GenerationsGeorgia

Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging

TMFall 2003

Also in This Issue: ■ Long-Term Care Ombudsman ■ A Look at Georgia’s AAAs

Employees Turnto Company Benefits

Help forCaregiversHelp forCaregivers

2 Georgia Generations

Northwest GeorgiaLegacy LinkAtlanta Regional

CommissionSouthern CrescentNortheast GeorgiaLower ChattahoocheeMiddle GeorgiaCentral Savannah RiverHeart of Georgia

AltamahaSouthwest GeorgiaSoutheast GeorgiaCoastal Georgia

Area Agencies on Aging – Gateways to Community Resources

123

54

78

6

9

12

1011

1

10

Georgia is divided into 12 AAAs, each serving a different part of the state.They are:

2

35

4

7

8

69

12

11

FALL 2003 Published quarterly througha cooperative effort of Georgia’s AreaAgencies on Aging.

For information contact:Atlanta Regional CommissionAging Services Division40 Courtland St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30303404-463-3239jkauffman@atlantaregional.com

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

Design and Production:Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA

Georgia Generations is a:

On the Cover:AFLAC employee Angela Grier has used her company’s eldercare benefitswhile caregiving for her grandmotherAddie Wright. See story, page 4.

Photo by Anne Ledbetter.

GenerationsGeorgia

Fall 2003, Volume 3, #1 © 2003 by theAtlanta Regional Commission. The infor-mation contained herein has beenobtained from sources believed to bereliable. However, the Atlanta RegionalCommission and JAM Communicationsmake no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this information. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any meanswithout written permission. All rightsreserved.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were established under the OlderAmericans Act in 1973 to respond to the needs of older adultsaged 60 and over in every community. To read more about eachof Georgia’s AAAs and the services available, turn to a statewidemap and news from each agency, beginning on page 9.

Fall 2003 3

W e all know the feeling: You wait weeks, or evenmonths, for a doctor appointment. But when it finally

takes place, you are nervous, the doctor seems rushed, andyou walk out with important questions unanswered.

The key to avoiding this situation is to make a list of questions you want to discuss. Write them down and have apen and extra paper to record the doctor’s answers. Considerthese types of questions:

■ Can you explain my illness, or condition, in non-medical terms?

■ How has the situation changed since my last appointment?

■ Are more tests required? What are they?■ What treatment options are available? What is likely to

happen without any treatment?■ What are the side effects of these treatments, or

medications?■ What is the likelihood of an emergency, and what

should I do in case it occurs?■ What are the next steps in this procedure or diagno-

sis? Keep a log or journal of all your visits. Be sure to date each entry and review your log before each doctor’sappointment.

The freedom to comeand go — and not be

home-bound — is animportant factor in themental health of many sen-iors. It’s no wonder thatdriving plays a key role in their daily lives, and giving up the car keys is a difficult step.

Following the recenttragic accident in Califor-nia, during which a cardriven by an elderly mancrashed into a crowd ofpeople, much attention hasfocused on older driversand whether they are haz-ards on the roads. A newnational survey of olderdrivers reveals that mostseniors “self-regulate” —they restrict their driving

in one or more conditions:in bad weather, on high-ways, during rush hour orat night.

Over a third of those inpoor health reported theyhad pretty much stoppeddriving. In fact, health wasas much, or more, a factorin reducing or stoppingdriving than age alone.

The National Instituteon Aging (NIA) estimatesthat more than 600,000 peo-ple age 70 or older stopdriving each year, usuallyaround age 85. The mes-sage is clear: Providingalternative transportationoptions will be a growingconcern for communitiesand families of older adults.

&NEWS NOTESCAREGIVING

Surfing the NetEach issue of Georgia Generations offers

several Web sites devoted to caregivinginformation and resources:

www.seniornet.org is a compre-hensive site for computer-savvyolder adults, which features Web-

based enrichment classes, bulletin-board discussions on topics such as

finance, books, and travel and online tutorials. www.careguide.net is an award-winning site offering a full

range of services, articles and resources for caregivers. Lookfor tips and advice, plus online organizational worksheets.

www.cancersource.com, an interactive site dedicated tocancer resources, has information about the dying process,hospice care, side effects of chemotherapy and much more.

Look for more helpful Web sites in the next issue of Georgia Generations.

Did you know that one in every eight men older than 50 will suf-fer a hip fracture as a result of osteoporosis? A recent study

showed that this condition — commonly perceived by both the pub-lic and the medical community as an illness of women — is a concernfor older men as well.

Part of the problem is a lack of screening and subsequent treat-ment among men. Also, most people don’t understand the variousconditions that can put seniors at risk for osteoporosis. In women, it’scommonly the drop in hormones after menopause. However, in menit could be the result of taking drugs such as corticosteroids (whichare often prescribed for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis).

Also at risk are tobacco users and heavy drinkers. Both these habits,which are linked to fractures from the disease, are more common inmen than in women.

Prepare for doctor’sappointments

Protect Medicare and Medicaid Benefits

Metro Atlanta: 404-463-0763Outside Metro Atlanta: GeorgiaCares 1-800-669-8387

OSTEOPOROSIS RISK: Not just for women

The challenge of older drivers

Report suspected fraud and errors.Call your Senior Medicare Patrol Project for details and to request a presentation.

By Martha Nolan McKenzie

Employers Offer aHelping Hand

hen her mother’s health began to fail, Bonnie Petrus found herself

trying to care for her from more than 400 miles away. In spite of battling

cancer, heart problems, broken bones and myriad other ailments, her

mother, Bonita Petrus, now in her mid-80s, wanted to remain in her Orlando

home. To fulfill that wish, Bonita needed someone to come in daily to

check on her and help her with various tasks. But her daughter, who

had a full-time job in Atlanta, could not be that person.

