Dementia

Norma Sauer has no short-term memory, doesn't know her address or phone number and constantly asks the whereabouts of her mother, father and siblings, who are all deceased.   She paces throughout the house, often is easily distracted and can change from an angel to a devil in a heartbeat.   There are daily challenges, safety issues and emotional upheaval. But there also is a lot of patience and love.   For the past five years, the 96-year-old Hagerstown woman has lived in a world that she often doesn't recognize.

"The Doctor is in ... at the library" will feature Dr. William F. Bodenheimer, who will speak about dementia. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Boonsboro Free Library, 401 Potomac St., Boonsboro. Call 301-432-5723 to register.

A free, educational program, "Alzheimer's and Dementia: What's a Person to do?," will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 4, at the Western Maryland Hospital Center Auditorium, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. The speaker will be Mary Ann Farr from the Alzheimer's Association. The program is sponsored by TRIAD, a senior citizen advocacy organization. For more information, call William Baschke Jr. at 301-582-0692.

Hagerstown Community College's Continuing Education and Community Services Division is offering a seminar on "Approaching Persons with Dementia: A Guide for First Responders" Friday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Elliott Center at HCC. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by a continental breakfast. A series of sessions and workshops will follow, including: "Approaching and Talking with Wandering Individuals" at 8 a.m.; "Discussing Issues of Driving, Shoplifting and Possession of Firearms" at 9 a.m.; "Talking with Individuals You Suspect May Have Signs of Abuse and Neglect" at 10:15 a.m.; and "Disaster Response Strategies for Assisting Others" at 11:15 a.m. Guest speakers will be Mary Ann Farr, the education coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association serving Frederick and Washington counties, and Cathy Hanson, program coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association serving Frederick and Washington counties.

Coming Tuesday Exploitation probe: The investigation of suspected financial exploitation of a Boonsboro man who was suffering from dementia is part of an effort by local authorities to crack down on the problem, officials say.

Memory Cafe Lunch will be held at noon Thursday, May 23, at Always Rons, 29 N. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. Memory Cafe is a safe and relaxed place where people with dementia, their families and friends, and health and social care professionals come together for a unique blend of education and support. It is a forum where people can share experiences and talk about dementia. Anyone affected by dementia is welcome to attend. Memory Cafe Lunch meets once a month at varying locations.

An assisted living community for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia will open its doors to the public Saturday afternoon. Eden Pines, off Eastern Boulevard in Hagerstown, will offer tours and refreshments to caregivers, relatives, referral sources and anyone else interested in residential assisted living for memory-impaired people. The 18,000-square-foot, 32-room facility accommodates 50 to 55 residents and offers three levels of memory care. Eden Pines took its first resident in December and is now up to 11 residents, according to Dawn Nally, the facility administrator.

Program for the uninsured Members of the public who are uninsured or underinsured are invited to stop by Robinwood Medical Center, 11110 Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown, on Wednesday, May 27, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to find out how they can receive the health care at low cost or no cost. Representatives from Washington County Hospital's patient financial services, the Washington County Department of Social Services and Maryland Physicians Care will be on hand to discuss resources that are available to the public.

Broadmore Senior Living at Hagerstown, is hosting a free educational seminar titled "Alzheimer's Disease: What you need to know. " This seminar will offer the general public an opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, and the differences between Alzheimer's and dementia.  Cathy Hanson LGSW, Alzheimer's Association Program Coordinator, will cover the stages, warning signs, biology and treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The seminar is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Broadmore Senior Living at Hagerstown, 1175 Professional Court.

WILLIAMSPORT - On Friday, June 5, a memorial service for the late Melissa "Missy" Link was held on the campus of Williamsport Retirement Village. Because of a rainy day, the accompanying tree planting was postponed until June 9. According to Jordyn Shifler, director of communications for WRV, the services were to honor Link, a special employee who recently died. Link, who had been a floor aide since 2002, worked with Alzheimer's/dementia residents and had a "special touch" with them.

