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Tap Into Creativity Tap into Creativity In honor of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is highlighting the arts as a way to promote positive brain activity and generate connections with your loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Although studies on art’s effects on the brain are limited, we recognize research which suggests that artistic engagement can help families connect with their loved one and may help to ease common behavioral symptoms of dementia like anxiety, agitation and depression.

Whether you tap into creativity through music, art expression, art therapy or music therapy, the arts can be a powerful tool to help you engage your loved one in activities, as long as you consider a personcentered care approach. Person-centered care is founded on an interactive process, in which people with dementia are active participants in their own care throughout the various stages of the disease and family members play a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of their relative.

Take a moment to reflect and ask yourself some questions about your loved one’s preferences, or

their past preferences. What are the types of music that they enjoy? Do they enjoy painting or going to a museum? Do they enjoy ballet, other types of dance?

Determining their personal likes and dislikes will help you identify what types of activities to engage in with them.

This issue covers many of these topics and goes more in depth, sharing people’s personal stories to evidence-based research about the benefits of art on the brain. Please enjoy this publication, refer to it often, or pass it on to a neighbor or loved one in need. Feel free to call us with questions. We are here to help. Spread the word about Alzheimer’s and our support by using #ENDALZ on social media! Visit alz.org/cacentralcoast to learn more.

Sincerely, Donna Beal, MPH, MCHES Vice President, Program Services Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter www.alz.org/cacentralcoast 24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-272-3900

Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter 2020 Events 2 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

ALZHEIMER’S & BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH® The Longest Day® June 2020

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S® Santa Maria Saturday, October 3 Oxnard Saturday, September 26 San Luis Obispo Saturday, October 31

Westlake Village Saturday, October 31 Santa Barbara Saturday, November 7

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Tap Into Creativity Amazing benefits to seniors having pets

4 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

Pets bring much joy to the lives they touch. So it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey, which was conducted by the American Pet Products Association, found that about 85 million families in the United States own a pet. In Canada, 7.5 million households are home to companion animals, states the PetBacker blog.

Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors may find that having a pet is especially beneficial. The organization A Place for Mom, which helps match families with senior living residences, says pets provide a comfort system that produces measurable health results. Caring for pets and being around them can produce a chemical chain reaction in the brain that may help

to lower stress hormones while also increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin.

This is not the only health benefit pets may provide. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic, which looked at 1,800 people between the ages of 25 and 64 who had healthy hearts, found that almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely to spur heart-healthy behaviors, like exercising with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels.

Pets also provide emotional support and companionship that can help seniors — including those who may be divorced or widowed — feel more secure and happy. The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that, among respondents who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets made

them feel loved.

Seniors considering getting a pet can explore the many benefits to doing so.

• Reduce pain: A 2012 study published in Pain Magazine found therapy dogs provided “significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.”

• Feeling of purpose: Caring for an animal not only stimulates physical activity, but it also can give seniors a reason to get up and go, which equates to a feeling of purpose.

• Altered focus: Having a pet can help seniors focus on something other than physical or mental health issues and preoccupations about loss or aging, according to New Yorkbased psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld.

• Increased physical activity: Pets require care, and that in-

teraction can get seniors moving more than if they didn’t have a pet.

• Improved health: Ongoing research from Harvard Medical School has found dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t own a dog.

• Stick to routine: Caring for pets helps seniors maintain a

routine. Having structure after retirement can be important to ward off risk of depression. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive decline.

Pets bring many benefits to their owners’ lives, and they may be the perfect remedy for seniors looking for a friend and purpose.

Central Coast Senior Living Community heroes bring hope for Alzheimer’s

By Janelle L’Heureux groups. “Group attendees form bonds and they are each other’s support systems,” she said.

“They laugh and cry together, and during challenging times is when they need each other most.

Joe Wheatley is a support group facilitator in Santa Barbara county who has been volunteering for over fifteen years, and he continues to serve by hosting virtual meetings with his groups.

“I am able to provide a place of caring, sensitivity and freedom to share the most intimate and challenging stories of their troubled lives,” Joe said. “There is tremendous value in these encounters. The groups learn to talk freely and create bonds with others that are experiencing the same pain. It is a very powerful and humbling experience for us all.”

Wynette Winkler, Senior Financial Manager of the College of Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, dedicates her free time to both Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Association. She first got connected with the Alzheimer’s Association as a support group participant herself when her dad had vascular dementia; she now leads her own support group for adult children of aging parents.

“The feedback I’ve gotten from participants is very positive,” Wynette said. “These groups really benefit from having a safe space to talk about their needs, particularly with others in the Alzheimer’s realm who understand and can relate during these times.”

While virtual formats don’t entirely replace the in-person groups, shifting to online plat-

forms has created the opportunity for a wider audience to join by allowing people to attend without having to leave their home.

“Change isn’t always bad; I think it can be good, especially in these scary times right now,” Wynette said. “I’m hopeful that with this change, in the long-run we can reach more people rather than less.”

Gretel Reece is a new volunteer educator recruit who finished up her training right in the midst of this change. She first connected with the Alzheimer’s Association a few years ago when her mother-in-law was diagnosed, and she began attending groups to learn more about the disease and how it progresses. While originally anticipating teaching classes in person, in addition to her work of teaching senior exercises at various places like Oasis and Magnolia & Primrose Care Homes, Gretel has now shifted her mindset to prepare for these online platforms. Although this reality is different than what was planned for, she feels ready to provide resources and share much-needed information about Alzheimer’s and dementia in any way she can.

Gary Gross, Community Relations Director at Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria, has also been part of the transition to facilitating online. Gary has been a caregiver support group facilitator for the past eight years, though he also has his hands in other volunteering opportunities with the organization.

