Community Dementia Alliance of Bloomington Indiana
Holiday tips from the ADRS “Thriving Minds” Newsletter
■ Maintain a routine. Reliable routines and good sleep habits are key.
■ Set priorities. What can you say NO to?
■ Set realistic expectations for ourselves and loved ones.
■ Allow extra time for getting ready and planning holiday tasks.
■ Limit the chaos, it tends to overwhelm. Consider smaller gatherings and less busy spaces to celebrate.
■ Relaxation is key. Build "down time" into the schedule and stick to it.
■ Alert important people about any special situations.
Talking to your holiday host in advance can provide you a chance for you to explain your needs and them to plan to accommodate. They also allow you to exchange holiday greetings but allow you to explain in advance why you may have to leave early or decline at the last minute.
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
– Hamilton Wright Mabie
Dementia does impact, but it does not define. The Community Dementia Alliance stands strong to support the community through shared experiences with Dementia. Ours is a journey through HOPE and THRIVING.
Caregiver Recognition Event 2020
Our Mission:
A subcommittee of Dementia Friendly Bloomington, we are persons who are living with, or caring for, someone with Dementia. From our growing personal experiences, we work at re-imagining our lives, advocate for caregivers, and empower professionals as we grow in our understanding of Dementia.
Natalie Stant Award - 2020 Natalie is one of the Founding Members of the CDA
Susan & Steve Taylor
-Members of the CDA
As we pursue our mission, we will assist those living the Dementia journey:
* Have wallet-size cards available to hand out to people with whom they interact with the message that they may repeat questions, forget what they have been told, take longer to make decisions, and please be patient.
* Have cards available for the caregiver to hand out stating the person they are with has memory loss, and please be patient.
“This card makes it easier to explain why I need more time to respond…”
Lois Sauder, CDA member and living well with Alzheimer’s
“If something happens to me, I want someone to know I am a caregiver for someone living with dementia and who to call to help us both.”
John Sauder, CDA member and caregiver for his wife Lois.
As we pursue our mission, we will embrace caregivers:
* Hold a yearly recognition of outstanding licensed professional caregivers
* Provide options for self-care of caregivers, to include a Reading Group to explore and learn more about Dementia
* Share information and stories through a quarterly newsletter
* Provide media outlets with articles that educate and tell Dementia stories
2021 Outstanding Caregiver Recognition Award Winners
New Adventures:
We have never had anyone nominate an entire staff of a facility before, however, this 2021 nominations showed that one of our local facilities really went above and beyond with connecting and caring for their residents, families and each other. Take a look at this shout out for Jill’s House, Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Watch this video to find out what was said about these Outstanding Healthcare Heroes!
As we pursue our mission, we will be a sounding board:
* Interact with professional staff who seek input and ideas to positively impact those persons living with Dementia and those providing care for someone living with Dementia.
T.O.D.A.A.T
-Jerry Gonyo
“T. O. D. A. A. T.
Take One Day At A Time
”
If you are interested in joining the CDA or would like more information, you can call 812-353-9310 or email amosier1@iuhealth.org
We would love to hear your story.
David White - Panel Participant at the 2019 Dementia Friendly Conference
My name is David White and I am 84 years old. I live with my wife, Joan White, who will soon be 65. Our 20th wedding anniversary is this August, although we have been together nearly 30 years.
I am a retired professor of microbiology. I was born and married my first wife in Boston, and we lived in California where I worked at NASA, and then in Minnesota before we moved to Indiana with our three children in 1967.
I met my wife Joan at a restaurant in Bloomington where she was working. I was a frequent customer there.
I have had dementia for a few years. I was diagnosed as having it and Joan remembers more about it.
Joan: In 2006 David perceived himself as failing in memory. It was confirmed with a memory test and he was prescribed Aricept. His MRI of the brain was normal. In between the years 2006 and 2016 his diagnosis was questioned. During these years he was also found to have severe sleep apnea and put on cpap. Another MRI in 2016 confirmed that his brain had suffered sufficient shrinkage so that they reconfirmed frontotemporal dementia. He quit driving in 2017. In my own experience with him I find him to be quite competent in many ways. He does crossword puzzles every day. We drive in the country (we used to do so on a motorcycle with David as driver) and he frequently remembers the route. Recently, returning from Nashville Indiana, he pointed out that I missed our newly discovered route on Owl Creek Road. Good for him!! We often joke about who should be driving.
David: I live well with dementia. I owe a lot of that to my wife Joan who is very understanding.
Joan: I didn’t make him say that!!
David: I also try to keep active in the Bloomington community interacting with others.
Joan: David continues to publish the Safety-Net, a quarterly paper focusing on non-profit agencies. He loves to take part in the activities offered through Alzheimer’s Resources and misses meeting in person but does participate in Zoom meetings. He’s not giving up!
CDA Newsletters:
