CAREGIVERS OF THE YEAR

Winter Edition, 2015

Georgia Caregivers Recognized at 2015 Summit

INSIDE

this issue

DDB Trainings………...pg 2 “Outstanding Team”......pg 3 National Summit……….pg 4 10 Tips for Caregivers...pg 5

The Caregiver’s Advocate Support and Promote the Work of Georgia’s 12 CARE-NETs

From the

Director’s Desk

Dr. Leisa Easom, Executive Director

CARE-NET

Volume 1, Issue 2

Quarterly News

At the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving’s National Summit Gala

on Oct. 23, three amazing individuals were presented with the Georgia

Caregiver of the Year Awards. Each year the regional CARE-NETs

around the state of Georgia accept nominations for exceptional

caregivers in three categories: family, para-professional, and

volunteer. From these nominations, regional winners are selected

and then submitted for consideration for Georgia Caregiver of the

Year in each of the categories.

The 2015 Georgia Family Caregiver of the Year is Tammy

Manning Singleton of Macon who was nominated by the Middle

Georgia CARE-NET. She serves as her son Mark Bennett’s

primary caregiver after he suffered a stroke 10 years ago. She has

done so all while maintaining a full-time job and fundraising over

$100,000 for her community.

Sherrill Fore of Americus and nominated by the River Valley

CARE-NET is Georgia’s Para-Professional Caregiver of the Year.

“During her time with Innovative Senior Solutions, Sherrill has

become a client favorite,” said Director Jessica Wright. “Her

compassionate and caring nature provides her the quality and skill

to draw people near to her in a way that many are unable to do.”

“Sherrill has a joy

for caring for others

that is exuded with

each and every one

of her clients.

This year’s Georgia Volunteer Caregiver of the Year is

Andy Walker of Athens, nominated by the North East

Georgia CARE-NET. “The most amazing part of Andy’s

caregiving is that it is natural and from the heart with no

professional training,” said Anne Hanson of the Northeast

Georgia Area Agency on Aging.

These caregivers have remarkable stories that display

courage, tenacity, incredible patience, and of course,

immeasurable love. Caregivers truly are a special breed and

none are more deserving of recognition than these three

award winners. Sincerely,

Leisa Easom

“ I am happy to report that our 28th Annual National Summit and Training Institute held Oct. 22-23 was a huge success. We had over 150 caregivers, representa-tives from caregiving support agencies and speakers from around the country in attendance and a special welcome message from First Lady Michelle Obama by video. We are already making plans for next year’s Summit and looking forward to including caregivers across the spectrum.

As you may already know, the RCI has partnered with the Georgia Coalition of CARE-NETs and the Area Agencies on Aging around the state to offer a new training, Dealing with Dementia Behaviors, for family caregivers and direct care workers.

The RCI staff was humbled and honored to be recognized as an “Outstanding Team” at the annual Chancellor’s Service Excellence Award ceremony put on by the University System of Georgia.

I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your dedicated work to caregivers throughout this year. Please take time over the holiday season to rest and recharge as we all know that an unhealthy caregiver is an ineffective caregiver. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours!

~ Jessica Wright,

Dir. of Innovative

Senior Solutions

Volume 1, Issue 2

Winter Edition, 2015

Please send all pictures, news stories, and events to Chelsea.Collins@gsw.edu. Be sure to include names and details

so we can inform the other CARE-NETs of all the wonderful work you are doing for caregivers.

SOWEGA Council on Aging, SWGA CARE-NET held their Annual Lunch and Learn Seminar on Nov. 12th with approximately

82 caregivers and other guests in attendance. Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard was the keynote speaker and other speakers

included Coach Jesse Massey, a caregiver and retired principle, and Annie Flowers, also a former caregiver. “They all had stories

to tell that would rattle any audience,” said Ada Brown, Coordinator for the Family Caregiver Program. Sir Mackie DA Clown

was brought back by popular demand from the caregivers who saw him last year. “He had everyone laughing and smiling the

whole time and we all know that laughter is good for the soul,” said Brown. The SWGA CARE-NET presented their Caregiver of

the Year Awards to Dodie Carter, Para-Professional Caregiver of the Year; Reba Stewart, Volunteer Caregiver of the Year; Kay

Bozeman and Alice Merritt, Family Caregivers of the Year.

