Annual Report
Dear Friends,
As we reflect on another year of service and impact, it is my privilege to share with you the progress we’ve made together at Legacy Link. With your support, we have continued to be a steadfast advocate for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers—empowering them to live fuller, more independent lives.
At Legacy Link, our mission remains simple but powerful: to be the link to a better life. Whether it’s through providing essential services, connecting people with critical resources, or advocating for their rights, we are deeply committed to ensuring that every person we serve has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.
In this year’s Annual Report, you will find stories of resilience, growth, and hope from those whose lives we’ve touched. From the caregiver who found much-needed support to the older adult who regained independence through our programs, these stories remind us why our work is so important.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you—our partners, donors, volunteers, and staff—whose dedication and compassion make this work possible. It is your belief in our mission that fuels everything we do. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to live their best life.
Thank you for being a vital part of Legacy Link.
Warmest regards,
Melissa Armstrong
As we look ahead, I am excited for the opportunities the coming year holds. With your continued support, we will continue to advocate, support, and connect those who need us most.
Melissa Armstrong CEO/AAA Director
Meet Our Team
Pat Rylee Chief Financial Officer
Amaury Romaguera Human Resources Director
Elaine Harkins Aging and Disability Resource Connection Director
Amy Allen Health Programs Director
Jessica Zagarella Community Engagement Director
Tony Nguyen Finance Manager
Ashley Pitts Office Manager
Sandy Coker MIS Director
Christine Osasu Senior Community Service Employment Program Director
Lisa Howard Contracts & Quality Director
Board Members
Pamela Elfenbein
Sid Jacobs
Betty Fitts
Tammy Owens
Gail Lancaster
Susan Lancaster
Nerissa McPherson
Lynn Duke
Lamar Gailey
Advisory
Council
Chair
Susy Hollaway
Dawson County
Our Mission
Our mission is to support and advocate for aging adults and individuals with disabilities to be their link to a better life.
Legacy Link provides programs to supplement community resources and boosts awareness to existing initiatives. Through active listening and empathy, we link individuals to resources within the community so they can have a better life.
Service Area All Programs
Clients Served Overall
230,595
Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)
Trained intake specialists provide anonymous and confidential access to information, referrals, and assistance concerning services for seniors, family members, and people with disabilities.
2,947
First Time Callers
6,183 Calls Received
196
With an unformal/suspected dementia diagnosis
183
With a formal dementia diagnosis
Home and Community Based Services Case Management
A woman contacted Legacy Link during a hot August about her home’s air conditioning outage. The HCBS Case Manager conducted a home visit and found the second-floor living area uncomfortably warm. After assessing the situation, we were able to purchase a portable AC/heating unit for her room, providing her with relief for both hot and cold seasons.
ARPA Supportive Services
We received an urgent call from a client in great distress, sharing that his water service had been shut off due to unpaid bills. Understanding the critical nature of his situation, our case manager escalated this to the ADRC Director for support. Thanks to the swift approval from the Legacy Link finance department, we were able to provide immediate assistance through ARPA Supportive Services. The client’s bill was paid, and his water service was fully restored the next day, bringing him much-needed relief during a difficult time.
MDS-Q Options Counseling
A 62-year-old client in a rehabilitation facility worked with Options Counseling staff to choose the CCSP/MFP program to secure housing and reintegrate into the community. Together, they developed goals, completed screening, and placed the client on waitlists. With Transition Coordination support, the client successfully moved into an apartment, with the MFP program assisting with initial expenses like rent, furnishings, and groceries. The client expressed deep gratitude to Legacy Link for their help in regaining independence.
Inspiring Care Consultations Journeys
The UGA Care Center requested help for Rick and Jane, an elderly couple. Jane, unaware of her dementia, briefly left home and returned with ongoing trust issues toward Rick. She made independent financial moves that left Rick concerned. The Care Consultant provided resources to help Rick navigate Jane’s dementia symptoms and gave him information on elder law attorneys for legal and financial planning. Follow-up calls are scheduled.
A daughter caring for her mother with advanced dementia was emotionally and financially strained after placing her mother in a facility, which she struggled to afford. The Care Consultation program provided financial relief and emotional support, helping her process feelings of guilt and grief. Grateful for the assistance, she later referred friends to the program.
Nursing Home Transitions
Transition Coordination helped Mr. R leave a nursing facility under the NHT program. Through the program, he received durable medical equipment, a ramp, and bathroom modifications. These resources have improved Mr. R’s mobility, allowing him to bathe independently and live a safer, more independent life.
