FYI Need to Know
Some users of ‘My Social Security’ require new login
If you track your benefits online through a personalized Social Security account, you may need to change your login procedure or risk losing your account. Users who set up accounts before Sept. 18, 2021, will be required to transition those accounts to Login.gov, a secure sign-in service administered by the federal government.
My Social Security is free and available to anyone over 18 or older who has a Social Security number and a valid email address. It’s useful for getting estimates of future benefits, replacing a lost Social Security card and other services.
2025 CO-AGE priorities
CO-AGE is the advocacy arm for the Georgia Council on Aging. Through work committees and voting on priorities, these are the issues they are bringing to the attention of the General Assembly next year.
Home and Community Based Services provide support for older Georgians to remain at home as long as possible by providing home modifications, personal assistance, meals, transportation, and other services. These services cost far less than staying at a nursing home and can help seniors stay independent longer. For the 2025 legislative session, CO-AGE is requesting $2.5 Million in funding for HCBS to reduce the Tier 1 Waiting List of more than 4,500 older adults.
Other priorities for the upcoming session include the creation of a Statewide Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator Program within the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (PAC) of Georgia which will provide the infrastructure for a statewide, uniform response to elder abuse in each judicial circuit.
In addition, CO-AGE seeks funding to pay for a survey and report that can be shared with the legislature that will answer how much it costs other states that allow Medicaid to be used in assisted living programs and how those programs are structured.
CO-AGE also proposes a Joint Study Committee be created by the legislature to explore the issue of MAID (medical aid in dying) and raise awareness surrounding the bipartisan support of the issue.
You can sign up for CO-AGE emails here: https://www.gcoa.org/senior-issues-newsletter
Good to Know
Retirement assets show huge growth
The Investment Company Institute reports that total U.S. retirement assets climbed to $40 trillion as of June 30, marking a 1.3% increase from March and the highest since the Institute started tracking the figure in 2000. Retirement assets represented 32% of all household financial assets in the U.S., reflecting a steady rise in the nation’s long-term savings, the firm noted.
Individual retirement accounts led the growth, gaining $14.5 trillion in assets in the second quarter. Defined contribution plans followed closely, growing $11.3 trillion.
Mutual funds continued to play a critical role in managing U.S. retirement savings while equity funds remained the dominant investment choice within those funds.
Estate Planning: It Pays to Work with Experts
Creating an estate plan from documents you downloaded from the internet might seem good in theory, but it often fails in practice. To be certain that your estate plan does what you want it to do, it’s best to work with a qualified estate planning attorney. Here’s why:
- Expert Guidance: Estate planning lawyers ensure your documents are legally valid and up to date as laws and circumstances change, minimizing errors that could lead to costly disputes or probate issues.
- Personalized Strategy: Downloadable documents are one-size-fits all. When you work with a qualified estate planning attorney, you can tailor your estate plan to reflect your unique financial situation, family dynamics, and goals. This includes optimizing tax efficiency, protecting assets, and setting up guardianships or trusts.
- Peace of Mind: Working with a qualified estate planning attorney means you can be certain that your loved ones are protected, and your wishes will be honored, reducing stress for your family during a difficult time. Kimbrough Law
Reading assistance for the blind
Anyone, regardless of age, who experiences blindness, low vision or the inability to hold a book and turn pages may participate in the braille and talking book program provided by the Georgia Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. High-quality talking books and the easy-to-use talking-book players necessary to use them are available free of charge and circulated by postage-free mail. In additional GLS offers access to large print books and to audio or braille magazines. To apply for the service call 800-248-6701 or visit gls.georgialibraries.org.
Better training for state nursing home inspectors
The UGA New Media Institute and the College of Public Health’s Institute for Disaster Management have teamed up to create a suite of engaging, interactive training modules for the state’s Healthcare Facility Regulation Division. The new training will be more visual and practical, which will help inspectors more quickly identify issues that could impact quality of care.
National Plan on Aging
This summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report that lays the groundwork for a coordinated effort – across the private and public sectors and in partnership with older adults, family caregivers, the aging services network and other stakeholders – to create a national set of recommendations for advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities. “Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging – PDF”
“The rapidly growing population of older adults creates an urgent need for thoughtful planning and coordinated action to strengthen the systems that support health and wellbeing as we age,” said Alison Barkoff, head of the Administration for Community Living, which led the development of the strategic framework.
