Hello everyone!

We have some extremely exciting news for our Memory Partners members. We have been working on creating a website just for you! Instead of receiving a monthly email, you will soon be able to go to the new website and access the latest program updates, view helpful resources, and view a calendar of upcoming educational workshops and support groups. You’ll even be able to sign up right online! The hope is that a dedicated website will make it easier for you to get the program information you need and want. We are hoping to launch soon, and will be in touch as to how to access and use the site. We look forward to your feedback about this new tool.

Mindful Monday Meditation

Memory Partners offers a short morning meditation every Monday at 8:15 a.m. (if Monday falls on a holiday, the meditation group will not meet that week, but you are encouraged to meditate on your own on those weeks!)

Meditation has been shown to have many benefits, including reducing harmful effects of stress, increased attention and improved mood, just to name just a few. Join us, then let us know how it helps in your caregiving journey!

Reflections

Mindfulness

The word mindfulness seems to be a buzzword these days. It’s all over social media, and many wellness-focus businesses are promoting their own versions of mindful practices. But what does it actually mean, and why is it good for us?

Simply put, mindfulness refers to the practice of paying close attention to a particular thing or phenomenon. There are countless ways to employ the practice. For example, you can do a mindful meditation in which you try to focus only on your breath. You can eat mindfully, taking time to appreciate the origins of your food, the color, texture, taste, feel and smell of it; and chewing slowly and carefully, noting how your food changes in all of these ways as you chew and swallow it. It can refer to the attention you pay to your path or your surroundings as you take a walk – taking in the sights, smells, sounds and feelings as you stroll.

Essentially, the point is to focus on the present moment, rather than letting your mind get carried away in thought. Of course, thoughts always pop up, but when you are practicing mindfulness, you are encouraged to let them drift away again.

What’s the point?

Sometimes we get carried away with our thoughts and lose sight of what is right in front of us. We can get carried away dreaming about the past or planning or worrying about the future. Buddhists tell us that all we really have is the present moment, and that cultivating a mindfulness practice can help us stay grounded in the present. Science has actually proven that this practice can hep reduce the harmful effects of stress, promote resilience, and decrease anxiety and depression. Interested? Join us at 8:15 a.m. on Monday mornings for a short mindful meditation practice.

Dementia News Spotlight

Rosemary: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance;”

William Shakespeare’s line from Ophelia alludes to what more recent research supports: Rosemary just might improve cognition.

In February of this year, researchers decided to take a closer look at published research to examine the results of studies that examined the effects of rosemary on cognition in rats. The studies were all different in terms of design, method, and type of memory studied. Some used essential oils while others used rosemary extract, and different studies looked at different areas of cognition. Overall, it was found that rosemary does indeed enhance cognition in rats.

It is impossible to draw a conclusion about the impact of rosemary on cognition in humans from this analysis, nor does it give us direction on how to use rosemary to improve our own cognition. However, it does offer another avenue of study. Rosemary is abundant and inexpensive to grow, and could prove to be an easily accessible way to improve our cognitive function. Before you try ingesting large amounts of this herb, it is wise to consult with your physician about possible interactions with prescribed medications.

Safety Tips

Watch what you eat!

Typically, when we think of watching what we eat, we think about calories, sugar content or cholesterol. However, some types of dementia cause oral fixation – similar to what we see in babies – which brings a whole new meaning to this popular phrase.

Oral fixation, often associated with frontotemporal dementia, can be dangerous. Loss of impulse control and impaired perception paired with the urge to put things in one’s mouth can increase the risk of choking, or ingestion of a toxic substance.

Vigilance is key to managing this type of behavior, but a caregiver can’t be on alert 100 percent of the time. Other ways to manage this are to make sure that “safe to chew” items are available and easily accessible. Some therapists recommend offering food items, and others suggest non-toxic non-food items that are safe for chewing and may satisfy the urge. Another idea is to use child-proofing devices to keep unsafe substances out of reach. It’s also important to make sure small objects that impose a choking hazard are stored safely.