Nearly 20,000 Reports of Abuse, Neglect of Elderly and Disabled in 2011

Governor supports new pilot program in budget, proclaims Elder Abuse Awareness Month

RALEIGH There were nearly 20,000 reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly citizens and younger adults with disabilities made to North Carolinas county departments of social services in 2011, according to data released today by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In response to these numbers, Governor Bev Perdue dedicated $2.3 million in her budget to support an innovative Adult Protective Services pilot program in six counties across the state.

She also proclaimed May 11 through June 18 Vulnerable Adult and Elder Abuse Awareness Month  the time period between Mothers Day and Fathers Day weekends  and urged all North Carolinians to take extra time and care to check on vulnerable neighbors, friends and family members.

Governor Perdue recognized that the states current adult protective services program is outdated and ill- equipped to respond to the needs of and threats to seniors and younger adults with disabilities. Current law does not allow for proactive, preventative measures for responding to adults at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation. This leaves a potentially dangerous gap in the supports available to vulnerable adults, including our growing elderly population which is expected to double in the next 20 years.

We need to be more aware of our neighbors who may be at risk, said DHHS Secretary Al Delia. If abuse or neglect is suspected, no matter what the age or level of ability, someone should be able to step in and offer assistance. The governors investment in a system to protect older adults begins to fill a crucial gap in community care.

The pilot program funding would go toward helping the local departments of social services to implement a broader, more preventive approach to protecting vulnerable adults. Assisting people who have already suffered abuse, neglect or exploitation is of course essential; but the ability to intervene sooner could potentially allow some people to preserve resources and decrease hospitalization, emergency service and institutionalization usage and costs.

Data and research show:

Older adults who are abused, neglected and/or exploited are three times more likely to die within 10 years  and four times more likely to die from heart disease specifically. 70 percent of mistreatment reported in North Carolina happens to persons age 60 and older, the majority of whom live in the community. The most common form of mistreatment is neglect, with 69 percent of the cases involving self-neglect, where victims are unable to care for themselves adequately. Signs of elder abuse or abuse of an adult with a disability may include:

· Bruises, burns, cuts, or scratches;

· Malnutrition;

· Untreated medical conditions;

· Unsafe or unsanitary housing;

· Mental anguish and distress;

· Mistrust toward others;

· Mismanaged property, finances or savings; and/or

· Inability to provide needed care.

If you suspect someone is being abused, neglected or exploited, report your suspicions to the adult protective services intake unit of the county department of social services where the affected person lives. Contact information for county departments of social services is available at: www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/local.

Anyone who suspects that an adult with a disability needs protective services is required by North Carolina law (General Statute 108A- 102) to report this information. If you report suspected abuse, your name will not be shared, even if your suspicions prove wrong. County officials will have the responsibility of evaluating the situation and taking appropriate action after you share your concerns.

Reports of Abuse and Neglect by County 2011

Alamance... 312
Alexander... 103
Alleghany... 51
Anson... 49
Ashe... 91
Avery... 2
Beaufort... 216
Bertie... 27
Bladen... 68
Brunswick... 215
Buncombe... 1,230
Burke... 172
Cabarrus... 336
Caldwell... 487
Camden... 7
Carteret... 211
Caswell... 76
Catawba... 299
Chatham... 60
Cherokee... 96
Chowan... 54
Clay... 33
Cleveland... 733
Columbus... 190
Craven... 156
Cumberland... 428
Currituck... 26
Dare... 109
Davidson... 305
Davie... 95
Duplin... 125
Durham... 653
Edgecombe... 65
Forsyth... 655
Franklin... 66
Gaston... 691
Gates... 35
Graham... 47
Granville... 44
Greene... 47
Guilford... 388
Halifax... 26
Harnett... 143
Haywood... 122
Henderson... 300
Hertford... 31
Hoke... 98
Hyde... 11
Iredell... 303
Jackson... 162
Johnston... 239
Jones... 13
Lee... 73
Lenior... 140
Lincoln... 130
Macon... 89
Madison... 86
Martin... 86
McDowell... 116
Mecklenburg... 1,949
Mitchell... 10
Montgomery... 63
Moore... 168
Nash... 48
New Hanover... 787
Northampton... 22
Onslow... 288
Orange... 51
Pamlico... 11
Pasquotank... 58
Pender... 133
Perquimans... 36
Person... 125
Pitt... 243
Polk... 59
Randolph... 317
Richmond... 67
Robeson... 380
Rockingham... 228
Rowan... 310
Rutherford... 233
Sampson... 97
Scotland... 46
Stanley... 113
Stokes... 104
Surry... 95
Swain... 97
Transylvania... 77
Tyrrell... 10
Union... 93
Vance... 57
Wake... 1,177
Warren... 55
Washington... 20
Watauga... 82
Wayne... 315
Wilkes... 192
Wilson... 103
Yadkin... 65
Yancey... 30
Totals 19,635

Summer Program Registration Set

Summer Program Registration Set for May 19th Albemarle Parks and Recreation will hold registration for its summer programs on Saturday, May 19th from 9 am to 12 noon at the Rock Creek Park office. Call 704-984-9560 for details.

