Aging Atlanta Partnership

Address
		40 Courtland St., NE
		Atlanta, GA
		30303-2538
Web site
		www.agingatlanta.com
Contact
		Beth Stalvey
		404.463.3224

Established as a community partnership since 2001, it is comprised of over 65 individuals representing 50 organizations including the Grady Memorial Hospital and Grady Health Systems. Despite the growth of the aging population in the Atlanta region, funds for aging services have been cut significantly. The partnership has enabled collaborating organizations to consider how available public & private resources could be most effectively leveraged. In setting up the partnership and determining its priorities, 35 focus groups were conducted – reaching out to such diverse groups as union retirees, pharmacists, grocery store managers, residents and developers of subsidized housing, and Medicaid waiver case managers. Aging Atlanta’s vision was determined to be: “that of learning and working together to create an age friendly community of informed consumers that strives to keep older adults in their own homes and communities with maximum dignity and independence for as long as possible.”

Successes:

• “Mapping Your Future” initiative – In conjunction with the Georgia Governor’s initiative on life long planning, it promotes comprehensive planning for retirement and long term care needs to Baby Boomers through civic organizations, businesses and faith-based organizations.
• Following an extensive education campaign aimed at elected officials and policymakers, a senior housing ordinance was passed in Cobb county to promote senior housing alternatives, especially for older citizens who want to downsize while staying within their own neighborhoods. Read Atlanta's story for more information.
• The Civic Engagement Institute was created to train older adults identified by their neighborhood groups to provide advocacy and education to policy and decision makers. The Institute was created to address the desire of older adults to give back to their communities while at the same time having a voice in community planning that directly affects them.
• Neighborhood-based approaches included a home repair and modification project, the establishment of walking clubs to increase wellness and social interactions, and a transportation voucher pilot program using volunteer drivers to offer door to door escorted transportation for older adults in the driver’s personal car.
• Outreach to under-served populations included a door to door survey of isolated older adults in conjunction with the fire department and other partners as well as the creation of training materials about the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered adults as they age.

Real Life Impact:

After a door to door outreach effort, Aging Atlanta determined that many residents in the East Point area were afraid to leave their homes unescorted and had not exercised in many years. The first walking club was established in the Cherry Blossom neighborhood where police participated and the East Point Fire Department took blood pressure readings of the walkers. In addition to feeling safe, walking club members indicated that their health was improving, they were losing weight, they were meeting their neighbors and creating a regular walking habit. One walker said, “I had open heart surgery and this walking has improved my health.” Another said, “I have fibromyalgia and sciatica. Though I am fit, I surprised myself that I could walk. I feel prettier. I love my neighbors that I did not know before.”