• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Print Subscription
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Contact Us

Alzheimers

Ninth Grader Organizes Car Show Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s

June 1, 2018 by Ella Ilan

Jared Rosenberg, the car show organizer PHOTO BY ELLA ILAN

Jared Rosenberg is only 14-years-old and already making an impact.

On Saturday morning, April 28th, this Armonk ninth grader held a fundraiser called The Hypercar Circle at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.

Car enthusiasts gathered to admire exotic cars including an Aston Martin Zagato, a Ferrari 275 GTB, Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens, a Lotus, and one of Jared’s favorites, the Gemballa Mirage GT.

“When I was younger I went to Cars and Coffees around the country and became really interested in supercars and hypercars. I decided to combine my passion for cars with a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s,” said Jared. Jared’s grandfather passed from the disease ten years ago.

Jared started an Instagram account of car photos which grew to over 10,000 followers. Networking through social media and other car shows, Jared promoted his event, invited proud car owners to come and display their cars and secured sponsorship for his event by duPont Registry. The event raised $2,000.

“It excites me to see 14-year-olds just digging in and loving cars. They will be the caretakers for these exotic cars that will one day be vintage,” said attendee Lilly Pray of the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Bedford which showcases classic cars and organizes educational programs to help youth see what they can achieve in life when they put their mind to it.

Alzheimer’s affects an estimated 5.5 million people in the United States. To learn more or donate, go to www.alzdiscovery.org

Filed Under: Chappaqua Community Tagged With: Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Alzheimers, cars, fundraiser, Jared Rosenberg

Recognizing Dementia: When it’s Time to Seek Care

December 1, 2017 by Janie Rosman

Executive Director Maria Scaros (right) with resident, Virginia, during a Drama Arts Therapy session at The Greens in Greenwich, CT.

Personality changes, difficulty coordinating personal activities and juggling multiple tasks at the same time, getting lost in familiar places–the changes may be gradual when a person develops dementia. As medical professionals learn more about how dementia travels in the brain, they are better able to ascertain how that path affects someone with the disease.

Dr. James Noble
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Dr. James Noble, a neurologist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center’s Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, said that dementia “is an acquired neurological problem that causes interference with how people live their day-to-day lives.”

Within the umbrella term of dementia, he explained, “Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia (other forms are Lewy Body and frontotemporal dementia). In most cases of Alzheimer’s disease, people present with primarily memory loss that may be alongside other cognitive problems.”

Maria Mursch, LMSW, a Care Consultant and Director of Family Education for the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Chapter, clarified, “When we talk about the disease, we’re talking about memory loss and about regions of the brain that control functions, judgment, personality/behavior and insight. That’s why we see a multitude of symptoms.”

Noble cited a middle ground called mild cognitive impairment that doesn’t interfere with day-to-day life. “About 50 percent of those with Alzheimer’s are unaware they have a problem, which poses a challenge for diagnoses and delays someone going to the doctor,” he said, unless a caregiver accompanies a patient during a doctor visit.

Often families face a choice between placing their loved one(s) into a home and keeping them in their own home(s) with an aide or additional caregivers. One facility that focuses solely on caring for those with dementia is The Greens At Greenwich, the first assisted living facility in Connecticut designed for people diagnosed with dementia or memory, according to The Greens Executive Director Maria Scaros.

“All our staff is trained in dementia care and engages with residents daily,” said Scaros. Each of its 31 apartments is decorated with residents’ own furniture to give a semblance of familiarity. Outside each door is a glass-enclosed box filled with pictures, tokens and other objects that can spur recognition. “Although age is the biggest single risk factor for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,” Noble explained, “dementia is not part of the normal aging process.” Genetic dementia, while uncommon, presents “in families that have onset under the age of 60, affecting half the family within a generation.”

While families may have expectations and fantasies about the loved one returning to his or her former self, “they are not expected to deal with dementia alone,” Scaros maintained. The facility embraces the entire family, removing the burden of care so they can maintain their roles as spouse, daughter, son and grandchild. “We get to know their family member in the here and now and relate to them as they are in the moment.”

Mursch agreed it’s important to meet the person where he or she is mentally and emotionally. Many patients with Alzheimer’s are first misdiagnosed with depression (the blues), Noble said. “Instead, typical mood changes in Alzheimer’s can be described as ‘get up and go got up and went.’ Addressing this loss of interest in activities can be very challenging. Families may not realize that to engage a loved one in an activity, they need to be proactive.”

A familiar setting will become unfamiliar at some point, Mursch said. “When that starts to happen, we’re looking at someone who progressed in the disease,” she said. “It is important to keep the person comfortable and socializing and active, and there are ways to accommodate the person at home.”

Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) offers support programs and activities and a 24-hour number (1-800-272-3900) that’s answered by the local chapter during work hours and by its national headquarters after hours. Mursch added, “There may be a point when it becomes unsafe to live at home because of the physical environment (i.e. a staircase) or when the caregiver can no longer take care of the person or the situation cannot be resolved by increasing home care.”

Scaros noted The Greens’ biggest competition is home care, which may be the best solution for some. “We need to recognize, however, that when someone says, ‘I want to go home,’ it means, ‘I want to feel safe, secure, loved and engaged.’” Home becomes a feeling rather than a place.

Social activities and cognitive stimulation like hobbies can keep the brain alert. Scaros was trained as a drama therapist and ensures that creative arts therapies are an integral part of The Green’s programs. Lynn Hagerbrant feels the facility goes well beyond the standard of care in sharing, caring and loving for her own parent living there. “They have heart and soul, a caring heartbeat that starts with Maria and flows through all her staff.”

Science continues to research cures for dementia. “New treatments may not be not that far away, and trials to date have helped foresee what next steps to take,” Noble said. For information, visit www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/taub.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimers, Columbia University, Dementia, Disease, Drama Arts Therapy, Genetic Dementia, help, The Greens

Home Safety for People with Alzheimer’s

August 17, 2014 by The Inside Press

lifeworks-picEnhancing home safety for an elderly person with Alzheimer’s can be a difficult task. Aside from taking care of installing handrails, re-arranging furniture and removing other obstacles from the home (as you might for any frail elderly), there are much less obvious hazards to someone losing their memory. An elderly person with Alzheimer’s, for example, may forget a knife is sharp or a stove is hot.

Many people who suffer from this disease will also have a tendency to wander and it doesn’t matter if 
it is day or night. An elderly person who lacks judgment, coordination and is disoriented wandering around their home in the dark of night can be heading toward 
disaster.

Vigilance is key plus these preventive measures:

  • Clear a home of tripping hazards such as electrical cords and loose rugs. Sharp corners of furniture can cause serious injuries during a fall.
  • Keep extra lighting in the house and contrasting floor colors at doorways, stairways and landings. This will make it much easier for someone to see the difference in the surface and possible changing heights and help prevent tripping and falling.
  • Install motion sensors and door alarms to help caregivers know when a elder moves around at night. Night lights in their bedroom and other traffic areas also ensure safe movement at night.
  • Lower hot water settings to avoid burns. An individual with Alzheimer’s may actual forget that the “H” on the faucet means hot or even forget what “hot” is.
  • Use child proof locks to block access to sharp or otherwise potentially hazardous appliances, objects, and substances. To protect from wandering, utilizing deadbolts or locks on gates can also be a good idea.

These are just some of things to consider when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s. In the event you feel you need assistance from a professional, there is help available.

Whether full-time, part-time or 24/7, LifeWorx’s non-medical professionals are fully screened to ensure that they have the proper skills and are trustworthy and reliable. This has led to a track record of satisfied clients who have used our Elder Care Experts in the New York Metro and Fairfield County areas. Contact us today to start reviewing candidates immediately.

Visit www.lifeworx.com or locally, please call 914 458-9933.

Filed Under: Words & Wisdoms From Our Sponsors Tagged With: Alzheimers, Home Safety

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • $86K State Grant Awarded to 2023 Phoenix Festival Signals Growing Focus on Tourism
  • Scarsdale Music Festival Gearing Up for a June 3rd Event: Sponsorships, Performers and Vendors Sought
  • Governor Hochul Urges: SHOP SMALL to Help Small Businesses Which Make Up 98% of New York State’s Economy
  • Chappaqua’s Always Magical HOLIDAY STROLL on December 3rd: Ice Sculpting, Tree Lighting, Horace Greeley Encords… and More!
  • Harvest Moon Farm Presents a Longer, More Spectacular LUMAGICA Holiday Light Experience this year
  • Send Me A Sign

Please Visit

White Plains Hospital
Boys & Girls Club
Compass: Goldman and Herman
Compass: Generic
Desires by Mikolay
William Raveis – Chappaqua
William Raveis – Armonk
Dodd’s Wine Shop
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
Lumagica Enchanged Forest
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Compass: Natalia Wixom
Eye Designs of Armonk
Stacee Massoni
Club Fit
Beecher Flooks Funeral Home
World Cup Gymnastics
Houlihan Lawrence: Harriet Libov
Raveis: Sena Baron
Play Nice Together
Compass: Usha Subramaniam
Compass: David Braham
Houlihan: Danielle Orellana
Dr. Briones Medical Weight Loss Center

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Chappaqua Inside Armonk Inside Pleasantville

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2023 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in