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Resident urges Carteret County to develop adult day/respite services for Alzheimer’s patients
Summary
A Carteret County resident described caregiving gaps for people with dementia and asked the board to support adult day and respite care; county manager said senior services are expanding and staff can pursue grant funding if the board directs.
During public comment at the Sept. 15 meeting, resident Joseph Ann Smith described caregiving challenges after her husband’s death from Alzheimer’s and urged the county to support adult day or respite care for dementia patients in Carteret County.
Smith said home health aides can cost $30–$50 an hour and recounted an instance she found an aide inattentive while her husband was supposed to be supervised. She said she is working to organize a "Clubhouse" in Morehead City to provide respite care and asked for county support and help connecting with existing programs used in other counties.
County Manager responded during the manager’s report that senior services staff are building out programming and that adult day/respite care is a goal the county hopes to reach. The manager said Director Shelly (not present) and Dr. Williams could assist with grant research and service design, and offered to follow up directly with Smith after the meeting.
Commissioners who spoke during the comments reiterated personal connections to caregiving and expressed support for pursuing respite services; none announced a formal funding commitment at the meeting. The board discussed senior services as a potential target for future grant funding and asked staff to evaluate options.
Next procedural step: County staff indicated they can research grant opportunities and program models and report back to the board if directed; Joseph Ann Smith was offered a follow-up conversation with county staff.
