GenerationsGeorgia

Published quarterly by Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging

TMWinter 2005

HealthyNutrition

Your Recipe for a Better Life

Also in This Issue:■ 10 Steps You Can Take

to Leave a Legacy■ A Look at Georgia’s AAAs

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

WINTER 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:Eating well is one of the keys to success-ful aging. That means packing each meal with nutrient-rich foods. For a lookat nutritional needs for seniors, as well as details on innovative nutritional programs offered around the state, turnto page 4.

GenerationsGeorgia

Winter 2005, Volume 4, #2. © 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.agingresearch.org spotlights the work of

The Alliance for Aging Research. Articles and informa-tion on scores of diseases or medical conditions are available.

www.healthandage.com is sponsored by Novartisand offers a well-rounded collection of educational

pages on aging, a Q & A section and online healthquizzes for seniors and caregivers.

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

Did you know that persons 50-plus are the fastestgrowing part of the Internet audience — with 27percent estimated to be active Web visitors?

A study by scientists at the Harvard Medical School indicates that middle-agedwomen who ate large quantities of leafygreen or cruciferous vegetables helped preserve their brain power years later. Forexample, the study found that women who ateeight servings a week of vegetables such as spinachdid better on cognitive tests compared with women whoate only three servings a week.

The results suggest that a veggie-packed diet slows brain aging. Thevegetables contain antioxidants that might help ward off damage to thebrain by free radicals, molecules thought to accelerate aging of the brain,researchers say.

Flu season is upon us; however, because ofthis year’s shortage of vaccine, flu shots arenot available for most seniors or caregivers.

How to protect yourself? Remember, theflu virus can live for hours on surfaces (hands,phones, doorknobs). Here’s what to do:

1. Wash your hands frequently with soapand water,

2. Don’t sneeze or cough into your hands,3. Keep your hands away from your nose

and mouth,4. Don’t share or refill glasses or water

bottles,5. Keep your immune system strong. Eat

right, get plenty of rest, exercise regularly,drink plenty of fluids and don’t smoke.

Fortunately, there are prescriptionantiviral medications that can treat flueffectively if started as soon as symptomsappear or if taken within a day or two afterexposure to someone who has the flu. If youstart experiencing symptoms, visit yourdoctor immediately.

Food for ThoughtGetting a car repaired can be a nerve-wrackingexperience. When they take your car away, you

have to trust they will do what they have promised.Most of the time they do, but sometimes they don’t. This has severely hurt the reputation of auto repairshops. One shop in the Midwest wants to gain backcustomers’ trust, so they’ve taken extra steps. Thecompany allows customers to watch the repair over the Internet as it is happening.

The program is called “Auto Watch,” and it allowsyou to access video of your car using a particular code.By allowing customers to check in on the repair, theshop deals with fewer phone calls from customers andincreases trust with them. About two dozen new repairshops a month are buying the program, which is now in40 states. Be sure to ask your repair shop if they havesigned on to this program.

“Auto Watch” at Repair Shops

GUILT&CaregivingMany caregivers feel that they strug-gle to balance caregiving and theirown lives.The demands of work,family and caring for an older rela-tive can be so overwhelming thatmost people feel inadequate. Oftenthere is tremendous guilt in feelingwe aren’t doing enough. Here’s whatyou can do to cope with guilt:• Acknowledge your limits,

• Forgive yourself for mistakes andshortcomings,

• Ask family and friends for help,• Learn to delegate caregiving

tasks,• Plan ahead to avoid a crisis,• Consider joining a support group,• Get help from community pro-

grams and professional resources.

Flu Protection

POWERSENIOR

aintaining a good diet tends to become more difficult with age. Diminished sense of taste and smell can reducethe appetite. Living on a fixed income can make fresh,nourishing food difficult to afford. Dentures and teethproblems can make eating itself unpleasant. Chronic disease and medications can block hunger and interfere

with nutrient absorption. And, at meal times, social isolation canleave seniors thinking, “Why bother?”

“Nutrition is a big issue for seniors,” says Allison Goolsby, aregistered dietitian with Project Open Hand, which provides mealsto homebound seniors in the Atlanta area. “Seniors need fewercalories as they age, since they are less active and have less mus-cle mass. At the same time, their requirements for nutrients go up,since their body is less efficient at absorbing them. So it can bevery difficult to meet their nutritional needs, even for a traineddietitian, much less for a senior trying to figure it out on his own.”

The best advice is this: Seniors need to fill their plates withnutrient-rich foods that pack a lot of nutrients per calorie. Thesefoods include fresh fruits, vegetables, enriched breads and fortifiedcereals (as opposed to pastries and other high-fat, high-sugar bakedgoods), low-fat dairy products, lean meats and low-fat meat substi-tutes, such as beans, peas, lentils, fish, eggs and low-fat cheese.

What are the challenges?Many seniors find it difficult to follow that ideal diet. For one

thing, old habits die hard. “In the South, seniors have grown upeating a certain way all their lives,” says Lamar Gailey, communityprograms manager for Legacy Link in Gainesville. “They like their

Eating well is one of the keys

to successful aging. Well-

nourished seniors generally

feel better, remain more

active, recover more quickly

from illnesses and can often

live independently longer

than seniors who are poorly

nourished.

