Cahaba Ridge is hosting their annual Festival of Trees, December 9. Three-foot trees will be decorated by volunteers and auctioned off to raise money for ACA. 1 – 3 pm, 3090 Healthy Way, 35243.
Join ACA for a Support Group Christmas Reunion Celebration on Tuesday, December 19, from 12:30 – 2, after our regular zoom meeting. Please plan to come by the ACA office (300 Office Park Drive, Suite 225, 35223) for some holiday cheer!
Support Group Meetings:
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, December 12, 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.
- 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
- Leeds, 1st Tuesday, 6:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Pell City, 2nd Tuesday, 2:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle, jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- M4A virtual support group, 3rd Wednesday’s 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Chalane Mims, cmims@m4a.org.
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
- The Church at Chelsea Park, Wilsonville 1st Thursday of the month. Contact Brooklyn White, brooklyn@parkinsonalabama.org
- AFTD support group, second Tuesday of the month. Amber Guy: 251-281-5344.
- Discovery United Methodist Church, Hoover, the first and third Thursday of each month. Peggy Harrison: pharrison@discoveryumc.org.
- St. Mark’s UMC, Vestavia Hills, Fridays at 1 pm. Contact Donna Baird: (205)717-9880.
December Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Alzheimer’s News:
In 2008, Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, spoke publicly to a special Senate committee on aging about the difficulties of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. She told them the country needed to get “deadly serious about this deadly disease. I submit to you that until you have actually stared Alzheimer’s in the face, you cannot truly understand the deep sense of frustration, fear, helplessness and grief that accompany it.” She had retired from the court in 2006 to search for a care facility for her husband, John. The decision mirrored the difficult calls many caregivers have to make every day. In 2007, a Phoenix, AZ, TV report showed her husband’s relationship with another woman at the Huger Mercy Living Center — a relationship Sandra was said to be happy with — as an example of how people with Alzheimer’s disease sometimes develop new relationships as the disease advances. “John no longer recognized Sandra as his wife”, the family said at the time. “Mom was thrilled that Dad was relaxed and happy and comfortable living here and wasn’t complaining”, their son shared at the time. O’Connor announced in 2018 that she also had dementia and probably Alzheimer’s disease and last week the Supreme Court announced that O’Connor had indeed died from complications related to advanced dementia. O’Connor boldly told the 2008 Senate Committee, “Alzheimer’s is a family disease. It may directly attack only one member of the family, but every member of that family feels the effects. Every member loses something.” https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/12/01/alzheimers-disease-familiar-sandra-day-oconnor-and-family-john-jay-dementia/1739935002/
Brain changes and changing abilities call for new strategies for living proactively with dementia. The holiday season is a time of gathering; you may be coming together with friends and family who do not yet know about your loved ones diagnosis or your own, if that is the case. In Living Well with Dementia, contributors JR Pagan, Tia Powell, Jim Mann, and Anne Basting share their thoughts about following your heart and finding your voice. Reactions from those who know you will vary and can often be unpredictable. Consider the strength of your relationships before sharing the news.
- Confide first in those closest to you: This gives you a chance to say how you’re feeling as you become more comfortable with the diagnosis.
- Telling people takes bravery. You have to appreciate that you may be disappointed in some people. You may also find that someone says, “hey, me too!”
- Open discussions can also bring new friendships: engage in frank conversation with family and friends, although some may distance themselves after learning of the diagnosis.
- There is purpose to be found in the advocacy of sharing. There’s a need for some of us to be more public about the diagnosis to reassure people that there is a life after a diagnosis.
- Finally, be your best advocate, reminding friends and family that while things will change over time, you are still YOU!
