Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center 6757 Pacific Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503 360.407.3967 Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Faith Lutheran Church 1212 Connection St, Shelton, WA 98584 360.407.3967 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

NOVEMBER 2019

When thinking about the

upcoming holiday

season, it is normal to

want to make it special

and memorable through

special decorations,

people and events.

People with memory

loss absorb these extras

in a sensory and

emotional way. The

sensory memory will be short lived, however,

the emotional memory will linger. Keeping the

holidays simple, familiar and within their

routine are key to success every day, and

more so during the busy holidays. Here are some

tips for preparing your loved one with dementia:

Tell them only what they need to know, when

they need to know.

Spend time reminiscing about past holiday

decorations and events using photos and even

music. Talk about the people they will see

and avoid correcting their memories.

Keep the discussion simple and positive.

Avoid phrases such as, “Don’t you

remember?” or “What is this person’s

name?”

Prepare others by making suggestions like:

Have one person at a

time talk to the loved

one. Focus the

conversation on people

and times in the past.

Talk in a quiet place,

make eye contact and

don’t be afraid to hold

hands.

Keep their plate of

food simple; a few things at a time.

Reassure them often throughout the visit.

Provide a quiet place where your loved one

can rest or time out.

Be prepared to leave early, before your loved

one gets anxious or agitated.

Consider leaving your loved one home with a

friend or paid caregiver for the extra events.

Home is familiar and their normal routine

can be respected. You will have to weigh this

option against the possible anxiety they may

have because you are gone.

There are no easy answers to getting through

holidays with a loved one whose brain can no

longer make sense of the celebrations.

Remember to care for yourself! Often simple is

more enjoyable for everyone.

Your Brighter Days Staff

Information & Admin: Paul Taylor, Program Manager, 360.407.3967, ext. 107 (left)

Lacey Attendance & Daily Operations: Jen Allen,

Lacey Site Manager, 360.407.3967, ext. 109 (right)

Shelton Attendance & Daily Operations: Kathy

Peck, Shelton Site Manager, 360.878.1189 (right) Enrollment, Support & Momentia: Cher i Knighton, Family Support Coordinator, 360.586.6181, ext. 111 (left)

Volunteer Spotlight

We are pleased to have Greg Andreassen volunteering with our

program. Greg helped seniors during her working years in the optical

field of healthcare and she has experience as a Nurse’s Aide.

Greg says she likes meeting the participants and helping them have

an enjoyable and happy day! She believes in the Golden Rule. Her

philosophy is live free and happy. She believes that the older you get,

the more important it is to stay engaged in activities that make you

happy and interacting with the community.

Greg moved here from California to live closer to her brother and his

family. She helps care for two nephews who are in the fourth and fifth grade. She wanted to find a volunteer opportunity while they are in school. We are so glad she found the Brighter Days Adult Day Program!

Art Show

Thursday, November 21 4:00-6:00 pm

Lacey Senior Center

It’s back by popular demand! Brighter Days will

be hosting our second annual Art Show for

participants and family members. We are also

opening our show to the greater community, so

please help us spread the word! Bring your friends

and come enjoy beautiful art created by our very

own talented Brighter Day participants. Food and

refreshments will be served. Join us to see this spectacular art collection in the Brighter Days room.

Give Where You Live Today!

We are excited to invite everyone you know to participate in

Give Local - an annual two-week giving campaign, hosted

by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound,

designed to encourage philanthropy in our local

communities. Starting November 6, you can become a part

of this growing movement to change lives by supporting a

cause close to our heart and yours – Brighter Days Adult Day Program. We are hoping to raise $6,000

during the campaign period! We thank the following participants for allowing us to share their stories…

Cecelia has been attending Brighter Days for six years because our program gives

her a place to belong and remain active both cognitively and physically. She calls

it her school. She lives with her son, Roy, who runs his own business and needs to

know his mom is in a safe place during the day. Cecelia often serves to help new

participants at Brighter Days feel welcome, showing interest and support for them,

being like a mother to them. Roy believes, "This compulsion to help others helps

her maintain and strengthen her cognitive abilities." Roy and his fiancé give back

by helping out at Brighter Days picnic and art show.

Gerald's time at Brighter Days gave his wife Suzette a break to help her maintain

her own health, both physical and mental, and to give her time to think about the

next steps in Gerald’s care. While Gerald was at Brighter Days, he formed a close

friendship with another participant, Carl. Both men found Brighter Days to be a safe

and encouraging place to spend time and find a new friend. Carl is a naturally caring

person and he was drawn to encourage and show concern for Gerald. They supported

one another and helped each other through each day. When Gerald moved into a care

facility, their spouses worked to help them maintain their friendship. Suzette says,

"The combination of interesting activities that maintain mental stimulation and

caring staff and volunteers makes the Brighter Days program a great place for

people living with dementia and their caregivers!"

Tom has Parkinson’s disease with dementia and he wanted to stay as active as

possible while giving his wife Samara a break to recharge her batteries. Tom has

formed strong friendships in the program and he appreciates the way the activities

challenge him to make the best of his diminishing abilities. Tom looks forward to

coming to the program, often participating in discussions and presentations about

science and space. Tom has a doctorate in elementary particle physics, operated a farm

and built homes. Tom likes the art projects because they give him a chance to express

himself. The Brighter Days program has been very beneficial to Samara who says,

"While dealing with fighting cancer and also caring for Tom, Brighter Days has

helped me cope with these challenges."

Your donation will help us meet the growing demand to accept more participants. By

expanding our facility and staff, we can accommodate more people in our community with new, extended hours. Please go to www.thecommunityfoundation.com or http://c-fund.us/n6e to donate starting November 6th! Thanks!