By Martha Nolan McKenzie

4 Georgia Generations

MSeniors at Buford Human Resources Center learn how to make“healthy” cookies during a recent holiday cooking class.

vegetables seasoned with fatback. They go heavy on the salt.They eat a lot of fried foods. It can be hard to get them to

adopt a low-fat, low-salt lifestyle.”Even if they are willing to make changes in their diets,

seniors face other, less malleable obstacles. Money is abig one. As many as 40 percent of older Americans haveincomes of less than $6,000 a year. “I see so many seniors who just don’t have the money to buy the foodthey need,” says Arnisha Norman, coordinator ofmonitoring and evaluation for the Atlanta RegionalCommission (ARC). “And even if they have somemoney, so many of them are on six or seven medica-tions — or more. By the time they pay for their med-ications, they don’t have much left over for food.”

Besides their cost, medications can have anegative effect on nutrition. They can decreaseappetite, cause nausea and block nutrientabsorption. The underlying disease that themedicine is treating can have many of thesame side effects. Considering seniors oftenhave multiple chronic illnesses and take amyriad of medications, it’s little wondermany have a reduced interest in food.

Decreased mobility can sabotage seniors’ diets as well. For those who no

longer drive, getting to the grocery store canbe a nearly insurmountable challenge. And once they get thegroceries home, seniors may find bending to lift food in andout of the oven or reaching to retrieve ingredients difficult atbest. “I often find seniors who are living on soup and crackers— things they can open and prepare easily,” says Pam Thomp-son, a dietitian and owner of Instructional Dietetic AssociatesInc. in Vidalia. “Both tend to be very high in salt and lackmany of the nutrients seniors need.”

Finally, social isolation and depression take a heavy toll onappetite. If a senior is living and eating alone, the effort ofpreparing and eating a meal may seem hardly worth it. “WhenI sit down to talk to seniors, the first thing I ask is if they eatalone,” says Christa Wachsmuth, a dietitian intern who isworking with the Central Savannah River AAA (CSRA) inAugusta. “Eating is a social thing, and people who eat alonetypically eat less and many times skip meals altogether.”

Examining nutritional needsGiven the many obstacles in the path to good nutrition, it’s

not surprising that many seniors fall short in getting enoughkey nutrients, including calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D and theB vitamins. Many also don’t consume enough fiber or drinkenough water. The latter is so important that the modified food

pyramid for adults over age 70 rests on a base of water (seediagram, page 7).

“Hydration is a huge issue for seniors,” says Goolsby. “Asseniors get older, they lose their sense of thirst. Also, manydevelop bladder control problems, so the last thing they wantto do is drink a lot of water. But dehydration can lead toheadaches and dizziness and can allow all the medicationsthey take to build up in their body. Water keeps the bodyworking smoothly and flushes those medications out.”

Seniors are advised to drink eight or more eight-ounceservings of water a day. Fruit and vegetable juice, soup andlow- or non-fat milk can count as a serving.

■ FIBER An important nutritional component for seniors,fiber helps prevent constipation, diverticulosis and diverticuli-tis. High-fiber diets can also help lower cholesterol levels andblood pressure. Men over age 50 should consume 30 grams offiber each day and women should get 21 grams. Good sourcesof fiber include whole-grain breads and pastas, legumes,brown rice, fruits, vegetables and high-fiber cereals.

■ CALCIUM “Most people know that calcium helps keepbones and teeth strong, but many people don’t know that italso helps keep your muscles strong,” says Goolsby. “As weget older, our body’s ability to absorb calcium declines and we lose calcium in our bones more quickly.” As a result, therecommended daily consumption increases from 1,000 to 1,200milligrams after age 50. Good sources of calcium are dairyproducts, canned salmon, broccoli, kale, beans and calcium-fortified orange juice.

■ VITAMIN D Like peas and carrots, vitamin D and calcium go together. That’s because the body needs vitamin Din order to be able to absorb and metabolize calcium. Seniors’ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight decreases asthey age — and they are often out in the sunlight less thanthey used to be — so many seniors are vitamin D deficient.Adults aged 51 through 70 should consume 400 InternationalUnits (I.U.) daily, compared with 200 I.U. for the under-50 pop-ulation. Seniors over age 70 should get 600 I.U. daily. VitaminD occurs naturally only in oily fish, such as salmon, sardines,herring and mackerel. It is fortified in milk and some cereals.

■ FOLATE This B vitamin helps guard against heart disease and may also help brain function. Adults of all agesshould get 400 micrograms of folate daily. Since risk of heartdisease increases with age, it is critical that seniors consumethe recommended amount. Good sources include beans, greenvegetables and fortified grain foods.

■ VITAMIN B6 This important vitamin may help mental abilities, and it is essential for making antibodies aswell as protein and fat metabolism. Women over age 50 should consume 1.5 milligrams daily, 1.7 milligrams for men. Good

Winter 2005 5

“It can be very difficult to meet[seniors’] nutritional needs, evenfor a trained dietician.”

