Commun ty Matters Rolla Presbyterian Manor
Lifestyle changes key to Alzheimer’s prevention We now have a prescription that researchers think can delay or prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s not a pill, it’s a list of lifestyle choices. Results from a landmark study announced this summer show that having a healthy lifestyle may be the key. “It’s the first time we have been able to give people a kind of recipe for what is useful,” said Maria Carrillo, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association. More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Millions more will likely develop dementia as the baby boomers age. In the study, researchers looked at 1,260 people in Finland from 60 to 77 years old, who were at risk for Alzheimer’s. One group went on a lifestyle improvement program and the other group received general health advice. The results were dramatic. The lifestyle program included: Eat well: Start by adding fruits and vegetables to your regular diet. Ease out fats and fried foods, and always choose whole grains rather than highly refined bakery products. BRAIN, continued on page 3
November 2014
Thanksgiving on campus Tradition draws broader community Thanksgiving at Rolla Presbyterian Manor isn’t just another holiday. It’s a special opportunity for residents to host their own holiday gathering for family and friends, here at their home. Ever since Leland and Dawna Womack moved in six years ago, they have invited their children and longtime friends to join them for Thanksgiving at Presbyterian Manor. The large community room, added in 2011, is transformed into a dining hall for the event. Leland said the new room came at the right time, because they had outgrown the old parlor where the dinners used to take place. “It’s so atmospheric in that nice location,” he said. “There’s music going, there’s so much food and it’s so well-prepared. We really enjoy it.” Womack said he enjoys the fellowship with his loved ones as well as the guests of other residents. He and Dawna have lived in Rolla since 1954, and Leland was a teacher in the local public schools. As a result, he said, he sees a lot of former students at these holiday gatherings when they come to visit their parents. “I’ve seen more of my former students than before we lived here,” he said. “I even have a former student who’s a resident here. When you’re 86, that can happen.” The Womacks entertain different friends every year for Thanksgiving. Their regular guests usually include a couple who were their longtime neighbors and the youngest of their three children – a daughter who still lives nearby on the family farm. The Womacks also look forward to gathering every fall with their children and grandchildren at the farm for hunting and family time. Executive Director Ann Caudill says the Presbyterian Manor Thanksgiving tradition has been going as long as anyone can remember, even before she arrived in 1982. This year, each resident may invite up to four guests. Here are the dates for the 2014 dinners: Nov. 11: Assisted living and assisted living memory care Nov. 12: Health care Nov. 13: Independent living