Georgia
Generations Summer 2005
Seniors Discover
High-Tech World
the
New products, new gadgets and more!
Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging
TM
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.
2
5
3
Georgia is divided into 12 AAAs, each serving a different part of the state. They are:
8
4 7 6
9 12
10
11
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 2005 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
2
Editorial Project Development: JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA Design and Production: Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA
Georgia Generations is a:
On the Cover: An exciting array of new products, based on cutting-edge technology, is reaching the senior market. Here, Mario and Zoraida Hernandez of Atlanta try out a programmable phone that features photos on the memory buttons. Turn to story, page 4. Cover photography by John Clemmer.
Summer 2005, Volume 4, #4. © 2005 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
Comparison Shop for
HOSPITALS G
eorgians now will be able to comparison shop for hospitals based on quality. A new national database based on 17 different quality indicators helps seniors and caregivers evaluate hospitals in their areas. Data from more than 120 Georgia hospitals are included on the Web site, www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. It offers information on how hospitals treated patients in three categories: heart attacks, pneumonia and heart failure. For example, it shows what percentage of heart attack patients were given an aspirin within an hour of arriving in an emergency room. In the coming months, the site will be expanded to include other illnesses. Georgia’s hospitals strongly supported the development of the site. All 110 of Georgia’s large acutecare hospitals and 14 of the state’s 31 rural hospitals voluntarily submitted data for the site, according to the Georgia Medical Care Foundation. This is the first time the federal government has made such data available to consumers.
More About
AGING DRUGS
&
The right medication can make a huge difference in your health. But it’s important to realize that aging plays a role in how your body reacts to medications. For example: ■ Age-related changes in the kidneys can affect how fast drugs are eliminated from the body. ■ Changes in body weight can influence how much medicine you need. ■ Many drugs, including certain antihistamines, can cause confusion and behavior changes in the elderly. A drug that worked well on a 60-year-old patient may no longer work the same in someone who is 70. The lesson: Doctors need to routinely reevaluate their patients’ medications as they grow older.
Protect Medicare and Medicaid Benefits Fall 2003
CAREGIVING NEWS&NOTES Test Your Driving Skills
S
eniors over 65 are the fastest-growing population in the country and, as a group, show no sign of giving up their automobiles. In fact, by 2020 there will be more than 40 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older in the U.S. If you — or someone you care for — worry about declining driving skills as you get older, an in-home screening program may be what you need. Roadwise Review, offered by the American Automobile Assn., allows you to test several key functional areas that could affect driving. These include leg strength and mobility, head and neck flexibility, low visual acuity and working memory. The program gives you answers that help identify corrective actions. Roadwise Review comes on a CD, so you will need a personal computer to run the screening test. Check out www.aaa.com for details.
Clean Up Your Estate Planning ow that tax season is behind
Nus, financial advisors recom-
mend you turn your attention to the state of your estate.That includes your home, bank accounts, car, furniture, investments and insurance policies. This is a good time to update your will and make sure you have a plan that directs where all your property will go. If you are a caregiver, sit down with your loved one and tactfully guide them through the process.
Here are a few of the most common mistakes that seniors or caregivers make: • Making decisions in secret — that is, not talking to children or other responsible relatives • Keeping poor records of bank accounts, insurance policies and investments • Failing to update beneficiary forms — especially for IRAs or other retirement accounts
Surfing the Net Each issue of Georgia Generations offers several Web sites devoted to caregiving information and resources: www.whcoa.gov showcases the upcoming 2005 White House Conference on Aging to be held in Washington, DC on December 11-14, 2005. It’s held once every decade to make aging policy recommendations to the President and Congress. www.actec.org, the Web site for the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, is an excellent source for attorneys in your area who have practiced estate law for at least 10 years. 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
THE
CONNECTION The world of high-tech gadgets is not just for the young. In fact, scores of products are being offered for seniors and their caregivers. Here’s a look at what’s available. By Martha Nolan McKenzie hen you think of the senior population, “technology” may not be the first word that leaps to mind. In fact, the high-tech world has long been considered the exclusive domain of the young and hip. That thinking is as outdated as a Model T. Today, there is an abundance of products and technologies that can improve the health, independence and general quality of life of seniors. Video magnifiers enable people with low vision to read the newspaper or a book. Remote-controlled or voice-activated light switches and appliances give control back to those suffering from arthritis or mobility problems. And automated medication dispensers and reminders help those with faltering memory adhere to their medical regimen. “We are seeing so many new products and new technologies that can help anyone, but seniors and those with disabilities in particular,” says Russ Bodoff, executive director for the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), an initiative that brings together researchers from universities, technology companies, facility administrators and government. “Most of technology is looking toward keeping people more independent in their own homes as a way to reduce health care costs. “We spend $1.77 trillion on health care right now — that’s ‘trillion’ with a ‘t’,” continues Bodoff. “Well over 60 percent of that is spent on people over 65 years old.” Bodoff and other experts see technology as the key to ameliorating the burden by keeping people independent as long as possible, a goal that fits nicely with seniors’ own desires. “Seniors, by and large, want to stay in their own homes,” says Michael Leverett, program director for Disability Connections with the Middle Georgia Center for Independent Living. “There are a lot of
W
Portable oxygen system (above) and response pendant (right) enable seniors to live more independently.
