 |
|
||
 |
|||
Division of Aging and Adult Services Presents 2005 Awards on Aging
The Ewald W. Busse, George L. Maddox and Ernest B. Messer awards recognize excellence in addressing the needs of older adults in the state. The recipient of the Ewald W. Busse Award is Dr. Donald K. Wallace from Moore County. The recipient of the George L. Maddox Award is Mary Bethel, who recently retired from DAAS. Franklin County and the Franklin County Department on Aging are the recipients of the Ernest B. Messer Award. Busse AwardThe Ewald B. Busse Award was presented to Dr. Donald K. Wallace.
Dr. Wallace, a practicing physician in Moore County, is also the medical director of two continuing care retirement communities. He is board certified in internal medicine, with a specialty in geriatrics. He was educated at Wake Forest University and the Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Wallace is being recognized for his service as the president of Medical Review of North Carolina, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for North Carolina, since 1983. Medical Review of North Carolina recently changed its name to The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence. Dr. Wallace has been a leader in this transition, and in giving providers across the spectrum of heath care the tools that they need to give their patients the best care possible. Maddox AwardMary Bethel is the recipient of the George W. Maddox Award. The Maddox Award is one of three awards presented each year to individuals, organizations or communities that have excelled in meeting the needs of older citizens in the state.
“Mary’s legacy is evident across the state, from the skilled and effective workforce in the aging network and collaborating organizations; to the well-trained volunteers in the Senior Tarheel Legislature and Senior Games. She played a key role in helping craft many State Aging Services Plans that have guided progressive legislation and programming for the past two decades including such key legislative efforts as the Nursing Home and Domiciliary Home Residents Bill of Rights, the Senior Care Prescription Assistance Program, the Long Term Care Task Force, and the development of Health Promotion and Disease prevention programs. Mary has been a leader on numerous coalitions, task forces, board and commissions. It would be very difficult to find anyone in the field of aging in North Carolina over the past three decades who has not learned from, interacted with, or partnered with Mary Bethel.” In her final position in DAAS, which she has held for over 10 years, Bethel served as the manager of Consumer Assistance and Advocacy. She served as the staff support to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging. She was the liaison to other advocacy and consumer groups throughout the state. She tracked legislation affecting seniors, dispersed it to all the groups above, and explained the significance of the proposed legislation. She was also the major contact for the division with special population issues, such as, deaf and hard of hearing, mental illness, blind, and other disabilities. Bethel also served as the division’s contact with Senior Games. “Mary’s energy, sense of humor, expertise and work ethic all contribute to people wanting Mary to be on any team they put together,” Gottovi said. “She is an invaluable resource, a trusted friend and colleague and a model public servant. We have all been blessed to work with her.” Messer AwardThe 2005 Ernest B. Messer Award was presented to Franklin County and the Franklin County Department of Aging. The Messer Award recognizes a community in the state that has excelled in addressing the needs of its older citizens.
Gottovi in presenting the award, commended Franklin County for their efforts at making the county senior-friendly through collaborating with local and state partners to ensure that seniors are safe from scams and telemarketing scams. “They are now actively working on funding a fraud and scam telephone alert network,” she said. Both the Senior Centers in Franklin County are Centers of Excellence, meaning that they have extensive programming, and are open every day, with evening and weekend activities as well. They also sponsor trips and dances. According to Gottovi, both centers have knowledgeable staff to assist senior citizens with any questions or concerns they may have. The centers are equipped with commercial grade fitness equipment, a computer lab, a lending library, and meeting rooms. Others may rent the facilities for other community purposes. In addition, Franklin County offers many other home and community care services, wellness activities, recreation programs, and medication assistance that other areas choose not to provide, and has given funds significantly over the match requirement to ensure that these services are available. Drs. Maddox and Busse and Mr. Messer were three pioneers in the field of aging in North Carolina. |
|||
|
Last Modified: October 31, 2005 |
|||
Home
The Busse Award recognizes an individual or organization that has
had a significant impact on enhancing the health status of older
North Carolinians through efforts to direct health related policies
and/or to provide leadership in developing solutions to health care
problems.
“Mary Bethel is a legend in her own time,” said Karen Gottovi, director
of DAAS. “Looking back on the almost 30 years that she spent at the
division, one can hardly name a program or service that she hasn’t
influenced or been directly involved with. She is the consummate
professional. Her passion and expertise, her zeal for helping individuals
and organizations, and her boundless energy to keep up the good fight
make her one of the most respected voices in North Carolina on aging
issues. 
“Franklin County and its Department of Aging have gone way beyond
what is normally expected of an agency funded by the limited state,
federal, and local dollars through the Older Americans Act,” said
Karen Gottovi, director DAAS. “This is a small, rural county that
truly cares about its citizens, and wants to be sure that they well
cared for. The Franklin County Department of Aging has taken its
charge to care for its seniors to the maximum.”