2016 An Appen Media Group Publication
Behind the scenes
Take a tour of the newly opened Georgian Lakeside assisted living
Map it out
Find out where local spots are in our directory
SENIOR SERVICES SURVEY
Learn more about Forsyth and North Fulton amenities
2 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
DOWNSIZING? It’s Not All About The Price! Depend on Your North Atlanta Specialists
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Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 3
Publishers Ray & Christina Appen General Manager Hans Appen Editor
Kathleen Sturgeon kathleen@appenmediagroup.com Editorial Patrick Fox Julia Grochowski Hatcher Hurd Kathleen Sturgeon Candy Waylock Production David Brown Jennifer Edwards Arthur J. McNaughton Suzanne Pacey Advertising Mike Dorman Wendy Goddard Susan Hernandez June Michaels Steve Neese April Thornton Reproduction of the content of the Answer Book—including all maps— is prohibited without expressed written permission. The Answer Book is a trademarked title. All efforts have been made to verify content. Appen Media Group publishes the Seniors Answer Book, the Relocation Answer Book, the Medical Answer Book and the Seniors Answer Book. Online versions are accessible on NorthFulton.com at the bottom of the home page. Contact us at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@ appenmediagroup.com.
319 North Main Street, Alpharetta AppenMediaGroup.com 4 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
Letter from the editor Welcome to the first edition of the Seniors Answer Book. This issue marks a new addition for our quarterly Answer Books at Appen Media Group. We have published the Education, Relocation, Medical and Lifestyles versions for the past four years. But this year we wanted to shake things up and substitute Lifestyles with Seniors. The demographics (pages 28 – 29) of our area for people ages 65 and older are on the rise so we wanted to produce something for them. Our publisher, Ray Appen said we feel this edition will provide a unique reading experience for a huge part of the North Fulton and South Forsyth communities that our other publications don’t. The purpose of Seniors is to offer our readers a glimpse into the community from activities to do with grandchildren (pages 40 – 41), to a tour inside Northside Hospital’s recently renovated Forsyth County campus (pages 24 – 25). Our cover story (pages 10 – 12) is on a newly opened senior living facility that is state-of-the-art. When I walked in to do the interview I felt like I was at a posh hotel. For those who maybe aren’t quite at that stage in life, there are plenty of articles on elder law (pages 36 – 39), music therapy (pages 44 – 45) and what’s available at the local parks for seniors (pages 18 – 19). Feel free to jump right in. And if you find something is missing, feel free to reach out to me at kathleen@appenmediagroup.com. If you feel your business would be perfect for advertising in our Seniors edition, reach out to us at 770-442-3278 to get information on the next installment. The Answer Books are available to most chambers of commerce, cities, homeowner associations and real estate companies. We also home-deliver 40,000 copies throughout North Atlanta. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back and enjoy this inaugural edition of the 2016 Seniors Answer Book. Enjoy!
Why Medical Research?
It is an untapped cost-free resource for seniors.
3015 Flowers Rd. South Atlanta, GA 30341
Dr. Angelo Sambunaris
Every medication whether prescription or over-the-counter must undergo rigorous clinical testing before receiving approval for use by the general public.
Why Do Clinical Studies?
• Clinical research studies (sometimes called trials) are a means of developing new treatments and medications for diseases and conditions.
5895 Windward Pkwy., Suite 150 Alpharetta, GA 30005
•You can receive expert medical care at leading health-research facilities — often free of cost — while participating in important medical research.
• You can help future generations — your children and grandchildren — by contributing to medical research.
• Your participation may or may not directly help you but the study may help others around the world – a societal benefit. Participants receive a high standard of care
Why Do People Participate in Clinical Studies? What are the Ben- • All participants receive regular care related to the trial and opportunities to talk to clinical efits of Clinical Trials? • Participating in a clinical trial has the potential to help both the individual participant and other individuals who have an illness or are at risk of developing it (think genetics). • You can play a more active role in your own health care.
• You can gain access to potential treatments before they are widely available.
trial staff. In fact, research shows that people involved in clinical trials tend to do somewhat better than people in a similar stage of their disease who are not enrolled in clinical trials, regardless of whether the investigational treatment works. Scientists believe this advantage may be due to the general high quality of care provided during clinical trials.
For More Information Call: 770-817-9200 Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 5
Appen Media hosts New Beginnings Expo Inaugural 55-and-up lifestyle expo ‘a huge success’ By JULIA GROCHOWSKI Hundreds attended Appen Media Group’s inaugural New Beginnings Expo Saturday, Sept. 24, for the 55-and-up lifestyle in local communities. The expo took place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Metropolitan Club on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta. “There’s so much being offered for the 55-and-up community, but gathering all of the options can take tons of time and research. This was an opportunity for guests to come in and have access to the best that the area has to offer in one afternoon to figure out what the best fit is for them,” said Appen’s Manager of Marketing and Innovation Wendy Goddard. The expo covered all age ranges, said Goddard, from active adults who have just become empty nesters to people who are caring for aging parents. Forty-two vendors offered options from assisted-living, home care, medical institutes, retirement planning, mobility services and even cruises. There were also vendors providing information on how to maintain a fun and active lifestyle at any age. “We wanted everyone to have quality interactions with each other,” said Goddard. “The 6 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
Dr. Angelo Samburnaris, left, explains the treatments for Alzheimer’s available at Alpharetta’s Institute for Advanced Medical Research.
Metropolitan Club gave people the opportunity to have a genuine conversation and hear each other. We wanted the guests to be able to get real information, not just walk away with a flyer.” A quartet from the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra provided a musical backdrop while attendees visited booths and enjoyed light refreshments. As they circled the room and collected information, attendees were also given an opportunity to win from dozens of prizes, some worth up to $350. Bingo cards were handed out to each person upon entry, and each table was given a designated number. As the guests visited the booths, their Bingo cards were stamped. Those who got Bingo could turn in the
cards for a chance to win every 10 minutes for the entire four hours. Three presenting sponsors also took the opportunity to give a short talk every hour to answer questions about their areas of expertise. Dr. Sarah Obarowski of North Georgia Audiology and Hearing Aid Center, based in Johns Creek, discussed tinnitus and its treatment options. She also briefly went over how ear problems cannot only affect hearing but balance as well. “These are common problems for people of all ages, and we want to make sure that people can arm themselves with good information about what people should be looking for with their hearing healthcare,” said Obarowski. In the most attended presen-
Dr. Sarah Obarowski, right, of Johns Creek’s North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center talks to guests about how to treat hearing loss.
tation at the expo, Realtor Melinda McBrayer of Berkshire Hathaway talked about how to successfully downsize and make the most of the lifestyle change. Downsizing can be difficult for anyone, especially these days, McBrayer said, “but we are there to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.” Dr. Angelo Sambunaris, with Alpharetta’s Institute for Advanced Medical Research, helped wrap up the expo with a presentation on the onset of Alzheimer’s, including the symptoms, preventative measures and treatments. “In the ‘70s we started the war
on cancer, and we’re seeing that the amount of deaths attributed to cancer has dropped,” said Sambunaris. “Now, we need to have a war on Alzheimer’s… We’re looking to see if we can prevent it or at least improve the quality of life for not only the patient, but their friends and family.” The expo, according to Goddard, was a huge success. “It was very well attended, and we had a constant flow of people. Both the guests and vendors loved the venue and food,” Goddard said. “We’ve already gotten people both during and after the expo saying that they can’t wait for next year’s.”
Alpharetta local Ed Townsend wins one of over 60 gift baskets during the New Beginnings Expo. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 7
Isakson, Price weigh in on Social Security funding gap By JULIA GROCHOWSKI No less of an authority than the AARP has deemed the future solvency of Social Security is at risk. Hundreds of people from across metro Atlanta attended an open forum Thursday, Aug. 25, to discuss the challenges facing Social Security with special guests U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-6th, giving the view from Washington. “The sad reality is that if nothing is done to update this critical program, future retirees could lose up to 25 percent of their Social Security benefits beginning in the year 2034,” said AARP Regional Vice President June Lyle, citing the 2016 Social Security Trustees Report. “That’s as much as $10,000 a year.” Social Security needs to reflect the changes the world has seen since it was first written, said Lyle. The 1935 Social Security Act is relatively unchanged, while the power of the dollar has depreciated and the average American life expectancy has risen. The cost of living has also changed, so the funds provided by Social Security can no longer keep up with retirees’ daily expenses. When Social Security started, the average life expectancy was 62, and the benefits started at 65 years of age, Price noted. The life expectancy now hovers around 78 and 79 years, while Social Security eligibility has barely changed. America now has a large aging population, and Social Security can’t keep up with the aging of the baby boomers. “Current workers pay for current retirees,” Price 8 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
AARP National Engagement Director Pete Jeffries interviews U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and U.S. Rep. Tom Price about the future of Social Security.
said. “When the program started, there were 15 or so workers paying for each retiree. Now, there are about three workers per every retiree, soon to be about 2.3 workers per every retiree. What that means is that the program from a financial standpoint will hit a brick wall in 2034.” AARP National Engagement Director Pete Jeffries headed the discussion on what to do about the problem by fielding written questions from the audience to Isakson and Price. One of the most common proposals to address the issue is to raise the retirement age. The AARP estimates that raising the full retirement age just one year, to 68, could fill as much as 16 percent of the current funding gap. This is not the first time Social Security has been running out of money, Isakson reminded the audience. Ronald Reagan changed the age for Social Security eligibility in 1983 to reflect the aging of the population. Eligibility is now gradually increasing it to 67, in accordance to Reagan’s reform, but the funding gap for Social Security is widening once again. “I lost a year of my Social Security in 1983,” said
Isakson. “It’s time for us in Congress to bite the bullet again and do what’s right to make sure that Social Security is protected for our children and grandchildren.” But as one member of the audience said, the solution isn’t necessarily so simple. People who work in physical labor as opposed to desk jobs often are not able to keep working as they grow older. These people can’t be forgotten, and that’s why it’s so important to look at other solutions as well, said the audience member. Other proposals discussed to help fix Social Security included: • Increasing the payroll tax cap • Reducing benefits for high earners • Improving benefits • Begin means-testing Social Security benefits This is a bipartisan issue, one that affects everyone, and the first step to addressing it is to start talking about it, Price said. To see a full list of possible solutions drafted by the AARP, along with pros and cons for each one, visit 2016takeastand.org. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 9
A large, open-spaced dining area allows guests to feel like they’re at a restaurant. Walkers are moved from tables and placed in a parking area so it feels like a nice eatery.
