New local show for older adults

New

local show for older adults

T amela Ragsdale, RN, OCN and director

of client relations for Aging Matters Inc., and Gina

Weathersby, personal care manager with Wesley Woods of

Newnan-Peachtree City, have teamed up to host a new cable

program on aging.

The program, "Aging in

Georgia," is currently aired only on channel 10-WGET

in Newnan. It is a 30-minute show airing Monday -

Saturday at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Each week on the program

the duo discuss a different topic of interest for older

adults. They visit local nursing homes, assisted living

communities, physicians' offices and other related

businesses on air. Guest speakers with expertise in areas

of interest to seniors periodically join the two on the

show.

Some of the topics covered

in the program have included, or will include, living

options for seniors, elder law issues, Medicare,

Medicaid, support group availability, community resources

and the care needs of older adults.

Currently the program has a

number of well-known local sponsors. Wesley Woods of

Newnan-Peachtree City, Aging Matters, Heritage of

Peachtree-Assisted Living and Beaulieu Convalescent

Center are just a few of the sponsors. Knox Furniture

provides the set and Murphy's Florist supplies flowers

for the show. Weathersby and Ragsdale are open to

additional sponsorships and hope to continue to attract

local support.

Ragsdale and Weathersby

have had an active interest in working with older adults

for a number of years. Weathersby is the founder and

owner of Aging Matters Inc. Her involvement with seniors

was sparked from her close care-giving relationship with

her grandmother. Ragsdale has been a nurse for over ten

years and worked in intensive care.

Both are enthusiastic and

seem to come alive when talking about working in their

chosen field. Ragsdale said, "I love what I do -

going into homes, meeting with families. I get to really

be with a patient and see what they have to deal with on

a day-to-day basis. And I get to help."

She continued, "I

believe that each day needs to count whether you are 5 or

95. It's all about quality of life."

Weathersby and Ragsdale are

excited about the new program. "Gina [Weathersby]

and I work well together. We both just want to get

information out to the community," said Ragsdale.

Often those who need help

are unsure where to call or what to ask when they do

call. They are not aware of options available to them.

The program is a resource for care givers, older adults

or the curious.

Said Weathersby,

"People need answers. As a team we can offer those

answers and make life a little easier for older adults in

the community and their family members."

When Weathersby and

Ragsdale have an interest in a certain topic, they

"research it in depth." Experts in the topic

may be invited to join them on the show or they may take

the show to the source. The show format is informal, with

a lot of interaction between the two hosts and their

guests.

"My work has allowed

me to interact with other professionals in the community

who show compassion in their work. The success of this

program depends on these professionals and on community

support. I am a believer in the team approach and

consider it a privilege to work with other professionals

in the community who share the same goals,"

Weathersby said.

Some upcoming shows:

Nov. 30: Thom Corrigan,

LCSW with Haven House Hospice.

Dec. 7: Dr. Scott

Williamson, optometrist, Tyrone Eye Center.

Dec. 14 or 21: Walking tour

of Heritage of Peachtree-Assisted Living.

Dec. 28: Mary Jane Holt,

publisher/editor, The Community Health Focus.

Jan. 18: Dr. Greg Alvarez,

Ankle and Foot Center of Georgia.

For information on the

program, phone Tamela Ragsdale, Aging Matters,

770-304-4561 or Gina Weathersby at The Plaza at Wesley

Woods of Newnan-Peachtree City, 770-683-6854. Or e-mail

to [email protected] .

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