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John Bishop, Executive Director of Crossroads Hospice led off today’s show. John is an Atlanta native with a background in mental health counseling. In addition to a degree from Ohio State University, John is also a Registered Nurse. Though he loves his job as executive director, he misses taking his pet parrot out to spend time directly with patients. John has a passion for helping people that goes well beyond his day to day job responsibilities. He, and Crossroads Hospice, work closely with the Alzheimer’s and ALS Associations, and John is a board member with Friends of Gwinnett Senior Services (www.fogcss.com). John can be reached via email at psychranger@yahoo.com, or on his cell phone, which he bravely recited during our interview (you’ll have to listen to get it, though)! www.crossroadshospice.com
Next, we spoke to Patsy Golden, Social Services 
Coordinator for Emory Eastside Heritage Center. Patsy is part of a unique organization that brings together a full suite of services to evaluate and treat Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias and geriatric depression. She is a certified “Thanatologist” (our word for the day!), meaning she is trained in all aspects of death, dying and bereavement. In her spare time, she leads a grief support group at Snellville United Methodist Church. Patsy loves the opportunity to work with family members to assist with and share in the grief and bereavement process. Each day she lives out the adage, “a grief shared is halved and a joy shared is doubled.” Patsy can be reached via email at Patsy.Golden@hcahealthcare.com.
Finally, we spoke to the “dynamic duo” from Plantation South in Duluth. Melissa Mulhall is the Director of Community Relations, and Sarah Biehl is the Activities Director, or in her own words, the “Director of Excitement”. Melissa and Sarah shared their joys in working with residents and families of residents every day. They seem surprised that they would actually get paid to go in to work and have so much fun! (Management take note!) Both women are committed to enhancing the lives of seniors through both their vocation and their volunteer activities. Interestingly, both Melissa and Sarah came to Plantation South as a result of volunteer activities. When they are not working or spending time with family, they both support the local Alzheimer’s chapter, and just recently walked in the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, helping to raise more than $60,000 through the Duluth chapter. Meliss and Sarah can be reached at Plantation South at (770) 623-0617. Stop in to visit, or check out their website at www.plantationsouth-duluth.com.
