GaGen 2003 Fall by Wells-Smith Partners

Georgia

Generations Fall 2003

Help for Caregivers Employees Turn to Company Benefits

Also in This Issue: ■ Long-Term Care Ombudsman ■ A Look at Georgia’s AAAs Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging

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 aged 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.

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

4 7 6

9 12

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 FALL 2003 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

Editorial Project Development: JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA Design and Production: Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA

Georgia Generations is a:

On the Cover: AFLAC employee Angela Grier has used her company’s eldercare benefits while caregiving for her grandmother Addie Wright. See story, page 4. Photo by Anne Ledbetter.

Fall 2003, Volume 3, #1 © 2003 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

Prepare for doctor’s appointments

e all know the feeling: You wait weeks, or even months, for a doctor appointment. But when it finally takes place, you are nervous, the doctor seems rushed, and you walk out with important questions unanswered. The key to avoiding this situation is to make a list of questions you want to discuss. Write them down and have a pen and extra paper to record the doctor’s answers. Consider these types of questions: ■ Can you explain my illness, or condition, in nonmedical terms? ■ How has the situation changed since my last appointment? ■ Are more tests required? What are they? ■ What treatment options are available? What is likely to happen without any treatment? ■ What are the side effects of these treatments, or medications? ■ What is the likelihood of an emergency, and what should I do in case it occurs? ■ What are the next steps in this procedure or diagnosis? Keep a log or journal of all your visits. Be sure to date each entry and review your log before each doctor’s appointment.

Surfing the Net Each issue of Georgia Generations offers several Web sites devoted to caregiving information and resources: www.seniornet.org is a comprehensive site for computer-savvy older adults, which features Webbased enrichment classes, bulletinboard discussions on topics such as finance, books, and travel and online tutorials. www.careguide.net is an award-winning site offering a full range of services, articles and resources for caregivers. Look for tips and advice, plus online organizational worksheets. www.cancersource.com, an interactive site dedicated to cancer resources, has information about the dying process, hospice care, side effects of chemotherapy and much more.

CAREGIVING NEWS&NOTES OSTEOPOROSIS RISK:

Not just for women

id you know that one in every eight men older than 50 will suffer a hip fracture as a result of osteoporosis? A recent study showed that this condition — commonly perceived by both the public and the medical community as an illness of women — is a concern for older men as well. Part of the problem is a lack of screening and subsequent treatment among men. Also, most people don’t understand the various conditions that can put seniors at risk for osteoporosis. In women, it’s commonly the drop in hormones after menopause. However, in men it could be the result of taking drugs such as corticosteroids (which are often prescribed for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis). Also at risk are tobacco users and heavy drinkers. Both these habits, which are linked to fractures from the disease, are more common in men than in women.

The challenge of older drivers

he freedom to come and go — and not be home-bound — is an important factor in the mental health of many seniors. It’s no wonder that driving plays a key role in their daily lives, and giving up the car keys is a difficult step. Following the recent tragic accident in California, during which a car driven by an elderly man crashed into a crowd of people, much attention has focused on older drivers and whether they are hazards on the roads. A new national survey of older drivers reveals that most seniors “self-regulate” — they restrict their driving

in one or more conditions: in bad weather, on highways, during rush hour or at night. Over a third of those in poor health reported they had pretty much stopped driving. In fact, health was as much, or more, a factor in reducing or stopping driving than age alone. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) estimates that more than 600,000 people age 70 or older stop driving each year, usually around age 85. The message is clear: Providing alternative transportation options will be a growing concern for communities and families of older adults.

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

Protect Medicare and Medicaid Benefits Fall 2003

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

Informational sessions boost awareness among Ford/UAW auto workers. Patrice Earnest, center, aging resources coordinator of ARCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aging Division, explains elder-care benefits to interested employees.

Employers Offer a Helping Hand By Martha Nolan McKenzie

hen her motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health began to fail, Bonnie Petrus found herself

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

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

mother, Bonita Petrus, now in her mid-80s, wanted to remain in her Orlando home. To fulfill that wish, Bonita needed someone to come in daily to check on her and help her with various tasks. But her daughter, who had a full-time job in Atlanta, could not be that person.

