Appen Media Group
Empty Nest April Special Section
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April 2018
Accepting Patients Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services
Insist on the BEST WINNER 2017
Best Of North Atlanta
Voted: •Best Vein Specialist •1st Runner Up for Best Dermatologist
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the Presented By field of Vein Care. Dr. Taylor has performed thousands of Mohs surgeries and reconstructions, dermatologic surgeries and procedures while in private practice in Florida where local and even international patients have sought him out for the best care. He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables. He now brings his highly sought after expertise back home to Alpharetta with the opening of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta!
Now accepting patients. We accept Medicare. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Taylor today.
Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta 3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 Alpharetta, Georgia 30005 Dr. Brent Taylor
PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899
Catching it early:
Exciting treatment options exist for pre-empting skin cancer By: Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and MOHS surgery of Atlanta The question of whether someone has skin cancer is not always black or white. Often, there are shades of gray. Yes, many moles are simply healthy while other growths prove to be melanoma, but, taylor for most people and for most concerning growths, skin cancers progress through early stages when they can be more easily treated and can be addressed non-invasively and non-surgically. Squamous cell carcinoma is more common than melanoma and is less dangerous. Many squamous cell carcinomas begin as a “pre-cancer” called an actinic keratosis or “AK” – a rough or discolored area that usually arises in an area of sun-damaged or sunexposed skin. AK’s typically grow slowly with perhaps 1-2% progressing to skin cancer per year. This slow growth rate means that there is time to treat AKs before they become skin cancer. Many more treatment options exist for addressing actinic keratoses than exist for treating skin cancer. Most skin cancers are best treated by excision (cutting the cancer out) or radiation therapy (typically for areas not amenable to surgery). AKs are typically treated non-surgically, and many options are available. AKs can be frozen with liquid nitrogen. They can be treated with topical creams that work by a variety of mechanisms. Some creams kill fast growing cells while others stimulate the immune system to attack unhealthy cells. An additional therapy that treats an entire area is called “blue light
therapy” also known as “photodynamic therapy” or PDT. During PDT, a nurse or physician applies a medicine called ALA to the area to be treated. The ALA incubates and sits on the skin for one to three hours. ALA is absorbed by unhealthy cells during the incubation phase. A blue light specially designed to activate ALA is then applied for about fifteen minutes. The light causes the ALA to damage the healthy cells allowing them to be eliminated and replaced by the healthy cells that have been left undamaged. Which treatment is best depends on the individual. Factors include how many precancers a patient has, which treatments they have tried in the past, and a patient’s lifestyles and hobbies. For example, one patient with a single precancer would likely opt for having the area treated with liquid nitrogen because this would avoid a long incubation time with PDT or prolonged treatment with a cream. Another patient who has one or two dozen AKs on the scalp would do better to have the entire area treated all at once. This patient might choose PDT, which, with common protocols, can eliminate seventy five percent of the patient’s precancers leaving behind a few stubborn areas that might then be eliminated by freezing or by trying an alternative topical therapy such as efudex, a cream that targets fast-growing cells such as those populating a pre-cancer. For many patients, a trip to the doctor is nerve-racking. No one wants to receive a skin cancer or pre-cancer diagnosis. However, dermatology is one field where it is absolutely true that it is much easier to treat a disease when it is caught early than after it has progressed. If a growth is caught at the AK stage, often surgery can be avoided with one of several non-invasive treatments.
April 2018
EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section
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Personal Care Community the way it used to be Brought to you by: Hearthstone One inclusive fee. No levels of care and a 2 year rent Guarantee. All this to simplify your life! Does it seem like your loved one’s need for care is continually changing along with the cost associated with that care? Are you caught off guard with additional expenses during these tough economic times? Are you questioning how long you will be able to afford quality care for someone that means so much to you? Finding the right mix of “peace of mind” and economic value for the services rendered to a frail loved one can be a difficult situation. Often times, families searching for care for a loved one are lured in with incentives such as special introductory rates and waived entrance fees. Only to find that considerations for specific care weren’t accounted for causing additional fees quickly escalating the overall cost of care. To avoid surprise expenses it is imperative that families carefully explore all options available. This can seem to be a daunting task but in the end the security of knowing your care choice is
one that you can feel good about long term is the worth the extra effort. A move can be hard on an aging loved one, every effort made to assure it is a positive long term decision will be worth it. Hearthstone Personal Care Community prides itself on easing this process by providing peace of mind and financial certainty for our families thru transparency of care at one simple all-inclusive rate. From the time that you enter our doors you will feel the warmth and compassion that is an integral part of daily life here. Our team values each person’s individuality and their personal needs with the respect that each person deserves. We work to enhance the life of each individual producing comfort and security. Come for a tour of our cozy, tranquil assisted living community located in the heart of Roswell. We are a small 24 suite property providing the utmost in personal care and attention for your loved one and all for one low monthly fee of $2895 with only the addition of supportive care for residents requiring assistance with incontinence issues. Come home to peace of mind, come home to Hearthstone.
