Georgia

Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging

TMSummer 2006

Generations

Also in This Issue:■ Caregiving News & Notes■ A Look at Georgia’s AAAs

PLANNINGYOURFUTURE

FOR

ARoadMap

RETIREMENT

2 Georgia Generations

Northwest GeorgiaLegacy LinkAtlanta Regional

CommissionSouthern CrescentNortheast GeorgiaLower ChattahoocheeMiddle GeorgiaCentral Savannah RiverHeart of Georgia

AltamahaSouthwest GeorgiaSoutheast GeorgiaCoastal Georgia

Area Agencies on Aging – Gateways to Community Resources

123

54

78

6

9

12

1011

1

10

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

2

35

4

7

8

69

12

11

SUMMER 2006 Published quarterlythrough a cooperative effort of Georgia’sArea Agencies on Aging.

For information contact:Atlanta Regional CommissionAging Services Division40 Courtland St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30303404-463-3239jkauffman@atlantaregional.com

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

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

Georgia Generations is a:

On the Cover:Call it life planning … call it a road mapfor the future. Whatever the name, thisnew trend is all about looking for mean-ing in the second half of your life. Here'show to take steps to make that happen.See story, page 4.

GenerationsGeorgia

Summer 2006, Volume 5, #4 © 2006 bythe Atlanta Regional Commission. Theinformation contained herein has beenobtained from sources believed to bereliable. However, the Atlanta RegionalCommission and JAM Communicationsmake no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this information. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any meanswithout written permission. All rightsreserved.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were established under the OlderAmericans Act in 1973 to respond to the needs of older adultsage 60 and over in every community. To read more about each ofGeorgia’s AAAs and the services available, turn to a statewidemap and news from each agency, beginning on page 9.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Fall 2003 3

Protect Medicare and Medicaid Benefits

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

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

Surfing the NetEach issue of Georgia Generations offers several Web

sites devoted to caregiving information and resources:www.medicinenet.com offers A to Z lists of

diseases and conditions, symptoms, procedures andtests, news and tips for healthy living, all written by

physicians and health professionals.www.wellspouse.org showcases Well Spouse

Association, a national nonprofit that gives support to wives, husbands, and part-ners of the chronically ill and/or disabled.

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

Caregivers are often faced with the task ofdiscussing a difficult situation with an older

adult. Here are tips for communicating better:■ Hold discussions in a quiet setting at a time of day that is best

for the elder.■ Listen to the older adult and acknowledge his opinions.■ Stay positive. Use constructive suggestions instead of blanket

statements.■ Provide accurate information. Don’t tell “half-truths.”■ Allow the older adult plenty of time to process the information.■ Supplement your words with nonverbal cues and supportive

body language.

&NEWS NOTESCAREGIVING

Imagine a talking medicinecabinet that helps seniors

manage their medications.Sound far-fetched? Thinkagain. Technology-services companyAccenture is devel-oping such a product,and while it’s still sev-eral years away fromthe consumer mar-ket, a protoptype hasbeen on display,according to Busi-nessWeek magazine.

More and morehigh-tech products directedtoward older adults or theircaregivers are arriving in themarketplace. These cutting-edge devices keep the elderlyhealthier, safer and able tomaintain their independence.

Look for these new products:• E-HealthKEY stores

medical history,drug lists,con-tact names, etc. on a chip

embedded ina unit that fitson a key-chain. In anemergency,the key canbe pluggedinto the USBport of acomputer toaccess theinformation.

• E-Neighbor consistsof wireless sensors pro-grammed to detect unusualactivity in a senior’s house orapartment. It can make a callto the senior or send an e-mail alert to a caregiver.

High-Tech DevicesF O R S E N I O R S

-Ground Beef . . . . . . . 18 gBacon . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 gFried Chicken. . . . . . 30 gRoast Chicken . . . . . . 4 gShrimp . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 gCornbread . . . . . . . . . 5 gEnglish Muffin . . . . . . 1 g

Potato Chips . . . . . . . 10 gDoughnuts . . . . . . . . 14 gPopcorn (plain) . . . . . . 1 gVegetables . . . . . . . . 0.2 gMilk (2%) . . . . . . . . . . 5 gCheese . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 gYogurt. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 g

HeartMost heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis, the build-up

of fatty deposits in the arteries that supply blood to yourheart muscle. Too much cholesterol in the blood contributes toatherosclerosis. You can reduce cholesterol in your blood by eat-ing less fat.

To put you on the right track, here are some common foodsand their fat grams (average serving size):

Healthy Hints

New Bill ChangesMEDICAID

A s many caregivers know, life savings can bespent paying for nursing home care before a

senior can become eligible for Medicaid assistance. Medicaid eligibility rules are complicated, and

they change often. With the recent passage of theDeficit Reduction Act of 2005, these complicatedrules changed again. The new bill makes it harderfor people to give away assets and qualify for Medi-caid assistance in the nursing home. It increases theperiod of time that people have to disclose assetsgiven away, from three years to five years. It alsochanges the timing of penalty periods imposed formaking gifts.

If you think this might affect you or a loved one,be sure to consult an elderlaw specialist for adviceon qualifying for Medicaid assistance.

Rules Again

6 Steps to Better Communication !

!

By Martha Nolan McKenzie

SSusan is a typical — and busy — baby

boomer. She is 53, but looks about 10

years younger, thanks to a regular exer-

cise routine. She works full-time. She

and her husband have two children, a

high school senior and a college junior.

And she is the caregiver for her 79-year-

old mother, who lost much of the use of

her right side after suffering a stroke.

It was the latter role that made Susan startto think about her own future. As she lined

up aides to go into her mother’s home tohelp clean and cook, and hired carpen-

ters to add grab bars in her mother’sbathrooms, Susan began to consider

her own retirement more seriouslythan she ever had. She realized

that if she wanted the secondhalf of her life to be worth-while and enjoyable, she hadbetter start developing a plannow. And, like a growingnumber of her boomerbrethren, she realized thatplan needed to include morethan just finances.

