /> (a 29% increase) . - <br /> Other specific- accomplishments included the following;: <br /> (1) Over 5000 older persons and organizations received the quar- <br /> terly newsletter - :orange Senior Times (a 25% circulation <br /> increase) .. <br /> (2) Over. 5,000 Problem. Solver Directories of Aging Services were <br /> distributed within• the first six months of the year. Groups <br /> like the Chamber of Commerce, Churches, and senior citizen <br /> clubs: have requested large quantities - obviously a useful <br /> document, (a 25% circulation increase) .. <br /> (3) Over 740 older adults (60+) were issued a free Senior Tar Heel <br /> Card which entitles them to special reduced prices by partici- <br /> pating merchants. Some fifty (50) new merchants were enrolled <br /> this. year. <br /> (4) Over thirty-five (35) older persons participated La a two day <br /> health insurance workshop.. Some participants agreed to be,Health <br /> Insurance Advisors to assist older persons with health insur- <br /> ance issues. - <br /> (5) Weekly Chapel Fill Newspaper columns - Successful Aging and <br /> Social Security - 0 & A were prepared by DoA staff and reach <br /> some. 2,000 older readers. <br /> (6) Over 20' older• participants attended this year's VITA Tax work- <br /> shop and helped prepare tax forms- for over 100 elderly and low <br /> income families during- the tax- season. <br /> To accomplish many of the I&R objectives required the use of many older <br /> volunteers as writers, photographers, tax and health insurance advisors, <br /> and newsletter- helpers. The I&R Specialist has- provided the leadership <br /> in coordinating and utilizing this voluntary response. <br />