Breaking news:

Advocates hail governor for helping elderly

Support services survive state budget cuts

Aging advocates are praising Gov. Brian Kemp for sparing Georgia’s seniors from deep budget cuts for support services.

Kemp on Thursday unveiled a proposed state budget for the current year and next year that retains new funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Meals on Wheels, programs that allow older Georgians to maintain their independence and age in place.

“At a time when state departments are being asked to cut their budgets, we are so appreciative that Gov. Kemp is keeping support for seniors as a top priority,” Vicki Vaughn Johnson, chair of the Georgia Council on Aging, said. “Many seniors badly need these options, which have been shown to be far and away the most cost-effective way to help them age in place.”

Last year, the Governor and lawmakers added $2 million to address an HCBS waiting list of 7,000 and added $1.4 million to reduce a waiting list for the popular Meals-on-Wheels program. But over half of that money was on the chopping block because of state budget cuts.

Vicki V. Johnson - CO-AGE Chair

The Georgia Council on Aging and the 1,000-plus member Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly (CO-AGE) are making funding for HCBS and financing of a Behavior Health and Housing program to help prevent eviction of older adults from low-income housing their top budget priorities for the current legislative session.

​

Both budget priorities aim to keep adults from having to obtain more expensive levels of care unnecessarily as they age. 

The costs to provide home and community-based care is about one-tenth of the state’s cost of nursing home care, Johnson said.

CO-AGE has other 2020 legislative priorities including:

• Support for House Bill 511, a transportation bill that would pull together resources to help rural Georgians with mobility needs, including seniors who no longer drive.

• Support for affordable Senior Living housing options.

• Support for increased fines and sanctions for Personal Care Home licensure and code violations, and also greater transparency by the state in reporting these violations.

Atlanta Journal Constitution reporters spent nearly a year looking into the quality of care provided by some of Georgia's assisted living communities and personal care homes. What they discovered helps to shed light on the importance of GCOA's 2020 priority to strengthen personal care homes and assisted living communities requirements in Georgia. See below for links to stories, editorials, and GCOA responses. 

​

October CO-AGE Meeting

The October CO-AGE meeting, held at the Lanier Charter Career Academy on October 24th in Gainesville, Georgia was a huge success. Sen. Butch Miller kicked off the meeting expressing his  support  for  CO-AGE  and  our  continued  advocacy efforts.

Additional speakers included: Abby Cox (Director of  the  Division  of  Aging  Services),  Council  Member Sharise Thurman  (Heartis  Suwanee  Senior  Living), Becky  Kurtz  (Atlanta Regional  Commission), Melanie McNeil (State Long-Term Care Ombudsman),  MaryLea Boatwright  Quinn  (Alzheimer's  Association - Georgia Chapter), and Eve Anthony (Athens Community Council on Aging). The 2020 CO-AGE priorities were discussed along with how to get involved in advocating for Georgia seniors. 

July CO-AGE Meeting

​

The Georgia Council on Aging held the July CO-AGE Meeting in Macon, GA on July 11 at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth. Over 120 advocates attended to hear presentations on nine potential CO-AGE issues for 2020. GCOA also honored their Legislator of the Year, Rep John LaHood (R-Valdosta).  There were many familiar faces and plenty of new participants!

Events

​

Stay informed as we keep you up-to-date on important state government events and GCOA news.

Engage with CO-AGE

April 20th - 24th, 2020

GCOA in Action

​

Throughout the year, GCOA advocates to bring awareness to issues affecting older Georgians. GCOA established the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly (CO-AGE) to be a forum through which the concerns of older Georgian's are identified and addressed. By joining CO-AGE, you can be a part of the vehicle for bringing broad-based input on aging issues from across the state. 

In the News

Kemp's budget spurs questions about impact on rural Georgia

January 25, 2020

Planning for retirement - Pros and cons of owning an RV

January 24, 2020

Many caregivers neglect their own health

January 24, 2020

State website on healthcare facilities down for weeks

January 8, 2020

Elder Abuse Watch

Elderly woman abused, daughter charged

January 25, 2020

State representatives from Bartow sponsor wide slate of bills

January 24, 2020

DeKalb launches new group to combat elder abuse

January 24, 2020

Elder abuse task force educates on scams targeting seniors

January 11, 2020