Greet the world a new

Author: Anthony Phan

In the previous edition of this series, we addressed the importance of immersing oneself in a community. In this edition, we will delve into the treasure trove of activities and programs that are simply waiting to be discovered. As you may already know, Montgomery County’s Department of Recreation offers plenty of resources for caregivers and children alike. For some, this might be an invitation to venture across new horizons; but for others, it might be as overwhelming as navigating an endless sea. If you identify with the latter, then fear not. For you mustn’t forget that there other ships sailing beside you in this voyage of life.

In times of adversity, it can be helpful to recall what it was like to be a child. Perhaps you don’t remember much from your childhood; or perhaps you don’t want to. Regardless of what you’ve experienced in the past, it’s difficult to deny the blissfulness of youth. Children explore the world with a sense of innocence and open-mindedness. In doing so, they’re able to open their eyes and flourish with imagination and creativity.

As we grow older, we tend to drift away from the things of youth that brought us pleasure. We learn to prioritize our responsibilities and manage our time, but we end up overlooking the little things. These are the things that remind us of who we are. While it’s easy to neglect that which connects us to our younger self, it’s not too late to find our way back. Despite how long it’s been since you’ve expressed your creative side, take solace in knowing that it will always be there waiting for you. All you need to do is turn toward your mind’s eye and rekindle your inner child. The next time you encounter an unlikely endeavor, try to approach with curiosity, not judgment.

Montgomery County Recreation is the best place to start if you’ve a curious soul. It’s a welcome center for all those who wish to rediscover old hobbies or learn new ones. Simply put, it’s a way to take a break from the hectic routines of our daily complexities. If you’ve been searching for a home away from home, then look no further. The county’s recreation centers provide those who seek to better their lives with a vast array of activities and programs to choose from. These include, but are not limited to, arts and crafts, cooking, dance, fitness and wellness, sports instruction, martial arts, and music lessons. Whatever you decide to do, you’re bound to have a good time and make more friends. The important thing is that you do what you enjoy and maybe even try something new. It might be intimidating at first; but the only way to know what’s on the other side of the door that you so desperately want to open is to turn the knob.

For many caregivers there is the concern “who is going to care for my loved one when I am away from the home”. This is understandable and peace of mind is important when pursuing leisure/errand activities. Montgomery County government has a wonderful Respite Care Program that supports the family caregiver lead a healthy life, spend time for themselves and be away from the home without worry. Caregivers often utilize Respite Care so they can participate in a local class, restore friendships, take care of their own health and well-being, run errands, and so much more.

The idea is to rejuvenate from all the caring that you have done for others and have time for yourself!

(Definition of Respite Care: Respite provides planned short-term and time-limited breaks for the family caregiver.In Montgomery County, Respite Care is generally delivered in the family home by a trained, supervised, background checked care-aide assigned by a licensed Maryland eldercare agency.)
Click here to learn about Montgomery County's Respite Care

So the next time you wonder if you should reach out, take a chance and embark on an adventure; because sometimes, when you look for things, they might be there or they might not. But that’s what makes the joy of discovery greater. Often times, you’ll find that what you seek is where you least expect it. These unexpected moments are what remind us what it’s like to be a child again. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. See you next time!

Citations
Montgomery County’s Senior Calendar

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior/calendar.html

Montgomery County’s Recreation Program
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/classes/

Montgomery County governments Respite introduction
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhs-program/ads/adsrespitecare-p235.html

The Arc Montgomery County - Respite Care
http://thearcmontgomerycounty.org/what-we-do/respite/

Art Therapy Part 2

Author Olivia Gyapong


In my previous edition of the Caregiver Blog, we discussed how social art experiences can do wonders for one’s brain. A great example of a social art experience is a monthly Smithsonian “See Me” art event. The “See Me” events provide a fun, cultural, and educational experience for people with dementia and their caregivers. The “See Me” events have been a huge success judging by the number of returning pairs and the reactions to the event I witnessed at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art called, “Art in Motion.”

After her introduction, docent Paula explained to the group that, “In African traditional society, everybody moves - no matter their age.” She then led the group into the adjoining gallery space where Wall, a teaching artist for the aging, was waiting with an assortment of African percussion instruments. Djembes, congas, shakers, and rattles created a cacophony of noise as the participants experimented. That’s when the magic began to occur.

One woman, Hailley, who had worn a deadpan expression throughout the entire introduction, began smiling and laughing once she received her instrument! She was vigorously shaking her rattle and started to move her feet to the soulful, lively beat of Wall’s drum. After a few measures of the drumming’s melodic thunder, she sauntered into the center of the circle and had clearly internalized the beat. Her shoulders were enthusiastically shaking off the struggles of living with dementia. Her caregiver, Lindsay, got up and joined her companion in the center of the circle where she, too, started to dance and laugh with Paula.

Soon enough, other couples had joined the party in the center of the circle, moved by the driving rhythms of the drums. The jubilation was so contagious that a woman, assisted by her caregiver, got out of her wheelchair to partake in the dancing! When the drumming ceased, everyone returned to their seats panting heavily, but with wide grins plastered on their faces.

One of the coordinators of the event, Ms. Amy Castine, surveyed the attendees after the activity. “How’s everyone feeling right now?” she asked. “If your faces were any indication and your dancing was any indication, I feel like you had an amazing time. Is that right?” Ms. Castine continued. The crowd responded with a round of applause and a chorus of affirmatives. Ms. Castine then proceeded to ask the guests if they were, based upon today’s activity, willing to try an outside African dance class. Hailley who, only an hour ago sat quietly with tight lips, eagerly responded with an, “I’d try!”.


