Socialization Help People with Dementia

People with dementia often have trouble in social settings.  The noise and activity of others is distracting and can even be scary.  Even those with early stage dementia are starting to notice they can't as easily follow conversations when more than one person is involved,  It can be confusing or stressful to know your role in a social setting.  As a result many people with dementia and their caregivers end up isolating themselves, going to less and less social settings.  Isolation can lead to depression and less physical activity.

Social interaction is one way to keep the brain active and may even help prevent the progress of dementia.  So how do we find social settings for people with dementia?  It's best to look for groups especially designed for people with dementia.  For example, Rhodes Respite care in Anderson (http://www.fpcandersonsc.com/serving/rhodes-respite-care-2/) provides socialization especially for those in early or middle stage dementia.  Participants enjoy attending the group where they make crafts, enjoy music, and get to know staff and other participants like themselves.  The Alzheimer's support group in Seneca offers a socialization group during it's meetings for people with early stage dementia.  Participants enjoy music, activities with pleasant aromas, board games such as Qwirkle and Rummykub, and interaction with college students and other participants.  The group avoids expectations or competitiveness so that participants feel welcome and comfortable no matter their mood or abilities on a particular day.  Trained college students from Clemson University provide one-on-one interaction to make participation active and enjoyable.  If you would like to join one of the groups led by Clemson students contact Dr. Cheryl Dye at tcheryl@clemson.edu for a list of current offerings.  The next sessions are Feb. 20 and April 17 at 11:30 am at Oconee Memorial Hospital.

Look for social activities where the expectations for your loved one and for you the caregiver are low.  But be sure to pick activities that you both would enjoy.  Consider a walk in the park where you observe children or families, attending a local church service, visiting a small store with few customers, going to a local walking trail on a sunny day, or playing a board game with one or two non-competitive accepting people.  Use your loved one's former interests as a guide.  If they always enjoyed playing cards look for simple card games.  If they enjoyed working out, find a place where you can use simple exercise equipment.  As you are interacting with others provide your companionship and support for your care receiver in case they feel confused or afraid.  Be accepting of their moods and interactions and offer praise during and after the outing, even if everything wasn't perfect.

Going to a social activity can take a lot of preparation and energy.  So be sure to plan some quite time or a nap afterwards.  Remember to praise your loved one for going and for being with you.

Note: See the previous post for another opportunity for socialization.

Dementia Dialogues

Do you work with or take care of someone with dementia?  One of the most effective ways to treat the care receiver is to provide help, education, and support for the caregiver.  Come to this free course...

Dementia Dialogues

Thursdays, February 12 - March 12, 2015

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

at St Mark's United Methodist Church

616 Quincy Rd., Seneca

Dementia Dialogues is a 5 part learning experience designed to educate individuals who care for persons who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias. Each session is approximately one and one half hours in length. This program is offered at no cost to participants through the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Below is a list of what we cover in each of the five sessions:


1. The Basic Facts, and introduction to dementia


2. Keeping the Dialogue Going: Talking to people with dementia


3. Environment and safety issues, eating, bathing


4. Challenging Behaviors: wandering, incontinence, sundowning


5. More Challenging Behaviors: repetitive behaviors, yelling, agitation, rummaging, etc.

The class is free. Registration, although not required, is recommended. Email name and phone number to elehmacher@gmail.com.

Participants can attend only one (or a few) of the sessions. Previous sessions are not a prerequisite. Caregivers who need care for a person with dementia may call the Alzheimer's Association to request a free caregiver at: 800-272-3900. (Please call at least 2 weeks in advance.)



During class, another group will be offered for care recipients offering activities for people with early or mid-stage dementia led by Dr. Cheryl Dye and Clemson University students. Board games, drawing, and music will be used to stimulate brain function and improve mood. Room for 10 participants is available. Email tcheryl@clemson.edu to reserve a spot in the care recipient group.

New Alzheimer's Support Group

By the year 2050, two-thirds of people over age 85 will have Alzheimer’s or related dementia.  Currently, more than 5 million people* in the US are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s approximately every 67 seconds.* Alzheimer’s disease leads to memory loss as well as changes in thinking and behavior.  Research suggest that teaching caregivers more about their role helps both the caregiver and the person with dementia to live healthier happier lives.

