Free Screening for Huntington's Disease Documentary

The Alive & Well documentary will be screening tonight here in San Diego at 7:30pm at the Gaslamp 15 (701 5th Ave San Diego).There currently are 62 tickets available. All proceeds go to the HDSA!! Tickets will not be sold at the door. If you need assistance or have questions please call Misty at 760-845-2610.

ALIVE & WELL is a powerful documentary film about the human condition, which follows seven resilient people coming to terms with the profound reality of living with the hereditary chronic illness known as Huntington’s Disease (HD).

Subjects in the film range from a young woman hoping to start a family to a mother taking care of her symptomatic 6 year-old son and ailing husband; the drummer of a major country music band; a former NBC News journalist turned HD advocate, as well as a renowned scientist relentlessly searching for a cure.

Far from giving us a hopeless glimpse into life with terminal illness, ALIVE & WELL reminds us all of our ability to persevere with strength, despite life’s most difficult challenges.

It's #GivingTuesday ... Time to Be a Little #Unselfie

In case you missed it, "selfie" was declared the word of the year. And for those totally detached from the phenomenon, it's when you take a photo of yourself - usually with your smartphone or tablet. In fact, some phone now tout a selfie feature as a marketing tool. We've all seen celebrity selfies and probably witnessed a few while on vacation.

Today is #GivingTuesday, which never gets the hype of Black Fridays or Cyber Mondays because the roles are reversed and instead of offering savings, charities go looking for it in the form of donations.

We hope that those who can will consider making a donation to their favorite charity today ... or whenever they are able. Paying if forward produces far more authentic karma points than many of the presents you'll be giving this month.

'52 Weeks of Peace' Card Book Now on Sale

The San Diego-based Voice of Peace Network has been a huge supporter of The Glenner Memory Care Centers - promoting our cause and our volunteers in videos they produce. They also are responsible for the video on our Web site's homepage that was made for our 30th anniversary. We enjoy supporting those who support us, which is why we wanted to pass along the following announcement on a new partnership that could yeild some great gifts for your friends and family during the holiday season.

VOPN is very excited to announce an amazing partnership between VOPN, Patricia Saxton / Saxton Studio and Shenanigan Books to offer you an amazing HOLIDAY GIFT just in time for the holidays!

Designed by Patricia Saxton / Saxton Studio, "52 Weeks of Peace / Peace Starts Here is a mesmerizing card book that offers us a different perspective on the idea of 'peace.'

The best part is that 50 percent of the purchase price will be donated to the Voice of Peace Network! Purchase any other wonderful books from Shenanigan Books and 20 percent of each book will be donated too! Thank you to the graciousness of Patricia and Shenanigan Books for supporting peace and our nonprofit organization!

So purchase this amazing book now and help support VOPN & Peace by clicking on the link below!


VISIT: http://www.shenaniganbooks.com/content/52-weeks-peace

Use coupon code: VOPN2013 Support PEACE and get free shipping too!

Tomorrow is National Memory Screening Day

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is again sponsoring a National Memory Screening Day in which you or someone you know can be screened for memory loss at one of many sites around the nation, state and even San Diego County.

For a complete listing, visit the AFA Web site.

According to the site, "Memory screenings make sense for anyone concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia; whose family and friends have noticed changes in them; or who believe they are at risk due to a family history of Alzheimer's disease or a related illness. Screenings also are appropriate for anyone who does not have a concern right now, but who wants to see how their memory is now and for future comparisons."

For local screenings and contact information, here is a rundown from the site that includes the location and if the service is offered in Spanish:

Name of Organization:	Carlsbad By The Sea Retirement Community
Location of Screening:	2855 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad, California 92008
Time of Screening:	November 19, 10:00AM-12:00PM
Phone Number:	760-435-2312
Screenings will be provided in:	English

 

 

Name of Organization:	Delia Silva, Psy.D.
Location of Screening:	3990 Old Town Ave., Ste. A-208 San Diego, California 92110
Time of Screening:	Call for Information
Phone Number:	866-437-0375
Screenings will be provided in:	English, Spanish
Website:	http://www.sdpsyd.com

 

Name of Organization:	Golden Gardens
Location of Screening:	725 Golden Lane Fallbrook, California 92028
Time of Screening:	Call for Information
Phone Number:	760-645-3325
Screenings will be provided in:	English
Website:	http://www.golden-gardens.com

 

Name of Organization:	Gupta Psychology & Assessment Services
Location of Screening:	3990 Old Town Ave., Ste. A-208 San Diego, California 92110
Time of Screening:	November 19, 9:00AM-12:00PM, By Appointment Only
Phone Number:	619-537-9345
Screenings will be provided in:	English

 

Name of Organization:	Jewish Family Service, University City Older Adult Center
Location of Screening:	9001 Towne Centre Drive San Diego, California 92122-2440
Time of Screening:	November 19, 10:00AM-2:00PM
Phone Number:	858-550-5998
Screenings will be provided in:	English
Website:	http://www.jfssd.org

 

