Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
November 2018
November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, at that time there were less than two million people with the disease. Today, the number of people with the disease has climbed to more than 5.7 million, with that number likely to triple by 2050. One in 10 people age 65 and older (10 percent) has Alzheimer’s dementia. And although those ages 65 and older are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, there are thousands of others younger than 65 who have early-onset Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s, the sixth leading cause of death in the USA, is climbing steadily in the rankings. It is the leading cause of dementia and accounts for about 65-percent of all dementia worldwide. According to Alzheimer’s Society, almost 40 percent of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss. But, memory loss is not part of the normal aging process and regardless of the cause of memory loss, timely medical ALZHEIMERS, continued on page 3
Mary LeRoy is no stranger to caregiving after caring for her adult daughter for many years. When her husband, Elmer, was diagnosed with dementia, she found support with the Daybreak Adult Day Services at Wichita Presbyterian Manor.
Caring for caregivers Each year, approximately 39.8 million individuals provide care to an adult with a disability or illness in the United States. Among those, 15.7 million are individuals caring for a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. It’s a full-time job with no vacations or weekends. Between cooking, bathing, dressing and providing medical care, caregivers are “on the job” an average of nine hours a day. Luckily, programs like Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s Cypress Memory Care Daybreak Adult Day Service, provide caregivers with hands-on support and a chance to take a well-deserved break. For Mary LeRoy, the program was a godsend. Having already been a caregiver for her adult daughter, Mary’s responsibilities increased in 2012 when her husband, Elmer, was diagnosed with dementia. At first, she tried taking it on alone, but eventually she turned to Wichita Presbyterian Manor (WPM). CAREGIVERS, continued on page 2
Upcoming Centenarian: Teresa Jones On November 13, Wichita Presbyterian Manor resident, Teresa Jones, will celebrate her 100th birthday. She wants to see her family on her birthday but does not have any specific plans for the day. A quiet, relaxing day with family is the way Teresa would most like to celebrate.
“I just couldn’t believe that many people thought of Hertha and me,” Teresa said, and added that the party “was wonderful.”
Although Teresa never expected to live to 100 years of age, it does feel like an accomplishment. When asked if she has any secrets for her longevity, she said she Teresa enjoyed a big birthday party believes abstaining from alcohol at Wichita Presbyterian Manor on and cigarettes was a big factor. September 15, 2018. The party was Also, the fun and exercise she had a joint celebration for Teresa and while square dancing with her fellow resident, Hertha Shale, whose husband likely helped. Her biggest 102nd birthday was September 25. accomplishment during her 100 Many friends from Presbyterian years of life is “raising three great Manor attended the party. kids” – son, Keven, and daughters, Nancy and Karen. To Teresa, family
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Courtney Wolfe, executive director Melody Dodge, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Amy Watson, life enrichment director, awatson@pmma.org. Telephone: 316-942-7456 Fax: 316-941-3806 Address: 4700 W. 13th St., Wichita, KS 67212-5575 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters November 2018
CAREGIVERS, continued from page 1
“I learned about the manor’s day program and didn’t do anything about it for quite a few years. Then a year ago, I decided I would try it,” said Mary. “At first Elmer didn’t want to go—he was very confused with being there and then coming home—but then he got to a place where he really enjoyed being there.” Elmer’s need for round-the-clock care reminded Mary of the toll that being a caregiver for her daughter had taken on her and her marriage. “It really affected me mentally because we couldn’t go out with friends. It was just too hard to get a babysitter,” said Mary. “We just couldn’t go out like a normal couple would.”
is the most important thing in the world.
