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Lion Hospice, Select Physical Therapy and Moore & Associates

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Lion HospiceSusanne Sperry has first hand experience witnessing the benefits of hospice care. Both of her grandmothers were under the care of hospice while her grandfathers were not. Having seen both sides of the end of life stage she decided to pursue degrees in Social Sciences and Healthcare Administration. She is now the Administrator of Lion Hospice.  According to Susanne, Lion Hospice recognizes that the dying process is a part of the normal process of living and focuses on enhancing the quality of remaining life. As such, she takes great pride in helping seniors and their families navigate all phases of their hospice experience.  

 Lori Sulak has always had a soft place in her heart seniors.  Growing up, she had a very strong relationship with her grandparents that led her to become a caregiver after she graduated from high school. Twenty two years ago, she entered the senior housing industry. After spending time in skilled nursing, independent living, assisted living and most recently electronic monitoring, she decided she wanted to work with the frailest of the frail at Lion Hospice. Susanne and Lori can be reached via phone at 817-268-2145.  Their email addresses are as follows: lsulak@lionhospice.com and ssperry@lionhospice.com.  Visit Lion Hospice on the web at www.lionhospice.com.

Meier, AnthonyAnthony Meier, MPT, is the Center Manager for the Decatur Irvin Select Physical Therapy clinic in Decatur, Georgia.  He received his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1999, and his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio in 1993.  After his undergraduate work, Anthony took a job in product planning and inventory control.  After a number of years, he realized that this job wasn’t where he wanted to spend his career.  He started volunteering at a physical therapy clinic, and decided to take classes at Georgia State to become a physical therapist.  After completing his graduate work, Anthony took a position at Select Physical Therapy.  After 12 years, I think it’s safe to say Anthony has found his calling.  Anthony was also joined in the studio today by Venika Benjamin, who serves as the Administrative Service Manager for Select Physical Therapy for the Atlanta metro area.  To reach Anthony, call the clinic at 404-297-0821, send him an email at ameier@hq.novacare.com, or visit their website at www.selectphysicaltherapy.com.

Moore, MeredithHaving hosted many radio shows, Meredith Moore is no stranger to the studio.  Meredith’s primary business is Moore & Associates, an Atlanta-based Wealth Management firm.  She tells us the firm specializes in coordinating the work of the many advisors, insurance agents, accountants, etc. that are often involved in managing an individual’s financial affairs.  She also specializes in exit strategies for small business owners.  Today, Meredith had a different topic on her mind.  She is also a board member of an Atlanta non-profit called Kate’s Club.  This organization empowers children and teens facing life after the death of a parent or sibling. By creating friendships with kids and young adults that share the experience, Kate’s Club guides children through their grief journey in a comfortable, safe, and uplifting setting.

Kate’s Club has a unique event coming up to help raise money to support it’s efforts.  The event is a 2k and 10k race in Grant Park on May 21 at 8:15AM.  The name of the event is GeneRacetion, and is a joint effort with Senior Citizens Services of Atlanta.  This event will bring together both young and old in an effort to spotlight the need for guidance for these children that have been impacted by the tragic loss of a parent or sibling.  If you would like more information, or would like to register for this event, either as a participant or a sponsor, call Meredith at 770-587-0281, or visit the event website at www.generacetion.org.

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

Rebecca Palmer and Jeannine Blackman of Northlake Gardens, and Dawn Coons of The Benton House

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Palmer, RebeccaA southerner at heart, Rebecca Palmer grew up in New England.  Living in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, she attended Keene State College and earned a degree in Communications and Business.  Upon graduation, she felt warmer weather calling her, and moved to Atlanta in 2000.  She initially took a position with Piedmont Hospital.  After a couple other endeavors, Rebecca decided that her heart was in working with the elderly, and she took the position of Marketing Director for Northlake Gardens, an assisted living and memory care community with about 60 apartments.