Indeed, assets andincome have long monopo-lized retirement planning —for good reason. With peopleliving longer, funding adecades-long retirement doesrequire careful financial

planning. But these days, many people in midlifehave realized they want more out of retirementthan financial security. They want happiness.They want meaning.

“When you reach age 50 or so, you begin tolook ahead and ask, ‘What do I want to do withthe rest of my life?’“ says Sandra Timmermann,director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute.“We are healthy, active and we want to do some-thing that counts with the time we have left.”

And, as with anything that boomers havewanted to do throughout their lifetimes, anindustry has sprung up to help them do it. A cadre of professionals with titles such as Certified Retirement Coaches and Non-FinancialStrategists have joined the traditional financialadvisors and estate planners as retirementgurus. Stores are now bursting with self-helpbooks. Colleges are luring the 40- and 50-something set to classes with offerings such as“The New Retirement — A Plan for the Best Part of Your Life.”

“It’s a trend that’s sweeping the whole coun-try,” says Timmermann. “Some people call it lifeplanning. Some call it lifestyle planning. Somecall it planning for the new retirement. But what-ever the name, it’s all about looking for meaningin the second half of your life.”

In 2005, the Georgia Area Agencies on Aging(AAA) launched the GeorgiaCares Lifelong Plan-ning Program under Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Life-long Planning Initiative. The program helpsmiddle-age caregivers plan for their own futureneeds. Its primary focus is to educate con-sumers about the realities of long-term care andthe options for paying for it (see details, page 7).

In Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission(ARC) is running a program called Mapping Your

4 Georgia Generations

Road MaptoRetirement

A

P L A N N I N G Y O U R F U T U R E

Summer 2006 5

Future. “We really feel that retirement is the opportunity for awhole new beginning chapter in life,” says Marnie McDonough,lifelong planning coordinator for the ARC. “We know thatfinances are important for retirement planning, but they arejust one part. You always hear people say you will need 70% ofyour current income in retirement. Well, are you going to need70% of your house? What are you going to do with 70% of yourtime? We think you need to make a retirement plan thatfocuses not just on finances, but also on work/leisure, health,housing and relationships. All these factors will impact howhappy you are in retirement.”

It is often hard to see past your present busy life — to findthe time and energy to think about the future. It’s easy to putit off. But experts advise you to just start taking the first steps— think about your goals, seek out resources and begin tomake changes. Here are some areas you can explore as youmap out your personal plan for the future.

Work and LeisureWorkers used to look toward retirement as a time to per-

fect their chip shot or really get to know their grandchildren.But a recent survey by Putnam Investments found that about 7 million previously retired Americans returned to work afteran average sabbatical of one and a half years. The majority(two-thirds) re-entered the workforce because they wanted to,not because they needed the money. Many ofthese returning workers strike out into anew field, following a passion or a lifelonginterest. Some forsake paying jobs altogetherand volunteer their time.

Consider Alan Merrill, who retired fromcorporate management when he was 56years old. Six months later, with little previ-ous experience, he went to work as a car-penter for a residential remodeling firm inAtlanta. Although he enjoyed his new line ofwork, he retired again in November, at age 61, after taking aretirement planning class at Emory University.

“Taking the class made me realize my work was getting inthe way of doing the things I really wanted to do,” says Merrill.Now he is devoting his time to activities such as volunteeringas a lay minister, helping his sons remodel their homes andlearning to paint. And down the road — who knows? “I want tocontinue to explore new things,” he says.

Merrill is in good company. “Retirement doesn’t mean whatit used to,” says Timmermann. “People no longer live a linearlifestyle, where you go to school, get a job and then retire.Now people might drop in and out of the workforce, go back toschool or switch between work and volunteering.”

Now is the time for you to start considering the sort ofwork/leisure balance you would like in the future. There aremany resources to help evaluate your options. Civic Ventures,for example, is a national organization that promotes connect-ing older adults and nonprofits through paid and volunteerassignments. It runs Experience Corps, a U.S.-based PeaceCorps-type organization for volunteers age 55 and older, andNext Chapter, an initiative to provide expertise and assistance

to community groups that are helping people chart a coursefor the second half of their lives.

Locally, volunteer opportunities are virtually endless. Hospitals, schools, churches and nonprofits rely on volunteersto keep their operations running. People with business expert-ise can consult with start-up and small businesses throughSCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education. (To find a SCORE chapter near you, go towww.score.org.)

HealthWhat good is building up a solid 401(k), buying that

retirement home and laying the groundwork for a new career direction if you end up being too frail to enjoy it? You need to start investing in your health now if you want to enjoy arobust retirement in the future. The rules are simple: Eat well,exercise and get regular health screenings.

Eating well is one of the keys to aging well. A high-fiber,low-fat diet can not only build a strong body, it can help wardoff a host of diseases, such as heart disease, certain types ofcancer, diabetes and dementia. And our nutritional needschange as we age. The older we get, the fewer calories we typically need. At the same time, our bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients. Talk to your physician or anutritionist to see how your diet might need adjusting.

The health benefits of physical activity are hardto overstate. It can help prevent many diseases,from cancer to depression. It can improve thehealth of people who already suffer from diseases.And it can boost your quality of life and sense of

well-being. “There are so many docu-

mented health benefits of physi-cal activity, and new ones keepbeing discovered,” says David Buchner, chief of the CDC’s Physi-cal Activity and Health Branch.“The most interesting recent find-ing suggests that physical activitycan delay or even prevent cogni-tive impairment.”

The CDC has specific guidelines for how much physicalactivity is needed to achieve health benefits. They includeendurance activities (brisk walking, swimming, raking thelawn), strength training and flexibility/balance exercises, suchas yoga and Tai Chi. The important point is to start puttingexercise routines in place before you hit the retirement years.

