Georgia
Generations Summer 2006
PLANNING YOUR FUTURE A
Road Map
FOR
RETIREMENT
Also in This Issue: ■ Caregiving News & Notes ■ A Look at Georgia’s AAAs Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging
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Area Agencies on Aging – Gateways to Community Resources 1
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were established under the Older Americans Act in 1973 to respond to the needs of older adults age 60 and over in every community. To read more about each of Georgia’s AAAs and the services available, turn to a statewide map and news from each agency, beginning on page 9.
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Georgia is divided into 12 AAAs, each serving a different part of the state. They are:
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4 7 6
9 12
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1 Northwest Georgia 2 Legacy Link 3 Atlanta Regional Commission 4 Southern Crescent 5 Northeast Georgia 6 Lower Chattahoochee 7 Middle Georgia 8 Central Savannah River 9 Heart of Georgia Altamaha 10 Southwest Georgia 11 Southeast Georgia 12 Coastal Georgia
Georgia
Generations SUMMER 2006 Published quarterly
through a cooperative effort of Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging. For information contact: Atlanta Regional Commission Aging Services Division 40 Courtland St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-463-3239 jkauffman@atlantaregional.com
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Editorial Project Development: JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA Design and Production: Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA
Georgia Generations is a:
On the Cover: Call it life planning … call it a road map for the future. Whatever the name, this new trend is all about looking for meaning in the second half of your life. Here's how to take steps to make that happen. See story, page 4.
Summer 2006, Volume 5, #4 © 2006 by the Atlanta Regional Commission. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, the Atlanta Regional Commission and JAM Communications make no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this information. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission. All rights reserved.
Georgia Generations
High-Tech Devices F O R
I
magine a talking medicine cabinet that helps seniors manage their medications. Sound far-fetched? Think again. Technologyservices company Accenture is developing such a product, and while it’s still several years away from the consumer market, a protoptype has been on display, according to BusinessWeek magazine. More and more high-tech products directed toward older adults or their caregivers are arriving in the marketplace. These cuttingedge devices keep the elderly healthier, safer and able to maintain their independence.
S E N I O R S Look for these new products: • E-HealthKEY stores medical history,drug lists,contact names, etc. on a chip embedded in a unit that fits on a keychain. In an emergency, the key can be plugged into the USB port of a computer to access the information. • E-Neighbor consists of wireless sensors programmed to detect unusual activity in a senior’s house or apartment. It can make a call to the senior or send an e-mail alert to a caregiver.
New Bill Changes
MEDICAID
Rules Again
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s many caregivers know, life savings can be spent paying for nursing home care before a senior can become eligible for Medicaid assistance. Medicaid eligibility rules are complicated, and they change often. With the recent passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, these complicated rules changed again. The new bill makes it harder for people to give away assets and qualify for Medicaid assistance in the nursing home. It increases the period of time that people have to disclose assets given away, from three years to five years. It also changes the timing of penalty periods imposed for making gifts. If you think this might affect you or a loved one, be sure to consult an elderlaw specialist for advice on qualifying for Medicaid assistance.
Protect Medicare and Medicaid Benefits Fall 2003
CAREGIVING NEWS&NOTES
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Heart Hints
Healthy
ost heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle. Too much cholesterol in the blood contributes to atherosclerosis. You can reduce cholesterol in your blood by eating less fat. To put you on the right track, here are some common foods and their fat grams (average serving size): Ground Beef. . . . . . . 18 g Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 g Fried Chicken. . . . . . 30 g Roast Chicken . . . . . . 4 g Shrimp . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 g Cornbread . . . . . . . . . 5 g English Muffin . . . . . . 1 g
Potato Chips . . . . . . . 10 g Doughnuts . . . . . . . . 14 g Popcorn (plain) . . . . . . 1 g Vegetables . . . . . . . . 0.2 g Milk (2%) . . . . . . . . . . 5 g Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 g Yogurt. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 g
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6 Steps to Better Communication
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! !
aregivers are often faced with the task of discussing a difficult situation with an older adult. Here are tips for communicating better: ■ Hold discussions in a quiet setting at a time of day that is best for the elder. ■ Listen to the older adult and acknowledge his opinions. ■ Stay positive. Use constructive suggestions instead of blanket statements. ■ Provide accurate information. Don’t tell “half-truths.” ■ Allow the older adult plenty of time to process the information. ■ Supplement your words with nonverbal cues and supportive body language.
Surfing the Net Each issue of Georgia Generations offers several Web sites devoted to caregiving information and resources: www.medicinenet.com offers A to Z lists of diseases and conditions, symptoms, procedures and tests, news and tips for healthy living, all written by physicians and health professionals. www.wellspouse.org showcases Well Spouse Association, a national nonprofit that gives support to wives, husbands, and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled. Look for more helpful Web sites in the next issue of Georgia Generations.
Report suspected fraud and errors. Call your Senior Medicare Patrol Project for details and to request a presentation.
