Connections Spring 2017

Celebrating 50 years

connections SPRING 2017

Volume 41, Issue 2

INSIDE The ACCA celebrates 50 years Fight senior hunger during March for Meals What’s going on at ACCA and throughout the community

Published in partnership with

what’s

explore | experience | thrive

connections CEO/President Eve Anthony Board of Directors Shannon Wilder, Chair Paige Otwell, Vice-Chair Gary Franklin, Treasurer Julie Gaines, Secretary Publisher, The Athens Banner-Herald Scot Morrissey VP of Sales, The Athens Banner-Herald Kevin Clark Editor Joel Kight Director of Marketing and Engagement, The Athens Banner-Herald Tina Laseter Designer Amanda Jones Copy Editor Bill Stewart ACCA Staff Kelli McCain Even Anthony Erin Beasley Writers Joe Reisigl Charity Robertson Jim Thompson Photographers Johnathan Roark Sally Gustafson 135 Hoyt Street Athens, GA 30601 706-549-4850 www.accaging.org © 2017 ACCA Connections is a quarterly publication distributed

by ACCA throughout Northeast Georgia.

The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable.

Reproduction in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission from the publisher, is prohibited. Advertising in this publication does not imply a relationship with ACCA.

LOOK INSIDE 6

Partnering for you Find out about our partnership with OnlineAthens & The Athens Banner-Herald

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Gibbs Garden tour Join the ACCA for a tour of Gibbs Garden

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Time for your checkup Get your hearing checked at our screening

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We’re happy to meet you

Get to know some of our newest staff members

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Legislative update Find out what’s going on in the state legislature and how it affects you

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March for Meals This time of year we focus on our Meals on Wheels program

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retroProm Our biggest fundraiser of the year is sooner than you think

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Happy Birthday to us!

We’re celebrating because ACCA just turned 50

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Live well. Age well.

A spotlight on Mimi and Wayne Dill

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ACCA Calendar Find out what’s going on at ACCA and around the community

Partnering for you We are very excited to be partnering with OnlineAthens & The Athens Banner Herald to publish our quarterly Connections magazine. You will continue to see many of your favorites such as the Center for Active Living quarterly catalog, legislative updates, spotlight on ACCA’s events and activities as well as opportunities for engagement within the community. We know you will agree that this partnership is great for ACCA and great for you.

• Connections will grow from a quarterly publication of 4,000 magazines each issue to 12,000. However, the cost to ACCA is less than half of what it was when we were publishing internally.

• We will have the expertise of the OnlineAthens and Athens Banner Herald staff to assist with photography, design and content. The result is a magazine more appealing to a broader audience.

• In addition to sharing ACCA’s diverse variety of wellness activities and programs, we are thrilled to include organizations in our community who also offer exceptional programming for older adults. This new publication is a comprehensive activities guide targeted at those 55 and older.

This first issue introduces a new feature titled “Live Well. Age Well.” This feature will spotlight older adults in the Athens community who are doing just that. Either through volunteering, staying fit and active, or contributing to the arts or business community, these older adults are role models of positive aging and are truly shining examples of how to live well and age well.

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Connections | Spring 2017

Athens Community Council on Aging to hold

GIBBS GARDENS TOUR The Athens Community Council on Aging will hold a tour of the Gibbs Gardens, a 220-acre display of trees, flowers and nature.

The gardens display more than 20 million daffodils of more than 100 varieties. It is also home to the largest Japanese garden in the nation featuring azaleas, cherry blossoms, dogwoods and more. Lunch will be provided. An average visit takes roughly three hours.

The tour is March 10 and those

Photo by Rick Cannon attending will leave at 10 a.m. from the Athens Community Council on Aging. Those interested must RSVP

by March 8. The cost is $30 for Center for Active Living members and $40 for nonmembers.

Spring 2017 | Connections

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Center for Active Living offering free hearing screenings and information The Athens Community Council on Aging’s Center for Active Living will hold a two-part hearing health series titled “I’m All Ears.”

The first part of the series will welcome audiologist Kerry Cohen from the Hearing Improvement Center to talk about ear health and how to thrive despite hearing loss. The event will be held in the Athens Community Council on Aging’s glass dining room at 10 a.m. on March 8.

The second part will offer free hearing screenings from graduate students from the University of Georgia Speech and Hearing Clinic. The students will be supervised by state-licensed audiologists. Anyone interested must RSVP by calling (706) 549-4850. The event will be held in the Center for Active Living’s round room on March 15.

