Connections, Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

Age Your Way A Conversation on Aging, Choice, and Self-Expression

ALSO INSIDE:

Building a Legacy Aging In Place Spring Calendar of Events

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CEO/PRESIDENT Eve Anthony CREATIVE DIRECTOR Robin Stauffer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kelly Holloway, Chair Dr. Reginald Woods, Vice Chair Don DeMaria, Treasurer Becky Lane, Secretary ACCA STAFF Eve Anthony Erin Beasley Emma Schell ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey CONTRIBUTORS N ick Bragg Kellye Call Ellen Everitt Taylor Gerlach Allyn Rippin Emma Schell CONTACT ACCA 135 Hoyt Street Athens, GA 30601 706.549.4850

© 2022 ACCA Connections is a quarterly publication distributed by ACCA throughout Northeast Georgia. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable.

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Dear Connections Reader, Thank you for tuning in every quarter to read about the latest stories and activities from the Athens Community Council on Aging and the greater aging community. We truly appreciate your engagement and your continued support of our work. With our Connections magazine, we strive to celebrate aging well and to stay in close contact with those we serve.

In November of 2021, the Athens Banner Herald discontinued their contract with ACCA for the production of Connections. As such, you will likely notice some changes in upcoming issues. This issue of Connections was produced in-house at ACCA with the help of several local contractors, but this is not a permanent solution.

You will likely see more changes as we develop a new plan for the future of Connections magazine. We want to continue telling the stories of our community and volunteers, we want you to know about the events, classes, and trips we have planned, and we want to continue sharing the ways that you can support ACCA. We are exploring new methods of distribution for future issues, including direct mailing and emailing to our readers. If you would like to join our email and mailing list to receive the latest updates about future issues of Connections, please email community@accaging.org.

We thank you for your patience as we determine our next steps, and we look forward to connecting with you in new and exciting ways!

Thank you, Eve Anthony

GROW YOUR BUSINESS: We would love to help grow your business by reaching your target audience within the pages of this magazine. You can help support the mission of the Athens Community Council on Aging by doing so.

If you would like more information on advertising opportunities with Connections contact Anita Aubrey, connectionsadvertising2022@gmail.com or call 706.549.4850.

SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 3

WELCOME TO AGING WELL. At ACCA, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to age well. With more than 50 years of experience, ACCA is the essential resource to help you navigate and celebrate life's second half. In-person activities and services are available! Give us a call and join us today to see how we can help you age well!

135 Hoyt Street | Athens, GA 30601 706.549.4850 | www.accaging.org

AmeriCorps Seniors Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Meals on Wheels Long-Term Care Ombudsman Senior Community Service Employment Center for Active Living Adult Day Health Services GeorgiaCares

inside features

24 16 6

6

ON THE COVER AGE YOUR WAY

11

BUILDING A LEGACY

14

AGING IN PLACE

20

LOCAL TRAVEL WINTERVILLE: THE CITY OF MARIGOLDS

26

LOCAL TRAVEL: TAKE US OUT TO THE BALLGAME!

volunteers 17

AGE WELL. LIVE WELL. AN INTERVIEW WITH JADALEE MCCARTY

22

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MEET CAREN SNOOK

23

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

scene / heard 24

AGING… EVERYBODY’S DOING IT

calendar 28

CALENDAR: SPRING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

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Photo Nick Bragg

Age Your Way : A Conversation on Aging, Choice, and Self-Expression

By Taylor Gerlach

A

ging … everybody’s doing it. If you’ve been around the ACCA for any amount of time, you’ll recognize one of the taglines and pillars of our philosophy. Everyone may be in this lifelong process together, but aging couldn’t look more different for different folks. In a mosaic of perspectives and mindsets, we’re all engaging with aging in our own distinct ways.

With May as Older Americans Month, we are celebrating this patchwork of ideologies and diving into how folks in our community choose to age. This agency–choosing the way we age–is central here. The tangled mess of social expectations and messages surrounding how we present ourselves certainly affects the ever-evolving self-expression we ultimately choose. There is no right or wrong, just the path we choose each day.

For Rashe Malcolm, owner of Rashe’s Cuisine on Vine Street, her own aging journey connects her with her family and 6 I CON N E C T I ON S I SPRING 2022

her heritage. As a child, she remembers helping her grandmother brush out her great-grandmother’s long, white hair. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she recalls looking forward to having those beautiful bright locks. She recently shared on social media that she remembers thinking “I can’t wait for my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and pesky facial hair to turn all white and share the journey that got me there.”

Now, it’s happening. As her hair starts to change, Malcolm welcomes the new color as a tangible connection across generations to those precious memories. It has even been a serendipitous opportunity to uncover more about her heritage. In talking with her mother in preparation to share about her aging journey and family heritage, she found a forgotten shoebox. Inside, untouched family records and heirlooms awaited discovery.

Pulling out records and fuzzy black and white photographs, she learned that her great-great-grandmother was born in Athens, and they’re more alike than she could have guessed.

ragg Photo Nick B

“Not only were they land owners in the 1800s, but they were business owners and used to help other entrepreneurs,” Malcolm shares about her relatives. Her newly found family history was shaping up to look quite similar to her contemporary reality. As a business owner and landowner herself, Malcolm is involved in farmers markets and supporting other local small businesses.

Needless to say, the entrepreneurial and collaboration genes run strong in her bloodline.

For Malcolm, learning about her family line was an enlightening full circle moment. At a time when women typically didn’t own land or own their own businesses, her ancestors defied the odds.

They held an influential place in society and were commended as upstanding women in a society not yet accustomed to women who acted on their dreams and goals.

“Those women paved the way and made it possible for someone like me. And the fact that I’m getting gray hair … doesn’t bother me because I’m living my best life. And now to know that I’m not only living my best life, but I’m living the life that my ancestors paved the way for me and set the example for me without me ever even knowing them, that means even more,” Malcolm says.

Aging has always been something to look forward to since Malcolm was a child, hanging on every word of the stories shared by her elders. At one point, she had five generations of wealth to draw from. She didn’t have to rely on textbooks for a history lesson; she had living legends to tell her their own experiences of Black history from a first-person view. And they didn’t sugarcoat their truths. As her family members got older, Malcolm remembers them getting more and more brutally honest–in a good way, she clarifies with a laugh. Malcolm remembers her elders embracing their aging faces, features, and bodies.“They never made you feel like getting old or growing was anything but graceful,” Malcolm says.

Today, Malcolm shares her changing hair and features with filter-free selfies of personal moments on social media, becoming a modern-day example of aging with grace and acceptance just like her elders did.

“We say every lock has a story. Every wrinkle on my face has one too,” Malcolm says, continuing to write that story as she lives it one day at a time.

Allyn Rippin has compiled a lot of these aging faces and their accompanying stories in her artistic work. Along with being the director of ACCA’s Center for Active Living, Rippin is also the artist and organizer behind My Aging Face, a collaborative ongoing dialogue and exhibition.

This project was born when Rippin reached her 40s, a decade where she personally felt the dichotomy between starting to notice more unsettling changes in her physical appearance and the self-empowerment of feeling more comfortable in her own skin. She wanted to explore these “conflicting emotions” and create a meaningful platform where others could process their own aging journey and self-perceptions.

She started with a call for submissions: women over 40 were invited to submit a self portrait and short description outlining what they see when they look at themselves and what they hope others see. Rippin expected to have submissions pour in.

“It is such a vulnerable subject and people are very nervous about being judged or criticized for their perspective,” Rippin found, as she ended up with fewer submissions than anticipated.

The ones she did receive, though, were powerful forces in advancing the conversation on aging.

Aging can be quite a divisive and polarizing topic. On one hand, we are told to embrace our natural look and love ourselves as-is. At the same time, we also field messages that wrinkle-free skin and perfect hair make us more beautiful or valuable, and we have access to serums, surgeries, and products to achieve whatever result we desire. It often feels like there is no way to win in navigating the minefield of aging.

But that’s the idea of Rippin’s project, to embrace and honor all the ways women choose to age, because they are all valid at the end of the day.

Rippin says women can be each other’s harshest critics, especially on social media where we can so easily de-personalize people. The goal of her My Aging Face project is to go deeper than the surface SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 7

appearances. Her hope is that, through reading the little vignettes accompanying each self portrait, viewers get a glimpse of the human being behind each aging face. The online gallery spells out this aim, saying that “by sharing our reflections, we invite greater comradery and acceptance for ourselves and one another.”

Fostering this comradery and sense of community is innately important to Rippin. “It’s just as valid to come and look at the portraits or reflect on it internally. … Participation isn’t just submitting your portrait, it’s engaging in the conversation in whatever way you choose,” Rippin explains. Just showing up for these tough topics requires a vulnerability that Rippin honors in each participant or viewer.

While Rippin encourages women to use agency in selfexpression and age whatever way feels genuine and comfortable to them, she realizes that not everyone has the resources or access to truly choose the way they age. The ability to drive, the financial stability to purchase skincare products or surgeries, or the physical mobility to participate in once-loved activities are all examples of barriers that could keep folks from aging the way they would like. That’s where organizations like ACCA come into the picture for many. With exercise classes, nutritious meals, social events, creative outlets, volunteer opportunities, and more, ACCA works every day to bridge that gap and restore agency to Athens’ aging population. In the process, stereotypes about what aging looks like are broken down, as adults age and live in so many differing personal ways.

Working for the past several years at the Center for Active Living has proven to Rippin that “we have more in common than we think.” She is aging right alongside the folks she works with; it truly is something we’re all doing. Finding community and connection, whether it’s with our ancestors or neighbors, can be a powerful tool in the aging process to remind us we’re never alone.

Jennifer Duvall often reminds her clients of another simple fact: we don’t need to apologize for our aging process. As a professional makeup artist and owner of JennySue Makeup, Duvall works with all ages, routinely doing makeup for the grandmothers of brides or leading private teaching lessons with older clients.

“As we get older, I find that women are really tough on themselves,” Duvall says, thinking back over her interactions with clients. As an entrepreneur and mom in her 40s, Duvall’s blog features pages dedicated to 8 I CON N E C T I ON S I SPRING 2022

products, tips, and tutorials for those over 40. In an industry typically aimed at a younger crowd, Duvall is intentional in making sure older adults have the tools and knowledge necessary to age the way they choose.

Many of her clients, no matter their age, choose to highlight their physical features they love and feel good about. Sometimes, building the confidence to get there is tough though. Whether it’s drooping eyelids, sparse eyebrows, or even eye color, Duvall says, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to tell women to stop apologizing. … For some reason, women just feel the need to apologize for things about their looks.”

In Duvall’s makeup chair, only kind words and self-talk are allowed. After all, aging and the physical changes that come along with that process are just a universal part of being human.

While comfort levels certainly vary from person to person, Duvall has found that older women are more willing to try new things and step into something new with confidence. This sentiment is something ACCA works to foster through classes and events that connect all adults with new or rekindled hobbies and activities.

Online, a group of Boomers are proving that social media platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok aren’t just for teens, and it’s never too late to find online fame or pick up viral dances as a new hobby. The Retirement House, an account now featuring Eugene, Curtis, Larry, Mabel, Rose, and Bubbe, became an overnight hit on popular social media platforms.

The cast changes every now and then, but the idea remains the same. The group riffs on the avant-garde concept of TikTok collectives, basically groups of young content creators living together in one glamorous house and making videos all day.

The Retirement House takes this template and plops in six “grandfluencers,” or folks over 70 who have found popularity among app users of all ages. In the process, these older adults, somewhere between actors and hobbyists, flip the script on how retirement-age adults are typically portrayed. The Retirement House’s videos include creative skits, popular dances to viral tunes, impersonations complete with exaggerated makeup and costumes, and everyday comedy. In one 30-second video, the men of the group freestyle rap while sitting in a car, Larry sporting a lime green bucket hat in the backseat before the phone tumbles into the abyss of the car floorboard.

We’ve all been there, groping around for a phone that fell at the most inopportune time.

That’s what is most attractive about the group’s content; it’s relatable while adding an element of unmistakable pizzazz and unconventionality.

Another video follows the group as they make a

grocery store run for bananas and get tripped up by those pesky self checkout machines, mixing comedy with everyday struggles.

“No age can tame these vibes,” the caption of one video states. And the vibes are immaculate. The group performs trendy dances with wildly colorful lights, creates a minuteby-minute video journal of their cruise vacation, lip-syncs to popular comedic audio clips, and even shows off special skills like Bubbe doing a split on the group’s coffee table while her friends watch in awed shock.

One of their most-viewed videos features Eugene showing off an outfit of dapper tan pants and an orange sweater overlaid with text that reads, “So I’m about to go on a date… thoughts on the fit?”

Accounts like this showcase adults aging their own way, refusing to let age confine them or dictate what hobbies are acceptable, and The Retirement House group aren’t the only ones producing this kind of popular content.

Instagram’s Baddiewinkle, a moniker used by Helen Van Winkle, became an internet sensation at the age of 85.

After losing her husband and son years ago, fashion became one way Winkle reinvented herself. With the help of her teenage great-granddaughter’s social media wisdom, a star was born.

Now 93 with several red carpet walks under her belt, she routinely posts witty comments and bold outfits. Rainbows and glam are the name of her fame, and her Instagram feed is a scrapbook of bold, playful fashion. In a recent selfie, a yellow feathered boa is wrapped around a multicolored dress, and her look is topped off with large orange glasses and a fuzzy pink hat. In another, she shows off a skin-tight vinyl bodysuit and bejeweled pink cane.

Social media is a treasure chest of various ways people choose to age, from not having an online presence of any kind to wellknown social media stars. Looking at the various ways people choose to express themselves as they age, agency once again comes into play. Not everyone has the access, skills, physical ability, or knowledge to engage with aging in their desired way. Leveling the playing field to allow for everyone to engage with aging with greater agency is a long term goal that will lead to stronger communities

overall when everyone can participate in their chosen manner.

At the end of the day, there is no one correct way to age.

There’s no road map, which is equally terrifying and liberating. In our conversations with local Athenians, we gathered some advice for others in terms of self-expression and aging.

Malcolm knows not everyone chooses to age in the same natural, self-accepting way she does. Many of her friends and loved ones turn to products and procedures to hide their age or enhance their appearances, and she refuses to fault them for that viewpoint. Instead, she honors everyone’s individual stories and respects the various ways folks around her choose to age. Most importantly, she has found a powerful way to share her own journey and perspective without shaming others who choose another way of self-expression.

Malcolm also values being present in the given moment, living one day at a time. As a descendant of a family with most members living past their 100th birthdays, she is intentional in practicing gratitude for the time she is given. She is in no rush to move through life, but instead engages in the mindful practice of being present and fully invested in the current day, hour, or minute.

“Once it’s gone, it’s gone and you can’t get it back.

So you might as well just live in the moment,” Malcolm says.

Holding unfiltered, honest reflections and images that women sent into the My Aging Face exhibit, Rippin wants folks to know that they’re never alone. As humans, we have these shared experiences of aging and navigating the complex realm of self-expression as we grow and change. Engaging with the vulnerability needed to find self-acceptance and self-love is something we are all figuring out and growing towards. No one does it perfectly, and it starts with taking a small baby step towards something uncomfortable or scary.

“Seek out those people that feel like part of your community and connect with them as much as you can,” Rippin advises, speaking to the power of doing life with others. We are relational creatures, and Rippin has seen the power of tapping into the vulnerability to be authentic and present with others.

That connection fights the lie that we are left to our own devices to figure it out.

No matter how you choose to age, we’re all in it together.

The tangled mess of social expectations and messages surrounding how we present ourselves certainly affects the ever-evolving self-expression we ultimately choose.

There is no right or wrong, just the path we choose each day.

SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 9

Local Local assistance assistance is is available available for for health health insurance insurance related related issues issues including including Medicare, Medicare, Medicaid, Medicaid, prescription prescription drug drug assistance assistance programs, and financial programs, and financial assistance assistance programs. programs.

706-549-4850 706-549-4850 www.accaging.org www.accaging.org

1 0 I CON N E C T I ON S I SPRING 2022

Building a Legacy

By Taylor Gerlach Photos Nick Bragg

Y

ears ago, a walk down Odd Street, tucked just past the North Oconee River, would bring you to stately flowering trees and a yellow-trimmed house with a wide front porch spanning the length of the front.

Inside this modest, well-kept home lived the matriarch of the Hillside community in East Athens. Rosa Nell Howard, affectionately known by her neighbors and everwidening circle of friends as Miss Rosa Nell, was a force to be reckoned with. A tenacious, virtuous woman who lived to hold 108 years of wisdom, she was widely known, loved, and revered.

Val Freeman remembers delivering groceries with her brother to Miss Rosa Nell and her husband every Saturday.

Freeman’s grandfather owned the corner grocery store that once operated as a community staple before the Kroger and Piggly Wiggly giants popped up around town. In Miss Rosa Nell’s house, Freeman would stack all the cans in the kitchen and meticulously place each good in its spot. Afterwards, Miss Rosa Nell would come out with tea cakes as a reward for a job well done. The sweetness of the tea cakes aside, young Freeman saw Miss Rosa Nell as stern, always ensuring that neighborhood children like herself were on the right path. As an adult, Freeman is grateful for that stern voice of wisdom deeply invested in her young life.