Intimate personal care home community in the heart of Roswell with a ranch style home-like setting and 24 personalized suites.
Hands-on Local Ownership 3 Home Cooked Meals Daily Weekly Housekeeping, Laundry and Linen Service Medication Supervision On-site Physician Care
Come Home to Hearthstone 350 Market Place | Roswell, GA 30075
770-552-1091 | www.hearthstoneofroswell.com
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Vickery Rose Retirement Resort Imagine coming home to a warm, friendly community that’s luxurious, safe and comfortable. Maintenance and housekeeping included, and every meal of the day is expertly prepared and pleasing to the palette. With all the work done, you have time for family, friends and the important things in life. That can be your life at Vickery Rose Retirement Resort. Designed for your comfort, our community will feature studios, to 3-bedroom apartments with a variety of floor plans and smart details. Each apartment will feature window coverings, climate-controlled thermostat, ceiling fans, and ample closet space. Our kitchens will be fully equipped with a dishwasher, range, microwave, refrigerator and a garbage disposal. Washer/dryer hook-ups are located in a separate laundry closet within the apartment. Our professional staff will provide as-needed maintenance repairs and light housekeeping on a weekly basis. Vickery Rose’s stunning main dining room is the perfect setting to savor meals prepared fresh daily by the chefs in our state-of-the-art commercial
kitchen. Experience our signature Freedom Dining program, which includes flexible dining hours throughout the day, plus these dining experience options: • Fine dining • Casual buffet • Chef’s Pantry on-the-go snacks • Room service Residents can access to on-site banking, salon, general store, and pharmacy services. Through our 24/7 concierge services, everything you need will be available at the touch of a button, even scheduled transportation on our shuttle. Relax by the fireplace in our community lounges, or a night of movies or live entertainment in the 150-seat theater. At Vickery Rose, there will be no shortage of social activities. Our community Lifestyle Directors consistently schedule unique activities designed to meet the resident’s requests. Ultimately, companionship and interaction with others are powerful tools to enjoy retirement and with so many entertaining options and the caring community staff on hand, Vickery Rose brings residents together.
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Village Park of Alpharetta is now open for tours Special thanks to the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon cutting ceremony on March 15th. Village Park is in the final pre-leasing phase and just waiting on the licensing from the Georgia Department of Community Health to begin moving residents into their new homes. Located on the corner of Webb Bridge Road and
Morris Road, Village Park is a 128 unit community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Moving can be stressful and choosing a senior community can feel overwhelming. That’s why Village Park provides a family environment to meet all care needs in a building that offers all the comforts of a small community including
health and wellness, social events, restaurant-style dining, maintenance free, housekeeping, transportation, beauty salon, and a continual focus on individualized care plans to meet your needs. Call Village Park at (678) 740-3499 to stop by, meet the staff, and tour the next level in senior living! And check out our resident stories at www. villageparkseniorliving.com.
Discover a new class in senior living – exclusive to Village Park — that combines the community and character of a private neighborhood with the culture and convenience of a modern city center. Stop by today to see what’s new in senior living.
Reimagine what’s next.
VILLAGE PARK nowshowing open ALPHARETTA now 12300 Morris Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-740-3499
Bungalows Cottages Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care villageparkseniorliving.com
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Vacation and family reunions approaching Is it time to have “the conversation?” Most families will agree, it is never easy for anyone to begin the conversation. And yet knowing those wishes will be a critical guide for you to help your loved ones through the many decisions that you may have to make. According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 82% of people say it’s important to put their wishes in writing, but only 7% have actually done it. It is always too soon until it’s too late. That is why it is so important to discuss the “What Ifs.” Co-founders of NexSeason Transitions Lisa Wilson and Sherri Selman bring to their business the personal experience of handling sudden health crises in their families and navigating all the issues that entails. “We understand that discussing the future can be overwhelming,” says co-founder Sherri Selman, “which is
Your first choice for second to none care. Call or visit us online to set up a tour today! (770) 824-3885 www.at-johnscreek.com 3180 Karen White Dr. Suwanee, GA 30024
why we designed our business to assist our clients through every aspect of the planning process.” NexSeason Transitions offers turnkey solutions, alleviating the confusion and stress family members can experience through the transition process. Their signature Concierge Level Service Coordination provides clients with all the resources they will need, together in one place. “If families can take the time this summer to have the ‘What Ifs’ conversation, the peace of mind they will feel later will be well worth it, not only for the loved one involved but for the whole family,” says co-founder Lisa Wilson.