In honor of Alzheimer’s and Caregivers awareness month this November, a new support group for caregivers of people with dementia will start Nov. 21 at 11:30am.  Caregivers will meet monthly to learn new skills, focus on self-care, and share coping techniques with each other.  Speakers with expertise in dementia care will come to the monthly meetings to share tips.  In November we’ll learn about non-medicine ways to prevent and treat dementia.  On December 17 Kathy Birkett, a local dietitian with specialty in senior care, will talk to us about how diet can help.   Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch and drink along to the group each month.

On November 21 at 11:30 (during the Alz. support group) Clemson University students, under the direction of Dr. Cheryl Dye, will provide activities for people with early or mid-stage dementia.  Board games, drawing, and music will be used to stimulate brain function and improve mood.  Room for 10 participants is available.  Email  tcheryl@clemson.edu to reserve a spot in the care recipient group.

Both groups will meet in neighboring conference rooms at GHS Oconee Memorial Hospital.  Participants for both groups should park in the front parking lot and enter together through the tower front door where people at the information desk can direct participants to the 2nd floor conference rooms.  No pre-registration required for the Alzheimer’s support group.  For questions about this new group please contact Eunice Lehmacher, LISW-CP at 864-643-8449 or elehmacher@gmail.com.  Eunice is a local counselor and geriatric care manager in Seneca and a certified dementia specialist.  Dr. Cheryl Dye is a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Clemson University and the Director of the Institute for Engaged Aging.

For information on other Alzheimer’s support groups in the area contact the leader listed below:  In Seneca:  2nd Monday of each month 7pm, Jane Thomas (864-882-1202)

Clemson: 1st Wednesday of each month 2pm, Gail Marion (864-356-1174)

Easley: 1st Thursday of each month 7pm, Jim Vaughn (864-414-2378).

For more information on Alzheimer’s and for support call  the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900 or see www.alz.org.

Participants in an Alzheimer’s support group who would like to have a caregiver stay with their loved one when they attend the support group can call 800-272-3900 at least two weeks in advance to arrange for an free in-home caregiver for their loved one with dementia.

*data from Alz.org

Medications Seniors should Avoid

The American Geriatrics Society has a list of medications not recommended for senior citizens.  To see the list of medication seniors should avoid check out their website here.

The Ten Absolutes for Caregivers

Jo Huey, a nurse, wrote these 10 absolutes for caregivers taking care of someone with dementia:

1.   Never argue, instead agree.
2.   Never reason, instead divert.
3.   Never shame, instead distract.
4.   Never lecture, instead reassure.
5.   Never “remember,” instead reminisce.
6.   Never say “I told you,” instead repeat.
7.   Never say “you can’t,” instead say “do what you can.”
8.   Never command or demand, instead ask or model.
9.    Never condescend, instead encourage or praise.
10. Never force, instead reinforce. 

Caregivers find it hard to stop using reason with their loved one, especially if the person with dementia was an engineer, lawyer, planner or was always very reasonable before dementia.  But once the disease starts, no amount of reasoning or logical discussions will convince them that their version of reality is not real.  In fact, being reasonable, a skill that works well in most other situations, can actually escalate arguements when talking to someone with dementia.  Just like we often can't reason with a toddler, we also can't reason with someone who is now losing skills they learned as a child.  (Note that we unlearn things in the same order we learned them before as a child).

Here's a place where Lily Tomlin can help us:  "Reality is the leading cause of stress of those in touch with it." 

Allow your care reciever to have their own reality.  Let them enjoy it, and don't talk them out of it.  Your job as the caregiver is to eliminate conflict and provide saftey and purpose in life when you can.  And of course, your job is to take care of yourself.  Cut down the arguements, and enjoy the moments that you are given with your loved one.

Consider posting Huey's 10 Abolutes in a place you see daily to remind you.

The Aging of America

In 2056, for the first time in US history, the population of people older than 65 will outnumber younger people according to the US Census bureau.  The Census bureau also tells us that baby boomers are living longer than their parents did even though they tend to be less healthy than their parents were at the same age.  Advances in medicine and medical technology are allowing people to live longer, even if they have poor health habits.

What changes will need to happen as a higher percentage of our population is older?  Time will tell.  But mostly likely we'll need to rely on each other more.  Our health care system will need to focus more on staying fit and healthy and less on curing illnesses.  And each of us will need to care for older neighbors, family members, and friends.  Probably a higher percentage of the population will be employed in the elder care and health care fields.  And we may all work well past the age of 60.