Metro Atlanta: 404-463-0763 Outside Metro Atlanta: GeorgiaCares 1-800-669-8387 3
PLANNING
YOUR
FUTURE
Road Map
A
to Retirement By Martha Nolan McKenzie
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Susan is a typical — and busy — baby boomer. She is 53, but looks about 10 years younger, thanks to a regular exercise routine. She works full-time. She and her husband have two children, a high school senior and a college junior. And she is the caregiver for her 79-yearold mother, who lost much of the use of her right side after suffering a stroke. It was the latter role that made Susan start to think about her own future. As she lined up aides to go into her mother’s home to help clean and cook, and hired carpenters to add grab bars in her mother’s bathrooms, Susan began to consider her own retirement more seriously than she ever had. She realized that if she wanted the second half of her life to be worthwhile and enjoyable, she had better start developing a plan now. And, like a growing number of her boomer brethren, she realized that plan needed to include more than just finances. Indeed, assets and income have long monopolized retirement planning — for good reason. With people living longer, funding a decades-long retirement does require careful financial
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planning. But these days, many people in midlife have realized they want more out of retirement than financial security. They want happiness. They want meaning. “When you reach age 50 or so, you begin to look ahead and ask, ‘What do I want to do with the rest of my life?’ “ says Sandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. “We are healthy, active and we want to do something that counts with the time we have left.” And, as with anything that boomers have wanted to do throughout their lifetimes, an industry has sprung up to help them do it. A cadre of professionals with titles such as Certified Retirement Coaches and Non-Financial Strategists have joined the traditional financial advisors and estate planners as retirement gurus. Stores are now bursting with self-help books. Colleges are luring the 40- and 50something set to classes with offerings such as “The New Retirement — A Plan for the Best Part of Your Life.” “It’s a trend that’s sweeping the whole country,” says Timmermann. “Some people call it life planning. Some call it lifestyle planning. Some call it planning for the new retirement. But whatever the name, it’s all about looking for meaning in the second half of your life.” In 2005, the Georgia Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) launched the GeorgiaCares Lifelong Planning Program under Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Lifelong Planning Initiative. The program helps middle-age caregivers plan for their own future needs. Its primary focus is to educate consumers about the realities of long-term care and the options for paying for it (see details, page 7). In Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is running a program called Mapping Your Georgia Generations
Future. “We really feel that retirement is the opportunity for a whole new beginning chapter in life,” says Marnie McDonough, lifelong planning coordinator for the ARC. “We know that finances are important for retirement planning, but they are just one part. You always hear people say you will need 70% of your current income in retirement. Well, are you going to need 70% of your house? What are you going to do with 70% of your time? We think you need to make a retirement plan that focuses not just on finances, but also on work/leisure, health, housing and relationships. All these factors will impact how happy you are in retirement.” It is often hard to see past your present busy life — to find the time and energy to think about the future. It’s easy to put it off. But experts advise you to just start taking the first steps — think about your goals, seek out resources and begin to make changes. Here are some areas you can explore as you map out your personal plan for the future.
Work and Leisure Workers used to look toward retirement as a time to perfect their chip shot or really get to know their grandchildren. But a recent survey by Putnam Investments found that about 7 million previously retired Americans returned to work after an average sabbatical of one and a half years. The majority (two-thirds) re-entered the workforce because they wanted to, not because they needed the money. Many of these returning workers strike out into a new field, following a passion or a lifelong interest. Some forsake paying jobs altogether and volunteer their time. Consider Alan Merrill, who retired from corporate management when he was 56 years old. Six months later, with little previous experience, he went to work as a carpenter for a residential remodeling firm in Atlanta. Although he enjoyed his new line of work, he retired again in November, at age 61, after taking a retirement planning class at Emory University. “Taking the class made me realize my work was getting in the way of doing the things I really wanted to do,” says Merrill. Now he is devoting his time to activities such as volunteering as a lay minister, helping his sons remodel their homes and learning to paint. And down the road — who knows? “I want to continue to explore new things,” he says. Merrill is in good company. “Retirement doesn’t mean what it used to,” says Timmermann. “People no longer live a linear lifestyle, where you go to school, get a job and then retire. Now people might drop in and out of the workforce, go back to school or switch between work and volunteering.” Now is the time for you to start considering the sort of work/leisure balance you would like in the future. There are many resources to help evaluate your options. Civic Ventures, for example, is a national organization that promotes connecting older adults and nonprofits through paid and volunteer assignments. It runs Experience Corps, a U.S.-based Peace Corps-type organization for volunteers age 55 and older, and Next Chapter, an initiative to provide expertise and assistance Summer 2006
to community groups that are helping people chart a course for the second half of their lives. Locally, volunteer opportunities are virtually endless. Hospitals, schools, churches and nonprofits rely on volunteers to keep their operations running. People with business expertise can consult with start-up and small businesses through SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education. (To find a SCORE chapter near you, go to www.score.org.)
Health What good is building up a solid 401(k), buying that retirement home and laying the groundwork for a new career direction if you end up being too frail to enjoy it? You need to start investing in your health now if you want to enjoy a robust retirement in the future. The rules are simple: Eat well, exercise and get regular health screenings. Eating well is one of the keys to aging well. A high-fiber, low-fat diet can not only build a strong body, it can help ward off a host of diseases, such as heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes and dementia. And our nutritional needs change as we age. The older we get, the fewer calories we typically need. At the same time, our bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients. Talk to your physician or a nutritionist to see how your diet might need adjusting. The health benefits of physical activity are hard to overstate. It can help prevent many diseases, from cancer to depression. It can improve the health of people who already suffer from diseases. And it can boost your quality of life and sense of well-being. “There are so many documented health benefits of physical activity, and new ones keep being discovered,” says David Buchner, chief of the CDC’s Physical Activity and Health Branch. “The most interesting recent finding suggests that physical activity can delay or even prevent cognitive impairment.” The CDC has specific guidelines for how much physical activity is needed to achieve health benefits. They include endurance activities (brisk walking, swimming, raking the lawn), strength training and flexibility/balance exercises, such as yoga and Tai Chi. The important point is to start putting exercise routines in place before you hit the retirement years. No matter how well you eat and how regularly you exercise, it is critical to get regular health screenings, particularly as you age. For example, the American Cancer Society recommends a cancer-related checkup, including skin examination, every three years for people between 20 and 40 years of age and every year for people age 40 and older. It recommends you begin colorectal cancer screening at age 50, or earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer. Beginning at age 50, men should begin screening for prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor about what types of health screenings you need.