Spring 2017 | Connections

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ACCA STAFF

Q&A

This year, ACCA is celebrating 50 years of service to our community, a milestone made possible in part by a dedicated and exceptional staff. In recognition of this anniversary, we sat down with four ACCA employees to ask about their experiences. Tony Lay, ACCA’s Director of Transportation, and Robin Miller, Long Term Care Ombudsman Representative, have a combined total of 63 years under their belts. Outreach Coordinator Kelli McCain joined the team in July 2016, and Vickie Pope, Adult Day Health RN, came on board in December 2016.

KELLI MCCAIN, OUTREACH COORDINATOR What interested you about working at ACCA? ACCA caters to such a wide variety of needs of older adults. It is nice to do work that helps others in such an impactful way.

Our motto at ACCA is Live Well, Age Well. What’s your secret to ‘living well, aging well?’

I think the most important secret to living well and aging well is to surround yourself with friends and family who keep your spirits lifted and make you laugh often.

Listening to good music and treating yourself to a box of Godiva chocolates from time to time is also helpful.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about ACCA since you started working here?

The thing that has been most interesting to learn is that ACCA has a Meals On Wheels for Pets program. I’m a huge animal lover and was so pleased to learn that the program takes care of the pets 10

Connections | Spring 2017

VICKI POPE, RN, BENTLEY ADULT HEALTH

What interested you about working at ACCA? Being able to help others, use my skills and stay active.

Our motto at ACCA is Live Well, Age Well. What’s your secret to ‘living well, aging well?’

Living a healthy lifestyle and having a positive attitude.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about ACCA since you started working here?

People helping people including ADH clients helping each other.

What does your perfect day off look like?

Shopping and beach time.

of older adults enrolled in Meals On Wheels. Pets make such great companions and it’s wonderful to know that we make that responsibility a little easier.

What does your perfect day off look like?

My perfect day off would be spent in Orlando at EPCOT. It’s my favorite Disney park by far. I’d spend the day eating foods from around the world, trading collectable pins with other fans, and hopefully wrap up the day with a Hanson concert under the American Adventure Pavilion.

TONY LAY, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR

What do you find most rewarding about working at ACCA? Simply put: helping people. We provide services that truly make a difference in the lives of so many, and it goes way beyond what we do in the transportation

department. We have a network of programs that work together in caring for our clients, and we have a group of employees that genuinely care about people, which is reflected in the way that we do what we do. I think it’s a wonderful thing to see people working together as a team and that’s what we have here at ACCA. What’s your secret to ‘living well, aging well’?

At this point in my life (getting old), diet and exercise are more important than ever. I’ve also found that a good spiritual diet helps me to keep the proper perspective.

Is there a particular encounter or memory during your time with ACCA that stands out?

About 15 years ago one of our Adult Day Health clients stepped off the van and immediately went into cardiac arrest and fell to the ground. I had to administer CPR until the emergency medical team arrived and the client actually survived. I think saving a life is pretty memorable.

What does your perfect day off look like?

Brunch at 10:30, 18 holes on somebody’s golf course and a cold beer afterwards.

ROBIN MILLER, LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN REPRESENTATIVE What do you find most rewarding about working at ACCA? I love to visit with older folks; they all have a wonderful story to share and you get a view into a window of life that opens new appreciation for times gone by.

Is there a particular encounter or memory during your time with ACCA that stands out?

When we first moved to the station, we celebrated a Grandparent’s day. I was in art school and working for ACCA and helped to do an activity where grandparents and grandchildren would put their handprints in a square, and we pieced the squares together to make a paper quilt called

Hearts and Hands Together. It was beautiful to see the generations getting together.

What does your perfect day off look like?

Spending the day playing with my two beautiful grandchildren, Jack and Eleanor. They live in Colorado, but since it would be my perfect day, we’d be together.

Summer 2016 | Athens Magazine

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE HOW CHANGES WILL AFFECT YOU Belle Doss lays out seating charts on the desks of state representatives in preparation for the opening of the Georgia General Assembly at the state Capitol in Atlanta. Religious freedom, education, and gambling bills top the 2016 agenda of the state’s legislative session which begins Monday. AP Photo | David Goldman

T

By Jim Thompson

hough the process can often seem confusing and mysterious, paying attention to what is going on in the Georgia General Assembly can be particularly critical for older Georgians, who can sometimes disproportionately feel the adverse effects of legislation dealing with health care and tax issues.

Conversely, some legislation is tailored to meet the needs of Georgia’s elderly residents, inasmuch as they constitute a significant number of the people who go to the polls every two years to elect their state senators and representatives.

The legislature itself provides a means for keeping track of legislation, and for contacting legislators to express opinions on legislation. The Georgia General Assembly’s website, www.legis.ga.gov, provides a means of tracking specific pieces of legislation, 12

Connections | Spring 2017

and includes contact information for all 236 state lawmakers.

Also, there are a number of advocacy organizations working on behalf of Georgia’s older adults, like the Georgia Council on Aging and the Georgia Gerontology Society, who keep track of legislation of interest to older Georgians. The GCOA is online at www.gcoa.org and the Georgia Gerontology Society is online at www. georgiagerontologysociety.org.

Already this year, a legislative priority of the Georgia Council on Aging has seen positive results.

Earlier this month, both the state Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed separate bills that would allow dental hygienists to work in private practice and “safety net” settings under the supervision of practicing licensed dentists, who wouldn’t have to be on-site for the hygienists to work. According to the GCOA, the bills “address the dra-

matic disparities in dental care for residents of long-term care facilities, and for homebound and non-institutionalized adults. Seniors from across Georgia voted this program in 2016 as a top priority for the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (COAGE), a GCOA initiative.

Other legislation that might be of interest to older Georgians includes:

Funding for Transportation Services Older adults consistently identify transportation as the most needed services to maximize independence, yet there are not enough options or resources to meet the current or emerging need. The budget ask of $10 million emphasizes the need for creative and flexible transportation options for seniors who can no longer drive.

Ann G. Williams of Manchester is pictured at the Georgia State Capitol.

ACCA photo

Funding for Home and Community Based Services Gov. Nathan Deal has allocated an additional $4.2 million in the 2018 state budget for Home and Community Based Services. Aging advocates are asking for a $10 million increase to eliminate lengthy state-wide wait-

ing lists for programs and services which support community living including Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Health, respite care and home modification.

Family Care Act

The Family Care Act would enable people to use their earned sick time

to care for loved ones. Workers who currently have access to paid sick days through their employer could use those days for the illness or injury of a child, spouse or parent. As our population ages, increasing numbers of seniors will need to rely on employed caregivers - adult children, spouse or other family members - to accompany them to medical appointments and provide care when they are ill.

In legislative action already completed this year, the House honored Ann G. Williams of Manchester — a longtime advocate for the state’s elderly who has spent considerable time pushing legislation beneficial to the state’s older residents — for being named the state’s Distinguished Older Georgian for 2017.

The House also took time to honor Bernadine Cantrell of Woodstock, another advocate for the elderly, for being named Ms. Senior Georgia in August of last year.

Summer 2016 | Athens Magazine

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March for Meals is an annual month long celebration of Meals on Wheels! Throughout the month of March, we rally our community to join us in our pledge to end senior hunger by providing meals to homebound, socially isolated older adults.

We are excited to once again partner with Creature

Comforts as a part of their Get Comfortable campaign. The Get Comfortable campaign is a fundraising event that spans several months, during which Creature Comforts features several nonprofits in the community and donates a portion of their proceeds to those organizations.

CREATURE COMFORTS BREWERY Every Wednesday in March, ACCA will be featured from 5-7 p.m. at Creature Comforts. All proceeds from the tasting room go towards the Get Comfortable Campaign, which benefits our Meals on Wheels program. Stop by to donate food and household items and to volunteer ROOK AND PAWN The Rook & Pawn is participating in Get Comfortable with their Family Game Nights. Every Thursday between February 2 and April 27, they will donate all gaming fees to the Get Comfortable campaign.

Also, during Family Game Nights, up to two kids under 13 can eat for free with every adult who purchases food, and all kids play free.

HUGHES SUBARU End the month at a drive event with Hughes Subaru. Our recently opened local dealer is ACCA’s newest MoW partner. On March 31, they will be revealing the new 2017 Impreza, and Hughes Subaru will donate $25 to ACCA’s Meals on Wheels program for every test drive on this day!

CHAMPIONS WEEK During this week, ACCA invites Community Leaders to accompany a volunteer on a Meals on Wheels delivery route. The ride along allows us to introduce our Community Champions to the special people we serve so they can see firsthand the impact of Meals on Wheels.

MARCH FOR MEALS 5K The annual run is on Saturday, March 25 at 8 a.m. The race begins and ends at Creature Comforts at 271 West Hancock Ave. Participants can register for the race on www.active. com and will receive a souvenir t-shirt and number bib. We are welcoming a new partner and sponsor, Keller William Greater Athens. Keller Williams employees will be volunteering, registering to race, and helping us raise money.

CONNECT WITH US: Get the facts! 1 in 5 Athens seniors are food insecure. ACCA provides over 1,000 meals each week, but 60 seniors are still on our waiting list. You can help! Connect with us to learn how.

Register for our 5k! Join us for our annual March for Meals 5K on March 25 at Creature Comforts. Runners, walkers and pets welcome. Register at www.accaging.org/m4m5k.

