Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
5 <br /> <br />Commissioner Bedford said the School Board spent close to $1 million for this type of <br />work when she was on the School Board, but it is an ongoing problem and more money will <br />probably be needed. <br />Chair Rich said this petition is to better understand what is happening, and have <br />accurate information to share with the public. <br />Commissioner Dorosin asked if the Board receives a report of what was actually spent <br />at the end of the year. <br />Paul Laughton said the information received, as part of the budget process, is not to <br />that level of itemization. He said the schools show the actual expenses by purpose, but do <br />not give specific detail of projects. <br /> <br />4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> <br />a. Family Caregivers Month and Caregiver Day of Care Proclamation <br />The Board considered voting to approve a proclamation designating November 9, 2019 <br />as Orange County’s Caregiver Day of Care, and recognizing November 2019 as Family <br />Caregivers Month. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: November is National Family Caregivers Month, an observance that began as <br />National Family Caregivers Week in the mid-1990s. Former President Bill Clinton signed the <br />first National Family Caregivers Month Presidential Proclamation in 1997, and every president <br />since has followed suit by issuing an annual proclamation recognizing and honoring family <br />caregivers each November. The importance of family caregivers has gained recognition over <br />the years, and the National Family Caregivers awareness week has grown into an awareness <br />month due to former President Barack Obama’s proclamation in 2012. <br /> <br />Family caregivers fulfill a variety of roles. In addition to becoming experts about their loved ones’ <br />health, they act as liaisons with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and legal and <br />financial entities. They prepare meals, perform housekeeping duties, transportation and hygiene <br />duties, and often provide very sophisticated care, including managing complex medication <br />schedules. Caregivers sometimes deal with problem behaviors, and offer socialization for those <br />suffering from long-term illnesses. At this time of year, with holidays approaching, families are <br />often overwhelmed by emotional distress as they cope with losses and memories of past times. <br />Family caregivers who care (mostly) at home for loved ones with debilitating, long-term health <br />conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, often do so with little to no <br />information or training. The Orange County Department on Aging aims to change that by <br />providing several programs and services catered to family caregivers by appreciating the hard <br />work they tirelessly do. <br /> <br />In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, the Department on Aging will hold its first annual <br />Caregiver’s Day of Care event on November 9, 2019 at the Seymour Center from 10 a.m. – 2 <br />p.m., in an effort to honor family caregivers for caring selflessly for loved-ones. Staff hopes this <br />day of care will provide needed respite for family caregivers, while enabling attendees to <br />engage in wellness, education and supportive services. <br /> <br />The Department of Aging recognizes that family caregivers are truly the backbone of their <br />families and communities. Many however are under great stress and do not always have <br />the information they need when taking responsibility for a loved one’s care. This November, <br />the Department is proud to offer a variety of caregiving related programs and services for <br />individualized and community caregivers, which include: