►
Description
Pops sits down and interviews Katie Howard who is the Director of River Valley Area Agency on Aging
B
Welcome
back
to
focus
on
health
I
have
to
my
right,
Miss
Katie
Howard.
She
is
the
Area
Agency
on
Aging
person
has
been
in
that
position,
I'm
going
to
let
her
look
into
this
camera
right
here
to
my
left
and
give
you
her
position,
how
long
she's
been
there
and
any
other
information
she
wants
to
give
so
Katie.
If
you
look
into
that
camera
right
there
and
let
everybody
know
about
you,.
B
C
256-2900
that
gets
you
to
our
adrc,
the
Aging
and
Disability
resource
connection.
They
have
access
to
a
database
of
over
3000
resources,
some
of
them
are
free,
some
of
them
are
cost
share,
and
probably
most
of
them
are
going
to
be
private
pay
where
you
have
to
pay
the
expense,
but
it
is
a
good
way
to
find
out
what
is
available
and.
B
C
We
can
send
them
a
list
of
resources.
For
example,
if
you
were
looking
for
someone
to
come
into
the
home
and
help
with
personal
care,
we
would
send
you
a
list
of
agencies
for
your
particular
City
and
County,
that
of
agencies
that
provide
home
care
care
in
the
home.
They're,
not
a
home
health
agency,
they
don't
send
nurses
is,
but
they
can
send
CNAs,
and
people
like
that.
That
can
help
with
in
this
example,
personal
care,
but
it
could
be
a
homemaker
aide.
C
B
C
Okay,
first
slide
first
slide:
this
is
the
region
that
we
cover
the
16
counties.
We
go
as
far
north
as
Harrison
Talbot
as
far
east
as
Dooley
and
crisp
as
far
south
as
Clay
County.
And
then
our
western
border
is
the
Chattahoochee
River
and,
as
I
said,
we
have
an
office
in
Muskogee
Columbus
and
one
in
downtown
America,
since
Sumter
County
next
slide.
B
And
this
mission
statement
is
pretty
good:
it's
creating
sustained
a
livable
community
that
promotes
health
and
well-being
for
older
adults
and
disabled.
This
will
be
achieved
through
information,
education,
accessibility
to
services
and
resources
promoted
through
the
area
agency.
One
agency,
adrc,
aging
disability
resource
center,
and
so
this
is
really
a
service
that,
if
anyone
needs
any
information
about
seniors,
they
would
call
the
adrc.
B
C
C
So
what
exactly
is
an
Area
Agency
on
Aging
I
used
to
tell
people
I'm
with
a
triple
A?
But
don't
call
me
if
you
have
a
flat
tire,
because
I
don't
know
how
to
change
my
own
Tire.
It
was
actually
established
in
1973
with
a
federal
Act
Congress
passed
the
older
Americans
act,
we're
charged
with
helping
vulnerable
adults
live
with
Independence
and
dignity,
because
that's
so
important
the
dignity
part
of
it.
B
C
If
you
live
at
home,
but
you
have
to
have
someone
help,
you
do
every
single
thing:
that's
not
as
dignified
as
you
might
like
it.
If
you
can
do
at
least
some
things
for
yourself,
that
gives
you
more
dignity.
Every
AAA
or
Area
Agency
on
Aging
is
able
to
adapt
to
the
unique
needs
of
their
communities.
I
think
everybody
in
this
region
would
say
that
we
are
very
different
than
the
Atlanta
region
or
the
Birmingham
region
or
the
Orlando
region.
We
feel
like
we're
pretty
unique,
even
within
our
region.
C
B
C
Now,
in
2016
there
were
622
aaa's,
covering
virtually
every
community
in
the
nation
that
includes
Puerto,
Rico
and
Guam.
So
everybody
has
an
Area
Agency
on
Aging
they're,
12
aaa's
in
Georgia
and
we're
the
river
valley
AAA.
We
all
offer
five
core
Services
nutrition
that
can
be
Meals
on
Wheels
or
seniors
that
coming
together
at
a
senior
center
and
having
a
hot
meal.
C
It's
important,
if
we're
going
to
have
that
independent
life,
that
we
maintain
our
health
as
as
much
as
possible,
and
so
we
try
to
give
you
tools
to
help,
maintain
and
improve
your
health.
Elder
writes,
unfortunately,
seniors
are
considered
a
vulnerable
and
a
potential
Target
for
scams.
We
hear
about
them
at
least
once
a
month,
if
not
more
often
about
scams
that
are
specifically
targeting
the
elderly.
So
we
work
on
Elder
rights.
We
have
a
contract
with
Georgia
Legal
Services.
C
They
can
help
you
with
things
like
Wills,
which
they
seem
simple
and
very
basic,
but
if
you've
ever
had
to
deal
with
a
someone,
who's
passed
away
and
they
don't
have
a
will,
they
become
very
complicated.
That's
your
way
of
giving
your
wishes
about
what
you
want
done
with
your
things.
Do
you
want
it
all
to
go
to
your
children?
Do
you
want
it
all
to
go
to
your
neighbor
who's?
C
Helped
you
all
these
years,
we
also
do
durable,
Health
Care
power
of
attorneys,
which
help,
while
you're
alive,
to
say
what
you
want
done
with
your
health
and
make
your
medical
decisions
when
you're
not
able
to
make
them
yourself.
We
can
get
involved
with
landlord
tenant
issues.
Things
like
that,
and
it's
all
provided
at
no
charge.
Supportive
Services
are
generally
those
services
that
are
provided
in
the
home
like
Homemaker
Aid,
which
is
like
housekeeping
Personal,
Care
Aid
and
help
you
take
care
of
your
body.
You
know
wash
your
hair
take
a
bath
things
like
that.
C
It
can
also
be
material
Aid.
This
is
something
that
we've
started
since
the
pandemic.
There
are
some
needs
that
are
unique
to
an
individual.
Maybe
one
of
the
examples
in
Columbus
was
we
had
several
people
on
our
Meals
on
Wheels
route
that
didn't
have
doorbells.
So
when
the
volunteers
showed
up,
they
had
to
beat
on
the
door,
and
it
gives
me
a
heart
attack.
When
somebody
beats
on
my
door
and
of
course,
then
the
person
has
to
come,
and
sometimes
it's
slow
getting
to
the
door,
so
they
put
in
doorbells.
C
C
B
C
Have
two
main
programs:
we
have
our
our
respite
program.
It's
an
in-home,
respite
program
that
is
done
under
contract,
with
always
caring,
formerly
known
as
rest
care.
They
will
send
a
trained
Aid
into
your
home
so
that
you
can
have
you.
The
caregiver
can
take
a
break
that
may
be
a
break
just
to
go.
Get
your
hair
done.
Go
to
the
grocery
store,
go
sit
on
a
park
bench.
A
C
C
A
small
program,
but
it
is
I,
think
it's
the
most
flexible
and
gives
the
most
choice
for
the
caregiver
that
they
can
get
who
they,
like.
Unfortunately,
with
our
programs,
you
have
to
use
the
agencies
that
we
have
contracted
with
we're,
just
not
big
like
Medicaid,
that
we
can
have
a
lot
of
different
agencies
providing
the
same
service.
B
B
C
Some
people,
with
a
little
bit
of
help,
can
live
at
home
rather
than
having
to
go
into
a
nursing,
home
or
a
long-term
care
facility.
So
this
waiver
program
will
provide
services
like
Adult
Day
Health,
where
somebody
leaves
the
home
and
goes
to
a
safe
setting
where
they're
provided
a
meal,
any
kind
of
care
that
they
need
and
they
can
interact
with
other
people.
One
thing
covet
taught
us
is
how
social
we
are,
how
we
need
to
be
with
other
people
and.
A
C
A
C
C
Okay
and
you
say
yeah
I'm
great
it
just
you
know,
I
trip
or
I
can't
get
up
and
I
need
you
to
call
9-1-1
to
come,
help
me
or
call
my
my
emergency
contact,
so
they're
really
good
for
people
who
live
alone
and
maybe
don't
have
caregivers
checking
on
them
multiple
times
a
day.
Unfortunately,
we
do
have
a
lot
of
seniors
that
don't
see
many
people
every
day,
and
so
this
is
a
really
good
thing
for
that
out.
C
C
Fairly
new,
this
is
one
where
the
caregiver
can
actually
get
paid
to
take
care
of
their
loved
one.
There's
a
lot
of
requirements
for
this,
not
everybody
qualify
size,
but
if
you
qualify-
and
this
is
what
you
want
to
do-
especially
during
covid-
a
lot
of
our
caregivers
did
not
want
strangers
coming
into
the
home.
So
this
was
a
good
alternative
for
them.
Consumer.
C
Also
gives
a
lot
more
flexibility
to
our
clients.
If
they
choose,
they
can
hire
and
fire
an
agency.
A
caregiver
say
they
started
with
agency
X
and
they
decided
they
didn't
like
agency
X.
Then
they
can
go
with
agency
y
right,
but
there
is
more
work
involved
in
this.
It
is
not
for
everybody,
you
are
approving
payrolls
and
that's
how
people
get
paid
you're
approving
time
sheets,
there's
more
work
involved,
but
there's
also
more
power
and
control
for
our
clients.
If
they
choose
to
do
it.
C
B
C
Personal
support
or
because
that's
going
to
be
like
personal
care
or
Homemaker
Aid
things
like
that
for
people
to
come
in
the
home
and
provide
these
services
for
you
now
keep
in
mind
if
you
need
24
hours
a
day,
seven
days
a
week.
These
programs
are
not
for
you,
because
no
service
that
I
know
of
provides.
B
C
C
B
C
C
Other
caregiver
services
are
caring
at
we
just
had
our
December
Christmas
party
here
net.
This
is
a
regional
Coalition.
We
bring
together
caregivers
on
a
quarterly
basis
and
provide
them
with
information
and
resources,
and
it's
also
a
good
time
of
fellowship
and
that
sometimes,
as
a
caregiver,
you
feel
very
isolated.
There's
nobody
who
knows
what
you're
going
through,
but
there
are
the
Brack
care
consultation.
This
is
a
coaching
program
for
adults
and
their
caregivers
with
health
health
conditions.
B
C
B
You're
going
to
we're
going
to
take
a
break
right
now.
This
is
a
lot
of
really
good
information
for
caregivers
because,
as
you
know,
people
are
aging
living
longer,
so
you're
having
a
lot
of
people
in
What's
called
the
sandwich,
they're
still
managing
their
children
or
grandchildren,
and
their
parents
too,
and
so
we're
going
to
be
right
back
right.
After
the
other
end
of
this
commercial.
B
C
B
C
This
is
these
are
programs
that
have
been
proven
to
help
people
improve
their
health.
It's
all
about
self-empowerment.
We
teach
you
how
to
set
goals
and
hold
yourself
accountable.
These.
There
are
a
lot
of
different
programs,
as
you
can
see
on
there
and
just
call
us
for
more
information
and
we'll
give
you
all
the
details.
There
is
a
charge
of
25
per
program.
So
if
you
take
this
chronic
disease
self-management
program
back,
for
example,
that's
25,
but
you're
getting
many
hours
of
class
service
for
them.
B
And
I
will
I've
taken
a
number
of
these
courses.
These
courses
are
really
good
because
it
helps
you
if
you're
a
senior
a
matter
of
balance
I'm
following
myself
a
number
of
times,
that's
an
excellent
class,
the
Tai
Chi
class-
it's
not
about
chopping
Woods
at
all,
but
it's
about
really
about
helping
your
balance
and
dexterity
and
chronic
disease
self-management.
You
know
what
quantitative
illnesses
that
you
have
it
teaches
you
how
to
manage
that
specific
illness.
C
Various
locations,
we
can
do
it
at
our
office
in
Columbus.
We
can
do
it
at
a
church.
We
can
do
it
at
a
community
center
if,
as
long
as
someone
who
wants
to
do
the
class
we'll
try
to
find
a
Class,
A
location
near
you,
we
do
have
to
have
a
certain
number
of
people
to
make
the
class
that's
part
of
the
evidence
base.
But
we're
going
with
this
as
small
as
six
people.
If
we
can
get
six
people
to
register
for
a
class,
we're
ready
to
teach
and.
B
C
Sorry,
that's,
okay.
We
have
two
different
programs.
One
of
them
is
funded
by
Medicaid
and
if
Medicaid
funds
it,
that
means
you
have
to
be
income
eligible.
The
other
one
is
funded
by
the
state
and
there's
income
eligibility,
but
it's
not
as
strict
as
Medicaid,
but
the
purpose
of
both
programs
is
if
somebody
with
a
little
help
can
be
moved
out
of
a
facility
into
their
home.
C
C
Center
right
call
that
adrc
number
and
we
can
put
you
in
touch
with
person.
One
thing
that
does
happen
in
the
nursing
home
it's
required
to
happen
is
that
the
social
workers
go
by
EV
to
talk
to
every
single
resident
to
say:
would
you
like
information
about
moving
home
or
moving
out
of
the
nursing
home?
