Calendar:
Walking to Remember goes virtual as we “Move for Your Memories” to emphasize the importance of exercise and brain health. Here are easy Steps to support ACA’s services, education and research:
- Register your Team
- Wear your Team Captain T-shirt
- Post your picture on social media
- Organize your team
- Ask for donations for ACA
- Get MOVING for Your Memories anytime from Sunday, November 1 thru Saturday, November 7.
Turn in your tax deductible donations early and pick up your t-shirt curbside or join us Saturday November 7, for a “Drive By” celebration, 10 – noon at our office in Homewood, (300 Office Park Drive).
“Move for Your Memories” donors receive a short-sleeved shirt with a minimum $50 donation or a long-sleeved shirt for a minimum $75 donation. All t-shirts are 100% cotton, comfort colors and will be available while supplies last.
The Emotional Side of Caregiving, Monday, Sept. 28, 1:30-2:30 p.m. CT.
Alabama Lifespan Respite webinars with Vonda Reeves. Visit alabamarespite.org for registration and additional information.
UsAgainst Alzheimer’s webinar, Advancing Resources for Dementia Caregivers Dealing with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Tuesday, September 29, 10 – 11:30 am CT. The interactive workshop will focus on the impact of hallucinations and delusions associated with dementia. https://action.usagainstalzheimers.org/a/rsvp-workshop-dementia-related-hallucinations-delusions?emci=c261f119-d6f1-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&emdi=9a09e5f9-e1f2-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&ceid=812012
Join ACA & CJFS for a book launch for Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer’s, a teaching memoir by ACA board member, Renee Harmon, Wednesday, October 7, 1 pm CT. The family practice physician offers guidance and insight on her journey caring for her husband who had early on-set Alzheimer’s. The book is the #1 New Release in its category. See the attached flyer to register. Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Surfing-Waves-Alzheimers-Principles-Caregiving-ebook/dp/B08GCZBL2K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=renee+brown+harmon&qid=1598460729&sr=8-1
New CJFS Virtual Bereavement Support Group, first meeting, 1 pm CT, Thursday, October 8. To learn more contact Gail Schuster, gail@cjfsbham.org or 205-879-3438.
Shoot for a Cure, Tuesday, October 13, 2:00 pm CT, Red Gym in Trussville. This fundraiser for ACA is the brainchild of ACA’s Vice President, Doug DeMedicis. Doug will attempt to make 25 baskets out of 25 shots! He is pretty good with a basketball and has raised over $39,600 since 2013! Support Doug’s efforts https://alzca.org/shoot/.
Eastern Women of 50 annual golf tournament to benefit ACA, Thursday, October 15, Highland Golf Course, 8 am CT. For more info vholder@alzca.org.
UsAgainstAlzheimers is hosting the 2020 virtual National Research Summit, October 19-21,here is the registration link
Visit AFA’s Facebook page to take part in fun online programs. Enjoy art, music and movement. Programs can be viewed at any time during or after the event.
Zoom Support Groups available online:
- ACA’s Coffee Talk with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, September 29, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88250086658
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 1:30 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- Founders Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Tuesday’s at 10 am, contact Susan Logan, susanlogan65@gmail.com
- Pell City, 1st Tuesday of each month, 2:00 pm, contact Bit Thomaston Ethomaston50@gmail.com
- West Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, contact Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@westal.org.
- Leeds, 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:30 pm, contact Bit Thomaston,ethomaston50@gmail.com
- Asbury United Methodist Church every other Wednesday at 11:30. (Next meeting will be Wednesday, September 30). Contact Maggie Dunaway atmdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- CJFS CARES, Thursdays, 7:30 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
Alzheimer’s News:
Studies have repeatedly shown that contact sports like hockey and football lead to repeated brain injuries that can cause CTE. However, research has also shown that regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can boost brain health and cognitive functioning. Being Patient spoke with Chris Boyce, a Florida hockey player for 28 years, about the repeated brain injuries that left him with severe cognitive impairment, and how regular exercise has helped him control many of his symptoms.
A Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to benefit cognitive performance, and one food — fish — stands out as helping lower risk of both cognitive impairment and cognitive decline.
Here’s an interesting learning tool for caregivers and families dealing with dementia. Recommended by, Daphne Johnston with the respite ministry at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, these 13 vignettes expose the struggles of a family learning to cope and care for a loved one living with dementia. Learn from their mistakes and from what they did correctly. Each clip is 7 – 12 minutes.
Erica and Ruth, Episode 1 YouTube Series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlLHMWFVgvk
It’s possible to improve memory and in doing so, improve overall brain health. Nelson Dellis is a 4x USA Memory Champion, leading memory expert and an Alzheimer’s disease activist. Dellis explains to the WAM Weekly how everyone can improve overall brain health through mental exercises. In his new book written for children, Memory Superpowers!, this father of a baby boy also shares techniques to help us all – adults included – memorize information more easily. Read his answers HERE
LifeBio and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging are working on a federal grant to build the “LifeBio Memory” app for people living with dementia and their caregivers. They are seeking 2-3 people who have EARLY-STAGE dementia who may be able to participate in a focus group to see this new software for the first time! The federal government wants to be sure that people living with dementia are INVOLVED in their funded projects. You can receive a letter that explains more:
There has been talk and reporting about dementia in recent months because of the U.S. presidential election. Publically questioning someone’s mental capacity can stigmatize dementia. It can unfairly further isolate people living with dementia and those caring for them.There are different types of memory loss and they can have different causes, so it’s important to know what are expected changes in memory and when you should see a doctor. READ MORE
According to a survey from AARP earlier this year, 23 percent of those caregiving for adults are from the millennial generation. The survey found that millennial caregivers are typically caring for a parent or grandparent with a long-term physical condition in a “moderate- to high-intensity care situation” for an average of 25 hours a week.
Deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rose to more than 20 percent above normal over the summer, a staggering figure that won’t factor into the official count of coronavirus deaths but is unmistakably linked to the pandemic’s true toll. Increased isolation and stress during lockdown, lapses in nursing home care and missed Covid-19 diagnoses are all likely contributing factors to the unusually high dementia death toll, adding to the devastation the virus has brought to U.S. nursing homes. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/16/dementia-deaths-coronavirus-nursing-homes-416530?mc_cid=b6c9e8e011&mc_eid=9411ff17b8