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What are Senior
Tar Heel Legislators?
Senate
Bill 479 (G.S. 143-B-181.55) which was  passed
by the North Carolina General Assembly on July
24, 1993 called for the establishment of a North
Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature (STHL). The
Purpose of STHL is to:
 Provide
information and education to senior adults on
the legislative process and matters being considered
by the N.C. General Assembly.
Promote
citizen involvement and advocacy concerning aging
issues before the NC General Assembly.
Assess
the legislative needs of older adults by convening
a forum modeled after the NC General Assembly.
The NC Senior Tar Heel Legislators
report and make recommendations to the North Carolina
General Assembly.
How Does the Senior Tar Heel Legislature
Work?
The Senior Tar Heel Legislature
is a single legislative body (unicameral), in
which each of the 100 counties in North Carolina
is entitled to one delegate and one alternate.
Delegates must be 60 years of age or older. The
statewide STHL meets three times per year in the
months of March, June, and October. At the conclusion
of the Annual Session held in March in Raleigh,
a report is submitted to the General Assembly
of the STHL's proceedings and priority recommendations.
The High Country STHL delegation meets 4 times a year
to review local needs and priorities to pursue
at the statewide meetings.
The NC Division of Aging
provides state staff support for the STHL in cooperation
with the High Country Area Agency on Aging, who is
responsible for staffing and conducting the selection
of delegates and alternates in High Country.
| D e l e g a t e s |
A l t e r n a t e s |
| ALLEGHANY |
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Clifford
Phillips
154 Phillips Akers Lane
Ennice, NC 28623
(336) 657-8026
cliffbobbie@gmail.com
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Patricia
Polley
Chairperson
P O Box 1445
Sparta, NC 28675
(336) 372-8684
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| ASHE |
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Clara Miller
P O Box 378
W. Jefferson, NC 28694
(336) 246-7072(H)
(336) 246-2461(W)
claramiller@asheaging.org
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Jo Ann Alexander
407 N Jefferson Ave, Unit B
West Jefferson, NC 28694
(336) 846-9689
alexander1@skybest.com |
| AVERY |
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Rachel
Deal
P O Box 8
Crossnore, NC 28616
(828) 733-4295 (H)
(828) 733-8220(W)
ncsthlvol@yahoo.com
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Ina
Winters
P O Box 502
Newland, NC 28657
(828) 733-3265
iiw321@yahoo.com
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| MITCHELL |
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Norma Duncan
59 Chestnut St
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
(828) 765-7516
mimipaduncan@bellsouth.net
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Charles Duncan
59 Chestnut St
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
(828) 765-7516
mimipaduncan@bellsouth.net
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| WATAUGA |
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Pat Coley
Vice-Chairperson
P O Box 307
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-3556
patcoley@bellsouth.net
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Ed Rosenberg
220 Sorrento Forest Drive
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 262-3767 (H)
rosenberge@appstate.edu
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| WILKES |
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Betty Knight
326 Cloverdale Lane
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 973-4232
bhkstitch@aol.com
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Vacant
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| YANCEY |
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Maryallen
Estes
822 Winterberry Road
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 581-4310
estesmaryallen@yahoo.com
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Gail Elkins
8191 Double Island Road
Green Mountain, NC 28740
(828) 675-4465
grancesat@gmail.com
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If you have issues or concerns, please contact
the Senior Tar Heel Legislator representing
your county or the High Country Area Agency
on Aging Director, Anita Davie, at (828) 265-5434
ext. 122
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2010
Legislative Priorities
- Provide
funding to sustain Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver
Alternatives to Running on Empty).
Project C.A.R.E. provides respite care,
family consultation and linkage to caregivers
of persons afflicted with Alzheimer’s
disease. By helping families keep a loved
one in the home longer, less time will
be required for institutional care. The
resulting savings in public funds are
substantial. We recommend that $1,000,000
in recurring funds be appropriated to
sustain Project C.A.R.E. in the 21 counties
it now serves and to expand it into other
counties.
- Increase
funding for home and community based services
for older adults by increasing the Home
and Community Care Block Grant by $5 million.
Home and community-based services include
home-delivered meals, adult day care,
health care, in-home aid and other services
that help impaired older adults stay in
their homes. These services are less costly
than institutional care. The rapidly growing
population of older adults is increasing
the demand for these services. There are
thousands of people on the waiting list
for Home and Community Block Grant services.
- Increase funding for
senior centers by an additional $2,000,000
in recurring funds for a total of $3,265,316
a year. Senior centers provide
programs and services that enhance the
health and wellness of older adults and
support their efforts to remain independent.
The 163 senior centers currently in operation
or under development serve 98 counties.
The requested increase in recurring funds
would enable these senior centers to expand
their services to meet the needs of a
growing population of older adults.
- Establish
a cap on the increase in the assessed
value of property determined during revaluations
for persons over the age of 65, eligible
for a Homestead Exemption. Revise the
limits of the Act to income of $35,000.
The 2000 census estimates that 12.7% of
NC’s elderly over 65 have an income
below the poverty level. Frequent reassessments
of property values have resulted in much
greater tax burdens within this population.
- Mandate
pre-employment and random drug testing
for employees of nursing and assisted
living facilities. Skilled
nursing facilities and adult care homes
provide specialized care for frail adults
with chronic health problems and disabled
persons. The safety of residents is compromised
when employees abuse drugs, resulting
in decreased productivity, increased liability
to the facility and its staff and increased
potential crimes such as theft and patient
abuse. While some companies require pre-employment
and random drug testing for their employees,
all companies should have this policy
in place.
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