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Housing One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make about the second half of your life is where you want to spend it. What will you be able to afford? Do you want to remain in your current home? Do you want to move to a smaller place, perhaps near grandchildren? Your housing needs will likely change in (and throughout) retirement, so start thinking right now about the type of home that will best meet your needs and how you might pay for it. An important factor to consider is whether you are living in an elder-friendly community — that is, a town that considers the basic needs of older adults in such areas as housing, transportation, safety, social and civic involvement. If you want to stay in your own home, you may need to make some modifications. The house that served you so well when you were raising your family may not be as comfortable if you develop some mobility or vision problems. Fortunately, there is a plethora of products that can help you age in place. “The goal is to have the house adapt to the person rather than the person adapt to the house,” says Rebecca Stahr, president of Life Spring Environs, an Atlanta design firm specializing in the needs of the 50-plus population. Or you may decide you don’t need all that space, especially once the children have left. For people willing to move, there are a host of communities springing up around Georgia that cater to the 50-plus homeowner. Many boomers are looking ahead and making the move now, while they are younger, to a house that will allow them to age in place. Looking farther down the road, you may well need assistance that is difficult to get in your own home. Now is the time to start considering this eventuality and familiarizing yourself with the choices. There are independent-living facilities, which typically offer daily meals, housekeeping and personal emergency response, in addition to social activities and transportation. The next step up in the level of care would be assistedliving facilities, which also provide help with the tasks of daily living, such as getting dressed, bathing or taking medication. For individuals who can no longer function on their own, nursing homes offer round-the-clock skilled nursing care. “Long-term care is expensive and getting more expensive,” says Aleisha Elliot, lifelong planning specialist for the Lower Chattahoochee AAA. ”You need to plan now for how you are going to be able to cover those costs later on.”
Relationships The topic of relationships is not usually broached in retirement planning, but it should be, according to Jane Shows, a certified retirement coach and instructor of an Evening at Emory class titled “The New Retirement — A Plan for the Best Part of Your Life.” “If you have a spouse or a life partner, you have to include that person in your retirement planning,” says Shows. “Often spouses are not on the same page. One is ready to retire and the other is not. One wants to move to a smaller place and the other wants to stay put. You need to start talking about these things before you have to start making these decisions.”
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And just as your housing may well change in retirement, so may your relationships. “You and your spouse may find yourselves suddenly thrown together again,” says the ARC’s McDonough. “You might need to reconnect, and at the same time maintain your own identity. You might need to negotiate the time you spend together.” Other relationships are also important, since people easily can become more isolated when they age. “It’s important to continue to expand your social network in retirement,” says McDonough. “A Harvard School of Health Policy study showed that connecting with people as we age may prove just as powerful for our well-being as exercising.”
Finances The “three-legged stool” that is supposed to provide financial support for retirees is wobbly, to say the least. One leg — employer pensions — has been cut out for many workers. The second leg — Social Security — has significant cracks in it, with rising ages for eligibility and a looming shortfall. That leaves the final leg — personal savings — as the primary means of support in retirement for most Americans. Funding a possible decades-long retirement requires diligent planning and preparation that should begin in your midlife years. First, take inventory to determine where you are now financially. Make sure you have all your legal documents in order — wills, living wills and durable powers of attorney for finances and health care. Once you know where you are, you need to decide where you want to end up. At this phase, it’s very helpful to meet
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any people in midlife have realized they
want more out of retirement than financial security. They want happiness. They want meaning.
with a financial planner. While the rule of thumb says you’ll need 70% to 90% of your current income in retirement, a financial planner can take you past generalizations. For example, if you plan to travel extensively, you may need more than your current income to support that lifestyle. You may assume you’ll live until 85, but a planner can determine if you’d be better off assuming you’ll live to almost 100. Now that you know where you want to be, you’ve got to chart a course to get there. A financial planner can make sure you are maxing out your 401(k), scrutinize your asset allocation to make sure you are not investing too conservatively, suggest cost-cutting tactics and counsel you on future withdrawal strategies. But don’t forget, you’ll need more than money for a happy retirement. “You can have all the money in the world and still have an unsuccessful retirement,” says Shows. “If you want your retirement years to be full and meaningful, you have to plan ahead to make them that way.” GG Georgia Generations
A Closer Look at
Lifelong Planning
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ONG-TERM CARE. It’s the great unknown lurking on the horizon that
could derail even the most carefully constructed retirement plans. Long-term care includes services that help people perform tasks they can no longer perform themselves, from housekeeping to money management and from dressing to bathing. And long-term care encompasses more than nursing homes — it includes in-home services, adult day care programs and assisted-living facilities. With life expectancies increasing, more and more of us will eventually need some form of long-term care. In fact, about 60 percent of individuals age 65 and older will require long-term care at some point in their lives. The costs associated with such care are staggering. The average annual national costs of in-home care total $16,000. For assisted-living facilities, the number jumps to $30,000 a year, and nursing homes cost an average of $61,000 to $69,000 per year. And the really bad news — many of these costs are out-of-pocket. “People have no concept,” says Nataly Archbold, lifelong planning specialist with the Coastal Georgia AAA. “They think the government will take care of them. They think Medicare will pay for everything.” In reality, Medicaid pays for just 38% of the nation’s total longterm care expenses. Medicare covers about 20%. Private insurance picks up about 14% of the total cost, which leaves consumers paying an average of 28% of long-term care costs