"Snowmen" reminiscing and discussion, trivia, singing, and craft project

Planning a Snowmen fun reminiscing day with resident and you are absolutely clueless on what to do?
Follow this simple steps and approach outline for by Jo Anne Harrison Becker. This article contains discussion and reminiscing, A Frosty the Snowman Facts, Trivia, Word Game and Sing the Song

Here just how you should starts with snowmen 

• Make a snowman collage for display; include snowman collectibles, stuffed snowman, snowman globe, etc.

• If possible, have a real snowman outside the window of the activity room

• Have door prizes – snowman pin, snowman tie, snowman note cards, snowman globe, stuffed snowman, etc.

• For refreshments serve Snowman cookies baked at a previous cooking/baking class

Discussion and reminiscing

What are your memories of building a snowman? Describe the experience (including where you lived)
Who did you build it with?
What did you use for the eyes? Nose? Mouth?
Did your snowman have a pipe? Where did you get the pipe?
What attire did you use for your snowman?
Did you children enjoy building snowmen? Explain.
What is the best kind of snow for building a snowman? Sticky snow; fresh snow; slightly heavy; not dry and powdery snow
How much snow do you think should be on the ground in order to build a snowman? At least 4 inches in order to effectively roll the snowballs into bigger ones
What are some tips to share in creating the perfect snowman? Rolling the snowball (parts of the snowman in different directions; patting the “growing” snowball to make sure it is tightly packed; don’t roll the ball too far away, because it gets heavy; make a small dent on the bottom snowball to prevent the second (body) from falling.
What do you think is the average weight for a snowman? Approximately 112 pounds for a typical snowman.
How tall do you think a typical snowman is? About 4 feet tall
When do you think is the "best time" to build a snowman? The next warmest afternoon directly following a snowfall with a sufficient amount of snow
Nowadays, they have snowmen kits, which include a hat, eyes, nose, and scarf. Would you prefer the kit or to find your own accessories? Explain.

Create some snowmen sayings. (Examples: Snowmen melt my heart; Snowmen are cool; Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow: My heart belongs to Frosty; Snowmen are a little flaky)

And, of course, sing “Frosty the Snowman”

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

A Frosty the Snowman Facts, Trivia, Word Game and Sing the Song

FACTS

“Frosty the Snowman” was written by Steve "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson and recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. The song was a response to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. When song writers Jack Nelson and Steve Rollins saw what success Gene Autry was having in 1949, singing Rudolph's song, they decided to write their own silly but catchy song doing variations on an icon of Christmas. It took them months to decide on a living snowman as their subject, but they still had it ready in time for a 1950 release. Autry, delighted with the opportunity to ride his own recording's coat-tails back to the top of the charts, recorded it.

“Frosty the Snowman” has been covered by many artists over the years, including The Jackson 5, The Ronettes, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Conniff, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Beach Boys, Red Foley (and his daughters), The Partridge Family and Michael Bublé.

"Frosty" was subsequently adapted to other media including a popular television special

TRIVIA

1. What was Frosty’s pipe made of? Corncob
2. What were Frosty’s eyes made of? Coal
3. What was Frosty’s nose made of? Button
4. Did Frosty ever “come to life”? Yes, he did one day
5. What material was his hat made from? Silk
6. Where did the children get the hat? They found it
7. What happened when the children put the hat on Frosty’s head? He began to dance around
8. Who said that Frosty could laugh and play? The children
9. Why did Frosty say, "Let's run and we'll have some fun now before I melt away"?
10. Because the sun was hot that day
11. What did Frosty have in his hand when he went down to the village? A broomstick
12. What did Frosty say when he was running around the village square? “Catch me if you can”
13. When Frosty led the children down the streets of town, who did he bring them to? The traffic cop
14. What did the traffic cop holler? “Stop!”
15. As Frosty was leaving and saying good-bye, what words did he say? "Don't you cry, I'll be back again some day."

WORD GAME

How many words can you make from the letters in FROSTY?

For, fort, forty, forty, fro, frost, fry, of oft, or, ort, orts, rosy, rot, rots so, soft, sort, sot, soy, story, sty, to toy toys, try

How many words can you make from the letters in SNOWMAN?
Am, an, anon, as, awn, ma, man, mason, maw, maws, moan, moans, mow, mown, mows, no, non, now, on, own, owns, saw, snow, so soma, son, sow, sown, swam, swan, wan, was, woman

SING “FROSTY THE SNOWMAN”

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but the children
Know how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that
Old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around.

O, Frosty the snowman
Was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
And play just the same as you and me.

Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Frosty the snowman knew
The sun was hot that day,
So he said, "Let's run and
We'll have some fun
Now before I melt away."

Down to the village,
With a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all
Around the square saying,
Catch me if you can.

He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler "Stop!"

For Frosty the snow man
Had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye saying,
"Don't you cry,
I'll be back again some day."

Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

INDOOR SNOWMAN CRAFT PROJECT

Materials

• 3 plain round boxes in successive sizes (papíer-mâché are the best). Good sizes 5, 7, and 9 inches in diameter
• White acrylic paint
• Hot glue or tacky glue
• Buttons
• Orange bumpy pipe cleaner
• Infant’s mittens
• 2-1/2-foot string
• Infant-size hat
• Cloth scrap

**Invite residents who are able to make the mittens and hat.

Instructions

• Paint each of the 3 boxes with white acrylic
• Let the paint dry.
• Use hot glue or tacky glue to attach eyes and a button mouth to the smallest box.
• Add a row of large buttons to each of the 2 larger boxes, leaving room for the box tops. If your boxes are the sizes suggested, add 2 buttons to the medium size box and 3 buttons to the largest box.
• Cut a tapered section from an orange bumpy pipe cleaner and glue it in place for the nose.
• For the hands, tape the mittens to the ends of a 21⁄2-foot string. Tuck the center portion of the string inside the medium-size box before putting on the lid.
• Stack the boxes.
• Dress your snowman with the hat and a scarf made from a scrap of cloth.

At the end of the winter season, store the snowman parts inside the largest box for next winter.

For more activities head over to
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Theme activities for the spring “daffodil days” - activities for seniors

This post contains the following:  Daffodil Facts; Folklore of the Daffodil; reminiscing/discussion; info on the The American Cancer Society and “Daffodil Days”; Word Game; Make a Daffodil Collage; Sensory Activity; Daffodil Display

The Daffodil is the official birthday flower of March, the same month as the vernal equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere), which brings great celebration to the return of springtime.

Though their botanic name is narcissus, daffodils are sometimes called jonquils. There are over 25,000 varieties of daffodils and they come in yellow, white, orange and even a peach/pink shade.

The daffodil is also the 10th wedding anniversary flower.

The old name for daffodil was Affodyle, Affodyle means that which cometh early. The name Daffodil was first used in the English language around the 1500's.

Daffodils, the flowers symbolizing friendship, are some of the most popular flowers exclusively due to their unmatched beauty. Daffodils are the floral symbol from the Cancer Society, standing for love, hope through the joy of sunshine.

DID YOU KNOW?

The earliest known reference to Daffodils can be found in the 6th century A.D. writings of the prophet Mohammed.

Grown extensively by the ancient Greeks and the Romans, Daffodils nevertheless became a forgotten flower until about 1600 and even in 1860, there were fewer than 350 cultivated hybrids.

Around 1629, a group of Englishmen took the Daffodil out of the weeds and put it into the garden. Daffodils were in favor again.

During the days of the American experience and the expansion west, daffodils were well established as a "must have" in the garden.

Today, the majority of daffodils are grown in the Channel Islands, Great Britain, Holland and the Isles of Scilly.

All parts of the daffodil are poisonous.

The sap of daffodils can be damaging to other flowers. If you’ve picked them to display in a vase with other flowers, then it’s best to leave them in water on their own for at least 12 hours, before mixing them together.
The emblem of Wales is the daffodil. People often wear daffodils on St. David’s Day.

In New York, nearly 2,500,000 daffodils are grown each year.

The Victorians thought daffodils acted as a symbol of regard.

Australia holds an annual Daffodil Day in August to help raise awareness about cancer. The daffodil is also used as a symbol by Marie Curie Cancer Care in the United Kingdom.

Folklore of the daffodil

Medieval Arabs used the juice of the daffodil as a cure for baldness.
Tread with caution when walking around a bed of daffodils. If you step, stomp, or trample on a bed of Daffodils, bad luck will find you.

If you make a great effort to avoid stepping on a daffodil, you will be rewarded good fortune.

It is bad luck to bring in a single daffodil -- misfortune will fall upon the house. Always bring a bouquet filled,
if you intend to give daffodils as a present, this will bring good fortune to the house.

It is bad luck to be confined with a bloomed daffodil; the scent will bring on a migraine.

The State of Maine, USA has a superstition about the daffodil. The daffodil when pointed at with the index finger will not bloom.

According to Welch tradition, the first daffodil of Spring brings good fortune. Due to the bright yellow color, the first one who sees a daffodil can expect good fortune, bringing in more gold then silver for the following 12 months.

During Medieval times, it was believed that if a daffodil drooped or wilted while you were watching, it was an omen of death.

Another Old English folklore says, when you have poultry nesting on eggs, don't bring daffodils over the threshold. It was believed that the daffodils would bring bad luck to the chickens who laid eggs, and the eggs would not hatch.

As a Chinese lore, the daffodil which is groomed to bloom on the Chinese New Year will bring good fortune for the next twelve months.

In Wales, it’s said if you spot the first daffodil of the season, your next 12 months will be filled with wealth.
For a lady to give a man a daffodil, it denotes her insight to his chivalrous manner.

The sunny yellow glow of a daffodil tells the one you love that their sunny smile brightens your day.
To give a daffodil to your sweetheart it is a sign of love, hope, joy, through respect.

The American cancer society and “daffodil days”

You can give hope to people facing cancer and save lives by supporting the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days program. (Check in your area for dates as they vary).

The Daffodil Days program is an opportunity to fight back against cancer by raising funds and awareness to help beat the disease.

While the Daffodil Days program involves offering daffodils every spring to donors in appreciation for their contributions, it is about more than just giving beautiful flowers - it is everyone's opportunity to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, where cancer never steals another year from anyone's life.

Money raised through the Daffodil Days program makes a difference. Everyone’s support allows the American Cancer Society to save lives and create a world with more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer.

Reminiscing and discussion

Ask everyone in the group, “For how many in the group, is the daffodil your favorite flower”?  If so, why is it your favorite flower?

When you think of daffodils, what thoughts come to mind?

Did you grow daffodils in your garden?  If so, did you have more than one variety?  Did you pick them or leave them blooming in your garden?

Did anyone ever give you a bouquet of daffodils?  Who?  How did it make you feel?

Did you ever give anyone a bouquet of daffodils?  Who?  How did it make you feel? How did it make the recipient of the bouquet feel?

How many words can you think of that you associate with daffodils? (Go around the room and have each person give a word.  Write the words on a white board or flip chart.  See how many you can think of.”

The poetry corner

A poetry writing activity is a wonderful way to express one’s thoughts.  All the rules that apply in waking life are thrown out the window.

Poetry can envelop emotion, history, relationships, logic, learning, and a myriad other things. Poetry can help one to escape. Poetry has no bounds, like the universe or love. It is a universal form of connection with other minds.

Some benefits of poetry are communication, creativity and self expression.  Poetry is therapeutic in nature. It builds self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.

Poetry is designed to stretch the mind’s eye, touch the heart and entrench the senses.

Plan your Poetry Time Activity using both the theme and title (of the poem) “Daffodils.” This activity can be done in two ways.

If your residents are writing a collaborative poem, use a white board/flip chart and create the poem as a group. Remind residents that it doesn’t have to be a rhyming poem.

If residents are creating individual original poems, provide each participant with a pencil and paper.  Softly play relaxing background music and enjoy a cup of herbal tea.

Before you begin creating/writing, read two poems (with the title) “Daffodils.”

“Daffodils”     

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee:
A Poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

“DAFFODILS”

By Jo Anne Harrison-Becker

I searched for flowers on the hill
One bright and sunny day,
And saw a single daffodil
Standing proud and gay.

No flowers standing by its side
In a field of shimmering grass,
It stood there bold -- not trying to hide
I paused before I passed.

I continued to search as I climbed the hill
The sun was gold and mellow,
I reached the top and stood so still
To gaze in a field of yellow.

There were thousands of daffodils all around
In truth, such a glorious sight,
Shades of lemon and apricot covered the ground
Meadow shining like sparkling light.

As I sauntered down the winding hill
Before heading back to home,
I spied my single daffodil
Standing gallantly alone.

