More Than a Race

This story is too great to pass up! A heartfelt gesture by a World War II Veteran during a charity race in San Jose, this March, has gone viral, both for the sweetness of the Veteran and the recognition of the runners as they passed by. The 95-year old Joe Bell was not expecting the response he received when he decided to cheer on the people as they ran by his house.  A neighbor would  capture what happened next on her cell phone. Runners said it was inspiring to see him proudly standing and cheering on the crowds.  I'm sure you will agree once you watch the video that Joe Bell is an inspiration worth saluting!  

How can you show gratitude to someone who has served our country today?

Spring is in the Air!

This Winter has seemed very long for most of us throughout the country and many are counting the days till the warmer weather is upon us.  But we've made it through the worst and Spring truly is just around the corner! No matter your age, Spring is the time to dust the cobwebs off our walking shoes, get our bikes out of that storage closet and take full advantage of the warmer temps.

Here's a few activities that the young and old can participate!

• Gardening - get your grandkids, nieces and nephews or kids involved in planting a garden with you.  Fresh fruits and veggies are always in season. A nice vase of homegrown flowers as a gift for someone, or just placed on your kitchen table can brighten the day too!
• Fly a kite
• Take some time in our warmer evenings to sit on the porch
• Blow bubbles with your grandchildren!
• Visit a local farm
• Clean up your yard
• Do some spring cleaning for yourself, or even a loved one
• Stop by and pay someone a visit - sometimes time is the most precious gift!

At ACCFamily, we'd love to come alongside you and help with ailing loved ones this Spring and throughout the rest of the year.  Our caregivers can provide the support you need so that you will have that extra time to enjoy the season. Give us a call today! 1-877-549-7894

10 Real-Life Strategies for Dementia Caregiving

Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory loss diseases can sometimes be counter-intuitive. Often what makes most sense for you, the caregiver; may not be the best approach for your loved one. Here are some practical tips provided by Caregiver.org in dealing with dementia care:

1. Being Reasonable, Rational and Logical Will Just Get You into Trouble. When someone is acting in ways that don’t make sense, we tend to carefully explain the situation, calling on his or her sense of appropriateness to get compliance. However, the person with dementia doesn’t have a “boss” in his brain any longer, so he does not respond to our arguments, no matter how logical. Straightforward, simple sentences about what is going to happen are usually the best.

