March 4, 2013 - Cabarrus County

Weaknesses of Facilities in Cabarrus County
a. High staff turnover, especially at the Administrator level, remains a significant problem, which adversely
impacts continuity of care.
b. Residents would benefit from more community groups to visit and participate in activities.
c. Resident groups need more opportunities for affordable group outings in the community.
d. Access to dental care remains a chronic concern for many in NH and ACH residents.
e. Lack of timely, appropriate notice and discharge planning when a resident is asked to leave.
Other comments
a. Committees will plan for the 2013 Annual Resident Rights Luncheon in October. At this event in 2011, the
long-term care residents in Cabarrus County received an abundance of donated goodie bag items
(toiletries, snacks, etc.) from the Cabarrus Caring Hearts and Hands, through a contact made by Kay
Honeycutt. We would be grateful to see this service project become a tradition in Cabarrus, to allow
caring citizens to respond to the ongoing needs of area long-term care residents who often cannot afford
or these items when needed. Other service groups are invited to join this effort, also.
b. Committee members and the community-at-large will be invited to attend the Cabarrus County World
Elder Abuse Awareness Day educational event, to be held at Carolinas Medical Center – Northeast on
June 12, 2013, which is hosted by the Cabarrus County Task Force for Prevention of Abuse of Elderly and
Disabled Adults.
c. Volunteers attended quarterly training meetings with the Centralina AAA Regional Ombudsman as
required. Many volunteers maintain excellent attendance at training meetings.
d. CAC members will continue efforts to recruit/retain volunteers using local media to publicize volunteer
opportunities.
e. The committee members and the Centralina Ombudsman Program are grateful for the work of the
County in recruiting new volunteers and re-appointing existing volunteers. Cabarrus County consistently
allows the Regional Ombudsman to pre-screen citizens who inquire about service on the CAC and discuss
the requirements of this position prior to making an appointment. This is an investment of time that
results in appointees who have a more complete understanding of the volunteer work before they are
appointed to the CAC, which makes the appointment process far easier and reduces potential problems
with inactive members and resignations.
THE REGIONAL OMBUDSMAN WILL DISTRIBUTE THIS REPORT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES.
Prepared by Laurie Abounader, Regional Ombudsman, and CAC members Karen Pensgen and Joanne
Yurchison, with input from members of both Community Advisory Committees.
--Date prepared: February 12, 2013--
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