Georgian Lakeside
offers grand assisted living Newly opened senior living experience has hotel-like accommodations By KATHLEEN STURGEON Walking into the Georgian Lakeside assisted living community feels like walking into a posh hotel. You are immediately greeted with upscale furnishings, friendly staff and options galore. That was what the staff and
10 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
COVER STORY
designers of the group, which opened in August, were trying to convey, said Kate Weise, Georgian Lakeside executive director. “The assisted living community is set up for luxury living, elegance much like being in a hotel,” she said. “Nothing was spared on little accommodations like beautiful furniture outside, a cinema room and activities.” She said sometimes other assisted livings don’t go the extra mile for their residents, but Georgian Lakeside wanted to provide the best they could for the 25 residents they currently house. Every resident receives individualized care based on their needs, including specialized senior-safe fitness equipment, electronic health updates and digital medication administration records. It’s all about giving the residents a great quality of life, Weise said. That’s especially important for the residents who reside in the Memory Care unit, which is designed for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. “A lot of people will say ‘my mom isn’t that bad,’” Weise said. “But there might be significant
Director Kate Weise hands a bingo card to a resident. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 11
Shadow boxes are outside every room in the memory care floor so residents see their belongings and know which room is theirs.
memory issues.” A secluded wing is dedicated to those who have memory loss. It is enclosed so residents can walk around the hall without getting lost. A private patio in the center of the hall offers residents the chance to go outside without the worry of wandering away. All the residents wear digital bracelets that only allow them to enter their room. This stops unwanted visitors getting into rooms and also keeps a log of who goes into each room. Shadow boxes are located outside each room on Memory Care so residents just have to look for items they recognize rather than remember a room number. “This is a secure unit, but you can come out,” she said. “It is definitely encouraged for those residents to come out with their family or our staff to participate in the life 12 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
of the community.” Keeping these residents active is very important, Weise said, because it reduces the need for medications, which in turn decreases falls, illnesses or stumbles. “It’s important to keep them active with purposeful meaning,” she said. “We want to make sure the activities are age appropriate and what they like.” A licensed practical nurse is onsite 24 hours a day along with a registered nurse who oversees all the care that’s provided. Additionally, a care staff of licensed certified nursing assistants is available 24 hours a day to answer the help call pendants residents wear and to help with dressing, grooming and bathing. This is all due in part to the fact that Georgian Lakeside offers all-inclusive care. Residents don’t have to worry about their family paying more for services they may need
but possibly didn’t anticipate. “Whatever care you need, it is included in the price,” Weise said. “That way you know consistently each month what you’re going to be paying. It’s easier on the resident so they don’t think ‘I can’t ask for anything because they might charge me more.’ Instead it’s whatever you need, you get it.” Another unique offering at Georgian Lakeside is the “Never 2 Late to Learn” program which teaches computer skills. “It allows our residents to interact on their own or as a class,” Weise said. “It’s never too late to learn how to use a computer. This program was specifically designed for the elderly.” The majority of residents are from the area, but some are now located here to be closer to their children. They are able to get out and explore the community with the group when they venture to Target on Tuesdays or go out to lunch monthly. A private dining room is available for residents or families to rent to have a meal for a birthday, holiday or anniversary. A salon is also available for haircuts, manicures and pedicures. Wheelchairs and walkers are moved into a parking zone once residents sit down for meals so they feel like they are at a restaurant and don’t clutter the area. When you take someone out of their home, they want to go someplace nicer, Weise said, which she believes they accomplish at Georgian Lakeside. “This is assisted living like you’ve never seen before,” Weise said. “We want to make everything as normal and beautiful as possible.”
Now Open Georgian Lakeside Assisted Living and Memory Care in Roswell
678-367-4744 or Hello@GeorgianLaskeside.com
1070 Hardscrabble Road Roswell, Georgia 30075 70 Assisted Living Suites and 25 Memory Care Suites Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 13
Putting big chill on chronic pain Emory Johns Creek pioneers non-invasive pain cure By HATCHER HURD Clinical trials by an Emory Johns Creek radiologist have astounding results in eliminating pain at the source – the nerve signal itself. Dr. J. David Prologo is the radiologist who is blazing the trail in what is called cryoablation interventional radiology. Using X-rays to guide a needle-like probe, Prologo can zap nerve endings with a freezing material that will cause the nerve endings to reduce pain signals if not completely at least to more than tolerable levels. Prologo is the director of Interventional Radiology Services
at EJCH. He has used to treat phantom limb pain in amputees and has also had success treating pain in trauma patients and cancer patients – and eliminating the need for risky opioid painkillers. “What we do is a procedure with the image guidance, so that we can reach places in the body no one else can reach,” Prologo said. “Now we are applying the procedure to the pain sources [directly].” The procedure was first applied to phantom limb pain – PLP – for amputees. When a limb is amputated, it necessitates the severing of nerve endings as well and these can be damaged so that these nerve endings can keep firing off pain signals that are perceived as coming from the missing limb. A patient suffering from chronic pelvic pain read about the trials and asked Prologo to try the procedure
Emory Johns Creek Hospital Radiologist J. David Prologo explains how cryoablation ends patient pain to EJCH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dapo Odetoyinbo without invasive surgery or opioids. 14 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
Dr. Prologo tracks his progress with the probe on the computer screen so that patients get relief without surgery.
on her. She had spent more than two years of chronic pudendal neuralgia and she wanted to try a new therapy. Prologo said he was reluctant at first, but after consulting with other radiologists agreed to try although it had never been done before. “The pudendal nerve is hypersensitive but it had always been impossible to get to it. With the cryoablation probe we thought we could do that. And we were successful,” Prologo said. “We freeze the pain source. Patients who could only take opioids before are now free of those with
Photo courtesy Kevin Makowski, RBP. Emory School of Medicine
cryoablation,” he said. “Patients with years of pelvic pain are cured with one treatment.” Prologo said he was just in the right place at the right time to begin studying cryoablation and the remediation of pain. “It really was the luckiest thing to happen to me in my career to be the one to get into this,” he said. The doctor first began trials to treat painful cancer lesions that so far been successful in lessening or eliminating the pain. It is one treatment lasting about an hour. Cancer tumors can attach to the bone and the lesions that attach
are extremely painful. “We are not 100 percent sure that pain is permanently relieved but we have patients who are three and four years out now and the pain has not come back,” Prologo said. While it is not cure for cancer, its palliative effects are life-changing for patients. By taking the pain away and taking away the need for opioids, the quality of life soars for these patients. “I mean their other option is to be zonked out on narcotics. With say abdominal cancer, we can freeze the abdominal nerve and
their pain is gone,” he said. “The nerve signals are not dead but they are arrested. Clinically for now we can only say pain is absent for two to three years.” Initially, Prologo had trouble getting permission to use the procedure to treat cancer pain. But his father-in-law came down with kidney cancer, so he got permission to treat him. “He agreed to it, and he did awesome. He was able to get up and do things again. It was really something to watch him play catch with his grandson again,” Prologo said. After that first case, the “floodgates opened,” he said. EJCH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dapo Odetoyinbo said Prologo’s work is an integral part of what EJCH tries to be for the area. “From the outset we have continued to be a full-service hospital in every sense of the word,” Odetoyinbo said. “We deliver world-class health care at the absolute highest level. “Having physicians like Dr. Prologo doing the research they do is what Emory tries to do. We have the leading edge clinical trials not yet available to the public so our patients don’t have to travel elsewhere. That leading edge treatment is here.” Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 15
Forsyth ranked healthiest county in Georgia By KATHLEEN STURGEON The overall health of Forsyth County residents is looking pretty good. According to the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Forsyth takes the first-place spot for the healthiest county in the state. The rankings were compiled using a variety of data sources and include categories such as overall health outcomes, length and quality of life, health behaviors — such as smoking, obesity and physical activity — and physical environment. Some other metro Atlanta counties ranked in the top 25 (out of 159), including Gwinnett in fifthplace, Cherokee in sixth, Cobb
16 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
seventh, Dawson 13th, Hall 14th and Fulton in the 25th spot. Forsyth came in first for health outcomes in overall rank, and length and quality of life. For health factors, Forsyth came in third for overall rank, but first in health behaviors, seventh for clinical care, second for social and economic factors and 146th for physical environment, which measures air and water quality as well as housing and transit. A more in-depth look at the county finds there are 12 percent of residents who consider themselves in poor or fair health, which is lower than the overall state percentage of 17. As for health behaviors, 13 percent smoke, 26 percent are obese and 19 percent report physical inactivity — all lower than the state percentages. Lynn Jackson, administrator for Northside Hospital-Forsyth, said the health and wellness of the community is a top priority for Northside and they are proud to play a part in keeping Forsyth County the healthiest county in Georgia. However, given the double-digit percentages of Forsyth County residents who smoke, are physically inactive and suffer from obesity, Jackson said, “Those are never good numbers, no matter where we place on the list.” “As health care providers, we are constantly challenged with how to reach patients and encourage them to make changes that support
healthy living,” Jackson said. “We continually evaluate our services to ensure that they meet the growing needs of our community. We offer smoking cessation classes and screenings for cancer, heart disease and stroke at the hospital throughout the year. Our mobile mammography van, corporate health fairs and other community partnerships increase the convenience of health care, allowing us to take our services into the community.” Simple changes can make a diet healthier, Jackson said, and there are many options in Forsyth to be physically active, including various parks and recreation centers, the YMCA and the greenway. “Our health is something we always have to work at. We can’t get comfortable,” she said. “There’s always room for improvement.” Other components were included in the rankings aside from health. For social and economic factors, 90 percent of Forsyth residents have graduated high school with 75 percent having some college education. Forty-eight percent of commuters drive alone, higher than the Georgia percentage of 39. Forsyth’s crime numbers were far better than Georgia’s, however, with 141 violent crimes and 38 injury deaths reported, compared to the state average of 385 violent crimes and 58 injury deaths. Visit http://bit.ly/1UArwkg for a full breakdown of the ranking.
