senior living

GUIDE

MedicalUpdateand SeniorLiving

A special supplement of

A guide toHEALTHY LIVING•

Dermatology Consultants, P.C.General, Surgical, & Cosmetic Dermatology

• Diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases • Preventative maintenance of the skin

• Diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer• Micrographic Surgery (MOHS)

• Acne and Rosacea • Contact Dermatitis • Leg Vein Treatment (Sclerotherapy)

• Mole Removal • Psoriasis and Eczema • Wart Treatment

The newest technology to reduce fine lines and wrinkles is the 1540 Fractional.The IPL is used for brown spots, rosacea, and photorejuvenation.

Call today to schedule an appointment! 4151 Hospital Drive • Covington, GA 30014

770-784-0343

Please contact Mandy Zuver or Jill Murphy our licensed Aestheticians.

Dermatology Consultants is also pleased to offer a full range of

cosmetic dermatology services including:

• Aesthetician Services • BOTOX® • Juvederm™

• Laser Hair Removal • Radiesse®

• Restylane® • Sculptra™

Michelle Futral, MD Michelle L. Juneau, MD Mike Kelleher, PA-CBenjamin Kelly, MD

Our board certified dermatologists offer dermatological care for the ENTIRE family!

In most cases referrals are not necessary!Services include, but are not limited to:

®

Licensed, Bonded & InsuredSenior Helpers locations are independently owned and operated.

Quality of Life

for your Loved One

Contact Us Today!

www.seniorhelpers.com

n Caring Companionshipn Bathing & Dressingn Walking Assistancen Light Housekeepingn Meal Preparation & Cleanupn Medication Remindersn Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caren Up to 24-hour Care

800-000-0000770-982-6628

“FREE In-Home Consultation”

Table of ConTenTsThe Covington News Medical Update/Senior Living Guide 3

4

6

7

9

11

15

Oral health habits to maintain a beautiful smile

Steps to a healthier, happier you

Don’t fall for thesecommon baby myths

The basics of long term care

Making the move to independent retirement living

Did you know?

The Medical Update/SeniorLiving Guide is presented by

The Covington News1166 Usher Street

Covington, GA, 30014770-787-6397

[email protected]

According to a Febru-ary 2009 survey from the American Dental Associa-tion and Crest(R) and Oral B(R) the smile outranks eyes, hair and the body as the most attractive physical feature on a person. There-fore, taking care of your teeth and smile is essential.

Men and women dif-fer when it comes to tak-ing care of their teeth and gums. A nationwide survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older found 86 per-cent of women brush their teeth twice or more a day, yet only 66 percent of men

do so.The survey also found

that women say they change their toothbrush or power toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months on average, yet men hang on to theirs an average of 5 months. The ADA recommends replac-ing toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months or when the bris-tles become frayed since frayed and worn bristles decrease cleaning effective-ness.

Most people need to do a better job of flossing their teeth. Only half of those surveyed (49 percent) say

they floss their teeth once a day or more often. And 1 out of 3 people surveyed think a little blood in the sink after brushing their teeth is normal, yet it’s not — it could signal gum disease or another health problem.

Oral health is an impor-tant part of overall health. Regular dental check-ups are important not only to diagnose and treat gum dis-ease and tooth decay, but also because some diseas-es or medical conditions, such as oral cancer, have

Oral health habits to maintain a

Beautiful Smile

Forget hair, eyes and body... a recent survey found that people consider the smile the most attractive feature in a person.

4 The Covington News Medical Update/Senior Living Guide

Continues on Page 6

Oral SurgeryAssociatesDental Implant Centers

&

Procedures Include• Dental implants • Wisdom teeth • Facial trauma • Bone Grafting • Impacted Canines

• Oral pathology • Teeth in an Hour/and the CT Guided Surgery

Our smiles are contagious!

www.georgia-oms.com

Athens Office740 Prince Ave. Bldg. 1-A

706.549.9711

Covington Office7135 Floyd Street

770.787.2444

Tucker Office4915 LaVista Rd.

770.934.1907

Decatur Office5243 Snapfinger Woods Dr. Ste 106

770.981.9400

Snellville Office2386 Clower St, Bldg F, Ste 100

770.979.9500

Buckhead Office3580 Piedmont Rd, NE, Ste 207

Tuxedo Center 404.233.5385

Conyers Office1463 Klondike Rd, Ste C

770.483.9692

Stockbridge Office125 Eagles Spring Dr.

