The Link
In This Issue
Message from the CEO
Dear Friends,
As we step into the vibrant season of spring, I am filled with hope and gratitude for the incredible work we are accomplishing together. This season brings with it the promise of growth, renewal, and new opportunities—and it is with great excitement that I welcome you to the spring edition of our quarterly newsletter.
First and foremost, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of our volunteers. Your time, energy, and dedication are at the heart of everything we do. It is your passion for helping others that enables us to make such a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. We are truly fortunate to have such a devoted group of individuals whose efforts continue to inspire and uplift our entire community. As we approach Volunteer Recognition Day on April 20, 2025, we take this opportunity to honor and thank each of our volunteers for your unwavering commitment and the impact you make every day. Your contributions are deeply valued, and we are honored to have you as an integral part of our team.
In this edition, we share highlights from the past quarter, updates on new initiatives, and stories that showcase the strength and resilience of those we support. We are committed to fostering an environment where every person is valued, supported, and empowered to live their best life. As we continue to expand our reach and enhance our programs, it is heartening to see the positive impact we are making together.
As we move forward into this season of renewal, I look forward to continuing our work together and building a future filled with hope and opportunity for the older adults, individuals with disabilities, and the caregivers we serve.
Thank you for being a vital part of the Legacy Link community.
Melissa Armstrong, CEO/AAA Director
Mental Health Strategies for Springtime Wellness
Spring is often bustling with plans, and your task list may be full of to-do items as you prepare for busy summer activities or travel. Remember to include the following activities that promote your overall mental well-being.
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Step Outdoors
People who spend more time in nature enjoy enhanced cognitive functioning and decreased stress, and are more likely to report high levels of happiness. Exercising outside, gardening, or even just sitting on a porch can boost your serotonin levels and make you feel happier.
Learn Something New
Curiosity and a desire to learn can improve your happiness and empathy and help you maintain long-term cognition as you age. Take advantage of the renewed mental energy springtime brings by seeking out local lectures and ongoing educational opportunities or checking out a local attraction or museum you’ve never visited before.
Pick Up a New Passion Project
If the season is inspiring your hands and mind to move, consider picking up a new hobby. Try out a new kind of art, from pottery-making classes to painting nights with your friends. Or even take advantage of the perfect growth conditions by gardening!
Lean into Positive Thinking
Practice cultivating thought patterns that nurture a longer-term positive mindset. Some strategies for this include: identifying areas where you may need to change, practicing positive self-talk, embracing humor, and cultivating mindfulness.
Do a Deep Clean
It might be a cliché for the season, but spring cleaning does provide real physical and emotional benefits. Deep-cleaning dust and allergens from your house can mitigate allergy symptoms. In addition, living in a clean, organized space can provide a sense of accomplishment, reset your frame of mind, and improve your overall mood.
Get Involved
Georgia Mountains RSVP Volunteer View
Volunteer Recognition - Dawson County Senior Services
In December, Dawson County Senior Services staff were busy stuffing RSVP business tote bags with all kinds of holiday goodies for their AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers. It was their way of saying thank you for the dedicated volunteer service all year long. RSVP volunteers deliver meals to homebound residents each weekday across Dawson County and also teach yoga, swim, art, and support Senior Center activities for participants.
As part of the recognition, the Senior Center honored Tina Cobb as their RSVP Volunteer of the Year. Tina has been a regular who delivers meals every week in Dawson County since 2013. She has donated over 850 hours of service in that time.
Georgia Mountains RSVP assisted with funding for food and provided the RSVP logoed totes and Certificates of Recognition for their service. Many thanks to all their volunteers for donating time to help make their Center so successful! Senior Center Director Dawn Johnson cited that Meals on Wheels would not be able to successfully operate without all their volunteers participating each weekday and that other programs and services are also made possible by their devoted volunteers.
Help!
Our Senior Centers in North Georgia need more volunteers to help deliver meals! Your neighbors need assistance to keep receiving lunch each weekday. You can help by volunteering to deliver hot meals to folks in your county. You can sign up for once a week or even once a month. You and friends at your church or organization can even combine to cover a route.
Just a few hours a month can contribute to the success of aging services and programs. You can stay young by being mentally and physically involved. Studies have shown that volunteers report a better mental outlook, less loneliness, and even physical benefits by being active as a volunteer in their community.
Contact your local county Senior Center about Meals on Wheels or contact the RSVP office at Legacy Link for RSVP volunteer opportunities or a referral to your local county: djsuchke@legacylink.org or 770-535-2650.
RSVP sites need you!
Meals on Wheels
Delivery & packing. Through your local county senior center - most need new volunteers.
Medicare SHIP
Counselors (requires certification), outreach and information distribution, clerical / database.
Senior Centers
Program assistance, presentations, administrative help, respite programs, kitchen help
RSVP is an AmeriCorps Seniors grant program that matches adults ages 55+ with volunteer service opportunities at government and non-profit agencies. Funding is provided by AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and service, with local sponsorship and funding provided by Legacy Link, Area Agency on Aging. Learn more at AmeriCorps. gov. Georgia Mountains RSVP serves 10 counties in North Georgia with over 200 volunteers.