Local CARE-NET Coordinator Linda Harris conducted the Dealing with

Dementia Behaviors (DDB) training on Sept. 17th for members of the

West Central Georgia CARE-NET. Guests in attendance also received a

free DDB Guide. During the afternoon session, members participated in

the “Understanding Medicare” training presented by Shameika Averett,

River Valley’s GeorgiaCares coordinator. Donovan Granville, assistant

district manager of the Social Security Administration, provided

caregivers information related to qualification for different types of

Social Security benefits.

Participants at the DDB training at the Cunningham Conference Center in Columbus, GA.

DEALING WITH DEMENTIA BEHAVIORS TRAININGS

“On Nov. 10th, Gayle Alston, Director of the RCI Training Center

for Excellence, provided a four-hour Dealing with Dementia

Behaviors training at Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging in

Franklin, Georgia. There were 26 in attendance that represented 17

agencies varying from hospice agencies, home health agencies,

assisted living facilities, hospitals, and personal care homes. Many

remarked afterwards that it was a much needed training and

individuals were excited to go back to their agencies to train staff.”

~ Emily Rogers, Program Manager, Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging

West Central Georgia CARE-NET

Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging

CAREGIVER LUNCH & LEARN

SOWEGA Council on Aging & Southwest Georgia CARE-NET

Gayle Alston provides DDB training to community agencies in Franklin, GA.

The Rosalynn Carter

Institute for Caregiving

was recently recognized

as an “Outstanding Team”

at the Chancellor’s

Service Excellence Award

ceremony put on by the

University System of

Georgia (USG). The

Service Excellence Team

Award recognizes teams

who have demonstrated

outstanding, "above and

beyond" service to

students, colleagues and

other stakeholders of the

USG during the previous

year. Nominee's actions

must reflect the following

five attributes of service

excellence: respectful,

accessible, informed,

supportive and responsive.

“Tra ining s tudents ,

families and others about

the best practices in

caregiving is our specialty

and we do it well,” said

RCI Executive Director

Leisa Easom, Ph.D. Last

year, the RCI team

collaborated with all 12

Georgia Area Agencies on

Aging, the Georgia Dept.

of Aging Services, the

Georgia AARP and the

Augusta Warrior Project

to train individuals to

administer and deliver a

caregiver support program

in their geographic

location. Read more >>

Volume 1, Issue 2 Winter Edition, 2015

RCI Staff Recognized as “Outstanding Team” by USG

Bottom row L-R: Chelsea Collins, Dr. Leisa Easom, Christine Ta; Top row L-R: Angela Foster, Cindy Holloway, Naomi Latini, Gayle Alston, Laura Bauer

Georgia CARE-NET Coalition Gathers for Quarterly Meeting

Dr. Leisa Easom, RCI Executive Director, was the guest speaker at the

Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the new Edel Caregiver Institute (ECI)

which is housed inside the Demere Center for Living in Savannah. “This

is a momentous celebration recognizing the birth of a unique, hands-on,

experiential learning lab for caregivers,” said Easom. The ECI will be

offering classes and services to help caregivers acquire the information

they need as well as skills to confidently care for themselves and their

care recipients. The RCI will be collaborating with Paula Hudson,

Manager of the ECI, as she leads the Coastal Georgia CARE-NET and

organizes caregiver training for the Institute.

On Dec. 8th, the Care-Net Coalition held their

quarterly meeting in Macon at the Methodist

Home for Children and Youth. Our new Program

Support Specialist, Miranda Thomas, introduced

the guest speaker, Buffy Hankinson, Regional

Programs and Services Director for the

Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter.

Hankinson presented on Effective Comm-

unications with Alzheimer’s patients. Dr. Easom

“As people with

Alzheimer’s and

related dementia

progress in their

journey, the ability to

use words is lost and

families need new

ways to connect.”

