Take care of your emotional needs after your Alzheimer’s diagnosis – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Take care of your emotional needs after your Alzheimer’s diagnosis – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Coming to terms with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and the emotions you may be feeling can help you move forward and discover new ways to live a positive and fulfilling life. It’s important to find healthy ways to deal with your emotions; once you make the commitment to take care of your emotional needs, you may find that you can rise to the challenge and face your diagnosis.

You have a choice in how you live your life with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. It is possible to live well with Alzheimer’s by taking control of your health and wellness, and focusing your energy on the aspects of your life you find most meaningful.

You don’t want to live in the forefront of grief. Living with Alzheimer’s disease is a balance.

Karel S., person living with Alzheimer’s

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Making an impact in 2017! – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Making an impact in 2017! – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

As we begin 2018, we look back on all that has happened during the past year and look forward to all that is to come in the next. We have had the great pleasure to serve those with dementia and their families and look forward to a day when our services are no longer needed. Until that day, we are here for you. Check out some of the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter highlights from 2017.

Making an Impact in 2017!

So many new and extraordinary thing have happened in Illinois this year to move us closer to achieving a world without Alzheimer’s and enhancing care and support for all those affected.

Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Junior Board‘s Paint the Night Purple hosted a record 900 attendees and raised more than $122,500.
  • Leading the nation for the seventh year in a row for TrialMatch enrollments.
  • Continued leadership by the Illinois staff and volunteers on national advisory boards and groups.
  • 2,304 respondents to our annual State of Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease Survey.
  • More than 300 people attended the 11th annual Memory Rock Chicago event, which raised more than $91,000 for the Illinois Chapter.
  • Three Alzheimer’s researchers received grant fundraising totaling $909,910.
  • More than 30 Chicago buildings turned purple in recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
  • The number of educational programs facilitated by the Illinois Chapter increased by 73% from FY16 to FY17. Program attendance also increased by 93%.
  • More than 3,000 Illinois Chapter volunteers provided a total of 25,872 hours of service. The estimated dollar value for this volunteer time according to the Independent Sector is $624,550.
  • In Fiscal Year 2017, the Illinois Chapter answered 9,220 Helpline calls.
  • Care Navigation assisted 207 enrollees.
  • The RivALZ Blondes vs. Brunettes flag football game raised more than $54,000.
  • In FY17, The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter website hit 2.4 million visits.
  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon ALZ Stars team raised $429,000 – surpassing their initial goal of $400,000.
  • Bankers Life employees and Alzheimer’s Association volunteers from across the state raised more than $29,000 for the Illinois Chapter during the 15th Annual Forget Me Not Days fundraiser.
  • Through the end of FY17, the Caregiver Buddy App (which was created by the Chapter communications and programs teams) reached over 5,000 total lifetime downloads.
  • The Illinois Chapter holds the #1 spot for AIM recruitment.
  • Launch of the new Silver Search Program in Illinois, which will help locate individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia when they wander.
  • The Jean Chinn Memorial Golf Outing hosted by Bob Chinn’s Crab House raised $27,245.43 for the Illinois Chapter.

Of course, all of this is due to our energetic, creative and passionate staff, a dedicated and strategic Board of directors, volunteers who provide tremendous vibrancy to all our efforts, and our Alzheimer’s Champions, who share our passion for eliminating Alzheimer’s disease. From everyone here at the Alzheimer’s Association, thank you for your continued support and dedication.

Man with younger-onset Alzheimer’s aims to enjoy the holidays – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Man with younger-onset Alzheimer’s aims to enjoy the holidays – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Last year, the holidays passed by Phil Gutis in a blur. At age 54, he’d recently been diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, and his days were consumed with the realities of dealing with the disease. This year, Gutis, a member of the Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group, has been determined to introduce a level of peace and calm to the holiday season.

Last year, the holidays passed in a blur. At age 54, I had recently been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and my days were consumed with sadness and the need to deal with the realities of a fatal disease: long-term care insurance, wills, powers of attorney.

This year, almost 18 months post-diagnosis, I’m determined to introduce a level of holiday peace and calm: to slow down, spend time with family and friends and enjoy a bit of the wonder of the holiday season.

But it hasn’t been easy.

The cold reality of Alzheimer’s has already twice disturbed this holiday season. On Thanksgiving, I ignored every single iota of advice I had received and attended a large, annual party. I was determined to enjoy myself even though I’ve been told that large gatherings can overwhelm someone living with Alzheimer’s. Sadly, these warnings proved true and soon the noise volume in the room and the many simultaneous conversations taking place became too much for my brain. I tried planting myself in a quiet corner in front of the ball game on television, but I soon burst into tears and retreated to a bedroom by myself.