W

Informational sessions boost awareness among Ford/UAW autoworkers. Patrice Earnest, center, aging resources coordinator of ARC’sAging Division, explains elder-care benefits to interested employees.

4 Georgia Generations

For help, the younger Petrus turned to her employer, AT&T.She logged onto a Web site available to AT&T employees,typed in her mother’s zip code and within minutes had a listof home health agencies in the area.

“I interviewed a couple and found one I liked and hiredthem to help my mother,” said Petrus, 48. “When you are con-cerned about making such an important decision quickly, having a service like that is incredibly helpful.”

Petrus also joined a caregiver support group, sharing herconcerns and experiences with other AT&T workers via a con-ference call one hour a week for 10 weeks. “That gave me a lotof comfort — talking to other people who were going throughthe same thing,” said Petrus. “And some of us still stay intouch by e-mail. It’s great.”

Petrus’ situation is one in which an increasing number ofemployees find themselves every day. Currently, one out of fiveworkers must balance work and caregiving responsibilities.That number will undoubtedly rise as the baby boomers pushinto their 50s and 60s and women continue to increase theirpresence in the workforce.

And, like Petrus, more and more employees are able toturn to their employers for help. Just as companies adaptedtheir human resources policies in the 1980s to accommodatethe needs of workers with young children, they are now mak-ing policy changes to help employees who are struggling totake care of aging parents, offering benefits ranging from edu-cational elder-care seminars to subsidized geriatriccare management.

Such benefits make good business sense. A 1997study by the MetLife Mature Market Group foundthat caregiving costs companies $29 billion a year inlost productivity from absenteeism, turnover andwork interruptions. Another study released earlierthis year reported that male workers are just aslikely to shoulder caregiving responsibilities as theirfemale counterparts.

Such data has convinced many companies, suchas Citigroup, that they can not afford to ignore elder-care concerns. “We saw the studies saying one-fourth of all U.S. households are taking care of anolder relative and in five years that is projected toincrease to 45 percent,” said Sam Rubino, director ofwork/life programs for Citigroup, which ownsPrimerica and Salomon Smith Barney. “We saw thestatistics on how many of those caregivers were alsoworking and the study showing men are just asinvolved as women. We found all that evidence verycompelling.”

As a result, Citigroup, which employs about 3,000workers in Georgia, adopted a host of benefits aimedat lessening the burden of caregiving employees. “Itwas very much an issue that was taking their atten-

tion away from work,” said Rubino. “And as our workforceages and our parents live longer, the need for these types ofbenefits is only going to increase.”

Other companies cite more personal motivation. “An execu-tive told me the reason he put elder-care benefits in place athis company was because his mother had had a stroke,” saidSandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife Mature MarketInstitute. “And he is not alone. As more executives have per-sonal experience with caregiving, they start to see the needsof their employees.”

Experience and statistics have converged to fuel growth inemployer-based elder-care benefits, especially among largercompanies. A little more than half of large U.S. employersoffered elder-care benefits last year, up from 30 percent in1996, according to Hewitt Associates, a benefits consultingfirm. However, a survey by the Society of Human ResourceManagers, which included small and mid-sized companies aswell as large ones, showed 20 percent of respondents offeredelder-care referral benefits in 2003, up from 14 percent in 1999.

The growth, while significant, was not as rapid as industrywatchers had predicted. “All the experts said elder care wasgoing to be the hot benefit of the 90s,” said Diane Piktialis,work-life product director for Ceridian, a major provider ofelder care and other work/life benefits for employers. “But wedidn’t really see a lot happen until the end of the decade. Nowit’s finally heating up. One clear sign is that last year was the

Currently, one out of five workers is balancing.work and caregiving responsibilities.

Fall 2003 5

Angelia Grier, manager of financialcontrol for Columbus-based AFLAC,helps grandmother Addie Wright payher monthly bills.

first time we had more requests for our elder-care handbookthan our child care handbook.”

One reason for the slower-than-expected growth is lack ofawareness among employees. For example, at UPS, only aboutfive percent of all the calls to the company’s EAP (EmployeeAssistance Program) line are elder-care related. “People tendto be most aware of the benefits they use and need,” saidSusan Pelchat, corporate disability life works manager forUPS. “Most people don’t think about elder care at all until theyare faced with the need.”

Shelly Wender, senior aging services specialist with theAtlanta Regional Commission, agrees. “If you are not currentlycaring for an older adult, elder-care benefits are not even on yourradar screen and you likely aren’t aware that they even exist.”

To help boost awareness of the benefits among Ford/UAW(United Auto Workers) auto workers, Wender and her

colleagues visit the Ford plant in Hapeville each month. “Ford/UAW offers a very comprehensive benefit to its members,”said Wender. “And they want to make sure they know about it,so they have us come out each month and set up a visibilitytable in the cafeteria. Employees can come up and ask usabout their specific caregiving issues.”

The most common — and least costly — elder care benefitis a resource and referral service that basically does a lot ofthe time-consuming leg-work of caregiving. Employees can calla toll-free number, relate their specific caregiving needs andreceive a host of educational materials and contact informa-tion for community resources. Such services cost the companyonly about $1 to $2 per employee per month. “But studiesshow that each time an employee uses a referral service, itsaves him between 20 to 28 hours of work time,” said MaryBrown, senior vice president of BrownRichards & Associates,

UPS manager turns to eldercare benefits

6 Georgia Generations

When Mary Ann Tweddle’s mother-in-law was hospitalized forrespiratory problems last June, Tweddle and her husband flew

up to White Plains, N.Y. immediately. As soon as they arrived, theyrealized they had a big problem on their hands.

“My in-laws had not been in the best of health for a while, but onthat visit it became clear they couldn’t live on their own anymore,”said Tweddle, a retirement relocation and financial portfolio man-ager for UPS in Atlanta. “I knew we would need to move them toAtlanta and find a place that could care for them.”

