February 2019
LeadingAge Georgia is the statewide association of over 150 key not-for-profit and other mission-focused organizations dedicated to providing quality housing, health care, community-based and other related services for older Georgians. The mission of LeadingAge Georgia is to represent and promote the common interests of its members through leadership, advocacy, education and other services in order to enhance each member's ability to serve older Georgians.
'Let's not play the game, let's change it.' - Margaret Heffernan
Greetings,
When Einstein was asked, "How does it feel to be the smartest man alive?", he replied, "I wouldn't know. You'll have to ask Nikola Tesla." Both icons are known for their ideas and scientists have built on their ideas for generations.
One of the great benefits that LeadingAge members have is the sharing of ideas. Our members are generous in sharing ideas, helping to problem solve, and our members don't just play the game, they change it. If you haven't thought of idea sharing as a benefit of your membership, I invite you to give it some thought and engage in idea sharing at all of our programs. Our members told us they want more opportunities for idea sharing and we're focusing on creating opportunities at all of our programs for interaction and idea sharing!
One of the biggest challenges for our adult day providers is that they are the best kept secret and I's hard to get new participants. Two weeks ago, at our adult day symposium, a member shared a great idea for recruiting – he shared that eighty percent who have a free four hour visit become permanent clients. See the article on the adult day symposium for information shared by Shirley Rodriguez of the Georgia Department of Community Health.
Ideas shared at last year's assisted living symposium led to our public policy effort to change the state statute to allow pain relief at the end of life for those on Hospice. We're working on that and since there is resistance from the state to allow this in other settings, we'll work together, share ideas and come up with policy solutions in the future that will ease the pain of older adults in other settings at the end of life. I trust we can bring the right people together and develop great policy.
Another policy issue that we're working on is access to Medical Marijuana and a bill was introduced this week to make access legal in Georgia. Fortunately, the LeadingAge Georgia board members are game changers and we will be weighing in with support for the bill over the next few weeks. Our board members recognize that studies in Europe, Israel and Canada show that Medical Marijuana will give pain relief for older adults suffering from chronic conditions. If you haven't heard the podcast on the use of Medical Marijuana at the Hebrew Home in New York click here.
A special thank you to TORAG (The Oaks Resident Advocacy Group) for their advocacy efforts on Medicaid co-pays and deductibles for older adults with limitied income.
We have a lot of educational programs coming up in the near future and we invite you to come, learn and share! If you are a member from one of our HUD communities, please plan to attend the Elderly Housing Symposium on February 28th. We're bringing in Colleen Bloom, our HUD expert at national for you and we'll have key regulation and information shared by HUD, NHC and DCA staff. Click here to register.!
Our Leadership Academy is kicking off on March 6th and I can assure you that in addition to learning leadership skills, you or your team who attends will make great connections for idea sharing for the future. Click here to register.
One of our greatest opportunities for learning and sharing ideas is coming up at our annual conference on March 25-27 on Hilton Head Island. This year's theme "What if" challenges us all to work together, share ideas and come up with ways we can change the game and foster the best possible lives of the older adults we serve. In addition to a host of programs, the setting is perfect for interactions with other members and asking others how they solved a challenge you are having or for sharing your ideas that other members can use. You can even do this while enjoying a sunrise or sunset on the beach! We'll also have a town hall meeting at the conference for gathering input for shaping our future public policy initiatives. If you haven't registered, click here.
Our national Leadership Summit is coming up on March 17th and I invite you to register, come and learn cutting edge information and go with me to Capitol Hill. Our legislative asks are all member driven and serve to fortify our members and ensure well-being of older adults. Click here to register: . For a copy of the 2019 national Policy priorities click here.
Thank you for all you do to enhance the lives of those you serve.
Ginny
What if we embraced new Ideas without reservations?
What if we freely considered different perspectives?
What if we empowered our teams to take more strategic risks?
Join us and your peers for this inspiring gathering of leaders to look at aging from a new perspective. This conference has been designed to provide valuable information about new ideas and trends. It also provides a valuable opportunity to interact and learn from colleagues throughout Georgia, South Carolina, and the United States.
Click here to print the Attendee Registration Brochure
Click here to register online
Click here for the Exhibitor|Sponsor Prospectus
Hotel Information
Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa
One Hotel Circle
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
1-888-236-2427 OR 843-686-8478
Rates available until February 22, 2019 or until the room block is full.
