I have always forgotten things. (Fred MacMurray in the
Absent Minded Professor was one of my role models.) And I can still remember
the sinking feeling when I had forgotten my appointment for a haircut or to pick
up the kids after school. I would kick myself in the pants, but I never thought
more about it. But now when I forget something, I start imagining every set of
lost keys or forgotten name is one more sign that my memory is riding that downhill
slide to total oblivion. I don’t know if you have the same experience, but I
find it a little bit scary. And it doesn’t’ help that my mother died from
Alzheimer’s. (But there is one good sign. I do remember how to spell Alzheimer’s!)
Normal forgetfulness such as absentmindedness, forgetting
names or those tip-of-the-tongue moments are common at any age and are not
serious memory problems. A more serious concern is dementia; a set of symptoms
including impairment in memory, reasoning, judgment, language and other
thinking skills.
According to the Mayo Clinic website, some early signs of dementia
may include: asking the same questions repeatedly, forgetting common words when
speaking, mixing words up - saying "bed" instead of "table",
taking longer to complete familiar tasks, misplacing items in inappropriate
places - putting a wallet in a kitchen drawer, getting lost while walking or
driving around a familiar neighborhood, or undergoing sudden changes in mood or
behavior for no apparent reason.
If you find this is happening to you or if you know someone
who is exhibiting these signs, a doctor should be consulted. There are many
other causes for memory lapses that can be treated and they should be ruled out
first: severe stress, depression, a vitamin B12 deficiency, insufficient sleep,
some prescription drugs and infections.
In the meantime, for us who experience normal forgetfulness,
there are ways to help keep our minds sharp. Stay engaged with friends and
family, volunteer, reduce your stress, keep your mind active, get lots of rest,
exercise and eat well.
You can learn more about dementia and memory loss at the Center’s
next 11:00 Tuesday lecture on February 10th. Colleen Ballinger, from
Hospice of the Gorge, will discuss in more detail the differences between
normal forgetfulness and dementia, what some of the treatable causes of memory
loss are, and how caregivers can cope.
The Planetree Resource Center always offers an excellent series
of free spring lectures on health related topics that are open to the public. This
year there are three that may be of particular interest to older adults: “Living
with Chronic Pain and the Tools for Management” on February 17th, “This Aging
Body” on March 3rd, and “Could You Repeat That? Hearing Loss and Prevention” on
March 10th. The lectures are held at Water’s Edge from 7pm to 8:30pm. For more
information or to register call 541-296-8444 or visit the MCMC website.
Donzella Schlager and I will be attending the GoRed for
Women’s Heart Health event at the Civic this Friday from 11:00 – 2:00 to share
information about the activities at the Center. So after your massage and bowl
of soup, stop by and say hello.
On Saturday March 14th the Center will be taking
a bus load of twenty folks to Portland to see the matinee performance of “Guys
and Dolls”. Tickets are $75 including transportation, and can be purchase at
the Center.
For
the Tuesday Night Music and Dance at the Center on February 10th, Martin and
Friends will be performing. Doors open at 6:00 and the music starts at 7:00.
All ages are welcome and donations are always appreciated.
The
name of the translucent pink styling gel with a unique smell and gelatinous
consistency was Dippity-Do. (And the
winner of a free Cherry Festival Breakfast is Carol Parker.)
From
1922 to 1944, producer Hal Roach created a series of 221 short comedy films
about a group of poor neighborhood children called “Our Gang” which he later repackage
in the 1950’s as “The Little Rascals”. For this week’s “Remember When”
question, what was the name of the boy in the series known for his trademark
pointed cowlick? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call
541-296-4788 or drop it off with a picture of Darla - his romantic interest.
Well,
it’s been another week, trying figure out what I’ll do when I grow up. Until we
meet again, as John Barrymore once said, “Happiness
often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.”
“God
gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” James M. Barrie
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