"Love"

There are all kinds of "love". We use the word all the time.  "I just love that dress!"  "Wouldn't you love to have that car?"  There's puppy love, first loves, our "only love", the love of my life......you get the picture. When you're in a relationship for the first time, it's always tense until one person finally utters those three little words.  In my family growing up, we didn't say "I love you" very often.  I guess it was a given.  I never really gave it much thought.  We were a loving family, but those words just didn't tumble out of our mouths.  And, most of the people I knew didn't say it that often to others in their family.  Maybe because I grew up in the Midwest -- I'm not trying to stereotype here.....however, when I moved to the south over 30 years ago that is one of the things I noticed first.......how many times people said "I love you".  Because I heard it so much it didn't really seem genuine to me.  It's kind of like hearing people at the bank or the grocery saying "have a nice day", instead of just saying thank you.  You don't really hear it the same.

After moving to the South I started to give it some more thought.  My first thought was, do people really think I don't love them because I don't say it very often?  Will they really hear what I am saying when I say it?

My husband is very quiet and reserved and for him to say those three little words is something short of a miracle, so I don't push it.  But when I had my son I couldn't say it enough -- and I was certain that was something I wanted him to say frequently.  I think I got him to say that more than "Yes ma'am and No Ma'am" which is sacred in the south as well.  But at least I love you worked on him even if I couldn't make the Yes ma'am No ma'am thing stick. (As you can see I'm shooting 50% here with husband and son)

I've become more comfortable with telling people I know how important they are to me and yes, that I even love them.  I used to think that that was just for those in our immediate family who we were almost bonded to love because they were a part of us.  It took me a long time to realize that my friends that are important to me are worthy of the "I love you" phrase and it should be said more often.

Over the holidays a very long time friend (who also happens to be a native northerner) said "I Love You" to me and I was so taken by it I didn't know how to respond.  Isn't that an interesting response after thinking I had actually broken that barrier.  I was proud of myself for also saying those three little words before we parted.  It made me feel good.  And, this week, I received a very touching email from a friend and she signed it "I love you". And, even though we have exchanged those words to each other frequently it still moved me.

Don't wait....tell someone you love them.....you'll never know how that will lift someone's mood.

Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Many of you have asked about the Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Atlanta this year.  This year, it is February 27th.  One of the things that we are advocating for is a state plan for dealing with Alzheimer's.  If you live in the state of Georgia, please read below -- this is something that was put out by the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia and how you can help. If you have any questions at all, there is an 800 number at the bottom you can call.   Thanks for reading this and helping to get this passed.

The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter Applauds Senator Renee Unterman’s Pre-filing Senate Bill 14, Creating the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force

On Thursday, December 20, Senator Renee Unterman held a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol. Senator Unterman stated that the purpose of the press conference was “…the introduction of the legislation creating a state wide task force establishment to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease in the state of Georgia. It will examine the existing industries, services, and resources addressing the needs of Georgians afflicted with the disease and its effect on their families. It will develop a strategy to mobilize a state response to this public health crisis.”
“…Georgia must be prepared with an active plan to share the burden of taking care of its citizens who are likely to require government assistance in the final stages of their lives due to the effects of dementia. Whether those services are provided in-home, community based, or in a nursing home type facility, Georgia must be ready to improve its health care infrastructure.
I challenge the Departments of Human Services and Aging, the Department of Public Health, the Executive branch and General Assembly to actively participate in developing this plan by approving this legislation.”
The bill creates the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force, for the purpose of:

• Studying and collecting information and data to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease on Georgia’s citizens;
• To examine the existing industries, services, and resources addressing the needs of persons with Alzheimer’s disease, their families, and caregivers;
• To review the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease; and
• To develop a strategy to mobilize a state response to Alzheimer’s and related dementias as a public health crisis by creating a state plan.

The proposed State Plan Task force will be chaired by the director of the Division of Aging Services, and includes the Commissioner of Community Health or his or her designee, the State Health Officer or his or her designee, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Health and Human Services, the Chairperson of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Human Relations and Aging. The Task Force shall invite other advisory members to assist the committee and may consider the following in making its selection. This membership includes individuals with Alzheimer’s and a related dementia and their caregivers, members of the various care services industries, a medical provider, a researcher, law enforcement personnel, and members from the public, private and non-profit sectors, voluntary health organizations, and the faith-based community.
At a minimum, the State Plan shall include the following:

1. Trends in state Alzheimer’s and related dementias population and needs, including the changing population with dementia;
2. Existing services, resources, and capacity;
3. Needed state policies or responses, including but not limited to directions for the provision of clear and coordinate services and support to persons and families living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders and strategies to address any identified gaps in services;
4. Ways in which state and local agencies, private sector, quasi-governmental, voluntary health organizations, the faith community and nonprofit organizations can collaborate and work together to form a seamless network of education, support, and other needed services to those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their families;
5. A review of, at a minimum, eighteen specific areas of concern.

