Storytelling Engages Seniors

Quote of the Day: Memory fades, but imagination and emotions never go away. - Mary Aalgaard, from observances and education on Dementia and therapy using fine arts.

(Photo of costume sketches at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis)

Images, songs, word prompts, physical engagement in the arts,

stimulate the mind.

Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and now Storytelling to spark imagination and interaction, are all working to engage people suffering from dementia.  We cannot, necessarily, use these means to trigger memory. What we can do, is learn to live in the moment, stimulate creativity, and find new ways to engage with the people we love. 

Watch this video from The Today Show to learn more about how storytelling and the use of theater arts brings people out of the fog of dementia and into new light.

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/45435491#45435491

Learn more about this program at http://www.timeslips.org/
What we're doing today is creating memories.

Noticing changes during Holiday Visits

Quote of the Day:  Families coming home for the holidays can raise or notice some concerns (about elderly family members). How to deal with this, especially during the holidays, can be difficult to figure out. Deb Cranny, director of Home Instead, from her article in The Brainerd Dispatch, Senior Class section, Tuesday, Nov, 15, 2011.
Click on the link to The Dispatch (above) to read the article. Deb has some helpful tips on handling the holidays and how to bring up concerns that you might notice in your loved one. It's hard for those living close to the situation to notice changes. But, those who have been away for a while might have a different perspective. Be respectful when talking to each other about this, and always keep loving concern as the main ingredient in this conversation.

Happy Holidays!

Make time for each other and be sure to write down the family's best traditions and recipes to pass on through the generations. Like Grandma's flawless lefse!

Memory Screening

Take charge of your brain health!

Stop in for a free, confidential screening, and tips for improving memory and thinking skills.
Lakes Area Senior Center
Tuesday, November 15
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m
Complimentary donuts and coffee!

A memory screening is a simple and safe evaluation tool that checks memory and other thinking skills. For more information call Good Samaritan Society - Brainerd (218)829-1429.

Children's book review

Quote of the Day:  Picture books are for kids of all ages. They engage the reader and the listener. They provide relaxing lap time and stimulate conversation. They offer beauty and art that can be held and experienced. Mary Aalgaard, writer

How do you talk to young children about aging?  How do you explain changes in their grandparents and prepare them for visits to the nursing home or assisted care facility?

One great way is to read picture books and be open for their questions and comments. If they ask you something you don't know, tell them that you'll look for the answers together. If they ask you something that makes you feel uncomfortable, defer the question for a little while, gather your thoughts and information, and get back to them. Here are a couple picture books that deal well with memory loss.

A Young Man's Dance by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, paintings by Layne Johnson.

 From the first line of the book, Grandma Ronnie isn't home anymore, we feel the pangs of loss and confusion that a boy experiences as his Grandma Ronnie is no longer in her own home, baking cookies, and doing the "cookie dance" with him as they wait for them to bake. He and his mom visit her in the nursing home where he is uncomfortable. He says, "I don't know why we bother coming here. She doesn't know who we are." His mom answers, "She's my mama. She raised me. I don't want her to feel forgotten."

We read on to learn of the relationship this boy had with his grandmother. That she taught him to dance and said, "A young man needs to know how to dance if he is going to get himself a girl." The dance of life is shown through their actions, as they learn how to live and love and remember for each other.

The illustrations are beautiful swirls of pastels and color. Some images are blurred, while others are clear, drawing our focus into eyes, smiles, feet, the moment.

This is a story that honors memory and the life someone lived, while giving us a picture of how to keep the spirit alive and live in the moment.

Another great choice is Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Patridge written by Mem Fox and Illustrated by Julie Vivas. This story is filled with whimsical words, illuminating illustrations, and creative connections. A young boy tries to help the folks in his neighborhood nursing home get their memory back. He does this by finding objects that have meaning to the indivuduals. This book engages young readers and opens their imagination to how they can bring joy and delight to older friends.

I have included the book links to Amazon.com for more information, or ask for these books at your local bookstore. Enjoy spending time together with the very old and the the very young. They know how to keep us connected and living in the moment.

What books did you enjoy reading as a youngster?

Operation Community Connect

Spreading the word about a community event for anyone who wants to know more about services provided in the Brainerd lakes area.

Saturday, October 22

10am – 2pm

Central Lakes College

Brainerd

Call Mark at Northern Pines with questions 218-839-7812

Operation Community Connect

Free Services:
Free Haircuts

Veterans Services

Mental Health Screening

Public Assistance

Food Support

Housing Options

Health Services

Giveaways

...And Many More!

