GaGen 2004 Fall

Fall 2004

GenerationsGeorgia

Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging

TM

VolunteeringMind, Body

and Soul

Good for the

Also in This Issue:■ Honoring Caregivers in November■ A Look at Georgia’s AAAs

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 2004 Published quarterly througha cooperative effort of Georgia’s AreaAgencies on Aging.

For information contact:Atlanta Regional CommissionAging Services Division40 Courtland St., NE, Atlanta, GA [email protected]

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

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

Georgia Generations is a:

On the Cover:Seniors across Georgia are spendingcountless hours volunteering in churches,libraries, hospitals, senior centers andnonprofit organizations. They bring a lifetime of skills and experience, and,best of all, they gain as much as theygive. See story, page 4.

GenerationsGeorgia

Fall 2004, Volume 4, #1 © 2004 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 adultsage 60 and over in every community. To read more about each ofGeorgia’s AAAs and the services available, turn to a statewidemap and news from each agency, beginning on page 9.

November is National Family Caregiver’s Monthacross the United States. This special designation

brings attention to the daily lives of our nation’s morethan 50 million family caregivers. It is a time to thank,support and celebrate their selfless efforts.

In Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue will sign a proclama-tion. In addition, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Care-giving will hold a conference at The Carter Center in Atlanta (seedetails to right).

For more information on ways to celebrate Caregiver’s Month, goto the website of the National Family Caregiver Association —www.nfcacares.org

Fall 2003 3

&NEWS NOTESCAREGIVING

Surfing the NetEach issue of Georgia Generations offers several Web sites

devoted to caregiving information and resources:www.caregiverssurvivalhandbook.com showcases a

new book, The Caregiver’s Survival Handbook: How toCare for Your Aging Parent Without Losing Yourself.This book helps caregivers navigate daily problems,

such as getting other family members to help, jugglingvarious responsibilities, letting go of guilt and foster-

ing a parent’s independence. www.longtermcarelink.net offers articles on long-term care issues, lists

services for people needing long-term care, and includes one of the largestlists of useful LTC Internet links on the web.

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

Protect Medicare and Medicaid Benefits

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

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

“Creating Caring Caregiver Networks”November 19, 2004Featured speakers:Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter andJosefina G. Carbonell, Asst. Secretary for Aging,

Administration on Aging (has been invited)Conference co-sponsors:Georgia AARP State of Georgia Division of Aging Services

For further information, visit: www.rosalynncarter.org

Longevity HeadsUPWARD

Interesting news from the longevityexperts: More and more seniors are liv-ing beyond their original life expectancy.Let’s say you’re 65 years old.When youwere born in 1938, your life expectancywas around 64 years. Yet today, at age65, you have not only surpassed thatoriginal life expectancy, you can expectto live an average of another 18 years,according to national health statistics.That takes you to age 83. What’s more,if you reach age 83, your life expectancythen extends, on average, to age 90.The odds of a long life are even betterfor couples than individuals.

— Courtesy Capital Investment Advisors, Inc.

Do you often have trouble falling asleep? Do youwake up during the night and find it difficult to fallback to sleep? Studies have shown that almost 60percent of adults have problems with sleep!

Sleep is essential for our mental, physical andemotional health. People with chronic insomnia,sleep apnea or other sleep problems tend tohave more medical and psychological difficulties.Remember these tips for sounder sleeping:

• Avoid caffeine or nicotine products in thelate afternoon and evening;

• Try not to nap in the afternoon or evening;• Use your bed only for sleeping, if possible;• If you like a snack before bed, a warm non-

caffeinated drink and a few crackers may help;• Try not to worry about falling asleep. Playing

mental games, such as counting, can actually work.

Honoring Caregivers

SheepCounting

4 Georgia Generations4 Georgia Generations

Good for the Body, Mind and SoulVolunteering:

These seniors are but a few of the thou-sands of volunteers across Georgia who

keep hospitals, schools, churches, libraries anda host of other organizations running. Indeed,look at the roster of any nonprofit or charitableorganization, and chances are you’ll find it filledwith senior volunteers.

“Older volunteers are an absolutely vitalpart of any volunteer community,” said Kim

Adler, manager of Volunteer Recruitment andRecognition for AARP in Washington, D.C. “Theybring a lifetime of skills and experience to theorganization, and they are really what keep non-profits humming along. And volunteering helpsthe seniors, as well. Many studies have linkedvolunteering and successful aging.”

About 40 percent of people age 50 andolder report volunteering, compared with 45percent of the under-50 population, accordingto the Independent Sector, a coalition of foun-

Story by Martha Nolan McKenziePhotography by Anne Ledbetter

Theresa Justice, 74, helps low-

income seniors in the Columbus

area apply for drug discount

cards through GeorgiaCares.

