What effect does stress have on your brain and your ability to remember things? Stress is good for you if you are being attacked by a bear or if you need to flee other dangerous situations. During these stressful events your adrenal glands create a significant amount of cortisol which helps your body get you to safety.  Your body will return to a normal level of cortisol once the stressful situation is over for you.  
However, if your body and brain are always stressed, your cortisol level remains too high and that can have an impact on the formation of new memories and your ability to retrieve old information in your brain.

One cause of constant stress is hoarding according to Michael P. Meyers in How Clutter Causes Stress. He goes on to say that “hoarding is a serious issue that should be addressed immediately. Many clinical psychologists are in agreement that clutter causes stress and the wisest thing to do is to act on it before the behavior turns into a full blown obsessive compulsive disorder.

So where do you even begin to “de-clutter” your life and put an end to some of the stress that may be impairing your memory?  You can rent a table at the annual Rummage Sale to be held in the parking lot of Willson House and Jason Lee Manor this Saturday, June 29th from 9-4pm.  Reserve a table for only $5.00 and sell some of those treasures that you no longer need.  Call Cathy Derby-Ray at 503.585.6511 for your table.  If you don’t have anything to sell but you want to buy, buy, buy… this is the place for you!

Friday, June 21 is the Summer Solstice, marking the official first day of the season and the longest day of the year. If you live Oregon, you can expect to see about 14.5 hours of sunshine and if you live in anchorage, Alaska you will see about 19 hours!

Did you know there are many health benefits to getting sunshine every day? Of course, you’ll want to use sunscreen and a little common sense so you don’t overdo, but getting enough sun is critical to feeling good.  Check out these 10 health benefits of sunshine:

1. Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes.  Some studies suggest that vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing it (one study found that those with high levels were 40% less likely than those with low levels).
2. Reduce cancer risk. There are lessened mortality rates for 15-20 types of cancer in regions of higher solar UVB exposure, particularly for breast, colon, and rectal cancer. Those patients who had higher vitamin D blood levels when diagnosed had nearly twice the survival rate of those with the lowest levels.
3. Strong bones for better bone health. Vitamin D boosts calcium absorption for strong bones, which means you’re less likely to develop bone diseases, fractures and osteoporosis.
4. Protect eye health. Vitamin D has been tentatively linked to lower incidence of cataracts, and studies indicate good D levels correlate to a lowered risk of macular degeneration as you age.
5. Boost immunity. Researchers believe that vitamin D is integral to proper function of the body’s T cells— the immune system’s first line of defense.
6. Improve metabolism; fight obesity. Several studies show correlation between sun exposure and an increase in metabolism, although the reasoning isn’t cut and dry.
7. Lower blood pressure. The warmth of the sun can improve circulation, and heightened vitamin D levels have been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive subjects— perhaps as effectively as medication.
8. Reduce stroke risk. There are likely a lot of factors at work here, but in one survey people who lived in areas with less sun exposure had a stroke risk that was 60% higher than those who lived in sunshine-y regions.
9. Sleep better. Daily time in the sun helps to regulate circadian rhythms for a better night’s sleep. And sleep has its own host of health benefits.
10. Feel better. Sunshine has been shown time and again to improve mood, fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and lessen stress. Not to mention, we’re more likely to MOVE when we’re outside basking in the sun. And physical activity is definitely good for you!

Flag Day Friday, June 14th at 10am
Wear your patriotic colors on Friday, June 14th as we celebrate Flag Day in front of Willson House. On June 14, 1777, Congress authorized a red-white-and blue flag with stars and stripes as the official national symbol of the United States of America.  After so many years it remains a symbol of our nation’s pride.

Father’s Day BBQ Saturday, June 15th  
You're invited to a BBQ fit for a King on Saturday, June 15th from 11:00am to 1:00pm.  Join family and friends in our beautiful back yard as we treat our residents and their family and friends to hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken along with salads and strawberry shortcake for dessert. We plan to BBQ in our backyard since the weather reports say we’ll have sunshine, but we’ll move it inside in the event of rain. Charge for guests is only $9.50, and residents of Jason Lee Manor will pay $6.00. Special prices for children. Call 503.585.6511 to reserve your spot at the BBQ.

Want bargains??  Come to the rummage sale on Saturday, June 29th
For just $5.00 you can sell your “extra” treasures on a table in the parking lot at Willson House and Jason Lee Manor.  There will be lots of treasures to buy from 9am to 4pm on the 29th, so join us! Money from the $5.00 table fees goes towards activity supplies for our residents. Call Cathy Derby-Ray at 503.585.6511 to reserve your table.