Award Recognizes Tri-County Efforts for Older Adults

Sally King, Tri-County Older Adult Care coordinator, has been awarded the 2010 Claude Pepper Award by the Northland Professionals in Aging.

Named after the late U.S. Congressman who campaigned for senior citizens' rights, the Claude Pepper Award honors advocates who have made a profound impact on older adults. King, who has spearheaded Tri-County’s five-year-old older adult services program, is also the Northland’s only representative to the Missouri Mental Health Aging Workgroup.

Since joining Tri-County, King has promoted activities throughout Clay, Platte and Ray counties that have expanded awareness of older adult issues as well as services to meet those needs. Often in collaboration with other area organizations and individuals, King has promoted services to battle often under-recognized problems such as depression in older adults, while increasing access to services for families facing issues such as Alzheimer’s. Efforts include speaking engagements and educational efforts, as well as less traditional programs such as a senior pet adoption event.

The group noted that she was selected because of her "affection, advocacy and loyalty" to improving programs for older adults. Award recipients receive a $1,000 donation for the nonprofit organization of his or her choice.

The award was presented May 26 at a luncheon held at the Argosy Casino and Hotel in Riverside. Recent award winners were Debbie Gwinn, Clay County Public Administrator, who presented the award to King, and Terry Edwards, Platte County Public Administrator and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Tri-County Mental Health Services.

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