Free Flu Shots for Metro Atlanta Seniors on November 15

It may be too early to predict how severe this flu season may be, but now is the time to get vaccinated before it peaks in December. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to build immunity to the flu virus. National Church Residences, in partnership with JenCare Senior Medical Center and Publix, are offering free flu shots for metro Atlanta residents ages 65 and older at Baptist Towers, located at 1881 Myrtle Drive SW in Atlanta, on November 15, 2019, from 9 a.m. until noon. All seniors who get a flu shot will receive a $10 Publix gift card. This program is supported by Fulton County Commissioners Marvin Arrington, Jr. and Natalie Hall, as well as City of Atlanta Councilmember Marci Overstreet.

“It’s especially vital for Medicare-eligible seniors to receive flu vaccines ASAP,” notes Jonathan Flacker, M.D., AGSF, market chief medical officer for JenCare-Atlanta. A renowned geriatrician, Flacker adds that, “the flu shot is one of the simplest ways to help keep older adults healthy and thriving as the seasons change and temperatures cool.”

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, flu season in Georgia begins in early October and can run as late in the year as May. Seniors, young children and people with chronic conditions are most at risk. During the 2017-2018 flu season 90 percent of deaths resulting from the flu were adults over the age of 65. Minimizing opportunities of contracting the flu is as easy as securing an annual flu vaccination.

“The reality is that the flu can be devastating for seniors living with diabetes, heart problems, asthma and other conditions,” James Harrington, M.D., JenCare center medical director. “Happily, it’s largely preventable. These types of outreach events are important to drive awareness and help seniors avoid flu-related complications and hospitalizations.”

“For those metro Atlanta senior residents ages 65 and older who haven’t received a flu shot, we hope they will take advantage of this free flu clinic,” said Population Health Director, Jacque Thornton of National Church Residences.

For more information, please call 404-780-8794.

About National Church Residences

National Church Residences serves more than 42,000 seniors through its array of housing and health care services. The not-for-profit organization is driven by a vision of advancing better living for all seniors, enabling them to remain home for life. With 340 communities in 25 states, it is the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing and the largest manager of service coordinators. The organization also offers residential senior communities, home and community-based services, as well as permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled. For more information, visit us at NationalChurchResidences.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About JenCare Senior Medical Center

For seniors most in need of care, high-quality health care often is beyond reach. JenCare Senior Medical Center is a ChenMed company that brings concierge-style medicine — and better health outcomes — to the neediest populations. In the metro area, JenCare operates four senior-focused medical practices in Atlanta, Decatur, East Point, and Morrow, Ga.

ChenMed is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that operates nearly 60 primary care medical practices for seniors in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Its popular brands also include JenCare Senior Medical Center, Chen Senior Medical Center, and Dedicated Senior Medical Center.

Results of JenCare’s/ChenMed’s high-touch approach to primary care are impressive, as illustrated in the Modern Healthcare cover story (Oct. 20, 2018), which reports, “Indeed, ChenMed’s approach has resulted in 50 percent fewer hospital admissions compared with a standard primary-care practice, 28 percent lower per-member costs and significantly higher use of evidence-based medications.” Inspired by ChenMed chairman and founder James Chen, M.D., Ph.D., the company has been serving low-to-moderate-income seniors with multiple complex chronic conditions for over 30 years.