My husband, Tim, soon found me and said we should leave. I stubbornly insisted that we stay so he could enjoy the party, but given the circumstances I doubt he did.

A few weeks later, we attended a small celebration of two family birthdays. There was nothing stressful about the situation, but it was a very long day and, toward the end of the evening, I suddenly got very tired and once again burst out in tears. I couldn’t stop and had to leave without even saying goodbye. The tears didn’t end until we were halfway home, maybe 20 minutes later.

Wanting to surround myself with family and loved ones during the holidays while at the same time being overwhelmed by the experience is a cruel paradox of Alzheimer’s. But I am not giving up and continue to strive to find the right balance.

Facing Alzheimer’s at 51: One family’s story

07:23

Seems crazy now, but slowing down to enjoy the holiday season is not something I’ve done previously. Ever since graduating from Penn State University and winning acceptance into the clerical program at The New York Times, every waking hour has been about work. Working endlessly to win promotion to reporter. And when I shifted from journalist to advocate, I worked endlessly for our civil liberties and environment. By the time I left my job as communications director for an international environmental advocacy group, I was commuting 5 hours a day, supervising a team of 50, spending endless hours on airplanes and days in hotels.

Work was all consuming.

But Alzheimer’s changes many things, including one’s priorities.

I’ve now put my work life behind me. I would like to say it was 100 percent my decision, but the truth is that my progressing Alzheimer’s had its say, too. Although I wake up many mornings feeling absolutely fine and wondering if the Alzheimer’s diagnosis is nothing more than a really bad nightmare, the feeling doesn’t last long. I’ll start to struggle for words, realize that I’ve completely misplaced an important document or totally forgotten something that happened the day — or hour — before. I definitely feel as though I’m deteriorating and I increasingly rely on Tim for my day-to-day memory.

As my disease intensifies, so too, does my desire to focus on the things in my life that matter most. I know that I must take seriously the need to find peace on earth (or at least on the small piece of earth that I call home). I’m working on slowing down, appreciating life more and taking time for myself. Long regular walks along the Delaware River with my dog. Stopping to enjoy — and snap a photo — of the sunrise or sunset. Reading in a comfy chair with my husband and our dogs nearby.

This year, I’ve vowed to accompany friends to New York to see the holiday windows and tree at Rockefeller Center. (Although I lived in the city for many years, work had trumped holiday sightseeing.) But in planning my trip, I am mapping out quiet places to recharge when events become too much.

Slowly, I’m learning this holiday season that it’s probably better to leave the hustle and bustle of the holidays to others. That doesn’t mean, however, I will let my Alzheimer’s keep me from family or friends or doing the things most important to me. I am carving out my own holiday path this year. It will be smaller and slower, but just as sweet.

Phil Gutis is a National Early-Stage Advisor for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association offers these holiday tips for people living with Alzheimer’s.

Famous & 65 – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Famous & 65 – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers – www.OptimumSeniorcare.com

Look Who Is Turning 65

View the celebrities turning 65 in October 2017.

Look Who’s Turning 65

October 7 – Vladimir Putin

The former spy with the Mona Lisa smile has held a vice grip on power in Russia for the last 18 years. He emerged as Prime Minister in 1999, then became President of Russia from 2000 to 2008. Putin again served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012, and then President once starting in 2012 to the present.

How does he maintain his power? Legally (and Putin first trained as an attorney), no one in Russia can serve as president three times in a row. But you can be president as many times as you want, as long as it’s not more than twice in a row, per the Constitution of Russia. In a more practical sense, Putin has created a network of oligarchs allied to him, and insures that the wealth of the state is funneled their way.

Interestingly, many of Putin’s foes seem to wind up dead. Whether poisoned, shot in the back, beaten to death in police custody or found with a noose around their neck, a number of journalists, attorneys, former friends and activists critical of Putin will never make it to age 65. Putin’s government consistently denies knowledge of the incidents.

After his work in East Germany with the KGB, Lenin returned to his old stomping grounds and birthplace, Leningrad. In June of 1990 he was employed in the International Affairs section of Leningrad State University, and a year later he was appointed head of the international committee of the Saint Petersburg mayor’s office, where his job was to promote international relations and foreign investments, still under the umbrella of the spy agency.

