Posted 8/11/21
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:11
Hi all! Happy Hump Day! 🙂 I hope you are staying hydrated like a camel, if you live anywhere near us in the Ozarks! Whew, it sure is a steamer today!
I just have a passing thought today. It is one I have hashed out in more detail on other posts including this one, but it is worth revisiting now and then. The subject: Preparing early.
I serve with a couple of dozen smarter folks than I on the Greene County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) and we meet monthly or more to discuss ways to help our coverage area prepare for disasters, to be more resilient, and to recover post-disaster. Members of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, and dozens of other groups plan and prepare and serve here and it is a blessing to us and to the community to have such a cool organization locally…and they let me sneak in too. 🙂
One topic we covered last month (and discussed again today, briefly) was disaster in light of Covid-19. How do we get prepared for, say, a tornado, when the pandemic is happening and is right in our face 24/7. How do we fight a multi-front war and win? (WWII should teach some lessons here). It is statistically very likely we will have a severe tornado again in the next few months, but all of our preparation is for the pandemic. Losing sight of what might happen is easy when something equally hard IS happening….but remember: both are important. Similarly, in dementia preparedness, if you will, we have to fight and prepare now, while we can still “win” in some cases. (Note: between 33-40% of all cases, according to experts, can be prevented) Just a few thoughts on this:
- Exercise outside. What is good for the heart is good for the brain. The pandemic may have pushed us away from large gatherings, but it shouldn’t keep us from going for a walk every day. Here are some outdoor ideas that are safer than most.
- Manage your stress with a “remote” approach– Here is the remote approach…press the off button on the TV’s remote more than you do now. Do NOT spend hours working yourself up with endless news cycles. Stress, poor sleep habits, and high blood pressure are all contributing factors for getting dementia. Informing yourself can be done pretty quickly. Plus it is freeing to NOT be super current.
- Manage your stress in dementia-friendly ways– Gaining weight by stress eating and drinking hard and often can, in the short run, distract you from the ills of the world. However, they can also contribute to getting dementia…and a host of other diseases. Don’t sacrifice tomorrow for today. Manage stress with healthier means…
- Live like you might someday get dementia because it is good anyway. Print off your pictures and label them with names and dates for future generations. Get organized. Learn about the disease. Help others care for those with the disease…
- Might be a great time to reconnect with the Lord?- Prayer and meditation are great for you physically and spiritually. Grab your Bible and hop into the Psalms a little…it will treat you well. 🙂
- Take up a hobby that may help– It is widely accepted that learning a new language or a musical instrument later in life stimulates the brain and increases your neuroplasticity…your brain’s resilience. I have written many times about such. Plus it is fun. Do it. 🙂 Today. (By the way…brain games are iffy as far as their utility beyond making you better at brain games…but add a social component to them. Stimulate that noggin!)
- Take care of yourself like your life depends on it! Because it does…
- (Bonus/Not exactly preventative, but don’t forget this: Don’t get distracted by Covid such that you forget to talk to your doc if you have warning signs of dementia. Early detection helps you and your docs and your family.)
I realize this is kind of a scatterbrained piece, but sometimes the shotgun approach makes some sense. I hope you found something of use here…and I hope you will keep fighting this disaster in the making while we can. 🙂
#EndALZ
No new update on mom. I got my 15 minutes yesterday and will get 15 more tomorrow. Sigh
Meanwhile, Covid continues…We just lost a good friend and SeniorAge board member this week. Terrible. Get your vaccine, please. You do not want to be a statistic..
Thank you for letting us into your heart & soul.
Great advice 👍
Thank you very much 🙂