Douglas County Hires New Director Of Senior Services

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners has hired Konswella Gilchrist as the new director of senior services, a position which promotes and preserves the independence and integrity of older adults in the community. Gilchrist, of Macon, is taking over for Richard Hagan who will retire at the end of July. Hagan held the position for over nine years, Douglas County Board of Commissioners (DCBC) said in a news release.

“On behalf of the board of commissioners, we wish Richard Hagan the absolute best as he approaches retirement and thank him for his years of service to Douglas County,” Chairman Romona Jackson Jones said in the release. “We also welcome our newest addition, Konswella Gilchrist, an individual with an enormous amount of experience and dedication to go along with her work ethic. I know Gilchrist is going to be another blessing for the seniors in Douglas County.”

Gilchrist has more than two decades of experience to Douglas County in the area of social services and working with older adults. Prior to this role, she served in various positions including program director of permanent supporting housing at Community Friendship, Inc. a nonprofit psychiatric rehabilitation organization located in downtown Atlanta, DCBC said.

“As a natural servant leader, I would like to say I have been preparing for this position my entire life,” Gilchrist said. “Helping and serving others has been my life’s work. Every morning, when I open my eyes, I think about what I can do today to help someone else. As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to do meaningful work.”

Douglas County Senior Services' current vision is to provide a sense of community in which every older adult is able to maintain an independent, healthy lifestyle without sacrificing their dignity or self-esteem, DCBC said.