1. People With Dementia Do Not Need to Be Grounded in Reality. When someone has memory loss, he often forgets important things, e.g., that his mother is deceased. When we remind him of this loss, we remind him about the pain of that loss also. When someone wants to go home, reassuring him that he is at home often leads to an argument.  Redirecting and asking someone to tell you about the person he has asked about or about his home is a better way to calm a person with dementia.
2. You Cannot Be a Perfect Caregiver. Just as there is no such thing as a perfect parent, there is no such thing as a perfect caregiver. You have the right to the full range of human emotions, and sometimes you are going to be impatient or frustrated. Learning to forgive your loved one as well as yourself is essential in the caregiving journey.
3. Therapeutic Lying Reduces Stress. We tend to be meticulously honest with people. However, when someone has dementia, honesty can lead to distress both for us and the one we are caring for. Does it really matter that your loved one thinks she is the volunteer at the day care center? Is it okay to tell your loved one that the two of you are going out to lunch and then “coincidentally” stop by the doctor’s office on the way home to pick something up as a way to get her to the doctor?
4. Making Agreements Doesn’t Work. If you ask your loved one to not do something ever again, or to remember to do something, it will soon be forgotten. For people in early stage dementia, leaving notes as reminders can sometimes help, but as the disease progresses, this will not work. Taking action, rearranging the environment, rather than talking and discussing, is usually a more successful approach. For example, getting a teakettle with an automatic “off” switch is better than warning someone of the dangers of leaving the stove on.
5. Doctors Often Need to Be Educated By You. Telling the doctor what you see at home is important. The doctor can’t tell during an examination that your loved one has been up all night pacing. Sometimes doctors, too, need to deal with therapeutic lying; e.g., telling the patient that an antidepressant is for memory rather than depression.
6. You Can’t Do It All.  It’s OK to Accept Help Before You Get Desperate. When people offer to help, the answer should always be “YES.” Have a list of things people can do to help you, whether it is bringing a meal, picking up a prescription, helping trim the roses or staying with your loved one while you run an errand. This will reinforce offers of help. It is harder to ask for help than to accept it when it is offered, so don’t wait until you “really need it” to get support.
7. It Is Easy to Both Overestimate and Underestimate What Your Loved One Can Do. It is often easier to do something for our loved ones than to let them do it for themselves. However, if we do it for them, they will lose the ability to be independent in that skill. On the other hand, if we insist individuals do something for themselves and they get frustrated, we just make our loved one’s agitated and probably haven’t increased their abilities to perform tasks. Not only is it a constant juggle to find the balance, but be aware that the balance may shift from day to day.
8. Tell, Don’t Ask. Asking “What would you like for dinner?” may have been a perfectly normal question at another time. But now we are asking our loved one to come up with an answer when he or she might not have the words for what they want, might not be hungry, and even if they answer, might not want the food when it is served after all. Saying “We are going to eat now” encourages the person to eat and doesn’t put them in the dilemma of having failed to respond.
9. It Is Perfectly Normal to Question the Diagnosis When Someone Has Moments of Lucidity. One of the hardest things to do is to remember that we are responding to a disease, not the person who once was.  Everyone with dementia has times when they make perfect sense and can respond appropriately. We often feel like that person has been faking it or that we have been exaggerating the problem when these moments occur. We are not imagining things—they are just having one of those moments, to be treasured when they occur.

The Age of the Tablet

It's the golden age of the tablet. They seem to be a staple of everyday life, for most of us that is, and that shouldn't exclude seniors. At first these tech savvy devices may seem daunting to the elderly but with some easy research the right tablet can be found for everyone!  If you know of a senior looking to get their own, TheSeniorList.com has great reviews on several popular tablets. The usefulness of Apps -  such as FaceTime and Skype; to stay in touch with grandchildren, WebMD; to perform a quick symptom search or The Weather Channel; to let you know if you will need to wear that sweater, is endless. And don't forget, our ACCFamily website is mobile friendly so you can always stay connected with us on your tablet, through our website and Facebook page too.  Just a thought!

Read the full recommendations here.

Home Updates, Life Improvements.

All those little annoyances in the house like a narrow doorway or having to kick in the bottom of the garage door because it has become misaligned with the house settling in, can significantly hamper your aging loved ones mobility throughout the home.  Fortunately, you can improve the sticky door situation in a weekend and a trip to your local home improvement store. Here are some ideas to get you started from theseniorlist.com:

Door Knobs - Consider replacing door knobs with door levers. These are simply easier for seniors to open than a traditional round door knob. Internal door hardware is affordable and relatively easy to replace. Entry door locks are more expensive, but won’t necessarily break the bank if you shop around.

Misaligned Doors - When doors are out of alignment, they can rub on the frame and become difficult to open and close. There are a few quick tricks you can try before you resort to re-framing the door.

• If the problem is very minor, you can sometimes just sand the edge of the door that is rubbing. This is permanent and is not recommended if the problem is seasonal or if too much material must be removed.
• Use shims to move the upper or lower hinge out from the door frame slightly. While you may be able to use cardboard or washers to accomplish this, it’s probably better to purchase door shims that are specifically designed for this purpose.
• Another trick is to slightly bend one or both of the door hinge knuckles. Crescent wrenches are frequently used for this, but there are now knuckle bender tools to make it easier.

Keyless Entry Systems - Some seniors have difficulties when using keys. Door locks with combination buttons and remote key fobs are now available. Some of these can even be activated by other remote devices such as cell phones or security systems.