6 Georgia Generations

sources include baked potatoes with skin, bananas, chicken,beef, canned tuna and whole grain foods.

■ VITAMIN B12 “As we get older, our bodies lose theability to absorb B12 efficiently,” says Lisa Hale, a wellnesscoordinator and nutritionist with District Four Health Servicesin Griffin. “So even if you are eating B12-rich foods, such asmeats and cereals, you probably aren’t getting enough. Youshould make sure you take a supplement that contains B12.”

Vitamin B12 promotes mental function, balance andmuscular function. It may also help prevent heart disease.Adults of all ages should consume 2.4 milligrams daily.

Programs around the stateIn an effort to help ensure Georgia’s seniors are

meeting their nutritional needs, state and local agencies offer many programs. Last year, nearly 30,000 Georgia seniors participated in various congre-gate and home-delivered meal programs, according to the Georgia DHR Division of Aging Services. Congregate meals in a senior center are a great solu-tion for lonely diners, and home-delivered meal pro-grams make sure homebound seniors get the food they need. In addition, educational programs through-out the state help increase awareness of seniors’ unique nutritional challenges. Here’s a look at some of the innovative nutritional programs offered around the state:

Congregate meals are offered in senior centersthroughout the state. “Good nutrition, wellness and social-ization all go hand-in-hand,” says Roberta Reinert, nutritionservices specialist with the CSRA Regional Development Cen-ter AAA in Augusta. “The three are inextricably linked, anddining at a congregate center is one of the best ways seniors can get all three. You can get a nutritiousmeal that meets all your dietary requirements and enjoy thecompany of others.”

Some seniors shy away from meals at senior facilitiesbecause they think it’s like going to a soup kitchen. Not so.Many more closely resemble a nice restaurant than a cafete-ria. Consider the Cambridge House Enrichment Center, anadult day health center for seniors. The dining room in theNewnan facility is furnished with small, intimate tables cov-ered with lace tablecloths.

Tables are set with china plates, crystal glassware andcloth napkins, and the walls are adorned with a Victorian quiltfrom 1898 and a collection of antique plates. Soothing musicplays in the background. The meals, which are prepared fresheach day on site, offer entrees such as quiche, baked ham andchicken cordon bleu — hardly institutional fare.

Home-delivered meal programs reach homebound seniors in every part of the state. Like the congregate meals,the home-delivered meals feature more inventive and appetiz-ing menus. In Gwinnett County, for example, homebound seniors get themed meals on holidays, such as hot chickenwings and chips on Super Bowl Sunday, corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day and a heart-shaped dessert on Valentine’s Day.

In rural areas of the state, delivering hot meals daily is adaunting challenge. So many food service providers, includingthose in Rome, Gainesville and Gwinnett, have gone to deliv-ering frozen meals once a week.

“We switched to delivering frozen meals a year and a halfago, and now we can reach many more seniors than we usedto,” says Iris Petersmarck, aging services coordinator for theNorthwest Georgia AAA in Rome. “Today, we deliver frozenmeals to about 430 seniors in our area, and our seniors actu-ally like the frozen meals better. This way, they get an entireweek’s worth of meals, and they can decide day to day whatthey are in the mood to eat.”

Whether served at a senior center or delivered to ahome, the meals seniors receive are changing to reflect theincreasingly diverse population of Georgia. “Fifteen years ago,our meals almost always included a potato, and the meatmight be a baked chicken breast or a broiled steak,” saysKathy Roberts, a home services coordinator for GwinnettCounty Senior Services. “We’ve seen a big growth in our

Last year, nearly 30,000 Georgia seniorsparticipated in various congregate andhome-delivered meal programs.

Dietitian intern from the Medical College of Georgia provides nutrition counselingto seniors at the Sand Hills Senior Center in Augusta.

Hispanic and Asian senior populations, so today our mealsinclude burritos, enchiladas, sweet and sour pork and rice —lots of rice. We also offer pork-free meals for the Muslims and Hindus in our community.”

For areas of Georgia with particularly large, diverse ethnicpopulations, such as Clarkston, restaurant vouchers provide agood option to maximize food choices for seniors. AlmazAkalewold, senior refugee coordinator at the Clarkston Com-munity Center, reports that between 75 and 90 seniors at hercenter use the vouchers each week. Rather than try to preparemeals for her diverse clientele, Akalewold has made arrange-ments with area restaurants to honor the meal vouchers shedistributes.

“We have a very large Vietnamese group, and I give themvouchers they can use at a local Vietnamese restaurant or at aChinese one they also like,” says Akalewold. “The Somaliansand Ethiopians get vouchers for the local Somali restaurant.We don’t have enough money to provide meals every day, sothey get only one voucher per week, but it helps. We are eagerto expand this successful program.”

Senior centers throughout the state offer nutritionseminars and classes for seniors. Home-delivered meal recipi-ents get nutritional counseling and information. Still, the needfor education is great. “There are a whole lot of seniors whoare not well-informed about their nutritional needs,” saysHale. “When I go into seniors’ homes, I find a lot of Twinkies,chips and junk food.”