Community members can access resources from our area agencies and organizations at one location, in a single day!
Co-Sponsored by:

The Crow Wing County Coalition to End Poverty whose members represent various area organizations.

Central Lakes College, an affirmative action equal opportunity educator and employer. ADA Accessible. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

An Apple a Day

Stat of the Day:  A healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables helps ward off a large variety of illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease.

Apples are high in antioxidents and help protect neurons in the brain.  Go to Sunrise Senior Living blog to read the full article.  For the Dementia Awareness Forum last Spring at the Central Lakes College in Brainerd, the LAMAA group served a "Memory Cafe" including veggies, like broccoli, fresh fruit, and grape juice.

Another great food choice this fall is pumpkins, squash, and fresh tomatoes. Even better if they've come from your garden or from a friend.

Put down the donuts, french fries, and chips, and grab up your favorite fall fruit.  I think I'll enjoy my afternoon apple with a slice of cheese and a glass of grape juice. 

Cheers!

Art & Alzheimer's

Contemporary Journeys at the Walker Art Center
Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter are pleased to offer a unique opportunity for people with memory loss and their care partners. The Contemporary Journeys program offers tours and hands-on art making experiences, called art labs, for people with early or mid-stage dementia and their care partners.

Contemporary Journeys experiences are made available in two ways. Groups can schedule a tour or art lab in advance according to their needs, or individuals with memory loss and their care partner, family member or friend can register for our regularly scheduled Contemporary Journeys morning program. The morning program takes place on the last Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30 a.m.

Register at education.resources@walkerart.org or 612.375.7609.

Learn more about Contemporary Journeys >>

See a schedule of monthly experiences >>

Quote of the Day: from The Art Therapy Blog
Without going into the details of all the possibilities, let’s just say that art therapy can benefit a wide-spectrum of disorders, diseases, and disabilities.

Art therapy can help improve various mental and pysical symptoms including, but not limited to, reducing pain, anxiety, and tension. It can be beneficial to those who have mental disorders, severe or light emotional abuse, cancer, post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), people who are bipolar, and a variety of other serious ailments.

Photo by Mary Aalgaard
Art is another language.
A way to communicate without words.

Thanks

Statistic of the Day:  September is World Alzheimer's month.

The Brainerd area Walk to End Alzheimer's Committee would like to thank the following businesses for contributing to our local walk:

The Walk committee would like to thank the sponsors, generous organizations and individuals for their donations or service, refreshments, entertainment, raffle items, time and more. This is what we have thus far…

• Alzheimer’s Association

• Bailey Wachholz

• BL Broadcasting

• Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce

• Brainerd VFW

• Breath of Life

• Care Free Living

• Cash Wise

• Christmas Point

• Chuck Whalen

• City of Brainerd

• Cold Stone

• Crossing Arts Alliance

• Cub Foods

• Cuyuna Regional Medical Center

• Deborah Schey Salon

• Diane Gaite

• Diamond Willow Assisted Living

• Edgewood Vista

• Essentia Health

• Geraet’s family

• Good Samaritan Society

• Grand Casino

• Heartwood

• Home Instead

• Karen Ford

• Karon Newmann

• Kenneth Hegstrom Family

• Lake Country Journal

• Lakeland TV

• Lakewood Health System

• Petal & Beans

• Shaefer’s

• Teen Challenge

• The Dispatch

• Tess Taylor

• Viking Beverage

• Virginia Busho

• Wendy’s/Caribbean Beach Tanning

You all made this possible!

Photo by Joey Halvorson

Photo by Joey Halvorson

Photo by Joey Halvorson

Photo by Mary Aalgaard

Salute to you and the community!

Walk to End Alzheimer's 2011

Statistic of the Day: The Brainerd lakes area Walk to End Alzheimer's raised over $72,000 for the cause.

Ken Thomas and his family, honoring their father who passed away earlier this year from Alzheimer's.

Walking together, walking with their community, raising funds and awareness for a disease that comes like a thief in the night, stealing bits and pieces of our loved ones.

Let's stop that thief, one step at a time!

This is what it means to be community. Coming together to share our stories, our sorrows, and our hope for tomorrow.

Ken Thomas's father and Duane had worked together. Ken showed Duane a book that sparked memories for Duane, who has Alzheimer's disease.

Saturday morning, Sept. 24, was a gorgeous morning for a walk.  A large crowd gathered at the Kiwanis Park in Brainerd for the 2011 Walk to End Alzheimer's.  The air was cool and crisp. The sun was shining brightly, and the leaves were just starting to turn. The young and the old, those on wheels and on foot moved as one around the park, along the Mississippi River, through the woods, and over the freshly fallen leaves.