WORDS IN A WORD

How many words can you make from the letters in DAFFODILS?

ad
add
adds
adios
ado
ads
aid
aids
ail
ails
also
as
dad
dads
dial
dials
did
do
fa
fad
fads
fail
fails
foal
foil
foils
fold
folds
id
idol
idols
if
is
la
lad
lads
laid
lid
lids
load
loads
loaf
oaf
oafs
od
odd
odds
of
off
oil
oils
old
os
sad
said
sail
silo
slid
so
sod
soda
sofa
soil
sold
solid

Making a daffodil collage

Request gardening catalogues from catalogue companies, staff and your friends or print off color pictures of the different varieties of daffodils to make daffodil collages.

Sensory – assess your resident

Use a bouquet of fragrant daffodils in a vase or one single daffodil.

Does the resident respond to the sight of the daffodils?

 If so, how?

A smile?

Verbalization?

Is the resident able to hold the daffodil(s)?

Is the resident able to smell the daffodil(s)?

Any reactions to the smell?  Is resident able to communicate?

You can also show daffodil collages to the resident.  What responses do you get?

If resident is able to communicate/verbalize, use some or all of the questions in the Reminiscing/Discussion included in this activity.

Flower display

Ask staff, volunteers, family members or local establishments to donate daffodils.  Have residents place in vases.  Display in rooms or throughout your facility.

Written by JoAnne Harrison Becker
Find more activities at https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoAnneHarrisonBecker

Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay

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17 Easy Steps to Implement a Successful Reminiscing Activity for Seniors

To recollect and tell of past experiences and events is to reminisce.  Reminiscing has a profound value especially in the mid stages of Alzheimer’s disease because long term memory is relatively intact. Reminiscing is valuable because it becomes a mechanism for change.  It helps an individual sum up his or her life and put the various pieces in order. Through this process, one can achieve peace and harmony.

Having a hard time thinking of how to implement a successful reminiscing activity? Here are useful steps to guide you.

1. Complete a personal profile on every resident who participates in a reminiscing activity. This will help to identify key areas relating to the past.
2. Plan each activity carefully. Determine group size based on stages, behaviors, staffing, activity room, etc. Four to seven participants is considered the ideal size for a reminiscing group.
3. Choose a comfortable, quiet, well-lit room for group reminiscing.
4. Have one focus or theme for each reminiscing session.
5. Use multi-sensory materials and props to stimulate memory.
6. Incorporate music related to the reminiscing theme. Use music for listening as well as for singing.
7. Ask open-ended questions. These questions cannot be answered with a mere ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ (Example -- Tell me about the first car you owned).
8. Phrase each question carefully so the resident does not feel uncomfortable when not able to answer.
9. Focus on the resident who is reminiscing. Use prompting only when needed.
10. Never interrupt -- wait for a natural pause in the conversation.
11. Go slowly -- allow enough time for the resident to absorb what is being said and enough time to respond.
12. Be sensitive to topics that may be uncomfortable, unpleasant or stressful. If a topic appears to make the resident uneasy, ask if he or she wishes to discontinue the conversation or talk at another time. Never urge a resident to “reveal” something that he or she does not wish to discuss.
13. Include “paired reminiscing” (sharing your memories and experiences related to the topic).
14. Be observant to any changes in a resident’s condition. You may have to adapt questions, group size, length of activity, etc.
15. At the end of each reminiscing session emphasize that you will cherish the memories that everyone has shared.
16. Provide stimuli for one-to-one reminiscing. (Memory boxes, scrap books, photographs, posters, props, personal mementos, etc.)
17. And always -- gain trust and respect residents’ right to privacy.

Functions and benefits of reminiscing

• Through reminiscing, a person can be put in touch with a more integrated self.
• Reminiscing helps preserve both a personal and collective history.
• Reminiscing can promote self-understanding.
• Reminiscing has a calming effect by speaking about pleasant experiences from the past.
• Reminiscing can increase a person’s feelings of integrity and self-worth.
• Reminiscing can validate a person’s contributions, interests and feelings.
• Reminiscing stimulates the senses.
• Reminiscing can help maintain or increase concentration and attention span.
• Reminiscing can provide a person with a sense of pride, accomplishment, satisfaction, enjoyment, and enthusiasm.
• Reminiscing in a group presents opportunities for socialization.

Reminiscing and discussion "Childhood Memories"

Childhood is the most precious time of our lives, when we have everything to hope for and find constant wonder in the world around us. It is a time of excitement, happiness, sadness and tears, mischief-making, innocence and anxieties, but above all it is a time to love, to learn and to grow.

Plan a reminiscing/discussion on childhood. Ask residents prior to the activity to bring a special childhood photo if they have one.

“Know what it is to be a child... It is to be something very different from the man of to-day. It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of baptism; it is to believe in love, to believe in belief; it is to be so little that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear; it is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice into horses, lowness into loftiness, and nothing into everything, for each child has its fairy godmother in its soul.” Francis
Thompson (1859 - 1907)

Read the following. Ask residents to comment on what comes to mind.

1. Monday’s child is fair of face,
2. Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
3. Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
4. Thursday’s child has far to go,
5. Friday’s child is loving and giving,
6. Saturday’s child works hard for his living,
7. But a child that is born on the Sabbath day
8. Is fair and wise and good and gay.  (Anonymous)

Questions for reminiscing and discussion

Recall a moment of meaning from your early family life and share it with others in the group.

• What is your earliest childhood memory?
• Was childhood a happy time for you? Why? Why not?
• How many brothers and sisters? Were you the youngest? oldest? middle child?
• Where did you live? Describe the house.
• Describe the yard. What games and activities did you play in your yard?
• Did you have an attic in your house? Did you play in the attic? Describe your adventures.
• What chores were you responsible for?
• What was your favorite nursery rhyme? Let’s recite it. 
• Who was your best friend? What was so special about this friend?
• What do you remember about early school days?
• How far away was the school?
• What was your favorite subject?
• Who was your favorite teacher? Why was she so special?
• How did you do on your report card?
• Describe your favorite toys as a child.
• What was your favorite hobby?
• What was your favorite game?
• Describe your favorite place to play.
• Did you play any sports? Which ones?
• Did you have a pet? What kind? What was its name?
• What was your favorite childhood song? Let’s sing it.
• What was your favorite fairy tale? What was special about it? Who read it to you before you could read?
• What were your favorite candies?  What do you remember about the following: Hershey's Kisses; Baby Ruth; Sky Bar; Tootsie Roll; M&Ms
• When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

REMINISCING: 10 Most Popular Foods From the 50’s

What are your memories of preparation and or being served?

On a white board write the names of the most popular foods of the 1950’s.

