SCS in the News

Recently, Senior Citizen Services was featured in several news stories regarding the current heat wave. SCS provided air conditioners and fans to seniors.

Check out Erin Coleman’s report on WSB-TV Channel 2:
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/24174339/index.html

Corinna Allen of CBS 46 profiled the work of Georgia Natural Gas and SCS:
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/24180325/index.html

WABE’s Rose Scott interviewed Jeff Smythe on July 7:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1672486/news/Fulton.County.Senior.Centers.Offer.Resources.To.Beat.The.Heat

How Old Do You Feel?

What is the answer to this question: How old do you feel?

Well, that depends for many people. I find it amazing when I talk to someone in their 80s and they say they feel like they did when they were in their 20s, less some additional aches and pains. And as I age, I realize that what they are saying is true! My mind sometimes tells me that I am in my 20s again.

We are only as old as we want to be and only as old as we feel. Those individuals who are older yet feel younger usually are active in some capacity. Many use their retirement years to give back to the community via volunteer opportunities, and others simply make plans to keep themselves active and busy with friends and family.

This harkens back to when my grandmother was still with us. She was a fun, energetic lady who stayed busy with her church. She always had projects to complete, lessons to review for Sunday School, and to prepare for an event/dinner at the church. She used to complain that it wasn’t fair that in her mind she felt young yet her body was ‘dragging along’. To this day, I believe she lived her life ensuring others were served. This gave her a purpose, something to do and accomplish.

So, do you want to feel younger? Then we invite you to volunteer to stay young in mind, active, and healthy.

-- by Patrick O’Kane, Director of Operations

Money Saving Tips

AARP has compiled a list of smart money-saving tips for consumers of any age. Here are a few… more can be accessed at www.aarp.org/bulletin:

1. Use up to 60% less energy by boiling water in a microwave rather than on an electric stove.
2. Lower your thermostat in the winter; to feel more comfortable at lower temperatures, place pans of water near heating outlets because water-filled air retains heat better.
3. Save water on a flush by putting a plastic bottle full of water, weighted by pebbles, in your tank.
4. Get a rain barrel to collect water for your lawn and garden.
5. Free treatment and medication may be available if you qualify for a medical study; find studies at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

--by Brad Catherman, Vice President for Gift Planning

Seniors and Heat-related Illness

As we near records for high temperatures and poor air quality, we want to make sure you have the information you need to stay safe and healthy. Senior citizens are at high risk of heat-related illnesses; this risk is increased by some medications and health conditions. Stay cool, stay informed, and please check on your elderly neighbors.

Here is some information provided by the CDC:

Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

• Warning signs may include:
• extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees F)
  red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• rapid, strong pulse
• throbbing headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• confusion
• unconsciousness

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

• Warning signs may include:
  
• heavy sweating
• paleness
• muscle cramps
• tiredness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• cool, moist skin
• fast, weak pulse
• fast, shallow breathing
  
  

Preventing and Managing Heat

DO:
Take a cool shower or bath.
Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level.
Check with your physician if your fluid intake is generally limited or if you take water pills.
Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place.
Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses, and put on sun screen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels).
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
If you must be outside, drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and try to rest often in shady areas.
If your home is not air conditioned, spend time in a public library, shopping mall, or senior center. A list of senior centers and public libraries in Fulton County are at the bottom of this post.


DON’T:
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink
Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar - these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Don’t stay outside in the hottest part of the day, if you can help it.
NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.

Fulton County Senior Centers

Auburn Neighborhood Senior Center 300 Edgewood Avenue Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-224-3140

Bethlehem Neighborhood Senior Center 87 Thayer Street Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-577-6017

Camp Truitt Neighborhood Senior Center 4320 Hershel Road College Park GA 30337 Phone: 404-762-4802

Crabapple Senior Center Crabapple Government Center 12624 Broadwell Rd. Alpharetta, GA. 30004 Phone: 770-751-9397

Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center 1953 Bankhead Highway Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-792-4964

Fairburn Neighborhood Senior Center 109 Milo Fisher Street Fairburn, GA 30213 Phone: 770-306-1555

Hapeville Neighborhood Senior Center 527 Kings Arnold Street Hapeville GA 30354 Phone: 404-762-3696

New Horizons Neighborhood Senior Center 745 Orr Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30314 Phone: 404-730-7100

Northside Shepherd Neighborhood Senior Center 1705 Commerce Drive Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-875-0509

Palmetto Neighborhood Senior Center 510 Turner Street Palmetto, GA 30268 Phone: 770-463-4990

Roswell Neighborhood Senior Center 1250 Warsaw Road Roswell, GA 30075 Phone: 770-640-1583

Sandy Springs Neighborhood Senior Center 6500 Vernon Woods Dr. Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: 404-705-4901

St. Paul Neighborhood Senior Center 501 Grant Street Atlanta, GA 30315 Phone: 404-688-7501

Southeast Neighborhood Senior Center 1650 New Town Circle Atlanta, GA 30324 Phone: 404-624-0641

Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Facility 6500 Vernon Woods Drive Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: 404-705-4900

Harriett G. Darnell Senior Multipurpose Facility 677 Fairburn Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-699-8580

Helene S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility 515 John Wesley Dobbs Dr. Atlanta, GA 30312 Phone: 404-523-3353

H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multipurpose Facility 2885 Church Street East Point, GA 30344 Phone: 404-762-4821

Atlanta-Fulton Public Libraries
Adams Park Branch 2231 Campbellton Road SW, Atlanta GA 30311
404-752-8763

Adamsville-Collier Heights Branch 3424 Martin Luther King Jr., Dr., Atlanta GA 30331
404-699-4206

Alpharetta Branch 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta GA 30004
770-740-2425

Auburn Avenue Research Library 101 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30303
404-730-4001

Bowen/Bankhead Branch2685 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy, NW Atlanta, GA 30318
404-792-2646

Buckhead Branch 269 Buckhead Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
404-814-3500

Carver Homes Branch 215 Lakewood Way, Suite 104, Atlanta, GA 30315
404-635-4012

Central Library & Library System Headquarters One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-730-1700

Cleveland Avenue Branch 47 Cleveland Avenue SW, Atlanta GA 30315
404-762-4116

College Park Branch 3647 Main Street, College Park, Georgia 30337
404-762-4060

Dogwood Branch 1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW (formerly Bankhead Ave), Atlanta GA 30318 404-792-4961

East Atlanta Branch 400 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
404-730-5438

East Point Branch 2757 Main Street, East Point GA 30344
404-762-4842

Fairburn Branch 60 Valley View Drive, Fairburn, GA 30213
770-306-3138

Georgia Hill Branch 250 Georgia Avenue SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312
404-730-5427

Hapeville Branch 525 King Arnold Street, Hapeville, GA 30354
404-762-4065

Kirkwood Branch 11 Kirkwood Road SE, Atlanta GA 30317
404-377-6471

Martin Luther King Jr., Branch 409 John Wesley Dobbs Ave, Atlanta GA 30312
404-730-1185

Mechanicsville Branch 400 Formwalt St SW, Atlanta GA 30312
404-730-4779

Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek GA 30022
770-360-8820

Northside Branch 3295 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta GA 30327
404-814-3508

Ocee Branch5090 Abbotts Bridge Rd.,Johns Creek GA 30005-4601
770-360-8897

Peachtree Branch 1315 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
404-885-7830

Perry Homes Branch 2121 Hollywood Rd NW, Atlanta GA 30318
404-792-4994

Ponce de Leon Branch 980 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
404-885-7820

Roswell Branch 115 Norcross St, Roswell GA 30075
770-640-3075

Sandy Springs Branch 395 Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30328
404-303-6130

South Fulton Branch 4055 Flat Shoals Road, Union City, GA 30291-1590
770-306-3092

Southwest Branch3665 Cascade Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
404-699-6363

Stewart-Lakewood Branch 2893 Lakewood Ave. SW, Atlanta GA 30315
404-762-4054

Thomasville Heights Branch 1700 Thomasville Dr SE, Atlanta GA 30315
404-624-0620

Washington Park Branch 1116 Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr., Atlanta GA 30314
404-752-8760

West End Branch 525 Peeples St SW, Atlanta GA 30310
404-752-8740

GLBT Seniors Advocacy of Georgia

GLBT Seniors Advocacy of Georgia hosts a forum Saturday, July 10, focused on "Planning for Successful Aging." Dubbed GSAGA for short, the group is a coalition made up of the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, The Rainbow Center, Aging Services of Georgia, and other advocates.

The forum will include discussions of social networking, legal protections, health and wellness, and housing and financing.

GLBT Seniors Advocacy of Georgia
http://www.gasage.org/

Planning for Successful Aging
Saturday, July 10, 2010
2-4 pm at the Philip Rush Center
1530 Dekalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
404-840-8050

Retirees Needed to Volunteer

What do retired Boomers want in terms of volunteer opportunities? Do they want an office-type job for four hours a day for an ongoing period? Or, something with less commitment of time and brainpower?

The National Council on Aging recently released the preliminary study results from a two-year pilot program. In a nutshell, they had 22 nonprofits, big and small from all over the country participate in Leadership-Level Volunteerism. This pilot program gave specific duties to the retired professionals and core job responsibilities. The overall end result was that this cohort did in fact like to volunteer as long as it was a meaningful experience, knowing they were assisting with the good of the community. They were satisfied that they were able to use their skills, knowledge and talent acquired over the years into these new ‘job’ positions.

SCS would like to hear from you. If you are a retired Boomer and looking for something more meaningful as it relates to volunteer opportunities, call me at 404-605-8445 to discuss. Maybe you are a retire Human Resource professional or a public relations expert or maybe you want to volunteer at the board of directors level… all and much more are good! You’ve got talent – shall we put it to good use?

-- by Patrick O’Kane
Director of Operations