out of pocket. “When you think about the size of the expenses we are talking about, even 28% adds up to quite a lot of money,” says Cynthia Haley, lifelong planning coordinator for the GeorgiaCares Lifelong Planning Program at the Division of Aging Services. The Lifelong Planning Program was developed under Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Lifelong Planning Initiative as a statewide education effort to build consumer awareness about long-term care services and costs, and provide tools to help individuals assess their potential needs. Georgia’s 12 AAA offices are doing seminars and one-on-one counseling to get the message out. At the Southern Crescent AAA, for example, lifelong planning coordinator Belinda Jones is taking her presentations to churches, where she can reach people of all ages. Coastal Georgia AAA’s Archbold is targeting employers, both offering presentations to employees and trying to convince the employers to offer long-term care insurance as part of their benefits package. Carol Lockett, the coordinator for the AAA of Northwest Georgia, broadcasts the message on local TV and radio stations. “As the population ages, there is going to be more demand for the resources that are available,” says Lockett. “People are going to have to do more for themselves, which means planning ahead. That’s what the program is all about — helping people in their 40s and 50s plan ahead for retirement and long-term care, and helping older retirees find ways to turn some of their assets into cash when or if they need it.” Here are some options available for meeting long-term care costs: ■ LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE. Just as you buy insurance to protect against a catastrophic loss related to your home, your health and your car, you can buy insurance to pay for eventual long-term care needs. Such protection, however, is costly. Typically, if you wait until your 70s or 80s to
try to buy a policy, the premiums will be prohibitive, and you may already have a disqualifying medical condition. You are more likely to be able to afford the premiums and pass the medical exam if you buy in your 50s or 60s. You also need to consider your financial situation. If you have few assets, you may wish to use your own funds until they run out and then qualify for Medicaid. If you have very significant assets, you may elect to fund any long-term care needs yourself. If you fall somewhere in the middle, long-term care insurance might be your most attractive option. ■ YOUR HOME. If you are one of the many Americans who is house rich and cash poor, you may be able to use your equity to help pay for longterm care costs. You could sell your home, move to a smaller place and use the remaining proceeds. Or you could sell your home to an investor and arrange to lease it back on a long-term basis. In this case, the investor would own your home when you move. Or you could take out a reverse mortgage. Homeowners age 62 and older can convert the equity in their home into cash and continue to live in their home without making any loan repayments. The loan is repaid when the house is sold, either after you move into
For information and assistance on long-term care needs,call GeorgiaCares at 1-800-669-8387.
Summer 2006
a care facility or pass away. The loans are complicated, so it is a good idea to get professional advice before getting one. ■ YOUR LIFE INSURANCE. One way to help finance long-term care is to sell your policy, which is called a life settlement. “There are companies that will buy your life insurance policy for less than its face value,” says Don Poole, the lifelong planning specialist for Legacy Link. “You have to be at least 70 years old (males) or 74 years old (females) to do this, and, of course, you lose your life insurance. But it can be a way to pay for long-term care needs.” If you are terminally ill, you can sell your life insurance policy to a third party for 50% of the death benefits in what is called a viatical settlement. The remaining 50% will go to your beneficiaries after your death. Your insurance company may also offer accelerated death benefits, or a tax-free cash advance, if you are in poor health. ■ MEDICAID. If you are low income, you may qualify for Medicaid to finance your long-term care needs. However, you should be aware of some recent changes to the system. “The look-back in Georgia is now five years instead of three,” says Tina Strassenberg, lifelong planning coordinator for the Southwest Georgia AAA. Look-back refers to the period of years Medicaid officials consider when looking at your eligibility. So if have you given any of your assets to your children within the past five years, those assets will still be considered yours when calculating Medicaid eligibility. “In addition, under a new estate recovery requirement, once you pass away, Medicaid will seek reimbursement for services if your assets are over a certain amount,” continues Strassenberg. “It’s a good idea to work with people who really understand the Medicaid system, so you will know what to expect.”
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GUEST CLOSE-UP
How’s
Your
Driving?
by Moira Keller LCSW Sixty Plus Older Adult Services at Piedmont Hospital
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s people age, so do their driving skills. New medications, decreased mobility, cognitive changes and impairments in vision and hearing can all affect how we drive. Refresher courses, such as the AARP Driver Safety Program, teach driving techniques that result in safer roads for everyone. This eight-hour classroom course costs $10 and is offered at several locations throughout the state. Available to anyone over age 50, these courses do not require a physician’s order. In addition, there are other, more extensive driving assessment programs that can pinpoint exactly where someone is having a problem — and what to do about it. Known as driver rehabilitation programs, they are usually offered through hospital rehabilitation departments. Specially trained occupational therapists will evaluate strength, range of motion, reaction times and balance. They will also screen for visual acuity and perception. Road sign knowledge is tested, as well as memory and ability to follow directions. If the person being tested “passes” all of the in-office evaluations, he or she takes an on-the-road driving test in a specially equipped car. This type of comprehensive driving assessment usually has one of three possible results: The person being tested is found to be a completely competent driver, with no necessary restrictions; he or she is told to stop driving altogether; or he or she is told he should drive only under certain circumstances — for example, no night driving or no rush-hour driving.
Older adults who are concerned about driving should discuss this issue with their primary care physician. A doctor’s order is needed to obtain a comprehensive driving assessment from a driver rehabilitation program. Often, doctors will rely on feedback from a driving specialist before they know whether a patient is safe to drive. These assessments are not completely covered by Medicare; you may have to pay between $350 and $500 for the evaluation. You can learn more information about programs near you
Driving is a highly skilled and complex task that, when done poorly, threatens the lives of drivers themselves as well as others on the road.