While these are all great improvements for the doors themselves, don’t forget to address the lighting near your doorways. For example, motion detectors can automatically turn on the lights when approaching the door. This will free up both hands for opening the door, carrying groceries or even stability. Now all you need is a friendly welcome mat!

Find more ideas to improve mobility in the home here.

A Different Look at Valentine’s Day

Having long being cursed as the day to single out singles, Valentine’s Day has had a bad rap. This Valentine’s day take the time to celebrate the spirit of love with all. Take the time to prepare a home cooked meal with your family, make time to call a distant relative you know is alone today, do some Valentine’s themed activity with your grandchildren, or share a kind word with a stranger. The opportunities to show affection and kindness are endless. To get you started, here are a few ideas from AARP’s article “Make the Most of Valentine’s Day or Any Day"

Throw a party for couples who have been married as long as you. Celebrate with your closest friends who have also been in a long-term relationship. Make it a potluck dinner with the proviso that everyone brings a romantic food. At the table, everyone should talk about their first impressions of their partner — and when they knew he or she was "the one." It should be a very sweet dinner party.

Have a Valentine's Day party for your grandchildren. Help your grandchildren make Valentine cards, play checkers with chocolate and red hearts or go on a hearts scavenger hunt. Older grandchildren? Take them out for a special dinner or make your own ice cream and finish it off with an array of fabulous toppings of their choosing.

Spend a day at your city's "lesser" museums. Almost any city of some size has museums you never visited or heard of. If you are a visitor, see if the city has volunteer tour guides to help you locate these hidden gems. Exploring such places as the Scandinavian Museum, the Chinese history museum or Wooden Boat Museum, etc., might have some delightful surprises in store for you. Then pick one to give a donation to in your partner's name.

Go to a poetry reading. You might not be able to create deathless prose for your partner — but perhaps you can listen to it together. Go to a play at your local Shakespeare company, find a neighborhood poetry slam (competitive poetry reading) or check out other literary events in your local newspaper. Buy your partner a collection of poetry from Edna St. Vincent Millay, W.H. Auden or E.E. Cummings, or ask an online poetry group for a recommendation and check it out. Copy your favorite poem for your love and present it in a frame.

Have a picnic in your living room. Pretend you are in the great outdoors — but have familiar plumbing nearby. Create a picnic basket filled with finger foods and other goodies you don't have to get up and get from the kitchen.

Go ballroom dancing. You might be surprised how romantic and fun it is to twirl around with your partner on a dance floor.Take a lesson and, if you enjoy it, keep the passion flowing with a whole series of lessons. If ballroom isn't your thing, try line dancing or the Texas Two-Step.

Get artistic. Just about every large city (and many small ones) has a store that offers you the chance to take a plain piece of pottery, paint it, fire it and admire it. Sure, it's usually kids there — but aren't we all kids at heart? Another way to express your love and inner artist is to try a free online expressive drawing class. Your work of art to each other may not land in the Louvre — but it will be a fun experience and a memorable gift.

Read the article here.

One Small Change

When I came across this article in AARP, I was moved to read what Watertown, WI has done for their residents. Taking even the small steps to educate the town on dementia and as a result help those members of their community thrive.  What if we all made changes to help people in our communities stay integrated or feel a part of something? Not just those dealing with dimentia, but anyone that needed help.  How would your city change?  Whose life could you impact?   Read it and think about it..... In Watertown, Wis., the windows of nine businesses display small purple angels. The decals indicate that the employees inside have been trained in how to recognize customers with dementia and how to best assist them and their caregivers.

In the Connection Cafe, for example, baristas might encourage patrons with memory loss to simply point to which size of coffee they want. And employees at the State Bank of Reeseville have been trained to look for signs that customers have been scammed.

It's part of a broader effort to educate the town's 24,000 residents about dementia and to keep those who have the condition engaged in the community by providing the services they need.

