Fuld transskription af Alzheimer's Association Connecticut

00:01:58.599 --> 00:01:59.879 the disease at some point. 36 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.000 Are there warning signs of Alzheimer's disease? 37 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:06.439 Yeah, so certainly things that you want to be looking for. 38 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:10.560 Of course, memory loss just forgetting recent events, you know, 39 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:16.240 maybe difficulty recalling information or you're repeating questions. So certainly 40 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:18.759 not just you know, why do they walk into the kitchen, 41 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.319 because we're all doing a lot of things all at once. 42 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.439 But if you walk into the kitchen continually and you're like, 43 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:27.240 why am I coming in here are you're very confused 44 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:32.840 with time and place, certainly problems with any spatial navigation, 45 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:38.400 and difficulty with familiar tasks. If you start to withdraw 46 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.400 from social activities or you have a reduced interest in 47 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:44.840 hobbies and social gatherings, that could be a warning sign. 48 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:49.080 And it certainly changes in mood and personality. So those 49 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:50.879 are just some of the things that you want to 50 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:51.639 be looking for. 51 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.080 And a genetic component as well or. 52 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:58.280 No, there are research studies that are looking into genetics. 53 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.280 We do know that it is in your family. You 54 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:05.759 are potentially at risk to developing the disease at some point, 55 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:08.439 but there are some families that you know, maybe a 56 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.199 parent or a grandparent was living with Alzheimer's and they 57 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:14.199 have not developed the disease. That's why research continues to 58 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:16.800 be important. And you know, you know, if it's in 59 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:20.000 your family, you know certainly getting involved in a trial. 60 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.120 We need individuals that have healthy brains as well as 61 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.680 individuals that are currently living with this to these So 62 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:28.800 for people looking to do something, that's something that they 63 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.000 can do right now and it's very easy. 64 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:33.120 Are there ways to reduce your risk? 65 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:37.039 Yes, So we now have the ten healthy habits for 66 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.199 your brain, and we actually do presentations on this throughout 67 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:43.759 the community. But we want you to get moving. So 68 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.560 we know engaging in regular exercise is going to increase 69 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.680 blood flow and brain excuse me, to your brain and 70 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:53.680 to your body, of course, protecting your head. So if 71 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:56.960 you're riding a bike, wearing a helmet, wearing your seatbelt, 72 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:59.319 if you're in a car, those are some of the 73 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.800 things that you can being smoke free, living by that 74 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:08.039 Mediterranean diet that can also reduce your risk, controlling your 75 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.879 blood pressure and then maintaining a healthy weight, and of 76 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.639 course something I think many of us struggle with sleeping well, 77 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:19.399 so really aiming to sleep for eight hours each evening. 78 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.839 I know that people have a difficult time falling asleep 79 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:25.519 staying asleep, and they'll say, oh, I got about five 80 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:26.120 six hours. 81 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.040 I'm like that's not enough, right, right, because when you're sleeping, 82 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:33.240 that's when the toxins are leaving your brain. Obviously your 83 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:36.920 body has time to rest, so you know, certainly before 84 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:39.959 going to bed, staying off your screen, maybe reading a book, 85 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:42.879 doing some meditation, doing something that's going to tell your 86 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.800 body it's time to rest. And of course if you've 87 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:48.680 exercised or done something else throughout the day. Your body 88 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:49.519 should be tired. 89 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:53.120 You mentioned some ways that the Association helps families. What 90 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:54.040 are some other ways? 91 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:57.839 Sure, So we have our twenty four to seven healthline, 92 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:01.199 and if anyone that's listening today could walk away with something, 93 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:04.839 it is. That helpline available twenty four hours a day, 94 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:07.920 seven days a week, and it's spoken in over two 95 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:13.439 hundred languages, so it's really beneficial to the entire community. 96 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:17.600 And you can call that number if you suspect that 97 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.120 you might have memory concerned and you need maybe a 98 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:23.160 tip sheet, or you need a referral to someone in 99 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:27.279 your community. Perhaps you're a caregiver and you need assistance 100 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:30.199 because you can no longer brush your loved one's teeth. 101 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:34.000 We can give you tips and resources for that. You 102 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:36.000 just might need to talk to someone at three in 103 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:38.399 the morning because your loved one is trying to go 104

