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NEWS RELEASE

Tuscaloosa—Some of America’s most highly respected experts in healthcare and aging will gather in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on May 8, 2001 to honor one of their own, and Alabama’s own, Dr. Mary Starke Harper. Approximately two hundred guests from Washington, D. C., renowned universities and teaching hospitals in the United States, and Alabama will officially dedicate the Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Facility at a luncheon, which will feature guest speaker Dr. David Satcher, U.S. Surgeon General.

"We are so thrilled to finally dedicate the premier geriatric psychiatric facility in the nation, which is located on the campus of Bryce Hospital, to Dr. Mary Starke Harper. She is an Alabama native and a national treasure," said DMH/MR Commissioner Kathy Sawyer. While the Harper Center recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, the official dedication has been postponed a number of times. "We are so pleased that the timing is finally right to have Dr. Satcher and so many of Dr. Harper’s close friends, family members and professional colleagues in Alabama. This allows us all to express our true appreciation to Dr. Harper for all she’s done for this state and nation in the area of healthcare policy for seniors," Sawyer said. She also expressed her appreciation to Joan Brown, Kathy Grissom and the Mental Health Association in Tuscaloosa for their total commitment to the project. "We are also sincerely grateful to Rick Martinez and the fine people at Johnson and Johnson and Janssen Eldercare for offering their support and sponsorship of the Harper Center dedication," she said.

Dr. Harper retired from her position as coordinator of long-term care programs at the National Institute of Mental Health after a long career in federal government. Since that time, she has remained active in many national and international efforts to advance healthcare for the elderly. Commissioner Sawyer says that Dr. Harper has provided invaluable insights, support and knowledge as a member of the DMH/MR Advisory Board of Trustees and Community Education Advisory Committee. "She is an amazing woman. Her age, 81, is no barrier to her continued service to her state and nation. Serving on more local, state, national and international boards, task forces and advisory councils than one can name, she still makes time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures, gardening, volunteering and helping members of her church family," Sawyer said.

The Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Facility is a 126-bed geriatric psychiatry facility, which serves as a treatment facility, teaching hospital and information resource for the state. Since it opened in February 1996, it has served 1,325 Alabama seniors with mental illness, Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Sixty-four percent of those discharged returned to reside with their families, to live independently or to live in group homes or nursing homes in their communities. "The primary mission of the center is to stabilize the condition of the seniors and help them return home or to an appropriate placement in the community," said associate commissioner for Mental Illness Kimberly Ingram. Harper Center staff take pride in having reduced the average length of stay, which is currently about 88 days. "We also take pride in providing a variety of therapeutic and leisure activities, including community outings, for our patients," said facility director Roxanna Bender.