7 Steps To Positive Thinking

I’ve said many times that we are pretty helpless when it comes to changing the passive aggressive, but what we can do is work on ourselves. We need to protect our own mental health to keep from getting totally sucked into being the victim in our relationships. A correct and positive attitude in whatever you do will make things easier, and even enjoyable.

Here are some tips to make it through the week even if you’re just sitting in your favorite couch. An idea takes time to form in your head and is always at work . Having a bit of positive thinking can help you realize things that you never thought possible.

1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design. Talk is cheap. Action = deposits in the bank of a passionately authentic future. Without it, passion is void.

This is a perfect example where dreams are made of where you start by tinkering with your mind, then with your hands.

2. Commit to yourself as well as those you love to create powerfully a life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear. The American Dream will always be there, but a dream will still be a dream without motion. Be amazed as the transformation begins.

3. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme, why not give it a shot and see if it will work? You will be surprised to see of there are other ways to get the task done in time. If you are not pleased with the outcome, decide to use that moment to learn from and make the appropriate shift.

4. Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most constructive way. Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude.

5. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based in increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack. You would rather be richly passionate!

6. Keep humor at the forefront of thought, laughing at and with yourself when possible. To me, this is so important when you’re dealing with a passive aggressive. You may find yourself quite entertaining when you loosen up! I am yet to see a comedian ever go hungry even though his jokes are as ‘old as great-grandma’. Life has too much to offer to allow you to mope around in self pity. Humor is very attractive, very passionate: life-giving.

7. Believe that you are the architect of your destiny. No one can take your passionate future from you except for you! Create your life authentically. As long as there’s still breath in your body, there is no end to how much you can accomplish in a lifetime. The concept of thinking big is all about enjoying your life, which would lead to celebrate a discovery that is born within your mind and heart. Watch everything flow into place with perfect, passionate precision.

It’s interesting how people get wallowed up in the day-to-day trivia of our lives. Not having any positive thinking in your life-you’ll just end up as a dim bulb in a dark corner. So instead of subjecting yourself to what you will be doomed for, make your path by taking the first step with a positive attitude. We cannot control those around us, but we can control how we react to them.

By ladybeams

Source:http://padontstandforpaloalto.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/7-steps-to-positive-thinking/

Senior Citizens Dance to Stay Active

Senior citizens in Monroe County have found a new, toe-tapping way to stay active.

The group of dancers, ages 50 through 80, performs throughout the pocono area and practices in East Stroudsburg. Jeanne Evers of swiftwater leads the group.

For decades, Evers has run dance studios in the poconos. She got her start with the rockettes at radio city music hall in new york city in the 1950's.

"They were very strict. You had to be there. If you were late three times, you were fired, no questions asked," she said.

Rather than retiring, Evers began her latest project - The Silver Tappers. She says more and more senior citizens are turning to dance as a way to stay active as they get older.

"It's very popular now, we have three classes going of older ladies. We wish we could get more men, but we don't!" she said.

97-year-old llda Jones was in the audience. She loved the tappers' routine.

"I think the show is great. I think they have a great feeling of merging together," said Llda Jones of Chestnuthill Township.

Even if the residents can't join in the dancing, care-givers say music can do wonders for the mind and body.

Anne Smith, an administrator at Chestnuthill Manor explained, "Just lifting their hands. It's a big thing. I don't want them to stay idle. So this is really important."

The Silver Tappers practice once a week at the Pocono Dance Center in East Stroudsburg.

See the video here: http://www.wnep.com/wnep-mon-dancing,0,5251510.story

Alzheimer's Disease: Nutrition

While there is no special diet required for people with Alzheimer's disease -- unless they have another condition, such as diabetes, that requires a particular diet -- eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is extremely beneficial. With the proper diet, our bodies work more efficiently and we have more energy. This article addresses the basics of good nutrition.

The Basics

• Eat a variety of foods from each food category.
• Maintain your weight through a proper balance of exercise and food.
• Choose foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Try to limit sugars.
• Moderate your use of salt.
• Drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day (unless you are fluid restricted due to another medical condition, such as congestive heart failure).
• You may drink alcoholic beverages in moderation (but always consult your doctor).

Medications

Ask your doctor if any foods can interfere with the medicines you're taking.

Preventing Constipation

• Eat foods high in fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fiber and water help the colon pass stool. Most of the fiber in fruits is found in the skins.
• Eat bran cereal or add bran cereal to other foods, like soup and yogurt.
• Drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water and other fluids a day (unless you are fluid restricted).
• Exercise
• Move your bowels when you feel the urge.

