Gainesville-based Legacy Link, the Area Agency on Aging for northeast Georgia. is expanding into northwest Georgia.
Legacy Link currently serves Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties. Traditionally, Legacy funds services and operates programs and services in these 13 counties. Additionally, Legacy provides case management to assist families in helping their loved ones of all ages avoid premature nursing home placement in Barrow, Cherokee, Clarke, Elbert, Gwinnett, Jackson and Madison counties.
Now, the Georgia Department of Human Services, State Office of Long Term Care Ombudsman (SLTCO) has requested that Legacy Link expand operations into the the northwest part of the state to operate the Ombudsman Program in 16 additional counties.
The Legacy Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living and personal care homes in the region. Legacy will begin administration of the LTCO in the following counties on July 1: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Harralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties. Four existing LTCO staff Ombudsman located in Dalton will become Legacy employees on July 1. Dianne Brookins, current LTCO Director at Legacy Link will continue in her current role for the expanded program.