Georgia Generations

Currently, one out of five workers is balancing. work and caregiving responsibilities. tion away from work,” said Rubino. “And as our workforce For help, the younger Petrus turned to her employer, AT&T. ages and our parents live longer, the need for these types of She logged onto a Web site available to AT&T employees, benefits is only going to increase.” typed in her mother’s zip code and within minutes had a list Other companies cite more personal motivation. “An execuof home health agencies in the area. tive told me the reason he put elder-care benefits in place at “I interviewed a couple and found one I liked and hired his company was because his mother had had a stroke,” said them to help my mother,” said Petrus, 48. “When you are conSandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife Mature Market cerned about making such an important decision quickly, Institute. “And he is not alone. As more executives have perhaving a service like that is incredibly helpful.” sonal experience with caregiving, they start to see the needs Petrus also joined a caregiver support group, sharing her of their employees.” concerns and experiences with other AT&T workers via a conExperience and statistics have converged to fuel growth in ference call one hour a week for 10 weeks. “That gave me a lot employer-based elder-care benefits, especially among larger of comfort — talking to other people who were going through companies. A little more than half of large U.S. employers the same thing,” said Petrus. “And some of us still stay in offered elder-care benefits last year, up from 30 percent in touch by e-mail. It’s great.” 1996, according to Hewitt Associates, a benefits consulting Petrus’ situation is one in which an increasing number of firm. However, a survey by the Society of Human Resource employees find themselves every day. Currently, one out of five Managers, which included small and mid-sized companies as workers must balance work and caregiving responsibilities. well as large ones, showed 20 percent of respondents offered That number will undoubtedly rise as the baby boomers push elder-care referral benefits in 2003, up from 14 percent in 1999. into their 50s and 60s and women continue to increase their The growth, while significant, was not as rapid as industry presence in the workforce. watchers had predicted. “All the experts said elder care was And, like Petrus, more and more employees are able to going to be the hot benefit of the 90s,” said Diane Piktialis, turn to their employers for help. Just as companies adapted work-life product director for Ceridian, a major provider of their human resources policies in the 1980s to accommodate elder care and other work/life benefits for employers. “But we the needs of workers with young children, they are now makdidn’t really see a lot happen until the end of the decade. Now ing policy changes to help employees who are struggling to it’s finally heating up. One clear sign is that last year was the take care of aging parents, offering benefits ranging from educational elder-care seminars to subsidized geriatric care management. Such benefits make good business sense. A 1997 Angelia Grier, manager of financial study by the MetLife Mature Market Group found control for Columbus-based AFLAC, that caregiving costs companies $29 billion a year in helps grandmother Addie Wright pay lost productivity from absenteeism, turnover and her monthly bills. work interruptions. Another study released earlier this year reported that male workers are just as likely to shoulder caregiving responsibilities as their female counterparts. Such data has convinced many companies, such as Citigroup, that they can not afford to ignore eldercare concerns. “We saw the studies saying onefourth of all U.S. households are taking care of an older relative and in five years that is projected to increase to 45 percent,” said Sam Rubino, director of work/life programs for Citigroup, which owns Primerica and Salomon Smith Barney. “We saw the statistics on how many of those caregivers were also working and the study showing men are just as involved as women. We found all that evidence very compelling.” As a result, Citigroup, which employs about 3,000 workers in Georgia, adopted a host of benefits aimed at lessening the burden of caregiving employees. “It was very much an issue that was taking their attenFall 2003

first time we had more requests for our elder-care handbook than our child care handbook.” One reason for the slower-than-expected growth is lack of awareness among employees. For example, at UPS, only about five percent of all the calls to the company’s EAP (Employee Assistance Program) line are elder-care related. “People tend to be most aware of the benefits they use and need,” said Susan Pelchat, corporate disability life works manager for UPS. “Most people don’t think about elder care at all until they are faced with the need.” Shelly Wender, senior aging services specialist with the Atlanta Regional Commission, agrees. “If you are not currently caring for an older adult, elder-care benefits are not even on your radar screen and you likely aren’t aware that they even exist.” To help boost awareness of the benefits among Ford/UAW (United Auto Workers) auto workers, Wender and her

colleagues visit the Ford plant in Hapeville each month. “Ford/ UAW offers a very comprehensive benefit to its members,” said Wender. “And they want to make sure they know about it, so they have us come out each month and set up a visibility table in the cafeteria. Employees can come up and ask us about their specific caregiving issues.” The most common — and least costly — elder care benefit is a resource and referral service that basically does a lot of the time-consuming leg-work of caregiving. Employees can call a toll-free number, relate their specific caregiving needs and receive a host of educational materials and contact information for community resources. Such services cost the company only about $1 to $2 per employee per month. “But studies show that each time an employee uses a referral service, it saves him between 20 to 28 hours of work time,” said Mary Brown, senior vice president of BrownRichards & Associates,

