community event; Memory Issues that happen as we age

 

Dear GEM Friends and Board members, we thank Lynn Howard of OB Presbyterian Church for inviting us to talk about dementia  join Sheila Davies, Kaye White and me for this community event.

Seminar on Memory Issues

 

Have you ever returned from the grocery store and realized that you did not buy the one item that you went to get in the first place? Have you gone to visit friends and found their house had moved? Most of us can relate to memory lapses, but it is easy to take such moments for granted and let them go.

How do we care for ourselves or loved ones when memory problems persist? Come hear Gail Sonnesso of G.E.M. and Sheila Davies, a local expert in Health Care Policy and Administration, as they present the Senior Seminar on Memory Issues - Dementia and Alzheimer's.

Both of these ladies are well qualified to address memory issues.

Gail Sonnesso is the founder and executive director of G.E.M. Adult Day Services, Inc. a non-profit organization providing restorative programs for people who are at risk if left alone. Among her many accomplishments, she is a member of the Dementia Care Professionals of America and has completed certification as a Qualified Dementia Care Specialist.

Sheila Davies is currently Director of Public Health for Dare County Department of Health and Human Services. She was instrumental in opening an outpatient substance abuse treatment clinic in Nags Head and implementing evidence-based substance abuse prevention in all Dare County Schools. Shelia is currently serving in her third term as Mayor of Kill Devil Hills. She has served on numerous task forces, committees, and boards including the NC Institute of Medicine Alzheimer's Task Force.

Come hear these experts talk about Memory Issues that happen as we age. The seminar will be held at the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 1:30 pm.  

GEM/ Dare County Arts Council -Monday 3/28 class 1:30 PM at the DCAC downtown Manteo

GEM Class this Monday March 28^th Taught by Laura and Fay

Examples:

 

 

 

 

I 'm considering creating watercolor bookmarks with the group. Painting wet-into-wet with watercolor creates beautiful swirling colors on the page, that we could then cut into long rectangles for bookmarks. Using a hole punch, we could create a space for an embellishment using yarn, leather cord or what have you, then attach a special end piece (like a shell or a feather other found objects). By painting one larger piece, then cutting it up into smaller pieces they could create ones to keep and others to give. 

 

Looking forward to seeing you!
Best,

Gail E. Sonnesso, MS, QDCS

AFA Excellence in Care Specialist

GEM DAY SERVICES, INC.

252-480-3354

www.gemdayservices.org

one out of three older people falls each year but less than half tell their doctor.

GEM lunch & Learn Thursday March 17^th 11-1pm 

LUNCH PROVIDED!

Sentara Kitty Hawk

Community Education   Center

5200 North Croatan Highway

Kitty Hawk, NC  27949

 Learn Fall Prevention tools and tips with Physical Therapist Danielle Stine.

Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, one out of three older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

 

Falls Are Serious and Costly

·        One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury.^1,2

·        Each year, 2.5 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.³

·        Over 700,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.³

·        Each year at least 250,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.⁵

·        More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling,⁶ usually by falling sideways.⁷

·        Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).⁸

·        Adjusted for inflation, the direct medical costs for fall injuries are $34 billion annually.⁸ Hospital costs account for two-thirds of the total.

Please let me know you are coming so we will have enough handouts and lunches.

Gail E. Sonnesso, MS, QDCS

AFA Excellence in Care Specialist

GEM DAY SERVICES, INC.

252-480-3354

www.gemdayservices.org

Brand New Dementia Class ~ Building Relationships, Improving Care A training tool for Health Care Professionals

Great news!

 

The Alzheimers Foundation of America has developed a new training DVD  enabling  professionals to learn more about the benefits of “Person Centered Care.

 

GEM is partnering with the Dare County Center to offer this Class on Monday March 28 & Tuesday March 29 from 1-5pm.

To register or for more information please reply to this email or call me at 252-480-3354.

 

Only Social Workers can receive CEU’s at this time but we are hopeful that CEU’s will be available for more professions soon!

We are very excited about this training and it  includes Teepa Snow, OTR. Nationally recognized Dementia Expert.

 

 

Gail E. Sonnesso, MS, QDCS

AFA Excellence in Care Specialist

GEM DAY SERVICES, INC.

