Do you know seniors or elders who are alone too much and have too much time on their hands? Many seniors and elders are using their creativity, making hand-made items, sharing time with a club where they have friends, and putting it all together for a craft bazaar. I just made a flyer to advertise a Country Crafts and Bake Sale at the Central Coast Seniors Center. It's easy to see how the chance to make friends and share a fun activity has made a difference there for so many people.
Fabric arts, needle arts, woodcarving crafts, Christmas decorations, all types of creative heirloom quality items, and old fashioned home-made baked goods will make this a fun day. People who did not participate in making crafts are still going to come over to see the crafts, talk and meet new friends, or just people watch.
Frail elders can enjoy being part of the day and it's a great outing for someone who does not go out often.
This time of the year there always seem to be more craft bazaars as the holidays approach. There are lots of opportunities everywhere for getting involved with learning to make a craft, going to a craft group, and being in a bazaar or just going to bazaars to view the crafts.
Caregivers and frail seniors can find there are crafts suitable for people with varying conditions. It's also something that a family caregiver, or a hired caregiver, and an elder can share.
Participating in bake sales is fun too, and I've done a lot of home-style baking as a caregiver. We might be arriving at a bake sale with a back seat full of pies and breads made from vintage recipes. There is a big difference between these and the store bought goods today.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Elderblogging at "As Time Goes By"
At "As Time Goes By" subtitled "What it's really like to get older" written by retired television producer Ronni Bennett you can learn what is really happening today in the world of aging and elders' blogging. Ronni has been the producer for television shows that include 20/20, The Barbara Walter's Specials on the ABC network, and shows at Lifetime TV, NBC, CBS, and PBS.
"The Elder Storytelling Place," another "Time Goes By" weblog by Ronni is a place for elders to submit their stories to be in a blog online, whether they are bloggers or not.
Elders who blog can get a "PROUDELDERBLOGGER" badge to post to their blog. They can also get an "ELDERBLOGGERS RULE" badge or "I support ELDERBLOGGERS" badge.
Elder Videos and Geezer Flicks are several of the features at "As Time Goes By". Other features include "Where Elders Blog", "Social Security Privatization," and "Hurricane Katrina."
On a personal level is "A Mother's Last, Best Lesson," the uplifting story of the time Ronni shared with her mother during her mother's last illness. There is also a "Photo Biography" that starts with a photo of Baby Ronni on Dec. 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Issues such as the risk of falls for elders and changes that occur in lifestyle as people age are discussed in blog posts.
A post on October 12, 2007 is titled "It's Not Everyday a Blogger Turns 108." This tells about Olive Riley, who will turn 108 on October 20, 2007, and who has the blog "Life of Riley." (Olive's friend Mike actually transcribes and posts their conversations on the blog.)
"The Elder Storytelling Place," another "Time Goes By" weblog by Ronni is a place for elders to submit their stories to be in a blog online, whether they are bloggers or not.
Elders who blog can get a "PROUDELDERBLOGGER" badge to post to their blog. They can also get an "ELDERBLOGGERS RULE" badge or "I support ELDERBLOGGERS" badge.
Elder Videos and Geezer Flicks are several of the features at "As Time Goes By". Other features include "Where Elders Blog", "Social Security Privatization," and "Hurricane Katrina."
On a personal level is "A Mother's Last, Best Lesson," the uplifting story of the time Ronni shared with her mother during her mother's last illness. There is also a "Photo Biography" that starts with a photo of Baby Ronni on Dec. 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Issues such as the risk of falls for elders and changes that occur in lifestyle as people age are discussed in blog posts.
A post on October 12, 2007 is titled "It's Not Everyday a Blogger Turns 108." This tells about Olive Riley, who will turn 108 on October 20, 2007, and who has the blog "Life of Riley." (Olive's friend Mike actually transcribes and posts their conversations on the blog.)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Article Says People With Dementia Not Receiving Needed Meds
If you are a caregiver for someone with dementia there is an article at Science Daily titled "Community Model for Caregiving for Dementia Patients" that has some important information. In the article Dr. Boustani, a geriatrics specialist, explains that "60% of people with dementia or pre-dementia (also known as mild-cognitive impairment), are not recognized as having these conditions when they go to a hospital, and 80% are not recognized as having dementia or predementia by their primary by their primary care physicians."
