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Thank you to the Cyber Seniors for their helpful webinars this week- “Technology use and eye health” “How can technology affect our hands and wrists?” Technology and Eye Health A few take-a-ways: Remember to blink when staring at a screen Constant exposure to blue light can be harmful 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds Increase text size on screen to a comfortable reading size to reduce eye strain Do visual exercises, including a circular massage around your eyes. (Not a part of the webinar, but here are some eye strain prevention exercises you can do: Eye Yoga: Five eye exercises to prevent eye strain [3:08] https://youtu.be/UP1WpOa82R4?si=Q_s6GanWzYrmeOK3 ) How can technology affect our hands and wrists? A few take-a-ways: Overuse of technology can lead to carpal tunnel, tendonitis, text neck Ways to prevent this: Take regular breaks Stretch your hands and wrists Adjust ergonomics Maintain your posture Have device-free time Do wrist stretches, finger taps, and wrist flexion and extension Cyber Seniors offers webinars on technology for older adults. You can learn more about Cyber Seniors here: https://cyberseniors.org/about/

SeaFair Weekend holds a special place in the hearts of many in the Seattle area. The event offers a thrilling lineup, featuring the Blue Angels, Golden Knights, hydroplane shows, vintage aircrafts soaring overhead, delectable food, and delightful summer weather (fingers crossed with that last one). It's an action-packed weekend filled with excitement and fun! However, for individuals living with dementia, this event can sometimes lead to sensory overload. Let's briefly discuss potential issues, the scenarios they may encounter, and possible solutions for those planning to attend SeaFair Weekend. As the care partner, you know what's best for your loved one and what they can comfortably enjoy. We encourage you to prioritize safety and fun in your decisions. Here are a few concerns and solutions that may arise for individuals with dementia: Disruption in Daily Routine: Problem: The change in routine and leaving a familiar environment can cause stress and resistance. Scenario: Altering their routine and departing from a safe place may induce fear, anxiety, and discomfort. The person might not understand the reason for leaving or feel confused about the changes. Possible Solution: Remind your loved one about the opportunity to see and reminisce about their favorite planes or boats, enjoy an entertaining time at the park, or meet friends and family. If leaving becomes too stressful, consider staying home and finding other enjoyable activities to do, such as reminiscing about past related times. Crowds: Problem: Crowded spaces with constant chatter and close contact may overwhelm and confuse individuals with dementia. Scenario: The abundance of stimuli can be challenging for individuals with dementia to process, leading to increased confusion, agitation, and possibly aggression. Possible Solution: If you notice signs of discomfort in your loved one, find a less crowded and quieter spot to take a break. Consider attending the event for a short time, leaving early, or having an additional back-up plan. Loud Noises: Problem: Loud noises from planes, announcers, and racing boats, mixed with excited voices and background noises, may cause sensory overload. Scenario: Loud noises can escalate confusion and agitation for individuals with dementia. Possible Solution: Provide earplugs or headphones to reduce noise exposure for your loved one. If the noise becomes too much, consider leaving the event. For those unable to attend, SeaFair provides an alternative option. "You can tune in to KONG TV for live coverage of the races and air shows or listen to 88.9 FM The Bridge for Log Boom Radio, Mercer Island High School's radio station broadcasting the excitement all weekend long." Watching the event on TV or listening to it on the radio from the comfort of home can create a more subdued yet delightful sensory experience. You can still enjoy the occasion by firing up the grill, looking at photos of planes, and following the SeaFair events unfold through media. Ultimately, the well-being and comfort of your loved one should be the priority, and you can choose the best approach to ensure a pleasant experience for both of you.

