2021-2022 Speaker Series
Living Your Best Life
St. James NEST offered a Senior Living Speaker Series from October 2021-May 2022 to all residents of St. James. The programs were held at the St. James Community Center in Room A and were FREE to attend. In case you missed them, the recordings and handouts are available on this page.
Senior Fraud Schemes - How to Avoid Them
May 31, 2022 - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
In case you missed this presentation, you can watch the video here. You can review the handouts from the Brunswick County Sheriff's: Brunswick County Sheriff's Fraud Handouts and How to Avoid a Scam. The Cape Fear Council of Government handout are linked to Fraud Medicare Schemes.
Scammers cheat seniors out of approximately $2.9 billion annually, according to the Senate Special Committee on Aging. No one is exempt from being a potential target of a fraud, and many con artists prey upon seniors who are well-educated and have above-average incomes. They use sophisticated, convincing sales pitches that sound legitimate, making it easy for anyone to become a target. Brunswick County Deputies Willie McRae and Bo Geiger, will share with you what you need to know and how you can protect yourself and your family and Holly Pilson of the Area Agency on Aging (Cape Fear Council of Governments) will share how to avoid getting caught up in Medicare Fraud.
Speaker(s): Deputy Willie McRae and Deputy James Geiger, Brunswick County Sheriff's Office; Holly Henderson Pilson, Director, Area Agency on Aging, Cape Fear Council of Governments
Deputy Willie McRae grew up in Brunswick County and went to Brunswick County schools (K-12). He played baseball at Brunswick Community College until he was awarded an opportunity to attend Winston-Salem State University, where he also played baseball, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He did an internship with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and afterward went to work in the county detention center in 2018. In 2019, he graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy and worked on road patrol for two years. In 2021, he was selected to join the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department's I.M.P.A.C.T. (Improving Public Awareness and Community Training) unit; the purpose of which is to drive community policing and educating the public.
Deputy James "Bo" Geiger was born in Guilford County, NC and started his law enforcement career with the Greensboro Police Department. After Greensboro, he went to work for the Stokes County Sheriff's Office in Stokes County, NC before moving to Brunswick County in 2016, where he worked on patrol, then worked as a Detective, before joining his partner, Deputy Willie McRae, in the I.M.P.A.C.T. Division in 2021.
Holly Henderson Pilson has always had a love for older adults; receiving a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Gerontology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She interned with the New Hanover County Department of Aging in college and became the manager of the Home Community Care Block Grant In-Home Aide Program with a local homecare agency after graduation. Holly has been employed by the Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging for 22 years, starting as the Aging Program Developer then transitioning into the Caregiver Resource Specialist in 2001 after Congress passed and funded the National Family Caregiver Support Program under the Older American’s Act. She enjoyed helping caregivers navigate the aging support system, facilitating support groups, managing caregiver grants and providing caregiver education in that role. In December, 2020, she was promoted to Director of the Area Agency on Aging.
When Your Past Becomes Your Future
October 25, 2021 - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
In case you missed this presentation, you can review the program handout here.
This session will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. You’ll learn the importance of capturing the life background information of the Alzheimer patient and how to use it to reduce stress of daily living activities, as well as techniques to identify challenging behaviors and how best to handle them. You’ll also learn about cognitive appropriate activities for physical, mental and social stimulation, as well as the value of music therapy.
Speaker: Ann LaReau, Certified Dementia Practitioner
Ann LaReau began working with persons with Alzheimer’s 30 years ago as a volunteer at an Alzheimer’s unit in Michigan where she served as the Vice President of Community Affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. After moving to Wilmington, Ann became a trained CNA and Activity Director while working on the fundraising effort to build the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Life Care Center.
Working with the elderly is Ann’s passion. She is trained to provide Alzheimer’s care by the NC Alzheimer’s Association and is certified by Teepa Snow of Alzheimer’s NC to teach the course issuing CEUs. She conducts training classes to professionals and family members caring for those with Alzheimer’s, facilitates Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings, is one of only three persons in the area accredited to present the Virtual Dementia Tour – another teaching tool – and is certified to provide training for family members of those with Alzheimer’s. In 2018, Ann earned the credential as a Certified Dementia Practitioner. For more information, visit www.lareauseniorconsulting.com.
