Unforgettable Art tickets on sale now

Join us Saturday, April 23 for a truly unique experience…Unforgettable Art. You’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and music while watching 50 talented artists convert blank canvases into works of art. The evening concludes with a live auction of all artwork.

About Unforgettable Art

During this unique event guest enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and music while they watch 50 talented artists convert blank canvases into works of art. The evening concludes with a live auction of all artwork.

Unforgettable Art benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter. Support from this event allows us to further our mission of funding research, proving programs, support services and education to Alzheimer’s patients, families and caregivers.

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Visit John Lambert’s photography to view pictures from past events.

About our Chapter

The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter serves 68 counties in Illinois with offices in Bloomington, Carbondale, Chicago, Joliet, Rockford and Springfield. Since 1980, the Chapter has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes. Learn more

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Alzheimer’s disease caregivers also have to take care of themselves

As a caregiver for a person living with Alzheimer’s, you may find yourself with so many responsibilities that you neglect taking good care of yourself. But the best thing you can do for the person you are caring for is stay physically and emotionally strong.

As a caregiver, you may find yourself with so many responsibilities that you neglect taking good care of yourself. But the best thing you can do for the person you are caring for is stay physically and emotionally strong. Here’s how:

• See the doctor
• Get moving
• Eat well
• Tips to help you cope

See the doctor

Trying to do everything by yourself will leave you exhausted. Don’t do it alone. Seek support from family, friends, your faith community and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Find your local chapter.

Be sure to visit your physician regularly (at least annually), and listen to what your body is telling you. Any exhaustion, stress, sleeplessness, or changes in appetite or behavior should be taken seriously. Ignoring these symptoms can cause your physical and mental health to decline.

If you are caring for someone in the late-stages of Alzheimer’s, talk to your health care provider about the seasonal flu shot. Being vaccinated protects both you and the person you are caring for.

LEARN MORE:
Caregiver DepressionStress ManagementLate-State Care: Infections

Get moving

No doubt you know that exercise is an important part of staying healthy — it can help relieve stress, prevent disease and make you feel good. But finding the time to exercise is another story.

Use these tips:

• Take friends and family members up on their offers to help.
  You can get in a good workout in a short amount of time — even a 30 minute break. Use our Care Team Calendar to help coordinate a schedule where you have breaks to exercise and take care of your health.
• Start small.
  While it is recommended that you get 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week, even 10 minutes a day can help. Fit in what you can, and work toward a goal.

• Use our Care Team Calendar.Our free online calendar helps coordinate friends, family and neighbors that offer to help with caregiving. Learn more.

  Exercise at home.
  When the person with dementia naps, pull out a yoga mat and stretch, set up a stationary bike, or try exercise tapes.

• Find something you love.
  If you enjoy the activity, it will be easier to make it a habit.

There also are many ways you can be active with the person with dementia. Here are a few ideas:

• Take a walk together outside to enjoy the fresh air
• Go to the mall and take a stroll indoors
• Do seated exercises at home
• Dance together to favorite music
• Garden or do other routine activities that you both enjoy

Eat well

Heart-healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, are good for overall health and may help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively little red meat and emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats. Try new recipes and involve the person with dementia.

Need ideas on how to go healthy?
Try these resources:

• Nutrition: Tips for Improving Your Health (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Eat Right Nutrition Tips (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Healthy Breakfast: Quick, Flexible Options to Grab at Home (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

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Five tips to help you cope

Caregiver Stress Check

Alzheimer caregivers frequently report high levels of stress. Take our quiz and get resources to help.

• Manage your level of stress.
  Consider how stress affects your body (stomach aches, high blood pressure) — and your emotions (overeating, irritability). Find ways to relax. Learn more.
• Be realistic.
  The care you give does make a difference, but many behaviors can’t be controlled. Grieve the losses, focus on positive times as they arise, and enjoy good memories.
• Give yourself credit, not guilt.
  It’s normal to lose patience or feel like your care may fall short sometimes. You’re doing the best you can. For support and encouragement, join ALZConnected, our online caregiver community.
• Take a break.
  It’s normal to need a break from caregiving duties. No one can do it all by themselves. Look into respite care to allow time to take care of yourself.
• Accept changes.
  Eventually your loved one will need more intensive kinds of care. Research care options now so you are ready for the changes as they occur.

