Good Neighbor News of Georgia Helping Older Georgians Age Successfully at Home A Publication of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services Maria Greene, Director March / April 2008 (Issue #1) Welcome to Good Neighbor News of Georgia, a networking resource for professionals and volunteers who help older adults maintain homes that are healthy, safe, affordable, and accessible. We focus on practical information to help nonprofits and civic groups, public agencies, faith communities, and caring companies increase their community impact and successfully collaborate to meet the needs of older homeowners. What works for you? Future issues of Good Neighbor News will include success stories from the field practical programs and volunteer projects that others can replicate in their communities. To submit topic suggestions, training announcements, resource development items, or other information for the May/June issue, write or call us at chdunn@dhr.state.ga.us or 404-657-8756 by April 1, 2008. In this Issue Resource Development: Free and low-cost help, corporate support, rural assistance Energy Information to Help Seniors Save: Discounts, Assistance, and Tips Training & Networking: Home Modification Center, Homes and Services Conference Information Sources: HUD Lists, CDC Fall Prevention, Eldercare Network, UGA Extension Aging Services & Information: About Georgia's Area Agencies on Aging Resource Development Free and Low-Cost Project Staffing Seeking volunteers? Contact one of the organizations below and find out about becoming a nonprofit partner or listed volunteer site: Hands On Georgia: www.handsongeorgia.org Points of Light Volunteer Centers: www.pointsoflight.org/centers/centerlist.cfm?State=GA Older adults offer dependability and a wealth of experience. Contact these agencies to learn more: Senior Corps, a division of the Corporation for National Service www.seniorcorps.gov Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) - General Information: http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/olderworkers/olderworkers.asp - State Contact: Georgia DHR Division of Aging Services - 404-657-5330 For more resources, tap colleges and universities for student organizations, interns, and Federal Work Study participants. Many high school service teams, teen development organizations, civic and professional organizations, and neighborhood groups can also lend a hand. Home Depot Corporate Donations and Grants Home Depot stores may donate up to $250 in supplies to eligible community groups. Call your nearest location for details. To be considered for amounts of $500 - $3,000, apply for a Home Depot Housing Impact grant, which is issued competitively to 501(c)3 organizations on a quarterly basis. The foundation will accept the next round of Impact Grant applications May 1 June 15, and awards will be announced in July. For more information, visit http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/Grants. USDA Rural Development Repair Loans and Grants Loans (which total $393,001 this year) plus grants for essential home repairs are available from USDA-Rural Development for very low-income, rural Georgia families. Loans - Those who qualify pay 1% interest over a term of up to 20 years and can borrow up to $20,000. Acceptable repairs include removing health and safety hazards by repairing roofs; providing a sanitary water and waste disposal system that meets local health department requirements; installing screens, windows, insulation, etc; or making other repairs to make the home safe. General repairs to improve or modernize the home can also be performed with loan funds as long as the house remains modest. Grants - Funds are very limited and are available to very-low income rural homeowners, 62 years of age or older, to remove health or safety hazards from their homes, if the applicant does not have repayment ability for a loan. Income limits for families designated as very low-income vary by county, but a list can be found on the Internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga under the Single Family Housing tab, Direct SFH, Income Limits. All homes must be located in rural areas. A map showing eligible and ineligible areas is located at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga/eligmap.html. For more information on where to apply, call or e-mail Patricia Cruse at 706-546-2169 or patricia.cruse@ga.usda.gov. Training and Networking Opportunities National Home Modification Training, Data, and Resources Find research, PowerPoint presentations, a comprehensive links list, and online training opportunities at the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification housed within the University of Southern California's Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center. The Center offers an online Executive Certificate in Home Modification a series of five two-week, $150 courses that cover implementation, funding, awareness, and ethics. For more information, go to www.homemods.org. (Tip: Visit www.stopfalls.org to learn about California's Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, also housed at USC.) Georgia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (GAHSA) The Georgia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (GAHSA) represents community service providers, nursing homes, retirement housing, assisted living communities, and continuing care retirement communities throughout Georgia. GAHSA