If
they
do,
then
our
staff
person
gets
a
referral
and
the
Carol
goes
out
and
meets
with
them
and
gives
them
information
about
what
we
can
and
can't
do
again.
C
Sorry,
thank
you.
We
have
senior
centers
in
12
of
our
16
counties.
These
are
great
places
for
socialization,
for
people
seniors
to
come
together
and
just
have
fun
play
games.
Before
covid
we
were
going
on
field
trips,
we're
trying
to
get
those
back
going
again.
We
offer
a
hot
meal,
it's
nutritious
and
it's
at
no
charge
for
most
of
our
senior
centers
we're
able
to
offer
Transportation,
but
really
the
most
important
thing.
When
we
survey
our
seniors
is
not
the
food,
it
that's
nice,
everybody
likes
food.
You
know
we
all.
B
C
Is
something
that's
a
partnership
with
public
health
and
the
state
USDA
we're
able
to
do
this
once
a
year
we
offer
it
was
thirty
dollars
this
year.
Potentially
it's
fifty
dollars
next
year
worth
of
fresh
vegetables
to
seniors.
You
have
to
be
60
and
above
and
you
have
to
fill
out
an
application.
If
you
just
show
up
it
takes
longer,
but
we
do
them
in
every
County
and
of
course
we
do
multiple
ones
in
Columbus.
We
try
to
do
them
at
the
some
of
the
senior
housing
places,
because
not
all
of
those
have
transportation.
C
This
is
our
Elder
Americans
month
celebration
that
we
have
every
year
may
is
older.
Americans
month
we
started
out
at
Peachtree
Mall
and
we
really
outgrew
it,
and
so
we
moved
to
the
Trade
Center
and
it
was
a
lot
of
fun,
Pops,
saying
karaoke
for
us
right
and
we
have
a
partnership
with
the
Better
Business
Bureau.
You
have
to
come
and
hear
this
guy
who's
our
MC.
He
is
so
funny
and
everybody
loves
him
now,
of
course,
with
covid.
We
did
not
bring
everybody
back
together.
Again,
we've
had
drive-through
resource
fairs,
but
cross
your
fingers.
B
That's
awesome
now
this
next
topic
next
line
assistive
technology,
we're
going
to
go
quickly
through
this
here,
because
then
I'm
going
to
invite
you
back
so
that
you
can
bring
some
of
the
items
assistive
technology
is
awesome.
I
had
a
huge
problem,
putting
my
socks
on,
but
there
is
a
device
for
that.
There's
a
device
for,
if
you're
sitting
in
a
chair,
how
we
have
to
go
one
two,
three
and
and
Lurch
forward
with
our
arms
there's
something
for
that.
So
you
can
just
quickly
elaborate
on
that
Katie
I
appreciate
this.
C
A
C
C
Brilliant
and
there's
other
things
like
that,
and
then
there
are
some
more
sophisticated
things
with
tablets
and
what
have
you
to
help
even
people
that
are
having
trouble
with
speech.
The
tablet
will
speak
for
you,
so
we
do
have
an
assistive
technology
lab
to
try
out
some
things.
We
don't
have
everything
on
the
market,
it's
impossible,
but
we
have
a
lot,
but
we
do
ask
that
you
call
to
schedule
a
time
for
it
not
just
show
up,
because
you
might
have
to
wait
for
a
little
while
and
we
hate
to
keep
people
waiting.
B
That
is
the.
If
you
have
any
information
on
any
of
the
things
that
we
spoke
about,
yes,
and,
as
you
can
see,
there
are
every
Agency
on
Aging
has
so
many
things
for
seniors
as
a
senior
center,
a
senior
citizen,
my
wife
and
I
have
had
to
use
services,
so
many
individuals
I
have
sent
there.
There
are
a
a
welcome
resource.
They
have
so
many
things
to
help
us
to
be
able
to
age
in
place
as
seniors.
B
C
A
B
I
would
like
for
you,
when
you're
going
to
have
the
fair
or
the
farmer's
market,
to
send
me
a
flyer,
okay
or
for
us
to
be
able
to
do
something
like
this
to
let
individuals
know
sure
and
I
just
want
to
thank
you
again
for
taking
the
time
out
of
your
busy
schedule
and
Katie
covered
so
much
and
he
elaborated
on
so
much.
It's
just
been
a
blessing
so
as
I
always
say
at
the
end
of
each
program.