GenerationsGeorgia

Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging

TMSummer 2005

DiscoverHigh-Tech

World

Seniors

the

New products, new gadgets and more!

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

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

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SUMMER 2005 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: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.

GenerationsGeorgia

Summer 2005, Volume 4, #4. © 2005 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

&NEWS NOTESCAREGIVING

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.whcoa.gov showcases the upcoming 2005

White House Conference on Aging to be held inWashington, DC on December 1 1-14, 2005. It’s held

once every decade to make aging policy recommen-dations to the President and Congress.

www.actec.org, the Web site for the American College of Trust andEstate 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.

The right medication can make a huge difference inyour health. But it’s important to realize that agingplays a role in how your body reacts to medications.For example:■ Age-related changes in the kidneys can affect howfast drugs are eliminated from the body.■ Changes in body weight can influence how muchmedicine you need.■ Many drugs, including certain antihistamines, cancause confusion and behavior changes in the elderly.

A drug that worked well on a 60-year-old patientmay no longer work the same in someone who is 70.The lesson: Doctors need to routinely reevaluatetheir patients’ medications as they grow older.

Georgians 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 evaluatehospitals in their areas. Data from more than 120Georgia hospitals are included on the Web site,www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.

It offers information on how hospitals treatedpatients in three categories: heart attacks, pneumo-nia and heart failure. For example, it shows whatpercentage of heart attack patients were given anaspirin within an hour of arriving in an emergencyroom. In the coming months, the site will beexpanded to include other illnesses.

Georgia’s hospitals strongly supported the devel-opment of the site. All 110 of Georgia’s large acute-care hospitals and 14 of the state’s 31 ruralhospitals voluntarily submitted data for the site,according to the Georgia Medical Care Foundation.This is the first time the federal government hasmade such data available to consumers.

AGINGDRUGS

More About

ComparisonShop for

HOSPITALS Seniors over 65 are the fastest-growing population in the country and, asa group, show no sign of giving up their automobiles. In fact,

by 2020 there will be more than 40 million licensed driversaged 65 and older in the U.S.

If you — or someone you care for — worry about declin-ing driving skills as you get older, an in-home screeningprogram may be what you need. Roadwise Review, offeredby the American Automobile Assn., allows you to test sev-eral key functional areas that could affect driving. Theseinclude leg strength and mobility, head and neck flexibility,low visual acuity and working memory. The program gives youanswers that help identify corrective actions.

Roadwise Review comes on a CD, so you will need a personal computerto run the screening test. Check out www.aaa.com for details.

TestYour Driving Skills

Now that tax season is behindus, financial advisors recom-

mend you turn your attention tothe state of your estate.Thatincludes your home, bankaccounts, car, furniture, invest-ments and insurance policies.This is a good time to updateyour will and make sure you havea plan that directs where all yourproperty will go. If you are acaregiver, sit down with yourloved one and tactfully guidethem through the process.

Here are a few of the mostcommon mistakes that seniors orcaregivers make:

• Making decisions in secret —that is, not talking to childrenor other responsible relatives

• Keeping poor records ofbank accounts, insurancepolicies and investments

• Failing to update beneficiaryforms — especially for IRAs or other retirementaccounts

Clean Up Your Estate Planning

hen you think of the senior population, “technology”may not be the first word that leaps to mind. Infact, the high-tech world has long been considered

the exclusive domain of the young and hip. That thinking isas outdated as a Model T.

Today, there is an abundance of products and tech-nologies that can improve the health, independence andgeneral quality of life of seniors. Video magnifiers enablepeople with low vision to read the newspaper or a book.Remote-controlled or voice-activated light switches andappliances give control back to those suffering fromarthritis or mobility problems. And automated medicationdispensers and reminders help those with faltering mem-ory adhere to their medical regimen.

“We are seeing so many new products and new tech-nologies that can help anyone, but seniors and those withdisabilities in particular,” says Russ Bodoff, executivedirector for the Center for Aging Services Technologies(CAST), an initiative that brings together researchers fromuniversities, technology companies, facility administrators

and government. “Most of technology is lookingtoward keeping people more independent in theirown homes as a way to reduce health care costs.

“We spend $1.77 trillion on health care rightnow — that’s ‘trillion’ with a ‘t’,” continues Bodoff.“Well over 60 percent of that is spent on peopleover 65 years old.”

Bodoff and other experts see technology as thekey to ameliorating the burden by keeping peopleindependent as long as possible, a goal that fitsnicely with seniors’ own desires.

“Seniors, by and large, want to stay in their ownhomes,” says Michael Leverett, program director forDisability Connections with the Middle GeorgiaCenter for Independent Living. “There are a lot of

CONNECTION

THE

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

W

4 Georgia Generations

Portable oxygen system (above) andresponse pendant (right) enable seniors tolive more independently.

products available now that let them do just that. And theyaren’t necessarily space-age technology.”

Leverett equipped his own 84-year-old paraplegic grand-mother with handheld remote controls that he bought at RadioShack. The remotes, which turn her lights and appliances onand off, have allowed her to remain in her own home.

