By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito In caring for someone with cognitive impairment, it’s hard not to go into “control” mode and do everything for them. It could be because we are not used to watching our spouse, parent, or other loved one make less-than-perfect decisions and
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito Everyone experiences memory loss throughout their lives, from forgetting the name of a new acquaintance to misplacing an item. As we age, however, forgetfulness becomes more worrying. Our aging bodies experience changes in a number of ways, and cognitive functioning is
Dear Friends, In 1969, Lorraine* was a single mother with two teenage sons, working nights as a waitress. When asked by a co-worker to babysit his newborn infant for a night, she agreed, but the man did not return the next day and Lorraine was left with the baby boy.
Today’s blog post, celebrating National Volunteer Month, comes from Montecito Program Manager, Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH. People often ask me about volunteer opportunities at Friendship Center, quickly following with ‘But I don’t play an instrument’ or ‘I might be too shy’. What I say to them, and want to stress to
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias do not need a special diet. As with anyone, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is important for overall health. However, regular, nutritious meals may become a challenge for people with dementia–as cognitive function declines, they may become overwhelmed with
Enjoying music–whether at parties and other events or at home–can lead to improved mood, cognitive performance, and memory functions for those with dementia. And singing or dancing along, rather than passively listening to music, can bring even greater rewards. Click here for an amazing video showing the transformation music can
New Year’s Resolutions–a common concept in our culture, with many vowing to break habits they see as negative. For those devoted to caring for a loved one at home, however, the most important resolution they can make is for their own self-care. Too often, caregivers get caught up in the
For some, the holidays bring that warm, fuzzy feeling, while for others they are more challenging. Many have high expectations that are difficult to meet, no matter your family circumstances. However, when adult children come home and see parents and other older relatives after time apart, they may discover that
We know you received a lot of appeals from worthy non-profits yesterday on Giving Tuesday. However, Friendship Center provides a unique service, the only nonprofit adult day services program in the Santa Barbara community. Here at Friendship Center, we were busy having tacos this Tuesday. So we decided to make
Carol Metcalf-Roth grew up on military bases with a father who had a 30-year career in the Air Force, serving in World War II and Vietnam. Observing her family’s resilience during his service has informed her therapeutic approach to the work she does with veterans. Carol, a licensed MFT and