Get our emails! Stay in the know about ACCA’s work serving older adults. Visit www.accaging.org/email for more info.

Volunteer! The time you give makes a difference. Call us at 706-549-4850 to learn more, or visit www.accaging.org/ volunteer.

Follow our social media! Get updates on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us on facebook.com/ACCAging and Instagram: @accaging.

Donate! ACCA is changing lives. Invest in our impact by donating today. Visit www.accaging.org/donate for more info.

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prom 2017

retro

Are you ready to dance the night away, again? ACCA and Magic 102.1 present the third annual retroProm on Friday, May 12th at The Foundry, featuring music from The Highballs.

Throw on your Member’s Only jacket or your best platform shoes and join us for a fun filled night benefitting ACCA. “We are so excited to be going into our third year of this great event,” says Eve Anthony, ACCA CEO. “The retroProm is such a fun way to flashback to the good old

days, while also supporting the vital services ACCA provides. We hope to see everyone there!”

No prom would be complete without a royal court, and we’ve gathered six of Athens’ most far out movers and shakers to battle over the 2017 crowns. You can choose our next retroProm Queen and King by voting at www.accaging.org/prom. $1 equals 1 vote, and the lady and gentleman with the most votes will be crowned at the event.

SUSAN BOGARDUS

Susan is a First Vice President and Commercial Lender with First American Bank and Trust. She has been with the bank for 10 years and has been in banking in Athens for 30 years.

Susan is active in several civic and community organizations, including serving as an active member of the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity Board of Trustees; Housing and Demographics Research Center Board;

TOM HODGSON

Tom grew up in Athens, GA as a classic baby boomer. He graduated from Athens High and later The University of Georgia. Having lost favor with an entire generation of Southern women, Tom moved to New York City in the mid-70’s where he spent his bachelor days riding subways and perfecting his drawl. Tom married his beautiful wife Patti in 1981 and began a family which included a handsome son and two beautiful daughters. His career brought Tom 16

Connections | Spring 2017

Athens Area Association of Realtors and the Athens Area Home Builders Association.

Susan was an Athena Award nominee in 2011 and participated in the 2015 Dancing with the Athens Stars for Project Safe. Susan recently received the Community Involvement Award from First American Bank for her work in the Athens community, as she often does community programs on credit, budgeting and banking at the schools and

to Atlanta in 1993 and his children consider Atlanta home. Tom does not.

Tom considers Athens home and retired to the family farm in 2013 where he lives with Patti in the same home where he grew up.

Erymwold Farm on the Jefferson Road does not raise Holstein’s and Cabbages. But it could.

PROM Continued on Page 18

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Meals on Wheels Regular and Volunteer Arts & Crafts Substitute Volunteers Instructor

Volunteer Garden Manager

1 to 1.5 hours per week Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver a noontime meal and friendly face for those who are homebound and not able to prepare a meal on their own. Regular volunteers serve on a recurring schedule, while substitute volunteers fill in as needed. Curious about becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer? Contact us about scheduling a ride along to see what a rewarding experience it is! This opportunity is available in both our Athens and Winder programs.

3-6 hours per week, flexible days Throughout the growing season The Volunteer Garden Manager is the liaison between volunteer gardeners and ACCA staff, and helps support the garden through planning, supervising volunteers, encouraging community involvement, and, of course, gardening. Come play in the dirt at ACCA, and help us provide grow vibrant produce for

Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am The Arts & Crafts Instructor plans and oversees projects, and dreams up ideas that encourage creative expression, learning new things, and improved mental and manual dexterity. If you’re able to work independently and with a variety of mediums to create fun, diverse projects suited for beginners and intermediate crafters we would love to have you join us!

There are many other opportunities to volunteer with ACCA. Please call or e-mail Susan Jacobs Carson and find a great fit for your talents and abilities – 706-549- 4850 or sjacobs@accaging.org.

JARED MARSDEN

Jared Marsden is a versatile, fourth generation Athenian. A product of Clarke County schools, Jared has degrees from TruettMcConnell College and the University of Georgia. A point of pride, in the middle of his college career, Jared joined the US Air Force. He was stationed in beautiful Utah at Hill Air Force Base. Upon honorable discharge in 2002, Jared returned to Athens to complete his degree in housing at UGA.

VICTORIA PREVATT

Raised on Lake Sinclair, Victoria’s first job was selling live fish bait at a local marina.

She eventually left for the bright lights of Atlanta and earned a B.S. in Human Services from Kennesaw State University.

