Empty Nest – October 2021 by Appen Media Group

Appen Media Group

October Special Section

2 | October 2021 | NorthFulton.com | ForsythHerald.com

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Somerby Sandy Springs Is a Special Place to Call Home Brought to you by – Bridge Senior Living Home is more than a physical place, it’s a feeling. It’s friendship. It’s knowing that you belong. At Somerby Sandy Springs, nothing makes us happier than hearing our residents call this community home. It means that we’ve created something very special, and we would love to share it with you and your family. Somerby Sandy Springs is conveniently located right outside of Atlanta on six acres of beautiful land. The community is easily accessible for family members to visit and enjoy activities in Atlanta. Here at Somerby Sandy Spring, our associates are dedicated to helping residents live healthy, joyous and meaningful lives. Our community is designed to support the needs of a wide range of seniors. Even if your care needs change, we’ll be here for you. We offer the following levels of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. Somerby Sandy Springs has a broad range of amenities that features delicious, full-service fine dining, a bistro and social cafe, a library, a media lounge, a salon and spa, concierge healthcare, state-of-the-art health and wellness center and more. We also provide pet-friendly features because we know that your furry friends are family too. Our mission is to inspire and nurture successful living every day — with the inspiration to keep you thriving long into your golden years. At Somerby Sandy Springs, we support your zest for life. Our residents, families and associates come together in these special communities to create a place that is full of life. Is Somerby Sandy Springs your future home? Come experience our community for yourself. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 800-774-8452.

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Are there any changes to my medicare plan? Brought to you by – Jay Looft, Medicare Insurance Broker, SeniorSource Medicare Solutions The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is here! Almost two weeks into the Medicare AEP, the most common question we seem to get is “Are there any changes to my plan?” It is important to remember that from one year to the next, your plan will almost always change in some way. For instance, your insurance carrier could lower or raise a hospital copay, change the prescription formulary, or come out with new plan options all together. Every insurance carrier must physically mail you these changes for the upcoming year in a booklet called the Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC for short. If you have not received your ANOC, contact your insurance carrier to request one or contact us through our website at www.SeniorSourceMedicare. com/contact-seniorsource/ and we would be happy to provide you with a booklet on your plan changes. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (also referred to as a Medicare Plan) or a Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), you should review the changes annually. You’ll usually hear from your Medicare Insurance Agent about major changes in the plans; but for more

specific changes, like changes to the prescription drug formulary, the insurance carrier would only notify the member and not the agent. Just remember to check your doctors, check your prescription drugs, and review your ANOC. By reviewing these three items, you’ll know whether you should allow your current plan to automatically renew or if it might be a better idea to look at changing to a new plan. Don’t go it alone! Analyzing Medicare Plans, and recognizing all the extra perks that go with them, can be overwhelming. We are Medicare insurance brokers that do all this for you, while keeping your specific needs in mind. Give us a call today at (770) 315-8145 or check us out online at www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com.

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Changing the Game Brought to you by – Village Park Whether you shout Roll Tide or Go Dawgs, one Village Park resident will surely have you saying War Eagle. Former Auburn Football All-American National Champion, Don Braswell says that stepping out on the field led him to scoring touchdowns throughout his life. There’s nothing like stepping foot onto the crisp green turf of a football field before game time. Although it’s been several years since he last played the game, Don Braswell recalls his moments as a player on Auburn University’s undefeated 1957 football team as if it happened yesterday. Don is affectionately known as ‘Coach’ by his friends and family and with good reason. Coach’s inspirational career with the Tigers has the ability to motivate anybody. Although having just one eye, Coach played guard for the historically undefeated team. Coach played football in junior high where his skills were quickly noticed. Initially, Coach was known for his speed but later his talents in defense shined through. He had a rare ability to successfully play both offense and defense. During football season, Coach says he

and his teammates gave it all they had. Although the practices were tough, and he endured various injuries, Coach says he enjoyed almost every minute of it. “It’s wonderful really,” Coach said. “You know, if you work enough a certain way, you got a chance to win and that is surely a fact.” His experiences at Auburn University taught him how to improve himself both physically and mentally. “You will feel the results,” Coach says. “Auburn proved that to me, that’s why it was so good.” His passion for the game continued after the season inevitably ended. After he finished playing the sport he loves, Coach became a coach. Coach became a role model and taught future football players for more than 35 years. His advice for future football players and coaches is simple yet, powerful. “You got to have a team to practice together,” Coach emphasizes. “You got to have some speed and you got to have some determination.” Teamwork, talent, and dedication are essential to any group of people’s success story. Coach Don Braswell was inducted into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and his knowledge and insight of