Tips to Relieve Constipation

• Drink 2-4 extra glasses of water a day.
• Add fruits and vegetables to your diet.
• Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.
• If needed, use a very mild stool softener or laxative. Do not use mineral oil or any other laxatives for more than two weeks without calling your doctor.

Dining Environment

• Minimize distractions in the area where you eat.
• Stay focused on the tasks of eating and drinking.

General Tips

• Eat slowly.
• Cut your food into small pieces, and chew it thoroughly.
• Do not try to eat more than 1/2 teaspoon of your food at a time.

What to Do If You Have a Dry Mouth

As we age, our bodies often signal us less when we are thirsty. In addition, some medications can dry you out, so it's important to keep drinking plenty of fluids.

• Drink 8 or more cups of liquid each day, 10 or more cups if you are feverish (unless you are fluid restricted).
• Dunk or moisten breads, toast, cookies, or crackers in milk, hot chocolate, or coffee to soften them.
• Take a drink after each bite of food to moisten your mouth and to help you swallow.
• Add sauces to foods to make them softer and moister. Try gravy, broth, sauce, or melted butter.
• Eat sour candy or fruit ice to help increase saliva and moisten your mouth.
• Don't use a commercial mouthwash. Commercial mouthwashes often contain alcohol that can dry your mouth. Ask your doctor or dentist about alternative mouthwash products.
• Ask your doctor about artificial saliva products. They are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

Maintaining Your Weight

Malnutrition and weight maintenance is often an issue for those with Alzheimer's disease.

• Eat smaller meals more frequently. Eating 5-6 times a day may be easier than eating the same amount of food in three meals.
• Take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement.

• Liquid diet supplements may be helpful.

Please consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.

Courtesy:http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/caregivers-09/nutrition?ecd=wnl_lbt_031109

Top 10 Tips For Traveling By Air With An Elderly Parent

This article gives ten ways to help achieve a safe and joyful air travel experience with your elderly parent. This is based on personal experience with my own 91-year-old mother. After having some rather stressful trips with my mother, I have made conscious efforts to create more joy in our travels. My goal was to reduce the frustration for my mother and for myself.


1. Include your parent in the planning stage of making reservations for rooms.

Some parents prefer having a separate room. Others like the security of sharing a room.

2. Review procedures for closing out their residence prior to leaving.
Stop paper, mail, etc. Make sure there are no appointments lined up for the time period of the trip.

3. Plan to travel on a day ahead of the main activities of the trip.

This time gives space for transition to the new environment and rest from the trip.

4. Arrange with the hotel/motel for adjoining rooms if you are in separate rooms.

This gives you the opportunity for easy connecting. Even keeping the key for your parent could be helpful. Doors are usually very heavy and are not easy to handle. Better to have your parent wait in the room until you are with them.

5. Go over the procedures for contacting the front desk so that the security of having help nearby is there.

Caution against opening the door thinking it could be family. Rely on the phone for connection if you don't have the key to their room.

6. If agreeable for your parent, arrange ahead of time for a wheelchair.

Distances in the airport are LONG and there is so much confusion everywhere. Being in the wheelchair takes away that stress for your parent.
AND you can zip through the security lines when you are with a wheelchair passenger!

7. Take along extra reading material for your parent to make the waiting time go faster.

Something you have may be more interesting since it is different from what your parent usually reads.

8. Take along a nightlight so that there is safety at night for going to the bathroom.

So many elderly people have falls which lead to inactivity which leads to degeneration of the body.
Having light at night is a great safety precaution against falls.

9. Be careful not to pack the schedule too tight.

Leave room for naps when necessary.
Take along plenty of reading for yourself so that you are not impatient waiting.

10. When returning home, check over their residence to make certain all is in shape for reentry.

Make certain lights are working. Check for any leaks in water lines. Ask if there is anything that you can do for them before you leave. Coming home after a trip is another important transition.


By Suzanne Holman

Source: http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Top-10-Tips-For-Traveling-By-Air-With-An-Elderly-Parent/15939

84-year-old is a social justice 'geri-activist'

Helen Tarbert doesn't believe any one episode inspired her to a life of activism, but she does recall a story from more than 50 years ago.

She was working toward her master's degree in English at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1950s, when a foreign-born classmate was beaten, robbed and killed on his way to check his mail. Once the killers were caught, Tarbert said, they faced a possible death sentence.

