Empty Nest, May 2015 by Appen Media Group

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For your ears and your world By Dr. Deborah Woodward Can you imagine being able to stream the sounds from your iPhones and iPads directly into hearing devices that NO ONE else can see? What if you could answer or make phone calls and clearly hear the person on the other end through both ears? The marvels of technology have made these scenarios possible to create a seamless connection to a world filled with sounds. More than 36 million Americans experience hearing challenges in various environments and situations - a frustrating disadvantage to those affected. Forget about what you think you know about hearing devices up to now. You will be AMAZED at how smart, how helpful, and how transforming better hearing can now be. “As an audiologist for almost 24 years, it is both exciting and overwhelming to stay on top of the latest advances in hearing technology. It is a very fulfilling time to be in a profession that is truly transforming people’s lives by connecting them to the world in a way that others take for granted” says Dr. Deborah Woodward. “Another leap forward has been the very successful extended wear option.” These devices are invisible to others, worn 24/7 for months at a time, and have no batteries to change. If you have a mild to moderate hearing loss, this cutting edge option may be right for you. As the local community’s leading link to better

hearing over the past 17 years, Dr. Deborah Woodward and her staff at the Johns Creek Audiology and Hearing Center have successfully led thousands of hearing challenged patients to a more enjoyable and fulfilling life. Dr. Woodward offers patients not only improved day to day communication, but also the solutions to those challenging listening environments such as restaurants, group meetings, phone communication, and yes, that age old argument between spouses on the “correct” loudness of the television volume. Countless devices and services are now being marketed to assist the hearing challenged but like fingerprints, no two ears are the same. Consulting with an audiologist is an absolute must. The “one model fits all” bought from a magazine or website has the potential to actually add MORE damage to your current hearing profile. If in need of help, you can rely on the expertise of a Doctor of Audiology and a Center with a proven TRUST record to help plan your personal and unique solution to “better” hearing. The Johns Creek Audiology and Hearing Center is known for their competitive pricing along with award winning service. They can also provide diagnostic testing for hearing disorders, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, and ear wax management. All major insurance plans are accepted and no interest finance plans are offered. Call (770)814-1260 to schedule YOUR life changing appointment

General Practice – Customized Healthcare. “We focus on individualized care and personal relationships with 24/7 access to physicians.” Now offering a 30 day no cost trial period! Call today, 678-254-2333. Dr. Michael Bianco D.O.

• Same or next day appointments • Extended, unhurried visits • Annual executive physical, advanced lab work & 12 lead EKG • 24/7 access to online medical records

Dr. Shelley Bianco D.O.

• Quick response from physician or support staff • Nutrition counseling • Internal Medicine practice, disease prevention/management

12315 Crabapple Road, Suite 108 • Alpharetta GA 30004 (in the Silos Plaza next to Alpine Bakery & Atlanta Fitness)

BIANCO PRIMARY CARE

We are accepting new patients. Call us today to see how personal healthcare can be.

Phone: 678-254-2333 www.BiancoPrimaryCare.com

*Affordable annual membership fee keeps volume low so doctors have time to listen. Limited volume practice so patients get the time they need (10 times less patients than a normal primary care practice)

May 2015

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Beat the heat this summer with Alpha Family Medicine a senior helpers caregiver! The heat of summer is here and it is an important time to review some vital safety tips for seniors. Seniors are more prone to the effects of heat and at greater risk for dehydration. According to the CDC, elderly people are more at risk because: Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature. Seniors are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat. They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration. Senior Helpers is here to help keep your loved one safe and Beat the Heat this summer! Call Senior Helpers today for more Summertime Tips and to set-up additional care for your elderly loved one, 770-442-2154. Be aware of signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Call Senior Helpers for more information, tips and warning signs. Summertime tips to Beat the Heat; 1- Try to plan activities that require going outside during non-peak hours when it might be a little cooler. 2- Move exercise indoors. Consider exercising at a gym, walking on a treadmill, or “mall walking” instead of outdoor walks or activities. 3- Swimming and water aerobics are good options as well. 4- Drink plenty of fluids (non-alco-

holic, caffeine-free as these ingredients have a diuretic effect). 5-Check your loved one’s air conditioning system, do a maintenance review. If electricity goes out or your loved one does not have air conditioning, hodgson consider alternative arrangements when heat is at dangerous levels. 6- Call Senior Helpers for more tips 770-442-2154. Be aware of signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The most common signs of dehydration in the elderly are thirst, confusion, irritability and poor skin elasticity. Keeping hydrated on a regular basis is the most important preventative measure, and individuals should be encourage to drink fluids even when not thirsty as thirst may not be triggered until already dehydrated. Heat and dehydration may make seniors more prone to dizziness and falls and can cause/ increase confusion. This summer heat can be draining and difficult for all of us, but especially so for Seniors! Don't let this heat do any harm to your elderly loved one, call Senior Helpers to set-up a caregiver to provide extra care at 770-442-2154. Senior Helpers is Family Owned and Managed since 2006.