1. Baked Alaska
2. Chicken pot pie
3. Deviled eggs
4. Gelatin & fruit salad molds 
5. Meatloaf
6. Melon boat salad
7. Shrimp puffs
8. Spaghetti with meat sauce
9. Swanson Frozen Dinners
10. Tuna Noodle Casserole

Going around the room, ask each person to choose their favorite from the list. Have each person tell why the one they chose was their favorite.

If they get off topic and talk about another food, that is okay, because the discussion is still inspiring/encouraging reminiscence.

Examples: Questions you might ask:

How old were you in the 1950’s?
Who did the cooking?
Do you still enjoy this food as an adult?

Baked Alaska

Why is baked Alaska referred to as a housewife’s favorite?

Baked Alaska (ice cream and sponge cake encased in toasted meringue) ovens in the 1950s made this dessert a housewife favorite.

Considered easy but elegant, Baked Alaska (supposedly) impressed guests with its colorful Neapolitan interior and its melding of hot and cold components.

The especially daring host might skip the oven entirely and set the whole thing aflame with a kitchen torch.

Chicken pot pie

Why is chicken pot pie called “the old American standby?” How would you describe the flavor? Did your crust come out flaky? If so, what was your secret?

Deviled Eggs

What is your recipe for deviled eggs?

During what seasons were deviled eggs most popular?

For what occasions did you have deviled eggs? (e.g. staple hors d'oeuvre at backyard barbecues and cocktail parties.

Most recipes call for a spring of paprika. What did this add to the recipe? A sprinkle of paprika added just enough zest to prevent them from tasting bland.

Meatloaf

What ingredients did you add to a meatloaf? (Add a side of buttery mashed potatoes and a tall glass of whole milk and you've got the quintessential '50s feast.)

Swanson Frozen Dinners (first introduced in 1954) 

The first Swanson-brand TV Dinner consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, frozen peas and sweet potatoes packaged in a tray like those used at the time for airline food service. The cost was 98 cents.

Why were they called TV dinners? Which one was your favorite? How often did you serve them? Why were TV dinners called America’s favorite fake home-cooked meal?

Which TV dinner was and is the most popular? roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes and corn)

Spaghetti with meat sauce

Did you use the thicker or the thinner spaghetti? Which was the most popular in your family? How did you make your spaghetti sauce? Did you ever use sauce from the jar and tell everyone you made it from scratch? If so, were you believed or did you “get caught?”

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Although there are numerous variations on tuna casserole, historically it is made with egg noodles, chopped onion, shredded cheddar cheese, frozen green peas, canned and drained tuna, condensed cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup, sliced mushrooms and crushed potato chips.

The original Betty Crocker recipe called specifically for Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup and B&B Mushrooms. Sometimes this dish is topped with potato chips, corn flakes, bread crumbs or canned fried onions.

What topping, if any, did you have on tuna noodle casserole? Why do you think this casserole was so popular in the 1950’s? (Mainly because the ingredients were inexpensive and easy to find at the supermarket.)

REMEMBERING TV SHOWS DEBUTS - 1951

Reminisce about the following shows.

The first long-running soap opera, “Search for Tomorrow,” was broadcast on CBS in 1951. It first aired as a 15-minute serial. Procter & Gamble used the show to advertise “Joy” dish-washing liquid and “Spic and Span” household cleaner.

As the show's ratings boosted, additional sponsors started purchasing commercial time. Both "Joy" and "Spic and Span" continued to be the primary products and Procter & Gamble advertised on the show well into the 1960s. The final episode aired on NBC after 35 years in 1986.

"I Love Lucy," starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley, originally ran on CBS from 1951 to 1957. The show almost never made it to the air because CBS had difficulty securing a sponsor.

Finally tobacco giant Philip Morris signed on. As a result, lots of smoking was featured in each episode, and the name “Philip Morris” was worked into the dialogue whenever plausible.

The show topped the Nielsen ratings for four out of its six seasons and won several Emmys. After the series ended in 1957, a modified version continued for three more seasons with 13 one-hour specials; it ran from 1957 to 1960. It was first called “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show” and later in reruns as “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.”

“Dragnet” aired in black-and-white from 1951–1959; and then Series Two aired from 1967 to 1970. The show portrayed the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners.

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet" meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. “Dragnet” is regarded as the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history.

The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work and it earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. The show’s opening narration was: "Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."

The Roy Rogers Show aired 100 episodes from 1951 to 1957 on NBC. Roy Rogers, “King of the Cowboys.” starred as a ranch owner and Dale Evans as the proprietress of the Eureka Hotel and Cafe in fictional Mineral City.

Pat Brady starred as Roy’s sidekick and Dale's cook. Animal stars were Roy's Palomino horse Trigger, who was featured in all 100 episodes and his German Shepherd Bullet, the "Wonder Dog". Dale Evans wrote the theme song, “Happy Trails to You.”

References
https://www.facebook.com/groups/933573683390948/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/933573683390948/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1348026331977652/

Image by Aline Dassel from Pixabay

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Creating Theme Collages: 23 Examples of Collages for Elderly Residents

Collage is an artistic form known for its unique visual expressions. Creating a “theme” collage involves gathering magazines, photos and postcards; selecting appropriate pictures; cutting them out; creating a design and pasting them on poster board. Because collage-making can be broken down into several tasks, it is a suitable activity for alert to moderately confused residents.

Creating a collage is a means of personal expression. It is used to explore ideas, offer opportunities for creativity and self-expression; enhances concentration; may help improve fine motor skills; making choices (where to place the items); it's an opportunity to be with friends.

Collages are easy and affordable to make. All you need is construction paper or poster board; glue stick; scissors; and pictures/cards/photographs/magazines/store flyers/catalogues. Fabrics, plastics, and metals are also common materials in modern collage art. Staff could collect leaves, twigs, flowers and herbs (dry them first), buttons, etc. for residents to create their collage.

