Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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FTCC Spring Lake Campus: A Good Neighbor and Partner by PHILLIP JACKSON Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) provides education and workforce training to Cumberland County residents. In 2004, FTCC opened a campus in the town of Spring Lake to better serve the growing educational needs of the Spring Lake area and Fort Bragg. The warm and inviting atmosphere of the Spring Lake Campus leads to a calm environment, which allows the students to relax and learn in a peaceful setting. Located adjacent to Fort Bragg and Pope Army Air Field, the campus has a significant enrollment of military dependents, veterans and active military person- nel. The Spring Lake Campus serves approximately 4,000 students each year, about 35 percent of whom are military dependents, active duty military, reservists or veterans. The Spring Lake Campus continues to grow in its role as a strong community partner and good neighbor in the greater Spring Lake and Fort Bragg area by offering a number of pro- grams, hosting community events and expanding its program offerings to address emerging needs. The campus offers a num- ber of curriculum and continuing education programs including Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), phle- botomy certification online courses, adult basic education and GED, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and various college-transfer opportunities. Plans are underway to expand its program offerings by adding a social-media program and Homeland Security/Emergency Management and Defense Analysis and Global Securities Studies Programs. Some of the resources that are available at the campus include an "I Persist, I Achieve, I Study, I Succeed" (I-PASS) Center, Spring Lake Campus Library Resource Center (located inside the Spring Lake Branch of the Cumberland County Public Library) and a physical fitness center. Plans are underway to add a walking/jogging trail and an athletic field for classes in flag football, volleyball, jog- ging and walking. Since its opening in 2004, the Spring Lake Campus has seen dramatic changes in the surrounding community. A new apartment complex, Village by the Lake, has been constructed directly across the street from campus. A number of new busi- nesses have set up shop in the town of Spring Lake as it is evolving into a regional SENIOR CORNER It's easy for busy family caregivers to overlook the subtle signs that a by MARTHA OWEN AND SUSAN GUY 1. A change in appearance or condition of the home. If Mom never senior loved one needs assistance. But the holidays, when many return to their childhood homes with aging parents, can highlight those red flags. Signs of potential trouble can be evident in a senior's home — such as spoiled food in the refrigerator and piles of unpaid bills — or personal indicators such as episodes of confusion or dirty and unkempt clothing. Here's what several noted national caregiving experts had to say about the issue: Gail Hunt, the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, said: "If you're a long-distance caregiver, perhaps you haven't seen your loved one in a while. You may notice some real differences since a few months ago. The hometown caregivers might not see the signs because they're so busy and the changes are so subtle." Countering senior resistance to assistance can be a challenge, cared much about her house, the fact that it's a little messier than usual might not indicate a problem. However, if the house was always spotless and decked out for the holidays, a messy home might mean trouble is brewing. 2. Clutter. Piles of magazines or clothing could be an indicator that an older adult needs more help. 3. Dirty or unkempt clothing. Lack of interest in appearance can be a sign of depression in a senior. 4. Unpaid bills. A pile of unpaid bills or correspondence is an alarm- added President and CEO of the National Family Caregivers Association Suzanne Mintz. "Family caregivers must recognize that their parents are adults and – unless there are cognitive or emotional problems – they can make their own decisions. We do not and should not become our parents' parents. We must remember we will always be their children." You can learn more about those signs by registering for the free Home for the The hour-long web con- ference will be available in the U.S. and Canada. ing sign that could require a family caregiver to intervene immediately in the best interest of a loved one. 5. Fresh food replaced with junk food. A senior who loses interest in cooking sometimes resorts to junk food. 6. Spoiled food in the fridge or freezer. Spoiled food could be an early sign that a senior no longer has an appetite and is not eating prop- erly. 7. Bugs or rodents in the home. An older adult who no longer can clean a home properly may be vulnerable to bugs and rodents. 8. Confusion. Disorientation could be a sign of dementia, a problem with a Holidays web conference, moderated by a representative from the Home Instead Senior Care® network. The event will be hosted by the American Society on Aging, and co-sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving. The hour-long web conference will be available in the U.S. and Canada: Monday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Register by going to www.caregiverstress. com/familyeducation. The web conference will be moderated by Director of Strategic Alliances Mary Alexander of Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. Alexander is a family caregiver and a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). Featured will be information about countering senior resistance to assistance as well as resources that can help family caregivers and senior care professionals. Following are 10 signs that a senior might need more help at home: 16 UCW NOVEMBER 23-29, 2011 medication or another medical issue that needs to be assessed by a doctor. 9. Unfilled prescriptions. Seniors could be forgetting to take their medications or cannot afford to refill them. 10. Spills on floors and countertops. Older adults with mobility problems may no longer be able to clean up spills, reach high places to dust and change light bulbs, and bend under beds to take care of messes. Older adults often need help year-round, not just during the holidays. Professional caregivers are ready to assist with a variety of services including companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medi- cation reminders, running errands and shopping. MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY Owners of Home Instead Senior Care, COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM commercial hub that serves northwestern Cumberland County and southwestern Harnett County. In the past few years, the town's commercial development has soared into the millions of dollars, thereby creating hundreds of jobs and increas- ing the town's tax base. To help develop a vision for the town's future growth and development, the Spring Lake Campus served as the site for first "Spring Lake Community Summit." The theme of the summit was "Connect, Create, and Collaborate." The town leaders invited representatives from various national, state, county and local government offices, as well as leaders from FTCC and Fort Bragg, to serve as panelists. FTCC recognizes that it must take a collaborative approach with the school system and the community to ensure that stu- dents are prepared for post-secondary education. To that end, the Spring Lake Campus sponsors the children of Koala Day Care Center, located just behind the campus, for Harvest Fest/ Halloween and Christmas events. For Harvest Fest/Halloween, the children are treated with a story time presented by the staff as well as bags of treats with candy and FTCC information. At Christmas, a special visit from Santa is enjoyed by all who attend. The campus is also developing the Spring Lake Campus Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Summer Academy in col- laboration with Fayetteville area schools, military groups and the non-profit organi- zation, Project L.I.F.T (Lift Initiative for Teens). The STEM Summer Academy is a five-week program that provides 3,000 hours of student-centered learning oppor- tunities for 30 middle and high school students in Spring Lake. Scholarships will be provided to most families to cover part of the $100 enrollment fee. Instruction will provide age- and grade-appropriate hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences. To support the program, retired veterans, educators, active-duty military and military spouses will volunteer to serve as teachers, guest speakers and mentors. Through activities such as these, the Spring Lake Campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College is proving to be a good neighbor and community partner. PHILLPP JACKSON, Contributing Writ- er and FTCC Associate Vice President, Spring Lake Campus COMMENTS? editor@upandcomingweekly.com Free Web Conference Helps Caregivers Tune into Trouble