Our Interview with Resident Beverly Henroud
Where did you grow up?
North, South Carolina. I lived there until 1957 when we moved to Columbia, SC.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Chocolate candy with pecans and fruit at Christmas. We made ambrosia with the fruit and this was considered a true treat. We lived with my grandparents after my father left and they really became my parents because my mother was working and my grandfather and grandmother were always present in the home.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
My husband, daughter and son-in-law and I took a wonderful trip to Hawaii in the early 90’s. Just getting to our destination was a fiasco but well worth it – long story! This is the only place I have traveled where I would like to return – Paradise!!!!!
Raising my two daughters who were the best of the best – such good girls. Also, when my first grandchild, Caroline, was born.
Note: My middle name is Yvonne and I was named after one of the first sets of quintuplets born in Canada. The legacy was continued when I gave one of my daughters the middle name of Yvonne and both granddaughters have the same middle name. Three generations!!
Did you have a profession? If so what industry were you in and what did you do?
Yes, I was a supervisor in the food industry. I controlled a specific territory and was in charge of hiring and managing reps in the field. After that I ran a one-girl regional office where we sold air pollution controls for five years until the company closed.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US history such as WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock or any other historical events?
When President Kennedy was assassinated I was taking care of my 5 month old baby and I heard the news on the radio. I specifically recall that I was in front of the mirror removing my hair curlers. I remember vividly where I was and what I was doing when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11. My cousin was in Vietnam and everyone in his group was killed but him. He was very seriously hurt and came home.
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud?
1. I was Salutatorian in my graduating class. I felt I was also Valedictorian too because I had common sense as well as book sense and I was self-motivated.
2. Purchasing and managing rental houses which was challenging. In the end I owned several rental properties.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
1. Start saving money early for retirement.
2. Don’t become overwhelmed with debt.
3. Work hard and set goals.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
1. Do not show favoritism with children as it will stay with them.
2. Spend quality time with your children.
3. Create positive memories for your children.
What brought you senior living in Alpharetta, GA? Or why did you choose Dogwood Forest?
After looking at other communities I chose Dogwood Forest at North Point because it is close to my daughter, it looked like home and the community felt warm and fuzzy. First impressions are lasting impressions.
How do you enjoy senior living here at Dogwood Forest in Alpharetta, GA as your new home?
I am a new resident. Prior to moving to the community I attended both the Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations which were so enjoyable. Making a connection with one of the long-time residents and participating in activities makes a real difference.
What is your favorite part of living at Dogwood?
I really like being in the Conservatory on the 1st floor with the sound of running water, the light flowing into the room and the plants. The flowers in the dining room and common areas are beautiful.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
I’ve only been here a few weeks but have met a number of residents because I am an outgoing person and I make a point of calling individuals by their first name when talking with them.
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Our Interview with Resident Barbara Beard
Where did you grow up?
Moultrie, GA which is in the southern-most part of the state. Population – 10,000.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
I was the only girl in the family so my choice was to play War mostly with my brothers and their male friends. My mom and other moms started a club called the “Polly Pigtail” club and I thoroughly enjoyed participating every Saturday. Moultrie was located so close to Florida so most every Sunday afternoon we would drive to Florida so my dad could fish. My greatest memory was meeting Dick, my boyfriend, in high school. Dick later became my husband.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Marrying Dick. I was attending college in Valdosta and Dick was going to Georgia Tech here in Atlanta. He told my dad he wanted to marry me and my dad’s condition was that Dick would insure I would go back to college after he graduated from Tech. We married when I was 18 years old, I worked for three years, didn’t go back to college and we began our family.
Did you have a profession? If so what industry were you in and what did you do?
I worked in downtown Atlanta at AVON in the office for three years and then became a full-time homemaker. My three boys and Dick were my life and what a wonderful life it was. We had the opportunity to travel often and we always had dogs. Unfortunately, I lost my husband at a young age and never even thought about remarrying. If you have the very best husband why look for another.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US history such as WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock or any other historical events?
I recall WWII because all of my uncles were drafted and fortunately came home safely. I remember the day that President Kennedy was assassinated and I vividly recall 9/11. I was at home and became frightened thinking we were going to war on our own land. This was a scary time!
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud?
Raising my three boys.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
Have fun! Marry someone with a great sense of humor.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
Work to develop a meaningful family life. Be patient!
What brought you to Dogwood Forest’s senior living community? Or Why did you choose Dogwood Forest’s North Point community in Alpharetta, GA?
I was living alone and my doctor recommended this community and felt I would be quite happy here.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest’s senior living community here in Alpharetta, GA as your new home?
I’m quite comfortable and like it a lot.
What is your favorite part of living at Dogwood?
The activities, especially happy hour, beading and the outings, i.e., meals out, Walmart, errands, etc.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
I am close to Glenn and Molly.
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Our Interview with Resident Margaret Stanford
Where did you grow up?
Four Oaks, NC, a rural area southeast of Raleigh.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Going to county and state fairs and family reunions. I was one of eight children.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Traveling and seeing new places. My husband was in the military. One of the places we lived and I liked was Alaska. Don’t let anybody tell you it isn’t cold there!