Here are some tips for caregiving for someone living with dementia on the 4th of July: Limit noise and fireworks exposure: Loud noises, including fireworks, can be distressing for individuals with dementia. Consider finding a quiet spot away from fireworks displays to ensure their comfort and minimize sensory overload. Create sensory experiences: The smell of the grill, the taste of hamburger or hot dog, and red, white, and blue colors may all be senses that trigger memories. Reminisce about the past: What did your loved one do as a child for the 4th of July (if they lived in the United States?) If you have any photos available from past celebrations, pull them out and talk about them together. Do themed crafts and puzzles together, or, perhaps, make something in the kitchen together, such as patriotic sugar cookies. Monitor their physical well-being: Ensure the person with dementia stays hydrated and comfortable in the summer heat. Offer them water regularly and provide shaded areas to rest if you're outside. Plan for quiet time: Amidst the celebrations, make sure to schedule periods of rest and relaxation for the person with dementia. This will help prevent overstimulation and allow for necessary downtime. Remember, each individual with dementia is unique, so adapt these tips to suit their specific needs and preferences. By being proactive and mindful, you can help ensure a more enjoyable and comfortable experience for both of you on the 4th of July. Hope you have a safe and festive Independence Day!

Father's Day is a special occasion to honor and appreciate the dads in our lives. However, when your father is living with dementia, this day can present unique challenges. It's essential to approach Father's Day with empathy, understanding, and a focus on preserving the bond you share. In this blog post, we'll explore some strategies and ideas to help you manage Father's Day with a dad who has dementia, ensuring it remains a meaningful and positive experience for both of you. Keep it Simple: Dementia can affect memory, cognitive abilities, and overall awareness. Recognize that complex or extravagant plans may overwhelm your dad. Instead, opt for a simple and familiar celebration. Consider activities that evoke happy memories or engage in activities he enjoys, such as going for a walk, listening to music, watching a classic movie, playing a simple game, or looking at old photo albums together. Create a Calm and Comfortable Environment: Familiar environments can be soothing for individuals with dementia. Celebrate Father's Day in a place that your dad feels safe and comfortable, such as his home or a familiar family setting. Minimize noise, distractions, and crowded spaces that may cause confusion or anxiety. Enjoy the Conversation: Although communication might become more challenging, engaging in conversation can still bring joy and connection. Focus on reminiscing about shared experiences, telling stories, and listening to your dad's thoughts and emotions. Maintain a calm and patient demeanor, using simple and clear language to facilitate understanding. Spark Memories with Visual Aids: Visual cues can help trigger memories and stimulate conversation. Gather photographs, objects, or mementos from your dad's past, such as old tools, sports memorabilia, or family heirlooms. These visual aids can provide opportunities for storytelling and help bridge the gap caused by memory loss. Bring the Whole Family Together: Incorporating other family members into the Father's Day celebration can bring a sense of warmth and togetherness. Plan a small gathering where loved ones can share cherished memories, offer support, and contribute to creating a loving and supportive atmosphere. Above all, remember that Father's Day is an opportunity to express your love and appreciation. Even if your dad's dementia has progressed, your gestures of affection and support can still be deeply felt. Give hugs, hold hands, or simply sit quietly together, providing comfort and reassurance through your presence. Father's Day may require adjustments when your dad has dementia, but it remains a chance to celebrate and cherish the love between you. By embracing simplicity, creating a calm environment, fostering meaningful conversations, and involving the family, you can make Father's Day a memorable and meaningful experience for both of you. Remember, it's not about grand gestures but about the genuine connection and love that you share.