The good news is this: Moresophisticated high-tech products arealso becoming more mainstream —and less expensive — as the popu-lation continues to age. This makesa fast-growing variety of affordableproducts much more accessible tolarger numbers of seniors.

“People are now realizing thatmany of the high-tech gadgetsthat were originally developed forpeople with disabilities can helpanyone who wants greater func-tion in their life,” says HunterRamseur, assistive technologyconsultant for All in One Acces-sibility, a full-service home renovation and equipment supplier in Marietta. “This has increased the demand for these products, and as aresult, pushed down theprices. For example, while Iwas at Georgia Tech, a voicerecognition software pro-gram was purchased 15years ago that cost around$7,000. Now you can go toCompUSA and buy a similar program that works much better for $99.”

Though there are an increasing number of assistive prod-ucts available, many seniors and their caregivers remainunaware of their existence. Or, if they do happen to hear about a product, they have no idea where to go to find it.

The first place to start is your local Area Agency on Aging.“Our role is to link people to the services they need,” says SueBurgess, coordinator of Aging Information Services with theAtlanta Regional Commission. “We talk to the individual,assess his or her needs and then refer him or her to theappropriate resources.”

One of the state’s most helpful resources is Tools for Life,a service of the Georgia Department of Labor, Division of Voca-tional Rehabilitation. Through its four Assistive TechnologyResource Centers (ATRCs) located in Atlanta, Augusta, Cony-ers and Macon, Tools for Life provides information and assess-ments for people with disabilities. It also has an equipmentloan program, and it will help find funding for the purchase, ifnecessary. To contact Tools for Life, call 1-800-497-8665 orvisit its Web site at www.gatfl.org.

Here’s a look at some of the newest products and technolo-gies that can help you or a loved one.

HEALTHOne of the biggest issues for seniors living independently

is maintaining and monitoring their health. Are they taking themedications they are supposed to take when they are sup-posed to take them? Are their health conditions remaining sta-ble? Can they get immediate assistance when they need it?

Myriad products and technologies can help answer allthese questions. “Much of the

innovation we’ve seen hasbeen in the area of sensor-ing and monitoring devices,”says CAST’s Bodoff. “Theyallow caregivers to get asense of how the senior isperforming, if they are follow-ing their normal patterns andif they need help.”

Consider the servicesoffered by Response Link ofNorth Georgia in Jasper.Clients can wear a pendant ontheir neck or wrist, which theycan push if they need help. Anoperator promptly responds andsummons help. Another pendantcan detect if a client has fallen.In addition, a computerizedspeaker phone will sound analarm three times a day to remindthe senior to check in, which hedoes by simply pushing a button tosilence the alarm.

“The main thing our productsdo is let seniors stay home longerwithout having a caregiver or sitter

there with them,” says Dick Sumner, owner of Response Linkof North Georgia. “A sitter can cost $11 to $15 an hour, butour system runs about $1 a day.”

ADT Security Systems has begun selling the QuietCare sys-tem, which was developed by Living Independently Group, acompany that develops health and elder care products. Fivesmall wireless sensors are placed throughout the senior’shouse. Each sensor sends information to a base unit located inthe home, and that information is relayed by phone line to amonitoring center. The system “learns” normal activity pat-terns and alerts caregivers to any change. Caregivers can alsolog onto a Web site to check on their loved one and see if hehas eaten or gotten out of bed.

“We’re increasingly seeing the application of telemonitor-ing in the home — including wireless devices to monitorblood pressure, weight, blood glucose and respiratory status,”says Julie Rogers, area administrator for Healthfield Inc., ahome health agency. “The data is transmitted through theregular home telephone line to a health agency, and thephysician can access the information. These devices run onbatteries, so are easy to use.

Summer 2005 5

Computerized blood pressure monitor system transmits data through telephone lines.

6 Georgia Generations

“The exciting aspect about technology now is that compa-nies are learning to use it on the Internet,” Rogers continues,“which means that caregivers can — after signing off on all theconfidentiality issues — access the information. So if a seniorin California is using this technology, a son or daughter inAtlanta can log on and see if Mom’s blood pressure is stable.”

In Atlanta, patients discharged from the Fuqua Heart Fail-ure Resource Center at Piedmont Hospital are sent home witha small computer equipped with a blood pressure monitor anda scale. The system is hooked into their phone lines, and eachday they check their blood pressure and answer questions ona touch screen. The information is sent to Piedmont, wheremedical professionals monitor it and make any needed adjust-ments in the patient’s medications or medical plan.

“This remote telemonitoring system has allowed us tokeep some patients from coming back to the hospital,” saysPam Cowart, a clinical nurse specialist at the center. “It hashelped us identify others whose condition was worsening sowe can intervene and possibly prevent a hospitalization.”