Her immediate concern, however, was how to care for her father-in-law, who was partially paralyzed from a stroke, while her mother-in-law was in the hospital. Luckily, Tweddle knew where she couldget help. She called the UPS elder-care resource and referral line andexplained her predicament.

The counselor sent Tweddle a host of information on facilities inWhite Plains via next-day mail, and she found an assisted living facil-ity that would take her father-in-law until her mother-in-law wasreleased.

“I didn’t have the luxury of taking three weeks to find someplaceto care for my father-in-law temporarily — I had three days,” saidTweddle, 48. “With the referrals, we were able to find a solutionquickly and not miss too much work. It was a big relief.”

Back in Atlanta, Tweddle called the referral line again to requestinformation on facilities in Atlanta. The counselor explained the dif-ferences between independent living, assisted living and nursing homefacilities and helped Tweddle decide that assisted living best met her

in-laws needs. Then the counselor sent her information on variousassisted living facilities, as well as tips to help her evaluate them.

Through those referrals, Tweddle found Ivy Hall in Alpharetta.Sadly, her father-in-law passed away before the move, but she movedher 76-year-old mother-in-law into Ivy Hall earlier this year. “It’s afabulous facility,” said Tweddle. “On her birthday, they gave her acake, put a flower on her plate at dinner and sang to her. She playsbingo and goes to socials in the afternoons. She’s very happy thereand we know she is being well taken care of. I think it’s awesome thatUPS was able to help me find a place like that for her.” GG

Mary Ann Tweddle with mother-in-law Dorothy Tweddle.

an Atlanta-based employee incentives services firm. “When weshow companies the amount they can save by offering thisbenefit, they are usually amazed.”

Though it has no formal elder-care benefits program,Savannah-based Gulf Stream Aerospace Corp. offers its 4,000employees resource and referral services through itsEmployee Assistance Program (EAP). “Gulf Stream firmlybelieves that well looked after employees are happier andmore productive,” said Robert Baugniet, director of corporatecommunications.

Other popular and inexpensive elder-care benefits include“lunch & learn” seminars and elder-care fairs. AFLAC, aColumbus-based insurance company, hosts two sets of threelunch & learns each year covering a variety of elder-careissues. Angela Grier, the company’s manager of financial con-trol, attended the sessions to help her care for her 72-year-oldgrandmother, Addie Wright, who lives in a mobile home behindher house.

Grier, who has two young children and a husband, worksfull time and found the additional responsibilities of caring forher grandmother very stressful. Besides the practical advicethey imparted, the lunch & learns helped Grier keep things inperspective. “They helped us understand the situation fromthe point of view of the care recipient,” said Grier, 35.“They’ve gone from being independent to dependent, and it’sjust as hard on them as it is on us. That has helped me bemore patient and understanding with my grandmother.”

Though Grier plans to let her grandmother live in hermobile home as long as she possibly can, she attended ses-sions discussing nursing homes and assisted living facilitiesso she would be prepared if she ever needs to make that deci-sion. And if she does, an AFLAC human resources employeecan accompany her when she visits different facilities to helpher evaluate them.

“We have an employee who will actually go with you topoint out things you may want to look for or call your attentionto things you may not have noticed,” said Rena Lane, managerof employee benefits for AFLAC. “It’s a service that is tremen-dously appreciated because typically employees are trying tomake this decision during a very stressful time.”

Alston & Bird LLP, an Atlanta law firm, has combined semi-nars with its support group for caregivers. For the past sevenyears, Mary Brown, of BrownRichards, has met once a monthwith a group of Alston & Bird employees in a conference roomto talk about caregiving issues. Brown sometimes brings in aguest speaker to address topics the members are concernedwith, and the attendees are always free to share their ques-tions and experiences.

“Mary gives us a lot of articles, advice and names of organi-zations to check into,” said Teresa Townsend, a legal secretarywho chairs the support group. “And we all get to share ourexperiences. Many times someone else in the room has gonethrough the same thing, which makes you feel better. I’ve neverworked in a place that offered employees something like this.”

In addition to regular lunch & learns, Atlanta-based HomeDepot hosts an elder-care fair in the second week of Novem-ber. The one-day event draws some 500 employees to browsethe wares of vendors with offerings ranging from specific

disease information to products to retrofit a home for a senior.“Even though we have a young employee base, this fair is verypopular,” said Bea Kelly, senior specialist with Home Depot.“And during the week leading up to it, we have lunch & learnson a variety of elder-care topics.”

Other companies have taken their informational seminarsonline. IBM, for example, hosts a variety of “Webinars.” Viaphone and computer, employees attend a real-time seminar,complete with a Q&A. “We did 11 Webinars in the secondquarter alone with 330 registrants participating,” said Lind-say-Ray McIntyre, program manager for global dependentcare for IBM. “Because we have such a mobile employee pop-ulation, the Webinars are great for us. Employees can accessthem from where ever they are.”

IBM, which employs about 9,000 workers in Georgia, alsooffers online chats moderated by an expert in elder careissues. The chats center around a particular topic and allowemployees to share their own personal experiences.

hile resource and referral services, lunch &learns and fairs are extremely useful, some com-panies have moved beyond supplying information

to actually supplying services. “There is so much informationavailable out there — people are just flooded with informa-tion,” said MetLife’s Timmermann. “What they really need issomeone to help them sort through it all quickly and makesome sense of it.”

For a small but growing number of large companies, thatsomeone is a geriatric care manager. This is a person who willactually meet with the care recipient, assess his needs andthen recommend a care management plan and, if necessary,implement it. An increasing number of large employers aresubsidizing up to six hours of geriatric care management serv-ices per employee.