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There are many factors to weigh when buying a computer, but the first one is to decide what kind of tasks you plan on doing with your computer.

If you’re buying a new computer (or even your first one), how do you decide? The first priority is to figure out what you need or want: a place to check email and your Facebook page or to play games? Or do you require something more serious, a place to write your blog or edit your photos? Your answer will dictate whether you need a more powerful desktop computer or a smaller and more portable laptop.

You may already know whether you prefer an Apple or Windows operating system (think of it as the mastermind behind your computer). Windows is available with various computer brands, while Apple uses its own system. Apple computers are generally more expensive, though most computer pros consider them to be the best.

Desktop or Laptop?

When deciding between a desktop or laptop, there are several factors to consider. Desktops are bigger and generally have more power and storage, so they are better for complex tasks, such as photo editing or playing games. The separate monitor (display screen) can be as big as you want because you don’t have to carry it around. Though larger, desktops are less expensive than laptops because it costs more to make smaller components. With a desktop, you can change out the parts when new technology comes along, which is not possible with laptops.

Because of its smaller size, a laptop computer is more portable, with a built-in keyboard, mouse and monitor, and its functions are more limited than with a desktop. If you don’t need much more than an Internet browser or word processor, a laptop would do the job. Keep in mind that a laptop uses built-in, rechargeable battery power when you are not plugged in to an electrical outlet. When choosing a laptop, consider the battery life, as different models boast varying battery power.

One popular type of laptop is the tablet, such as Apple’s iPad, which is smaller and even more portable than a traditional laptop. A tablet will let you check your email, get on the Internet, watch movies, listen to music, read e-books and take photos. Typically, instead of a keyboard, tablets use a touch screen, which allows only for simple tasks. They have less power than a laptop, so you can’t do all the things you would do on a laptop or desktop, such as data entry or photo and video editing. Tablets have a smaller storage space than laptops (16 to 128 gigabytes [GB] compared to 500 GB or more for a laptop). However, tablets are generally more affordable and have a longer battery life. Older adults, especially those who don’t use their computers for complex tasks, find the tablets more user-friendly and like the portable option.

Nuts and Bolts

When deciding between individual computers, check out the numbers:

Storage. All your data—photos, music, programs, documents—are stored on your computer’s hard drive, so the more data you have, the bigger the hard drive you’ll need. Average users need about 500 GB.

Memory/RAM. Temporary information is stored on your computer’s RAM, so if you have a lot of programs running, a sufficient amount of RAM will keep your computer humming along without crashing or slowing down. RAM is measured in GB, so the more storage you have, the faster your computer will be.

Processor. This is the brains of the computer and is measured in gigahertz (GHz). So, the bigger the number of GHz, the more data the computer can process in a shorter amount of time.

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Gratitude Linked to Positive Emotions and Good Health

Studies show gratitude increases a sense of well-being and happiness, as well as boosting the immune system and heart health.

Studies show gratitude increases a sense of well-being and happiness, as well as boosting the immune system and heart health.

Some of us grew up with parents encouraging us to eat our vegetables by telling us that children were starving in China. In other words, be grateful that you have boiled carrots and peas to eat. We may not have made the connection when we were young, but as we grew older, many of us adopted the practice of bowing our heads and giving thanks for the food on the table.

While many religions have emphasized gratitude for centuries, research is giving the concept renewed attention by showing its many health benefits. Studies indicate that positive emotions and actions, such as happiness, optimism and being sociable, can reduce stress and therefore decrease disease and promote longevity.

Benefits of Gratitude

Many studies link grateful feelings or actions to improvements in physical and emotional health. According to research, gratitude:

• Strengthens the immune system and lowers blood pressure
• Raises levels of positive emotions
• Creates more happiness and optimism
• Decreases aggression
• Reduces loneliness and feelings of isolation
• Boosts heart health
• Improves relationships, both with old and new friends as well as spouses/partners
• Decreases aches and pains
• Improves sleep
• Increases empathy
• Boosts sense of well-being
• Improves self-esteem
• Helps overcome trauma disorders

Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that researchers say boosts the immune system. Also, grateful and optimistic people tend to be healthier because they have the energy and motivation to exercise more, eat a healthier diet and get regular physical exams.