The concept of making communities dementia-friendly is spreading in Europe but is just beginning to take hold in the United States, notably in Minnesota. AARP Minnesota has joined more than 50 groups in the ACT on Alzheimer's collaboration to help communities prepare for growing numbers of residents with dementia. (The AARP online Caregiving Resource Center is one of the resources recommended on the ACT on Alzheimer's website.)

"We have to get rid of this fear of admitting that 'I've got dementia' or 'My loved one has dementia,' " says Jan Zimmerman, a nurse and administrator at the Heritage Homes senior living community who initiated the effort in Watertown last year. "We're hoping to raise awareness so this is not something that hides in the closet."

Lori La Bey, executive director of Alzheimer's Speaks, an advocacy group in St. Paul, Minn., helped launch the Watertown movement. At the Connection Cafe she asked people with dementia and their caregivers to share their "blessings and bummers." One sweet, shy resident of the Heritage Homes memory care wing was the first to answer. "I hate this disease and what it's done to my family," she said, choking back tears. "And my blessing is my daughter here. She's my lifeline." La Bey calls the Watertown effort "phenomenal."

"I think it's going to continue to expand," she says. "People are seeing the need, and this does not have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time."

Find the article here.

Brrrr It's Cold Out There!

It’s definitely that time of year! The bitter cold has been hitting most of the US and causing us all to dream of the bliss of a warm summer morning. But until that time comes, there are extra precautions we can take in this blistery weather. Here are some helpful ideas from WashingtonPost.com… Prevent frostbite: At wind chills of 15 to 30 below, exposed skin can get frostbitten in minutes and hypothermia can quickly set in. Mittens are better than gloves, layers of dry clothing are best, and anyone who gets wet needs to get inside, doctors warn.

Avoid being outdoors, if possible, or make sure all body parts are well-covered.

Check your car battery: If you don’t have access to a garage, check your vehicle’s battery before the cold arrives, experts say. Batteries that are more than three years old or that are on the verge of going dead often can’t be jump-started once they have been exposed to temperatures below zero for an extended period.

Turn down the thermostat: Dan Genest, spokesman for Dominion Virginia Power, said the utility company is telling customers to keep their indoor temperatures relatively low, which can help prevent widespread power outages. “If you’re comfortable with your thermostat at 68 degrees and using a blanket, you should do that,” he said. “Turn your thermostat down and save money.” Take care with supplemental heating devices: Those whose heating systems are inadequate, or who can’t afford to pay utility bills, sometimes make dangerous decisions on how to stay warm, turning to space heaters, stoves, ovens, candles and even kerosene or propane heaters meant for the outdoors. The U.S. Fire Administration says more than 50,000 residential fires annually are caused by heating, resulting in about 150 deaths. January is the peak month for such problems. Improper use of heating devices is also a common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning and deaths.

Protect your pipes: With temperatures expected to drop into the single digits, don’t forget to protect against frozen pipes. Expanding water in pipes can cause them to break. Pipes that are most likely to freeze are those exposed to severe cold, such as swimming pool lines and water sprinkler lines that are in basements, crawl spaces, garages or attics.

Click here for Source.

The Life in Your Years

"It is not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts." Read that quote recently and had to think on it for a few moments.  Life in your years... very interesting.  Could it be that how we spend each day is just as important as how many days we have? After contemplation, I fully agree with that statement.  Then it brought to mind a video I had seen not too long ago.  All of this seemed to be summed up very well with jelly beans, believe it or not.  If you could see the days numbered before you, as jelly beans spread out on the floor, would it give you a sense of urgency to live each day to its most complete and fullest potential? I bet it would.   My explanation might not do it justice so how about you take a look.  What does the life in your years look like?  

Take Time for You!

There are many different roles we play in our lives. Student, employee, counselor, friend, son, mother, daughter, husband, wife - and the list goes on and on. At some point, you might have to put on the "caregiver hat"providing the much needed support and love to an ailing or elderly family member. Days may seem long and thank-you's may be few, but the importance of what you do still stands firm. Statistics say that more than one-third of family caregivers continue to provide intense care to others while suffering from poor health themselves. Family caregivers are reported to suffer depression at a rate twice the national average.