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by contacting the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association. In Atlanta, the Shepard Center, the DeKalb Medical Center and Emory Healthcare all offer driver rehab services. Driving is a highly skilled and complex task that, when done poorly, threatens the lives of drivers themselves as well as others on the road. Refresher driver instruction and driver rehabilitation programs can help to lessen road risk and keep us free from danger. For more information about Driver Safety courses near you, contact AARP at 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669) or online at www.aarp.org. For comprehensive driving assessments, contact the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association at 770-435-5910 or Sixty Plus Older Adult Services at Piedmont Hospital, 404-605-3867. GG
Georgia Generations
A Look at Area Agencies on Aging Around Georgia In communities across the country, Area
Northwest Georgia
Northeast Atlanta Regional Georgia Commission Southern Crescent
Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as gateways to local resources, planning efforts and services that help older adults remain independent.
Legacy Link
Central Savannah River Middle Georgia
Lower Chattahoochee
Heart of Georgia Altamaha
Southwest Georgia
Southeast Georgia
Coastal Georgia
On the following pages are the programs and services offered by Georgia’s AAAs.
Northwest Georgia Covers a 15-county area surrounding Rome, Dallas, Dalton, Cartersville
Fearless Caregiver Conference
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orthwest Georgia held its first Fearless Caregiver Conference on February 28 in Rome, with over 160 individuals in attendance. Family caregivers at the conference included those taking care of elderly parents, spouses or developmentally disadvantaged children, and grandparents raising grandchildren. The program included a panel discussion with experts from various fields related to the needs of caregivers, and two nationally known guest speakers, Dr. David Haigler and Gary Barg. The main questions addressed to the 10-member panel focused on the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program, “How and when do I take the car keys away?” and Medicaid estate recovery. Dr. David Haigler, interim director of
Summer 2006
Gary Barg, Today’s Caregiver magazine, and Dr. David Haigler, Rosalynn Carter Institute.
the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, spoke on the importance of maintaining the well-being of the caregiver. “As a caregiver,” he said, “you are the one constant in your loved one’s life. If you don’t take care of yourself, how will you take care of that loved one?” Keynote speaker Gary Barg, founder and editor-in-chief of Today’s Caregiver
magazine and author of the book The Fearless Caregiver, described how his experiences as a caregiver led him to establish the magazine. He has utilized interviews with celebrity caregivers such as Della Reese, Dana Reeve, Rosalynn Carter and others to share support and ways of coping with the stressful demands of caregiving. The conference was sponsored by the CVRDC Area Agency on Aging, the Senior Promotions Council of Rome/Floyd County and the CARE-NET of Northwest Georgia. For other information, contact the AAA of Northwest Georgia, P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA 30162-1793; 706-802-5506 or toll-free 1-800-759-2963. NORTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, Whitfield
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Atlanta Regional Commission Covers a 10-county area surrounding Atlanta they may not ask for any personal information, including Medicare, bank account, Social Security or credit card numbers. Calls that do so are fraudulent. ■ Sales representatives are not allowed to come to seniors’ homes without first making an appointment. Anyone who comes to the home without an appointment should not be allowed in. ■ The Social Security Administration is not going to change individuals’ Social Security numbers.
Telephone SCAM alert
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ecently, many seniors have reported receiving a variety of telephone calls from scammers.The Atlanta Senior Medicare Patrol at the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Area Agency on Aging, offers the following information about scam calls from unidentified individuals who: ■ Try to sell fake prescription drug plans or health plans (some supposedly sponsored by banks). Sometimes these plans cost around $299 a year, which must be paid in advance. ■ Falsely represent themselves as being from local county governments, the Social Security Administration or other wellrecognized organizations and companies. ■ State that all senior citizens must obtain new Social Security numbers, which is not true. ■ Announce a bogus grant award that the senior adult has “won.” ■ Announce that Medicare owes the senior money. The amounts owed or awarded in the last two scams supposedly cannot be sent until the senior sends a specific amount of money up front for the “processing fee.” The individuals making these calls frequently
TO AVOID THESE AND OTHER SCAMS, TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
ask for Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, bank account and routing numbers, credit card and/or PIN numbers.
FACTS: Sales representatives of Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D) are allowed to call people to talk about the drug plans they represent. However, they are not allowed to accept any payment over the phone for premiums and ■
™
Atlanta Regional Commission 404-463-3333 If you need caregiving information, contact an AgeWise Connection partner: Cherokee County Cherokee County Senior Services, 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
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Fayette County Fayette Senior Services, 770-461-0813 Fulton County Fulton County Aging Program, 404-730-6000 Gwinnett County Gwinnett County Senior Services, 678-377-4150 Henry County Henry County Senior Services, 770-898-7670 Rockdale County Rockdale County Senior Services, 770-922-4633
■ Hang up the phone immediately. It’s shrewd to be rude! ■ Never give any personal information, such as Medicare, Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers to anyone who calls on the phone or comes to the door. ■ Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 to stop unwanted phone calls. ■ Call 911 if you feel threatened. ■ Report scams to your local police or sheriff’s office. ■ Call the Senior Medicare Patrol (in Metro Atlanta, 404-463-0763; outside Metro Atlanta, call 1-800-669-8387) to report or discuss possible fraud or scams and to schedule a very informative presentation about Medicare fraud and identity theft for your group. The Atlanta Senior Medicare Patrol is operated by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Area Agency on Aging for the 10-county Atlanta region, and is funded by a grant from the Administration on Aging. It educates senior adults and others on how to recognize, prevent and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and errors through outreach and education. For more information and/or to report a scam in Metro Atlanta, call the Atlanta Senior Medicare Patrol at 404-463-0763. ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale
Georgia Generations
Northeast Georgia Covers a 12-county area surrounding Athens, Winder, Monroe, Covington, Madison
Caregiving conference offers wealth of information
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aregivers in Northeast Georgia had the opportunity to come together in March for “Journeys of a Caregiver,” a conference sponsored by the Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging (NEGA AAA) and Athens Regional Medical Center (ARMC). The event offered important information on various aspects of caregiving. Over a hundred family and professional caregivers heard Beth Witrogen McLeod, author of Caregiving:The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss and Renewal, begin the conference by sharing her personal experiences in taking care of her late husband. Mary Kramer from ARMC Regional Rehabilitation shared and demonstrated the best methods to lift patients and maintain a healthy back.