Free support and education programs are one of the biggest ways that the Alzheimer’s

Don Bock

Gary Gross

Association serves its local community, and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of its facilitators. Yet another huge contributing factor is the support of those who fundraise for the cause by participating in The Longest Day®, a DIY event surrounding the summer solstice, or the Walk to End Alzheimer’s®.

The funds that are donated allows the organization to offer programs to its constituents at no cost.

Gary has been the volunteer chairperson for the Santa Maria Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the past 12 years. Thanks to Gary’s leadership and fellow leaders, this Walk has raised over $600,000 for the local chapter.

He was also a participant in The Longest Day, where he hosted a “Ride to Remember” fundraiser incorporating his passion for motorcycle riding.

Val Ferrero, who lost her husband to Alzheimer’s disease, raised over $1,200 in just two days after setting up her fundraiser for this year’s San Luis Obispo Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Val shares a heart-felt message on her fundraising page: “This year, we’re facing many new challenges in all parts of our daily lives…Alzheimer’s doesn’t recognize, care, or stop for any reason. It doesn’t give any consideration to a pandemic…

This is my fourth Alzheimer’s Walk since losing Lee to this devastating disease. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not reminded in some way of his courageous battle...I support this Walk every year not only to honor Lee, but to help the more than 7,000 residents in our county and their families fighting the same battle.”

Even in times of trouble and uncertainty, there is a light in the positive change that is being made and the lives that are being supported each and every day through the work of volunteers.

For a current schedule of support groups and education classes, visit alz.org/cacentralcoast/helping_you, or learn more about fundraising events at alz.org/tld or alz.org/walk.

Central Coast Senior Living | June 2020 | 5

In California, there are 690,000 people aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to 1.624 million caregivers. Yet for the vast numbers of those affected by this devastating disease, both directly and indirectly, there is a myriad of community members rising up to help bring strength, perseverance and hope.

Amid the unforeseen circumstances surrounding COVID-19, when the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers cannot be put on hold, local volunteers are overcoming varying obstacles and remain committed to their mission to serve throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.

Program facilitators of the Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter worked quickly to make the shift from in-person meetings to virtual platforms as soon as the stay-at-home order was issued. While the transition presented unfamiliar territories for some, the ability to continue providing support to those in need during such a difficult and unprecedented time remained the priority.

“I am so pleased that we are still able to connect with one another during this dynamic time,” said Jenny Molinar, owner of GuidedAging. “Participants are happy to know that they have not been forgotten about, and I think there is an increased need for an outlet right now.”

Jenny has been volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association since 2006 and currently facilitates two caregiver support

Tap Into Creativity There is no such place as far away

By Molly Kehoe, MSW What is long-distance caregiving? Perhaps it is helping your aunt sort through her medical bills or making the most of a weekend visit with a parent to help with chores.

It can include trying to relieve the pressure from a sibling who lives locally and regularly helps your parents, or it can be checking references of in-home help that has been hired to support a grandparent.

If you live an hour or more away from a person who needs your care, you can think of yourself as a longdistance caregiver.

Long-distance caregiving describes as many as seven million people in the United States. There are many common factors that families face when caring for their loved ones from afar.

One family’s story of recent circumstances shares some of these factors, as well as what they did

to overcome these obstacles. This family of long-distance caregivers began to realize that their loved one was having several difficulties. The house had an odor when they arrived, and they discovered the refrigerator was full of spoiled food.

Both the freezer and pantry also needed to be emptied of old, expired items. In response, the family hired a local caregiver to help with shopping and meal organization, and they ordered home-delivered lunches. Soon after came the realization that medications were not being taken as prescribed and showering was difficult. They purchased a medication box and tub transfer bench and began training their loved one on proper use.

During this time, the family also attended a Family Caregiver Support Program. As this story shows, there may be added difficulties to taking care of a loved one from far

2020 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of death in the United States

More than

6 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

5 million

Americans are living with Alzheimer’s

50 %

of primary care physicians believe the medical profession is not ready for the growing number of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias

16 million

1 in 3

seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined

In 2020, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $305 billion—By 2050, these costs could rise as high as

$1.1 trillion

© 2020 Alzheimer's Association® | All Rights Reserved | Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias

These caregivers provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours valued at nearly

$244 billion Between 2000 and 2018 deaths from heart disease have decreased

7.8

%

$

while deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased

146

%

away, yet there are also solutions and resources to ensure proper, ongoing care.

Following are some additional tips and tools that may be helpful for long-distance caregivers: Get organized: The more knowledgeable you are about your loved one’s diagnosis, medication and local resources, the better. Keep medical and financial information up-to-date, and make sure at least one family member has written permission to receive this information from medical professionals providing treatment.

Stay in touch: Long-distance caregiving is an ever-expanding job. What may start out as an occasional social phone call to share family news might eventually turn into regular phone calls that are focused on managing household bills, getting medical information and arranging for food delivery. As a long-distance caregiver, you may need to coordinate many moving parts. Whether with informal caregivers (family and neighbors) or with professional home health aides and services, set aside time to regularly discuss the needs of both the person living with dementia and his or her hands-on caregivers.

If your loved one lives at a residential care facility, set up a regular time with the managing nurse or physician to get updates; maintain ongoing communication with care staff and friends who visit regularly.

Gather a list of friends and neighbors: One of the biggest challenges in long-distance caregiving is identifying the indications that your support or help is actually needed. Not realizing there is a problem or not wanting to worry you, your loved one may sound fine on the phone. It is important to ask local friends and relatives to check in and listen to his or her reports— they may notice that there is no food in the refrigerator or that food is uneaten and spoiling. Other indicators include the trash never being taken out or seeing dings and dents on the car. Check in regularly with neighbors, friends or doctors to see if they have new concerns or

recommendations.