The article says that less than 10% of people with dementia or predementia are receiving the medications that they need.
I think this is important for caregivers to know about because they can help by alerting the primary physician to check for dementia or predementia. Medications are available for these conditions.
At the website for aging-parents-and-elder-care.com there is a list of symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer's. Family caregivers and paid caregivers can read about symptoms and discuss them with a doctor if they are concerned about a loved one.
On October 20 there will be a summit meeting in Indianapolis for "Recognizing and Assessing the Progression of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Primary Care." The summit meeting will have the goal of developing a model for dementia care.
The article says that less than 10% of people with dementia or predementia are receiving the medications that they need.
I think this is important for caregivers to know about because they can help by alerting the primary physician to check for dementia or predementia. Medications are available for these conditions.
At the website for aging-parents-and-elder-care.com there is a list of symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer's. Family caregivers and paid caregivers can read about symptoms and discuss them with a doctor if they are concerned about a loved one.
On October 20 there will be a summit meeting in Indianapolis for "Recognizing and Assessing the Progression of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Primary Care." The summit meeting will have the goal of developing a model for dementia care.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Canine Caregivers - Janet Neumann Trains Service Dogs
Sunday afternoon my lab mix, Teddy Bear, and I were walking in a park when we met a very interesting caregiver. This caregiver had 4 legs, weighed about 40 pounds, had a mixed heritage, and could provide valuable assistance to people with disabilities. The canine caregiver was accompanied by his owner, Janet Neumann, a Certified Service Dog trainer and owner of "PAWSabilities." Janet explained to me the types of assistance a service dog can supply for a disabled senior, or person of any age, and the unique training.
The dogs can wear backpacks, and carry the owner's purses, books, water bottles, and other objects. For people with various injuries or disabilities it's very helpful to have someone else carry objects that weigh 5 or 10 pounds. I have a backpack for my lab mix, who is energetic and powerful, and he loves to be useful, carrying water bottles and books.
Some dogs sound an alarm if the owner is about to have an epileptic siezure. They have a way of being able to sense what is going to happen.
One of the types of training she specializes in is training "hearing dogs" for people who are hearing impaired.
One of the most interesting aspects of Janet's training is that if someone does not have a dog already, she goes with them to find a "rescue dog" at a shelter. Finding a dog that the person senses a special bond with is very important. Janet is also able to tell if the dog has the potential to be a service dog.
Having a companion dog is well documented as providing stress-reduction and greater happiness for many people. The service dogs assist people who have a disability and provide friendship and affection.
Because people with disabilities might have physical limitations, the service dog is trained to respond to the voice for guidance or commands. Janet trains the owner how to train the dog, instead of just training the dog.
Janet received her Certification at the Assistance Dog Training Institute in Santa Rosa, California. She can be reached at (805) 773-3269 and (805) 610-1157.
The dogs can wear backpacks, and carry the owner's purses, books, water bottles, and other objects. For people with various injuries or disabilities it's very helpful to have someone else carry objects that weigh 5 or 10 pounds. I have a backpack for my lab mix, who is energetic and powerful, and he loves to be useful, carrying water bottles and books.
Some dogs sound an alarm if the owner is about to have an epileptic siezure. They have a way of being able to sense what is going to happen.
One of the types of training she specializes in is training "hearing dogs" for people who are hearing impaired.
One of the most interesting aspects of Janet's training is that if someone does not have a dog already, she goes with them to find a "rescue dog" at a shelter. Finding a dog that the person senses a special bond with is very important. Janet is also able to tell if the dog has the potential to be a service dog.
Having a companion dog is well documented as providing stress-reduction and greater happiness for many people. The service dogs assist people who have a disability and provide friendship and affection.
Because people with disabilities might have physical limitations, the service dog is trained to respond to the voice for guidance or commands. Janet trains the owner how to train the dog, instead of just training the dog.
Janet received her Certification at the Assistance Dog Training Institute in Santa Rosa, California. She can be reached at (805) 773-3269 and (805) 610-1157.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Landmark Self-Help Book "Living With Progressive Memory Loss"
A new type of book about dementia is the self-help book "A Personal Guide to Living With Progressive Memory Loss" written by two gerontological nurses, Sandy Burgener and Prudence Twigg. Because this book is a self-help book, it's different from other books about memory loss. There is information to help people with memory loss regarding communication, self-esteem, and overcoming the stigma of memory loss.