4
Georgia Generations
products available now that let them do just that. And they aren’t necessarily space-age technology.” One of the biggest issues for seniors living independently Leverett equipped his own 84-year-old paraplegic grandis maintaining and monitoring their health. Are they taking the mother with handheld remote controls that he bought at Radio medications they are supposed to take when they are supShack. The remotes, which turn her lights and appliances on posed to take them? Are their health conditions remaining staand off, have allowed her to remain in her own home. ble? Can they get immediate assistance when they need it? The good news is this: More Myriad products and technologies can help answer all sophisticated high-tech products are these questions. “Much of the also becoming more mainstream — innovation we’ve seen has and less expensive — as the popubeen in the area of sensorlation continues to age. This makes ing and monitoring devices,” a fast-growing variety of affordable says CAST’s Bodoff. “They products much more accessible to allow caregivers to get a larger numbers of seniors. sense of how the senior is “People are now realizing that performing, if they are followmany of the high-tech gadgets ing their normal patterns and that were originally developed for if they need help.” people with disabilities can help Consider the services anyone who wants greater funcoffered by Response Link of tion in their life,” says Hunter North Georgia in Jasper. Ramseur, assistive technology Clients can wear a pendant on consultant for All in One Accestheir neck or wrist, which they sibility, a full-service home can push if they need help. An renovation and equipment operator promptly responds and supplier in Marietta. “This summons help. Another pendant has increased the demand can detect if a client has fallen. for these products, and as a In addition, a computerized result, pushed down the speaker phone will sound an prices. For example, while I alarm three times a day to remind was at Georgia Tech, a voice the senior to check in, which he recognition software prodoes by simply pushing a button to gram was purchased 15 silence the alarm. years ago that cost around Computerized blood pressure monitor “The main thing our products $7,000. Now you can go to system transmits data through telephone lines. do is let seniors stay home longer CompUSA and buy a similar without having a caregiver or sitter program that works much better for $99.” there with them,” says Dick Sumner, owner of Response Link Though there are an increasing number of assistive prodof North Georgia. “A sitter can cost $11 to $15 an hour, but ucts available, many seniors and their caregivers remain our system runs about $1 a day.” unaware of their existence. Or, if they do happen to ADT Security Systems has begun selling the QuietCare syshear about a product, they have no idea where to go to find it. tem, which was developed by Living Independently Group, a The first place to start is your local Area Agency on Aging. company that develops health and elder care products. Five “Our role is to link people to the services they need,” says Sue small wireless sensors are placed throughout the senior’s Burgess, coordinator of Aging Information Services with the house. Each sensor sends information to a base unit located in Atlanta Regional Commission. “We talk to the individual, the home, and that information is relayed by phone line to a assess his or her needs and then refer him or her to the monitoring center. The system “learns” normal activity patappropriate resources.” terns and alerts caregivers to any change. Caregivers can also One of the state’s most helpful resources is Tools for Life, log onto a Web site to check on their loved one and see if he a service of the Georgia Department of Labor, Division of Vocahas eaten or gotten out of bed. tional Rehabilitation. Through its four Assistive Technology “We’re increasingly seeing the application of telemonitorResource Centers (ATRCs) located in Atlanta, Augusta, Conying in the home — including wireless devices to monitor ers and Macon, Tools for Life provides information and assessblood pressure, weight, blood glucose and respiratory status,” ments for people with disabilities. It also has an equipment says Julie Rogers, area administrator for Healthfield Inc., a loan program, and it will help find funding for the purchase, if home health agency. “The data is transmitted through the necessary. To contact Tools for Life, call 1-800-497-8665 or regular home telephone line to a health agency, and the visit its Web site at www.gatfl.org. physician can access the information. These devices run on Here’s a look at some of the newest products and technolobatteries, so are easy to use. gies that can help you or a loved one.
HEALTH
Summer 2005
5
“The exciting aspect about technology now is that companies are learning to use it on the Internet,” Rogers continues, “which means that caregivers can — after signing off on all the confidentiality issues — access the information. So if a senior in California is using this technology, a son or daughter in Atlanta can log on and see if Mom’s blood pressure is stable.”