Important: Association staff will not be able to assist with hotel reservations after this date.
Click HERE to book your group rate for LeadingAge SC & GA
Fortifying the workforce means investing in individuals, giving them the emotional insights and communication skills to work effectively in the workplace. Those who have graduated from the LeadingAge Georgia Leadership Academy say that the program gave them insights on their own emotions, helped improve their emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate well with others, diverting unhealthy confrontations. Please invest in your team and register individuals with leadership potential.
Only a few spaces remain.
The 2019 class begins in March. This class is limited to 24 participants.
Click HERE for application
LeadingAge will be launching a biennial survey of members across the nation in June. The surveys will come in the mail so please be on the lookout for the survey and make sure your organization responds. This survey is important because as Katie Sloan, our president says "LeadingAge wants to understand our members so we can serve them better." Additionally, important baseline information will help provide data that can be used for a myriad of uses including driving policy issues. For more information about the survey click HERE..
LeadingAge national is a HUGE proponent of HUD housing and they are at bat for our members with the legislature at all times. In addition to their great work with the legislature, we're fortunate to have Colleen Bloom, a HUD expert fighting for funding, better regulations and all around support of HUD members. She'll be joining us for our Elderly Housing Symposium on February 28th . Our members want the latest on the regulations so we're bringing in Ilona Nagy from DCA, Mark Dominic from HUD for the latest information on REAC physical inspections, contract administration rebid, contract renewals, service coordinator program reporting and more. We're building in time for a roundtable discussion for members to discuss issues you're facing and for each of you to share ideas for resolving issues within your communities.
Click here to register.
At our recent Adult Day Symposium, Shirley Rodrigues, of the Georgia Department of Community Health reminded providers that the law that requires fingerprint background check will go into effect for new hires in October 2019. She also said that any un-supervised volunteers will be treated as employees by DCH. She indicated that DCH has not yet developed the regulations for the implementation of the background checks. However, if you want to be prepared you can glean information from the law. Click here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20172018/SB/406.
As a reminder, Selena Norris of the GBI told us the cost of a GAPS livescan machine from Gemalto cost $4,995 for the first year and $600 annually for the system and that if there is not one in your area you can contact her to be a host site. You'll have to make it available to the community and you will be paid $3 processing fee. There will be a charge for each person's background check. Selena's contact information is Selena.Norris@gbi.ga.gov and 404-270-8642.
Over the summer, the Joint Commission of the Georgia House and Senate held five hearings to get public input on making access to Medical Marijuana legal in Georgia. On Valentine's day, the co-chair of the Commission Representative Micah Gravely along with five other legislators introduced legislation to make access legal. The bill calls for up possession of up to 20 ounces of low THC oil to be legal to those who have the proper registration card issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health and sets forth fines for individuals possessing greater amounts of the oil, particularly when it is determined there was intent to distribute it. It sets forth terms for production of the oil and licensing for distribution of the oil.
To read the bill, learn of sponsors and other details click here.
Value First is a group purchasing organization (GPO) that leverages the buying power of long term care communities to provide significant savings on food, medical, janitorial, office supplies, capital equipment and new construction materials. In collaboration with Vizient (Provista), a supply chain partner with more than 200,000 customers, contracts are negotiated with suppliers based on over $100 billion of shared purchasing volume. More volume means bigger discounts.
LeadingAge members who participate in the Value First purchasing program pay no annual fee, select only the suppliers that best fit their needs and support LeadingAge with their purchases. There are no minimum requirements with Value First. You can pick and choose as many or as few of the contracts from the portfolio of vendors as you need. And, Value First is a non-exclusive program. Members are not restricted to just Value First. They can belong to another GPO at the same time. Unlike any other GPO, Value First is an extension of LeadingAge that specializes in supporting the purchasing needs of LeadingAge members.