No matter how well you eat and how regularly you exer-cise, it is critical to get regular health screenings, particularlyas you age. For example, the American Cancer Society recom-mends a cancer-related checkup, including skin examination,every three years for people between 20 and 40 years of ageand every year for people age 40 and older. It recommends youbegin colorectal cancer screening at age 50, or earlier if youhave a family history of colon cancer. Beginning at age 50, menshould begin screening for prostate cancer. Talk to your doctorabout what types of health screenings you need.

HousingOne of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make about the

second half of your life is where you want to spend it. Whatwill you be able to afford? Do you want to remain in your current home? Do you want to move to a smaller place, perhaps near grandchildren? Your housing needs will likelychange in (and throughout) retirement, so start thinking rightnow about the type of home that will best meet your needsand how you might pay for it. An important factor to consideris whether you are living in an elder-friendly community —that is, a town that considers the basic needs of older adultsin such areas as housing, transportation, safety, social andcivic involvement.

If you want to stay in your own home, you may need tomake some modifications. The house that served you so wellwhen you were raising your family may not be as comfortableif you develop some mobility or vision problems. Fortunately,there is a plethora of products that can help you age in place.

“The goal is to have the house adapt to the person ratherthan the person adapt to the house,” says Rebecca Stahr,president of Life Spring Environs, an Atlanta design firm specializing in the needs of the 50-plus population.

Or you may decide you don’t need all that space, especiallyonce the children have left. For people willing to move, thereare a host of communities springing up around Georgia thatcater to the 50-plus homeowner. Many boomers are lookingahead and making the move now, while they are younger, to ahouse that will allow them to age in place.

Looking farther down the road, you may well need assis-tance that is difficult to get in your own home. Now is the timeto start considering this eventuality and familiarizing yourselfwith the choices. There are independent-living facilities, whichtypically offer daily meals, housekeeping and personal emer-gency response, in addition to social activities and transporta-tion. The next step up in the level of care would be assisted-living facilities, which also provide help with the tasks of dailyliving, such as getting dressed, bathing or taking medication.For individuals who can no longer function on their own, nursing homes offer round-the-clock skilled nursing care.

“Long-term care is expensive and getting more expensive,”says Aleisha Elliot, lifelong planning specialist for the LowerChattahoochee AAA. ”You need to plan now for how you aregoing to be able to cover those costs later on.”

RelationshipsThe topic of relationships is not usually broached in retire-

ment planning, but it should be, according to Jane Shows, acertified retirement coach and instructor of an Evening atEmory class titled “The New Retirement — A Plan for the BestPart of Your Life.”

“If you have a spouse or a life partner, you have to includethat person in your retirement planning,” says Shows. “Oftenspouses are not on the same page. One is ready to retire andthe other is not. One wants to move to a smaller place and theother wants to stay put. You need to start talking about thesethings before you have to start making these decisions.”

And just as your housing may well change in retirement,so may your relationships. “You and your spouse may findyourselves suddenly thrown together again,” says the ARC’sMcDonough. “You might need to reconnect, and at the sametime maintain your own identity. You might need to negotiatethe time you spend together.”

Other relationships are also important, since people easilycan become more isolated when they age. “It’s important tocontinue to expand your social network in retirement,” saysMcDonough. “A Harvard School of Health Policy study showedthat connecting with people as we age may prove just as pow-erful for our well-being as exercising.”

FinancesThe “three-legged stool” that is supposed to provide finan-

cial support for retirees is wobbly, to say the least. One leg —employer pensions — has been cut out for many workers. Thesecond leg — Social Security — has significant cracks in it,with rising ages for eligibility and a looming shortfall. Thatleaves the final leg — personal savings — as the primarymeans of support in retirement for most Americans.

Funding a possible decades-long retirement requires diligent planning and preparation that should begin in yourmidlife years. First, take inventory to determine where you arenow financially. Make sure you have all your legal documentsin order — wills, living wills and durable powers of attorneyfor finances and health care.

Once you know where you are, you need to decide whereyou want to end up. At this phase, it’s very helpful to meet

with a financial planner. While the rule of thumb says you’llneed 70% to 90% of your current income in retirement, a finan-cial planner can take you past generalizations. For example, ifyou plan to travel extensively, you may need more than yourcurrent income to support that lifestyle. You may assumeyou’ll live until 85, but a planner can determine if you’d bebetter off assuming you’ll live to almost 100.

Now that you know where you want to be, you’ve got tochart a course to get there. A financial planner can make sureyou are maxing out your 401(k), scrutinize your asset alloca-tion to make sure you are not investing too conservatively,suggest cost-cutting tactics and counsel you on future with-drawal strategies.

But don’t forget, you’ll need more than money for a happyretirement. “You can have all the money in the world and stillhave an unsuccessful retirement,” says Shows. “If you wantyour retirement years to be full and meaningful, you have toplan ahead to make them that way.” GG

6 Georgia Generations

Many people in midlife have realized they

want more out of retirement than financial security.

They want happiness. They want meaning.

ONG-TERM CARE. It’s the great unknown lurking on the horizon thatcould derail even the most carefully constructed retirement plans.Long-term care includes services that help people perform tasksthey can no longer perform themselves, from housekeeping to

money management and from dressing to bathing. And long-term careencompasses more than nursing homes — it includes in-home services, adultday care programs and assisted-living facilities.

With life expectancies increasing, more and more of us will eventuallyneed some form of long-term care. In fact, about 60 percent of individu-als age 65 and older will require long-term care at some point in their lives.

The costs associated with such care are staggering. The average annualnational costs of in-home care total $16,000. For assisted-living facilities,the number jumps to $30,000 a year, and nursing homes cost an average of$61,000 to $69,000 per year. And the really bad news — many of these costsare out-of-pocket.

“People have no concept,” says Nataly Archbold, lifelong planning specialist with the Coastal Georgia AAA. “They think the government willtake care of them. They think Medicare will pay for everything.”