Stand-alone products offer seniors and caregivers addedcomfort and security without the cost of a professional monitor-ing service. Emergency response devices that can be worn as anecklace or bracelet can be programmed to dial up to fivephone numbers. If no one answers one number, the device auto-matically dials the next. “There is no monthly fee with theseproducts, because there is no monitoring system,” says MikeKatz, president of Active and Able Inc., an online retailer ofassistive technology. “But, by pushing one button, the senior cancall up to five people — adult children, neighbors, caregivers.”

Another area of innovation is medication dispensers andreminders. “This is a critical area because it represents bil-lions of dollars of wasted health care costs,” says Bodoff. “Aspeople get older, they tend to forget to take their medicationsor take them incorrectly. It’s a quality-of-life issue as well as acost issue.”

Several products can help. Automatic pill dispensers allowseniors or their caregivers to load a week’s worth of medica-tion at one time. Then the senior can merely push one buttonto have the pills he needs to take drop into his hand. Somedispensers come with a clock, which will sound an alarm toremind the senior it’s time to take his medications. Anotherdevice will read the name of the drug and dosage informationaloud, using a “smart label” attached by the pharmacists.

MEMORY AIDSCaring for someone with dementia and memory problems

is a challenging task. Products that provide reminders andmemory boosts can go a long way toward alleviating some ofthe strain. “Cognitive supports are some of the newest things

in assistive technology,” says Ed Irwin, senior rehabilitationengineer at the Mercer Engineering Research Center inWarner Robins. “There are so many things available thatmake it safer for elder people to continue living on theirown even after they start developing cognitive problems.”

“Smart” appliances, such as stove tops, ovens and ironsthat turn themselves off after a period of time, make goodsense for anyone, but they are particularly useful for sen-iors with memory problems. Talking or vibrating watchesand clocks can be programmed to provide reminders abouttaking medication, as well as other activities. Programma-ble telephones with pictures of the call recipients on thememory buttons allow a senior to place a call just by touch-ing the picture of the person he wants to call. A senior can

jog his own memory by speaking into a pocket-sized recorderto note his car’s location in a parking lot or directions towhere he is going.

Locator devices help seniors find misplaced items. Posses-sions that are commonly lost, such as keys and eyeglasses,can be attached to a small device. Then when the seniorpresses a button, an alarm will sound on the missing items,allowing the senior to track them down. If a senior is prone towandering off, the caregiver can attach a device that willsound an alarm if he wanders farther than a specified distancefrom the caregiver.

MOBILITY There are many products that can help those with mobility

problems get around the home easier. Chairs and toilet seatsthat can raise the user to near-standing position, bath seatsthat can swivel, slide, raise and lower a person in and out ofthe bath, and touch- and voice-activated remote controls thatoperate lights and appliances can help those with arthritis orlimited use of their limbs remain independent.

Home elevators and stair lifts can remove the barrier ofstairs in a home. Home lift systems can ease transfers from thebed to a wheelchair to the bath. Adaptable cabinets and shelvesput everyday items within the reach of someone in a wheelchair.Motorized cabinets, cooktops and sinks that can be raised andlowered by pressing a button are available through AD-AS, amanufacturer 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 canonly reach the bottom shelf in her cabinets?” asks Mercer’sIrwin. “These types of products are a great solution.”

Wheelchairs are getting more compact and easier tomaneuver. An increasing number include a joystick controland a seat that can raise the user to near-standing position.And scooters are becoming an increasingly popular choiceamong seniors. “The fastest-growing segment of our businessis scooters,” says Chuck Harris, area manager for Fuller Reha-

Toyota Sienna’s Lift-Up Seat

bilitation/Independent Living Aids in Ringgold. “In generationspast, when you got older and sick, you just stayed home. Thatdoesn’t cut it with this generation. They want to be able to goout, and scooters let them do that.”

Car makers, who traditionally court younger drivers, arealso turning their attention to the senior market. “Auto compa-nies are starting to realize that mature adults do not just buyone car after they turn 50 — they buy two or three,” saysAlexis Abramson, a lifestyle gerontologist and guest expert onthe NBC Today show. “It is still a very viable market.”

Designers at Ford Motor Company have gone so far as todon a “Third Age Suit,” which simulates the effects of old age,stiffening joints, adding bulk around the middle and impairingvision. Designers of the Ford Focus wore the suit so they couldbetter design a car to meet the needs of older drivers. Theresult is a model with wider door openings, an elevated dri-ver’s seat and more headroom.

Several car makers have begun to incorporate a seat-lifttechnology in some of their models. The seats swivel, comeout of the vehicle and drop to about 12 inches from theground. “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 MotorSales. “It’s only available in our Sienna van right now, andwhen 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 nowoxygen-dependent seniors have another option. Hi-Tech Health-care, a Norcross-based medical equipment provider, offers aportable, lightweight oxygen system. Called Helios, the system,

which uses liquid oxygen, weighs only 3-1/2 pounds, lasts up to10 hours and fits in a fanny pack. By comparison, the traditionaloxygen canisters weigh 15 pounds and last only four hours.