In Augusta, the CSRA has crafted a unique partnership withthe University Health Care System to create a dietetic intern-ship. Twelve dietitian interns rotate through the AAA servicearea, providing individual nutritional counseling and conductingseminars at senior centers, as well as visiting home-deliveredmeal clients. “It’s a good situation for everybody,” says Reinert.“The students get valuable exposure and training with the elderly. The seniors get personal attention from a young per-son and personalized nutritional advice. We get the expertiseof the dietitians at no cost, since it’s considered part oftheir schooling.”

Lillian Johnson, 84, took advantage of the counsel-ing. The retired teacher and widower already does alot of things right. She eats lunch at a senior centernearly every day so she can be with people. Shetries to eat balanced, nutritious meals. Still, shefound the counseling session helpful. “The coun-selor asked me all sorts of questions aboutwhat I eat and how much I eat,” says Johnson.“And she gave me some suggestions abouthow I might eat a little healthier. Mostly shewanted me to change my dinners. I’m usu-ally not very hungry in the evening, so Iwas in the habit of just having a piece ofcake or a piece of pie, and that wouldbe my dinner. She told me I neededto eat something healthier, like asmall piece of chicken and a veg-etable. I think it was fine.”

In Gwinnett County, educa-tion extends into the kitchen.

Each of the county’s three senior centers offers cookingclasses at least once a month. “We do a lot of health-relatedclasses, such as low-fat cooking and low-salt cooking, butwe’ll also do one on holiday baking and ethnic cooking,” saysPat Milhous, food service dietitian, Gwinnett County SeniorServices. “The seniors just love them, and we always get agood turnout.”

In LaGrange, the Coleman Community Health Center offerscooking classes. Though not specifically geared to seniors,classes on low-fat and low-sodium cooking tend to draw sen-iors into the classes. “We get a lot of seniors coming who justwant to learn more about healthy cooking and healthy eating,”says Carol Stewart, community nutrition educator at the center.

Some areas have taken the link between health and nutrition a step further and developed programs tocombat disease through nutrition. In Fulton County, SeniorConnections, a meal provider, is participating in a testMedicare nutrition therapy program to fight diabetes andrenal failure.

Calcium,Vitamin D & B12 Supplements

Fats, Oils & Sweets Use sparingly

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans,Eggs & Nuts 2 servings

Milk, Yogurt & Cheese 3 servings

Vegetables 3 servings

Fruits 2 servings

Food Pyramid for AdultsOver Age 70

•

•

•

•

•

•

Bread, FortifiedCereal, Rice & Pasta 6 servings

•

Water 8 servings

•

Winter 2005 7

Continued on page 15

By Terry Balko, CSA, Leave A Legacy™ Georgia, Director of Planned Giving,Kennesaw State University

One of the grandest statements about giving is true todayas it was thousands of years ago, “It is more blessed to

give than to receive.” Acts 20:35. Giving makes us feel goodand can provide for others in a wonderful way. When wegive today we are helping to create ourlegacy of tomorrow. Winston Churchill oncesaid, “We make a living by what we get; wemake a life by what we give.”

The Leave A Legacy™ Georgia, co-spon-sored by the Georgia Planned Giving Council(GPGC) and the Association of FundraisingProfessionals (AFP) Georgia Chapter, showsindividuals how they can leave a lastinglegacy through charitable estate planning.

The program is apublic outreacheffort that encour-ages people tomake planned giftsfrom their estatesto their favoritecharitable organi-zations. We encour-age individuals todiscuss their inten-tions with theirattorney, CPA, and

other professional advisors who specialize inthis field.

As you plan your legacy, consider whatnoted philanthropist and motivational speaker,Paul J. Meyer, once said, “Everyone leaves alegacy, whether it is intentional or not. Thosewho are more intentional about it usually leavea better legacy behind.”

If you plan your estate today, it will benefit your familyand charity tomorrow. Best of all, because of the favorabletax treatment that charitable gifts receive, such gifts mayactually increase the size of the amount you pass on toyour family.

If you are interested in leaving a legacy, consider the 10steps listed below to achieve your goal:

GUEST CLOSE-UPGUEST CLOSE-UP

1. PREPARE A WILL. Only 30 percent of Americans have one. Without a will, you may lose controlover your assets.

2. LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL forthe charitable organizations thatmade a difference in your life. Lessthan 8 percent of American house-holds have included a bequest to acharity in their estate plan. Imaginethe positive impact on our commu-nity if everyone made a planned giftto their favorite charity.

3. LEAVE A SPECIFIC DOLLAR

AMOUNT or a percentage of theassets in your will to a charity ofyour choice.

4. CONSIDER USING ASSETS foryour charitable gift. These includebut aren't limited to: stocks, bonds,certificates of deposit, real estate,vehicles, art and jewelry. Such giftsmay even provide tax savings.

5. NAME A CHARITY of your choiceas the beneficiary of your pensionplan or IRA.

6. PURCHASE A NEW LIFE INSUR-

ANCE POLICY naming yourfavorite charity as the owner/beneficiary.