The book is recommended by top experts including Linda L. Buettner, Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Alzheimer's Association Early Stage Task Force. Linda says this book is "a landmark self-help book that focuses on the needs of the person with the diagnosis."
It was also recommended by John Keady, Ph.D., RMN, Professor of Older People's Mental Health Nursing at The University of Manchester/Bolton and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust, and Co-Editor of Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. He said this book "empowers people living with dementia, signposting hope, choice, and a life to be lived."
Stories of real people who have coped with the challenges of progressive memory loss are included in the book. Good and bad ways of coping are discussed and illustrated with examples. The experience of living with memory loss is described, and the authors recommend "staying active and engaged in society."
Caregivers experience the ways that progressive memory loss effects every part of a senior's life, including activities and relationships. It's interesting that once again the eldercare experts are recommending that people stay active and engaged in society. Becoming passive, withdrawing from people, and sharing fewer activities with others is something that caregivers see frequently with elderly seniors who have memory loss.
Enabling seniors with memory loss to participate in group activities at a senior center, senior day care, family activities, senior classes, and senior clubs can help them to stay active and connected socially.
Arts and crafts groups, bingo, healthcare classes, and clubs such as woodcarving are available at our local senior center. Many of the activities are fun for everyone, and having some memory loss will not interfere with participating.
The book is recommended by top experts including Linda L. Buettner, Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Alzheimer's Association Early Stage Task Force. Linda says this book is "a landmark self-help book that focuses on the needs of the person with the diagnosis."
It was also recommended by John Keady, Ph.D., RMN, Professor of Older People's Mental Health Nursing at The University of Manchester/Bolton and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust, and Co-Editor of Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. He said this book "empowers people living with dementia, signposting hope, choice, and a life to be lived."
Stories of real people who have coped with the challenges of progressive memory loss are included in the book. Good and bad ways of coping are discussed and illustrated with examples. The experience of living with memory loss is described, and the authors recommend "staying active and engaged in society."
Caregivers experience the ways that progressive memory loss effects every part of a senior's life, including activities and relationships. It's interesting that once again the eldercare experts are recommending that people stay active and engaged in society. Becoming passive, withdrawing from people, and sharing fewer activities with others is something that caregivers see frequently with elderly seniors who have memory loss.
Enabling seniors with memory loss to participate in group activities at a senior center, senior day care, family activities, senior classes, and senior clubs can help them to stay active and connected socially.
Arts and crafts groups, bingo, healthcare classes, and clubs such as woodcarving are available at our local senior center. Many of the activities are fun for everyone, and having some memory loss will not interfere with participating.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Mediterranean Diet Reduces Dementia Risk
You can have a lower risk of dementia from Alzheimer's if you like the following foods: fruit, vegetables, cereal, nuts, olive oil, pasta, rice and moderate amounts of red wine. These foods are part of the Mediterranean Diet, which includes very little meat. An article at BBC News titled "Med Diet Reduces Dementia Risk" explains that researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center studied the health of 2,200 people over a period of 4 years.
People who ate foods more often from the Mediterranean Diet had the lowest risk of developing Alzheimer's. The scientists concluded that a healthy diet can reduce risk by as much as 40%.
The researchers said that when lifestyle includes getting cholesterol and blood pressure checked, exercising, and controlling weight then risk of dementia later in life is reduced further.
The Mediterranean Diet is also discussed at the Mayo Clinic website. Greeks traditionally consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, pasta and rice. Bread is eaten there without butter or margarine, and so the diet is low in saturated fat and trans fat. They also consume fish regularly and the omega-3 helps to keep blood vessels healthy.
In summary, eating a Mediterranean Diet, getting blood pressure and cholesterol checked, exercising, and controlling weight will help to reduce your risk of having dementia from Alzheimer's. It's also heart healthy, and a good way to avoid strokes.
The Mediterranean Diet has been recommended for decades already for its heart healthy characteristics, and since cooking is one of my hobbies I've been reading recipes on it for a long time. I've been using olive oil on bread with tomatoes and herbs, and this is delicious. Good-by to the butter and margarine. Whole grain pasta and brown rice have been around for a long time, but many people are simply not used to these foods or open to change.
I've even used brown rice in a rice pudding, and it was great. Whole grain pasta can be mixed with vegetables or sauces and this too tastes wonderful. Some of my elderly seniors are not used to using whole grain foods, but after I let them have a sample they decide they like it.