Putin came to Moscow in 1996, where he served in a variety of positions in the government of Boris Yeltsin. He headed the FSB (a modern version of the KGB) from 1998 to 1999, and then became Secretary of the Security Council before serving as Prime Minister.

Most recently, Putin has been connected with the Russian bombing of Syrian hospitals. Another notable feature are state photos of the bare-chested commander on vacation. He’s a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, and has two daughters from a previous marriage.


October 7 – Ludmilla Tourischeva

 

You couldn’t watch gymnastics in the late 60’s and early 70’s without seeing Ludmilla Tourischeva, the pride of the Soviet Union. She won the gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics just after turning 16. Two years later, she became the leader of the Soviet team and dominated almost every major international competition from 1970 to 1974.

Tourischeva won the World Championships all-around in 1970 and 1974, and the European Championships in 1971 and 1973. She also brought home the all-around gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, but at age 20 she couldn’t compete with her up-and-coming teammate, Olga Korbut, for popularity.

Already old for a gymnast at nearly 23, Tourischeva placed third in the 1975 European Championships but rebounded to sweep the World Cup later that year. Struggling to recover from a back injury, Tourischeva competed in her third and final Olympics in 1976 in Montreal. The veteran led the Soviets to a team gold, winning silver medals on vault and floor exercise in the event finals.

Tourischeva was known for both her calm demeanor and extreme focus. She “never had the cheek of some of her rivals,” wrote British journalist David Hunn, “but for serenity, she was supreme.”

This was proven when a broken hook holding the support cables for the uneven bars caused them to fall apart and hit the ground just as the gymnast landed her dismount at the 1975 World Cup finals. Saluting the judges, Tourischeva didn’t even turn around as she exited the podium. She went on to win the all-around and all four event finals.

Many years later, she said the only thing she was thinking at the time was she had to stick her landing. “Ludmilla would fight to the death in any situation,” said her coach, Rastorotsky.

The gymnast displayed a large measure of grace as well as grit. At the 1976 Olympics, Tourischeva walked around the winners’ podium to congratulate Romanian rival Nadia Comaneci before accepting her own medal.

In 1977, Tourischeva married Olympic sprinter Valeriy Borzov. She became a coach and international gymnastics judge, as well as an official of the Ukrainian gymnastics federation. In 1998, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.


October 9 – Sharon Osbourne

 

With homes in London and Malibu, Sharon Osbourne is doing well. The former Sharon Rachel Levy has made a name for herself as an English television host, media personality, television talent competition judge, author, music manager, modern impresario, businesswoman and promoter. Oh, and she’s also the wife of heavy metal (and heavily tattooed) singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne.

Fans shot her into prominence after seeing her in The Osbournes. Among the first reality shows that featured a famous family, it often captured one of their dogs peeing and pooping on rugs, carpets, or pretty much anywhere in their house. The honesty of the show won Osbourne fans, and she parlayed her fame into stints judging television talent shows such as America’s Got Talent, where she doled out opinions from 2007 to 2012.

Osbourne is credited with reviving her husband’s career by founding the summer Ozzfesttour. She’s also a co-host of the daytime series The Talk, and she does the occasional spot on the British Loose Women, where she discusses relevant issues ranging from politics to current affairs, and even celebrity gossip.

All that work has made her a rich woman. Her net worth is estimated at $220 million.

Osbourne’s fabulous good looks aren’t due to daily facials and a weekly massage. She’s been open about the numerous plastic surgeries in her past because she has said she didn’t want other women to have unrealistic ideas about their own appearance. But she’s vowed not to have any more procedures. “There’s only so much the human body can take!” she says.


October 13 – Michael Richard Clifford

 

“Rich” Clifford is a retired United States Army officer and NASA astronaut with more than 3,400 flying hours under his belt. Clifford graduated from West Point in 1974 and served a tour of duty in Fort Carson, Colorado. He graduated at the top of his class at the U.S. Army Aviation School two years later. In 1982, he completed a Master of Science degree from Georgia Tech and returned to West Point as an instructor.

In 1986, Clifford graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and earned his experimental test pilot designation. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1995 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In 1994, Clifford was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but only his commander knew about it. The diagnosis was the reason that Clifford quit the space program two years later, uncertain how fast his case would progress. His struggle with the disease was detailed in a documentary, An Astronaut’s Secret.

Clifford began work at the Johnson Space Center in 1987 as a space shuttle vehicle integration engineer. His flights as an astronaut included a 1992 launch of the space shuttle Discovery, the 1994 launch of the space shuttle Endeavour, and a mission to Russian space station Mir aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. Clifford performed a spacewalk more than six hours long to mount experiment packages on the Mir docking module.