7. NAME YOUR FAVORITE CHAR-

ITY as the beneficiary of an existinglife insurance policy.

8. REMEMBER loved ones withmemorial gifts.

9. ENCOURAGE FAMILY AND

FRIENDS to leave gifts to charitiesin their wills and estate plan.

10. ASK YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR

to include charitable giving as a partof their client counseling.

For further information, contact Leave ALegacy™ Georgia at 770-433-4137 or visit theWeb site at www.leavealegacygeorgia.org.

8 Georgia Generations

GivingThe Joy of

TOP 10 THINGSYou Can Do to Leave a Legacy

Terry Balko

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.

If you have a loved one in a late stage ofAlzheimer’s or dementia, Caring Closets

can provide incontinence products. Thegoal of Caring Closets is to keep peoplewith dementia in their own homes longerby offsetting the cost of incontinenceproducts.

Caring Closets are the brainchild ofLaurie Parker, director of programs andservices with the Alzheimer’s Association,Georgia Chapter, and Freda Stephensonin the organization’s Dalton office. Dal-ton, Calhoun, McCaysville, Fort Ogle-thorpe, Rome and Cartersville all haveCaring Closets locations, and a new site

will open soon in Polk County.Families caring for a loved one at

home with dementia may visit the closetonce a month to receive free items suchas adult briefs, bed pads, wipes and creams.While the closets seek to serve as manyclients as possible, they rely on donations

to stock the shelves. Therefore, not allof the products are available all thetime. Products will be dispersed basedon availability. Caring Closets acceptmoney and in-kind donations, and allcontributions help meet the needs ofpeople in the community.

For more information onresources in Northwest Georgia, orto make contributions to CaringClosets, call the AAA screeners at thenumber below.

For other information, contact the AAAof Northwest Georgia, P.O. Box 1793,

Rome, GA 30162-1793; 706-802-5506 ortoll-free 1-800-759-2963.

Northwest Georgia

Caring Closets helpfamilies keep loved oneswith dementia at home

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

Winter 2005 9

Caregiver Mana Davenport (center) picks up free Caring Closet supplies from Laurie Parker (left), Georgia Alzheimer's Association, and Janie Freeman,Rome Caring Closet.

Enhancing the quality of life for olderadults and their caregivers is an ongo-

ing goal of the Atlanta Regional Commis-sion, the Area Agency on Aging for theAtlanta region. Included in this effort is theadministration of programs funded throughthe Older Americans Act, such as nutritionservices, as well as a wide variety of healthpromotion projects.

Good nutrition and physical activity areparticularly important in helping olderadults and caregivers to maintain goodhealth. To address this need, the AtlantaRegional Commission has developednumerous collaborative relationships withpublic and private agencies to identify andprovide a wide variety of health and well-ness programs. Many programs are avail-able through senior centers and seniorhousing facilities in the Atlanta region:

1. Vial of Life, a program in partner-ship with CVS Pharmacy and ChristianPharmacy, includes a review of an individ-ual’s medicines by a registered pharmacist,medication management classes and physi-cian referrals.

2. Steps to Healthy Aging pro-motes walking for physical activity. Seniorsare given log books to record steps takeneach day and pedometers for countingsteps.

3. Taking Health to Heart: OlderAdults Managing Cholesterol, a pro-gram in partnership with Pfizer, includescholesterol testing, monthly classes, ongo-ing exercise programs, monthly mailings of

“Close to the Heart” educational materialsand one-on-one counseling by health pro-fessionals.

4. Basic Foot Care screening clinicsprovide basic foot exams, trimming and fil-ing of toenails and filing of corns and cal-luses.These screenings are sponsored bythe Atlanta Foot Care Coalition subcom-mittee of the ProHealth for Seniors TaskForce, a coalition composed of individuals

and organizations inter-ested in the health andwellness of midlife andolder adults.

5. Vision Screen-ing Program, in part-nership with PreventBlindness Georgia,sponsors on-site visionclinics in senior centerfacilities by providingeye exams and low-costglasses.The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention providefunding for this pro-gram through PreventBlindness Georgia.

6. West Nile Virus Initiative, incooperation with the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, local healthdepartments and the Consumer SpecialtyProducts Association, is a public educationprogram focused on distributing brochuresand cans of insect repellent containingDEET in order to reduce the risk of con-tracting the West Nile Virus.

The above programs and collaborationsare important efforts in improving thehealth and wellness of older adults andcaregivers throughout the Atlanta region.

For more information on any of these pro-grams, contact ARC’s health and wellness coor-dinator, Mary Byrd, at mbyrd@atlantaregional.comor 404-463-3289.

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

Health and wellness: Improving the lives of older adults

™

Good nutrition and physical activity areimportant in helping older adults andcaregivers to maintain good health.

Laura Feldman, grassroots manager forthe National Committee to Preserve

Social Security and Medicare, grabbedeveryone’s attention when she spoke aboutMedicare changes at the Columbus RiverCenter for the Performing Arts on August26, 2004. As she told everyone, “Wake up.This is important stuff!”