23 examples of collages for elderly residents

1. Create a “Family and Friends” collage. Cut poster board into a large heart shape. Paste family and friends photos on the board.
2. Create a "Coloring Book collage."  Recycling coloring book pictures (already colored) into art unleashes creativity while being kind to mother earth as well. 
3. Make collages with pictures of foods you might order in a restaurant. Include beverages, appetizers, soups, desserts, ethnic foods, etc.
4. Use state vacation guides to make collages. Have each resident choose a favorite state for an individual collage.
5. Make a collage of animals. Use National Geographic magazine or magazines about dogs, cats, birds, etc.
6. Looking through magazines, instruct residents to find as many pictures as they can of things that begin with an ‘A’. Create an ‘A’ collage. (Use any letter of the alphabet.) This activity focuses on concentration.
7. Create a Modern Art collage. Colored vellum cut into shapes is layered onto a surface to produce a sophisticated piece of modern art. 
8. Create an alphabet collage. On a white poster board, place cut-outs of letters of the alphabet. Use letters of various sizes and shapes in both capital and small letters. Create your own original design.
9. Have residents create a collage using pictures of items found in a house. You can also make several collages, each one depicting a specific room.
10. Create an autumn collage using pictures of pumpkins, fall flowers, apples, gourds, children in fall fashions, trees in their autumn splendor, etc.
11. Create a summer collage. Use pictures of summer scenery, people dressed in summer fashions, picnic foods, parades, seashells, boats, etc.
12. Have residents create a “Personal Dream” collage. After the collage is completed, invite them to share their personal dream to the group.
13. Create collages with pictures from the various food groups, or use themes such as desserts, international foods, vegetables, etc.
14. Use song titles or quotations for themes. Then add pictures related to the song title or quotation.
15. Have residents find appropriate pictures to create a religious/spiritual collage.
16. Write each of the following themes on separate poster boards: “Kindness”, “Love”, “Friendship” and “Trust”. Assign residents to find pictures associated with each theme.
17. Create a patriotic collage in red, white and blue, using pictures and symbols that represent our country (flags, American eagle, president’s pictures, pictures of prominent patriots and other figures).
18. Make a “Home Sweet Home” collage. Look for pictures of wicker furniture, an old piano, an outdated telephone, Norman Rockwell prints, any nostalgic picture (or photograph), older magazine covers or advertisements that will stimulate a pleasant memory.
19. Create a “Back to School” collage. Include pictures of fall fashions, apples, books, pens, and pencils, etc.
20. Create a sports and recreation collage, using pictures associated with various sports, leisure activities, and sports heroes.
21. Create collages depicting the following themes: a. “In the spring a young man’s fancy...” b. “Spring Cleaning” c. “Spring Fever” d. “Planting a Garden” e. “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” f. robin redbreast
22. Create a Christmas collage using newspaper and magazine photographs, old greeting cards, calendars, postcards, gift wrap, colored construction paper, and other materials. Encourage residents to choose individual themes or use such themes as “Let It Snow,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Twas the Night Before Christmas”; or use titles of favorite Christmas carols. Write both theme and residents’ names on each finished product.
23. Create Letter Collage. Have residents cut out the first letter of their name from magazines and make a collage!

Creating a religious collage "MOMENTS FROM THE BIBLE" activity

DECORATIONS

Use the song titles or quotations (listed in this activity) for themes. Have residents find appropriate pictures to create a religious collage.

Write each of the following themes on separate poster boards: “Kindness,” “Love,” “Friendship,”  "Compassion," "Faith" and “Trust”. Assign residents to find pictures associated with each theme. Create collages to display at the activity.

RECIPE FOR REFRESHMENTS TO SERVE

• Noah’s Ark Cookies
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 1/2 cups sifted flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all the ingredients and blend well. Roll on a floured cloth covered board 1/8-inch thick. Cut with animal shaped cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake 6 to 8 minutes. Cool, and then top with sprinkles or other decorations. Make 4 dozen cookies.

How many song titles can you think of that remind you of the Bible?

• Amazing Grace
• The Church in the Wildwood
• He’s got the Whole World in His Hands
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Rock of Ages
• Bringing in the Sheaves
• Onward Christian Soldiers
• When the Saints Go Marching In
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus
• Blessed Assurance
• In the Garden
• How Great Thou Art
• Tell It to Jesus
• The Old Rugged Cross
• Sing a few of these songs during the activity.

WORD GAMES

1. On a whiteboard or poster board, write (in column form) the letters of the alphabet. Have residents list as many Biblical words or names for each letter of the alphabet. 
2. Write the following Books of the Bible on a whiteboard

• Genesis
• Proverbs
• Zechariah
• Revelation
• Judges
• Exodus
• Song of Solomon
• Daniel
• Acts
• Corinthians
• Read the following clues. Have residents match the clue to the book.
• The value of wisdom   Proverbs
• The betrayal of Samson   Judges
• Locusts and darkness   Exodus
• The birth of Seth   Genesis
• The seven last plagues   Revelation
• A good name better than riches   Proverbs
• The descent of the Holy Ghost   Acts
• The Rose of Sharon   Song of Solomon
• The Den of Lions   Daniel
• The vision of the four chariots   Zechariah

Did you know? The English word Genesis is derived from the words Genesis kosmou, which is Greek for “origin of the cosmos.”

QUESTIONS for residents

Why is the Bible important to you?
What is your favorite Bible passage?
What can you relate about each of these Old Testament Bible stories? The expulsion from Eden; The Covenant of the Rainbow; Lot’s Wife is a Pillar of Salt; Moses Speaks to the Children of Israel; The Walls of Jericho Fall; The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon.

TRIVIA For residents

How many books are included in the Old Testament?   39
Name the first five books of the Old Testament.   Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Name the first five books of the New Testament.   Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts

Are the following books from the Old or New Testament?

• Song of Solomon  OT
• Revelation  NT
• Daniel  OT
• Psalms  OT
• Titus  NT
• Esther  OT 
• Jude  NT
• Proverbs  OT
• Hosea  OT
• Galatians  NT

Name the Books of the Bible that begin with the letter J?

James, Jeremiah, Job, Joel, John I, John II, John II, Jonah, Joshua and Jude.

Where was Moses born?

Goshen, a part of ancient Egypt

Which Book in the Old Testament immediately follows the two books of Samuel?

Kings

Who had an encounter with the Philistine Giant Goliath?

David

How many movies can you think of that relate to the Bible?

The Ten Commandments, Exodus, Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba

QUOTATIONS

• “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 
• “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Ecclesiastes 1
• “Love is patient, love is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
• “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.” Philippians 4:13
• “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waves.” Psalm 107:23
• “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians. 6:7
• “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew 7:7 
• “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9
• “I will not leave you comfortless.” John 14:18
• “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come to him.” Revelation 3:20

FASCINATING FACT

The largest number specifically named in the Bible is a thousand thousands (i.e., one million). It is found in 2 Chronicles 14:9.

Written by Jo Anne Harrison-Becker  An activity director and an therapeutic activity specialist. Join her Facebook groups using the following lings below.

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/933573683390948/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/368311466711327/

Image by Simon Steinberger from Pixabay

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One-on-One activity for the elderly – What You Can Teach Staff

It is the responsibility for the entire facility, including staff and volunteers, to participate in delivering individualized activities – including one-on-one activities.