Don't let yourself be one of these statistics. Take time for you! Make yourself a priority! You are important, especially to those you are providing care. The healthier, more rested and happier the better you are able to support others. Set aside 30 minutes a day to focus on yourself - read the newspaper, watch the news or just sit and relax. It can make all the difference.

And remember, ACCFamily is here to help you make that time. For more than 19 years, we've been proud to come alongside family caregivers and walk with them down this road. Give us a call. We are here for you.

Time to Deal With the Clutter?

Now that the New Year is upon us maybe it's time for a little decluttering? The hustle and bustle of the season can lend itself to chaos and why not start the year off right by "purging" the unnecessary in your life. Or perhaps helping a loved one organize the "stuff" in their own? Although this may seem to be a daunting task, with a system in place you'll soon start to see the progress and the carpet you haven't seen in years! This can be the best gift, for an ailing mother or a father that doesn't even know where to begin. And it is not only them that will reap the rewards of a clean house... the time spent together can leave some special memories for all involved.

At ACCFamily, we are here to support you with the care of most important people in your life so that you have time to focus on what truly matters, like dealing with the clutter.

Need some tips on how to get started? Here's some helpful ideas from Caring.com! 

Celebrating The New Year Every Day

With the encroaching New Year, resolutions are made in abundance. The date change seems to stimulate an image of a snake shedding skin, or a butterfly emerging from a holiday cocoon. Drastic diets, personal transformation, and character enhancement are all pursued with maniac passion. Gyms memberships explode, new grocery lists are formed, houses are tidied. Besides lifestyle changes, overcoming dysfunctional thinking patterns is also on the list. Self-help books on compassion, simplicity, and desire are voraciously read. Why the emphasis on change with the New Year? Why this pursuit of a 'new' lifestyle and change? When all statistics show the dissolution of such protestations mere weeks later, why all the mania?

ACCFamily wants to make the "New Years Resolution" mindset an everyday occurrence. The desire for health; the desire for a kinder character; the desire for discipline at the gym - when it's a daily choice instead of a yearly choice, perhaps the results would be different. Instead of a splendid large firework that lasts seconds, make your resolution a long-burning candle.

May 2014 be a happy New Year - every day.

Tradition

Tradition. Liturgy.

Stability.

Such words either spawn fear into the hearts of the spontaneous or excite the lovers of consistency and expectation. The Advent season, or season of waiting, is the prime example. There are a limited number of Christmas songs, hymns, Handel's Messiah's, but numerous variation and versions - some not particularly pleasant. There is an array of tradition and expectation that varies from family to family. Even families that claim they don't practice consumerism, or shopping, or decorating are actually upholding a tradition!

Why tradition? Why repetition? Why bake the same cookies every year or pull out the same ornaments or make the same food? Why pray for a white Christmas and run through the stores searching for gifts or make that horrifying casserole?

The expectation of Christmas, religious or culturally, is the drive.

It's the waiting for something to rejoice in.

It's the reminder of the possibility of the peace among men.

It's the feasting of eyes and hearts and tongues with a childlike exuberance and wonder.

It's the knowledge that with a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.

Are You Stressed During the Holidays?

The holiday season ignites goodwill towards men, usually accompanied by familial stress. ACCFamily, being a strategic and enlightened caregiving company striving to keep families together, came across a great article on allaying stress during the Christmas season. The focus is on family caregivers, which is the target ACCFamily strives to help. Our hope is some of the advice is helpful and encouraging - you are not alone during this season. Family Caregiver Alliance (http://www.caregiver.org/aregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1039)

For many caregivers the holiday season gives rise to stress, frustration and anger, instead of peace and good will.