She struck gold when she discovered a career path in the nonprofit sector. Her parents remain amused that she built a career on asking other people for money. She has led fundraising teams at several leading nonprofits in metro-Atlanta. Most recently, Victoria worked as a gift officer for The Carter

KELLY HOLLOWAY

Kelly Holloway is from Rome, Georgia.

She graduated with a degree in Mathematics Education from Berry College. She received her Masters in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia and her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. Kelly practices in the area of estate planning and elder law with Epps, Hollo-

EVAN ELDER

Born and raised on the streets of Athens by Mack and Valerie Elder, Evan is a UGA grad.

He loves to travel, but can’t seem to get out of the Classic City. He grew up playing every sport but soccer—“too much running,” he says. He was offered a walk on spot to the UGA baseball team, but ended up deciding not to play. Today, he plays as much tennis as possible.

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Connections | Spring 2017

prom 2017

retro

After selling BrickKicker Home Inspection Services in 2013, Jared began a real estate career.

Joy for Jared is in family. Married to Kim for 15 years, the pair became high school sweethearts when they met on the job at Arby’s on Atlanta Highway. Life has gifted Jared and Kim two beautiful daughters, an incredible extended family, a devoted canine, and a home base on the west side of Athens.

Center in Atlanta, where she had the honor of square dancing with President Carter.

In her current—and favorite—role, she oversees fundraising and alumni engagement for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at UGA. She completed her Masters in Historic Preservation at UGA in 2010. She serves as the President-Elect for Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation, among her other civic engagements. She is a certified yoga instructor, dog rescuer, avocado lover, and terrible dancer.

way, DeLoach & Hoipkemier, LLC. Kelly’s community involvement includes serving on the Planned Giving Council for Berry College and on the Board of Directors for the Athens Area Community Foundation. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Athens and the Athens Senior Resource Network.

Evan was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity until he graduated from UGA in 2005. He’s been working for Athens First Bank and Trust since June of 2008. He’s the current retail market manager for the Watkinsville branch. He stays involved in the Athens community through the Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Hunnaity and NEGA United Way. When he has free time, he plays with his three dogs or travels.

You’re not alone when it comes to loneliness

By Kerstin Gerst Emerson

Assistant Professor, UGA Institute of Gerontology Loneliness and social isolation — what is it and why should we care?

Loneliness is quickly become one of the most pressing public health issues in our country. What do we mean by loneliness? Researchers define it as the “difference between desired and actual social relationships.” So, loneliness is not always about just having a lot of social contacts, but being satisfied with the relationships that you have. Some people require a lot of socialization, others relatively little.

But, we all need at least some social connection. And loneliness happens when that need is not met.

While loneliness is certainly not synonymous with being older, older people are often particularly vulnerable due to increased health issues and loss of friends, family or income.

Studies show that nearly 1 in 3 older adults are lonely in the United States.

This staggering statistic is important to public health for a number of reasons. First, of course, is that it diminishes the quality of life for an older adult. Second, research has linked loneliness to many negative outcomes. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, disability, cognitive decline, depression, early entry into nursing homes and increased doctor’s visits. One study even found that being socially isolated was a risk factor for early death comparable to smoking or being an alcoholic. The same study found that social isolation is twice as harmful as obesity. And while we talk a lot about smoking, exercise and obesity as important public health issues, our

society doesn’t recognize the risk that loneliness can pose.

What can we do about the issue?

So, the first step is to recognize loneliness as a pressing public health issue in our society. Awareness can then lead to advocacy for prevention and intervention. Policies and programs should be done at the individual, community and national levels. Individuals can help someone who they suspect might be socially isolated by simply visiting with them, calling to check in on them or taking them out for an afternoon. Community programs can make it easier for older adults to engage, and many of the ACCA programs do just that.

ACCA programs provide transportation to keep elders engaged and their numerous programs provide fun, meaningful and engaging activities.

As this issue of Connections shows, Meals on Wheels is one example of a powerful program that can help with social isolation. As a society, we can also create and advocate for policies and programs at the national level that can address loneliness. But none of this will happen if we don’t recognize that social isolation is a public health priority.

Athens Community Council on Aging reaches half a century Story by Joe Reisigl | Photos by Sally Gustafson

T

he Athens Community Council on Aging is starting to show some

gray hairs.

In July, the council will be metaphorically blowing out 50 candles on its cake to celebrate its half century of supporting Athens’ elderly.

Each month throughout 2017, the nonprofit will hold events to celebrate 20

Connections | Spring 2017

its history and the people who make the organization what it is today. Most importantly, the Athens Community Council on Aging will focus its celebration on the second word in its name — community.

