September is designated Healthy Aging Month, dedicated to raising national attention on the health and well-being of older adults. To mark the month, the Topsfield Town Library and Topsfield Council on Aging co-sponsored a series of events on the subject! Below, we are highlighting resources
Check out the Topsfield Council on Aging’s newsletter, titled The Scoop! Paper copies of The Scoop are also made available at the Topsfield Town Library.
Estate Planning 101
On September 15, 2022, we hosted an Estate Planning workshop in the library’s Activity Room with Brendan Maloy of Insight Financial Horizons; this workshop was recorded and is available here thanks to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office of Economic Empowerment.
The Office of Economic Empowerment hosts a free virtual workshop on Tuesdays hosted by experts in financial wellness, growing wealth, retirement planning, and more titled “Money Talk Tuesdays.” View past webinars on the mass.gov website!
Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory with Dr. Andrew Budson
On September 22, 2022, we hosted Dr. Andrew Budson, Chief of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, Associate Chief of Staff for Education, and Director of the Center for Translational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System; Associate Director and Leader of the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core of the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center; Professor of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine; and Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Based on his award-winning book being translated into Chinese and Korean, Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do About It, Dr. Andrew Budson explained how individuals can distinguish changes in memory due to Alzheimer’s versus normal aging, what medications, diets, and exercise regimes can help, and the best habits, strategies, and memory aids to use, in seven simple steps.
Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do About It by Andrew E. Budson, MD and Maureen K. O’Connor, PsyD
As you age, you may find yourself worrying about your memory. Where did I put those car keys? What time was my appointment? What was her name again? With more than 41 million Americans over the age of 65 in the United States, the question becomes how much (or, perhaps, what type) of memory loss is to be expected as one gets older and what should trigger a visit to the doctor. Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory addresses these key concerns and more.
Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Families by Andrew E. Budson, MD and Maureen K. O’Connor, PsyD
Your needs as a caregiver are just as important as those your family member with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. This book will provide just the insight and guidance you need.
Caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is hard. It’s hard whether you’re caring for your spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, other family member, or friend. Even if you had an extra ten hours each day to do it, it’s hard to manage all the problems that come with dementia. And caring for a loved one with dementia can sometimes feel like a long, lonely journey. Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia can help.
Real ID: What is it and do I need one?
On September 21, 2022, we hosted a workshop hosted by Michele Ellick, the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, focusing on REAL IDs. REAL ID is a new standard for identification cards that was instituted following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and will be required to fly domestically in the United States (if you do not have an up-to-date passport) and enter US Federal Buildings beginning in May 2023. Our workshop was recorded but is unavailable due to technical difficulties; view this video from a meeting with the Westfield Council on Aging for more information!
Public Nurses Chat: Learn the Warning Signs for Medical Emergencies
On September 14, 2022, we hosted a Public Health Nurse Chat with Julia Lobel, RN, who serves as the Tri-Town Public Health Nurse. Participants received this packet highlighting warning signs for common medical conditions that older adults face. Download and save, or print this packet to keep handy with you!
Nutrition for Seniors
On September 16, 2022, we hosted nutritionist Deb Davidson at the library, who discussed tips and tricks for including nutrient-rich foods into our diet to help us fight disease and stay healthy! If you are looking for more information, we encourage you to visit the Medline Plus website (hosted by the National Institute of Health and National Library of Medicine) which highlights many helpful and reliable resources!
What is Hospice Anyway?
On September 27, 2022, we hosted representatives from Care Dimensions who sought to set the record straight on what Hospice Care means.
