elder law
...des seniors with an opportunity to volunteer within community agencies, and to give back to the community in which they live. The volunteer program is open to those individuals fifty-five years of age and older. Along with the obvious opportunity of staying active and helping others, the volunteers are provided with travel reimbursement, meal reimbursement, and recognition for their service to others. It is clear that by helping others, the seniors who participate are also benefiting themselves by staying active and necessary to needy individuals within their community. Not only do seniors benefit from community events and activities, but also from the Older Americans Council building itself. Within its doors, the Council provides meals, nutrition education, social opportunities, shopping assistance, arts, crafts, recreational activities, and health screenings and counseling. One of the most valuable services the Older American Council provides is transportation, for older individuals who can no longer drive. The Council provides transportation to movies, shopping, doctors’ appointments and various community events. The Older Americans Council has made it their priority to care for Central Georgia’s senior adults’ every need. The seniors involved can grow in physical, spiritual, emotional and social health, and through their growth can feel proud of their activities. In a society that often looks down upon the aged as unnecessary and past their prime, the Older Americans Council of Central Georgia celebrates those attributes that are specific to seniors. The Council respects the wisdom and experience the individuals have acquired over the years, and the Council realizes how very valuable older adults’ insight is to the health and success of any community. By allowing senior citizens to take an active role in their own life choices, and in their community, the Older Americans Council serves as a beneficial force within central Georgia, improving the life experiences of all central Georgians. Despite the fact that the Older Americans Council does an excellent job of caring for senior citizens with central Georgia, there are additional ways the issue of elder care can be addressed and benefited. Appearance classes in which the seniors are taught skin and hair care and classes in trends in clothing may give the seniors the confidence they need to be able to enter society, and think of themselves as significant and relevant. So many times when an individual retires, or ages they may let themselves go physically, perhaps by teaching them how to care for themselves outwardly, the older adults would feel greater pride in their appearance, and they would have the desire to do more within their community. Perhaps having classes in which the community could benefit directly from the senior citizens would be helpful, to both parties; the community and the seniors. Cooking classes, sewing classes and other opportunities for the seniors to be in control of teaching and sharing with others. Senior citizens contain within them a lifetime of experience and a wealth of information to share, why not allow them the opportunity? With so many social problems such as violence, broken families, young pregnancies and drug abuse within Central Georgia and specifically within Macon, everyone could benefit from a program in which seniors were mentors, teaching younger individuals. A sort of “Adopt a Grandparent” program would be helpful in allowing older adults to remain necessary and relevant, and allowing younger adults to benefit from the seniors’ experience and advice....