“I know it’s because of the community that we have that we remain strong and we’ll continue to impact the lives of thousands upon thousands upon thousands

of older adults,” said Eve Anthony, the nonprofit’s CEO, at the ACCA’s 50year anniversary kickoff celebration.

Anthony attributes much of ACCA’s success to the community. Back in July 1967, it was a small group from the Athens community that founded the council because Athens lacked services for older adults. Last year, more than 200 volun-

teers worked the equivalent of 10 full-time positions for the ACCA, Anthony said.

Even at the anniversary kickoff celebration, David Shadley, a member of the community who has no ties to the ACCA, donated a 14-foot tree made out of sheet metal that he welded ACCA Continued on Page 22

ACCA Cont. in three months.

“Having that word ‘community’ has been so important to our agency,” Anthony said. “Not only was it the community that started ACCA, but throughout its history it’s been the community that has made ACCA successful.”

At 50 years old, the Athens Community Council on Aging is just as old as The Doors, The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club 22

Connections | Spring 2017

Band” album and the Super Bowl. And for half a century, the ACCA has taken pride in the changes it has made in Athens.

Annually, the ACCA serves roughly 8,000 people in 12 counties in Northeast Georgia. It provides older adults transportation services, the Meals on Wheels program, active-living programs and other services that help Alzheimer’s and dementia patients live at home. In addition to raising awareness, Anthony said the ACCA

helps keep older adults out of nursing homes and hospitals.

“We’re seeing more attention paid to aging issues because people are understanding that the investment that you make in older adults is better for your community,” Anthony said.

The 50-year anniversary kickoff celebration was an illustration of the organization’s character. Members crowded in the ACCA’s presentation room by the dozens, greeting each other

with hugs, laughs and smiles as wide as their largerimmed glasses. At the end of the event, the ACCA cut the ribbon to officially welcome 73-year-old Shadley’s tree, which Anthony said stands as a symbol of the organization’s stability and growth.

“Together, we have enriched and changed thousands upon thousands upon thousands of lives of older adults in Northeast Georgia,” Anthony said.

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Spring 2017 | Connections

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Live well.

Age well.

An interview with Mimi and Wayne Dill, Meals on Wheels Volunteers When did you first start volunteering with ACCA and why did you choose ACCA specifically?

I (Mimi) started volunteering with ACCA in 1989 and Wayne joined her after his retirement in 2008.

After experiencing several volunteer opportunities in the Athens area, I really felt that I enjoyed working with Meals On Wheels the most.

Was this your first time

volunteering in the community or with ACCA? No. I (Mimi) volunteered with the Food Bank and through various church activities before settling on ACCA’s Meals On Wheels program as my nonprofit of choice.

What led you to work with older adults?

Wayne and Mimi Dill pose for a portrait at the Athens Council on Aging. Both are volunteers with Meals on DILL Continued on Wheels and deliver meals each Wednesday. | John Roark, Page 26 The Athens Banner-Herald

DILL Cont.

The connections and friendships were one of the main reasons. We also enjoy being the person clients look forward to seeing and visiting with when many are in situations that may prevent them from having any other contacts outside the home.

Is there a particular encounter or memory during your time with ACCA that stands out?

After taking a nursing student on a ride-along route, she was so inspired

by her interactions that she chose gerontology as her area of focus. That was very rewarding to see the experience shape someone’s life towards assisting the aging demographic.

Our motto at ACCA is Live Well, Age Well. What’s your secret to ‘living well, aging well’? Has volunteering played a part in that?

Our secret is each other.

We are both supportive and enjoy staying active in the community. Our relationship keeps us happy and drives us to help others.

Being in a college town, there is a big push for young students to volunteer in the community as they are growing. Why is it important for seasoned adults to volunteer as well?

We feel that there are learning opportunities from both ends. We have learned a lot from younger volunteers, but also feel that we have pearls of wisdom that we can offer the younger generation as well.

Your service has made a positive impact on the lives of others. How has volun-

teering enriched your life?

We have made many friends along the way. It is nice to see such a variety of people with such interesting stories and backgrounds. We learn something new every route.

What would you tell young people who may be intimidated by the notion of volunteering with older adults?

We would encourage them to give it a try and see how they like it. It takes patience to build relationships, but they would most likely find that it is well worth the time.