"The student's family came all the way from India and pleaded for their lives," she said. "Now, I don't expect many people to do that, but that has stuck with me all this time, so I think that had an impact on me."

Tarbert, now 84, got involved in the civil rights movement. In 1968, after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, she traveled to Memphis with Baltimore chapter members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

"We stayed with African-American families in the city. It happened that I sat right behind Mrs. King and her children in church," she said. "She kept them close to her and wouldn't let them move. Those kids were so well behaved. I'll never forget that."

She later joined protests against the Vietnam War. Always an animal lover, she became an animal rights activist and has been a vegetarian for more than 30 years.

The retired librarian and researcher planned to attend an interfaith rally against the death penalty last Sunday at the Baltimore Basilica. She has been active in this year's Season of Nonviolence series in Frederick , helping bring peace activist, teacher and author Colman McCarthy to speak next week at her church, Evangelical Lutheran.

She has interests beyond social justices issues.

She keeps ferrets, cats and pygmy goats as pets, and is a member of the Baltimore Ferret Club and the America Ferret Association. She volunteers at her church once a week, participates in religion classes there regularly, and takes comparative religion classes through Frederick 's School of Religion.

She headed to the Folger Library in Washington last week for a performance of Shakespeare.

"I don't think there is a certain age when you should stop doing the things you are interested in doing," she said.

Instead of slowing down, Tarbert has become more involved in social and political causes over the year, attending rallies in Annapolis, Baltimore, Frederick and Washington. Three years ago, she spent more than nine hours on her feet working for a congressional candidate.

She has been involved with such anti-war groups as Code Pink, the Frederick Peace Resource Center and the Frederick chapter of Women in Black. She jokes that she has "a bunch of young friends" at FredPac, the Frederick Progressive Political Action Coalition.

"The older I get, I think, I realize how important these issues are," Tarbert said. "They may not be settled in my lifetime É but that doesn't make it any less important to do what you think is right.

"I'm perfectly willing to be called a radical," she said. "I think it partly comes from my religious beliefs, but I have to say I have said things about George Bush that weren't Christian."

Courtsey:http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=87496

Aging and Diversity : An Active Learning Experience

Book Review

This new edition has been completely rewritten and includes chapters that address key topics in diversity and aging: research methods, psychological aging; health beliefs, behaviors, and services; health disparities; informal and formal care for older persons; work and retirement; religious affiliation and spirituality; and death, dying, and bereavement. Taking a broad view of diversity, Mehrotra and Wagner discuss elements of diversity such as gender, race or ethnicity, religious affiliation, social class, rural-urban community location, and sexual orientation. Including these elements allows them to convey some of the rich complexities of our diverse culture—complexities that provide both challenges to meet the needs of diverse population and opportunities to learn how to live in a pluralistic society.

Throughout the book, Mehrotra and Wagner present up-to-date knowledge and scholarship in a way that engages readers in active learning. Rather than simply transmitting information, the authors place ongoing emphasis on developing readers’ knowledge and skills; fostering higher order thinking and encouraging exploration of personal values and attitudes.

Distinctive features of the book include:

• Opening vignettes for each chapter that present a sampling of how the issues to be discussed apply to diverse elders.
• Active learning experiences that invite readers to interview diverse elders, conduct internet searches, and give an analysis of a case study.
• Quizzes at the end of the chapters help readers ascertain the extent to which they have learned the material; the key for each quiz includes details about correct and incorrect responses so that additional learning can occur.
• Aging and Diversity Online boxes interspersed throughout the book provide internet resources that readers may use to find new research and publications.
• Suggested readings and audiovisual resources given at the end of each chapter serve as a guide to additional information on topics covered in the chapter.

This approach of presenting the material will help the readers understand and apply key concepts and principles in ways that will not only improve the lives of older people they serve, but will also enhance their own aging experience.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Second Edition. Aging and Diversity. Research Methods. Psychology and Aging. Health Beliefs, Behaviors, and Services. Inequalities in Health. Informal and Formal Care for Older Persons. Work, Retirement, and Leisure. Religious Affiliation and Spirituality. Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Epilogue.

About the Author(s)

Chandra M. Mehrotra, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Dean of Special Projects, College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. Dr. Mehrotra is a fellow of the American Psychological Association's Division 2 (Teaching of Psychology) and Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging). He is also a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. He serves on the editorial board of Educational Gerontology.
Lisa Smith Wagner, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychology, University of San Francisco. Her teaching interests include course on stereotyping and prejudice, and aging. She is particularly interested in the process that occurs when people change group membership. She also conducts research examining the role of culture in stress and coping, communication, information access and health-related behaviors.

