STAFF PROVIDES OUTSTANDING SERVICES IN BUFORD

BY BETH SLAUGHTER SEXTON STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Ryan Lenox and his wife and dog had visited five other independent living facilities before choosing their new home at The Mansions at Gwinnett Park.

“The staff from top to bottom for all of the residents is outstanding,” Lenox said. “There have been some hard decisions made due to the COVID-19 situation, but thanks to Kris (Brant) and the entire staff, we have come through without a single case among the residents.”

Brant, executive director of The Mansions at Gwinnett Park serves residents living in the large villas, cottages and apartments on the property at 2400 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville.

Owned by Kim Davis with her daughter, Amy Davis serving as executive vice president, The Mansions at Gwinnett Park offers senior living with dozens of amenities and housing ranging from one- and two-bedroom apartments to two-bedroom cottages to 1,443-1,694-square-foot villas with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

“Last but not least, The Mansions are extremely pet friendly,” Lenox said. Indeed, among its many features, The Mansions at Gwinnett Park welcomes its residents' small pets.

Another resident, Donna Gentry is also excited about her new home.

“Within 20 minutes of touring The Mansions, I knew it was a perfect place to live, not only for the beautiful facility and professional staff, but for the lifestyle of enjoying retirement,” Gentry said.

The Mansions at Gwinnett Park opened in April 2019, and is Davis' newest property. Other Georgia sites include The Mansions at Alpharetta, The Mansions at Decatur and The Mansions at Sandy Springs, with two properties in Oklahoma, including Hefner Mansions and Southwest Mansions.

“We saw a need in the community for our product and have watched the growth of this area over the past years,” Kim Davis said regarding the Gwinnett location. “We take great pride in the aesthetics and comfort for all the Mansions communities. Offering our residents a beautiful, safe and fun surrounding to better enjoy their retirement, their friends and families is The Mansions' focus and goal. The residents' ideas and suggestions are always considered and implemented to build a more cohesive community for everyone's satisfaction.” The Mansions at Gwinnett Park offers three chef-prepared meals each day; washer and dryer in every apartment; fully-equipped kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances; dishwasher; 24-hour emergency cords in bedrooms and bathrooms; regularly scheduled housekeeping; social activities; transportation; on-site beauty and barber shop; storage available; gated courtyards; fitness and wellness center; pool; balcony or patio for each apartment; sports lounge; card room; arts and crafts room; library; private dining room; clubhouse; FOX Optimal Living Wellness Program, as well as all utilities paid including gas, water, electricity, trash, local phone, expanded basic cable and internet. “Aside from our excellent resident-focused customer service, we offer on-site physical, occupational and speech therapy,” Amy Davis said. “Our exercise classes are led by an exercise physiologist and The Mansions also offer active lifestyle amenities like a full wellness center with pool, beautiful clubhouse for community and family use and beautiful walking trails. For easier aging and care transitions, we offer a Memory Care and Assisted Living community on campus in a separate building.” The Mansions was awarded the Top 50 Places to Work for Aging Services by Forbes in both 2018 and 2019. “The Mansions is a family-owned business that has been developing communities for over 20 years,” Kim Davis said. “Before getting into senior living 20 years ago, the company developed apartment complexes.” Lenox is glad the company decided to build senior living developments and constructed his new home at The Mansions at Gwinnett Park. He, his wife and dog moved in last July and from the start, he said they felt “very much at home.” He has high praise for the people who work at The Mansions. “The entire staff projects professionalism along with a direct personal touch and a willingness to do just about anything to make the residents' lives safe, secure and enjoyable,” Lenox said. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit https://www.themansionsatgwinnettpark.com.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 compelled many people to pay close attention to their personal health. Minor issues that might once have been written off as indicators of the common cold were now being treated with extra caution, as the World Health Organization noted that some of the symptoms of COVID-19 were similar to those of the common cold and influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge people who exhibit certain symptoms associated with COVID-19 to take the following steps to protect themselves and others in their homes and communities. • Stay home except to receive medical care. The CDC notes that the majority of people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms and can recover at home without the need for medical care. The CDC advises people with mild symptoms to stay home except to get medical care and to avoid public areas. Stay in touch with your physician, being sure to call your doctor if you are having difficulty breathing. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse and bluish lips or face are some emergency warning signs of COVID-19, and the CDC advises anyone exhibiting these signs to seek immediate medical attention. • Wear a facemask in certain situations, if possible. The CDC advises people who are sick with COVID-19 to wear a facemask when around other people, including before entering a health care provider’s office. Caregivers also should wear facemasks when in the same room with someone with COVID-19 who is incapable of wearing his or her own facemask. • Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, making sure to discard used tissues in a lined trash can. After coughing or sneezing, immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol can be substituted for soap and water for people who do not have soap on hand. • Clean your hands often. Follow the aforementioned handwashing guidelines frequently if you suspect you have COVID-19, making sure you do so after coughing, sneezing, using the restroom, and before eating or preparing food. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. • Avoid sharing personal household items. The CDC urges people who suspect they have COVID-19, as well as those who have already been diagnosed, to avoid sharing dishes, drinking glasses, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in their homes. Wash each of these items thoroughly after use, using soap and water or placing them in the dishwasher if possible. • Clean all high-touch surfaces everyday. People who are isolating themselves from the rest of their household should clean high-touch surfaces, including phones, remote controls, counters, doorknobs, and bathroom fixtures, every day. People infected and those who suspect they’re infected should clean these surfaces themselves and allow others to clean remaining surfaces throughout the house. Various strategies can prevent people with COVID-19 or those who suspect they have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to their loved ones. More information about COVID-19 is available at www.cdc.gov or contact the Gwinnett County Health Department at www.gnrhealth.com.