Are you caring for someone with dementia? Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek is offering an opportunity for the public to come to a Dementia Training Session. ATJC professionals will share experiences, guide discussions, address your concerns, and answer the many common questions: Is this dementia or just old age forgetfulness? If it is dementia, when should the move to a safer environment with 24hour oversight be considered? What do we look for in choosing a memory care community?
Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek is an exemplary resort-style community that offers beautiful apartments for Seniors at every stage of their care needs. Families love the peace-of-mind that comes from knowing their loved ones are exceptionally well cared for. Ask us about our newly furnished memory care suites. Call Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek at 770-999-9577 to inform us you’d like to attend this first meeting. The meeting is Tuesday, May 8th at 5:30 p.m.
April 2018
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5 easy ways to relax and recharge on a boat this summer (BPT) - Looking to get away from the daily grind this summer? The answer may be to leave your stress on land and take those summer plans on the water. Four in five Americans say being around water relaxes them, and 72 percent feel healthier after spending time on the water, according to a Discover Boating survey. Americans are working longer hours, dealing with stress and constantly connected to technology, with just 46 percent taking their full vacation time, according to Project Time Off’s 2017 study, The State of American Vacation. One easy solution? Get on the water and go boating. Whether close to home or on vacation, being on, in or near the water is good for you. In fact, the human brain consists of 75 percent water, so when you see or hear water it triggers the brain to react positively, according to Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, marine biologist and author of Blue Mind, a bestselling novel on the scientific connection between water and happiness. What’s more, boating is more accessible than you may think. In fact, more than 142 million Americans go boating each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “Modern technology can make it more difficult to fully disconnect and relax, and boating is one of the few activities that can take you away from daily distractions to a place where you can reconnect with friends and family, relax and enjoy the outdoors,” says Carl Blackwell, president of Discover Boating. There are easy ways to get on the water, no matter where you are or whether your interests lie in fishing, watersports, sailing, personal watercraft or simply cruising with loved ones. Use these five tips to help you find your way on the water this summer. Join a boat club. Find a boat club near you to access a versatile fleet of boats. You’ll pay a monthly fee and be
able to book your time on the water online. Most boat clubs take care of docking, cleaning and maintenance, with members responsible for fuel. Plus, most offer boat training courses as part of the membership. Rent a boat. Rental options are available on most waterways and provide hourly, daily or weekly access to a variety of boat types. Rental outfitters give tutorials on operating a boat, share safety instructions and offer suggestions on destinations. Another rental option new to market is peer-to-peer rentals, where you can locate boats online by entering your zip code, allowing you to rent someone else’s boat, which usually includes insurance and captains for hire to help you set sail. Charter a trip. Explore new waters and experience the boating lifestyle by chartering a boat trip with family or friends. Chartering offers several options - bareboat (with no captain) or crewed (with captain and crew), and can be as short as a few days or weeks long. Pick your preferences and get your feet wet. Take a class. Sign up for a boating lesson to hone your powerboating, sailing or watersports skills by mastering the basics while having fun along the way. On-water training courses, watersports camps, youth boating programs and more are offered across the U.S. Float your own boat. Chart your own course to boat ownership by visiting DiscoverBoating.com, where you’ll find a boat selector and loan calculator tool to help determine your budget and identify types of boats that fit your lifestyle and interests. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, the site can connect you with manufacturers whose boats best fit your needs and wants. Get off the dock and climb aboard a boat this summer by using DiscoverBoating.com’s Go Boating Today interactive tool - just enter your zip code to find boat clubs, rentals or charters close to home.
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The Memory Center
Do You Provide Care for Someone With Dementia or Alzheimer’s?
You’re invited to our upcoming events! Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser for The Dementia Spotlight Foundation – Fri., April 27th • 5:30pm
$10 for adult tickets in advance and $5 for children. Tickets are more at the door, call to reserve your space.
