Annual Conference International Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows, Inc. July 1, 2009

1. Annual Conference International Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows, Inc. July 1, 2009 The Aging Brain and What the Faith Community Can Do

2. Health Power’s Definition of Health Physical Health + Mental Health + Spiritual Health .

3. Health Power’s Key Focus Disease Prevention Early Disease Detection Disease Control

4. Health Power’s “3 D’s” Demographics- The U.S. is getting browner and blacker. Disparities (Health) – Their health status, and care, are unequal. Digitalization (of society) - Cell phones. computers, The Internet, Web sites, TV. etc.

5. Hallmarks of Health Power’s Approach Customized health information and promotion messages that are: Authoritative - user-friendly - culturally relevant Focus on physical, mental and spiritual health

6. Hallmarks of Health Power’s Approach (Continued) • Focus on disease prevention, early detection and control • Web-based and other multi-media health communications

7. Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Age 10% of persons over 65 years of age; 50% of persons over 85 years of age. Since the number of African Americans over 64 years will double in the next 30 years, it’s a coming silent epidemic.

8. Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Family History A history of Alzheimer’s in a first degree relative is consistently associated with Alzheimer’s. Yet, one can never know for sure in every individual case.

9. A Rapidly Changing Demographic Picture U.S. Trend1: Increasingly, a racially and ethnically diverse nation; Result: Unless major action is taken to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities: - A less healthy workforce and society, - A further increase in the spiraling cost of health care for all. Source 1: U.S. Census Bureau; Source 2: Multiple Reports

10. How Alzheimer’s Affects the African American Community A “silent epidemic”; African Americans may be disproportionately affected; There’s often later diagnosis and treatment, if at all, with more limited treatment response in the later stage of the disease; Thus, increased burden to caregivers.

11. What Alzheimer’s Disease Is The most common form of dementia; A progressive, degenerative brain disease with gradual onset; The disease can last from 7 to 20 years - average duration 7 to 12 yrs.

12. Alzheimer’s, as a progressive disease, gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of the aging process. What Alzheimer’s Is and Isn’t

13. Key Alzheimer’s Information: Causes brain damage as a result of: Fragments of plaques and tangles in the brain that cause nerve cell death, and Decreased levels of chemicals being involved in sending brain messages.

14. What Happens During Alzheimer’s There’s a steady decline in the ability to: Remember and Learn Think and Reason Communicate and Respond Live independently

15. Three Key Causes of Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease Vascular Dementia* Alcohol-Related Dementia* * Related to lifestyle and health practices

16. Risk Factors for Vascular Dementia Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Diabetes Smoking Peripheral vascular disease Age Cardiac disease

17. Alcohol-Related Dementia Alcohol-related dementia also results from brain damage. Key causes: - Toxic effects of alcohol on the liver and brain; - Secondary damage to other organs from alcohol abuse, increased vitamin deficiency, & risk of stroke.

18. About the Normal “Aging Brain” A slower pace of learning. A need for new information to be repeated, and a possible tendency to repeat long ago experiences. Some have some cognitive decline (thus a greater risk of dementia).

19. Ten Warning Signs of Dementia Memory loss Difficulty in doing familiar tasks Problems with language Confusion about time and place Poor or decreased judgment

20. Ten Warning Signs of Dementia(Continued) • Problems with abstract thinking • Misplacing things • Changes in mood or behavior • Changes in personality • Loss of initiative

21. Importance of Early Diagnosis of Dementia May help the person with dementia: Educate him/herself on the disease to decrease fear; Participate in their own care planning Make legal and financial arrangements

22. Importance of Early Diagnosis of Dementia Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, with early treatment some medications can improve symptoms or slow the disease down.

23. Ways to Help a Loved One with Alzheimer’s/Dementia Be flexible about the way the person talks or what he or she says. Make connections through songs or old hymns. Have a quiet room where the caregiver can take the person if he/she becomes anxious during the service.

24. Ways to Help a Loved One with Alzheimer’s/Dementia Plan short frequent (home) visits. Encourage the person to continue taking part in service and social events (choir, etc).

25. Ways to Help a Loved One withAlzheimer’s/Dementia Create a memory box with old family pictures and other special events. Create an atmosphere of joy, trust and comfort.

26. Helping the Caregiver Care-giving with dementia can be very stressful. Clergy and other faith community presence and support help a lot. Encourage respite care. Encourage use of support groups.

27. Special Care Issues Agitation, often associated with difficulty in carrying out usual personal care tasks. Wandering, or getting lost. Difficulty getting to sleep at night.

28. Looks of Advanced Alzheimer’s/Dementia

29. How to Decrease One’s Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease? Stay informed and active. Maintain healthy lifestyle. Partner to support research Volunteer – to an individual or organization.

30. Guidelines for Mental Health Leading a life of purpose. Having quality connections to others. Having strong self-esteem. Having control over ones’ surroundings.

31. Recent Research Findings on Improving Brain Health Stay physically healthy. Control hypertension (high blood pressure) if you have it. Participate in social activities.

32. Tips to Keep the Memory Sharp - Make, and use ‘Things To Do’ lists. Planning tasks in advance exercises the mind. . . Carrying them out, too. - Use note pads and calendars. - Exercise regularly. - Limit alcohol intake. Heavy drinking over time can cause permanent memory loss & brain damage.

33. More Tips to Keep the Memory Sharp - Develop hobbies and stay involved in them. If they stop being enjoyable, select new ones. - Do activities that reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. If they don’t work, or stop working, talk to your doctor.

34. Internet Use _In 2007, 71% of all US residents used the Internet; 25% of pre- schoolers; 79% of 9-12 graders. _ 51% of people with chronic disease report use the Internet for health information. _There’s a racial/ethnic “Digital Divide” regarding access & use.

36. Women’s Health Channel Channel Editors

37. Men’s Health Channel Channel Editor

38. Web Based Health Information Need To increase “Health Literacy” How and Where to increase access & use in addition to homes? Local: Schools - Churches - Community Health Centers - Libraries - Colleges and Universities - - Other Organiztions

39. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Could Get Worse Increasing use of the Internet for health information by ‘mainstream America’ means it is becoming relatively more health literate about disease prevention, early detection and control. Without comparable increased multiculturaI Internet use, achieving health equity may well become an even greater problem.

40. Joint Organizational Opportunities Cross-linking between web sites: - For Information Exchange and - To help narrow the “Digital Divide. Other possible collaborations; Membership in “The Health Power Network” to help “Spread the Word”

41. Health Power looks forward to working with you and yours. Remember: Knowledge + Action = Power ! www.healthpowerforminorities.org