In regards to the other suggestions, many people buy a blood pressure monitor at the drug store now and take readings regularly at home in addition to the readings at the doctor's office to be sure there isn't a problem.
Exercise and weight loss - the sign of our times. It's difficult sometimes for seniors to exercise, but physical therapists can design programs to meet their needs. Weight loss might be easier on a Mediterranean Diet because the fattening junk foods would be eliminated.
People who ate foods more often from the Mediterranean Diet had the lowest risk of developing Alzheimer's. The scientists concluded that a healthy diet can reduce risk by as much as 40%.
The researchers said that when lifestyle includes getting cholesterol and blood pressure checked, exercising, and controlling weight then risk of dementia later in life is reduced further.
The Mediterranean Diet is also discussed at the Mayo Clinic website. Greeks traditionally consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, pasta and rice. Bread is eaten there without butter or margarine, and so the diet is low in saturated fat and trans fat. They also consume fish regularly and the omega-3 helps to keep blood vessels healthy.
In summary, eating a Mediterranean Diet, getting blood pressure and cholesterol checked, exercising, and controlling weight will help to reduce your risk of having dementia from Alzheimer's. It's also heart healthy, and a good way to avoid strokes.
The Mediterranean Diet has been recommended for decades already for its heart healthy characteristics, and since cooking is one of my hobbies I've been reading recipes on it for a long time. I've been using olive oil on bread with tomatoes and herbs, and this is delicious. Good-by to the butter and margarine. Whole grain pasta and brown rice have been around for a long time, but many people are simply not used to these foods or open to change.
I've even used brown rice in a rice pudding, and it was great. Whole grain pasta can be mixed with vegetables or sauces and this too tastes wonderful. Some of my elderly seniors are not used to using whole grain foods, but after I let them have a sample they decide they like it.
In regards to the other suggestions, many people buy a blood pressure monitor at the drug store now and take readings regularly at home in addition to the readings at the doctor's office to be sure there isn't a problem.
Exercise and weight loss - the sign of our times. It's difficult sometimes for seniors to exercise, but physical therapists can design programs to meet their needs. Weight loss might be easier on a Mediterranean Diet because the fattening junk foods would be eliminated.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Study Shows Senors Often Remember Distant Past Better Than Recent Past
I just started a new blog called "Life Story Telling" about writing life histories. With this in mind, an article at PsychArticles Direct about Autobiographical Memory that I read today about seniors was especially interesting because it says seniors can "travel back in time to relive personal events in the most distant past better than those in the recent past." As a caregiver who assists many different people, I often see people in their 80's and 90's who might remember the time they moved to a new home as a teen-ager, but not remember events from last week.
The authors studied the effects of aging on autobiographical memory on 180 people. The nature of memories over five lifetime periods were studied. The study was originally published in "Psychology and Aging."
Family members and caregivers reminiscing with elderly seniors might try using photos, historical events, scrapboooks, family photo albums and other memory grabbers. If an elderly senior cannot remember events from a few days ago, memories from early in life might still be available for retrieval.
Organizing the life history and family history chronologically in albums or a life story can help preserve the memories by providing triggers.
When I've assisted people who had Alzheimer's or Dementia I brought out their photo albums and scrapbooks for us to look at when we had time for activities. Each person is very different and memory ability seems to change from moment to moment sometimes. However, even with some people in late stage Alzheimer's they still recognized things part of the time from the albums.
The authors studied the effects of aging on autobiographical memory on 180 people. The nature of memories over five lifetime periods were studied. The study was originally published in "Psychology and Aging."
Family members and caregivers reminiscing with elderly seniors might try using photos, historical events, scrapboooks, family photo albums and other memory grabbers. If an elderly senior cannot remember events from a few days ago, memories from early in life might still be available for retrieval.
Organizing the life history and family history chronologically in albums or a life story can help preserve the memories by providing triggers.
When I've assisted people who had Alzheimer's or Dementia I brought out their photo albums and scrapbooks for us to look at when we had time for activities. Each person is very different and memory ability seems to change from moment to moment sometimes. However, even with some people in late stage Alzheimer's they still recognized things part of the time from the albums.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Smarter Seniors - Study Says 74 Is The New 59
I knew that mental stimulation made a difference in mental functioning and an article titled "Today's Seniors Are Smarter" by Salynn Boyles at Web MD Medical News has good news. The subtitle says "Tests Suggest Less Mental Decline for Current Generation of Elderly." People today have more mental stimulation through mass media and popular culture. The average mental ability of someone 74 years old in the study was closer to someone 15 years younger in the earlier test group.
