Wednesday, November 19, 2008
GEORGIA CAREGIVER COALITION
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Fall 2008
In This Issue
Click on each title to read article
The US and the state of Georgia fall short of benchmarks in health system performance, according to a recent report. The Commonwealth Fund Commission released the 2008 edition of its Health System Scorecard recently, and the measures look bleak for the nation and the state of Georgia.
According to the report, Why Not The Best? Results from the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance, 2008, the U.S. scored an average of 65 out of a possible 100 across 37 indicators of health outcomes, quality, access, efficiency, and equity.
The Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE) is convened by the Georgia Council on Aging and provides a forum for advocates to identify and address the concerns of older Georgians. This group met July 10 to select a budget priority and two legislative priorities to support when advocating at the Georgia General Assembly.
In October of 2007, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter fought back tears as she introduced her friend, Annie Johnson of Plains, and named her Georgia’s 2007 Family Caregiver of the Year. Mrs. Carter had only learned days before that Ms. Johnson had been nominated for the award by the West Central Georgia CARE-NET, and then selected as the state winner by the selection committee. Annie Johnson has served for 40 years as primary caregiver for her grandson Mark, who is profoundly disabled.
Over 250 people were on hand in 2007 to witness the presentation and enjoy a glamorous evening during the RCI Awards Banquet. The 2008 event will prove to be just as festive as devoted caregivers and leaders in the caregiving field are celebrated on a grand scale.
In the spring, the Rosalynn Carter Institute conducted an online survey of over 300 providers in Georgia who serve the aging, disabled, and/or chronically ill. The survey was designed to measure these providers’ understanding of Evidence-Based Programs/Practices (EBP) and the use of EBP within their agencies.
The CARE-NETs were developed by the RCI in the 1990s to serve as unique coalitions of caregiver support organizations across a broad array of illnesses and disabilities. These coalitions have many tasks and roles including:
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developing strategies for professional and family caregiver activities,
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offering caregiver education,
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and sharing information and resources among the agencies in their membership.
Many CARE-NETs have developed effective ways of accomplishing this last task. While the agencies that make up the CARE-NETs are diverse, many of their constituents have similar needs. The CARE-NETS use a variety of communication channels to keep their members informed about caregiving-related events, activities, resources, services and announcements.
Georgia’s CARE-NETs are providing assistance to the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (AADD) by helping them promote their Lunch & Learn Training Series throughout the state.
The AADD training, Conversations that Matter: Introduction to Disability, will be held from August to October at various locations in Georgia. The training is sponsored by the Division on Aging Services in partnership with the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases; Dekalb Developmental Disabilities Council; and the AADD.
In May of 2008, the Caregiver Support Center (CSC) at the Rosalynn Carter Institute enlisted the University of Georgia’s Survey Research Center to conduct a telephone survey of family caregivers in Sumter County. Researchers used a random digit dialed format, and identified 147 respondents as someone who provides care and/or assistance to a loved one with a chronic illness, disability or limitations due to aging. These 147 caregivers answered questions regarding their needs, health, and utilization of local services.
RCI board member Patricia Clark and staff member Amy Tribble served as presenters for the 6th Annual Young-Onset Parkinson Network Conference, held August 7-9 in Atlanta. This popular conference is presented every summer by the National Parkinson Foundation and attracts approximately 500 attendees.
Founded in 1957, the National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. (NPF) is a preeminent organization representing the diverse Parkinson community. As the oldest Parkinson organization, with the most extensive grassroots network of centers, chapters, and support groups in the U.S., Canada, and internationally. Since its inception, NPF has invested more than $130 million in research for Parkinson Disease, as well as in comprehensive care services, education and outreach programs.
The Relative Caregiver Program, a joint effort of the Rosalynn Carter Institute and the GSW School of Nursing, is proud to announce that one of the caregivers enrolled in the program has been selected as a finalist for 2008 Grandparent of the Year by GRAND Magazine.
GRAND Magazine is a national publication catering to grandparents, and has a circulation of over 75,000 subscribers. When the magazine called for nominations in the early summer, Kathy Arnold, Director of the Relative Caregiver Program, nominated Mrs. Dorothy Wilcher of Americus.
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Georgia News is a publication of
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
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