“You can barely go get your hair done or go to a doctor’sappointment in four hours,” says Todd Tyson, president of Hi-Tech Healthcare. “So a lot of people on oxygen are basicallyhomebound. This system gets them out and active again.”

VISION AND HEARINGThe last word in products for people with low or no vision

is talking technology. “I just keep seeing more and more talk-ing devices,” says Active and Able’s Katz. “And these itemsare incorporating more features. For example, we’ve had talk-ing clocks. Now we have a talking atomic clock that automati-cally sets itself to the correct time. We’ve got an alarm clockwith a very large number display that also has a bed shakerfeature, so it can shake you awake yet let your partner sleep.”

Other talking products include watches, scales, thermome-ters, blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors. Enable-mart.com, an online retailer of assistive products, offers a ColorTeller (a small device that identifies the color of an object), aNote Teller (a small device that identifies the denomination ofpaper currency) and a Talking Bar Code Scanner (a device thatcan 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 availableto access the written word. In addition, screen reader softwareprograms, such as Jaws for Windows and ReadText, open theworld of e-mail and the Internet to seniors with vision problems.

f you think there are a lot of products out there now to help seniorsremain independent, just wait until you see what tomorrow brings!

Here’s a look at just a few of the projects that are either under devel-opment or are being researched:

■ The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Aware Home project uses cam-eras, radios and infrared sensors to monitor an individual’s activities andprovide reminders. For example, the Memory Mirror uses radio frequency

identification tagson household itemsand radio frequencyidentification read-ers where theseitems are stored.The system tracksthe removal and

return of the tagged items and displays a picture of the items on a com-puter screen. That way the senior or caregiver can look at the screen andsee 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.

A pocket-sized global positioning system beacon sends data to and froma cellular camera phone. The phone displays tiny photographs of desti-nations. So the user could choose the picture of his doctor’s office, andthe system would lead him there,street by street.

■ Carnegie Mellon Universityin Pittsburgh, the University of Pitts-burgh and the University of Michi-gan are collaborating in developingNurseBot, a robot that reminds sen-iors of appointments, when theirfavorite TV show is on and when totake their medications. Its roboticface displays emotion, smiling atcertain verbal cues and respondingto 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 isat increased risk of falling. Researchers are also working on a smart chair,which can detect an older person’s heart rate and breathing rate.

Amazing Products for the Future

Summer 2005 7

Continued on page 15

I

By William F. Brown, IIIAssociate State Director of Communications, AARP Georgia

AARP Georgia is working to foster amore positive and caring culture in long-term

care settings, particularly nursing homes. The program,“Strengthening the Circle of Care,” is built on previous advo-cacy and educational efforts around caregiving.

According to AARP Georgia State Director Ken Mitchell, the program grew out of the organization’s desire to supportthe Georgia Nursing Home Quality Initiative, as well as to helpaddress the long-term care staffing crisis in the state. “Wethought it was important to take a leadership role,” Mitchell says.

Initially, AARP Georgia conducted focus groups with certi-fied nursing assistants (CNAs) from across Georgia to learnfirsthand what their most pressing training needs were. Theresults indicated that they wanted to learn more about bettercommunication with administrators and supervisors, abouteffective tools for conflict resolution and about building pro-ductive teams and developing leadership skills. Coping withgrief, both their own and that of patients’ family members, wasalso an important issue.

Over a two-year period and in direct partnership with thestate’s long-term care ombudsmen, AARP Georgia conducted aseries of regional one-day training sessions for nearly 800CNAs. The focus was on conflict management, stress reliefexercises, team building and best practices.

For the second phase of “Strengthening the Circle of Care,”AARP Georgia partnered with Mission Works Consulting andthe Georgia Nursing Home Association to design a package onmanagement skills training for nursing home administrators,directors of nursing and charge nurses. More than 700 com-pleted the eight regional trainings, representing about two-thirds of the nursing home staffs. Phase Three was a response

to the concerns expressed by the CNAs during their initialtraining 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 StateDirector Yolanda Hallas, who has coordinated the various components of the initiative for AARP Georgia.

In response, AARP Georgia, in partnership with local con-sultant and trainer Kathy Scott (Pace, Inc.) and Sonya Smith,

AARP Georgia’s lead volunteer for health and supportive serv-ices, developed a module entitled, “Good Grief.” AARP Georgiaprovided a grant to the Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman’soffice for the purpose of conducting two statewide Training ofTrainers (TOT) sessions. Additionally, six TOTs are being heldfor the Georgia Nursing Home Association staff. AARP Georgiais also providing training for its own volunteers so that theycan then be an educational resource in their communities.

For additional information, contact Yolanda Hallas at 404-870-3790. GG

GUEST CLOSE-UPGUEST CLOSE-UP

8 Georgia Generations

Coping with grief, both their own and that of patients’ familymembers, was an important issue tocertified nursing assistants.

Circle of CareAARP Georgia Works to Strengthen the

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.

