T I HE

THE INTERMISSIONS INFORMER
C h a r l e s t o w n R et i r e m e n t C o m m u n i t y
Volume 3, Issue 11
November 2014
Inside:
Intermissions
Moments
2
Caregiver’s
Corner
3
November
Calendar
4
The Facts About
Intermissions:
Coming in November
November will be an exciting opportunity to try out new activities and revisit our
old favorites. We’ll spend some time talking
about the history of Thanksgiving and work
on some activities that remind us of all the
things for which we should be thankful.
One of our volunteers, Annette, started a new exercise program that is going over
very well so far. Annette and I are working
together to make sure the program is suitable
for all activity levels. It’s important to remember that even though we all have different
degrees of physical fitness, it won’t stop us
from movin’ to the music!
As a reminder, we will not be having
Intermissions on Thursday, November 27th.
We will resume our normal schedule on Friday November 28th. If you would like for
your loved one to come on a different day
that week, we will do our best to accommodate your requests. We hope that you and
family have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
 Intermissions enriches
lives
fort, success and wellbeing for participants.
ance and respite for caregivers.
Come and get to know us
and leave your worries on
the doorstep.
Residents:
Muriel Hartge
Mat Merker & Charmin
Eugene & Charlotte Langbehn
Annette McDaniels
Nancy Hollenbach & Bebe
Barbara Walker
Staff:
Mary Evans
Rose Sands
Martin Buker
Judi Welsh
Natosha Bomgardner
Christopher Rudolf
Linda Armstrong
Suzanne Dillman
Sara Kidd
Other Volunteers:
Dr. Bev Hall
 Intermissions is: joy, com-
 Intermissions is: reassur-
Our most heartfelt thanks go
out to the following
volunteers, who shared their
gifts with us last month.
We are truly grateful!
If you have any questions about your loved
one’s involvement in Intermissions, please
contact me and I will be happy to update
you!
For more information about
enrolling or volunteering,
contact Kayleigh Reese,
Intermissions Program
Coordinator, at 443-297-3500
or
Kayleigh.Reese@erickson.com
Page 2
The Intermissions Informer
October Intermissions Moments
In October, we had a sensory program that allowed us to enjoy
all the beauty fall has to offer right in the comfort of our room.
In addition to reminiscing about all the fun things to do in the
fall, we had the chance to sample flavors of 5 different apples.
Even though we couldn’t pick a definite favorite, it was a tasty
and healthy way to enjoy the crisp bounty of fall!
A special thank you to Barbara Walker
for coming by and showing us a video of
her trip to Morocco! We were delighted
by the sights, sounds and beautiful artwork of the country. It’s wonderful for us
to experience all that culture without
even having to get on a plane!
Maureen’s Moment
Intermissions is Movin To The Music! Edgewood resident,
Annette McDaniels, has been tickling the ivories for our
group on Fridays. However, recently she has been trying out a “movin
to the music” program with us. On Tuesdays, she leads the group in
rhythmic stretching and movement. We warm up to slow music such
as the Tennessee Waltz or church hymns. She then picks up the tempo
with patriotic or dance music. While safely seated or standing, depending on the preference of the individual, we sway, clap, march and
stretch. We cool down with slower music. Before we realize it, a half
hour has flown by and our exercise session is complete. Indeed, “time
flies when you are having fun”! Thank you Annette for getting us moving!
Volume 3, Issue 11
Page 3
Caregiver’s Corner
Me and My Alzheimer's Shadow (Part II)
By: Carole B. Larkin
The one who takes care of them day in and day out is their light against the darkness of fear.
It is totally understandable that the person with dementia would want to stay as close as possible to
the person who provides safety. What is the caregiver to do to keep from going crazy from this behavior? The answer is a two part process.
1. Address the underlying emotion of fear by constantly repeating to your loved one all day, every
day, like a mantra. I love you. You are safe. Everything is OK or Everything will be OK. Those
words exactly. No more No less. Repeat them so often that even your loved one with dementia can
repeat them with you. Eventually those words will become embedded in them, and just hearing those
words will flood the person with relief, and comfort.
2. Refocus (distract) your loved one with something that will make them concentrate on the thing
you put in front of them instead of their fear and/or locating their protector (you!). Bob uses the parrots. You need to find something for you to use to redirect their attention off of their internal fear and
onto something outside themselves.
Something either visual or physical usually works best, but whatever engages the attention of your
loved one for at least a short period of time will do.
Examples are folding things like towels, napkins, or pants. Counting things or organizing objects like
coins, nuts and bolts, or buttons. Holding something like a squeeze ball or brightly colored scarf (for
those further along). Looking at a group of favorite pictures or a favorite book, or something that
holds their interest for a few minutes. You know what it is for your loved one.
When you need a bathroom break, or something similar, try this.
Buy or get out an egg timer. Set your loved one at the kitchen table with something in their hands
like a napkin or a book. Put the egg timer directly in front of them where they can see it. Determine
how much time you think you’ll need to take care of business and set the clock for that amount of
time. A minute or two longer works best. Tell your loved one that you are going to the bathroom,
and that you’ll be back when the bell rings. Their job is to watch the clock. Say no more or no less.
Set the timer and go!
Make sure that you are back by the time the timer rings. You need to have your loved one trust you,
so no dawdling! When you come back you say "See I’m here when I said I would be", or if you are
early, say “See, I’m here even before I said that I’d be back”.
Information obtained from:
http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2014/07/Alzheimers-Shadowing-Me.html
If you have any questions
about the activities listed,
please call Kayleigh at
443-297-3500.
Tuesday-Friday
9:30am– 2:30pm
Intermissions is held in
Caton Ridge 302
12:00– Lunch
11:45– Sitting Fitness
10:30– This Day in
History
10:00– Good News
Stories
9:30– Coffee Chat
(Except where noted)
Daily Activities