UPS manager turns to eldercare benefits hen Mary Ann Tweddle’s mother-in-law was hospitalized for respiratory problems last June, Tweddle and her husband flew up to White Plains, N.Y. immediately. As soon as they arrived, they realized they had a big problem on their hands. “My in-laws had not been in the best of health for a while, but on that visit it became clear they couldn’t live on their own anymore,” said Tweddle, a retirement relocation and financial portfolio manager for UPS in Atlanta. “I knew we would need to move them to Atlanta and find a place that could care for them.” Her immediate concern, however, was how to care for her fatherin-law, who was partially paralyzed from a stroke, while her motherin-law was in the hospital. Luckily, Tweddle knew where she could get help. She called the UPS elder-care resource and referral line and explained her predicament. The counselor sent Tweddle a host of information on facilities in White Plains via next-day mail, and she found an assisted living facility that would take her father-in-law until her mother-in-law was released. “I didn’t have the luxury of taking three weeks to find someplace to care for my father-in-law temporarily — I had three days,” said Tweddle, 48. “With the referrals, we were able to find a solution quickly and not miss too much work. It was a big relief.” Back in Atlanta, Tweddle called the referral line again to request information on facilities in Atlanta. The counselor explained the differences between independent living, assisted living and nursing home facilities and helped Tweddle decide that assisted living best met her

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

in-laws needs. Then the counselor sent her information on various assisted living facilities, as well as tips to help her evaluate them. Through those referrals, Tweddle found Ivy Hall in Alpharetta. Sadly, her father-in-law passed away before the move, but she moved her 76-year-old mother-in-law into Ivy Hall earlier this year. “It’s a fabulous facility,” said Tweddle. “On her birthday, they gave her a cake, put a flower on her plate at dinner and sang to her. She plays bingo and goes to socials in the afternoons. She’s very happy there and we know she is being well taken care of. I think it’s awesome that UPS was able to help me find a place like that for her.” GG Georgia Generations

an Atlanta-based employee incentives services firm. “When we show companies the amount they can save by offering this benefit, they are usually amazed.” Though it has no formal elder-care benefits program, Savannah-based Gulf Stream Aerospace Corp. offers its 4,000 employees resource and referral services through its Employee Assistance Program (EAP). “Gulf Stream firmly believes that well looked after employees are happier and more productive,” said Robert Baugniet, director of corporate communications. Other popular and inexpensive elder-care benefits include “lunch & learn” seminars and elder-care fairs. AFLAC, a Columbus-based insurance company, hosts two sets of three lunch & learns each year covering a variety of elder-care issues. Angela Grier, the company’s manager of financial control, attended the sessions to help her care for her 72-year-old grandmother, Addie Wright, who lives in a mobile home behind her house. Grier, who has two young children and a husband, works full time and found the additional responsibilities of caring for her grandmother very stressful. Besides the practical advice they imparted, the lunch & learns helped Grier keep things in perspective. “They helped us understand the situation from the point of view of the care recipient,” said Grier, 35. “They’ve gone from being independent to dependent, and it’s just as hard on them as it is on us. That has helped me be more patient and understanding with my grandmother.” Though Grier plans to let her grandmother live in her mobile home as long as she possibly can, she attended sessions discussing nursing homes and assisted living facilities so she would be prepared if she ever needs to make that decision. And if she does, an AFLAC human resources employee can accompany her when she visits different facilities to help her evaluate them. “We have an employee who will actually go with you to point out things you may want to look for or call your attention to things you may not have noticed,” said Rena Lane, manager of employee benefits for AFLAC. “It’s a service that is tremendously appreciated because typically employees are trying to make this decision during a very stressful time.” Alston & Bird LLP, an Atlanta law firm, has combined seminars with its support group for caregivers. For the past seven years, Mary Brown, of BrownRichards, has met once a month with a group of Alston & Bird employees in a conference room to talk about caregiving issues. Brown sometimes brings in a guest speaker to address topics the members are concerned with, and the attendees are always free to share their questions and experiences. “Mary gives us a lot of articles, advice and names of organizations to check into,” said Teresa Townsend, a legal secretary who chairs the support group. “And we all get to share our experiences. Many times someone else in the room has gone through the same thing, which makes you feel better. I’ve never worked in a place that offered employees something like this.” In addition to regular lunch & learns, Atlanta-based Home Depot hosts an elder-care fair in the second week of November. The one-day event draws some 500 employees to browse the wares of vendors with offerings ranging from specific Fall 2003

“[We] firmly believe that well looked after employees are happier and more productive.” Robert Baugniet, Gulf Stream Aerospace Corporation disease information to products to retrofit a home for a senior. “Even though we have a young employee base, this fair is very popular,” said Bea Kelly, senior specialist with Home Depot. “And during the week leading up to it, we have lunch & learns on a variety of elder-care topics.” Other companies have taken their informational seminars online. IBM, for example, hosts a variety of “Webinars.” Via phone and computer, employees attend a real-time seminar, complete with a Q&A. “We did 11 Webinars in the second quarter alone with 330 registrants participating,” said Lindsay-Ray McIntyre, program manager for global dependent care for IBM. “Because we have such a mobile employee population, the Webinars are great for us. Employees can access them from where ever they are.” IBM, which employs about 9,000 workers in Georgia, also offers online chats moderated by an expert in elder care issues. The chats center around a particular topic and allow employees to share their own personal experiences.