Alzheimer’s disease and other demen-tias cause millions of Americans to

lose their ability to recognize familiarplaces and faces. They may become disori-ented and wander beyond their homes.This behavior is dangerous and even life-threatening for individuals and stressful forcaregivers.

Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return™is a nationwide identification system toassist in the safe and timely return of indi-viduals with Alzheimer’s or a relateddementia. The individual wears identifica-tion jewelry with an 800 phone number.Anyone who finds the wanderer can callfor assistance 24 hours a day, seven days aweek. If an enrollee is missing, one call

immediately activates a community supportnetwork to help reunite the lost personwith his or her caregiver.

Safe Return also notifies local law enforce-ment. The nearest Alzheimer’s Associationoffice provides information and support

during the search-and-rescueefforts.

The usual cost for the pro-gram is about $40, but sometimesthe local Alzheimer’s Associationoffice has funding to providethese items on a scholarship basis.Call them at 1-800-272-3900 or404-728-1181 (Atlanta callingarea), or call your Area Agency onAging at the number below.

For other information, contact the AAA of Northwest Georgia,P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA 30162-1793; 706-802-5506 or toll-free 1-800-759-2963.

Northwest Georgia

Alzheimer’s wanderersneed safe return

NORTHWEST GEORGIA ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade,Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon,Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens,Polk, Walker, Whitfield

Covers a 15-county area surrounding Rome, Dallas, Dalton, Cartersville

Summer 2005 9

The Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return™ identificationbracelet helps find and return individuals with Alzheimer’s —or a related dementia — who wander and become lost.

Asix-month consumer awareness cam-paign to put easy-to-understand infor-

mation about the effectiveness and cost ofprescription drugs in the hands of Atlantaarea residents was recently launched,led by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, and the AtlantaRegional Commission (ARC).

The Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugsproject — a free public-education initiativeto help consumers stretch their health-care dollars by providing independentinformation on the cost and effectivenessof medicines — selected the Atlanta areato launch its outreach program because ofthe region’s diversity and ARC’s extensiveties to the community.The outreach cam-paign will be expanded statewide in August.

Consumers Union has created a freeWeb site, www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org,to make information on drug effective-ness, safety and cost more accessible toconsumers.Visitors to the site can findin-depth reports about how drugs usedto treat a particular illness or conditionstack up against each other, as well as

safety and price information.The sitealso identifies Best Buy picks for eachdrug category. Consumers can then takethe information to their doctor or phar-

macist to discuss which drug may bebest for them.

The collaboration with ARC is designedto reach those who may not have easyaccess to the Internet. In such cases, infor-mation is presented to groups of olderadults in senior centers, churches and civicclubs, explaining the program face-to-faceand providing copies of the Best BuyDrugs reports.

Currently available on the Web site arereports on cholesterol-lowering drugs(statins), drugs to treat heartburn and acidreflux (proton pump inhibitors), arthritismedications (NSAIDS), antidepressants andblood pressure medications (beta blockers).Consumers Union plans to publish reports

on a total of 20 different categories ofdrugs at the rate of about one per monthbetween now and the middle of 2006.

“The decision about which drugs toprescribe rightfully belongs with the physi-cian, in consultation with the patient,” saysDr. Buck Baker, MD, FACP, president of theAtlanta Regional Health Forum and formervice president of health services at Pied-

mont Hospital.“With the BestBuy Drugsprogram, how-ever, physiciansand patientshave informa-

tion that previously was not easily avail-able. Patients get the medications theyneed, at a price they can afford.”

“We hope to level the playing fieldfor consumers who are confused by allthe advertisements for prescription

drugs,” says Gail Shearer, project directorof Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.“Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs givesconsumers the tools and information to make those important health-caredecisions.”

For additional information and for assistance in applying for the Medicare-approved drug discount card, call GeorgiaCares at 1-800-669-8387.

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

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSIONENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb,Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett,Henry, Rockdale

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

10 Georgia Generations

Consumers to benefit from Best Buy Drugs project

™

Visitors to the site can findin-depth reports abouthow drugs used to treat aparticular illness orcondition stack up againsteach other.

Grandparents all too often find them-selves raising their grandchildren. So

when the Lower Chattahoochee AreaAgency on Aging hosted a forum to iden-tify needs, most of the attendees weregrandparents. More than 4,000 families inColumbus alone have grandparents asheads of households.

Cecelia Adams, Lower ChattahoocheeAAA caregiver specialist, and Joanne Caviswith the University of Georgia ExtensionService facilitated the public forum, whichbrought together grandparents with repre-sentatives from the Department of Familyand Children Services, Georgia Legal Services, Muscogee County School SystemStudent Services, Muscogee County Pre-K

Program, Columbus State University, AARP,the Medical College of Georgia and privatefamily counselors. Attendees openlyexpressed and shared the difficulties theyencounter on a day-to-day basis.

Grandparents named emotional sup-port, child rearing and discipline, legal ques-tions regarding custody and guardianship,

education, finances, housing, recreation andrespite as important issues. The forum hasled to the establishment of a supportgroup that meets quarterly and has pre-sentations from professionals on the issuesthey have identified. Child care is alsoavailable, which helps the grandparents byproviding respite.