Toyota Sienna’s Lift-Up Seat
In Atlanta, patients discharged from the Fuqua Heart Failure Resource Center at Piedmont Hospital are sent home with a small computer equipped with a blood pressure monitor and a scale. The system is hooked into their phone lines, and each day they check their blood pressure and answer questions on a touch screen. The information is sent to Piedmont, where medical professionals monitor it and make any needed adjustments in the patient’s medications or medical plan. “This remote telemonitoring system has allowed us to keep some patients from coming back to the hospital,” says Pam Cowart, a clinical nurse specialist at the center. “It has helped us identify others whose condition was worsening so we can intervene and possibly prevent a hospitalization.” Stand-alone products offer seniors and caregivers added comfort and security without the cost of a professional monitoring service. Emergency response devices that can be worn as a necklace or bracelet can be programmed to dial up to five phone numbers. If no one answers one number, the device automatically dials the next. “There is no monthly fee with these products, because there is no monitoring system,” says Mike Katz, president of Active and Able Inc., an online retailer of assistive technology. “But, by pushing one button, the senior can call up to five people — adult children, neighbors, caregivers.” Another area of innovation is medication dispensers and reminders. “This is a critical area because it represents billions of dollars of wasted health care costs,” says Bodoff. “As people get older, they tend to forget to take their medications or take them incorrectly. It’s a quality-of-life issue as well as a cost issue.” Several products can help. Automatic pill dispensers allow seniors or their caregivers to load a week’s worth of medication at one time. Then the senior can merely push one button to have the pills he needs to take drop into his hand. Some dispensers come with a clock, which will sound an alarm to remind the senior it’s time to take his medications. Another device will read the name of the drug and dosage information aloud, using a “smart label” attached by the pharmacists.
6
MEMORY AIDS Caring for someone with dementia and memory problems is a challenging task. Products that provide reminders and memory boosts can go a long way toward alleviating some of the strain. “Cognitive supports are some of the newest things in assistive technology,” says Ed Irwin, senior rehabilitation engineer at the Mercer Engineering Research Center in Warner Robins. “There are so many things available that make it safer for elder people to continue living on their own even after they start developing cognitive problems.” “Smart” appliances, such as stove tops, ovens and irons that turn themselves off after a period of time, make good sense for anyone, but they are particularly useful for seniors with memory problems. Talking or vibrating watches and clocks can be programmed to provide reminders about taking medication, as well as other activities. Programmable telephones with pictures of the call recipients on the memory buttons allow a senior to place a call just by touching the picture of the person he wants to call. A senior can jog his own memory by speaking into a pocket-sized recorder to note his car’s location in a parking lot or directions to where he is going. Locator devices help seniors find misplaced items. Possessions that are commonly lost, such as keys and eyeglasses, can be attached to a small device. Then when the senior presses a button, an alarm will sound on the missing items, allowing the senior to track them down. If a senior is prone to wandering off, the caregiver can attach a device that will sound an alarm if he wanders farther than a specified distance from the caregiver.
MOBILITY There are many products that can help those with mobility problems get around the home easier. Chairs and toilet seats that can raise the user to near-standing position, bath seats that can swivel, slide, raise and lower a person in and out of the bath, and touch- and voice-activated remote controls that operate lights and appliances can help those with arthritis or limited use of their limbs remain independent. Home elevators and stair lifts can remove the barrier of stairs in a home. Home lift systems can ease transfers from the bed to a wheelchair to the bath. Adaptable cabinets and shelves put everyday items within the reach of someone in a wheelchair. Motorized cabinets, cooktops and sinks that can be raised and lowered by pressing a button are available through AD-AS, a manufacturer of universal design products. Another company, Rev-a-Shelf, sells a pull-down chrome shelving system. “How many times have you seen an 80-year-old who can only reach the bottom shelf in her cabinets?” asks Mercer’s Irwin. “These types of products are a great solution.” Wheelchairs are getting more compact and easier to maneuver. An increasing number include a joystick control and a seat that can raise the user to near-standing position. And scooters are becoming an increasingly popular choice among seniors. “The fastest-growing segment of our business is scooters,” says Chuck Harris, area manager for Fuller RehaGeorgia Generations
bilitation/Independent Living Aids in Ringgold. “In generations past, when you got older and sick, you just stayed home. That doesn’t cut it with this generation. They want to be able to go out, and scooters let them do that.” Car makers, who traditionally court younger drivers, are also turning their attention to the senior market. “Auto companies are starting to realize that mature adults do not just buy one car after they turn 50 — they buy two or three,” says Alexis Abramson, a lifestyle gerontologist and guest expert on the NBC Today show. “It is still a very viable market.” Designers at Ford Motor Company have gone so far as to don a “Third Age Suit,” which simulates the effects of old age, stiffening joints, adding bulk around the middle and impairing vision. Designers of the Ford Focus wore the suit so they could better design a car to meet the needs of older drivers. The result is a model with wider door openings, an elevated driver’s seat and more headroom. Several car makers have begun to incorporate a seat-lift technology in some of their models. The seats swivel, come out of the vehicle and drop to about 12 inches from the ground. “Not many people know about the Lift-Up Seat yet, but when they find out about it, they love it,” says Bob Swaim, national manager for mobility programs for Toyota Motor Sales. “It’s only available in our Sienna van right now, and when people see the seat, they buy a Sienna just to get it.” All the mobility aids in the world don’t mean much if you are tethered to a cumbersome and heavy oxygen tank. But now oxygen-dependent seniors have another option. Hi-Tech Healthcare, a Norcross-based medical equipment provider, offers a portable, lightweight oxygen system. Called Helios, the system,
which uses liquid oxygen, weighs only 3-1/2 pounds, lasts up to 10 hours and fits in a fanny pack. By comparison, the traditional oxygen canisters weigh 15 pounds and last only four hours. “You can barely go get your hair done or go to a doctor’s appointment in four hours,” says Todd Tyson, president of Hi-Tech Healthcare. “So a lot of people on oxygen are basically homebound. This system gets them out and active again.”
