In this Issue

Inside Your Association -- Aging Services of Georgia

General Notes of Interest

Public Policy Update

Business Connection
Updates from Our Associate Members

Institute News

Center News

Organization/Board Development

News Throughout
the Continuum:

Vacancy Report

Career Opportunities

AAHSA Information

GIA Partners

Occupied
Renovations

Cornerstone
Senior Living

Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A.

GIA Supporters

Ziegler Capital
Markets Group

Mauldin & Jenkins

LW Consulting, Inc.

Guest Services

Dixon Hughes

Pfizer

GIA Friends  

The Law Offices of Williams & Edelstein

GIA Contributors

HVAC Services

Kings Bridge Retirement Center

Canterbury Court

Presbyterian Village

Presbyterian Homes of Georgia

THW Design

AAHSA
http://www.aahsa.org

Keep Up with the Quality First Program

Aging Services of Georgia is the statewide association of over 150 key not-for-profit and other mission-focused organizations dedicated to providing quality housing, health care, community-based and other related services for older Georgians. The mission of Aging Services of Georgia is to represent and promote the common interests of its members through leadership, advocacy, education and other services in order to enhance each member's ability to serve older Georgians

Inside Your Association -- Aging Services of Georgia

A Letter from Our New Board Chair

Fellow members–

As the new board chair for Aging Services of Georgia – I am delighted to work with you and I look forward to our opportunities and challenges. We have three organizations coming together this year under one umbrella – Aging Services of Georgia, Georgia Institute on Aging and the Center for Positive Aging.  All three, working together and focused will enable our association to more than meet the needs of members – we will be able to attract new members and provide much needed services to our members and our customer base – older Georgians.  The boards will have a joint planning retreat in January that will bring all three organizations together so we continue to work effectively throughout the next year. 

Thank you for your commitment to our association – we are a member based organization and your time, talent and treasure are needed to ensure our success.  Please let me know if you would like to be more involved – we need all members engaged – call or email me directly at dfurtado@srconn.org or call me at 770-216-2575. I would also like to thank Walter and the talented association staff – they inspire and guide us and I look forward to working more closely with all of them.  Enjoy your Holidays with family and friends and as Maya Angelo says…Aging…by all means do it!  Let’s continue to make the positive change in the lives that we touch. 

Best Regards –
Debra Furtado
Aging Services Board Chair

Aging Services of Georgia Thanks Members for Their Support and Confidence

We would like to thank the members who have sent in their 2010 Membership Dues already! We truly appreciate your vote of confidence. Aging Services of Georgia staff could not do our jobs without the hundreds of you and your staff members who serve on our Boards, Committees and Task Forces. Thank you all for your continued
leadership.

Best wishes for the New Year from all of us and we look forward to working with you in 2010! If you have not reviewed the 2009 Year in Review, please take a moment to do so.  Members were very engaged in the life of the association in 2009!

SHAREpoint – connecting members & the association - NOW ON-LINE

SHAREpoint is now ready for you to use.  You should have received an email from the association office with your user name and password.  If you experience any problems, contact Susan
NOTE:  You must have an individual email address to participate.  Please contact Susan Watkins and provide her your organization name and your individual email address.

When you access the For Members section of the Web site (www.agingservcesga.org), you will be connected into SHAREpoint.  It is very similar to the current FOR MEMBERS section of the Web site – now, you will just be able to post documents and communicate (post questions, etc.) with your colleagues.  PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO TRY IT OUT – much of our future communication as well as your connection to your colleagues will be through SHAREpont.  A BIG SPECIAL THANKS to Susan Watkins and Barry Lastinger for making the vision become a reality for us!

AgingServicesNEXT 2010 – REGISTER NOW

Now if the time to register for the AgingServicesNEXT 2010!  The first of five events is scheduled for Wednesday, February 3rd.  This program is for staff at levels in any position in your organization! See detailed information and registration form.

Aging Services of Georgia’s NEXT program has literally afforded me opportunities that I would never have had. Thank you for the tools to develop professionally. Learning ways to develop Emotional Intelligence set the tone, the Personal Action Plan put everything into play.”

I wanted to thank you for designing such an amazing program with Aging Services of Georgia’s NEXT program. Not only was the material something that I could apply and measure in my professional development but the energy and networking that resulted from being in a class structure has been invaluable as I continue to meet with, collaborate and attend other functions with my classmates.