hile resource and referral services, lunch & learns and fairs are extremely useful, some companies have moved beyond supplying information to actually supplying services. “There is so much information available out there — people are just flooded with information,” said MetLife’s Timmermann. “What they really need is someone to help them sort through it all quickly and make some sense of it.” For a small but growing number of large companies, that someone is a geriatric care manager. This is a person who will actually meet with the care recipient, assess his needs and then recommend a care management plan and, if necessary, implement it. An increasing number of large employers are subsidizing up to six hours of geriatric care management services per employee. Citigroup and IBM both launched geriatric care management services in the early part of this year. “Employees can use the service in any way they need,” said Citigroup’s Rubino. “They have different elder care facilities evaluated, get respite care, have someone take their parent to a doctor’s appointment or regularly monitor an older relative. It’s very personalized.”

Caregiving Sons At Work C

aregiving is often considered a woman’s issue, but a recent study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute reveals that nearly half of all employed caregivers are men. “Times have changed,” said Sandra Timmermann, director of the institute. “In the old days, the wife took care of the motherin-law. Now the wife is working, or she is divorced and married to someone else. So the men are having to roll up their sleeves and do some caregiving. Today, caregiving is not a woman’s issue. It’s a societal issue.” Indeed, caregiving costs employers billions of dollars each year and exacts a financial, emotional and professional toll on the employees who are providing care. The “Sons at Work” study showed that two-thirds of

employed caregivers — men and women — say their careers have suffered as a result. Men are less likely than women to tell their boss or co-workers about their caregiving responsibilities. Less than half of the men surveyed had spoken to co-workers, compared with 62 percent of the women. “Men have become more and more comfortable voicing their involvement with childcare, but they are still very reluctant to talk about caring for an elder,” said Timmermann. “Somehow, it’s not as acceptable.” Men are also less likely than women to provide personal care services, such as dressing, bathing, toileting and feeding. They are, however, involved in managing medications, grocery shopping and providing transportation.

For every dollar a company spends on geriatric care management services, it can save four dollars in productivity, according to estimates by Ceridian. “Elder-care management is a very narrow benefit that is designed only for those employees who are involved in a very intensive form of caregiving,” said Piklialis. “Getting a good assessment and care plan saves an employee an enormous amount of time and anxiety.” Still, geriatric care assessments and plans can cost hundreds of dollars, putting this specialized benefit out of the reach of all but the largest employers. “Only a small sliver of big companies are offering this right now,” said Melissa Strada, director of work/life programs for Harris, Rothenberg International, a provider of work/life benefits. “It will take several years before a business case can be made for the small and mid-sized companies.” Indeed, many companies have no formal elder-care policy, instead handling the issue on a case-bycase basis. In Columbus, Synovus Financial Corp. surveyed its employees on their caregiving responsibilities and needs. “The majority of the respondents said they were not involved in caregiving right now, but maybe in 10 years or so,” said Mary Stranger, director of benefits for Synovus. “So we didn’t want to put our benefits dollars into a big formal elder-care program at this time, but we’ll continue to watch it.”

Yet, the study also revealed many similarities between employed men and women caregivers: ■ Men were just as likely as women to report that caregiving negatively impacted their family relationships (46 %), friendships (33 %) and personal activities (63 %). ■ About 80% of both men and women reported coming in late to work or leaving early as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. Nearly a quarter of respondents said they had to refuse overtime work. ■ About 27 %of respondents, both men and women, reported they are considering a job change as a result of their caregiving/ work experiences. ■ Two-thirds of both men and women did not know about existing corporate elder care benefits. GG

Instead, Stranger will work with employees based on their specific needs. “If someone needs a nursing home, we’ll look up nursing home ratings on the Internet for them. We’ve negotiated discounts with several providers of eldercare services in the area, so our employees can pay a reduced rate for things like transportation services, housekeeping and nurse visits.” And caregiving needs can often be met through more general work/life benefits, such as flexible hours, telecommuting and family leave. Theragenics is a medical device manafucturer in Buford that employs 165 workers. Though its size precludes it from offering an expensive benefits package, Theragenics employees have found support through the company’s traditional benefits. “We had three people within a year who used family medical leave to care for a parent,” said Karen Pfeifer, human resources manager for Theragenics. “Our employees understand we are limited in what we can offer because of our size, but we have a family atmosphere here. People are not afraid to come forward and say, ‘This is what I need,’ and we try to accommodate them.”

