Community Resources

 

AgingCare.com provides resources on finding home care, housing for seniors and tips, advice and support from their Caregivers Forum. There is also an extensive list of topics related to aging that provides great resources.

AgingInPlace.org provides free online resources to connect older adults with the right tools to make remaining in their homes and communities a reality. Product reviews include Medical Alert Systems, Hearing Aids, Mobility Devices, Home Modifications and more.  

Are You Okay - The Are You Ok Program is a free service by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office that places a daily phone call to each person enrolled, at a specified time.  If no response is received a Deputy is dispatched to the residence to ensure the person's safety.

Brunswick County's COVID-19 Information - Get the most up to date information on the corona virus, as well as vaccine information.

Brunswick County Emergency Services maintains a database of residents who may have additional needs before, during and after an emergency event (such as a hurricane) in functional areas which may include but are not limited to: maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, and medical care. Residents in the Access & Functional Needs (AFN) Registry will be contacted by our staff when an emergency event is anticipated or has occurred; in particular, events that trigger evacuations. If you or someone you know would like to be included in AFN Registry, please complete this form. For further information, please contact Kelley Currie, AFN Coordinator at 910-253-5383 or [email protected].

Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc. - a comprehensive guide to the adult services available to seniors living in Brunswick County

Brunswick Senior Resources-Southport Senior Center and AARP can assist you with your tax preparation. This year, taxpayers are required to schedule an appointment; no walk-ins will be allowed. Tax returns will be processed offf-site. Call 910-477-3994 for your first appointment to get started; you will get a call back to schedule your appointment, as well as instructions on what documentation you need to bring to your first appointment.

The Brunswick County Sherriff's Office has announced a new scam regarding fake currency being circulated in the Wilmington & Southport areas. The fake "movie money" will have "For Motion Picture Use Only" on the top, right hand side of the bill. See an example here. For a list of current scams, visit the Brunswick County Sherriff's website.

Brunswick Transit System (BTS) is a non-profit community transportation system that coordinates general public and human services transportation for the residents of Brunswick County. The transit system operates a fleet of 17 vehicles, including ADA equipped vehicles to assist persons with special needs. BTS offers rides for $3-$5 (one way), depending on the destination.

Caregiver Academy is a new community partnership between the LifeCare Memory Partners, the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC and the Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging  and is focused on providing education and support to caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other related dementias in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties.

Caregiver Action Network (CAN) - is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. They provide a wide variety of caregiver services, including their Family Caregiver Toolbox.

Caregiver Support Group - 4th Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30AM Brunswick Senior Resources, Southport. Note: The monthly meeting is suspended while BSRI is closed. We are meeting on our regular day and time via telephone. Want to join us? Beth Caragol, [email protected] for call access information.

Compassion & Choices is committed to empowering people to get the care they want during a serious illness or at the end of life. They have some valuable resources available to help people become good advocates for themselves and their loved ones.

COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center - The North Carolina Department of Healthy COVID-19 vaccine help center can be reached at 888-675-4567, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Callers can get help with general COVID-19 vaccine questions, information on eligibility groups, clinical questions about the vaccine, how to find vaccine locations and transporation services. Additionally, they have a Find My Spot vaccine location search tool that lets North Carolinians enter their ZIP code or current location to find nearby vaccine providers, using the latest available data.

DocuBank has an Emergency Card that helps to ensure that your medical wishes are known and respected when it counts.  DocuBank SAFE allows you to upload and store those documents that you want quick, convenient, access to online. Keep your important documents within reach, round the clock, from anywhere.

Duke Energy's Emergency Preparedness - This page and booklet contains important emergency planning information for people who live within 10 miles of our nuclear power plants (also known as the emergency planning zones or EPZs). The information was developed by state and local officials in conjunction with Duke Energy and is updated annually. The booklet provides basic information about radiation and how to prepare for a nuclear emergency.

Home Safety for Seniors - This Old House details ways to make a home hazard-free and secure from outside threats.

Hurricane Preparedness - Be ready for hurrican season. Take action TODAY to be better prepared for when the worst happens. Understand your risk from hurricanes, and begin pre-season preparartions now. 

