Mar-Apr - Alzheimer`s Aid Society

Alzheimer’s Aid Society’s
FORGET-ME-NOT
MARCH - APRIL 2015
A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION
Volume 34 Issue 2
www.AlzAid.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
Dementia (Causes & Progressive Dementias)…..Mayo Clinic Staff….………2-3
President’s Message………………….Sheryl Ashby, CEO…………...………….…………4
A Rainbow World………...…….…...Jeanne Hess, RN, CGN………..…..……………….5
Tulips and Butterflies………………..Tiffany Paige…………...…………..…..…………….6
The Big Day of Giving………………………………………………….……………………………..7
Caregiver Support Groups………………………………….....……………..….……….……8-9
Special Interest Groups for the Patient………………….………………………………...10
Memorials………………………………………………………………………………………………..11
Alzheimer’s Café (Pictures) ……………Maryann Frantz….…..…….………………….12
The Alzheimer’s Aid Society would like to invite you to our next Alzheimer’s
Café…………………………………………………….……………………….…….…….……………..13
Sundowning…………….Dr. Barbara Gillogly Ph.D., LMFT,CPG……………..14 & 15
Alzheimer’s Aid Society of Northern California
2641 Cottage Way, #4
Sacramento, CA. 95825
Phone
916-483-2002
Toll Free
800-540-3340
A Non-Profit, 501 (c)(3), Tax-Deductible Corporation
Tax ID# 94-2721961
Dementia Causes and Progressive Dementias
Mayo Clinic Staff
People generally may develop
symptoms after age 60, but
some people may have earlyonset forms of the disease, often as the result of a defective
gene.
Although in most cases the
exact cause of Alzheimer's
disease isn't known, plaques
and tangles are often found in
the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Plaques are clumps
of a protein called betaamyloid, and tangles are fibrous tangles made up of tau
protein.
Certain genetic factors also
may make it more likely that
people will develop Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's disease usually
progresses slowly over about
eight to 10 years. Your cogni-
Causes
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Dementia involves damage of
nerve cells in the brain, which may
occur in several areas of the brain.
Dementia may affect people differently, depending on the area of the
brain affected.
Dementias can be classified in a
variety of ways and are often
grouped by what they have in common, such as what part of the brain
is affected, or whether they worsen
over time (progressive dementias).
Some dementias, such as those
caused by a reaction to medications or an infection, are reversible
with treatment.
Progressive dementias
Types of dementias that are not
reversible and worsen over time
include:
 Alzheimer's disease. In people age 65 and older, Alzheimer's disease is the most
common cause of dementia.
tive abilities slowly decline.
Eventually, the affected areas
of your brain don't work properly, including parts of your
brain that control memory,
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

language, judgment and spatial
becomes more common with
abilities.
Vascular dementia. Vascular
dementia, the second most common type of dementia, occurs as
a result of brain damage due to
reduced or blocked blood flow
in blood vessels leading to your
brain.
age.
Lewy bodies are abnormal
clumps of protein that have
been found in the brains of people with Lewy body dementia,
Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Lewy body dementia symptoms
Blood vessel problems may be
caused by stroke, infection of a
heart valve (endocarditis) or
other blood vessel (vascular)
conditions.
Symptoms usually start suddenly and often occur in people
with high blood pressure or
people who have had strokes or
heart attacks in the past.
Several different types of vascular dementia exist, and the
types have different causes and
symptoms. Alzheimer's disease
and other dementias also may
be present at the same time as
this dementia.
Lewy body dementia. Lewy
are similar to symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Its unique features include fluctuations between confusion and clear
thinking (lucidity), visual hallucinations, and tremor and rigidity (parkinsonism).
People with Lewy body dementia often have a condition called
rapid eye movement (REM)
sleep behavior disorder that
involves acting out dreams.
body dementia affects approximately 10 percent of people
with dementia, making it one of
the most common types of dementia. Lewy body dementia
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FORGET-ME -NOT
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By Sheryl Ashby, CEO
Have you ever gotten lost coming out of a large building, like a hospital for
example, and couldn’t find your car? You probably just went out the wrong
door. When you re-traced your steps and went out the correct door, it was
then easy to find where you had parked your car. This kind of thing happens
to all of us occasionally. Now, imagine feeling that panicked lost feeling most
of the time. That is what a person with Alzheimer’s / Dementia feels most of
the time. Imagine for example getting up in the morning. You know that you
have something important to do. Everyone has
something to do each
day. Even children have
things to do with
their day. It may just be
getting up, eating
breakfast, dressing and then
playing most of the
day, but it is something to
do. A person with
Alzheimer’s / Dementia also
knows that they have
something to do with their
day, they just don’t remember what it is. If they do remember what they are
supposed to do, they may not know how to begin. It is a pretty scary thing to
imagine what that must feel like. If we can remember that an Alzheimer’s /
Dementia patient feels like that every day, it is much easier to have empathy
for what they are experiencing. This is one of the reasons they become so attached to you, their caregiver. They need to be near you because they are now
dependent on you to help them figure out their day and what it should consist
of. You become their security.