The national plan will advance best practices for service delivery, support development and strengthening of partnerships across sectors, and identify solutions for removing barriers to health and independence for older adults, and more. The plan was developed by leaders and experts from 16 federal agencies and departments.
Fun to Do
Going to Greece
The Athens Community Council on Aging has organized an “Athens to Athens” cruise to Greece on the Celebrity Infinity, scheduled for Aug. 29 to Sept. 8. For more information on pricing, what’s included, and deposit, contact Autumn at 706-549-4850 or abarefoot@accaging.org.
47 years of free concerts
The all-volunteer Athens Symphony begins it’s 47th season Nov. 3 at the Classic Center with a wedding-themed concert, ending with “Rhapsody in Blue.” Come December, it’s two Christmas concerts on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets are complimentary but required for admission; they are available online at classiccenter.com beginning the Monday two weeks prior to each concert.
The play’s the thing
Town & Gown community theatre kicks off their new season Oct. 4 – 13 with “The Legend of Georgia McBride.” When a drag show comes to town, Elvis impersonator Casey, trades in his role as “The King” to become an all-out QUEEN with the help of some new friends who become the second family he never saw coming. It’s described as “a delightful journey of self-discovery through song, spectacle, and sequins.”
Next up – “A Spell for Winter,” written and directed by Athens artists, debuts on the Town & Gown stage Dec. 6 – 15. The plot goes like this: Wizard college is fantastic – until it’s the end of the semester and you can’t cast a single spell. Winter knows she’s smarter than all her classmates, so why can’t she get it together?! Grief, trauma, and a ghost all stand in her way – plus some idiot who keeps asking her out. For times and tickets, go to townandgownplayers.org.
UGA Theatre’s second production of the season will see the Fine Arts Theatre stage adorned in 1980s splendor for the musical production of “9 to 5,” with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. The show tells the story of three female coworkers’ plan to get even with their lying, no good, egotistical boss Franklin Hart. With him out of the way, Violet, Judy, and Doralee aim to give their workplace a much-needed makeover. It runs from Nov. 15 – 23. For exact days and times and ticket prices, go to ugatheatre.com.
Finally, UGA Presents brings “Hotel Elsinore,” to The Morton Theatre stage for one night only, Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30. Described as a new play about the challenges of relationships, forgiveness, and Shakespeare. This three-person, award-winning play revolves around the themes of Hamlet. Tickets at pac.uga.edu.
Got a story to tell?
The Athens Writers Group has formed and describes itself as “aspiring and published authors who seek to hone our craft through support, critique and education.” The focus is solely on fiction of any length; they meet every other Saturday in Athens. For more information, email athenswritersgroup.org.
OR, check out Rabbit Box Storytelling, which kicked off its new season in September. Held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the VFW on Sunset in Athens, it’s $10 at the door with food and drinks available at 6:15. The October show theme is “Sacred Stiff,” and in November, “Bad Advice.”
Athens rug hooking guild seeks new members
Begun in her home by beloved Athenian Nancy Thompson in 2000, the Crescent Lane Rug Hooking Guild is planning to move to a bigger site for its weekly hook-in’s. And they want to fill it up with some new members.
“We love our craft and love to share it with others,” as member Joyce Carey put it.
Rug artists, like quilters, often gather in groups, called hook-in’s, to work on their individual projects. These can range from rugs, of course, to wall hangings, throw pillows, and even purses. Newbies spontaneously get mini-lessons as they watch more experienced fiber artists color-plan projects or try new techniques.
The members of the guild currently come from Athens, Watkinsville, Eatonton, Madison, and Hoschton, among other sites, and meet Mondays in a house in Crescent Lane. The guild bulk-orders linen and woolens and has cutters available to create the strips of wool used in their style of hooking. One member even specialty dyes woolens for the members—a necessity since the South doesn’t readily have access to a wide palate of woolens.
“No other guild has this kind of inventory for their members,” said long-term member Dana Blair. “It’s a tremendous benefit: members don’t have to invest in a big-ticket item like a cutter.” The group also has catalogs of patterns for newbies to sort through, as well as copies of some popular, noncopyrighted patterns.
For more information on this group, contact Jayne Mendenhall, at jaynehm@hotmail.com.
Anne D. Mather
