I talked to a friend today who had a bad experience with a nursing home.  Her disabled mother was turned in the bed improperly by the CNA on duty who ignored her mother’s instructions.  As a result, her mother’s arm was broken.  A trip to the doctor to have her arm set and all the pain, suffering, and  expense involved caused my friend to consult a lawyer.  I asked her if she had called the ombudsman who is available to arbitrate any dispute she might have with the nursing home.  She said she had seen the ombudsman’s picture posted in the facility and would make a call.  If you have a dispute with assisted living or a nursing home, call Ivy Walker.    

I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Julie McGee lately and she is a game changer.  She knows her field of expertise and wields a powerful sword.  Yet, she carries herself with grace and has a calm presence.  You’d never know that she has a resume 4 pages long full of impressive accomplishments.

Julie has been diligently working for the betterment of Mobile residents since 1979.  Housed in the GM&O building downtown, she currently reigns as Area Agency on Aging Director for the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.Under her leadership for the last 16 years, she has required excellence from her staff, which recently earned them an award given by the National Council on Aging to only three projects in the nation.  The benefits of this award will help the elderly and disabled of Alabama to achieve more economic security, move out of poverty, and be able to successfully remain in their own homes and live independently. This is just one of the many accomplishments that her local organization has achieved.

I’m writing this because Julie took the time to listen to a caregiver (me) who saw an unmet need in the community, organized a meeting of professionals in the dementia field to address that need and invited me along as well.  As a result, we have formed the Alzheimer and Dementia Coalition of South Alabama and created a helpline as a community resource for Alzheimer and dementia information.  What a privilege to come along and see how she gets things done.  You are the first to get a gold star, Julie McGee.  Thanks for making a difference.

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