~ Buffy Hankinson

Demere Center for Living Holds Opening of Edel Caregiver Institute

Middle Georgia CARE-NET Presents Awards at Annual Conference in Macon Middle Georgia CARE-NET with support from AARP Georgia held their annual Middle Georgia CARE-NET Conference on Nov. 12th at

Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, GA. Opening remarks were given by Dr. Leisa Easom and Tobias Tilmon, Interim State

Director of AARP Georgia. Guest speakers included Jennifer Haskins, Elder Law Attorney, on Powers of Attorney, Patricia Duncan, RN,

BSN, MBA, on Caregiver Stress and Wellness, and Beverly Link, Area Agency on Aging, on Medicaid Waivers. They also presented their

Middle Georgia CARE-NET Caregivers of the Year Awards to: Ashley Portwood, Para-Professional Caregiver of the Year; Tammy Manning

Singleton, Family Caregiver of the Year; Jennifer Kent, Volunteer Caregiver of the Year.

gave updates on upcoming RCI events and Gayle Alston discussed the DDB Trainings, family caregiver workshops,

DDB Guide, and upcoming trainer classes to be held at various AAAs throughout Georgia for 2016.

Networking Reception

Volume 1, Issue 2 Winter Edition, 2015

2015 NATIONAL SUMMIT & TRAINING INSTITUTE

Supporting Those Who Support Others | October 22-23 | Americus, GA

Workshops

Summit

Gala Awards Banquet

< L-R: Dr. Leisa Easom, RCI Executive Director, Bonnie Petrauskus, J&J Worldwide Corporate Contributions, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Kandy Ferree, 360° Strategy Group. With the leadership, guidance, and support from these extraordinary ladies, the RCI is able to offer proven programs to caregivers across the nation.

Col. David Sutherland, Co-Founder and Chairman of Easter Seals Dixon Center, gave a compelling speech that brought everyone to tears and received a standing ovation.

Lorraine Jackson, RCI REACH participant and caregiver to her mother with dementia, shares her caregiving journey. “I have an attitude of gratitude!”

L-R: Caroline Hopkins, David Presley, Janice Guglielmi, mem-bers of the Coastal GA CARE-NET. “We loved being at the Summit and the friendships we make each year,” said Guglielmi.

President Jimmy Carter welcomes guests to the Gala on Friday night. “This is really my wife’s event,” he joked. “The most important thing that the RCI has done is let the whole nation know the importance of caregiving.”

On Thursday, professional development workshops were offered on Strategies for Marketing and Recruitment, Caregiver Resilience, Leveraging Resources for Sustainability, and Compassion Fatigue.

> RCI Korea flew around the world to join us for the Summit this year and filmed many segments of the two-day event.

View more pictures from Summit >>

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

Georgia Southwestern State University

800 GSW State University Drive

Americus, GA 31709

Would you like to make a contribution?

YES! I want to make a tax-deductible contribution to The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving.

Enclosed is my donation of $_____________. Tax ID 58-1386358

Name ________________________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip __________________________________________________________________________

Phone (mobile) ________________________________ (work) _________________________________

I am making this gift in memory of honor of

Name ________________________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________

Please make check payable to the Rosalynn Carter Institute and send to: 800 Georgia Southwestern State

University Drive, Americus, GA 31709. You may also contribute online at www.rosalynncarter.org/support.

This gift is to be used as follows: (check one below)

Endowment Funds CARE-NET Education and Training

Undesignated Funds Development

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Phone: 229-928-1234

Fax: 229-931-2663

www.RosalynnCarter.org

IMPORTANT DATES

March 8, 2016 — CARE-NET Coalition Meeting in Macon, GA 10 am - 2 pm

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the map for these contacts.

Please welcome Somansh Malik to the RCI Team! “I am very excited to join the RCI as a Data Manager. I am very amazed by the diversity on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University, and everybody here is always available to help others. I was born in India and moved here when I was 18. Since then my life has just been about hard work and the hope that I will accomplish my dreams in the future. I have a wealth of experience in many different industries from retail to investment banking

and everything in the middle. I am currently obtaining my MBA in Supply

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The RCI’s 24-page booklet, 10 Tips for Caregivers, is now available on our website. With over 25 years experience in the caregiving field, this is a compilation of our best advice for caregivers. We want to thank the Mattie H. Marshall Foundation for the generous gift to make these available at no charge. Receive 25 FREE booklets for only $10 shipping & handling.

ORDER NOW >>

NOW AVAILABLE

Chain & Logistics at Albany State University. I am very detail-oriented and I always desire to

learn more. If by chance I get some free time, then I love to play tennis.”

Naomi Latini, Training and Implementation Interventionist, and Schieloh Wolfe welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world on November 10th on 12:38 pm. Ezra Mekkai Wolfe weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 1/2 in long. The proud parents claim Ezra has mom’s nose and Dad’s appetite. They are glad to report that everyone is

happy and healthy!