00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.160 to work and they haven't worked in over twenty years. 105 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:43.399 So we can also help you to navigate those types 106 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:46.199 of situations, and in that one, certainly trying to get 107 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:48.680 them back to bed so that the caregiver can go 108 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:52.279 back to sleep. But we have a ton of resources 109 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:58.160 available online and again, most things are available in multiple languages. 110 00:05:58.040 --> 00:05:59.240 And what is your web address? 111 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.639 It's alderg very easy and of course the helpline is 112 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:10.279 eight hundred two seven two thirty nine hundred. 113 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:13.639 When we talk about caregivers, it's very difficult for them 114 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.079 sometimes to allow someone to come in their home and 115 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:18.480 help them, and they don't realize that it takes a 116 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:21.759 toll on them physically and they can get either mentally 117 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:25.319 feeling sick or physically feeling sick exactly. 118 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:28.319 We know that caregivers are enduring a very long and 119 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:33.959 an emotionally draining process that can lead you know, it's stressful, depression, anxiety, 120 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:37.439 and just they start to neglect their personal health. So 121 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:41.560 really building that strong support system is crucial, and of 122 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.839 course we are here to provide vocal resources to help 123 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:48.920 them in that area. We have support groups that individuals 124 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:54.120 can participate in in person or even virtually. We also 125 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.279 have dementia care consultations that can be offered to help 126 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:00.480 navigate not just the journey for that individual that they're 127 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:03.480 caregiving for, but making sure that they're getting the resources 128 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:04.160 that they need to. 129 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.839 I know that in my own case with my grandmother, 130 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:09.639 I had some family members they would get frustrated. If 131 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:13.360 my grandmother repeated something or said something that actually wasn't true, 132 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:15.759 they would be frustrated and say, no, that's not the 133 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:18.040 way it is. She has to know, and I'm like, 134 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:22.439 don't bother. So some people just don't understand the disease. 135 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:26.120 They don't and in those instances, it's really just easier 136 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.079 to live in their moment. You know, my mother in 137 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:31.199 law would sometimes comment

on the weather and it might 138 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.480 be snowing outside and she would be talking about, you know, 139 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:36.560 a gorgeous summer day. She's also from Florida, so it's 140 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:39.360 really just not bringing her back to the fact that 141 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:42.439 it's you know, it's wintertime and snowing, But you know, 142 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:44.720 what do you like about the sunshine? What did you 143 00:07:44.839 --> 00:07:48.160 enjoy about summer? Because maybe that's triggering a different memory 144 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:48.519 for them. 145 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.920 Yeah, just go with it, That's what I say. Don't 146 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.920 argue with them, Just go with it. It's so much easier. 147 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.800 Was it your family that wore either the T shirts 148 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:59.639 or the name tags with the names on them? 149 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.720 Not my family, but I certainly you know there there's 150 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:06.079 I'm sure one hundred different tricks that you casuals have used. 151 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:09.360 Just to make things a little bit easier for them, 152 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:13.040 you know, whether it's wearing name tags labeling where dishes 153 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.759 might go. We've heard stories that individuals couldn't find the 154 00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:19.160 restroom in their home any longer, but they knew what 155 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:22.000 that sign looked like that you see so loten in 156 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:25.240 public places. They put that on their personal home bathroom 157 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.240 to help their loved ones. So certainly there's a lot 158 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.120 of things that the helpline can also help with. 159 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:34.039 Those and that's why it's so important to have this 160 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:37.039 knowledge to make life easier for everyone. Again, you can 161 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:40.039 go to alz dot org. There's the twenty four to 162 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.159 seven helpline one eight hundred two seven to two three 163 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.720 nine zero zero. You have a bunch of walks going 164 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:49.480 on all over the state so we can raise money 165 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:51.679 to defeat Alzheimer's and to help with all of these 166 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:55.240 programs and services. Let's start with the first one, September 167 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.200 twenty First, what's happening there. 