Edna Johnson, 71, runs errands

for nurses and works in the gift

shop at the Coliseum Medical

Centers in Macon. Earl Ball, 84,

advises fledgling businesses in

Dalton. And Dorothy Thomas,

76, reads to children at a day

care center in Macon.

Theresa Justice

Fall 2004 5

Eddie ThompsonEddie Thompson, 66, spends his days writing letters to three Vietnamese boys. Thompson is partof a pen-pal program at the Hall County Senior Center that was designed to help ESL (Englishas a Second Language) students at the Russell Middle School in Winder. Thompson and the otherseniors exchange letters, photos — and love — with the Vietnamese middle schoolers.

“We write all the time, and they’ve come to the center to visit us,” said Thompson of his penpals, age 12, 10 and 8. “I write to them about coon hunting and camping. They write to me aboutswimming and school and girls. They love girls.”

The arrangement has worked out well for both the students and the seniors. “The studentshave improved academically since the program was started,” said Montye Kelly, RSVP directorat Legacy Link in Gainesville, which helps coordinate the program. “And the seniors just light upwhen they talk about the children. I was surprised at how both the seniors and the studentsbridged the generation gap and the nationality gap so quickly.”

Thompson agrees. “It took a couple times for me to get used to them and them to get usedto me, but we’re big buddies now,” he said. “They seem sort of like grandsons to me.”

dations, nonprofits and corporations.Working seniors are actually morelikely to volunteer (47 percent) thanthose who are retired (42 percent).However, retired seniors volunteer moretime — an average of 18 hours a month,compared to 11 hours for their workingcounterparts. Overall, seniors con-tribute more than $70 billion worth ofvolunteer time each year.

“When you look at numbers likethese, it’s hard to overstate seniors’importance,” said Adler.

Beyond the numbers, seniors bringa unique perspective and work ethic toan organization. “My senior volunteershave typically had very high-level jobsand successful careers before theyretired,” said Debbie Kitchens, directorof volunteer services at Coliseum Med-ical Center in Macon. “They will doanything you ask them to, and theytake their jobs very seriously and arevery dedicated. But they also bring aspecial experience and outlook. Theyseem to work particularly well withpatients and can relate to them. Theyare the ones who go the extra mile anddo nice things that, in these times ofcutbacks, the hospital couldn’t afford todo otherwise. I know our volunteers arewhat makes us stand out from the com-petition.”

Ruth Daniel agrees. The director ofthe McIntosh Trail Council on Aging inGriffin relies on senior volunteers todeliver area meals on wheels. “All of ourvolunteers are wonderful, but the seniorsbring something special with them,” saidDaniel. “They really care about the peo-ple they are helping, and they take thetime to do little extra things that our paidworkers don’t have time to.”

Senior volunteers also bring a wealthof experience to an organization. EvelynGay, director of the Elder Rights Projectfor Georgia Legal Services, relies on sen-ior volunteers to run the GeorgiaCaresand the Senior Medicare Patrol pro-grams. The former is a state healthinsurance program for low-income resi-dents, and the latter educates seniorsabout Medicare fraud.

“I’d say 98 percent of our volunteersare seniors, and we couldn’t run eitherprogram without them,” said Gay. “Theyhave so much to offer because theyhave so much experience behind them.

Patricia HarrisYou may find Patricia Harris cruising through her old neighborhood in Macon on the lookout forsuspicious activities. Or you may see her in an area store watching for shoplifters. Or you mayfind her walking slowly among desks as students hunch over tests.

Arthritic and 61, Harris seems an unlikely Kojak, but she takes her duties seriously. She is a volunteer for Senior Corp.’s RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), which works in con-junction with the local police department’s crime prevention program. “In my old neighborhood,the young hood rats took over and the older people were afraid to come out of their houses,”said Harris. “Somebody had to keep the community safe, so I started doing this volunteering.”

She also calls on seniors in the neighborhood to inspect the locks on their doors and windows, engrave their valuables in case they are stolen and talk to them about what to do invarious emergency situations.

“With my arthritis, I may be hurtin’, but I’ve got to keep doing it because the kids know whenthey see me watching, they can’t be doing anything illegal or bad.”


If they don’t think you’re doing something theright way, they’ll tell you. I have learned so muchfrom them. I believe every organization that isnot using senior volunteers in some form oranother is missing a lot.”

Seniors who volunteer say they are moti-vated by a sense of duty. More than half

of senior volunteers cite a desire to give back tosociety some of the benefits they had received asthe reason they volunteer, according to the Inde-pendent Sector. The second most popular motiva-tion is the desire to help those less fortunate.

Senior volunteers, however, end up helpingthemselves at least as much as the recipients oftheir good works.