The study compared test scores of 74 year olds today with scores from 74 year olds 16 years ago. The 74 year olds today scored closer to the 59 year olds who were tested 16 years ago.
The study said this shows that people are more able to keep working beyond retirement age today.
The scientists concluded that the huge amounts of information we receive from television, movies, and other cultural sources are providing mental stimulation so we are "smarter."
The past 20 years have been times of such great change with the increase in the mass media and the internet.
As the baby boomer generation ages it will be interesting to follow the studies to see what the characteristics of the boomers will be in ten or twenty years.
Keeping the mind exercised and mentally stimulated is something we are all reading about a lot these days. This study provides additional encouragement for staying mentally active and keeping our environments enriched with learning opportunities.
The study compared test scores of 74 year olds today with scores from 74 year olds 16 years ago. The 74 year olds today scored closer to the 59 year olds who were tested 16 years ago.
The study said this shows that people are more able to keep working beyond retirement age today.
The scientists concluded that the huge amounts of information we receive from television, movies, and other cultural sources are providing mental stimulation so we are "smarter."
The past 20 years have been times of such great change with the increase in the mass media and the internet.
As the baby boomer generation ages it will be interesting to follow the studies to see what the characteristics of the boomers will be in ten or twenty years.
Keeping the mind exercised and mentally stimulated is something we are all reading about a lot these days. This study provides additional encouragement for staying mentally active and keeping our environments enriched with learning opportunities.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Liz Lewis, R.N. and Mary Emma Allen at Alzheimer's Notes - RE: Dementia Project
There is a team written blog at alzheimersnotes.com by Liz Lewis, R.N. and Mary Emma Allen. A recent post tells about a creative writing project designed to allow people with dementia living in residential assisted care homes "to have their stories and words seen and heard." The project was designed by a writer in residence, Anthea McKinley for the Glasgow City Council. The project is called "In Our Own Words" and it enables people with dementia to be "recognized as authors in their own right".
I went to the website for the project and I loved the insightful writing by the authors.
One of the writers with dementia listed on the website, Norma Smith, writes about "Being in a Book" and says the following.
"It's very exciting how you can find words in your brain. How words turn into sentences. Suddenly you find you have a wee masterpiece. It goes to the printing press..."
Alex Wallace writes about the experience and says the following.
"I think when you're living like we do, you need someone else outside of your family to make you feel part of a whole, not just part of a wee bit."
Not just caregivers, but people everywhere can understand better what it feels like to experience life from these authors points of view by reading some of their material.
I have been taking a Life Story Writing class by an instructor who also teaches it at assisted care facilities, so finding this blog post and the website was especially interesting.
When I've been caregiving for people with Alzheimer's or Dementia I like to ask questions about the people's lives. If one moment their memory about this morning's events is not very good, in the next moment they might be telling me about things that happened many years ago.
I think enabling people with Alzheimer's and Dementia to tell their stories, and to help trigger their memories with "memory joggers" such as photos, scrapbooks and so on makes their lives more full and relieves some of their isolation.
I went to the website for the project and I loved the insightful writing by the authors.
One of the writers with dementia listed on the website, Norma Smith, writes about "Being in a Book" and says the following.
"It's very exciting how you can find words in your brain. How words turn into sentences. Suddenly you find you have a wee masterpiece. It goes to the printing press..."
Alex Wallace writes about the experience and says the following.
"I think when you're living like we do, you need someone else outside of your family to make you feel part of a whole, not just part of a wee bit."
Not just caregivers, but people everywhere can understand better what it feels like to experience life from these authors points of view by reading some of their material.
I have been taking a Life Story Writing class by an instructor who also teaches it at assisted care facilities, so finding this blog post and the website was especially interesting.
When I've been caregiving for people with Alzheimer's or Dementia I like to ask questions about the people's lives. If one moment their memory about this morning's events is not very good, in the next moment they might be telling me about things that happened many years ago.
