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GCOA's Senior Issues Newsletter
Senior Issues Newsletter January 2023
In this Issue:
Wishing you a Happy New Year as we welcome the 2023 Legislative Session! The Georgia General Assembly will be back under the Gold Dome next Monday, January 9th, for the 2023 Legislative Session. There are big changes ahead at the legislature. There are 43 new Representatives and 10 new Senators. Leadership transitions include Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and Speaker of the House Jon Burns.
Aging advocates have worked hard over the last nine months to decide on this year's issues and develop innovative strategies to get our messages to legislators. Read about our 2023 CO-AGE Priorities in our virtual brochure HERE.
Starting next week, we will release weekly editions of the newsletter to make sure that our members have the latest updates regarding the legislative session. Also, be on the lookout for our action alerts. Remember, just four clicks and you can contact your legislators at critical moments in the process!
GCOA Welcomes New Communications Specialist
The Georgia Council on Aging and the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly are excited to welcome the new GCOA Communications Specialist, Ms. Patrice Parker!
Patrice received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Florida A&M University in the spring of 2006.
She then relocated to the Atlanta area and earned her Master of Science degree in Accounting from Strayer University. Being born into a large family, she is very passionate about applying her skill set to a worthy cause such as assisting with the concerns of older adults as they deal with the process of aging.
She is a mother of two teenage children and enjoys family outings.
Senior Week 2023
Join us for a week of online and in-person events for Senior Week 2023! Senior Day at the Capitol will take place on February 15, 2023. This will be our first in-person Senior Week event since 2020! Witness the announcement of the Distinguished Older Georgian, tour the Capitol and locate the offices of your legislators. It is free to attend but Registration is Required. Space is limited. Please be aware that a lot of walking will be required. We'll see you in your green scarf!
Click below to register!
For those who cannot make the in-person event, you will have the opportunity to participate in Senior Week from the comfort of your own home. Tune in for the Senior Week webinar on Thursday, February 16th. During the webinar, you will hear from your legislators, Aging services professionals, vendors and the 2023 Distinguished Older Georgian.
Virtual Sponsorships are available. Contact Nikaela at nikaela.frederick@gcoa.ga.gov for more information.
Join or Renew Your CO-AGE Membership
The Georgia Council on Aging's Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly (CO-AGE) is meant to be:
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a forum to identify and address concerns of older Georgians
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a vehicle for bringing broad-based input on aging issues from across the state
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a diverse group of organizations, individuals, consumers and providers interested in "aging specific" and inter-generational issues
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a unifying force communicating the importance of providing supportive communities and adequate services & programs for older Georgians
Anyone interested in advocating with or on behalf of older adults can join
CO-AGE. Individual Membership is only $10! Sign up HERE or
If you are already a member, please make sure that your account is up to date. In order to accurately and effectively link our CO-AGE members to their legislators, it's important that we have the most updated home addresses in our database. If you had a change of address recently, please contact Nikaela Frederick at nikaela.frederick@gcoa.ga.gov and she will update your address in our system. All home addresses will remain confidential!
Personal Stories
(HCBS): "Adult Day Care for my husband was a lifesaver! I'm grateful for these services!"
Budget funding and legislation are greatly influenced by the personal experiences of older Georgians. Legislators want to hear about how you are affected by the budget and current laws of the state. GCOA can't succeed without YOU!!
Please click HERE to see how to submit a good personal story.
(Teledentistry): "I live in rural Georgia and have a difficult time getting to my dentist appointments twenty miles away."
GCOA in the Community
GCOA staff attended the 33rd Biennial Institute in early December. It provides legislators with valuable time for learning, networking, and exploring state issues prior to the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
Last month, GCOA and Senior Citizens Inc. President Patti Lyons, was honored by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in the Official Congressional Record for her 25 years of service to the Coastal Georgia Community. Congratulations, Patti! Read the full press release HERE.
CO-AGE member and Area Agency on Aging Director at the Atlanta Regional Commission, Becky Kurtz, recently wrote an opinion article for the AJC about vaccinations, especially concerning older adults. Read it HERE.
Save the Dates
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Melba's Corner: Special Edition
A young man walked in the drug store and asked the pharmacist if he had anything to stop the hiccups. The pharmacist came around the counter and slapped him hard on the face. The young man said, " What did you do that for?" The pharmacist said, "You don't have hiccups- do you?" He said, "No, but my wife out in the car does."
© 2023 Georgia Council on Aging
2 Peachtree St., NW, Suite 32-270, Atlanta, GA 30303-3142