Caregivers may feel resentful towards other family members who they feel have not offered enough assistance. Managing care for someone who has a cognitive impairment may leave caregivers feeling that they will not be able to participate as fully as they would like in family gatherings. Already feeling overwhelmed with caregiving tasks, stressed-out caregivers may view traditional holiday preparations as more of a drain of precious energy than a joy.

Following are some suggestions that may help make the holidays more enjoyable for you and your loved ones. Keep in mind that the holidays can, in fact, provide unique opportunities to seek better communication, connection and support from family and friends.

 An opportunity for communication

It’s hard to know how much to communicate about a loved one’s decline in cognitive functioning and personal care needs. Whom do you tell? How much do you tell?

Although it is understandable to have reservations about discussing a loved one’s impairments, honest communication about the realities of the caregiving situation offers others the opportunity to respond with assistance. Sharing the truths of your situation may help reduce some of the feelings of isolation and lack of appreciation common in caregivers.

 Holiday greetings and a brief note

Some caregivers have had success in writing a brief note describing the person’s condition and enclosing it in a holiday greeting card. This can be a nonthreatening way to inform distant or uninvolved relatives about the realities of the caregiving situation. If written in a tone that’s not accusatory or guilt-inducing, family members may be more forthcoming with assistance or, at least, have a better understanding of the effort you are putting into providing care.

Let sleeping dogs lie?

It is common for caregivers to be disappointed with family members who they feel are not "pulling their weight" in caregiving responsibilities. If this holds true for you, and your goal is to enjoy the holidays, you must decide how much and when to communicate this disappointment. Consider clearing the air before the holidays or perhaps resolve within yourself to put those feelings on hold, with the intention to discuss the matter after the holiday season passes. In the meantime, enjoy the holiday!

Be clear about your energy level

Let family members know that your caregiving duties are keeping you very busy and that you only have so much energy for holiday preparation and hosting duties.

Accept the need to adapt

Caregivers often have to adapt their traditional role or experience of the holidays. This may mean allowing another family member to host more time-intensive festivities. You may need to modify the amount of time away from home to match the comfort level of your impaired loved one. You may also have to choose which events to attend based on which would be the simplest, least exhausting and most enjoyable for the person for whom you provide care—and for you.

The visit room

Don’t expect the person with cognitive impairment to be able to adapt to all situations; you may need to adapt the environment to their needs. See if you can arrange to have another room in the house designated as a quiet place for the impaired person. Many people with dementia find multiple conversations and background noise disturbing. To avoid this anxiety, the person may benefit from time in a quieter room with less stimulus where family members could take turns visiting with them.

 Share your wish list

Respite: some caregivers ask for time off from caregiving duties as a gift for the holidays. This could mean another family member gives you a break. Sometimes asking for aSaturday off "in the next three months" is more accepted, as family members can then schedule it into their calendars. If this is not possible, perhaps they would consider paying for a home care worker or a stay at a respite facility. Your FCA Family Consultant can help you locate these resources in your area.

Home repairs: Do light bulbs need changing, or grab bars need installation? That maddening pile of junk in the garage needs to go to the dump? Tasks such as these may be the perfect way for a family member to help out if providing personal care is too uncomfortable for them.

Care for you! How about a gift certificate for a massage, facial or manicure? How about an opportunity to spend the day fishing or a walk in the outdoors?

Book your homecare worker early! Speak with your home care worker or home care agency early about your holiday plans!

Schedule one-on-one time

While caregiving, it is easy to get caught up in all the tasks of personal care and homemaking chores. Make a point of setting some time aside this holiday season to enjoy the person you care for in a relaxed, one-on-one context. The best activities are those which take advantage of long-term memory—usually less impaired in people with dementia. Try looking through family photo albums or unpacking holiday decorations, which may stimulate memories.

Reflect on the rewards

Reflecting on the rewards of caregiving can help maintain your self-esteem. It may feel very rewarding to know that you are fulfilling a vow or promise you have made to the person for whom you provide care. Your caregiving may be an expression of living up to your personal ideals or religious beliefs. You may also be experiencing a great deal of growth as you learn new skills and meet challenges in ways you never imagined possible.