Plan your visits: Plan to spend vacation time with your loved one.

Make a list of things to accomplish for each visit: i.e. doctor appointments, banking, cleaning out the refrigerator, replenishing supplies, organizing a messy closet or pantry, adapting the environment to meet your loved one’s changing needs, or simply give some respite to a primary caregiver. It helps to talk to your loved one ahead of time and find out what he or she might need, or check in with the primary caregiver to learn what caregiving responsibilities you can take on while you are in town. There may not be enough time for you to get all the issues resolved, but you can try to tackle the essentials first.

Home safety suggestions: Visit the home safety checklist at ALZ. ORG/SAFETY, and ask the following questions: Are the stairs manageable? Are there handrails? Is a ramp necessary? Is the bathroom easily used? Are there grab-bars for the toilet and shower? Do they need a raised toilet seat or a shower chair? Are there tripping hazards, such as clutter, exposed electrical cords, or throw rugs? Are house repairs needed? Are there burnedout bulbs to be replaced? Is there adequate lighting in the house? Are there night lights? Is there food in the fridge and staple foods in the cupboard? Are bills being paid? Is mail piling up? Is the house clean?

Are they wandering? Do you need to provide in-home care?

Communicate clearly: When you don’t see your loved one often, changes in his or her condition may seem all the more dramatic. It is likely that the primary caregiver may not notice changes as much, which can be a barrier to meeting needs. This is a time to encourage the caregiver or your loved one to get more help.

Try to communicate your concerns to your loved one before you make arrangements for the changes you recommend. Try not to sound critical, but instead express your particular worry: “It looks like you don’t have much food in the house—are you having trouble get-

ting to the store?” Listen carefully to the answers and explanations; then discuss what you think could be done: “Would you like me to arrange for groceries to be delivered on a regular basis?”

In some cases, particularly when it comes to safety, you may have to be a little more forceful. You must never leave a frail adult at risk, even if you have to act against his or her wishes; nonetheless, do discuss your plan with him or her and explain why you are taking action.

Expect to increase the frequency of your trips: As your loved one’s dementia increases, so will the need for your ongoing involvement in his or her care. Plan to travel more frequently, and plan to implement changes appropriate to each step of his or her decline.

With all these overwhelming tasks that need to be tended to, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Pace yourself for each visit, and while you are there, remember to spend some time visiting. Participate in activities with your loved one, something special that you both may enjoy.

Focus on self-care: Being far away does not make you immune from feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by what is happening to your loved one. Many caregivers find that worrying about taking time off work, being away from family, or the cost of travel may increase feelings of frustration.

When you don’t live where care is needed, it may be especially hard to feel that what you are doing is enough and that what you are doing is important. Resist the feelings of guilt, and remember that everything you do to help is important!

Dignity Health Central Coast has a Family Caregiver Support Program, which caregivers find to be extremely supportive and useful.

This program offers caregivers near and far the opportunity to talk with a social worker, explore emotions and needs, and become linked with resources to support the caregiver and the care receiver. Contact the Family Caregiver Support Program at 805-332-8590 or molly.kehoe@ dignityhealth.org.

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Tap Into Creativity Music memory

By Margaret Weiss, MPH, MCHES Music brought my mother and father together. He was a violinist, new to California, looking for a pianist to accompany him. She was a pianist, able to tackle the challenge he presented, the Sonata in A composed by César Franck. Learning to play that duet was the beginning of their long life together.

Music was always present. Mom finished her degree in piano. Dad got his credential and taught music. They sang, played violin and piano, listened to records, and went to concerts. They trained my siblings and I in classical music and (slowly) came to accept our different preferences as we drifted toward folk, blues and jazz. Over the years, the recording of the Franck Sonata was a special gift, given for weddings along with the story of how Mom and Dad met.

Seventy-five years after first playing the Franck Sonata together, Dad was gone and Mom was at the end of late stage

dementia. She spoke very little; she had forgotten how to walk and how to swallow. Her brain was losing the most basic memories, even how to breath. I noticed that the caregivers put music on for mom and it was usually a nice time for both of them. I put on the Franck Sonata. Mom seemed to be listening, so I asked if she remembered it and she responded quietly, “uh-huh.” I wasn’t sure what that meant.

A moment later she grumbled and then she spoke. “They always play this part too fast.” It was exactly the kind of critique she would have made in years past, a true moment of clarity, triggered by a favorite piece of music and a deeply embedded memory.

Mom died two days later. I like to think that listening to the Franck Sonata together was important to her. It was important to me and left me with one last music memory with my mom.

Music is a wonderful device to help

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trigger memories and create special moments, just as Margaret shared with her mother. People all over the world, in all stages of life, have the same capacity to experience this personal, emotional connection between music and life’s most important moments.

In March, the Alzheimer’s Association released Music Moments, a collection of new recordings and unreleased tracks by award-winning artists created to champion the fight for a world without Alzheimer’s disease and honor these special moments surrounding music.

Ten talented artists brought their unique musical style and perspective to Music Moments by contributing a never-before-released version of a song that captures a special time in their lives.

Each track is paired with a poignant and revealing video of the artist recounting their selected song’s significance and how they use music as a way to tell that story.

