Commun ty Matters Farmington Presbyterian Manor
December 2015
Colds and flu are back in season As we near the peak months for cold and flu season, it’s a good time to review tips for prevention and treatment. Getting the flu vaccine is still one of the best things you can do for your health in wintertime. There is no truth to the myth that you can catch the illness from the vaccine. The injection contains only a killed version of the virus.
Hope ahead
People 65 years or older run a higher risk of complications from the flu, as do people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, emphysema, heart disease, and diabetes. It can, however, take up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect, so the earlier, the better. But they are usually available through February.
Since 1998, though, Fillit has directed the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, which supports the search for effective treatments for the disease. Although scientists have cured mice of Alzheimer’s hundreds of times, all the basic knowledge that they have accumulated has yet to translate into new treatments for patients, Fillit said.
Good hand-washing routines are another top defense against illness. Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds, or use alcohol-based sanitizer, whenever you have been out in public. Viruses can live on hard surfaces for up to eight hours. COLDS, continued on page 3
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Potential treatments ahead for Alzheimer’s disease When geriatrician and neuroscientist Dr. Howard Fillit went to medical school in the early 1970s, he’d never heard of Alzheimer’s disease.
He predicts that is about to change. “In three to five years, we’re going to have potentially more than one drug approved that has some diseasemodifying effect,” Fillit said, noting that nearly 100 human trials of potential Alzheimer’s treatments are now underway. No Cure As of Now Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 5.1 million Americans 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, which notes on its website that the disease “is the only cause of death in the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, slowed or cured.” ALZHEIMERS, continued on page 3
Donate your vehicle to help senior citizens The season of giving is here. Wouldn’t it be great to know that your vehicle donation helped seniors who have outlived their financial resources receive the care they need this year? Turn that unneeded vehicle into holiday cheer and receive a tax deduction! We accept many donation types, including cars, RVs, boats, planes and more. Donating your vehicle will help seniors who have outlived their financial resources at a Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in so many ways. Call us at 844-490GIVE (4483) or visit FarmingtonPresbyterianManor. org/Vehicle_Donations, fill out the form, and we’ll take care of the rest. Each year, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America provides more than $4 million in charitable care. Our seniors need your support; a donated vehicle can help in so many ways ‘Tis the season, give for a reason.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Jane Hull, executive director Heidi Beyer, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact hbeyer@pmma.org Telephone: 573-756-6768 Fax: 573-756-6014 Address: 500 Cayce St., Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters December 2015
Merry Christmas
COLDS, continued from page 1
If you do get ill, follow these recommendations: • Eat what you can. This will maintain your energy to help your body fight the virus. If you don’t have much appetite, at least try simple foods like white rice or soup. • Drink a lot of fluids, but avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee and colas; they can dehydrate you further. • Rest, so your body and mind can recover. • Call the doctor if you have a fever that is not controlled by over-thecounter fever reducers, if you have a severe cough, or if you cannot keep any fluids or food down. • Stay home rather than coming to community meals and group activities. This will help contain the virus so you don’t spread it to others. All residents can request to have meals delivered to them, even in apartments.
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ALZHEIMERS, continued from page 1
And since aging is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s, the numbers of affected Americans will only explode as boomers get older, unless effective treatments can at least stave off the disease. In 10 years, the number of Americans 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is expected to hit 7.1 million – an increase of 40 percent over 2015, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Donate at FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
Much of the research focus has been on drugs to rid the brain of amyloid plaque, deposits of a protein whose role in Alzheimer’s
has been widely debated. According to a 20-year-old hypothesis, the build-up of amyloid in the brain causes memory loss in Alzheimer’s. However, antiamyloid drugs have failed in large clinical trials, raising questions about the role of amyloid plaque in Alzheimer’s. “There are over 150 different kinds of amyloid, and many of those are secondary to things like inflammation and other problems,” Fillit said. “We’re going to need many other classes of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease.” Farmington Presbyterian Manor
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Fall events
Far left: Activity Director Carol Winch congratulates Jack Luffy for winning the “Guess the Candy Corn” contest at the annual Cottage Club BBQ. Left: Beverly Stephens with RehabCare sanitizes a scooter at our Fall Tune-Up Clinic.
Farmington Presbyterian Manor 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Return Service Requested
What’s your secret artistic talent?
An upcoming edition of Community Matters will focus on Art is Ageless®. The Art is Ageless® program encourages residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through an annual art competition and exhibit, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions. What talent have you discovered? If you’ve got a story about what inspires you to create, contact Marketing Director Heidi Beyer, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters December 2015
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