Aging Well Workshop – Tues., May 8th • 3pm - 5pm
This free event benefits both seniors and adult children. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com
Space is limited, please RSVP to 770-476-3678 or michelleh@thememorycenter.com
12050 Findley Rd., Johns Creek, GA 30097 (Behind Emory Johns Creek Hospital)
Overwhelmed with the thought of moving into a smaller home and downsizing? Imagine if you were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other type of dementia and your family was going to move you into a memory care community. Leaving a home you have lived in for a long period of time can cause anxiety, stress and sadness. When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other type of dementia and you are the one making the decision to move them into a community, it can be hard to decide what they should bring to their new home. At The Memory Center Atlanta, we want our residents to be as comfortable in their new home as possible. Families are encouraged to bring their own furnishings, treasures and to decorate their loved ones room as much or as little as they want. When moving into memory care communities you want to make
sure that the items you bring are safe, in good condition and still bring joy to your loved one. Photographing the placement of where items are located in the rooms at home can help when preparing the new location for your loved one. Having a family member or friend take your loved one out the day of the move will allow you to prepare the room ahead of their arrival and will make their transition more successful. The Admissions Director will assist with the plan on the day of the move and they will guide you through the process. For more information on moving a loved one into memory care and how to have a successful transition, call The Memory Center Atlanta at 770-4763678. Located at 12050 Findley Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30097 (Directly behind Emory Johns Creek Hospital and next to the old City Hall building).
Setting The Record Straight:
Common myths about vacation rentals (NAPSI)—Vacation rental homes are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, 89 percent of travelers who have never rented a vacation home before would consider it, according to a recent study. However, popular misconceptions prevent some people from doing so. Here are a few facts that can help. Myth #1: More space = a higher price tag. Many travelers assume vacation rentals are more expensive than traditional lodging. Think again: When you break down the price per night and per room compared to traditional accommodations, vacation rentals typically offer better value—plus, you get added living areas. Rental homes can also prove more cost effective when you average in all the convenient amenities, such as kitchens to save money on meals, or washers and dryers to cut down on baggage fees because you can pack less. Myth #2: I need to have a large group. Vacation rental homes come in all shapes and sizes, from studio units and condos in resort-style communities to larger, private homes with four or more bedrooms. Solo travelers, couples and families alike can enjoy rental homes for the convenience and can find the rightsized home for their needs. Myth #3: I have to stay for at least a week. Many vacation rental homes offer flexibility when it comes to length of stay. Travelers can often find rentals for weekend stays, especially during off-peak travel periods. Myth #4: You have to book far in advance. There is no set time frame for booking a rental home before your trip. While booking further in advance can give you a greater selection to choose from, there are often great last-minute deals in many popular vacation destinations for those who can’t plan as far ahead. Myth #5: If I need help, I’m on my own. This one depends on how you book your rental home. If you book directly with a homeowner through a listing site, you will have to work out any issues directly with the owner. However, if you book through a professional manager, such as Wyndham Vacation Rentals, there is someone available 24/7 to assist you and to serve as a liaison between you and the property owner. Wyndham even offers a “Vacation Rental Bill of Rights” that assures travelers that their expectations will be met. Learn more about vacation rentals at www.VacationDifferently.com. The travel resource offers great tips on family travel, ideas for vacation rental accommodations, and inspiration on a different way to travel.
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Three new luxury 55+ communities Brought to you by: Kathy Rice, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Longleaf Communities is the premier luxury homebuilder for active 55+ adults in metro Atlanta. Their spectacular, English Cottage style homes and communities are designed to meet the lifestyle needs Rice and wishes of active seniors while providing low maintenance living. With three convenient locations, Longleaf Communities provides things other Active Adult communities provide: proximity to area attractions and life necessities, low maintenance and ease of living, a lock and go lifestyle and neighborhood amenities. With a Longleaf home, you can have all that plus the distinguished architecture, attention to detail and superb craftsmanship you’re accustomed to. Our elegant homes feature airy floor plans with lofty 10-foot ceilings
and solid 8-foot doors outfitted with generous millwork throughout. Choose from a variety of custom cabinetry for your designer kitchen and select your preferred finishes for your designer bath. All of our homes feature two main floor bedrooms, each with a full bath
and laundry on the main. The upstairs includes a finished loft, additional full bath and the option to add another bedroom for more livable space to welcome guests.Longleaf currently has 3 communities: Village Green of East Cobb in Marietta, Longleaf Woodstock
in Cherokee County and Longleaf Battle Park in West Cobb. Our thoughtful floor plans and Longleaf’s reputation for superior craftsmanship are what makes Longleaf the luxury builder of active adult communities. www.longleafsouth. com (678) 697-4984
Battle Park • East Cobb • Woodstock 678.523.7063
THREE NEW LUXURY 55+ COMMUNITIES
Marketing and Sales by Atlanta FIne Homes Sotheby’s International Realty - 770.442.7300. © All Rights Reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information contained herein is believed to be accurate but is not warranted and is subject to change without notice.
678.523.4872
678.525.0823
Call today for a private tour.
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LONGLEAFSOUTH.COM
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