Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village November October 2009 Brain expert shares how to maintain and improve memory Research shows that older adults can grow new brain cells, which can help improve cognitive function. Ninety people gathered to learn more about these exciting breakthroughs as Associate Professor of Psychology from Western Oregon University Robert Winningham, PhD, presented Use It or Lose It: How We Can Maintain or Even Improve Our Memory Abilities. Dr. Winningham shared the latest research on maintaining and maximizing memory, what lifestyle factors affect cognitive wellness, and practical ideas for enhancing memory. The presentation ended with a question-and-answer time with Dr. Winningham and doctors from NorthStar Neurology, which helped sponsor the event. Later in the day, Dr. Winningham presented an Interactive Memory Enhancement Workshop for 50 people, who learned how to implement the morning’s learning with memory-enhancing exercises. “Dr. Winningham draws from his 15 years of studying memory. He is a great presenter and instructor,” says Touchmark Life Enrichment/Wellness Director Melanie Snow, who has attended Dr. Winningham’s Cognitive Training Workshop and received her Geriatric Wellness Instructor certification. “Everyone really enjoyed learning about the brain and methods for improving their lives.” Shortly after Dr. Winningham’s presentation, Touchmark launched a Memory Enhancement and Brain Exercise Class. Touchmark team member and Certified Geriatric Wellness Instructor Joni Goodnight, RN, MSN, is leading the class and sharing techniques for improving and maintaining cognitive function. The class is currently full with a waiting list. To learn more about the class, talk with Joni.  2 Be home for the holidays As the cold weather comes to Bend, leave the winter home worries and snowy driving behind as you immerse yourself in the Touchmark lifestyle from River Lodge home 207. This 1708square-foot corner lodge home offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a breakfast nook, a laundry room, two decks, and great views of the water feature. It also has easy access to river trails and services and amenities. Call today for a personal presentation. Celebrating legacy, giving thanks Marge Coalman, EdD Vice President of Wellness & Programs, Touchmark The word “legacy” often is associated with inheritance, gifts, and/or endowments—tangible goods and property passed from one generation to the next. “Organic legacy” is much more than the property and resources that are left to family members, foundations, and charitable causes. Solie refers to it as “… the unique footprint we leave behind.” It’s the accumulation of a life well-lived— Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village Located in the River Lodge, this one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom penthouse offers 1,321 square feet and a lovely view of cliffs and water feature. Lodge home 421 features granite countertops and a deck. “Organic legacy isn’t always a plaque on a wall or a name on an auditorium. It can be many different things: acts of courage, decisions to repair a torn relationship, expressions of loyalty and faith.” — David Solie, MS, PA memories, good works, honor, shared moments of pride, and wisdom gained from overcoming life challenges. One of the goals of the Touchmark Full Life Wellness & Life Enrichment Program is to support each resident’s creation of an organic legacy. Individuals November 2009 3 may write their life story, capture meaningful moments in creative writing and storytelling classes, share experiences in formal and informal gatherings, and connect with other generations through various pursuits. Congratulations to the following winners Those who filled out and returned the annual resident survey were entered into a prize drawing. For residents in our Memory Care program, the Congratulations to Don Miller, Norm Bailow, Eliza Life Story work features a memory box, scrapbook, Solon, Jean McDonald, and Dorothy Moar. and detailed life history. These tools spur memories, celebrate achievements, and strengthen connections Thank you to everyone who completed this year’s with others. survey.  To find out more about how to be part of the planning and providing of wellness programs and services, contact Melanie Snow, Life Enrichment/Wellness director.  For all residents who choose to participate, a wide range of options is at hand to create an organic legacy “quilt.” The quilt’s “panels” include opportunities for civic engagement through volunteerism, welcoming new residents, planning celebrations and events, contributing talents and skills to support lifelong learning, socializing, and having fun. Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village Mind your math Complete these 24 math problems as fast as you can. Time yourself to see if you’re improving. 1. 2 + 3 13. 26 + 8 2. 7 – 2 14. 6 + 8 3. 8 + 4 15. 13 – 4 4. 1 + 9 16. 14 – 0 5. 10 – 4 17. 18 + 19 6. 5 – 0 18. 19 – 10 7. 12 + 2 19. 5 + 1 + 4 8. 20 + 9 20. 6 + 7 + 2 9. 16 + 11 21. 3 + 8 + 0 10. 15 – 10 22. 10 + 3 + 1 11. 30 + 30 23. 9 + 2 + 2 12. 19 – 5 24. 6 + 4 + 5 Math Answers: 1. 5, 2. 5, 3. 12, 4. 10, 5. 6, 6. 5, 7. 14, 8. 29, 9. 27, 10. 5, 11. 60, 12. 14, 13. 34, 14. 14, 15. 9, 16. 14, 17. 37, 18. 9, 19. 10, 20. 15, 21. 11, 22. 14, 23. 13, 24. 