Podcast: Download

Originally from Mississippi, Jim Ostenson began his career working for the church.  As part of his ministry, he observed how chaotic life could become when someone passed away without being prepared from a legal perspective.  With this in mind, Jim attended Pepperdine University’s School of Law, and in 1984 moved to Atlanta to become the staff attorney for the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA).  He spent a number of years helping churches observe the complexities of the law with respect to non-profit organizations.  He continued to have a passion for older adults, and finally decided to open his own law practice specializing in estate planning.  Jim encourages, “it’s never to early to start estate planning”.  He also advocates a team approach, including insurance professionals, financial planners and accountants (depending on the size of the estate).  Jim can be reached at (770) 392-3310, or on the web at www.ostensonlaw.com.

When Katie Sitton took a job at an independent living community after college graduation, she thought it would be a temporary stint in the senior living business.  After a few years, she did move on, but to an assisted living community.  She found that she really loved seniors, and was compelled to make a career serving seniors.  Today Katie is the Executive Director for Emeritus at Stonebridge, a full service Alzheimer’s Care Community in Dallas.  Darla Morford started her career similarly, working in a part time sales role for an assisted living community.  Darla is the Community Relations Director for Emeritus at Stonebridge.  One of the differentiators at Emeritus at Stonebridge is the training of the staff with respect to Alzheimer’s Disease, and how to interact with residents and family members.  All staff, from laundry assistants to executive director, receive this training.  Everything that is done in the community, from the color on the walls to the food on the plates, is done to make the most of the Emeritus experience for its residents with Alzheimers.  To schedule a tour, call Katie or Darla at (214) 691-7400, stop by their community at 9271 Whiterock Trail in Dallas, or visit them on the web at www.emeritus.com.

Special thanks to Griswold Special Care, A Tradition in Home Care Excellence since 1982, for hosting today’s show!

Podcast: Download

Rachel Pierce’s father is an entrepreneur.  After watching his father benefit from hospice services, James Pierce jumped at the opportunity to acquired The Hospice Center.  Rachel didn’t start her career in healthcare.  Growing up in a small town west of Houston, she attended the University of Texas at Austin.  Upon graduation she went into marketing with Perot Systems.  In March of 2009, she finally gave in to her father and accepted a job as the Executive Director of The Hospice Center.  The Hospice Center provides hospice and palliative care for any individual needing end of life care and counseling, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay for the services.  Today, The Hospice Center operates out of Richardson and Sherman (Texas), and in Durant, Oklahoma.

 Joining Rachel in the studio today, Meredith Biltz is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).  She grew up a military brat, spending a good bit of her time in North and South Carolina.  After graduating from Wingate University with a Psychology degree, she got married, and spent the next several years being a full-time mom.  When she moved to Texas, she decided to pursue a graduate degree in Social Work.  After working with Katrina evacuees for a number of years, Meredith had the opportunity to join The Hospice Center two years ago.

 Our final guest from The Hospice Center this morning is Donna Talley.  Donna is the rare Dallas native!  She began working in home health nearly twenty years ago, and migrated to hospice in 2000.  Today she is the Director of Business Development with The Hospice Center.  She loves the business she’s in, and enjoys the personal touch of the Hospice Center.  To reach Rachel, Meredith of Donna, call (972) 664-0030, or visit them on the web at www.thehospicecenter.net.

 Joining us in Atlanta today, Walter Coffey developed an affinity for seniors by visiting nursing homes with his grandmother when he was young.  Born in Panama City, and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Walter went to seminary and became a staff minister.  As his ministry gravitated toward seniors, Walter decided to go back to school where he earned a graduate certificate in Gerontology, and a Masters in Public Administration for Non-Profit Entities.  Today, Walter is the President and CEO of Aging Services of Georgia, a statewide association that represents the key not-for-profit and other mission-driven organizations dedicated to providing quality housing, health care and community-based services that people need, when they need them, in the places they call home.

Operating under the umbrella of Aging Services of Georgia, Holly Beauchamp is the Program Coordinator for the Center for Positive Aging.   Holly grew up in upstate New York, and went to Monmouth University in New Jersey.  After graduating with a degree in Marketing, Holly started her career with Enterprise Rent-a-Car.  After a number of years in business, Holly found herself looking to do something a bit different.  She joined Americorps Vista, which is, in her words, “a domestic version of the Peace Corps”.  Americorps Vista’s mission is to eliminate poverty.  Vista members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, and strengthen community groups.  Holly’s contribution is through the Center for Positive Aging, whose mission is to educate consumers about the types of services to assist in successful, positive aging; refer consumers to quality providers; and to assist these providers in connecting with consumers in local congregations and communities.

 Walter and Holly can be reached at Aging Services of Georgia at (404) 872-9191, or on the internet at www.agingservicesga.org.  To get directly to the Center for Positive Aging, go to www.centerforpositiveaging.org.

Special thanks to Griswold Special Care, A Tradition in Home Care Excellence since 1982, for hosting today’s show!

Podcast: Download

Bother Eddy Ketchersid has been in full-time ministry for more than fifty years!  A product of west Texas, Brother Eddy went to school at both Amarillo College and Seminary and Abilene Christian.  He has been married for 53 years, and has six children.  Brother Eddy is truly a community ambassador.  He is the Community Minister for The Branch, Farmers Branch Church of Christ.  He has also been very active in the Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years.  Brother Eddy has written two books, the most recent of which is “Ten Commandments of Leadership Networking”.  In line with my blog over Thanksgiving on “Building and Maintaining Productive Relationships”, Brother Eddy notes that the most important accomplishments in life are possible only through healthy and strong relationships.  If you’d like to reach Brother Eddy, he is a phone call away at (972) 345-1645.  To find out more about The Branch, check their website at www.thebranch.org.

Today’s show in Atlanta is dedicated to an organization that is committed to helping seniors successfully age in the place of their choosing.  Mary Lea Quinn is the Founder of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC).  In its inaugural year, the Atlanta Chapter of the NAIPC is one of 12 active chapters around the country.  Their website describes itself this way:  [We provide] “a community of people and professionals who act to provide resources and services that champion living long, independent, productive lives at home and in the community.”    Mary Lea can be reached at Mary Lea can be reached at (770) 476-8400.  Visit the NAIPC’s website here.  

Joining Mary Lea in the studio today are two guests that have been on the show before:  Thom Corrigan and Dara McMillan.  In addition to representing the NAIPC this morning, Thom also represents both Metta Johnson and Associates and The Elrod-Hill Law Firm. Thom has served the senior community as a social worker and a geriatric care manager for thirty years. Though the two organizations he works with represent different disciplines within the senior services arena, both share the common objective of providing a comprehensive assessment of a client’s situation and providing solutions to meet each client’s unique requirements.  Thom can be reached at (404) 791-8234, or via email at thomcorrigan@bellsouth.net.

 Dara and her husband are the owners of a unique company called My Accessable Home.  Though there are a few other companies in the Atlanta area that specialize in renovations for seniors and disabled adults, their business is unique in that they bring a wholistic approach to the process.  Dara can be reached at (770) 715-5242 or on the web at www.myaccessablehome.com.

Candace Kortovich is a Housing Counselor for a non-profit organization called Housemate Match.  Housemate Match is a unique, nationally recognized, home sharing program that matches mature adult homeowners who have extra room in their homes with adults (tenants) seeking a roommate in a beautiful and safe place to live in the Metro Atlanta area.  For more information on Housemate Match, please contact Candace at 678.812.4082.  You can also view their website here.

Special thanks to Griswold Special Care, A Tradition in Home Care Excellence since 1982, for hosting today’s show!