ll employers, however, are likely to feel increasing pressure to offer elder-care benefits as their employee base ages. “All these boomers who are now getting involved in elder care are going to have a much better sense of what they need to help them as they age and their parents age,” said Piktialis. “We are going to see a bigger demand for benefits such as long-term care insurance, educational programs and elder-care assistance. Employers will have to respond if they want to keep their workers and stay competitive.” GG Georgia Generations

GUEST CLOSE-UP LONG-TERM CARE:

When can the

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

hat in the world is an ombudsman? Let’s take a look at the meaning of the word itself: “Ombudsman” is a Swedish word meaning “citizen representative.” An ombudsman works to increase the responsiveness of organizations to the people they serve. This goal is accomplished through investigating complaints, working to resolve them and advocating for change. So, a long-term care ombudsman is a specialized ombudsman who seeks to improve the quality of life for people who live in long-term care facilities. In Georgia these facilities include nursing homes, personal care homes (often called assisted living facilities) and “community living arrangements.” Residents sometimes have little or no contact with the outside world. Many feel they lack control over their own lives. Approximately 50 certified long-term care ombudsmen in Georgia — both staff and volunteers — are available to help residents. Long-term care services, the physical environment, residents’ rights, benefits, discharges and appeals are among the many concerns ombudsmen address in advocating on behalf of residents. Long-term care ombudsmen: ■ Investigate and work to resolve problems or complaints affecting long-term care residents. ■ Identify problem areas in long-term care and advocate for change. ■ Provide information about long-term care, including advice about how to select a facility. ■ Promote resident, family and community involvement in long-term care. ■ Educate the community about the needs of residents. ■ Coordinate efforts with others concerned with long-term care.

■ Visit facilities routinely to talk to residents and monitor conditions. ■ Educate facility staff about residents’ rights and other issues. Georgia’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is governed by the federal Older Americans Act and by Georgia law. The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman administers the program through contractual arrangements with community programs housed in private nonprofit agencies statewide. The State Office is attached to the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Division of Aging. Community programs are affiliated with Area Agencies on Aging and operate with federal, state and local funds. Volunteers help community ombudsman programs accomplish their goals. “Certified volunteer ombudsmen” complete extensive training to become authorized to resolve complaints, while other volunteers regularly visit residents and assist the programs in a variety of ways. For more information or to explore volunteer opportunities, contact your community ombudsman program or call the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 888-454-5826. GG

A long-term care ombudsman seeks to improve the quality of life for people who live in longterm care facilities.

Fall 2003

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. On

Legacy Link

Central Savannah River Middle Georgia

Lower Chattahoochee

Heart of Georgia Altamaha

Southwest Georgia

Southeast Georgia

Coastal Georgia

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

Senior center programs provide antidote for loneliness

rreversible losses associated with growing old can cause loneliness and depression. Chronic illnesses, family members living busy lives at a distance, the deaths of loved ones, and financial issues all add to the sadness felt by many older adults. Mourning these losses is normal, but sometimes mourning turns into depression. Participation in local senior centers is an excellent antidote for loneliness, according to Linda Hicks, site manager at Dallas/Paulding Nutrition Center. Senior centers provide a wide variety of activities and a nutritious lunch. Activities may include games, crafts, exercise, dancing,

Linda Hicks, site manager at Dallas/Paulding Nutrition Center, with Ruby Gaddis, who made an important next step in her life after widowhood.

gardening, field trips and educational talks. Two senior center participants, Ruby Gaddis and Regina Radlowski, have particularly benefited from these activities. Both women, recently widowed, had become lonely and depressed. When Ms. Hicks visited them in their homes, she encouraged them to participate in center activities. Ms. Gaddis finally agreed to check out the

center. Ms. Hicks now says, “She hugs me every day and thanks me for getting her to come.” Mrs. Radlowski did not realize that her sadness had become depression until she visited the senior center and found new interests. She, too, has been attending ever since. “This has meant so much to me,” says Mrs. Radlowski as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. She appreciates her new friends and the activities at the senior center. For information, contact 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

Georgia Generations

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

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

Legacy Link can help with locating resources, offering a listening ear and making referrals to local services.

ho needs to call Legacy Link? A grandchild is 24 years old and taking care of her grandmother, who is 63. The grandmother is experiencing many health problems due to a progressive disease and needs help on a daily basis. Should the grandchild call Legacy? A 49-year-old mother is caring for a teenage son who was recently involved in a devastating car accident and now requires attention almost around the clock. Should the mother call Legacy? A 58-year-old wife is caring for her 65-year-old husband, who is showing signs of Alzheimer’s Disease. Where can she find some information to help her understand this disease?