“I think the more we give, no matter what ourage, the more fulfilling our lives can be,” said DianeWilliamson, director of the Council on Aging inAtlanta. “By keeping busy and helping others, wedon’t have the opportunity to sit around and focus on our own problems. And my senior volunteers, inparticular, get the benefit of feeling productive anduseful, which is really important after retirement.And they also tend to make friends with the othervolunteers, and connections and friendships are veryimportant to keep seniors from becoming isolated.”

Indeed, numerous studies have shown that peo-ple who volunteer, especially if it involves helpingothers, are happier and healthier in their lateryears. A University of Michigan study, for example,tracked a group of seniors for five years and foundthat those who volunteered lived longer than theirnonvolunteering counterparts. “By helping others,we are also helping ourselves,” said the study’slead psychologist, Stephanie Brown of the univer-sity’s Institute for Social Research. “We’re not surewhy, but we hypothesize it’s because volunteeringproduces positive emotions which, in turn, can actas buffers to many of the stressors of aging.”

Dorothy Thomas knows all about those positiveemotions. The 76-year-old Macon woman volun-teers as a “foster grandparent” at a day care cen-ter at the Department of Family and Children’sServices. Four days a week, five hours each day,Thomas can be found surrounded by a happyswarm of preschoolers. “I love being around these

children,” said Thomas. “I love playing with them,singing with them and reading to them. I’m just sohappy to be a part of their lives.”

Besides good feelings, volunteering offers a wayfor a senior to stay active, physically and mentally.Earl Ball, 84, fills his days with as many volunteeractivities as he can handle. As chairman of theSCORE chapter in Dalton, the retired businessmanconsults with start-up and small businesses. Healso lends his time and business advice to the HeadStart Family Council, the Nursing Home Family

Bill HarmanFor the past 17 years, W.C. “Bill” Harman has been helping seniors become saferdrivers. The 79-year-old retired salesman is an instructor for an AARP safe driv-ing program in Albany. He teaches his senior students how to recognize and com-pensate for the changes brought on by aging — impaired vision and hearing, slowerreflexes.

“When seniors can’t drive anymore, they lose a lot of their independence,”said Harman. “By teaching them how to be safer, more defensive drivers, I canhelp them stay independent longer.”

Harman also finds time to volunteer at the local Phoebe Putney Memorial Hos-pital with Mended Hearts, a support group for people with heart problems. Hav-ing had quadruple bypass surgery in 1986, Harman visits with heart patients toanswer their questions, listen to their concerns and talk about his own experi-ence. “It can really help having someone to talk to who has been through itbefore,” said Harman.

“I think the more we give, no matter what our age, the more fulfilling our lives can be.”

Fall 2004 7

The LivingstonsRoger and Mona Livingston, both 71, enjoy excellent health,and they credit the many hours they volunteer. “My doc-tors tell me to keep my body and my mind busy, and I do,”said Roger. “Volunteering is the best way I know to helpsomebody and to help yourself, too. You have to keepthem old gears in your head oiled.”

Roger and Mona, who live in Hazlehurst near Augusta,volunteer for Georgia Legal Services, GeorgiaCares, SeniorHealth Insurance Patrol, Senior Medical Patrol, the SilverHaired Legislature “… and just about anything else thatcomes along,” said Roger.

In all, the couple donates about 30 hours a week. Theyconsider themselves well-paid for their work.

“All we have is our Social Security — about $1,300 amonth — but I get paid when someone I’ve helped callsme and says, ‘I bought medicine today for $40 and it usedto cost me $300, so now I can buy groceries.’ Now that’sgood pay!”

Council, a local family crisis center and the United Way. Inaddition, he visits his wife, who lives in a nursing home,three times a day.

“Some months I put in as many as 50 to 60 hours,” saidBall. “And sometimes I find myself eating my supper at 9:30at night. I didn’t really plan to be this busy, but if you decideto sit down and watch TV, you’ll vegetate completely. If youkeep active mentally, you have a chance of growing old well.I have always been active and I will continue to be active.”

Edna Johnston agrees with the benefits of stayingbusy. Three days a week, the 71-year-old Macon womanvolunteers at the Coliseum Medical Center and for SeniorFriends, a hospital-sponsored group for seniors. “In 1970,I was diagnosed with lung cancer and I had to have partof my lung removed,” said Johnston. “I’m also diabeticand I have asthma. But I don’t want to sit home and thinkabout all of that. I like to keep my hands busy and mymind off my problems. By volunteering, I can stay busy.”

Even more important than being busy is feeling useful.Almost all senior volunteers are motivated on one level oranother by the need to feel they are making a contribution.Theresa Justice, a 74-year-old widow in Waverly Hall, justnorth of Columbus, has a long history of volunteering. Shehas given her time to the Harris County Library, the PineMountain Welcome Center and the local PTA, and has alsotaught Sunday School. She currently volunteers two morn-ings a month with GeorgiaCares, where she knows she ishelping seniors in important ways. Justice helps low-income seniors apply for drug discount cards. “I’ve hadpeople come in who had to choose between buying foodand buying medicine,” said Justice. “That’s not right. But Ican help them get their medicine for much less money, sothey can afford both food and medicine. It can make a bigdifference in their lives.”