• Price: $39.95 $35.96
• Pages: 432
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 16th December 2008
• ISBN: 978-0-415-95214-9

Understand Dementia

What is Dementia?
Dementia is the gradual deterioration of mental functioning, such as concentration, memory, and judgment, which affects a person’s ability to perform normal daily activities.


Who gets Dementia?

Dementia occurs primarily in people who are over the age of 65, or in those with an injury or disease that affects brain function. While dementia is most commonly seen in the elderly, it is not a normal consequence of the aging process.

What causes Dementia?

Dementia is caused by the death of brain cells. Brain cells can be destroyed by brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or strokes (called vascular or multi-infarct dementia), which decrease blood flow to the brain. Lewy body dementia is another common cause attributed to changes in brain tissue. Other causes can include AIDS, high fever, dehydration, hydrocephalus, systemic lupus erythematosus, Lyme disease, long-term drug or alcohol abuse, vitamin deficiencies/poor nutrition, hypothyroidism or hypercalcemia, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, or diseases such as Pick’s, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, or Huntington's. Dementia can also result from a head injury that causes hemorrhaging in the brain or a reaction to a medication.

What are the symptoms Of Dementia?

In most cases, the symptoms of dementia occur gradually, over a period of years. Symptoms of dementia caused by injury or stroke occur more abruptly. Difficulties often begin with memory, progressing from simple forgetfulness to the inability to remember directions, recent events, and familiar faces and names. Other symptoms include difficulty with spoken communication, personality changes, problems with abstract thinking, poor personal hygiene, trouble sleeping, and poor judgment and decision making. Dementia is extremely frustrating for the patient, especially in the early stages when he or she is aware of the deficiencies it causes. People with dementia are likely to lash out at those around them, either out of frustration or because their difficulty with understanding makes them misinterpret the actions of others. They become extremely confused and anxious when in unfamiliar surroundings or with any change in routine. They may begin a task, such as cooking, then wander away aimlessly and completely forget what they had been doing. Dementia is often accompanied by depression and delirium, which is characterized by an inability to pay attention, fluctuating consciousness, hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. People in advanced stages of dementia lose all control of bodily functions and are completely dependent upon others.

How is Dementia diagnosed?

Dementia is diagnosed through a study of the patient’s medical history and a complete physical and neurological exam. The doctor will speak with those close to the patient to document a pattern of behavior. He or she will also evaluate the patient’s mental functioning with tests of mental status, such as those that require the patient to recall words, lists of objects, names of objects, and recent events. Diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, x-rays, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or computed tomography (CT) scans, can help determine the cause of the dementia.

What are the treatments for Dementia?

In some instances, treating the cause of dementia may successfully reverse some or all of the symptoms. This is the case when the cause is related to a vitamin/nutritional deficiency, tumor, alcohol or drug abuse, reaction to a medication, or hormonal disorder. When dementia is related to an irreversible destruction of brain tissue, such as with Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, or multiple strokes, treatment involves improving the patient’s quality of life as much as possible. This includes maintaining a stable, safe, supportive environment and providing constant supervision. While this may be done in the home, people in the advanced stages of dementia may require round-the-clock care in a long-term healthcare facility. It is important to provide the patient with structured activities and avoid disruptions to his or her daily routine. Many patients enjoy therapeutic activities, such as crafts or games, designed specifically for people with dementia. Some medications, such as donepezil and tacrine, have been effective in improving the mental functions of those in the beginning stages of dementia. Patients with hallucinations and delusions may also be treated with antipsychotic drugs, while antidepressant medications are used to treat depression.

Self-care tips

There is currently no known way to prevent dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. You can decrease your risk of dementia associated with stroke by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, following a heart-healthy diet, and controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Healthy lifestyles, including not smoking and not abusing drugs and alcohol, go a long way in keeping most people in good health. Caring for a person with dementia is stressful. It is important to learn all you can about the disease, seek the help of support groups, and find a responsible caregiver who can give you a break when needed. There are daycare programs specifically designed for patients with dementia that are good for the patient and the family.

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.


Alzheimer's is most common form of Dementia.

10 warning signs of Alzheimer's:

1. Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.

3. Problems with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth.”

4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.

5. Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.

6. Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.

7. Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.

9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.

10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.

If you find anyone suffering from above memory loss please contact ARDSI and Silver Inning Foundation in India,Alzheimer's society in your country,Neurologist or Psychiatrist.

Early Detection and Good lifestyle are some of the way to delay Dementia.