JHCC | Jewish Senior Living Newsletter | Nov 2014

Jewish Senior Living Newsletter November 2014 - Volume 2, Issue 8

Keeping you connected to our communities.

ReCharge! Class Reaches Out to the Community

In This Issue ReCharge! Class Reaches out to the Community

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Sarah Chudnow Community Political Discussion Series

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Music Feeds the Brain

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Upcoming Events

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by Liza Holle, Donor Stewardhip Coordinator

tudies suggest that the more physically and mentally active people are throughout their lives, the stronger the connections are between brain cells. ReCharge! is an interactive brain and body fitness class offered at Chai Point Senior Living. It provides education on the brain and memory, emphasizes intentional memory, offers memory strategies and techniques and teaches people how to use their brains in novel ways. It is an opportunity to engage in creative brain exercises in a friendly setting while improving memory, focus and concentration.

The ReCharge! class was developed in response to requests from health professionals and professionals on aging who wanted to have a program on the east side of Milwaukee. Now a year old, the class has become a successful service offered within our community. ReCharge! is unique in emphasizing a dedicated hour to physical exercise from a certified occupational therapy assistant.

Exercise is known to help the brain, the heart, and mood, and can be accomplished in our beautiful Lake Michigan setting in a variety of ways. Those participants who choose not to exercise physically are A ReCharge! participant works offered a group mental on a brain puzzle fitness exercise instead.

The class is based on the findings of a yearlong research project that sought to answer the question: do these brain health enhancement classes make a difference? The answer is yes! The research findings were fully published in March of 2014. Dawn Adler, director of the Adult Day Center at the Jewish Home and Care Center, was co-author of illuminate, an integrated curriculum for early memory loss program, which was written to assist others who wanted to start brain health enhancement classes.

Wisconsin has a unique network of approximately 35 memory assessment clinics. These clinics have a 90 percentplus accuracy rate of diagnosing people with mild cognitive loss (MCI). Because it is an educational class, ReCharge! is a non-threatening stepping stone to helping people learn how to help themselves, live well as independently as possibly, and connect see “ReCharge!� page 4

Sarah Chudnow Community Political Discussion Series

by Liza Holle, Donor Stewardship Coordinator Getting out to vote, learning about a candidate, and showing up at a political convention can pose a challenge for some older adults. Sarah Chudnow Community provided a Political Discussion Series leading up to the recent election on November 4, 2014. This series connected our residents with local government officials represented by both parties in the comforts of their own home, making it easy for residents to participant and learn about current policy issues. It also afforded local community members who do not drive at night the opportunity to meet the candidates at a daytime venue in their own neighborhood.

Bowzer (AKA Jon Bauman), co-founder of Senior Votes Count; Bridget Moen, Receptionist; Connie Eastman, Residency Advisor and Larry Ladin, Director of Admissions.

“Bowzer” also know as John Bauman, co-founder of Senior Votes Count, helped kicked off the series.

Residents and staff enjoyed his personality. He spoke about his organization, Senior Votes Count, whose mission is to elect leaders who will protect and advance the rights of older Americans. Senator Grothman, who has served as Assistant Majority Leader since 2011, was at Sarah Chudnow in October, to talk about what he would do for Wisconsin if elected to Congress.

Also in October, Sarah Chudnow Community hosted University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee professor and former state senator, Mordecai Lee, who spoke to a roomful of residents and visitors. Lee shared his thoughts on the situation in the Middle East, as well as the current political climate in the United States and Wisconsin. Residents and the community had the opportunity to meet and listen to Mark Harris, 6th District Congressional Candidate in, October as well. Harris has been Winnebago County’s Executive since 2005 and is a self-described “fiscally conservative progressive.” Throughout the Political Discussion Series, residents had the opportunity to ask questions and learn viewpoints of potential political leaders.

with us.” Bridget Moen, Administrative Assistant at Sarah Chudnow Community, has a working relationship with the city clerk and coordinated the Political Discussion Series. Local news and media have sparked interest in this series and have been very impressed with the setup and the wonderful opportunity it presents to residents and the outside community. Bridget Moen shares, “I think it means a lot to our residents. It provides purpose that their vote counts and their opinion is respected and shared with political leaders. It sparks conversations among residents and prepares them for voting.”

Residents at each of our communities are able to vote by absentee ballot a week prior to the election.

Sarah Chudnow Community, along with our other communities, believes every citizen should be informed on issues of importances. We bring those topics to our community so our residents and guests can be up to date on today’s news.

Jean Weinberg, a resident of Sarah Chudnow Community, says “I am not originally from this area, so having the Political Discussion Series educated me on current issues. It was very meaningful. I was able to ask questions, and the politicians really spent time

more photos from the Political Discussion Series can be found on page 5

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Music Feeds the Brain

by Liza Holle, Donor Stewardship Coordinator FACT: One of the only activities that activates, stimulates, and uses the entire brain is MUSIC. Throughout our lives music and songs are linked to personal memories. Our brains are hard-wired to connect music with longterm memory. Loved ones with severe dementia can benefit from listening to music and recall emotional moments and life experiences. Music can be a key ingredient to maintaining brain fitness.