One of my very favorite web sites is ‘The Alzheimer’s Reading Room’. Mr.
Bob DeMarco, who writes most of the articles there proposes living your lives
the same way that you always did. Now, know that you will probably have to
do things at a much slower pace. Keeping things as close to normal as you can
makes life much easier on your Alzheimer’s / Dementia patient and because of
that, it makes life easier for you.
Our ‘Blue Book’ (the Practical Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver) is an invaluable resource for you or anyone you my know who is a caregiver. If you
don’t have a ‘Blue Book’, call our office at (916) 483-2002 or (800) 540-3340
and request a copy. This booklet contains material that will help you as a
caregiver to cope with behaviors as well as other useful tips and advice.
We at the Alzheimer’s Aid Society wish you well in your journey through
Alzheimer’s / Dementia. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Respectfully,
Sheryl
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A RaInbow
World
Jeanne Hess CGN
Has anyone ever told you to “Brighten
up”? or “Every gray cloud has a silver
lining”? or “Cheer up, the sun is shining!”- friendly phrases that are meant to
help us through a time of temporary
hopelessness, but actually are based on
scientific studies that colors just don’t
seem so bright
when we are
experiencing
depression.
Lights and colors are so important to us so
that when we
wear and surround ourselves
with colors that
make us feel
comfortable,
our inner sense of wellbeing is enhanced
and our mood altered and refreshed. As a
caregiver you can transfer that spirit into
your daily routine with a little imagination and an abundance of what the scientists call “guided imagery” Get out the
family album and together look at photos
of past vacations; the bold yellows, oranges and reds of an ocean sunset; soft
muted mauves, pinks and lavenders of
sunrise over a mountain cabin or the
dynamite bright reds, blues and violets
of flowers blooming along a botanical
garden pathway. Soundtracks are another form of imagery that brings mental
visions and impressions of color.
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Christmas carols automatically recall vivid reds, bright greens
and glistening whites. Romantic
ballads reflect the glow of
moonlight against a midnight blue
sky twinkling with the pinpoint diamonds of distant stars. Melodious
sounds of nature invoke memories
of a gentle rippling stream in shades
of crystalline blues or the crashing
thunder of a foaming white waterfall.
Colors affects the way we
feel and interact with those around
us by decreasing anxiety levels and
instilling a sense of hope and optimism. Use it’s kaleidoscope of
hues, shades and tints to “brighten”
your day.
Jeanne Hess RNCGN
DO YOU BUY FROM
AMAZON?
Did you know that you can
still buy from Amazon and have
them donate .5% of your purchase price to a non-profit of
your choice. Just go to Amazon
Smile and they will let you
name a non-profit agency you
would like to donate to. We’d
appreciate it if you would name
the Alzheimer’s Aid Society.
Thank You.
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We can also take donations
over the phone, so volunteers
The Alzheimer’s Aid Society will be available to take donais participating this year in the tions and answer any questions;
however, online donations are
Big Day of Giving on
preferred.
May 05, 2015!!
Donations begin at midnight
This provides a great opportu- and can be made at any time on
nity for us to raise money, acMay 05, 2015 but must be made
quire new donors, and bring
on this date! Incentive dollars
awareness to our organization
are given to organizations to
and what we do here! Media
make the impact of donations
outlets will be broadcasting the stronger!
event, and last year over $3
Please call the office with any
Million dollars was raised to
questions.
help nearly 400 local nonprof- Give where your heart is!!
its.
Spread the word and thanks
The Alzheimer’s Aid Society for your support!!
has a goal to raise $10,000.
Please help us by making a doPlease Help
nation on May 05, 2015 on our
the Alzheimer’s Aid Society
Give Local Now page at
by donating on
givingedge.guidestar.org.