As changes come to our society each of us needs to make sure we are ready for the future.  Staying physically, socially, and mentally active will help each of us as our bodies grow older.  No matter what your age now, consider ways that you can become more engaged in your community, keep your body fit, and use your brain more.  Consider adding the following habits to your life:

*At least once a week call or visit a friend.
*Exercise daily, sometimes aerobic, sometimes stretching.  If you don't have time for a whole work-out, add a longer walk to the car when you park at the office or store or take the steps instead of the elevator.
*Look for ways to learn daily.  Make a list of things you want to learn on your computer or in your journal.  Check this list at least once a year to notice what you've learned and pat yourself on the back for keeping an active brain.
*Learn habits that help you relax and feel good.  Include leisure in your weekly and daily routine.
*Consider your next doctor visit as a time to learn about yourself and your health.  After your check-up resolve to try new ideas that you learned from the doctor or nurse to improve your health.  Enlist a friend to encourage you to keep your goal by telling her/him of your new resolution.
*Notice (but don't condemn yourself for) your bad health habits and make small changes to be more healthy.  For example, if you put three spoons of sugar in your tea, try to cut back to 2 spoons over the course of one week.  If you walk one mile slowly, pick up the pace once a week or add a bit of length.  Small changes makes big differences over time.
*Learn about organizations that help others and consider volunteering.
*Talk with your family members and friends about how you want to be cared for when your are older.  Get your will ready and prepare ideas for your family to commemorate your death once you have pass on.

We'll all need to work together as our society ages.  Please add your comments on how we can all prepare in the comments below.

Retire later?

Recent research suggest that those who retire later (after age 62) show lower rates of dementia.  This makes sense since work keeps us physically and mentally active and tends to increase our social interactions.  Being active and social is know to reduce the incidence of dementia.  Does that mean you should plan to retire at 80?  No...(although some do...)

But when you retire plan to keep working, doing the things you like to do.  Volunteer for your favorite organization or community, exercise daily, keep social contacts going, and keep learning.  Past research shows that learning new things is an effective way for seniors to keep their brains healthy.

Not all of us are near retirement, but we can all choose to learn (and keep our brains active).  Most jobs and hobbies offer opportunities for learning, so it's just a matter of making learning a priority.  Learning new areas of expertise at our work makes us a more valuable employee (and better able to find a new job should we need to).   Once study suggests that learning something after doing at least 50 minutes of aerobic exercise that day makes learning last longer and encourages growth of brain cells.

So learn to cook, juggle, play a game,...  Or learn a new language.  Whether you're still working or are retired, you can choose what to learn and what to do that will improve your health.

Note:  Research cited comes from the Alzheimer's Neuroscience conference that took place in Boston, MA from July 13-18, 2013.

Improve Your Brain!

As the population continues to age, more research is being conducted on how to keep our brains active and growing throughout our lives.  Tips abound, but here's some of the best suggestions for keeping your brain healthy:

Exercise:   Exercise increases our brain's ability to learn. Recent research even shows increased exercise grows brain cells and can reverse age-related brain cell loss (study was of older adults who walked 40 minutes a day three days a week).  Exercise also is good for heart health, decreased depression, leads to weight loss, and fosters social interaction.  So go for a walk, do crunches, lift weights, .....

Deep Breathing:   Doing as little as 20 minutes a day of meditation three times a week has been shown to cause changes in the amygdala, the area of the brain that regulates emotion (2012 study).  The changes seen in the brain could be correlated to more happiness and less depression.  So take a few minutes each day to simply breathe and observe your breath.  Let other thoughts go as you focus only on the now.

Learn something new:  A 2009 University of Oxford study showed new brain cell growth when people practiced juggling 30 minutes a day for 6 weeks.  The benefits suggested by the study include increased coordination and faster reflexes.  But learning anything (especially after exercising) is good for your brain.  So learn a language, a craft, or a new skill.

Work the soil

"To me poor people are like bonsai trees. When you plant the best seed of the tallest tree in a flower-pot, you get a replica of the tallest tree, only inches tall. There is nothing wrong with the seed you planted, only the soil-base that is too inadequate. Poor people are bonsai people. There is nothing wrong in their seeds. Simply, society never gave them the base to grow on. All it needs to get the poor people out of poverty for us to create an enabling environment for them. Once the poor can unleash their energy and creativity, poverty will disappear very quickly."
-Muhammad Yunus

I like gardening.  And how true it is that better soil produces better plants.  I also like working the soil around people.  Sometimes they need better nutrients, but sometimes they just need the soil turned over a bit or a larger pot. 