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4045 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite B • Johns Creek, GA 30024 Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 17
Get outside Big Creek Greenway offers activities for all ages By JULIA GROCHOWSKI Seniors looking to get some fresh air or exercise need look no farther than their local parks. Forsyth and Fulton county parks offer a plethora of activities for any age, especially the Big Creek Greenway located in both counties. A greenway is a linear park with 12-foot wide paths. Visitors are welcome to walk, jog, bike or roller blade along a scenic route that meanders along the Big Creek and through woodlands. While on the trails, visitors may even catch a glimpse of local wildlife, including deer, ducks and geese. The greenway can help people keep an active lifestyle, which is important for everyone as they age, said Laura Pate, the marketing and community relations manager for the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department. Exercise for seniors doesn’t just help physically with weight control or combatting health conditions. It also helps mentally and improves overall well-being, including providing more energy, improved mood 18 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
and better sleep. “Staying active, staying engaged, and looking for those adventures and opportunities to be outside really keeps seniors’ attitudes great, keeps physical fitness good and keeps motivation up,” said Amy Rickman, a spokesperson for the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department. “Out on the greenway, they can be on their own to explore, or they can go out with friends for some social activity. It’s great for fitness, because you don’t feel like you’re working out. You just feel like you’re outside enjoying the day, enjoying nature and enjoying the weather.” Currently, the Big Creek Greenway has two trail sections split between Forsyth and Fulton counties. Future plans will eventually connect the two portions into one long path. The Fulton County section extends a little over eight miles, from Windward Parkway to Mansell Road. “The whole 8.2 mile concrete trail is very easily accessed and walkable,” said Rickman. “We also
have a trail system at Wills Park that’s great for walking.” The Forsyth County Greenway additionally spans a total of 9.6 miles from McFarland Parkway and Kelly Mill Road, with future plans to extend it to approximately 15 miles. One of the easier, flatter trials to walk includes the one at Fowler Park, according to Pate. Fowler Park additionally has an indoor walking track, for people who still want to exercise on a cold or rainy day. Anyone age 55 and older can enjoy a free access pass to the indoor walking trail at Fowler Park or at any of the other parks in Forsyth County. Forsyth and Fulton counties also have multiple fitness classes and programs specifically tailored for people 55 years and older. To explore some of the available options, visit parks.forsythco.com, roswellgov.com, johnscreekga.gov, cityofmiltonga.us or alpharetta. ga.us/community/services/senior-activities. To learn more about the Big Creek Greenway, including maps and parking, visit bigcreekgreenway.com. Photo BY Laura Pate/Special
Big Creek Greenway Access Points Forsyth County n 5120 Bethelview Road n 4110 Carolene Way at Fowler Park n 1622 McFarland Parkway n 5259 Union Hill Road Fulton County
n Alpharetta YMCA, 3655 Preston Ridge Road
n Rock Mill Park, 3100 Kimball Bridge Road
n Haynes Bridge Road n Behind Ethan Allen, 6800 North Point Parkway
n 3281 Marconi Drive Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 19
Ask Pam, your expert in senior home care since 2006 Senior Helpers is your hometown solution for all your Senior Care needs. Since opening in 2006, Senior Helpers has helped thousands families with exceptional care. Senior Helpers employs loving and experienced caregivers that are passionate about servHodgson ing. All Senior Helpers caregivers are Alzheimer & Dementia Care certified and have passed strict hiring and background checks. Senior Helpers can assist you with the extra help needed for your loved one. Don't go at it alone, call Senior Helpers for the assistance you need! Q; My mother lives alone in Roswell and this uncommon weather has really been tough on her (and us children too :) She has been very anxious and scared at home by herself. Can Senior Helpers provide as needed care as well as long-term care? -John O. Pam; Yes sir. Senior Helpers can provide as little as one hour of care one time all the way up to 24/7 and live-in care. A great aspect of our company is flexibility. Your mother can call us and receive care whenever she needs the help. Many families have us as a back-up plan and use us when they are out of town, when their loved one returns from the hospital, around holidays... We are here to serve however you need us! Q: I have been following your company for years and now it's my turn! My husband has been starting to forget things, recently we actually had to go out and look for him because he had wandered off. We have promised each other that we will do everything we can to stay in our own home. I'm feeling overwhelmed and just need some guidance, can you help Pam? -Joan, Milton. Pam; I'm so sorry to hear of the difficulty you are having with your husband and I would love to meet with you and come up with a care plan that meets your specific needs. Please call my office and set-up a time for you and I to meet. 20 | Seniors Answer Book 2016 | Sponsored Section
Q; My Father-in-law has dialysis three times a week and my husband and I both work. We have been taking too much time off work. Can you help with transportation and stay with him while we are working? -Carol M. Pam; Yes, Carol, we can help you for sure! Our caregivers can come and stay with your Father-inlaw while you both are working and we can provide transportation for him to his dialysis appointments. The extra care we will provide should help take some stress off you and your husband! Senior Helpers is locally owned and managed by Pam Hodgson and her grown children, Elizabeth Jackson & Matt Fredenberg. Pam lives with her husband on a farm where she enjoys as much time as she can with her grandchildren. Senior Helpers Home Care 770-442-2154 Phodgson@seniorhelpers.com Www.seniorhelpers.com
Delos and Margaret Knight are longtime residents of Alpharetta and have decided to downsize their home and move into Village Park of Alpharetta.
Village Park Senior Living What made you choose Village Park of Alpharetta, Mr. Knight? “I have seen other projects by Tim Gary and am extremely impressed with his quality of work and the layout of the project. I just knew this one will be just as good as his other projects.” “I also appreciate the fact that Village Park has a wide selection of accommodations, everything from our roomy Bungalow to the Cottages to the apartments which offer independent living, assisted living and memory care. With that, there is everything you can ever want in one community, right here! What are you looking forward to the most about
moving into Village Park, Mrs. Knight? “The convenience of the location and the fact that you are near Avalon, which is a wonderful place for entertainment, restaurants, shopping and it is right around the corner. Guess What? We can even walk there from Village Park and enjoy it more often.” Village Park is the NEXT-LEVEL SENIOR LIVING community currently under construction on the corner of Webb Bridge Road and Morris Road. The community plans to open in late Spring of 2017 and currently taking reservations. Call Carla Breakwell at 678-740-3499 for more information or go to villageparkseniorliving.com. Sponsored Section | Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 21
When and why is assisted living the right choice? For most seniors and their families, choosing to explore Assisted Living or Memory Care can be an overwhelming and emotional time. Usually families begin the search after a major medical event has occurred; maybe a fall, stroke or even a cardiac event. If you know the true benefits of living in one of our communities, you may decide to make the move sooner than you think. While everyone agrees that there is no place like home, we all understand that safety is the most important concern. Living alone at home and managing things such as the oven, stairs, strenuous indoor/ outdoor chores or even going down the driveway to the mailbox can become so tiresome. Cooking meals, staying hydrated and taking your medication through22 | Seniors Answer Book 2016 | Sponsored Section
out the day can suddenly seem like so much work. Some families feel that having their loved ones home alone can be depressing, however with busy schedules, it may be hard to go visit every day. When your loved ones need daily and personalized care, Antebellum is here to help. We proudly offer Assisted Living and Memory Care with an All-Inclusive pricing structure that covers your care level fees, medication management, laundry, linens, housekeeping and three meals per day. Don’t forget the tremendous benefit you will enjoy with scheduled activities, group events and socializing with neighbors that understand how each other feel. We are honored to provide care from the heart, in a setting that is anything but clinical.
Alpharetta gathering objects for history museum By HATCHER HURD Many of the some 62,000 residents who live in Alpharetta today know little of the town before it became a thriving tech city. Fewer still know about the area before March, 23, 1858, when Alpharetta became incorporated and made the county seat of Milton County. That is going to change with the help of some dedicated people who want people to know the history of the city and the county that spawned the metropolis we know today. Alpharetta Councilman Donald Mitchell and local historian Connie Mashburn both have an abiding interest in exploring and preserving Alpharetta’s history. They are part of a committee of equally concerned residents who are working to ensure the people who have come to Alpharetta and those yet to come will have an understanding of its past and its roots. “Alpharetta has a rich history going back hundreds of years with the Cherokee Nation,” Mitchell said. “We are collecting artifacts for the Alpharetta History Room which will be located in City Hall.” The room of about 200 square feet will contain a timeline beginning with the Cherokee Era and present six eras in all. It will be known as the Alpharetta & Old Milton County Museum. The museum committee has been collecting artifacts for the museum for months and has a number of them, such as a spinning wheel,
ox yoke and a replica page of the Cherokee language newspaper printed in Cherokee as devised by Sequoya and English on the facing page. Until the expulsion of the Cherokee by President Andrew Jackson in the death march known as The Trail of Tears, Cherokees and settlers lived amicably and intermarried. Many are remembered by name including Foe Killer (Four Killer?) who lived near today’s East Creek Circle, Spanish Pete, who fought with the British in Spanish Florida and Kitowakee who lived near upper Hembree Road. Among the artifacts already gathered are diaries, letters and business records. Tools and even an authentic still have been donated or loaned by longtime residents. But as the committee gathers material for the museum, they are making an appeal to the public. “But what we really are short of are artifacts from the sixth era – artifacts from the 1970s going forward,” said Mitchell. “It is important we document how the city changed and grew.” The communities of Windward and Park Brook are of great historic interest as well, even though they are not considered “old.” The committee has a team that curates items and authenticates them. The committee members would be glad to look at items and tell people just what their significance may be. Of
To donate or loan a relic call the museum committee Connie Mashburn 770-265-3862 Donald Mitchell 770-712-2290 City Clerk Coty Thigpen: 678-297-6003 course they would happily accept the loan of items that would be appropriate for the museum. Most of the artifacts are being stored at a secure location off Windward Parkway. “We need artifacts from the computer age. Many people might see it as just obsolete junk, but we would like to see it. We will have a section in the museum for the computer age,” Mitchell said. “What we prize most are artifacts from the Old Milton-Alpharetta area, things that were used or made here.” Mashburn said the Alpharetta-Old Milton Historical Society has a great deal of artifacts but has never had a permanent place to display them. Now they will. “The museum will also help us in our genealogical research. We will be setting up appointments for people wanting to research their ancestors,” Mashburn said. Another goal of the museum is to give residents a sense of place and history. It will be another attraction to bring visitors to the downtown which also strengthens the sense of community. “We have a lot of history to tell,” said Mashburn. “And we would like the people here now to know it.” Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 23
‘A generation of healthcare’ Northside Hospital-Forsyth adds two stories $30M extension expands oncology, surgical floors By KATHLEEN STURGEON If you recently drove past Northside Hospital-Forsyth and thought the building was getting taller, you were right. For over the past year, the building has undergone a $30 million expansion. It added three floors, making it the tallest in the county. The new seventh floor, which opened to patients Oct. 24, is the oncology unit. Surgical occupies the eighth floor, which opened Oct. 21. The sixth floor is dedicated to heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The same people who engineered previous Northside expansions performed the work on this project. Some of the new updates on the floors include meditation rooms, hooks in the bathrooms for IV bags and couches that convert into beds. The color on the walls, which is from anti-bacterial paint, and the artwork on the oncology floor were specifically chosen to brighten up the surroundings. Additional lighting was added, and UV lights are used to kill more bacteria. The expansion doubled the number of beds from 16
This chart is hung across from the bed so patients can keep up with their day, including what they think is important to them that day.
to 32. A lot of the details were suggested by the staff which knows best how rooms might be improved. They suggested having glass put into the doors on the oncology floor so they don’t have to continually enter the room and disrupt the air pressure. Above each oncology room door is a green ball, part of a system that indicates if the room has positive or negative air pressure in the room, according to Northside Hospital-Forsyth administrator Lynn
Patient rooms are equipped with almost anything one might need, including hand rails to the bathroom, a sofa bed and an IV bag holder. 24 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
Photos by KATHLEEN STURGEON/Herald
Administrator at Northside Hospital-Forsyth Lynn Jackson and Manager of Oncology Services at Northside Hospital-Forsyth Niti Patel watch nurses Barri Zehner and Brooke Hahn set up computers.
