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North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services

Senior Tar Heel Legislature

Fact Sheet

The North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature was created by the North Carolina General Assembly with the passage of Senate Bill 479 in July of 1993.

The Senior Tar Heel Legislature was created to:

• Provide information to senior citizens on the legislative process and matters being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly.
• Promote citizen involvement and advocacy concerning aging issues before the North Carolina General Assembly.
• Assess the legislative needs of older citizens by convening a forum modeled after the North Carolina General Assembly.

There is one delegate to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature from each of the 100 counties in the state. Most counties also have an alternate delegate. Delegates and alternates must be age 60 or older. The North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services provides staff support for the Senior Tar Heel Legislature in cooperation with the 17 Area Agencies on Aging who are responsible for conducting the selection of delegates and alternates.

Current officers of the Senior Tar Heel Legislature are:

1. Charles Dickens, Speaker (Buncombe)
2. Edwin Deaver, Speaker Pro Tempore (Cumberland)
3. Betty Hunt, Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore (Randolph)
4. Clara Fountain, Secretary (Surry)

2008 Legislative Priorities

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 help impaired older adults stay in their homes. Key services include home-delivered meals, adult day care/day health care, in-home aide, and respite care for family caregivers. As the older population continues to grow, so does the demand for services. Those in particular need of services are the over 125,000 older adults in the state who are 85 and older and those who are disabled. More than a quarter of the persons age 65 and older living in the community have two or more physical or mental conditions that make it difficult for them to do such activities as walking, dressing, and bathing. Although there is an increased need for services, the state is losing ground in its effort to help frail older people in the community. There are over 11,000 people on the waiting list for Home and Community Care Block Grant services.

Increase funding for senior centers by $634,684 for a total of $2 million per year. There are 163 senior centers in North Carolina currently operational or under development in 97 counties in the state. These centers provide a variety of programs and services to enhance the health and wellness of older adults and to support their efforts to remain independent in their communities. The current recurring state appropriation for senior centers is limited to $1,365,316. With limited funding, many senior centers are short-staffed and unable to grow their services, activities, space and operating hours, at the time expectations for senior centers have grown (e.g., participation in Medicare Part D education and counseling).

Appropriate an additional $15,000 in Recurring Funds for the operation of the Senior Tar Heel Legislature. The Senior Tar Heel Legislature currently receives $3,000 per year to cover the expenses of the Senior Tar Heel Legislature. However, the costs of the meeting space, breaks, mailings, and a meal are approximately $6,000 per meeting or $18,000 per year. The Senior Tar Heel Legislature requests an additional $15,000 be appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Aging and Adult Services to cover the costs of the Senior Tar Heel Legislature’s three scheduled meetings per year.

Provide Dental Care for Older Adults with Special Needs and in Rural Areas. The Senior Tar Heel Legislature recommends that $1.35 million be allocated to the Office of Rural Health and Community Care to recruit dentists for underserved areas in North Carolina including dentists that would focus on providing care in long-term care facilities. The Division of Public Health and the Office of Rural Health and Community Care would use the model of existing mobile dental clinics to provide access to care for residents residing in long-term care facilities, as well as seniors and the disabled living at home.

Provide funding to sustain Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty). The Senior Tar Heel Legislature recommends that $500,000 in recurring funds be appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Aging and Adult Services to sustain Project C.A.R.E., which currently serves 14 counties, and to expand it into other counties.