Money Follows the Person
Transition Coordination successfully assisted Mrs. S in leaving a nursing facility under the MFP program. Staff helped secure home goods, food, durable medical equipment, and bathroom modifications, which enabled her to gain mobility and independence. Mrs. S is now able to get out of bed daily and recently traveled to Ohio to visit friends and family, enjoying dining out at a restaurant for the first time in four years.
Through contracted services Legacy Link was able to provide the following services:
Respite Out-of-Home Services
11,604
Combined hours of respite service provided to 47 Clients with programs in 4 Senior Centers
Respite In-Home Services
6,073
Combined hours of respite service provided to 34 Clients
Adult Day Care Services
5,794
Combined hours of respite service provided to 11 Clients
Assistive Technology
135
Clients received AT/DME through FODAC, Material Aid, and Donations
Personal Care Services (PCS)
23
Clients Served
Transportation
718
Clients Served
Homemaker Services (HMK)
84
Clients Served
Elderly Legal Assistance Program (ELAP)
280
Clients Served
Wellness Programs
62
Individuals were served in 10 Evidence-Based Wellness Classes: -Aging Mastery Program -A Matter of Balance -Bingocize
16,138
Wellness Activities were offered to 214,280 clients at 11 Senior Centers
Wellness programs at senior centers play a crucial role in promoting the overall health and well-being of older adults. These programs often include exercise classes tailored to seniors, such as lowimpact aerobics, strength training, and yoga, which help maintain mobility, flexibility, and strength. Additionally, wellness programs focus on mental health with activities that stimulate cognitive function, like puzzles, games, and memory exercises.
Many centers also offer nutrition workshops and health screenings, helping seniors make healthier lifestyle choices and manage chronic conditions. By providing a supportive environment for both physical and mental health, wellness programs at senior centers help seniors stay active, connected, and engaged in their communities.
After relocating to live with my family, I was seeking ways to stay active and connected. That’s when I found the Senior Center at Charles Place, and it has truly changed my life. One of the most rewarding experiences has been the exercise program, which is accessible and well-suited for seniors. It’s helped me stay active and motivated, but there’s much more to the center than just fitness.
I am so grateful for the opportunities that the Senior Center has provided, and for the incredible impact this instructor has made in my life and the lives of others in the community. The skills I’ve gained, the connections I’ve made, and the fun I’ve had have all made a tremendous difference in my overall well-being.
— A Member of Forsyth County Senior Services, Charles Place
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
18
Markets hosted in all 13 counties
Senior CentersNutrition Programs
85,859
Meals were provided to 1,453 participants attending 11 Senior Centers
402,454
Meals were provided to 2,531 participants through Home Delivered Meals
Towns and Union County Senior Centers served 63,970 meals in Congregate and Home Delivered Meals Programs combined.
890
Individuals served with $50 worth of free, fresh, GA grown fruits and vegetables.
Volunteers are Valuable
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is an AmeriCorps Seniors national program serving local communities. It is funded and administered by AmeriCorps, the Federal Agency for Volunteering and Service.
This is Judy Walsh.
Judy Walsh, a Legacy Link volunteer with the SHIP Medicare program, continues to be an inspiration to all who know her. A former Georgia Medicare Volunteer of the Year Award recipient, Judy has volunteered since 2006, assisting callers with navigating through the complicated Medicare system. Medicare beneficiaries benefit from her vast knowledge and perseverance to assist them in receiving the most cost-effective choices for Medicare and supplemental health insurance. In October 2012 Judy was chosen to be a guest speaker at the GeorgiaCares Annual State Conference. Her motivational topic was “Why I Take the Challenge”, citing her desire to stay active in her community and to utilize her knowledge to assist others. Her tenacity is especially appreciated by those with complicated issues as she spends extra time finding a resolution to their health care issues by researching information with the national Medicare office, written regulations, and other experienced Medicare counselors on the Legacy Link team. Judy also assists with spreading the word about the SHIP program at outreach events in her home county of Forsyth. Judy has many years of experience starting with the first Medicare counseling program in Washington DC many years ago.
50,796
Meals delivered to older adults by 204 volunteers
738
Medicare beneficiaries counseled
11
Caregivers supported with respite time
14,332 Hours served
$447,732
Cost savings to organizations at GA Volunteer rate of $31.24 per hour
204 RSVP Volunteers
• Judy received the President’s Award for Lifetime Service in 2014 which is achieved by serving 4,000 hours
• Judy has amassed over 8,428 volunteer hours during her Medicare GeorgiaCares/SHIP volunteer career.