During lunch, attendees listen to the “Caregivers on Caregiving: Joys and Difficulties” panel.
Jane Cooley from First American Bank stressed to caregivers the importance of having a plan that addresses the care of a loved one. This plan should include a will, a living will, a financial power of attorney and a durable power of attorney for health care. According to Cooley, an individual’s will should be reviewed each year.
Additionally, family members, doctors and your bank should know that these documents exist and where they can be found in the event of your death. Partnering with the NEGA AAA and ARMC were the Georgia Department of Human Resources — Division of Aging Services, Athens Community Council on Aging, Athens Area Estate Planning Network and NEGA CARE-NET. A total of 12 agencies were on hand to provide information and answer caregivers’ questions about their services. For information about caregiving, contact the Northeast Georgia AAA, 305 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30605; 706-369-5650 or toll-free 1-800-474-7540. NORTHEAST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton
Lower Chattahoochee Covers a 16-county area surrounding Columbus, Americus, Butler, Montezuma, Cuthbert
Support group helps grandparents raising grandchildren
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he Lower Chattasupport group hoochee Area when, in March Agency on Aging 2005, it partnered (LCAAA) provides with the LCAAA a monthly support to identify the group for grandconcerns of grandparents raising grandparents and other children. This support relatives raising group meets in the grandchildren. The evening at the Columnutritionist from bus Public Library in the Extension Muscogee County. Grandparents often play a critical role in the lives Service has been a of their grandchildren. Many collaborative speaker at several organizations have support group supported and enhanced the quality of meetings and has addressed nutrition of information and support for grandparents. both the children and grandparents. The UGA Extension Service played a key Georgia Legal Services and the LCAAA role in establishing the need for such a have partnered to present legal and finanSummer 2006
cial workshops in each county. The counties’ Family Connections Collaboratives, UGA Extension Service agents, county schools and DFCS community resource specialists have been invaluable partners in making the workshops a reality. Other partners include the Columbus Public Library, the Pastoral Institute, Georgia Medical College,VistaCare Hospice, Columbus Consumer Credit Bureau, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Family Connections, DFCS, Sam’s Club, AARP and the Muscogee County School Board. For further information, contact Lower Chattahoochee AAA, P.O. Box 1908, Columbus, GA 31902-1908; 706-256-2900 or toll-free 1-800-615-4379. LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster
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Heart of Georgia Altamaha Covers a 17-county area surrounding Baxley, Dublin, Vidalia, Jesup, Swainsboro
Exercise improves well-being of caregivers
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ife can be stressful for caregivers, but exercise and staying socially active can reduce stress and help with the challenge of caregiving. One helpful tool is the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, formerly known as PACE. The goals of this program are to provide participants with an enjoyable, safe exercise program and to improve self-image and self-esteem through increased physical wellSeniors exercise at the Wayne County Senior Center. being. At the same time the program encourages social interaction, improves performance of daily activexercise as fun while learning about arthritis. ities and helps the participant protect In 2004, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha his or her joints. With this particular exerArea joined hands with the Georgia Divicise program, the participant experiences sion of Public Health, the Chronic Disease
Prevention Initiative and the Arthritis Foundation to bring PACE Plus to senior centers. Since the launch of the program in Laurens and Wheeler counties, the program and partnerships have continued in other counties.The participants have reported improved joint mobility and decreased pain. For further information, contact Heart of Georgia Altamaha RDC, 331 W. Parker St., Baxley, GA 31513; 912-367-3648 or toll-free 1-888-367-9913. HEART OF GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox
Southeast Georgia Covers an 18-county area surrounding Waycross, Valdosta, Tifton, Douglas, Folkston
More support for grandparents raising grandchildren
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early 10 percent of all children living in Georgia are being raised in households headed by a grandparent, and this number is increasing daily.Two-parent families are being ripped apart by substance abuse, incarceration, divorce, chronic illness, early death, child abuse and other social ills. Fortunately, many grandparents are stepping up to take responsibility for the children who are being left behind. To assist in meeting the many needs of grandparents raising grandchildren, the Southeast Georgia (SEGa) AAA has launched a Kinship Care support group in Ware County. The group, which meets monthly at the senior center in Waycross, gives participants the opportunity to share
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part in a group discussion about the positive and negative aspects of their respective situations. Of course, all personal information shared in the group setting is kept confidential. The formation of additional Kinship Care support groups is planned during the next year. For more information, call the Southeast Georgia AAA at 1725 South Georgia Parkway West,Waycross, GA 31503; 912-285-6097 or toll-free 1-888-732-4464.
