Monday Morning - April 28 - Aging and Dementia

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, April 28, 2014

It seems that everyday I am reminded through newspaper and magazine articles of the increasing incidence of dementia in our society.  And as we boomers grow older they are predicting an "epidemic" ---as only  boomers can sensationalize  something that has been around forever and suddenly  impacting us. 

My Mom who is 83 has dementia. My husband's father had dementia in the last year or so of his life.  I certainly am witness to the insidious nature of this condition and how it effects an  individual and their family.  

We are bombarded with awareness campaigns about the ravages of the disease ..... cries for more research.......countless recommendations on how to prevent or stave off this condition.

I am sure I am not alone in doing suduko, word search, and computer cognitive games in an attempt to keep my brain agile in hopes that various forms of puzzle solving will be the secret weapon in the war against an aging brain.  

But yesterday an article in the Toronto Star caused me to pause and to think differently. It challenged my assumption that diminished cognition means diminished growth.  

The article was about a  research centre that has opened  in Toronto- The Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy. The focus of the centre is not on dementia as a tragic disease but  on the enrichment of  people's continuing abilities - to help them grow through creative expression, music, dance, movement, visual arts.  To reach them and build relationships based on  creative expression not cognitive expression.  

http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2014/04/25/dotsa_bitove_wellness_academy_takes_artful_approach_to_fighting_dementia.html

With all of the science that is dedicated to the working of the brain and the  "dementia epidemic" , this article was a reminder to me not to lose sight of the more complicated and powerful part of our minds - the emotional- the creative.   Maybe it is time that I  let go of my assumption that later life dementia is solely degenerative .

Going gray..

I was at the hairdressers yesterday for a haircut.  Not coloured or highlighted -just cut.

You see, this month marks the two year anniversary of letting my hair go to its natural colour or "going gray".  I have put no colour of any kind on my hair since September 2011.

Being a blonde all my life, your hair colour does get attention.   From the time you are a small child  - people/ strangers comment on your hair - touch your hair  Why did my mother let strangers just come up and touch my hair????- Your hair colour  helps define you  (good and bad to that)

Even though there is some blonde left  - I feel that I can no longer describe myself as a blonde.  It is interesting there is no  label/noun for someone with gray hair -   One can be a blonde, a brunette, or a redhead but what about gray?

It has not been easy and many times I have been very tempted to highlight or colour.  But I have persevered and now I am happy with it.  My hair is healthier and I think the colour suits me.  Once again Shanna, my stylist and the owner of Eskape Salon, was right.  You see, she recommended I try my natural hair colour.  That is one of the reason she is such a great stylist - not concerned about the loss of business of no longer colouring my hair but always committed to what is best for her client.  Thanks Shanna.

For me going gray has been a very public acknowledgement of the "emerging senior" in me.  But as a generation/ as Boomers I think we approach aging and retirement with a different attitude. Covering gray is no longer a must for women.  Gray hair is no longer our grandmother's gray - dyed white (sometimes looks blue), cut short.  Now it is not unusual to see a women in her 50's, 60's or 70's  with long beautiful gray hair.  I think it is empowering.