Are you having a hard time finding a primary care doctor? According to a recent report by the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, the state ranked 39th in the ratio of doctors per 100,000 population. The doctor shortage continues to limit patients’ access to care and is most critical in primary care. Some doctors have stopped taking new patients altogether. If you do find a doctor that will accept you as a new patient, you may still have to wait if you want to schedule a routine visit. If you are on Medicare or Medicaid you might not be able to find a doctor and may have to visit the emergency room. In which case, you will have to wait and may not see the same doctor again. There is a solution – the best time to find a new primary care doctor is when a new practice opens. You need to sign up early on, even if it’s for a routine physical. Most insurances pay for a physical once a year without requiring any co-pay. If you sign up early on, the doctor will be familiar with your medical history and it will be easier to get an appointment later on when you have a medical condition. You need to sign up before the doctor stops accepting new patients! Fortunately, for residents of North Atlanta, signing up with an experienced primary care doctor just got easier with the opening of a new clinic in Alpharetta. Alpha Family Medicine is a primary care clinic that specializes in Family and Geriatric Medicine for all ages – children, adults and elders. The clinic is centrally located on North

Main Street (Highway 9), close to City Hall. Currently, the clinic is accepting new patients. You can walk-in or schedule a same day appointment with the Doctor. Or if you cannot make it during office hours, you can schedule an appointment for early mornings late evenings, or weekends. The clinic is operated by Shyla Reddy, MD and her medical staff. Dr. Reddy has more than 15 years of primary care experience in Family & Geriatric Medicine. She is board certified in Family and Geriatric Medicine. She taught/supervised medical students and resident doctors in an university setting. She also obtained a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology from Emory University. To sign up as a new patient or to schedule an appointment, contact 678-619-1974 or visit www.alphafammed.com

It’s a new year... No insurance? No Problem • Alzheimer and Dementia Care • Transportation and Errands • Bathing, Dressing and Light Housekeeping • Fall Risk Care

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ALPHA FAMILY MEDICINE INC. ENHANCING LIFE & EXCELLING IN CARE

480 N. Main Steet, Suite 202 • Alpharetta, GA 30009

www.alphafammed.com • 678-619-1974

than those who lived farther away from green space. A geless Living Being in a natural setting can also help increase your quality of sleep, as studies show that natural sunlight Sponsored Section • EMPTY NEST 4 appenmediagroup.com helps set the body's internal clock that tells us when to eat and sleep, and normalizes hormonal functions that occur at specific times of the day.

May 2015

Operation– Ageless Living Bianco Primary Care By: Angela Butler-Hackett TRS

also help increase your quality of sleep, as studies show that natural sunlight helps set the body's internal clock that tells us when to eat and sleep, and normalizes hormonal functions that occur at specific times of the day. June is national great outdoors month. Take advantage of our outdoor activities and our walking path. Vitamin D improves our health including preventing cancer, hormonal problems, obesity, inflammation, and encourages a strong immune system. Because sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, we would encourage you to enjoy your time outdoors this month in moderation.

HEALTHY OFwe THE WEEK– This TIP month will focus on one of our Wellness Dimensions- enviJUNEronmental. IS NATIONAL GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH. TAKE It seems that just be-ing out in nature does your body, mind ADVANTAGE OF good. OURAccording OUTDOOR and soul some to a ACTIVITIES AND OUR 2009 study published in the jourWALKING PATH. VITAMIN D IMPROVES OUR HEALTH nal of epidemiology and community health, the closer you live to nature, INCLUDING PREVENTING CANCER, HORMONAL the healthier you're likely to be. People who lived within 1 kilometer PROBLEMS, OBESITY, INFLAMMATION, AND ENCOURAGES of a park or a wooded area experienced less anxiety and depression A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM. BECAUSE SUNLIGHT IS A than those who lived farther away from green space. OF VITAMIN D, WE WOULD NATURAL SOURCE Being in a natural setting can ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENJOY YOUR TIME OUTDOORS THIS MONTH IN MODERATION. ANGELA BUTLER-HACKETT TRS