the day-to-day joys and frustrations of their caregiving responsibilities. At the kickoff meeting in April, Katie Flynn, SEGa AAA program specialist, shared valuable In Georgia, 164,423 children are being information raised by their grandparents. about the SOUTHEAST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, resources available to grandparents, or Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, other relatives, who are raising grandchilIrwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, Ware dren, nieces, nephews or other children. The participants were encouraged to take
Georgia Generations
Legacy Link Covers a 13-county area surrounding Gainesville, Cumming, Clarkesville, Toccoa, Hiawassee
Age is an asset — experience, a benefit
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ue Pelfrey, director of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) at Legacy Link, has an enviable record of successfully placing older citizens who want to return to the workforce. During the past year, she has placed 25 seniors in positions including clerical assistant at the Read Association of Dawsonville, receptionist at the Hall County Adult Learning Center, information specialist at Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and many more. Recently, an applicant to the program became Pelfrey’s assistant. With two children in college and still grieving over the loss of her husband, who died in an automobile accident, she came to Pelfrey
Sue Pelfrey, director of SCSEP.
by way of a recommendation from a local vocational rehabilitation specialist. Grateful for the opportunity to have the position,
she continues to deal with the sudden changes in her life. She recognizes that learning more about computers while increasing her skills will help her to move forward. If you are 55 or older with a low income, you may be in a position to benefit from this program in order to refresh your job skills and re-enter the workforce. If so, you would be placed in a part-time community service assignment to gain experience. Contact Pelfrey at the number below to find out how to get training and make a transition to a position that is right for you. For further information, contact Legacy Link, P.O. Box 2534, Gainesville, GA 305032534; 770-538-2650 or toll-free 1-800-845-LINK. LEGACY LINK ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White
Southern Crescent Covers a 10-county area surrounding Franklin, Newnan, LaGrange, Griffin, Carrollton believed to be the oldest recipient of the GED degree in the United States. genuinely moved The Southern by the cereCrescent Area Agency mony but mainon Aging is extremely tained his sense proud to have Barnes of humor. “I’ll and his wife, Sophia, as try to do a little active participants in like Abraham their senior programs. Lincoln, and I’ll For additional try and wear information, contact the the same size Southern Crescent AAA, Thurman Barnes receives his degree. hat when I P.O. Box 1600, Franklin, leave here,” he GA 30217-1600; said. “This is proof of what an old farmer 706-675-6721, 770-854-6026 or toll-free can do if he keeps trying, I guess.” 1-866-854-5652. As Vollmer moved Barnes’ tassel at the SOUTHERN CRESCENT ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, end of the ceremony, Barnes said, “This Spalding, Troup, Upson makes me feel smarter already.” Barnes is
Troup County man, 96 years old, receives high school diploma
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hurman Barnes, clad in his graduation robes, walked a bit slowly to pick up his diploma. He needed a little help, but, after all, he is 96 years old. More than 80 years after dropping out of high school, Barnes recently received his General Education Development (GED) diploma. Friends and family, as well as state and federal officials, gathered at West Georgia Technical College in LaGrange to see Thurman Barnes receive his long-awaited degree. Michael Vollmer, head of the Georgia department that manages the Adult Literacy Program, presented Barnes with an official letter notifying him that he had earned his GED diploma. Barnes seemed Summer 2006
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Middle Georgia Covers an 11-county area surrounding Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville
Volunteersmakeadifference
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aren Clifton and Tossie Alston have been volunteers at Meals on Wheels of Macon and Bibb County, Inc. (a provider of the Middle Georgia AAA), delivering hot meals to homebound clients for over 13 years. They are both active members of Martha Bowman United Methodist Church, where Karen is the organist and Tossie sings in the choir. One of their home-delivered meal clients, 93-year-old Dorothy Barrett, has a toy poodle named Trixie, who is the apple of her eye. When Dorothy was no longer able to live independently in her home, she was admitted into a nursing home. She was reluctant to move until Karen agreed to provide a home for Trixie. When Karen and Tossie deliver meals,
they take Trixie to the Christmas the class nursing home to visit provided sweatwith Dorothy. Trixie shirts and flannel loves all the attention shirts for other she gets when riding in residents in the the wheelchair with home. Such examDorothy. After Karen ples show how and Tossie deliver all of volunteers make a the home-delivered difference in the meals on their route, lives of the people they return to the they serve. nursing home to spend For more informatime with Dorothy and tion on opportunities pick up Trixie. to volunteer, contact Karen and Tossie the Middle Georgia are in their church’s AAA at 478-751Karen Clifton (right) visits with Dorothy Barrett and Trixie. Genesis Sunday School 6466 or toll-free class, which helps finan1-888-548-1456. cially with some of Dorothy’s personal MIDDLE GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, needs. They recently had a telephone with Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson Life Net installed in her room. This past
Central Savannah River Covers a 14-county area surrounding Augusta, Thomson, Martinez/Evans, Waynesboro, Sandersville
Grant enhances Healthy Grandparents Program
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hanks to a grant from the Central Savannah River Area Agency on Aging (CSRA), the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) School of Nursing is extending the services of its Healthy Grandparents Program to 12 additional counties in Georgia and expanding services to other nonparent caregivers in all of the 14 counties served by the CSRA. Residents in Burke, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Screven,Taliaferro, Warren,Washington and Wilkes counties may now take advantage of program services, including telephone referrals for a variety of issues from health care and housing to food banks and education. “Grandparents raising grandchildren can