Citigroup and IBM both launched geriatric care manage-ment services in the early part of this year. “Employees canuse the service in any way they need,” said Citigroup’sRubino. “They have different elder care facilities evaluated,get respite care, have someone take their parent to a doctor’sappointment or regularly monitor an older relative. It’s verypersonalized.”

“[We] firmly believe that well looked after

employees are happier and more productive.”

Robert Baugniet,Gulf Stream Aerospace Corporation

Fall 2003 7

W

For every dollar a company spends on geriatric care man-agement services, it can save four dollars in productivity,according to estimates by Ceridian. “Elder-care managementis a very narrow benefit that is designed only for thoseemployees who are involved in a very intensive form of care-giving,” said Piklialis. “Getting a good assessment and careplan saves an employee an enormous amount of time andanxiety.”

Still, geriatric care assessments and plans can cost hun-dreds of dollars, putting this specialized benefit out of thereach of all but the largest employers. “Only a small sliver ofbig companies are offering this right now,” said MelissaStrada, director of work/life programs for Harris, RothenbergInternational, a provider of work/life benefits. “It will takeseveral years before a business case can be made for thesmall and mid-sized companies.”

Indeed, many companies have no formal elder-care policy,instead handling the issue on a case-by-

case basis. In Columbus, SynovusFinancial Corp. surveyed its

employees on their care-giving responsibilities andneeds. “The majority ofthe respondents said theywere not involved in care-giving right now, butmaybe in 10 years or so,”said Mary Stranger, direc-tor of benefits for Synovus.“So we didn’t want to putour benefits dollars into abig formal elder-care pro-gram at this time, but we’llcontinue to watch it.”

Instead, Stranger will work with employees based ontheir specific needs. “If someone needs a nursing home,we’ll look up nursing home ratings on the Internet for them.We’ve negotiated discounts with several providers of elder-care services in the area, so our employees can pay areduced rate for things like transportation services, house-keeping and nurse visits.”

And caregiving needs can often be met through moregeneral work/life benefits, such as flexible hours, telecom-muting and family leave. Theragenics is a medical devicemanafucturer in Buford that employs 165 workers. Thoughits size precludes it from offering an expensive benefitspackage, Theragenics employees have found supportthrough the company’s traditional benefits. “We had threepeople within a year who used family medical leave to carefor a parent,” said Karen Pfeifer, human resources managerfor Theragenics. “Our employees understand we are limitedin what we can offer because of our size, but we have a fam-ily atmosphere here. People are not afraid to come forwardand say, ‘This is what I need,’ and we try to accommodatethem.”

ll employers, however, are likely to feel increasingpressure to offer elder-care benefits as theiremployee base ages. “All these boomers who are

now getting involved in elder care are going to have a muchbetter sense of what they need to help them as they age andtheir parents age,” said Piktialis. “We are going to see a big-ger demand for benefits such as long-term care insurance,educational programs and elder-care assistance. Employerswill have to respond if they want to keep their workers andstay competitive.” GG

Caregiving is often considered a woman’sissue, but a recent study by the MetLife

Mature Market Institute reveals that nearlyhalf of all employed caregivers are men.

“Times have changed,” said Sandra Tim-mermann, director of the institute. “In theold days, the wife took care of the mother-in-law. Now the wife is working, or she isdivorced and married to someone else. Sothe men are having to roll up their sleevesand do some caregiving. Today, caregiving isnot a woman’s issue. It’s a societal issue.”

Indeed, caregiving costs employers billionsof dollars each year and exacts a financial,emotional and professional toll on theemployees who are providing care. The “Sonsat Work” study showed that two-thirds of

employed caregivers — men and women —say their careers have suffered as a result.

Men are less likely than women to telltheir boss or co-workers about their caregiv-ing responsibilities. Less than half of the mensurveyed had spoken to co-workers, com-pared with 62 percent of the women. “Menhave become more and more comfortablevoicing their involvement with childcare, butthey are still very reluctant to talk about car-ing for an elder,” said Timmermann. “Some-how, it’s not as acceptable.”

Men are also less likely than women to pro-vide personal care services, such as dressing,bathing, toileting and feeding. They are, how-ever, involved in managing medications, gro-cery shopping and providing transportation.

Yet, the study also revealed many similar-ities between employed men and womencaregivers:

■ Men were just as likely as women toreport that caregiving negatively impactedtheir family relationships (46 %), friendships(33 %) and personal activities (63 %).

■ About 80% of both men and womenreported coming in late to work or leaving earlyas a result of their caregiving responsibilities.Nearly a quarter of respondents said they hadto refuse overtime work.

■ About 27 %of respondents, both menand women, reported they are considering ajob change as a result of their caregiving/work experiences.

■ Two-thirds of both men and womendid not know about existing corporate eldercare benefits. GG

A

Caregiving Sons At Work

Georgia Generations

GUEST CLOSE-UPGUEST CLOSE-UP

By Becky A. Kurtz, Esq., State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

What in the world is an ombudsman? Let’s take a look atthe meaning of the word itself: “Ombudsman” is a

Swedish word meaning “citizen representative.” An ombuds-man works to increase the responsiveness of organizations tothe people they serve. This goal is accomplished throughinvestigating complaints, working to resolve them and advo-cating for change.

So, a long-term care ombudsman is a specialized ombuds-man who seeks to improve the quality of life for people wholive in long-term care facilities. In Georgia these facilitiesinclude nursing homes, per-sonal care homes (oftencalled assisted living facili-ties) and “community livingarrangements.” Residentssometimes have little or nocontact with the outsideworld. Many feel they lackcontrol over their own lives.

Approximately 50 certi-fied long-term care ombudsmen in Georgia — both staff andvolunteers — are available to help residents. Long-term careservices, the physical environment, residents’ rights, benefits,discharges and appeals are among the many concernsombudsmen address in advocating on behalf of residents.Long-term care ombudsmen:

■ Investigate and work to resolve problems or complaintsaffecting long-term care residents.