Type “Alzheimer’s Aid SociMay 5, 2015
ety” in the Find Organizations
box in the upper right and click
The Big Day of Giving
“DONATE NOW”.
SAVE THE DATE!!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
We need volunteers to answer phones for the Sacramento Office.
These volunteers need to have experience Care-giving for a person with
Alzeimer’s / Dementia. If you are interested, please call Ashley at
(916) 483-2002.
We need Support Group Facilitators in Turlock to facilitate a Patient’s Support Group. Give Sheryl Ashby a call at (916) 483-2002 to
make arrangements for an interview, training and orientation.
We also need a Caregiver Support Group facilitator for the Support
Group that meets at Aegis in Carmichael. Please Call Sheryl Ashby at
(916) 483-2002 if you are interested Thanks to all of you who are willing
to help.
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SUPPORT GROUPS
Caring and Sharing since 1981
rd
Auburn 1st and 3rd Friday Folsom 3 Wednesday
Noon—1:30 pm
Auburn Presbyterian Church
13025 Bel Air Drive
Facilitator: Sue Galvez
530-878-2428
Amador County
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Emeritus at Folsom
780 Harrington Way
Facilitator: Jessica Beck
916-983-9300
Lake County
Call Caroline Denny
4 Wed.
707-263-9481
10:00 am
For information regarding
Senior Center
229 New York Ranch Rd., Days, times and location
Lodi 2nd Tuesday
Jackson
2:00 pm
Facilitator: Laurie Webb
And 4th Thursday at 6:00 pm
209-223-0452
Emeritus at Austin Gardens
Cameron Park
2150 W. Kettleman Ln.
3rd Tuesday, 6:00-7:30pm
Facilitator: Mary Margaret
Ponte Palmero
Chappel
3081 Ponte Morino Dr.
209-333-8033
Facilitator: Leah Grundhoffer
Manteca 3rd Saturday,
530-677-9100
1:00 pm & every
Carmichael 1st Wed.
Wednesday, 9:30 am
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Merrill Gardens
Aegis of Carmichael
430 N. Union Road
4050 Walnut Avenue
Facilitator: Facility staff
Facilitator: Max Perry
209-823-0164
916-483-2002
Manteca 3rd Wednesday
Elk Grove Every Tuesday
12 noon
9:30 am
Prestige Senior Living
Emeritus at Elk Grove
1130 Empire Avenue
6727 Laguna Park Drive
Facilitator: Taylor Mead
Facilitator: Fay Peterson
209-239-4531
916-681-2982
Marysville 2nd Wed.
Elk Grove
1:30—2:30 pm
2nd & 4th Thursdays 5pm
Prestige Assisted Living
The Commons at Elk Grove
515 Harris Street
9564 Sabrina Lane
Facilitator: Sherri Banford
Facilitator:
530-749-1786
Sharika Montenegro
916-683-6833
th
8
Orangevale Third Weds.
10:00am
Eskaton FountainWood
Village
8773 Oak Avenue
Facilitator: Andrea Manning
916-988-2200
Placerville 3rd Monday
10:00 am
Elder Options
82 Main Street
Facilitator: Carol Heape
530-626-6939
Placerville 1st Tuesday
5:30 pm
Gold Country
6041 Golden Center Court
Main Library, Independent
Living Suite
Facilitator: Lalanea Escobar
530-676-1000
Rancho Murieta
Every Wednesday
1:00—2:00 PM
RMA Blulding
Rancho Murieta
Facilitator: Nan Parquette
916-354-2281
Roseville 1st Thursday
9:30 am
Somerford Place
110 Sterling Court
Facilitator: Facility staff
916-772-6500
Sacramento
1st & 3rd Thursday
11:30AM –1:30PM
Gray Matters/DEARS
7604 Bellini Way
Facilitator: Esther Thompson
(916) 203-8385
FORGET-ME -NOT
Sacramento
Every Tuesday
10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Alzheimer’s Aid Society
2641 Cottage Way #4
Facilitator Ruth Harris
916-483-2002
Sacramento
Every Tuesday
2:00 pm—3:30 pm
Alzheimer’s Aid Society
2641 Cottage Way, #4
Facilitator: Ruth Harris
916-483-2002
Stockton 3rd Tuesday
2:00 pm
Golden Living Center, Portside
2740 N. California Street
Facilitator: Armand Holland
209-466-3522
nd
Stockton 2 Tuesday
10:00 am
Somerford Place
3530 Deer Park Drive
Facilitator: Chelease Adams
209-951-6500
Sacramento Every Wed. Tracy 3rd Tuesday
10:00am
Revere Court
7707 Rush River Drive
Facilitator: Facility Staff
916-392-3510
Sacramento
Last Tue.