For further information, contact LowerChattahoochee AAA, P.O. Box 1908, Columbus,GA 31902-1908; 706-256-2900 or toll-free 1-800-615-4379.

Do you have the support you need as acaregiver? What services would make

it easier for you to care for a family mem-ber or loved one?

The new Northeast Georgia CARE-NET

wants answers to these questions andmore. The group is working with supportgroups in the 12-county area to identifyfamily and informal caregivers in the regionto participate in a brief survey. The pur-pose of the survey is to gather informationabout caregivers’ experiences, needs andservice usage so that agencies can identifyand address gaps in services to fulfill the

needs of caregiving families.The Northeast Georgia

CARE-NET is the result of apartnership with the Area Agencyon Aging. It is composed of localagencies that provide care, serv-ices and resources to personswith disabilities, disease orchronic illness, to older adults andto children.

CARE-NETs got their start atthe Rosalynn Carter Institute for

Caregiving (RCI) on the campus of GeorgiaSouthwestern State University (GSW). Theinstitute, created by the Board of Regentsof the University System of Georgia in1987 to honor First Lady Rosalynn Carter,an alumna of GSW, supports collaborationsin local communities to share the vision ofimproving services for caregivers.

If you or someone you know is interestedin completing a survey, please contact StaceyKolomer, PhD, assistant professor, UGA School of Social Work, at 706-542-5445,skolomer@uga.edu; or Anne Hansen, assistantdirector, Area Agency on Aging, 706-369-5792,ahansen@dhr.state.ga.us.

Lower Chattahoochee

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

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

Caregivers: We needyour valuable input!

A group of caregivers from Athens Community Council onAging completes the survey.

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

LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE ENCOMPASSES THESE COUNTIES:Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly,Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee,Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart,Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster

Summer 2005 11

Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenForum identifies needs

Heart of Georgia Altamaha

When the health and well-being ofanother adult lies in your hands,

you may feel as if you are drowning inresponsibility. Even simple, day-to-day activities can leave you wanting to scream.If you are often on the verge of tears orgenerally feeling down in the dumps, youmay be overstressed. Do you overreact to little annoyances? For instance, whenyour cell phone call is “dropped” again, doyou feel like throwing the phone out thewindow?

The stress of being a caregiver doesnot have to be overwhelming. First, youmust accept that in order to successfullytake care of someone else, you must alsotake care of yourself. When you put yourwell-being to the side, you increase your

chance of illness. Also, by allowing stress tobuild up, you lose your patience for the

care recipient, making you less effective asa caregiver.

To alleviate stress, find out whatresources are available for you to get somerespite. Are there other family membersor friends who can pitch in? Is there adultday care available? Is there a support groupfor caregivers? Take advantage of any assis-tance that is available. Don’t let guilt keepyou from asking for help. You need abreak. You deserve some time to vent. Youare worthy of “you” time.

Resources are available in our office foryour support and relief. For more information,contact Kathy Keith at 1-888-367-9913.

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

Senior citizens in Southeast Georgia arebeing encouraged to improve their

overall fitness with the latest equipment…their feet. The benefits of daily walking arenumerous for seniors and include increasedbalance and strength in the muscles andbones.

The Southeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging (SEGa AAA) hosted a kick-offevent for AARP’s “Step Up to BetterHealth” 10-week walking program at theLeroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton onJanuary 14. More than 130 participantsfrom five senior centers attended the kick-off. All received pedometers from AARP.

SEGa AAA Wellness Coordinator LisaWhitley explained how the pedometermeasures the walker’s steps and demon-strated how to properly place the

pedometer on the body.Chris Williams, Bacon

County site manager,shared the story of herseniors’ walk acrossGeorgia, figurativelyspeaking. Williams saidthat for five months theseniors had counted theirsteps using pedometersand had charted the miles on a map ofGeorgia. Using yarn, the group traced their1,515-mile trek throughout the state.

Following Williams’ motivating account,Whitley challenged the remaining seniorcenters to follow Bacon County’s lead. Sheprovided each center with a large-scaleGeorgia map on which they could tracktheir walking for the next 10 weeks.

For information, contact Southeast GeorgiaRDC, 1725 South Georgia Parkway West,Waycross, GA 31503; 912-285-6097 or toll-free 1-888-732-4464.

Southeast Georgia

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

Kick-off event held for AARP walking program

AARP provided free pedometers to senior citizens at the kick-offevent. Pictured above, participants read along as SEGa AAA WellnessCoordinator Lisa Whitley reviews the pedometer instructions.

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

Caring for the caregiver

There’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 willresult in increased energy and decreasedwaistlines! To help older adults, GovernorPerdue put funding in the state budget to assist Area Agencies on Aging wellnessprograms in implementing specific activities that encourage older persons to practice healthier lifestyles across the state.