I think enabling people with Alzheimer's and Dementia to tell their stories, and to help trigger their memories with "memory joggers" such as photos, scrapbooks and so on makes their lives more full and relieves some of their isolation.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tips for Seniors About Life Story Writing or Telling
Anthropologist Myla Collier teaches a class on Life Story Writing for Seniors through Cuesta Community College Adult Emeritus, San Luis Obispo, California. Seniors learn techniques for memory retrieval that include using "memory joggers" because some of the experiences they write about happened more than 50 years ago in their lives.
Throughout history seniors have traditionally been the family historians, adding their life story to the life stories of the ancestors. Genealogy and family trees are related topics that seniors also may research and preserve.
The class offers seniors helpful techniques that include how to write a chronological life history that starts at birth. Seniors learn to feel more comfortable with their memories, and to accept the good times and the difficult times as an integrated part of their lives.
Humorous anecdotes, the development of interests and careers, and life stages are all included.
Examples of the way others told their life stories include Grandma Moses. Her autobiography started as follows:
"I, Anna Mary Robertson, was born back in the green meadows and wild woods on a farm in Washington County in the year 1860, September 7, of Scotch Irish paternal ancestry. Here I spent the first ten years of my life withmy mother, father, and sisters and brothers. Those were happy days free from care and worry."
Writing or telling a life history can be a wonderful activity for seniors. Some people dictate the story into a tape recorder or record it with a videotape.
Describing the styles and trends of an era 50 or 80 years ago and adding the historical events and facts helps to create the setting and time so that others can picture it. Memories become sharper when instructor Myla reads an historical synopsis for a time period, such as the 1950's.
The seniors I've assisted as a caregiver have enjoyed discussing their life history. I frequently use techniques I've learned in Myla Collier's class. Many people make a book out of their life story, and these histories or memoirs are given to relatives and added to the family heirlooms.
Seniors writing a life history refresh their memories, organize the memories chronologically, and enjoy creating a book reflecting life lived during the various historical eras.
Throughout history seniors have traditionally been the family historians, adding their life story to the life stories of the ancestors. Genealogy and family trees are related topics that seniors also may research and preserve.
The class offers seniors helpful techniques that include how to write a chronological life history that starts at birth. Seniors learn to feel more comfortable with their memories, and to accept the good times and the difficult times as an integrated part of their lives.
Humorous anecdotes, the development of interests and careers, and life stages are all included.
Examples of the way others told their life stories include Grandma Moses. Her autobiography started as follows:
"I, Anna Mary Robertson, was born back in the green meadows and wild woods on a farm in Washington County in the year 1860, September 7, of Scotch Irish paternal ancestry. Here I spent the first ten years of my life withmy mother, father, and sisters and brothers. Those were happy days free from care and worry."
Writing or telling a life history can be a wonderful activity for seniors. Some people dictate the story into a tape recorder or record it with a videotape.
Describing the styles and trends of an era 50 or 80 years ago and adding the historical events and facts helps to create the setting and time so that others can picture it. Memories become sharper when instructor Myla reads an historical synopsis for a time period, such as the 1950's.
The seniors I've assisted as a caregiver have enjoyed discussing their life history. I frequently use techniques I've learned in Myla Collier's class. Many people make a book out of their life story, and these histories or memoirs are given to relatives and added to the family heirlooms.
Seniors writing a life history refresh their memories, organize the memories chronologically, and enjoy creating a book reflecting life lived during the various historical eras.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Elders Enjoy Helping With Family History
Traditionally elderly people were the storytellers who preserved family stories and legends. Today, seniors often enjoy the social interaction of discussing family history and life stories. I have often thought it helped some of the elderly seniors I've assisted, who live alone, to feel less lonely when they share their life history and memories with me. For many elderly people memories of long ago events are sharper than the details of last week. This is because the earlier memories became part of long term memory, and as we age short term memory starts to lose ability. Storytelling was traditionally the role of the elderly, who preserved the family history, traditions, and legends for the next generation.
Sharing their memories with a younger generation is one way elderly seniors can interact socially, reduce loneliness, and have a hobby of preserving the family history.
Today writing life histories and researching family backgrounds and genealogy are as popular as ever. Dates, names, and events can be researched on the internet. Special reminders can help trigger memories of things that happened fifty or sixty years ago.