Each Month 10:00am
Golden Pond Senior Living
3415 Mayhew Road
Facilitator: Ajna Glisic MS
(916) 369-8967
Stockton Every Thursday
10:00—11:30 am
Villa Marche Assisted Living
1119 Rosemarie Lane
Facilitator: Carla Little
209-477-4858
6:00pm
Emeritus at Heritage Place
355 Grantline Road
Facilitator: Christina Wyatt
209-835-1000
Tracy 4th Thursday
6:00 pm
Astoria Gardens
1960 W. Lowell (at Coral
Hollow)
Facilitator: Antonia Hoy
209-833-2200
Turlock Every Thursday
2:00—3:00 pm
Covenant Village Community
2125 North Olive Avenue
Facilitator: Max Perry
PHONE: 800-540-3340
Note: Caregiver Support Groups listed in RED
offer a patient group simultaneously. See page
10 for additional details regarding patient
groups.
9
Vacaville 2nd Tuesday
1:00pm
Emeritus of Vacaville
1111 Ulatis Drive
Facilitator: Natalie Martin
707-447-7100
Yreka 1st and 3rd Tuesday
10:00am
Oakridge Senior Park Clubhouse
400 Hiram Page Road
Facilitator: Ronda Moser
530-459-3501
Yuba City 4th Saturday
10:00 am
Summerfield Senior Care
Center
1224 Plumas
Facilitator: Mike Fortwengler
800-540-3340
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
DONATIONS!
Donations make our
programming
Possible.
You support our ‘Blue
Book’, Support
Groups, Alzheimer’s
Café’, and many other
services benefiting
the community.
?
Did you know Estelle
Getty of the Golden
Girls had Alzheimer’s ?
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
For the Patient
PLACERVILLE
Support Group for Early Stages
Call Carol Heape if interested
530-626-6939
SACRAMENTO
Now two meeting times:
Every Tuesday, 10:30—Noon
or Every Tuesday, 2:00—3:30
Alzheimer’s Aid Society
2641 Cottage Way, #4
Facilitator: Ashley Young and
Sheryl Ashby
(916) 483-2002
STOCKTON
Support for memory impaired
Every Thursday, 10:00—11:30 am
Villa Marche Assisted Living
1119 Rosemarie Lane
Facilitator: Carla Little, Steve
Gianandrea & Sheryl Ashby
209-477-4858
Our patient groups offer :
traditional support group
brain exercise
reminiscence programs
and art therapy
There are no fees for these groups
Alzheimer’s
Aid Society
Like us on
Facebook
Did you know
that Sir Winston
Churchill had
Alzheimer’s
Do You Have an Old Car or Boat?
Would you like to donate it to a good cause?
Call the Alzheimer’s Aid Society
(916) 483-2002 0r (800) 540-3340
10
FORGET-ME -NOT
In Memory of:
December 1 - February 10, 2015
DONATIONS RECEIVED
Adeline Alexander
Otto Anthony
Nellie Ayers
Bob Baron
Elmo Biglieri
Glann & Janice Camper
Stanley Collier
Anthony Dalessandro
Oliver Dowd
Ross Gannon
Zetta Green
Helen B. Grobbell
Jim Hegarty
Jeanne Huber
Annabelle Isherwood
Barbara Jetton
June Johnson
Deno Katsules
Eunice Kostka
Lupe Lopez
Marie Lucas
Betty Jane Manlove
Earline Martin
Mary Ann Mork
Mary Neville
Dorothy Ohm
Wayne Pinard
Walter & Mary Prybyla
Lexie Marie Raye
Harriet Rehn
Georgia Riggs
Rose Corral Riolo
David Rosenlof
Leland Schindler
Catherine Schnur
Leon Schnur
Milton Schnur
Theodore R. Sherburne
Beverly Sickels
Pauline Simons
Robert Tennier
Larry Turner
Angela Vosberg
Donald F. Weeks
Helen Werner
Eleanor ‘Fritzie’ Youngstedt
In Honor of:
Patricia Jones
Famous People with Alzheimer’s Born in March and April
March 2,
Bill Quackenbush
Ice Hockey Player
March 3,
James Doohan
Actor
March 3,
Lee Radziwill
Socialite
March 7,
Joseph Maurice Revel
Composer
March 11,
Harold Wilson
Prime Minister UK
March 22,
Marvin James Owen
Baseball Player
March 29,
Arthur O’Connell
Actor
April 1,
Ferenc Puskas
Hungarian Footballer
April 11,
John Douglas French
Brain Research
April 19,
Kay Swift
Composer
April 22,
Glen Campbell
Singer
April 24,
Willem de Kooning
Artist
April 26,
A. E. van Vogt
Science Fiction Author
April 26,
Frederick Law Olmsted
Journalist
April 28,
Terence David John Pratchett
Author
April 30,
Bobby Vee
Singer (Teen Idol)
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The Alzheimer’s Café
With Maryann Frantz
The Alzheimer’s Café is a
European concept that we are
initiating in California.