Name of Organization:	Pacific Research Network
Location of Screening:	3003 Fourth Ave. San Diego, California 92103
Time of Screening:	Every Day, By Appointment Only
Phone Number:	619-294-4302
Screenings will be provided in:	English
Name of Organization:	Pacific Research Network, Inc.
Location of Screening:	3003 Fourth Ave. San Diego, California 92103
Time of Screening:	November 19, 8:00AM-5:00PM
Phone Number:	619-294-4302
Screenings will be provided in:	English
Website:	http://prnsd.com

 

Name of Organization:	St. Paul's Senior Homes & Services
Location of Screening:	328 Maple St. San Diego, California 92103
Time of Screening:	November 19, 9:30AM-11:30AM
Phone Number:	619-239-6900, ext:3007
Screenings will be provided in:	English
Website:	http://www.stpaulseniors.org

 

Name of Organization:	UCSD Comprehensive Alzheimer's Program
Location of Screening:	8950 Villa La Jolla Dr., Suite C-126 La Jolla, California 92037-1712
Time of Screening:	Every Day, By Appointment Only
Phone Number:	858-246-1300
Screenings will be provided in:	English
Website:	https://cap.ucsd.edu/

 

Name of Organization:	UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Location of Screening:	8950 Villa La Jolla Drive, Ste. C-129 La Jolla, California 92037
Time of Screening:	November 19, By Appointment Only & Every Day
Phone Number:	858-822-4800
Screenings will be provided in:	English, Spanish
Website:	http://adrc.ucsd.edu

 

Glenner CEO Talks About Dementia Experience on U-T TV

Glenner Memory Care Centers CEO Anette Asher discussed what life is like for people with dementia today during a segment on the U-T TV program “Spotlight San Diego.”

Anette Asher spoke at length with show host Scott Kaplan about the organization and the importance of understanding what life is like for someone with memory loss as we are struck by the first wave of a “silver tsunami” due to an aging society.

“Thirty years ago people didn’t really understand what Alzheimer’s is,” Asher said. She then compared the stigma of dementia to alcoholism in the 1970s before Alcoholics Anonymous educated the public on alcoholism as a disease. “Millions are turning 65 each year … and if a heart attack or cancer or another illness doesn’t get them, they are likely to develop dementia as they age,” she said.

During the segment Kaplan was put through a brief version of the Virtual Dementia Tour conducted by staff at Silverado Senior Living in Escondido. He wore goggles to impair his vision, special gloves that limit dexterity and a device to impede his hearing. “I think if people had more sensitivity to what these folks were feeling and experiencing . . . I had no idea,” he said at the end of the segment.

You can view the archived video here.

Want to Experience Dementia Firsthand?

This Wednesday you can literally walk in the shoes of someone who is aging with dementia during a Virtual Dementia Tour that we're conducting at our Corporate Office in Hillcrest (3702 Fourth Avenue, San Diego 92103) on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.

We have 15-minute slots available between 1 and 2:30 p.m. During that time, specially trained staff from Silverado Senior Living Escondido will take you on a "tour" and complete several simple tasks while artificially impaired. Refreshments will be provided too. Everyone who took part in a previous tour walked away saying it was a powerful experience, tranformational even.

So, if you want a sneak peak at what may lie ahead or you currently are living with or helping to support someone with dementia, please call us at (619) 543-4700 to register TODAY.

Mary Moore Returns 'Home' to Hillcrest

Mary Moore retired after 26 years of volunteering daily at our Hillcrest Center. She returned this week to receive a plaque and a $100 Whole Foods gift card to show our thanks. Last year the Voice of Peace Network made a video of Mary and we just learned she was named the international organization's Volunteer of the Month. Congratulations, Mary!

The Artist's Life

We recently were at Glenner Center South Bay during the South Bay Arts Council's weekly art lesson. The council of professional arts are helping our participants find themselves through various art media.

Ofelia Alvarado is the visiting artist and if you are familiar with downtown Chula Vista then you've seen her work on a big mural off 3rd street, just past E street. She had to use a ladder to paint to scale, which is pretty amazing given how petite she is.

Learning to paint well takes a lot of practice, Ofelia said.

"You don't learn to play a guitar in one session. It takes years," she said. "You start with the basics and the more you paint, the better your skills. It's like any other sport or any other art. Don't expect the first one to be a masterpiece."

We recently were at Glenner Center South Bay during the South Bay Arts Council's weekly art lesson. The council of professional arts are helping our participants find themselves through various art media.
Ofelia Alvarado is the visiting artist and if you are familiar with downtown Chula Vista then you've seen her work on a big mural off 3rd street, just past E street. She had to use a ladder to paint to scale, which is pretty amazing given how petite she is.

Learning to paint well takes a lot of practice, Ofelia said.

"You don't learn to play a guitar in one session. It takes years," she said. "You start with the basics and the more you paint, the better your skills. It's like any other sport or any other art. Don't expect the first one to be a masterpiece."

Some Surprising Causes of Dementia

A University of Pittsburgh study widely reported by news media yesterday showed similar brain scans between those with a concussion and those experiencing Alzheimer's Disease.

