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E-Senior Services E-Newsletter, October 31, 2008
Posted by: DeLila Bergan on October 31, 2008
E-Senior Services E-Newsletter
October 31, 2008
Daylight Savings Time Ends this Sunday (11/2) and our Hearts will be Happier
Daylight savings time will end this Sunday morning when we turn our clocks back an hour. Not only do we get an extra hour of sleep, but that extra hour may actually be good for our hearts. Drs. Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute and Dr. Rickard Ljung of Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare (both in Stockholm) examined the last 20 years of Swedish data on heart attacks that resulted in hospitalization or death and found that the rate of heart attacks decreased by 5% on the Monday after the clocks were turned back (falling behind). Conversely, heart attacks increased (6 to 10%) on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday following the beginning of daylight savings time in the spring (when we move clocks ahead one hour). They speculate that changes in sleep patterns are the basis for the changes in the rate of heart attacks. The risks also increase on holidays and anniversaries, for unknown reasons (stress?). See the New England Journal of Medicine, 10/30/08, for the full article or read a summary by Karen Kaplan at http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-clocks30-2008oct30,0,7702224.story.
Christmas cheer for our troops!
Shannon Salinsky of Trisun Healthcare forwarded an invitation from local USO volunteers for the community’s help in responding to a request from the men and women serving at Camp Victory in Iraq. They have asked for small holiday decorations, such as miniature Christmas trees or office decorations, to put up in offices and around the camp to help soldiers stationed there enjoy the holiday while far away from friends and family. The request was sent by Army Command Sergeant Hector Davila of the Iraq Assistance Group.
If you can send something to brighten the holiday for our young men and women at Camp Victory, I’m told the Post Office offers flat rate mailing boxes for the military and that shipping is $9.00 for all you can fit in the box. Be sure to include a holiday card from you and your family or office staff as well.
Please send to:
CSM Hector Davila
Iraq Assistance Group
MNC-I IAG
APO, AE 09342
Camp Victory, Iraq
Holiday cheer for Tarrant County Seniors
“Operation Christmas Tree” is in full swing once again to brighten the holidays for isolated seniors. Tanglewood Oaks is opening their lovely community for this service project. Area businesses and services are invited to donate a 6' to 7' decorated Christmas tree. The tree must be decorated, lit and ready for a tree lighting ceremony at Tanglewood Oaks on Thursday, 11/19/08, at 6:30 p.m.
The trees will be on display at Tanglewood Oaks, 2698 S Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX 76109, from 11/19 through 12/18. A silent auction will be held throughout that period to allow visitors to bid to purchase the tree of their choice (which can be taken home after 12/18). Proceeds from the silent auction will go to Guardianship Services and Meals on Wheels to support their work with older adults in need.
Visitors to the Christmas tree display are asked to bring UNWRAPPED new gifts for the “forgotten seniors”, those who are homebound, isolated, or without family and friends, and who would appreciate the thoughtfulness of a gift this holiday season. Visitors will vote for their favorite tree by placing gifts under the trees they like best and the winning tree will receive the People’s Choice Trophy. The gifts will be given to Guardianship Services and Meals on Wheels for distribution to seniors who might otherwise go without gifts during this holiday season.
In summary: There are 3 ways for your to help in this project.
- Donate and decorate a tree.
- Bid and purchase a tree.
- Vote for your favorite tree by donating unwrapped new gifts for seniors.
E-Senior Services will have a tree there. Come vote for us by leaving a gift under our tree! Thanks.
Please contact Betsy Allaire for more info at (817) 922-9559. Thanks to Betsy for heading up this wonderful effort again this year.
WHAT'S NEW?
The Flower Mound Seniors in Motion will host a Craft Fair from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, 11/1/08, at the new Community Activity Center, 1200 Gerault Rd, Flower Mound. Get an early start on your Christmas shopping with these unique, hand-crafted items.
Come to a very special Craft Fair on 11/4/08 at Patients’ Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4352 N Josey Lane, Carrollton, TX 75010 (directly across the street from Trinity Medical Center), from 10:00 am to 3:00 p.m. The vendors are all patients, survivors and caregivers.
Hear Dr. Gary Small, the expert at living better and longer, at three talks on 11/05/08. Dr. Small is the author of The Memory Bible, The Longevity Bible and iBrain.
National Association of Social Workers - Texas Chapter, 32nd annual state conference, Building on Strengths, Social Workers- Help Starts Here,”. Great education and CEU’s. To be held at the Galveston Convention Center from 11/6-8/2008.
Free national “teleclass” to teach family caregivers how to communicate more effectively with healthcare professionals. Offered by the National Family Caregivers Association on 11/6/08 at 1:00 p.m. central time (to be repeated on 11/13 at 1:00 p.m central time). The class is offered via phone and the internet. For more info and to register, visit www.thefamilycaregiver.org or call (800) 896-3650.