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare offers various grief workshops each month. Check the calendar here for upcoming workshops.  Alzheimer’s Education Series LifeCare Memory Partners, a service of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, is holding a 3-part series to help people better understand Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. The first session, “Caring for the Caregiver,” is scheduled for 1:00PM on Tuesday (9/17) at the St. James Community Center. The remaining two sessions will be held November  14, 2024 "The ABC's of Dementia" and January 9, 2025 "Having Hard Conversations." Admission is FREE but RSVPs are strongly requested. RSVP to [email protected] or 910-796-7943. For more information Please visit LifeCareMemoryPartners.org. 

MyCaringPlan is a national website that acts as a clearing house for information and resources related to various senior living topics. The website can help you find senior living communities in your area/state and also provides a Q&A forum on any topics related to senior living.

National Council on Aging has a great tool to help you determine how likely you or a loved one might be to fall and how to prevent that. They also have a great conversation guide for caregivers on how to discuss fall prevention with a loved one.

Project Lifesaver - The Project Lifesaver program is a free service by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office for Brunswick County residents who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimers's Disease, Autism or other conditions that make them likely to wander away from caregivers or have difficulty communicating with rescuers. Project Lifesaver bracelets can help rescuers find a loved one who has wandered away.

Eastern Carolina University's School of Dental Medicine Community Service Learning Center is located in Bolivia and offers comprehensive general dental services for adults, children and special needs patients in a safe, caring and professional setting.

Senior Equipment Loan - Senior Gear has a list of equipment that St. James residents will loan you if you need something while recuperating from an operation or taking physical therapy, such as a wheelchair, walker, shower chair, knee scooter, crutches, etc. Contact Teri Harrison, Chair, 910-253-9962 or [email protected]; Cheryl Gardner, 973-819-8814 or [email protected] or Arlene Risano, 860-558-1518 or [email protected]. 

St. James Fire Department's Vial of Life provides lifesaving information for medical emergencies.  Everyone in St. James should fill out a form for each member in the household. Even if you are healthy, no allergies and take no medication PLEASE Fill in your Name and Birthdate and state "No Allergies and No Medications".  This information is vital in an emergency if you cannot speak or are unconscious.

Technology Donations There are several local organizations that will accept various technology devices as donations. Any questions regarding the donation of a particular device (including acceptance of a devis based on its condition/functionality, can be directed to the organizations listed here

The National Institute on Aging (part of National Institutes of Health [NIH]) has a wealth of resources to help you extend your healthy, active years of life. One example is their Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home, which helps you plan ahead for aging in place. Also, Workouts to Go program, which gives you some great ideas on easy ways to ease yourself into getting active and healthy. There is an entire section on Advance Care Planning which covers a wide range of topics. Another article of interest is What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care which has been discussed in our speaker series events.

UpgradedPoints.com, a travel website focusing on travel points and miles, has a useful guide to avoid credit card scams, entitled "30 Common Credit Scams: A Guide for Financially Vulnerable Adults."  

Walking Through Grief Program Walking through Grief is a group for anyone grieving the death of a significant person in their life.  There are two sets of sessions this fall. You may choose either nine Tuesdays 1-3PM starting September 24th at Trinity United Methodist Church 208 East Nash Street, Southport or nine Fridays 10-Noon starting September 27th at Southport Senior Center 1513 North Howe St, Southport. More information and to register contact Fr Bill Eberle, Lead facilitator, 540-212-3094 or email [email protected].

Where You Live Matters was created by the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) to provide unbiased information at no cost to help make the right decision for you or a loved one.  By offering unbiased, expert resources, we can help clear up misconceptions about senior living and offer guidance throughout the decision-making process. Because where you live — your physical surroundings, your social connections, your opportunities for learning and wellness — impacts quality of life. Where you live really does matter.

The American Seniors Housing Association was created in 1991 and its members are organizations involved in the full spectrum of housing and service options for older adults.

St. James NEST provides the above list of Community Resources to let its Members know of some of the numerous community resouces that may be available in our area.  It is not meant to represent all the possible resources for the Members, and the list may be modified, enlarged or discontinued at any time.

The inclusion of any resource is not an endorsement or recommendation. Members should perform their own inquiries into the resources listed.

*Note: St. James NEST is not liable for any damages in contract, tort, or otherwise arising from any action or decision taken as a result of using one of the Community Resources listed above.

 

 

 

Updated 08/02/2022