Celebrating Harvest Fest and Honoring American Service Personnel

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.

Have you used one to say "thank you?"

~William A. Ward

To commemorate the season, residents along with their family and friends, CWSL volunteers and staff celebrated Harvest Fest on Saturday, October 15th.


A social hour was held prior to lunch with entertainment at North Ridge.


Canned goods were collected for donation to Operation Bootstrap for the benefit of our community neighbors in need.

Harvest Princess

Dancing up a storm at Harvest Fest!

Thanks to everyone for their donations to Operation Bootstrap

Showing their appreciation for our military personnel serving overseas; assembling care packages as part of Assisted Living Week.

Contributed by Lori Schuler; Marketing and Activity Director

for Central Wisconsin Senior Living.

Rhythm & Brew Beach Bash Debuts Players' Lounge in Stevens Point

The Alzheimer’s Association proudly announces the newest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer  care support and research.  It is the 1st Annual Rhythm and Brew Beach Bash with live music, plenty of food, and a beer and wine tasting extravaganza.  The music by Cadillac Pete and Heat, featuring Howard ‘Guitar’ Ludtke, is a local blues band.

The event will take place here in Stevens Point, Friday, November 11, 2011, and will be held at the Players Lounge, 2124 Rice Street, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  Tickets will be $30.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door. Rhythm and Brews Beach Bash is brand new to the Stevens Point area and we are so pleased to make it an annual event!  A strong team of community volunteers has been working hard at planning, selecting ‘craft’ brews, wine, gathering prizes, lining up music, and selecting a tasty menu for our guests.

We invite you to be a part of this fundraiser and support the efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association of Stevens Point. In addition to monetary sponsorships for this fundraiser, we welcome in-kind donation of services, food prizes, or silent auction items.  All contributions, great or small will help defray the costs of the event, allowing the proceeds from ticket sales and the auction to go directly to the local programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Your support is needed to help ensure the success of the year’s event.

Alzheimer’s is the nation’s sixth leading cause of death and affects 5.4 million people today.  Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050.  Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease. This event brings awareness to this overwhelming disease and raises needed dollars for care, support and research for those in our community. 

When Alzheimer’s touches your life the Alzheimer’s Association is here for you.  Alzheimer’s disease is a frightening diagnosis to face. Wherever you are, Alzheimer’s Associations are nearby with community programs and support services.  Anytime day or night, call them for reliable information and support.  Online guide helping individuals and families find the right care options locating licensed facilities in your area when placement of loved one is needed.  Alzheimer’s Association library provides a variety of research and reference services.

We are determined to end this disease and provide support for those affected now and in the future.  Attend the Rhythm and Brew Beach Bash or support the fundraiser and unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions.  Together, we can raise awareness and funds to enhance Alzheimer care and support.

To purchase tickets or donate contact us at the following phone numbers:

715-393-3950

715-295-0650

Donation, ticket and event information can be found on the Alzheimer's Association - Great Wisconsin Chapter or Point Players Lounge

Feel free to distribute the poster featured above. After you click on the image you can either download it to your computer and distribute as an email attachment, embed it in an email or print for display in your community.

Area Walk to End Alzheimer's raises more than $17,000

The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking.  The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk.

~Mark Twain

Saturday, September 17th: the day we've been looking forward to and training for when area walkers, volunteers and teams gathered for the start of the Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer's. This year's event was a great success and helped raised more than $17,000 for local programs of the Alzheimer's Association.

Central Wisconsin Senior Living was proud to host this year's event with Harmony Living Center. The Walk was led for a community volunteer committee that included CWSL's Kelly Opiola and Lori Schuler.

                                 The Spirit Award was presented to the Sky Club Team.
                                                     Never, Never, Never, Give Up!


"There has never been a greater need for residents to join in the fight against Alzheimer's disease," said Diana Butz, Alzheimer's Association development and marketing director. "As many as 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease and funds raised will provide support services to the residents of this area living with Alzheimer's. The level of support shown by the Stevens Point community for the Alzheimer's Association is truly amazing."