Jackson. “A lot of these patients’ immune systems are suppressed by the chemotherapy,” she said. “We want the bad air and anything we might be carrying to be blown out. This is protecting them. We don’t want the doors open because that defeats the purpose of positive air.” Every detail was undertaken with the patient in mind. Consult rooms are on the floors so the patients’ various teams and doctors can meet together to discuss treatment. “Everyone can gather and the family can come in,” Jackson said. “We can discuss what’s going on with the patient in privacy.” The rooms are also filled with specifics including a safe, floor lighting, railings from the bed into the bathroom and a sofa that turns into a bed or table for families. Jackson said everything is made with patients’ safety in mind. Northside-Forsyth’s Manager of Oncology Services Niti Patel said both the staff and families of previous patients are excited for the changes. All hospital staff went through orientation to become acquainted with the new floors prior to opening. And for the 100 or so oncology staff, Patel said the new breakroom and private lockers are important to
give them a space to unwind for a moment if needed. Additionally, a TV was added to the breakroom for staff to attend webinars. “We try to give them a place,” Patel said. “There is a lot of emotion when you deal with this population. Nurses do this job because they have that heart. We wanted to give back to them.” Other features on the oncology floor include a room with dual chambers to protect patients with infectious diseases or those prone to them, a pharmacy and a multi-functional room where patients can leave their beds and participate in activities or complete physical therapy. “We have a little bit longer stay in oncology,” Patel said. “These patients have to stay in their rooms so much that they often need more fun. They can come out or take the activities back to their rooms.” Every detail on the floor kept in mind the patients and front-line nurses who work in the space daily, she said. “They were so pivotal with making little decisions that will impact patients for years,” Patel said. “We’ll be treating generations of patients here. We built this so it’ll be a generation of healthcare.” Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 25
FCS collects 8,900 letters By JULIA GROCHOWSKI Since mid-September, Forsyth County Schools has collected over 8,900 letters thanking U.S. military overseas. They will be delivered just in time for Thanksgiving so that the service members can still get a sense of home while they are away for the holidays. The project was started and spearheaded by Lambert High School math teacher John Ubriaco. “It’s a letter-writing campaign to put a handwritten letter of appreciation, just a simple thank you note, into the hands of every service member that is outside of the United States on Thanksgiving Day and going into the holidays,” Ubriaco said. Ubriaco said he was inspired by his own experiences as a service member from 2002-2011, when he was surprised by a package of letters to distribute to the soldiers on Thanksgiving morning. He later found out that the effort was conducted by The Bert Show’s annual “Big Thank You.” The show of support stuck with him, and when he
began teaching in Forsyth County in 2008, Ubriaco decided to pay it forward by encouraging his classes to write thank you letters. Over the years, the campaign has grown from dozens to hundreds and now thousands of letters. “This year, I brought the idea to Dr. (Lambert Principal Gary) Davidson to go schoolwide here at Lambert, and he wasn’t satisfied with that,” said Ubriaco. “We were going to go system-wide. We would promote it under a military recognition program – the Salute program.” Throughout the month, students, teacher and parents from the entire Forsyth County School System were asked to contribute to the project by sending in their letters to Ubriaco. A little healthy competition between schools helped to bring up the numbers. “Dr. Davidson even sent out a friendly challenge to all of the other high school principals as to who could contribute the most letters to the campaign,” Ubriaco said. The majority of the letters, however, came from
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thanking servicemen Lambert students, with other major contributors including Riverwatch Middle School, Brookwood Elementary School and Settles Bridge Elementary School. The grand total collected by Oct. 21 was a little over 8,900. Ubraico said that they did not promote the letter-writing campaign as part of the Bert Show’s program because they did not want to promote one particular radio station over another. The letters he collected, however, were sent to the “Big Thank You” campaign Monday, Oct. 24 to get them shipped overseas and in the hands of servicemen. Ubriaco and Davison are planning to continue the program each year and have big plans for its future. “I would imagine with what we’ve done this year that next year, we’re going to be challenging other school systems as a whole,” Ubriaco said. Until then, the Salute program will continue to honor veterans and support the troops throughout the year. To learn more about Salute and to get involved, visit forsyth.k12.ga.us/salute.
Some of the letters written from Lambert High School students sit with the dress blues that Ubriaco once wore himself when he was serving overseas.
Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 27
Senior services become more important as aged population grows By PATRICK FOX While the rate of population growth in the United States is expected to decline slightly over the next 35 years, America is getting older. And Georgia is aging more rapidly than the rest of the country. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts the overall population growth rate will fall to 0.82 percent, but those aged 65 and older will represent 20 percent of the population. In Georgia, census data shows that over the next 15 years, the dominating growth will be among the older age groups, from 55-59 through the over 85 age group. Those over 85 are growing faster than any other age group. A study by the Atlanta Regional Commission showed Georgia has the eighth fastest growing older adult population in the country. “We call it the Silver Tsunami,” said Kenn Vanhoose, director of the Fulton County Office of Aging. “It’s all the baby boomers who are reaching their senior years, and we’ve been talking about this for more than 10 years.” Vanhoose said he and his agency want to drive home the point that America is poised for a new demographic.
“It’s hard to get across, but we’ve put in our reports to the (county) commissioners and when we go out and speak. We’re constantly telling people that by 2030, one in five citizens are going to be over 60,” he said. The county office operates adult day programs, case management, community outreach programs, home delivered meals and in-home services. It also operates four senior multipurpose facilities as well as 15 neighborhood centers sprinkled throughout different regions of Fulton County. Providing these services is important for a number of different reasons, Vanhoose said. “First of all, we can keep them active in their homes and productive members of society,” he said. “And, on a grand scale, the in-home services we provide are much cheaper to provide than, say, a nursing home or an assisted living facility. So if you have a person that’s on a limited income, we can provide homemaker personal care and home delivered meals. That’s much cheaper than going into a nursing home or Medicaid or some other form of federal funding picking up the bill.” As the aged population grows in metro Atlanta, Vanhoose said there will be a greater need for transportation services.
Percent of population 65 and older Jurisdiction
Total Pop. 2010
Total Pop. 2015
65+ 2010
65+ 2015
Roswell 88,347 94,501 10.4% NA Johns Creek 76,727 83,335 6.7% NA Alpharetta 57,551 63,693 7.4% NA Milton 32,712 37,547 6.3% NA Forsyth County 175,511 212,438 8.9% 11.4% Georgia 9,687653 10,214,860 10.75% 12.8% Source: U.S. Census Bureau 28 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
“Transportation is always among the top issues and top concerns of seniors,” he said. “The Atlanta area has the urban sprawl, so if you can’t drive, it’s very hard to get anywhere. So, seniors who may have some disability and have been told they shouldn’t drive anymore, they wind up isolated.” The agency does have transportation services, but they are expensive and limited to contracting with a private firm with a fleet of buses. The buses mostly take seniors to the activity centers, and, in some cases perform some non-emergency transportation and a few short trips into the community to the grocery store or to the pharmacy. The agency currently has a pilot program with Uber. “It started out at one of our multi-purpose facilities where a couple of the participants were riding Uber in. and some of the participants approached us and asked whether we’d thought about using Uber,” Vanhoose said. “We got a little bit of funding from the board of commissioners, $10,000 this year, and we have selected 10-15 seniors per multipurpose facility.” Uber has a new program called Uber Central where the agency can book the trips for these participants over the computer instead of seniors using their smart phones. “When we first started, everybody was using their smart phones, and some of the seniors had a hard time
operating it with arthritis issues, vision issues and other things,” Vanhoose said. “They can let us know when they’re coming to the center. We can book the trip for them, and when they’re ready to go home, they can let us know, and we book a trip for them to return home.” The pilot program is limited to just these few people, but the results are being studied to determine costs for possible expansion. “So far, it’s going great,” Vanhoose said. “They love it. We thought maybe the seniors would be apprehensive about it. But the ones who are using it love it. They love talking to the drivers. They love the fact that once they order the trip, it gets there in 10 to 15 minutes.” The traditional bus system can sometimes require waits of from 30 to 40 minutes, and then passengers must sit for the return route that involves other stops along the way. Vanhoose said senior services are going to become more important in the coming years as the aged population outgrows the younger generation. Traditionally, the U.S. population has had a thinner group at the top of the aging pyramid. “That’s a pretty significant change,” he said. “Now, there’s a little bubble around the 50-60 year age where there are actually fewer people younger than that. The issue is there is going to be a shortage of caregivers. As that bubble moves up, there are going to be fewer caregivers and fewer people who are supporting Social Security.” Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 29
Top 5 brain foods
Healthy brain foods are a proactive step to keep your brain young and alert. The following list of healthy brain foods can easily be accommodated in your daily eating plan:
1
Blueberries, one cup daily, can improve learning capacity and motor skills while decreasing the effects of age-related diseases on the brain.
Eat these foods to keep you young and alert
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Wild salmon can aid in brain function and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Add a 4-ounce serving 2-3 times per week.
3
Avocados decrease blood pressure and help regulate a healthy blood flow. Full of monounsaturated fats and high in calories, consume one third of an avocado daily.
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Nuts and seeds can combat cognitive decline and are good sources of vitamin E. Consume an ounce a day.
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North Fulton
Senior Services
Local senior centers provide enriching programs By Heather Terry Community Relations Director, Senior Services North Fulton As the weather is starting to cool off, many seniors are ready to get out of the house and do something that brings purpose to their day. If you live in the North Fulton area, you do not have to look far. North Fulton is home to four senior centers that provide a great hot lunch and an engaging place to meet other seniors with similar interests. Whether it is a friendly game of bingo, a painting class, an exercise session or brushing up on computer skills, the senior centers of Senior Services North Fulton are a great place to spend the day. We also offer outings to grocery stores, and we take field trips to area attractions. Our purpose is to enrich the lives of our seniors and keep
34 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
them socially engaged, healthy, and happy. We live in a day and age where many seniors are living with their adult children, but are home alone while their kids are working and their grandkids are at school. We also have a lot of seniors in North Fulton that live completely alone and are in danger of social isolation. Having a nice place to meet with others, share a meal and try out a new activity is such a nice amenity to have in our area. Many other counties don’t have these types of community centers readily available. North Fulton is so lucky – we have four. If you are interested in finding out more about what the senior center nearest you has to offer, give us a call. Typically, our centers are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.–4
Hundreds of seniors gather weekly at the four senior centers in North Fulton: n Alpharetta Senior Center 12624 Broadwell Road Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-751-9397 n Milton Senior Center 15690 Hopewell Road Milton, Ga. 30004 770-475-7500 n Roswell Senior Center 1250 Warsaw Road Roswell, Ga. 30076 770-640-1583 n Sandy Springs Senior Center 6500 Vernon Woods Drive – Bldg. C Sandy Springs, Ga. 30328 404-612-2345 p.m., and there is no mandatory fee to participate. Our team cannot wait to tour you around and show off all the great things our seniors do to fill their day with purposeful and fun activities. In addition to our four senior centers, Senior Services North Fulton provides many other free or low cost conveniences to older adults: Meals on Wheels, Meals on Wheels for Pets, free transportation to medical appointments, voucher transportation anywhere in the greater Atlanta area, care management and in-home services. Senior Services North Fulton is a nonprofit organization. For more information on our programs, call 770-993-1906. When you are looking to give back to your community, please keep Senior Services North Fulton in mind. Your generous donation will help keep our services free or low cost for our participants. To donate, call 770-993-1906.