Legacy Link, Inc. has hired Lisa Howardas the wellness coordinator to develop thenew programs in addition to providing sup-port to the existing senior center wellnessprograms in the 13-county area. Seniorcenters in Habersham and Forsyth counties

are changing from “senior centers to well-ness centers,” and clients are having fun inthe process.

Additional senior centers are movingtoward this new model with the purchaseof new equipment and supplies to encour-age movement at the centers. One of thekeys to this new model of communityprogramming is partnership with otherpublic and private businesses and agenciessuch as hospitals, parks and recreation

departments and so on. The benefits flowboth ways in these partnerships.

Drop by one of the senior/wellnesscenters in the 13-county Legacy Linkregion and see what’s happening. Don’tforget to wear your tennis shoes!

For further information, contact Legacy Link, P.O. Box 2534, Gainesville, GA30503-2534; 770-538-2650 or toll-free 1-800-845-LINK.

For many senior citizens in the 10-county Southern Crescent area,

home accessibility and home safety aretremendous problems that make common

activities in daily living difficult and poten-tially unsafe. Several years ago, the South-ern Crescent Area Agency on Aging(SCAAA) contracted with CareLink–AmeriCorps in Troup County to addressthese problems.

With funding from an Administration onAging (AOA) demonstration grant under

the National FamilyCaregiver SupportProgram, theSCAAA developeda voucher programto make homesmore accessible forsome 162 vulnera-ble seniors.

The CareLink–AmeriCorps groupgave clients choicesin the types of

services they were to receive. Older adultscould purchase chore services, home modification, home repair or respite careservices with vouchers obtained from theAmeriCorps program.

CareLink–AmeriCorps has providedsome 3,728 units of service to date for the162 seniors participating in the program.The AOA demonstration grant has helpedthe SCAAA to develop a much-neededservice that will be expanded throughoutthe 10-county area.

For other information, contact the SouthernCrescent AAA, P.O. Box 1600, Franklin, GA30217-1600; 706-675-6721, 770-854-6026or toll-free 1-866-854-5652.

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

Home accessibility andhome safety

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

LEGACY LINK ENCOMPASSES THESECOUNTIES: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth,Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart,Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns,Union, White

Southern Crescent

Senior centers to becomewellness centers

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

New equipment and suppliesencourage movement at the centers.

Summer 2005 13

Antionette Veal, daughter of WyleneLester, knows firsthand how life

improves after a visit from RebuildingTogether volunteers.

Getting Mrs. Lester in and out of herhome for visits to the doctor was a strug-gle. But now, thanks to a Tuesday visit fromRebuilding Together’s Good SamaritanTeam, a newly built wheelchair ramp makesit easy for Mrs. Lester to visit family or thedoctor. More than 80 volunteer teams inMacon give their time, energy and skills torepair homes for the elderly and disabled.

The Rebuilding Together volunteers cando it all: build wheelchair ramps, widendoors, repair plumbing and fix leaking roofs.Through special funding by the Middle

Georgia Area Agencyon Aging, RebuildingTogether gives spe-cial attention to pro-viding assistance tocaregivers.

On April 30,2005, homeowners received muchneeded repairs on Rebuilding Together’sNational Rebuilding Day. The 70 volun-teer teams from local churches, banksand social clubs have repaired more than800 homes since their first NationalRebuilding Day in 1992.

Rebuilding Together rehabilitates thehouses of low-income homeowners, partic-ularly the elderly and disabled, so that they

may continue to live in warmth, safety andindependence.

For more information, call the Middle Georgia AAA at 478-751-6466 or toll-free 1-888-548-1456.

Rebuilding Together volunteersimprove life for caregivers

MIDDLE GEORGIA ENCOMPASSESTHESE 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 RiverCovers a 14-county area surrounding Augusta, Thomson, Martinez/Evans, Waynesboro, Sandersville

“If you want to hear how it’s done, justlisten to Emily.”

I was a new hospice employee andsomewhat apprehensive about calling care-givers of deceased patients.Then I metEmily Hyatt.

After her first husband’sdeath, Emily volunteered atSt. Joseph Hospice. Throughthe hospice, Emily was ableto grieve the loss of herhusband, meet and marryJohn, radically impact mylife and, most significantly,provide a friendly voice andunderstanding ear tobereaved family members.

Emily’s passion for life

and love for all people is evident in herdedication to the hospice, but it extendsthroughout her life. She embraces all —good, bad and indifferent. You never knowwhere Emily will show up. She spends her

time doing wateraerobics, volun-teering at thehospice, stirringup the churchand coordinatingthe Red HatSophisticats.

When I growolder, I want tobe like Emily. Sheexudes graceand welcomes

others into it. She reminds me that beautysurrounds us and that laughter curesalmost any ailment. Certainly, Emily isactive in our community, but it is who sheis, not what she does, that makes her aGeorgia legacy.

Recently, the Georgia Commission onWomen honored Emily Hyatt as a “GeorgiaLegacy.” Congratulations, Emily — we arehonored to be a part of your community!

