Back in September, when the remains of Hurricane Irma blew through Middle Georgia, residents of a senior apartment complex in Macon found themselves in a dire situation. The complex was without power, and there was no way to cook a hot meal or get a warm shower. And because the elevators didn’t work, some residents with disabilities were trapped on their apartment floor.
The social worker for the complex reached out to the area’s Aging and Disability Resource Center seeking referrals for immediate help with food and supplies. A counselor provided information about food banks and emergency assistance. Staff with the Middle Georgia Area Agency on Aging connected their Meals-on-Wheels service provider, which donated shelf-ready meals for the 50 older adults living there. Another non-profit organization offered to provide shower units so the seniors could take hot showers.
The network center helped avert a crisis and get assistance for residents until their electricity was restored.
“The social worker did an awesome job,” said Julie Hall, director of Aging for the Middle Georgia Agency.
The call for help is not usually so dramatic, but it underscores the value of the state’s network of Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The 21 centers located throughout Georgia are part of a referral and information system to help seniors and adults with disabilities find public and private services.
The centers are “the connection point for people looking for help with living independently,” said Georgia Council on Aging Executive Director Kathy Floyd.
“Twenty-five years ago everything was different. You took care of an older person in the home or they went into a nursing home. It’s not like that anymore. People want to stay in their homes independently and they are looking for resources to do this.”
Keeping the network updated and financially stable is a top priority for state aging advocates.
Georgia is getting older — one in five adults will be 60 or older by 2040 — and aging advocates are asking legislators to put more money into a growing demand for home care services.
The Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly is asking for $4 million in additional state funding for the resource networks, and $10 million more for home and community-based services.
The state has more than 12,000 seniors on waiting lists for assistance for basic needs such as home-delivered meals, transportation to the doctor and home care tasks such as bathing and dressing, according to the Council on Aging.
The network centers handled 92,000 initial calls during fiscal year 2016, with the vast majority being referred to private pay service options.
Counselors help callers identify their needs and facilitate help. And because they’re not trying to sell anything, they provide a neutral voice for the various service and assistive technology options available.
The additional state funding would be used to increase the number of counselors across the state and make technology upgrades so the networks are more efficient, Floyd said. Future features might include an online chat option and a beefed-up website so basic information and questions can be answered without a call. This would free up counselors to spend their time handling more complex inquiries, Floyd said.
The statewide resource site is georgiaadrc.com. In metro Atlanta, those looking for services can go to agewiseconnection.com and search the database online, or call 404-463-3333 and speak with an information specialist.
Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly
Other legislative priorities for the 2018 session of the Georgia General Assembly:
- Elder abuse — Creation of a registry that will prevent the hiring of caregivers with a history of abuse and exploitation.
- Personal care homes — Strengthen the penalties on violations that endanger residents.
- Assisted living — Build a coalition to start looking at ways to increase affordable assisted living housing options for older adults.
— — —
SENIOR WEEK AT THE CAPITOL
The Georgia Council on Aging's annual Senior Week at the Capitol will take place Feb. 7-8. Attendees will visit their legislators and speak with them about the legislative priorities of CO-AGE (Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly). Reservations are required, and groups interested in attending should contact the Georgia Council on Aging. Also, volunteers are needed as guides to lead groups through the Capitol and help arrange for them to speak with legislators. Scholarships are also available. Contact GCOA.org for more information.
About the Author