In addition, Value First provides valuable services that can assist members through the purchasing process:
Working with Value First is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3:
For more information about the Value First Group Purchasing Program visit www.valuefirstonline.com or contact Bobby Bernal Regional Manager Value First AL, GA, FL, SC, NC at 850 509-8112 or email rbernal@leadingageflorida.org
Provider Members
Marietta Seniors Club
Juliana Valencia
748 Lawrence Street
Marietta, GA 30060
(678) 426-7261
julivale3@hotmail.com
Adult Day Services
Business Members
Basic America Medical Products
Ricky Packard
1 Graham Field Way
Atlanta, GA 30340
(919) 271-4761
rpackard@grahamfield.com
www.grahamfield.com
Medical Products/Supplies
Batson Architects
Jeff Fogle
415 West Washington Street
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 230-1137
jrfogle@bainc.com
www.bainc.com
Architects
Ciscor
Terry Rose
126 W. Main Street
Norman, OK 73069
(800) 462-0191
sales@ciscor.com
www.ciscor.com
Emergency Response Systems
DAC Art Consulting
Jennifer Filippone
616 Huber Street
Atlanta, GA 30318
jennifer@dacartconsulting.com
www.dacartconsulting.com
Artwork/Decor
Landsouth Construction
Paul Saks
4233 Pablo Professional Court, Suite 101
Jacksonville, FL 32224
(904) 760-3211
psaks@landsouth.com
www.landsouth.com
Construction/Renovation
PharMerica - Nimlok Kentucky
Keith Petri
2505 Technology Drive
Louisville, KY 40299
(803) 481-8961
keith.petri@pharmerica.com
www.pharmerica.com
Pharmaceutical
The Hauser Group
Walter Constantine
1810 Harper Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 317-2480
wconstantine@thehausergroup.com
www.thehausergroup.com
Insurance
TZMO USA
Mihaela Grigore
1827 Powers Ferry Road, Bldg 5
Atlanta, GA 30339
(770) 680-1366
mihaela.grigore@tmzusa.com
Medical Products/Supplies
USI Insurance Services
Greg Howson
1787 Sentry Parkway West, Suite 300
Blue Bell, PA 19422
(484) 351-4647
greg.howson@usi.com
www.usi.com
Insurance
Elderly Housing Symposium
February 28, 2019
Registration
Leadership Academy - First Event
March 6, 2019
Assisted Living Symposium
March 12, 2019
Registration coming soon
LeadingAge PEAK Leadership/Advocacy Conference
March 17-20, 2019
LeadingAge GA/SC Annual Conference on Aging
Hilton Head Island, SC
March 25-27, 2019
Click here to print the Attendee Registration Brochure
Click here to register online
Click here for the Exhibitor|Sponsor Prospectus
Leadershp Academy - Second Event
April 3, 2019
Life Plan Communities/CCRC Symposium
April 23, 2019
Registration coming soon
Leadership Academy - Third Event
April 24, 2019
Older Americans Month
UGA CMS Bereavement Care in GA for Direct Care Workers
May 7, 2019
Information coming soon
Mental Health First Aid with Older Adult Module
Date TBD
Fair Housing & Ethics Symposia
July 19, 2019
Registration coming soon
Activity Professionals/GAAP Summer Symposium
August 23, 2019
Registration comign soon
Adult Day Symposium – What You Missed
Shirley Rodrigues, with the Georgia Department of Community Health shared the latest top ten survey violations for adult day centers. The number one violation is not having at least one in-person interview with the applicant and/or representative to assess the applicants needs and suitability of the program. The second most cited violation is maintaining personnel records for each employee and volunteer who provides direct care to participants. For a copy of the presentation Shirley provided and the top 10 violations click HERE. Although some members shared that giving a four hour free visit is the number one marketing tool which results in about 80% of visitors becoming regular clients, Shirley cautioned that you need the same evidence that the person is free of tuberculosis as a regular participant. Shirley also filled us in on the status of the fingerprint background check implementation. See the Power Point or the article on the fingerprint background checks.
2018 GADSA Leadership Team
President: Claire Russell, The Homeplace
Vice-Presidents Public Policy: Ned Morgens, Skylark Senior Care;Aysha Cooper, SarahCare of Snellville
Vice-Presidents of Members: Carla Jones, Rosswoods; Peggy Padgett, Georgia Infirmary Adult Day Health
Director of Enrichment - Lenbrook
See full job description at: http://leadingagega.org/jobmart/public/job/243/
Executive Director - Presbyterian Village, Athens
See full job description at: http://leadingagega.org/jobmart/public/job/234/
Housekeeper - Saint Anne's Terrace, Atlanta
See full job description at: http://leadingagega.org/jobmart/public/job/235/
Resident Care Manager - Wesley Woods Towers
See full job description at: http://leadingagega.org/jobmart/public/job/245/
Vice President of Operations - Wesley Woods Senior Living
See full job description at: http://leadingagega.org/jobmart/public/job/240/
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