A little thank you goes a long way

After the holidays, write a thank you note to family members or friends who spent time with your loved one. Emphasize the positive impact their visit or brief time spent with your loved one had on them. This may reinforce positive feelings from their visit and diminish any discomfort they experienced. They may then be more encouraged to visit again or be more supportive of your efforts.

Death Rates and Economics

A recent study published by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health shed light on a fascinating link between the elder population and the economy. Based on data and analysis, high death rates directly correlate to a nation's expanded economy or during a 'boom' time. Conversely, when economies head for recession, the death rates decrease.

As life expectancy throughout the world increases, researchers decided to research the link between age and Gross Domestic Product from 1950 - 2008. While the over-arching result was that an increase in GDP had lower death rates, the relative cycles of BOOM and BUST told of different story.

Boom times equate to a higher death rate, while the road to recession has a lower death rate.

Possible reasons for the counter-intuitive facts puzzled researchers. Several ideas included higher stress and air pollution, but those explanations didn't cover gender differences and other issues. Unhealthy lifestyle and traffic accidents could also contribute, but are unlikely to fully explain these fascinating figures. Probably one of the biggest factors involved are the changes in social support systems. Perhaps higher employment could mean less time for informal care-giving to the elderly, and heighten stress. These theories are still being substantiated, however. Further studies and time will tell!

ACCfamily is here through the BOOM and the BUST, providing quality care regardless of the average life expectancy or GDP. You can count on that.

The Boredom Five

Forget the Jackson Five or the Five Stages of grief - the next biggest 'penta' to hit the stands is the five types of boredom.

'Boredom?' you ask. How can boredom be categorized?

The journal "Motivation and Emotion" recently published a study outlining the four well known and categorized states of boredom, in addition to the recently added fifth. That's right, boredom is not a run of the mill stagnant state, but something that differs based on the individual. The category does not change based on personality, environment, or emotion, but individuals generally feel one distinct type of boredom.

•  Indifferent boredom (Characterized by feeling relaxed and indifferent – typical coach potato boredom);
• Calibrating boredom (Characterized by feeling uncertain but also receptive to change/distraction);
• Searching boredom (Characterized by feeling restless and actively searching for change/distraction); and
• Reactant boredom (Characterized by feeling reactive, such as someone bored out of her mind storming out of a movie theater to find something better to do).
• Apathetic boredom (People exhibiting apathetic boredom are withdrawn, avoid social contact, and are most likely to suffer from depression. In fact, apathetic boredom could be considered a portal leading to depression.

Researchers have outlined the downfalls of the study, but the data doesn't lie and further examination will be pursued. When it comes to care-giving and support, identifying different types of boredom in your daily circle could be crucial in troubleshooting problems and allaying unhealthy patterns. Craf

ting creating ideas based on the type of boredom could push your loved one or client into a steadier mental state. What does ACCFamily say to that? Give us a high FIVE in agreement.

Putting Away the Keys

 

Nothing can turn a 'zippidee-doo-dah' day into a downer like blurry lanes and erratic driving. Keys act as a magic portal to independence and freedom, but as age progresses, the possibility for danger can increase. What are some warning signs we can watch?

Check out this list below:

• Feeling uncomfortable, nervous, or fearful while driving
• Dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs etc.
• Difficulty staying in the lane of travel
• Getting lost
• Trouble paying attention to signals, road signs and pavement markings
• Slower response to unexpected situations
• Medical conditions or medications that may be affecting your ability to handle the car safely
• Frequent "close calls" (i.e. almost crashing)
• Trouble judging gaps in traffics at intersections and on highway entrance/exit ramps
• Other drivers honking at you and instances when you are angry at other drivers
• Friends or relatives not wanting to ride with you
• Difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead
• Easily distracted or having a hard time concentrating while driving.
• Difficulty turning around to check over your shoulder while backing up or changing lanes
• Frequent traffic tickets or warnings by traffic or law enforcement officers in the last year or two

That's a Nice Hippocampus You Have

You can pick yourself up off the floor, as I did not insult you, but complimented you. What is heaven's name is the hippocampus? This word that brings to mind an image of a hippopotamus is actually the part of the brain involved in memory forming, organizing, and storing. It is a limbic system structure that is particularly important in forming new memories and connecting emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to memories. It exists in both the right and left brain hemisphere. Why all the fuss about this horse-shoe shaped structure?