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the game he loves continues to carry through the players he coached. In spite of our best efforts and nudging, Coach still remains true to his Auburn roots and refuses to say ‘Roll Tide.’ Instead, with kindness and pride, he grinned and said ‘War Eagle.’ Coach’s legacy and memories has built lasting impressions. The stories he

and other residents at Village Park Senior Living share has inspired families, neighbors, and the people around them. Learn more about our communities by giving us a call at (470) 509-4557. Be sure to stay up to date with our residents and their stories by following us on social media at @VillageParkSeniorLiving. We look forward to seeing you!

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Premier Dermatology – Providing excellence. Every patient. Every time. Brought to you by - Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta Congratulations to Premier Dermatology and Mohs surgery of Atlanta for its fourth year in a row of being voted Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist of North Fulton! Since opening in 2017, Premier Dermatology has quickly become the go-to dermatology practice for quality and comprehensive dermatologic care. As in years past, I decided to sit down with Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C to get their take on their success and to learn a bit more about them. Alyssa: Hey you two! Thanks for meeting with me again. Winning the Best Dermatologist and Best Vein specialist for four years in a row means you must be doing something right! To what do you contribute your continued success? Dr. Taylor: Thank you! Well, I believe that my patients understand our sincerity and our dedication to their healthcare. Kathryn and I and our amazing team all honestly care about our patients and their wellbeing. I hope that that sincerity comes through during our interactions. We always strive to give our patients our complete attention and to learn more about an individual as a person as well as a patient. There are plenty of times when a patient brings something to our attention or when a case compels us to do additional research. Kathryn and I are constantly collaborating and advocating on our patients’ behalf. I believe that comes through. Kathryn: I agree with everything that Dr. Taylor said, our team really is wonderful. And we have received a lot of compliments that the practice has a personal and “boutique” feel, even as we deliver care that is scientific and academic. Alyssa: Dr. Taylor we all know that you are a board-certified dermatologist, and a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon. There is no doubt of your ability to skillfully handle dermatology and skin cancer patients. How many surgeries have you performed now? Dr. Taylor: Oh, probably over 10,000, but more important than the number is the type of cases that we are treating. I believe that we are one of the only practices in the state of Georgia that performs true Mohs surgery for melanoma on the face. Many of the surgeries that we perform are truly lifesaving, and I am proud of the type of work that we perform. Alyssa: How does varicose vein treatment fit into your practice and

what advancements did Kathryn Filipek bring? Dr. Taylor: We are beyond grateful for the addition of Kathryn! She really is a fantastic and knowledgeable provider. Most importantly, our skillsets really complement one another. For example, my focus in the vein clinic portion of our practice is on treating venous disease that results in leg swelling or pain, and Kathryn has years of experience performing aesthetically-focused cosmetic sclerotherapy. She brought PRP for hair rejuvenation to the practice as well as chemical peels and is a truly outstanding injector of Botox® and cosmetic fillers. The addition of another provider also means that we are frequently able to accommodate patients for same day or next day appointments. Alyssa: Well, I think that will help our readers understand more of what helps you both win Best Of year after year. But, as is now tradition, I thought we could ask a few casual questions to allow your readers get to know you both a little better. When you started working at Premier Dermatology, what surprised you? Brent: The administrative side of running a practice was more complicated than I had anticipated. I was not wearing rose-tinted glasses when we opened, but electronic medical records, government reporting, and the insurance-side of medicine all were more challenging than I expected. I want to thank all the patients who put up with the hiccups in the first two years for their understanding as we were working out some of the kinks. Kathryn: Prior to joining Premier Dermatology in early 2020, I had spent almost 19 years working in larger dermatology practice settings. In starting here, I was pleasantly surprised by the “family” feel of the practice and not only how close the staff were to each other, but how close some of the patients were to my current coworkers. It is comforting to be a part of a true “work family.” What are your pet peeves? Brent: I think most of my pet peeves involve reckless or aggressive driving. On the road, people all too often act like they see cars as obstacles rather than as fellow travelers. Kathryn: Expecting instant gratification without the willingness to do the work. I believe hard work is often necessary to achieve your goals. This is something I tell my kids about homework and

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Playing hide-and-seek is fun but…

