Resources in the greater Athens, GA area
¨ "Seniors, We Care About You" is an outreach program for seniors or special needs individuals who are living alone and are homebound.
• It is developed to offer a means of providing seniors or special needs individuals of our community an enhanced sense of safety and service.
• Program participants will called on a weekly basis by volunteers of the ACCPD. Through the weekly calls volunteers will assess the welfare of the individual.
• If a call goes unanswered then the volunteer will notify the Crime Prevention Unit and a patrol officer will be dispatched for a house call.
• If the senior is in need of additional resources then they will be referred to the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA).
Brochure & Other Information
Senior Adult Information & Resources
General Information
By Casey Dowd FOXBusiness 21 May 2015
More than 15 million Americans are caregivers for more than 5.3 million loved ones with
Alzheimer's. Declining financial skills may be among the first symptoms to appear in the early
stages of the disease. As a result, caregivers are more likely to manage the finances of family
members living with dementia. People with Alzheimer’s have a limited window in which they will
be able to articulate their wishes for future care, living arrangements, finances and legal
matters, so planning must begin early in the mild stages of decline.
National Council On Aging
Website for learning about Medicare, including a Mini-Check page to start learning about
your personal situation.
James Sullivan CPA Insider 1 June 2015
Mistakes in enrolling for Medicare can be costly. If your clients fail to pay for Medicare
Part B on time, they will wind up paying the late enrollment penalty (LEP)-for life. They can
also experience a gap in health care coverage, meaning they’ll have to pay bills that Medicare
otherwise would have taken care of.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program
GeorgiaCares is a volunteer-based program that provides free, unbiased and factual
information and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers with health and
drug plans. GeorgiaCares is the official State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).
Statewide office: 1-866-55-AGING (866-552-4464) Athens office: 706-549-4850
Rebekah Barsh Forbes 19 Oct 2016
Even if you’re diligent about saving for retirement, make sure you’re accounting for health
care costs. And take the time, in advance, to understand your health care options in
retirement so you can avoid the five most common Medicare mistakes
by Darla Mercado CNBC 24 Aug 2016
Americans may wonder whether paying for a long-term care policy makes sense, as insurance
companies have exited the market and rates have increased. Here's a look at the risks involved
with this type of insurance and which factors to consider as you determine how to pay for
care.
A Living Will allows medical personnel to withdraw life-sustaining care in certain situations, and may specify limitations in what kinds of care can be withdrawn. A Designation of Health Care Surrogate places that authority with one or more people (normally certain close family members or friends) named by you. CLA believes that the surrogate system is a better option.
• Providing accurate information about publicly and privately financed
___long-term supports and services.
•Offering a consumer-oriented approach to learning about the availability of
___services in the home and community.
•Alleviating the need for multiple calls and/or visits to receive services.
•Supporting individuals and family members who are aging or living with a disability.
The Northeast Georgia (Athens) office is at:
___305 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30610
___Phone: 706-369-5650 or 1-800-474-7540
Or contact:
Multiple Choices For Independent Living
___145 Barrington Drive, Athens, GA 30605
___Phone:706-850-4028
135 Hoyt Street, Athens, GA 30601
Phone: 706-549-4850



2-1-1 Phone Line for Essential Resource Information
info based on Athens Banner-Herald article dated 5 Feb 2017
The service is provided by United Way of Northeast Georgia.
“2-1-1 is the frontline defense for thousands of families who are in need in our region,” said United Way President/CEO Matthew Purkey. “Not only does 2-1-1 provide callers with beneficial options, it also synthesizes information and resources from all sectors; nonprofit, government, and even for-profit; to meet their most critical needs.”
The UWNEGA 2-1-1 service continues to offer phone service 24/7, 365 days a year. Beginning this January, UWNEGA’s 2-1-1 offers a texting service 24/7, 365 days a year (just text your zip code and need to 898-211) as well as phone service in 140 languages.
If you are in need of help or would like to give help, simply dial 2-1-1 or call 706.353.1313, text your zip code to 898-211, or visit UWNEGA’s Resource Directory at http://www.referweb.net/uwng.
__On 1 July 2007, Georgia law replaced the LIVING WILL and the DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE (except those completed before that date) with the ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE. While having a valid Advance Directive is highly recommended, DHS says:
__"using this form of advance directive for health care is completely optional. Other forms of advance directives for health care that substantially comply with this form may be used in Georgia. This includes using forms from other states."
__The link here and the title link take you to a downloadable copy of the current version of this Advance Directive maintained by the Georgia Department of Human Services. This copy also includes a detailed description of what it is and how to fill it out.
__The Advance Directive itself has 4 parts:
____1. Health Care Agent (replaces Durable Power of Attorney)
____2. Treatment Preferences (replaces Living Will)
____3. Guardianship (if needed for other matters)
____4. Signature
You fill out whatever parts of the first three sections you feel are appropriate given your wishes. Part 4 must be filled out if you want the form to be valid.