Category: Reducing Dementia Risk

Wayne and Bambi are having a good time singing a family favorite, "When Papa Put the Paper on the Wall"

Music is good medicine for those with dementia – take as needed

Posted on by seniajean

My sister and I recently had a lovely chat about music and its important role in the lives of people with dementia. She told me about the amazing story of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.
Tony Bennett was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016. By then, Lady Gaga had become Tony’s devoted protégé. Even after his diagnosis, they were still singing together. In 2021, they performed two sold-out concerts “One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.” The limiting and muting effects of Alzheimer’s seemed to disappear while he was singing.

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Our daughter visiting someone she loves. Background photo by Annie Spratt in Unsplash

Making Contact with Loved Ones: A Heartfelt Connection

Posted on by seniajean

While having lunch and visiting with our friends at one of the senior centers we regularly attend, old Motown songs played in the background. I found myself singing along with Stevie Wonder’s hit from 1984, “I Just Called to Say I Love You”. It reminded me of the importance of connecting with our loved ones. As Valentine’s Day approaches, this song, with its simple message, serves as a lovely reminder to make contact with those we love, especially those living alone or in nursing homes.

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Wayne is displaying some of our favorite books.

Reading Is Good for our Brains – Helping Reduce Dementia Risk

Posted on by seniajean

I got my love for reading from my Mama. She was an avid reader. Her love of a good mystery influenced my own reading habits. I read all her Agatha Christie and Rex Stout paperbacks, and she borrowed all my alphabet and cat mysteries. We also shared a love for Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason.

When it comes to reading, this is a great time of the year. The holiday season is over, and the weather keeps us inside more. These factors give us the perfect excuse to enjoy more guilt-free periods of curling up with a new or favorite book.

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Wayne is enjoying a great cup of coffee.

Hot or Cold, Coffee & Tea Help Diminish Dementia Risk

Posted on by seniajean

Are you a coffee or tea drinker? The refreshing aroma of coffee is one of my favorite childhood memories – and one I still enjoy to this day. My Mama was raised in a community of Finnish friends and relatives. Among the various aspects of Finnish culture that Mama enjoyed was the love of drinking coffee. I take after her in that way. I also love tea. Over the years, I have heard that coffee and tea are both very good for you, often followed by a contradictory article declaring they are very bad for you. I have followed the back-and-forth declarations. While some may say that the jury is still out, I continue to enjoy coffee in the morning (it used to be all day until I began to experience ‘wakefulness’ at night), and tea in the evening. My favorite blend is decaf Earl Grey and Chamomile.

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Amber Johnson leading us in our dance moves.

Give Chair Ballet A Whirl for Better Health

Posted on by seniajean

When I was a little girl, I took ballet classes. I don’t remember much about it except that I liked my pink tights, black leotards, and pink ballet shoes. I remember having a vague idea that at some point I would be switching out my ballet flats for the pretty pointe shoes. It soon became evident that my talents might lie elsewhere, so after a year or two, I stopped attending. Truthfully, I enjoyed ballet – just not the discipline it took to practice. I tried taking classes again when I was a tween-ager. Those didn’t last too long either. Many, many years later, someone offered what my friends and I light-heartedly referred to as the Old ladies ballet. It was truly a ton of fun. The class only lasted one season, but during that time, we learned a dance and enjoyed performing in front of our family and friends.

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A friend of ours sits with Wayne at a table at the end of a BINGO game.

BINGO – Great Game For Your Brain

Posted on by seniajean

One of the reasons I truly enjoy being retired is that we have so many Senior Centers in our area where we can socialize, as well as enjoy all the various activities each one offers. One of our favorite places holds a Bingo game every Friday. Now to be clear, this is not high stakes gambling. In fact, there is no cost to join in the fun, and the prizes are thoughtful items that a senior citizen might appreciate such as dish soap, hand soap, cleaning products, and paper towels. Though they may not be of great value, everyone who wins is happy to take home a box of tissues or a pretty bottle of soap.

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On a hot day in Red Bluff, California, Wayne is getting ready to take a drink from the water fountain located in the Cone & Kimball Plaza in downtown Red Bluff.

Staying hydrated is Essential – Especially when Dementia is Involved

Posted on by seniajean

One day, when my doctor called to give me the results of a blood test, I was quite surprised to hear that my creatinine level was up. Since she knew I had been on a trip to an area with a hot and dry climate, she suggested that I could be dehydrated. I certainly didn’t feel dehydrated, but I agreed to up my water intake for two weeks and then retest. Two weeks later, she called to inform me that the creatinine level was back to normal. I was surprised at how quickly dehydration had occurred. She explained that whenever we change our routine because of travel or sickness, the healthy habits we built into our daily lives are disrupted and our systems can get out of balance.

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Finding Community Is Good For Us Like A Medicine

Posted on by seniajean

Do you remember the old theme song from the TV show, Cheers written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart-Angelo? “…sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see, troubles are all the same, you want to be where everybody knows your name.” The writers really hit on something – as the song immediately became an iconic sentiment for the universal desire to belong. There is something so wonderful about walking into a place and watching someone’s eyes light up with recognition and joy that you are there. On the other hand, there is something quite heart-wrenching about walking through your day virtually invisible and un-greeted by those around you.

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A variety of photos from previous posts regarding dementia reduction.

Reduce Your Dementia Risk in 2024

Posted on by seniajean

Over the last few years, quite a bit of attention has been paid to the subject of dementia. The information has included ways to reduce your risk, as well as lifestyles that may contribute to cognitive decline. I originally began this blog back in 2015 as a kind of continuation of the stories collected in a book I wrote about our family’s experience with my Mama when she had dementia. The book shares our family’s quest to help her find joy in the journey and finish well. As time has passed, I find myself and those around me – especially caregivers, becoming more interested in ways they can lower their own risk.

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