Taekwondo classes
Albemarle TKD:

Attention all moms out there. As a way to say Thanks to all the Awesome Moms, Albemarle Taekwondo will let any Mom come take Taekwondo classes during the entire month of May for FREE! No sign up fee or contract is required, it's totally FREE! Contact Albemarle TKD today 704-982-4099

North Carolina wins $1.5 million grant to improve how low-income families receive services

RALEIGH- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Al Delia today announced that North Carolina is one of six states awarded a three-year grant for improving delivery of social services to individuals and families in need. DHHS will receive $1.5 million from the Ford Foundation and its partners.

The North Carolina system for delivering social services is county-administered and state- supervised, and can at times be difficult for clients to navigate and cumbersome for the staff administering the programs. Historically, applicants were required to talk to numerous people for each service they sought. And the various work support programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and child care subsidy each had different eligibility requirements and certification periods.

During the grants planning year, state and county leaders identified as major issues: lack of communication between programs, high levels of clients exiting and entering the system, and slow application review.

In an effort to streamline the application process, DHHS has aligned the eligibility and certification requirements for these programs and is implementing a new system dubbed NC-FAST  North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology. The Ford Foundation grant will build upon the NC-FAST rollout, with the goals of improving service delivery in local offices, reducing counties workloads and enabling families to tell their story once only to get what they need. NC-FAST begins its rollout with pilot counties next month.

With this initiative, we are building a visionary, forward- thinking service delivery system from the ground up for the more than 2.1 million individuals who receive a social service each year in North Carolina, said Secretary Delia. These programs are essential for helping low-income families stay in the workforce, and ultimately, helping them move from poverty to a self- sustaining life.

The Ford Foundation and its partners, the Urban Institute and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, are investing $15 million over a five-year period in their Work Support Strategies: Streamlining Access, Strengthening Families initiative. The funding will build on recent state and federal innovations by providing states with expert technical assistance, peer support and financial backing to take their efforts to the next level.

The partnership between DHHS and the county departments of social services in working on this grant has been a tremendous asset, said Nancy Coston, President of the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services. Counties have realized that we will need to do business differently in the future as we strive to provide excellent customer service to a steadily increasing number of clients. NC-FAST will serve as a great tool for helping manage caseloads, while this grant will work to change the business culture in our local offices.

North Carolina was one of nine states that received a $250,000 planning grant in February 2011. These states had the option to apply for additional grant funding to implement the action plans created during their planning year.

STANLY COUNTY ANNUAL RABIES VACCINATION CLINIC

Section 130A-185 of the laws of North Carolina requires all owners of each and every dog or cat four months old or older to have same vaccinated against Rabies. The annual Rabies Clinic in Stanly County will be conducted by Drs. Kay Griffin, Jim Link, and Tom Mangum. Any dog or cat four months old or older that is receiving its first dose of vaccine will be vaccinated for a period of one year and three years, thereafter. A vaccination fee of $8.00 will be charged and must be paid, with cash only, at the time of the vaccination.

NORTH STANLY ANIMAL CLINIC Dr. Link

NEW LONDON SCHOOL YARD
May 19th
12:15 - 1:00 p.m.

OLD RICHFIELD V.F.D.; TOWN HALL
May 19th
1:15 - 2:00 p.m.

RIDENHOUR COMM. BUILDING
May 19th
2: 10 - 2:30 p.m.

MILLINGPORT SCHOOL
May 19th
2:35 - 3:30 p.m.

GREENTOP SER & GROC,
Troy Rd
May 19th
8:00 - 8:20 a.m.

NORWOOD SCHOOL,
Bus Parking
May 19th
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

COTTONVILLE CHURCH
May 19th
9:50 - 10:30 a.m.

AQUADALE SCHOOL
May 19th
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.

PORTER METHODIST CHURCH
May 19th
11:30 - 12:00 p.m.

UNION GROVE CHURCH
May 19th
12:15 - 12:45 p.m.

SOUTH ALB. BAPTIST CHURCH
May 19th
12:50 - 1:15 p.m.

NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY -
120 COLLEGE DR.
ALBEMARLE
May 19th
1:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Teen Smoking Rates Drop to Historic Low

RALEIGH The teen cigarette smoking rate in North Carolina reached an historic low in 2011, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Al Delia announced today. Since 2003, teen cigarette smoking rates have fallen steadily, according to results from the 2011 NC Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey finds that the middle school smoking rate dropped to 4.2 percent from 4.3 percent in 2009, and high school smoking lowered to 15.5 percent from 16.7 percent in 2009. These are all-time lows for each group.

Influential on the consistent drop in rates is the TRU (Tobacco. Reality. Unfiltered) Program, a prevention initiative that targets youth through media campaigns and school and community programs (www.TRU.nc.gov). The General Assembly has eliminated funding as of July 1 for TRU and other tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Governor Bev Perdue proposed $10 million in her budget released last week to begin restoring support for these essential initiatives.

Since 2003, middle school smoking dropped by 55 percent from 9.3 percent to 4.2 percent and high school smoking decreased by 43 percent from 27.3 percent to 15.5 percent. Before the TRU program, North Carolina saw only modest improvements in youth cigarette smoking rates.

The TRU Program was originally funded by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) with funds from the Master Settlement Agreement with major tobacco companies. Leaders in the General Assembly abolished that widely-respected fund last year in spite of Governor Perdues strong objections. Funding for TRU was relocated to the DHHS during FY 2011-12, but was not set to recur.

Now is not the time to give up our efforts to prevent young people from using tobacco. Our success in reducing teen smoking rates will save lives and health care dollars down the road, said Secretary Delia. That is why Governor Perdue is building back support to continue this program by putting recurring funds in her budget proposal for 2012- 13. Our work must be sustained and supported to continue to keep smoking rates down and create a healthy future for our children and grandchildren.

Public health officials say youth tobacco prevention efforts must be sustained, because around 100,000 NC students enter middle school each year, a time when they become more vulnerable to experimentation and to influences outside the family. Almost 40 percent of smokers smoke their first cigarette by age 11, and smoking and other tobacco use increases through middle and high school. The tobacco industry spends approximately $396,000,000 marketing their products in North Carolina each year. The U.S. Surgeon General concluded in the 2012 report entitled Preventing Tobacco Use among Youth and Young Adults that there is a causal relationship between advertising and promotional efforts of tobacco companies and the initiation and progression of tobacco use among young people.

For more information about TRU and to view TRU media, visit www.tru.nc.gov

Blood Drives
Community Blood Center of the Carolinas May 2012 Blood Drives  Stanly County

May 21, 2012
Albemarle High School
311 Park Ridge Road
Albemarle, NC 28001
8:15 am  1:00 pm
Free t-shirt to all donors!

May 30, 2012
City of Albemarle
Firestation 1
1610 E. Main Street
Albemarle, NC 28001
10:00 am 2:00 pm

More public drives can be found by logging on to the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas Web site at www.cbcc.us. CBCC also has donation centers in Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, and Union County. You may call 704-972-4700 to make an appointment at any location.

*Please note the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas' minimum weight requirement for blood donors is 120 pounds.

Fish FRYday @ Market Station, Downtown Albemarle

Join us at Market Station on Friday, June 1, 6:00pm-9:00pm for great food and great fun.Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 the day of the event. Advance tickets receive an event t-shirt upon arrival. All tickets include: all you can eat mini shrimp, jumbo peel and eat shrimp, filet of flounder, sides, dessert, beverages, and entertainment provided by the Clay Pigeons. Tickets can be purchased at the ADDC office (144 N. Second St.) for a small fee.

Sponsors:
Brafford, Odom & Co., LLP
CB and Betty Crook
Dun-Rite Cleaners
Greg Underwood, CPA
McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
RE/Max Town and Country

5th Annual Historic Badin Triathlon

June 02, 2012 - 8:00am - 1:00pm

5th Annual Historic Badin Triathlon will be held Saturday, June 2, 2012. Race Start Time 8:00 am. Course: Swim the water of Badin Lake for 750 meters; Ride the rolling hills of Stanly County for 12 miles; Run a 5k down the scenic road of Valley Drive. Registration: On-line at www.sportoften.com; Visit Vac & Dash, 231 W. Main St., Albemarle or on-line at www.vacanddash.com. Contact information: Karen Lowder 704.438.0225 for further details.

2.3 Million Pills Off the Streets, $5.2 Million Saved by Narcotics Lock-in

RALEIGH  A recent analysis of a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) program for chronic pain patients on Medicaid shows $5.2 million saved in the first year, and 2.3 million fewer pain pills were prescribed to patients in only three months.

