2019 Wellness

Page 22 2019 Wellness Expo LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Thursday, February 21, 2019 ■ The groups provide education and partnership with others who are walking a parallel walk with you. ■ Caregivers are especially encouraged to participate. 9. Maintain an active life-style. Travel. Socialize. Read. Exercise. Go to movies. concerts, church activities. In each event make sure that there is someone close to you for back-up if your memory loss happens to present a problem for you. A healthy, active life reduces the negative impact of dementia. 10. Keep learning as much as you can for as long as you can. Memory loss clinics often provide workshops and seminars on dementia issues. The Alzheimer’s Association can make many resources available to you, including a 24/7 “Helpline.” --- In contrast to the above recommendations, there are some warnings to be issued against actions that would be most unhelpful. Worst things to do if you think you have memory loss 1. Deny it. Denying memory loss not only keeps you from effective treatment. It inhibits others from helping you with the problem. 2. Hide it. Covering up may help you to avoid remedial action for the moment, but you begin to live with the awkwardness of others sensing that “something” is wrong, but you seem to avoid dealing with it. 3. Be ashamed of memory loss. This diagnosable medical problem is not the result of a horrible, self-indulgent lifestyle. You will not be devalued because you have memory loss. 4. Avoid medical treatment. There are various “natural” treatments sold, primarily to people who do not want to face up to the disease that may be causing dementia. While there may be “testimonies” of cures, NONE of these medications have been proven effective in scientific testing, in spite flamboyant claims on the internet. If pursuing these nostrums is done in the place of medical treatment, you are expensively avoiding the resource that offers the best chance for easing the problem. CONTINUED