Based on her own experiences, Mary has some advice for anyone who suddenly finds themselves thrust into the role of caregiver. “Take advantage of the facilities and programs that are in Wichita,” said Mary. “Make sure you get a lot of ‘me’ time—you have to learn to do that—and go to a support group.” If you, or someone you know, is a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, WPM provides a support group at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the community’s conference room. To learn more, contact Amy Watson at 316-942-7456. For more information about Daybreak Adult Day Services, contact Cherree Hudspeth, sales and admissions counselor, at 316-9427456. Like us on Facebook
ALZHEIMERS, from page 1
intervention is best. Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive mental disorder that can occur in middle or old age due to continuous brain cell failure—nerve cells degenerate and die, causing memory loss and cognitive decline. The disease develops slowly and gets worse over time, progressing from mild forgetfulness to widespread brain impairment. At first, people with the disorder may notice only mild confusion and difficulty remembering. As critical cells die, however, affected individuals undergo dramatic personality changes, forget important people in their lives and details about themselves, and become unable to carry out simple everyday tasks. Even though there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s or a vaccination
to prevent the disease, there are • Protect your head by wearing things we can do to reduce the risk a helmet when you participate in of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. sporting activities Prevention includes leading a healthy lifestyle such as: •
Be active and exercise regularly
•
Don’t smoke
•
Avoid excessive alcohol
• Track your numbers: keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight within recommended ranges • Stay connected socially and interact regularly with others • Make healthy food choices, eat a well-balanced and healthy diet •
Minimize stress
• Challenge your brain by trying something new, playing games or learning a new language
The human brain is one of your most vital organs. It plays a role in every action and every thought, and just like the rest of your body, it needs to be cared for. By making better lifestyle choices, you can improve your brain’s ability to sustain long-term health and fight illnesses. If you have concerns about Alzheimer’s in yourself or someone you know, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. With early detection, you can explore treatments that may provide some relief of symptoms and help you maintain a level of independence longer. Source: Alzheimer’s Association. For information, visit www.alz.org.
The
Wichita Presbyterian Manor Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. on our campus, 4700 West 13th Street. We cover educational opportunities for caregivers, professional guests attend to give their insight and answer questions, and caregivers offer other caregivers emotional support, reassuring them that they are not the only one going through it.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.
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How to have difficult conversations with your aging parents By Catherine Hodder Next Avenue An important part of caring for your aging parents is understanding their situation and knowing what they want. If you don’t know, then it is up to you to figure it out. Having open and frank discussions with your parents help avoid the stress and uncertainty about the future. It is a good idea to talk to parents about their wishes now instead of when they become much older or infirm. These talks will help them plan for future life events, resolve any conflicts within the family, and take the decision making burden off of you.
The end of life talk – What are their wishes when they have a terminal or end-stage illness? Do they have advance medical directives or a living will?
The aging talk – What happens if they need significant care? Do they plan to age-in-place at home? What senior living options should they consider?
they still see you as their child who they should be helping, not the other way around. Try to feel out the right times to talk about healthcare concerns and when to talk about finances. Depending on The family legacy talk – What do your parents’ personalities, one may they want you to remember about be an easier conversation than the them? What are the family stories, other. treasured recipes, and heirlooms to Be transparent with other pass to future generations? family members Before you start these talks, keep While it is tempting to manage all in mind the following to make information about your parents the conversations easier and more and keep it to yourself, you may productive. be perceived by other siblings Be patient as too secretive, controlling, or influential. Try to include siblings in Talking with your parents about conversations or at least give them their future will not be a one updates on what is transpiring so time conversation but an ongoing there are no unpleasant surprises. process.You must be patient and willing to wait until your parents Most siblings will be happy for you feel comfortable. They will need to handle things as long as you keep to be “ready” to talk with you or to them in the loop. Difficult siblings make certain decisions about their who have contrary opinions can be future. The hardest part will be for extremely challenging. But if you them to admit they need help and give them consistent updates, you that you will be taking on more can take some of the drama away responsibility for them. Understand from them.
Community Matters November 2018
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There are five essential conversations to have with your parents: The financial talk – Find out about their financial situation. Do they have enough to live on and enough for the future? Do they have a durable power of attorney naming someone to handle their financial decisions if they are unable to? Do they have a will? The health care talk – What medical issues do they have? What medications do they take? Do they have a health care power of attorney appointing someone to make medical decisions if they are incapacitated?
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