Senior Center News, Nov. 20, 2020

North Central Senior Center, Nov. 20, 2020

Menu by Earlene DeWinter — Subject to Change

Monday — Sloppy joes, Tater Tots, salad, desert

Tuesday — Applesauce, baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, Corn, Rolls, Wacky

Wednesday — Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, dessert

Thursday — Thanksgiving

Friday — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

The Senior Center is providing medical transportation only for now. Remember to call ahead for Friday’s appointments.

We do have a couple of individuals in the community whom are in need of assistance getting to Great Falls three times a week for dialysis. I am working on getting financial help for the transportation. If you know of anyone willing to help with this transportation, please call the Senior Center.

With the isolation, challenges are being felt by some people. Contact a senior or a veteran who may be facing challenges just to see how they are doing. The personal contact will help them feel a great deal better.

Remember to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly! Maintain your personal space.

Congregate folks: We are still continuing to provide meals at the Hill County Senior Center as grab and go meals while we are still closed. If you would like to pick up a meal, please be sure to call the center before 10 a.m. to order your meal. Your meals may be picked at the center from 11:45 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday. If you would like to, you may order a meal for one day or put in your order for the entire week. If you would please let us know which meals you would be like ahead of time it would be beneficial in preparation so we are aware of how much food to fix each day.

With the individuals we’ve lost the last few weeks, I do have some openings for commodities for the Hill County area. Call 265-5464 for an application.

Important phone numbers:

Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Tumbleweed Runaway and Family Crisis Program: 259-2558 (local) 1-888-816-4702 (toll free)

Friendship Line by Institute on Aging — The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warm-line for non-emergency emotional support calls. It is a 24-hour toll-free line and the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-Free Line: (800) 971-0016.

For those seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montana’s Warm Line.

The senior center’s doors are still closed to the public. We are providing limited services. Help is being given over the phone when possible.

We want to thank the individuals who are making masks, especially those whom have brought them to the center. If you are in need of a mask, let us know. We may be able to direct you to a source.

With people getting out and moving around more, remember to use all precautions. If you do not feel comfortable going out, protect yourself and stay home as much as possible. If you do any traveling, especially out of state, remember the 14-day self-quarantine for your own safety.

Agitation and anxiety in Alzheirmer’s

Get these tips for coping with “sundowning.” Sundowning is restlessness or agitation in the late afternoon or early evening in Alzheimer’s.

Late afternoon and early evening can be difficult for some people with Alzheimer’s disease. They may experience sundowning — restlessness, agitation, irritability, or confusion that can begin or worsen as daylight begins to fade — often just when tired caregivers need a break.

Sundowning can continue into the night, making it hard for people with Alzheimer’s to fall asleep and stay in bed. As a result, they and their caregivers may have trouble getting enough sleep and functioning well during the day.

Possible causes

The causes of sundowning are not well understood. One possibility is that Alzheimer’s-related brain changes can affect a person’s “biological clock,” leading to confused sleep-wake cycles. This may result in agitation and other sundowning behaviors.

Other possible causes of sundowning include:

• being overly tired

• unmet needs such as hunger or thirst

• depression

• pain

• boredom

Coping with sundowning

Look for signs of sundowning in the late afternoon and early evening. These signs may include increased confusion or anxiety and behaviors such as pacing, wandering, or yelling. If you can, try to find the cause of the person’s behavior.

If the person with Alzheimer’s becomes agitated, listen calmly to his or her concerns and frustrations. Try to reassure the person that everything is OK and distract him or her from stressful or upsetting events.

You can also try these tips:

• Reduce noise, clutter, or the number of people in the room.

• Try to distract the person with a favorite snack, object, or activity. For example, offer a drink, suggest a simple task like folding towels, or turn on a familiar TV show (but not the news or other shows that might be upsetting).

• Make early evening a quiet time of day. You might play soothing music, read, or go for a walk. You could also have a family member or friend call during this time.

• Close the curtains or blinds at dusk to minimize shadows and the confusion they may cause. Turn on lights to help minimize shadows.

Preventing sundowning

Being too tired can increase late-afternoon and early-evening restlessness. Try to avoid this situation by helping the person:

• Go outside or at least sit by the window—exposure to bright light can help “reset the person’s body clock”

• Get physical activity or exercise each day

• Get daytime rest if needed, but keep naps short and not too late in the day

• Get enough rest at night

• Avoid things that seem to make sundowning worse:

• Do not serve coffee, cola, or other drinks with caffeine late in the day.

• Do not serve alcoholic drinks. They may add to confusion and anxiety.

• Do not plan too many activities during the day. A full schedule can be tiring.

If problems persist

If sundowning continues to be a problem, seek medical advice. A medical exam may identify the cause of sundowning, such as pain, a sleep disorder or other illness, or a medication side effect.

If medication is prescribed to help the person relax and sleep better at night, be sure to find out about possible side effects. Some medications can increase the chances of dizziness, falls, and confusion. Doctors recommend using them only for short periods of time.

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Source: The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center is a service of the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. The Center offers information and publications for families, caregivers, and professionals about Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive changes.