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THURSDAY, Thursday, FEBRUARYFebruary 4, 2016P 9, 2017

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2 Thursday, February 9, 2017

SENIOR FOCUS

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‘Exploring Dementia’ meeting held at the LMC

BY MARK WEBER Lacombe Express

With the goal of providing practical tips on dealing with the complexities of dementia, the Lacombe History Presentation Series continued with a talk called ‘Exploring Dementia’ recently at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.

The evening’s featured speaker was Laurie Grande, regional lead, client services and programs with the Alzheimer’s Society’s Red Deer branch.

Dementia is a term that actually covers several conditions - one of which is Alzheimer’s Disease. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, and frontotemporal dementia among others.

According to the Society’s web site, dementia is an overall term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain.

“Symptoms may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language, severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. A person with dementia may also experience changes in mood or behaviour. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse as more brain cells become damaged and eventually die.”

Grande said that at the time of diagnosis, the various dementias are the least similar.

But as they run their course, the impact of each becomes more similar in nature to the others.

It’s also virtually impossible to know precisely what course the particular dementia will take from person to person.

She added that first off, it’s

critical to remember that the loved one with dementia can’t help their behaviour. “It can be confusing for family members because although most of the time a person will show these cognitive problems, there will be days when they have a bright moment and they won’t show that decline.”

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During those times of inconsistency, it can be quite confusing for family members - particularly during doctor visits when the person - for the duration of the appointment - shows little if any problem. Grande said that at that point, it’s helpful for family members to perhaps schedule a doctor’s appoint-

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ment without the loved one present, where they can have a good, honest discussion about what they’ve observed over the past several weeks or months.

▾ “IT’S BEST JUST TO BE HONEST AND CLEAR WITH PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING.”

Laurie Grande ▴

But sooner or later, the symptoms become unmistakable as the dementias are progressive and irreversible.

Short-term memory, longterm memory, the capacity to reason things out and the communication centres of the brain are key areas that ultimately are affected.

“What happens when you have dementia is that plaques and tangles begin to develop,” said Grande. “They start to deposit along these highways and the first place we notice this is in the short-term memory.”

Retrieval of information becomes more difficult. “As time goes on these plaques and tangles get to be more dense, and there gets to be more deterioration,” she said.

As the dementia worsens and

the short-term memory is affected, some people won’t be able to take part in conversations where more recent events are the focus, for example. They may tend to withdraw from social contact because they feel like they can’t engage like they could have at one time.

Repetitive question also can also surface as well.

“They will ask you when they are going to the doctor’s. Then they may leave for a bit, then they ask again. The burden on a caregiver can be so great because this can go on all day long.

“It’s important to remember that they can’t help it because they can’t access their shortterm memory anymore. It’s best if you are providing care for somebody to not give them a lot of information because they can’t hold onto it. Maybe put up a white board in the house and put up just enough information to just get them through the day,” she explained.

“A whole calender for the whole month is not good for someone with dementia. Just today’s date, and the central things.”

Grande said it’s about simplifying communication.

Adding to the difficulty is that early on, people with dementia can also see these memory issues starting to become a bigger

problem in their lives.

Meanwhile, Grande encourages folks with a dementia diagnosis and their families to get in touch with the local Society branch. There are a number of resources that can provide support, including support groups which offer a source of strength, fellowship and shared knowledge.

“This is a progressive, degenerative disease. There is nothing that is going to stop it. It’s going to move forward and there is no cure for it,” she said. But in the meantime, there is life to be lived, and to that end knowledge and finding a supportive community can go a long ways.

“A lot of people say that once they got a diagnosis, people stopped asking them questions and stopped asking them for their opinions. They quit engaging with them which is such a shame. Just because you have some cognitive issues doesn’t mean you stop talking to others.

“We find that if people are really up front with their friends about what is going on, then the friends don’t fall by the wayside.

It’s best just to be honest and clear with people about what is happening.”

