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An Atlanta native, Raquel Bustos started her career in administration and corporate meeting planning.  Though she was good at it, this was clearly not her life’s work.  As she looked to do something that had a more significant impact on people, she landed a job as an Activities Director at a local assisted living.   Music played a big role in Raquel’s childhood, so it was only natural that she brought music to her work as an Activities Director.  She liked singing so much, she decided to perform on a broader scale.  For a number of years she performed in more than 75 senior centers, assisted and independent living facilities.  While she loves to perform, even more, she loves to take her audience on a trip down memory lane, getting the audience to perform with her.

About a year ago, Raquel started working with Cameron Hall Assisted Living on a part time basis as a Community Outreach Director.  This past September, she began working there on a full-time basis.  Cameron Hall is an family-owned and operated community with 94 units, 22 of which are memory care units.  Raquel loves the intimate, family environment so much, that she has her own mother staying there!

In addition to her work with Cameron Hall, Raquel has also gotten involved in delivering the Virtual Dementia Tour, developed by PK Beville and Second Wind Dreams.  The Virtual Dementia Tour provides a tactile experience for professional and family caregivers to get a first hand look at what their loved ones go through every day.  Raquel and Cameron Hall offer this training on a regular basis, and will also bring the Tour to other locations.  For more information, or for a tour of Cameron Hall, call Raquel directly at (770) 720-0290, or stop by the community at 240 Marietta Highway  Canton, GA 30114.

We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show.  Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.

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Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Dennis Lippy came to Atlanta in 1995 to start the the firm that bears his name today, D.K. Lippy Construction. Recently, Dennis formed a new division of the company, HomeFree Home Modifications to specifically recognize their specialty since 2006 in Aging in Place.  The goal of this division is to allow seniors and disabled individuals a fuller, more independent life through the appropriate remodeling of their homes.  A Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Dennis is a founding member of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council.

Also a Certified Aging in Place Specialists, Rick Thaxton is Vice President of Marketing for HomeFree.  Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Rick has spent his career in Sales and Marketing, focusing on serving the senior market for the past five years.  Rick notes that the greatest barrier to aging in place is fear of change.  He further suggests that with some minor changes in habits, and appropriately aesthetic changes the home, a senior may safely and comfortably remain in his or her home much longer.

For more information about HomeFree’s services, please contact Rick on his cell at (770)241-1852, call them at the office at (770) 939-0747, or visit them on the web at www.homefreemods.com.

We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show.  Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.

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Return guest and rare Atlanta native, Chris Brand has been involved in helping disabled adults and seniors for as long as he can remember.  Chris is the President and CEO of Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC).  FODAC was founded in 1986 to assist families of disabled adults and children in accessing both equipment and services to facilitate accessibility and independence.  FODAC fills 3,600 requests, distributing over 5,000 items each year from its 65,000 square foot facility in Stone Mountain.  The retail value of all medical equipment that has been given away now totals over $60 million!

Though we have previously enjoyed Chris as a guest on our show, he has several new and exciting developments to discuss:

• FODAC Golf Classic at Stone Mountain Golf Club on October 15, 2012 – 10 am shotgun start.  There is still time to register a team to play, or to be a sponsor!

• New Equipment Drop-off sites:
  • Project Walk in Alpharetta
  • Mobility Express on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell

• Veterans Administration Equipment cause – new agreement for VA to donate all used wheel chairs to FODAC

• Do you know someone who would make a good Fund Development Director?  FODAC is hiring!

To register for the golf tournament,  find out more about FODAC, or learn about volunteer opportunities, call them at (770) 491-9014, or visit their website at www.fodac.org.  And don’t forget their Thrift Store, located at 4900 Lewis Road in Stone Mountain.

We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show.  Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.

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Melissa Davis got involved in senior care by letting her fingers do the walking!  She wanted to help seniors, and found her first community by looking in the Yellow Pages.  Originally from a small town near Youngstown, Ohio, Melissa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology at the  North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega.

Today, Melissa is the Social Director at Laurel Creek Manor, an assisted living community with 50 residents, 12 of which are in a Memory Care Community.  She notes that one of the things that demonstrate the quality of the community and its care is the fact that they are completely full, with a waiting list.  She loves her job, and is rewarded by the interactions with her residents every day.  Laurel Creek Manor works very hard to assist new residents in adapting to their new environment  Melissa recommends that setting proper expectations is key, particularly with respect to the amount of time it could take to adapt.

One of Melissa’s passions is the fight to end Alzheimer’s.  As such, she has participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the last three years.  This year, Laurel Creek Manor is having a fund raiser at their community on September 15, with food, music and games.  This fund raiser is in support of the Duluth Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 6.  for more information about Laurel Creek Manor, or the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, contact Melissa at (678) 456-8363, email her at Melissa@LaurelCreekManorCommunity.com, or visit their website at www.laurelcreekmanorcommunity.com.

We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show.  Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.

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A rare native Atlantan, Sheri Maddox attended Georgia State University, earning an undergraduate degree in business.  She started her career in sales.  Not too long after graduation, Sheri’a grandmother passed away.  Her grandfather had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2001, and needed to move out of his house to a community where he could get the care and attention he needed.  As Sheri became involved in her grandfather’s care, she realized how much she felt called to work as an advocate for seniors.

Today, Sheri is the Director of Community Relations for Sunrise of Johns Creek.  She loves the resources that Sunrise brings to bear in providing a safe, secure, caring and compassionate home for seniors – particularly those with some cognitive impairment.

Sheri also advocates for seniors through her volunteer work with the Alzheimer’s Association.  She got involved with this organization as a result of her grandfather’s diagnosis, and has found a place where she can really make a difference.  Our listeners can help Sheri make a difference by attending a terrific evening of food, cocktails and entertainment on September 13, from 6pm to 9pm at 56 East Andrews in Buckhead.  No RSVP required – just show up, enjoy the evening, and donate to a worthy cause.

Additionally, Sheri is co-chairing this year’s Atlanta Walk to End Alzheimer’s, being held on September 29 starting at 8 am at Atlantic Station.  To get more information or register a team, visit www.alz.org.  To find out more about Sunrise of Johns Creek, call 770-814-0505, visit their website at www.sunriseseniorliving.com, or send Sheri an email at johnscreekdcr@sunriseseniorliving.com.

We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show.  Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.