Back to News January 19, 2007
DHR hosts press conference to launch national "Own Your Future" long-term care planning campaign in Georgia
ATLANTA (GA) – Many people don’t think about long-term care during their young adult and mid-life years, but they should. To help educate individuals and families around the nation, the federal government is working with states to kick off a national long-term care campaign. Governor Sonny Perdue and Georgia Department of Human Resources Commissioner B.J. Walker are spearheading the national "Own Your Future" Long-Term Care Planning Campaign in Georgia. Join Commissioner Walker; Chris Downing, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region IV Office; and Roger Perez, Regional Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS Region IV Office, at a press conference launching the campaign Tuesday, January 23 at 1:00 p.m. at Two Peachtree Street in Atlanta. Georgia and four other states (Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas) were selected to participate in the third phase of the HHS "Own Your Future" educational campaign to promote long-term planning among young and mid-life individuals.
"We join Governor Perdue in saying that Georgia is honored in being one of the states selected to participate in this campaign to educate our residents on planning for long-term care," said Commissioner Walker. "Government should be a resource to families. We consider it a privilege to provide information to Georgians on planning for future health care needs."
In addition to this press conference, Georgia’s "Own Your Future" campaign will consist of: mailing of letters in January from Governor Perdue to Georgia residents, ages 45-65, promoting awareness of aging needs and inviting recipients to order a free "Own Your Future" Long-Term Care Planning Kit "Own Your Future" ; the development and launch of a website in late January by DHR Division of Aging Services to offer lifelong planning resources and links; "Own Your Future" town hall meetings in Atlanta, Albany and LaGrange during February; specialized long-term care preparation training for Georgia’s aging network; and educational information for state employees.
Consumers may request the national "Own Your Future" Long-Term Care Planning Kit by calling 1-866-PLAN-LTC (1-866-752-6582) or by logging onto www.aoa.gov/ownyourfuture (also available for downloading). In addition, the "Own Your Future" brochure, to be included in the Governor’s mailing, features a postage-free tear-off request card.
"Own Your Future" is coordinated nationally by three components of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the Administration on Aging (AoA).
For information about free long-term care awareness counseling, materials, and public events, call GeorgiaCares at 1-800-669-8387 and ask for the Lifelong Planning Program.
PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS
Who: DHR Commissioner B.J. Walker; Chris Downing, Regional Director, HHS Region IV Office; and Roger Perez, Regional Administrator for CMS, HHS Region IV Office What: Press Conference for "Own Your Future" Campaign to promote Long-Term Care Planning for young and midlife Georgians. When: Tuesday (January 23, 2007) at 1:00 p.m. Where: DHR Board Room, Two Peachtree Street, Suite 29.250, Atlanta, Georgia For information, contact Edna Jackson; 404-657-1386 edjackson@dhr.state.ga.us