Estate and Long Term Care Planning in North Carolina
November 30, 2021 - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Estate planning offers a plan to provide and protect your loved ones when you are no longer alive. Essential to estate planning is the ability to transfer assets to heirs with an eye toward creating the smallest possible tax burden for them. An estate plan that implements asset-protection employs legal strategies, put in place before a lawsuit or claim arises, that can deter a potential claimant or help prevent the seizure of your assets after a judgment. Estate plans that involve asset protection may often be geared toward planning for long term care needs. Long term care is notoriously expensive for seniors and their families. As America’s senior population increases and seniors are living longer, there is a greater likelihood that a person may need long-term care. Planning for any long term care is a gift that you and your loved ones will appreciate.
Get more information about these important topics from an experienced Elder Law attorney. This session will help you understand essential estate planning tools, asset-protection and long-term care planning; Powers of Attorney and how to determine if yours is “hot” enough; Wills versus Trusts and determining which one makes the most sense for you; how estate plans from out of state impact you in North Carolina; the best steps to take now to protect your assets for long term care; and how to find and pay for quality long term care.
Speaker: Kara Gansmann, Attorney at Law
Kara Gansmann is an Attorney and Partner in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner LLP. She devotes her entire practice to Elder Law and serves as the firm’s Chair of the Elder Law Practice Group. She works with families and seniors in Southeastern North Carolina, providing pragmatic solutions to their legal needs through both advocacy in the courtroom and counseling for long-term care planning. Kara also serves on the North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs section council. Kara earned three degrees from University of North Carolina Wilmington and the University of North Dakota, where she served as Editor in Chief of the North Dakota Law Review and graduated with highest honors among the top of her class. For more information about Kara, visit the Cranfill Sumner website.
Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care - Which One to Choose?
March 29, 2022 - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
In case you missed this presentation, you can view a pdf of Beth and Helen's handout here
and listen to the audio of their presentation here.
Both palliative care and hospice care provide comfort. But palliative care can begin at diagnosis, and at the same time as treatment. Hospice care begins after treatment of the disease is stopped and when it is clear that the person is not going to survive the illness. This session will discuss what each service offers, when is the right time for each service, and how to have the discussion of those services with patients and their loved ones.
Speakers: Beth Fields, Registered Nurse and Liaison, and Helen Martin, Nurse Practioner, both from Liberty Home Care & Hospice
Beth Fields is a Registered Nurse and Liaison with Liberty Home Care and Hospice. She’s passionate about providing quality healthcare to people in need of those services. Beth graduated from nursing school in May 2000 and began working at Columbus County Hospital where she cared for patients there for two years. She and her husband were in the process of building their home in Brunswick County when a nurse friend suggested she try home health. In December 2001, Beth accepted a position with Liberty Home Care and Hospice in Brunswick County. She cared for patients as a field nurse for almost 2 years and then accepted a supervisory position as a Patient Care Coordinator. She held that position for about 15 years until she accepted her current position as liaison. She will celebrate her 20 year anniversary with Liberty in December. She enjoys meeting people and having the opportunity to educate them on services available that might be beneficial to them.
Helen M. Martin specializes in nurse practitioner in Wilmington, NC and has over 17 years of experience in the field of medicine. She graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine with her medical degree in 2005. She is affiliated with numerous hospitals in North Carolina and more, including New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Mom and Dad Need Care. Where Do I Start?
April 26, 2022 3:00 - 4:30 pm
In case you missed this event, you can listen to the audio of Sue's presentation here.
While the purpose of St. James NEST is to help our Members stay safely in their homes as long as possible, there’s always the chance that a currently active adult may need to consider other living options at some point in their lives. In this session, we will explore the differences between types of facilities - independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehab, continuum of care communities and home care options, including medical and non-medical. Also to be discussed is what prompts families to think about needing to find care options for themselves or their elderly loved ones and what the best care option would be will be discussed. Payor sources and Medicaid will also be reviewed. Now is the right time to be thinking about this topic - before it becomes an emergency situation.
Speaker: Sue Fryt, Eldercare Specialist, Certified Senior Advisor
Susan Fryt has worked in the senior healthcare industry for over 25 years. She has served seniors and their families as Director of Community Relations within both assisted living communities and home healthcare agencies. Susan started the New Hanover Healthcare Marketing Network group in 2004 to open lines of communication among professionals who serve the elderly population in our area.
For the last 12 years Susan has worked with Elder Law attorneys and their clients to assist in finding the appropriate care or placement for their senior family member. She finds the proper level of care such as home care, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, for each client based on his or her specific needs; their health, finances, location, whether they are coming from a hospital setting, their own home, or moving to the area to be near family. She functions as a liaison between the client and family and the doctor, facilities, agencies to ensure a smooth transition.