From Section 1.15: Tell People or Not: https://daanow.org/pathways-to-well-being-with-dementia/?mc_cid=ff4fcccfb0&mc_eid=5216959182
Balancing the responsibilities of caregiving for a family member and maintaining a career can be a daunting challenge. However, discussing family caregiving issues with your employer is a crucial step in finding a harmonious work-life balance. In this blog, Family Caregivers Online provides practical tips and guidance on how to approach this conversation with your employer. https://familycaregiversonline.net/talking-to-your-employer-about-family-caregiving-issues/
Smell loss can be linked to risk of brain disease. 70 percent of people living with smell loss do not know it until they are tested. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is examining the link between smell loss and Parkinson’s risk. If you’re age 60 and older and do not have Parkinson’s, you can play a critical role in this effort. Learn more and request a free scratch & sniff test:
Chronic constipation may be associated with worsening cognitive function, new data from three prospective cohort studies with more than 100,000 adults show. Compared to individuals who have a bowel movement once daily, adults with constipation who have a bowel movement every 3 days or more had significantly worse cognition that was commensurate with an additional 3 years of chronologic cognitive aging, the investigators found.https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/994551?ecd=mkm_ret_231119_mscpmrk_neuro_brain-diet_etid6069650&uac=407526BK&impID=6069650
From December 4-8, 2023, we observe National Influenza Vaccination Week, a reminder that there’s still time for everyone six months and older to get a flu vaccine this season. Learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf2WuccpTlU&t=66s
Younger onset age of coronary heart disease was tied to higher risks of incident all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia, a large prospective cohort study in Great Britain showed. Each 10-year decrease in coronary heart disease onset age was associated with a 25% increased risk of all-cause dementia, a 29% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and a 22% increased risk of vascular dementia. Coronary heart disease has previously been associated with dementia risk in older adults, however, this is believed to be the first large-scale study examining whether the age of coronary heart disease onset may impact the risk of developing dementia later in life. https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/107594?inf_contact_key=db5875dfdaa555189d02fd6e31c769990f4081204f40fabd44f4788ebf57ced1
New research has explored how sleep, oxygen levels, and exercise affects our ability to perform mental tasks. Sleep is fundamental in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with adults recommended between seven and nine hours a night. However, 40% of the global population don’t get enough sleep. Consequences of chronic sleep deprivation include cardiovascular disease, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, and depression. A lack of sleep can reduce cognitive performance, which takes a toll on your attention span, judgement, and emotional state. The study found cognitive performance improves during a bout of moderate intensity exercise, regardless of a person’s sleep status or oxygen levels. The study findings significantly adds to what we know about the relationship between exercise and these stressors, and helps to reinforce the message that movement is medicine for the body and the brain. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/just-20-minutes-of-exercise-can-boost-brain-function-in-sleep-deprived-individuals-381432?inf_contact_key=69b6ab0ef0285247f722c67d403cdf4013419930413d68547db9cfe8c1996922
A healthy brain, like any organ, starts with a nutrient-rich, balanced diet—no questions asked. However, there are plenty of steps you can take beyond the food (or supplements) you consume to support brain longevity. According to memory coach Jim Kwik, author of Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life, there’s one easy step you can take first thing in the morning to boost your brain health— try brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand because it stimulates a different part of your brain. Not only that, it’s a nice way to force yourself to be present. Rather than letting your brain wander to your daily to-do list or ruminate on the previous day, this simple switch can pull you back to the moment, creating an unintentional mindfulness session. Simply brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand can stimulate different areas of the brain and support a mindful start to your day. Here are a few more ways to take your brain for a workout:
- Walk backward (safely)
- Turn off your GPS when possible to rely on your memory
- Go for a stroll rather than scrolling social media
- Eat with the opposite hand
- Learn a few words in a new language
- Practice meditation.
Give the gift of Alzheimer’s artwork this holiday season. ACA’s 2024 calendar, Caregiver Voices, is available for $15. Packs of 6 notecards featuring original artwork are available for $12. (Prices include shipping). Visit alzca.org/calendars – to order your holiday gifts today.
Holiday Resources from DailyCaring:
- 20 Festive Holiday Activities for Seniors: https://dailycaring.com/20-joyful-holiday-activities-for-seniors/?utm_source=DailyCaring&utm_campaign=bdc1717a62-dc_email_2023-11-29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_57c250b62e-bdc1717a62-123515277
- 6 Ways to Adapt Holiday Activities for Seniors with Dementia: https://dailycaring.com/6-ways-to-adapt-holiday-activities-for-seniors-with-alzheimers/
- 8 Worst Gifts for Seniors (and What to Give Instead): https://dailycaring.com/the-8-worst-gifts-for-seniors-and-what-to-give-instead/?utm_source=DailyCaring&utm_campaign=c87c554f0c-dc_email_2023-11-28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_57c250b62e-c87c554f0c-123515277
- 48 Amazing Gifts for Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia: https://dailycaring.com/holiday-gifts-for-seniors-with-dementia-18-perfect-ideas/
- 10 useful and realistic tips that help you care for yourself this holiday season.
- https://dailycaring.com/10-stress-relief-tips-to-get-you-through-the-holidays-self-care-for-caregivers/
Being Patient offers 9 Good Gift Ideas for People With Alzheimer’s or Dementia: https://www.beingpatient.com/holiday-gifts-dementia/?utm_source=Being+Patient+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2cce4631d2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_06_03_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_95b92454c1-2cce4631d2-109213217
Relish offers a wide range of Alzheimer’s and dementia products that bring joy and engagement to people at any stage of their dementia journey. They are great for the elderly too. https://relish-life.com/us/all-dementia-products?utm_source=Newsletter%20Subscribers%20US&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Gift%20guide%20for%20Christmas%20US&_kx=oUeL1bsu20J6yN7A0NQfXfgi6blalbbb7wdj5dwW6wc%3D.Uv5g2d