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Jeannine Blackman first worked in healthcare as a high school student.  As a member of the Medical Careers Club, she was able to get a paid position at the In-Patient Pharmacy of a local hospital in Detroit, where she was born and raised.  At the age of 19, Jeannine took a position as a restaurant general manager, and spent the next 26 years in the restaurant and hospitality business.  After moving to Atlanta in 1999, Jeannine was working in the hospitality industry when her company was bought out.  She decided to go back to school at that point, becoming licensed as a licensed practical nurse (LPN).  Today Jeannine is the Resident Services Director at Northlake Gardens, where she is responsible for all aspects of resident care.    Join Rebecca and Jeannine on Sunday May 1st for a celebration to kick of Northlake Gardens’ Open House Week.  Tour the community, enjoy live entertainment, refreshments, prices and gifts!  Northlake Gardens is located at 1300 Montreal Road in Tucker.  Call them at (770) 934-0034, or visit them on the web at www.northlakegardens.com.

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A third yankee in the studio today, Dawn Coons was born and raised in Buffalo, New York.  Her love for seniors resulted from being raised by her grandparents.  In Dawn’s words, her grandmother was her best friend.  Having moved to Atlanta in the mid 1980s, Daw moved her grandmother to Atlanta to live with her in 1986.  At the time, Dawn had been pursuing a nursing degree.  In order to better care for her grandmother, she decided to work in real estate due to the flexibility in that career.  When the real estate market turned, Dawn began working with seniors again for a senior residential placement service.  During her tenure with this company, she got to know the Benton House.  When they decided to build the new community in Johns Creek, Dawn knew that she wanted to be a part of that organization.  Today, Dawn is the Community Relations Director at the Benton House Johns Creek, a new assisted living and memory care community located at 5050 Kimball Bridge Road in Johns Creek.  Join them for their upcoming Grand Opening on Saturday, April 30 from 11 am to 1 pm.  The theme will be “Opening Day at the Ball Park”, with special guest Darrel Chaney, a former Braves baseball player and announcer.  Call them at 770-754-5446, or visit them on the web at www.bentonhouse.com.

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

Claudia Shook of Freedom Hospice

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Shook, Claudia

After growing up Oklahoma, Claudia Shook moved to Missouri then Michigan to work on an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work. Following school, she moved to the Detroit area and worked in pediatric hospice for 8 years before fleeing the cold for Dallas. Claudia has served the senior community as a social worker in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, acute care hospitals, and now at Freedom Hospice.  Freedom Hospice is a community-based organization that affirms the belief that it is important to make every life as meaningful as possible, to validate quality rather than quantity of life, and to provide care to the patient and family which reflects a living expression of love, warmth and compassion.  Claudia can be reached by phone at 972-310-4018 or email her at cshook@freedom-hospice.com.  Visit their website at www.freedom-hospice.com.

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

Aqua Umoren and Olivia Haynes of Haven Home Health and Sandra Durbin with Brighton Gardens of Dunwoody

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Haven Home Health compressedTiming is everything!  Particularly for Aqua Umoren.  Originally from Seattle Washington, Aqua moved to New Orleans to attend Xavier University.  After receiving his Bachelors Degree in Management, he went on to attend the University of New Orleans for his Masters.  Early in 2004, Aqua made a decision to move to the Dallas area to pursue his career – several months before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.  Today, Aqua is Area Director for Haven Home Health.  He loves the philosophy of the company that focuses on both the welfare of their staff, and the direct interaction and service to their patients.

Olivia Haynes seems to have missed her true calling, as she is an absolute NATURAL on the air!  A Dallas native, Olivia strayed from Texas long enough to earn a degree at the University of Oklahoma.  She has spent her career in human resources, getting her feet wet in the healthcare industry at a long term care facility.  A year and a half, she found her home at Haven Home Health, where she works as a Senior Healthcare Recruiter.  She tells us that she particularly looks for staff that are critical thinkers and exceptional communicators.  She prides Haven Home Health on the quality of their staff, and, as such, is extremely careful about the prospective employees that she invites to join the team.  To get more information about Haven Home Health, call them at (972) 644-3000, or visit them on the web at www.3hllc.com.

