Appen Media Group
July Special Section
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2 | July 2022 | AppenMedia.com
Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs Specializing in Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplement Plans Serving North Atlanta Seniors for More Than 10 Years Representing Most Medicare Insurance Companies • Experienced Medicare Insurance Broker • Provides Personalized Plan Analysis Paige Gorman Agent
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770.315.8145
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Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs Specializing in Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplement Plans Serving North Atlanta Seniors for More Than 10 Years Representing Most Medicare Insurance Companies • Experienced Medicare Insurance Broker • Provides Personalized Plan Analysis Jay Looft Owner/Agent
• Annual Plan Updates, Including Upcoming Trends • No Cost to Use Our Services
770.913.6464
www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com
Two important Medicare Advantage features you should review Brought to you by – Jay Looft, Medicare Insurance Broker, SeniorSource Medicare Solutions July serves as a good time for a “midyear review” of your Medicare Advantage insurance. Which features of your plan have worked well so far? Which have not? Check out the plan’s Summary of Benefits to make sure you know your copay amounts and that you are using all the plan has to offer. These benefits could include dental, vision, hearing aid, over-the-counter drug program, and commonly, a gym membership. Reach out to us if you need your plan’s Summary of Benefits mailed or emailed to you. While studying the Summary of Benefits booklet, notice two key features: the maximum-out-of-pocket limit and the specifics on the hospital/ doctor network. The MOOP (max-out-of-pocket) limit
is the maximum amount of money you would spend on medical service copays and coinsurances in a calendar year. Most Medicare Advantage plan members will not reach the MOOP often, or at all, but you want to know this “worst case scenario” amount if you start using more medical services. The highest a MOOP can be in 2022 on Medicare Advantage plans for in-network services is $7,550, though there are plans that have lower amounts. A few things to remember: copays and coinsurance from prescription drugs do not count toward the MOOP, and the MOOP is not a deductible. Along with knowing your plan’s MOOP, think about where you would like to receive your healthcare, now and in the future. If you typically stay local to get healthcare treatment, an HMO style plan might fit your needs. But, if you might want to get treatment in another state you may wish to go with a PPO style plan that will provide national coverage. Some PPO plans now have even more flexibility with in and out of network copays equaling the same amount. Reviewing and comparing these Medicare Plan features can be overwhelming. That’s why we are here for you! Give us a call at (770) 913-6464 or check us out online www.seniorsourcemedicare.com for our no cost Medicare insurance help. Also, we are looking for insurance agents who would like to specialize in Medicare insurance with us. Give us a call today to discuss this opportunity!
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Gracious Interdependence A Word of Advice from Clarissa Rice
Brought to you by – Village Park Senior Living We enter into July celebrating independence to its fullest. However, as we age we tend to lose various components of our independence. Former counselor and Village Park Senior Living resident, Clarissa Rice, is well known throughout the community for her guidance. Recently, she shared her take on how to maintain your dignity and become graciously interdependent. Here is what she has to say. “All of us are trying to become and to remain independent, which is the ability to control or govern ourselves to be self-reliant. We often think that dependence, relying on others for support or aid, is a sign of weakness or not admirable. There is another way of relating and that is to become interdependent: the ability to depend on one another or mutual dependence. Interdependence assumes that each person can stand alone but at times can lean on others when needed or desired. As seniors, we are aware that we are losing some of our independence, that we are having to rely or lean on others more often for help. Many times we feel angry or ashamed to be burdens on others, especially family. If we are fiercely independent, it is even worse. We have a very hard time accept-
ing help graciously. We fight against this acceptance because it makes us feel too vulnerable or too weak. We are afraid of losing control. We are used to being the strong ones or very proud and don’t want to be burdens on others. No matter your age, let us all work on the ability to be interdependent or mutually dependent. There is strength in the ability to accept help or advice when needed and also to be able to stand alone as necessary. It is a given that most of us who are lucky enough to reach our 80s and 90s will eventually need to accept more help. We don’t emphasize often enough how learning to trust others and seek assistance when needed are valuable life skills. It is also a sign of good mental health to realistically accept our place in life and make the necessary adaptations. Moving to a senior center is one step in the continuous adjustment we make in life along the way. Congratulations to us for seeking out a lifestyle w ere we can both remain as independent as possible and receive the assistance we eventually may need. Our goal must be to remain as independent as we can for as long as we can in as many areas as we can before becoming burdens to our families. Then, our hope should be that we can lean on others graciously and gratefully receiving the assistance we may need and
Bungalows & Cottages City Homes Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care Village Park Milton 555 Wills Road Alpharetta, GA 30009 470.509.4557
Village Park Alpharetta 12300 Morris Road Alpharetta, GA 30005 678.740.3499