George ProsserEven though he had his leg amputated last June as a result of complicationsfrom diabetes, George Prosser still manages to volunteer at least 15 hoursa week. After the operation, he did have to give up doing free appliancerepair work for area seniors, but he still serves as the finance chair of theWashington Council on Aging and a board member of the WashingtonCounty Senior Center. For all his good works, Prosser was named 2004 Vol-unteer of the Year by the CSRA Area Agency on Aging in Augusta.

“I’m just a people person, and I like to try to help people,” said the 65-year-old retired salesman from Sandersville. “It seems to me that seniorsare the ones who have paid their dues and they are also the ones who areleft out the most. That’s why I like to do all I can for them.”

Continued on page 15

8 Georgia Generations8 Georgia Generations

By Michael E. Hollingsworth II, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

How often do you go to a party and hear someone tell alawyer joke? That it happens so often is a sad commen-

tary on the public perception of lawyers today. The newsmedia often focus on stories in which an attorney has engagedin some type of negative conduct. Unfortunately the generalpublic hears less about the positiveinfluence of lawyers on their com-munities.

Why has the public’s attituderegarding lawyers changed for theworse over the last few decades?The answer is simple economics.Most law students enter law schoolto “help people.” But with most newly minted lawyers carryingan average law school debt load of $50,000 or more, many ofthese idealistic lawyers begin to focus on paying the bills earlyin (and even well into) their careers, rather than working forthe public interest. For the corporate or general businesslawyer, this usually means representing for-profit businessesin a variety of corporate finance transactions.

Pro bono publico (legal work performed without charge tothe client) is the primary way in which attorneys fulfill theirresponsibilities to the general public. While litigation attorneyshave always found it relatively easy to find meaningful probono cases (for example, landlord-tenant disputes and otherforms of court actions), business lawyers have generally hadfewer opportunities to serve the public through pro bono work.In recent years, however, there has been a growing trendamong business attorneys in taking on pro bono representa-tion of nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under theInternal Revenue Code.

In Georgia many business attorneys are purposefully dedi-cated to providing pro bono legal services to nonprofits. Theseservices include helping a nonprofit incorporate, assisting it inobtaining its tax-exempt status from the IRS, negotiating loanagreements and drafting or reviewing other contracts oragreements on behalf of the charitable organization. There aredozens of ways that attorneys can help.

To encourage probono engagements, manylaw firms have institutedformal pro bono programsthat recommend a mini-mum of 50 hours of probono work per year. Inaddition to serving the

public interest, firms also have realized that, despite its chari-table nature, performing pro bono legal work is also good forbusiness. It enhances a firm’s reputation in the general public

and provides the firm’s lawyersaccess to relationships that theywould not have in their day-to-daypractices.

Providing pro bono legal serv-ices to charitable organizations is awin-win situation — it provides theattorney with an outlet for con-tributing in a meaningful way to hisor her community and allows non-profits to obtain sophisticated rep-resentation that they would likely

not be able to afford otherwise. A by-product of these pro bono services may be an improved reputation of lawyers in thepublic eye. GG

GUEST CLOSE-UP

NonprofitsAWin-Win Proposition

for

Pro BonoLegal Work

In Georgia many business attor-neys are purposefully dedicated toproviding pro bono legal servicesto nonprofits.

Michael E. Hollingsworth II

A Look at Area Agencies on Aging Around GeorgiaIn 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.

“The only sure thing is change,” andMedicare is changing now with the

addition of long-awaited prescription drugcoverage. Medicare will implement anoptional Part D program for prescriptioninsurance beginning January 1, 2006. In themeantime, optional Medicare-approveddrug discount cards, which may cost up to$30 per year, are available. Beneficiariesmay have only one Medicare-approved cardbut may still use other discount cards ifthey offer a better price. There is noincome or resource limit for the card orthe insurance, but there is a $600 creditthat has an income limit to qualify. Becausethese programs are new and there areover 40 cards from which to choose, there

is a need for education about how theywork and how to find the best card forindividual needs.

GeorgiaCares Coordinator CarolLockett has been speaking to manygroups, on the radio and TV, explaininghow the programs work and how toaccess them. Free training is offered toall volunteers who would like to assistwith these programs.

For additional information or to volunteer, call GeorgiaCares at 1-800-669-8387.

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

Northwest Georgia

Prescription drugcoverage available

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

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

Cornelia Kinnebrew, Annie Johnson and RachelStubbs were among those attending apresentation about the new Medicare drugcoverage in Rome.