As a caregiver I've been surprised when people 95 years old, who have short term memory difficulties, can tell me details of the houses where they grew up 80 years ago. One person whom I assisted turned 100 years old, and was still telling stories of growing up in Minnesota, moving to California, and enjoying the weather and new foods after the move.
Storytelling is still a wonderful activity for elderly seniors, and caregivers and families can enjoy hearing true experiences from history instead of reading about it in books. Recording or writing down the family history can create a treasure to pass on to other generations.
Whenever you don't know how to pass the time of day, you can always ask an elderly person to tell you about life when that person was a child. Frequently even people with memory issues can recall childhood experiences.
There are lots of good internet sites, and one that I stumbled upon is Heirloom Stories. Some people combine reminiscing with making a scrapbook, adding memories to a family cookbook, or writing a memoir. So many memoirs have been published that you never know whose memories may come out as a book next.
Sharing their memories with a younger generation is one way elderly seniors can interact socially, reduce loneliness, and have a hobby of preserving the family history.
Today writing life histories and researching family backgrounds and genealogy are as popular as ever. Dates, names, and events can be researched on the internet. Special reminders can help trigger memories of things that happened fifty or sixty years ago.
As a caregiver I've been surprised when people 95 years old, who have short term memory difficulties, can tell me details of the houses where they grew up 80 years ago. One person whom I assisted turned 100 years old, and was still telling stories of growing up in Minnesota, moving to California, and enjoying the weather and new foods after the move.
Storytelling is still a wonderful activity for elderly seniors, and caregivers and families can enjoy hearing true experiences from history instead of reading about it in books. Recording or writing down the family history can create a treasure to pass on to other generations.
Whenever you don't know how to pass the time of day, you can always ask an elderly person to tell you about life when that person was a child. Frequently even people with memory issues can recall childhood experiences.
There are lots of good internet sites, and one that I stumbled upon is Heirloom Stories. Some people combine reminiscing with making a scrapbook, adding memories to a family cookbook, or writing a memoir. So many memoirs have been published that you never know whose memories may come out as a book next.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Loneliness, Isolation Increases Alzheimer's and Dementia Risk
Caregivers for seniors might like to read about a study from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center that is discussed in an article titled "Loneliness Associated with Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease" at Medical News Today. Isolation and limited social contacts are known to be associated with a decline of mental abilities. In this study the emotional side of loneliness was studied by analyzing people over a four year period. Those with higher levels of lonely emotions were shown to have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.
The article went on to discuss the social side of human nature, and our needs for healthy interaction with others.
As a caregiver I've often been called to start a schedule assisting an elderly senior at home who has been living alone for many years. Sometimes a person will have lost a spouse and continued on in the same house, living alone, without adult children living nearby.
After many years of assisting people in offices, facilities, and in home care I can see the difference between people who have had social interaction available and those who have not.
My heart goes out to those frail elders who do not have good enough health to leave the house to visit others, and who do not have old friends or relatives nearby. Sometimes their spouses have passed away, their relatives live in another state, and old friends may have passed away also.
As a caregiver I try to provide social interaction and activities, and to help frail seniors go for outings to the store or to events.
This article about the emotional side of loneliness and Alzheimer's made me think of the elderly seniors I have assisted who have been isolated. There is no doubt to me that the frail seniors who have social interaction are often mentally more cognizant, and emotionally in a better frame of mind, less depressed.
A friendly caregiver who supplies activities and outings can help to make a difference for a frail senior.
The article went on to discuss the social side of human nature, and our needs for healthy interaction with others.
As a caregiver I've often been called to start a schedule assisting an elderly senior at home who has been living alone for many years. Sometimes a person will have lost a spouse and continued on in the same house, living alone, without adult children living nearby.
After many years of assisting people in offices, facilities, and in home care I can see the difference between people who have had social interaction available and those who have not.
My heart goes out to those frail elders who do not have good enough health to leave the house to visit others, and who do not have old friends or relatives nearby. Sometimes their spouses have passed away, their relatives live in another state, and old friends may have passed away also.
As a caregiver I try to provide social interaction and activities, and to help frail seniors go for outings to the store or to events.
This article about the emotional side of loneliness and Alzheimer's made me think of the elderly seniors I have assisted who have been isolated. There is no doubt to me that the frail seniors who have social interaction are often mentally more cognizant, and emotionally in a better frame of mind, less depressed.
A friendly caregiver who supplies activities and outings can help to make a difference for a frail senior.
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