Tag Archive for: #kerrtarregionalcouncilofgovernement

TownTalk: Dementia Care Giver Conference

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Government is hosting a conference on Tuesday, Aug. 6  designed to help caregivers – family members and professionals – gain awareness, education and resources about how best to deal with those living with dementia or other cognitive or memory issues.

Michael Patterson, KTCOG family caregiver specialist, will be one of the speakers at the conference, which begins at 9 a.m. in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. Patterson was a guest on Thursday’s segment of TownTalk and said the conference will emphasize the importance of caregivers taking time out for self-care.

When Patterson joined KTCOG in 2022, he estimated that he fielded 4 or 5 calls a week.

But now, he said, that number has grown – a lot.

“I receive probably 10 to 20 calls per day,” Patterson said. That translates into 400 or 500 calls in a month, which he said is a “tremendous increase.”

Whether that rise in requests is attributed to people being more aware of how he can help find resources or to something else, Patterson said, at least part of it has to do with individuals recognizing that they can’t provide care alone. “And it’s best not to do it alone,” he noted.

Although dementia is most often associated with memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease, Patterson said it’s an umbrella term that includes numerous challenges of cognitive decline.

Self-care can take many different forms, and Patterson said it’s an important step to allow caring for a loved one with dementia “more rewarding than challenging.”

For some, self-care could mean spending time at a spa or getting a massage.

Those are great options, Patterson said, but it’s not realistic for many caregivers.

If a massage isn’t in the cards, don’t fret. Start with examining how you breathe.

In high stress situations, Patterson said, we often don’t realize that we aren’t breathing “completely.”

Be mindful of inhaling and exhaling completely. Congratulations! You just completed your first self-care activity.

The conference is presented by Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. Melanie Bunn, a registered nurse and dementia care specialist with the alliance, is one of the speakers along with Michael Patterson, KTCOG’s family caregiver specialist.

Family caregivers can register for $10; professional caregivers register for $25 and have the opportunity to earn three continuing education unit credits.

Visit www.DementiaNC.org/2024Henderson to register online or contact Lisa Levine  at 919.832.3732 to register by phone. Walk-in registrations are welcome on the day of the conference.

Visit www.kerrtarcog.org to find out about all the programs and services the KTCOG provides across Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties.

 

 

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TownTalk: Classes For Caregivers

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A six-week online class designed to help family caregivers do the very best they can for their loved ones – and for themselves – is set to get underway in early September and Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments staffer Susan Tucker wants folks to know how helpful the program is. Tucker speaks from first-hand experience: not only did she complete the class, but she went on to become an instructor.

“I know that it works because it worked for me,” Tucker told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. The class is called “Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” and she said the impact it has had in her own life has been transformative. She has been a caregiver to her mother for the past six years and the tools that she learned from the class have proved invaluable.

The class runs on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. beginning Sept. 6 and continuing through Oct. 11. It is free and designed for any non-paid caregiver; all participants will receive a workbook as part of the class.

Michael Patterson, a family caregiver specialist with Kerr-Tar COG, said participants learn how to take care of themselves as they provide care for their loved ones, which at times can be a delicate balancing act. The class provides information about community resources, as well as techniques and skills necessary to handle and manage stress.

“That’s the wonderful thing about the class – that’s the whole point,” she said, of finding ways to manage the stress of caring for a loved one. It can be incredibly overwhelming, she added, and rarely is the caregiver prepared for or aware of what they’re getting into.

The class is different from other programs that may be focused squarely on the person who requires the care, which may provide a checklist of all the things that should be done for that person to receive proper care.

“(This) class really gives the caregiver the tools to handle their role as a caregiver,” Tucker said. “It puts tools in your hand to perform those tasks so that you can thrive while you’re caring for your loved one.”

The biggest takeaway for Tucker, she said was a feeling of confidence. “II actually felt – all of a sudden – that I could do it. I didn’t feel alone.”

Call 252.436.2040 to register for the Powerful Tools for Caregivers class.

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RISE Open House Set To Gather Input On Regional Resiliency

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A regional forum about resiliency is scheduled for later this month to hear from business and civic leaders and from the community at large to collect information to be used to develop a regional vulnerability assessment.

The open house will take place on Thursday, April 28, from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m at the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, located at 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson.

The in-person open house will begin with a short presentation but organizers encourage anyone interested in participating to drop in any time during the 90-minute session to leave suggestions and opinions; participants may choose to join via Zoom between 10:30 a.m. and noon.

The project is called RISE – Regions Innovating for Stronger Economies and Environment – and the open house is hosted by the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, the N.C. Rural Center, the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments and the Kleinfelder group.

RISE will collect information that it will share within the region related to climate impacts such as flooding and storms, as well as how participants define resilience in the workplace or in homes, as well as community strengths. All of the information will be used to develop a regional vulnerability assessment.