Fall 2004 9

People with developmental disabilitiesare living longer — and as they often

exhibit signs of aging earlier than otherindividuals, they find themselves ineligiblefor necessary supports. Aging parents car-

ing for their adult children with develop-mental disabilities frequently deal withunexpected caregiving responsibilities and,

as a result, face concerns about their ownability to continue care, their mortality andthe future care of their adult child with adisability. In Georgia approximately 15,500individuals with developmental disabilitiesare living in households with caregivers age60 or older.

Thanks to a grant sponsored by theAdministration onAging and the Centersfor Medicare & Medic-aid Services, aging par-ents of adults withdevelopmental disabili-ties will soon be ableto access “one-stopshopping” resource centers for compre-hensive help in finding long-term care serv-ices. The three-year grant will initially fundresource centers in the Atlanta andAugusta regions, which will be operated bythe local Area Agencies on Aging.

Because strong local collaborationalready exists between the aging and devel-opmental disability service communities,Atlanta was selected as a site for this newinitiative, with the Atlanta Regional Com-mission (ARC), the Area Agency on Aging

for the 10-county Atlanta region, takinglead responsibility. ARC will expand itsAgeWise Connection, the regional informa-tion service for older adults and theircaregivers, to serve persons with develop-mental disabilities and will partner with the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (AADD) to provide seamlessaccess to services. This approach will allowconsumers to locate services througheither the aging or the developmental dis-ability network and will foster a “no wrongdoor” policy.

As families providing care get older,they often reach a point where they find itextremely difficult to continue supportingtheir adult children without some help.The goal of the resource center is to assist these families, whether they needpublic or private services, and regardless oftheir ability to pay. The center will provide information, referrals, screening, assess-ment, crisis intervention and help withlong-term care planning, so individuals cancontinue living in their communities for aslong as possible.

After three years the resource centers are expected to be self-sustaining.In addition to the centers in Atlanta andAugusta, the grant will support planningfor additional centers in other areas of the state.

For more information about Atlanta’sresource center, contact Laura Prough, AtlantaRegional Commission, Aging Services Division,at 404-463-3245.

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, 678-377-4150

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

Rockdale County Rockdale County SeniorServices, 770-922-4633

Atlanta Regional Commission 404-463-3333

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

If you need caregiving information, contact an AgeWise Connection partner:


Aging and developmental disabilityresource center to open in Atlanta

Laura Prough, coordinator of ARC’s develop-mental disability initiative.

™

The center will provide information,referrals, screening, assessment, crisisintervention and help with long-termcare planning.

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’sdisease can be an emotional, physical

and financial challenge. Caregivers oftenrefer to it as a “burden of love.” However,this burden may cost a family an averageof $200,000 during the course of the dis-ease, outside of insurance.

“Caregiver Time Out” allows a familymember who is caring for someone withAlzheimer’s disease or dementia a break(respite) from his or her caregivingresponsibilities. The program reimbursescaregivers up to $100 per month — or$1,200 per year — to either hire some-one to come into the home or pay foradult day care. In the 2004 fiscal year, theCaregiver Time Out program helped 30

families in theLCAAA regionthrough a contractwith the GreaterGeorgia Chapter ofthe Alzheimer’s Association.

The break is ben-eficial to both thecaregiver and the person with Alzheimer’sdisease. It has been a blessing for AnnieMunford. Ms. Munford, age 75, cares forher mother, Bennie Dixon, who turned 96on June 8. Ms. Munford says the CaregiverTime Out program has enabled her tovisit friends, go to church and occasionallygo out to eat or to the mall. She says that

just having thepeace of mindknowing someoneis meeting hermother’s needswhile she is awayis the best aspectof the program.

For furtherinformation,contact Lower Chattahoochee AAA,P.O. Box 1908,

Columbus, GA 31902-1908; 706-256-2900 ortoll-free 1-800-615-4379.

The Northeast Georgia Area Agencyon Aging, in partnership with the

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving,is in the process of forming a local community coalition on caregiving. Rec-ognized leaders in both professional andfamily caregiving in the Northeast Georgia area will convene to discuss the establishment of a caregiving coali-tion known as CARE-NET. This effort isa part of a project that began in 2001under a grant from the Administrationon Aging (AOA) to establish a statewidenetwork of local community CARE-NETs.

The purpose of a CARE-NET is for acommunity to evaluate and address itscaregiving strengths and needs. Some of

the goals will be to develop service andeducational programs for caregivers,develop a resource capacity for informa-tion on caregiving and educate the com-munity about caregiving. The CARE-NETwill also provide much-needed supportfor caregivers.

Please contact Michele Farley at

706-369-5650 if youdesire more informationabout the meeting. Wewelcome the public’sinvolvement in improvingservices for caregivers andthe Area Agency onAging’s efforts to improvethe lives of both profes-sional and family care-givers.