Premier: Continued from Page 6 good grades, as well as my patients who often require a regular routine to maintain or improve their skin conditions. If your childhood had a smell, what would it have been? Brent: Blueberry pie and fresh cut grass. My grandfather had a blueberry and Christmas tree farm and my mom is a fantastic baker. I am beyond lucky to have been able to play outside all day, explore the farm, catch various critters then come inside to homemade desserts. I had a fantastic childhood. Kathryn: Basically, the outdoors in Michigan. Nose-closing crisp air in the winter, water (from the snow melting) in the spring, fresh grass and dirt or sap on my hands as a kid, and leaves in the fall (which basically ended in September for me.) What is the most ridiculous outfit you’ve ever worn? Brent: I once won a Halloween contest by dressing up as a bag of Jelly Belly jellybeans. My neighborhood Costco gave me a huge clear plastic bag, and I punched holes in it for my arms and legs and filled it up with dozens of different color balloons then taped a Jelly Belly logo across it. My costume was the hit

of the party, and nobody could get past me because I was seven feet wide. Kathryn: Anything in the 80’s. Don’t even ask about my hairstyle. Perms rocked! Lastly, if you could tell your 16-year-old self something, what would it be? Brent: To not put too much stock in timelines. I was raised very traditionally, and I thought that I was going to meet my wife in college, get married right after we graduated then start a family a few years later, and it made me worried when I hadn’t met the right person by the time that I expected. My advice to the teenage me would be to just pour yourself into positive and worthwhile activities and that the result would be becoming who you are supposed to and meeting who you are supposed to all in its own time. Kathryn: Stop stressing. You’ll make it happen. I was so focused on my future, worrying about not achieving my goals, and how I was going to put myself through school that I didn’t stop to enjoy being 16. In hindsight, I realize that having a bit more faith would have gotten me to the same endpoint without all of the pressure I put on myself. Thank you to Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek for sharing a little more about themselves and congratulations again for winning both Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist in North Fulton for 2021!

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There’s always time to connect Brought to you by – Addington Place of Alpharetta & Addington Place of Roswell As Cedarhurst communities, we’re faithful to one big idea: Every person should feel loved, valued, supported and able to safely live life to the fullest. At Addington Place of Alpharetta and Addington Place of Roswell, we unfailingly respect every resident as an individual. A Friend’s Helping Hand You want to rely on yourself, but with aging or health changes, sometimes routine tasks become annoying nuisances. And that impedes your pursuit of happiness because you’re fixated on what you can’t do instead of getting on with what you want to do. That’s awful, but we can help you fix it. Our assisted living, personal care and memory care is like a friend who steps in at the right moment with just what you need. We help with the nuisances so you can turn your attention to where it belongs – and your community life, social outings, activities, and family visits can become undistracted joys again. Our Respect Shapes Our Approach We’ll join forces with you, your family members, and your physicians to determine exactly when and where you need extra assistance. And then our trained healthcare professionals will unleash their kind and friendly expertise, assisting in just-for-you ways that

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The Cedarhurst PromiseTM We promise. If you’re not satisfied and decide to move out within your first 60 days, we’ll give you a complete refund.* Wolferman’s is a registered trademark of Harry and David, LLC and is used with permission. Offer valid through November 30, 2021. *Cedarhurst Promise™ program is only available at advertised community. Not applicable for respite or other short-term stays. Refund is available only if move out is a result of dissatisfaction with Cedarhurst community as documented throughout stay. Complete refund includes base rent, level of care charges, and community fee. Ancillary services fees (ex. additional transportation, pet fees and laundry charges) do not qualify for refund. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Please contact community for additional details. Void where prohibited.

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The Aging Roadmap Brought to you by – Michelle Wilson, Eldercare Attorney, Wilson Legal, PC Wouldn’t it be nice if you could talk to someone about your situation and find out if you can live the way WILSON you want to live for the rest of your life? Do you have enough money to live that way no matter what happens? How much does care cost and are there ways you can cut the cost of care? Wouldn’t it be great if you could see the roadmap for the next 10-20 years and the options you have if one of you get sick along the way? You have that right here in town. Michelle Wilson offers an Eldercare Analysis that does just this. You bring in your information about your dreams, health and finances, she reviews it with you and draws you a map of your life to show you how long money will last, when benefit programs can help and how to manage care so that you don’t go broke or become a burden on your kids. You can even bring your kids if

you want. It’s a great way to get peace of mind and it’s a great time of year to do it too! Michelle’s office is open during Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks when schools are out. Just call Wilson Legal at 770-205-7861 and ask to schedule an Eldercare Assessment.

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