Should any — or all — of these persons call Legacy Link for information? The correct answer is YES! Legacy Link can help with locating resources, offering a listening ear and making referrals to local services who can assist families in these

situations. So, if you hear someone say, “I just don’t know who to call to find out how to locate help,” tell him or her to try Legacy Link. 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

Enriching the lives of older adults through innovative learning

any people have family or loved ones who reach an age when they need help in daily living. Often caregivers are not ready to turn to an assisted living community, yet they need time to take care of personal responsibilities. In such situations, adult day care can be an indispensable service. The Cambridge House Enrichment

Center in Newnan is a nonprofit adult daytime care center that provides supportive services to older adults. Through a recent grant from the Southern Crescent Area Agency on Aging (SCAAA), funded by the Department of Human Resources and awarded through a federal and state regulated bid process, the Cambridge House Enrichment Center now provides publicly funded care for clients with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia. The center offers professional care specializing in helping adults with impaired judgment and memory loss. Some services include individualized assessments and SCAAA clients and volunteers (standing from left): Dr. Al McEachern, Mr. Roy Knox, artist Mary Holby, Lucille Molnar and Dr. Guy Williamson. Sitting from left: Gloria Mullins, Eleanor Bray and volunteer Georgina Boesing.

monitoring, personal grooming, computer instruction, arts and crafts, physical activity, animal visits, escorts to doctor appointments and the security of Internet Web-cam access to the facility. A professionally-led caregiver support group meets at the facility the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. The SCAAA is pleased to collaborate with the Cambridge House Enrichment Center to serve older adults with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. For f urther information, contact Southern Crescent AAA, P.O. Box 1600, Franklin, GA 30217-1600; 706-675-6721, 770-854-6026, or toll-free 1-866-854-5652. SOUTHERN CRESCENT ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, Upson

Atlanta Regional Commission Covers a 10-county area surrounding Atlanta referral information by geographic area, cost or special needs. Client information is handled confidentially and protected by the automated system. Information and referral specialists also frequently mail quick-lists ONNECT is Georgia’s most compreand other information hensive database of aging and longto callers. term care services. It includes information Aging Connection on nearly 15,000 services in more than 44 services are especially categories and 216 subcategories. Updated helpful to longweekly, it reflects the most current infordistance caregivers, mation on available services. older adults moving to The Atlanta Regional Commission Georgia, homebound recently expanded this database to include persons and potential resources and services for persons looking service providers. for prescription assistance as well as ARC’s GeorgiaCares services and programs for individuals with specialists also use the developmental disabilities. CONNECT database. Aging Connection, a user-friendly teleWhen a caller needs phone service, is the client’s gateway to the help with prescription database. Certified information and refercosts, specialists can ral/assistance specialists based in Area search more than Agencies on Aging throughout Georgia 1,600 generic and consult with clients, assess their needs and brand-name drugs to refer them to services. Anyone in need of determine if a pharmaservices or information may call, including ceutical assistance proolder adults and their caregivers. SpecialAndrew Parker, aging resources specialist, updates the CONNECT gram is available. ists respond immediately, accurately, database on a regular basis. Persons with develsensitively and at no cost to thousands of opmental disabilities can find information inquiries each year. ists thoroughly describe services and about services such as adult day programs, During the phone consultation, specialresources available. They can provide counseling, respite care, residential options and vocational programs. The expansion of the CONNECT database to serve these clients resulted from collaboration with Atlanta Regional Commission members of both the aging and the devel404-463-3333 opmental disability networks. To get needed information, callers in If you need caregiving information, contact: the Atlanta region may contact the Aging Cherokee County Cherokee County Senior Fayette County Fayette Senior Services, Connection numbers listed in the box to Services, 770-345-5312 770-461-0813 the left. Callers outside of the Atlanta Clayton County Clayton County Aging Fulton County Fulton County Aging region may call the Area Agency on Aging Program, 770-603-4050 Program, 404-730-6000 that covers their counties, as identified on Cobb County Cobb Senior Services, Gwinnett County Gwinnett County Senior pages 10–15 in this publication. 770-528-5364 Services, 770-822-8850 DeKalb County Office of Senior Affairs, Henry County Henry County Senior 404-687-7117 Services, 770-898-7670 ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Douglas County Douglas Senior Services, Rockdale County Rockdale County Senior Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, 770-489-3100 Services, 770-922-4633

