elderly

Alzheimer’s Society

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Regular followers will know I often talk about transient reminiscent bumps which are triggers bringing memories flooding back. It is not necessarily a bad thing to release stored emotions and a trigger is indeed a release valve enabling this.

These triggers/bumps may take the form of happy memories too inspired by our senses i.e. visually looking at photographs, listening to music, smelling perfumes or even tasting a sweet from our childhood.

Recently the news has been full of exciting announcements of new drugs hopefully to  help people with dementia in the future.

For those with loved ones suffering from dementia there’s useful information available from the Alzheimer’s Society. I thoroughly recommend carers, friends and family to take a look at their website http://www.alzheimers.org.uk  and check out their vast list of leaflets.

I have just received and read: ‘Staying involved and active’ and ‘communicating’ Both offering really practical tips and extremely well written.

As I have always known writing can be very therapeutic as I found when running writers groups and having one-to-one time with clients.

 

Not a secret to me!

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I have just watched the brilliant IT documentary ‘Secrets of growing old’. This really was a great testimony about the bonuses of growing old and how ‘the elderly’ should be respected and cherished. No surprise to hear how older people understand  how younger minds work in terms of conflict – we learn to defuse and love more I guess.

I am always saying how one is never too old to learn new skills and the amazing people in this magical portrayal of people over fifty++ proved exactly that. A must watch!

The people featured certainly showed how the mind works in many improved ways with age.  How the mind is much more free to explore new things and how the left hand and right hand side of our brain connect more giving us the bonus of both applying logic and creativity.

I often write about how smells unlock memories we have forgotten and this was covered in several ways confirming just what a great piece of kit our brain is. Use it well!

I particularly liked the discussions about how our ability to love and care is refined. Not surprising then that often people move to pastoral roles as they improve with age and have wisdom of experience to use their increased empathy skills.

Interesting feature about a project in a community for the elderly where they brought in chickens to care for; it brought lonely people together and gave many a purpose. Having kept chickens they are amusing and it has been proven that having pets to care for reduces the risk of heart attack..by a third!

As we get older we become more honest and wise – so we do deserve respect. However, we are not afraid of being childish and do not worry so much about what other people think. That resonated well with me! 

An 83 year old model now living her dream commented how the insecurities of youth prevent us from doing things. Proving age is just a number!

 

Cascading Reminiscent Bumps

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I know I have posted about cascading reminiscent bumps before but today I experienced a great one.

My daughter bought a small bottle of cream soda and when I smelt its creamy aroma it transported me back to being a child great times and memories of ice cream floats.

Ok.. so this was a good one; but we also know that our senses can send us back into memories that may make us sad too. But hey that is not such a bad thing so what if we shed a tear or two as we remember a loved one no longer with us?

Remember that is the mind’s way of slowly releasing some of that stress and sadness still remaining in our body. Embrace it, feel it and treasure the memory.

I remember being on a London bus once sitting next to an elderly lady who smelt of lavender; I was instantly transported back to summers in the garden with gran making lavender bags -the memory was of course positive but the feeling/reminder that she was no longer around did make me feel a bit sad. So the bump did its job!

As I always say;

‘We keep our loved ones alive in our minds and our hearts’

and

‘Death does not end a relationship.’

 

Listen to the grime

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I had a short lesson in grime music with my daughter recently. I will probably be in trouble saying this but I think it’s rapping. Seriously, She played me a few tracks and showed me a few dance moves and I did my very best…to howls of laughter.

She played me a track by Drake and the words were;

 ‘Started from the bottom now we’re here’

A good message for the young that we do indeed have to start somewhere and build our way up…sometimes against the odds. So as an adult I would suggest we are not so quick to be dismissive of this style of music. Admittedly some tracks have some colourful language which I prefer not to hear.

Whilst learning my new moves I picked up one phrase in a Stormsy track;

‘Hot chocolate and a pannini to go’…that’s lunch sorted.

As I frequently say on my blog…we are never too old to learn something new and I’m off to practice those skanky leg movements. (If you can do the Charleston you may be in with a chance.)

I knew I still have it… I just can’t remember where I put it!

 

Community Spirit -think public

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Yesterday, I was fortunate to attend two events that demonstrate the real meaning of people working together for the greater good.

The first; a chance for people from church to socialise and as a thank you for the Superb 100 Christmas Tree Festival held at St Saviours church. This event is enjoyed by many but wouldn’t be possible without all the people working behind the scenes for the week, providing all the technical support and catering to name but a few. I had my own tree in memory of my mother, just outside the lady chapel (healing chapel) which she would have loved.

The second; the brilliant pub quiz in aid of The Redbourn Care Group. At a time when there are so many national and global charities needing funds it is good to see so many people turning up to help raise funds for a small local charity. My team didn’t win but we did have fun..it’s the taking part that counts and that goes for being community spirited and thinking public! Thanks to The Cricketers pub for holding this event.

Telephone Scamming

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We all are so tired of being the subject of telephone scams and the attitude of the individuals making these calls really does take the biscuit.

Short while ago I had a series of calls, same guy day after day -didn’t get much time/change from me..finally I said ‘these calls are being recorded by the Police’ to which he replied ‘your Police do nothing’. Worrying!

A good friend of mine received one at her place of business; the caller pretended to be bailiffs and was coming to collect goods to the value of. Fortunately she did not fall for this but found it upsetting as they were very convincing. She reported this to the Police who said they had been targeting businesses in the area -a similar scam was reported in last weeks ‘Daily Mail’ wherein sadly one woman did fall victim and parted with money.

Most of us know to put the phone down but it does concern me that vulnerable people, especially the elderly can fall into the trap of parting with cash and/or giving over bank details. I know that many do much to their families surprise, but as I said these tricksters are very convincing and persistent. We have to keep reminding the elderly not to be taken in.

What a shame that people are no longer safe in their own homes.