Forsyth County Senior Services The place to go for those 50+ Life is to be enjoyed and there’s no better place to go for fun and support than one of the three active adult centers of Forsyth County Senior Services. Those ages 50 and better are invited to participate in a wide variety of programs and activities to pursue interests, get fit, make friends, gather in community and receive supportive services. Forsyth County offers three diverse centers: Sexton Hall Located in the south end of the county and focused on life enrichment, this center offers fitness, art and technology classes, day trips, dances and a full schedule of card and game groups. Featuring a large auditorium, the center hosts community concerts and events. A nutritious lunch program is provided, with service to those homebound. There is a memory support day program, providing a safe, stimulating environment for those with dementia and relief for their caregivers. Rooms are available for rental for parties and events. The center is currently undergoing renovations and will have a grand re-opening in the spring. Hearthstone Lodge Located in the northern end of
n Sexton Hall, 2115 Chloe Road, Cumming, Ga. 30041 n Hearthstone Lodge, 7305 Lanier Drive, Cumming, Ga. 30041 n Charles Place, 595 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, Ga. 30040
the county and focused on fitness, the center features an indoor heated pool, an exercise equipment room and a great room for classes and activities. There are aquatics classes and lap swim, a men’s club, a poker group, a sewing circle, a hikers group, as well as bridge, mahjongg and canasta playing. The lodge and pool are available for rentals and provide a wonderful space for gatherings of all types. The environment at the lodge is warm, friendly and inviting. Charles Place Located near downtown Cumming and geared to providing supportive services to older adults. Charles Place is a traditional senior center, providing a daily program of group activities and a nutritious lunch. Participants enjoy games, fitness activities, day trips and seasonal parties. The Meals on Wheels program is run from this Center, with volunteers delivering meals to homebound seniors. A memory support day program is
available, providing a safe and stimulating setting for those with dementia and relief for family members. An initial interview and assessment is necessary to participate at the Center. Door-to door transportation service is provided. Upcoming free special event The 15th annual Forsyth Senior Expo will be held April 8, 2017. Mark your calendars and attend for the latest information, health screenings, entertainment and amazing door prizes. Donations accepted The holiday gift and meal program welcomes your support. Help someone less fortunate enjoy the holidays. For further information, please call (770) 781-2178 or visit www. forsythco.com/seniors. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 35
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Legal needs for the elderly should start early By CANDY WAYLOCK The need for legal advice often increases as we age, and planning for retirement, wills, finances, long term care, property and other matters often requires more professional advice than most of us have at our fingertips. And it is a demographic all of us are tracking toward – if we aren’t there already. In Georgia, the population of people 60 and older is growing more rapidly than any another segment of the population, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that one in every five Georgians will be over 60 by the year 2030 -- an increase of almost 34 percent from 2012. And the majority of seniors will be women, many of whom may have left the legal decisions to their husbands or others and now find themselves navigating the world alone. Joanna Hurley always assumed she had the knowledge and experience to deal with end-of-life decisions for seniors. After all, she had worked in the family’s Atlanta law firm, Hurley Elder Care, for years, and her husband, Miles, is one of the state’s top elder law attorneys as well as the president of the Elder Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. But when her own mother was diagnosed 10 years ago with early onset Alzheimer’s, Hurley realized how much she had in common with the clients who walked through the doors of the firm every day. “The stories I heard from our clients I was now hearing myself. The fear and hopelessness I heard about became my own feelings,” Hurley recalled. She said judgment and rational thought became
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clouded by emotion, but she recognized she walked the same path as many of the people she worked with on a daily basis. “My parents were typical ‘Hurley’ clients. They had limited resources, no long-term care insurance and huge needs,” Hurley said. “They spent lots of money on care, utilized public benefits where available and made the best of a bad situation.” Her mother passed away about two years ago at age 74, an event that still angers Hurley to this day. But she came out of the experience with a renewed idea of the importance of legal planning and support for both the elderly and their caregivers. So what legal steps should seniors be considering as they look to the future? Here is advice from Hurley Elder Care on simple steps to take to get your affairs in order. Get your legal documents in order Anyone over the age of 18 should have a General Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Matters, as well as a Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare in place. “The possibility that you could become unable to
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handle your own financial matters is rarely at the top of your mind,” Hurley said. “But the possibility of an unexpected accident or diagnosis is real, and being prepared is a pragmatic decision that will save time and money for the people who care about you.” A valid will is one of the most important estate planning tools and provides instructions on how to handle your property when you die. All of these documents should be updated when you have any “life events,” including marriage, divorce, birth of a child, and when you face a health diagnosis that could result in incapacity (such as Alzheimer’s disease). Hurley Elder Care also advises clients to evaluate both their physical and financial health as they get closer to retirement to determine if more extensive legal planning (such as a trust) is appropriate. “After retirement, our firm recommends a ‘checkup’ with an elder law attorney every 10 years, or with a corresponding life event or a material change in health or finances,” Hurley said. While there are a number of online tools that can be helpful when you are gathering information and
looking at available options, Hurley advised caution when using online forms and documents. “Often, these documents do not [fully] address the powers the family needs to conduct their financial business,” she advised. “And there are often ‘state specific’ rules that may not be [addressed] by [online] documents.” Plan for the future – realistically Families often fail to plan for the possibility of incapacity, for a variety of reasons, said Hurley. For many, contemplating the loss of functional and cognitive capacity is difficult, and fear can become a barrier to appropriate legal planning. “Common pushbacks we hear in our elder law practice are things like a fear of losing control, an appearance of favoritism between one child versus another and an unwillingness to accept cognitive decline,” she added. Hurley said many children are surprised to learn that “mom or dad” had no power of attorney, or surviving spouses believe that being married automatically means a power of attorney is in place.
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“... But as with most things, the longer you wait the fewer options you have and the more expensive it becomes to solve your problem.” Joanna Hurley “There are always options available regardless of the circumstances,” Hurley said. “But as with most things, the longer you wait the fewer options you have and the more expensive it becomes to solve your problem. Financial resources are often tied to legal options Planning for your financial future means more flexibility when you arrive. “The more resources you have, the more options
you have in the elder law world,” said Hurley. Having advice from an elder law attorney can help families maximize resources to find and pay for quality long-term care. Establishing a revocable trust can be costly on the front end but can protect your assets from a tax perspective, estate recovery and even probate, she added. Help is available for those with limited resources Hurley said there is help for low-income seniors, but she admits the population of elderly is growing faster than government services can keep up with. The Georgia Senior Legal Hotline (404-657-9915) is staffed by attorneys who offer free legal advice and information to seniors. For anyone who suspects abuse, neglect or exploitation of and adult living in a private home is urged to call adult protective services at 404-657-5250. For more information on legal planning for the elderly, visit Hurley Elder Care Law at http://hurleyeclaw. com.
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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Top 10 places to take the grandchildren By HATCHER HURD When considering where the best places to take your grandchildren, remember one thing. The most important element of the equation is you. All time spent with grandchildren is quality time – both for you and the grandchild. Don’t believe that old excuse you used with your children. “I can’t spend a lot of time with the kids, but when I do I make sure it’s quality time.” Baloney. Quality time can be the grandchild with you in the yard raking leaves. It is all about the approach. Engage the young’ns in any activity. Ask them questions, and if 40 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
they clam up, just talk to yourself. You’ll be surprised when you notice all of a sudden they have joined in the conversation. That said, it is always nice to find something you can do together. Oh, you can always take them to a Monkey Joe’s to bounce on things or Andretti’s for a go-Kart experience. But do they really experience it with you? Here are some places to take them out of their comfort zone – and yours. The Chattahoochee Nature Center – This 100acre facility right on the Chattahoochee River: 9135 Willeo Road - Roswell, GA 30075 (770) 992-2055 x238. It has things to do for all sizes. Self-guided tours of
working, sewing, quilting, collecting baseball cards. Go to a flea market or antique store and just wander around. Show them stuff you played with as a kid. Find a waffle iron and see if she can guess what it is. Make up a ghost story together. You start it, and let the others add to it. Talk about what makes scary things scary. Invest in an ice cream churn and find out how much they like making ice cream. Hint: The more kids involved, the more you limit the amount of revolutions they can crank. Say only eight times to turn the crank, then it is someone else’s turn. They’ll try to steal and extra turn. Start a garden together. You don’t know beans about planting beans? Great, learn together and have fun at harvest time. Hint: Watermelons are easy to grow and fun to eat. Take an interest in what they are interested in discounting all electronics. Ban all electronic devices during your quality time. Children are lazy. Make them use their minds.
