Business Spotlight Parc at Duluth

Parc at Duluth: Exceptional Senior Living

For almost two decades, Parc at Duluth has set the standard for senior living in the metro area, offering a warm and elegant home perfect for the golden years of life.

By Alicia Carter / Photos by Karl Lamb

AYBE IT’S the warm wood finishes or the plump hydrangeas that greet you as you step into the two-story foyer, but something feels different at Parc at Duluth — it feels like home. Not one of those sleek, overtly modern homes with allwhite-everything, but the elegant and stately great-grandfather clock version of home that feels comfortable and familiar. On a particularly quiet winter morning, the grand crystal chandelier reflects multicolored beams of light throughout the lobby. Tiny rainbows dance across the walls and furniture, a happy welcome to visitors and residents alike, who now have a home befitting this next chapter of their lives.

Parc at Duluth residents have access to luxury apartments, firstclass dining, library, media center, fitness facility and more.  Since 2003, Parc at Duluth’s residents have found comfort in this warm embrace of luxury. The independent living community has set the standard for senior living in the metro area, offering nearly 200,000 square feet of space that houses 170 apartments, a dining room and lounge, library, activity rooms, fitness facility, media center, and a large pool overlooking a beautiful courtyard. It’s a handsome building; its grandeur somewhat hidden from passersby driving down Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, which only adds to its charm.

General Manager Tori Bowen-Smith, who oversees the day-to-day operations, greets residents by name as she leads guests down the hallway and up the elevator. This type of resident and employee familiarity should be the standard for all senior living communities, and it feels natural here, like longtime friends greeting each other in passing. "Trusting a community with your loved one or making the decision to move into a senior living community can be very difficult, but our mission is to break down

that barrier and serve our community,” Bowen-Smith says. “We want families to know that they are not in this alone. There's a lot of life to be lived, and you can really maximize these golden years by being in a community that offers enriching programs and a family environment.”

A Culture of Caring

 Parc at Duluth offers two types of living options for its residents: independent living and assisted living. Independent living is for those residents who need little to no care. These are the residents who enjoy life in their apartment and are able to take advantage of Parc’s many amenities, such as enjoying meals in the dining room, taking part in activities like movie night and bingo, as well as perks such as housekeeping services.

“Assisted living has the same options, so they have the opportunity to do the same things, but we also have care in place,” Bowen-Smith says. “We have a 24-hour nurse that is on site who assists with medication management, as well as nurses who are here 24/7 to assist with activities of daily living, such as helping residents get dressed, making sure that they're taking their medicine on time, that they're eating, and also making sure residents get out of their apartments and socialize.”

Residents of Parc at Duluth enjoy all the comforts of home, while also experiencing the safety, security, and peace of mind that senior living

communities provide. The roomy one- and two-bedroom apartments include full kitchens, a washer and dryer, spacious closets, and soundresistant construction. In addition to the well-appointed apartment homes, residents are also surrounded by amenities that are similar to a luxury community or vacation resort.

“We want to empower our residents to live better — that’s our mission,” Bowen-Smith says. “We want this season of life to be invigorating; we want it to be exciting and fulfilling. A lot of the time, residents are at home and they're by themselves. They don't have the opportunity to socialize. They don't have the opportunity to get out there, and there's so much fun to be had.”

Enriching Amenities

 Parc at Duluth features a number of amenities for its residents, including a media room, library, salon and fitness center. The most frequented, however, is the community’s regal dining room. The elegant space features a full-service, white tablecloth dining experience complete with a balcony overlooking the courtyard where residents can enjoy a chef-driven menu al fresco on a warm day. Across from the dining room there is a fashionable lounge with a bar and game-top tables where residents can relax with a drink and socialize before their meal. Separating the dining room and lounge is a beautiful grand piano that hosts live music on Fridays.

In addition to the four-star dining experience, residents are also able to partake in fitness and wellness activities that are tailored to their individual level of ability, skill and goals. A standout feature of the community is the covered, heated pool, where residents can enjoy a water aerobics class during the warm months.

“Our residents also enjoy outings, such as frequenting the restaurants in the Duluth area,” Bowen-Smith says. “They like

Parc at Duluth offers both independent living and assisted living options, but all residents have access to the community's many amenities.

watching movies and playing bingo. Aside from that, they really enjoy the family atmosphere. They like the fact that we know their kids by name and that they can bring their dog by my office for a treat – it's just really a warm family atmosphere. And I think that's what makes the difference at Parc at Duluth. Yes, we have a beautiful building, but that's not what people remember. They remember that our staff is so loving and so caring to them. That’s what makes the difference.”

The staff at Parc at Duluth goes above and beyond to make sure residents feel at home. By providing the highest level of service and care, they help families take comfort in the decision to trust them with their loved ones, while residents are able to truly enjoy this next phase of life. The golden years really are much brighter at Parc at Duluth. ■

Parc at Duluth is located at 3315 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Duluth. For more information, call 770-622-6880 or visit ParcAtDuluth.com.

BY: Bill and Cindi Porter,

AILERON INVESTMENT ADVISORS

Q&A

Q: SHOULD I STAY IN THE STOCK MARKET GIVEN THE RECENT SETBACKS?

Everyone’s situation is unique. One thing to consider is if

your investments are long-term in nature. You are correct that the stock market has been very volatile lately. This is expected to happen from time to time. However, like an airplane dropping due to wind turbulence, it can make one feel a little unsettled.

It is worth remembering that we experienced a similar event just about two years ago when COVID rocked the markets. On March 16, 2020, the S&P 500 dropped 12% in just one day.1 As of January 23, 2022, the S&P 500 is down 7.66% for the year 2022 and is now “down” to 4,410. Even though the market has recently pulled back, in less than two years, it has still nearly doubled from the March 2020 low. Yet it is not unusual to focus on recent drops in the market while forgetting about the growth period that preceded it.

Staying the course is important because we do not know when the next up market will happen. In 2021, the S&P 500 recorded 68 new record highs as well as some reversals.2 Over the long haul those new highs are what build our portfolios. You have to be invested to capture those gains.

Over the past 50 years, there were seven major down markets and dozens of other less severe setbacks. However, every market reversal was replaced by a new market high. Despite numerous problems, pull backs, and market reversals, a $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 in 1970, grew to $1,754,644 by the end of 2020.3 This is disciplined investing. It works.

A conversation with your trusted advisor about your emotional risk tolerance and the requisite discipline required for long-term investments would be time well spent. ■

1 https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EGSPC/history?period1=1583798400&period2=1585180 800&inter val=1d&filter=history&frequency=1d&includeAdjustedClose=true 2 https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-12-26/2021-sp-500-performance# 3 https://www.franklintempleton.com/forms-literature/download/IBS-SIDFL – Why I should invest in the stock market now.

The CLU® mark is the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to its use, and is used by permission. The ChFC® mark is the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to its use, and is used by permission. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. This information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Please note, it is not possible to invest directly into the S&P 500® Index; this measure is provided solely as a benchmark of overall market performance. Past performance of the S&P 500® is not an indication of future performance and is not guaranteed. Information and opinions contained herein that has been obtained from third party sources is believed to be reliable however accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Securities and advisory services offered through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC and a Registered Investment Advisor. MAS and Aileron Investment Advisors are not affiliated entities.

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