Mother's Day can be a hard day for caregivers of people living with dementia for many reasons- grief, loss, added pressure to create a special day, and the emotions and complexities that come with caregiving. We hear you and see you and know that you are doing your best as a caregiver. Celebrating Mother's Day with a loved one who has dementia can be challenging, but there are still meaningful ways to make the day special for both you and your mom (that hopefully won't add any pressure to the day). Here are some meaningful ways to make today special: Create a scrapbook: Gather old photos of your mom, family members, and special moments, and create a scrapbook or photo album that you can look at together. This can help spark memories and provide an opportunity for you to reminisce together. Already have a scrapbook created? Pull it out and look through it together and talk about old times. Watch her favorite movie or show: Choose a movie or TV show that your mom loves and watch it together. This can provide comfort and familiarity for your mom, and you can enjoy spending time together. Make her favorite meal or treat: If your mom has a favorite food or dessert, consider making it for her or maybe even making it together! This can be a special treat for today. Create a sensory experience: Create a sensory experience for your mom by playing her favorite music, lighting candles, or providing comforting scents such as lavender or vanilla. This can help create a relaxing and enjoyable environment for her. Write her a letter: Write a heartfelt letter to your mom expressing your love and appreciation for her. This can be a meaningful keepsake that she can treasure and a way for you to share how you feel about her. Bring her a flower arrangement (or pick flowers together to create an arrangement!): Flowers have been shown to have mood-boosting effects on people, and receiving a bouquet can be a way to lift someone's spirits and make them feel happier. Remember, the most important thing is to spend time with your mom and show her your love and appreciation! Keep in mind her current abilities and interests and choose activities that she will enjoy.

Dear Friends of Old Friends Club, It is my great pleasure to announce that Old Friends Club has merged with Dementia Support Northwest. I am filled with pride and confidence that the OFC model of replicable social respite programs will continue to expand to enrich the lives of people living with dementia and those who care about them. Here’s how this transpired. Success, and A Conundrum Over the last couple of years and with a very small team, Old Friends Club has developed a comprehensive Toolkit and systems of support to equip others to offer these life-changing programs to people in their own community. My deepest gratitude to Katie Spears and Katie Zeitler for their substantial contributions of expertise, brilliance, and hard work. Now the Clubs can be established anywhere and can welcome people of any culture, identity, even language. Old Friends Club now has a firm foundation from which to launch Clubs everywhere in partnership with OFC Affiliates. And, until now, a conundrum. How do we make it happen? I’ve learned so much over the last 7½ years to make OFC what it is, but this next stage requires a whole new set of skills. A Shared Vision Enter Dementia Support Northwest, a 40-year-old, person-centered, community-oriented nonprofit serving northwest Washington. OFC’s relationship with DSNW started when they began planning to open four Clubs to serve Whatcom County using the OFC model. Their process was deliberate and smart and revealed the strengths of the organization’s leadership. We realized that by joining forces, we would create an organization greater than the sum of its parts. As of April 4, 2023, Old Friends Club became a program of DSNW. This merger is to ensure that the work of Old Friends Club will continue and expand. As the founder of OFC, I did not enter this lightly. It is a bit like sending a child off to college knowing they are well equipped yet standing by to help them succeed. I am honored to be joining the board of Dementia Support Northwest alongside others who also bring an understanding of the benefits of social respite programs and a commitment to improving the lives of people affected by dementia. Next steps I’m happy to introduce you to Dan Gray, Executive Director of Dementia Support Northwest. Dan has caught the vision of OFC and is committed to building a network of engaging programs for those living with dementia, and support and respite for those who provide their care. We hope you will continue to support OFC. You are needed now more than ever to achieve this vision as we build capacity to add and support new Affiliate partners. DSNW will maintain OFC funds in a separate account, which means your donations will support OFC programs as they always have. The biggest difference will be the expanded reach. With gratitude and anticipation of good things to come, Karen Koenig Founder, Old Friends Club Board Member, Dementia Support Northwest karen@oldfriendsclub.org 425-681-9776 Dan Gray, MPA | Executive Director Dementia Support Northwest Email: director@dementiasupportnw.org Phone: 360.671.3316

OFC Sammamish recently celebrated Diwali, Octoberfest, and Autumn Harvest! For Octoberfest, members got to enjoy pretzels and mustard. Yum! For Autumn Harvest, members got creative and made corn out of beads and pipe cleaners. How fun (and colorful)! And finally, members learned about and celebrated Diwali (festival of light) through stories, games, and art! Members participated, volunteers encouraged, and staff supported.