Fun and
Valentines
At February’s
Café.
The Alzheimer’s Café
is for the enjoyment of those
diagnosed with Memory Loss,
their loved ones and the Community
is also invited to participate and
learn more about those dealing
with Memory Loss.
12
The Alzheimer’s Aid Society would like to
invite you to come out and enjoy the fun at
our next Alzheimer’s Café!
These Alzheimer’s Cafes are the only program of its kind in California. The Cafes are for people who have a diagnosis of some kind of
Dementia, their family members and interested members of the community. They focus on healthy eating, socialization, and stress reduction.
This model of socializing is very popular in Europe, but we are the first
such model in California. Persons afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease
meet and socialize in a setting that is accepting and non judgmental;
they get to experience a fun and stress free environment and are not
faced with the social challenges that their disease poses. The family
members also get a chance to socialize with other family members of
Dementia patients with support from the community thus increasing
understanding of this disease and the people it affects. Cafes include
food, entertainment, and activities at no cost to you. These activities
are specifically geared to reduce stress and benefit those dealing with
Alzheimer’s disease, whether they are a patient or family member.
These activities vary each month. Examples include art, massage,
games, music and much more. If you turn to the “Alzheimer’s Café”
page in this newsletter, you can find pictures of some of the activities
the Alzheimer’s Café has done in the past.
Again, we would like to invite you to come and participate with us at
the next Alzheimer’s Café. Please RSVP to (916) 483-2002, we need
to get a census to make sure that we have enough food. The dates for
the next two Alzheimer’s Cafes are: March 12th & April 9th, they run
from 2 to 4 pm. The Cafes are held at Fremont Presbyterian Church at
5770 Carlson Drive (at the corner of H. Street) Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your Donations
Your Support is Needed to further our Programs.
The Alzheimer’s Café is just one of our many programs.
13
Recipes Needed
We are in need of recipes for
our cookbook. Thank you to
Betty Reed, Fay Peterson,
Ashley Young, and Samuel
Perry for their contributions!
If you have any recipes that
you would like to submit,
please send them in and we will include them in our cookbook.
Thanks! You can mail them to the Alzheimer’s Aid Society
2641 Cottage Way #4 Sacramento, CA 95825. Please send them
to the Attention of Ashley Young. Or you can email your recipes
to ashley@alzaid.org. Thank you for helping us with this project.
SUNDOWNING
Barbara Gillogly, Ph.D., LMFT, CPG
What Is It?
Approximately one quarter of patients with Alzheimer’s-type dementia
exhibit disruptive, restless, and/or confused behavior that tends to be more
apparent in the late afternoon or early
evening.
The person may pace more, display
increased anxiety, repeatedly ask questions and/or become more
confused as to person and place.
Why It Occurs
No one knows for sure why sundowning occurs, but there are
several hypotheses:
* Being tired toward the end of the day.
* Disturbance in the circadian rhythms of a patient
* In a darker setting, people and objects may become
less distinct which can lead to anxiety, fear, and/or
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* Late afternoon is also a period of a natural drop in
blood sugar that could lead to agitated behavior.
What Can You Do About It?
* Exposure to bright light during the day.
Playing quiet, soothing music during the
sundowning period—music previously enjoyed by the individual.
* Increasing the light in the environment.
* Offering a late afternoon snack containing some
protein.
* Minimizing sensory input— creating a calm, soothing
environment.
* Minimizing expectations of the person with dementia.
Low doses of anti-anxiety medication may
also be helpful.
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2641 Cottage Way, #4
Sacramento, CA. 95825
OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Alzheimer’s Aid Society
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
AUBURN, CA.
No. 25
PAID
US POSTAGE
NON PROFIT ORG