168 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:01.600 Yes, they're coming very quickly. Western Connecticut walk will take 169 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:05.360 place at the new Fairfield High School Rebels Stadium, So 170 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.679 it takes place on a track. It's a beautiful day, 171 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.399 and really it's a beautiful day. No matter which one 172 00:09:11.480

--> 00:09:14.639 you're going to. You know, we call them our largest 173 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:18.679 support group because for so many individuals that's the first 174 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:22.840 time that they will interact with maybe another caregiver or 175 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:25.480 someone that's going through that journey. For many of them, 176 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.679 it's their first time even learning about the Alzheimer's Association 177 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:32.519 and so the resources and support that we offer as well. 178 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:36.840 So it's just a really beautiful day that individuals come 179 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:39.840 together and know that they're not alone. 180 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.679 We don't have to talk about what happens at every 181 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.480 single walk, but let's mention the other walks as well. 182 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:48.159 Of course. So after our Western Connecticut walk, we jump 183 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:50.679 over to the other side of the state on September 184 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:54.799 twenty seventh for our Eastern Connecticut Walk. That's at Ocean 185 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:58.799 Beach Park in New London. The very next day we 186 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:03.320 go over to Whitehouse Point Park on September twenty eighth, 187 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:06.080 that's the Greater New Haven Walk. For those in the 188 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:10.120 Hartford area, that's a double walk weekend as well. October 189 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:15.320 eighteenth is the Central Connecticut Walk at Rockwell Park in Bristol. 190 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:20.559 On the next day, October nineteenth is the Greater Hartford Walk. 191 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:23.919 It takes place at Renchler Field over in East Hartford 192 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:27.600 and then we round out our season down in Fairfield 193 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:32.559 County at Sherwood Island in Westport on October twenty sixth, 194 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:35.559 So we try to be about an hour away from 195 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.679 anyone that lives in Connecticut so that everyone has the 196 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:41.279 opportunity to join us. You know, it is a beautiful day. 197 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:45.279 Everyone is sharing their why. You know. My personal favorite 198 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:48.840 is our Promise Garden ceremony. Everyone that comes to the 199 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:52.279 walk has the opportunity to pick up a colored flower 200 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:55.200 that represents why they are there. And there's four of them. 201 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:59.080 There's yellow if you're a caregiver, orange if you're just 202 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:03.080 supporting the cause, purple if you've lost someone, in blue 203 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:06.159 if you're living with the disease. And so we hold 204 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:08.759 all of those up during our program. And then there's 205 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:13.279 one white flower that's our hope flower. It represents that 206 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:15.240 one day we hope to have more of those white 207 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:18.000 flowers in our garden and that data we find a 208 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:22.639 cure or potentially cures to the disease. And it's really 209 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.720 just a very moving day. I always have to excuse 210 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:27.279 myself from whoever I might be standing around because it 211 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:31.120 brings me to tears. But I always say, if anyone 212 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.480 can do it, it's our volunteers and those individuals that 213 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:35.039 are fundraising for us. 214 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:39.080 Wonderful. I'm speaking with Laura Hoffman, executive director of the 215 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:42.759 Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter. Thank you so much for being 216 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:45.639 here today. For anyone who would like to volunteer, donate, 217 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.919 find out more about the walks, the programs, or the services, 218 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:53.240 it's just alz dot org. It's that simple. Thank you 219 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.960 so much for being here today and for serving the community. 220 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.919 Of course, thank you so much for having me