The National Committee to PreserveSocial Security and Medicare in Washing-ton, DC, is the second-largest lobbyingorganization for seniors next to AARP.Representing this national committee,

Feldman demystified the politics ofMedicare in her nonpartisan presentationto more than 150 seniors from the LowerChattahoochee area. Among other infor-mation, Feldman clarified the newMedicare Part D prescription benefit andhow it affects seniors.

Feldman encouraged older adults toget involved in helping to establish policy.“If you are not happy with the Medicarechanges,” she said, “speak up, get involvedand voice your concerns, especially toelected officials. Be knowledgeable.”

The best way to get help, clarificationand more information is to call Georgia-Cares at 1-800-633-4227. Volunteers are available over the phone to explain theMedicare changes and walk you throughyour options.

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

Aging Connection is a free telephoneinformation and referral service for

older adults and disabled individuals in thecommunity. This service provides informa-tion on such resources as elder legal serv-ices, financial assistance, home careservices, transportation, nursing care, hous-ing, prescription assistance and others.Aging Connection staff are trained socialworkers and nurses. They take calls fromanyone, including hospital staff, DFCSworkers, family members, friends and indi-viduals seeking services for themselves.Aging Connection serves Barrow, Clarke,Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison,

Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe andWalton counties.

Aging Connection also maintains waiting lists for programs that providein-home care services for elderly anddisabled individuals. These programsinclude personal care home placement as

well as home-delivered meals,homemaker services, personalsupport services, adult day careand in-home respite care.

Aging Connection staff con-duct a variety of outreachefforts, including attendance athealth fairs, presentations atchurches and civic organizationsand participation in professionalmeetings.

For information about pro-grams and services for olderadults, disabled adults or theircaregivers, call Aging Connection

at 1-800-474-7540 or 706-583-2546.

Lower Chattahoochee

What’s hot and what’s not with Medicare

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

Aging Connectionprovides helpfulinformation

Tanya Workmaster (left), information and referral supervisor,and Katie Sikes, information and referral specialist, review theresources available through Aging Connection.

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

Laura Feldman, grassroots manager for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security

and Medicare in Washington, DC.

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

Winter 2005 11

Heart of Georgia Altamaha

Adedicated group of volunteers is help-ing older adults who struggle with

prescription drug costs. Through theGeorgiaCares program, seniors who needhelp paying for their prescription drugs arefinding the assistance they need.

The Heart of Georgia Altamaha AreaAgency on Aging recently recognized thecontributions of these volunteers at its14th annual Volunteer Recognition Conference. Altogether, volunteers hadcontributed 5,968 hours of time to 4,840individuals who needed information aboutlocating low-cost prescriptions.

The keynote speaker, Senator Jack Hill,recognized the role that the volunteersplay in helping to reduce hospital costs

for those who must choose between buy-ing medications or paying their electricbill. Without medications, many olderadults throughout the state of Georgiabecome ill and must be hospitalized. Thus,the efforts of GeorgiaCares volunteers inhelping seniors to obtain low-cost med-ications have contributed to a savings of13.8 million dollars during 2004.

Senator Hill closed his remarks by say-ing, “I appreciate what you do for others.Our communities are better places to

live because of what you do.” Senator Hillreceived the “Legislative Advocate of theYear” award from the volunteers.

If you would like more information orwould like to become a volunteer, please call1-800-669-8387.

Volunteers help bringdown cost of healthcare

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

Waycross senior CleoThomas was the first

of 200 seniors to receive disas-ter relief kits provided by theSoutheast Georgia RegionalDevelopment Center’s AreaAgency on Aging (AAA) in fivecounties that are often threat-ened by coastal storms.

Diversified Resources,under contract with the AAA,will distribute the disaster relief kits torecipients of home-delivered meals inBrantley, Bacon, Charlton, Pierce and Warecounties at each client’s next reassessment.

The disaster relief kit includes a flash-light, batteries, emergency drinking water, apocket magnifier, a first-aid kit, an emer-

gency survival blanket, a whistle and emer-gency information provided by the Ameri-can Red Cross. These well-stocked kits arean invaluable resource for seniors during adisaster.

“It’s wonderful that our local AmericanRed Cross chapter and Diversified

Resources were willing to partner with usto accomplish this project,” says SoutheastGeorgia Regional Development CenterAAA Director Wanda Taft. “As a result ofthis effort, some of our area’s frailest sen-ior citizens will be more informed and pre-pared in the event of a disaster.”

Seventy-nine-year-old Thomas, the firstrecipient of the disaster relief kit, says thatshe is elated to have received the kit but isquick to point out that she hopes she willnever need to use it.

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

12 Georgia Generations

Disaster relief kits delivered to senior citizens in at-risk counties

Pictured above (left to right): Southeast Georgia RDC ChairmanWink Strickland, Diversified Resources Case Manager Billie AnnWilson, Cleo Thomas, Southeast Georgia RDC AAA DirectorWanda Taft and American Red Cross Disaster Services DirectorRita Brookshire.