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those meetings will include everything from parent/grandparent health issues to the behavioral differences between chilcall the servdren today and children ice to ask in the past. questions and For more information make sure on this program, call Dr. that they’re Salzer at 706-830-0389 getting the aid or Mike Patton, School of that they qualNursing social worker, at Stana Simpson and granddaughter Tanasia. ify for,” says 706-721-6227. Dr. Judith For further information, contact the Salzer, assistant professor of nursing at Central Savannah River AAA, 3023 River Watch MCG and director of the Healthy GrandPkwy., Suite A, Augusta, GA 30907-2800; parents Program. “We want to make sure 706-210-2018 or toll-free 1-888-922-4464. that people are knowledgeable about what their rights are and what their children’s CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, rights are.” Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, The expanded program will also offer a Warren, Washington, Wilkes monthly support group meeting.Topics for Georgia Generations
Southwest Georgia Covers a 14-county area surrounding Albany, Bainbridge, Moultrie, Thomasville
The importance of advocacy
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hat is “advocacy”? It is pleading the cause or defending a proposal on behalf of another person. “Selfadvocacy” is pleading your own cause or defending a proposal that benefits you. Both types of advocacy are important for family and professional caregivers to practice. During the recent legislative session, the Georgia Council on Aging and COAGE proposed several bills on behalf of seniors and caregivers. The SOWEGA Council on Aging was active in advocacy on behalf of Medicaid
nursing home residents to increase their personal needs allowance from $30 a month to at least $45. Senate Bill 420 proposed a power of attorney and financial subsidy for grandparent caregivers raising grandchildren. The
Kinship Care Program participants and CARE-NET members signed petitions, wrote letters and made phone calls advocating on behalf of this measure. Seniors from Southwest Georgia and all over the state converged on their legislators during Senior Week at the Capitol to talk about senior issues. If you have not been involved, give advocacy a try. Your elected officials won’t know your point of view if you don’t tell them. You are more powerful than you know! For further information, contact the Southwest Georgia Area Agency on Aging at 1105 Palmyra Road, Albany, GA 31701-2508; 229-432-1124 or toll-free 1-800-282-6612. SOUTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth
Coastal Georgia Covers a 9-county area surrounding Brunswick and Savannah
Coastal Georgia grandparents find support
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oastal Georgia grandparents now have a place to go for helpful information, counseling and support. The Grandparent Connection, a program of the Coastal Coalition for Children, provides a valuable network of information and support specifically directed toward grandparents raising grandchildren. Benjamin and Carrie Dunson, both in their early 50s, are the primary caregivers for three of their seven grandchildren. The Dunsons have taken responsibility for Clove, 12, Dijonaie, 10, and Laquanna, 9, from time to time for many years. The Benjamin Dunson with five of his seven grandchildren. He and his wife, Carrie, are the primary caregivers to Clove, Dijonaie and Laquanna. Summer 2006
children came to live with the Dunsons under a permanent arrangement almost a year ago. As you might expect, there have been challenges.
Keeping the children busy and out of trouble is a constant concern for these grandparents.When asked what advice he would give other grandparents in a similar situation, Benjamin suggests,“It’s very important to show them constant love and care each and every day.” Benjamin is one of eight regular participants in the Grandparent Connection Support Group, which currently meets two times each month in Brunswick. More support groups are being planned for other parts of the coastal region over the next several months. For additional information, contact the Grandparent Connection at 912-262-1855, ext. 6, or the Coastal Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-580-6860. COASTAL GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh
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Sponsors Thanks to these Georgia companies and organizations for their generous support
AARP
GeorgiaCares
Pfizer
Assuming responsibility for the home care of loved ones can involve assisting with daily activities, managing high-tech medical treatments and dealing with issues around dying. AARP’s “Life Answers” program can help you meet these critical responsibilities. Find out more at www.aarp.org/lifeanswers
GeorgiaCares is a private public partnership that assists Medicare beneficiaries with health insurance questions and Medicare problems. GeorgiaCares also seeks to enroll all eligible Medicare beneficiaries in all low-cost prescription assistance programs. For assistance please call 1-800-669-8387.
The “Health, Medicines & Lifestyles” icon on Pfizer’s Web site will lead you to topics that include “Profile of Caregiving,” “Exploring Your Health On Line” and many more. www.pfizer.com
Georgia Council on Aging Accessibility Services Plaza 30,000 feet of products and services. Metro’s most complete inventory of wheelchairs, scooters, home access solutions (accessible model home), accessible vans and home healthcare services. 678-819-7583 or www.rehab-plaza.com
Bridgebuilders, Inc. Personal care in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Customized services delivered with compassion, integrity and professionalism. 600 S. Central Ave., Hapeville 30354; 404-765-4300. Bridgebuilders, Inc.
The Georgia Council on Aging advocates on behalf of older Georgians and their families. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.gcoa.org
Sixty Plus, Piedmont Hospital A program to enhance the well-being of older adults and their families by providing services, education and support. 1968 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta 30309; 404-605-3867.
Southern Home Care Services Isakson-Barnhart Georgia’s developer of award-winning senior residential communities, providing amenity-rich independent living and healthcare for discerning adults over age 62, including Park Springs, recipient of the 2005 Platinum Award by the NAHB, and Peachtree Hills Place, which will open in 2008. www.isaksonbarnhart.com
Nursing and personal care services tailored to your needs, Southern Home Care Services serves all ages with compassion, skill and respect. Licensed and accredited. www.southernhomecareservices.com Georgia Generations is published and supported by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging. Additional circulation support is provided by the generous sponsors listed here. For more information on becoming a sponsor of Georgia Generations, please call 404-463-3222.
EasyLiving Home Accessible, visitable and livable for everyone! Homes built with the future in mind. A voluntary certification program. www.easylivinghome.org
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How can I help?
The Thanks Mom and Dad Fund® supports aging programs and can honor someone who has been an inspiration to you. Call 1-800-676-2433 to learn how.
Georgia Generations