Norma Sauer has no short-term memory, doesn't know her address or phone number and constantly asks the whereabouts of her mother, father and siblings, who are all deceased.   She paces throughout the house, often is easily distracted and can change from an angel to a devil in a heartbeat.   There are daily challenges, safety issues and emotional upheaval. But there also is a lot of patience and love.   For the past five years, the 96-year-old Hagerstown woman has lived in a world that she often doesn't recognize.

Memory Cafe Lunch will be held at noon Thursday, May 23, at Always Rons, 29 N. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. Memory Cafe is a safe and relaxed place where people with dementia, their families and friends, and health and social care professionals come together for a unique blend of education and support. It is a forum where people can share experiences and talk about dementia. Anyone affected by dementia is welcome to attend. Memory Cafe Lunch meets once a month at varying locations.

A local man has donated a 17-week-old female bloodhound to The Washington County Sheriff's Office. “Bess” will be trained to track missing children. “I have always loved dogs and especially bloodhounds,” said John Reece, the Hagerstown resident and breeder who donated Bess. “I am so glad that I can do some good for the community and donate her to the sheriff's office.” “We have received a dog through donation in the past but never a bloodhound,” said Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore.

Alzheimer's Association offers hope to families To the editor: While not always the first word that comes to mind with Alzheimer's disease, “hopeful” describes encouraging information that continually develops from ongoing clinical trials and research, offering much-needed hope for families living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. There are 5.4 million people nationwide living with Alzheimer's disease and 15 million caregivers. In Washington County, more than 3,000 residents are diagnosed, and a projected jump of 72 percent from 2000 to 2030 will most certainly create community demand for dementia education, a strain on family resources and hope for a better future.

A dementia patient who was last seen about 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 15000 block of Falling Waters Road has been found, according to a Washington County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Lt. Tom Newton said he believes the 84-year-old man was found in a field close to his home. The man seemed OK other than being a little dehydrated, Newton said just before 8 p.m. A Maryland State Police helicopter and K-9 unit were used to look for the man.

"The Doctor is in ... at the library" will feature Dr. William F. Bodenheimer, who will speak about dementia. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Boonsboro Free Library, 401 Potomac St., Boonsboro. Call 301-432-5723 to register.

A free, educational program, "Alzheimer's and Dementia: What's a Person to do?," will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 4, at the Western Maryland Hospital Center Auditorium, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. The speaker will be Mary Ann Farr from the Alzheimer's Association. The program is sponsored by TRIAD, a senior citizen advocacy organization. For more information, call William Baschke Jr. at 301-582-0692.

Broadmore Senior Living at Hagerstown, is hosting a free educational seminar titled "Alzheimer's Disease: What you need to know. " This seminar will offer the general public an opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, and the differences between Alzheimer's and dementia.  Cathy Hanson LGSW, Alzheimer's Association Program Coordinator, will cover the stages, warning signs, biology and treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The seminar is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Broadmore Senior Living at Hagerstown, 1175 Professional Court.

Hagerstown Community College's Continuing Education and Community Services Division is offering a seminar on "Approaching Persons with Dementia: A Guide for First Responders" Friday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Elliott Center at HCC. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by a continental breakfast. A series of sessions and workshops will follow, including: "Approaching and Talking with Wandering Individuals" at 8 a.m.; "Discussing Issues of Driving, Shoplifting and Possession of Firearms" at 9 a.m.; "Talking with Individuals You Suspect May Have Signs of Abuse and Neglect" at 10:15 a.m.; and "Disaster Response Strategies for Assisting Others" at 11:15 a.m. Guest speakers will be Mary Ann Farr, the education coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association serving Frederick and Washington counties, and Cathy Hanson, program coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association serving Frederick and Washington counties.

Dementia seminar Hagerstown Community College's Continuing Education and Community Services Division is offering a seminar called "Approaching Persons with Dementia: A Guide for First Responders," from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, in the Elliott Center on HCC's main campus off Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a continental breakfast. A series of sessions and workshops will follow. Professionals fee is $45, which includes breakfast, afternoon refreshments, continuing education credits, handout materials and a certificate of participation.