Who needs one-on-one activities?

Residents who are room-bound or bed-bound and cannot physically get out to regularly scheduled activities.

Residents who are totally dependent or unresponsive (i.e., comatose or semi-comatose residents, residents on ventilators, stroke victims).

Residents who do not benefit from traditional group activities (i.e., late-stage Alzheimer's residents).

Residents who choose not to participate in scheduled group activities and Residents who want one-to-one attention.

If one-on-one activity is to be meaningful, it must have purpose, be voluntary, and feel good to the participant and offer the person a reasonable chance of success.

A one-on-one activity must be relevant to each person’s individual interests designed to reduce isolation, passivity, agitation, bring the person pleasure/enjoyment, etc.

It is important to identify activities with personal significance to the person before and after residing in the facility.

Ask each person about activities they “enjoyed the most” in recent weeks, those they enjoyed the most shortly before becoming an LTC resident, and those they enjoyed the most five to ten years before entering the nursing home

A one-on-one activity can provide intimate, private time to build relationships.
.
The Director of Recreation/Activity Director is responsible for organizing and training staff and volunteers to provide room visits/activities.

A one-on-one activity can take place in the person’s room, another room in the facility, outside the facility or in the community.

Activities should be planned to address the needs, history, strengths and challenges of each individual.

Avoid focusing activities that serve the interest of the facility and lose sight of the participant’s individual needs.

Keep expectations realistic—consider the person’s current capabilities, rather than what they used to do.

All activities and items used during the activity must be age-appropriate and if the person is diagnosed with A.D./dementia, stage appropriate.

How to carry out a one–on–one activity: 7 Useful Tips

During one-on-one visits: minimize background noise and distractions, such as turning off the TV or radio; be sure to have proper lighting; maintain good eye contact; give your full attention; be patient; monitor temperature if outdoors.

1. Document the resident’s response (or lack of it) to activity; how many visits per week; time spent during each visit and the time of day.
2. Stick to short, simple plans—avoid elaborate, multi-step activities.
3. Keep your comments positive and encouraging.
4. Avoid treating the person like a child.
5. Watch for signals, such as increased distraction, restlessness or agitation.
6. Make the most of the skills and interests the person retains.
7. Take your time and be patient. Be in the moment!

How do you justify if a resident needs a one-on-one activity and the number of times per week?

Residents who are bed bound or who are unable to benefit from group activities, should receive 2-3 per week. Those who are able to voice that they prefer independent activities and those who are in therapy only need to have 1-2 per week.

One on one engagement art by the bedside for residents with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia: Useful Tip: 

Have on display, a variety of completed art projects by residents.

At times, a person may choose not to participate in a special group project/activity in your activity room. In turn, bring the activity to the person.

Expression through art can become especially important as a person’s ability to communicate through words deteriorates. Art projects can add to quality of life. They can create a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

They can provide the person with Alzheimer's disease an opportunity for self-expression and creativity.

Participating in an art project can help the person to relax and offer a sense of well-being and accomplishment.

When planning an art activity, keep these tips in mind: (Discuss each of the following during the in-service)

1. Have all your materials ready. What exactly will you need for this project? (Present three examples of an art project. Have the group list all items they would need for the project.) Be sure to include wet wipes for clean-up, esp. for a painting project.
2. ALWAYS keep the project on an adult level. Avoid anything that might be demeaning, condescending child-like. (Discuss the importance of this. Ask for examples of both appropriate and inappropriate art projects. 
3. Assist the person at the beginning the activity. (Example: If the person is painting/ drawing/coloring, you may need to start the brush/pencil/crayon movement to serve as a reminder for how it is done.)
4. Keep instructions to a minimum to avoid confusion and frustration but give as much instruction as needed for each individual. 
5. Build conversation/reminiscing into the project. (Ask the group, “What are some questions/statements you might include?) Remind the group to always be sure to include in the conversation what the person is creating.
6. Provide encouragement. (Present a “situation” and ask the group how they would encourage the person) 
7. Assess the person throughout the activity and provide as much assistance as the person requires. Assess: How much assistance does the person need? Observe facial expressions, comments. Is the person calm? Anxious? Is the person enjoying the experience? 
8. Allow plenty of time. Sometimes a project cannot be completed in one session, although ideally, a person with poor short term memory benefits more if the project can be completed in one session.
9. Don’t be a critic. For example, if you don’t agree with the colors the person has chosen, keep it to yourself! Give positive feedback. (Ask the group why it is important not to criticize and examples of what not to criticize during an art project)
10. Always use safe materials. When using paint, observe for any sensitivities. Avoid sharp tools.

Use for examples some of the completed art projects that you have on display. Explain the process to give a better understanding of a person's engagement in the project.

During the in-service, ask the participants to;

1. Think of a person who enjoys art and have them 
2. Identify the art project that the person is working on or has completed. And,
3. Share with the group some of the benefits that person received from participating in an Art by the Bedside project.

One-on-One activity for the elderly – What You Can Teach Staff

Activity directors - one on one activities and visits

I had to sort out some opinions on Facebook and here is what I got:

Here is what Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni says about one-on-one activities

I find one-on-one with residents can be difficult because it requires a change of focus on my part, going from group to singular.  Once in the mind set though, simply engaging a person in any type of conversation while having them actively engage with their hands works for me asking them too many questions.

Sensory usually involves hand washing and lotion applied, essential oil diffusing, a food or drink according to their diet and liquid consistency.  We have scratch off paper crafts that are perfect and fun as well and "stained glass" crafts which are plastic panels for hanging in windows or boxes for trinkets we paint.


Daily one to one activities can be challenging. For very little money (I purchased everything here from Dollar Tree) I have created a very simple set that can be used a hundred ways. Pack everything in a fun canvas bag and it can travel to wherever the resident is!

Each set can contain the following; a variety of colorful plastic bowls, clips of various sizes and strengths, rainbow plastic cups in several sizes, poker-chips, pop cycle sticks, small muffin tin with color disks glued into cups etc. You can create so many fun games and "purpose focused tasks" to do with your resident:

• Sort the various objects by color and place into bowls. 
• Stack the cups by color or varying color pattern. 
• Lay out the pop cycle sticks by color or in a pre-determined pattern. 
• Clip the clips onto the side of the bowl using a variety of grips (pincer with thumb and forefinger, or pinch with closed fingers and palm). 
• Use each hand, clips on and then off into the bowl to put away.
• Use the large clips as a pick-up device to stack cups or pick up objects for dexterity.

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

Credit: Jean Ellen Capachione-Govoni

It's fun to add to the kits; Shawe building blocks found on Amazon, playing cards, skip-bo, Jenga (Dollar Tree had Pitco which is like a rainbow colored Jenga), colorful pompoms, multi-color rubber bands, etc! Each Care Team member has a set so that anytime, they can sit down to engage with a resident day or night! Hope this helps you all, our residents seem to really enjoy!


Here is what Becky Harris does with her mom

"My mom likes to do anything “domestic“The dollar store will become your best friend. She likes to take plastic knife fork and spoon and roll into a napkin to make a picnic pack. 

Sort and stack pot holders, make artificial flower arrangements, fold washcloths, sort and fold socks. Each activity takes about 20-30 minutes. We play music while she’s doing them. 

It allows me to go take a shower or take care of other things around the house. She can also spoon cookie dough onto a cookie sheet. I make the cookie dough and monitor the baking; it’s something we enjoy doing together. 

She also makes goodie bags with little fun items from the dollar store, paper bags and clothes pins… See pictures! At the end of the day I undo everything so it’s ready for her to do all over:)"

Other one-on-one activities you can do with the elderly with dementia/Alzheimer's 

• Go on some walks with your love one and listen to nature sounds and smell flowers etc, improves mood to get out especially if your love one has depression.
• Get books for your love one of things the person used to enjoy -- lots of pictures and not many words.  If you don't have any, you can get them at the library if you don't want to purchase.
• Listen to CD's and Sing along to songs your love one might know.
• For females, Brush her hair, sing to her, rub lotion on her hands
• Record your love one telling stories of their childhood.

Here are two suggestions from Janet Pond 

Two suggestions:  Fiddle boards or rugs and Music therapy.  Fiddle items have all sorts of sensory and reminiscing items on them and can distract the person from other things.  Just Google and you will find loads of images.  You can buy them or make one yourself specifically for your loved one.  I made a book for my mum from an old towel - I'm attaching a video of it.  Unfortunately after hours and hours of sewing and work making it mum thought it was sooo important that she hung it on the wall like her precious photos and so she used it occasionally but not to the extent I had anticipated.  Music therapy can have amazing outcomes too - Google, there's heaps of info.

Cassie McKinney Lincoln say

Laurie Thompson Hansen says

And here is another from Jen Wood

References:

ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INFO POSTED DAILY

https://www.facebook.com/groups/500169056821185/

IN-SERVICING CNA'S AND VOLUNTEERS

ONE TO ONE ENGAGEMENT

TOPIC: ART BY THE BEDSIDE FOR RESIDENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE/DEMENTIA

Length of in-service is approximately 30 minutes

https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoAnneHarrisonBecker

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What to do if you think your parent has dementia?

If you don’t know what to do if you think your parent has dementia. Then don’t be surprise for you are not alone, many people don’t know. But you are at the right place for here is a simple answer to help you;

Before you take your love one to go see a doctor, you should first talk with them about it in a caring way. 

Ask them if they’ve noticed any confusion or forgetfulness. Tell them you are concerned and that you will be there for them no matter what. That you will take care of them and keep them safe.

Then make a doctor’s appointment, they'll get a thorough examination and rule out everything else that would possibly mimic dementia/Alzheimer. 

Then if it is dementia then they can send you onto a neurologist and memory care. Only a Neurologist can give a diagnosis and medication for that after a thorough examination. A regular Practitioner cannot. They can only "think..." or "suggest."

Yes, see a Neurologist and get a diagnosis. If this is the case and it is your role, get estates planning documents in order, will, get a Power of Attorney for financial and medical matters, while your love one is still in a good state of mind.

Keep a diary of their activity to use as a baseline. Pay particular attention to actions and conversations.

How do I know if my parent has dementia?

Here is an observation checklist for early signs of dementia you should watch out for;

• Forgetting very memorable recent events.
• Forgetting names of close friends and family members.
• Mood and personality change.
• Forgetting common words and other small things,, 
• Having meltdowns and overreacting to small incidents, and unable to keep track of several items.
• Forgetting important dates like birthday dates. 
• Lost all sense of time like unable to remember the date/day of the week.
• Repeating, pretty much the exact same conversations regularly and being generally confused.
• Putting weird foods together and having their taste buds regress to childhood.
• Forgetting what things were called. Slowly not being able to take care of things. 
• No short term memory. 
• Forgetting to pay bills, getting lost coming from the store around the corner.
• Stumbling around and frequent falls.
• Short term memory loss.
• Change in sleep patterns.
• Unable to manage financial responsibilities.
• Hallucinations - seeing things others don’t.
• Uptick in paranoid thinking.
• Personality changed completely.
• Awful temper.
• Saying strange things that are totally out of character. 
• Forgetting where they are going and how to get there.
• Forgetting directions driving. 
• Mixing up papers. 
• Not being able to concentrate. 
• Buying weird things. 
• Forgetting very memorable recent events.
• Getting lost in the house. 
• Writing notes on scraps of paper or anything handy to remember simple things.
• Lost the understanding of time including night and days even though able to manage life effectively. 
• Being a little snappy and grumpy.
• Being more obsessive, demanding and impatient. All very out of character.
• Lost motivation to make choices.

What is the number one food that fights dementia?

There is no evidence that eating a balanced diet or specific food slows down dementia. Be skeptical about wonder cures and treatments. There are many people who ate a close to “vegetarian diet” and still got it. 

It will take more than ONE food. It takes a whole diet change suited to ones metabolic needs, detoxification, eradicating possible brain infections, controlling brain inflammation, exercise and other lifestyle changes.   

I would caution ANYONE suggesting otherwise or anyone believing there is one food that “fight” dementia, not buy into things like that. 

Currently there is no known cure for dementia. Once brain cells die they cannot be revived. Again be very wary of any suggestions of anything that can fix this. 

If you have it, you can’t “fight it”. It slowly kills off brain cells and parts of the brain shrinks causing issues with memory and motor skills. 

If you think you may be prone to dementia either through genetics or family circumstances then you can try different diets of fresh fruits and vegetables. The whole key is limiting/eliminating sugar from your diet which is why alcohol should be eliminated and eating a high fiber, nutrient rich diet. Still need to eat good sources of protein.

Always remember, “there is no cure, yet” you can try to delay the effects until one day scientists find a way to stop it happening at all.   

  

Is anger a sign of dementia?

Anger in itself is not really a sign it’s more like a symptom. The anger can come from frustration with not understanding why things are no longer the way they used to be, not being able to do the same things, they are losing the ability to communicate properly and in some cases they actually realize this which makes them even more irate. 

It’s really frustrating to them because they know something is wrong but can’t voice it so it comes out as anger. The cognitive decline causes difficultly and frustration in activities and thought processes.

Does dementia run in families?

Dementia being inherited or pass on through generations in families has raised a lot of concerns.  The fact is there may be a strong genetic factor in some type of dementia particularly Alzheimer’s dementia that gives it a high chance to pass down from generation to generation but this as of now is still being researched and hopefully one day as technology advances we will find out. 

Dementia is an umbrella term for many different types of dementia's and Alzheimer's is a form.

Alzheimer’s can run in a family, dementia, not necessarily. Some forms of Alzheimer's are passed on to children with up to a 50% chance of inheriting Alzheimer's if one of your parents has that form. As of 2003 there were 110 identified genetic anomalies that cause Alzheimer's. By now there is most likely more.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still to be determine by researchers who are of the opinion that this disease is caused by a series of factors not and just a specific factor.

Researchers say there is a rare gene carried in families that may cause Alzheimer’s disease. Adult young as years with this gene may slow symptoms of Alzheimer's disease but so far, this gene only results to 5% of Alzheimer cases diagnose. 

For more info on the genetic of Alzheimer’s disease checkout. Alzheimer's disease causes

Alzheimer’s can be hereditary, vascular dementia is not.

Vascular dementia occurs due to vascular blockages and deterioration, as often the case in individuals with long term coronary issues, chronic high blood pressure etc. Not every person with these issues develops vascular dementia, but these are risk factors. 

Other form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s and fronto-temporal dementia (basically) occurs when protein plaques reproduce uncontrollably in the brain, thus disrupting connectivity between cells. This causes memory loss and personality changes.

Depending on the cause of dementia, there are diagnostic clinics now that have tests to detect the gene for Alzheimer’s and differentiate it from other causes of dementia.

How quickly does dementia progress?

Everyone’s Dementia progresses differently as there are many types of Dementia and at what stage it’s diagnosed, as well as on the individual, there isn’t a definitive timeline. 

You also have to factor in any other health problems or issue such as physical changes in the brain. 

When we "Rementia" Dementia with Hypnotherapy, we slow down the decline and bring back the personality of the individual. When we stop using Hypnotherapy, the decline becomes rapid. 

Image by Tania Van den Berghen from Pixabay

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False-Hope Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs

As of August 1, 2018, the French national insurance system no longer reimburses the costs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drugs.

Instead, the funds saved from this decision will be used to provide care services for AD patients.

The French decision aligns with Public Citizen’s Health Research Group’s conclusion that all of the currently approved AD drugs offer very minimal symptomatic benefits for only some patients and do not alter the underlying disease.

As a result, we have long classified these drugs as Do Not Use.

Worst Pills Best Pills.

Alzheimer’s disease and drugs used to treat it

AD is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory; cognitive skills; the ability to perform activities of daily living (including dressing and bathing); and the ability to recognize familiar objects, people and places. It affects nearly 6 million Americans, most of whom are elderly.
 In addition to being a leading cause of disability and poor health, the disease is the sixth-leading cause of overall deaths and is the fifth-leading cause of death among people aged 65 or older in the U.S.

 Because AD progresses silently for years, significant structural brain damage often exists by the time clinical symptoms appear. This makes it challenging for scientists to develop effective treatments for the disease.

Four drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat AD.
However, these drugs are symptomatic therapies: They neither cure the disease nor stop its progression.

Three of these drugs, known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, initially were approved by the FDA from 1996 to 2001 for mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type:
donepezil (ARICEPT), galantamine (RAZADYNE) and rivastigmine (EXELON).
Donepezil also is now approved for severe AD. These drugs increase the level of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is low in the brains of affected individuals, with the assumption that this might improve the symptoms of AD-associated dementia.

The fourth drug, memantine (NAMENDA), was approved by the FDA in 2003 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

It works by blocking a receptor called the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, which is postulated to improve the symptoms of AD.

Scant, questionable benefits

The approval of these four AD drugs brought genuine hope. However, the benefit of these drugs is limited to small improvements in cognitive function and activities of daily living. For example, a 2006 meta-analysis (analysis of data from multiple clinical trials) estimated that treatment with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, compared with a placebo, results in a 2.4-point improvement on a 70-point cognition scale in patients with mild-to-moderate stages of the disease.

 A 2018 meta-analysis of studies on donepezil linked the drug to only about a three-point improvement in cognitive function on a 70-point scale.

Notably, this meta-analysis showed that the costs of health care use were similar between patients who received donepezil and those who received a placebo. A 2015 meta-analysis of studies on rivastigmine found similar minimal benefits and pointed out the uncertain clinical importance of these effects.

A meta-analysis of studies on memantine in patients with moderate-to-severe AD also showed that the drug had meager benefits:

a three-point improvement in cognitive function (on a 100-point scale), a one-point improvement in activities of daily living (on a 54-point scale) and a three-point improvement in behavior (on a 144-point scale).

Given that these drugs do not alter the underlying course of the disease, it is unclear how these very small increases in the number of points scored on cognitive or functional exams translate to improving the lives of AD patients in the real world.

Adverse effects and interactions with other drugs

Although earlier data suggested an acceptable safety profile for AD drugs, data that documented their numerous, sometimes fatal, adverse effects emerged over time.

As early as 2003, a meta-analysis showed that for every 12 patients treated with a cholinesterase inhibitor, one patient would benefit by achieving minimal improvement or better and another patient would experience adverse effects.

The most serious adverse effects of cholinesterase inhibitors are slow heart rate, heart block and syncope (sudden loss of consciousness).

Common adverse events of these drugs are nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Loss of appetite and weight loss also occur with the use of these drugs.

The most common adverse effects of memantine include dizziness, headache, confusion and constipation.

Inflammation of the pancreas and kidney failure also have been reported with use of this drug.

Importantly, use of AD drugs exposes patients to the risk of dangerous interactions with numerous drugs including beta blockers, antipsychotic drugs (including chlorpromazine [generic only]) and anticholinergic drugs (such as oxybutynin [DITROPAN XL, GELNIQUE, OXYTROL, OXYTROL FOR WOMEN]).

What You Can Do

If you (or a loved one) has Alzheimer’s disease, avoid use of the four aforementioned drugs because their benefits do not outweigh their risks. Instead, as the French are now doing, use social and behavioral approaches for adapting to the limitations of the disease and improving quality of life.

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