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most certainly deserve.” At the intersection of passion and purpose, Clarissa Rice’s words of guidance continue to be shared throughout Village Park communities. Share your thoughts and ideals with a community that cares by calling our senior living consultants at (770) 416-0502. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Alopecia Areata –
From hair loss to hope Brought to you by – Brent Taylor, MD Imagine that you are a young person in today’s social media blanketed culture. Filters and editing software make everyone’s everything seem better than reality. Despite trying to base your selfworth in your character and actions, it can be hard to ignore the constant flood of appearance-focused filtered media…. Consider this, and then imagine that you develop alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a hair loss disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles – the part of the skin that grows hair. Different patterns of hair loss can occur. Sometimes, the entire scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and other hair is affected. Sometimes hair grows back, but sometimes one is constantly affected by partial or total baldness. The emotional impact of hair loss is real. Some people affected by alopecia areata are able to hide their bald patches with wigs or extensions. Others choose to shave their heads, make constant use of hats or juggle questions about their hair or lack thereof. Exercise, dating, job interviews, and even daily errands pose challenges and can result in embarrassment and heartache. A recent assault of comedian Chris Rock by actor Will Smith brought alopecia into the mainstream news. Although Mr. Smith’s assault was unacceptable, the depression, anxiety and identity-altering effects of hair loss are often underestimated. Alopecia areata has no universally effective treatment. Patients often receive reasonably effective steroid injections for mild disease or platelet rich plasma
injections (PRP) for stubborn areas. For more severe cases, a host of often ineffective treatments have traditionally been attempted before patients are left deciding whether to live openly or hide their condition. For severe alopecia areata, available treatment options were bleak. But as of June 2022, there is new hope for severe alopecia areata. Olumiant is the first FDA-approved medication for treatment of severe alopecia areata (>50% scalp hair loss). One third of trial participants experienced >80% hair regrowth. One third might not sound like much but is a great stride forward compared to previous treatment options. Olumiant is a JAK inhibitor. It works by stopping proteins called Janus kinase (JAK) from functioning. JAK proteins are important in some parts of the immune system including in some white blood cells that cause alopecia areata. JAK inhibitors such as Olumiant carry a slew of potential side-effects and black box warnings that have to be carefully considered. But, for many people, the psychological and physical effects of living with severe alopecia areata make the potential rewards worth the risks. We all want to be healthy and to present our healthiest self to the world. A positive of social media is that awareness of conditions such as alopecia areata is easier than ever to share, and news of recently approved treatments spreads faster than ever. After decades of waiting, individuals with alopecia areata finally have the first FDA approved treatment and a new ray of hope.
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Alpharetta’s best gets even better this summer
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Brought to you by – Inspired Living at Alpharetta “Being a part of the Alpharetta community for the past five years has been an absolute blessing”, stated Lindsey Hacker, President of Inspired Living. “We have been able to help so many families discover the benefits of senior living and have watched lives changed. We truly have the best jobs supporting seniors and providing a warm environment in which they can thrive.” Inspired Living at Alpharetta has been a staple in the Alpharetta community for past five years providing Assisted Living and Memory Care support services to those families looking for a better way of living in their senior years. The community features studio suites, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes complete with tile floors, rich wood cabinets, granite countertops, kitchenettes, and great storage. Along with spacious apartment homes, the community also offer residents wonderful amenities including formal and casual dining rooms, fitness center, wellness center with available therapy services, Falcon’s pool hall, game room, card room, movie theater and salon. Every resident that comes to live at Inspired Living at Alpharetta partners with the team to complete a full life assessment in which they discuss everything
from care to lifestyle preferences, so together, they can develop a personalized life plan. Each resident has an individual story to tell, and Inspired Living is here to listen and build a life within their community that delivers respect, comfort, care and happiness. Inspired Living has the great honor in caring for Moms and Dads. They feel it is their moral obligation to do everything in their power to remove obstacles and provide thoughtful solutions that have lasting impact in people’s lives. The team has been fully vetted and collectively shares decades of knowledge and experience they bring to all aspects of senior living. Inspired Livings greatest assets are their people. The dedicated sons and daughters, and, mothers and fathers, that have chosen to be a part of this “inspired” journey and give back compassion, comfort, and peace to their residents every day. The community welcomes you to schedule a tour and it would be their pleasure to provide you a complimentary lunch for two with a wine pairing. They also have outstanding summer specials on select apartment homes so if you have been considering a move to senior living, now is the best time to do it. To you schedule your tour and lunch, please call 770.629.8431. For more information on our community, please visit www.inspiredliving.care.
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