AgingServicesNOW

This new initiative will engage groups of interested members in reviewing resources and presenting them to the membership at large via webinars and posting information on the new SHAREpoint member communication tool.

We will begin in 2010 reviewing the books listed below.  The Institute will provide the books for you. To register for this project, please see registration information.

Fierce Leadership by Susan Scott
The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwaratz
The Inner Game of Stress by W. Timothy Gallwey
A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter

2010 Association Nomination for Awards brochure NOW POSTED

Each spring, the Aging Services of Georgia membership comes together to participate in quality educational programming, to meet new vendors, renew old friendships and to honor those who provide excellence in service to the Association, their organization, and the community they serve. You are invited to participate by nominating individuals who enhance our collective reputation by their involvement, innovation, leadership, advocacy, as well as personal and organizational generosity.

The Awards Committee is comprised of a cross-section of Aging Services of Georgia members, who represent the continuum of aging services. The Committee reviews the nominations and selects the winners.

Nominations may be submitted by individuals, organizations or groups. Use a separate form for each nomination.  Please notice the newest award (this year is the second year), The Caring Heart award.

Aging Services of Georgia Award of Honor
The Award of Honor, the Association’s highest award, is presented to a distinguished individual who has provided outstanding leadership to the Georgia Association and whose exemplary service and commitment to quality have advanced both the association and the aging-services field.

Aging Services of Georgia Trustee of the Year Award
This award recognizes individuals and governing boards that demonstrate excellence in leadership or governance accountability and whose organizations are aligned with the Quality First principles.

Aging Services of Georgia Volunteer of the Year Award
This award is presented to a resident or non-resident, group, or individual, volunteer of an Aging Services of Georgia member facility that has performed significant volunteer service to clients/residents, and has demonstrated unusual commitment to preserve the dignity and well-being of the residents/clients.

Aging Services of Georgia Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes the achievements of members, non-members or institutions in making outstanding contributions toward the welfare of older persons in areas such as research, education, communication, public policy, or innovative programs.   (It is not required that the nominee be an Aging Services of Georgia/AAHSA member.)

Caring Heart Award
This award recognizes the achievements of  frontline staff and direct care employees, whose caring spirit have made significant impact upon the lives of older adults, while working for an Aging Services of Georgia member organization.

Employees’ Homeownership Impacts Workplace

We work to ensure that Georgia’s elderly have quality housing.  What do we know about the housing of our employees?  Many of us struggle with employee retention and high turnover rates.  To make it worse, today’s economy makes it difficult to add incentives or higher pay and ensure employee satisfaction.  Why not learn about another benefit for employees that could help with stability at home and on the job?  See what Atlanta Habitat for Humanity can provide and how your employees can benefit.

In September Aging Services of Georgia began collaboration with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Atlanta Habitat is constantly enriching the assistance they provide to help applicants meet the requirements of home ownership.  They are excited about the possibility of working with your staff to help them become home owners.  AND, Atlanta Habitat does not have a waiting list!

Please contact Maricarmen Smith-Martinez, Homeowner Outreach Coordinator to find out how you can be the link to connecting your staff members with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity or the Habitat affiliate in your city.

Georgia leads nation in Phase Two of the Advancing Excellence Quality Campaign

Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes is a campaign to
improve nursing home care. Sponsored by a coalition of providers, medical professionals, facility staff, and state and federal agencies, the initiative has signed on nearly half the nursing homes in the United States. To be counted as charter members, these pioneers must enroll for the second phase of the campaign before the end of January.  So far, Georgia has the largest percentage of nursing homes registered. 

Long term care facilities that joined the first phase showed improvement in four of the clinical measurers set by the campaign – and participants improved faster than did facilities not taking part. For phase two, the campaign has added new quality measurers: staff satisfaction and advance care planning. In addition, phase two will
measure whether facilities set targets for quality. To learn how your facility can join the campaign, visit www.nhqualitycampaign.org.

Calendar Information

To assist with you planning, we are forwarding you information on special holidays and observances for each month 2 months early. The December issue of Coffey Break had information for February.

This month, we are sending you information for March, 2010

March is:

American Red Cross Month
Dear History Month
Employee Spirit Month
Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science & Engineering Month
Honor Society Awarenewss Month
International Ideas Month
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Cheerleading Safety Month
National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
National Eye Donor Month
National Kidney Month
National Social Work Month
National Womens' History Month

Sunday, March 14 Daylight Savings Time Begins
Wednesday, March 17 St. Patrick's Day
Saturday, March 20 Vernal Equinox; Spring Begins
Sunday, March 28 Palm Sunday
Monday, March 29 Passover

General Notes of Interest

Charitable Programs in Georgia Communities Funded

Standard IRS Mileage Rates Lowered for 2010 -- IRS Announces 2010 Mileage Rates

CMS Website Help

IRS Charitable Review Checklist

What Do Baby Boomers Want From Technology?