678.565.0719

symptoms that can appear in the mouth.Growing research indicates there may

be an association between oral health and serious health conditions such as cardio-vascular disease and diabetes, underscor-ing the importance of good oral hygiene habits.

“We need to constantly get the word out how important it is to stay on top of

your oral health,” says Dr. Ada Cooper, an ADA consumer advisor and practicing dentist in New York City. “Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly can help keep your smile healthy.”

For more information on oral health, visit the American Dental Association’s Web site at: www.ada.org.

~Metro Creative Connection


Continued from Page 4

Simply dropping a few pounds can boost your confidence, help you feel better physi-cally and prevent some of the illnesses as-sociated with obesity, such as heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

So how do you get on the healthy track? Follow these tips for success.

• Modify your diet to include more lean protein, fruits and vegetables. The goal should be to eat these foods at every meal. They’re a smart way to fill up without con-suming excess calories. Plus, they’re full of the fuel your body needs to be healthy.

• Keep a food diary. A food diary can make you more aware of what you are consuming on a daily basis and where you may need to scale back. Studies have indicated that those who write down what they eat in a journal tend to lose more weight than those who don’t.

• Stay hydrated. You should aim to drink eight glasses of water per day for optimal health. Drinking water is also a good way to feel full without doing unnecessary snacking.

• Make exercise fun. Vary your activities and have a friend join you in your exercise routine. If exercise is fun, you’re more likely to stick with it.

• Indulgences are okay once in a while. Just don’t overdo it all of the time.


The weather is warm and the skies are blue. It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the day. It’s also a good time to think about getting healthier.

Cycling is a good form of exercise and is a social event

Steps to a healthier, happier you

The Small Facility with the Big Heart

Social CircleNursing & Rehabilitation Center

The Covington News Medical Update/Senior Living Guide 7

Don’t fall for these common baby

mythsHave a baby? Chances are you’ll receive

a lot of mixed advice with regards to car-ing for your little one. Most of it comes from well-meaning family members or friends who think they know best. How-ever, while you can listen to the advice of past parents, safety should always prevail and you should trust your instincts and those of professionals above all else.

Here are some myths that have sur-faced over time. It’s best not to be fooled by these fallacies:

• Picking up a baby too much will spoil him or her. False. Babies communicate by crying and whimpering — it’s their only method of telling parents what’s wrong. Holding your baby helps him or her feel secure and can actually reduce stress and boost brain development. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t pick up your child at the first coo. A healthy bal-ance will help develop a safe and secure baby.

• Feeding solids early on helps a baby sleep better. False. An infant’s nutrition-al needs are met simply by breast milk or formula for at least the first six months of life. Some pediatricians say you can supplement with solids after four months of age, while others advise waiting until six months. Giving babies cereal early on will not help them to sleep better. In fact, their underdeveloped digestive system might not be able to handle the solids and it may lead to gas or irritation.

• Pacifier use or thumb-sucking will cause buck teeth. False. Otherwise there would be a lot of children with funny teeth.


1174 Monticello Street • Covington, Georgia

ACCEPTING MEDICARE & PRIVATE INSURANCE

Serving our local community’s

healthcare needs for over 30 years!

- Phil & Cham StoneOwners

678.658.4663

Formerly"Option Care"

Owners Phil and Cham Stone

COVSQR

MO

NTI

CEL

LO S

T.

COURTHOUSE

You now have a local choice!!!!

Proudly serving your homecare

needs

Give us a call or visit our retail store to see our many

other items!

Services Provided:• Oxygen• CPAP & Bilevel • Hospital Beds • Wheelchairs

Retail Store:• Bathroom Accessories• Lift Chairs• Orthopedic Supplies • Support Hose & Socks • Canes, Crutches & Walkers

BasicsThe Covington News Medical Update/Senior Living Guide 9

of long term careBy Amanda White, M.A. Gerontology

Clients often tell me how difficult the search is for long term care options for either their loved ones or for themselves. With the older adult population being estimated to in-crease in the near future, the growth in services and housing for the aging sector can easily overwhelm anyone. Here are some basic guidelines that will help you decide what type of residential choices and supportive services are best for you or your family:

The

Assisted Living Facilities Assisted living facilities (ALFs) are an

option for people who need assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, taking medications and toileting. ALFs have 24 hour staff supervision and usually provide meals, housekeeping, transportation and daily activities. Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for assisted living, they are only pri-vate pay. However, qualifying veterans and widows of veterans can receive ben-efits that help pay for some of the cost.