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

GeorgiaCares volunteers (left to right): Lois Allmond, Cora Lee Tison, Betty McDaniel and Geri Alligood.Ms. Tison had a total of 947 volunteer hours.

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

The Legacy Link Area Agency on Aging,located in Gainesville, recently assisted

the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser-vices (CMS) staff in Atlanta with a pilotproject called “Enrollment Accomplished!”This outreach effort to educate olderadults about the provision of the MedicareModernization Act allowed seniors toapply for a Medicare-approved prescrip-tion discount card. The event was heldin conjunction with a health fair.

Using cell phones donated by Cin-gular Wireless, Medicare beneficiariescalled the toll-free number to enroll inone of the new programs. Medicare staff,Legacy Link staff and GeorgiaCares volun-teers assisted the beneficiaries with the

applicationprocess. Thecompletedapplicationswere trans-

mitted to

Gainesville via theInternet. More than

100 people attendedthe event.The success of

the effort was evident asMedicare beneficiaries real-

ized the potential savings intheir prescription drug costs.

Legacy Link staff and volunteers can

help persons in the 13-county area toapply for one of the new prescription discount cards. Also, the Legacy Shoppelocated at the Colonial Lakeshore Mall inGainesville is open six days per week, withstaff to help in this process.

For further information, contact LegacyLink, P.O. Box 2534, Gainesville, GA 30503-2534; 770-538-2650 or toll-free 1-800-845-LINK.

The Southern Crescent Area Agency onAging (SCAAA) recently held a volun-

teer banquet to recognize and honor thededicated individuals who give their timeand talents to make life better for seniorcitizens in the 10-county SCAAA planningand service area.

In partnership with Eli Lilly and Com-pany, who provided a grant for training andvolunteer recognition, SCAAA started theevening with a “low country boil” dinner.After the meal, those attending the eventheard from Bobby Buchanan, SCAAA direc-tor, Mona Browning, GeorgiaCares coordi-nator, and Carey Knowles, who provided alight touch with his humorous remarks.

Volunteers were recognized for coun-seling seniors about Medicare issues, edu-

cating them about prescrip-tion assistance programsand participating in skitsand plays to teach themabout how to preventMedicare fraud and errors.

Mona Browningrounded out the evening bypresenting the volunteerswith certificates of appre-ciation and several gifts.The senior volunteerswho were recognizedincluded Carolyn Bell, Hazel Burks,AnnChampion, Ralph Davies, Betty Eason,Cookie Helton, Luke Huggins, Mary Kee,Frank Kiblinger, Shirley Lucas, Emily Rosser,Gloria Sanford, Mary Wright, Rosa Evans,Marty Gibson, Leita Holton, Jimmie Hosey,Susan Burdett, Margaret Dukes and JackieWilliams.

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

SCAAA honors volunteers

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

Winter 2005 13

New senior center offers activities and meals.

Legacy Link partners with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Staff and volunteers can help seniorscall to apply for the new prescriptiondiscount program.

The Middle Georgia Regional Develop-ment Center/Area Agency on Aging

(AAA) salutes the contributions of Bernard“Bud” Fletcher as the winner of the Out-standing Senior Volunteer Award from theU.S.Administration on Aging. Fletcherreceived the honor for his work with theMiddle Georgia GeorgiaCares programadministered by the AAA.

A former superintendent of the BibbCounty Board of Elections, Fletcher wasone of 21 older volunteers receiving thenational award at a ceremony on July 21,2004, in Washington, DC. He has been aGeorgiaCares volunteer since 2000.

GeorgiaCares is a statewide private-public partnership sponsored by the

Department ofHuman Resources,Division of AgingServices and the 12 Area Agencieson Aging through-out the state.GeorgiaCares in-cludes the SeniorMedicare Patrol, State Health InsuranceAssistance Program and Prescription Assistance. Trained volunteers use edu-cational presentations to inform Medicarebeneficiaries about potential scams. One-on-one discussions help seniors understandMedicare complexities and identify andreport errors or possible fraud.

Volunteers like Fletcherare dedicated to protect-ing the integrity of theMedicare and Medicaidprograms and ensuring thequality of care provided toolder and needy citizens.Last year Middle Georgia’sGeorgiaCares programsaved residents more than$671,000. For more infor-mation on this program,call 478-751-6489.

To report suspected Medicare and/or Medicaid fraud in the Middle Georgia area,please call 478-751-6489.

Fletcher receives NationalOutstanding Senior Volunteer Award

Bernard Fletcher receives the OutstandingSenior Volunteer Award from MariaGreene, director of the Georgia Divisionof Aging Services.

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

Building independence for disabled sen-iors — with the help of Augusta area

teens — starts with wood, nails and a doseof ingenuity. Through a promising newpartnership between the Area Agency onAging and other CSRA organizations, stu-dents at Richmond County’s Butler HighSchool are taking on a project of buildingwheelchair ramps.The project offers teensan apprenticeship that combines vocational

skills training with community service.“The initiative takes young students

who are about to enter the workforceand gives them real-world experience,”says AmeriCorps*VISTA’s James McGee,who serves as director of the Mayor’sOffice of Workforce Development inAugusta. “It shows that our community isusing its resources wisely.”