Sting, one of the world’s most iconic and celebrated musicians, is among the artists participating in the project. The 17-time GRAMMY Award winner chose to share his rendition of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay”, originally recorded by the late Otis Redding. As Sting explains, the song perfectly captures a pivotal moment during his adolescence when he realized that, much like the ships coming and going from the river nearby, he would have to leave his hometown in order to chase his dreams of becoming a musician. In its entirety, the album features 10 different

acts, each laying a newly recorded track with great personal significance: Anthony Hamilton (“Stand By Me” originally by Ben E. King) Band of Horses (“Annie” originally by Peter Townshend & Ronnie Lane) Brett Eldredge (new version of his track “Raymond”) Jason Isbell (“Hello in There” originally

by John Prine) Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (a new acoustic version of her track “Hard to Grow Up”) Lee Ann Womack (“Dreaming My Dreams With You” originally by Waylon Jennings) Nile Rodgers & CHIC (“Hey Jude” originally by The Beatles; also recorded at Abbey Road) Sharon Van Etten (“If My Love Could Kill” originally by Lucinda Williams) and The Head and the Heart (previously unreleased track “Backwards Breathing”) “The Alzheimer’s Association knows that we all have experiences with music that are significant and meaningful,” said Michael Carson, chief marketing officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “The Music Moments album, and the stories behind the songs, set the stage for sharing experiences and fueling important conversations. Ultimately, these conversations are critical to reducing stigma about Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. We are relentless in our pursuit to increase awareness and advance the cause.”

Central Coast Senior Living Using art to stimulate your brain

By Donna Beal, MPH, MCHES From the moment we are born, we start altering our brain cells by learning information. Every new thing we learn through our senses, from faces we see to skills we develop, gets processed and stored by the brain.

Neurons, the cells in the brain, grow by physically changing their shapes to connect to other cells for cataloging, organizing, storing and later retrieving all this information. Cells connections interrelate, wiring a complex system of highways for processing information called neuropathways.

Amyloidal plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease attack the brain, disrupting the neuropathways created over a lifetime of learning experiences and making it difficult for the brain to organize and utilize

information. Symptoms are noticed in the form of short-term memory loss, problems with word finding and difficulties performing familiar tasks.

Brain activity, however, does not stop here. Instead, the brain fights backs and reacts by creating new pathways, searching and finding new and creative ways to compensate for the losses caused by the disease. Information that may be lost today may be retrieved tomorrow when a new pathway in the brain is found.

Caregivers may notice this process and describe it as having either “good” and “bad” days.

The more help you can give your brain in this fight, the stronger it will be against the onset of dementia, and the better you will be in the long run.

Therefore, it is extremely im-

portant to participate in activities that nurture the formation of new brain connections. A very effective way of stimulating the brain is visiting your local museums and experiencing all forms of art. Exposure to art should be considered a powerful brain enhancer activity, especially for those in the early stages of the disease The same disease process that makes it difficult for the brain to organize information also releases its creativity. People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia are highly creative, often capable of deeply intuitive and inspiring interpretations of their surroundings. They also experience an enhanced, sometimes uncanny, ability for visual observation, capturing a multitude of details commonly

missed by most “sound” brains.

Participation in activities involving art further stimulates the already enhanced creativity and observation skills, promoting the formation of healthy neuropathways connecting memories, visual-spatial and language abilities.

Exposure to environments promoting creativity also enhances dopamine pathways of the limbic system, generating lasting feelings of wellbeing and self worth – feelings so precious to those living with dementia and their loved ones.

Scientists in the field of cognitive neurosciences (the study of human cognition), with the use of tools like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), are only now beginning to understand how art therapy works.

There is no doubt, however, that the perception and cognition of art has a positive effect psychologically and emotionally, precisely because it affects the wiring in the brain. Until a proven treatment that delays or cures Alzheimer’s disease is found, patients must use all available methods to stimulate brain activity and enhance cognition.

Consider adding a weekly trip to a local art museum or joining an art group to your strategy in fighting Alzheimer’s disease.

Your brain will benefit from the extra stimulation and you will feel these benefits translated into fewer “bad days” and more “good days.” And this may be just the edge your brain needs to keep thriving, even when confronted with this disease.

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Tap Into Creativity A Love Story

10 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

By Penny Pittman Bilow My parents were high school sweethearts and were married for over 62 years.

What a love they had.

Mom and Dad were both born and raised in Chicago, a city filled with art: breathtaking museums, sculptures and beautiful architecture. They attended the University of Illinois and discovered a great appreciation for art, especially modern art. Once they were married, they began going to art shows and galleries, acquiring different pieces that became an extensive collection of modern art filling their home.

Dad was drafted and they found themselves at Fort Ord, California. Mom and Dad fell in love with California and never left. They made their home in Los Angeles.

Their years in Los Angeles were wonderful. Dad worked for Walt Disney, designing, heating and cooling for Disneyland and Disney World. Dad left Disney and started his own design and engineering company for heating and cooling. He was successful and always loved the creative and collaborative aspect of working with amazing architects. Mom and Dad raised three amazing children and were devoted parents. They fostered a love of art in their children by frequenting museums, galleries and art shows. Their children took terrific art and music classes. When grandchildren were born, they continued their love of art with them, as well. They painted, sketched, sculpted and created many treasures with them. Three generations would experience many museums and galleries together.

Mom and Dad were both so very artistic. Mom was a great architectural photographer. She painted in oils and pastels, and she could sketch most anything. Dad was an avid sculptor. He also created amazing etchings. They traveled together to many countries, and they loved their many adventures to museums and galleries all over the world, experiencing different cultures. Mom and Dad’s love of life, family, art and music were remarkable to all who knew them. Mom and Dad were a treasure that few families are blessed with.

Dad finally decided to retire in his mid-

seventies. They moved two and a half miles from my home on the central coast, and we were thrilled for a future experiencing museums, galleries, movies, plays and many dinners together.

Seeing Mom and Dad often, I started noticing changes. Dad’s movement and reasoning were deteriorating. His voice was getting softer. Less than a year from moving here, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Four months later,

the diagnosis was changed to Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). This change in diagnosis is common in persons with LBD, as some of their symptoms are Parkinson-like.