In reality, Medicaid pays for just 38% of the nation’s total long-term care expenses. Medicare covers about 20%. Private insur-ance picks up about 14% of the total cost, which leaves consumerspaying an average of 28% of long-term care costs out of pocket.

“When you think about the size of the expenses we are talk-ing about, even 28% adds up to quite a lot of money,” says Cynthia Haley,lifelong planning coordinator for the GeorgiaCares Lifelong Planning Pro-gram at the Division of Aging Services.

The Lifelong Planning Program was developed under Gov. Sonny Perdue’sLifelong Planning Initiative as a statewide education effort to build con-sumer awareness about long-term care services and costs, and provide toolsto help individuals assess their potential needs.

Georgia’s 12 AAA offices are doing seminars and one-on-one counselingto get the message out. At the Southern Crescent AAA, for example, lifelongplanning coordinator Belinda Jones is taking her presentations to churches,where she can reach people of all ages. Coastal Georgia AAA’s Archbold istargeting employers, both offering presentations to employees and trying toconvince the employers to offer long-term care insurance as part of theirbenefits package. Carol Lockett, the coordinator for the AAA of NorthwestGeorgia, broadcasts the message on local TV and radio stations.

“As the population ages, there is going to be more demand for theresources that are available,” says Lockett. “People are going to have to domore for themselves, which means planning ahead. That’s what the programis all about — helping people in their 40s and 50s plan ahead for retirementand long-term care, and helping older retirees find ways to turn some oftheir assets into cash when or if they need it.”

Here are some options available for meeting long-term care costs:■ LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE. Just as you buy insurance to protect

against a catastrophic loss related to your home, your health and your car, you can buy insurance to pay for eventual long-term care needs. Such protection, however, is costly. Typically, if you wait until your 70s or 80s to

try to buy a policy, the premiums will be prohibitive, and you may alreadyhave a disqualifying medical condition. You are more likely to be able toafford the premiums and pass the medical exam if you buy in your 50s or60s. You also need to consider your financial situation. If you have fewassets, you may wish to use your own funds until they run out and thenqualify for Medicaid. If you have very significant assets, you may elect tofund any long-term care needs yourself. If you fall somewhere in the middle, long-term care insurance might be your most attractive option.

■ YOUR HOME. If you are one of the many Americans who is house richand cash poor, you may be able to use your equity to help pay for long-term care costs. You could sell your home, move to a smaller place and usethe remaining proceeds. Or you could sell your home to an investor andarrange to lease it back on a long-term basis. In this case, the investor wouldown your home when you move. Or you could take out a reverse mortgage.Homeowners age 62 and older can convert the equity in their home intocash and continue to live in their home without making any loan repay-ments. The loan is repaid when the house is sold, either after you move into

a care facility or pass away. The loans are complicated, so it is a good ideato get professional advice before getting one.

■ YOUR LIFE INSURANCE. One way to help finance long-term care is tosell your policy, which is called a life settlement. “There are companies thatwill buy your life insurance policy for less than its face value,” says Don Poole,the lifelong planning specialist for Legacy Link. “You have to be at least 70years old (males) or 74 years old (females) to do this, and, of course, you loseyour life insurance. But it can be a way to pay for long-term care needs.”

If you are terminally ill, you can sell your life insurance policy to a thirdparty for 50% of the death benefits in what is called a viatical settlement.The remaining 50% will go to your beneficiaries after your death. Your insurance company may also offer accelerated death benefits, or a tax-freecash advance, if you are in poor health.

■ MEDICAID. If you are low income, you may qualify for Medicaid tofinance your long-term care needs. However, you should be aware of somerecent changes to the system. “The look-back in Georgia is now five yearsinstead of three,” says Tina Strassenberg, lifelong planning coordinator forthe Southwest Georgia AAA. Look-back refers to the period of years Medicaid officials consider when looking at your eligibility. So if have yougiven any of your assets to your children within the past five years, thoseassets will still be considered yours when calculating Medicaid eligibility.

“In addition, under a new estate recovery requirement, once you passaway, Medicaid will seek reimbursement for services if your assets are overa certain amount,” continues Strassenberg. “It’s a good idea to work withpeople who really understand the Medicaid system, so you will know whatto expect.”

Summer 2006 7

A Closer Look atLifelong Planning

L

For information and assistance on long-termcare needs, call GeorgiaCares at 1-800-669-8387.

by Moira Keller LCSWSixty Plus Older Adult Services at Piedmont Hospital

As people age, so do their driving skills. New medications,decreased mobility, cognitive changes and impairments in

vision and hearing can all affect how we drive. Refresher courses, such as the AARP Driver Safety Program,

teach driving techniques that result in safer roads for every-one. This eight-hour classroom course costs $10 and is offeredat several locations throughout the state. Available toanyone over age 50, these courses do not require aphysician’s order.

In addition, there are other, more extensive driv-ing assessment programs that can pinpoint exactlywhere someone is having a problem — and what todo about it.

Known as driver rehabilitation programs, theyare usually offered through hospital rehabilitation depart-ments. Specially trained occupational therapists will evaluatestrength, range of motion, reaction times and balance. Theywill also screen for visual acuity and perception. Road signknowledge is tested, as well as memory and ability to followdirections.

If the person being tested “passes” all of the in-office evaluations, he or she takes an on-the-road driving test in aspecially equipped car. This type of comprehensive drivingassessment usually has one of three possible results: The per-son being tested is found to be a completely competent driver,with no necessary restrictions; he or she is told to stop drivingaltogether; or he or she is told he should drive only under certain circumstances — for example, no night driving or norush-hour driving.

Older adults who are concerned about driving should dis-cuss this issue with their primary care physician. A doctor’sorder is needed to obtain a comprehensive driving assessmentfrom a driver rehabilitation program. Often, doctors will rely onfeedback from a driving specialist before they know whether apatient is safe to drive.

These assessments are not completely covered by Medicare;you may have to pay between $350 and $500 for the evalua-tion. You can learn more information about programs near you

by contacting the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association.In Atlanta, the Shepard Center, the DeKalb Medical Center andEmory Healthcare all offer driver rehab services.