Monthly Medicare Classes
Medicare Preventive Care
While many of us think of Medicare as covering hospital stays, surgeries, and other expensive work, not enough people know about its coverage of preventive services. Whether you or a loved one is on Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, if you meet the eligibility requirements and guidelines for a preventive service, Part B of Original Medicare or your Medicare Advantage Plan must cover that service. Importantly, you pay nothing (no copays or coinsurance) for the preventive services, but those on Advantage plans will need to make sure that they get their services in-network. You can talk with your doctor about scheduling these, especially at your annual wellness visit and especially for ones that you have not had in a while.
Some of these include:
• Pap smears, pelvic exams, and breast exams
• Colorectal cancer screenings (such as colonoscopies)
• Mammograms
• Prostate cancer screenings
• Bone mass measurements
• Medical nutrition therapy
• HIV screenings
• Depression screenings
• Diabetes screenings
Scan the QR code to get more information.
In some cases, you may be charged for services you receive related to your preventive service, even if the preventive service itself is covered at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount. This is because your provider might discover something that needs to be treated that isn’t directly related to the preventive service that you had done. In these cases, you may be responsible for cost-sharing. If you or your loved ones are low-income and need help paying for these, then please let one of our SHIP counselors help.
If you have any questions, please contact Legacy Link and ask to speak with a SHIP counselor. Our team is certified to work with Medicare and are not agents and so won’t be biased towards one plan or another. We can help you understand what is and isn’t covered, help you communicate with your provider, sign you up for a Medicare Savings Program, and navigate Medicare in general.
Special thanks to the Medicare Rights Center for providing much of the above information, and to the hard-working staff and volunteers with SHIP who make this work possible. This project is supported by a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
In The Community
On February 11th, over 400 people attended Senior Day at the Capitol in Georgia, coming together to honor the contributions of older adults and advocate for their needs. This annual event unites seniors, policymakers, and advocates to discuss key issues and ensure their voices are heard in shaping policies that impact their lives.
Legacy Link is excited to announce the distribution of $5,000 in Senior Hunger Mini Grants to VFW Post 7807 in Hiawassee, GA, and The Place of Forsyth. These grants will help address senior hunger by providing nutritious meals and resources to older adults in our communities.
Join the Legacy Link community and make a lasting impact!
Scan to donate as a onetime contributor or become a monthly donor, ensuring a continuous flow of support for our mission. Your generosity fuels our cause and paves the way for a brighter future.
Thank you for being a part of the Legacy Link family!
Senior Community Service Employment Program
Do you need training to return to work?
Get paid while learning new skills through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
SCSEP Success Story
Angela Ames joined SCSEP on June 12, 2024. Just seven months later, she was hired as an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Counselor.
“When I walked into Legacy Link Inc., I was nervous but hopeful. After being out of the workforce, I wanted to rebuild my confidence and find meaningful work. During enrollment, I was unexpectedly offered a training role as an Administrative Participant Assistant—and I accepted.
From day one, I felt supported and valued. I took pride in my work and quickly gained the trust of leadership. SCSEP gave me the chance to prove to myself that I could still succeed.
Now, as I step into my new role, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. SCSEP helped me rediscover my purpose and prepared me for the next chapter.”
Angela’s journey is a powerful example of how SCSEP helps individuals regain confidence and achieve meaningful employment.
Are you or someone you know aged 55 or older, on a limited income, and looking for a job? Call us at 770-538-2657 to explore paid job training opportunities that could be a perfect fit!
Spring Recipe: Waldorf Chicken Salad
Spring has arrived, and it’s the perfect time to refresh your dinner menu! Enjoy light, nutritious meals featuring fresh seasonal produce—low in calories, high in fiber, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
• 2 cups chopped deli-roasted chicken, or cooked chicken breast, cut into chunks
• ½ cup chopped celery
• ½ cup light mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• ½ cup chopped apple, use a crispy variety
• ½ cup red or green grapes
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped walnuts (toasted if desired)
Instructions
In a small bowl, stir together chicken, celery, mayonnaise, lemon juice, black pepper, apples, grapes, and walnuts. Serve on a bed of greens, lettuce, or spinach.
https://lenoir.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/04/healthy-quick-and-easy-suppers-for-spring/
Spring Up Your Health: Five Tips for Seniors
Being outdoors in the sunshine with greening plants and spring sounds has many effects on both your mind and body. As we become more active in this season, healing effects become apparent through reduced stress and lowered blood pressure.
Here are 5 ways for you as a senior to make the most of your wellness and put some spring in your step this season!
Get in Your Garden
Engaging in gardening enhances physical strength, flexibility, cognitive function, and social interaction.
Moderate sun exposure boosts mood, strengthens bones, and may reduce risks of certain health issues.
Walking outdoors revitalizes energy, reduces tension, and promotes happiness compared to indoor exercise.
Adequate hydration is crucial, especially during physical activity, to maintain cognitive health and prevent dehydration.
Soak Up The Sunshine Take a Walk in Nature Drink Extra Water Lighten Up Your Diet
Consuming a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. https://heatherwoodseniors.com/spring-up-your-health-5-tips-for-seniors/
