The Senior Voice

SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
BY: Holly Tenner, V.P. Operations – Autumn Leaves

Driving is an important part of our lives and for most of us represents freedom, control and independence. A complex skill, driving can be compromised when an individual begins to experience physical, emotional and cognitive changes due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory impairment. Many times, people continue to drive without realizing how memory impairment has affected their ability to drive safely. Following are some important points to consider when evaluating the effect Alzheimer’s can have on you or your loved one’s decision to continue driving.

Dallas bandleader Jack Melick is almost through his recovery from back surgery, performed in early June. Three vertebra were removed in order to stop the pain and lameness caused by Acute Spinal Stenosis. Jack Melick and his band will make their first public appearance at Plano Senior Center on October 26th.

For many years Little Mexico was considered the epicenter for the Mexican American community in Dallas. Located in what is now known as the Uptown and Victory Park areas, between 1920 and 1970 Little Mexico was once a thriving Hispanic community.

“Life there was wonderful,” said Anita N Martinez, community leader and founder of the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico.

“Everyone knew one another and watched out for each other. My uncle had a grocery store there and my mother had a beauty shop. It was like a big conclave. The community was one big family.”

And following Hispanic tradition, family often meant several generations living together under one roof.

Cribbage? You know, it’s that card game that uses the funny looking board with all the little holes in it. Your parents and grandparents used to play it. Well it seems that it’s still being played and in a big way.

The American Cribbage Congress (ACC) is a national organization comprised of over 180 local clubs (2 in Texas) and over 5000 members in the United States and Canada. Established in 1980, it now sponsors 150 tournaments a year with the largest drawing over 1000 players.

Community Dental Care was established as a nonprofit in 1982. It has become the largest nonprofit provider of routine and preventative dental care and dental health education in Texas. The organization operates 11 clinics in the Dallas area for low-income individuals which includes children (70%), adults, seniors, patients with HIV/AIDS, and the homeless. CDC has honored Pauline Kress for her many years of service to the organization by naming its clinic at the East Dallas Health Center, 3320 Live Oak, the Pauline Kress Dental Clinic. .

The Veterans Administration has a benefit for senior veterans and surviving spouses who require the aid of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. The program is called AID AND ATTENDANCE PENSION (A&A). As with most governmental programs, it can be confusing or needlessly difficult. Provided here is a simple overview of this program and some valuable contact information for further information.