VISION AND HEARING The last word in products for people with low or no vision is talking technology. “I just keep seeing more and more talking devices,” says Active and Able’s Katz. “And these items are incorporating more features. For example, we’ve had talking clocks. Now we have a talking atomic clock that automatically sets itself to the correct time. We’ve got an alarm clock with a very large number display that also has a bed shaker feature, so it can shake you awake yet let your partner sleep.” Other talking products include watches, scales, thermometers, blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors. Enablemart.com, an online retailer of assistive products, offers a Color Teller (a small device that identifies the color of an object), a Note Teller (a small device that identifies the denomination of paper currency) and a Talking Bar Code Scanner (a device that can give information about objects not identifiable by touch, such as cans, jars, CDs, cassette tapes and file folders). A variety of magnifiers, scanners and readers are available to access the written word. In addition, screen reader software programs, such as Jaws for Windows and ReadText, open the world of e-mail and the Internet to seniors with vision problems. Continued on page 15
Amazing Products for the Future
I
f you think there are a lot of products out there now to help seniors remain independent, just wait until you see what tomorrow brings! Here’s a look at just a few of the projects that are either under development or are being researched: ■ The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Aware Home project uses cameras, radios and infrared sensors to monitor an individual’s activities and provide reminders. For example, the Memory Mirror uses radio frequency identification tags on household items and radio frequency identification readers where these items are stored. The system tracks the removal and return of the tagged items and displays a picture of the items on a computer screen. That way the senior or caregiver can look at the screen and see if they have fed the cat or taken their medication that day. ■ The University of Washington is developing Opportunity Knocks, a portable assistive cognition device for seniors with memory problems.
Summer 2005
A pocket-sized global positioning system beacon sends data to and from a cellular camera phone. The phone displays tiny photographs of destinations. So the user could choose the picture of his doctor’s office, and the system would lead him there, street by street. ■ Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan are collaborating in developing NurseBot, a robot that reminds seniors of appointments, when their favorite TV show is on and when to take their medications. Its robotic face displays emotion, smiling at certain verbal cues and responding to questions. ■ The University of Virginia is developing a sensory floor tool that “listens” to a senior’s footsteps and walking patterns for signs that he is at increased risk of falling. Researchers are also working on a smart chair, which can detect an older person’s heart rate and breathing rate.
