Todays Topic: Memory Fitness

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Sponsored by the National Council on Aging and
IlluminAge
Healthy Aging Briefing Series
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Todays Topic Memory Fitness Todays session
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Aging in America Conference March 15-19, 2009
Las Vegas!

• Hurry! The deadline to register at the early bird
  rate is January 23, 2009!
• Join and/or register now for maximum savings!
• RENEW OR JOIN AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER FOR
  100 Save 95!
• OR
• RENEW OR JOIN AS AN INDIVDUAL MEMBER FOR 75
  Save 20!
• By joining or renewing your NCOA Membership at
  this special discounted rate, you will not only
  save money off membership fees, but will also
  save you hundreds of dollars off conference
  registration fees!
• An Organizational Membership provides benefits
  for five (5) people from the same organization
  including conference discounts!
• To Take Advantage of this special Offer, call
  NCOA Membership Services at 800-373-4906
• and mention the campaign WEBINAR
• For more information on the Aging in America
  conference please visit
• www.agingconference.org

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WAYS TO HELP BOOST MEMORY FITNESS

• EDUCATION
• to increase awareness
• to understand the process of making changes
• to empower them to state their needs
• to provide templates for suggested changes
• to link with resources at a level they can access
• to create brain health programs
• to encourage early interventions

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INFORMATION

• TYPES OF MEMORY
• Short term, immediate, working vs long term
  memory
• Implications for safety and quality of life
• CHANGES WITH
• hearing loss
• normal aging
• stress
• lifestyle choices
• life in the 21st century

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NORMAL AGING

• More difficulty thinking of words
• Main complaint
• Slower to process information
• What modifications need to be made
• Start to decrease participation
• Slower to learn new information
• Evaluate your approach
• Educate your speakers
• Provide printed material
• Trouble multitasking
• Evaluate your program presentation

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REVERSIBLE CAUSES OF MEMORY LOSS

• Depression
• Pain
• Grief
• Worry
• Boredom
• Anger
• Stress
• Hurrying
• Multitasking
• Overload
• Poor lifestyle choices

• Thyroid problems
• Medications
• Dehydration
• Urinary tract infection
• Anesthesia
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus
• Hormone changes
• Low blood sugar
• Vitamin deficiency
• Isolation

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DEMENTIA

• What is the difference between dementia and
  Alzheimers disease?
• What are the many causes of dementia?
• What are some of the risk factors?
• How can you prevent dementia?
• With people living longer, may be less clear cut
  diagnosis.

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IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS

• Being proactive
• Medical resources
• Financial planning
• Transportation options
• Communication modification

• Planning
• Residence
• Safety concerns
• Resources
• Family dynamics
• Quality of life

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OBSERVATIONS

• Fear of Alzheimers disease all ages
• Younger people complaining of memory
• Adults with family members with memory loss
  needing guidance
• Workplace issues
• Looking for a quick fix food, vitamins, brain
  games
• Need for awareness of basics for memory fitness

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HOLISTIC APPROACH

• Begins with attitude - it al starts here
• Creating the right health care team
• Hearing and vision status
• Assessment of listening, focus and ability to pay
  attention
• Lifestyle choices sleep, exercise, nutrition
• Stress management

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CURRENT ROUTINE FOR BRAIN HEALTH

• Organization patterns
• Memory strategies
• Current approach to memory fitness
• Upgrading brain health programs
• Modification needed to reflect education, current
  memory status and support system
• Socialization opportunities

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FOR THE FUTURE

• Community education
• Multigenerational education
• Brain health
• One size does not fit all
• Different types of groups
• Day care program for high level functioning
• Motivation is what gets you started.
  Habit is what keeps you going.JIM RYUH

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Resources

• Memory Fitness Toolkit now includes Brain Teasers
  (100 activities)
• Online memory fitness program - 2 part series
• Podcasts, interviews, articles, newsletters,
  brain game resource and more.
• Private consultations, staff training, memory
  fitness programs available.
• Sign up for the quarterly email newsletters. If
  you would like to incorporate some of my
  information from previous issues in your
  newsletter, please send me an email.

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Additional resources

• For those walking with journey with a loved one
  with Alzheimers disease there is a podcast on
  my website. In addition there has recently been
  released, Mother Stories, where I contributed a
  chapter about the gift in the journey with my mom
  and her Alzheimers disease. It can be ordered
  through Amazon.com. Author Carole Ann Drick
• Refer to seminars for CE programs. Specializing
  in programs for emergency responders, realtors,
  physicians, health care providers, nursing
  assistants, activity professionals, volunteers,
  non-medical home companions, faith communities
  and hospice providers.
• www.connectionsincommunication.com
  www.memoryfitnessmatters.com
• kathy_at_connectionsincommunication.com

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QUESTIONS?
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Dont Forget Your Free Copy of Aging in Stride
NCOA and Caresource are pleased to offer
first-time registrants for this Healthy Aging
Briefing Series a complimentary copy of the book,
Aging in Stride, which includes the new
supplement Just In Case Emergency Readiness for
Older Adults and Caregivers. To receive your
copy, please visit www.AgingInStride.org/NCOAoffer
. Or just email service_at_caresource.com with your
name, title, organization, mailing address, phone
number, and date of the Briefing you participated
in. One free copy per registrant, please.
17
Aging in America Conference March 15-19, 2009
Las Vegas!

• Hurry! The deadline to register at the early bird
  rate is January 23, 2009!
• Join and/or register now for maximum savings!
• RENEW OR JOIN AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER FOR
  100 Save 95!
• OR
• RENEW OR JOIN AS AN INDIVDUAL MEMBER FOR 75
  Save 20!
• By joining or renewing your NCOA Membership at
  this special discounted rate, you will not only
  save money off membership fees, but will also
  save you hundreds of dollars off conference
  registration fees!
• An Organizational Membership provides benefits
  for five (5) people from the same organization
  including conference discounts!
• To Take Advantage of this special Offer, call
  NCOA Membership Services at 800-373-4906
• and mention the campaign WEBINAR
• For more information on the Aging in America
  conference please visit
• www.agingconference.org