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the animals. Canoeing. Hiking trails. A Discovery Center. Check chattnaturecenter.org for all kinds of event. Anything outdoors is a plus with kids. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,965 acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Learn some history that happened nearby. Take the bus tour too. Google Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield. Go fly a kite. Really, have you ever flown one? If you have you are one up on your grandchild. If not, it is an experience to have together. Bike together on the Alpharetta and Roswell greenways. It’s safe, it’s scenic and its free. Plenty of places to stop and talk about “When I was young …” They won’t believe you were once 10 years old. This one requires some investment. Buy some watercolor paint and brushes. Take some of that big art paper and go paint your house together. For a real treat, paint each other’s portrait. See what the kid sees in you. What do you like to do? Teach your grandchild to do it (with patience). It might be photography, wood-
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A dive into
dementia Virtual Tour provides a look at life with impairments By CANDY WAYLOCK Imagine a world where your thoughts enter and exit randomly, where the sounds in your head compete with the sounds from outside, where simple tasks are nearly impossible to complete and plans made are soon forgotten. This the world of dementia, and about five million people in the United States, primarily elderly, must navigate this altered reality every day. Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, progressively impacting memory, behavior and language. To the caregiver or loved one, dementia is an experience they often cannot empathize with, or fully understand, leading to frustration on both sides. Roswell-based psychologist P.K. Beville is changing this reality, drawing back the curtain to reveal the world through the eyes of an individual with dementia. Through the Virtual Dementia Tour she developed in the early 2000s, Beville is changing the way caregivers, family and first responders understand and interact with patients. “The fact is no matter how much training one received on what is happening to the people living with dementia, they could never understand the struggles. We just 42 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
have to see how they live in their world. That [was] the problem I wanted to solve,” said Beville, one of the nation’s leading experts in geriatric care. She has been involved in elder care since 1983, first conducting psychological assessments on the elderly with behavioral problems, then consulting in the long-term care industry to create supportive and sensitive care for individuals with dementia. Along the way she published several articles on aging and dementia and founded Second Wind Dreams in 1997 to help fulfill wishes from the elderly. Since its founding, Second Wind Dreams has helped more than 2,000 people with their requests. Over the years, Beville gained a unique insight into the mind of the person with dementia and used that knowledge as the foundation for what would eventually be the Virtual Dementia Tour. She submitted the concept as part of her doctoral dissertation in 2001, and the support she received from her peers to put the concept into reality convinced her of the need for the VDT. “I’ve changed lots of things, and the VDT has grown tremendously since my dissertation,” said Beville. “It never occurred to me
that it would turn into this ‘product,’ for the lack of a better word.” Since 2003, more than two million people in 17 countries have gone through the VDT, and if the testimonials and thousands of YouTube videos are any proof, it is life changing. Most are in tears after emerging from the 12-minute tour — out of frustration, or out of guilt — but everyone expresses a new sense of understanding and empathy for dementia. During a VDT experience, trained facilitators guide participants through common everyday tasks and exercises while outfitted with patented devices that alter their senses, such as goggles to impair vision, headphones to alter sound and gloves to impact tactile response. As participants go through the VDT, handicapped by the devices that enhance the experience, Beville said their mannerisms begin to mirror the responses from individuals who have dementia. The patented VDT is delivered
in large recreational vehicles which can be taken anywhere to conduct the tour, as well as a virtual version that can be taught on site as needed. Currently there are five RVs in the United States, one in the United Kingdom, and Beville hopes to expand the reach to meet the demand for training. “My vision is to have a lot of the RVs across the U.S. and Canada, as well as other countries,” she explained. “Let’s face it, not many of us are able to get to where the RVs are located, so we need to bring it to them.” Beville recently received a grant from the state of Georgia to make the VDT available to every skilled nursing home in the state, beginning with about 170 sites and growing from there. Initially, Beville envisioned the VDT to be used primarily for caregivers caring for individuals with dementia, but she quickly learned its benefits were universal. “The people I targeted [initially] for the VDT were caregivers, but
then it grew to family members, then to hospitals and the general public,” explained Beville, who is a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Planning. Recently there has been a growing interest from fire departments, police departments, city planners and others to go through the VDT. “It is important for anyone who deals with the public to understand that when you walk into a room, you know three out of five people in that room have been impacted in some way by dementia,” said Beville. She has a unique understanding of the struggles that people with dementia have, gained over a three-decade career devoted to the subject. That knowledge has allowed her to replicate the experiences in the VDT in a way few have the skills to do. Beville notes she has no personal experience with dementia through a family member, which allows her to clinically study the disorder without being “wed to the
“It is important for anyone who deals with the public to understand that when you walk into a room, you know three out of five people in that room have been impacted in some way by dementia.” P.K. Beville
dementia plight” in a subjective way. “I’ve been observing the [dementia behaviors] since 1983, and how people with dementia behave, what triggers them, what leads to certain outcomes,” said Beville. “What I have concluded is the things that people are going through are ‘normal’ within the confines of the disease.” Looking forward, Beville says she envisions an interactive museum on dementia where the general public could go through a modified version of the VDT and get a “debriefing” from a care provider at the conclusion of the tour. “I have a lot of plans, but I’m 63, so I need to get moving,” she laughs. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 43
The sounds
of science
Music therapy shows great benefits for seniors By CANDY WAYLOCK Using music as behavioral therapy has been around longer than the written word, and likely as long as the spoken word, with references to the benefits of music appearing in the works of Aristotle and Plato in Ancient Greece. But the use of music in a 44 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
clinical setting to help patients suffering from memory loss, speech functions, cognitive skills and other dysfunctions is a relatively new therapy in the United States, with its roots in the military. Soldiers returning from battle during World War I with post-traumatic stress disorder saw improve-
ments when music was part of their treatment, according to experts in music therapy. Beginning in the 1980s, music therapy was found to have benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias in managing the myriad of issues associated with the disorders, said Jamie George, director of the Georgia Center for Music Therapy in Roswell. “Evidence-based research shows music therapy improves memory recall, language and cognitive functions, stimulates positive interactions and decreases agitated and aggressive behaviors,” noted George, who is a licensed and board certified music therapist. Music therapy was found to stimulate the parts of the brain that were being affected by dementia, creating new synapses and “exercising” the brain. GCMT has music therapy programs in place in 20 senior communities throughout the Metro Atlanta area, serving nearly 300 people in a variety of programs. Clients are based in memory care, assisted living and independent living communities, with programs geared to the level of need, said George. Music therapy programs are most predominant in memory care and assisted living centers as treatment options, but they are also being added to independent living settings as more adults seek to keep their minds active. Music therapy can vary from “goal oriented” activities focused on improving functions and behavior, to an intergenerational approach with preschool children, and
even teen rock bands, interacting with the elderly for shared enjoyment. The benefits with music therapy in the senior settings can be seen every day, said George, and has proven results in people with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, as well as those who have limited functions as a result of strokes. Music is an international language that nearly everyone responds to and has connections. “Most people associate music with important events and a wide array of emotions,” said George. “Every culture uses it, and it is the universal language. Used appropriately, music has few negative outcomes and many benefits.” Most of the GCMT clients have music therapy at least once a week, with benefits often being seen at the onset. “We certainly have curves where we may see a huge improvement in the first six months, then look to change up the goals to see continued improvement,” said George. “That’s our job as music therapists to find what is most successful.” To be licensed and board certified, music therapists must have their master’s degree, although the profession is moving toward a doctoral degree. Therapists must have 1,200 clinical hours before going for board certification, she noted, and they must be proficient in guitar, voice, piano and drums. George, who was board certified in 2007, was a voice performance major at Western Michigan, and received her master’s degree from the University of Georgia.
How music can aid in dementia care Early stage n Go out dancing or dance in the house. n Listen to music that the person liked in the past. n Experiment with various types of concerts and venues. n Encourage an individual who played an instrument to try it again. n Compile a musical history of favorite recordings. n Use song sheets or a karaoke player so the individual can sing along with old-time favorites. Middle stage n Play music or sing as the individual is walking to improve balance or gait. n Use background music to enhance mood. n Opt for relaxing music — a familiar, non-rhythmic song — to reduce behavior problems at nighttime.
Late stage n Utilize the music collection of old favorites that you made earlier. n Play soothing music to provide a sense of comfort. n Exercise to music. n Do drumming or other rhythm-based activities. n Use facial expressions to communicate feelings when involved in these activities.
How art benefits all seniors Leisure art, as well as directed art therapy, is an increasingly popular activity in assisted living communities. There are many benefits to exposure to art including: n Increased self-awareness n Relieving stress, anxiety and confusion n Improving motor skills n Improving cognitive skills n Helping to cope with transitions n Facilitating communication Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 45
Senior pets and owners go great together By Donna G. Adams, D.V.M. Ivy Hill Animal Hospital When an older pet is looking for a new home, it often can be a difficult process to find the right place for the pet to spend its later years. But a senior pet can be a great addition to a home with senior owners. There are many advantages in adopting an older pet instead of a puppy or kitten. You already know the size and personality of a senior pet, you don’t have to go through house training with puppies or deal with those sharp little teeth, and you don’t have to go through the stage where kittens climb the drapes and use those sharp baby claws on your arms. However, as with all new additions to our homes, there are some things to consider when adopting a senior pet. We still have to consider the pet’s activity needs. A border collie at 9 years of age still needs a great deal of exercise – while other breeds may be slowing down to just a walk or two during the day. Make sure you can take care of the grooming needs of a pet. A poodle or a Persian cat have long hair and need regular grooming. Small pets eat less, so their food bills are less, but make sure you factor in ongoing veterinary care as they age. There are other considerations that seniors need to be cautious of when bringing a pet into the house. Make sure you have a pet with a pleasant attitude. Our skin becomes thinner as we age, and small 46 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
scratches or even bites can do more damage to our skin. Cat bites can cause bad infections. Nail caps can be a good option to cover a cat’s sharp nails. If you have a lowered immune system because of health considerations, make sure owning a pet does not create added problems. Don’t allow your pet to lick your face or any areas with open wounds, and make sure you keep your pet on good flea, tick and heartworm control from your veterinarian. One very important part of owning a pet as you age is to have a plan in place for who will take care of your pet if you cannot do so.
With the proper thought and planning, a senior pet can be a wonderful addition to a senior person’s household. Seniors often have more time to spend with a pet, and a pet can provide essential company and encourage us to move about to take care of them. What a great partnership this can make. Donna G. Adams, D.V.M., is one of several veterinarians at Ivy Hill Animal Hospital, located at 10030 Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek. Contact them at 770418-1122 or visit their website at www.ivyhillanimalhospital.com.
Art therapy for dementia patients Art projects can create a sense of accomplishment and purpose. They can provide the person suffering from dementia — as well as caregivers — an opportunity for self-expression. An Alzheimer’s patient, unable to grip a paintbrush, can be quite successful creating a visual masterpiece dipping sponges in multiple paint colors.
When planning an art activity for someone with middle- to latestage Alzheimer’s, keep these tips in mind: n Keep the project on an adult level. Avoid anything that might be demeaning or seem child-like.
