| Serving People: Have you seen TARCOG lately? |
| In between visits to client’s homes or nursing homes, helping reduce prescription medication costs, and all of the services TARCOG provides, the staff also spends time on community education through special presentations and participation in health fairs or others community events. “It’s an important part of what we do to make sure people in the communities that we serve know that not only we are here to help but the different ways in which we can help,” said TARCOG’s Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey. It’s so important, the agency is giving the outreach efforts a new name, TARCOG Cares. To streamline the process of what the agency participates in there is a new online form that can be filled out to make the request. “In the past, different people throughout the agency have been contacted about different events and we’d like to make the process easier with all of the requests being directed to one person,” Sheila said. | TARCOG at the Jackson County Health Expo in January. |
| Let’s talk about: Senior Employment |
| Senior Center Spotlight: East Limestone |
| Sometimes, it’s the simplest of reasons people have for visiting their local senior center. Take Dan Champion, 83, for example. “I’m hungry. It’s the middle of the day and I’m here,” Dan said while sitting with a table of friends who couldn’t agree more including Beecher Griffitts, 86, Bill Self, 82, and Hans Riveros, 86. “It’s all good, some are better than others, but I don’t complain because I don’t have to cook it and the price is right,” Beecher added. Across the room, Faye Sangerman, 73 and Debbie Collins, 64, have their own card game going. They love the socialization the center offers. “I don’t want to stay at home all the time,” Debbie said. “I was a substitute teacher for a while and for a while I just wanted to stay at home all the time but then I realized how important is to get out and be around other people.” Faye said she likes that it’s easy to be at the East Limestone Center.“I don’t feel like it too structured, it’s very comfortable here,” she added. Read more | Playing games that keep the mind sharp are just one of the draws at the East Limestone Senior Center. |
| Employee of the Month: Jelisa Simon |
| Jelisa Simon has been with TARCOG a short time but has already made a big impact by helping save the life of a coworker. During her first month on the job in a newly created position at the agency, as a Registered Nurse Case Manager, a coworker fell ill in the office restroom. Jelisa sprang into action and handled the crisis with skill, care and compassion. After the coworker was taken by HEMSI ambulance to the hospital, staff could be overheard saying – “Now that’s the employee of the month!” And expressing thankfulness for having someone on staff with her skills. The coworker returned to work within a couple of days and Jelisa is settling into her role.Read more | Registered Nurse Case ManagerJelisa Simon |
| MORE NEWS |
 | UPDATE ON NEW OFFICE It’s been two months since the groundbreaking and our new TARCOG office building is starting to take shape. The foundation slab was poured on April 10!OPENINGS on Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Advisory Board If you are interested in economic and small development in the TARCOG Region and live or work in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. Anyone interested in participating on the RLF Advisory Board may contact Leslie Wright at 256-830-0818, or by email. IT IS TIME TO PLAN for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant applications that are due this summer. While there are questions about funding sources, the application process remains open. We encourage you to reach out to the TARCOG Economic Development & Planning staff if you are interested in submitting a project in the areas of infrastructure repair/expansion, planning activities, and potential construction projects depending on the end goal. We are here to help, just call 256-830-0818 for the Economic & Development Planning staff. |
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
 | We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at TARCOG”S Senior Fun Fest set for Tuesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Alabama A&M Agribition Center at 4925 Moores Mill Road in Huntsville. Advance tickets are $5 and may be purchased at any senior center in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties, or, at the TARCOG Office at 7037 Old Madison Pike, Suite 450, in Huntsville. For more information call TARCOG at 830-0818. Advance ticket sale prices end Friday, May 2. After May 2, and on the day of the event, tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event for $7. |
From left, TARCOG Director of Aging Programs Sheila Dessau-Ivey, Executive Director Michelle Jordan, Student Brooklyn Brittain, Case Manager Bailey Frank and Medicaid Waiver Program Manager Melissa Brinkley.