7
GUEST CLOSE-UP
AARP Georgia Works to Strengthen the
Circle of Care By William F. Brown, III Associate State Director of Communications, AARP Georgia
A
ARP Georgia is working to foster a more positive and caring culture in long-term care settings, particularly nursing homes. The program, “Strengthening the Circle of Care,” is built on previous advocacy and educational efforts around caregiving. According to AARP Georgia State Director Ken Mitchell, the program grew out of the organization’s desire to support the Georgia Nursing Home Quality Initiative, as well as to help address the long-term care staffing crisis in the state. “We thought it was important to take a leadership role,” Mitchell says. Initially, AARP Georgia conducted focus groups with certified nursing assistants (CNAs) from across Georgia to learn firsthand what their most pressing training needs were. The results indicated that they wanted to learn more about better communication with administrators and supervisors, about effective tools for conflict resolution and about building productive teams and developing leadership skills. Coping with grief, both their own and that of patients’ family members, was also an important issue. Over a two-year period and in direct partnership with the state’s long-term care ombudsmen, AARP Georgia conducted a series of regional one-day training sessions for nearly 800 CNAs. The focus was on conflict management, stress relief exercises, team building and best practices. For the second phase of “Strengthening the Circle of Care,” AARP Georgia partnered with Mission Works Consulting and the Georgia Nursing Home Association to design a package on management skills training for nursing home administrators, directors of nursing and charge nurses. More than 700 completed the eight regional trainings, representing about twothirds of the nursing home staffs. Phase Three was a response
8
to the concerns expressed by the CNAs during their initial training for help in managing grief. “They felt that there was no real support to help them handle such losses or to provide support to surviving family members,” says Associate State Director Yolanda Hallas, who has coordinated the various components of the initiative for AARP Georgia. In response, AARP Georgia, in partnership with local consultant and trainer Kathy Scott (Pace, Inc.) and Sonya Smith,
Coping with grief, both their own and that of patients’ family members, was an important issue to certified nursing assistants. AARP Georgia’s lead volunteer for health and supportive services, developed a module entitled, “Good Grief.” AARP Georgia provided a grant to the Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s office for the purpose of conducting two statewide Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions. Additionally, six TOTs are being held for the Georgia Nursing Home Association staff. AARP Georgia is also providing training for its own volunteers so that they can then be an educational resource in their communities. For additional information, contact Yolanda Hallas at 404-870-3790. 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
Alzheimer’s wanderers need safe return
A
lzheimer’s disease and other dementias cause millions of Americans to lose their ability to recognize familiar places and faces. They may become disoriented and wander beyond their homes. This behavior is dangerous and even lifethreatening for individuals and stressful for caregivers. Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return™ is a nationwide identification system to assist in the safe and timely return of individuals with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. The individual wears identification jewelry with an 800 phone number. Anyone who finds the wanderer can call for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If an enrollee is missing, one call
Summer 2005
The Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return™ identification bracelet helps find and return individuals with Alzheimer’s — or a related dementia — who wander and become lost.
immediately activates a community support network to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver. Safe Return also notifies local law enforcement. The nearest Alzheimer’s Association office provides information and support
during the search-and-rescue efforts. The usual cost for the program is about $40, but sometimes the local Alzheimer’s Association office has funding to provide these items on a scholarship basis. Call them at 1-800-272-3900 or 404-728-1181 (Atlanta calling area), or call your Area Agency on Aging at the number below. For other information, contact the AAA of Northwest Georgia, P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA 301621793; 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
9
Atlanta Regional Commission Covers a 10-county area surrounding Atlanta
Consumers to benefit from Best Buy Drugs project
A
six-month consumer awareness campaign to put easy-to-understand information about the effectiveness and cost of prescription drugs in the hands of Atlanta area residents was recently launched, led by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, and the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). The Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs project — a free public-education initiative to help consumers stretch their healthcare dollars by providing independent information on the cost and effectiveness of medicines — selected the Atlanta area to launch its outreach program because of the region’s diversity and ARC’s extensive ties to the community.The outreach campaign will be expanded statewide in August. Consumers Union has created a free Web site, www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org, to make information on drug effectiveness, safety and cost more accessible to consumers. Visitors to the site can find in-depth reports about how drugs used to treat a particular illness or condition stack up against each other, as well as
safety and price information. The site also identifies Best Buy picks for each drug category. Consumers can then take the information to their doctor or phar-
macist to discuss which drug may be best for them. The collaboration with ARC is designed to reach those who may not have easy access to the Internet. In such cases, information is presented to groups of older adults in senior centers, churches and civic clubs, explaining the program face-to-face and providing copies of the Best Buy Drugs reports. Currently available on the Web site are reports on cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), drugs to treat heartburn and acid reflux (proton pump inhibitors), arthritis medications (NSAIDS), antidepressants and blood pressure medications (beta blockers). Consumers Union plans to publish reports
™
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
10
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
on a total of 20 different categories of drugs at the rate of about one per month between now and the middle of 2006. “The decision about which drugs to prescribe rightfully belongs with the physician, in consultation with the patient,” says Dr. Buck Baker, MD, FACP, president of the Atlanta Regional Health Forum and former vice president of health services at Piedmont Hospital. “With the Best Buy Drugs program, however, physicians and patients have information that previously was not easily available. Patients get the medications they need, at a price they can afford.” “We hope to level the playing field for consumers who are confused by all the advertisements for prescription
Visitors to the site can find in-depth reports about how drugs used to treat a particular illness or condition stack up against each other. drugs,” says Gail Shearer, project director of Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs. “Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs gives consumers the tools and information to make those important health-care decisions.” For additional information and for assistance in applying for the Medicareapproved drug discount card, call GeorgiaCares at 1-800-669-8387.