n Build conversation into the project. Provide encouragement, discuss what the person is creating or reminiscence. n Help the person begin the activity. If the person is painting, you may need to start the brush movement. Most other projects should only require basic instruction and assistance. n Use safe materials. Avoid toxic substances and sharp tools. n Allow plenty of time, keeping in mind that the person doesn’t have to finish the project in one sitting. Information provided by aplaceformom.com
Older adults tend to have more age-related functional impairments that affect vision, hearing and balance, which can lead to chronic pain, anxiety and depression. Creating art projects can take the focus away from daily concerns and on to the creative process. Painting, flower arranging and clay are the most common art mediums used at communities. As long as safety is taken into account, the possibilities for artistic creation are endless and include: n Sculpture n Jewelry making n Weaving n Photography n Collage Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 47
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1. Crooked Creek Club 3430 Highway Nine N. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770.475.2300 alpharettaac.com 2. Ansley Golf Club, Settindown 1605 Settindown Drive Roswell, GA 30075 770.640.4620 ansleygolfclub.org
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5. Brookfield Country Club 100 Willow Run, Roswell, GA 30075 770.993.1990 brookfieldcountryclub.com 6. Capital City Club, Crabapple 4115 Earney Road Woodstock, GA 30188 770.667.6303 capitalcitclub.org
3. Atlanta Athletic Club 1930 Bobby Jones Drive Johns Creek, GA 30097 770.448.2166 atlantaathleticclub.org
7. Cherokee Town & Country Club 665 Hightower Trail Atlanta, Georgia 303501710 , 770.993.4407 cherokeetcc.org
4. Atlanta National Golf Club 350 Tournament Players Drive Milton, GA 30004 770.442.8801, atlantanationalgolfclub.com
8. Country Club of the South 4100 Old Alabama Rd Johns Creek, GA 30022 770.475.1803 clubcorp.com/ Clubs/Country-Club-of-the-South
48 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
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9. Echelon Golf Club 501 Founders Dr E Alpharetta, GA 30004 770.888.4653 echelonliving.com 10. The Golf Club of Georgia 1 Golf Club Dr Alpharetta, GA 30005 770.664.8644 golfclubofgeorgia.com 11. Hawks Ridge Golf Club 1100 Hawks Club Drive Ball Ground, GA 30107 770.205.6889 hawksridge.com 12. Horseshoe Bend Country Club 2057 Steeplechase Ln Roswell, GA 30076 770.992.2310 horseshoebendcc.com 13. Lanier Golf Club 2080 Buford Dam Rd Cumming, GA 30041 770.887.6114 laniergolfclub.com
15. Milton Country Club 1785 Dinsmore Road Alpharetta, GA 30004 770.475.2300 alpharettaac.com 16. Polo Golf & Country Club 6300 Polo Club Drive Cumming, GA 30040 770.887.7656, pologolfandcountryclub.com 17. River Pines Golf 4775 Old Alabama Rd Johns Creek, GA 30022 770.442.5960 riverpinesgolf.com 18. Rivermont Golf & Country Club 3130 Rivermont Pkwy Alpharetta, GA 30022 770.993.2124, rivermontcountryclub.com 19. Standard Club 6230 Abbotts Bridge Rd Johns Creek, GA 30097 770.497.0055 standardclub.org 20. St. Ives Country Club 1 St Ives Country Club Dr Johns Creek, GA 30097 770.623.1239 stivescountryclub.org 21. St Marlo Country Club 7755 St Marlo Country Club Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097 770.495.7725, stmarlo.com 22. Trophy Club of Atlanta 15135 Hopewell Rd Alpharetta, GA 30004 770.343.9700 americangolf.com/trophyclub-atlanta 23. White ColumnsCountry Club 300 Clubhouse Dr Milton, GA 30004; 770.343.9025 whitecolumnscountryclub. com 24. Windermere Golf Club 5000 Davis Love Dr Cumming, GA 30041 678.513.1000, canongategolf.com 25. Woodmont Golf Country Club 3105 Gaddis Rd. Canton, GA 30115 770.345.9260 woodmontgolfclub.com
Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 49
Active Adult Communities 1. Ashwood Meadows 11190 Medlock Bridge Rd Johns Creek Ga. 30097 www.seniorlivinginstyle.com 770-476-4429 2. Atria North Point 100 Somerby Dr. Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.atrianorthpoint.com 770-650-9577 3. Brickmont Assisted Living 2925 Webb Road www.brickmont.com 678-765-9882, Temporary Respite Stays also available 4. Celebration Village 3000 Celebration Boulevard, Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.CVillage.com 800-977-6026, Independent Living; Concierge Living 5. Cottonwood Estates Gracious Retirement Living 255 Vaughan Drive, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.cottonwood-estates-ga-1.hub.biz/ 678-242-0334 6. Gardens of Roswell 9212 Nesbit Ferry Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 www.gardensofroswell.com 404-599-7323 7. Hearthside Johns Creek 11340 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 www.hearthside communities 770-418-0555, 62 and Better 8. Orchards Group at Big Creek 4420-4440 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 www.orchardsgroup.com 678-513-8879 9. Parc Alpharetta 1000 Fanfare Way, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.parcalpharetta.com 770-346-9011 10. Park at Johns Creek 55+ Active Adult 4345 Alta Drive Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.ParkatJohnsCreek.com, 770-952-9222 50 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
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If your business wasn't included, contact 770-442-3278 or kathleen@appenmediagroup.com. 11. Piedmont Corners 1615 Rolling View Drive, Cumming, Ga. 30040 www.piedmontcorners.com, 770-240-2005 12. Soleil Laurel Canyon 102 High Mountain Trace Canton, Ga. 30114 SoleilLaurelCanyon.com 678-880-3071 13. St. George Village 11350 Woodstock Rd. www.stgeorgevillage.com 770-645-2340, Life plan community
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14. The Georgian Lakeside 1070 Hardscrabble Road, Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.georgianlakeside.com 678-367-4744 15. The Mansions at Alpharetta www.MansionsSeniorLiving.com 404-850-9565, Personal Care and Memory Support will open in 2017 16. The Oaks at Hampton 5610 Hampton Park Drive, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.oaksseniorliving.com 678-965-5700
17. The Orchards Group at Stoney Point 1236 Stoney Point Road, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.orchardsgroup.com 678-513-8879 18. Towne Club Windermere 3950 Towne Club Parkway, Cumming Ga. 30041 TowneClubWindermere.com 770-844-7779 19. Village Park of Alpharetta 12300 Morris Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30005 www.villageparkseniorliving.com 678-740-3499, Bungalows and Cottages Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 51
Assisted Living Communities 1. Antebellum James Burgess 1520 James Burgess Road, Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.antebellumjamesburgess.com, 678-807-7350 2. Atria North Point 100 Somerby Dr. Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.atrianorthpoint.com, 770-650-9577 3. Arbor Terrace at Crabapple 12200 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 www.at-crabapple.com, 770-649-1009 4. Benton House of Johns Creek 5050 Kimball Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30005 www.bentonhouse.com, 770-754-5446 5. Brickmont Assisted Living 2925 Webb Road www.brickmont.com 678-765-9882, Temporary Respite Stays also available 6. Brookdale Big Creek Roswell 655 Mansell Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 www.brookdale.com, 678-341-2346 7. Brookdale Chambrel Roswell 1000 Applewood Drive, Roswell, Ga. 30076 www.brookdale.com, 678-461-7515 8. Brookdale Historic Roswell 75 Magnolia St., Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.brookdale.com, 770-650-7688 9. Celebration Village 3000 Celebration Boulevard, Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.CVillage.com 800-977-6026, Independent Living; Concierge Living 10. Charter Senior Living 4125 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 www.charterseniorlivingalpharetta.com 678-366-7700 11. Crabapple Hall 200 Pine Valley Drive, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.crabapplehall.com, 770-364-9423 12. Dogwood Forest of Alpharetta 253 North Main St., Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.dogwoodforest.com, 770-410-9169 13. Elmcroft Assisted Living of Roswell 400 Marietta Highway, Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.elmcroft.com, 770-650-0555 52 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
14. Heritage House Senior Living 390 Mary Alice Park Road, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.senioradvisor.com/the-heritage-house 770-781-1128 15. Highland Manor Senior Apartments 198 North Corners Parkway, Cumming, Ga. 30040 www.highlandmanorsenior.com, 770-889-6449 16. Ivy Hall Assisted Living 5690 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek. Ga. 30022 www.premierseniorliving.com, 770-814-0114 17. Johns Creek Senior Living Care 10220 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 www.jcseniorlivingcare.com, 770-559-1059 18. Manor on the Square 550 Barrington Drive, Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.bentonhouse.com, 770-993-8040 19. Mayfield Oaks Senior Living 143 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.mayfieldoaks.com, 770-667-6078 20. St. George Village 11350 Woodstock Rd. www.stgeorgevillage.com 770-645-2340, Life plan community 21. Sunrise of Johns Creek 11405 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 www.sunriseseniorliving.com, 770-814-0505 22. The Cohen Home 10485 Jones Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30022 www.cohenhome.org, 770-475-8787 23. The Phoenix at Dunwoody 4484 North Shallowford Road Dunwoody, Ga. 30338 www.phoenixsrliving.com, 770-350-2393 24. The Phoenix at Milton 13943 Highway 9N, Milton, Ga. 30004 www.phoenixsrliving.com. 470-238-6400 25. The Phoenix at Roswell 11725 Pointe Pl, Roswell, Ga. 30076 www.phoenixsrliving.com, 770-521-9913 26. Towne Club Windermere 3950 Towne Club Parkway, Cumming Ga. 30041 TowneClubWindermere.com, 770-844-7779
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27. Village Park of Alpharetta 12300 Morris Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30005 www.villageparkseniorliving.com 678-740-3499, Bungalows and Cottages 28. Villas At Canterfield 815 Atlanta Rd, Cumming, Ga. 30040 www.thevillasatcanterfield.com, 770-888-4929
If your business wasn't included, contact 770-442-3278 or kathleen@appenmediagroup.com.
29. White Oaks at Lanier 3875 Post Road, Cumming, Ga. 30040 www.oaksseniorliving.com, 770-886-2630
Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 53
Memory Care Communities 1. Antebellum James Burgess 1520 James Burgess Road, Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.antebellumjamesburgess.com 678-807-7350 2. Arbor Terrace at Crabapple 12200 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 www.at-crabapple.com 770-649-1009 3. Atria North Point 100 Somerby Dr. Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.atrianorthpoint.com 770-650-9577 4. Benton House of Johns Creek 5050 Kimball Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30005 www.bentonhouse.com 770-754-5446 5. Brickmont Assisted Living 2925 Webb Road www.brickmont.com 678-765-9882, Temporary Respite Stays also available 6. Brookdale Big Creek Roswell 655 Mansell Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 www.brookdale.com 678-341-2346 7. Brookdale Historic Roswell 75 Magnolia St., Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.brookdale.com 770-650-7688 8. Celebration Village 3000 Celebration Boulevard, Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.CVillage.com 800-977-6026, Independent Living; Concierge Living 9. Dogwood Forest of Cumming 7955 Majors Road, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.dogwoodforest.com 678-929-4842
54 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
10. Elmcroft Assisted Living of Roswell 400 Marietta Highway, Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.elmcroft.com 770-650-0555 11. Gracemont Senior Living 4940 Jot Em Down Road, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.fivestarseniorliving.com/gracemont 470-239-3481 12. St. George Village 11350 Woodstock Rd.www.stgeorgevillage.com 770-645-2340, Life plan community 13. St. Ives Memory Care 5835 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Johns Creek Ga. 30022 www.premierseniorliving.com 770-476-1777 14. The Phoenix at Dunwoody 4484 North Shallowford Road Dunwoody, Ga. 30338 www.phoenixsrliving.com 770-350-2393 15. The Phoenix at Milton 13943 Highway 9N, Milton, Ga. 30004 www.phoenixsrliving.com 470-238-6400 16. The Phoenix at Roswell 11725 Pointe Pl, Roswell, Ga. 30076 www.phoenixsrliving.com, 770-521-9913 17. Towne Club Windermere 3950 Towne Club Parkway, Cumming GA. 30041 TowneClubWindermere.com 770-844-7779 18. Village Park of Alpharetta 12300 Morris Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30005 www.villageparkseniorliving.com 678-740-3499, Bungalows and Cottages