■ Identify problem areas in long-term care and advocatefor change.

■ Provide information about long-term care, includingadvice about how to select a facility.

■ Promote resident, family and community involvementin long-term care.

■ Educate the community about the needs of residents.■ Coordinate efforts with others concerned with

long-term care.

■ Visit facilities routinelyto talk to residents and moni-tor conditions.

■ Educate facility staffabout residents’ rights andother issues.

Georgia’s Long-Term CareOmbudsman Program is gov-erned by the federal Older

Americans Act and by Georgia law. The Office of the StateLong-Term Care Ombudsman administers the programthrough contractual arrangements with community programshoused in private nonprofit agencies statewide. The StateOffice is attached to the Georgia Department of HumanResources’ Division of Aging. Community programs are affili-ated with Area Agencies on Aging and operate with federal,state and local funds.

Volunteers help community ombudsman programs accom-plish their goals. “Certified volunteer ombudsmen” completeextensive training to become authorized to resolve com-plaints, while other volunteers regularly visit residents andassist the programs in a variety of ways.

For more information or to explore volunteer opportuni-ties, contact your community ombudsman program or call the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 888-454-5826. GG

A long-term care ombudsmanseeks to improve the quality oflife for people who live in long-term care facilities.

Fall 2003 9

When can theombudsmanLONG-TERM CARE:

help?

A Look at Area Agencies on Aging Around Georgia

NorthwestNorthwestGeorgiaGeorgia

AtlantaAtlantaRegionalRegionalCommissionCommission

SouthernSouthernCrescentCrescent

LegacyLegacyLinkLink

NortheastNortheastGeorgia Georgia

CentralCentralSavannahSavannahRiver River

MiddleMiddleGeorgia Georgia

SouthwestSouthwestGeorgia Georgia SoutheastSoutheast

GeorgiaGeorgia

Heart ofHeart ofGeorgiaGeorgiaAltamahaAltamaha CoastalCoastal

GeorgiaGeorgia

LowerLowerChattahoochee Chattahoochee

NorthwestGeorgia

AtlantaRegionalCommission

SouthernCrescent

LegacyLink

NortheastGeorgia

CentralSavannahRiver

MiddleGeorgia

LowerChattahoochee

SouthwestGeorgia Southeast

Georgia

Heart ofGeorgiaAltamaha Coastal

Georgia

In communities across the country, Area

Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as gateways to

local resources, planning efforts and services

that help older adults remain independent. On

the following pages are the programs and

services offered by Georgia’s AAAs.

Irreversible losses associated with growingold can cause loneliness and depression.

Chronic illnesses, family members livingbusy lives at a distance, the deaths of lovedones, and financial issues all add to the sad-ness felt by many older adults. Mourningthese losses is normal, but sometimesmourning turns into depression.

Participation in local senior centers isan excellent antidote for loneliness,according to Linda Hicks, site manager atDallas/Paulding Nutrition Center. Seniorcenters provide a wide variety of activitiesand a nutritious lunch. Activities mayinclude games, crafts, exercise, dancing,

gardening, field trips and educational talks.Two senior center participants, Ruby

Gaddis and Regina Radlowski, have particu-larly benefited from these activities. Bothwomen, recently widowed, had becomelonely and depressed. When Ms. Hicks vis-ited them in their homes, she encouragedthem to participate in center activities. Ms.Gaddis finally agreed to check out the

center. Ms. Hicks now says, “She hugs meevery day and thanks me for getting her to come.”

Mrs. Radlowski did not realize that hersadness had become depression until she visited the senior center and found newinterests. She, too, has been attending eversince. “This has meant so much to me,” saysMrs. Radlowski as she embarks on a newchapter in her life. She appreciates her newfriends and the activities at the senior center.

For information, contact AAA of Northwest Georgia, P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA30162-1793; 706-802-5506 or toll-free 1-800-759-2963.

Northwest Georgia

Linda Hicks, site manager at Dallas/PauldingNutrition Center, with Ruby Gaddis, who made animportant next step in her life after widowhood.

Senior center programsprovide antidote forloneliness

NORTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade,Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon,Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens,Polk, Walker, Whitfield

10 Georgia Generations

Covers a 15-county area surrounding Rome, Dallas, Dalton, Cartersville

Legacy LinkCovers a 13-county area surrounding Gainesville, Cumming, Clarkesville, Toccoa, Hiawassee

Who needs to call Legacy Link? A grandchild is 24 years old and

taking care of her grandmother, who is 63.The grandmother is experiencing manyhealth problems due to a progressive dis-ease and needs help on a daily basis.Should the grandchild call Legacy?

A 49-year-old mother is caring for ateenage son who was recently involved ina devastating car accident and nowrequires attention almost around the clock.Should the mother call Legacy?

A 58-year-old wife is caring for her 65-year-old husband, who is showing signsof Alzheimer’s Disease. Where can she findsome information to help her understandthis disease?

Should any — or all — of these per-sons call Legacy Link for information? Thecorrect answer is YES! Legacy Link canhelp with locating resources, offering a listening ear and making referrals to localservices who can assist families in these

situations. So, if you hear someone say, “Ijust don’t know who to call to find outhow to locate help,” tell him or her to tryLegacy Link.

For further information, contact LegacyLink, P.O. Box 2534, Gainesville, GA 30503-2534; 770-538-2650 or toll-free 1-800-845-LINK.

You don’t have to beaged 60-plus to call us!

Many people have family or loved oneswho reach an age when they need

help in daily living. Often caregivers arenot ready to turn to an assisted livingcommunity, yet they need time to takecare of personal responsibilities. In suchsituations, adult day care can be an indis-pensable service.