For further information,contact the Northeast GeorgiaRDC, 305 Research Drive,

Athens, GA 30605-2795; 706-583-2547 ortoll-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

Caregivers of dementia patients offered “time out”

Northeast Georgia

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

Northeast Georgia toestablish CARE-NET

On the couch are Peggy Jenkins, AAA director, and Janice Knight. Backrow: Anne Hansen, David Levine, Jim Dodd, Rosalynn Carter Institute;Kathryn Fowler and Michele Farley.

Annie Munford and her mother, Bennie Dixon.

Fall 2004 11

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

Heart of Georgia AltamahaCovers a 17-county area surrounding Baxley, Dublin, Vidalia, Jesup, Swainsboro

The First Annual Consumer Universitywas held in Dublin on April 14,

2004, at the Heart of Georgia TechnicalCollege. The event was sponsored by theHeart of Georgia Altamaha RDC AreaAgency on Aging, Elder Rights Projects ofthe Georgia Legal Services Program(Savannah office) and the Heart of Geor-gia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Pro-gram. Approximately 250 individualswere in attendance. Evelyn Gay fromGeorgia Legal Services presided over theevent as master of ceremonies. GailThompson from the RDC presentedopening and closing remarks. Rep.Dubose Porter and Sen. Jack Hill gavethe keynote address.

Cindy Liebes from the Federal TradeCommission and Tryllis Hallford from theSecretary of State’s office provided timelyinformation to the group on scams andfraud prevention. Dawn Washington fromthe State Division of Aging Services spoke on health care consumer fraud.William Broker from Georgia Legal Ser-vices warned individuals about predatory

lending. Major Carson Knight from theLaurens County Sheriff ’s Department andCaptain Wayne Cane, Dublin chief ofpolice, gave an entertaining presentationon personal safety.

Due to the excellent evaluations andpositive comments received from themajority of attendees, the Consumer Uni-versity will become an annual event. The2005 conference is tentatively scheduledfor May 6.

For further information, contact Heart ofGeorgia Altamaha RDC, 331 W. Parker St.,Baxley, GA 31513; 912-367-3648 or toll-free 1-888-367-9913.

First Annual ConsumerUniversity

HEART OF GEORGIA ENCOMPASSESTHESE COUNTIES: Appling, Bleckley,Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, JeffDavis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery,Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen,Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox

Recently the Southeast GeorgiaRegional Development Center’s Area

Agency on Aging (SEGa AAA) expanded itshome-delivered meal service to includetwo communities in rural Berrien County.Eleven senior citizens in Alapaha receivedtheir first home-delivered meals on June 3.In addition, 10 senior citizens living inEnigma received their first home-deliveredmeals on April 30.

In Alapaha, 83-year-old Izolla Allensmiled as she accepted the two hot mealsfor herself and her bedridden husband,Sherman, who is 94 years old. Mrs.Allensays that she was pleased when she learnedthat she and her ailing husband would soon be receiving home-delivered meals.“Now that Sherman and I are getting home-

deliveredmeals, I won’thave to cookduring the dayand I canspend moretime with him.”Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been married for64 years.

Illustrating each local government’scommitment to serving its citizens, thecities of both Alapaha and Enigma havecommitted to delivering meals Mondaythrough Friday, rotating the duties betweencity employees. Each morning during theweek,Valley Services, the SEGa AAA’s foodvendor, will deliver the hot, nutritiousmeals to both city halls. The meals are

kept in a heat-retaining container untildelivery later that morning.

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

Southeast Georgia

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

Sen. Jack Hill Rep. Dubose Porter


Seniors in two rural communities begin receiving home-delivered meals

Pictured in Alapaha (left to right): Teresa Wilson (Southeast Georgia AAA),Assistant City Clerk Carla Parrish, Police Chief Andy Owen, Rep. Penny Houston,Alapaha Councilman Will Ivery, home-delivered meal recipient Izolla Allen, Rep.Jay Shaw and Berrien County Commission Chairman Steve Roberts.

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

If you or someone you know is sufferingfrom “prescription card confusion,” you

are in good company alongside manyother Americans. The Medicare programnotices, television and newspaper advertisements, educational seminars byvarious companies and good-intentionedneighbors all have a little different information.

If you need information, you may doany of the following:

1. Give Legacy Link a call and ask tospeak to someone in the GeorgiaCaresoffice about the new Medicare prescrip-tion program. You may call toll-free,1-800-845-LINK, or 770-538-2650.

2. Drop into the Legacy Shoppe at

Colonial Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville forhelp in figuring out the new cards. Theshop is open Monday through Saturday,with staff and trained volunteers to helpyou research the various cards on theInternet.

3. Call your local county seniorcenter for information about whenvolunteers are available at the centerto help research on the Internet. Ifyou do not have the telephone num-ber, call Legacy Link at one of thenumbers above.

Let us help you find the best cardfor you, your family member or yourneighbor and see if you qualify forthe $600 credit on your prescriptioncosts in 2004.We would like to help!

