June 1st Meeting - Three guys and seven gals in attendence. General discussion.
May 18 Meeting - We learned a lot during the general discussion:
Split the Sandwich - Having trouble getting your patient to eat? Try this experiment: Make yourself a sandwich and cut it into two pieces in front of them. Then see if they're interested in eating the smaller portion with you.
Photos by the Phone - Do they forget who they're talking to? Posting the pictures of people they frequently talk to near the phone can help.
Brain Controls Digestion - That's why they lose weight even while eating well.
Bonding Moods - Notice how their mood affects yours? Likewise, your mood affects theirs. Try to smile, even when it hurts.
Spirituality - The desire to attend religious worship often remains long after other interests fade. Also, the ability to sing hymns and pray, as well as reciting the Pledge of Allegiance remains strong. Here's a map of all the churches in Willow Glen.
Community - We talked about the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's Disease among the population and what we can do to cope with it. The government can do only so much It's the community and social institutions that bear ultimate responsibility for easing the crisis.
May 4th Meeting
Presentation by Elizabeth Edgerly, Ph.D., Program Directory for
the San Francisco Bay Area Alzheimer's Association located in
Mountain View. Ms. Edgerly covered community resources in Santa
Clara, including educational opportunities (legal & finantial
issues, etc.), respite care services, in-home services, mental health
services (in-patient/out-patient), Adult Protective Services and
First Alert, and the differences between nursing homes and
Residential Care for the Elderly. She also referred us to the Senior
Handbook 2000, a resource guide available from Information and
Referrals (see below) which contains frequently requested telephone
numbers and a listing of local home and health care agencies. Thank
you, Elizabeth!
April 20 Meeting - Two guys and five gals in attendence. General discussion.