252-480-3354

www.gemdayservices.org

70% of people living with dementia are cared for at home!

https://www.facebook.com/TheGemCenter

FW: GEM Calendar for March

 

March 2016

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
		1	2	3 Committee	4	5
				OB Non Profit Collaborative 9am
6	7	8 OBCF	9 Dementia Care   Caregiver	10	11 Career Fair	12
		Non-Profit workshops Wanchese	Caregiver Workshop 10 -2:30 Ramada		FFMS 8:30- 11am Music & memory
13	14 Art Class	15	16	17 Lunch & Learn	18	19 Workshop
	Dare County Arts Council -1:30 -3:30			11-1p Fall Prevention Danielle Stein, PT		What is this “dementia?”
20	21 Art Class	22 Screening	23	24	25	26
	Laura H. Dare County Arts Council -1:30 -3:30	Memory Screening DCC 11-12:30
27	28 Training ~Art class   Laura & Fay   Partners	29 Training	30	31
	AFA Partners in Care training 1-5pm	AFA Partners in Care Training 1-5pm

 

a better explanation

Thought this might be of interest to users who have reduced visual acuity or use magnifying glasses on their spectacles:

http://9to5google.com/2016/02/18/cardboard-helps-woman-see/
Google Cardboard helps a woman see for the first time in 8 years

This is talking about the use of an app called:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.NearSighted
Near Sighted VR Augmented Aid
by Asylum Bound Games

Here is the youtube video from the article:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LBKNC7xj6M
My wife sees for the first time in 8 years


Basically it seems to magnifying the images - so acts like a telescope.  So I guess faces which would be far away and small, look bigger, so the person is able to use their peripheral vision somewhat.

Or in other words if the visual acuity or level of detail if is limited, then being able to zoom the object allows it to be seen bigger.

For background, the Google Cardboard system basically shows two images on the left and right side of the screen of your device.  And then you use magnifying glasses or lenses to so that you can put the device close to your face and be able to focus on it.

Those with near-sight i.e. who are able to focus very close can just look at their device with both eyes - so left eye sees the left image, and the right eye sees the right image.

Usually Google Cardboard is used to show virtual reality or graphics that has 3-dimensional effect i.e. you are showing two views of a scene - just like the 3D movies in cinemas.

However since each left and right image does not occupy the full screen but just half of it - the image is not wide but close to a square.

There are a number of apps on Google Play which offer the ability to take a VR ride on a rollercoaster etc. where a simulated view is shown - and it gives a reasonable effect - not as good as a 3D movie - but reasonable.


Google Cardboard is actually the cardboard box which Google has published the specification for - so you can buy Google Cardboard from amazon and other places - and their quality can vary a bit - since some use plastic lenses and some may use better quality lenses which focus better etc.

There already are apps which take a camera feed and mirror it on left and right.  But the app mentioned in the article above - does the same, but also gives an onscreen button to zoom the image.  Zoom too much and the image is pixellated i.e. is just expanding the image that is caught by the camera.  But it is a real-time feed.

So users who use high power magnifying lenses on their spectacles can use this app to do basically the same thing - except the zoom level would be controllable.

Dementia Series Learning Opportunities

 

Dementia Series  Learning Opportunities

Why Art and Music Work So well! All Saints “After Dark”      Southern Shores How do we get There from Here ? Holy Redeemer               Kitty Hawk Caring for People  Living with Alzheimers and        related dementias College of the Albemarle       Downtown Manteo AFA ~ Person Centered Care Dare County Center           Manteo Building a Dementia        Capable Community        Special Guest Sheila Davies Outer Banks Presbyterian Church Kill Devil Hills

Gail Sonnesso, MS, QDCS, founder and executive director of GEM Adult Day Services, Inc. has worked directly with people living with dementia for over 30 years first in her role as ac­tivity director  at a skilled nursing facility and as executive director of GEM. Gail holds a masters in Rehabilitation Studies has completed a certificate course in Geriatric Care Man­agement. Gail  has logged many hours of training with Teepa Snow, nationally recognized dementia Trainer and is a member of the Dementia Care Professionals of America. Gail has completed certification as a Qualified Dementia Care Specialist with the Alzheimers Founda­tion of America.