When people thank others, they are widening their circle and seeing themselves as part of a larger world. Such feelings are linked to a healthier outlook on life and better health.

Website Embraces Gratitude
gratefulness.org

There’s even a website dedicated to gratefulness. The sponsoring organization was cofounded by a Benedictine brother, David Steindl-Rast, who writes about how he learned to be grateful while growing up during World War II in Germany. ”Towards the end of the war, we had nothing to eat. We were just really starving . . . and when you have so little, you are so much more grateful for the little that you have.” He points out that poor people are usually more grateful than rich, because “their vessel is very small. The smallest thing makes it already overflow; and this sparking of life, this joy of life, is the overflow. It’s the overflowing with gratefulness and thankfulness.”

The website offers a daily question that Steindl-Rast answers, monthly Grateful News—in February reporting on the California desert blooming after a drought, the election to the British Columbia legislature of its first aboriginal female member and an Oklahoma restaurant owner who extended an invitation for a free meal to homeless people—a library of resources, a variety of sample practices and the opportunity to network with others.

Where Do You Start?

Being grateful is not always easy, especially if you are going through hard times. In fact, getting older makes gratitude more difficult because of age-related challenges: losing friends, decreasing physical abilities, worrying about money or perceiving our lives as diminished.

At this time of life, it’s even more important to focus on what there is to be grateful for: new grandchildren, a sunny day, a good meal or close friends. In fact, research has shown that people who endure major life challenges—fighting cancer, watching a loved one die or even living through 9/11—often learn to appreciate the small things. One man battling lung cancer walked out of the hospital one day and was enchanted by the song of a bird.

Even forcing yourself to be grateful can have results, experts say, pointing to a famous study in which people were told to hold a smile for 20 seconds. Even if they weren’t happy, just the physical action made people feel better.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

Keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down who or what you are grateful for. This can include small things, like someone opening the door for you at a store or restaurant. Record your appreciation for a good job, your health or a gorgeous sunset.

Thank others. This can be in the form of a thought—a silent acknowledgement of someone who has helped you—or as a note or phone call to express your appreciation.

Pray or meditate. Praying or focusing on the present moment can often engender feelings of gratitude. Many religions emphasize, often with prayers, the importance of gratitude.

Look back. Call to mind those who have helped you in the past: grandparents, a teacher, neighbor or friend you’ve lost touch with. In your life, you’ve had many encounters with people who touched you in some way. Be grateful for them.

“Grateful living is a way of life which asks us to notice all that is already present and abundant—from the tiniest things of beauty to the grandest of our blessings—and in so doing, to take nothing for granted. . . . Small, grateful acts every day can uplift us, make a difference for others, and help change the world”

— Gratefulness.org

There’s No Reason to Save All Your Financial Records

You only need to keep some statements and bills for a year.
Tax season is a good time to throw away unnecessary documents
—and get rid of some clutter.

While filing your 2015 taxes and digging through years of receipts and old files, you may wonder if you really need to keep all your documents going back to the time when the Beatles sang “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” So what can you get rid of? Experts say you need to keep some records forever, but you can dispose of others after a few years.

Tax Documents

The IRS advises you to save your tax returns for a minimum of three years. Generally, the tax agency can audit you three years from the filing or due date of the return, and you have three years to claim a refund. However, if you failed to report more than 25 percent of your gross income, the IRS has six years to assess an additional tax, and if you don’t file a tax return at all, there is no statute of limitations.

However, many financial experts say you should save your returns forever. MarketWatchtells the story of one man preparing to retire who discovered that his Social Security record showed he was short by two years for retirement benefits. Unfortunately, he had shredded all the tax returns that would have shown he had worked enough quarters to qualify for benefits immediately. He couldn’t get help from IRS records either, because the tax agency didn’t have electronic transcripts going that far back. So he ended up working two more years to qualify.

Another reason to keep your tax returns is that they can be helpful when settling estates, applying for a mortgage or disability insurance, or tracking down the value of certain assets. In fact, some creditors and insurance companies require you to keep records longer than the IRS does.