The Cambridge House Enrichment

Center in Newnan is a nonprofit adult day-time care center that provides supportiveservices to older adults. Through a recentgrant from the Southern Crescent AreaAgency on Aging (SCAAA), funded by theDepartment of Human Resources andawarded through a federal and state regu-lated bid process, the Cambridge HouseEnrichment Center now provides publiclyfunded care for clients with Alzheimer’s orother related dementia.

The center offers professional care spe-cializing in helping adults with impairedjudgment and memory loss. Some servicesinclude individualized assessments and

monitoring, personal grooming, computerinstruction, arts and crafts, physical activity,animal visits, escorts to doctor appoint-ments and the security of Internet Web-cam access to the facility. A profes-sionally-led caregiver support group meetsat the facility the second Monday of eachmonth at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.The SCAAA is pleased to collaborate withthe Cambridge House Enrichment Centerto serve older adults with Alzheimer’s orrelated dementia.

For f urther information, contact SouthernCrescent AAA, P.O. Box 1600, Franklin, GA30217-1600; 706-675-6721, 770-854-6026,or toll-free 1-866-854-5652.

Enriching the lives ofolder adults throughinnovative learning

SCAAA clients and volunteers (standingfrom left): Dr. Al McEachern, Mr. RoyKnox, artist Mary Holby, Lucille Molnarand Dr. Guy Williamson. Sitting fromleft: Gloria Mullins, Eleanor Bray andvolunteer Georgina Boesing.

SOUTHERN CRESCENT ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar,Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup,Upson

LEGACY LINK ENCOMPASSES THESECOUNTIES: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth,Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart,Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns,Union, White

Legacy Link can help withlocating resources, offeringa listening ear and makingreferrals to local services.

Southern CrescentCovers a 10-county area surrounding Franklin, Newnan, LaGrange, Griffin, Carrollton

11

CONNECT is Georgia’s most compre-hensive database of aging and long-

term care services. It includes informationon nearly 15,000 services in more than 44categories and 216 subcategories. Updatedweekly, it reflects the most current infor-mation on available services.

The Atlanta Regional Commissionrecently expanded this database to includeresources and services for persons lookingfor prescription assistance as well as services and programs for individuals withdevelopmental disabilities.

Aging Connection, a user-friendly tele-phone service, is the client’s gateway to thedatabase. Certified information and refer-ral/assistance specialists based in AreaAgencies on Aging throughout Georgiaconsult with clients, assess their needs andrefer them to services. Anyone in need ofservices or information may call, includingolder adults and their caregivers. Special-ists respond immediately, accurately,sensitively and at no cost to thousands ofinquiries each year.

During the phone consultation, special-ists thoroughly describe services andresources available. They can provide

referral information by geographic area,cost or special needs. Client information ishandled confidentially and protected by theautomated system. Information and referral

specialists also fre-quently mail quick-listsand other informationto callers.

Aging Connectionservices are especiallyhelpful to long-distance caregivers,older adults moving toGeorgia, homeboundpersons and potentialservice providers.

ARC’s GeorgiaCaresspecialists also use theCONNECT database.When a caller needshelp with prescriptioncosts, specialists cansearch more than 1,600 generic andbrand-name drugs todetermine if a pharma-ceutical assistance pro-gram is available.

Persons with devel-opmental disabilities can find informationabout services such as adult day programs,counseling, respite care, residential optionsand vocational programs. The expansion ofthe CONNECT database to serve theseclients resulted from collaboration withmembers of both the aging and the devel-opmental disability networks.

To get needed information, callers inthe Atlanta region may contact the AgingConnection numbers listed in the box tothe left. Callers outside of the Atlantaregion may call the Area Agency on Agingthat covers their counties, as identified onpages 10–15 in this publication.

Atlanta Regional CommissionCovers a 10-county area surrounding Atlanta

Cherokee County Cherokee County SeniorServices, 770-345-5312

Clayton County Clayton County Aging Program, 770-603-4050

Cobb County Cobb Senior Services, 770-528-5364

DeKalb County Office of Senior Affairs, 404-687-7117

Douglas County Douglas Senior Services, 770-489-3100

Fayette County Fayette Senior Services, 770-461-0813

Fulton County Fulton County Aging Program, 404-730-6000

Gwinnett County Gwinnett County SeniorServices, 770-822-8850

Henry County Henry County Senior Services, 770-898-7670

Rockdale County Rockdale County SeniorServices, 770-922-4633

Atlanta Regional Commission404-463-3333

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSIONENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb,Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Fulton,Henry, Rockdale

If you need caregiving information, contact:

12 Georgia Generations

Andrew Parker, aging resources specialist, updates the CONNECTdatabase on a regular basis.

CONNECT database expandsto serve more Georgia clients

May 13 turned out to be a lucky dayfor some 250 folks who attended the

Caregivers Conference in Columbus,hosted by the Lower Chattahoochee AreaAgency on Aging. Participants, includingcaregivers and professionals, enjoyed a dayof informative sharing and discus-sions by leading experts on the top-ics of depression in the elderly,handling stress with humor,spirituality within the care-giver’s experience, legal issuesand other topics.

One particularlyentertaining speaker,Dr. Joel Desaulniers,otherwise known as“Dr. D,” offeredparticipants theopportunity to han-dle stress with asense of humor. Hisadvice included

“Look for humorin daily events”and “Learn to poke fun at yourself.”

The conference goals were to pro-vide both caregiver support informa-tion and a day of respite forcaregivers. Participants were treatedto luxurious surroundings in the newRiver Center’s Legacy Hall andenjoyed a catered luncheon “underthe stars” on the Bill Heard Stage.

Through the generosityof local companies,many door prizes wereawarded. A total of 13agencies were on handto provide informationand answer caregivers’questions about theirservices as well as handout additional treats.

For further informa-tion, contact Lower Chat-

tahoochee AAA, P.O. Box 1908, Columbus, GA31902-1908; 706-256-2900 or toll-free 1-800-615-4379.