publishes a monthly newsletter, organizes networking and training events, and manages a popular website at www.gahsa.org. Annual GAHSA Conference: April 14-16 Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA Information Sources HUD E-Mail Lists Sign up to receive news about funds, training, and information available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD offers access to over 30 announcement lists, covering topics such as Georgia faith-based and community initiatives, rural economic development, affordable housing programs, Georgia news releases, and more. Visit www.hud.gov/subscribe/mailinglist.cfm. CDC Injury Center: Preventing Falls among Older Adults This comprehensive online resource developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) features statistics, free consumer brochures and posters, and links to other fall-prevention sites. Go to www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm Georgia Eldercare Network Visit the Georgia Eldercare Network for professional articles (Eldercare Matters), podcasts (Eldercare Radio), and training events related to topics such as reverse mortgages, downsizing, geriatric care management, healthcare, and retirement planning. Find the site at www.georgiaeldercarenetwork.com. Free Programs and Publications from UGA Cooperative Extension The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers a range of free programs and publications for consumers throughout the state. The Cooperative Extension is a service of the UGA Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS). Newsletter - Senior Sense, 2004 present - http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/newsletters.php Brochures & Checklists - http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/house.php Consumer education programs are available on topics such as manufactured housing, retirement planning, home energy efficiency, natural gas basics, indoor air quality, and more. To find an Extension agent in your community, visit the link below: http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/contact/offices.php Energy Information to Help Seniors Save Utility Company Discounts Georgians who are over 65 with a total household income of $14,355 or less may qualify to receive a senior discount from energy companies regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission. Consumers should contact their service providers for more information. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) LIHEAP is a federally funded program to help eligible low-income households meet their home heating and/or cooling needs. In Georgia, it is administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources. To inquire about eligibility requirements, older adults may call 1-800-869-1150 or contact their local Community Action Agency. (Visit www.gcaaonline.org for a list with phone numbers.) For more information about LIHEAP, go to http://liheap.ncat.org/profiles/Georgia.htm. Energy Information to Help Seniors Save, cont. Energy Efficiency Tips Energy efficiency doesn't just protect the planet. It helps homeowners save money and live more comfortably. See below for practical online consumer resources: University of Georgia Extension Service Energy Tips for Homes in Georgia - http://www.fcs.uga.edu/pubs/PDF/HACE-E-48.pdf Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority How to Apply for Weatherization - http://www.gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=70 Environmental Tips - http://www.gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=75 Aging Services & Information About Georgia's Area Agencies on Aging Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) can help individuals access information about thousands of resources throughout Georgia in service areas such as housing, meals, transportation, home-based assistance, and more. Georgia's aging network consists of the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Aging Services, the state's 12 Area Agencies on Aging, and cooperating organizations that provide services to individuals. Area Agencies on Aging meet the needs of diverse Georgians, such as those described here: Older persons Persons with disabilities Family members and caregivers of people who are older or living with a disability Individuals and families who are preparing in advance for long-term care needs and/or retirement needs Professionals in the fields of healthcare, education, social services and advocacy Businesses of all sizes that care about the ways in which aging, caregiving, and/or disabilities may affect their employees' daily lives Friends, faith communities, and volunteers who want to make a positive difference in the lives of older adults, caregivers, and/or people with disabilities To find an AAA near you, call 1-866-55-AGING or visit www.aging.dhr.georgia.gov. To search for an AAA by city or county, click this direct link: http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR- DAS/menuitem.9e91405d0e424e248e738510da1010a0/?vgnextoid=2050984bdfe80010VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD Join our Mailing List Please share this issue with interested colleagues and volunteers. If you received the publication from a contact and would like to be placed on the e-distribution list, please write chdunn@dhr.state.ga.us or call 404-657-8756. Good Neighbor News of Georgia is a publication of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services.