Thank you, Pam & Bailey Wachholz for all your hard work to make this walk so successful!

Thank you, Tess Taylor from WJJY for being our MC!

Walk on!

Wear Purple with Pride!

Photos and story by Mary Aalgaard.  Thanks Joey Halvorson, for taking pictures of the walk! I'll add some of her photos and updates from the walk later this week.

Walk to End Alzheimer's

Quote of the Day:  Researchers report that Alzheimer's disease shares many of the same risk factors as heart disease and stroke:  high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body weight.
Findings indicate a healthy diet and regular exercise are good for both your heart and your head.  Staying mentally and socially active also may give your brain a boost.
from The Alzheimer's Association booklet, What's being done about Alzheimer's?

One thing that's being done about Alzheimer's and related illnesses is The Walk to End Alzheimer's. We will have the walk in Brainerd, starting at the Kiwanis Park, on Saturday, Sept. 24.  Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. Click here to register or donate. Join a team, walk as an individual, or start your own team.

In the meantime, look for all the purple around town in support of Alzheimer's research, the walk, and those we love who are afflicted.

Here's a video clip for Wrapping the town in Purple.

Question: Do you know someone who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia?

Remember This

A book review by Mary Aalgaard

Statistic of the Day:  Alzheimer's disease was first identified more than 100 years ago, but research into its symptons, causes, risk factors, and treatment has only gained momentum in the last 30 years. The cause is still unknown. from the Alzheimer's Association website.

Remember This by Susan Thompson Underdahl is a novel about a 17-year-old girl, Lucy, experiencing the usual teenage angst in small town America.  She has normal teenage girl experiences and problems - a cheerleading tryout that ends in disaster, misunderstandings with girlfriends, and conflicted feelings about a boy who shows interest in her.  She also has experiences and problems that extend beyond her age group.  Her grandma seems to be experiencing memory loss. As the family discusses what to do about Grandma, they invite her to live in their house, in Lucy's room, and everyone tries to find a new normal just as everything seems out of their control. 

Lucy is an interesting and lovable main character, with some flaws, but ones that make her real and accessible.  The setting is Williston, ND, the author's home town, but it could be any small town in America.  Susan Thompson Underdahl writes a story that touches on issues relevant to teens and multi-generational living.

I recommend this book to anyone from early teens on up. Click here to read more about Susan and her books.

Still Alice

Statistic of the Day:  Two-thirds of those with Alzheimer's disease – 3.4 million – are women.

Book Review by Mary Aalgaard.
I was emotionally drawn into this novel from the first few pages. We're quickly introduced to Alice, her husband John, and their family dynamic. Alice is a much loved and respected Psychology Professor at Harvard University, specializing in psycholinguistics. Words have been her life.  She's a brilliant woman, independent, and renowned for her mental sharpness. She's the first person to notice hiccups in her memory, not sure what lecture she's supposed to give to her class, asking the same questions over and over to her children, completely forgetting that she was going to Chicago for a guest lecture. 

Lisa Genova does an amazing job of getting inside the hearts and minds of the characters, especially Alice. We see how her mind fogs over. We feel her confusion and panic as she gets lost on her way home from a run - the same run, the same path she's been taking for years.  We sense the ache of her family and friends as they watch this brilliant woman slipping away.

Still Alice is an emotional journey inside the mind and life of a woman experiencing early on-set Alzheimer's disease. She is only 50-years-old when she first experiences symptoms. Although her life and her relationships change as the disease progresses, what remains, even grows, is the love between her and her family.

Music is a Natural Memory Aid

Statistic of the Day:  An estimated 10 million individuals in the U.S. provide unpaid care to persons with Alzheimer's or other dementias.

Country Western singer/songwriter Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He is giving a farewell tour and interviews on television. On ABC' World News Tonight, Campbell sat with his wife and reminisced about his career and their relationship.  While his wife, Kim Woollen, helped him remember his age and that he did, indeed, have Alzheimer's, despite "Not feeling it yet," as Campbell said, he held his guitar and played with the gift that God gave him and sang the words to his classics.  That's when his wife said, "Music is a natural memory aid."

Share some musical memories with your loved one today.

(Click here for to watch the interview on ABC.)

Why We're Here

Statistic of the Day: Every 69 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease

The LAMAA group is here to help people in the Brainerd lakes area understand the process of aging, especially in the areas of memory loss.  Members of the group would love to talk to community groups, churches, and other organizations to educate everyone on this important topic.  If you'd like to talk to someone, please email us.  We are planning on forming support groups this fall.