Driving is a highly skilled and complex task that, whendone poorly, threatens the lives of drivers themselves as wellas others on the road. Refresher driver instruction and driverrehabilitation programs can help to lessen road risk and keepus free from danger.

For more information about Driver Safety courses near you,contact AARP at 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669) or onlineat www.aarp.org. For comprehensive driving assessments, contact the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association at 770-435-5910 or Sixty Plus Older Adult Services at PiedmontHospital, 404-605-3867. GG

GUEST CLOSE-UPGUEST CLOSE-UP

Driving is a highly skilled and complex task that,when done poorly, threatens the lives of driversthemselves as well as others on the road.

How’sYour

Driving?

8 Georgia Generations

A Look at Area Agencies on Aging Around Georgia

NorthwestNorthwestGeorgiaGeorgia

AtlantaAtlantaRegionalRegionalCommissionCommission

SouthernSouthernCrescentCrescent

LegacyLegacyLinkLink

NortheastNortheastGeorgia Georgia

CentralCentralSavannahSavannahRiver River

MiddleMiddleGeorgia Georgia

SouthwestSouthwestGeorgia Georgia SoutheastSoutheast

GeorgiaGeorgia

Heart ofHeart ofGeorgiaGeorgiaAltamahaAltamaha CoastalCoastal

GeorgiaGeorgia

LowerLowerChattahoochee Chattahoochee

NorthwestGeorgia

AtlantaRegionalCommission

SouthernCrescent

LegacyLink

NortheastGeorgia

CentralSavannahRiver

MiddleGeorgia

LowerChattahoochee

SouthwestGeorgia Southeast

Georgia

Heart ofGeorgiaAltamaha Coastal

Georgia

In communities across the country, Area

Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as gateways to

local resources, planning efforts and services

that help older adults remain independent.

On the following pages are the programs and

services offered by Georgia’s AAAs.

Northwest Georgia held its first Fearless Caregiver Conference on

February 28 in Rome, with over 160 indi-viduals in attendance. Family caregivers atthe conference included those taking careof elderly parents, spouses or develop-mentally disadvantaged children, and grand-parents raising grandchildren. The programincluded a panel discussion with expertsfrom various fields related to the needs ofcaregivers, and two nationally known guestspeakers, Dr. David Haigler and Gary Barg.

The main questions addressed to the10-member panel focused on the newMedicare Part D Prescription Drug Pro-gram,“How and when do I take the carkeys away?” and Medicaid estate recovery.

Dr. David Haigler, interim director of

the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Care-giving, spoke on the importance of main-taining the well-being of the caregiver.“As a caregiver,” he said, “you are the oneconstant in your loved one’s life. If youdon’t take care of yourself, how will youtake care of that loved one?”

Keynote speaker Gary Barg, founderand editor-in-chief of Today’s Caregiver

magazine and author of the book TheFearless Caregiver, described how hisexperiences as a caregiver led him toestablish the magazine. He has utilizedinterviews with celebrity caregivers suchas Della Reese, Dana Reeve, RosalynnCarter and others to share support andways of coping with the stressfuldemands of caregiving.

The conference was sponsored by the CVRDC Area Agency on Aging, theSenior Promotions Council of Rome/FloydCounty and the CARE-NET of NorthwestGeorgia.

For other information, contact the AAA ofNorthwest Georgia, P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA30162-1793; 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

Northwest GeorgiaCovers a 15-county area surrounding Rome, Dallas, Dalton, Cartersville

Summer 2006 9

Gary Barg, Today’s Caregiver magazine, and Dr. David Haigler, Rosalynn Carter Institute.

Fearless CaregiverConference

Recently, many seniors have reportedreceiving a variety of telephone calls

from scammers.The Atlanta SeniorMedicare Patrol at the Atlanta RegionalCommission, the Area Agency on Aging,offers the following information about scamcalls from unidentified individuals who:

■ Try to sell fake prescription drugplans or health plans (some supposedlysponsored by banks). Sometimes theseplans cost around $299 a year, which mustbe paid in advance.

■ Falsely represent themselves as beingfrom local county governments, the SocialSecurity Administration or other well-recognized organizations and companies.

■ State that all senior citizens mustobtain new Social Security numbers, whichis not true.

■ Announce a bogus grant award thatthe senior adult has “won.”

■ Announce that Medicare owes thesenior money.

The amounts owed or awarded in thelast two scams supposedly cannot be sentuntil the senior sends a specific amount ofmoney up front for the “processing fee.”The individuals making these calls frequently

ask for Social Security numbers, Medicarenumbers, bank account and routing num-bers, credit card and/or PIN numbers.

FACTS: ■ Sales representatives of Medicare

Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D)are allowed to call people to talk aboutthe drug plans they represent. However,they are not allowed to accept any pay-ment over the phone for premiums and

they may not ask for any personal informa-tion, including Medicare, bank account,Social Security or credit card numbers.Calls that do so are fraudulent.

■ Sales representatives are not allowedto come to seniors’ homes without firstmaking an appointment. Anyone whocomes to the home without an appoint-ment should not be allowed in.

■ The Social Security Administration isnot going to change individuals’ SocialSecurity numbers.

TO AVOID THESE AND OTHER SCAMS,TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

■ Hang up the phone immediately. It’sshrewd to be rude!

■ Never give any personal information,such as Medicare, Social Security, bankaccount or credit card numbers to anyonewho calls on the phone or comes to the door.

■ Sign up for the National Do NotCall Registry at 1-888-382-1222 to stopunwanted phone calls.

■ Call 911 if you feel threatened.■ Report scams to your local police

or sheriff ’s office.■ Call the Senior Medicare Patrol

(in Metro Atlanta, 404-463-0763; outsideMetro Atlanta, call 1-800-669-8387) toreport or discuss possible fraud or scamsand to schedule a very informative presen-tation about Medicare fraud and identitytheft for your group.

