With any new challenge or project, the hardest thing is getting started.  If you have an aging loved one that you are starting to worry about, a good place to start is the Orange County Department on Aging (OCDOA).

The OCDOA is an incredible resource where seniors and caregivers can meet folks in similar situations and find a knowledgeable person to guide them in matters related to care, finances, fitness and day-to-day practical needs.

There are two modern senior centers located in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough.  They offer a wide variety of aging services, wellness and education activities, excursions and a whole lot more.   For older folks who might be looking to “give back,” they offer a host of volunteer opportunities.

The OCDOA is multi-lingual, offering support in English, Spanish and Mandarin. They also publish the quarterly Senior Times, a newspaper with comprehensive coverage of all programs for older adults in the Orange County community and at the Senior Centers.

Is your mom new to the area and trying to connect?   Has your dad had surgery and now needs help at home?  Are you trying to understand the costs involved in caring for loved ones?

Just give them a call on their information hotline: (919) 968-2087.  An informed, caring professional will help you on your way.

About the Author:


Lorenzo Mejia and his wife, Mary Lynn Ryerson, are the owners of Acorn, a caregiver registry located in Chapel Hill.

They founded Acorn based on their experiences caring for his mom, who suffered with Alzheimer’s Disease.  In 2013, he became a Qualified Dementia Care Specialist.  In 2014, the Alzheimer’s Foundation named him the Dementia Care Professional of the Year in the United States.

Lorenzo is the founder of Dementia Friendly Orange County an effort to make local businesses more accommodating to people with dementia.

Lorenzo speaks often on dementia and the challenges associated with caring for loved ones.  He has been interviewed by ABC News and National Public Radio.  He is an advisor to Orange County’s OC-CARES Dementia Capable Community Project.

Click here for a listing of other articles from ‘The Caring Corner’ on Chapelboro.com

Acorn provides screened and vetted in-home caregivers for clients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, ALS and other similar conditions. Options include 24/7, live-in, weekly, weekend or hourly care. Acorn serves Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, Pittsboro and surrounding areas in Orange, Chatham, Durham and Wake counties.

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