After gruaduating from college, Durbin, SandraSandra Durbin moved from Ohio to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to work with juvenile delinquents in Ft. Lauderdale.  After moving to Atlanta, she decided to change careers.  Little did she know she would simply be working with OLDER juvenile delinquents.  Today, Sandra is a Senior Director of Community Relations for Brighton Gardens of Dunwoody.  Brighton Gardens is part of the Sunrise family, and thus the oldest assisted living company in the US.  Having worked for Sunrise for a number of years now, Sandra loves the sense of community at Sunrise.  One of the unique projects being undertaken by Brighton Gardens is their Ageless Design Symposium.  Coming up from May 13 to May 15, Brighton Gardens of Dunwoody will be taking four of their apartments and showcasing Aging in Place improvements to help seniors stay in their homes as their conditions progress – whether physical or cognitive.  In addition, join Brighton Gardens on May 19 for a Taste of Sunrise.  Brighton Gardens is also hosting both a Mothers Day Brunch or a Father’s Day Barbecue that will benefit the Diabetes Association.  To find out more, contact Sandra at 678-896-5650, visit them on the web at www.bgdunwoody.com, or stop by their Ashford Center location in Dunwoody for a tour!

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

Beverly Joseph and Maggie Myers of Meadowstone Place

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Meadowstone PlaceBeverly Joseph grew up in Duncanville, TX and after 20 years in the Cedar Creek Lake area she decided it was time to move back Dallas. She wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives, and upon the recommendation from a friend she went to work for Spectrum Properties as a sales and leasing consultant. After a stint as a sales representative in the rehabilitation industry, she jumped at the chance to return to Spectrum as the Community Director at Meadowstone Place, a senior retirement community nestled in the prestigious Preston Hollow residential neighborhood among 50-year-old live oak trees that can be viewed from any porch.  Meadowstone Place offers a large array of services for independent seniors to choose from such as meals, housekeeping, and an on-site beauty salon.

Maggie Myers is a native of Lansing, MI and came to Dallas when her husband took a new job in the area. She has been the Activities Director at Meadowstone Place for 2 years and loves enriching the lives of the seniors in the community.  Meadowstone Place is located at 10410 Stone Canyon Road in Dallas.  Stop by for a tour, visit them on the web at http://www.spectrumprop.com/meadowstone.htm, or call them at 214-987-0943 for more information.

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

Kevin Reitz of Griswold Special Care and Shelly Glenn of RC Cancer Centers

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glenn, Shelly compressedOriginally from New York, Shelly Glenn started her career in home healthcare, infusion therapy and pharmaceuticals.  About seven years ago, Shelly moved to the Atlanta area, changed jobs, and changed industries.  After a few years away from healthcare, Shelly found RC Cancer Centers, and accepted a positions as Vice President of Marketing.  For 25 years, RC Cancer Centers has specialized in dealing with cancer patients where radiation is an appropriate therapy.  They take a wholistic view of the disease, involving specialists from multiple disciplines, including a wellness component.  Shelly tells us that this business is personal for everyone involved, noting that nearly all the staff have had close friends or family members impacted by cancer.  Shelly is particularly excited about the upcoming Prostate Cancer Symposium being held Saturday, April 2 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Morehouse School of Medicine.  The Symposium will feature a panel of physcians providing information to support better prostate cancer treatment decision making and raise general awareness regarding prostate cancer treatment and diagnosis.  Tickets are free, and complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served.  To get more information, or to sign up, visit www.georgiaprostatecancerpledge.com.  For more information about RC Cancer Centers, contact Shelly via email at sglenn@rccancercenters.com, visit them on the web at www.rccancercenters.com or call 1-800-262-7591.