Windsor Senior Living will offer a “Hard Hat Sneak Peek” at their new senior living facility at 7750 LBJ Freeway, Dallas 75251, on Thursday, 11/6/08, from 4:30 to 6:30 P.M. Be one of the first to see this new residence and to learn what will services will be offered for older adults. Please RSVP to (972) 354-4444.
47th Annual Senior Citizens Fair Arts & Crafts Marketplace at the Amon Carter Exhibit Hall in Fort Worth, 11/6 to 11/8, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Choose from 25,000+ items handmade by seniors. $5 admission, free parking.
Alzheimer’s Fall Caregiver Seminar 2008 – Creating Connections Insider Alzheimer’s on 11/07/08. Full day conference in Hurst. Free for family caregivers, $30 for professionals. CEU’s available.
Hear Ronald Petersen, PhD, MD, Director of the Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, speak at the DeFord Dementia Lectureship re: Alzheimer’s disease. Dinner symposium for physicians on 11/7 (CME available). Mini-conference for the public and health care providers, with Dr. Petersen and additional speakers re: Alzheimer’s and cognitive impairments on 11/8 (CME and CEU’s available).
Get a great buy on used books of all kinds and support Senior Adult Services, a local nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of seniors and caregivers in Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch. Bookworm Bash on 11/7-8/08 at Addison Circle Park Pavilion.
Candlelight vigil to remember those we have lost and to honor those who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. The vigil will be held on Thursday, 11/13/08, from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., on the front lawn of the Vintage, 205 N Bonnie Brae, Denton, TX 76201. A time of fellowship will follow. For more info, call the Vintage Retirement Community and Health Care Center at (940) 384-1500.
Diabetes Education & Nutrition Seminar on 11/15/08 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Lunch provided) at Flower Mound Herbal Pharmacy.
Topics:
- Understanding your diabetes
- Knowing your medications
- Dietary and nutritional instruction
- Understanding food labels
- Meal planning
- using vitamins and dietary supplements
Limited seating available! For more info, please contact Dennis Song at Flower Mound Herbal Pharmacy at (972) 355-4614 or Mary Hunt at FM Specialty Foods (972) 956-9334.
Do you miss the big band sound? If so, then mark you calendar for 11/15. The “Airmen of Note”, the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, will appear at Richardson High School, 1250 Beltline Rd, Richardson, TX. Tickets are free, but you must request them in advance. Send your request, with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to Richardson Area Band Club, PO Box 835787, Richardson, TX 75083. For additional info, see www.richardsonband.org. The Airmen of Note carry on the Glenn Miller Army Air Force band tradition and have played all over the world. Send for your tickets now to ensure that you can enjoy this great performance.
The Burleson High School Elk Strutters Booster club will hold its first craft and Health Fair on Saturday, 12/13/08, from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m.. The fair will be held at 100 Elk Drive, Burleson, TX 76028. Plan to attend to do some holiday shopping at the craft booths and to learn more about medical equipment, home health, hospice, health foods, long-term care insurance and community resources. If you are a crafter or a health care vendor who would like a booth, the cost for the day is $30 for a 10 X 10 booth, plus an additional $10 if you require electricity. Please contact lbowles@gatewayhomemedical.com or (817) 235-8683 for more info and a registration form.
Excellence in Aging – Going to Bat for Seniors, the April 2009 Texas Conference on Aging, an educational conference on aging issues, will be held from 4/26 to 4/29/09 at the Sheraton Hotel in Arlington, TX. Space for exhibit booths is limited; payment is due 1/15/09. For more info, contact Lois Durant at (903) 729-6344 or loisdur1@embarqmail.com.
New Alzheimer’s Genes?
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the MassGeneral Institute of Neurological Disease in Boston have identified four genes that may be connected to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The scientists tested DNA from over 1300 families in which members had Alzheimer’s disease. They found a strong genetic marker on chromosome 14 which may be related to age at onset of the disease. The other markers may be related to movement disorders and the immune system. The research comes out of the Alzheimer’s Genome Project. The findings will appear in the 11/7/08 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. From a Massachusetts General Hospital news release, 10/30/08.
AND JUST FOR FUN:
A spooky cat for Halloween: Mr. Green Genes, a cloned and genetically modified cat, actually glows in the dark. Take a look at his nose and ears (this is real). Click on this link for the video at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27338236/?GT1=3001.
And thanks to Cheryl Acres of Comprehensive Care Management for this video clip demonstrating the success of the government’s program to get seniors to switch over to digital television. Click on the link below to watch one woman bravely attempt to follow the helpful instructions given by the federal government.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/36608/talkshow-with-spike-feresten-cable-psa
Thanks once again for spending a few minutes with our newsletter. Please send us your events for the next issue! E-mail your notes and events to general@e-seniorservices.net or call us at (972) 809-0247.
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