Donations are still being accepted. You can contact Kelly Opiola at Central Wisconsin Senior Living or visit the Alzheimer's Association web site at www.alz.org/gwwi and click on the Stevens Point Walk to End Alzheimer's link or click here.


If you are interested in joining the 2012 Planning Committee contact Kelly Opiola at Central Wisconsin Senior Living.

Under Pressure

God didn't do it all in one day.  What makes me think I can?  ~Author Unknown

Sound familiar? While we all are aware that stress is the root of sleepless nights and can lead to a myriad of health issues, we pay little heed to the warnings and charge ahead attempting to do it all. Browse the self-help section of the library or your favorite book store and the number of books written to help us all remove stress from our lives is a testament to our desire to live life stress-free. 

Here are just a few suggestions that we can easily apply to our lives allowing us to concentrate on the important things in our life. It's been said that if we did just that - there would be a shortage of fishing poles.

Be prepared. It's more than the Girl Scout's motto. Keep some cash on hand, avoid letting the gas level in your car fall into the empty zone, keep pain relievers such as Tyelnol or Advil on hand was well as over the counter antacid and treatment for mild diarrhea. Taking care of the 'small details' on a daily basis will help ease your mind and reduce stress.

Reverse your dinner/breakfast caloric intake. You know that eating breakfast is good for you - the word for the first meal of the day instructs us to "break the fast." Our constant motion, get it all done right now society has made breakfast something that we can "eat on the go." Debbie Mandel, a stress-management expert and author of "Addicted to Stress" advocates making breakfast the biggest meal of the day and dinner your smallest. A breakfast of lean proteins to fuel your brain to think straight and complex carbohydrates, like oatmeal or multi-grain bread, will help keep you in a good mood.

Get organized. Studies show we are more likely to forget things if our homes are cluttered. Apparently someone has seen my kitchen counters and dining room table. If you are stressed about forgetting appointments or other events, get into the habit of writing them down in a special notebook, calendar or electronic device such as your Smartphone or computer. Repeating each entry out loud as you write it down will help commit it to memory. Set aside a certain place for your wallet and your keys and put them away in the same place every day.

Take a walk around the block. Yes, exercise at any time of the day is better than no exercise at all but the experts agree that when it comes to eliminating stress and setting the tone for your day, the morning is the best time to get your heart rate up. If you're like me, you'll feel great about crossing "exercise" off your list at the start of the day, but the added benefits of boosting the energizing endorphins will help carry you through the rest of your day.

Clear your mind. Lack of sleep is one of the major causes of stress. If you are anxious about something your brain will trigger the adrenal glands to make you more alert. Meditate or do some simple breathing exercises to help prepare your body for sleep.

Socialize. We all know that getting together with friends and family can help keep depression at bay but did you know that depression and stress can contribute to memory loss? Seek out opportunities to get together with loved ones - especially if you live alone. When someone extends an invitation to share a meal or attend an event - go! 

Cinnamon and Alzheimer's

Plants have a long history as a rich source of new compounds for drug discovery. Cinnamon is widely used by humans, both as a spice and as a traditional medicine. It is, perhaps, one of the oldest herbal medicines, having been mentioned in the Bible and in Chinese texts as long as 4,000 years ago.

Previous studies have already demonstrated the potential for herbal extracts to interact with beta-amyloid, and perhaps slow down or even prevent AD. As we move towards earlier identification of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in minimally symptomatic individuals, such therapies will undoubtedly become areas of intense research. Examples for extensively studied naturally occurring compounds are the (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from green tea and Curcumin, which is derived from the natural turmeric.