Exceptional Senior Living

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As medical students, husband and wife Drs. Michael and Shelley Bianco saw a problem emerging in healthcare. Time after time they heard their physician preceptors tell patients that there was only time to discuss one health concern during appointments. With costs growing and reimbursements from insurance and Medicare shrinking, doctors are being forced to see more patients each day. The practice of medicine has become quantity focused rather than quality focused. Drs. Michael and Shelley Bianco want to change this. Bianco Primary Care is a new type of general practice that gives doctors and patients more time together. This time allows patients the ability to talk with their doctor about health concerns without feeling rushed. They are able to take the time to listen, to develop a personal relationship with their patients and to offer more than just an additional prescription. This caliber of care is delivered within the concierge or subscription model of primary care. In this type of medical practice, patients pay an annual fee that guarantees them more time with their physician. This fee, about the cost of a daily Starbucks coffee, allows

the physician to have a smaller patient pool for their practice, giving them the ability to see fewer patients in the day and spend more time with those patients. Joining a concierge medical practice restores the strong doctor-patient relationship that many of us can still remember. Becoming a patient of Bianco Primary Care means same day or next day appointments that start on-time, having access to your doctor by phone or email 24/7, and developing a personal relationship with your doctor. Additionally, Drs. Michael and Shelley Bianco offer nutrition counseling, coordination with specialists and house-calls. Bianco Primary Care is accepting new patients, call for a 30 day no cost trial with Bianco Primary Care.

Trouble Hearing?

Hear More. Anywhere. Anytime. Exceptional Schedule your Service, Care personal tour TODAY! and Amenities 770.622.6880

Hearing begins with YOU See how easy it is to transform your quality of life! Schedule an appointment today and let us empower you with a hearing solution as individual as you are. Dr. Deborah Woodward Doctor of Audiology

IIndependent and Assisted Lifestyles A 3 3315 Peachtree Ind. Blvd. D Duluth, GA 30096 www.parcatduluth.com w td l th

770-814-1260

4045 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite B • Johns Creek, GA 30024 www.YourHearingLink.com

May 2015

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Restore your vision – refresh your appearance Our eyelids play a vital role in the normal function of our eyes and maintenance of clear vision. First, the eyelids are a physical barrier that shields the ocular surface from the damaging environment. Second, the motion of the eyelids allow for the even spread of our tears over the surface of our eyes necessary for optimal visual clarity. And finally, the eyelids define the overall aesthetic of the face and convey our emotion and mood. Eyelid dermatochalasis or “eyelid bagginess” is related to stretching and thinning of the eyelid skin. This often affects both the upper and lower eyelids giving a puffy or wrinkled appearance. At times, the excess skin can rest on or over your eyelashes interfering with your vision. Other common complaints include eyelid redness or itchiness, tearing, or headache. Women often note difficulty applying and maintaining eye make-up, such as mascara, eyeliner or eye shadow. This condition can be significantly improved with an easy outpatient surgical procedure. Your evaluation with Dr. Sajja would determine if the procedure is covered by your medical insurance.

In addition, Dr. Sajja has considerable experience in cosmetic concerns of the eyelids and face employing advanced sajja surgical techniques and facial injectables, such as Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®, Juvederm® XC, Radiesse®, Belotero®, and Restylane®. Dr. Sajja will perform a detailed evaluation and provide recommendations to allow you to achieve a balanced, youthful and energetic result. Patients often elect to combine functional eyelid correction with cosmetic procedures to help turn back the clock and restore a more healthy and vibrant appearance. Dr. Sajja has a unique blend of experience, compassion and artistry that he shares with each and every patient. With the addition of Dr. Sajja, Milan Eye Center will expand the unsurpassed level of care and services provided to the North Atlanta community. Milan Eye Center has four convenient locations around North Atlanta: Johns Creek, Cumming, Canton, and Bu-

ford. Milan Eye Center is a premier ophthalmology practice and is affiliated with Atlanta's finest hospitals including Northside Forsyth, Northside Cherokee, and Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Dr. Sajja is accepting new patients at all Milan Eye Center locations. Please call 678381-2020 or visit our website at milaneyecenter.com for more information on Dr. Sajja and to schedule your consultation today.

Rejuvenate Your Vision and Look. Do You Suffer From

Droopy Eyelids? Symptoms: • Eyelid heaviness and bagginess • Headaches due to lifting of forehead • Tearing • Decrease in peripheral vision • Tilting of your head to see properly Services Offered: • Upper/Lower Lid Blepharoplasty • Browlift • Ptosis Repair • Ectropion/Entropion Repair • Eyelid / Facial Spasms • Tear Duct Surgery

Appen Media Group

Empty Nest

Monthly Special Section

Advertising DEADLINE: 3rd Tuesday of every month 2013 and 2014

Kiran Sajja, M.D.

Oculoplastic Surgeon

For your convenience Dr. Sajja will see patients on Saturdays beginning August 1st!

Call to reserve your advertising now. 770-442-3278 x100

Learn more: milaneyecenter.com | Call for a consultation: 470-326-0330

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