AAHP proudly announces the launch of its comprehensive Alzheimer’s Awareness Toolkit, designed to enlighten, educate, and empower our senior community, as well as their caregivers, on the nuances of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is not just a condition of memory loss; it’s a debilitating ailment that impacts millions of lives, especially within the Black/African American community, which faces a higher incidence rate compared to others. The AAHP Alzheimer’s Awareness Toolkit serves as a crucial resource in demystifying the disease, offering a wealth of information from understanding the early signs and symptoms to managing the progressive stages of Alzheimer's.
AAHP Aging subcommittee post will begin hosting monthly events to discuss memory health issues in collaboration with local Black Churches. These activities will culminate in an Alzheimer’s event, “Memory Sunday,” which will take place on the 2nd Sunday in June.
Memory Sunday is based on guidelines established by The Balm in Gilead’s Brain Health Center for African Americans (BHCAA), a respected organization dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Black communities. BHCAA incorporates the influence of African American churches to deliver educational information about ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia and provide support to people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
For more information: contact Ama Lee, Aging Ambassador for the AAHP Aging Subcommittee, at ama.lee@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-1833.
Join us for an essential talk on Alzheimer's awareness and care strategies at the Alzheimer's Awareness Community Summit on Monday, November 13, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Silver Spring, MD. The event's theme is "Individual and Caregiver Approach" and will address the challenges of this impactful condition. This event serves as a vital platform for sharing experiences, exploring effective caregiving techniques, and discussing the latest in Alzheimer’s research.
Register now at this link or scan the provided OR code. For additional information, contact Monique Gardner, AAH Aging Coordinator, at 240-773-0349. Let's unite to navigate the complexities of Alzheimer’s with understanding, informed care, and robust support.
Glaucoma is a sneaky eye condition that can steal eyesight little by little, often without notice until significant damage has been done. A common type of glaucoma called primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a top cause of blindness in the U.S. A study from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai shows that Black/African American patients were six times more likely to experience serious vision loss after being newly diagnosed with POAG compared to white patients. Given the strong effect of glaucoma on African Americans, taking early steps like screenings during younger years can greatly improve the odds of spotting and managing the disease, helping to protect vision in the community.
Unfortunately, the number of people with glaucoma is expected to increase by at least by 200% by 2050. “That's a lot of people with a blinding disease who don't know they have it,” said Joel S. Schuman, MD, a professor of ophthalmology and co-director of the Glaucoma Service at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. “Late in the disease, people may notice they're tripping over the curb, or walking into things they didn't see. It really is only in very advanced disease that people notice there's anything wrong.”
Prevention and early detection are key in maintaining eye health. Keeping our eyes healthy means making sure we get them checked regularly. But we're not talking about just the usual eye tests. These check-ups should go beyond simple vision testing and look at the pressure inside our eyes to spot early signs of glaucoma. Understanding our family's eye health history is another big piece of the puzzle. It helps our doctors know if we need to be extra careful and plan with those risks in mind. And eye health isn’t just about what the doctor can do. Believe it or not, eating a nutrient-rich diet high in fruits and veggies and keeping our bodies moving with exercise are key to keeping our eyes healthy. It’s also important to properly manage other health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can make eye health worse.
If someone does get diagnosed with glaucoma, sticking to the treatment plan is essential to keep the condition from getting worse quickly. This means taking medications as prescribed and visiting the eye doctor regularly to make sure the treatment is working as it should.
According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 40 million Americans provide care to an elderly or disabled person every year. Taking care of a loved one can be difficult, especially when you have other time-consuming responsibilities, such as managing your relationship with your spouse, looking after your children, or building your career. You may feel overwhelmed and frustrated at times, and you may even neglect yourself. It’s harder to care for others if you do not maintain your own physical, emotional, and mental health and happiness, so consider these strategies for help:
Assess your level of self-care and identify places where you may need improvement. Are you eating well? Are you sleeping enough? Are you exercising regularly? These habits are essential for good health and mental wellbeing and will help keep your body running at its best.
Have a plan in place for when you start to feel burned out. Your plan can include taking a break to relax, asking for help, or treating yourself to an activity you enjoy.
Learn how to recognize and cope with negative feelings and be honest about what you feel. Recognize that these are common human emotions, and it is okay to have them. Forgive yourself and move on.
Build a personal support system which may include family, friends, religious groups, organizations and anyone who makes you laugh, stay grounded, provides valuable information and/ or advice, or just listens when you need to vent. Having a strong support network helps us feel loved and cared for, which can help reduce stress.
Recognize the role and importance of humor and laughter. Humor and laughter can take negatives and turn them into positives, so look for humor in all things, good and bad.
Find more tips and resources at Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Family Caregiver Toolkit here.