CONNECT database expands to serve more Georgia clients

Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Fulton, Henry, Rockdale

Georgia Generations

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

GeorgiaCares presence felt throughout Northeast Georgia

ince the program’s name change from HICARE a year ago, GeorgiaCares staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly to spread the word about the program’s services, particularly those that help seniors to save money. Northeast GeorgiaCares has enabled seniors to save more than $37,000 in Medicare savings programs between January and May 2003. Medicare savings programs help to supplement part of Medicare. For example, many people find that they qualify for Medicare Part B at no premium cost to the consumer. Currently this is a savings of $58.70 month. One goal of GeorgiaCares is to enroll

Sarah McKinney, GeorgiaCares coordinator for the Northeast Georgia region, provides information to Dee Allen of Clarke County.

every eligible senior in prescription assistance programs. Partnerships with many major pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Eli Lilly, have enabled easy access to their patient assistance programs. In the first five months of 2003, GeorgiaCares has saved seniors an estimated $98,000 on prescription drugs!

A local radio station provides community service by regularly announcing a Northeast GeorgiaCares public service announcement. This two-minute recording educates citizens on how to protect Medicare from fraud, waste and abuse. GeorgiaCares is a statewide program of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services. Call 1-800-669-8387 to speak with your local GeorgiaCares office. For further information, contact Northeast Georgia RDC, 305 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30605-2795; 706-583-2547 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

Caregiver conference provides information

ay 13 turned out to be a lucky day for some 250 folks who attended the Caregivers Conference in Columbus, hosted by the Lower Chattahoochee Area Agency on Aging. Participants, including caregivers and professionals, enjoyed a day of informative sharing and discussions by leading experts on the topics of depression in the elderly, handling stress with humor, spirituality within the caregiver’s experience, legal issues and other topics. Dr. Joel Desaulniers, aka “Dr. D” shares “Stress Management with a Twist of Humor.”

Fall 2003

One particularly Through the generosity entertaining speaker, of local companies, Dr. Joel Desaulniers, many door prizes were otherwise known as awarded. A total of 13 “Dr. D,” offered agencies were on hand participants the to provide information opportunity to hanand answer caregivers’ dle stress with a questions about their sense of humor. His services as well as hand Attendees visiting the GeorgiaCares table advice included out additional treats. and display. “Look for humor For further informain daily events” tion, contact Lower Chatand “Learn to poke fun at yourself.” tahoochee AAA, P.O. Box 1908, Columbus, GA The conference goals were to pro31902-1908; 706-256-2900 or toll-free vide both caregiver support informa1-800-615-4379. tion and a day of respite for caregivers. Participants were treated LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: to luxurious surroundings in the new Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, River Center’s Legacy Hall and Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, enjoyed a catered luncheon “under Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster the stars” on the Bill Heard Stage.

Middle Georgia Covers an 11-county area surrounding Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville

Middle Georgia recognizes older worker and employer of the year

he Georgia Older Worker Network is a network of professionals who provide programs and services for older workers throughout Georgia. The network promotes and supports coordination, collaboration and co-enrollment of participants in Georgia’s older worker programs. It also provides opportunities to become informed about issues affecting older worker programs. As part of this network, the Middle Georgia region annually recognizes the Middle Georgia Older Worker of the Year. This award honors older adults in the workforce who have made significant

make them an integral part of their organizations. This year’s winner is the Department of Labor’s Career Center, represented by David Clinard. Each year a statewide conference and luncheon is held to honor Georgia’s older workers and employers. Mr. McGee and Mr. From left to right: Amy Tribble, Area Agency on Aging Clinard represented Middle Georgia Director; Glenn McGee (Older Worker of the Year), Faye at this year’s statewide conference Yawn, Experience Works; and Linda Hampton, Older held in Savannah, August 25–27. Americans Council. For further information, contact contributions to their companies through Middle Georgia RDC, 175-C Emery Highway, their creativity, loyalty, hard work, knowlMacon, GA 31217; 478-751-6466 or toll-free edge and productivity. This year’s winner is 1-888-548-1456. Glenn McGee with the Houston County MIDDLE GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES Medical Center. THESE COUNTIES: Baldwin, Bibb, The Middle Georgia Region Employer Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, of the Year Award goes to outstanding Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson companies that hire older workers and

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

“Each One Reach One” celebrates personal action

“S

he says, ‘Hey, Ms. Margaret. Let’s do this and let’s do that!’ The girl is always making me smile.” That is how 90-year-old Margaret Jones describes her blossoming friendship with fellow church member Jackie Humphrey. Several times a week, Ms. Humphrey visits Ms. Jones at a long-term care facility to chat, take easy strolls, sit in the sun and ride through the city. “I love to see her enjoying good days, and small things mean a lot, even if we’re just going out for ice cream,” noted Ms. Humphrey of her bond Margaret Jones shares a quiet moment with her close friend Jackie Humphrey.

with Ms. Jones. “She says that God sent me to her, but I’ve gotten far more out of our friendship than she has.” The growing relationship between these two women captures the spirit behind “Each One Reach One,” a new Area Agency on Aging initiative that promotes bonds of caring and mutual support between seniors and community members of all ages.