The numbers are significant because Medicaid recipients who struggle with pain often seek multiple prescriptions, from multiple doctors, leading to dramatically higher costs and the potential for abuse and overuse. Doctor-shopping for narcotics can lead to addiction, overdose and pills being resold on the street.

Almost 2,500 North Carolina Medicaid recipients are currently enrolled in the DHHS Lock-in program for narcotics and controlled substances. Part of Gov. Bev Perdues efforts to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in state Medicaid, the lock-in program launched in October 2010. New technology identifies Medicaid recipients with multiple prescriptions for opiate pain relievers or sedative/anti-anxiety medicines. DHHS locks in those recipients to using a single physician and pharmacy.

Locking patients in to one doctor and one pharmacy ensures they receive the medications and care they truly need while providing a new level of oversight that can ferret out abuse or overuse.

In these difficult financial times, we are searching for every way possible to save money for a Medicaid system that is adding people exponentially, said DHHS Acting Secretary Al Delia. At the same time, we are trying to maintain an adequate level of care and services for our neediest citizens. The beauty of the Lock-in program is that it accomplishes both significant savings and continued care. Its a win- win.

A recent analysis of first year data shows that locked- in recipients saved Medicaid more than $800,000 in reduced pharmacy costs alone. And because locked-in Medicaid patients were restricted from doctor- shopping for narcotics, they made fewer hospital, emergency room and dental visits and underwent fewer radiology scans and lab tests. Those additional savings were estimated at more than $4.4 million, for a total first-year savings of more than $5.2 million.

Comparing the three months before lock-in dates to three months afterward, Medicaid officials also found that recipients consumed 2.3 million fewer pills, or about 1,000 fewer pills apiece. N.C. Medicaid likely cut the supply of controlled substances by millions more pills since the program was launched in October 2010.

Here are examples of patients who reduced costs significantly during the first two months after they were locked-in, compared to the two months prior:

A man from the Fayetteville area received prescriptions for nine narcotic pain relievers and two tranquilizer/anxiety medicines, which he obtained from nine separate physicians and filled at four pharmacies. He visited hospital emergency rooms five times, medical offices 14 times and had 15 radiologic scans.

Cost to state Medicaid for two months before lock-in: $39,061

Cost for two months after lock-in: $3,374

Percentage drop: 91%

Health benefits: His chronic shoulder and back pain from an old injury was managed, and he received help for health and psychological issues.

A woman from the Wilmington area obtained eight prescriptions for narcotics from four physicians, which she filled at four pharmacies. She discovered she was pregnant while visiting two hospital emergency rooms, four medical offices and receiving three radiologic scans.

Cost to state Medicaid for two months before lock-in: $13,181

Cost for two months after lock-in: $207

Percentage drop: 98%

Health benefits: She received vital prenatal care during her pregnancy and pain management for chronic back and knee issues.

A woman from the Triangle area visited seven doctors, obtaining prescriptions for seven opiate pain relievers and nine tranquilizer/anxiety medicines. She underwent four radiologic scans, made eight visits to a hospital emergency room (arriving by ambulance twice) and made nine visits to other medical offices.

Cost to state Medicaid for two months before lock-in: $24,722

Cost for two months after lock-in: $15,187

Percentage drop: 39%

Health benefits: Her health and psychological issues are being better monitored and controlled.

A man from the Charlotte area obtained seven narcotics and two tranquilizer/anxiety medicines from five physicians. He underwent four radiologic scans, made seven medical office visits and one to an ER.

Cost to state Medicaid for two months before lock-in: $27,976

Cost for two months after lock-in: less than $8,925

Percentage drop: 68%

Health benefits: His back pain and other chronic health issues are now better managed.

A woman from the Asheville area obtained eight narcotics prescriptions from four physicians, which she filled at three pharmacies. She received six radiologic scans, made four medical office visits and one to an ER.

Cost to state Medicaid for two months before lock-in: $12,598

Cost for two months after lock-in: $688

Percentage drop: 95%

Health benefits: better management of her chronic back pain.

A woman from the Triad area obtained prescriptions for nine narcotic and two tranquilizer/anxiety medicines from four physicians, filling them at three pharmacies. She underwent six radiologic scans and visited five medical offices and an ER.

Cost to state Medicaid for two months before lock-in: $18,650

Cost for two months after lock-in: $1,129

Percentage drop: 94%

Health benefits: Her chronic back pain and foot pain  plus other health and psychological issues  are managed and monitored.

N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor
Albert A. Delia, Acting Secretary

City Lake Park Hours:

City Lake Park, located at 815 Concord Road in Albemarle, opens daily at 7:30 am. Closing time is determined by month as follows:

May, June, July, August: 9 pm
September: 8 pm
October: 7 pm
November, December: 6 pm