Tea cakes weren’t the only thing Miss Rosa Nell brought to the table. Teresa Williams recalls her as “a jack-of-all-trades.” She

In the 1930s, Howard organized with other neighborhood women to petition city officials for neighborhood improvements like running water, paved streets, and electricity. In any way she could, she was known to fight for the best for her community.

SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 11

often fished and would share her fresh catches with neighbors.

Miss Rosa Nell’s flowers made nearly constant appearances at the Springfield Baptist Church. Talk with anyone who knew Miss Rosa Nell, and they’ll likely tell you unprompted about those vibrant flowers she so generously shared. She grew more than flowers and intentional relationships; she cultivated a thriving vegetable garden and shared the fruits of her labor. She canned and preserved her backyard-farm-to-table foods, which were, of course, shared within her community.

In the 1930s, Howard organized with other neighborhood women to petition city officials for neighborhood improvements like running water, paved streets, and electricity. In any way she could, she was known to fight for the best for her community.

Miss Rosa Nell never drove a car, but that didn’t keep her from expanding her community far and wide. Whenever she heard of someone in need in Athens, she would find a way to reach them come hell or high water. Distance was no object for her generosity and care–she even baked pound cakes and sent them across the globe to local young men serving in the Vietnam War. Local legend has it that the cakes were often reduced to crumbs after their long journey, but the men still quarreled over every last delicious morsel.

Forever a determined and strong spirit, she never retired her voice. When youth from Springfield Baptist would come visit her in her assisted living home, she often surprised them by singing an impromptu concert of one. Hymns and old-time

gospel songs like Drinking of the Wine and Walk With Me, Lord rang out with her strong soprano voice.

“I’d like to be like her,” Reginald Johnson remembers his granddaughter saying during one of these visits. Miss Rosa Nell never failed to spark inspiration in the young people in her life.

Even after her departure, Miss Rosa Nell will now continue to watch over her neighborhood in a symbolic way. On June 1, 2021, a portion of Athens’ Odd Street was renamed to honor this powerful community force of a woman. Years of activism culminated in the Athens-Clarke County commission voting unanimously to adopt the name change to Rosa Nell Howard Street thanks to broad community support and the testimonies of six individuals who provided public comments on Howard’s character and legacy.

Mildred Lyle, who grew up frequently in and out of Miss Rosa Nell’s home, trading baked goods from her grandmother to Miss Rosa Nell and vice versa, spearheaded the effort to commemorate her impactful life in a way that would last for future generations. Especially after that yellow-trimmed house was torn down a couple years ago, Lyle knew Miss Rosa Nell’s legacy needed to have a lasting mark within Athens.

Today, the 200-500 blocks of Odd Street now bear her name. But renaming the street means more than changing a tall green sign.

Fred Smith, a member of the Athens Area Black History Committee, appealed to the commission to consider the importance of having symbols of Black accomplishment and legacy around Athens. In Smith’s eyes, the street name would provide a tribute “in recognition of others in that community who, through the years, have contributed so much but have not been recognized.”

None of the streets Freeman grew up playing in or making her Saturday grocery deliveries on were named after anyone in her community. This move changes that. Now, Freeman and those touched by Miss Rosa Nell’s influence will have the “honor to pass by daily and see her street.” For those who didn’t get to meet her and her larger-than-life heart in Hillside, the street name will be a reminder of the community pillars who came before them and an invitation to learn more about the neighborhood’s storied history.

For generations to come, Miss Rosa Nell’s descendants will have a tangible place to connect to her legacy. Montell Watson, director of diverse lending at Movement Mortgage, hopes for the same for his four children.

“A home is where we spend the majority of our time and make memories. So besides the investment, it’s important for overall stability of life in my personal opinion.” —Montell Watson 1 2 I CON N E C T I ON S I SPRING 2022

The endgame of Watson’s professional work is to help families historically left out of homeownership reclaim this valuable tool for building wealth and generational equity.

There is a monumental racial gap in homeownership, and correspondingly net worth, in the United States. Statistically, Black households on average have one tenth of the net worth of white households. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that at the end of 2020, white homeownership rates sat at 75% while Black homeownership was at 44%. Much of this growing disparity can be traced back to discriminatory practices that barred non-white folks from buying homes with a myriad of tactics before the 1968 Fair Housing Act made it illegal for anyone to be discriminated against when renting or buying a home, in addition to residual fallout and contemporary barriers.

Before this 1968 legislation, Black families were routinely denied access to mortgage loans and real estate agents refused to show them homes in affluent or predominantly white neighborhoods. Redlining practices like this systematically denied Black families the opportunity to purchase a home, build generational wealth in property, and leave a financial and emotional legacy for their children. Even after the antidiscrimination law was on the books, intimidation from neighbors and informal tactics continued to keep many Black families from feeling like homeownership was attainable.

Studies show that many of these informal discriminatory practices, like real estate agents limiting folks to house tours in different areas based on race or banks disproportionately denying Black loan applicants, still exist today.

As a kid and young adult, Watson never imagined himself as a homeowner. Growing up, not many in his inner circle owned their own homes. Even as a successful young professional in the investment world, this mindset and misconceptions around the amount of wealth necessary to own a home followed him until his wife convinced him they should try.

“It changed my life,” Watson says, now having owned several properties.

For himself and those he works with, Watson has seen homeownership change the game. Certainly owning a home is a significant long-term investment, especially evident in the past couple years as home values appreciated drastically.

Homeownership is a huge factor in increasing net worth. But

aside from the financial aspect, homeownership brings an emotional value to the table as well.

“A home is where we spend the majority of our time and make memories. So besides the investment, it’s important for overall stability of life in my personal opinion,” Watson says.

The mortgage company Watson works with has intentional programs in place to support Black and Hispanic homeownership.

A native tongue program ensures that Spanish-speaking loan applicants have access to professionals who share their language throughout the entire process, while several other initiatives aim to increase awareness around the accessibility of homeownership among underserved populations thanks to federal programs and loan officers acting as client advocates. Watson says making progress towards closing the racial homeownership gap starts with meeting people where they’re at with engaging educational programs, the type of thing that may have convinced him earlier in life that holding a key to his own house was a realistic dream.

For folks who don’t work in the mortgage industry, there are still ways to support equitable homeownership for all. Watson encourages folks to simply share credible information to increase education and awareness, when possible work with banks and mortgage companies who support impactful social goals, and encourage loved ones to take the first step towards discovering how homeownership could be accessible for them.

So we can all choose the lasting legacies we leave behind.

Watson says making progress towards closing the racial homeownership gap starts with meeting people where they’re at with engaging educational programs, the type of thing that may have convinced him earlier in life that holding a key to his own house was a realistic dream.

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Aging in Place

By Taylor Gerlach

W

e’ve all likely spent more time at home in the past couple years than ever before with waves of shutdowns and avoiding crowds. Home became a safe place perhaps more than ever before. Maybe this period of Tiger King binge watching, sourdough baking, and picking up hobbies new and old gave us time to think: Is this where we want to grow old? Who do we want to be close by for support? What kind of community and atmosphere is conducive to our specific aging lifestyle?

A core decision in aging your own way is choosing where to live. In 2021, 77 percent of adults over the age of 50 interviewed

by AARP preferred to age in place, or remain in their homes for the long term. This number has been consistent for over a decade, so it appears all those days stuck inside didn’t make the idea of aging at home any less appealing.

Many adults’ desire to age in place stems from the emotional connection to a home, neighborhood, or community. The memories contained within the four walls of a house, or perhaps a backyard swing set, are hard to pack up and move to the next location. Comfort is king, and many adults feel most comfortable in their home full of familiar furniture and years of collections. The idea of moving away from beloved

neighbors is another adjustment most adults don’t want to make, as social connections are paramount to strong mental and emotional health. Even finding a new grocery store, local doctor, place of worship, or other routine spots on the map can feel daunting and add unnecessary stress, yet another reason many adults hope to stay in their homes long term.

In addition, many adults value the independence that comes from living in their own home. Even with family or hired professionals entering as caregivers, many adults feel more comfortable and in control when they continue to live in their own home. Retaining this agency is a core reason most adults plan to age in place. In fact, “a home that helps me live independently as I age” ranked as the top factor influencing adults’ choice of a new home in AARP’s 2021 survey.

However, a lot of homes aren’t ready to support aging adults in their current condition. One third of the surveyed adults would need to modify their current residence so that they or a loved one could continue living there if they experienced physical limitations. For some, the cost of these structural changes can be a barrier to aging in place safely.

But that isn’t the only challenge that can prevent adults from being able to age their way in their own homes. The cost and availability of home health aides, access to quality food, social obstacles, safety concerns, and mobility challenges can all be roadblocks in the game of life.