Central Savannah River Area Agency on Aging Director Jeanette Cummings encourages others to follow Ms. Humphrey’s example. “We challenge every CSRA resident to make a personal commitment to care about and learn wisdom from one older adult in need this year,” Ms. Cummings said. “We are all part of the solution, and each of us must guarantee that no one in our community is left behind.” For further information, contact Central Savannah River AAA, 3023 River Watch Pkwy., Suite A, Augusta, GA 30907-2800; 706-2102018 or toll-free 1-888-922-4464.

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

Georgia Generations

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

ew people grow up without contact with or a relationship to a pet of some sort — a goldfish, turtle, rabbit, bird, hamster, cat or dog. Fond memories develop, and many pet owners continue to keep pets throughout their lives. Studies indicate that Peggy Hamlin, RN, SOWEGA Council on Aging, with her pal Holly.

physical contact with pets provides health benefits, such as the lowering of blood pressure when stroking a cat. When people grow older and have less active lives, a pet can be a comforting companion and keep the owner more active.Walking a dog means that the caretaker must walk, too! Pets can be a reason to get up in the morning when the caretaker needs to feed them or care for them, and pets are good listeners when a person is lonely. In many assisted PHOTOGRAPH BY SUE HOWARD

Pets improve quality of life for seniors

living and nursing facilities, pets have come to play an integral role. Some pets are residents, while others are intermittent visitors. For those people who must leave their beloved pets behind when they enter the facilities, the opportunity to interact with pets brings pleasure and a sense of normalcy to their changed living situation. Loving and being loved by a creature from the animal kingdom is a worthwhile and rewarding experience. If you haven’t tried it, it is not too late! For further information, contact Southwest Georgia COA, 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, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth, Mitchell

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

Senior Olympics promotes healthy lifestyles

romoting healthy lifestyles for seniors through education, fitness and fun was the focus of the second annual Southeast Georgia Senior Olympics, held at Central Square Complex in Douglas on May 16. Over 600 senior citizens, aged 60 and above, enjoyed the eventful day. The sizeable crowd included seniors from each of the region’s 18 counties. The event was sponsored by the Southeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Southeast Georgia Regional Development Center (SEGa RDC) in Waycross. Participants enjoyed such “Olympic” events as horseshoes, checkers, softball

Fall 2003

the Charlton County Senior Center. The Bacon County Senior Center earned second place, and the Pierce County Senior Center triumphantly finished the Senior Olympics in first place. The Pierce County Senior Center also took home the Outstanding These seniors still have “groovy moves” as they participate in the dance contest at the Senior Olympics. Spirit Award for their enthusiasm and creativity. toss, spin casting, golf putting, basketball For information, contact Southeast Georgia throw, frisbee toss, fitness walk and dancRDC, 1725 South Georgia Parkway West, ing. The games were staffed by employees Waycross, GA, 31503; 912-285-6097 or of the SEGa RDC as well as numerous toll-free 1-888-732-4464. community volunteers. First, second and third-place awards were SOUTHEAST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Atkinson, Bacon, given to individuals in each event. In addition, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, the total scores were tallied, and the three Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, top-scoring senior centers were rewarded Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, for their efforts. Coming in third place was Turner, Ware

Sponsors Thanks to these Georgia companies and organizations for their generous support

AARP

Georgia Council on Aging

Sixty Plus, Piedmont Hospital

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

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

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.

Grady Gold 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

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development

An hour invested in long-term care planning today can make thinking about tomorrow much more comfortable. Contact 770-612-4687 or maureen.fiacco@nmfn.com

Dedicated to promoting the mental health and well being of individuals, families, and professional caregivers. The RCI is proud to partner with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Georgia to develop CARE-NETs across the state. www.rosalynncarter.org

Bridgebuilders, Inc. Personal care in the Bridgebuilders,Inc. comfort and privacy of

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

Georgia Alliance for Staffing Solutions An alliance that promotes quality long-term care for seniors and persons with disabilities by seeking innovative solutions to improve staffing and support caregivers. www.agingatlanta.com

Southern Home Care Services

Grady Senior Services was created with the special care needs of older adults in mind! People over 60 can receive comprehensive evaluations and care for common problems seen in older adults. 404-616-0800. Grady Health System

Pfizer 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 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.

Many people ask...

How can I help?

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

Georgia Generations