Getting Important Resource info

When a loved one develops dementia, it can be a very scary process.  You might not know where to go or how to care for your loved one.  It's this reason that Gulf Coast Dementia Services exists.  Gina Germany had started a non profit, who's goal is to spread awareness of dementia, and make resources available to those in need.  So I and a few board members teamed up and prepared the Resource Guide Book.  It has everything you need, from information about dementia, some steps you may need to take, and a complete list of phone numbers of experts you can call (all sorted in specific categories, no less!)

(IMAGE OF GUIDEBOOK NOT ACTUAL LINKED BUTTON)

So now you might be asking, "How can I get a hold of this compendium of information that I need?" Well my dear friend you are in luck, because it is absolutely free! If you live in the Gulf Coast region of Alabama you might have already seen this book at some hospitals and senior care facilities.  If you haven't seen it or don't want to waste time hunting one down, you can call us at 251-445-4204 and I'll prepare a book for you or you can go to GCDS's website and download a digital copy to print for yourself. Just go to gcseniorservices.com and scroll all the way to the bottom of the home page.  There you will see the image listed above with a working button to let you download a readable PDF of our book.  From there all you have to do is press "print" when you open the file.  Hopefully you find this information helpful, and you can help donate to Gulf Coast Dementia Services so we can continue to bring you more resource guides and spread awareness to the troubles of Dementia!

Dangers of Summer Heat

It's progressively getting hotter as the days get longer and there are some hidden dangers of the sunny days, especially with cars.  While it may only be 70 - 90 degrees outside the insides of cars trap in heat and it can get much hotter, dangerously so.  While a typical, 80 degree, day might be toasty but nice, in a car it would only take a few minutes to get to 110 degrees.  That may not sound too hot to be dangerous but remember, if your core temperature reaches 107 degrees, then the proteins and enzymes in your body will breakdown and cease to function, leading to death.  This is why you should never leave a child, pet, or anyone in the car unattended in the summer.  Cracking a window isn't enough the airflow is too stagnant to get the heat out at a safe rate, if you ever have to leave someone in the car, leave it running with the AC on full blast.

Cars aren't the only danger with summer heat, asphalt is also dangerous in the sun.  As you might already know, black and other dark colors absorb heat very well and can heat up fast.  Roads and parking lots are exposed to the sunlight all day making them very hot.  Walking across one can lead to a heat stroke if you dont stay hydrated, and could even burn your feet if you aren't wearing shoes. For the safety of pets and small children, please avoid pavement where possible and walk on grass.

Summer is great and fun, but remember that there are dangers everywhere.  Take necessary precautions, stay hydrated, and be safe!

Hip Replacements and How to Prevent Them

Modern medicine is amazing these days, we can repair parts of our bodies that fail, or even gain prosthetics that react to our own muscle movements for our lost limbs.  One modern marvel is the Hip replacement, a ceramic or metal ball and socket used to replace our own hip joint should the bone degenerate or break.  This procedure is fairly common in people over the ages of 65 (370,000 Americans each year replace their hip) and it helps correct the joint pain of a bad hip.  Unfortunately medicine isn't perfect, and at least 10% of all people who get a hip replacement have to have a 2nd procedure to repair the new joint because of mechanical failure, dislocation, or infection.  So what can we do to avoid getting a hip replacement? Exercise of course, keeping your body in peak condition is the best thing you can do to keep yourself healthy!

Below are various hip exercises you can do to build muscle strength and reduce your risk of having to replace that hip!

The Good Morning, stand with your feet spread apart slightly, then bow as far as you can or until your torso is parallel with the floor.  Keep your core braced, don't want to injure your back while you're protecting your hips!

The Glute Bridge, lay on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, clench your glutes as you raise your hips til you form a slope.  Hold the position for a bit, then lower.

Hip Abduction, put a resistance band around the leg of heavy furniture or a pole, and around your ankle facing that object. Spread your legs, shoulder width apart and bring the banded leg in until your ankles touch. you can also do this by putting the band around both legs, and spreading your legs.

Keep your body healthy and strong, and you shouldn't need a hip replacement, but if you are noticing significant joint pain, go see your doctor and discuss options!!

Spring Activities

Is everyone enjoying spring so far? The sun is shining, the days are getting warmer, flowers are blooming and birds are chirping!

Keeping a healthy body keeps your mind healthy, and can reduce your chances of developing dementia.  So, lets take advantage of this lovely weather!  Jog for a bit, get your blood pumping.  Make sure to stay hydrated, especially in Alabama, where it's been in the 90s these last few days.  If it's too hot, go for a swim, the water offers great resistance training that is very low impact on your body, while keeping you cooled and refreshed, meaning you can exercise more for longer and it wont feel nearly as draining on your body and joints!  There are many great spring activities that can count for exercise, like biking, roller blading, frisbee, soccer, and even golf (if you use a hand caddie).  What ever you you prefer to do outside, it's leagues better for your health than sitting at home and watching TV all day! Just be safe on hot days and stay hydrated!

Here are some graphics from Ontario Parks showing some of the health benefits of some activities!

It's May!

Happy May everybody! Enjoying that lovely spring weather?  It's getting hot here in Alabama, reminds me of a late summer in New York. It's Lupus awareness month!

Lupus is a long term Autoimmune disease where your immune system becomes overactive and starts attacking the body instead of just foreign particles (like viruses, and bacteria).  Your immune system could damage muscle cells, organ tissue, just about anything organic that your blood can reach is affected by Lupus.  If untreated it will cause organ failure and death, but thanks to modern medicine, 90% of people treated for Lupus can live a normal lifespan.  Unfortunately that isn't the case for everyone, so researchers need help with funding to better research and understand what exactly is Lupus and how to cure/prevent it.  We had a guest speaker for our Tuesday Tea meetings, who is with Hats and Heels non profit to talk to us and raise awareness for Lupus.  Watch the video below to hear from Andreannia Bush!