by Carol Leish

This important forum, ‘A Call to Action,’ was presented on February 20, by the Ventura Council For Seniors. It was very timely after the Thomas Fire in Ventura and then the mudslides in Montecito.

Chief David Endaya, of the Ventura Fire Department, moderated the forum. He said that the evacuation of 27,000 people in Ventura within 90 minutes on the evening of December 4, 2017 saved lives.

Assistant Chief Andy Ortega, Ventura County Fire Department, Retired, gave a moving personal story of coping with the loss of his home, and through that loss, becoming more resilient. He commended the fact that neighbors were helping other neighbors during this trying situation of the fire. He also commended the 600 city workers and first responders who helped tremendously. He focused on being able to rebuild together and to be able to come out on the other side of the disaster by appreciating what he and his family does have.

“It’s important to stay aware,” according to Assistant Chief Ortega. “Being prepared is vital, in order to be: ready to act; set to act; and, being able to go (taking the action).” He also stressed the vital importance of evacuating, in order to save lives, during both voluntary and mandatory evacuations. He said that, sadly, loss of life occurred during the mudslides in Montecito, and not during the fire in Ventura, because those who were given a ‘voluntary’ evacuation notice in Montecito didn’t necessarily leave.

The panel discussion, with Captain Steven Lazenby, Santa Paula Fire Department, Retired; CERT Trainer; Gracie Huerta, Co-Founder, LISTOS Disaster Preparedness; and, Laura Hernandez, Emergency Management Professional reemphasized the importance of being prepared, along with what Assistant Chief Ortega had already said.

These important tips included the importance of having a magnetic, ‘File of Life,’ on your refrigerator, that has medical information about the family. Realizing the importance of having a gallon of water a day for each person in the household for seven days. Having important documents (or copies of them) all in one folder. This includes: social security cards; Drivers Licenses; Passports; medical records; insurance information; bank records; and, rental and/or mortgage information. Also, remembering to have pet care items, such as: identification; immunization records; carrier or cage; muzzle and leash; and, pet food.

Other things to keep in mind before a disaster occurs, be it a fire or an earthquake, for example, are; having a phone number of a contact friend or family member outside of the (805) area code; packing up pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia; having personal computers with information on hard drive and disks; and, having plastic (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash.

A special thank you to, Suz Montgomery, who makes sure that, ‘Seniors are working for the benefit of seniors,’ which is a motto of the Ventura Council For Seniors, which she is the chair of. And, another special thank you to, the Downtown Ventura Rotary, for having a free barbeque lunch, after the forum.

by Sue Carrington

It’s a force to be reckoned with. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are debilitating conditions that impair memory, interfere with thought processes, and limit day-to-day functioning. As the disease continues to surge—affecting more than five million Americans and as many as 16 million by 2050—the nation is seeking new ways to care for people with ADRD. One leading approach is focusing not on losses but on remaining potential. Empowerment: Taking a New Approach to Dementia

“Fear about getting Alzheimer’s disease is pervasive,” says Kim Warchol, an occupational therapist and president and founder of Dementia Care Specialists, a nationwide dementia training and consulting company. “Why is the disease so scary? Because of the belief we continue to hold that if you’re diagnosed with dementia, you’re on your way down a long road of suffering.”

“Although this perspective is gradually changing, it’s still there in part because of the way we’ve traditionally cared for people with the disease. As soon as a person experiences memory challenges, we confine them to a world of losses—what they can’t do anymore. Over time, we begin to use labels like ‘wanderer,’ ‘rummager,’ or ‘feeder.’ Suffering is born out of this negativity.”

For healthcare stakeholders—providers, payers, and patients and their families—the challenges of ADRD are steep. Seniors with dementia are hospitalized three times more often than seniors without dementia and experience a greater reduction in quality of life. They may need intensive long-term services and support. Psychotropic medications are often overused to control behavior issues. Many caregivers eventually burnout and leave their profession.

ADRD is also taking a huge financial toll. At an annual cost of more than $200 billion, it is the most expensive illness in America today.

According to Warchol, the devastating effects of the disease are made even more so by mistaken perception. The result can be such problems as depression, physical weakness, negative behavior expressions, more hospitalizations, and eventually, failure to thrive.

“Yet if we come from an empowered, person-centered point of view, focusing not exclusively on the disease, but on the person first and his or her remaining potential, we can significantly change the future for this individual and the downward spiral of events.”

A key theory that’s helping to change the perception of ADRD is retrogenesis, meaning “back to birth.” Warchol explains this as the concept that the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease deteriorates in the reverse order that the brain developed from birth. “Cognitive skills acquired last are the first to go, and the ones attained first are the last to leave.

“Functional cognitive capacity defined in the stages of dementia can be equated to capacity within developmental ages. Someone at the end of life with Alzheimer’s has the same cognitive abilities and functional capabilities as an infant. Yet we need to remember that regardless of their stage of cognitive development, children live a quality life. Even an infant has quality of life, because we celebrate who they are and what they can do—and we accommodate for what they can’t do. We create many meaningful moments, not despair.”

Sue Carrington is a seasoned and purpose-driven journalist, with a focus on healthcare innovation. Sue is a native of the Washington, DC, area.

Even though retired nurse Barbara Leonard just turned 92 she still feels that she could be a great nurse.