Since the program’s name change fromHICARE a year ago, GeorgiaCares staff

and volunteers have been working tire-lessly to spread the word about the pro-gram’s services, particularly those that helpseniors to save money.

Northeast GeorgiaCares has enabledseniors to save more than $37,000 inMedicare savings programs between Janu-ary and May 2003. Medicare savings programs help to supplement part ofMedicare. For example, many people findthat they qualify for Medicare Part B at nopremium cost to the consumer. Currentlythis is a savings of $58.70 month.

One goal of GeorgiaCares is to enroll

every eligible senior in prescription assis-tance programs. Partnerships with manymajor pharmaceutical companies, such asPfizer and Eli Lilly, have enabled easy accessto their patient assistance programs. In thefirst five months of 2003, GeorgiaCares hassaved seniors an estimated $98,000 onprescription drugs!

A local radio station provides commu-nity service by regularly announcing aNortheast GeorgiaCares public serviceannouncement. This two-minute recordingeducates citizens on how to protectMedicare from fraud, waste and abuse.

GeorgiaCares is a statewide program of the Georgia Department of HumanResources Division of Aging Services. Call1-800-669-8387 to speak with your localGeorgiaCares office.

For further information, contact NortheastGeorgia RDC, 305 Research Drive, Athens, GA30605-2795; 706-583-2547 or toll-free 1-800-474-7540.

Lower ChattahoocheeCovers a 16-county area surrounding Columbus, Americus, Butler, Montezuma, Cuthbert

LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly,Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee,Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart,Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster

Caregiver conferenceprovides information

Northeast GeorgiaCovers a 12-county area surrounding Athens, Winder, Monroe, Covington, Madison

NORTHEAST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene,Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan,Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton

GeorgiaCares presencefelt throughoutNortheast Georgia

Sarah McKinney, GeorgiaCares coordinator forthe Northeast Georgia region, providesinformation to Dee Allen of Clarke County.

Attendees visiting the GeorgiaCares tableand display.

Dr. Joel Desaulniers, aka “Dr. D”shares “Stress Management with a

Twist of Humor.”

Fall 2003 13

The Georgia Older Worker Network isa network of professionals who pro-

vide programs and services for olderworkers throughout Georgia. The networkpromotes and supports coordination, col-laboration and co-enrollment of partici-pants in Georgia’s older worker programs.It also provides opportunities to becomeinformed about issues affecting olderworker programs.

As part of this network, the MiddleGeorgia region annually recognizes theMiddle Georgia Older Worker of the Year.This award honors older adults in theworkforce who have made significant

contributions to their companies throughtheir creativity, loyalty, hard work, knowl-edge and productivity. This year’s winner isGlenn McGee with the Houston CountyMedical Center.

The Middle Georgia Region Employerof the Year Award goes to outstandingcompanies that hire older workers and

make them an integral part of their organizations. This year’s winner is the Department of Labor’sCareer Center, represented byDavid Clinard.

Each year a statewide confer-ence and luncheon is held to honorGeorgia’s older workers andemployers. Mr. McGee and Mr.Clinard represented Middle Georgiaat this year’s statewide conferenceheld in Savannah,August 25–27.

For further information, contact Middle Georgia RDC, 175-C Emery Highway,Macon, GA 31217; 478-751-6466 or toll-free 1-888-548-1456.

MIDDLE GEORGIA ENCOMPASSESTHESE COUNTIES: Baldwin, Bibb,Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe,Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs,Wilkinson

Middle GeorgiaCovers an 1 1-county area surrounding Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville

Middle Georgiarecognizes older workerand employer of the year

Central Savannah RiverCovers a 14-county area surrounding Augusta, Thomson, Martinez/Evans, Waynesboro, Sandersville

“She says, ‘Hey, Ms. Margaret. Let’s dothis and let’s do that!’ The girl is

always making me smile.” That is how 90-year-old Margaret Jones describes herblossoming friendship with fellow churchmember Jackie Humphrey. Several times aweek, Ms. Humphrey visits Ms. Jones at along-term care facility to chat, take easystrolls, sit in the sun and ride through the city.

“I love to see her enjoying good days,and small things mean a lot, even ifwe’re just going out for ice cream,”noted Ms. Humphrey of her bond

with Ms. Jones. “She says that God sent meto her, but I’ve gotten far more out of ourfriendship than she has.”

The growing relationship between thesetwo women captures the spirit behind“Each One Reach One,” a new AreaAgency on Aging initiative that promotesbonds of caring and mutual supportbetween seniors andcommunitymembersof allages.

Central Savannah River Area Agency onAging Director Jeanette Cummings encour-ages others to follow Ms. Humphrey’sexample. “We challenge every CSRA resi-dent to make a personal commitment tocare about and learn wisdom from oneolder adult in need this year,” Ms. Cum-mings said. “We are all part of the solution,and each of us must guarantee that no onein our community is left behind.”

For further information, contact CentralSavannah River AAA, 3023 River Watch Pkwy.,Suite A, Augusta, GA 30907-2800; 706-210-2018 or toll-free 1-888-922-4464.

From left to right: Amy Tribble, Area Agency on AgingDirector; Glenn McGee (Older Worker of the Year), FayeYawn, Experience Works; and Linda Hampton, OlderAmericans Council.

CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock,Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie,Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro,Warren, Washington, Wilkes

“Each One Reach One”celebrates personal action

Margaret Jones shares a quiet moment withher close friend Jackie Humphrey.

14 Georgia Generations

Few people growup without con-

tact with or a rela-tionship to a pet ofsome sort — a gold-fish, turtle, rabbit,bird, hamster, cat ordog. Fond memoriesdevelop, and manypet owners continueto keep pets through-out their lives. Stud-ies indicate that

physical contact with pets provides healthbenefits, such as the lowering of bloodpressure when stroking a cat.