Updated Statistics Describe Baby Boomers

Disability Rate Among U.S. Senior Citizens on the Rise

AAHSA's FutureAge Magazine Goes Digital

CMS Tells Providers to Wait for Medicare Claim Crossover Process
to Work

10 Reasons Boomers Need to be in Your 2010 Plans

Public Policy Update

2010 GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS JANUARY 11

The 2010 session of the Georgia General Assembly will convene on Monday, January 11.  Last month’s public policy report summarized the upcoming session, highlighting Aging Services’ focus on passage of legislation (HB 843) to update the regulation of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) and potential changes to create and enhance the opportunities for seniors to age in place.  Since December is traditionally a slow month, the details of that article remain current.

However, December was a very politically explosive month.  Speaker Glenn Richardson has resigned and will be replaced by Rep. David Ralston, from Blue Ridge, Georgia.  Rep. Jan Jones of Alpharetta will assume the duties of speaker pro tem.  In addition, Secretary of State Karen Handel, a candidate for governor, has resigned in order to concentrate on that campaign.             

With regard to CCRCs, the Aging Services CCRC Task Force has perfected changes to HB 843 to clarify the definition of “continuing care”, to require the disclosure of far more information to consumers and CCRC residents about the background of CCRCs and their owners and operators, and to provide for sufficient financial reserves to ensure the financial viability of the CCRC. Hopefully, it is anticipated that HB 843 will be considered by the House Insurance Committee early in the session.

The state budget will be the major issue in the 2010 General Assembly.  The governor has already proposed expenditure reductions $900 million in the current (FY ’10) budget, and with state revenues still in decline another $125 million may be cut.  According to Senate Appropriations chairman Jack Hill, the budget shortfall for FY ’11 may be an even more challenging $2 billion.

We will participate again this year in the 2010 “Be There 4 Seniors” initiative with groups throughout Georgia.  The idea is that Health People Cost Less!  This is a good opportunity for your residents and clients to participate - watch for details.  The association, along with many other groups, will be tracking funding for both Medicaid and non-Medicaid home and community-based services funding.  These funds are not only critical for our home and community-based services members BUT also provide needed support to residents living in affordable housing communities throughout the state.

These figures will, of course, require further reductions in services to seniors.  Aging Services hopes to have a better session with legislation, and we will be asking members to contact their legislators in the coming months.  It is especially important that CCRC members contact legislators in their districts, especially those on the House Insurance committee.  Additionally, Aging Services will be promoting a very positive approach to any legislation related to assisted living.  Two assisted living member task groups are paying attention to current rules/regs and HB 850.

Business Connection
Updates from our Associate Members

TechBridge Invites Georgia Nonprofits to Share Their Technology Dreams

Third Age Joins LarsonAllen

Using Video on Your Web Sites

Georgia Institute on Aging News

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Who Decides? 

2010 Aging Services of Georgia
Annual Conference
SAVE THE DATES!-- March 22-24, 2010

Dolcé Resort & Conference Center
Peachtree City, GA

Who Decides

Last Month's Events

December 3
Aging Services Annual Business Meeting
Lenbrook

Upcoming Events

February 3
Positive Aging Lifestyles (PALS)
Facilitator Training
Association Office
9:00 - 3:00 pm

February 3
AgingServicesNEXT
First Event
9 am - 4 pm
Association Office

February 11
Winter Luncheon
Forums Meetings
Association Office

February 26
Adult Day Symposium

February 18
Elderly Housing Symposium
Association Office

March 22-24
Who Decides
Annual Conference
Dolce Conference Center
Peachtree City, GA

Culture Change Network

Start the New Year off Right
Proclaim 2010 the YEAR of Culture Change in YOUR Organization

Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed October 15, 2009 as Culture Change Day in Georgia.  The Culture Change Network of Georgia was presented with a Proclamation at our Second Annual Summit.  Take a bold step in this new year and this new decade by proclaiming 2010 the YEAR of Culture Change in YOUR Organization.  Gather everyone together and resolve to make huge strides this year to create the kind of care that all people want for their loved ones and themselves.  Use the Proclamation to get the conversation started!