Calendar ONGOING FITNESS Cost: Free for CAL Members CLASSES: YOGA Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Mondays with Eleanor Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Tuesdays with Chad Time: 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Wednesdays with Bill Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

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Connections | Spring 2017

Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Fridays with Anna Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

FREE STYLE DANCE Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Tuesdays Time: 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Cost: $2/class

LINE DANCING

Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Tuesdays and Thursdays Time: 12 to 1 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL

Members

BEGINNER LINE DANCING *LIMITED TIME ONLY* Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Tuesdays (March 7- 21) Time: 1 to 2 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

SMART MOVES WITH BECKY Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Mondays Time: 9 to 10 a.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members Where: ACCA Harris

Room When: Thursdays Time: 2 to 3 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

TAI CHI: MOVING MEDITATION BALANCE ENHANCEMENT Where: ACCA Harris Room When: Mondays with Michele Time: 1 to 2 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

BALANCE IN MOTION Where: ACCA Motion Wellness System* When: Wednesdays

COMMUNITY EVENT

2017 BIKE BLESSING AT CYCLE WORLD OF ATHENS Location: Cycle World of Athens, 4225 Atlanta Hwy Date: March 25 Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Information: www.cycleworldathens.com

COMMUNITY EVENT

DANCING WITH THE ATHENS STARS Date: March 25, 2017 Information: project-safe.org/Dancing- withthe- Athens-Stars

COMMUNITY EVENT

UGA’S ANNUAL VETERINARY CONFERENCE & ALUMNI WEEKEND Location: Georgia Center of Continuing Education Date: March 24 - March 25 Information: www.54thannualveterinaryconfere nce.com Time: 10 to 11 a.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members *In case of inclement weather, the class will take place in the Harris Room

YWCO WATER EXERCISE Where: YWCO Pool When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Time: 9 and 11 a.m.

Cost: $5/class with CAL Membership Card Where: YWCO Pool When: Monday and Wednesday Time: 7 p.m.

Cost: $5/class with CAL Membership Card

YWCO ARTHRITIS WATER EXERCISE Where: YWCO Pool 28

Connections | Spring 2017

When: Monday through Friday Time: 2 to 3 p.m.

Cost: $5/class with CAL Membership Card

SILVERSPLASH® AT YWCO Where: YWCO Pool When: Fridays Time: 2 to 3 p.m.

Cost: $5/class with CAL Membership Card

Communication Strategies May: Understanding and Responding to DementiaRelated Behaviors

Time: 10 to 11 a.m.

Cost: Free for CAL members and nonmembers

Please reserve your spot a least one week in advance to receive a lunch sponsored

by GA CARE-NET.

HEARING HEALTH SERIES: “I’M ALL EARS”

EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND EVENTS:

When: Thursdays March 9, April 13 and May 11 Time: 1 to 2 p.m.

Where: ACCA Hudson Conference Room Cost: $5 per session for CAL members and nonmembers

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES

DIABETES EDUCATION WORKSHOP WITH VILLAGE DRUG

March: The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease April: Effective

March 21: Reducing Risks.

Where: ACCA Brick Room When: Tuesdays from March 7-21

Audiologist Talk (Part 1) When: Wednesday, March 8 Time: 10 a.m.

Where: Glass Dining Room Cost: Free for CAL Members and nonmembers Hearing Screening (Part 2) When: Wednesday, March 15 Where: CAL Round Room Cost: Free for CAL members and nonmembers See article on page 9

COMMUNITY EVENT FOLK TO FINE ARTS FESTIVAL Location: Historic downtown Commerce, Commerce Civic Center Date: March 3 – March 4 Information: www.folk-finearts.com

COMMUNITY EVENT 39th ANNUAL ATHENS HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL Location: College Square, downtown Athens Date: May 6 – May 7 Information: www.athenshumanrightsfest.org (404) 895-7153

LEARN SWAHILI For a limited time, students from the African Languages Program at UGA will be offering CAL members a chance to learn Swahili, one of the world’s most ancient languages.

RSVP to reserve a spot.

Class April 25: One-on-one tech support Where: ACCA Computer Lab Cost: Free for CAL Members

BRAIN GYM: IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

When: Wednesdays from March 1-15 Time: 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.

Where: ACCA Round Room Cost: Free for CAL Members

When: Tuesdays from April 4-25 Where: ACCA Brick Room Time: 10 to 11 a.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

OUTSMART YOUR SMART DEVICE

DOCS AND DESSERTS

When: March 14 at 2 p.m.: Smartphone/Tablet Basics Class March 28: One-on-one tech support April 11: Facebook Basics

ACCA and the Atlanta chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association co-hosts a special evening program packed with good information and sweet treats.

When: Thursday, May 18 Where: ACCA Harris Room Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Cost: Free and open to the public (registration required for dessert)

OLDER AMERICANS MONTH LECTURE SERIES Where: ACCA Glass Room and Harris Room When: May (Dates TBA) Time: TBA Cost: Free and open to the public

CAL TRIPS AND ADVENTURE MARCH GIBBS GARDENS When: Friday, March 10 Time: Depart ACCA at 10

a.m.