15 At Touchmark communities, we celebrate the gift of organic legacy. Every life quilt is a treasure. Every contribution is important. During the season of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for all of you and what you contribute that helps to create genuine community. November 2009 4 “Rubber ducky ... you’re the one ... ” More than 30 little plastic ducks took a bath—and a swim—in the River Lodge water feature for the second annual Touchmark Ducky Derby. Participants registered and selected ducks and waited for the 2:15 pm start. Clustered near the River Lodge entrance, everyone counted down the “dumping” of the ducks. Building Services team member Dan Sparrow released the ducks into the bubbling, rushing water. Little colors of yellow bobbed through two waterfalls with some ducks getting stuck along the way. The first five ducks to swim through the finish line won. The winners: Lorene Cline, 1st place; Jean Miller, 2nd place; Claire McDonald (4-year-old granddaughter of Bill and Audrey McDonald), 3rd place; Wayne Gaskins, 4th place; and Val Emmert, 5th place. Two residents received awards for dressing in the most yellow or orange. George Emmert (pictured with wife Val) won for most yellow, and Muriel Harris (not pictured), wore four or five layers of orange shirts and scarves, winning for most orange. Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village Members of the Building Services department gathering the five winning ducks. November 2009 5 Enjoy Monday night football The Dining Services team recently started Monday night football and dinner. Thirty to 60 people have been gathering in the Terrace Lodge Forum to watch the game on the big screen and enjoy dinner, drinks, and the company of friends at 5:30 pm. The dinners are $5 per person and include dishes like lasagna, ribs, and wings. There’s also beer for a dollar. Sign up at any lodge front desk for the dinners, which will go until early December. Residents also can use their meal plans at this dinner.  Coming Events Thursday, Nov. 5, 8:30 am Men’s Out to Breakfast Group. Sign up at any lodge front desk. Friday, Nov. 6, 1:30 pm Shopping at Target and JCPenney. Sign up at any lodge front desk. Monday, Nov. 9, 4 pm Nondenominational worship service. All are welcome. Forum in Terrace Lodge. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2 pm COCC English Professor Bill Buck will speak on the Lewis and Clark Trail with a focus on Corps of Discovery’s journey from the Rockies to the Pacific. See a slide show and display of Charlie Russell prints and artistic representations Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village of tribes encountered during the excursion. Learn about grizzly encounters in Montana; hear brief quotes from the journals and historic sources; and see filmed or photographed locations of sites, such as Fort Clatsop, Oregon, and the national Lewis and Clark Museum in Great Falls, Montana. Terrace Lodge Forum. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 9:45 am Veteran’s Day Parade. Residents (who are veterans) are invited to ride the bus in the parade. There are 18 spots available on the bus. Sign up at any lodge front desk. Staff also will show the parade on the big screen in the Forum at 11 am. Coffee and donuts at both events. Thursday, Nov. 12, 5 to 7 pm November birthday prime rib buffet. Four Seasons. Reservations are required. Friday, Nov. 13, 1:30 pm Shopping at T.J. Maxx and Macy’s. Sign up at any lodge front desk. Monday, Nov. 16, 2 pm Hypnotherapist Julie Sorick, CHt, MNLP, will demonstrate how to release old patterns or behavior and create new “scripts” to help positively influence daily activities. Terrace Lodge Forum. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2 pm Join yoga instructor Robyn Castano for a yoga demonstration. Robyn can help individuals adapt movements to fit their mobility needs. Come November 2009 6 preview this class, which will run from Jan. 13 to March 3. Cliff Lodge Aerobics Room. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 4 pm Zumba Gold® demonstration with instructor Davon Cabraloff. Enjoy a fun exercise class designed to fit the needs of older adults. Starting January 13, Zumba Gold will be offered Wednesdays from 4 to 5 pm in the Cliff Lodge Aerobics Room. Monday, Nov. 23, 3 pm Musical Performer/ singer/songwriter Bill Valenti will perform mostly humor and social satire and some political commentary with humor. Terrace Lodge Forum. Thursday, Nov. 26, 2 to 4 pm Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet, Four Seasons. Reservations are Required. Monday, Nov. 30, 1 to 3 pm Holiday Bazaar and Fashion Show. Enjoy great food, mimosas, music, fashions from Cold Water Creek. and great vendors. Terrace Lodge. Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village Popular drawing class extended A retired art teacher recently held a drawing class in the Terrace Lodge Activities Room. It has proved to be such a popular event that the class is now extended for four weeks. The classes will run from October 28 to November 18 from 2 to 3 pm in the Terrace Lodge Activities Room. The cost is $20 for four weeks or $5 for each class. All materials are provided. Pictured: Norm Bailow and Cathleen O’Shea working on their drawing. Norm has done pencil drawings and watercolors in the past. Cathleen just started and is enjoying learning. Jeanne Lemon’s hands working on her shading skills. November 2009 7 Watch for your 2010 calendar Celebrations ... they enrich our days and enhance our lives. The 2010 Touchmark Calendar captures an entire year of celebrations. Each month highlights a different aspect of Touchmark’s nationally acclaimed Full Life Wellness & Life Enrichment Program. December highlights some of the talented, published authors who live in Touchmark communities. Last year’s calendar, featuring the theme Destination ... Discover, received a National Mature Media Merit Award. Residents and staff will receive copies of the calendar soon. Others interested in receiving a copy of the calendar may contact a member of the Sales team. Stay on top of current events Looking for an intellectual group or activity? Check out the Current Events group Thursdays in the Forum from 1 to 2 pm. Here’s why participants enjoy the group: “This class inspires me to be better informed about the world I live in,” says resident Bill McDonald. “First, I am forced to get out my almanac/reference books/ Google, etc. and learn something new each week. Second, I enjoy the interacting with others who also have worldwide experience in Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village business, service, travel, and varying levels of knowledge on worldwide issues,” says resident Don Miller. “Both previous points are essential elements to helping avoid early dementia, as emphasized by Dr. Winningham during his memory presentation.” a “who am I” photo, which invites participants to guess/say the pictured person’s identity and learn how this person is connected to current events. Other photos/topics include Country of the Week, This Week in History, Remember When, and Faces and Places. “This group gives us all that little push to get on the computer and do a little research on the subjects. Sometimes, I get more information than I want to know about the subject,” says resident Bob Kahl. “It is fun and helps us all keep up on what’s going on in the world.” Participants receive a weekly outline, which gives them time to research the topics and bring more information to the class to share with others. Each week, the group reviews current events with an accompanying disc of photos. For example, there’s “We’re always looking for more people to join the group,” says Touchmark Life Enrichment/ Wellness Director Melanie Snow. “It would be especially fun to have more women join the group.”  November 2009 8 Flu news you can use —Winona Phelps, RN Touchmark Nurse Consultant At the time of this newsletter’s publication, the CDC’s Web site showed widespread flu activity in 46 states, including those in which Touchmark communities are located. Seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines are arriving, but they have been delayed in many areas. To help avoid getting the flu, remember to maintain healthy habits, such as washing hands often and avoiding touching eyes, noses, or mouth. (See the CDC’s Web site for more prevention ideas.) The CDC recommends that people who have flu symptoms stay home, rest, drink plenty of liquids, and avoid social settings until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without taking fever-reducing medications. People should seek immediate medical attention if they ... • Have difficulty breathing or chest pain, • Have purple or blue discoloration of lips, • Are vomiting and unable to keep liquids down, or • Show signs of dehydration, such as feeling dizzy when standing or being unable to urinate. The H1N1 virus tends to affect younger people more than older adults. Most people recover in about a week, completely on their own. Some may experience a lingering cough after recovering from H1N1. All Touchmark communities are increasing regular cleaning “rounds” and are making hand gel available at various locations. Any resident who feels sick should let a manger know. To help maintain healthy communities, family members and visitors who are sick are asked not to come to the campus. Touchmark will continue to check the CDC Web site and pass along updated information to staff, residents, and others. Visit www.flu.gov for more information, including a Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families.  Support local families in need Over the past several years, the Touchmark Foundation has joined with Touchmark and Waterford communities around North America and others to create hundreds of food boxes for families in need over the holidays. Depending on the community, each box contains enough food for a complete holiday meal or meals over three to five days. The cost of each box can be more than $40. The food boxes are then donated to nonprofit agencies and area churches to be distributed to help families in need over the holidays. If you’d like to join the Touchmark Foundation in this joyfilled project, please donate online (TouchmarkFoundation. org) or send a tax-deductible check (payable to the Touchmark Foundation) to: Touchmark Foundation Attn: Holiday Food Box Project c/o Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village 19800 SW Touchmark Way Bend, OR 97702-1942 Touchmark | at Mt. Bachelor Village 19800 SW Touchmark Way | Bend, OR 97702 | 541-383-1414 | 888-231-1113 | TouchmarkBend.com TBR108, Rev. 11/09, © 2009 Touchmark Living Centers, Inc., all rights reserved November 2009