Six months after Dad’s diagnosis, Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

They moved to an Assisted Living facility.

They lived there less than a year and we had to find a Memory Care facility for them to move into. The pain and grief was excruciating. As a caregiver, I began navigating new waters. My husband and I read multiple books on their diseases, care-

giving and grief. I joined an Alzheimer’s Association support group and took their classes, where I learned a great deal. I was grasping at whatever I could to help Mom and Dad. I realized I need to be proactive to help them where I could and enrich the life they had, to help them find connection and meaning, right where they are.

Music and art is an important and meaningful way to foster these connections. I’ve learned that exposure to art

of their large collection, and we would look at the different beautiful photos and talk about the artist and the painting.

Once Dad wasn’t able to verbally contribute, I would read to them and give them my commentary. When I would come to a certain artist or painting, Dad’s face would light up and smile broadly. Mom and Dad’s art was hung in a great room with other residents, and Mom would always show me their pieces and critique them!

As the diseases of dementia progress, its very important to amend the activities to accommodate the patient’s level of ability. For instance, building puzzles with larger pieces and offering assistance, or using coloring books for all ages with colored pencils or crayons. There will come a time when their connection with art and music will be very different from what it used to be. Play the music they enjoy. Talk about art. Find documentaries about famous artists and famous museums. We shared photos of people they loved. I would tell them about their adventures shown in the photo—adventures to Canada, England, France, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Mexico, almost too many to remember.

I believe they had less “bad” days because of our attempts to stimulate, connect and feed them with art. Dad was nonverbal in his late stage, but he would smile and loved to hold hands.

Mom loved holding hands too, and she told many stories about her childhood.

She wasn’t nonverbal until her very last week. They loved affection.

Mom and Dad are gone now. Dad passed the end of May 2019, three years can be a powerful brain enhancer, espeafter his diagnosis, and Mom passed the cially in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s end of January 2020, not quite four years and other dementias. after hers. Other than raising our sons toIn their memory care facility, my pargether, my biggest honor in life has been ents had arts and crafts activities. Mom taking care of Mom and Dad during their enjoyed them, while Dad said they were late stages, every day for four years. Our “juvenile.” So I decided to find new ways house is full of many of their art pieces. of connection and enjoyment for them.

We can’t walk very far before looking at a I brought sketch books, pads, pencils, pastels and charcoal. I tried sculpting and piece of their art and seeing them, feeling them. Our hearts are hurting so, but our modeling clay and jigsaw puzzles. They memories are huge and packed with a painted with an easel. We tried Legos. loving legacy.

Then, I brought art books that were part

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Central Coast Senior Living | June 2020 | 11

Tap Into Creativity The fear of falling

Healthy eating options for seniors

12 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

By Joyce Ellen Lippman, Area Agency on Aging When asked, seniors report that the fear of falling or having an accident is a top concern.

Specifically, falling was identified as the number one concern among the 1,050 respondents to a recent Elder Needs assessment conducted by the Area Agency on Aging. This fear is real and understood, as falling can have detrimental results.

Of course, not all falls result in injuries. According to the CDC, about 20 percent of falls cause a serious injury such as broken bones or head trauma. Such results consequently affect the everyday activities of an older person. Frankly, many people who fall, even if they are not injured, become afraid of falling.

And this fear may have longterm serious implications for independent living. It may cause a person to become less active.

And when a person is less active, they can become weaker, which actually increases the chance of a fall.

Let’s look at preventing falls and staying active. First, chat with your doctor and other health care professionals in your life. Ask for a fall risk assessment. Ask your pharmacist to review your medications, including the over-the-counter meds. Have your eyes checked annually and be sure your eyeglass prescription is up to date.

Next, consider doing strength and balance exercises. Of course, check with your MD and proceed with caution. If it helps, don’t use the word exercise; instead use the word activity. Being active will make your legs stronger,

improve your balance, and so much more. There are lots of free exercise programs available in town, as well as all many that you can find on the internet. You can find specific recommendations from your senior center or public health department.

Finally, make your home safer.

Use a checklist to review your home environment for obstacles, barriers and unsafe conditions.

Items on a checklist, available from this Area Agency on Aging, include: entrance to the home, living areas, kitchen, hall and stairs, bathroom, bedroom, lighting and our habits. After completing the checklist, you are ready to develop a plan to address the hazards identified.

One action step in your plan may be to consider home modifications or repairs. Locally, there are programs to help with minor home repairs that are free of charge for older people. Of course, these publicly funded programs have limitations. Call and find out if they can help with your plan to make your home safer.

Moreover, the State of California recently funded the Area Agencies on Aging with onetime only monies to expand local fall prevention activities.

This was the result of legislation introduced by State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson. To find out more about these programs and other resources, contact Senior Connection, a specialized information and referral service for seniors and family caregiver, at 1-805-929-2552.

“Let food be thy medicine” is a quote attributed to Hippocrates, the ancient scholar considered to be the father of modern medicine. The saying relates to the notion that what people put in their bodies can heal and/or prevent certain conditions.

For seniors with medicine cabinets full of overthe-counter and prescription medications, the idea of relying predominantly on food to promote optimal health may be tempting, and various foods can be particularly useful to the 50-and-over demographic.

According to the World Health Organization, poor diet is a major contributor to many of the diseases that affect older people. Poor diet has been connected to the development of diabetes, and degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis also may be linked to the foods ones eat. The National Council for Aging Care says micronutrient deficiency is often a problem among the aging due to factors like lack of variety in diet and reduced food intake. Eating a variety of foods can provide all of the nutrients people need to stay healthy as they get older. Certain foods may be particularly helpful.