According to Michele Burgess, president of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, “As Vance County business leaders, community citizens, and members of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, we are encouraging you to step up and participate” in the regional forum.

The Kerr-Tar region includes Vance, Granville, Franklin, Person and Warren counties and organizers said they are looking to hear from a diverse cross-section of the community across ages, occupations and demographics.

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84383461025.  The meeting ID is 843 8346.

The RISE project is associated with the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments. Phone Kerr-Tar at 252.436.2040 to learn more.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

TownTalk: Upcoming Job Fairs In Warrenton And Roxboro Are Open To All

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The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments is hosting a job fair next week at the Warren County Recreational Complex. Desiree Brooks, business services manager for the workforce development board, said more than 20 employers will be on hand at the event, set for Thursday, Oct. 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“One thing we have been taking advantage of is the nice weather,” Brooks told Town Talk host Bill Harris Thursday. She said taking the job fairs into the counties of the region is one way to match prospective employers with employees. Previous job fairs in Vance and Granville counties proved successful, and Brooks said she hopes the Warren event will be, also.

The recreational complex hosts a weekly adult kickball game, and Brooks said she listened to local officials to take the job fair to a spot that gets a lot of foot traffic.

In addition to watching the 6 p.m. kickball game, there will be food vendors on site and the Turning Point CDC Mobile Learning Lab for those who may need computer access.

“We wanted to not just pick a central location,” Brooks said, “but have a job fair in each county.” Of course, the job fairs are promoted across the region, but placing them across the five counties gives everyone a chance to participate.

A job fair is scheduled for Person County in late October, she added.

Employers are motivated, she said, and there are many opportunities for job seekers. “Everybody needs employees,” Brooks noted. “(Employers) want to meet everybody who’s looking for work.”

There are many opportunities in the Kerr-Tar region, especially in the fields of manufacturing and health care, she said.

Prospective employees should know that training through Kerr-Tar’s NC Works can help them gain job skills, too. “It’s not a deal breaker,” Brooks said, for a prospective worker to have most, but not all, of the skills needed for a specific job. “Employers are in such a need…for employees who are trainable and willing to work. We can assist with getting those employees where they need to be,” she said.

In this job market, an employee taking an entry-level job can quickly move up. Pay is higher overall, and competitive wages and sign-on bonuses are just a couple of things to consider when searching for a job.

KARTS is available for those who need transportation. Contact the NC Works office at 919.693.2686 to learn more about how to make an appointment.

Visit NCworks.gov to learn more.

 

 

Local Input Needed on Future of Food Availability in Kerr-Tar Region

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Information courtesy Michael Kelly, Regional Planning Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

A Kerr-Tar Regional Food Policy Community Input Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 1 until 3 p.m. in Perry Memorial Library’s Farm Bureau Room in Henderson.

Your input is needed to develop the Kerr-Tar region’s food strategy. Join the conversation to grow our region’s food economy, make healthy food available to everyone and support local farmers.

Refreshments and door prizes will be available to participants.

This event is free, but registration is required. Interested participants may use the following link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kerr-tar-county-food-policy-community-events-registration-78889044255.

‘Scam Jam’ to Help Elders Avoid Falling Victim to Fraud

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

On Thursday, October 10, 2019, the Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging along with the Vance County Senior Center has scheduled a SCAM JAM to help educate seniors on how to protect themselves from fraud and scams.

The Vance County SCAM JAM is a free educational and entertaining forum where seniors will learn to avoid today’s scams and frauds – from identity theft to telemarketing, Medicare fraud and even Grandparent Scams.

Seminar registration will begin at 1 p.m., and the event will start at 1:30 p.m. The seminar will be held at the Vance County Senior Center, 126 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC.

The SCAM JAM is designed to empower citizens to protect themselves and their families. Scheduled speakers include representatives of the Senior Medicare Patrol from the NC Department of Insurance, NC Department Secretary of State, Better Business Bureau as well as the local law enforcement and bankers.

The Kerr Tar Area Agency on Aging leads and is involved in the efforts that provide for the development and enhancement of comprehensive and coordinated community-based systems of services, opportunities, and protections for older adults which assist them in leading independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

The agency serves Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren County.

For more information about the Kerr Tar Area Agency on Aging, please call 252-436-2040.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Kerr-Tar Releases Proposed Transportation Projects for 2020-2029

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-Information courtesy Michael Kelly, Regional Planning Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

The KTRPO has proposed the following division needs transportation projects to be considered for inclusion in the 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Aerial maps of the projects are available for public viewing at the websites below.

The points assigned by the KTRPO were done in accordance with the adopted Local Input Methodology. Public comments will be open for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Comments may be sent to the following: info@kerrtarcog.org with the phrase ‘KTRPO Division Needs Project Comments‘ in the subject line. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments at P.O. Box 709 Henderson, NC 27536

https://www.kerrtarcog.org/

https://www.kerrtarcog.org/departments/transportation/meetings/announcements/