Did you have a profession? If so what industry were you in and what did you do?
Yes, I worked civil service in clerical positions at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA most of my life. When we were in Alaska I worked at Elmendorf AFB.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US history such as WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock or any other historical events?
Yes. I remember WWII where my husband served in Europe. His canteen was shot off of his belt. He then went to Japan and he was also in the Korean War. I stayed with my family while he was gone.
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud?
Raising my two boys.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
Follow your head and use good judgment.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
Wait a period of time before you have children after your married. This helps you and your spouse to know each other better prior to the kids entering the picture. Keep peace with your families, i.e., in-laws.
What brought you to Dogwood Forest’s assisted living community in Alpharetta, GA? Or Why did you choose Dogwood Forest?
We looked at several assisted living communities and it was the nicest and simply seemed to be the “one.” The time had come for me to live closer to my kids instead of living alone in my home in Columbus.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest as your new home?
Initially it was a big adjustment, but the friendships established here make all the difference.
What is your favorite part of living in assisted living here at Dogwood Forest North Point in Alpharetta, GA?
My friends. I am very social and get involved in outings, card games and physical fitness.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
Those who are my table mates.
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Our Interview with Resident Kay Praskievicz
Where did you grow up?
San Francisco, CA.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
My mother made Christmas each year a real exciting event. She would start baking all sorts of goodies at the beginning of December and when I would arrive home from school the house would be filled with wonderful smells of the season. These are great memories.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Our family moved a number of times which was interesting and exciting. My favorite place was Arkansas because we had a 65 acre farm with ponds and animals such as horses, cows, goats and pigs. Considering I was raised a city girl, the open spaces provided fresh air and a real sense of freedom.
Did you have a profession? If so what industry were you in and what did you do?
I worked in the healthcare field specifically dealing with insurance.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US history such as WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock or any other historical events?
I recall vividly the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. We were living in New Jersey and I was watching my soap opera, when Walter Cronkite interrupted with the news. The day that M.L. King, Jr. was shot stands out in my mind too. Also, during the Vietnam War, my husband was serving in the U.S. Navy and working on a nuclear submarine. His desire was to serve in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, however, his request was denied because his rank in the Navy was critical and it would have been necessary that he transfer to the Air Force. I was personally relieved but he ultimately left the Navy because he could not go to Vietnam. Woodstock was highly publicized and my husband tried to convince me to head to New York while we were living in Arkansas but we decided not to go. I had no idea of the enormity of this event and the fact that it would be life changing for our American culture.
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud?
I am most proud of my daughter’s birth in 1965. In addition, I was an artist with a particular talent in painting with acrylics.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
I have learned over time not to take life so seriously, and to keep priorities straight. God is at the top of the list, followed by family and friendships.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
Enjoy every minute with your children (even the sleepless nights) as they are grown before you know it.
What brought you to assisted living at Dogwood Forest’s Alpharetta, GA community? Or Why did you choose Dogwood Forest?
In 2008 I was diagnosed with a very rare condition, ultimately taking away my ability to walk. This happened literally over night and due to the help I needed, my family thought it would best that I live in an assisted living community. I lived in another community for a time until my son-in-law realized that Dogwood Forest at North Point was simply up the road from their home and far more convenient. He had paid no attention to the community before he accompanied a cub scout group that performed at Dogwood Forest over the Christmas holidays. I visited several days later, played BINGO and attended Happy Hour with current residents and was immediately convinced that this is the assisted living community here where I wanted to be. I moved into my new Alpharetta, GA home at Dogwood after the first of that year.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest as your new home?
I love it and have made truly great friends.
What is your favorite part of living at Dogwood?
Morning devotionals, prayer group and weekly bible study.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
I have several close friends at Dogwood, both residents and team members.
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Our Interview with Resident Trinkie Manthey
Where did you grow up?
Washington D.C.
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
Moving to the country and riding my very own pony. Later my family bought a horse and I love to ride. The house in the country was spectacular and I remember it today.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Before marriage, while in a girl’s school, I was invited to both West Point and the Naval Academy for dances. Also, I met my husband, who was a doctor, in Washington and we were married a very short time later.
Did you have a profession? If so what industry were you in and what did you do?
Early on I worked for my father who was in real estate. Later, my husband and I had six children and I stayed at home to raise the kids.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US history such as WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock or any other historical events?
Not really.
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud of?
Raising my six children of whom I am most proud.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
Trust in God as he will direct our future.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
If you need help, ask for it.
What brought you to move to senior living here at Dogwood Forest in Alpharetta, GA? Or Why did you choose Dogwood Forest?
I stayed at Dogwood Forest for several months after my surgery a few years ago. We looked at other communities, but my kids and I felt this was the best place for me to live.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest as your new home?
I love it!
What is your favorite part of living in senior living at Dogwood in Alpharetta, GA?
I love my room, the environment, our hairdressers and the activities and entertainment.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
Elizabeth Lundy.
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Our Interview of Resident Elizabeth Lundy
Where did you grow up?
Pulaski, VA
What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
My early years were spent living on a dairy farm and in town. My father owned a creamery as well that produced cream, butter, and ice cream to include Eskimo Pies. My payment for helping wrap the Eskimo pies after school was an Eskimo pie.