• Brain-friendly foods: Foods such as avocado, leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, blueberries, and salmon are good sources of vitamin E, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients that may help ward off dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, advises Sonas Home Health Care.

• Anti-inflammatory foods: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent inflammation that can cause cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Aging.com says foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, should be consumed at

least twice per week.

• Fruits and vegetables: Fresh, canned or frozen produce tend to be high in micronutrients, including a variety of important vitamins that are essential for all components of health. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises eating dark green vegetables, such as leafy greens or broccoli, and orange vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes.

• Energy-boosters: Choose whole grains that can provide sustained energy by way of healthy carbohydrates over processed grains.

• Bone-friendly foods: Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, can prevent calcium from being leached from the bones, which contributes to conditions like osteoporosis.

• Digestive system-friendly foods: The digestive system slows down as the body ages, as the walls of the gastrointestinal tract thicken and digestive contractions that push waste along may slow down and become fewer. Foods rich in fiber can promote proper digestion by moving food through the digestive tract mor easily. High-fiber foods also may help naturally reduce blood cholesterol levels.

• High-iron foods: Without enough iron in the body, a person may feel tired and lethargic from a reduced production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. A lack of oxygen in body tissues from anemia can be serious, says the National Council for Aging Care. Tofu, spinach, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and fortified breads and cereals are high in iron.

Smart food choices can help seniors live long and healthy lives.

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Central Coast Senior Living Urge Congress to protect and enhance resources for vulnerable populations

By Leigh Cashman, Ambassador my father finally had a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), it was almost a relief. There was still nowhere to turn in the medical field, and the only help given to us at the time was through the Alzheimer’s Association, with their resources and 24/7 Helpline. Once we gained access to support and assistance, we were able to get our financial and care plans in order; I built a strategic map of what needed to be done for Dad and how to help Mom. We sold their home and moved them in to a retirement community that had a Memory Care unit. Dad lived another couple years in a very comfortable home, and Mom was secure. While I can’t help my father now, I know can make a difference for our generation and those to come by being an advocate. As an advocate, I’m speaking out for the necessary funding dollars needed to fight this disease and provide better support to families, as the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (S.880/H.R.1873) will do. It will increase the use of the care planning benefits in order to help more families by educating clinicians on the Alzheimer’s and dementia care planning services available through Medicare.

I never thought I could make a huge difference, but I was wrong. Every member of our Congress has a voice and a vote; therefore, it is very important to have these discussions with them and with those efforts, comes reward. We are moving closer to a cure.

As an individual impacted by this disease, I would like to thank Congress member Salud Carbajal, local Assembly member Monique Limon, and Senator Hannah Beth Jackson for their incredible support and commitment to Alzheimer’s issues. I am proud that our member of Congress has supported legislation that is critical to fighting Alzheimer’s disease.

I invite you to join the millions of advocates working tirelessly to make Alzheimer’s disease a national priority. Stand up for the families in our community by visiting www.ALZ.org to become an advocate and help beat Alzheimer’s. Please take action and urge your members to support provisions: https://p2a.co/PX1YzKB

Encourage elected officials to take action.

Receive updates about current legislative and public policy issues.

Participate in advocacy events in your area.

Sign up at alz.org/advocate.

Central Coast Senior Living | June 2020 | 15

As one of the thousands of Alzheimer’s advocates that go to Washington DC and Sacramento every spring, I am sad to say that this year, with the COVID-19 virus, we have had to regroup and our priorities are ever-changing. Alzheimer’s and dementia do not go away in these circumstances; if anything, times are even more critical and difficult for all those affected by the disease, whether you are a caregiver or a patient. We realize that and need to stay focused on what is the most pressing need for those living with the disease. Our conversations with Congress members have gone virtual, and there are issues we never anticipated that have now surfaced. Our funding ask for research dollars through the National Institute of Health is the same, and that should remain constant. In terms of bills, however, there are pressing issues that we face with seniors: elder abuse at home and in nursing care homes, lack of help for caregivers that are isolated with their loved one with dementia, families that do not have any direction from their doctors, and people faced with no in-home caregiving while they are still working or homeschooling their children remotely. That is why we are promoting the Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act, which requires the Department of Justice to develop training materials to assist professionals who support victims of abuse living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The goal is to improve the quality of their interactions with this vulnerable population and help protect them from elder abuse.

I am passionate about this act, which is tied to my own personal connection and history with so many of these issues. My mother and I spent close to eight years trying to navigate through my dad’s bizarre symptoms, looking for treatments, testing and programs, all to no avail. We finally came to a realization that he likely had dementia, but there was no direction or treatment available. All doctors visits were a guessing game, which led to yet another doctor or specialist. There was never a formal diagnosis given at that time, no care plan or advice. It was mentally and physically taxing and draining for my mother, and it was heartbreaking for me to watch my parents go through it all. Once

USE YOUR VOICE AS AN ALZHEIMER’S ADVOCATE.

Tap Into Creativity Golfing in the era of social distancing

Research Breakthroughs: New gene information, approved testing tools and new meds

16 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

By Donna Beal, MPH, MCHES

Golfers enthusiastically look forward to the day when their favorite courses reopen to players each year. That anticipation was even greater in 2020, when social distancing measures forced many courses to stay closed even as the weather warmed up.

Thankfully for golfers, golf courses were among the first businesses given the green light to reopen as governments began to lift restrictions.

Golfing in the era of social distancing may not be quite the same as it was prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, but golfers can still have fun as they hit the links. That’s especially true when they take steps to understand just what it means to golf while social distancing prior to teeing off.