In our community, older adults are a key source of strength. Through their experiences, challenges and successes, they have built resilience that helps them face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too. That’s why AAHP celebrates Older Americans Month (OAM) with the Administration for Community Living by promoting their theme for 2022: Communities of Strength, which recognizes the important role seniors play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities.
Observe OAM by connecting with the seniors in your life. If you’re a senior, celebrate your strength and share your story with people from younger generations. OAM is a great time to:
Look for joy in the everyday. Celebrate small moments and ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude journal and share it with others via social media, call a friend or family member to share a happy moment or to say thank you.
Reach out to neighbors. Even if you can’t get together in person right now, you can still connect with your neighbors. Leave a small gift on their doorstep, offer to help with outdoor chores, or deliver a homecooked meal.
Build new skills. Learning something new allows us to practice overcoming challenges. Take an art course online or try a socially distanced outdoor movement class to enjoy learning with others in your community. Have a skill to share? Find an opportunity to teach someone, even casually.
Share your story. There’s a reason storytelling is a time-honored activity. Hearing how others experience the world helps us grow. Interviewing family, friends, and neighbors can start new conversations and strengthen our connections.
When people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and talents share experiences—through action, story, or service—we help build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate!
Dancing has several health benefits for seniors, including improved cardio, balance, and mood, as well as other advantages you may not have considered. Some seniors report more energy, greater flexibility, better posture, and a stronger sense of accomplishment after participating in dance courses. They were also happier and had a stronger feeling of community and camaraderie. Dance Exchange in Takoma Park is hosting two free dance lessons for seniors.
Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., Dance Exchange will host Takoma Park Moves in collaboration with the Takoma Park Maryland Library. Join Dance Exchange artists as they move with a diverse group of families, professionals, and community people of various ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. There is no need to register; simply drop in whenever you like. Beginning March 26, the program will meet on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. on the library's front lawn at 101 Philadelphia Ave. These activities are free and take place outside.
Dance Exchange’s Dance On Class takes place Thursdays, 11 am - 12 pm. This creative aging class is geared toward older adults but open to all ages. To register and join class via Zoom, go to danceexchange.org/dance-on-creative-aging-class
Cognitive decline is bound to show up in all of us sooner or later, especially if we are blessed with longevity. The goal is for this to happen later rather than sooner. Healthy habits, such as eating nutrient-rich foods, staying physically active, engaging in positive relationships, managing stress in productive ways, and living a full and active life can help to prevent or delay cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other forms of dementia.
A well-stimulated brain is more resilient against cognitive decline. “Brain training” games like crossword puzzles and Sudoku have been used to improve memory, thinking and problem-solving in people showing signs of cognitive decline. Learning a new language or musical instrument can have a similar effect. In one study, older adults with no previous musical experience improved their communication skills and processing speeds after a few months of weekly piano lessons.
If cognitive decline progresses to AD, fewer options are available other than treatment and management of symptoms with medication. The newest medication, aducanumab, slows the progression of the disease by reducing amyloid (abnormal tissue) deposits in the brain. Other drugs target behavioral symptoms, allowing patients to live with greater independence, dignity, and quality of life.
MedStar Montgomery Medical Center has recently opened a NEW senior primary care center, the Center for Successful Aging (CSA), which utilizes a new model of specialized care to address the specific needs of older adults. CSA provides assessments, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions; medication management; access to resources and support to help seniors remain in their home as they age; and more.
“Successful aging” can be defined as having high physical, psychological, and social functioning in old age without major diseases. The senior population in Maryland continues to rise to epic levels, making clear the need for comprehensive care and services to help seniors successfully age. The State Department on Aging predicts that people over the age of 60 will make up 25% of the population by the year 2030, up from 18% in 2015.
CSA accepts Medicare and Medicaid, along with a wide variety of health plans.To learn more about CSA and its COVID-19, protocols, visit their website. For more information call 240-817-2639.
A recent study indicates that a structured diet and exercise regimen may help reduce blood pressure with persons with resistant hypertension, which is blood pressure that cannot be controlled after appropriate dosages of at least three separate antihypertensive drugs. In a research trial of 140 participants with the average age of 63, 90 were enrolled in a four-month lifestyle program that included counseling on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and weight control, calorie and salt restriction, and an exercise program. The other individuals were allocated to a control group that received a single blood pressure management counseling session. The lifestyle program participants had a bigger average drop in systolic blood pressure during office visits—12.5 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) compared to 7.1 mmHg in the control group—as well as improvements in other cardiovascular health markers. So if you have resistant hypertension, an organized diet and exercise program may help you manage your blood pressure and other aspects of cardiovascular health.
AAHP’s Chronic Disease Management Program (CDMP) helps Black/African American Montgomery County residents reduce and control their blood pressure. The Program provides education on cardiovascular health, exercise classes, free health screenings, and more. Call 240-777-1833 to learn more.
The African American Health Program is funded and administered by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and implemented by McFarland & Associates, Inc.