• This past year she served 235 hours and assisted 85 Medicare beneficiaries.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Trained staff and volunteers provide free, factual, and unbiased Medicare counseling, assist with enrollment in all Medicare Programs and provide community education on topics including:
• Medicare (Parts A and B)
• Medicare supplemental insurance
• Medicare Part D prescription plans
• Fraud, abuse, and scams related to Medicare
• Identity theft
This project is supported by a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
$393,515.23
338
Open Enrollment Beneficiaries
839
Georgia SHIP Beneficiaries Served Cost savings for clients during
118
Financial assistance applications made for beneficiaries (Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help)
136
Under 65 Beneficiaries
Elderly & Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP)
Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE) are part of the EDWP that provide in-home and community-based services as an alternative to a nursing home.
2,585
Total Number of EDWP Clients Served
2.5
Years is the Average Time Clients Stay in EDWP
35 Counties Served Across Georgia
Positive Outcomes from the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Programs
A member enrolled in the SOURCE Program in September 2022 was initially very anxious and reluctant to let others into his home due to limited social interaction and a Seizure Disorder, which heightened his anxiety around meeting new people. He struggled with food insecurity, as he was unable to obtain food stamps, so he requested home-delivered meals. Financial difficulties also left him without a reliable phone for emergency calls, so an emergency response system was provided.
During services, the member encountered issues with a disruptive roommate, which strained his relationship with his son. His case manager provided resources to help him pursue an eviction through the courts. Through regular calls and home visits, he gradually built trust with his case manager and eventually agreed to allow a caregiver to assist him at home for 2.5 hours, two days per week. This support helped him feel he could live a “somewhat normal life.”
Initially hesitant to visit a physician due to his Seizure Disorder, the member’s declining health necessitated more time with personal support services, which was arranged. Thanks to these services, he can now live independently and is grateful for the support and advocacy he has received through case management over the past two years.
A member receiving Structured Family Care, with her mother as her caregiver, recently had to modify her care plan when her mother decided to resign due to her own health decline. The case manager quickly conducted a modified assessment to provide Personal Support Services (PSS), Home-Delivered Meals (HDM), and an Emergency Response System (ERS). Palliative care was also suggested to help manage her chronic COPD, which was a resource previously unknown to the family. They plan to discuss this option with her primary care physician at an upcoming appointment.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a federally funded employment training program for limited-income seniors, aged 55 or older, who wish to re-enter the workforce.
The SCSEP program helps limited-income seniors refresh their job skills through a paid training assignment at a local non-profit or government agency. The goal of the SCSEP program is gainful employment for mature workers.
433,875
$3,145,593.75
651
SCSEP Success Stories
This is Janice Bagwell.
“SCSEP brought me up to date on how modern business operates. It not only refreshed my computer skills but offered me new resume and job-hunting skills. It connected me back to the world I thought because of my age, and time since my last job, was lost to me. Thank you so much for all you did to help me.”
This is Paula Cantrell.
Paula Cantrell walked in the home office to get help with an insurance comparison… She walked out as a participant in the SCSEP job training program.
Before she came to Legacy Link, she was a senior insurance rater until her job relocated. After that, she spent 9 years unemployed while she went to school for her business administration diploma and searched for jobs. She found that age discrimination disguised as “over qualification preclusions” limited her call backs. She then began pursuing her degree in criminal justice. Family obligations took a toll on her education, and she ended just short of her criminal justice degree.
When she arrived at the Legacy Link, she had a great skill set. Although she had been out of the workforce, she retained her typing, emailing, and general office skills. Best of all, she was still fun and funny! She was good at everything, so she took on a variety of tasks including data entry, finance, payroll, intake, and odd projects. She enjoys learning new things and hopes to get hired full-time in insurance administration.
Financial Summary
& NON-FEDERAL GRANTS/CONTRIBUTIONS/IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 13,699,258 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 4,954,708
(426,696)
4,682,204
4,255,508
Linking People to the Support they Deserve
Learn how you can get involved!
As a non-profit organization, there are many ways that you can help us achieve our mission to support and advocate for aging adults and individuals with disabilities to be their link to a better life.
The funds we raise directly benefit Legacy Link’s operations and clients. You can scan the QR code to make a tax-deductible contribution or send a check to: P.O. Box 1480, Oakwood, GA 30566
Fulfill our Amazon Wish List
You can purchase much-needed items from Legacy Link’s Amazon Wish List. These tools and materials help our team provide a better life to our clients. Scan the QR code to access the list.
Legacy Link offers volunteer positions with various programs for those who want to give of their time. Required skills, training, and commitment level differ for each position. You can learn more on our website.
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