CO-AGE Priorities for 2009 General Assembly Session Set

Funding for grandchildren in the care of grandparents is the budget priority chosen by the approximately 200 Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE) participants at the July 10 meeting at the KSU Center, Kennesaw State University. Funding for the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and the non-Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Program (HCBS) continues as a perennial budget priority for CO-AGE. Two legislative priorities were chosen – Creating a Department of Aging and supporting the Parent Protection Act.

For the last seven years, Kennesaw State University has been our host, providing state-of- the-art meeting space. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Parks and Lodges enticed participants to visit Georgia’s scenic state parks with their exhibit that included several live birds.  Several lucky participants received one of the fabulous door prizes donated by DNR.  

Karen Bacheller and Ann Williams, Georgia Council on Aging Legislative Co-Chairs, presented our annual legislative awards.  Representative Ben Harbin received the Special Legislator award for continued exemplary leadership, personal commitment and extraordinary contributions on behalf of Georgia’s elderly.  Representative Harbin chairs the House Appropriations Committee and has been key to funding for aging budget priorities. Chairman Harbin championed increasing the personal needs allowance for nursing home residents, increased  funding for the long-term care ombudsman, and this session found state funds for meals on wheels, congregate meals programs and Adult Protective Services budgets to offset the loss of federal moneys. 

Senator Don Balfour was also presented with the Special Legislator award.  His leadership in the Senate as Chairman of the Rules Committee has made it possible for aging legislation to reach the Senate floor for a vote including the Grandparents bills that passed the Senate in 2006 and 2007, revision of  guardianship law,  approval of the use of public guardians, implementation of adult day center licensing fees, combining the living will and health care power of attorney into a new advance directive, authorizing the Georgia Council on Aging’s initiative known as “Georgia for a Lifetime” and more.

Representative Mark Butler was recognized with the Outstanding Legislator award for professional leadership and exemplary contributions on behalf of Georgia’s elderly.  As vice chairman of appropriations for Human Resources he has been instrumental in recommending aging budget items.  Especially this year when the budget first looked optimistic and then took a downward turn, Representative Butler was the first stop for aging advocates to plead for funding to replace lost federal dollars for meals and for Adult Protective Services.  Representative Butler pushed forward the implementation of Adult Day Care Licensure. 

The Council also recognized former House Budget Director Charlie Walker for his interest in and concern for aging priorities. Over all of the years that Charlie has been in the budget office he has been a steadfast friend to aging.  Especially during budget conference committee time at the General Assembly, when tracking documents for the budget are scarce, Charlie made sure that aging advocates had access to them.  And as the budget conferees, budget office staffs and advocates were working around the clock to finish the budget, Charlie would always be gracious when aging advocates were worrying and questioning the outcome. All of these individuals were also recognized for their accessibility and responsiveness to aging advocates.

The Council also thanked Matthew Malok for his six years of service as he retired from the Council in May and bid a fond farewell to Melanie McNeil, Executive Director for the last eight years, as she heads to a new position as Public Policy Director for the National Association of State Units on Aging in Washington, DC.