Thankfully, there are increasingly more and more detours around these challenges and community supports to help aging adults overcome them.

Home health aides can provide a customizable level of support to help aging adults retain the independence of living in their homes by assisting with tasks like meal preparation, bathing, dressing, and housekeeping. But they come at a cost.

“A home that helps me live independently as I age” ranked as the top factor influencing adults’ choice of a new home in AARP’s 2021 survey.

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Not everyone can afford this service, and some areas have a shortage of qualified professionals. While leaning on family or friends to perform caregiving tasks is an option some adults choose to pursue, long-term care insurance or Medicare and/ or Medicaid can help offset the cost of a professional caregiver with doctor approval.

Accessing quality nutrition can also become a challenge for adults aging in place, especially if transportation to and from a grocery store is difficult. A nutrient-dense diet is important for overall health at any point in the lifespan, and organizations like Meals on Wheels help ensure everyone has access to healthy meals. ACCA’s Meals on Wheels volunteers package and deliver meals daily that are catered to about 300 adults’ individual dietary needs across Clarke and Barrow Counties. And pets don’t get left out either; Will’s Pet Pantry ensures that older adults can provide for their companion friends with food and veterinary care.

Beyond just nutrition, Meals on Wheels helps combat some of the social challenges that come with aging in place.

Often boredom and loneliness can affect older adults who live at home. Even throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic when isolation was felt the most, Meals on Wheels volunteers could have weekly check-ins with seniors in a safe, masked, outdoor setting. Some volunteers sat six feet apart on porch rockers and chatted with clients, thumbing through fading photographs as they heard stories about the neighborhood’s long history. Others received spirited waves from the doorframe. Either way, local agencies like this can help combat the social isolation many feel when aging in place. For those who are able to leave their home, AthensClarke County hosts senior field trips, bingo at Heard Park, and wellness classes like tai chi and pickleball. ACCA also offers a robust social calendar with trivia, line dancing, yoga, educational seminars, and more.

For folks living at home, especially alone, safety concerns can be eased with new technologies and simple education and planning. Many aging adults fear that they may become sick or hurt in their home and won’t be able to call for help.

Medical alert technologies and products with automatic fall alerts can ease these concerns and provide another layer of safety. While these devices are yet another cost, some insurances cover part of that. Other agencies like AARP offer discounts on some systems. In terms of financial security, education and awareness around common scams can protect aging adults, as scammers prey online, on the phone, and in

person. Knowing which scams to look out for can protect money and time. For legal protection, aging adults should designate a loved one to make healthcare decisions if needed and complete all relevant legal forms to ensure their wishes will be honored. AARP’s website includes links to each state’s advance directives forms to print and complete for free. For example, a guardianship agreement can designate someone to make decisions on an adult’s behalf if certain health conditions are met. Instead of having a court designate someone as a guardian, the predetermined person would step in, honoring the adult’s agency.

Many homes aren’t designed to maximize mobility and safety for older adults, but changes–some simple and some full construction projects–can improve safety and ease of life at home. For simple changes, grab bars in the shower and next to the toilet can add stability and prevent falls. Ergonomic handles on doors and faucets can work wonders in making daily life tasks more comfortable. Installing light switches at the top and bottom of staircases can help prevent falls by ensuring adequate light falls on these surfaces. Non skid floors without area rugs that can bunch and cause falls also aid in navigating home spaces safely. Exterior ramps may be a useful addition, depending on mobility needs.

Mobility outside of the home can be another barrier for some adults wishing to age in place. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can help adults who don’t drive themselves regain the flexibility to get around town to the exact destinations they please. ACCA also offers transportation services to medical appointments, pharmacy visits, shopping, and other social service activities and essential community resources with a low-cost, tiered payment scale based on the poverty threshold.

Whether you choose to age in place or relocate to another community, location is a central factor to aging your way. Retaining the agency to decide where you wish to age is a powerful move. For those who want to stay put with their roots deep, there are a growing number of federal, state, and local resources available to help aging adults feel like aging in place is a viable option.

For those who want to stay put with their roots deep, there are a growing number of federal, state, and local resources available to help aging adults feel like aging in place is a viable option.

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AGE WELL. LIVE WELL. ACCA believes you can explore your passion and make a difference at any age. Older adults make a lasting impact on our community by sharing their experience, knowledge, creativity, and heart.

These stories are examples of how each of us can Age Well and Live Well.

An interview with Jadalee McCarty Tell us a little about yourself! Where did you grow up, and what was your early life like? I grew up in Colorado. I was born and raised in Denver, and I lived there for 38 years.

When I was 16-years-old, I dropped out of high school with my parents’ permission, and I got my GED. Then, I began taking night classes at Metropolitan State University in Denver. By the time I was 24-years-old, I had two master’s degrees.

Wow! Two Master’s and at such a young age!

What did you study? First, I got my certificate in teaching, and then I decided to continue with school because I was so intrigued by everything.

I went to Colorado University in Boulder where I got my Master of Psychology with a focus in domestic violence and mental illness. At the same time, I pursued a Master of Fine Arts at Metropolitan State University.

By Emma Schell

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adalee McCarty started working at the Athens Community Council on Aging in the fall of 2021. She began as the assistant in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), later taking on the role of Center for Active Living (CAL) Aide and Arts Coordinator. Around ACCA, Jadalee is known for her cheerful personality, her bright and chic fashion, and her artistry. From craft projects hanging in the Glass Dining Room to Valentines decorations lining the halls, Jadalee’s creative touch can be seen all around ACCA.

Did you pursue a specific focus area or medium with your Master of Fine Arts? I did! My focus was photography, and I also did calligraphy. When it came to the studying side of things, such as reading about art history, I was not particularly interested, but I loved being able to do things and make things with my hands.

The dark room was my favorite place. You go inside to wind your film onto these reels, and while you’re in there you cannot have any light whatsoever. It was pure sensory reduction. It’s dead quiet, and all I can hear is myself winding the film. It’s pitch black, it’s a small room, and it’s really peaceful. The sensory deprivation combined with the focus on winding the film made it a very meditative and calming experience.

Do you find similar moments of that focus and meditation when you are doing other art projects these days? Absolutely. For example, when I’m trying to think of what to do for a class, I am imagining what everybody’s capabilities and desires are. I am picturing myself in the room where I will be teaching, and it’s an escape from whatever else is happening around me at the time.

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You’ve had a very exciting and varied career during your lifetime. What would you say are some of the highlights? The first one that comes to mind is the Englewood Shelter in Colorado. It’s a sister shelter of the Gateway Battered Women’s Shelter in Aurora. I was the House Manager and the Women and Children’s Counselor at Englewood Shelter for 13 years, and I helped build the shelter from the ground up.

Before I was the House Manager, I was a volunteer with Gateway. I liked to walk a lot at the time, and I still do, and one day while I was out walking, I passed this site where a duplex was being built. I thought to myself, “That would be a great site for a shelter.” So I approached my supervisor at Gateway with the idea, and she said, “Yes! Let’s do it!” The Gateway shelter was in Aurora, and there was a shelter in Denver, but there was a need for those same services in the Englewood area. So we made it happen. It was an amazing experience. Everybody was excited about it and wanted to make it happen, and it just manifested.

Were there any other significant moments in your career that you’d like to note? Before working at the shelter, I primarily taught. I did my student teaching when I was 19 and worked with grades K-3rd. Then I taught Special Education for six years, working with high-risk students in the Denver Public School system.

Working in the shelter and with the students, I imagine your psychology degree came into play, but what about your art degree? Did you find that making its way into your work? Yes! I did a lot of art projects with the students. We did a lot of photography. We did this project called “All About Me.” They needed to see themselves 1 8 I CON N E C T I ON S I SPRING 2022

as other people see them and also be able to express how they saw themselves. So we did a photography session and put their pictures up in the hallways. We spent a lot of time talking about their best and favorite parts of themselves. It was really cool.

What was the response from the students like? Did they enjoy the art projects? It was really good for them. It allowed them to express themselves in ways they hadn’t been able to before. Then I began exploring art therapy. It was the perfect combination of the two things I had studied, art and psychology.

What brought you from Colorado to Athens? I wanted to be warmer! I’d had enough of the dry, snowy, cold weather.

I originally wanted to go to Savannah, but I didn’t quite make it there. We moved to Georgia in 1998 and bounced around a bit. We lived in Madison County for a time where my daughter, who was 12, made really good friends with this girl from Athens.

Then, I became friends with the girl’s mother, and she helped me find a house in Athens! We’ve been here for 22 years.

How did you end up here at ACCA? In September of 2021, I got COVID-19 and was really sick for the whole month.

