Empty Nest May 2022

Appen Media Group

May Special Section

2 | May 2022 | AppenMedia.com

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Is that lump dangerous?

How to tell with the four “F’s” Brought to you by - Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta Most patients who come to the dermatologist ask for examination of a growth that is right on the surface of the skin. For such spots, a number of visual and tactile features can provide clues to diagnosis.

Color and texture provide useful information. For melanomas, we use the famous ABCDE’s: melanomas tend to exhibit some combination of Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, have a Diameter larger than a pencil eraser and exhibit Evolution over time (change over time).

But what to do with a mass under the skin?

When the patient presents with a lump that is under the skin, surface clues often aren’t helpful. Instead, physicians often rely on the four “F’s” as an initial screen for whether a subcutaneous lump might be dangerous. Cancers of the soft tissue under the skin are called sarcomas. Sarcomas often are Fixed, Firm, Fast-growing and Fairly painful.

The English teacher in the audience may object to the poetic license the medical community takes when calling these features “F’s.” Pain is more of a P than an F, but put the word “Fairly” in front of P

and Voila! -- you’ve got yourself an F. Benign masses tend to be the opposite of these F’s. They tend to be soft to the touch, movable, non-tender, and very slow growing if they are growing at all. An example is a benign fatty tumor called a lipoma.

Sarcomas are more likely to be firm or fixed in place, meaning that you can’t really move them back and forth. They might be fixed to muscle or bone beneath them because they sometimes grow into these deeper less mobile structures. Sarcomas tend to increase in size over time, sometimes quickly. And cancers are sometimes tender or painful when you press on them.

Warning: these are not hard and fast rules. Most doctors submit nearly every specimen that they remove from a patient to a pathologist for examination under the microscope. Even masses with reassuring features can turn out to be a cancer.

This article is not intended to encourage self-diagnosis over seeking the opinion of an expert, and we urge the reader to see a professional for growths or masses that are new, changing or not previously examined and diagnosed.

If you or a loved one has a skin care need, please consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. It would be our pleasure to take great care of you!

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AppenMedia.com | May 2022 | 3

Masterpieces and self-expression Brought to you by - Village Park Senior Living There is an artist in all of us. Regardless of age, culture, or background, creating artwork has the ability to stimulate our minds, release emotions, and leave a tangible masterpiece of our experiences.

In recent weeks, residents of Village Park Senior Living showcased their work for the surrounding Alpharetta community.

The collaboration between Village Park Senior Living and the Alpharetta Arts Center provided resident artists the opportunity to share their various forms of self-expression. From sculptors, painters, to quilters, the wide range of talents proved to be magnificent. An ambience of admiration flowed through the Alpharetta Arts Center as residents and their guests walked through the hallways to cherish the work of their neighbors.

Coordinated by Community Engagement Specialist, Donna Boudakian, the event was pivotal for seniors’ selfexpression as it was an opportunity to create connections and share their stories through their skill sets.

“They all have special talents they

should share,” Donna advocates. “Their crafts are timeless, it inspires us to never stop doing what you love because of your age.”

Their timeless masterpieces have encouraged others to continue creating.

Art workshops throughout Village Park communities are filled with the colorful creative work of the seniors who live there.

The art classes not only build relationships, but they also provide physical benefits.

According to Americare, art classes have therapeutic benefits. Studies show that seniors who participate in creative arts have reduced feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. Art therapy also provides stimulating challenges to seniors and sharpens the mind by enhancing thinking skills and neural connections that may have been lost.

Art is beneficial for anybody at any age. At Village Park Senior Living, we recognize the benefits of creative stimulation and self-expression. We encourage you to visit some of our art work and learn more about continuing your passions by visiting us at the Alpharetta Community Center for the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest on May

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AppenMedia.com | May 2022 | 5

How does Medicare work when I travel?

Brought to you by - Jay Looft, Medicare Insurance Broker, SeniorSource Medicare Solutions As summertime approaches, many of you may be looking into making travel plans. Whether traveling stateside or to a foreign country, an important part of planning is understanding how your Medicare insurance coverage works outside of where you live. This will vary depending on your type of plan.

If you have Traditional Medicare and a Medicare Supplement Plan, you may see any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare, either for emergency or non-emergency care. Coverage outside of the United States is not covered by Traditional Medicare; however, your Medicare Supplement plan will provide emergency coverage outside of the United States.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage will depend on your network type, typically a PPO or an HMO. A PPO style network will give you national coverage for emergency, urgent care and non-emergency servic-

es. An HMO style network would only provide for emergency and urgent care services outside of your plan’s service area (typically the county or a group of counties around where you live). For foreign travel, the Medicare Advantage plan will provide ONLY emergency coverage outside of the United States.

When traveling internationally, we recommend acquiring additional Trip Insurance. This will typically give you additional health insurance protection when traveling. Most Trip Insurance policies will bundle other protections into the policy, such as lost baggage and last minute cancellation coverage. Also, when planning international travel, it is a good idea to touch base with your Medicare insurance carrier to fully understand coverage outside of the United States.

If you have questions about your Medicare insurance coverage when you travel, give us a call today! Call us at (770) 913-6464 or visit our website at www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com.

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6 | May 2022 | AppenMedia.com

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Debbe finds support Brought to you by - Inspired Living at Alpharetta Debbe moved her mom in with her about a year ago. Her mom had been living on her own for the last five years since her husband passed away. She had noticed a slow progression in her mom’s ability to remember day-to-day small things. Debbe’s mom would forISTOCK

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Support: Continued from Page 6 get to eat and take her medication from time-to-time. She was struggling with personal grooming and Debbe would often have to help her shower, brush her teeth and dress. Her mom would sometimes confuse her with her sister and had trouble remembering what day or year it was. Debbe loves her deeply and struggles with her personal responsibility to care for her mom and give her the best life she can. Debbe noticed their ability to communicate was failing and both felt a sense of sadness and depression.

Debbe knew it was time to get help for her mom and she was unsure where to turn. She researched several options on Google and had gathered piles of information over the last year.

She was well educated, however confused and unsure what would be the best option for her mom.

Upon a suggestion from her friend, Debbe visited Inspired Living. She was immediately impacted by the support they offered her and the vibrancy of life she witnessed. Residents were engaged in a musical sing-along in the living room, eating with friends in the dining room and walking the halls with smiles. The care team greeted every resident they passed with a smile calling them by name. She witnessed gentle touches and hugs and overheard conversations about life and family.

The senior advisor sat with Debbe and wanted to know how she was feeling managing care for her mom. They wanted to make sure she was taking care of herself as well and handing the stress the mental anguish this can cause ok. They offered her information on support groups as well ways she can make a move easier for her mom.

Debbe decided to move her mom into the Memory Care neighborhood at Inspired Living. She feels confident in her decision and knows her mom will the best life she can there. She sees her mom all the time and frequently comments on how happy she is. Debbe is relieved and wished she had made this move sooner.

If you are curious about how Inspired Living can help you and your loved one, please give them a call at 470.509.5995 or visit www.inspiredliving.care.

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