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

Through contractswith the Troup

County Parks and Recre-ation Department, theSouthern Crescent AreaAgency on Aging hasadded a new senior cen-ter to its existing 14facilities. For more thantwo years, a group of senior citizens in theWest Point area conducted regular meet-ings in the basement of the West Pointgymnasium. Fran Buchino, administrativeassistant at the Troup County Senior Citi-zens Center, and Mike Pitts,West Pointrecreation director, conducted the fellow-ship activities. In April 2002 the Troup

County Senior Center began providing dailycongregate meals to senior participants inWest Point.

Realizing the need for a permanent facil-ity, the Troup County Parks and RecreationCommission included construction of anew senior center in projects funded bySPLOST (Special Purpose Local Options

Sales Tax). Land for the center wasprovided by the city of West Point.An open house at the new $500,000facility was held in April 2004, andthe facility now operates five days aweek. Along with congregate noon-day meals, the facility offers arts andcrafts, quilting, bingo, special outingsand other activities. For furtherinformation on the program andcenter activities, call 706-645-3580.

For other information, contact theSouthern Crescent AAA, P.O. Box 1600, Franklin, GA 30217-1600;

706-675-6721, 770-854-6026 or toll-free 1-866-854-5652.

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

Prescription cardconfusion!

New senior center opensin West Point

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

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

Fall 2004 13

New senior center offers activities and meals.

Students from Fulvia Hulette’s Spanishclass at Westside High School in Macon

presented a script reading with audienceparticipation of the Readers Theater

production ¿De quien es el dinero detodas maneras? (“Whose money is

it anyway?”). The script wastranslated into Spanish by

Mrs. Hulette and pre-

sented to a group of caregivers at the BibbCounty Health Department. The scriptreading was also presented to the LatinAmerican Association in Atlanta.

Julie Hall, GeorgiaCares Coordinatorfor the Middle Georgia Area Agency onAging, partnered with the Bibb CountyPublic Schools to provide outreach to anunderserved multicultural community.GeorgiaCares assists Medicare beneficiarieswith health insurance questions and edu-cates those same beneficiaries in recogniz-ing and reporting Medicare/Medicaid fraud,waste and abuse. The GeorgiaCares pro-gram is funded through a grant from theDepartment of Human Resources Divisionof Aging Services.

The script on Medicare and Medicaidfraud was written by Charlee Lambert ofEducational Playmakers, Inc. and FrancineJennings. All of the events in the playregarding Medicare and Medicaid fraudcould happen to anyone in any setting.

To report suspected Medicare and/or Medic-aid fraud in the Middle Georgia area, please call478-751-6489.

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

Macon students presentscript in Spanish

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

Eloise Hudson has been making commu-nities sweeter at home and abroad for

most of her 98 years. Today she livens updays at the Warren County Senior Centeras the county’s oldest center participant.Over a half century ago, Mrs. Hudsonshipped coveted cocoa bars overseas toWorld War II soldiers. “I lived in the Bronxand worked in box factories, as a nurse’saide and in the Van Leer cocoa factory,”says Mrs. Hudson.

Despite 22 years in New York City,Mrs. Hudson is a bona fide Georgian, bornjust a short walk from the senior centerin Warrenton. She says of the facility, “I’vebeen coming here since it first opened.

It’s something tokeep us going, tohelp us enjoy oneanother and laughand talk.”

“She’s witty,always has acomeback and hasso much wisdom,”says Betty Reese,center director.“She also sings oldhymns beautifullyand harmonizeswell.” Known fortheir love of duetsand strong support of the center, the twowomen have found other shared inter-ests. “She calls me ‘Motor Mouth,’” Mrs.Reese says, glancing mischievously at Mrs.Hudson alongside fellow participants.

“We have a lot in com-mon!” And togetherthey laugh throughoutthe center, enjoying thedesserts of life.

For further informa-tion, contact the CentralSavannah River AAA, 3023River Watch Pkwy., Suite A,Augusta, GA 30907-2800;706-210-2018 or toll-free1-888-922-4464.

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

Oldest senior centerparticipant enjoys musicand wit

Eloise Hudson founded a new church choirin 2004, stating, “If you give me the talent,I don’t mind trying to use it. I let it out tothe best of my ability.”


Fourth- and fifth-year Westside High SchoolSpanish students present ¿De quien es el dinerode todas maneras?.

The Retired Senior and Volunteer Pro-gram — people helping people, volun-

teers sharing the skills of a lifetime — isan important resource to communityagencies striving to meet the needs oftheir citizens.

The RSVP program of the SOWEGACouncil on Aging in Albany, Georgia, has aunique program made up of retired seniormen, some in their late 80s.These ener-getic, caring, giving individuals are calledthe Ramp Crew.They work two days aweek building wheelchair ramps for indi-viduals who may not have been out oftheir house for years.