My phone rang one day towards the end of the month, just as I was getting back on my feet, and it was Wanda Garry with the SCSEP Program at ACCA. She had my application from 2019 on file and had just happened to pick it up. She wanted me to come work in the SCSEP office, and I said yes!

And now you are working in the Center for Active Living (CAL)? Yes! Coming into this space where I can express myself and I can help the CAL members express themselves

through creative projects – it is the best. This is one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my career.

Tell me more about the classes you have been teaching and what you would like to teach in the future. I imagine you have some big dreams.

I do have big dreams, and I am trying to get them out and let everybody else have their big dreams, too. I think that’s what keeps us going. Creativity, music, songs, and art are what keep us going. The first thing I did for CAL was a small craft project with acorns. I was nervous to teach the class, but everybody loved it, and they invited me back! My big goal is to do things that are unique. I want to find projects that people haven’t done before.

I think most people agree that art and creativity are an important part of life. In all the time that you’ve worked with different people and helped them to express themselves, have you come to a conclusion as to why these things are important?

There is a quote from Sarah Ban Breathnach which states that “the authentic self is the soul made visible,” and art allows you to express your authentic self. It’s a way to show your soul to the world. When I can get the things that are in my brain – the things I think of, the things I dream of – and manifest them outside of myself, that feels really good. I think that when we don’t get our stuff out – if we don’t dance, we don’t sing, and we don’t get out there and groove, whatever that means to you – when someone is withholding that, they’re not expressing their true identity. And I think it’s so important to be authentic and be seen.

You know, my entire life I’ve heard “Jadalee is kind of strange.”

And it can be hard because people often have a desire to judge and categorize, but I think being expressive is letting go of the labels. It’s letting go of the categories. It’s total contentment with your authentic self.

Having done all these amazing things, we always like to end the conversation by asking: How do you age and live well? Well, I never really thought of myself as aging. It’s hard to think of myself as getting older, and I don’t really frame my life in that context. But as I have gotten older, I have learned to take better care of myself, I’ve gained greater wisdom, and I’ve learned not to care so much about the negative judgement and opinions of others. Those are the things I love about getting older and that help me to continue to live well.

I am also inspired by being around the people here at ACCA and seeing all the ways they have fun. I think as long as we keep doing things and keep moving in our own way, we live well. It’s just growing and blooming. As we get older and keep doing things, we continue to grow, and we continue to bloom.

“I think as long as we keep doing things and keep moving in our own way, we live well. It’s just growing and blooming. As we get older and keep doing things, we continue to grow, and we continue to bloom.” —Jadalee McCarty SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 19

TRIPS

Winterville The City of Marigolds

By Kellye Morgan

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arigolds are beautiful flowers that range in color from a soft yellow to deep orange.

They were originally found in Mexico and Guatemala and brought to Europe and Northern Africa in the late 16th century. Across the globe, marigolds symbolize strength, power, and the light inside of every person. Many different cultures consider it to be a sacred flower. For example, the Aztecs in Mexico used marigolds for decorative and medicinal purposes, ranging from curing hiccups to healing those struck by lightning.

Marigold flowers are still used to decorate household altars to celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day in Mexico and Latin America. In India, the plants have religious significance and are known as the Friendship Flower. Marigold flowers were often placed on the altar of the Virgin Mary in Spain, and eventually, they became known as Mary’s Gold - hence the name “marigold.”

So, what do the marigold flowers mean to the city of Winterville, Georgia? Back in 1970, concerned citizens of the small city and its mayor decided to create an annual festival as a way to foster community and beautify the area. The marigold flower was chosen as the namesake of the festival and official symbol of Winterville for its resilience and strength and its sign of friendship.

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The town came together to plant marigolds all over the town square and railroad tracks before the first Marigold Festival which was held on June 18th and 19th of 1971.

Many of the historic buildings had fallen into disrepair, and the funds raised during that first Marigold Festival helped renovate the Train Depot and other city buildings.

Over the years, the event has drawn thousands of visitors to interact with hundreds of vendors and enjoy good music, food, and art. It has also helped build the Winterville branch of the Athens Regional Library and a playscape in Pittard Park, where the festival takes place. The event helped put Winterville on the map, and the town has since become known as “the Marigold Capital of the World.”

The festival was discontinued in 2003 but revived in 2009 by new residents and past festival organizers. In 2020, it was cancelled due to the pandemic and conducted virtually in 2021.This year’s Marigold Festival is sure to be an even bigger celebration after two years away.

On May 14, 2022, the day will kick off with a parade around the town square featuring floats made by local businesses, civic and church organizations, schools, families or individuals, and music and talent groups. Live music will play from morning to night, and a dedicated Kids Area will be there to entertain younger festival-goers.

The Center for Active Living will be enjoying the festival this year as a group. If you’d like to join us to watch the parade, enjoy the live music, and shop with local vendors, email Kellye at kmorgan@accaging. org. We will meet at the Pittard Park Pavilion in Winterville at 9:45am on Saturday, May 14.

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Caren Snook

By Ellen Everitt

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Caren Snook prepares to make her Meals on Wheels deliveries for the day. This year, Caren celebrates volunteering for MOW for 20 years.

As ACCA looks back on the 50th anniversary of our Meals on Wheels program in March, we think of the volunteers who have been with us to see the changes over our history. One such volunteer is Caren Snook. At 80 years old, she is completing her 20th and final year of volunteering this month.

Caren started volunteering for MOW in June 2012 and when asked how she first heard about the program, she replied “It seems like I always knew about MOW and thought it would be an interesting thing to do when I retired.” Even through COVID lockdowns when most folks stayed home, Caren tirelessly showed up every week for her community.

Like most new volunteers, Caren’s journey began when she did a ride-along with her friend Sara Sanford. As they say, the rest is history. That route she saw on her first day became Route 1, a route she served for most of her 20 years as a volunteer.

While her route and the people she has seen on it have changed over the years, there is one special meal recipient that Caren has delivered to for 17 years. “I enjoy seeing her. She is 93 now and we even share a name.” The relationships formed on these weekly journeys can grow into deep friendships in unlikely places, some lasting decades.

This joyful 50th anniversary is a milestone that would not have been possible without the support of dedicated volunteers like Caren. During her time volunteering, she has had her fair share of heroic moments – proving that

Volunteers provide critical safety checks for clients, allowing us to keep our neighbors safe and help them continue living at home where they want to be.

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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities delivery volunteers do so much more than just deliver food. She recalls “One time, a client didn’t come to the door, but I could hear her calling out inside. She had fallen and couldn’t get to the door.” Jumping into action, Caren called our main office and got the ball rolling for her client to receive the help she needed.

Volunteers provide critical safety checks for clients, allowing us to keep our neighbors safe and help them continue living at home where they want to be. People like Caren are the eyes and ears of the Meals on Wheels program in the community – looking out for those in need and always willing to go the extra mile for the people they serve.

In March of 2020, Caren recruited a new volunteer to Meals on Wheels – her retired husband. “(He) got bored with staying home, so he started driving the route with me. Delivering Meals on Wheels is an easy way to volunteer, and it really helps people who cannot prepare healthy meals for themselves. Your route may take you to a part of Athens that you had never been to. Your clients will be interesting people who can tell you a lot about the history of their neighborhoods.”

We are so grateful to Caren for her 20 years of service to our Meals on Wheels members. Her impact on the community has been great, and her impact on the people she has served over the past two decades is immeasurable.

Caren is proof that you can change lives one delivery at a time.

At ACCA we continue to pave the way for people like Caren to help change their communities, one delivery at a time. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can inquire through our website or check out our volunteer needs information to the right.

One time, a client didn’t come to the door, but I could hear her calling out inside. She had fallen and couldn’t get to the door.

What can you do with an hour of free time? Volunteer with us!

Winder Meals On Wheels Volunteers

We are in urgent need of Winder volunteers! Our drivers deliver bags of food and frozen, prepared meals to vulnerable residents of our community every day of the week at 10:30AM. This includes older adults and people with disabilities who are homebound and unable to leave their homes due to health, mobility, or transportation issues. Our volunteers provide not just a meal, but someone to check in on our clients and make sure every person MOW serves is cared for.

The Fix-It Shop

Are you a handyman who is 55+? The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is seeking older adults to help develop and lead a DIY home repair group.

Volunteers from across the Athens area will be able to come and find fellowship through providing small DIY improvements to client’s homes, as well as learning new skills and trades from other members. If you have a knack for creating a dove-tail joint or know how to unclog a J-bend like a pro, this is the group for you!

We Need

YOU!

To get started, or for more information, please visit our website www.accaging.org, email eeveritt@accaging.org or call Ellen Everitt at (706) 549-4850.