• Assess your personal health before going to the golf course. Golf attracts athletes from all age groups, including some that are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, age is a risk factor for COVID-19, as older adults are more vulnerable to severe illness if they are infected with the virus than younger adults. Social distancing requires a collective effort on the part of everyone to keep vulnerable people safe, and golfers are no exception. Golfers young and old who are under the weather or experiencing even mild symptoms of COVID-19 should avoid golf courses until they feel better. In addition, young golfers can choose tee times when they’re less likely to come into contact with older golfers.

Early morning tee times tend to be popular among older golfers, but speak with staff at the course to see if they have rules in place to safeguard older golfers. If they do,

respect those rules. If they don’t, work with staff to choose a tee time when you’re less likely to be around older golfers.

• Disinfect clubs before or after playing.

Disinfecting clubs and other equipment before and after playing is a simple measure that can reduce golfers’ risk of getting the virus or spreading it if they have it but are asymptomatic. Simply wipe down clubs and other equipment with disinfectant or an alcohol-based cleanser that is at least 60 percent alcohol. If playing with a friend, resist the urge to share clubs, no matter how tempting it may be to take your playing partner’s new driver for a spin on the first hole.

• Refuse valet service. Many courses have temporarily stopped offering valet services to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Golfers who visit a club that is not taking such precautions can opt to refuse the service. Doing so decreases the risk of getting or spreading the virus by limiting the number of people with whom you come into direct contact.

• Pack supplies. Contact the course in advance to determine if the dining room is open and if the course is providing hand sanitizer at each tee. At-risk golfers may want to skip dining at the course after their round is over, opting to pack their own lunch or eat when they arrive home after playing. If the course is not offering hand sanitizer at each hole, pack your own as an extra precaution.

Golfing in the era of social distancing may be different, but there’s no reason golfers cannot still enjoy a summer on the links.

Alzheimer’s disease, the only leading cause of death that has yet to be cured, continues to grow in the number of individuals afflicted with an estimated 5.7 million currently living with the disease. As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research, the Alzheimer’s Association is committed to accelerating the global effort to eliminate Alzheimer’s.

This is a very exciting time in Alzheimer’s disease research. Tremendous gains have been made in understanding the basic biology underlying Alzheimer’s disease—including how brain cells work and what goes wrong in Alzheimer’s. We have also learned more about genes and how those play a role in the development of dementia. Research from Stanford University School of Medicine suggests a substantial fraction of individuals carrying the APOE-e4 gene variant may be protected to some degree from Alzheimer’s disease by a variant of another gene for a protein called “Klotho.” This research suggests that a substantial fraction of the 15% of Americans who carry the APOE-e4 gene variant, which is known to increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease, may be protected from the disease by the variant of another gene for a protein called Klotho. While promising, research into Klotho is very preliminary.

Additionally, we are making great strides in developing new technologies to detect Alzheimer’s earlier. For example, using advanced imaging (such as PET scans), we can now see Alzheimer’s-related changes in living people up to 20 years before clinical symptoms of cognitive decline. On May 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tauvid, an imaging agent used for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of tau pathology in the brains of individuals with suspected Alzheimer’s dementia.

Tauvid is approved to estimate the density and distribution of tau neurofibrillary tangles.

It does not diagnose Alzheimer’s dementia, but it is the first imaging agent approved to measure tau tangles with a PET scan. In general, research has found that tau buildup more closely correlates with cognitive decline than does amyloid buildup. Tau and beta-amyloid levels can now be measured in living individuals by analyzing samples of cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain, and by using

positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Recently, Acadia Pharmaceuticals announced data from its HARMONY clinical trial testing pimavanserin as a treatment for dementia-related psychosis. Pimavanserin is FDA approved for people experiencing psychosis who are living with Parkinson’s Disease, and this study aims to expand the use of this therapy in individuals living with dementia-related psychosis, including Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal, Lewy body, and vascular dementia. Psychosis is the disruption of thoughts and perceptions that make it difficult to recognize what’s real and what isn’t. Psychosis poses a great challenge for people with dementia and their caregivers. Researchers estimate more than one in four people with Alzheimer’s disease experience hallucinations as a result of psychosis.

People with dementia may experience hallucinations (false sensory perceptions) and delusions (state of altered reality). These symptoms occur more often in the later stages of the disease and can make living with and providing care for people with dementia more challenging and stressful. They also can reduce cognition even further in the person with dementia, and they can increase the cost of care due to the need for more doctor visits, more drugs, and more hospitalization.

Pimavanserin reduced risk of psychotic relapse by 2.8 fold. The Phase 3 HARMONY study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled relapse prevention study of 392 patients evaluating pimavanserin and placebo for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis.

There is an urgent need for more tools for clinicians to provide better care and treatment for people living with Alzheimer’s and all dementia today, while research continues for a cure. There is a critical need for safe and effective treatments for dementia-related psychosis because currently, there are no FDA approved treatments for dementia-related psychosis.

Research is the primary force that will one day find a cure or prevention to this disease, and the most successful way to continue this advance is through advocacy and public policy. These successful milestones in funding and awareness are essential to achieving our goal of a world without Alzheimer’s.

Central Coast Senior Living Music therapy enhancing cognition

By Dana Norris While researchers from around the world work to find new ways to treat Alzheimer’s and explore preventative measures of the disease, those facing the reality of a life affected by dementia must make good use of all available tools to address the cognitive and emotional symptoms of the condition. One important such tool is music.

Many Alzheimer’s patients can remember and sing songs even in advanced stages, long after they’ve stopped recognizing names and faces.

Dementia care homes often use music as recreation, since it brings patients pleasure. Yet beyond the entertainment value, there’s growing evidence that listening to music can also help stimulate seemingly lost memories and even help maintain some cognitive functioning.