The task force shall issue a state plan which shall include proposed legislation, if any, to the Governor and General Assembly on or before March 31, 2014. Upon abolishment of the task force, the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Advisory Council shall be created, with the same membership as the original State Plan Task Force. The Advisory Council shall meet at least annually to review the progress of the State Plan and to make any recommendations for changes as well as to recommend any legislation needed to implement the Plan.

How You Can Advocate for the Passage of Senate Bill 14

There are two very specific actions you can take to advocate for passage of Senate Bill 14.

1. To complete an on-line copy of the Georgia State Plan Input form. If you’d prefer to receive a hard copy of the form on which to provide input, please call 1-800-272-3900 and ask for a copy of the Georgia State Plan Input Form.
2. Join us for the Alzheimer’s Awareness Day at the Georgia State Capitol on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. REGISTER to attend our 2013 Alzheimer's Awareness Day at the Georgia State Capitol.

We have jointly planned with the Georgia Council on Aging to hold Awareness Day on the first day of their Senior Week at the Capitol. Their advocates will be joining us in advocating for Senate Bill 14. The tentative agenda for Awareness Day is:
8:30 - 9:30 AM Awareness Day Registration—Central Presbyterian Church (CPC)
9:00 AM Alzheimer's Awareness Day Kickoff--CPC
10:00 AM--Tentative Full Group Photo with Governor--Time TBD based upon Governor's Schedule—photo on South Wing Capitol Steps (Inside)
10:30 AM - 3:00 PM Appointments with legislators/calling legislators out of session/House or Senate Gallery when not in meetings-- Capitol
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Lunch with Legislators--advocates and legislators drop in for lunch at CPC as their schedules permit
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM State Plan Rally/Candlelight Rally--outside, Washington Street Side of Capitol
We will also be advocating to strengthen Georgia’s already Strong Adult Guardianship laws, and to ensure that there are no cuts to Alzheimer’s Respite Funding.
There is no cost to register for/attend Alzheimer’s Awareness Day at the Georgia State Capitol—but, you must register in advance in order for us to have an accurate head count for lunch and t-shirts, and in order for us to schedule appointments with your legislators for you. Registration is limited, due to church Fire Code, to the first 400 people who register.
To equip you to speak with your legislator, and to enable you to develop confidence in discussing the issues, we are offering Awareness Day Training opportunities across the state:

• Atlanta Chapter Office, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30346
  • Monday, February 11, 10:00 a.. - 12:00 noon
  • Monday, February 11, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Augusta Regional Office, 106 SRP Drive, Evans, GA 30809
  • Wednesday, February 13, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 13, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Columbus Regional Office, 5900 River Road, Suite 301, Columbus, GA 31904
  • Thursday, February 14, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 14, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Dalton Regional Office, 922 E. Morris Street, Dalton, GA 30721
  • Wednesday, January 30, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Macon Regional Office, 886 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201
  • Thursday, February 7, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, February 7, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Rome/Floyd County Library, Oostanaula Room, 205 Riverside Parkway, NE, Rome, GA
  • Tuesday, February 5, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Savannah Regional Office, 201 Television Circle, Savannah, GA 31406
  • Wednesday, February 6, 10:00 am. - 12;00 noon
• Statesboro--Pittman Park United Methodist Church, 1102 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458
  • Thursday, February 7, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
• Tifton--Leroy Rogers Senior Center, 315 W. Second Street, Tifton, GA 31794
  • Thursday, February 7, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Just in case you are not able to attend one of the regional trainings, we will also offer three on-line training opportunities. If you register for one of these, we will e-mail the webinar information to you just a few days prior to the scheduled call:

• Thursday, February 21, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Thursday, February 21, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, February 23, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Questions? Call 1-800-272-3900

To Better blogging

Happy New Year from our Family to Yours

I've been doing this for about 8 years.  When I went back and look at my history of my posts it averages out to about one post every two weeks.  I was much better in the beginning -- I guess that is how we are sometimes with our new year's resolutions ---- good in the beginning and then we falter.  I'm going to try to stay more on target this year -- with at least a post a week.

I read other people's blogs all the time and I'm jealous of the work they put into it -- it's not as easy at it looks, or at least it isn't for me anymore.  But stay with me -- I'll be back soon!