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If your business wasn't included, contact 770-442-3278 or kathleen@appenmediagroup.com. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 55
Other Senior Communities 1. Brickmont Assisted Living 2925 Webb Road www.brickmont.com 678-765-9882, Temporary Respite Stays also available 2. Celebration Village 3000 Celebration Boulevard, Suwanee, Ga. 30024 www.CVillage.com 800-977-6026, Independent Living; Concierge Living 3. Cottonwood Estates Gracious Retirement Living 255 Vaughan Drive, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.cottonwood-estates-ga-1.hub.biz/ 678-242-0334 4. Country Gardens Duluth 3450 Duluth Park Ln. NW, Duluth, Ga. 30096 www.plantationduluth.com 770-623-0617, PERSONAL CARE HOME 5. Country Gardens Lanier 255 Elm Street, Cumming, GA 30040 www.countrygardenslanier.com 770-889 - 7889, PERSONAL CARE HOME 6. Country Gardens Senior Living Dunwoody 4594 Barclay Drive, Dunwoody, Ga. 30338 www.countrygardensdunwoody.com 770-936-9857 PERSONAL CARE HOME & MEMORY CARE 7. Hearthstone Assisted Living 350 Market Place, Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.hearthstoneofroswell.com 770-552-1091 8. Hearthside Johns Creek 11340 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 www.hearthside communities 770-418-0555, 62 and Better 9. Mayfield Oaks Assisted Living 143 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.mayfieldoaks.com 770-667-6078
56 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
10. Providence Senior Living 12775 Providence Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 www.providenceal.com 770-410-9447 11. St. George Village 11350 Woodstock Rd. www.stgeorgevillage.com 770-645-2340, Life plan community 12. Tapestry House 2725 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 www.tapestryhouseassistedliving.com 770-649-0808 13. The Georgian Lakeside 1070 Hardscrabble Road, Roswell, Ga. 30075 www.georgianlakeside.com 678-367-4744 14. The Oaks at Hampton 5610 Hampton Park Drive, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.oaksseniorliving.com 678-965-5700 15. The Villas at Willow Lake 4855 Willow Lake Lane, Cumming, Ga. 30041 www.senioradvisor.com/willow-lake-cumming-ga 866-869-2135 16. Towne Club Windermere 3950 Towne Club Parkway, Cumming Ga. 30041 TowneClubWindermere.com 770-844-7779 17. Village Park of Alpharetta 12300 Morris Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30005 www.villageparkseniorliving.com 678-740-3499, Bungalows and Cottages 18. White Oaks at Lanier 3875 Post Road, Cumming, Ga. 30040 www.oaksseniorliving.com 770-886-2630
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If your business wasn't included, contact 770-442-3278 or kathleen@appenmediagroup.com. Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 57
Senior driver’s license renewal Customers age 64 and older are required to take and successfully complete an in person vision screening at each renewal period. The minimum acceptable vision for a non-commercial license is 20/60 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses, and a field of vision of at least 140 degrees. If a customer is unable to pass the vision exam, they will be provided with a Vision Report Form which must be completed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist and submitted to the Department of Driver Services. To qualify for an Internet license/ID renewal: 1. You hold only a regular non-commercial license, ID or Permit. 2. If your license is Suspended, Cancelled or Revoked then you can only renew your ID card or Limited Permit. 3. You must be a Georgia resident. 4. You must be a US Citizen. 5. Your current license, ID or Permit must be Secure ID compliant, which will have a gold star printed in the upper right corner. License / Identification Card Renewal: Your renewed or replaced license or identification card will be delivered to the post office within seven days after you complete your transaction. If your request includes an address change, it generally takes 14-21 days, in order to validate your new address for security purposes. All customers who wish to use the enhanced internet services must establish a customer account. This account can be used to conduct an internet service, obtain information specific to your driving record and check the status of your order. Customers who set up an account prior to December 2010 or were required to enter a RIN to renew their driver’s license or identification card must also set up a new customer account to use our enhanced process. Fees: The department does not have senior citizen discounts for any of the services offered. However, a $5 discount is available for certain transactions conducted 58 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
via mail or online services. Additionally, an indigent ID is available at no cost when the customer presents a voucher from an approved Indigent resource provider. There is no fee for the veterans, honorary, or National Guard licenses or IDs. A voter registration ID is available at no cost for any individual who swears under oath that the ID is needed in order to vote in an election in Georgia. Surrendering a driver’s license: When a customer chooses to cease driving, they may voluntarily surrender their driver’s license and purchase an identification card. When they visit one of our customer service centers, they must complete the affidavit for voluntary surrender and making application for an ID. After a driver’s license has been surrendered, and the customer wishes to have their driving privileges restored, depending on the circumstances retesting may be required. If a relative, court, law enforcement officer, judge, doctor or citizen has concerns about the diminished driving ability of a license holder, they may request that DDS review the situation. Requests can be made in the form of written correspondence or completion of the Request for Driver Review form. The nearest Ga. Department of Drivers Services locations are: • 8610 Roswell, Road, Suite 710, Sandy Springs 30350 • 400 Aquatic Circle, Cumming 30040 For more information go online at dds.ga.gov or call 678-413-8400.
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Visit our website at alpharettachamber.com or call Kristen Franks at (404) 545-0212 Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 59
SERVICE DIRECTORY
CARPENTER & CO. Handyman Services
Rosana Heimann Agency Owner / Agent
250 Prospect Place Alpharetta, GA 30005 Office: (678) 366-3150 Fax: (678) 366-3681 rheimann@farmersagent.com farmersagent.com/rheimann Hablamos Español & Falamos Português
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770-664-0220
carpenterandco.com Hardwood Installations & Refinishing Bathroom & Showers Tile Work Marble Travertine Stairs
Quality Work Lower Prices
Atlanta Floor One Call for an Estimate
404.461.9715
Ugly Driveway? New Driveways | Patios Pavers | Stone and More
Dave McKemey 678-648-2010 60 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
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Locally Delivered. Nationally Recognized. 319 N. Main St. • Alpharetta, GA 30009 • 770-442-3278 • AppenMediaGroup.com Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 61
Emergency + Community
Resource Table ORGANIZATION
PURPOSE
PHONE #
Website
United Way
To find help
211 or 404-614-1000
211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/
North Fulton Community Charities
Help in Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton
770-640-0399
nfcchelp.org
Community Assistance Center
Help in Sandy Springs/Dunwoody
770-552-4015
ourcac.org dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov
DFACS
Food Stamps/TANF/Medicaid
404-252-2180
FACAA/LIHEAP
Energy Assistance
404-320-0166
facaa.org
St. Vincent de Paul
Financial Assistance
770-458-9607
svdpatl.org
Housing Authority of Fulton Co.
Section 8 and Public Housing
404-730-5841
hafc.org
Homestretch/Housing Initiative
Transitional Housing
770-642-9185
homestretch.org
Roswell Public Housing
Public Housing
770-993-6226
roswellhousing.org
The Drake House
Emergency housing women with children
770-587-4712
thedrakehouse.org
Metro Fair Housing
Housing Discrimination
404-524-0000
metrofairhousing.com
Salvation Army
General Assistance
404-352-3597
salvationarmy.org
Gateway Center
Emergency Shelter
404-215-6600
gatewayctr.org
Travelers Aid/Hope Atlanta
Homeless prevention, newcomers
404-817-7070
hopeatlanta.org/
EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Com)
Employment Discrimination
800-669-4000
eeoc.gov/field/atlanta
Department of Labor
Unemployment Office
866-873-5676
dol.state.ga.us
A Beacon of Hope
Pregnancy Counseling
678-893-5290
abeaconofhope.com
Child Abuse and Neglect
To report abuse
404-699-4399
dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/ child-abuse-neglect
GA Council on Child Abuse
Info, resources
800-532-3208
preventchildabusega.org
Child Support Assistance
Child Support Enforcement
877-423-4746
dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/
Housing & Homeless
Employment
Family & Childrens Services
Families First
Counseling
404-853-2844
familiesfirst.org
Fulton County Schools
General Information
404-678-3600
fultonschools.org
Fulton Co. School Social Workers
Information
404-763-6774
fultonschools.org
G.E.D.
Enrollment Opportunities at NFCC
678-387-4458
nfcchelp.org/education
Head Start
3-4 Year Olds
678-585-9100
georgiaheadstart.org
Child Dev. Center North Fulton
Child Care
770-992-4006
cdakids.org
Family Haven (NF & Forsyth)
24 Hour Hotline-Domestic Violence
770-887-1121
forsythcountyfamilyhaven.info
PADV (Partnership Against Domestic Violence)
24 Hour Hotline-Domestic Violence
404-873-1766
padv.org/
Jewish Family and Career Services
Family and Career Counseling
770-677-9300
yourtoolsforliving.org
Senior Services North Fulton
Meals on Wheels, Transportation
770-993-1906
ssnorthfulton.org
62 | Seniors Answer Book 2016
ORGANIZATION
PURPOSE
PHONE #
Website
Credit Counseling/ Legal/ Police CredAbility
Consumer Credit Counseling
404-527-7630
credability.org
NID Housing Counseling Agency
Foreclosure Information/ assistance
404-612-0405
atlhca.com
HOPE
Foreclosure assistance
888-995-4673
995hope.org
Atlanta Legal Aid
Legal Assistance
404-524-5811
atlantalegalaid.org
Anonymous Police Tip Hotline
Roswell – Crime/Drugs
770-641-3959
roswellgov.com
City of Alpharetta
Alpharetta – Crime/Drugs
678-297-6307
alpharetta.ga.us
City of Johns Creek
Johns Creek – Crime/Drugs
678-474-1610
johnscreekga.gov/services/ police.aspx
City of Milton
Milton Police Department General
678-242-2570
cityofmiltonga.us
Rape Hotline
24 Hour Hotline
770-887-1121
fultoncountyga.gov/contact-ussolicitor
Grady Rape Crisis Center
Crisis line
404-616-4861
gnesa.org/content/grady-rapecrisis-center
Fulton County Records
Birth/Death Records
404-613-1260
fultoncountyga.gov/dhw-vitalrecords
Social Security
Social Security, Disability, SSI
800-772-1213
ssa.gov
Tags/Titles
Fulton County Office
404-730-6100
motor.etax.dor.ga.gov
Veterans Administration
VA Health, Housing, Benefits
800-827-1000
va.gov
Government
Fulton County Housing & Human Services
Info on County programs
404-613-7944
fultoncountyga.gov/divisionsand-programs
MARTA
bus, rail schedules, fares
404-848-4711
itsmarta.com
Georgia Crisis & Access Line
24 hour -mental health, addiction & crisis service
800-715-4225
bhlweb.com/tabform/ fultoncountyga.gov
Health
North Fulton Regional Health Center
Public Health (in Alpharetta)
404-332-1958
North Fulton Service Center
Common Ground (co-located svcs)
404-612-3917 or 404-6126372
North Fulton Health Center Grady
Primary Care clinic in NF (Sandy Springs)
404-616-1550
gradyhealthsystem.org/
Northside Behavioral Health
Mental Health
404-851-8960
northside.com/medical_ services
Children’s at NorthPoint (Mansell Rd)
pediatric primary care
770-643-1792
choa.org/About-Childrens/ Locations-and-Directions
Good Samaritan Atlanta
primary care clinic downtown
404-523-6571
goodsamatlanta.org/
Georgia Highlands
primary care clinic serving North GA
678-887-1668
georgia highlandsmedical.org
North Fulton Hospital
Hospital - Roswell
770-751-2500
nfultonhospital.com
Grady Memorial Hospital
Hospital
404-616-1000
gradyhealth.org/
Scottish Rite (Childrens Hospital)
Pediatric Hospital
404-785-5252
choa.org/
Emory Johns Creek
Hospital - Johns Creek
678-474-7000
emoryjohnscreek.com/
Northside Hospital
Hospital - Sandy Springs or Forsyth
404-851-8000
northside.com/
St. Joseph Hospital of Atlanta
Hospital - Sandy Springs
404-581-7001
stjosephsatlanta.org
Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth
Hospital
678-312-6800
gwinnettmedical center.org Seniors Answer Book 2016 | 63
64 | Seniors Answer Book 2016