Outstanding Advocate Award Goes to Friends of Residents

By: State: North Carolina | Source: AARP.org

Friends of Residents in Long Term Care, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of more than 70,000 North Carolina citizens in long term care, is the winner of the AARP North Carolina 2008 Outstanding Advocate Award.

"Friends of Residents stands shoulder to shoulder with AARP in supporting many of the issues for which AARP advocates in the General Assembly," said Bill Wilson, Associate State Director for Advocacy. These issues include the problem of housing those with mental health needs among other populations in adult care homes, the need for expanded dental services in long term care facilities and the implementation of North Carolina's new star rating system for adult care homes. "Friends of Residents was a key collaborator with AARP in winning passage of the star rating system during the 2007-08 session," said Mary Bethel, Co-Associate State Director for Advocacy. "We couldn't have gotten it done without their valuable help."

Friends of Residents shares the services of some of the volunteer advocates who are also active on AARP legislative issues, and the two organizations have had a close working relationship for many years.

In 2007, the North Carolina Justice Center was the recipient of AARP's Outstanding Advocate Award.