Need to Know
$11 million grant to recruit more CNAs
The UGA College of Public Health and the Institute of Gerontology have launched an aggressive effort to recruit more people into the field of certified nursing assistants (CAN). Funded by an $11 million dollar grant from the state Department of Public Health, the initiative will include student recruitment efforts, career development strategies and mental health support to address the dire workforce challenges confronting long-term care facilities. CNAs regularly serve as entry-level members of a patient’s health care team.
“CNAs are immensely important to a long-term care facility, and they just don’t have enough frankly,” said program coordinator Austin Dobbs. “It’s hard to pull people into the community due to misconceptions – low wages and other various reasons – some of which we’re trying to get at with this grant.”
The U.S. population is skewing older and older. In fact, in the last 10 years, the number of Americans over age 65 has risen from 13% to 17%. This growing population will require a disproportionate amount of medical care in the coming years. Not only are there fewer CNAs entering the workforce, but turnover at long-term care facilities is high when compared to other industries. Pre-pandemic data has shown the annual turnover for CNAs can be as high as 90 percent.
Transportation Program for 60+
The Athens Community Council on Aging provides transportation to medical appointments, pharmacies, shopping, Adult Day Health, and other essential community services for Athenians 60 and older. Drivers are trained to assist in both point of departure, the transporting vehicle, and destination.
For those meeting the low-income criteria there is no direct charge for the service, but we do encourage and accept donations. For individuals with incomes above the poverty threshold there is a fee of $10.00 per one way trip. For more information, contact ACCA’s Family Services Navigator at 706-549-4850.
Medicaid for Assisted Living
While Assisted Living Communities (ALCs) and large Personal Care Homes (PCHs) provide alternatives to nursing homes, many Georgians cannot afford private pay assisted living communities or large personal care homes. The Georgia Council on Aging has released its legislative priorities for 2023, which includes legislation to: 1) amend Georgia’s assisted living community statute to delete the prohibition of ALCs enrolling as a Medicaid provider and receiving Medicaid funds; and 2) add a section to the Georgia law on Community Care and Services for the Elderly to prohibit the availability of Medicaid funds from being restricted by state requirements that are more stringent than those under federal law or regulation.
Good to Know
Trouble hearing your phone?
For those with hearing loss or a speech disorder, there is no-cost equipment available through the Georgia Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, which is sponsored by the Georgia Public Service Commission. These include captioned phones, wireless devices, amplified phones, alerting devices and speech equipment. For more information, call 404-381-8447 or email info@gcdhh.org.
ACC Transit offers free on-demand rides
If you live, work, play or shop in the north Athens area within a mile of Bus Route 30, you can get a ride right when you need it for free, using the Uber app between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. When you open the app, you can choose the ACC no-cost option and the app will send a van to you. All routes are on-demand Saturday and Sunday nights from 6:45 p.m. to 10 p.m., as long as you are within a 1-mile radius of the fixed route service. There is no fixed-route service when on-demand is available. To see the route-30 service area and to get detailed instructions on using the service, go to https://www.accgov.com/8322/On-Demand-Transit. Those without a smart phone can call 706-613-3434 to schedule a van.
Georgia debuts all-terrain wheelchairs at state parks
Wheelchair users will now be able to explore Georgia’s state parks with free all-terrain wheelchairs. The new fleet of wheelchairs are part of a collaboration between the state Department of Natural Resources and the Aimee Copeland Foundation.
Book proceeds benefit ESP
Retired UGA horticulture professor Allan Armitage is donating a portion of the sales of his newest book, Tales of Big Jon and Other Creatures, to Extra Special People, which provides services, support and programs for people of all disabilities and their families. Armitage’s book features an array of entertaining stories about his family as they were growing up. The book is available directly from Dr. Armitage at allanarmitage.net. He will personalize and sign any book purchased through his website. To read an excerpt, go to boomathens.com/The Garage Sale.
Fun to Do
Women’s Club set 2023 programs
The University Women’s Club has released their line-up of programs for the first part of 2023. The Club is open to any woman, who by virtue of her own or her family’s affiliation, past or present, is associated with The UGA community is eligible to join. The application form is available at womansclub.uga.edu. and most meetings are at the Alps Road Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Jan. 10: Megan Henning, program coordinator for the Entrepreneurship Program; Feb. 14: Nutritionist Alison Berg speaks on Nutrition and Aging; Mar. 14: Brett Glen gives a talk and demonstration about potted orchid composition. The Spring Fashion Show will be held April 11 at the Athens Country Club.
OLLI Fest set for Jan. 12
The activity fair for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12, 1 – 3 p.m. at the VFW Club Post 2872 at 835 Sunset Dr. Open to the public, OLLI Fest will showcase over 30+ Special Interest Groups ranging from hiking and kayaking to music and film. In addition, there are 400+ non-credit courses per year as well as travel/study adventures and social events. For more information, go to OLLI.uga.edu.
Wine Weekend raises scholarship money
The Athens Wine Weekend returns to The Classic Center Feb. 3-5 with proceeds to support the Cultural Foundation’s mission of providing $60,000 in grants and scholarships for workforce development in performing, visual and culinary arts. Friday night begins with samples from local chefs paired with the perfect win. Saturday includes the Grand Tasting and seminars. The day concludes with a five-course gourmet dinner. A Sunday Sparkling Brunch rounds out the weekend. Tickets range from $10 to $525. For more information, go to classicenter.com or email tickets@classiccenter.com or call 706-357-4444.
Garden Tour set for April
To celebrate 30 years of garden tours, this year’s Piedmont Gardeners’ 2023 Tour of Athens will feature six gardens for the first time ever. It will be held on April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain or Shine. The gardens will include several in-town gardens, a formal garden and one on the banks of the Middle Oconee with landscaped terraces and courtyards. For ticket information, go to piedmontgardeners.org.
Cotton Patch Quilters will hold first show since 2019
One of the largest quilt shows in the state will be held March 3-5 at the Oconee County Civic Center. Members of The Cotton Page Quilters Guild (CPQ) are preparing for the 2023 Journey in Quilts show, which attracted over 1,300 people in 2019. With registration still open, the show already has 225 quilts entered, ranging from small wall hangings and table runners to large bed quilts. Entries will be judged in 12 categories and, of course, Best in Show.
In addition to quilts there will be displays of fabric arts and a Boutique selling members’ quilts, sewing and quilting notions, hand-dyed fabrics, handmade items such as aprons, buttons, tablecloths, and napkins. Only members’ handiwork is sold in the Boutique and many of the Show quilts will also be for sale through the Boutique. Vendors from the northeast Georgia area will also be there with fabric, notions, and specialty items not always available on-line or in local stores.
“A quilt show is a chance to talk to experts about techniques and materials,” says Jan Goddard, Guild president, adding that quilters of all skill levels will find inspiration at the show.
The Show is judged by a member of the National Association of Certified Judges. This year’s judge has been quilting since 1978 and has been a certified judge for 36 years.
The Guild uses the funds raised at the Show in its charity work, which includes providing quilts to charities that serve people in need due to fires, natural disasters, and families in crisis. A particular effort is making Quilts of Valor for U.S. Veterans. CPQ also sponsors workshops and speakers to help inform and elevate quilting among members. Raffle Quilt tickets will be for sale for a quilt to be awarded March 14th, after the 2023 Show closes. There will also be a chance to sign up for membership in Cotton Patch Quilters at the Show. New members are welcome at any level of skill and ability.
For more information on the Show or membership, go to cpquilters.org.