A study performed by the University of Illinois proved an increase in the size of the hippocampus is directly correlated to exercise training. We all know the benefits of exercise for your physical body, but this study proved the increase in mental cognition - specifically, in the increased size of the hippocampus.

Researchers conducted a year-long study for older adults in their 60s, with half the subjects performing aerobic exercise, while the rest did regular stretching/resistance training. After blood tests, MRI scans and memory tests, studies found that the participants in the aerobic group increased average hippocampus volume by 2.12%. This is also a direct correlation for increase memory as well.

With this news, ACCfamily encourages you to take a walk or ride a bike -  after all, we want to keep your hippocampus in the best shape possible.

Recipes: A Memorial in the Mundane

Often times, photographs are the medium in which family history is discussed and reminisced. Faded photographs with corners curling like ribbon are pulled from musty boxes and laid lovingly on the table. Though photographs are cherished, another story-telling keepsake are recipes. What can better transport you to Grandma's house that the wafting aroma of her biscuits? The spice of an apple pie? What about Great Grandma's passed down recipe for preserves or jelly?

Just as photographs, recipes can be a family heirloom

- an important part of history and a spur to memories.

I remember entering my great grand-mothers house as a child with my olfactory senses romanced by fresh bread. The rough table, her gentle yet roughened voice talking to Mom, the knitted afghan, the simple house - these faded and warped memories come back with a vengeance with the smell of that recipe. Photographs spur a flat image - Recipes round it out in 3-D.

Even pulling out recipes and making dishes keep family history alive. Seeing fluid handwriting, the curve of a 'p', the gentle swoop of an 'l', revive memories of generations gone by. Mixing the ingredients, formed with love, serve as a memorial etched in a mundane day. Once the recipe comes out of the oven, igniting olfactory senses, a feeling of calm and nostalgia sets in.

Are you ready? Let's go down Recipe Lane.

Jump-Up-And-Down Stories

These are wonderful, jump-up-and-down, bittersweet stories. Actually, the narratives below are just plain heart-warming. The past several days some of the most beautiful experiences have appeared on my computer, too good not to share. From secret codes to love songs, read at your own risk - of crying, that is.

Take the story of Fred. About a month ago, a video went viral entitled "A Letter from Fred,' which is a story and song detailing the story of Fred and his beloved, deceased wife, Lorraine. After hearing about a song-writing contest, Fred snail-mailed a beautiful love song to the studio. One of the singer-songwriters was especially touched by the entry, and proceeded to make it into a song for Fred. The results went viral, as the story is an ode to the monument of marriage. The bitter and sweet mix.

What about the account of Howard and Cynthia, co-workers reunited after 60 years apart. During their employment they passed notes back and forth in secret code, with Howard keeping them. Two marriages, children, and 60 years later, Howard made his move by sending a coded letter to Cynthia, "I have always loved you." After letter exchanges and a meeting, the pair decided to walk forward - in matrimony. No codes needed.

The last story is an interview with the longest married couple (85 years!) Herbert and Zelmyra. Besides a marriage that has withstood decades, these lovebirds shared stories of generosity (Herbert's attempts at making dinner) to difficulties such as hospitalization.

The majority of the stories have a dualistic theme: joy inter-mingled with grief; jubilation mixing with disappointment; excitement tempered with disillusionment. ACCFamiliy, being in the thick of the home-care business, lives in this dualism every day. Stories are not always what you expect - so take the heart-warming ones when you can.