One of the best ways to feel better yourself is to help someone else.  Research* suggests that there's a strong relationship between volunteering and health (lower motrality rates, greater functional ability, lower rates of depression in later life).  Although it is not clear from the research that it is the volunteering that reduces depression or mortality or increases functionality, experts tend to agree that helping others tends to help the helper.  For example, the helper while volunteering is spending less time focusing on their own problems since they are helping someone else with their unique (and different) problems.  In the study older persons had higher benefits from volunteering, perhaps it gives them a physical activity, a sense of purpose, and social interactions at a time when these are otherwise changing or disappearing.  (Another reason could be that they face a higher incidence of illness as they age.)  The study also suggested that spending more than 100 hours per year was more likely to lead to positive health outcomes.

So get out there an volunteer! There are many agencies that could use your help.  People who volunteer say that the work helps them more than they help those they are asked to serve.  Here's a few agencies to consider (or look up volunteering on your city or county's website):

Big Brother, Big Sister

Meals on Wheels

Free Clinics
Senior Centers
Head Start
Public Libraries

In Seneca/Clemson South Carolina, look up:

Our Daily Rest (lunch served)

Our Daily Bread (homeless shelter)

ReWiGo (repair and ramp building for the poor)

Senior Solutions (inclues Meals on Wheels)

Foothills YMCA 

Oconee Medical Center

Rosa Clark Medical Clinic and Clemson Free Clinic

Clemson Child Development Center

SMURFs

*Corperation for National and Community Service report titled The Health Benefits of Volunteering:  A Review of Recent Research, 2007.  http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0506_hbr.pdf

Planning vs. Being

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."  Joseph Campbell

Part of what makes us move ahead and be motivated is our goals, plans, and dreams.  Plans are important, but putting too much focus into the plans can make us miss the life we have now.  We can hope one day to be healthy, or have/heal that special relationship, or.....  But look at all the beauty and pleasure we might miss if we only focus on getting there.  Even though we are sick, we can enjoy the taste of a favorite dish, the smile of our grandchild, the rainbow or sunset we happened to see.   Or more simply we can enjoy that we are breathing and our heart is beating and this very moment is alive with sensations and experiences.  If we notice them, they will bring peace and/or joy to our hearts.

So by all means plan and dream.  But in between the times when you're thinking about your plans, remember to enjoy this one moment.  You won't have a chance to experience it again.

Here's an idea to appreciate the present when you wake up in the mornings:

As you wake notice your breath and be grateful for it's rhythm and constant presence.  Notice the motion of the breath in and out.  Enjoy it.  Then notice what else is working well in your body, your heart is beating, you can see, hear, etc.  Feel the bedsheets, pillows and cool air with your hands and face.  Enjoy those sensations.  Be grateful for all the blessing of your body and your bed.  Look around your room and be grateful for all the things you have and enjoy.  Listen to the sounds you hear and be grateful for the clock, cars, neighbors, family....  Take time with each sound to really listen to it and enjoy its beauty.  Use your other senses (smell and taste) to notice your surroundings and be grateful. Do this slowly and focus on as many or as few things/people as you wish. Take time to be grateful for your body, possessions, loved ones, and the world around you one by one. Then when you're ready return your attention to your breath and feel each breath in and out.  Experience the motion, smells and sensations that breathing brings you and enjoy the moment.

Positive psychology research has leaned that gratitude is a trait of people who are more happy than average.  So as you enjoy the moments of your day, be grateful.  May you be happy, may you be peaceful, may you have joy in your moments today.

Music

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” 
― Victor Hugo

Music is one of the few things we do that involves the whole brain.  Every culture uses music, and you don't need to understand their language to appreciate their music.  Music has been shown to have psysiological benefits.  Studies have shown that music can lower your blood pressure, reduce the sensation and distress of chronic and post-operative pain, reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraines, and improve the post-operative recovery of strokes.

Of course, we don't all agree on what music is soothing or healing.  What is soothing to me might be annoying to you.  Be almost everyone could name a song (or type of music) that they find soothing.  So today, find some time to listen to music that is healing for you.  And if you are feeling stressed or in pain, take 5 minutes to listen to your favorite song.  This is a treatment that is free and most people enjoy "taking."  All that is needed is willingness to use your time to help yourself (spending time on what is important instead of what is urgent).  If you don't have a way to play the music from a speaker, play it for yourself in your head.