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AGING...

EVERYBODY’S DOING IT

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1 Thank you to the Clarke County Sheriff ’s Office for the generous donation of PPE from the Atlanta Community ToolBank. Masks, hand sanitizer, gloves – we always have need for items such as these, and we greatly appreciate the support from our community. Our staff and clients thank you!

2 On Friday, February 11th, the Center for Active Living hosted ACCA’s first ever Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Ball! Attendees enjoyed a night of food, music, dancing, and games, and the evening finished with crowning Mr. and Ms. CAL Sweetheart.

3 We are so very grateful to receive support from the Athens Area Community Foundation and United Way of Northeast Georgia’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund to provide Meals on Wheels and Adult Day Service to MORE seniors in Barrow County! Thank you to the Luther and Susie Harrison Foundation for your investment in our community!

6 Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us complete another successful Mobile Food Pantry in January! We packed 225 bags full of shelf-stable items and fresh fruits and veggies that will now fill the plates of approximately 300 individuals in the community. We are so grateful to those volunteers who give their time and energy to help us help our neighbors. Thank you!

7 ACCA would like to welcome Lauren Clements as our new Adult Day Health Activity Coordinator, Rebecca Pulliam as our new Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program Coordinator, Kellye Morgan as our new Program Manager with the Center for Active Living, and Justine Walston as our new AmeriCorps Seniors Program Specialist.

8 Thank you SO much to Jack and Jill of America’s Athens Chapter for the lovely Valentine’s Day cards! Our clients greatly appreciated receiving your lovely notes and Valentine’s wishes.

4 2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Athens Community Council on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program. We celebrated this milestone in March as part of Meals on Wheels America’s 20th annual March for Meals nationwide celebration.

9 Volunteers spent a full day in ACCA’s Community Garden, prepping the beds and planters for new spring growth. We are so excited to see what the new season brings, and we are so thankful to the volunteers who help us maintain our outdoor spaces!

5 “Hygge” is a Danish and Norwegian word describing a mood of coziness and contentment. Center for Active Living members and ACCA staff enjoyed a lovely Hygge Happening in January.

Warmth and good company abounded along with s’mores and hot chocolate.

10 Thank you to our friends at Avery Place for their generous donations of game prizes for our Center for Active Living! We love good, friendly competition, and the opportunity to snag a great gift basket like this makes things even more exciting!

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11 Thank you to Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy, Inc. for the delicious Valentine’s Day goodies! Many of these sweet treats went out to our Meals on Wheels clients, brightening their Valentine’s Day exponentially. We love our community collaborators!

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Take Us Out to the Ballgame!

By Kellye Morgan

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he weather is getting warmer, and spring is just around the corner – which means baseball season will soon be here. COVID-19 has interrupted the enjoyment of America’s favorite pastime, but we here at ACCA are ready to get back to a ballgame. The COVID-19 pandemic is not the first time baseball has weathered disruptions. Its close link to troubled times in American history is what makes it such an important sport to most of the country.

Professional baseball got its start during the Civil War, where soldiers played informal games to cope. After the

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war, many men took the game home, and it became a great unifier across the country. In both World Wars, major league baseball players served in Allied forces.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation for games to continue during World War II, stating that baseball could be a source of escape for Americans.

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (inspiration for the 1992 movie, “A League of Their Own”) was created in 1943 to make up for the loss of major league star players to the war.

On a personal note, my own grandfather, the late Rev. H. Wayne Fink, was a talented baseball player who would play against the Japanese troops for recreation while stationed in Japan during the Korean War. It is clear that baseball has not only entertained us but has also offered a sense of comfort during difficult times. We here at ACCA hope that getting back to a game, with the smells of popcorn and hot dogs and traditions like the seventh-inning stretch, will provide a sense of that comfort and nostalgia. Attending Braves games at both Turner Field and Truist Park has become

a recent tradition for Center for Active Living (CAL) members. For CAL member Sandra Smith, it will be the first time she sits in the outfield with ACCA. Sandra began attending Braves games back in the 1970s and 80s, and it is always a family affair. She enjoys attending games with her son and daughter-in-law, her husband, and her mother, and has fond memories of watching Ronald Gant (current Atlanta FOX 5 coanchor) playing for the Braves. Sandra particularly enjoys watching the Braves play against division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.

What makes this season even more exciting is that we will get to see the Braves coming off their 2021 World Series win! CAL will travel to Truist Park on Friday, May 6, 2022, as the Braves take on the Milwaukee Brewers in, what we hope, will be another winning season. It is hard to win the World Series multiple years in a row, and it has not been done since the 1998-2000 Yankees.

However, it is certainly not impossible, especially as the Braves seem to have broken the Georgia Sports Curse.

We have a limited number of tickets and transportation spots available, so please RSVP to Kellye at kmorgan@accaging.org as soon as possible. You won’t want to miss out on rooting for the home team!

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The Center for Active Living (CAL) is a multi-purpose center offering older adults in Athens and surrounding communities opportunities to stay active and engaged. CAL provides unique social, educational, and wellness related classes and activities, group trips, and supportive services.

For membership information or to register for trips and classes, contact Allyn Rippin, CAL Director, at (706) 549-4850 or arippin@accaging.org.

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dance, fitness & movement classes

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CAL travel (virtual and in person)

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seminars, classes and events

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social programs and events

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support groups

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To RSVP for trips and classes, please contact kmorgan@accaging.org or call the CAL office at 706-549-4850. We offer virtual and in-person classes that follow safety precautions and procedures. Classes and trips are subject to change or cancellation.

For pre-recorded webinars, visit the Center for Active Living at ACCA YouTube channel.

Want to sign up for our e-newsletter? Email kmorgan@accaging.org.

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DANCE, FITNESS AND MOVEMENT CLASSES

Tai Chi with Michele

Tai Chi, which means in Chinese balance and harmony, has often been described as “moving meditation” because of the flowing motions accompanied by breathwork. In addition to an improved sense of calm and clarity, participants in the class will improve their balance, leg strength, range of motion, and energy levels. Seasoned instructor Michele will guide the class through low-impact, easy-to-learn movem200ents that can be incorporated into any daily routine.

When: Mondays at 1:00pm Where: ACCA Pavilion Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

Chair Yoga with Josh

Designed to be accessible to all, Josh’s class adapts yoga poses for use with a chair. Most poses will take place seated, and any standing poses will use the chair for support.

Expect a gentle class sequence with the opportunity to stretch muscles and invigorate the mind through breath work. This class is held in person and live on Zoom.

When: Tuesdays at 10:00am (Call to confirm) Where: ACCA Harris Room and Zoom (Hybrid format) Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members To join virtually, please contact the CAL office

Tuesday Walking Group

Meet up for a walk with friends at the ACCA Greenway and various parks and trails around Athens. Enjoy some light exercise while gaining the restorative benefits of time spent in nature. We will meet at ACCA every Tuesday at 11:00am EXCEPT the 3rd Tues of the month: April 19th: State Botanical Gardens of Georgia May 17th: Sandy Creek Park June 21st: Oconee Veterans Park (Flag Day) Free for members and non-members

Intermediate Line Dancing

Led by CAL instructor Linda “Boots” Barnes, this class uses an eclectic mix of music to keep dancers moving from beginning to end. You will be guided step-by-step through the dances with seasoned classmates who will help keep you on track. Grab your dancing shoes and join the fun!

When: Tuesdays at 12:00pm Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

Beginner Line Dancing

Are you new to line dancing? Immediately following our Intermediate class, Linda leads an introductory class to help new dancers learn the steps.

When: Tuesdays at 1:00pm Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

Dance Fitness

Join Melinda for 30-minutes of energizing movement and music. Improve your core, coordination, stamina, and balance in this fun and energizing class.

When: Wednesdays at 2:00pm Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

Chair Tai Chi with Julie

Join Piedmont Athens Regional nurse and Tai Chi certified instructor, Julie Buffalo, RN for this gentle, 30-minute class followed by an optional blood pressure check. No elaborate clothing is required, and its gentle movements allow for easy modifications. Much of the class will be seated or standing using a chair for balance.

When: 2nd Thursday of every month at 10:00am Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

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Smart Moves with Becky

This fun, one-hour class mixes the use of elastic bands, free weights and medicine balls to work your entire body.

Similar to Silver Sneakers, it focuses on improved overall balance, flexibility, and strength while listening to music.

Smart Moves is a low impact class that can be performed seated or standing and is appropriate for all fitness levels.

When: Thursdays at 2:00pm (Call to confirm) Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

Storytelling Through Movement All Levels Hatha Flow Yoga with Josh

Adapted for beginners and more advanced yogis, this yoga class combines static and fluid poses, balancing movement through holds and sequential flows in order to emphasize strength, flexibility, and alignment. In addition to dynamic movement, instructor Josh will guide breathing exercises and short meditations to help concentration and bring ease to the mind.

