An annual event that both the children from Willson House Child Development Center and the seniors from Willson House and Jason Lee Manor all enjoy is the Tea Party which will take place on September 10th from 3:00pm to 5pm.  The children range in age from 2 to 8 years old and they really look forward to wearing beautiful hats, eating special little sandwiches and drinking from real tea cups. Tables are decorated by staff members based on popular themes such as Mickey Mouse/ Disneyland, Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh’s Tea Party.  Last year there were 20 children and 60 adults and we are expecting record attendance at the 2014 Tea Party.

The intergenerational program at Willson House is one of the first of its kind in Oregon and since 1985 it’s been a place for generations to learn and grow together. On a normal day, seniors drop in at the Child Development Center to visit, read books, make crafts, sing songs, or share stories with the children. The children make daily visits to Willson House and Jason Lee to share activities with the residents.

Whether it’s a Tea Party or an impromptu activity, the residents look forward to interacting with the children.  Studies show that seniors who are exposed to intergenerational activities have more positive attitudes and memory improvements than the non-participating residents.  The sound of a child’s laughter and the unconditional love children give are just two of the many benefits the seniors at Willson House enjoy.

On September 10th at 3:00pm bring a friend and come to Willson House for a fun afternoon of tea, snacks, laughter and lots of fun!  Wearing a fancy hat to the Tea Party is optional… wanting to have fun with children is all that’s required.  Call us at 503.585.6511 for more information.

Improve Your Memory with one pill a month! Lose ten pounds in the next two weeks without having to exercise! Eat one teaspoon a day and your memory will forget it ever had any problems! Sign up for this course and reverse memory loss in 24 hours! Discovered – a magic bullet to solve all your memory problems!

Sound familiar?? These are all recent headlines in leading newspapers
and magazines. If you believe any of these then do I have a deal for
you!! Seriously though, if you read something and it seems too good to
be true, it most likely is.

Ads promising to drastically improve your memory, almost overnight,
are everywhere. I always cringe when I read them, knowing that
thousands of people will respond, hoping for a miracle. The fact of
the matter is, there is no magic panacea for combatting memory loss.
Are there some things that can help? Absolutely. But they take work on
our part – eating better, staying physically fit, engaging in mentally
stimulating activities, socializing, reducing stress and more.

Currently there are no medications on the market that cure memory
loss. Even the drugs designed specifically for dementia can only help
with the symptoms – and even then, only for some people. Are these
drugs worth a try if one is diagnosed? In most cases, I think the
answer is yes. We shouldn’t though, expect results immediately. Again,
they can help with the symptoms but they are not a cure.

Can a pill cause us to lose weight without any effort on our part to
exercise and eat better? Of course not! If there were, I’d be taking
them everyday!!

Can we take a course and learn everything we need to do to reverse
memory loss? Most likely not. We can certainly learn to do things
which can help with memory loss but as for reversing it, again without
any effort on our part, no way!

So next time you read an ad and it offers a miracle cure, ask yourself
the following questions:

• Is it too good to be true?
• Will I get results with little or no effort?
• Is it sponsored by a credible source?
• If it’s a workshop, is the facilitator legitimate and does she/he have experience in the field?
• Do I really need to pay money to improve my memory or do I instead need to change my diet, exercise more, engage in mentally stimulating activities, spend time with optimistic friends and family and work on reducing stress in my life?

I think we all know the answers!!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend everyone – and a big thank you to
all those who have served our country in the armed forces. We owe you
a great deal of gratitude!       

Written by Kristin Einberger of www.brain-boosters.com

Whether we like it or not we all grow older.  Learn how to do it WELL with the information from our Panel of Experts who present a workshop at Willson House on June 4th from 6:30pm to 8pm:

Monica D. Pacheco graduated from the Willamette University College of Law and joined the form of Douglas, Conroyd, Gibb & Pacheco.  Her presentation concentrates on estate planning and elder law, particularly as it relates to Medicaid, VA Aid & Attendance and disability planning.

Christy Turner is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She will talk about how as we age we want to remain in control of our own lives.  To do that we MUST be prepared should the day come that we can no longer speak for ourselves.  Do your loved ones know exactly what YOU want them to do? Where will you live?  What are your personal preferences for your care?

Lauren Heinatz,Transitions Director for ComForcare Home Care, is a certified Cognitive Stimulation Instructor trained by Dr. Winningham. Lauren will tell us how the brain works, why it forgets & various ways to increase focus, attention & memory from.

Jillien Smith, BS, ACC/MC will speak about on spiritual well being & how to nourish your spirit & grow in this area of your life.  Jillien will offer spiritual tools for reviewing your life, resolving past issues & walking in greater inner freedom.

Join us for delicious snacks, door prizes, and a worksheet from each presenter. Pre-registration required. Click here to register for workshop.
Questions? Call Mary at 503.502.4509 for more information.

What does Ellen DeGeneres do every day that helps her avoid memory loss by up to 75%??  She dances!  Neurologist Majid Fothui, says in a new study, “dancing involves your whole brain, from the ‘sequencing’ of steps in your left hemisphere to the spatial memory in your right hemisphere.”

Learning this fact about staying active by dancing is one of the many things you can learn in Dr. Winningham’s Certified Cognitive Stimulation Workshop to be held on May 16-17th at Willson House. This workshop, taught by Robert G. Winningham, Ph.D., is open to professionals of all disciplines who care for persons with varying levels of cognitive impairment. The course is ideal for those who work in assisted living, skilled nursing or home health care settings. In addition, the course is the best available for those who are interested in starting their own cognitive stimulation program. 



Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be given the opportunity to take an examination to become a Certified Cognitive Stimulation Instructor. 10.5 CEUs will be given at the completion of the course. Click here to register for this workshop sponsored by ComForcare Senior Services, Christy Turner at Dementia Care Management and Propac, or call Mary Reitan at 503.502.45096 for more information.