Are you an elderly individual or disabled adult?  Are you an agency serving older disabled adults? You might want to read on. A Cleveland County group wants to know more about what you as an individual or an agency representative sees as issues that need addressing.  You are invited to attend ACCES and address those issues and help solve issues with a group that meets monthly to focus on the well being of older and disabled adults.  There is a $10.00 yearly membership fee. 
ACCES is a group made up of consumers, agencies, and businesses serving the elderly and disabled.  The meetings are held at 8:30 AM on the second Tuesday of the month at different locations.  The group meets 12 times yearly.  You can call Care Solutions to find out the place the meeting will be held.  980-487-4777. Consumers, elected officials, law enforcement personnel, educational institutions, clergy, and other senior service personnel are invited to attend.  We focus on identifying needs and implementing solutions for older and disabled seniors facing challenges.  
ACCES was formed in the late – l980s when professionals from a handful of agencies began meeting informally for coffee and discussion.  Thirty Three different participating agencies including nursing homes, assisted living centers, United Way, the Baptist Association,  Alliance for Health, CRMC, Council on Aging/ Senior Center, and Kings Mountain Senior Center, the Cleveland County Health Department,  Department of Social Services, Hospice, TACC, Life Enrichment Adult Day Health,  N. C. Extension Dept. and many other organizations have contributed to ACCES’ success.  Many of these agencies have met monthly since ACCES’ conception.
Some of the topics which have been addressed include:
• Need for more housing options
• Aging well
• Caregiving
• Medication Assistance
• Long Term Care in Cleveland County
• Medicine Drop
• Information booklets
• Seminars and training sessions 
• Implementation of care management
The largest project has been the implementation of care management in Cleveland County called Care Solutions.  This was a 10 year endeavor that took countless hours from volunteers and visionaries dictated to serving older adults. 
You can access knowledge and services though one main portal of entry by calling Care Solutions – 980-487-4777 or email jane.wright@carolinashealthcare.org  Care Solutions is located at 208 E. Grover St., Shelby, NC 28150.  For more information please call or visit.
ACCES is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to create awareness of availability of elder services, to enhance and expand community education, and to provide better coordination of client based services. Membership is comprised of agencies serving older adults, elected officials and other consumers.