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
Caregivers: We need your valuable input!
wants answers to these questions and more. The group is working with support groups in the 12-county area to identify family and informal caregivers in the region o you have the support you need as a to participate in a brief survey. The purcaregiver? What services would make pose of the survey is to gather information it easier for you to care for a family memabout caregivers’ experiences, needs and ber or loved one? service usage so that agencies can identify The new Northeast Georgia CARE-NET and address gaps in services to fulfill the needs of caregiving families. The Northeast Georgia CARE-NET is the result of a partnership with the Area Agency on Aging. It is composed of local agencies that provide care, services and resources to persons with disabilities, disease or chronic illness, to older adults and to children. CARE-NETs got their start at A group of caregivers from Athens Community Council on the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Aging completes the survey.
D
Caregiving (RCI) on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW). The institute, created by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in 1987 to honor First Lady Rosalynn Carter, an alumna of GSW, supports collaborations in local communities to share the vision of improving services for caregivers. If you or someone you know is interested in completing a survey, please contact Stacey Kolomer, PhD, assistant professor, UGA School of Social Work, at 706-542-5445, skolomer@uga.edu; or Anne Hansen, assistant director, Area Agency on Aging, 706-369-5792, ahansen@dhr.state.ga.us.
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
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Forum identifies needs
G
randparents all too often find themselves raising their grandchildren. So when the Lower Chattahoochee Area Agency on Aging hosted a forum to identify needs, most of the attendees were grandparents. More than 4,000 families in Columbus alone have grandparents as heads of households. Cecelia Adams, Lower Chattahoochee AAA caregiver specialist, and Joanne Cavis with the University of Georgia Extension Service facilitated the public forum, which brought together grandparents with representatives from the Department of Family and Children Services, Georgia Legal Services, Muscogee County School System Student Services, Muscogee County Pre-K Summer 2005
Program, Columbus State University, AARP, the Medical College of Georgia and private family counselors. Attendees openly expressed and shared the difficulties they encounter on a day-to-day basis. Grandparents named emotional support, child rearing and discipline, legal questions regarding custody and guardianship,
education, finances, housing, recreation and respite as important issues. The forum has led to the establishment of a support group that meets quarterly and has presentations from professionals on the issues they have identified. Child care is also available, which helps the grandparents by providing respite. 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
11
Heart of Georgia Altamaha Covers a 17-county area surrounding Baxley, Dublin, Vidalia, Jesup, Swainsboro
Caring for the caregiver
chance of illness. Also, by allowing stress to build up, you lose your patience for the
W
hen the health and well-being of another adult lies in your hands, you may feel as if you are drowning in responsibility. Even simple, day-to-day activities can leave you wanting to scream. If you are often on the verge of tears or generally feeling down in the dumps, you may be overstressed. Do you overreact to little annoyances? For instance, when your cell phone call is “dropped” again, do you feel like throwing the phone out the window? The stress of being a caregiver does not have to be overwhelming. First, you must accept that in order to successfully take care of someone else, you must also take care of yourself. When you put your well-being to the side, you increase your
care recipient, making you less effective as a caregiver. To alleviate stress, find out what resources are available for you to get some respite. Are there other family members or friends who can pitch in? Is there adult day care available? Is there a support group for caregivers? Take advantage of any assistance that is available. Don’t let guilt keep you from asking for help. You need a break. You deserve some time to vent. You are worthy of “you” time. Resources are available in our office for your support and relief. For more information, contact Kathy Keith at 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
Kick-off event held for AARP walking program
S
enior citizens in Southeast Georgia are being encouraged to improve their overall fitness with the latest equipment… their feet. The benefits of daily walking are numerous for seniors and include increased balance and strength in the muscles and bones. The Southeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging (SEGa AAA) hosted a kick-off event for AARP’s “Step Up to Better Health” 10-week walking program at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton on January 14. More than 130 participants from five senior centers attended the kickoff. All received pedometers from AARP. SEGa AAA Wellness Coordinator Lisa Whitley explained how the pedometer measures the walker’s steps and demonstrated how to properly place the
12
pedometer on the body. Chris Williams, Bacon County site manager, shared the story of her seniors’ walk across Georgia, figuratively speaking. Williams said AARP provided free pedometers to senior citizens at the kick-off that for five months the event. Pictured above, participants read along as SEGa AAA Wellness Coordinator Lisa Whitley reviews the pedometer instructions. seniors had counted their steps using pedometers For information, contact Southeast Georgia and had charted the miles on a map of RDC, 1725 South Georgia Parkway West, Georgia. Using yarn, the group traced their Waycross, GA 31503; 912-285-6097 or 1,515-mile trek throughout the state. toll-free 1-888-732-4464. Following Williams’ motivating account, Whitley challenged the remaining senior SOUTHEAST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: Atkinson, Bacon, centers to follow Bacon County’s lead. She Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, provided each center with a large-scale Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Georgia map on which they could track Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, Ware their walking for the next 10 weeks. Georgia Generations
Legacy Link Covers a 13-county area surrounding Gainesville, Cumming, Clarkesville, Toccoa, Hiawassee
Senior centers to become wellness centers
T
here’s a lot of discussion about wellness these days. We all read about it, hear about it and talk about the latest diets and exercises that will result in increased energy and decreased waistlines! To help older adults, Governor Perdue put funding in the state budget to assist Area Agencies on Aging wellness programs in implementing specific activities that encourage older persons to practice healthier lifestyles across the state. Legacy Link, Inc. has hired Lisa Howard as the wellness coordinator to develop the new programs in addition to providing support to the existing senior center wellness programs in the 13-county area. Senior centers in Habersham and Forsyth counties
New equipment and supplies encourage movement at the centers.