World-renowned Rebecca Center for Music Therapy in New York promotes the use of music therapy to help stimulate communication

and memory skills. Its founder and licensed, board-certified music therapist, John Carpenter, believes that listening to live music and being involved in live musicmaking experiences empowers clients to emerge from the isolation imposed

by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Some of the benefits he cites include the following: • memory recall • positive changes in moods and emotional states • a sense of control over life • non-pharmacological management of pain and discomfort • stimulation that promotes interest, even when other approaches are ineffective • promotes rhythmic, continuous movement and vocal fluency • opportunities to interact socially with others Music can be used to maintain or increase levels of physical, mental, social, and emotional functioning.

Music used as a sensory and intellectual stimulation can help maintain quality of life, with the additional potential to improve it.

How does it work?

For centuries, music has been known to calm people down and provide relief from stress and tension.

Neuroscientists, now equipped with brain scanning technology, have a renewed interest in finding how music affects our neural circuits.

Researchers in Finland using magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) found that music listening recruits not only the auditory areas of the brain, but also employs large-scale neural networks. For instance, they discovered that the processing of musical pulse recruits motor areas in the brain, supporting the idea that music and movement are closely intertwined.

Limbic areas of the brain, known to be associated with emotions, were found to be involved in rhythm and tonality processing. Processing of timbre was

associated with activations in the socalled default mode network, which is assumed to be associated with mindwandering and creativity.

Music also engages areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating events in memory. Findings suggest that music can help the brain organize incoming information.

Recent research also showed that listening to music releases dopamine (a neurotransmitter) in the brain, sending pleasure signals to the rest of the body.

Incorporating Music in your Treatment Plan For people in the early stages of dementia, music therapy can help maintain cognitive levels and enhance overall brain functioning.

Day care centers and homes specialized in dementia care routinely incorporate music therapy programs in their schedules as a way to keep residents engaged and stimulated.

These programs are often made available to the community at large.

Families caring for their loved ones at home should check their local resources for opportunities to attend music therapy programs.

In-home care can be also enhanced by the use of music tools (see Tips panel). A personalized music playlist in an iPod can be an effective non-pharmacological way to promote well-being and enhance quality of life.

If you need help setting a playlist for your loved one, Music & Memory (musicandmemory.org) is a nonprofit organization that can help set one up.

Sources: Aging Well - Music Therapy in Dementia Treatment; A Key for Unlocking Memories, by Melinda Beck for the Wall Street Journal; Recollection Through Sound By Juliann Schaeffer; Advancing Care, Nov.2011, Alzheimer’s Association NYC Chapter; News-medical.net.

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Tap Into Creativity Stay Safe from COVID Scams

By De Rosenberry Unfortunately, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud. Scam artists are opportunists that exploit the fear, social isolation, and uncertainty fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an emotional time that makes us more vulnerable than ever.

Seniors are especially vulnerable because they tend to be isolated, trusting, and polite. Many also have financial savings, a steady income source, and good credit—all of which make them attractive to scammers.

Senior Deputy District Attorney, Vicki Johnson, shared some of the newest fraud schemes targeting seniors at Family Service Agency’s recent Senior Programs Advisory Council meeting.

Here are some of the newest, COVID-related fraud schemes that Johnson shared: Stimulus check scam—Criminals will

HOME

18 | June 2020 | Central Coast Senior Living

Jaime Flores

try to solicit your personal information, even change your mailing address, in order to divert your stimulus check to them. They will try to convince you that they can speed up your stimulus check or ensure the funds are deposited directly. The criminals may also tell you that you need to pay a small fee to receive your check. According to Johnson, you should never divulge your personal information to those who have contacted you over the phone or via email.

Official-looking emails—Criminals pose as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or other official agencies and ask you to click on links. They create their emails to look identical to the official web pages. They may email you, informing you that you have been exposed to the virus and you need to download information. Often these links contain malware, which can infect

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your computer and steal your private information. Do not click on links you receive. This is not the way the CDC or other official agencies conduct business.

If you have been exposed to the virus, contact tracers in Santa Barbara County will contact you by phone, not email, and they will not ask you for personal information.

Counterfeit treatments—Criminals solicit fake at-home test kits, offers for cures, vaccines, pills and advice on unproven treatments for COVID-19.

Any cures or treatments would be announced in the mainstream news.

Always consult with your physician before beginning any COVID treatment.

Sick relative—Criminals call or email you, posing as a relative, often a child or grandchild, and pretend to be sick and needing money to pay for testing or doctor’s bills. Always check with family members before doling out any funds.

Investment scam—Criminals ask you to invest in ground-breaking cures or treatments for coronavirus. Resist any pressure tactics, and always consult with a professional first before making an unsolicited investment.

Johnson also reported a high incidence of mailbox theft. Criminals are stealing mail out of neighborhood mailboxes as well as the big blue drop boxes in front of the post office or in

parking lots. She suggested that mail be deposited inside a post office.

Reporting Fraud If you, or a loved one, has been affected by fraud, it is important to report it. You should call your local law enforcement, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office at 1-805-5682442.

As an older adult, you may be less inclined to report fraud because you don’t know how, or you may feel ashamed at having been scammed. You might begin to doubt your ability to manage your financial affairs. Fraud can uproot your life, leaving you feeling victimized and insecure. These are normal feelings.

The best way to move on from this type of trauma is to take steps toward recovery. Reporting the crime provides the first step towards empowering yourself.

Family Service Agency offers counseling support to those dealing with trauma from being defrauded.

More tips and information about these and other fraudulent schemes targeting older adults, is available at AARP’s website.

De Rosenberry is the Senior Service Program Manager at Family Service Agency (FSA), operating as Santa Maria Valley Youth and Family Center (SMVYFC) in Santa Maria and Little House By The Park (LHP) in Guadalupe.

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