Collaborators include the Augusta-Richmond County Office of the Mayor,Walton Options for Independent Living,the Richmond County Board of Educationand the Area Agency on Aging, with sup-port from the Community Outreach

Program for the Handicapped and theCorporation for National Service.

“In some cases, the program may takeaway some of the fear that young peoplehave about the world of disabilities,” says Kathy Cawley, executive director of the Community Outreach Program forthe Handicapped. “If others are willing todonate to this effort, we encourage themto do it because the more money wehave, the more people we can help.”

For further information, contact the Cen-tral 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 THESE COUNTIES:Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock,Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie,Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro,Warren, Washington, Wilkes

Teen carpentry students help wheelchair users gainadded independence. Shown here, students fromButler High School begin work on railings asconstruction teacher Rob Johnson supervises.

Ramps lead to opportunity for seniors and youth

Georgia Generations

Elaine Wilson, lead ombudsman for theSOWEGA Council on Aging, recently

had a conversation with an elderly residentwho was feeling somewhat “out of sorts”because she had no outlet for her variedinterests. Coming out of this exchange wasthe creation of the ECLIPSE program,which puts children and older adultstogether in an informal educational venue.

Plantation Manor, an assisted-living facil-ity in Thomasville, was the first to take partin the new program. Gail Lancaster, direc-tor of Plantation Manor, says that many ofthe residents are very excited about par-ticipating in the program because it gives

them an outlet to share their knowledgeand experiences. Robert Brady, a residentof Plantation Manor and a former director

of the housing authority for ThomasCounty, recently led students on a tour ofPlantation Manor and into the countrysideof Thomasville’s plantations to study theflora and fauna.

Other Plantation Manor residentsinclude a former editor for the Los AngelesTimes, an art teacher and a piano instruc-tor. These individuals provide children withwriting, art and piano lessons.

For further information, contact SouthwestGeorgia COA, 1105 Palmyra Road, Albany, GA31701-2508; 229-432-1124 or toll-free 1-800-282-6612.

“This is a brand-new program, andwe’re going to be one of the test sitesfor it,” says Steve Brazen, executivedirector of Senior Connections. “In theprogram, registered dietitians will meetwith seniors who have diabetes andearly-stage renal failure and make indi-vidual recommendations for their diets.They will follow up with a couple visitsto monitor their progress. The goal is toreduce the impact the disease has onthem through diet. We’re doing a pilotin a senior high-rise in Fulton Countyand hope to roll the program out metro-wide by the first of the year.”

In another effort, the ARC has part-nered with Pfizer, the pharmaceuticalgiant, to create a cholesterol manage-ment program called “Taking Health toHeart: Older Adults Managing Choles-terol.” A year ago, the ARC signed upabout 270 high-risk seniors who partici-pated in local health fairs. For the past

year, these seniors attended educationalclasses at one of four Fulton County mul-tipurpose centers and kept a record oftheir daily exercise. Every six months,they received incentive awards for meet-ing certain goals. Then in June, at theend of the first year, they were all re-screened.

“We are thrilled with the results,”says Mary Byrd, a registered licenseddietitian and health and wellnesscoordinator for the ARC. “On average,total cholesterol was down 20 points,LDL — the bad cholesterol — wasdown 10 points and triglicerides —total fat — was down 30 points. Thisis a two-year program, so we can’twait to see how they do next June.”

Also in Atlanta, Goolsby of Project

Open Hand has started a weight lossclinic in a local senior center. “Thiswas something the seniors wanted andthey approached me about doing it,”says Goolsby. “There are a lot of diseases, such as hypertension anddiabetes, where you don’t want to beeven close to being overweight. So I

think this weight loss clinic will be veryworthwhile.”

All of these programs have a commongoal — to improve the nutritional healthof seniors. “As you get older, your nutri-tional needs change,” says InstructionalDietetic Associates’ Thompson. “We wantto make sure seniors’ eating habitschange along with their needs. By eatingwell, seniors can do a lot to improve theirhealth and quality of life.” GG

Robert Brady prepares to lead a group of childrenon an ECLIPSE trip.

Children and olderadults benefit throughECLIPSE

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

Winter 2005 15

Healthy NutritionContinued from page 7

“We want to make sure seniors’ eatinghabits change along with their needs.”

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

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 plase 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

Northwestern MutualFinancial Network An hour invested in long-term care planning today

can make thinkingabout tomorrow

much more comfortable. Contact 770-612-4687 ormaureen.fiacco@nmfn.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

United Hospice of CalhounServing Northwest Georgia withcompassionate and gentle care for

those with life-limiting illnesses. Call Caroline Talleyat 1-800-867-7976 or 706-602-9546.

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.

Bridgebuilders, Inc.Bridgebuilders, Inc.

16 Georgia Generations

How can I help?

A contribution to the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund® honors parents, grandparents and mentors by supporting aging programs.Call 1-800-676-2433 to learn how.