Reitz, Kevin compressedKevin Reitz started his career in Boise, Idaho, working for a small software company selling accident and crime scene software.  Kevin attend Boise State University, earned a Marekting degree, and remains a rabid Broncos fan.  After moving to Dallas, the company Kevin started his career with was acquired, and his division of the company was disbanded.  Looking for another sales and marketing opportunity, Kevin accepted a position with a small assisted living community.  He was quickly promoted to Executive Director of a larger community.  Six months ago, Kevin moved again, accepting a position as Director of Sales and Marketing for Griswold Special Care.  Kevin observed the need for high quality in-home care firsthand when his great grandmother slipped at the bottom of her driveway, breaking a hip.  He acknowledges that most of his clients desparately want to stay in their own homes, surrounded by their memories and maintaining their independence as long as possible.  Kevin tells us that Griswold Special Care is committed to providing exceptional service at affordable rates to facilitate these seniors to realize their desire to stay in their own homes.  To find out more about Griswold Special Care, call Kevin at (972) 554-0700, email him at kevin@gscdallas.com or visit the website at www.gscdallas.com.

Compassionate Care Hospice and Hearthstone at Irving

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Hearthstone compressedHearthstone Senior Services was founded in 1993, and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.  Their mission is to provide quality and affordable assisted living care and services that offer value and exceed the expectations of our residents and their families.  That is exactly what Rhonda Bitner, Executive Director of Hearthstone at Irving, and her team strive to do every day.  Though Rhonda didn’t start her career in senior services, she tells us that it has been a blessing to her for the past ten years, and she can’t see doing anything else.  Liz Johnson is Hearthstone at Irving’s Resident Care Director.  She is in charge of all aspects of care for Hearthstone’s residents.  And while she downplays her role, Rhonda confides that Liz does yeoman’s work, and is an absolutely essential part of the team!  One of Hearthstone’s differentiators is their food.  Chef Mike Gantz is the responsible for truly making food something extraordinary at Hearthstone.  From the fresh ingredients to the nutritionally balanced meals to the recipes contributed by residents and their families, Mike make the dining experience at Hearthstone exceptional.  For more information about Hearthstone at Irving, stop by for a tour at 2425 Texas Drive in Irving, call them at 972-659-6800, or visit them on the web at www.hscsal.com.

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“You don’t find hospice, hospice finds you!”  This is the sentiment of all three of our guests from Compassionate Care Hospice.  Linde Bors, Jona Payne and Tammie Yost are all Hospice Liaisons for Compassionate Care.  And while they all have different life experiences that led them to hospice as a career, they all feel that hospice found them!  Jona and Linde are native Georgians, while Tammie is a foreigner (from Alabama).  They were drawn to Compassionate Care Hospice because this organization is dedicated to “creating and experience” for their patients and families.  Specifically, they recommend that families not wait to start celebrating a loved one’s life, and planning for that loved one’s ultimate departure from life.  Tammie noted that studies show that patients actually live longer, and their final days are more fulfilling if they take advantage of the benefits of hospice.  One of Compassionate Care Hospice’s differentiators is the Cardiac Program.  This program enables cardiac patients to stay in their homes longer, and receive certain services that may not be available in other hospice programs.  To learn more about Compassionate Care Hospice, call them at 770-220-2723, or visit them on the web at www.cchnet.net.

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

Taylor Settles, Health Care Providers of Texas and Stephen Stockdale of Safe N Sight

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Settles, Taylor compressedTaylor Settles grew up in the panhandle of Texas.  Tired of wind and bad weather, he made a move to the Dallas area, and never left.  When Taylor was younger, his grandparents’ struggles with both Parkinsons and cancer made an indelible imprint on his life’s perspective.   Coupled with his wife’s career in home health, and a mother-in-law who worked in healthcare for 30 plus years, it was almost inevitable that Taylor would also work in the healthcare field.  Today he is Customer Service Representative  for Health Care Providers of Texas.  Taylor loves his work because he is able to provide a broad range of services to his clients, from durable medical equipment to home health services to hospice.  Taylor can be reached at 214-228-4098 or 972-735-0821, or via email at tsettles@hscpoftexas.com.