The club members at OFC Sammamish had a great time celebrating Halloween! Members went bowling and had to knock over these spooky mummy pins! And then the members got to show off some moves with a special pumpkin toss... ...as well as a spider toss! What is a Halloween celebration without a ghost decoration? Check out these delightfully ghoulish crafts!

What I would have given to have a resource like Old Friends Club for my mom and grandmother! My momma was always my biggest supporter and a constant source of inspiration in my life. She had the sweetest and kindest demeanor to anyone she spoke with, and she enjoyed helping people through her job as the Probate Clerk for my hometown. My mom was an avid reader (especially of Patricia Cornwell books) and loved listening to music. I began to notice her behavior and routine change when she would try to sit down and read at night—she started to open and close her books without reading any pages. She was fired not long before she turned 50, and we would later find out she was suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Since she was so young, she was ineligible for disability and even with her small pension, she made too much money to qualify for Medicaid. My family and I fought to find every available resource but were often met with many impasses. Through our church family and friends, my family and I were able to keep my mom at home, which was both a blessing and taxing for my grandmother (her mother). My grandmother became the sole caretaker of my mom when I moved to Washington, and I remember seeing how quickly FTD affected both my mom and my grandmother. Every time I came home to visit, I would see the new face of dementia instead of my mom, and I saw my grandmother slowly lose her spirit from the constant strain and stress of caregiving. I slowly watched as my mom lost her ability to read, write, talk, and eventually eat all within the span of 5 years because she died shortly after celebrating her 55th birthday. Having something like Old Friends Club would have been such an invaluable resource for my family. The Clubs provide a safe haven for the Members to engage, communicate, and share not just any stories but their stories. This allows for their spirits to continue to be nourished through these new friendships. I also see how the caregivers breathe a sigh of relief when they’re able to have the respite time to focus on their needs and wants while knowing their loved one is taken care of at Old Friends Club. Both Joan and Karen are incredible Program Directors, and it’s evident that they love what they do. Creativity flourishes throughout each program day and the sense of community is obvious upon Member arrival. The warm greetings, jovial conversations, and sense of belonging is exactly what I wanted for my mom, and the support, acknowledgment, and assistance is what I wanted for my grandmother. When I first learned about Old Friends Club, I was writing my master’s thesis during my time at the University of Washington, and I knew Old Friends Club was like no other available resource. I could feel Karen’s love for helping people as she described the mission of Old Friends Club to me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of her movement. Her vision of bringing Old Friends Club to multiple cultures and regions inspires me, and I’m extremely lucky she has asked me to be part of her OFC team! -Katie Spears, Affiliate Development Director at Old Friends Club Will you make a donation today to make the Clubs possible for more caregivers? No gift is too small. Donations can be made here: https://www.oldfriendsclub.org/helpacaregiver

As an Activities Director with Old Friends Club, I often create a theme around a day’s agenda so that we can find connective pieces that help us all stay engaged. The range of activities are liked, and some disliked, however the theme provides a framework for memories, for experiences, for conversations to surface. All with the aim of engagement. Sometimes engagement looks like staying awake, yet other times… In our third week of the newly re-opened OFC in Sammamish; the group of nine members had finished listening to a few chapters from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. We then moved our chairs to an inward-facing circle to begin a movement/sensory activity called, Friendship Web. We sat in a circle and tossed a ball of yarn to one another. After catching the yarn, you were asked to share one fact about yourself to the group. Then, you held onto the yarn whilst tossing the remaining ball to another member. Back and forth, and around and around…before you knew it, we were connected in a Friendship Web. In addition to physical movement and joint attention, we began to feel the joy of inclusion. And perhaps more importantly, we heard a self-chosen fact about each member. Some members shared the name of their hobby, the name of a pet, or their age. Then the yarn arrived in the lap of a member who took his time to speak. “Well, I guess I want you all to know that I love people.” Tosses the ball of yarn. “I enjoy coming to this place to see you all – some I know and some I don’t know yet.” Tosses the ball of yarn. “I like being here, doing this.” What an honor to be surrounded by willingness, vulnerability, courage, and kindness. What fun to be part of a social engagement group! What an opportunity to continue to provide for our communities. We’d love to expand our web. Tossing the ball of yarn…. Thank you for your support. -Karen, Activity Director, Sammamish OFC We still need to raise money to keep spreading this magic. Will you make a donation today? Donate here

