2016 Cobb CommunityProfiles w/ map

Senior Living
in Atlanta
By Gwyn Herbein
Relocation can happen to anyone, at any time, for any reason. Maybe
your dream job just opened up in another state, or you want to be
closer to your extended family. Whatever the reason, there are often
other considerations that have to be made beyond what neighborhood
to live in and where to send the kids to school. Members of the socalled
“sandwich generation”—which refers to those who are caring for
or supporting both their older parents and their children—are having to
strike a delicate balance. In 2013, the Pew Research Center found that
47 percent of adults in the 40s and 50s have both a parent age 65 and
older and are either raising a young family or financially supporting a
child over the age of 18.
Relocation can often mean finding a suitable place for an aging
parent to live, or planning for the “what ifs” if a person’s health or
ability to live independently changes. Companies like Arbor, Brookdale,
Peregrine, Insignia and others operate facilities and resources to help
families find the best fit for their loved ones.
Beginning the process
Today’s senior living facilities go to great lengths to understand the
needs of their residents, which goes far beyond their medical history
and current medications list. “Our [sales people are] trained in how
to discover who the person is, what is this legacy and life story of the
individual who is coming to us,” explains Shirley Paulk, R.N., senior vice
president of sales and marketing at the Arbor Company. The company
operates nine facilities in Georgia, including several in the metro Atlanta
area like Decatur, East Cobb, Alpharetta and Johns Creek.
“It’s not one size fits all; it’s a very customized approach we have
for each individual,” says Paulk. That could mean an adult child coming
with their parent, or an older couple who may be beginning to realize
they are no longer comfortable living alone in their home. After the
initial consultation, Arbor’s senior care counselors make home visits
to further understand the personal priorities of the resident and what
material items they may want to bring with them to help preserve their
memories even while they make new ones. “Our job is to help people
see it’s just a bend in the road, a new intersection, rather than the end
of the road,” says Paulk. That even includes additional counseling in the
case of complicated family dynamics.
Each family also has a different dynamic when it comes to making
decisions. Sterling Estates, which operates facilities in East and West
Cobb, has counselors on staff to guide seniors and their adult children
through the process. “Furthermore, our websites have a wealth of
educational information to help with the decision making process,”
says Pete Green, partner at Sterling Estates’ development division, HCC
Senior Living Group. The online information speaks to those who know
exactly what type of facility they need as well as those who are just
beginning the process and may be overwhelmed by the options.
Finding a home
One of the many decisions that must be made is what type of living is
right for the resident, even within a facility. Arbor offers independent
living, assisted living and memory care. Within the memory care
neighborhoods, there are two levels: Bridges, which Paulk describes
as being for those in the early stages of cognitive impairment. “It’s a
smaller and more intimate setting. By keeping that type of resident
together, we can get creative in how we do our programming,” she says.
Evergreen is a secured neighborhood for those with more progressive
dementia, and both neighborhoods are served by staff specially trained
for dementia care.
Senior living facilities are also prepared to take on the health
challenges that come with aging, regardless of whether they happen
slowly or quickly. Arbor facilities constantly communicate with the
family and the resident’s primary health care provider when a sudden
medical change occurs.
Sterling Estates provides a continuum of housing options so that
residents can seamlessly transition to other types of housing when
their health needs change. “Our Sterling Estates communities have
independent residences that are cottages, garden homes and/or
apartments. Additionally, our large Main Residences allows for either
independent living or assisted living,” explains Green. “Furthermore,
couples don’t need to separate when one spouse ages more rapidly.”
All Sterling residents have personal emergency transponders to notify
staff in case of an emergency, 24/7 nursing care and are near two major
hospitals in Cobb. “Third party therapy companies, other health care
professionals and doctors are available to treat residents on-site,” adds
Green.
Living the life
Once a family has made the decision to move a loved one into a senior
living facility, the focus turns to making the transition as seamless as
possible. Before moving to an Arbor facility, families are visited by an
engagement counselor who takes the time to learn whether the resident
is a person who enjoys quiet time for reading, or a social butterfly. “We
believe in deep connections, and taking what we learn about them
and connecting them to others,” says Paulk. The information gathered
by the engagement counselor helps inform everything from at which
dining table the resident will eat meals to who their neighbors will be.
Financial counselors are also available to help residents untangle the
many intricacies of life insurance, veterans’ benefits and other financial
assets that will help pay for care.
After the boxes are unpacked, residents are then encouraged to
engage in a wide range of activities offered by the facilities. “There are
so many daily opportunities to engage within and outside our immediate
neighborhoods that foster mental stimulation and enjoyment,” says
Green, all of which are part of the “Living a Sterling Life” motto. “’Living
a Sterling Life’ is all about promoting and engaging in a healthy lifestyle
through nutritious and enjoyable meal plans, exercise tailored to
individual needs and providing socialization engagement opportunities
for our residents that they otherwise don’t have by living alone,” explains
Green. “Our overriding goal is providing our residents the programs and
services necessary to remain active and as independent as possible.”
Arbor offers art and music studios, rehab and fitness facilities, as well as
a beauty salon and libraries.
No matter their current or future health needs, metro area seniors
and their families can rest assured that there is a facility that is a
good fit. From the beginning of the research process through difficult
conversations and decisions, today’s senior living facilities are there
every step of the way.
20 CommunityProfiles >> 2016/2017