are changing from “senior centers to wellness centers,” and clients are having fun in the process. Additional senior centers are moving toward this new model with the purchase of new equipment and supplies to encourage movement at the centers. One of the keys to this new model of community programming is partnership with other public and private businesses and agencies such as hospitals, parks and recreation
departments and so on. The benefits flow both ways in these partnerships. Drop by one of the senior/wellness centers in the 13-county Legacy Link region and see what’s happening. Don’t forget to wear your tennis shoes! For further information, contact Legacy Link, P.O. Box 2534, Gainesville, GA 30503-2534; 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
Home accessibility and home safety
F
or many senior citizens in the 10-county Southern Crescent area, home accessibility and home safety are tremendous problems that make common
Summer 2005
activities in daily living difficult and potentially unsafe. Several years ago, the Southern Crescent Area Agency on Aging (SCAAA) contracted with CareLink– AmeriCorps in Troup County to address these problems. With funding from an Administration on Aging (AOA) demonstration grant under the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the SCAAA developed a voucher program to make homes more accessible for some 162 vulnerable seniors. The CareLink– AmeriCorps group gave clients choices in the types of
services they were to receive. Older adults could purchase chore services, home modification, home repair or respite care services with vouchers obtained from the AmeriCorps program. CareLink–AmeriCorps has provided some 3,728 units of service to date for the 162 seniors participating in the program. The AOA demonstration grant has helped the SCAAA to develop a much-needed service that will be expanded throughout the 10-county area. For other information, contact the 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
13
Middle Georgia Covers an 11-county area surrounding Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville
Rebuilding Together volunteers improve life for caregivers
A
ntionette Veal, daughter of Wylene Lester, knows firsthand how life improves after a visit from Rebuilding Together volunteers. Getting Mrs. Lester in and out of her home for visits to the doctor was a struggle. But now, thanks to a Tuesday visit from Rebuilding Together’s Good Samaritan Team, a newly built wheelchair ramp makes it easy for Mrs. Lester to visit family or the doctor. More than 80 volunteer teams in Macon give their time, energy and skills to repair homes for the elderly and disabled. The Rebuilding Together volunteers can do it all: build wheelchair ramps, widen doors, repair plumbing and fix leaking roofs. Through special funding by the Middle
Georgia Area Agency on Aging, Rebuilding Together gives special attention to providing assistance to caregivers. Three generations of the Lester family try out their new ramp. On April 30, 2005, homeowners received much may continue to live in warmth, safety and needed repairs on Rebuilding Together’s independence. National Rebuilding Day. The 70 volunFor more information, call the Middle teer teams from local churches, banks Georgia AAA at 478-751-6466 or toll-free and social clubs have repaired more than 1-888-548-1456. 800 homes since their first National MIDDLE GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES Rebuilding Day in 1992. THESE COUNTIES: Baldwin, Bibb, Rebuilding Together rehabilitates the Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, houses of low-income homeowners, particPeach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson ularly the elderly and disabled, so that they
Central Savannah River Covers a 14-county area surrounding Augusta, Thomson, Martinez/Evans, Waynesboro, Sandersville
Georgia’s legacy: Wonderful older women
“I
f you want to hear how it’s done, just and love for all people is evident in her listen to Emily.” dedication to the hospice, but it extends I was a new hospice employee and throughout her life. She embraces all — somewhat apprehensive about calling caregood, bad and indifferent. You never know givers of deceased patients.Then I met where Emily will show up. She spends her Emily Hyatt. time doing water After her first husband’s aerobics, volundeath, Emily volunteered at teering at the St. Joseph Hospice. Through hospice, stirring the hospice, Emily was able up the church to grieve the loss of her and coordinating husband, meet and marry the Red Hat John, radically impact my Sophisticats. life and, most significantly, When I grow provide a friendly voice and older, I want to understanding ear to be like Emily. She bereaved family members. exudes grace Emily’s passion for life and welcomes Emily Hyatt of the Red Hat Sophisticats.