According to a Time magazine piece,the study looked at 64 patients who experienced concussions and compared their MRI brain scans a year after their injury to those of 15 healthy patients over the same time period. "The images picked up white matter, which is made up of nerves and their protective coating, myelin, which facilitates connections between nerves in different regions of the brain. Networks of these nerves are responsible for cognitive functions such as memory, planning and reasoning. The scans revealed that the damage to the white matter in the concussion patients was similar to that of Alzheimer’s patients, whose nerves gradually died after being strangled by expanding plaques of amyloid proteins."

Furthermore, researchers found similar sleep distrubance patterns between the two groups, which could contribute to memory lapses. “When we sleep, the brain organizes our experiences into memories, storing them so that we can later find them. The parahippocampus is important for this process, and involvement of the parahippocampus may, in part, explain the memory problems that occur in many patients after concussion,” Dr. Saeed Fakhran, an assistant professor of radiology at the University of Pittsburgh, said in a prepared statement.

Head trauma is just one of many ways dementia can occur. According to Dr. Danel Sewell, a psychiatrist who specializes in geriatrics at UCSD, some other ways involve changes in the body's chemistry. During yesterday's Town Hall Forum by ActivCare Residential Living, Dr. Sewell briefly mentioned numerous other causes, such as ALS, "mad cow" disease, HIV/AIDS, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis, neuropsyphilis, normal pressure hydocephalus and Parkinson's.

Some others, however, relate to chemical exposure, irregular organ function or a nutritional deficiency. Here among Dr. Sewell's list are some other causes of dementia (and Alzheimer's is just one type of dementia accouting for 55% to 60% of cases).

• Alcoholism
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Heavy metal poisoning
• Hypothyroidism
• Irradiation
• Major depression
• Thaimine deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency

If you have any of these conditions, it doesn't mean you will experience dementia later in life. But it's a good idea to work with your healthcare provider to improve any deficiencies and reduce the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals linked to brain disease.

Last Day to Register for Our Symposium

A Symposium on Elder Abuse & Neglect Training

for Health Care Providers

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Sharp Spectrum Auditorium

8695 Spectrum Center Blvd. , San Diego, CA 92123

REGISTRATION CLOSES JUNE 5

Hear the latest information and find out about empowering resources for your senior-aged patients and clients. You’ll hear from Elder Abuse prosecutors and police, health care professionals specifically trained in Elder Care fields as well as specialized attorneys and fiduciaries so that you feel confident in identifying and reporting cases of suspected Elder Abuse and Neglect in your practice and community.

Symposium speakers include:

“The Demographics of Aging”
Colin Depp, PhD, UCSD, Stein Center for Successful Aging, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

“The Law, Elder Abuse and Neglect, and Our Role”
Paul Greenwood, J.D., Deputy District Attorney, Head of Elder Abuse Prosecutions for the San Diego District Attorney’s Office

“Elder Abuse: What You Need to Know for Our Fast Growing Older Population”
Steven Tam, M.D., Geriatrician, Department of Geriatrics; Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Irvine

“Dental Neglect in Older Adults”
Janet Bauer, D.D.S. M.Ed, M.P.H., M.B.A., Loma Linda University School of Dentistry

“Identity Theft”
Scott Tolstad, Investigator, Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit, Escondido Police Department; licensed professional fiduciary

“APS: Making the Report”
Anabel Kuykendall, San Diego County Aging and Independence Services County of San Diego

“What if the Golden Years are not so Golden: Dementia and Conservatorship”
Nancy Kaupp Ewin, Certified Legal Specialist – Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law; Elder Law Attorney: Estate and Trust Planning, Conservatorships and End-of-Life Planning

“What is a Private Fiduciary?”
Stella Shvil, J.D., C.L.P.F., Past President, Professional Fiduciary Association of California

“Geriatric Care Managers: How We Help Protect Vulnerable Seniors”
Amy Abrams, M.S.W./M.P.H. C.M.C., Geriatric Care Manager, Vice President, Client Services, Elder Care Guides

Did you know that nationally . . .

• Adults between age 60 and 70 are at three times the risk of being emotionally abused compared to adults over the age of 70.
• Seventy-six percent of perpetrators of physical mistreatment of older adults are family members.
• Acquaintances accounted for 19% of physical mistreatment of elders, and strangers make up 3%.
• In adults ages 60 and older, 1.6% reported that they had experienced physical mistreatment in the past year and 5% were currently being financially exploited by family members.
• In adults ages 60 and older, of those who were sexually abused, 16% reported to police and 53% said they were sexually mistreated by a family member.
• Of those who reported both crimes and their age to the Federal Trade Commission in 2010, people 60 and older made 14% of fraud complaints and 14% of identity theft complaints.

Source: San Diego County Aging & Independence Services

Receive 6 CEUs for attending this symposium (license categories include: RN, LCSW, DDS, RDH, RDA, RCFE, Cal . Lic. Professional Fiduciaries and more)

Cost: $60. Includes a continental breakfast and lunch as well as snacks and beverages.
You can register online by June 5. For more information or to register by phone: call (619) 543-4700.

Sponsored by:



Special thanks to the San Diego County Dental Society for CEUs and Alvarado Institute of Skin Care at Grossmont Medical Center for gifts for our participants.