Orchid Senior Advisors, 2919 ASHEBROOKE Drive NE, Atlanta, GA (2025)

10/24/2025

I help people find senior communities for their loved ones. Last week I posted about how you need a number of different kinds of social interactions for longevity. One of those is cognitive stimulation, which comes from challenging your mind to do something new. This isn't just about getting a new skill. It also includes interacting with people we don't know.

As we age, those opportunities don’t come as easily. Work no longer puts us in situations that push us to meet new people, and our social circles often narrow rather than expand.

My clients often have a lot of anxiety about moving to a community because they are worried about being around an unfamiliar group of people. But that discomfort isn’t a reason to avoid the move. It’s actually a reason to embrace it. That uneasy feeling is your brain’s way of telling you it’s getting a healthy workout.

Change may feel uncomfortable at first, but like exercise, the discomfort means you are doing something good for yourself.

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10/17/2025

I help families find the right senior living communities for their loved ones and often provide education on the vital role social connection plays in healthy aging. Today, there is no question that meaningful social engagement is essential as we get older. It's a key factor in maintaining a high quality of life, and also for preventing depression and dementia.

Recent research shows that it’s not just the presence of social interactions that matters, but the variety of those interactions. Different types of connections stimulate different aspects of mental and emotional well-being:

Emotional Support – These are deeper, more intimate conversations, typically with someone you trust and feel closely connected to. They help foster a sense of belonging and emotional stability.

Cognitive Stimulation – Engaging with people you don’t know well or learning something new challenges your brain and sharpens communication skills.

Care During a Crisis – Simply knowing someone will be there for you in times of need can significantly reduce stress and provide peace of mind.

Encouragement for Healthy Habits – -Accountability and support are key motivators to keep you eating better and exercising.

The key takeaway is this: social connection is not just a box to check occasionally for seniors. It has to be integrated into their everyday life so it is a cornerstone of overall health. By surrounding our aging loved ones with a rich and stimulating social life, we can help them thrive.

09/12/2025

Last week, I shared a study showing that just 35 minutes of vigorous exercise a week can reduce the risk of dementia by more than 40%. I help people find senior communities, and many of my clients tell me they’ve become more active after moving into one. Even something as simple as walking down the hall to the dining room gets them moving more than they did when living in a house.

When my mother lived in an Independent Living community, her apartment was on the opposite side of the community from the lobby and dining area. Over time, I think she began to enjoy that daily walk to dinner—and the consistent movement really improved her overall health.

Did you know that most senior communities also offer exercise classes? Many even have physical therapists on staff who lead sessions multiple times a week. When you’re living alone, it can be hard to stay motivated to exercise. But having scheduled classes or a physical therapy session makes it more social and fun. It also makes you more accountable.

If you have a senior loved one still living at home and not getting the physical activity they need, it might be time to give me a call.

09/05/2025

Earlier this year, Johns Hopkins released the results of a compelling study on dementia. Researchers analyzed fitness tracker data from 90,000 individuals and found that those who engaged in just 35 minutes of vigorous exercise per week were over 40% less likely to develop dementia. Even more strikingly, increased exercise levels pushed that risk reduction to over 60%. Importantly, the study included seniors categorized as "frail." According to the lead author, “This suggests that even frail or nearly frail older adults might be able to reduce their dementia risk through low-dose exercise.”

Too often, people feel that if they lack energy or strength, exercise won’t make a meaningful difference. But this study shows that pushing yourself for as little as 12 minutes a day, three times a week, can have a profound impact on your long-term health and quality of life.

The takeaway is clear: If you are looking for the easiest way to cut down on your dementia risk, get moving.

08/29/2025

I help families find the right senior living communities for their loved ones. Occasionally, I hear what I can only describe as a nightmare scenario: A loved one has been hospitalized, then transferred to a rehab facility—where they're suddenly told they need to sign papers for Medicaid to cover a long-term stay.

What many people don’t realize is that applying for Medicaid often means turning over all personal assets to the state. It also typically limits future care options to nursing homes, excluding many other better-suited alternatives. And unfortunately, many families don’t know there are more affordable—and often much nicer—options available.

Nursing homes are expensive because they have medical doctors and registered nurses on staff 24 x7. Even people with extensive mobility issues or advanced dementia don't usually need that. They mostly need a lot of personal care from caregivers, proving what professionals call "activities of daily living."

There are plenty of Assisted Living and Memory Care communities designed to provide care in these situations for thousands of dollars less each month.

To be clear, most rehab facilities do not pressure patients into Medicare. However, If you or a loved one are feeling pressured to sign something you don't understand, do some research. And call me so we can explore some options. My services are free and might save your loved one from a costly mistake.

08/22/2025

How do Super Agers do it?

Super Agers are people who live significantly longer than most with a high quality of life. Unlike most people their age, studies of their brains show little to no signs of Alzheimer's or shrinking. A recent study of Super Agers identified one quality these people of diverse backgrounds tend to share. They remained socially active through their senior years. They retained the skill sets that helped them meet new people and they were motivated to spend time with their friends.

