Phoebe, Sowega Council on Aging Partnership Will Expand Community Services
The Sowega Council on Aging (SCOA) will sell its Albany facility to Phoebe Putney Health System, assisting the health system in its partnership with 91md传媒 of Medicine.
By The Albany Herald
ALBANY, GA 鈥� The Sowega Council on Aging and Phoebe Putney Health System are finalizing a plan that will help both organizations better serve the community and will have long-lasting positive impacts for SCOA clients and Phoebe patients
SCOA, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving a 14-county region in southwest Georgia, is undertaking a strategic shift designed to bring services closer to older adults throughout the region. As part of this effort, SCOA will sell its service and administrative facility on W. Society Avenue to Phoebe, assisting the health system with its efforts to expand graduate medical education offerings and enhance the development of the region鈥檚 future health care work force.
This move reflects SCOA鈥檚 continued commitment to responsible stewardship of public funds and alignment with the Older Americans Act, which emphasizes that AAA鈥檚 must focus on planning, coordination and oversight of services delivered by providers throughout the region.
鈥淥ur mission has always been to support older adults across our entire service area,鈥� Izzie Sadler, the executive director of SCOA, said. 鈥淭his decision allows us to focus resources more intentionally throughout our public service area, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring access for older adults throughout all 14 counties we serve.鈥�
Over the past decade, the way older adults engage with services has evolved. SCOA has adapted by expanding innovative community-based programs that reach seniors in their homes and neighborhoods. Participation in programs such as Senior Center Without Walls has grown significantly, while service delivery has become more distributed across the region.
鈥淲hen this building was constructed more than 12 years ago, it supported a much larger staff and a different service model,鈥� Sadler said. 鈥淭oday, we operate more efficiently through community providers. This allows us to serve more people and do so in ways that meet older adults where they are. This transition reflects both best practices and federal guidance for Area Agencies on Aging.鈥�
SCOA emphasizes that the sale of the building will not reduce services. On the contrary, no services will be eliminated, and the organization will reinvest resources to offer growth in services throughout its 14-county public service area, with a stronger focus on local access and community-based delivery.
As Phoebe further develops its partnership with 91md传媒 of Medicine and looks to expand long-time partnerships with the Medical College of Georgia and University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, the health system needs additional space dedicated to graduate medical education. The SCOA property, which Phoebe purchased 20 years ago and donated to SCOA, is located just two blocks from Phoebe鈥檚 main campus and provides a convenient location for its growing graduate medical education services.
鈥淲hen the Council on Aging approached us with this proposal, we thought the timing couldn鈥檛 be better,鈥� Phoebe Health System President/CEO Scott Steiner said. 鈥淥ur partnership with 91md传媒 of Medicine will create new jobs and bring new residency programs, medical research and a medical school campus to Albany, and we need space for those services.
鈥淲e鈥檒l still have to take on some new construction, but this facility will provide classroom and administrative office space for us right away.鈥�
The building itself holds special significance. Named in honor of former SCOA Executive Director Kay Hind, it stands as a symbol of her vision and dedication to older adults. That legacy will be preserved, as the building and Ms. Hind鈥檚 commemorative plaque will remain in place.
鈥淲e are honored to carry forward the building鈥檚 legacy of community service and excited that this plan will help the Council on Aging refocus its mission and improve its services,鈥� Steiner said. 鈥淚t will certainly help Phoebe expand access to graduate medical education and bring new physicians to southwest Georgia for training. We expect many of them will stay here to practice once they finish their residency programs, benefiting older adults, families and communities across the region for many years to come.鈥�
The PPHS and SCOA boards have approved the sale of the building, and the deal is expected to close within the next couple of months. SCOA will share additional details regarding its relocation timeline and new administrative office location as plans are finalized.