The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted older adults. As a result, the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) has had to ramp up its efforts to safely support the local older population during this crisis, which, as ACCA CEO Eve Anthony says, is an essential part of society: “We know that older adults have an enormous contribution and impact on the communities in which they live.”
The ACCA was founded in 1967 and serves 16,000 clients in twenty-seven northeast Georgia counties, typically with fourteen different services ranging from adult day health programs to physical activities. In early March, however, the nonprofit was forced recalibrate as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed.
“When we really recognized that COVID-19 was going to be a concern, and especially since we know that its impact on older adults is greater, we closed the majority of our programs, specifically those that we serve on site,” Anthony says.
Despite having to close services that thousands of local older individuals rely on, the ACCA adapted its mission to continue offering critical support: “We closed with the commitment to leave no senior behind during COVID-19. We wanted to make sure that when we closed that they heard us when we said, ‘Yes we are closing. We are going to look very different, but we are not leaving you behind. We’re not leaving you alone. We’re going to find ways to continue to serve you.”
The ACCA has since funneled their efforts into three main channels: providing meals, social connection, and safety checks. The meals on wheels program, which delivers food to homebound individuals, has greatly increased the scope of its outreach. As Anthony states, “Prior to COVID-19 we were serving 180 people through our meals on wheels program. As of last week we had served 1,785 individuals in COVID emergency food relief operations.”
Anthony also says that the younger population’s experiences with COVID-19 may offer an opportunity to better understand what life is like for many older adults: “When we talk about our own experiences with COVID-19, we talk about how socially isolating it’s been, how we miss being around or friends, we miss being around our families. For many older adults, this is their everyday life. This is not something COVID did to them, but being socially isolated is just part of their every day.”
To continue combatting this social isolation, another part of the ACCA’s commitment to leave no senior behind is the establishment of a buddy call program, where medical students from the University of Georgia call older adults to offer a friendly voice, as well the launch of several virtual opportunities for connection, from art to yoga classes.
Anthony also stresses the negative effects of the widespread narrative that COVID-19 only impacts older people. She says this view devalues the older population, despite their importance in many capacities such as volunteering and mentoring in communities everywhere.
“It’s important,” she says, “When we talk about COVID-19, especially in our community and in our entire society’s response, that we change that conversation from it ‘only impacts older adults.’ The fact that our older adult population has been so vulnerable, I hope that in the years to come we really examine that and we look at, ‘How can we do this differently?’ How can we take care of our most vulnerable older adults differently?”
The ACCA is still welcoming volunteers and donations. Those interested in getting involved can call the organization at 706-549-4850 or visit its website to learn more about opportunities.