Nursing Homes Nursing homes provide 24 hour

skilled nursing and are highly regulated by the state. Nursing homes are an op-tion for people who need more medical care or need rehabilitation temporarily after a surgery or accident. Medicare only pays for a set amount of days for rehabilitation. Long-term patients pay out of pocket, but because the cost for care is generally higher, some people use Medicaid to either pay for a portion or all of the cost. In the state of Georgia, if you use Medicaid to help pay for your stay, any assets you have will be used by the state to help pay for the cost of your care.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have staff on-site at all times to help their residents.

Stay at Home“Home is Where Your Heart Is”

We Will Help

Day or NigHt - Week - moNtHAffordable-Dependable-Licensed

established1991

Call 770-787-1150Free evaluation

“Home Hearts Care, Inc.”


Home Care Home care is non-medical assistance

within your own home. Home care staff can assist with personal care, meal prepara-tion, running errands, and other services. Services are charged on an hourly basis and are paid for out of pocket. Home care is an option for people who wish to stay in their homes.

It is also very important to have a com-prehensive team of professionals to help you explore your options. These profes-sionals should be able to work together with your best interest in mind. Everyone will not need to have all the services listed below, but make sure whatever professional you work with has access within their net-work to these other services in case they are needed.

Placement AssistanceMost families are already stressed be-

cause of the contributing factors that have brought on this change in their loved ones life, this service will help save you time and avoid stress from exploring a lot of options to find the best care fit. This service is designed to pinpoint the best services de-pending on your budget, benefits, and loca-tion and most important the need of care. The best part is this service is usually free of charge.

Financial Advisor Make sure you work with a professional

financial advisor that specializes in asset protection and understands the needs of clients with medical and special needs is-sues. This advisor should have a strong knowledge of government, private benefits and asset protection tools such as trust and other legal tools.

LawyerThere is a lot of legal issues that will need

to be explored during this time of life from asset protection, probate and special needs

Continues on Page 15

home care professionals will assist the elderly in their own homes.


When 72-year-old Army veteran Ted Eickhoff was at his local VA hospital for an appointment recently, he struck up a conversation with another patient about selling his home and down-sizing. As luck would have it, Eickhoff ’s fellow patient lived in a local independent retirement community owned by Holiday Retire-ment, and raved about the benefits. Eickhoff was sold.

“I couldn’t believe how much you get for the mon-ey,” said Eickhoff. “It is so nice to have everything taken care of with just one monthly payment. It covers

everything I need, includ-ing amazing meals. And if you need another snack, the chefs just make it for you!”

Eickhoff, a retired Com-mand Sergeant Major, is part of a growing number of seniors who are plan-ning for an independent living future.

In fact, a recent AARP poll found that nearly 60 percent of Boomers say they are concerned about living independently, and more than 50 percent say they have begun to think about how they would pay for independent living as-sistance as they get older.

Crunching the Numbers

Mereen Klein, 86, started looking at the costs of keep-ing her own apartment ver-sus independent living when her eyesight declined. Klein needed assistance with trans-portation and didn’t want to keep bugging her son to drive her around, so she decided to move to an independent retirement living community that met her needs.

“It was right for me with my fixed income, and the money covers everything,” said Klein. “I don’t pay for TV, or to have my room cleaned. I couldn’t believe what I got for the money

Making the movetO independent retirement living


— it was really something.”To determine what makes financial

sense, seniors need to add up the true costs of managing a home versus being part of a retirement community.

“Even if you no longer have a mortgage payment, you still have fluctuating monthly expenses including utilities, taxes, phone, cable and food that can add up significant-ly,” said Stan Brown, COO of Holiday Re-tirement. “For many seniors, switching to a community that includes one manageable, monthly flat fee gives them the ability to plan out the next 15 to 20 years and know exactly what they can expect to spend and what they can afford.”