“Would you say that this experience has been therapeutic for you?” Ms. Castine asked.
“At a certain point in people’s lives,” one participant began, “the past and the future don’t have a complete meaning...the here and now is what matters most. So often we think of therapy as something that affects you..” he trailed off and Ms. Castine finished his thought.
“[As something that] has a future impact?” she suggested.

“Mhm,” he continued, “and what matters is...that what we do now...is meaningful. This was great.”
"Even if you don’t necessarily remember it,” another participant, Diana, chimed in, “the experience stays with you and I think that changes you. It’s such a positive experience that it leaves such a positive lasting impression on you and it outweighs any negative experience.”

These reactions are amazing, but not surprising. A study published in Oxford Academic’s Annals of Behavioral Medicine concluded that African dance reduced stress and stopped a negative flow of emotions (a phenomenon known as negative affect) that, if left unchecked, can lead to higher rates of early mortality and lower quality of life.

In fact, the laughter and smiles are indications that the group was experiencing positive affect. Drs. Cohen and Pressman of Carnegie Mellon explain that positive affect is “behavioral evidence of the body and mind’s pleasant response to the environment.” According to the same Oxford document, positive affect and cortisol are positively correlated in dance. Cortisol is, in this case, a good stress signal (hormone) brought about by behaviorally salient events- yes, that same word is making a repeat appearance. Dance evokes good kind of stress on body- exercise stress. Exercise releases endorphins that, according to an NCBI article, puts you in an “exercise-induced euphoria.”

If dance isn’t for you, the Smithsonian has many more “See Me” events lined up for the future. Events like these work wonders for the social, mental, and emotional health of both caregivers and those they care for.

Art as Therapy, Part 1

Written by: Olivia Gyapong

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, those fifty-five years of age and older accounted for more than seventy-one percent of the United States’ suicides in 2016. Why is that? Well, the CDC cites loss as one of the risk factors for suicide. As people age, loss snakes its way through life. Some lose their memory, others motor function, loved ones...any combination of things. Losing parts of your identity piece by piece has debilitating effects, culminating in the loss of the will to live for many who feel they have nothing left to lose. Yet, what if there was a way to stave off and/or reverse the effects of loss? People of all ages are joining the ranks of those who use some form of art as therapy- including caregivers. I met with Ellen Lebedow, Manager of Social Services at Riderwood in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Ms. Lebedow has been managing a team of social workers at Riderwood for several years, now. Every year, each one of her social workers helps hundreds of the 2,400 residents. While Ms. Lebedow says that there is no typical case, a common issue among those who seek assistance is loneliness which, Ms. Lebedow attests, can “lead to cognitive decline and the beginning of dementia.”

So, how does being lonely put someone at higher risk of a brain disease? Well, there are several networks of neurons originating in your brain that control different functions of your body. One of these networks is called the salience network. The neurons of the salience network dictate “cognitive control, the maintenance and execution of tasks, and the ranking of behavioral responses.” It is suggested by the NIH that the salience network “reacts to behaviorally salient events.” When one puts themselves in these scenarios that test their behavioral and social health (the behaviorally salient events), they are exercising their salience network which can improve control of motor functions and improve their control of their behaviors- the loss of which are widely known symptoms of dementia. The NIH has also concluded that those who engage in a moderate to high amount of social activity were 14.4% more likely to outlive those who engaged in neither social nor physical activity.

One of the best ways to boost social health is through group art classes. One of the regions in which the salience network operates is the anterior cingulate cortex which “is involved in creativity.” Therefore, if you exercise creativity in a social setting, like group art classes, you will improve the function of your anterior cingulate cortex and, thereby, your all-important salience network.

“We are [certainly] learning how important the arts are [in therapy],” Ms. Lebedow said. “[We] encourage attention to the creative side.” Riderwood now has three music therapists on site. Ms. Lebedow notes that many of those who come to her seeking help for someone they are concerned for are friends or family members, not professional caregivers. “[They] come to us because they can’t solve challenges on their own; they need help navigating their challenges. [People say], ‘I didn’t even realize I was a caregiver.’ Anyone who cares for someone is in a caregiving role,” Ms. Lebedow says.

If you are someone who finds yourself in such a position, you can certainly seek advice from a social worker or professional caregiver, but another possibility is enrolling in an art class.

Caregivers who feel like they are constantly pouring their energy into those whom they care for can attend painting sessions, dance classes, pottery classes, etc. and have a good time themselves while strengthening their bond with the person they care for. Art, in any form, is about being in the moment and searching your soul so that your work may have meaning. It is hard to come by anything more cathartic and self-nurturing than that.
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Staying active and engaged is easy through Montgomery County's Recreation classes. Whether it is through a 55+ program, senior center, or general programming there are affordable opportunities for everyone.
Click here to visit County's Recreation website
Click here to visit County senior center website
Click here to visit County's SOAR program







The Montgomery County Community College's Lifelong Learning Institute is committed to creating and fostering a variety of intellectually stimulating opportunities for Montgomery County residents age 50 and over. All ages are welcome to register.
Click here to visit the Montgomery College's Lifelong Learning Institute website

Montgomery County OASIS. Founded in 1982, Oasis is a nonprofit educational organization that is active in 40 cities and reaches more than 50,000 individuals each year. Its mission is to promote healthy aging through lifelong learning, active lifestyles and volunteer engagement.
Click here to visit OASIS website




Live & Learn Bethesda offers interesting, informative and stimulating classes including Exercise & Fitness, Arts & Music, History & Literature, Computers & Technology, and Local & General Interest.
Click here to visit the Live and Learn website