14
others into it. She reminds me that beauty surrounds us and that laughter cures almost any ailment. Certainly, Emily is active in our community, but it is who she is, not what she does, that makes her a Georgia legacy. Recently, the Georgia Commission on Women honored Emily Hyatt as a “Georgia Legacy.” Congratulations, Emily — we are honored to be a part of your community! For further information, contact the Central Savannah River AAA, 3023 River Watch Pkwy., Suite A, Augusta, GA 309072800; 706-210-2018 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
Eight simple rules for caregivers
F
or the past 10 years, Gwen Knight has been the full-time caregiver for her husband of 52 years. Mack suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and has been homebound for the past three and a half years. Gwen has gained a lot of knowledge and information, which she gladly passes on to other caregivers as she volunteers with the Southwest Georgia CARE-NET. From her own experience, she shares some words of wisdom: 1. When Alzheimer’s is first diagnosed, admit it is true and accept it. 2. Don’t try to hide it or be ashamed that your loved one has Alzheimer’s. 3. Educate yourself! Investigate and find
Technology Connection Continued from page 7 Products that flash and shake can help those who suffer from hearing loss or impairment. Telephones, doorbells, alarm clocks and smoke detectors alert seniors with a flashing light and a shaking bed (if they are sleeping). A variety of portable amplifiers, such as the Sound Wizard Communication System, can help seniors carry on a conversation, talk on the phone or enjoy a movie or TV show by boosting the sounds they want to hear and screening out background noise. The Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired (GACHI) provides over 31 different types of equipment to deaf, hardof-hearing or speech-impaired residents through its Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program. “After an applicant meets eligibility requirements, they are loaned the equipment that best meets their needs,” says Makeba Orr, the program coordinator. For those with severe to profound Summer 2005
6. Use tools and equipment that make things work better. 7. Find and join a caregiver support group. If you can’t find one, start one! 8. Don’t neglect your spiritual life. Stay prayed up and depend on the Lord to see you through each day. For further information, contact Southwest Georgia Gwen and Mack Knight enjoy time together on their porch. COA, 1105 Palmyra Road, all the learning opportunities available. Take Albany, GA 31701-2508; 229-432-1124 or advantage of seminars and conferences. toll-free 1-800-282-6612. Then follow through with what you learn. 4. Get some help as soon as it SOUTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES: becomes apparent that you can’t do it Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, alone. Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, 5. Establish a routine and stay on a Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth schedule.
hearing loss, GACHI offers text (TTY) and voice carryover (VCO) telephones. “To use them, you would dial 711 for the Georgia Relay operator, then type in your message,” says Orr. “The operator would read the message to the hearing person and then type his response back to you. Or, if you can speak clearly but can’t hear, you can speak directly to the person you are calling but the operator will type his response back to you.”
Computers Of all the products and technologies available to help seniors, the computer may hold the most promise. “Computers can be vital for seniors because they can connect them with the rest of the world,” says George Moschis, director of the Center for Mature Consumer Studies at Georgia State University. Marjorie Wood is a believer in the power of computers. The 76-year-old woman from Milledgeville began losing
her vision in 1969 and today is almost totally blind. She was determined not to let her vision loss isolate her, so two years ago she bought her first computer. With patience and determination, Wood mastered her new tool and the screen reader software program that allowed her to use it. If she has e-mail, the computer tells her aloud that she does. By pressing another button, she can have the computer read her e-mails to her. She can navigate the Web much the same way. “I am used to being active and engaged,” says Wood. “My computer keeps me connected with the world.” Assistive technology promises more ways to keep seniors like Wood connected to the world, to their families and to their lives. Whether the need is vision, hearing, mobility or memory, there are products on the market that can improve quality of life and maintain independence. So it turns out, technology and seniors are two words with an important connection. GG
15
Sponsors Thanks to these Georgia companies and organizations for their generous support
AARP 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
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.
EasyLiving Home Accessible, visitable and livable for everyone! Homes built with the future in mind. A voluntary certification program. www.easylivinghome.org Georgia Generations is published and supported by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging. For more information on becoming a sponsor of Georgia Generations, please call 404-463-3222.
16
Georgia Alliance for Staffing Solutions
Sixty Plus, Piedmont Hospital
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
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.
GeorgiaCares
Southern Home Care Services
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.
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 Council on Aging
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
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
Isakson-Barnhart Properties Georgia’s premier senior housing developers providing amenity-rich independent living for discerning adults over age 62, including Park Springs. 2005 Platinum Award by the Seniors Housing Council of the NAHB. www.isaksonbarnhart.com
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
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development
Howcan I help? A contribution to the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund ® honors parents, grandparents and mentors by supporting aging programs. Call 1-800-676-2433 to learn how.
Georgia Generations