Durham, N.C. – On Wednesday, August 5, from 6-8:30p.m., at the Radisson Hotel Research Triangle Park, the Durham County Department of Social Services (DSS) will honor staff members that provide personal and health care services to elderly and disabled residents who live in adult care and family care homes in Durham County.  These DSS staff members that provide personal and health care services are heroes to the residents they serve. 

In an Adult Care Home or a Family Care Home, a DSS staff member, referred to as an Adult Home Specialist, regularly visits and monitors the home.  The Adult Home Specialist provides an array of support services including consultation and technical assistance to administrators; monitors homes’ compliance with licensure standards, resident’s rights and other requirements; investigates complaints about the care and treatment of residents in Adult Care homes; and works closely with others who share some responsibility for assuring residents’ well being, including the State Division of Health Service Regulation and the local Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee.

DSS’ Adult Services staff members value the important role of adult care and family care home employees in our community.  DSS honors those employees every year to recognize care givers who have reached milestones in their years of service.   Staff in assisted living homes provide 24-hour personal and health care assistance. Last year, 12 individuals with more than 20 years of service, and two with over 30 years were honored. In addition to length-of-service recognition, finalists for the Employee of the Year award will be recognized.  Previous winners of the Employee of the Year Award include a staff person who transported a resident to another facility to visit her husband on Christmas Day.  Another employee shared jewelry and clothing from her aunt’s estate with residents who did not have enough money to purchase these items for themselves.  One winner went on to win a statewide Employee of the Year competition.

The media is welcome to attend the celebration to honor DSS’ heroes. For more information, contact Christopher Ivy at 919-560-8628, or email to chivy@durhamcountync.gov .  For more information about adult care home facilities and services, visit the department’s Long Term Care website accessible at http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/dssv .

About the Department of Social Services

The mission of the Durham County Department of Social Services is to partner with families and the community in achieving well being through prosperity, permanence, safety and support. Our vision is a community where families achieve well being.  The Department provides economic services programs including Work First, Medicaid, Child Support, Child Day Care Subsidy and Food Stamps as well as social work services, including Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoption, Adult Protective Services, Group Care and Crisis Assistance.  To learn more about the services and programs offered by the Department, visit the County’s website at: www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/dssv .