For Klein, it not only made financial sense, it also gave her back some of her freedom.

“I have more independence now than when I lived alone,” said Klein.

Ask the Right QuestionsTo calculate the true costs of making the

move to an independent retirement com-munity, Brown cautions seniors to ask as many questions as possible prior to mov-ing in, to uncover any buy-in fees, to deter-mine if a long-term lease is required and to see if the “feel” of the community is right.

“It doesn’t make financial sense to make the move if you aren’t comfortable in the new community and will want to move out within a few months,” said Brown. “It

needs to not only be affordable, but a great place to live as well.”Seventy three-year-old Julianne (Judy) Kayatt knows this all too well. She sold her home and moved into a community that didn’t offer much for her money and wasn’t as caring as she’d hoped. After only a few months, she started her search again and was fortunate to find that a Holiday Retirement community was a perfect fit for her.“My family likes that I am happy here, and I like that I can still be independent and live here,” said Kayatt. “I am free to go where I want; I am enjoying activities and events and I’m surrounded by friends. I know I can be happy here for a long time.”

The Golden YearsMaking the move to an independent liv-

ing community can be an affordable way to make the most of one’s retirement years. Kayatt, Klein and Eickhoff have all seen the benefits to cutting ties to a house or an apartment in favor of community living.

Klein was able to take advantage of a promotion from Holiday Retirement, which covered up to $1,000 of her moving expenses, and Kayatt received her birthday month free when she moved in.

And as for Eickhoff, the payoff for him is being surrounded by people his own age with shared experiences and a passion for living the good life.


6140 Hannah Street Covington, GA 30014

Guarantee Yourself a Safe and Secure

Retirement!

Call us today! 770-898-0300

• 401 K Rollovers• Roth IRA Conversions• Estate Planning• Legacy Planning• Long Term Care• Financial Planning• Pre Assisting Living Planning

• Experienced team of professionals

• Comprehensive and quality care

• Leaders in cancer research and treatment

• Highest documented cure rate for prostate cancer

For the very best inRadiation Therapy

Cancer Care Treatment,

count on us.


issues. Be sure to choose a lawyer that un-derstands Elder Law and the Probate pro-cess. Most lawyers have packages that will address all these issues and most are offered at an affordable rate. Make sure you do not pay by the hour and fees should be quoted in advance.

Tax ProfessionalBecause of possible changes in your

healthcare expenses, sale of home or other financial changes; a tax professional could

understand these issues and help save you thousands in taxes. There are some tax pro-fessionals that focus on clients entering into this stage of life.

Becoming educated about your options

and working with a professional placement service will create a smoother transition for the family and for the person or couple needing the assistance.

Amanda White is a Geriatric Care Manager for Aging Options of Georgia, she has a Masters Degree in Gerontology.

Continued from Page 10

According to a 2009 study conducted by the AARP, the number of senior citizens, persons aged 65 and older, who filed for bankruptcy rose a staggering 150 percent between 1991 and 2007. Worse yet, a similar study by the Consumer Bankruptcy Project found that among people aged 75 to 84, bankruptcy rates increased by 433 percent. Though neither study cited specific reasons for the drastic increase in bankruptcy filings among the nation’s elderly citizens, many believe the rising costs of uninsured medi-cal bills are the chief culprit. That could ring especially true when considering the AARP study also noted that during the same time period, bankruptcy filings among younger Americans had declined. Yet the country’s older Americans are widely believed to have amassed large amounts of debt simply to pay for uninsured medical bills, eventually forcing them into bankruptcy. In addition to medical costs, many economists also feel the rising costs of other necessities, such as fu-eland food, have proven especially harsh on seniors, a significant percentage of whom are living on fixed incomes, leaving even those who have not filed for bankruptcy teetering on the brink of doing just that.


DiD you know?

• 14 Years Experience • Tenured Staff• Competent Compassionate Care

Call or Visit Us For Details!

770.786.468811980 Hwy. 142 North • Oxford, GA • www.merryvaleassistedliving.com

Merryvaleis Redefining Assisted Living

“Where Active Seniors Choose To Live”

Cowboy Poker Night

Cruise Night

• Adult Day Care Services• Long & Short Term Stays• Respite Care• Expanded Memory Care Unit

senior living

Health & Medicine