When: Thursdays at 12:00pm. (Call to confirm) Where: ACCA Harris Room and Zoom (Hybrid format) Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members To join virtually, please contact the CAL office

This class brings memories and stories to life through expressive movement that both dancers and non-dancers will enjoy. After a warm-up, participants will share words, memories and stories to inspire movement and self-expression. Move your body and learn about fellow participants in this interactive workshop. We will be guided by Lisa Yaconelli, an Athens-based choreographer, performer, teacher and owner of Work.Shop, a performing arts practice and performance space.

When: Once a month at 10:30am (April 13th, May 18th, June 15th) Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

WELCOME TO INSPIRED LIVING. What, exactly, is inspired living?

It’s a calendar dotted with goings and doings.

It’s trying new things. Making the most of every day. It’s a dedication to wellness. It’s having good friends. Being a good friend. Laughing a lot. It’s looking ahead with purpose and optimism and confidence. In short, inspired living is living at Wesley Woods of Athens.

WELCOME HOME.

TALMAGE TERRACE | LANIER GARDENS

801 Riverhill Drive | Athens, GA 30606 706.369.7100 | wesleywoods.org/athens 3 0 I CON N E C T I ON S I SPRING 2022 ACCA Ad 0122.indd 1

12/7/21 12:30 PM

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers are needed! CAL is looking for certified wellness/fitness instructors, subject matter experts and passionate hobbyists who want to lead a class or start a group. Contact Allyn Rippin at arippin@accaging.org or 706-549-4850.

CAL TRIPS: IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL Please contact kmorgan@accaging.org or call the CAL office at 706-549-4850 to join in-person or virtually.

Links for virtual trips are also provided in our e-newsletter.

Virtual Trip: Sedona, AZ

Take a trip to Red Rock Country as we visit one of the best Spring Break destinations in the United States. We’ll view Sedona’s colorful desert vegetation that are most vibrant in spring, take a peek at some of the 200+ hiking trails, and explore the canyons in the Verde Valley. Many visitors also tour rock formation “vortexes” that are said to emit spirtbalancing energy while others find healing in the spas that offer natural treatments like red clay wraps. Whatever your interests, Sedona has something for you!

When: Thursday, April 21st at 2:00pm Where: Zoom (with option to view in Hudson Room) Free for members and non-members

Morning Brew Crew at Cafe Racer Mornings are made for coffee and donuts! Start your day with us at one of the area’s best kept secrets, Cafe Racer, a drive-thru eatery on Highway 78, just 20 minutes from downtown Athens in Oglethorpe County.

The cafe turns out delicious homemade donuts as well as breakfast biscuits, coffee and tea. P.S. It’s take-out only, and no seating is provided, so bring a chair and we will gather on the lawn!

Boom Magazine and ACCA present the Boom Bash Senior Expo!

Looking for ways to stay active? Need some fresh inspiration? New to Athens? Join us for this special, oneday event for seniors. Enjoy a stellar lineup of local vendors, authors, fitness and wellness demonstrations, an art exhibit, and other resources focused on helping you age and live well.

When: Thursday, April 28th from 10:00am-2:00pm Where: Athens Country Club Meet us there or ride with us. Bus departs CAL at 10:30am (RSVP required; seating is limited.)

Free and open to the public

Braves Game

We’re taking you out to the ball game! After 2 years, we are headed back to Atlanta to watch the 2021 World Series Champions take on the Milwaukee Brewers and enjoy the fireworks show after the game. Limited Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: Friday, May 6th (Meet at CAL at 3:45pm. Game starts at 7:30 pm) Where: Atlanta Cost: $50 for members. $60 for non-members.

Includes game ticket and transportation.

Concessions are self-pay.

Meet You There: Winterville Marigold Festival

Stay golden at the annual Winterville Marigold Festival!

Because of this annual community celebration, Winterville is now known across America as “the Marigold Capital of the World,” and “the place where the marigold works its magic.” The day is filled with a parade, music performances and opportunities to shop with local vendors.

When: Saturday, May 14th (Meet us there for the parade at 9:45am) Where: Meet at the Pittard Park Pavilion.

Free for members and non-members.

Please RSVP to join our group.

When: 4th Fridays of every month at 9:30am (April 22nd, May 27th, June 24th) Where: Cafe Racer (3 Arnoldsville Rd, Crawford, GA) Cost: Self-pay SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 31

Virtual Trip: Peru

Join us as we travel through the “land of abundance” and explore the ruins of Machu Picchu, Moray, Tipon, and more. Home to parts of the Amazon and Andes Mountains, Peru is also known for its internationally award-winning cuisine, indigenous fashion, and ancient and modern art using materials such as alpaca wool. We will dive into Peruvian arts and culture, traditions, and history during the virtual trip to this South American country.

When: Thursday, May 19th at 2:00pm Where: Zoom (with option to view in ACCA Hudson Room) Free for members and non-members

Staycation – Classic City Tour of Athens

This summer, stay in town and get reacquainted with the Classic City. The Historic Athens Welcome Center will be leading us on the two-hour Heritage Tour beginning with a visit to the Church-Waddel-Brumby House, Athens’ oldest surviving residence and the home to two University of Georgia Presidents. We will also go on a driving tour of the historic districts and part of the University campus and end with a tour of the Ware-Lyndon House.

When: Thursday, June 2nd (Tour van departs CAL at 9:30am) Where: Downtown Athens Cost: $20 (includes tour ticket and transportation) Limited seating. RSVP required.

Rock House Creamery and Garden Tour

Ever wonder where your milk and food come from? Join the farm tour of Rock House Creamery and Garden. You will meet beautiful dairy cows, learn about the milk process from cow to bottle, and sample milk and delicious cheese curds. Following the dairy fun, you’ll visit the extensive vegetable gardens to learn about what’s grown, who works there, and possibly even help harvest a vegetable or two!

When: Wednesday, June 8th (Meet at CAL at 9:15am) Where: Newborn, GA Cost: $15 (includes ticket and transportation)

Virtual Trip: Puerto Rico

Just southeast of Miami, Florida, lies the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The heart and soul of the Caribbean features world-renowned beaches, El Yunque National Forest, the historic Old San Juan, and many rum distilleries (Puerto Rico is the Rum Capital of the World). Explore this beautiful island with us on a tropical virtual trip.

When: Thursday, June 16th at 2:00pm Where: Zoom (with option to view in ACCA Hudson Room) Free for members and non-members

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EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Art Class with K.A. Artist Shop

Join artist Kathleen Campbell of K.A. Artist Shop for handson art and craft-making classes that will expand your creative palette. No prior experience necessary.

When: 1st and 3rd Monday of every month at 10:30am (April 4th & 18th, May 2nd & 16th, June 6th & 20th) Where: ACCA Brick Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members Space is limited, RSVP required. Please contact the CAL office.

Holistic Wellness Lecture Series

Join Dr. Lesley Clack, ScD, CPH, from Northeast Georgia HealthMatters, for this virtual wellness series that addresses wellness from a holistic, whole person perspective. The seminar meets once a month and covers a range of topics, including Grief & Loss (April) and SelfCare (May).

When: 1st Tuesday of every month at 10:00am (April 5th and May 3rd) Where: Zoom (with option to view in ACCA Hudson Room) Free for members and non-members

Engage with CO-AGE

Each year, the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE) hosts a state-wide presentation to share updates from the past year’s legislative sessions. Learn more about their advocacy efforts, hear what legislation did and did not pass, find out more about the issues impacting seniors, and learn how you can get involved.

When: Last week in April (Call CAL office for details) Where: Zoom (with option to view in Hudson Room) Free for members and non-members

Pop-Up Nutrition Class

Pop by for this 30-minute virtual nutrition class each month. Receive healthy tips and recipes from a Registered Dietician at Open Hand, an Atlanta-based non-profit that delivers healthful meals to seniors. Get inspired and informed with new topics each month. Participants have a chance to win a gift card!

When: 4th Thursday of every month at 10:00am (April 28th, May 26th, June 23rd) Where: Zoom (with option to view in Hudson Room) Free for members only

Starting the Conversation: How to Prepare for a Good Quality of Life at the End of Life A 3-part Series 5 Wishes® Workshop with Dr. Kerstin Emerson

As you begin to think about advance care planning and considering things such as health proxies and power of attorney, it can feel overwhelming. The 5 Wishes® document is an important resource for beginning these tough conversations with family and friends and plan for care in advance of a health crisis. In Georgia, it is a legally binding document that covers personal, spiritual, medical, and legal wishes, helping your loved ones know your preferences in times of crisis. Dr. Kerstin Emerson from the University of Georgia’s Institute of Gerontology will lead this workshop and walk us through the questions in the document. A 5 Wishes® document will be provided to all attendees.