Here is just one such story: The RSVPRamp Crew went to the job site onemorning to build a ramp for a man who

had not beenout of his homefor many, manymonths. He hadbeen unable tofeel the sun-shine on hisface, or feel thewarm breezesof summer,because he hadno way to getout of his housewith his wheel-chair. But thanks to our generous volun-teers, he can now enjoy the greatoutdoors and be independent! The smileon that man’s face was all the paymentneeded for our Ramp Crew.

For further information, contact SouthwestGeorgia COA, 1105 Palmyra Road, Albany, GA

31701-2508; 229-432-1124 or toll-free 1-800-282-6612.

The SOWEGA Council on Aging RSVP Ramp Crew. Back row (left to right): Si Barnes, Bob Kane, Paul Youngblood, Joe Paquette, Bob Prickett and GeorgeButtner. Front row (left to right): Charles Philips, James Sexton, Ralph Hocutt,Jim Hill and Don Gray.

RSVP creates smiles

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,Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas,Worth

Fall 2004 15

1. Research the causes or issuesimportant to you. Look for a groupthat deals with issues about whichyou feel strongly. If you can’t findsuch an organization, considerstarting one yourself. You can rallyfriends and neighbors to clean upa vacant lot on the corner or paintan elderly person’s house.

2. Consider the skills you haveto offer. If you enjoy outdoor work,have a knack for teaching or justenjoy interacting with people, youmay want to look for volunteerwork that incorporates theseaspects of your personality.

3. Consider volunteering as afamily. Think about looking for avolunteer opportunity that would

be suitable for you and your adultchildren or your spouse to dotogether. Volunteering can bringfamily members closer together.

4. Be open to learning some-thing new. Perhaps you would liketo learn an unfamiliar skill. Manynonprofits are willing to providetraining.

5. Don’t over-commit yourschedule. Do you want a long-termassignment or something tempo-rary? If you are unsure about youravailability or want to see how youlike the work, see if you can startout with a limited number of hoursbefore you make a big commitment.

6. Nonprofits may have ques-tions, too. While most nonprofits

are eager to find volunteers, theyhave to guard themselves as well.So don’t be surprised if you areasked to come in for an interview,fill out a volunteer application anddescribe your qualifications andbackground, just as you would fora paying job.

7. I never thought of that! Mostof us know that hospitals, librariesand churches use volunteers, buthere are some organizations youmay not have thought of: day carecenters, Neighborhood Watch,public schools, halfway houses,community theaters, Meals onWheels, museums, prisons, neigh-borhood parks and shelters for bat-tered women and children.

8. Give voice to your heartthrough your giving and volunteer-ing! Bring your heart and your sense

of humor to your volunteer work,along with an enthusiastic spirit.

9. Virtual volunteering? If youhave computer access and the nec-essary skills, some organizationsnow offer the opportunity to dovolunteer work over the computer.This might take the form of givingfree legal advice, typing for a per-son with a disability or simplykeeping in contact with a shut-in.This sort of volunteering may bewell-suited for you if you have lim-ited time, no transportation or aphysical disability.

10. Be a year-round volunteer!We tend to think of those in needaround the holidays, but volun-teering is welcome and necessaryall year.

Source: Independent Sector

VolunteeringContinued from page 7

Ten Tips for Wise Volunteering

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.

EasyLiving HomeAccessible, visitableand livable for every-one! Homes built with

the future in mind. A voluntary certification program.www.easylivinghome.org.

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

GeorgiaCaresGeorgiaCares is a private-publicpartnership that assists Medicarebeneficiaries with health insurance

questions and Medicare problems. GeorgiaCares alsoseeks to enroll all eligible Medicare beneficiaries inall low-cost prescription assistance programs. Forassistance please call 1-800-669-8387.

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.

Lifestyle TransitionsMagazine

Lifestyle Transitions magazine serves greater

Atlanta’s mature and active adult community. Call 770-587-9421 or visit www.ltmag.com.

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

can make thinkingabout tomorrow

much more comfortable. Contact 678-638-1305 [email protected].

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 Caregiving

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

The RCI is proud to partner with the Area Agencieson Aging in Georgia to establish a network of care-giver coalitions statewide. www.rosalynncarter.org

United Hospice of CalhounServing Northwest Georgia with compassionate and gentle care for

those with life-limiting illnesses. Call Caroline Talleyat 1-800-867-7976 or 706-602-9546.

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.

Clarification: Three basic featuresrequired for EasyLiving Home certification(described in the article, Home Modifica-tions, Summer 2004, page 6) are a step-free entrance, a maneuverable bathroom,wider doors and one-level living. Manybuilders offer other features such as leverson doors, raised appliances and electricaloutlets, and higher toilets but they are notrequired for EasyLiving Home certification.

Documents

GaGen 2004 Fall