2023 ACCA Annual Report

2023 Annual Report

Aging For All

We are invested in the future of ACCA In 2024 we aim to remove the 70 remaining clients off the Meals on Wheels waiting list, so they can receive proper nutrition for an independent, dignified, and enjoyable life.

When we say “Aging for All” we mean it! No matter where you are in your life’s journey, looking out for your future self is always a good idea. The Athens Community Council on Aging is dedicated to ensuring all our neighbors have the resources and knowledge to enjoy the journey and age well.

We are excited to announce that for the first time in over a decade, ACCA is in the process of conducting a needs assessment to gauge and address the largest barriers to better aging for our neighbors and community and align our services to respond in the best way possible.

Additionally, our goal is to increase the reach of our senior hunger initiatives, including expanding our partnership with The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to serve an additional 200 people fighting food insecurity through our new Senior Staples Program.

We are proud to announce the launch of the new Dementia Resource Center with an unmatched dedication to offering the resources needed to help all persons living with dementia and their care partners feel supported, while also providing the compassion, connection, and joy needed to continue living a happy and fulfilling life. Most importantly, to provide hope when it matters most in this disease journey.

We are committed to remaining the essential aging resource for the Athens Area and the surrounding communities.

With the generous investments and support from everyone in our community, 2024 is poised to be our best year yet!

Adult Day Health: A Reliable, Caring Resource

2023 Recap We are proud to have served

About twenty years ago, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Neona Meade, moved from New Jersey to live with us. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was unable to care for herself.

Our challenge was to find a reliable, caring resource during the day for my mother-in-law.

16,680 Neighbors Throughout 2023, ACCA proudly served thousands of community members across Northeast Georgia and beyond. From right here at home in Athens to the four corners of the state, we continue to offer a variety of services to older adults and their families by addressing major needs like senior nutrition, caregiver support, senior workforce development, social & community engagement, and so much more.

Social & Community Engagement

Our search brought us to ACCA’s Adult Day Health Center. All three of us visited the center and met the staff. When we saw the excitement in “Mom’s” eyes in the first few minutes of being there, we knew this was the right place. Every day after that, my mother-in-law would join us at breakfast as we prepared for work and would ask, “Are we going to the Center today?” She couldn’t wait to get there to interact with the staff and other clients. This made quite the difference in her demeanor, helped her memory, and provided a source of joy that we all cherished right up to the end of her life.

Enrichment & Wellness Activities

As a result of this outstanding service to my mother-in-law, ACCA will always be near and dear to my heart!

Education & Outreach Senior Nutrition Programs Supportive Services

Health Management & Consulting

Because of the very personal involvement with my family and ACCA, I am more than honored to be a donor, volunteer and board member for an organization that is the best venue of service for almost every human need (and in some cases their pets)!

Benefits Counseling

ACCA is important to me because of the tremendous resource the leaders, staff, and board members are in providing opportunities for all of us to thrive as we age; no matter the circumstances.

Thanks, ACCA for all you have done for me, and all you continue to do for this community!

Caregiver Support Senior Workforce Development

DR. REGINALD WOODS

Transportation

ACCA Board President, Donor

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

Offering services in the State of Georgia

Across 69 Counties

Becoming New at The Center for Active Living

While providing foundational aging support to community members in 69 of the 159 Georgia counties, it has been an amazing year! In 2024, our strategic initiatives have us focusing on home. These initiatives will ensure that all in Athens-Clarke County will have access to all of ACCA’s services including new wellness and dementia support programming.

I did not realize how much the Center for Active Living was for me until the pandemic when the center was closed. COVID did not disrupt my life, because I am retired and live in a happy environment with enough technology to have contact with the world. However, I missed going to the “senior” center.

Usually, people my age slowly become invisible by not being listened to or looked at. The danger is isolation and loneliness. The CAL offers me the opportunity to get out of the house. I participate in various fun activities, like dancing, exercise, and yoga. I learn stuff, like mahjong, line dancing, bird watching, tai-chi, and nutrition. And, finally, I find wonderful people to share and chat with.

The ACCA also offers a variety of seminars, events, and classes that perk up interest and curiosity. And the trips guarantee a lot of fun. And, very importantly, it is a venue for information to different facilities.

Residents Served Per County 0

20

40

80

CAL helped me stop being “old” and become “new!”

100+

SANDY MAGNANI CAL Member

ACCA funding went 87.14% ofdirectly into our programs With 10.26% allocated for Administrative and 2.6% for Fundraising we are proud to have a strong financial foundation for our vital programming in Athens-Clarke County and beyond.

Interning with Purpose through Meals on Wheels When I was a fourth year at The University of Georgia, I had the opportunity to volunteer with ACCA’s Senior Staples and Meals on Wheels Programs to help fight food insecurity in the Athens community.

How our funding is used:

With the continued support from our community, public dollars, corporate sponsors, and generous donors, we have been able to provide better support to our older adults than ever before. Our 2023 budget allowed us to serve over 16,000 total community members across 15 programs, deliver over 57,000 meals through Meals on Wheels, provide nearly 7,000 days of care in Adult Day Health, and complete over 15,000 trips to doctors visits, grocery stores, and the pharmacy through our transportation program and much, much more.

FY 2023 Budget: $5,426,862

Federal Government State Government Local Government Medicaid United Way Fundraising Non Government Grants Fees For Services Investment Income Other Revenue

Once I started as a Summer VISTA for MOW and Senior Staples, I realized how important our work is in the community of Athens.

This position gave me opportunities to talk to clients, to assess their needs and understand what programs would work best for them.

I was in a Summer VISTA position for two months and loved it so much I decided to stay as a Meals on Wheels intern in the Fall. As an intern, I have very similar responsibilities, but I get to speak with community members more, which helps to understand their situation and where ACCA can help.

As someone who is young, I’ve learned that age well, live well means being in an environment where you can age healthy and happy with all the basic needs being met.

Being a part of the younger generation, I feel it is partly my duty to make sure that the older generations are taken care of. Age well, live well, means to assist the aging community of Athens, be healthy and have the ability to be happy.

No one in the community should go hungry or not be able to have their basic needs met because that is not living well. As someone in the younger generation, I feel very strongly about giving back to my community and making sure everyone has what they need for a happy, healthy life.

SIERRA BASTIS ACCA Student Intern

Visit. Volunteer. Donate.

Sponsor. Partner. Follow.

There are so many ways to get involved with ACCA, whether it’s volunteering your time, your donations, your energy, or your willingness to share and support our mission. Together we can do so much more.

Help our community to age well and live well.

Make a donation and support the ACCA mission!

Sign up for one of our numerous volunteer opportunities!

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Thank you to our current sponsors!

If you would like to sponsor ACCA, find out more here