The Atlanta Senior Medicare Patrol isoperated by the Atlanta Regional Commis-sion, the Area Agency on Aging for the 10-county Atlanta region, and is funded bya grant from the Administration on Aging.It educates senior adults and others onhow to recognize, prevent and reportMedicare and Medicaid fraud and errorsthrough outreach and education.

For more information and/or to report ascam in Metro Atlanta, call the Atlanta SeniorMedicare Patrol at 404-463-0763.

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION ENCOMPASSES THESECOUNTIES: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas,Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale

Atlanta Regional CommissionCovers a 10-county area surrounding Atlanta

Cherokee County Cherokee County SeniorServices, 770-345-5312

Clayton County Clayton County Aging Program, 770-603-4050

Cobb County Cobb Senior Services, 770-528-5364

DeKalb County Office of Senior Affairs, 404-687-7117

Douglas County Douglas Senior Services, 770-489-3100

Fayette County Fayette Senior Services, 770-461-0813

Fulton County Fulton County Aging Program, 404-730-6000

Gwinnett County Gwinnett County SeniorServices, 678-377-4150

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

Rockdale County Rockdale County SeniorServices, 770-922-4633

Atlanta Regional Commission 404-463-3333

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

10 Georgia Generations

™

Telephone SCAM alert

The Lower Chatta-hoochee Area

Agency on Aging(LCAAA) provides a monthly supportgroup for grand-parents raising grand-children. This supportgroup meets in theevening at the Colum-bus Public Library inMuscogee County.

Many collaborativeorganizations havesupported and enhanced the quality ofinformation and support for grandparents.The UGA Extension Service played a keyrole in establishing the need for such a

support groupwhen, in March2005, it partneredwith the LCAAAto identify theconcerns of grand-parents and otherrelatives raisinggrandchildren. Thenutritionist fromthe Extension Service has been aspeaker at severalsupport group

meetings and has addressed nutrition ofboth the children and grandparents.

Georgia Legal Services and the LCAAAhave partnered to present legal and finan-

cial workshops in each county. The coun-ties’ Family Connections Collaboratives,UGA Extension Service agents, countyschools and DFCS community resourcespecialists have been invaluable partners inmaking the workshops a reality.

Other partners include the ColumbusPublic Library, the Pastoral Institute, Geor-gia Medical College,VistaCare Hospice,Columbus Consumer Credit Bureau, BigBrothers/Big Sisters, Family Connections,DFCS, Sam’s Club,AARP and the MuscogeeCounty School Board.

For further information, contact LowerChattahoochee 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

Caregivers in Northeast Georgia hadthe opportunity to come together in

March for “Journeys of a Caregiver,” a conference sponsored by the NortheastGeorgia Area Agency on Aging (NEGAAAA) and Athens Regional Medical Center(ARMC). The event offered important infor-mation on various aspects of caregiving.

Over a hundred family and professionalcaregivers heard Beth Witrogen McLeod,author of Caregiving:The Spiritual Journey ofLove, Loss and Renewal, begin the confer-ence by sharing her personal experiencesin taking care of her late husband. MaryKramer from ARMC Regional Rehabilita-tion shared and demonstrated the bestmethods to lift patients and maintain ahealthy back.

Jane Cooley from First American Bankstressed to caregivers the importance ofhaving a plan that addresses the care of a loved one. This plan should include a will, a living will, a financial power of attor-ney and a durable power of attorney forhealth care. According to Cooley, an indi-vidual’s will should be reviewed each year.

Additionally, family members, doctors andyour bank should know that these docu-ments exist and where they can be foundin the event of your death.

Partnering with the NEGA AAA andARMC were the Georgia Department ofHuman Resources — Division of AgingServices,Athens Community Council onAging,Athens Area Estate Planning Net-work and NEGA CARE-NET.A total of 12agencies were on hand to provide informa-tion and answer caregivers’ questionsabout their services.

For information about caregiving, contactthe Northeast Georgia AAA, 305 ResearchDrive, Athens, GA 30605; 706-369-5650 ortoll-free 1-800-474-7540.

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

Lower Chattahoochee

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

Covers a 16-county area surrounding Columbus, Americus, Butler, Montezuma, Cuthbert

Support group helps grandparents raising grandchildren

Caregiving conference offers wealth of information

Grandparents often play a critical role in the livesof their grandchildren.

Summer 2006 11

During lunch, attendees listen to the “Caregiverson Caregiving: Joys and Difficulties” panel.

L ife can be stressful for care-givers, but exercise and

staying socially active can reducestress and help with the challengeof caregiving. One helpful tool isthe Arthritis Foundation ExerciseProgram, formerly known as PACE.

The goals of this program are toprovide participants with an enjoy-able, safe exercise program and toimprove self-image and self-esteemthrough increased physical well-being. At the same time the pro-gram encourages social interaction,improves performance of daily activ-ities and helps the participant protect his or her joints. With this particular exer-cise program, the participant experiences

exercise as fun while learning about arthritis.In 2004, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha

Area joined hands with the Georgia Divi-sion of Public Health, the Chronic Disease

Prevention Initiative and the Arthritis Foundation to bring PACE Plus to seniorcenters. Since the launch of the program

in Laurens and Wheelercounties, the program andpartnerships have continuedin other counties.The participants have reportedimproved joint mobility anddecreased pain.

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

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

Exercise improves well-being of caregivers

Heart of Georgia Altamaha

Nearly 10 percent of all children livingin Georgia are being raised in house-

holds headed by a grandparent, and thisnumber is increasing daily.Two-parent fami-lies are being ripped apart by substanceabuse, incarceration, divorce, chronic ill-ness, early death, child abuse and othersocial ills. Fortunately, many grandparentsare stepping up to take responsibility forthe children who are being left behind.

To assist in meeting the many needs ofgrandparents raising grandchildren, theSoutheast Georgia (SEGa) AAA haslaunched a Kinship Care support group inWare County. The group, which meetsmonthly at the senior center in Waycross,gives participants the opportunity to share

the day-to-dayjoys and frustra-tions of theircaregivingresponsibilities.