When peoplegrow older and have less active lives, a petcan be a comfortingcompanion and keepthe owner moreactive.Walking a dogmeans that the care-taker must walk, too!Pets can be a reasonto get up in themorning when thecaretaker needs tofeed them or care forthem, and pets aregood listeners when aperson is lonely.

In many assisted

living and nursing facilities, pets have cometo play an integral role. Some pets are residents, while others are intermittent vis-itors. For those people who must leavetheir beloved pets behind when they enterthe facilities, the opportunity to interactwith pets brings pleasure and a sense ofnormalcy to their changed living situation.

Loving and being loved by a creaturefrom the animal kingdom is a worthwhileand rewarding experience. If you haven’ttried it, it is not too late!

For further information, contact SouthwestGeorgia COA, 1105 Palmyra Road, Albany, GA31701-2508; 229-432-1124 or toll-free 1-800-282-6612.

Promoting healthy lifestyles for seniorsthrough education, fitness and fun was

the focus of the second annual SoutheastGeorgia Senior Olympics, held at CentralSquare Complex in Douglas on May 16.Over 600 senior citizens, aged 60 andabove, enjoyed the eventful day. The size-able crowd included seniors from each ofthe region’s 18 counties. The event wassponsored by the Southeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging, a division of theSoutheast Georgia Regional Development Center (SEGa RDC) in Waycross.

Participants enjoyed such “Olympic”events as horseshoes, checkers, softball

toss, spin casting, golf putting, basketballthrow, frisbee toss, fitness walk and danc-ing. The games were staffed by employeesof the SEGa RDC as well as numerouscommunity volunteers.

First, second and third-place awards weregiven to individuals in each event. In addition,the total scores were tallied, and the threetop-scoring senior centers were rewardedfor their efforts. Coming in third place was

the Charlton County SeniorCenter. The Bacon CountySenior Center earned secondplace, and the Pierce CountySenior Center triumphantlyfinished the Senior Olympicsin first place. The PierceCounty Senior Center alsotook home the OutstandingSpirit Award for their enthu-siasm and creativity.

For information, contact Southeast GeorgiaRDC, 1725 South Georgia Parkway West,Waycross, GA, 31503; 912-285-6097 or toll-free 1-888-732-4464.

Southeast GeorgiaCovers an 18-county area surrounding Waycross, Valdosta, Tifton, Douglas, Folkston

These seniors still have “groovy moves” as they participate in thedance contest at the Senior Olympics.

Peggy Hamlin, RN,SOWEGA Council on

Aging, with her pal Holly.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA ENCOMPASS-ES THESE COUNTIES: Atkinson, Bacon,Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks,Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols,Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift,Turner, Ware

Senior Olympicspromotes healthylifestyles

Pets improve quality of life for seniors

Southwest GeorgiaCovers a 14-county area surrounding Albany, Bainbridge, Moultrie, Thomasville

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur,Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller,Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth,Mitchell

Fall 2003 15

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SponsorsThanks to these Georgia companies and organizations for their generous support

AARPAssuming responsibility for the home care of loved

ones can involve assist-ing with daily activities,managing high-tech

medical treatments and dealing with issues arounddying. AARP’s “Life Answers” program can help youmeet these critical responsibilities. Find out more atwww.aarp.org/lifeanswers

Bridgebuilders, Inc.Personal care in thecomfort and privacy ofyour own home.

Customized services delivered with compassion,integrity and professionalism. 600 S. Central Ave.,Hapeville 30354; 404-765-4300.

Georgia Alliance for Staffing Solutions

An alliance that promotes qualitylong-term care for seniors and persons with disabilities by seeking

innovative solutions to improve staffing and supportcaregivers. www.agingatlanta.com

Georgia Council on AgingThe Georgia Council on Aging advocates on behalf of olderGeorgians and their families. For more information, please visit

the Web site at www.gcoa.org

Grady GoldGrady SeniorServices was

created with the special care needs of older adults inmind! People over 60 can receive comprehensiveevaluations and care for common problems seen inolder adults. 404-616-0800.

Northwestern MutualFinancial Network An hour invested in long-term care planning today

can make thinkingabout tomorrow

much more comfortable. Contact 770-612-4687 ormaureen.fiacco@nmfn.com

PfizerThe “Health, Medicines &Lifestyles” icon on Pfizer’s Website, will lead you to topics that

include “Profile of Caregiving,” “Exploring Your HealthOn Line” and many more. www.pfizer.com

Sixty Plus, Piedmont HospitalA program to enhance the well-being of olderadults and their familiesby providing services,

education and support. 1968 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta30309; 404-605-3867.

Southern Home Care ServicesNursing and personalcare services tailored

to your needs, Southern Home Care Services servesall ages with compassion, skill and respect. Licensedand accredited. www.southernhomecareservices.com

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development

Dedicated to promoting the mentalhealth and well being of individuals,families, and professional caregivers.

The RCI is proud to partner with Area Agencies onAging (AAAs) in Georgia to develop CARE-NETsacross the state. www.rosalynncarter.org

Georgia Generations is published and supported byGeorgia’s Area Agencies on Aging.

Additional circulation support is provided by thegenerous sponsors listed here. For more information onbecoming a sponsor of Georgia Generations please call404-463-3222.

Grady Health System®

Bridgebuilders,Inc.Bridgebuilders,Inc.

Many people ask...

16 Georgia Generations

How can I help? OLDER ADULTS ANDCAREGIVERS across Georgia can now be recognized in a unique way. The Thanks Mom and Dad Fund® hasbeen established to honor someone special in your life or to honor the memory of someone who was an inspirationto you. ■ With each contribution, those honored receive a certificate recognizing the role they played in the donor’slife. Your contributions are tax-deductible and provide support for many of the programs described in this issue. If youwould like more information about the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund,® please call 1-800-676-2433.