Take a Seat at the Culture Change and Dining Table
YES, Washington IS Listening

What Do YOU Have To Celebrate?
Read What Attendees at the 2nd Annual Culture Change Network of Georgia Summit Had To Say

Just like home
Long-term-care facilities try new approaches in their operations to shed that institutional image

Center for Positive Aging

The Center receives approval for a second AmeriCorp VISTA Volunteer

Holly Beauchant will be joining us this February to support the work of developing resources and connecting consumers to our members.   The database of Quality Providers continues to grow.  Please visit the site and make sure your information is correct.  Consumers are being referred to the new Website SO PLEASE make sure you have completed the registration information to be included.  THIS IS FREE for members.

Reminder to Current Quality Providers

See newly posted materials.

As a benefit to affiliates of the Center for Positive Aging, you are entitled to use this valuable information as it best relates to your organization. Some of the items are reference documents from training events and meetings, links to important sites, and documents of special interest to various affiliate groups.

General Resources for Quality Providers

• Applying Satisfaction Results to Improve Lives
• Building Social Capital
• Caregiving Study Implications for Providers
• Cultivating Employee Commitment to Achieve Excellence
• Culture Change in Aging Services
• National Studies in Caregiving Implications for Providers

Resources for Quality Providers relating to national Quality First Programs

• Quality for Low-income Housing Providers
• Quality Providers Checklist
• Quality Providers Self Study
• Quality Providers Step by Step

Resources relating to Social Accountability

• Social Accountability 50 Ideas
• Social Accountability Guide
• Social Accountability in the Community

News Throughout the Continuum

Home and Community Based Services
(Adult Day Services, Hospice, Home Health)

National Study of Adult Day Services

Report from Kaiser Family Foundation Commission on Medicaid.

Living with Alzheimer's Disease: A Study of Adult Day Health
Services in Massachusetts

MedPAC Considers Payment Update Recommendations for 2011

Security Changes for Home Health OASIS User

Affordable Housing

HUD Launches “Ideas In Action” Discussion Forum

Rep. Nydia Velazquez Introduces Bill to Train Public Housing
Residents to Be Home Care Aides

HUD Releases New Physical Inspection Score Datasets

Assisted Living

New Brochure Provides Powerful Information

CCRC's

(See information in other continuum area)

Nursing Care

Advancing Excellence Debuts Phase Two of Quality Campaign

Medicare Part B Payment Fix Coming

Skilled Nursing Providers Question CMS Coverage Rule

Changes Ahead for HHS as EHR Incentive Program Begins

AGING SERVICES VACANCY REPORT

Please assist your colleagues by sharing this information when you receive calls from consumers you cannot serve. 

Career Opportunities

Carlyle Place; Macon, GA
Controller

---

Florence Hand Home; Lagrange, GA
Director of Nursing

AAHSA Information

News from Melissa Sharp,
Vice President, Southeast Region, AAHSA

Four days. Three conferences. One location.

Register NOW for the Future of Aging Services Conference and Leadership Summit!

Top-notch speakers, leadership experts and advocacy insiders come together like never before at this year’s Future of Aging Services Conference and Leadership Summit. For three days, top aging services leaders will gather in Washington to engage experts, develop new skills, network with one another and tell their stories on Capitol Hill. Visit the event site for more information.

AAHSA's FutureAge Magazine Goes Digital

Starting this month, AAHSA‘s FutureAge magazine will be an online publication. Issues will feature live Internet links, audio and video clips, commenting features and easy search functions. You can download FutureAge as a PDF, print individual articles or the whole issue to share with others in your organization—and it’s FREE. Check out the digital version of our latest issue.

New Phase of Advancing Excellence Includes Additional Goals

Staff satisfaction and Advance Care Planning are the two newest goals of Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign. These goals are just part of the campaign’s work to improve your access to resources that advance your quality improvement activities. Nursing homes currently involved in the campaign will need to re-enroll, update facility profiles, decide whether to choose new goals and set targets. Facilities that re-enroll by Jan. 31, 2010, will be known as Advancing Excellence Charter Members. This badge of honor shows a nursing home’s continued commitment to quality improvement.

AAHSA Member Benefit Spotlight:  

Aging Services Career Center
http://careers.aahsa.org/Several career opportunities in aging services are now available. Take a look. Pass along the news. If you have a job to post, consider using the new Aging Services Career Center.