At the kick-off meeting inApril, Katie Flynn,SEGa AAA pro-gram specialist,shared valuableinformationabout theresources available to grandparents, orother relatives, who are raising grandchil-dren, nieces, nephews or other children.The participants were encouraged to take

part in a group discussionabout the positive and nega-tive aspects of their respectivesituations. Of course, all personal information shared in the group setting is keptconfidential.

The formation of additionalKinship Care support groups isplanned during the next year.

For more information, call the Southeast Georgia AAA at1725 South Georgia ParkwayWest,Waycross, GA 31503;912-285-6097 or toll-free 1-888-732-4464.

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

Southeast Georgia

More support for grandparents raising grandchildren

In Georgia, 164,423 children are beingraised by their grandparents.

Seniors exercise at the Wayne County Senior Center.

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

Covers a 17-county area surrounding Baxley, Dublin, Vidalia, Jesup, Swainsboro

12 Georgia Generations

Thurman Barnes, clad in his graduationrobes, walked a bit slowly to pick up

his diploma. He needed a little help, but,after all, he is 96 years old. More than 80years after dropping out of high school,Barnes recently received his General Education Development (GED) diploma.Friends and family, as well as state and federal officials, gathered at West GeorgiaTechnical College in LaGrange to see Thurman Barnes receive his long-awaiteddegree.

Michael Vollmer, head of the Georgiadepartment that manages the Adult Liter-acy Program, presented Barnes with anofficial letter notifying him that he hadearned his GED diploma. Barnes seemed

genuinely movedby the cere-mony but main-tained his senseof humor. “I’lltry to do a littlelike AbrahamLincoln, and I’lltry and wearthe same sizehat when Ileave here,” hesaid. “This is proof of what an old farmercan do if he keeps trying, I guess.”

As Vollmer moved Barnes’ tassel at theend of the ceremony, Barnes said, “Thismakes me feel smarter already.” Barnes is

believed to be the oldest recipient of the GED degree in the United States.

The SouthernCrescent Area Agencyon Aging is extremelyproud to have Barnesand his wife, Sophia, asactive participants intheir senior programs.

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

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

SOUTHERN CRESCENT ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike,Spalding, Troup, Upson

Sue Pelfrey, director of the Senior Com-munity Service Employment Program

(SCSEP) at Legacy Link, has an enviablerecord of successfully placing older citizenswho want to return to the workforce.During the past year, she has placed 25seniors in positions including clerical assistant at the Read Association of Dawsonville, receptionist at the HallCounty Adult Learning Center, informationspecialist at Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and many more.

Recently, an applicant to the programbecame Pelfrey’s assistant. With two children in college and still grieving overthe loss of her husband, who died in anautomobile accident, she came to Pelfrey

by way of a recommendation from a localvocational rehabilitation specialist. Gratefulfor the opportunity to have the position,

she continues to deal with the suddenchanges in her life. She recognizes thatlearning more about computers whileincreasing her skills will help her to moveforward.

If you are 55 or older with a lowincome, you may be in a position to benefitfrom this program in order to refresh yourjob skills and re-enter the workforce. If so,you would be placed in a part-time com-munity service assignment to gain experi-ence. Contact Pelfrey at the number belowto find out how to get training and make atransition to a position that is right for you.

For further information, contact LegacyLink, 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

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

Troup County man, 96 years old, receives high school diploma

Southern Crescent

Age is an asset —experience, a benefit

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

Thurman Barnes receives his degree.

Sue Pelfrey, director of SCSEP.

Summer 2006 13

Karen Clifton and Tossie Alston havebeen volunteers at Meals on Wheels

of Macon and Bibb County, Inc. (a providerof the Middle Georgia AAA), delivering hotmeals to homebound clients for over 13years. They are both active members ofMartha Bowman United Methodist Church,where Karen is the organist and Tossiesings in the choir.

One of their home-delivered mealclients, 93-year-old Dorothy Barrett, has atoy poodle named Trixie, who is the appleof her eye. When Dorothy was no longerable to live independently in her home, shewas admitted into a nursing home. She wasreluctant to move until Karen agreed toprovide a home for Trixie.

When Karen and Tossie deliver meals,

they take Trixie to thenursing home to visitwith Dorothy. Trixieloves all the attentionshe gets when riding inthe wheelchair withDorothy. After Karenand Tossie deliver all ofthe home-deliveredmeals on their route,they return to thenursing home to spendtime with Dorothy andpick up Trixie.

Karen and Tossieare in their church’sGenesis Sunday Schoolclass, which helps finan-cially with some of Dorothy’s personalneeds. They recently had a telephone withLife Net installed in her room. This past

Christmas the classprovided sweat-shirts and flannelshirts for other residents in thehome. Such exam-ples show how volunteers make adifference in thelives of the peoplethey serve.

For more informa-tion on opportunitiesto volunteer, contactthe Middle GeorgiaAAA at 478-751-6466 or toll-free 1-888-548-1456.

MIDDLE GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach,Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson

Middle GeorgiaCovers an 1 1-county area surrounding Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville

Central Savannah River

Thanks to a grant from the CentralSavannah River Area Agency on Aging

(CSRA), the Medical College of Georgia(MCG) School of Nursing is extending theservices of its Healthy Grandparents Pro-gram to 12 additional counties in Georgiaand expanding services to other non-parent caregivers in all of the 14 countiesserved by the CSRA. Residents in Burke,Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins,Lincoln, McDuffie, Screven,Taliaferro,Warren,Washington and Wilkes countiesmay now take advantage of program services, including telephone referrals for a variety of issues from health care andhousing to food banks and education.

“Grandparents raising grandchildren can

call the serv-ice to askquestions andmake surethat they’regetting the aidthat they qual-ify for,” saysDr. JudithSalzer, assistant professor of nursing atMCG and director of the Healthy Grand-parents Program.“We want to make surethat people are knowledgeable about whattheir rights are and what their children’srights are.”