So how does the brain react to music? It was previously thought that only the right brain, the creative hemisphere, is affected. However, recent studies show both sides of the brain respond to music; the right brain processes pitch and timbre while the left brain processes the speed and intensity. Both sides work together to bring the whole music representation into play. Music feeds the brain in a variety of ways and actually works as a resource to older adults.

Just listening to music provides benefits for the brain and especially helps those who have damaged brain chemistry. Music often calms and relaxes people and enables them to focus on the present, and reconnect with their surroundings. Music of the past can spark specific moments for loved ones who have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease allowing them to connect to a significant memory.

With recent research, playing a musical instrument is a form of preventative health for the brain. No matter your age, learning a musical instrument can improve brain processes, retain memory and hearing. A study published in July 2012, from Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, shows musical instrument training may reduce the effect of mental decline associated with aging. The research found that older adults who learned music in childhood and continued to play an instrument for at least 10 years outperformed others in tests of memory and cognitive ability.

Even if you have not played a musical instrument all your life, don’t hold back now! There is always room for learning. Playing a musical instrument is a form of exercise that can be fun, interesting, and challenges your entire brain. Think of the brain as a firework show, lighting up different regions of the brain as you see “Music” page 5

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ReCharge! continued from page 1

to professionals early. ReCharge!, a program of the Adult Day Center, makes for an easier and more natural transition when more services are needed. It is not uncommon to see ReCharge! class members extend their day or add an additional day in the Adult Day Center.

“We are working with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute and the Alzheimer’s Association to define these programs and develop best practices as part of the state plan to address Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dawn Adler. Being proactive about your brain is something our organization feels very passionate about. In November, our communities host Campaign for the Brain, an interactive brain health fair extending knowledge to the outside community and providing memory screenings. This fair explores the five essential components to living a brain healthy life style: socialization, disease prevention, physical exercise, mental exercise and nutrition.

“There is so much more we need to do to meet the needs of these individuals. It was recently noted that within the next decade, Alzheimer’s disease is going to be a middle aged disease. The ReCharge! class is seeing this now,” says Dawn Adler. Continuing to move ahead and provide innovative services, the Adult Day Center is looking forward to being a part of the SPARK! program with the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, which provides cultural programs to people with memory loss and their loved ones Dana Rubin-Winkleman, social worker at the Adult Day Center and Chai Point Senior Living, co facilitated a program with Dawn Adler called “Shomer Hagoof ”Taking Care of Your Body and Mind. The program was held at Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid and was a fun, interactive session on ways to use your brain in novel ways and how mindfulness can reduce the aging effects on stress. Plans for the future include extending programs like “Shomer Hagoof ” to the Sarah Chudnow Community and the north shore. This is another step for our community to continue to reach those in need.

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Dawn Adler, Director of Adult Day Programs, leads an exercise during ReCharge!

Burton, a ReCharge! participant, has fun while boosting his brainpower.

Keeping Minds Strong and Active Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Lunch is included

Chai Point Senior Living, 1400 N. Prospect Ave. Private dining and exercise room

Music continued from page 3

strum a guitar or learn a chord on the piano, creating connection and building neurons. Brain regions that are stimulated while you play an instrument include: audio, visual, and motor functions. Learning a musical instrument is an accomplishment in itself. Better attention to detail, stronger planning, and strategic skills and a better memory are some of the outside benefits to playing a musical instrument.

Throughout Sarah Chudnow Community, Jewish Home and Care Center and Chai Point Senior Living music fills our halls. Whether it’s participating in the Music and Memory program at the Jewish Home, attending an orchestra concert at Sarah Chudnow Community, or learning a musical instrument together at an intergenerational program at Chai Point Senior Living, music has become part of our communities.

Music is a reason why our residents’ hearts beat a different way and brings life to joyous moments.

Sources: “Why Learning to Play an Instrument Is Good for Your Brain.”Lifehacker.

Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

“Music Benefits Your Brain and Health - Healthy Holistic Living.”Healthy Holistic Living. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

Dye, Column. “Playing Music Protects Memory, Hearing, Brain Processing.”ABC News. ABC News Network, 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

“Training the Musical Brain: November 2013.” Training the Musical Brain: November 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

“Musicians’ Brains Might Have an Edge on Aging.”Consumer HealthDay. Web. 12 Nov. 2014 “Music and the Brain.”Music and Memory. Web. 12 Nov. 2014

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Sixth District Congressional candidates Glenn Grothman (left) and Mark Harris (right), current Winnebago County Executive, address reisdents and community members as part of the Political Discussion Series at Sarah Chudnow Community.

Grothman defeated Harris in the general election on November 4.

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Upcoming Events Kinder Klatch - Winter Holidays Tuesday, December 2, 10:45 am Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square

Easy Days Barbershop Quartet Tuesday, December 9, 2:00 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square

Eric Leaf, Director of Development UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Thursday, December 4, 1:30 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion

Opera soprano Ruth Brown Monday, December 15, 2:00 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square

Kim Wall, President, Baensch Food Products Friday, December 5, 1:30 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion Jews of Other Countries with Rabbi Steve Adams Jews of Down Under, Australia & New Zealand Monday, December 8, 2:00 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square

Baby Talk Wednesdays, 10:45 am Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square

Visit www.jewishseniorliving.org for updated activities.