There is still time to support ACA’s annual Christmas Care Baskets. Join in supporting families served by Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama (ACA) by sponsoring a Christmas Carebasket with a donation of $50. Baskets will be delivered to a family in need caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. East basket includes a variety of meats, prepared meals, holiday snacks, a variety of additional food items, personal care and household goods. These items are valued at $125 per basket. Special thanks to this year’s Care Basket Corporate Sponsor and our Corporate Award Winner for 2024 Christy and Allen Baynes of Lifecare Solutions. Christmas Baskets – Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama
If you are out looking at the holiday lights, go by 3628 Locksley Drive, Mountain Brook, 35223. Matt Crane and family have put on a fantastic light show. Every year he accepts donations and this year ACA will benefit from his light show!
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, January 7, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85247427423
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 3 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- St Lukes Episcopal Church on Tuesdays at 10:15. Contact Betsy Smith (smith35213@gmail.com) or Janis Cole (janiscarole3@aol.com).
- West Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, contact Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@westal.org.
- M4A’s Caregiver Support Group, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 10 – 11:30 am, Montevallo. Contact Robyn James, rjames@m4a.org.
- The Oaks on Parkwood, 4th Tuesday’s, 10:00 am, Contact: Karen Glover, karenrglover@gmail.com.
- CJFS CARES, Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County, 3rd Tuesday of each month 11:30-12:30, contact Valarie Lawson, vlawson@uwaaa.org
- Eastaboga, 2nd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Trussville, 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- M4A virtual support group, 3rd Wednesdays 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Chalane Mims, cmims@m4a.org.
- Trinity United Methodist Church, every Thursday at 2:30 pm, contact Ernie at 205-370-0032 or email ewillis@trinitybirmimgham.com.
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- AFTD support group, second Tuesday of the month. Amber Guy: 251-281-5344.
- Discovery United Methodist Church, Hoover, 2nd and 4th Thursdays 10:30-noon. Peggy Harrison: pharrison@discoveryumc.org.
- St. Mark’s UMC, Vestavia Hills, Fridays at 1 pm. Contact Donna Baird: (205)717-9880.
January Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Alzheimer’s News:
It’s true that mental health issues, such as depression and substance abuse, often peak during the holidays, when family stress and financial pressures, as well as shorter days, may give many the blues. But on the other hand, research has shown that just looking at twinkling lights outside of people’s homes evokes feelings of friendliness and warmth. Darkness makes us want to hibernate, so, filling your room or your home with light, even if it’s artificial, can give us a bit of that mood boost and stave off some of that fatigue. Sprucing up your living space with holiday cheer can work on every one of your five senses to improve your happiness levels. Maybe it’s the smell of cinnamon, the taste of hot cocoa, the sight of a tree adorned with lights and ornaments, the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, or the feeling of a cozy blanket. Gazing at holiday lights can boost well-being by fostering positive emotions and reducing stress. Research in environmental psychology shows that exposure to bright, colorful lights can elevate mood by increasing dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter linked to happiness. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that viewing aesthetically pleasing decorations, such as holiday lights, can trigger feelings of nostalgia, which are associated with greater psychological resilience and social connectedness. And admiring lights often encourages mindfulness — a practice proven to lower cortisol levels and enhance overall mental health. This blend of sensory delight, emotional warmth, and relaxation makes holiday light displays a simple yet effective way to nurture well-being. Feeling Blue? Holiday Lights Might Be the Cure
When we were very young, most of us laughed at just about anything – as much as 450 times a day. Then comes adulthood, and what happens? We stop laughing nearly as much. The average adult only laughs 10-15 times a day. What’s up with that? Is life at 6 years old really 300-400 times happier than when we’re adults? Not only does it feel good to laugh and play, it can lower our blood pressure, slow our heart rate, strengthen our immune system, lower stress levels, connect us with others, and much more. As they say, laughter truly is the best medicine – for our bodies and our brains. Now go forth and laugh and play and inspire others to do the same! You will be better for it and so will those around you. Read more about Connecting Through Laughter and Playful Moments.https://mcusercontent.com/645178646ac4e4c454f2352ad/files/eb48f1f2-0a02-685a-c80d-14629049e8c7/Winter_Bulletin_2024_Importance_of_Play_and_Laughter.pdf
The holidays can be a special season—and a special opportunity for dementia-friendly choirs like those in chilly Minnesota! This choir, based in dementia-friendly communities, give people living with dementia and their caregivers an opportunity to make music and friends. You can learn about dementia-friendly choirs in greater depth from this PBS video about the Building Bridges Memory Choir of Granite Falls. Closer to home, Encore and Founders Place respite programs have choirs for people living with memory loss. .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bd6BsIYvlA
If a family member or loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, the holidays can be difficult. You may worry about the extra demands on your time and energy or that changes in routine may make the person with Alzheimer’s feel confused or nervous. Here are some suggestions to help make the holidays easier:
- Incorporate holiday traditions that are familiar to your loved one.
- Create a quiet space in case the person with Alzheimer’s needs a break.
- Ask friends and family to visit. Limit the number of visitors at any one time to avoid overwhelming the person with Alzheimer’s.
Learn more about adapting activities for a person with Alzheimer’s during the holidays. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-caregiving/adapting-activities-people-alzheimers-disease?&utm_source=nia-eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general-20241216#holidays-2
A new clue to Alzheimer’s prevention comes this week from a most unlikely source: taxi drivers.The hippocampus is the part of the brain is critical for converting short-term memories into long-term ones. The other main function of the hippocampus is to form spatial memories, our ability to navigate in a complex way. And the hippocampus is inextricably linked to Alzheimer’s disease. It is the first brain structure that starts to deteriorate in the disease, leading to the characteristic early symptoms: poor memory and spatial disorientation. A study from 2000 of London taxi drivers found they had significantly larger hippocampi, and the longer they had been driving the taxi, the larger the hippocampi were. The conclusion was straightforward: These guys’ hippocampi were working overtime to keep track of where they were in the sprawling city, and, like any muscle used frequently, were getting bigger as a result. A more recent study examined occupation and cause of death in nearly 9 million people. The authors coded 443 occupations and calculated what proportion of people in each occupation died from Alzheimer’s disease. Although taxi drivers seem to die at a younger age, the study revealed taxi drivers and ambulance drivers have the lowest adjusted risk for death from Alzheimer’s disease of any of the 443 studied. Does driving a taxi prevent all forms of dementia? It doesn’t seem like it. In terms of death from vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia, taxi and ambulance drivers are actually on the high side. However, maybe to prevent Alzheimer’s we simply need to spend more time navigating — less time using GPS — and, who knows, maybe get lost every once in a while and try to find our way home. The Reason Taxi Drivers Are Protected From Alzheimer’s
Caregiving comes with multiple responsibilities. It can sometimes be difficult to stay organized when caring for a loved one. NIA offers free worksheets that can help coordinate care and keep track of caregiving responsibilities and needs. Worksheets include:
- Questions to consider before moving an older adult into your home
- A home safety checklist
- Questions to ask before hiring a care provider
- How to coordinate caregiving responsibilities
Download and print all of NIA’s caregiver worksheets
DailyCaring offers these gift ideas: