Advocacy efforts include

  • Recommending legislation
  • Developing and presenting testimony at public hearings
  • Providing leadership to the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly (CO-AGE)
  • Providing leadership to special initiatives like Project 2020:Georgia for a Lifetime which made recommendations to the Governor and legislators concerning the aging of Georgia's population
  • Working closely with the Area Agencies on Aging to train advocates across the state. Click here to find your Area Agency on Aging.


Advocacy efforts include

  • Seminars to increase public awareness of aging issues
  • Presentations to legislative and community groups concerning aging issues
  • Encouragement of gerontology education in the state's universities, colleges, vocational and public schools
  • Seminars, symposia and reports providing research, best practices, and "tools" for meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by Georgia's aging population


Service activities include

  • Interaction with state departments regarding their plans and programs on aging
  • Networking and collaboration with other organizations
  • Representing older adults by serving on committees and task forces
  • Technical assistance to local communities in their efforts to plan

Members

The Council organizes events throughout the year.

  • Senior Week at the Capitol brings senior advocates from across the state together with their legislators during the General Assembly session.
  • The Vita Ostrander Award (PDF) recognizes an older volunteer engaged in statewide advocacy.  This award is presented at the July CO-AGE Priority Setting Meeting. 
  • The Martha Eaves Advocating for Positive Change Awards (PDF)  recognize older advocacy volunteers within each of the state's 12 Area Agency on Aging regions.  These awards are handed out at the April CO-AGE Meeting.
  • Outstanding Legislator and Special Legislative Awards recognize legislators and members of the legislative staff who have worked tirelessly on aging issues or given special support to aging advocates and are distributed at the July CO-AGE Priority Setting Meeting.
  • Quarterly meetings of the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly prioritize issues, develop recommended legislation, train advocates, and support their efforts.
  • The Distinguished Older Georgian Award (PDF) recognizes a Georgian, 80 or older who has rendered service on a community, state or federal level, and is recognized as a role model for positive aging, and has demonstrated a life work acknowledged by general consensus as being of great benefit to a large number of people, or has made some significant contribution to society through occupational or volunteer efforts.  This prestigous award is handed out by a legislator on the floor of the House and/or Senate during the legislative session.

    Click here to read the House Resolution that honored Dr. Arthur Leroy Dorminy as the 2011 Distinguished Older Georgian.  You can see Dr. Dorminy being honored by Governor Nathan Deal by clicking here.


Publications


CO-AGE

The Council established the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly and continues to provide leadership. The Coalition enables the Council to obtain statewide input on aging concerns. Participation is open to any organization, business, or individual with an interest in aging.