Support Groups for Family Caregivers

Lacey Senior Center 6757 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey 2nd Thursday, November 14, 2:30 - 4:30 pm Alpine Way 900 West Alpine Way, Shelton 2nd Thursday, November 14, 10:30 - 11:30 am St. Mark Lutheran Church 2109 College Street, Lacey 4th Friday, November 22, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Playing 6-Up In Shelton Brighter Days, the Friday group loves to

play 6-Up. The players lay out the first six cards of a

suit in front of themselves face up. Then using only one

dice, the players begin to chip away at their cards by

turning them over till all six cards are face down. The

first player to have their cards turned over is the winner

and collects a poker chip.

Studies have shown that playing a simple card game

like 6-Up, benefit people with Alzheimer’s, dementia

and other cognitive issues.

There is the challenge to see who is going to win first. And, there are physical benefits that include,

improvement in fine and gross motor skills, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination. There is memory

enhancement as well. The brain is able to learn and remember how to play this game. Depending on

how advanced the memory decline, the brain may hold onto how to play any game. This is a fun and

brain-friendly game to play.

Memory Café at River’s Edge: Thurs, 11/7 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Sing Along at Lacey Senior Center: Fri, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22 12:45 – 1:45 pm

Music Mends Minds at Olympia Senior Center: Tue, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26

12:30 – 2:00 pm

Memory Café at Sister’s Restaurant: Thurs, 11/21 2:30 – 4:30 pm

For complete details about all Momentia

activities, visit www.southsoundseniors.org or

contact Cheri Knighton at 360.586.6181, ext.

111 or cknighton@southsoundseniors.org.

Illness Policy

In case of illness, please help your participant remember to cough and sneeze into their shoulder or elbow.

If your participant is not feeling well (temperature of 110 or higher, runny eyes/nose, vomiting and/or diarrhea), home is the best place for them to be.

Transportation

Lacey: Please call Dial-a-Lift at 360.705.5827 if you need to cancel their ride for the day. Shelton: Call Dial-a-Ride at 360.427.5033.

Absence—Let Us Know

Lacey: 360.407.3967, ext. 109 Shelton: 360.878.1189

Short Story Writing

Recently, the Brighter Days Lacey group wrote a short story together. We looked at a Van Gogh

painting of a room and talked about who might live in this room. Then we started to think of specifics

and ask, “Is this a man or a woman? What kind of work do they do? What do they do when they are

not working?” The picture and the questions inspired a great story with input from the whole group.

This is the result…

People came and went in the boarding house; it was in the

countryside in Europe. The gentleman was alone, wishing he had a

wife, maybe. He was a clockmaker and he liked to spend his time

walking in the woods looking for something to make him happy.

One day as he walked, the clockmaker heard something unusual. It

sounded like growling, the growling of a dog, and suddenly a dog

appeared! He was shaggy—limping, thin and hungry. The

gentleman clockmaker wanted to help the dog. “Are you hungry?”

he asked. The dog went to the man and laid down in front of him.

The dog chewed his foot; the man could tell he was hurt. The clockmaker wanted to take the dog

home so he used his belt and Swiss army knife to craft a sled for the dog was too large to carry. The

dog trusted the man; he climbed onto the sled and the man dragged him home. He didn’t have dog

food so he offered the dog water; the dog quickly drank it. The man searched the boarding house and

found bread; the dog ate it happily. Soon after the dog curled up on the man’s bed with enough room

for the man to join him. To be continued…

Fall Caregiver Workshop

Friday, November 8 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (registration at 9:30 am) Capitol Event Center (6005 Tyee Dr SW, Tumwater) We will learn about Normal, Not Normal Aging, Falls Prevention, Momentia, and find time to have a great lunch. The workshop is $15 and register your support person at no extra cost. To register, call 360.664.2168, ext.102 or online at www.lmtaaa.org/fcspworkshop.You can pay at the door.

Music Mends Minds is a support for those who want to exercise and use their minds

to the greatest extent possible. Music creates pathways to enhance memories and keep

the mind functioning. Join the fun! Gratitude Concert is free and open to the public!

The Olympia Senior Center is located at 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia.

Be Watching for 2020 Educational Forums

It’s not too early to start marking your 2020 calendar for great educational seminars!

January 28: Healthy Living for Brain & Body February 25: Effective Communication in Dementia

March 24: Understanding Dementia Behaviors April 21: Conversations about Dementia

All classes will be 10:00 - 11:30 am at the Olympia Senior Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia.

They are free and open to the public. Please join us!

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1

Bingo

&

Sing Along

4

Football

&

Music w/ Joe

5

Clay sculpture

&

Targetball

6

Morning Music

Visit w/ Tilly & Nancy

Twister

7

Bingo

&

Shuffleboard

8

Lawn Darts

&

Sing Along

11

Closed

12

Bingo

&

Molkky

13

Morning Music

Visit w/ Tilly & Nancy

Flickin’ Chickens

14

Balloon/Pool Noodle &

Music

15

Circle Weaving

&

Sing Along

18

Centerpiece Craft

&

Music w/ Joe

19

Balloon Volleyball

&

Music

20

Visit w/ Tilly & Nancy

Story Writing

Bingo

21

Landscape Painting

&

Shuffleboard

22

Football

&

Sing Along

25

Bingo

&

Music w/ Joe

26

Leaf Prints

&

Bean bag toss

27

Morning Music

Visit w/ Tilly & Nancy

& Basketball

28

Closed

29

Closed

Lacey November 2019

Shelton November 2019