The expanded program will also offer amonthly support group meeting.Topics for

those meetings willinclude everything fromparent/grandparent healthissues to the behavioraldifferences between chil-dren today and childrenin the past.

For more informationon this program, call Dr.Salzer at 706-830-0389or Mike Patton, School ofNursing social worker, at706-721-6227.

For further information, contact the Central Savannah River AAA, 3023 River WatchPkwy., Suite A, Augusta, GA 30907-2800;706-210-2018 or toll-free 1-888-922-4464.

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

Karen Clifton (right) visits with DorothyBarrett and Trixie.

14 Georgia Generations

Grant enhances Healthy Grandparents Program

Volunteers make a difference

Stana Simpson and granddaughter Tanasia.

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

Coastal Georgia grandparents nowhave a place to go for helpful infor-

mation, counseling and support. TheGrandparent Connection, a program of theCoastal Coalition for Children, provides a valuable network of information and support specifically directed toward grand-parents raising grandchildren.

Benjamin and Carrie Dunson, both intheir early 50s, are the primary caregiversfor three of their seven grandchildren.The Dunsons have taken responsibility forClove, 12, Dijonaie, 10, and Laquanna, 9,from time to time for many years. The

children came to live with the Dunsonsunder a permanent arrangement almost ayear ago. As you might expect, there havebeen challenges.

Keeping the children busy and out oftrouble is a constant concern for thesegrandparents.When asked what advice hewould give other grandparents in a similarsituation, Benjamin suggests,“It’s very impor-tant to show them constant love and careeach and every day.”

Benjamin is one of eight regular partici-pants in the Grandparent Connection Support Group, which currently meets two times each month in Brunswick. More support groups are being planned forother parts of the coastal region over thenext several months.

For additional information, contact theGrandparent Connection at 912-262-1855,ext. 6, or the Coastal Area Agency on Aging at1-800-580-6860.

COASTAL GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn,Liberty, Long, McIntosh

What is “advocacy”? It is pleading thecause or defending a proposal on

behalf of another person. “Self-advocacy” is pleading yourown cause or defending a pro-posal that benefits you. Bothtypes of advocacy are impor-tant for family and professionalcaregivers to practice.

During the recent legisla-tive session, the GeorgiaCouncil on Aging and CO-AGE proposed several bills onbehalf of seniors and care-givers. The SOWEGA Councilon Aging was active in advo-cacy on behalf of Medicaid

nursing home residents to increase theirpersonal needs allowance from $30 amonth to at least $45.

Senate Bill 420 proposed a power ofattorney and financial subsidy for grand-parent caregivers raising grandchildren. The

Kinship Care Program participants andCARE-NET members signed petitions,wrote letters and made phone calls advo-cating on behalf of this measure. Seniorsfrom Southwest Georgia and all over thestate converged on their legislators duringSenior Week at the Capitol to talk aboutsenior issues.

If you have not been involved, giveadvocacy a try. Your elected officials won’tknow your point of view if you don’t tellthem. You are more powerful than youknow!

For further information, contact the South-west Georgia Area Agency on Aging at 1105Palmyra Road, Albany, GA 31701-2508;229-432-1124 or toll-free 1-800-282-6612.

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady,Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth

The importance ofadvocacy

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

Benjamin Dunson with five of his seven grandchildren.He and his wife, Carrie, are the primary caregivers toClove, Dijonaie and Laquanna.

Coastal GeorgiaCovers a 9-county area surrounding Brunswick and Savannah

Coastal Georgia grandparents find support

Summer 2006 15

SponsorsThanks to these Georgia companies and organizations for their generous support

AARPAssuming responsibility for the home care of loved

ones can involve assist-ing with daily activities,managing high-tech

medical treatments and dealing with issues arounddying. AARP’s “Life Answers” program can help youmeet these critical responsibilities. Find out more atwww.aarp.org/lifeanswers

Accessibility Services Plaza 30,000 feet of products and services. Metro’s most

complete inventory ofwheelchairs, scooters,home access solutions

(accessible model home), accessible vans and home healthcare services. 678-819-7583 orwww.rehab-plaza.com

Bridgebuilders, Inc.Personal care in thecomfort and privacy ofyour own home.

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

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

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

GeorgiaCaresGeorgiaCares is a private publicpartnership that assists Medicarebeneficiaries with health insurance

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

Georgia Council on AgingThe Georgia Council on Aging advocates on behalf of olderGeorgians and their families. For more information, please visit

the Web site at www.gcoa.org

Isakson-BarnhartGeorgia’s developer of award-winning senior residential communities, providing amenity-rich

independent living and healthcare

for discerning adults over age 62, including ParkSprings, recipient of the 2005 Platinum Award by the NAHB, and Peachtree Hills Place, which will open in 2008. www.isaksonbarnhart.com

PfizerThe “Health, Medicines &Lifestyles” icon on Pfizer’s Website will lead you to topics that

include “Profile of Caregiving,” “Exploring Your Health On Line” and many more. www.pfizer.com

Sixty Plus, Piedmont HospitalA program to enhance the well-being of olderadults and their familiesby providing services,

education and support. 1968 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta30309; 404-605-3867.

Southern Home Care ServicesNursing and personalcare services tailored

to your needs, Southern Home Care Services servesall ages with compassion, skill and respect. Licensedand accredited. www.southernhomecareservices.com

Bridgebuilders, Inc.Bridgebuilders, Inc.

16 Georgia Generations

How can I help?The Thanks Mom and Dad Fund® supports aging programs and can honor someone who has been an inspiration to you. Call 1-800-676-2433 to learn how.

Georgia Generations is published and supported byGeorgia’s Area Agencies on Aging.

Additional circulation support is provided by thegenerous sponsors listed here. For more information onbecoming a sponsor of Georgia Generations, please call404-463-3222.