Clifford left NASA in January 1997 to accept the position of Space Station Flight Operations Manager for Boeing’s Defense and Space Group.


October 22 – Jeff Goldblum

 

Who hasn’t seen The Big Chill? The 1983 social satire and Boomer nostalgia flick is where many children of the 50’s were introduced to Jeff Goldblum, an American actor whose work includes such classics as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Independence Day, and The Fly.

Nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy, a Genie and a Drama Desk Award, Goldblum’s career has thrived. His more recent films include:

The Tall Guy (1989), Deep Cover (1992), Powder(1995), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Cats & Dogs(2001), Igby Goes Down (2002), The Life Aquaticwith Steve Zissou (2004), Adam Resurrected (2008), Le Week-End (2013) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). He has been cast as Grandmaster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Thor: Ragnarok. He also starred in several TV series including the eighth and ninth seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Zack Nichols.

Goldblum’s first marriage was to Patricia Gaul, his co-star in Silverado. Their union lasted from 1980 to 1986. In 1987, he tied the knot with actress Geena Davis. In three years together, they headlined Transylvania 6-5000, The Fly and Earth Girls Are Easy.

Goldblum spent the next 24 years as a single man. In 2014 he became engaged to Canadian Olympic gymnast Emilie Livingston, 30 years his junior. Their first son, Charlie Ocean, was born on the 4th of July in 2015. A second child, River Joe, came into the world on April 7, 2017.


Sources

Here are 10 critics of Vladimir Putin who died violently or in suspicious ways,” The Washington Post.

Bare-chested Putin photos released by Russian state media,” The Washington Post.

East Aleppo’s last hospital destroyed by airstrikes,” The Guardian.

Sharon Osbourne reveals the full extent of her plastic surgery past Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2439966/Sharon-Osbourne-reveals-extent-plastic-surgery-past.,” Daily Mail.

FAMOUS & 65 is a featured article in the Senior Spirit newsletter.

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
www.csa.us

Coffee Break – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Coffee Break – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Colorado Peaches

Senior women find a sense of community and competition as members of the Colorado Peaches, a team that is only open to those 70 years of age or older.

Senior women find a sense of community and competition as members of the Colorado Peaches, a team that is only open to those 70 years of age or older.

You cannot join the Colorado Peaches unless you’re a woman at least 70 years old. They are a Denver-based softball team competing in the Huntsman World Senior Games October 9-21 in St. George, Utah.

Elder statesman and second baseman Maggie McCloskey is 86. She says age disappears when you’re belting a pitch into the gap in left-center.

“You’re never too old to play; and that play element is so, so important,” she said. “Being on a team…I could just go on and on…it’s just awesome.”

The team’s purpose is “to inspire those who have the courage and audacity to follow continue to grow and improve with age.” The Peaches spread joy, fun and love through team play, physical exercise, camaraderie and competition.

The team’s motto: Life begins when you get in the game. The Peaches don’t care if you’ve never played ball. They don’t care if you can’t run… you can hit and throw, and someone will run for you.

The team has been together for 25 years, encouraging women to come play. Current members range from 74 to 86 years young. As their Web site says:

“The big thing we have discovered is that we can continue to improve with age. Everybody on our team has really improved. Our whole attitude has been ‘the longer I play, the better I am.’ We don’t just maintain, we really get better.”

Huntsman World Senior Games

You can watch the Peaches compete at the Huntsman World Senior Games, an athletic competition exclusively for those 50 years old and up. Since 1987, the Huntsman games has promoted fitness as a way of life for those nearing or in retirement.

From shuffleboard to shooting, there is a sport for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you make it to the medal podium. The event emphasizes everyone for their achievements, and includes a roster of social events including band concerts and dances to bring athletes together.

The Games also promote health with screenings for breast and prostate cancer, glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and bone density. Sponsors provide diagnostic equipment and services. The medical and nursing students assisting with screenings donate their time.

If you’re intrigued, you can throw in a visit to a nearby national park such as Bryce or Zion. You might even want to participate in the Games as a volunteer. Thousands of them help the Games run smoothly every year. Don’t forget to say hello to the Peaches while you’re there.


Sources

The Women Of The Colorado Peaches Softball Team Think They’ve Found A Fountain Of Youth,” Colorado Public Radio.

Huntsman World Senior Games,” Huntsman World Senior Games.

Field Of Our Own Denver Area Senior Women Softball,” Colorado Peaches.

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
www.csa.us