For more information, check out www.alzheimer.ca or call the Red Deer office at 403-342-0448. mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

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Thursday, February 9, 2017 3

Preventing falls - a leading cause of injury amongst seniors

BY ZACHARY CORMIER Lacombe Express

Falling down is never fun.

From the six-year-old kid who is just now figuring out why it was a bad idea to climb that tree to a 20-year-old young adult who has just discovered a root while out for a jog, that sensation of weightlessness followed by an unceremonious crash to the ground isn’t a good experience.

But while most young people can just get back up and carry on after a fall, the same is not necessarily true for many senior citizens.

“I honestly don’t know anybody that gets anything good out of a fall,” said Heather Mielke, an exercise specialist at the Wolf Creek Primary Care Network (PCN).

Mielke, who runs the PCN’s ‘Aging Well’ program said the importance of maintaining good balance in order to prevent falls becomes more important as we age.

“It’s something, for sure, as a person ages and it becomes more of a concern because we don’t

want to end up injured or down the road losing person can take to improve their balance and independence because of poor balance and falls,” ultimately reduce that risk of falling. she said.

The main way to do that is to work on increasAccording to the Public Health Agency of ing and maintaining lower body and leg strength Canada’s web site, falls are the through regular exercise which ▾ leading cause of injury among incorporates balance-specific older Canadians and are the activities.

“IT’S KIND OF LIKE cause of 85% of injury-related On top of that, there are also EXERCISE FOR hospitalizations. numerous ways that a person can ANYTHING ELSE. As people age, poorer balance, adjust their environment to help IF YOU WANT TO decreased muscle and bone prevent falls such as ensuring strength and reduced vision or MAINTAIN STRENGTH there is good lighting installed hearing can increase the risk of everywhere in the house and YOU’RE GOING TO putting non-slip strips on rugs falling.

“It’s kind of a use it or lose it HAVE TO WORK AT IT.” or removing them entirely. situation. Just because a person Footwear is also an important Heather Mielke consideration, at one point had really great balespecially during ▴ ance and it wasn’t considered a the winter months. concern doesn’t mean that it’s Regular eye exams are another going to stay that way. It’s kind of like exercise important safeguard against the risk of falling as for anything else. If you want to maintain strength reduced eyesight can play a role in a potential you’re going to have to work at it,” Mielke said, accident. noting that there are a number of steps that a Finally, Mielke said she encourages people to

use a walking aid such as a cane or a walker if they need it.

“I know a lot of people try to put off or delay the inevitable but if you don’t have great balance or stability or are at risk of falling maybe you need to consider using a walking aid,” she said, noting that every person is different and having that extra help could give someone the freedom to get out and moving.

“There are lots of simple things that a person can do at home, they just need some direction,” said Mielke, noting that resources could include exercise therapists such as herself as well as physiotherapists.

Mielke teaches two classes at the PCN including the Aging Well program which focuses on improving balance through active and functional exercise for senior citizens as well as the Bone Strong program which helps with the prevention and management of osteoporosis.

For more information on those programs, call 403-782-1408. zcormier@lacombeexpress.com

Exercise parks break down barriers to an active lifestyle

BY ZACHARY CORMIER Lacombe Express

There are many barriers that people face when it comes to going to the gym. For some, it’s the atmosphere. Others have financial barriers and still others just prefer to spend their time outside getting their exercise in the fresh air.

Luckily, the City of Lacombe offers a number of different options for people looking for alternative ways to get fit, including a set of fitness equipment that is free for the public to use conveniently located on the pathways around Cranna Lake.

“We just wanted to promote health and fitness. It’s inclusive for everybody to get outside, it’s free, it’s out in nature.

It’s open to everybody,” said Sandi Stewart, recreation and

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culture manager at the City of Lacombe.

The equipment, which is set up as a series of six outdoor workout stations around the trails at Cranna, uses natural resistance and often the user’s own body weight to work different muscle groups.

“Just to improve people’s fitness and to catch people that are out walking and hiking the trails and to get them more involved in some of the other muscle groups and challenge each other and have some fun.

It’s basically adult playground equipment,” Stewart said.

The other thing the outdoor equipment provides to prospective users, she said, is flexibility.

Also, when it comes to senior citizens, Stewart said the fitness machines are a perfect option because they allow older people to work at their own pace in a

low pressure environment.

“They’re not too onerous as far as you don’t need to have a ton of strength to be able to make use of them. They either use your own body or they’re free flowing so you don’t need to be a muscle man to use them.”

The equipment around Cranna Lake isn’t the only set in town, either; another slightly older set can be found around Elizabeth Lake on the Bill Nielsen Exercise Trail.

Stewart said the two sets of equipment and trails offer different experiences for users.

“Cranna’s a paved trail and that exercise equipment has components with moving parts whereas the ones around Elizabeth are stationary,” she explained.

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and is one of the original dirt trails cut by the late Bill Nielsen and is perfect for runners who want a slightly softer surface to save their knees. The trail and equipment is maintained by the Bill Nielsen Trail Society.

Beyond the exercise parks, the City of Lacombe also offers a number of other programs which can allow people to get up

and active without any barriers.

Earlier this month, the City celebrated the launch of the annual Winter Active Challenge which encourages participants to do exercise every day for 21 days in the hopes of creating a habit.

Then, of course, there’s the City’s Find the Right Fit program, which allows residents

to explore the many fitness options Lacombe has to offer at no cost to find which exercise program is best for them.

For more information on any of these programs, you can visit the City of Lacombe Recreation and Culture Department’s web site at www.lacombe.ca/living/ recreation-culture. zcormier@lacombeexpress.com

4 Thursday, February 9, 2017

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FCSS provides many services to local seniors

BY KALISHA MENDONSA Lacombe Express

Lacombe FCSS offers a wide variety of programming aimed at the senior population, from meal assistance to getting around town to home assistance.

Programs include the Connex busses, Meals on Wheels and the Seniors Outreach Program to name a few. Of course, there are a number of other services that can be directed to seniors through meeting with FCSS personnel.

LaRee Rankin, the seniors services coordinator at Lacombe FCSS, said the agency also does a lot of work for senior advocacy and referrals, and that the organization is able to connect seniors to their community and resources available in the area. “For example, our Seniors Outreach Program offers the seniors a chance to speak with our staff social worker about personal problems such as family troubles or relationship issues,� Rankin said. “We do a lot of referrals out of our agency, as well as advocacy. If, for instance, a senior is looking for a more affordable housing unit or looking into lodge living, we can help with that. We also advocate for people to get them into extra services they may not be aware of in the community.�

Rankin went on to explain a program called Sharp, which is a low-interest government loan program for low-income seniors, that is only paid off when the seniors’ home is sold. This funding can be used for a variety of issues, most commonly for home issues such as repairs or paid services.

She also explained that FCSS can connect seniors to a program known as the Special Needs

STAY CONNECTED - The Connex buses are available to bring seniors around town to medical appointments, grocery shopping and other local events. For more information on Connex, check in with Lacombe FCSS. Kalisha Mendonsa/Lacombe Express Assistance for Seniors Program. “That Special Needs Assistance program can help with extra costs for everything from eyeglasses to dental needs and prescriptions. It’s extra funding for low-income seniors that can help them to access goods or services,� Rankin said.

The Special Needs Assistance program can also help to cover the costs of health supports

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such as diabetic supplies, podiatry needs or even Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines. As well, the program can help with personal supports such as celiac supplies, funeral expenses, home clean-up, lift-chairs or even medical trips.

Rankin’s duty with FCSS is to help connect seniors to programs, services and beneficial information.

As well, she covers the LifeLine installations and often takes time during these installs to chat with the seniors about their socialization - a critical component for health in seniors. “Socialization is a huge part for seniors as well.

We ask people if they are getting out, or if they have supports and let people know what’s going on in the community. Some of the seniors are still getting out to volunteer, and they are a very important part of our community,� Rankin said.

She added that seniors also play a large role in helping to shape the identity of the City through knowledge of past events. She said this is an important role for seniors to play, and often she

enjoys speaking with seniors about their memories of the City and region.

Another important role Rankin touched on was the role of caregivers.

Rankin explained that acting as a caregiver to a senior friend, family member or neighbour can be difficult and through FCSS seniors services, caregivers can seek support and guidance in their caregiver role. “We have a Compass Caregiver Program in our organization as well, that helps people who are acting as caregivers to family or friends. It can be very taxing, and that program is great in supporting and helping people to understand their role as a caregiver and how to take care of themselves,� she said.

For additional information on FCSS services, senior supports and more, contact Rankin at 403-782-6637.

Rankin is able to connect seniors, caregivers and family members to the appropriate information at no cost, and with easy accessibility. kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com

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Helping seniors to avoid the onslaught of scams

BY MARK WEBER Lacombe Express

Anyone needs to watch out for scams that are quite prevalent these days, and that includes seniors citizens who at times are targeted even more specifically.

Monica Morrison, executive director of the Golden Circle in Red Deer, said that what it really boils down to is maintaining a sense of vigilance when it comes to business proposals or financial requests from unknown people by the phone or via computer.

A lot of scams happen around a grandson, for example, being away on vacation,” she explains of a common scam. They will call a senior, posing as a long lost grandchild and ask for money to get out of a jam.

Should the details line up with the senior’s family situation, they may be vulnerable to wiring money to the perpetrator.

“That’s quite common, and that’s a scam that is national,” she

said. “Another one is that someone calls you up from customer service and they ask the question, ‘Can you hear me?’

“If you say yes, they record it and use that ‘yes’ to access and purchase goods and services. They will use your voice, and they know who you are.”

Then there’s the Revenue Canada scam, where folks are told if they don’t pay a certain amount of money by such and such a date, they could face heavy fines or even a prison sentence.

Morrison said that many of those behind scams are proficient when it comes to ‘data mining’ - finding out information on selected individuals that makes their request or proposal seem legitimate.

“Another thing that seniors have to be careful with is when it comes to getting things fixed up around the house,” she explained, adding that often, seniors won’t want to ask family members or friends for help, but will be willing to hire someone who maybe comes to their door offering to do the work. The scam comes in when the person requests payment up front, then skips out on

the job leaving the victim holding the bag for, at times, thousands of dollars.

“You have to be very careful who you hire instead of these fly-bynight people who come knocking at their doors. They need to do their research as to who they are connecting with,” she said. And if seniors find they’ve been the victim of a scam, they should report it to the local police, she added. “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”

Also, people need to understand that there are people out there who simply can’t be trusted. Morrison said that folks shouldn’t be afraid to cut suspicious conversations short, or even just hang up if they suspect something is unusual about a certain call or request.

For example, it’s critical to never, ever give out personal information over the phone or via computer if you aren’t absolutely sure of who is on the receiving end. “There are people out there who want to take advantage of seniors and vulnerable people,” said Morrison. “So people need to take back control and say, ‘You know what? We are done talking’. And just hang up.

“Don’t give out personal information to someone you don’t know.”

Also, banks won’t send out emails asking for personal information - so these can be ignored as well. Even if they look official.

The other danger with opening up suspicious emails is that it’s an entryway for viruses, she said.

Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau is also helpful when it comes to finding out who is legitimate and who maybe isn’t. The Better Business Bureau Of Central & Northern Alberta can be reached by calling 403-342-5378. “Ask for references and check out those references.”

Also, if you have not lost any money and have not provided personal or financial information (relating to a fraud or scam), and you simply want to inform the appropriate organizations, report it to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (CAFC) by calling 1-888-495-8501. mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

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Thursday, February 9, 2017 7

CrossFit provides a full body fitness option for seniors

BY ZACHARY CORMIER Lacombe Express

CrossFit is among the most intense and varied exercise programs out there. The popular training regimen consists of constantly varied functional movements performed at a high intensity.

While that may sound kind of complicated, it’s actually very simple.

CrossFit takes the movements that people use in their everyday lives as a base and ramps up the intensity to create what is essentially a full-body workout that can be scaled to fit a wide variety of ability levels - from elite athletes to seniors.

According to Ryan Staal, the owner of CrossFit Lacombe, the program can be extremely beneficial to older people who are looking to stay fit as they age.

“We always just go very slow.

We do lots of pauses and holds but it’s pretty much the exact same as our normal CrossFit class but the load and the volume that they’re doing is going to be less,” said Staal, who runs Legends CrossFit class for people ages 60-plus at his studio.

The program consists of four hour-long sessions plus two half-hour long walk-in groups per week and incorporates everything from full body weight

movements like pull-ups and dead lifts.

All of those movements are scaled to suit each individual’s physical capabilities.

Pull ups, for example, can be done as negatives where the person is assisted to the top of the pull up and then eases their way down.

The same goes for dead lifts, which can be done without weight on the bar.

“We’re usually not doing it with a whole bunch of weight, we’re just practicing technique,” Staal said, noting that most movements can also be adjusted to avoid affecting any prior injuries or pains that a person might have.

“They just do what they can do and if there is something that bugs them they’re sure to let me know and I always try to adjust the movement to what feels good to them. I don’t force anyone to do anything if they’re not comfortable.”

Staal said that one of the things that separates CrossFit Lacombe from other gyms is that they focus on extremely fundamental movements, right down to proper breathing mechanics and how to access the diaphragm.

“Through practicing diaphragm breathing, we’re actually able to get them to access

their core muscles a lot easier.”

By doing those breathing drills, Staal also actually gets his clients to practice the positions required for dead lifts and squats.

“It’s a really good system because all of the stuff kind of blends together. It’s a very stepby-step process,” he said.

According to Staal, seniors who participate in regular workouts can see a boost in their energy and confidence levels.

They can also see a lot of strength development when it comes to functional positions like getting up off a chair or bending down to pick something up off the ground.

“For most people that’s the thing that kind of gets them into a situation where they’re dependent on someone or something to do that for them - whether that’s a cane or a walker or whatever it is. That’s kind of my only goal is training those movement patterns so that they’re able to continue being independent for a longer period of time.”

The regular classes can also be a great social activity where people can visit with each other in between workouts.

“We try to keep a pretty chill environment. I try to get as many smiles and laughs as I can in each class,” Staal said, noting

that the average age of the people involved in the course is late 60s to early 70s, with the oldest in the class being around 73.

He also said that he doesn’t set an age limitation for the class because everything can

be customized to fit any range of motion.

“It’s very easy for me to modify the movements because all the movements that we teach are movements that people can already do. It’s just maybe to a

smaller range of motion.”

Anyone interested in getting involved in CrossFit Lacombe’s Legends program can visit their web site at www.crossfitlacombe.com. zcormier@lacombeexpress.com

STAYING ACTIVE - Over 70 seniors from around Central Alberta converged on the Lacombe Curling Club to participate in the annual Seniors Open bonspiel last November.

The popular bonspiel has already been filled up for 2017.

Express file photo

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403.556.6402 New Mountain View Credit Union Building

6501 51 St, Ste #103

Toll free: 1.855.400.6414 dr.towers@hearwell.ca

www.hearwell.ca

Dr. Andrew Towers, Au.D.

Registered Audiologist - Owner

RED DEER

403.346.6414

Creekside Professional Centre

4320 50th Ave, Ste #202