Deborah Powers Rattle Honored by SE4A

Barbara Gordon, KIPDA Social Services Director

KIPDA Social Services Director Barbara Gordon (left) presents the 2008 Jayne Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award to Deborah Rattle __________________________

The 2008 Jayne Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award is presented annually to one or more individuals or organizations either inside or outside of the Southeast Association for Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A), the Area Agency on Aging network that promotes the safety, welfare, and well-being of older persons within the Southeast region. In 1988, the Association's board renamed this award, which was previously known as the Excellence in Aging Award, to recognize the contributions and service of one of its founding members, Jayne Kennedy. It was first awarded in 1977.

Deborah Powers Rattle, nominated by Barbara Gordon, was the well-deserving recipient of the SE4A 2008 Jayne Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award.  Ms. Rattle has spent a significant part of her career pre- and post-retirement working to assure that older persons receive competent services that will enhance their ability to maintain quality of life in the environment where they live.

In 1987, Deborah moved back to Louisville from San Francisco, where she worked as a psychiatric social worker in the gerontology program at Family Services Agency. Upon her return, she was recruited and hired by Seven Counties Services, Inc. to develop and implement a Volunteer Peer Counselor Program focusing on older adults. This program was the first of its kind in Kentucky. Older adults were recruited and trained to serve as counselors to peers who were experiencing behavioral health problems such as depression and/or anxiety. Success of this model led to a collaboration with the University of Louisville School of Nursing and a research-funded replication of the program in a Beverly Corporation nursing home. Deborah's achievements at Seven Counties have resulted in two 110% Awards.

By 1989, Deborah successfully developed and implemented a Geriatric Mental Health Unit for Seven Counties Services, Inc.  The unit featured an interdisciplinary staff of social workers, case managers, RNs, psychologists and a psychiatrist. Deborah also operated a Senior Companion Program and served as chairperson for several years. In addition, she was responsible for implementing the PASAAR program in the KIPDA region. Under contract with KIPDA, Deborah supervised a home care program, training the home care aides to provide services to older adults with behavioral health problems.

To advance the field of geriatric behavioral health, Deborah has developed strong and sustained collaborations with the regional AAA and other aging services providers.  Her strong commitment to enhancement of skill sets resulted in her developing numerous training opportunities for provider agencies and their staff.  In leadership roles with the State and Regional Mental Health & Aging Coalitions, Deborah has focused on infrastructure changes and alignments of services that are evidence-based and cost effective.  She refuses to believe that a needed service cannot be provided because of a lack of monetary funds; instead, she challenges the community to work together utilizing existing dollars and capital to make services available.  With limited funding, as the president of the KIPDA Region Mental Health Coalition, Deborah has focused on collaborations that have resulted in a Behavioral Health Integration Project, comprehensive training modules for volunteers working with older adults, and sponsorship of two major seminars, Substance Abuse and the Older Adult; and HIV/AIDS and the Older Adult. 

Deborah has worked with the AAA to apply for SAMHSA TCA grants and other funding opportunities.  As a member of the KIPDA Aging Advisory Council, Deborah chairs the Funding Committee and serves on the Evaluation Committee, where she works  tirelessly to ensure that contracting agencies implement sound funding proposals and goals/objectives that are measurable. 

This narrative can't begin to capture all of the work, time and energy Deborah has given to our community.  We congratulate and applaud Deborah for all of her effort!