Now, a research team headed by Michael Ovadia from Tel Aviv University, has isolated one of the ingredients in cinnamon, CEppt, and used it in a series of tests conducted on two-month-old lab mice that were raised with five aggressive strains of Alzheimer’s-inducing genes. The experiment’s results, recently published in the PLoS ONE scientific journal, were impressive. Laboratory rodents, genetically altered to develop dementia, received either the cinnamon extract or an inert treatment for four months. The extract improved the rats’ performance on learning and memory tasks. It also reduced the amount of plaque formed in the brain. The animals were fed drinking water containing a CEppt solution over four months, and researchers found that the disease’s development was delayed, with additional trials showing that existing amyloids had been dissolved. The results show the ability of CEppt to inhibit the progress of beta-amyloid aggregation. CEppt is actually comprised of several molecules, and it remains to be found which molecule is exerting this effect.

Supplements such as Curcumin, EGCG, DHA and CEppt will likely be evaluated in clinical trials in patients who have minimal symptoms, but are on the path towards developing AD. That is, patients with amyloid building up in the brain, but not yet showing symptoms as assessed by Amyloid scans (for example. From studies such as ADNI, we believe that there is a 15 year window during which amyloid is building up in the brain, while there are minimal symptoms, such as memory loss present. This window may be the best time to initiate anti-amyloid therapy.)

Anat Frydman-Marom, et al, Orally Administrated Cinnamon Extract Reduces ß-Amyloid Oligomerization and Corrects Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease Animal Models; PLoS One Jan. 28, 2011

Michael S. Rafii, M.D., Ph.D.

Director, Memory Disorders Clinic
Associate Medical Core Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study
University of California San Diego

This post originally appeared in Alzheimer’s Insights, an ADCS Blog.

Source: http://blog.alz.org/cinnamon-and-ad

The End of Alzhemier's Starts With Me

We will be wearing purple on September 21 to help raise awareness during World Alzheimer's Month. You CAN make a difference

National Assisted Living Week September 11-17, 2011: Live Life

National Assisted Living Week begins on, Sunday, September 11, 2011.  Many assisted living residents are the people who made significant contributions to our community; teachers, business people, civic leaders, public officials, parents, and now grandparents. 

Assisted living has emerged as a popular senior living option for those elderly people who need some assistance with activities of daily living, but are able to live and function for the most part on their own.  A typical assisted living home offers 24-hour monitoring of its residents, common cares, including meals, housekeeping, laundry services, bathing, dressing, ambulating, and medication assistance while respecting their dignity and enhancing their quality of life.  There is specialized Alzheimer’s care units designed with safety features for those suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

How Can I Tell When My Loved One Needs More Help Than I Can Provide?

The following warning signs may indicate that it’s time for a talk about assisted living: 

• Your loved one needs more help than family and friends are able to provide.
• They feel lonely and isolated in their home.
• Family members are worried for their safety.
• The refrigerator is empty or filled with spoiled food.
• You notice frequent bruises on your loved one.
• Your loved one wears the same clothes over and over again.
• The house and yard isn’t as clean as it used to be.
• Your loved one become increasingly forgetful.
• Your loved one seems depressed.
• You notice strange or inappropriate behavior. 

Choosing an Assisted Living Home

The most important factor when choosing an assisted living home is that it feels friendly, safe, and comfortable for your loved one and family.  Things to consider when choosing an assisted living home; does the staff speak with you and appear genuinely interested in you, do they interact warmly with residents, do residents appear happy, do they appear to be enjoying and interacting with others, does it feel homey to you, is there an activity program, are there home cooked meals that are appealing, nutritious, and appetizing, do they handle health problems, is the facility in compliance with state and local licensing requirements. 

In evaluating assisted living, cost most likely will be a consideration, so take the time to check if you’re loved ones long term insurance, health insurance, or governmental programs will cover any of the costs of assisted living. Don’t assume that expensive means better; make sure you understand how the facility bills or do additional services require additional costs, and understand their rate increases.  Your goal should be to find the right facility where you feel most at home that is best for your loved one and family. 

Lori Schuler is the Marketing and Activity Director for Central Wisconsin Senior Living.