For further information, contact the Central Savannah River AAA, 3023 RiverWatch Pkwy., Suite A, Augusta, GA 30907-2800; 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’s legacy: Wonderful older women

Three generations of the Lester family try out their new ramp.

14 Georgia Generations

Emily Hyatt of the Red Hat Sophisticats.

For the past 10 years, Gwen Knight hasbeen the full-time caregiver for her

husband of 52 years. Mack suffers fromAlzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s diseaseand has been homebound for the pastthree and a half years.

Gwen has gained a lot of knowledgeand information, which she gladly passes onto other caregivers as she volunteers withthe Southwest Georgia CARE-NET. Fromher own experience, she shares somewords 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 ashamedthat your loved one has Alzheimer’s.

3. Educate yourself! Investigate and find

all the learning opportunities available. Takeadvantage of seminars and conferences.Then follow through with what you learn.

4. Get some help as soon as itbecomes apparent that you can’t do italone.

5. Establish a routine and stay on aschedule.

6. Use tools and equip-ment that make thingswork better.

7. Find and join a care-giver support group. If youcan’t find one, start one!

8. Don’t neglect yourspiritual life. Stay prayed upand depend on the Lord tosee you through each day.

For further information,contact Southwest GeorgiaCOA, 1105 Palmyra Road,

Albany, GA 31701-2508; 229-432-1124 ortoll-free 1-800-282-6612.

Products that flash and shake canhelp those who suffer from hearing lossor impairment. Telephones, doorbells,alarm clocks and smoke detectors alertseniors with a flashing light and a shak-ing bed (if they are sleeping). A variety ofportable amplifiers, such as the SoundWizard Communication System, can helpseniors carry on a conversation, talk onthe phone or enjoy a movie or TV showby boosting the sounds they want to hearand screening out background noise.

The Georgia Council for the HearingImpaired (GACHI) provides over 31 dif-ferent types of equipment to deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired residentsthrough its Telecommunications Equip-ment Distribution Program. “After anapplicant meets eligibility requirements,they are loaned the equipment that bestmeets their needs,” says Makeba Orr,the program coordinator.

For those with severe to profound

hearing loss, GACHI offers text (TTY)and voice carryover (VCO) telephones.“To use them, you would dial 711 forthe Georgia Relay operator, then typein your message,” says Orr. “The oper-ator would read the message to thehearing person and then type hisresponse back to you. Or, if you canspeak clearly but can’t hear, you canspeak directly to the person you arecalling but the operator will type hisresponse back to you.”

Computers Of all the products and technolo-

gies available to help seniors, the com-puter may hold the most promise.“Computers can be vital for seniorsbecause they can connect them withthe rest of the world,” says GeorgeMoschis, director of the Center forMature Consumer Studies at GeorgiaState University.

Marjorie Wood is a believer in thepower of computers. The 76-year-oldwoman from Milledgeville began losing

her vision in 1969 and today is almosttotally blind. She was determined notto let her vision loss isolate her, so twoyears ago she bought her first com-puter. With patience and determination,Wood mastered her new tool and thescreen reader software program thatallowed her to use it. If she has e-mail, the computer tells her aloudthat she does. By pressing anotherbutton, she can have the computerread her e-mails to her. She can navi-gate the Web much the same way. “Iam used to being active and engaged,”says Wood. “My computer keeps meconnected with the world.”

Assistive technology promises moreways to keep seniors like Wood con-nected to the world, to their familiesand to their lives. Whether the need isvision, hearing, mobility or memory,there are products on the market thatcan improve quality of life and maintainindependence. So it turns out, technol-ogy and seniors are two words with animportant connection. GG

Gwen and Mack Knight enjoy time together on their porch.

Eight simple rules forcaregivers

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

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

Summer 2005 15

Technology ConnectionContinued from page 7

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

Georgia Alliance for Staffing Solutions

An alliance that promotes qualitylong-term care for seniors and persons with disabilities by seeking

innovative solutions to improve staffing and supportcaregivers. www.agingatlanta.com

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-Barnhart Properties Georgia’s premier senior housing developers providing

amenity-rich independ-ent living for discerning

adults over age 62, including Park Springs. 2005Platinum Award by the Seniors Housing Council ofthe NAHB. www.isaksonbarnhart.com

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

include “Profile of Caregiving,” “Exploring Your HealthOn 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

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development

Dedicated to promoting the mentalhealth and well-being of individuals,families and professional caregivers.

The RCI is proud to partner with Area Agencies onAging (AAAs) in Georgia to develop CARE-NETsacross the state. www.rosalynncarter.org

Bridgebuilders, Inc.Bridgebuilders, Inc.

16 Georgia Generations

Georgia Generations is published and supported byGeorgia’s Area Agencies on Aging. For more informa-tion on becoming a sponsor of Georgia Generations,please call 404-463-3222.

How can I help?A contribution to the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund®

honors parents, grandparents and mentors by supporting aging programs. Call 1-800-676-2433to learn how.