FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2003) – The Kentucky Office of Aging Services recently recognized some outstanding programs and individuals who provide services to the state’s aging population.

            The award ceremony took place during the office’s annual fall training in Louisville Sept. 3-4. The session drew over 300 people that included State Health Insurance Assistant Program (SHIP) counselors, the senior center directors, and the nutrition providers throughout the state. 

The senior center awards went to:

• Best Life Planning - Muhlenberg Senior Citizens Center.
• Most Successful Community Service Activity with a Business Partner - Trigg County Senior Center.
• Best Intergenerational Activity – Hazard/Perry County Senior Center.
• Best Sports/Recreational Activity – Paducah-McCracken County Senior Center.
• Most Innovative Use of the Center’s Environment to Promote Health – Scott County Senior Center.
• Best Use of Music – Ohio County Senior Center.
• Most Successful Center Activity – The Gathering Place in Henderson
• Senior Center of the Year -- The Franklin County Senior Center.  This center was presented with $500 from the Kentucky Association of Electric Coops by Dennis Cannon.

Two SHIP coordinators were recognized for their efforts with the program.

Jeanette Woodward from Henderson was recognized for using creativity within her program for placing SHIP volunteers in homeless shelters and health departments.  Daniel Curry from Bowling Green was recognized for being innovative with his program for the creation of the Kentucky Legal Aid’s television program featuring elder topics.

Both of these coordinators increased the awareness of their programs and .help seniors with the health care concerns they have.  

            Three others were recognized for their accomplishments and contributions in the aging field. The honorees were Frances Baccus, Nelda Barnett, and Peggy Chadwick. 

         Frances Baccus of Eddyville initiated the first Senior Citizens Committee in Lyon County before the area development districts were established.  She was appointed by Gov. Martha Layne Collins to the Governor’s Task Force for Older Kentuckians, served on the Institute for Aging for 24 years and chaired that committee for five years.  She received the International Association of Lions Clubs Medal of Merit in 1982 and the Lions Distinguished Service Award in 1985.  She was the first woman to receive the Lyon County’s Citizen of the year award in 1979.  She served on the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and received the Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year Award in 2001. 

            Nelda Barnett of Owensboro served as AARP State President of Kentucky from 1996 through 2001.  She has served as director of the Green River Area Agency on Aging.  She was twice a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging.   In 2000, she was sent to Vietnam by the Woman-To-Woman program to learn about Vietnamese women and their culture.  She has been recognized for her outstanding work with volunteers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1984.  Barnett’s involvement in the field of aging includes serving as vice president for the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and president of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Kentucky Association on Aging.  Currently she has been sworn in as a member of the National AARP Board of Directors.  She is the first Kentuckian to serve on this prestigious board.

 Peggy Chadwick of Lexington started her career in aging with the State Commission on Aging in 1971.  In 1972 she became the aging planner of the Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging and has served in that capacity for 31 years.  The Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging was the first in Kentucky.  Chadwick also used a $5,000 grant to start the ombudsman program – which now has a budget of $500,000 and is a model for the nation. Chadwick is one of the original founders of both the South East Association Area Agency on Aging and the National Association Area Agency on Aging.  This year Chadwick will be honored at the South East Association regional meeting and will be receiving the prestigious Jane Kennedy “Excellence In Aging” award.

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Editors/News Directors: Contacts for award winning centers are:

Franklin - Cheryl Harrod, Director   502-223-5794

Hazard/Perry - Melissa Vermillion, Director  606-436-5095

Henderson/The Gathering Place/ - Steve Rust, Director  270-827-2948

Muhlenberg - Carolyn Ellis, Director   270-338-6222

Ohio - Charlotte Whittaker, Director  270-298-4460

Paducah/McCracken - Guelda Wooldridge, Director  270-443-8579

Scott  - Marilyn Grove, Director   502-863-4041

Trigg - Carolyn Bland, Director  270-522-8341