Cost: $30 for CAL members, $40 for nonmembers See article on page 7

ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW When: Thursday, March 23 Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Depart from ACCA at 10 a.m.

Cost: $15 for CAL members, $20 for nonmembers

DANCEFX PRESENTS: ALADDIN When: Friday, March 24 Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Depart from ACCA at 9:45 a.m.

Cost: $5 for members and non-members

COMMUNITY EVENT AU/UGA MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP WINE AND CHEESE NIGHT Location: Carnegie Library Museum, UGA Health Sciences Date: March 24 Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Information: $12-$35, tickets at www.eventbrite.com

COMMUNITY EVENT

6th ANNUAL SPRING FOLIAGE FEST Location: Jefferson City Park, Jefferson Date: March 18 Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Information: (706) 367-5714

3 PORCH FARM TOUR Where: Depart from ACCA at 10 a.m.

When: Wednesday, March 29 Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cost: $5 for CAL members, $10 for non-members

APRIL OCONEE HILL CEMETERY TOUR

p.m.

Cost: $10 for CAL members and non-members

PASTA COOKING CLASS AT THE OLIVE BASKET

members

ATHENS SYMPHONY POPS CONCERT & POTLUCK

When: Thursday, May 25 Time: Depart ACCA at 5 p.m. (Class starts at 6 p.m.)

Cost: $40 for CAL members, $45 for non-CAL members

When: Friday, May 12 Where: The Foundry Time: Doors open at 8 p.m.

Cost: $30 advance purchase (www.accaging.org); $35 at the door

SPECIAL EVENTS

ONGOING SOCIAL PROGRAMS

When: Friday, April 28 Time: Depart ACCA at 6:30 p.m. (Concert starts at 8 p.m.)

Cost: Free for CAL members

When: Wednesday, April 12 MAY Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cost: $5 for CAL members

SPRING HIGH TEA PARTY AT DONDERO’S KITCHEN When: Tuesday, April 18 Time: Depart ACCA at 1:45 p.m. or meet there 2 to 4

MADISON IN MAY SPRING TOUR OF HOMES When: Friday, May 5 Time: Depart ACCA at 10 a.m.

Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members

MARCH FOR MEALS 5K For more information on the event, please see the article on page 14.

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION When: Thursday, May 4 Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Where: ACCA Harris Room Cost: Free for CAL

RETROPROM 2017

CANASTA *NEW*

Canasta is the newest

When: Every second and fourth Wednesday in March and May Where: ACCA Brick Room Time: 1 to 3 p.m.

CAL GIVES BACK

ACCA receives so much When: Wednesday, March 22 and May 17

COMMUNITY EVENT

COMMUNITY EVENT

2017 WINE HIGHWAY WEEKEND

CONCERT: CLASSIC CITY BAND

Location: North Georgia, 21 participating wineries Date: March 24 - April 2 Information: www.georgiawine.com/ events/2017-wine- highway-weekend

Location: State Botanical Gardens Date: April 2 Time: 2 p.m.

Information:(706)542-6014 botgarden.uga.edu

COMMUNITY EVENT THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT Location: Augusta National Golf Club Date: April 6 - April 9 Information: www.masters.org Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

MAHJONGG Where: ACCA Bentley Conference Room When: Mondays Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members Contact for Reservation or Information: Sharon at (706) 543-8524

INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE Where: ACCA Glass Dining Room When: Tuesdays Time: 1:30 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

ADVANCED BRIDGE Where: ACCA Glass Dining Room

When: Wednesdays Time: 1:30 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

GRAND SLAMMERS BRIDGE GROUP Where: ACCA Glass Dining Room When: Wednesdays Time: 1:30pm Cost: Free for CAL Members

NEWCOMERS CARD GROUP

BELLE HILL SINGERS Where: Meet at ACCA at 9:45 a.m.

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free for CAL Members

UGARDEN PRODUCE STAND Where: Under the Pavilion at ACCA When: Every Tuesday, April-December Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost: CAL members and SNAP recipients receive half off produce

Where: ACCA Bentley Conference Room When: Wednesdays Time: 12 to 3:30 p.m.

Cost: Yearly membership fee of $20 for CAL Members SUPPORT GROUPS Contact for more AND MEETINGS information: Nicki at (706) 850-6615 CAREGIVER

SUPPORT GROUP -

ATHENS AREA Where: ACCA Bentley ADH Center When: Third Tuesday each month Time: 12 to 1 p.m.

Cost: Free

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP WINDER AREA Where: Winder Adult Day Care When: Last Friday of each month Time: 12 to 1 p.m.

Cost: Free

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN When: TBD Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Cost: Free