I help families find senior communities. Many of my clients realize it's time to move to a community after you start to get isolated in your home and the signs of dementia appear. This study shows that the right time to move is before isolation occurs. Getting into an Independent community where it's easy to socialize keeps your brain healthier and helps you maintain a good quality of life significantly longer. It's what a Super Ager would do.

08/08/2025

Many of my clients really struggle with the decision to move to senior living because they have grown unaccustomed to change. They know they are having trouble managing their house and they are getting isolated, but change of any kind is hard and it is always easier to avoid it then to face it. The thing about change is, it gets easier with practice. If you have a parent or loved one who has been in their house for a long time, there are some things you can do to help them in the years before they need to move:

-Schedule a closet clean out day once or twice a year. Make it fun. Put on some music and have plenty of good snacks handy. Clean out the closets, thin our the unused kitchen items, and go through the garage. Then, order dinner in from a favorite restaurant as a relaxing reward. Doing this on a regular basis gets them used to the idea of living without that stuff they haven't looked at in years.

-Connect them with a family or a charity that could use the things they don't need. They learn to feel good about donating their stuff and it's the right thing to do for the planet.

-Encourage them to change their environment occasionally. Trade out some furniture and swap out some decorative items. Remind them that a refresh can be fun.

Done in the right way, these efforts can bring you closer to your loved one and give them a positive association with change.

08/01/2025

Many people don’t realize that senior community search services are free. But there’s a catch: you need to choose who you want to work with before sharing your personal information.

I dedicate many hours to each of my clients—coaching them through the process, offering personalized guidance, and thoroughly researching every recommendation I make. In contrast, many heavily marketed search services will speak with you for just 10 minutes before sending a generic list of communities—many of which may not be a good fit.

This blog post will show you how to avoid getting locked into a subpar service—and how to find the support you truly deserve. https://www.orchidsenior.com/post/don-t-get-tricked-by-an-online-search

07/18/2025

I help people find senior communities like Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care, but I also do a lot of counseling with families. Often the senior and their kids are talking about practical things, like where they should live, if they should drive, etc. But there are a lot of complicated emotions that go into the transformation of your relationship with parents as they get older. I have been helping my own mother through managing life post-stroke for 20 years, and it's still messy and evolving. It's hard for a parent to migrate from being the caregiver to receiving the care. The adult kids are also in the firing line when parent's frustrations bubble over. It can be scary for the parent to suddenly be dependent on someone else to make critical decisions, no matter how much they love them.

A good start might be to acknowledge how weird and scary it is for everyone. Just having someone validate that can be helpful for parents who might be feeling isolated. Try to explain issues honestly and get their buy-in frequently, whenever possible. This is how you build trust. Everything gets easier once you have that.

07/16/2025

I just won this beautiful pink bracelet from Rebecca Deutsch 's Park Lane Jewelry line. It's so nice and I love the stones used for the beads. Such a fun surprise!

07/11/2025

I help people find senior communities, but my free service goes far beyond handing out a list. I spend meaningful time with each client, guiding them through the entire process—and not just the move itself.

For example, many of my clients ask for referrals to attorneys who can help with Healthcare and Durable Power of Attorney documents. But did you know that Georgia offers standard versions of both? You don’t usually need a lawyer to complete them.

In fact, these documents should be in place sooner rather than later. Everyone should sign a Healthcare Power of Attorney (also known as an Advance Directive) as soon as they turn 18. And older adults should establish a Durable Power of Attorney while they’re still in good health. A sudden illness or accident can leave someone unable to manage their finances, and having these documents ready can make a huge difference.

Here are links to the official Georgia forms—you can complete them without an attorney, so don’t wait:

• Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care (PDF)
fil:///C:/Users/pbran/Downloads/GEORGIA%20ADVANCE%20DIRECTIVE%20FOR%20HEALTH%20CARE-2016%20(7).pdf

• Georgia Statutory Power of Attorney (PDF)
https://aging.georgia.gov/document/document/statutory-power-attorney2017pdf/download

05/09/2025

What do isolated seniors have in common with Marvel's latest superheroes? They all suffer from depression. I know superhero movies have the reputation of being kind of mindless, but I am hoping that audiences find the new Marvel movie, Thunderbolts, thought provoking. It brings together a bunch of characters who have become loners and largely purposeless. Not surprisingly, each has to battle depression, both literally and figuratively.

As seniors get older, maintaining and creating connections becomes more difficult. Like the Thunderbolts, they don't realize the lack of those connections has brought on depression. A good senior community makes it easier to turn this around by bringing residents together every day. At meals, activities, and trips to the store, they are placed next to others and given the opportunity to connect. Even shy people start finding it easier as they get to know people and get more practice.

I love the message that even superheroes can't manage life alone. We all need those connections.

Orchid Senior Advisors

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