When: Wednesday, April 20th at 10:30am Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members and non-members

This is Hospice with vIt can be hard to talk about hospice and end-of-life care.

To help begin the conversation, this seminar will debunk some common myths and misconceptions about hospice and explain what hospice care really entails. We’ll also learn about the differences between palliative care and hospice care as well as complementary services in the Athens area.

When: Wednesday, April 27th at 10:30am Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members and non-members

Prepare Now, Feel Secure Later

To help understand how to navigate the costs you can experience in this season of life, Robin Lacrimosa from Kimbrough Law will speak about the practical tools needed to plan for end-of-life care. We’ll learn about the basics of planning regarding asset planning, estate planning, wills, Power of Attorneys, and more. Preparing now will help to reduce stress and enhance quality of life later.

When: Wednesday, May 4th at 10:30am Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members and non-members

May is Older Americans Month!

Each year we celebrate OAM with events and seminars that celebrate positive aging. This year’s theme — Age My Way — focuses on helping seniors stay independent and involved in their communities. We also celebrate all the ways we express ourselves as we age. Be sure to check out our seminars and events this month!

My Aging Face: A Conversation on Aging, Beauty and Redefining Norms for Women Over 40

If there is one thing women tend to lament as we age, it’s how our faces change with time. Some say that aging is something to fight, even reverse; others say we should accept the skin we are in. What do you see in the mirror?

What do you want others to see? Created by Center for Active Living Director, Allyn Rippin, and sponsored by ACCA, My Aging Face is a community-wide project that encourages conversation and comradery around the complexities of aging and how we choose to age. Women 40+ are invited to submit a self-portrait and short description by April 30th to be included in the exhibition.

Visit www.theagingus.com for details.

Exhibit Preview: Thursday, April 28th from 10:00am2:00pm at the Boom Bash, Athens Country Club Exhibition on display from May 1st-31st at Athens Community Council on Aging

In Conversation: ACCA CEO Eve Anthony talks with artist and organizer Allyn Rippin about the project and open the conversation to include attendees. Reception to follow.

When: Thursday, May 12th from 5:00pm-7:00pm Where: ACCA Harris Room Open to the public.

Please contact the CAL office at 706-549-4850

Department of Aging Services Resource Forum

In order to “age your way”, you’ll need the right resources and support. Each year, the Department of Aging Services (DAS) hosts its annual Public Hearing for the Northeast Georgia Region, which includes Athens-Clarke County and neighboring communities. Learn about the resources available to older adults and their caregivers to help you age and live well. You will also have a chance to share feedback to help inform the DAS’s next State Plan.

When: Thursday, May 12th from 9:00am – 12:00pm Where: Zoom (with option to view in ACCA Hudson Room) Free for members and non-members SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 33

Film Discussion: Iris

Age your way is all about personal self-expression, and few people do it as well as fashion icon Iris Apfel. Apfel is the legendary style maven and interior designer who lit up the New York fashion scene for decades. An icon for positive aging, Apfel signed with a modeling agency at the age of 97 and turns 101 this year. In 2014, Apfel was the subject of the documentary Iris, directed by Albert Maysles. Watch the film with us, then join us for a discussion afterwards about self-expression and what it means to age your way.

When: Friday, May 13th Film at 10:00am; discussion at 11:30am Where: ACCA Harris Room Free for members and non-members

Service Day with Hands On Historic Athens

Hands on Historic Athens (HOHA) is a neighborhood revitalization program that assists low-income homeowners with home maintenance projects in homes that are 50 years or older. The goal of HOHA is to keep neighborhoods intact through safe and habitable homes. HOHA often works with older Athenians to make their homes safer and more accessible for them to age in place. Join us as we volunteer for a local home-improvement project and learn about Athens’ historic homes and neighborhoods from HOHA Coordinator, Jody Graichen.

When: Monday, May 16th (Call the CAL office for time) Where: Call the CAL office for meeting place Free for members and non-members

Beauty Your Way with JennySue Makeup

Beauty and makeup routines are one way to express our individuality. This workshop encourages us to let go of outdated notions of what a mature adult women should look like! Learn which products and techniques are best for mature skin. Discover the most important skincare steps for better skin and better makeup application. Jennifer Duvall, makeup artist and founder of JennySue Makeup, will be here to offer tips, tricks and recommendations for an even more beautiful you. Let’s have some fun with it!

When: Monday, May 23rd at 11:00am Where: CAL Brick Room Free for members, drop-in rate for non-members

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Aging in Place with JOMA

Learn about Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) and how they design homes for maximum accessibility using features such as ramps, grab bars and reinforced towel bars, and levers and easy-to-grasp hardware and fixtures.

JOMA Construction is an Athens-based residential and commercial construction company specializing in remodeling. They are CAPS builders and help many in the local area have functional homes they can move freely in.

When: Monday, May 23rd at 11:00am Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members and non-members

Getting to Know ACCA: Georgia Cares

It can be tricky to navigate the intricacies of insurance cost, coverage, and provider networks. GeorgiaCares, ACCA’s onsite Medicare counseling program, helps people with Medicare understand their benefits and make informed decisions about health care options. GeorgiaCares Coordinator, Tegan Hurley, will present on the benefits of this free and unbiased program.

When: Wednesday, June 1st at 10:30am Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members and non-members

Outsmart Your Smartphone

Do you need help getting plugged into the digital world?

Want to gain confidence in using your smartphone, tablet or laptop? Need help getting on Zoom, social media or managing your email and photos? Our Tech Volunteer can answer your questions. By appointment only.

Please call the CAL office to make an appointment Available in person, by phone or virtual Free for members

Lunch and Learn with the Alzheimer’s Association: A 2-part Series

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

Learn what to watch for in yourself and others. Alzheimer’s causes changes in memory, thinking and behavior that are not normal aging. We will discuss the difference between normal aging and Alzheimer’s, common warning signs, the importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis, next steps and expectations for the diagnostic process, and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

A boxed lunch will be provided* (*lunch is included for Congregate members; all others $5. RSVP required.

Please contact the CAL office at 706-549-4850) When: Monday, June 6th at 11:30am Where: ACCA Harris Room Open to members and non-members

Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer’s disease stages and risk factors, and current research and treatments available to address some symptoms.

When: Monday, June 13th at 11:30am Where: ACCA Harris Room Open to members and non-members

SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Mahjong

Mahjong is a Chinese tile game that is becoming more and more popular in the U.S. Similar to the western card game rummy, mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, calculation, and involves a degree of chance. RSVP required; space is limited. Please contact the CAL office.

Advanced Mahjong

When: Mondays Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm (Call to confirm) Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members, registration is required

Beginner Mahjong

When: Wednesdays Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm (Call to confirm) Where: ACCA Hudson Room Free for members, registration is required

SUPPORT GROUPS

Caregiver Support Group

Join other caregivers for support, participate in educational programs, and gain knowledge from health care professionals. For more information contact Jessica Bankston at 678-425-0718.

Where: ACCA Bentley Adult Day Health Center (135 Hoyt Street, Athens, GA, 30601) When: 3rd Tuesday each month Time: 12:00pm Where: ACCA Winder Adult Day Health Center (63 Lee Street, Athens, GA, 30680) When: 2nd Wednesday each month Time: 1:00 pm

Support ACCA when you shop online by

purchasing your items through Amazon Smile.

The Amazon Smile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the ACCA. How to help: 1. Sign in to smile.amazon.com 2. From there, go to Your Account from the navigation menu at the top of any page 3. Select the option to Change Your Charity, and select the Athens Community Council on Aging 4. Sit back, online shop and let Amazon Smile put a smile on our clients’ faces

If you’re interested in donating items to the ACCA, check out on our Amazon Wishlist. Help us help our clients have the best service and programs we can provide at www.accaging.org/support/wish-list SPRING 2022 I CO N N E C T I O N S I 35

Friendship and Community Friendship and Community

Health and Peace of Mind Health and Peace of Mind

Transportation Services in Clarke County Transportation Services in Clarke County Transportation Services in Clarke County

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Medical Monitoring Therapeutic Activities Medical Monitoring Personal Care Support Therapeutic Activities Nutrition Services Personal Care Support Physical, and Speech Therapy Nutrition Occupational, Services Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy

135 Hoyt Street | Athens, GA 30601 706.549.4850 AM -GA 6:00 PM 135 Hoyt Street| 7:30 | Athens, 30601 706.549.4850 | 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM 63 Lee Street | Winder, GA 30680 678.425.0718 7:30 AMGA - 3:30 PM 63 Lee Street | Winder, 30680 678.425.0718 | 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM