Healthy Geezer

By Fred Cicetti

Q. Since my eyes started to go, I’ve been hallucinating and I’m afraid to tell anyone about it. Any ideas?

A. Hallucinations can be a symptom of a variety of problems—both physical and mental. They can be caused by schizophrenia, dementia, depression, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, fever, drugs, and alcohol. You should see a doctor immediately about this symptom.

You wrote that your hallucinations started with impaired vision. Visual loss (worse than 20/60 in both eyes) is a common cause of hallucinations, too. However, research suggests that they are more likely to appear if you have visual acuity between 20/120 and 20/400.

About one in ten people with vision problems has hallucinations. It is suspected that this phenomenon is under-reported because victims fear they are losing their minds and don’t want their doctors to know.

Complex hallucinations among people with vision loss is called Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). Charles Bonnet was a Swiss philosopher. In 1760, he described this condition in his 89-yearold grandfather who was blinded by cataracts.

These hallucinations can strike at any age, but usually affect seniors. The most likely reason that the syndrome affects the elderly is the prevalence of visual problems in this age group. The common conditions leading to CBS are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract.

It’s common for visionrelated hallucinations to be doozies—odd people, animals, panoramas, bizarre images right out of the most phantasmagorical dreams.

These images—sometimes called visual hallucinations— can range from elaborate images to less-complex line patterns. The pictures appear suddenly and can last for hours.

The visual hallucinations often stop within a year to eighteen months. However, it is difficult to predict the frequency of the hallucinations and how long they will persist.

Today, CBS is not widely known even among physicians. One reason for this phenomenon is that many of those who hallucinate keep it to themselves.

There is no cure for CBS. The best way to handle the syndrome is to reassure victims that the weird images are a symptom of eye disease, not mental illness.

The syndrome is sometimes called “phantom vision” and it is compared to phantom limbs. Amputees can have sensations from limbs they no longer have. Similarly, when retinal cells become impaired and are no longer able to receive and relay visual images to the brain, the visual system begins firing off images on its own.

A research study in the Netherlands found that people used a variety of techniques to deal with CBS. If you believe you are suffering from the syndrome, try these:

• Close your eyes and then open them.

• Look away from the image quickly.

• Walk away from the image or approach it.

• Stare at the image.

• Turn a light on.

• Concentrate on something else.

• Believe it or not, some got relief by shouting at the image or trying to hit it.

All Rights Reserved © 2019 by Fred Cicetti

By Bill Van Tassel

BRIDGTON — The Bridgton Community Band will begin its summer concert season Wednesday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the bandstand behind Rite Aid, 19 Portland Road. The concert will feature patriotic music as a prelude to the annual fireworks display. Concerts will continue for the following six Wednesdays at 7 p.m., culminating Wednesday, Aug. 14, and celebrating the band’s 81st birthday. Most of the concerts will be held at the bandstand with the exception of July 17 and 24. These concerts will be held at the Bridgton Public Library courtyard. Moving this event “downtown” will, hopefully, attract larger audiences and offer an exciting summer event for residents and visitors alike. The concerts are free to the public; be sure to bring a chair and insect repellent. Bring a friend, as well.

The band is directed by returning conductor Steven Sweetsir, a graduate of The New England Conservatory of Music with a bachelor of music performance and a master of music from Ithaca College. Rehearsals are held each Monday at 7 p.m. at Stevens Brook School, 14 Frances Bell Drive. All players are welcome to join the band.

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Are you looking for a way to impact the lives of others? We have flexible positions providing in-home assistance to seniors and adults with disabilities. Just a few hours of care and assistance with needs like errands, groceries, meal prep, laundry and light housekeeping can make a big difference in the life of an isolated individual.

Please submit your cover letter and resume (indicating the position title) via our website (www.ccmaine.org) or email (hroffice@ccmaine.org), fax (207.523.2789), or mail to Human Resources Office, Catholic Charities Maine P.O. Box 10660, Portland, ME 04104. View all current job opportunities on our website: ccmaine.org/employment

Catholic Charities Maine is a United Way and EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled Employer Do you live within a 50-mile radius of Berlin or No. Conway, NH? 64 towns in Maine qualify for in-state tuition.

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The Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is looking for individuals who are interested in joining a group of dedicated volunteers who visit residents in long-term care facilities across the state. Volunteer Ombudsman are advocates who provide a voice for consumers while working collaboratively with long-term care facilities.

Learn more about becoming a Volunteer Ombudsman Representative. Please contact Nicole Marchesi, Volunteer Program Manager (800) 499-0229 or (207) 621-1079.

Environmental Science Field Intensive Course July 16 – July 18 mainelakes.org 207-647-8580

RAYMOND — The American Red Cross in Maine, partnering with Age Friendly Raymond, is installing free smoke alarms and providing home fire safety education to town residents.

Raymond residents can request free smoke alarm installation by calling 207-874-1192 and choosing Option 3 or by visiting SoundTheAlarm.org/ Maine. The Red Cross will follow up to schedule the appointment.

“When a home fire breaks out, you may have as little as two minutes to escape to safety,” said Jonathan Shapiro, the Red Cross regional disaster officer in Maine. “Properly placed, working smoke alarms can – and do – save lives. In fact, they reduce the risk of death by half.”

In addition to installing smoke alarms, Red Cross teams will check existing alarms, help create escape plans and provide other preparedness tips.

The Red Cross launched its Home Fire Campaign in 2014 to reduce home fire deaths and injuries. The Red Cross and its partners have installed more than 1.65 million free smoke alarms nationwide. At least 593 lives – including those of 11 Mainers – have been saved because of these efforts.

“Please take advantage of these free lifesaving services,” said Laurie Wallace, co-chair of Age Friendly Raymond’s steering committee. “Home fires claim seven lives every day in the United States and people 65 years and older make up a disproportionately large share of the victims.”

“We’re glad the Red Cross is offering these services to our neighbors and making Maine communities safer,” said Susan Moore, steering committee co-chair. “You can make your home safer from home fires with working smoke alarms and by having an escape plan.”

Age Friendly Raymond is helping to raise money for the Home Fire Campaign and Sound the Alarm events. For more information, visit https://www. crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/agefriendly-raymond/sheilabourque.

Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster and account for the majority of Red Cross disaster responses each year. In 2018 alone, the Red Cross responded to some 60,000 home fires to provide emotional support for affected families, help them secure a safe place to stay and assist with their urgent recovery needs.

Raymond is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization. For more information, visit agefriendlyraymond.org, call 207-655-2222 or email agefriendlyraymond@gmail.com.

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Our Bridgton office is located at: 32 No. High St., Suite 1, Bridgton Phone: 207-647-5629 • Fax: 207- 647-5620 Hours: 8am-5pm M-F

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