Contributed

St. Joseph of the Pines (SJP) has appointed Lynne Drinkwater as community educator for the organization.

Drinkwater, who had served as SJP's community relations coordinator, will focus on increasing community awareness of Pine Knoll's catered living and villas lease programs, home care and family care homes.

"As community relations coordinator, I spent a good amount of time on SJP's "Together We Can Do Moore" semi. The mobile health unit helps provide health services and resources to people who may not be able to travel from the northern rural areas of Moore County to Southern Pines to see their physician at the Moore Free Care Clinic or visit the Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care, for example."

"In my new position as community educator, I will take that a few steps farther, reaching out to more people with different needs but continue in the collaboration process and certain program creation for the semi. I'm happy for the opportunity to share the many wonderful services that SJP provides to the community."

Drinkwater, who will report to Caroline Hendricks, vice president of home and community-based services, will help the organization 'spread the word' about the newer services offered.

"Lynne's new position will allow her to educate the communities we serve in our aging services network," Hendricks said. "Many people are unaware that SJP has a multitude of programs to serve a person's needs. Whether it be in your own home or in one of our entities, we can enrich one's life. Lynne will have the ability to be a voice for our mission and core values while educating the community about the variety of services available as one ages.

Drinkwater added, "For example, the new catered living at Pine Knoll is a specialized program of coordinated services that support residents living independently at Pine Knoll. The goal is to provide residents with the support and assistance needed to handle day-to-day activities, while maximizing their independence; in other words, helping you when and where you need it.

"Other options for older adults include our lease program at the Villas of Pine Knoll, as well as our home care and family care homes. These are just more ways SJP is meeting the requests of the community." Drinkwater makes the distinction between the family care homes and home care, explaining that a family care home is an option for those in need of assistance with activities of daily living in a residential setting.

"Home care, on the other hand, brings certain types of services like companionship, nursing services, and medication management to a person's home, enabling them to stay in their own home with a little help from SJP."

In addition to SJP's continuum of care - independent living at Belle Meade and Pine Knoll, the Coventry assisted living and skilled nursing at the Health Center - the organization also provides a variety of services for older adults, including Therapy Village, an innovative center featuring specialized rehabilitation services, state-of-the-art equipment and customized treatment plans.

SJP's LIFE (Living Independently for Elders) center in Fayetteville provides qualified applicants with Programs of All-Inclusive Care (PACE), while Providence Place communities in Aberdeen, Robbins, Carthage and Red Springs offer affordable housing.

Anyone needing more information on Pine Knoll's catered living or villas lease programs, home care, family care homes or any of the services provided by SJP can call (910) 246-1008.