Also save supporting documents for at least three years, although some experts say to keep those forever, too. Documents can include copies of your W-2 forms; 1099 forms reporting interest, dividends, capital-gains distributions and other income; canceled checks and receipts for charitable donations; and records showing eligible expenses for other deductions and credits (and eligible expenses for health saving accounts and 529 withdrawals).

Retirement Plans

Keep records showing how much you deposited and withdrew from your IRA and 401(k) accounts. Don’t shred your IRA Forms 8606 until you withdraw all of the money from your individual retirement account(s). You may need them to prove you’ve already paid taxes on the contributions and won’t be taxed on them again. Experts say to keep tax forms for retirement accounts such as IRAs until seven years after the account is depleted.

Stock and Mutual Funds

Hang on to your quarterly investment statements until you receive your annual statement so you can check to make sure they match. Experts say to keep annual statements for three years after you sell the investments.

When it comes time to sell your stocks or mutual funds in taxable accounts, you’ll need the original records showing the purchase date and price so you can establish the cost basis and determine whether it’s a loss or gain. Although brokerages are required to report the cost basis of stocks purchased in 2011 or later and mutual funds and exchange-traded funds purchased in 2012 or later, it’s helpful to keep your own records, especially if you switch brokers.

Your Home

As long as you live in your home, keep the records showing the purchase price of the home as well as how much you spent on improvements. For one thing, if you make a nice profit on the sale of the home (more than $250,000 for those who are single and more than $500,000 for couples), you can reduce your tax bill by subtracting the cost of major home improvements (not repairs). Also, potential buyers may want validation for any home improvements you did. After you sell the house, keep the sale documents for three years as documentation for capital-gains tax.

Make sure you keep receipts and warranties for major household items, such as furniture, appliances and electronics, so you can return the items if needed. You can get rid of a warranty when the coverage period has passed, and the receipt when you no longer own an item.

If you have property at home, such as office equipment used for a small business that you may want to amortize, depreciate or sell, you may want to keep the sale records until the statute of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the property.

How to Safely Store Documents

For documents you need to save, experts stress that it’s important to have a good system, not least because you’ll be able to find them easily if you need them. In an electronic age, you now have two choices for where to store crucial documents: in a traditional file cabinet or safe deposit box, or on your computer or the cloud.

Always store important papers, like birth certificates, in a safe deposit box or other fireproof container. A paper filing system with labeled folders needs to be well organized, as does a system online.

If physical space is tight, you can scan your documents and save them digitally on your computer. However, you need to back up electronic files, either on a hard or storage drive, or on a Web storage site, such as Dropbox. Make sure the online storage site has a good reputation, encrypts the information and offers automatic backup and good technical support.

Increasingly many financial institutions, including banks and brokerages, provide online access to customers’ account statements for a few years, so you can always check your records online (or download them onto your computer) without keeping paper statements.

When it comes time to get rid of monthly bills or receipts, to lessen the risk of identity theft, make sure you shred the documents rather than dump them in the trash.

Insurance records. Keep policies that you renew each year, such as those for your home, apartment or car, until you get new policies. Then get rid of the old ones, although some experts advise holding on to the old polices for three years.

Purchases. You can hang on to your sales receipts until you receive the credit-card or bank statement (if not paying with cash) or until the warranty or return period expires. However, if you need the sales receipt for tax purposes, you should keep it for three years.

Paycheck stubs. Keep for one year, until you can compare stubs to your W-2 and annual Social Security statement at the end of the year.

Utility bills. Keep for one year, unless you have a home office and you’re filing these expenses as a deduction, in which case you need to keep the bills for three years after you’ve filed your tax return.

Bank accounts. Keep canceled checks and bank statements for one year, until you finish your taxes, unless you need them to prove deductions, in which case you should keep for three years. After you reconcile your deposit and ATM receipts with your monthly checking and saving account statements, you can discard them.

Credit card receipts. Keep for one year, unless you need the receipt to support a tax deduction, such as for a charitable contribution, in which case you need to keep for three years.

Vehicle records. Hold on to purchase receipts, titles and registration information as long as you own the car, boat, truck or other vehicle.

Crucial documents. Records that you should store forever and in a safe place include marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, wills, records of paid mortgages, Social Security cards and military discharge papers.

Credit card receipts. Don’t dispose of loan information until after the mortgage, vehicle, student or other loan is paid off.

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