There was an excited, emotional buzz when the Sammamish Club opened its doors last week to new members and their caregivers. While the new members began getting to know each other, their caregivers were able to step aside and have a moment to pause with Karen K., OFC’s founder, and Katie S., a staff member from OFC. A special silence fell over the room as the caregivers settled in. Katie described it as a “touching silence” because the caregivers were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief for the first time in weeks, if not months. No words were needed. Caregivers then shared what they would do with their newly acquired free time. One would head to the library, another would go golfing, and yet another was excited to simply "putter about". This is guilt-free relief. Often, caregivers shift between guilt and resentment: Guilt if they’re not always there for the person they care for and resentment for having to give up pieces of themselves. The Clubs offer a break they can feel good about because it’s just as much for the person they care for. One caregiver described a previous experience using respite care that didn’t go as hoped. Once the meeting ended, this dedicated caregiver walked into the room where the activities were happening to see the person they cared for telling a story and laughing. Relief washed over them and the feeling was palpable. How good does that feel?! Your gift today will spread the good and help more caregivers find guilt-free relief! Will you help? Make a gift today: www.oldfriendsclub.org/helpacaregiver

The theme for Tip Tuesday in July was "redirection". July 5, 2022 “Some people with dementia seem to have more behavioral symptoms in the evening. The reasons for this probably vary but likely include afternoon fatigue, afternoon caregiver fatigue, lessened stimulation later in the day, and more (this can be labeled as “sundowning”). A whole day of trying to cope with confusing perceptions of the environment may be tiring, so the person’s tolerance for stress is lower at the end of the day.” Ideas: Have the person take an afternoon nap or increase stimulation in the afternoon, depending on what is needed. Plan the person’s day so there’s fewer expectations of them in the evening. -“The 36-Hour Day” by Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH - pp.239-240 Learn more about "The 36-Hour Day" here - https://lnkd.in/g4ZsZKgQ July 12, 2022 “As much as possible, encourage a regular routine of waking up, meals and going to bed.” “Reduce stimulation during the evening hours (i.e. TV, doing chores, loud music, etc.) These distractions may add to the person’s confusion. “When behavioral interventions and environmental changes do not work, discuss the situation with your doctor.” Read more tips and learn more by visiting the Alzheimer’s Association website - link: https://lnkd.in/dbAHySvG July 19, 2022 “Don’t say ‘don’t’; divert and redirect instead.” -Instead of saying to someone, “don’t do that” (which might not mean anything to them), divert by refocusing their attention onto another subject. -To redirect, attract the person to another, safer activity. “...With people living with Alzheimer’s, it is essential to create a diversion first before suggesting a more appropriate or safer activity.” -“I’m Still Here” pp. 162-163 by John Zeisel, Ph.D. Information about this book can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eKtZ2rGD July 26, 2022 Helpguide.org shares 5 Ways to Identify the Causes of Problem Behavior: 1. Look at your loved one’s body language and imagine what they might be feeling or trying to express. 2. Ask yourself, what happened just before the problem behavior started? Did something trigger the behavior? 3. Are the patient’s needs being met? Is your loved one hungry, thirsty, or in pain? 4. Does changing the environment by introducing favorite music, for example, help to comfort the person? 5. How did you react to the problem behavior? Did your reaction help to soothe the patient or did it make the behavior worse? Check out the link below to read more about Alzheimer’s and Dementia Behavior Management: https://lnkd.in/dzvRu-4 Have a tip you'd like to share? Please email Katie - katie@oldfriendsclub.org