APRIL 2012


LIVING WELL • SMOKE SIGNALS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT


“. . . there is a growing recognition that family members who have taken on the mantle of caregiver are at risk as well.”


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All family members benefit from in-home senior care H O M E I N S T E A D S E N I O R C A R E


ith Big Canoe demographics being what they are, more and more residents


are facing the prospect of securing in- home care for aging family members. The primary focus of in-home senior care has traditionally centered on the needs of the aged themselves. Lately, however, there is a growing recognition that family members who have taken on the mantle of caregiver are at risk as well.


Studies have shown that “caregiver


stress” is a very real phenomenon and one that is growing as our population ages. As the burden of home care falls on spouses and adult children of aging parents, marital relationships can falter and family dynamics become strained.


Home Instead Senior Care is a


franchise devoted to helping seniors remain safely in the comfort of their homes while, at the same time, providing some measure of relief for family member caregivers. “A good majority of our care is as much for the peace of mind of the family as it is for the senior,” says Melinda Carnes, general manager of Home Instead’s Gainesville office. A number of Big Canoe residents are currently clients.


Home Instead Senior Care is very selective in hiring and training personal care assistants. In January, 200 applications were received, 34 applicants were interviewed and, after intensive screening, five of those applicants were hired and began training.


Carnes said members of her in-home staff typically start out by doing “home helper” kinds of services such as running errands, doing light housekeeping and simply providing companionship. As clients age and require more assistance, her personal care assistants (PCAs) transition to more in-depth services and longer


stays including overnight shifts. A complete menu of in-home services is itemized at Home Instead’s website: homeinstead.com/678. Of course, the main beneficiary of Home Instead’s non-medical services is the aging senior but clients as young as 18 are served. Carnes said in many cases, especially those


in which her PCAs cooperate with hospice care, their services have the effect of freeing up family members so they can spend more quality time with their loved one. Those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias make up a growing proportion of Home Instead’s client list. Denny Holmquist, Home Instead’s quality assurance coordinator, heads up the franchise’s Alzheimer’s training program. The course equips PCAs with the knowledge and skills necessary to help this type of client. “We are focusing on this because studies predict one-half of all people over 85 will suffer from some form of dementia,” Holmquist said. Home Instead’s course features a practical approach to deal with dementia clients through field-proven behavior management techniques.


Home Instead Senior Care Address: 115 1/2 Bradford St. Suite 210 Gainesville, GA 30501 Services: Non-medical in-home care for seniors who wish to remain independent Phone: 770-534-5880 Email: denny.holmquist@homeinstead.com Website: homeinstead.com/678


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“There is no substitute for that ‘gentle touch’ and having empathy for your patients.” A


Gentle and relaxed dental care for the entire family D A W S O N V I L L E D I S T I N C T I V E D E N T I S T R Y


re you looking for comprehensive, state-of-the- art dental services closer to home? Look no further than


downtown Dawsonville. Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry,


established by Dr. Michelle Morrow in 1985 and joined ten years ago by Dr. Matthew Dunford, has been providing area residents with General, Cosmetic and Family dental care in a relaxed environment for over 24 years. “Our goal has always been to provide


a setting in which the patient and doctor work together for optimum, cost-effective care” says Morrow. “That’s what makes us different. We seriously consider our patients’ opinions and concerns when discussing treatment.” “We love working in a profession


where there are so many advancements in dental technology, but there is no substitute for that ‘gentle touch’ and having empathy for your patients” adds Dr. Matthew Dunford. “Here at our practice, we want to treat


you with the same care we would want for ourselves — and that means no rushing, taking the time to make sure you are comfortable during treatment, and being available to answer any questions and concerns you might have,” he continues. Barbara Carnes, Financial Coordinator,


agrees that the staff will do everything possible to make your visit pleasant and stress free. “All of our exam rooms have TVs, or we can provide a CD player if you


Left to right: Shannon, Julie Allman, Dr. Michelle Morrow, Tiffany Georgia, Barbara Carnes, Juanita Blankinship, Dr. R. Matthew Dunford, Christy Peels, Vanessa Jones, and Tonia Holbrook.


prefer to listen to music. If you’re cold, we’ll give you a warm blanket. We even have heated massage pads you can use while in the dental chair. We try to go that ‘extra mile’ when it comes to our patients.” What else makes Dawsonville


Distinctive Dentistry rise above the rest? Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry uses Digital X-ray units that emit up to 90% less radiation than traditional units. The practice offers CEREC restorations, a cutting edge technology, for the production


of all-ceramic crowns and inlays. CEREC restorations are milled out of a solid ceramic block in just minutes and are then ready to be placed immediately. This means there are no more temporary crowns or fillings to deal with, and all the work can be done in one office visit. If you are looking for a smile makeover,


you might want to consider Lumineers or teeth whitening. Lumineers are thin porcelain shields that are bonded to the front of your teeth to create dramatic,


beautiful changes in your smile. Dr. Morrow explains that “these contact lens-thin veneers are appropriate for all ages. Even teens and pre-teens with chipped, broken, severely stained and, in some cases, crooked teeth can transform their guarded smiles into winning smiles”. Drs. Morrow and Dunford are also


committed to high standards for patient safety. Dr Dunford explains that “We disinfect every room before the patient is brought in. Our chairs are wiped and wrapped with new plastic to protect patients from germs. All of our instruments are sterilized using a four-step procedure and certified each week by Emory University. We even use UV filtering and sterilization systems to purify the office air you’re breathing and the water we spray in your mouth.” “If you are looking for individualized


dental care in a caring environment, give Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry a try,” says Carnes. ”We look forward to welcoming you into our great dental family of friends.”


Dawsonville


Distinctive Dentistry Address: 754 Hwy 53W Dawsonville, GA 30534 Services: General, Cosmetic & Family Dentistry Phone: 706-265-2505 Email: dawsondistinctivedentistry@gmail.com Website: www.dawsonvilledistinctivedentistry.com


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