Stockdale, Stephen compressedStephen Stockdale was born and raised in Maryland.  After graduating from high school, he joined the Coast Guard.  Later he went to school in New Orleans, ultimately graduating with a marketing degree.  Like so many college grads, he immediately put his marketing degree to work doing something completely unrelated (information technology).  In 2005, Stephen began working in real estate.  After having one of his retail properties vandalized, he installed a wireless camera system so that he could watch over the property from his smart phone.  One day one of Stephen’s friends was telling him about his mother, shom while alone in her apartment, had fallen down causing a painful break in both her hip and shoulder.  She lay there for three hours before she was able to crawl to an emergency button across the room.  His friend commented “If I had only known…”  This event spawned the idea to use the technology he had developed for his real estate business in the homes of seniors or disabled individuals, so that family members could “know”, in a secure and private way, that their loved ones were safe – anywhere, anytime.  Today, Stephen is the Owner of Safe N Sight, a company that provides state-of-the-art, secure monitoring for many applications, including helping seniors stay safe in their homes!  Contact Stephen via the phone at (404) 386-9099, email him at stephen@vectra3.com, or visit them on the web at www.safensight.com.

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

Dr. Tom Price on Navigating the Hospital Stay, Alex Nameth from Friends Place of McKinney

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Nameth, Alex compressedDallas has had it’s share of icy weather this year, and Alex Nameth was ready for it!  Originally from Detroit, he has 40 years of experience with winter driving.  Attending Michigan State University, Alex received a degree in Social Work in 1972.  Upon graduation, he was lured into the burgeoning information technology industry, where he worked in sales for 30 years for IBM, Digital Equipment Corp and Novell.  Like many of our guests, Alex was personally impacted by the availability of care for seniors.  His father was diagnosed with Alzheimers, and needed assistance.   After moving him to an assisted living community in Dallas, Alex realized his father needed more socialization, and there was a distinct gap in the availability of services.  Though his father passed about 18 months ago, Alex felt compelled to fill a need in the local community providing a variety of daytime services to serniors.  Today Alex and Barb Nameth own Friends Place of Mckinney, an Adult Day Services community in McKinney, Texas.  To arrange a tour, or get more information, call Alex at (972) 569-9000, or visit them on the web at www.friendsplaceads.com. 

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Thomas Price, MD is an assistant professor of medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine, in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.  He graduted the University of Miami School of Medicine in 200.  Board certified in both Internal medicine and Geriatric medicine, Dr. Price serves as the Chief of Medicine of the Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital.  He also serves as the Associate Director of Emory’s Fellowship training program in Geriatric Medicine.  His practice is primarily in post-hospitalization rehabilitation and in-hospital consultation in both medicine and geriatrics. 

Dr. Price serves as the Director of Emory University’s Taskforce Against the Mistreatment of Elders (TAME) and Medical Director of DeKalb County’s elder mistreatment investigation team (VALARI).  He is active in researching preventive strategies against elder abuse and financial exploitation, and is a Practice Change Fellow of the John A. Hartford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies.

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

Gardens of Richardson and D.K. Lippy Construction

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Tammy and WandaWanda Ledford grew up in Oklahoma and from a young age knew that she wanted to live in Dallas. After graduating with a degree in healthcare administration from Texas State University in San Marcos, Wanda wanted to make a difference in the lives of seniors. At the Gardens of Richardson, which at 23 years of service is Richardson’s first skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility , Wanda oversees both the skilled nursing/rehabilitation and the assisted living.

Tammy Fetzner grew up in Garland, Texas and has been a physical therapist for over 20 years and she realized very early on that the geriatric community was where her hear is. With almost 11 years of service at the Gardens of Richardson Tammy oversees the physical therapy and rehabilitation programs at the Gardens.  To arrange a tour, or get more information call Tammy or Wanda at (972) 783-8000, or visit them on the web at www.gardensofrichardson.com. 

dk lippyOriginally from Louisville, Kentucky, Dennis Lippy came to Atlanta in 1995 to start the the firm that bears his name today, D.K. Lippy Construction.  The goal of his company 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 D.K. Lippy.  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 D.K. Lippy’s services, please contact them at (770) 496-5651, or visit them on the web at www.dklippy.com.

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