What are some of your favorite memories from your adulthood?
Meeting and getting to know my husband. I taught in a junior college while he completed seminary at Emory University and then we were married. Our first home and first church was in Oakridge, TN where Bob was called to a Methodist church as pastor. This is where our first child was born.
Did you have a profession? If so what industry were you in and what did you do?
I was a teacher in a junior college, later a mother of three children and wife of a pastor. We were eventually called to Malaysia as missionaries for 18 years. Our third child was born in Malaysia.
Do you remember what was happening in your life during a significant event in US history such as WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock or any other historical events?
We were delayed in going to Malaysia due to WWII. At the time we were living in Oakridge. TN, which was a war project and the place where the atom bomb was created.
Which accomplishments in your life do you feel most proud when you look back on them from your home here at this Alpharetta senior living facility?
My marriage, the children we had together – our life together.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just graduating college?
Yes, they should choose their friends wisely, take their profession seriously and be involved in serving the church.
Is there anything you’ve learned in life you wish to share with someone who is just starting a family?
Share everything – joys, sorrows, problems, work and also the necessity of having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
What brought you to Dogwood Forest North Point? Or Why did you choose this particular Alpharetta senior living facility?
My children determined that I didn’t need to live alone any longer and the logical choice was to move close to my middle child. I looked at several assisted living communities and my interview with Peaches and others in the community were impressive. The friendliness of the team members convinced me that this is where I needed to call home. It was definitely the people who convinced me that this is the place and I have never had second thoughts.
How do you enjoy Dogwood Forest as your new home?
I enjoy the activities, the care managers are thoughtful and appreciative. Their patience goes beyond measure. They are always pleasant. My room was chosen by me, formerly a model room, and I’m very comfortable. I also like the meals we are served.
What is your favorite part of living at Dogwood?
I am comfortable and happy after changing my former lifestyle. I feel well cared for.
Who is your best friend at Dogwood?
I have several, those who live nearest to me and those in our devotional group who know me best.
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Dogwood Forest Uses SimpleC Non-Drug Solution
Dogwood Forest, a premiere assisted living community in Alpharetta and eight other locations throughout Georgia, is also the exclusive Atlanta provider of SimpleC, a groundbreaking, non-drug Alzheimer’s treatment. This treatment is incorporated as part of the facility’s overall philosophy of creating an environment that positively impacts quality of life. Because an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be devastating for both the family and the person diagnosed, the revolutionary SimpleC works hand-in-hand with assisted living facilities and their staffs to take the burden of worry off of both. The implementation of SimpleC, therefore, makes Dogwood Forest an industry leader in the care of patients with Alzheimer’s.
Dogwood Forest’s groundbreaking Memory Care Facility is now enhanced with the addition of this new treatment and reflects the facility’s commitment to patient care and its holistic approach to treatment. Everyday life at Trinity’s assisted living facility in Alpharetta, Georgia, for example, has improved greatly with the advent and implementation of SimpleC.
How SimpleC Improves Senior Living in Alpharetta
SimpleC uses a patient’s own life memories to stimulate the mind, leading to overall physical and mental improvement. By showing a patient a series of photographs taken from his or her scrapbooks and photo albums, the SimpleC method has been shown in clinical trials to decrease agitation, incontinence, wandering and the need for medication. In addition, SimpleC can increase appetite and promote social interactions, sleep time and normal waking patterns among residents with dementia among residents in the Alpharetta senior living facility run by Trinity Lifestyles Management. The therapy is simple, and yet the results are quite promising. Through visual stimulus (photographs), music, and the trusted voice of a loved one, patients are better able to cope with this degenerative disease and experience a better quality of life. Several prestigious colleges and universities are conducting studies to determine if this unique therapy in fact does have the positive effects witnessed by senior living centers across the country, including in Alpharetta.
Assisted Living in Alpharetta Can Only Improve With SimpleC
Though scientific studies are still being conducted, caregivers in assisted living facilities who use this treatment are reporting good results—particularly in calming patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s. Agitation is one of the more difficult aspects of this disease. Both caregivers and relatives of patients have observed positive results from SimpleC. Another unforeseen benefit of this treatment is that it allows caregivers to see their patients as people who lived amazing lives, not only as sick elderly people who need round-the-clock care. It’s a positive treatment for all who participate, especially the patient. Dogwood Forest’s overall philosophy is that its facilities, staff, grounds, dining facilities and medical care, come together in a cohesive, strategic way to create an environment that promotes good health and well-being. In addition to long-term assisted living care, the facility also offers short-term care, adult day care, and post-operative care. One thing is for sure: assisted living in Alpharetta and Trinity’s other locations in Georgia have benefited greatly from Simple C.
Learn More About Alpharetta Assisted Living and SimpleC
Trinity Lifestyles Management’s nine Dogwood Forest locations are some of the only assisted living facilities that utilize SimpleC treatment. . The communities run by Trinity serve any senior living in Atlanta who wishes to lead in a peaceful, safe lifestyle within a diverse and active retirement community. Contact Dogwood Forest for more information.
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