News & Education

Latest News and Press Releases

Catch up on the latest from Dementia-Friendly Lehigh Valley below. To sign up for email updates, please fill out our contact form.

Sensory Supported Aromatherapy for Individuals Living with Dementia at Lehigh Commons Senior Living, Macungie PA

Gradual decline across the five senses (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory) is often part of normal aging and can lead to loss of independence, social isolation, disorientation and confusion, safety risks, and other adverse outcomes. However, sensory change is also specific to cognitive impairment. Older persons living with dementia are particularly vulnerable to sensory deficits, which can reduce their capacity to interpret and manage the demands of their environment. Supportive sensory practices with basic care practices can help reduce confusion and enhance orientation.

The support across the five senses can be greatly essential for individuals living with dementia. There are a wide range of techniques available to correct sensory imbalances, increase alertness, reduce anxiety and agitation, and enhance quality of life. Aromatherapy has been noted to be one of those evaluated sensory techniques.

Click here to read the entire article.

Memory Care for Your Loved Ones

Caring for a loved one with memory challenges is both rewarding and demanding. Whether you’re a family caregiver, an elderly individual navigating your own path, or a healthcare professional seeking insights into dementia support, understanding memory care is crucial. This guide aims to provide comprehensive information on memory care, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions.

Click here to read the entire article.

Updates in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

Kelly O’Shea Carney, PhD, ABPP
Board Certified Geropsychologist
President, Dementia Friendly Lehigh Valley Steering Committee

As the evidence grows that reducing risk factors for dementia by adopting healthy lifestyle choices can prevent and/or delay the onset of dementia, researchers are also advancing the tools and processes for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease early in its development. The goal of this early diagnosis is to provide more opportunity for early treatment and intervention, as well as to motivate the adoption of healthy lifestyle factors to slow progression and maintain function.

Click here to read the entire article.

It’s Now Easier to Trade in Your Driver’s License for a Photo ID
Your State Representative or State Senator can Help!

Did you know?
If you or your loved one is no longer driving due to medical reasons, you can trade in your PA driver’s license for a PA Photo ID, and there are resources to help you with the process! Here is a step-by-step guide:

You can do this before the license expires or shortly afterward
Complete a PennDOT form DL-54A and attach the driver’s license to surrender
PennDOT will issue a FREE Photo ID and use the photo ON FILE for the first 4 years
Should your Photo ID need to be renewed, at that time there will be a fee and you will have to go to a Photo Center for the picture

This easy process helps older adults who may have a difficult time getting to a photo center to have the picture taken and this “buys” at least four more years! If you cannot get to a photo center to renew in four years, there is a way that a request can be made to PennDOT to continue to use the photo on file (this isn’t guaranteed but is often approved!)

Lastly, to make it even easier and to expedite the process, residents can go through their State Representative or State Senator to do this. Offices have the forms and can inform PennDOT that the driver’s license was surrendered to their office on what date, and office staff can work with PennDOT for processing on your behalf.

Connection and Community are Good for Your Brain

Kelly O’Shea Carney, PhD, ABPP
Board Certified Geropsychologist
President, Dementia Friendly Lehigh Valley Steering Committee

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When he first coined this phrase, he could not have had any idea about brain health and the insights we have today into the risk factors for dementia. But even so, his words could not be truer for those who care about such things. Research has identified 12 modifiable risk factors for dementia and seven of them are medical issues that your physician is likely to track during routine preventive care visits. In relation to brain health, this means that by seeing your physician for your annual physical and following the advice you are given, you can reduce your risk for dementia over the course of your lifetime.

Click here to read the entire article.

Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Dementia Friendly Lehigh Valley is happy to share good news about the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program. Both the income limits and the maximum rebates have increased. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to receive from $380 to $1000 based on annual income. In addition to age requirements, household income must be $45,000 or less annually. Only half of Social Security income is counted but the full amount of other income, such as pensions is counted. Applications are due by June 30, 2024. If extra funds are available, the deadline is extended to December 31, 2024. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Additional funding is provided from gaming. Since the program’s inception in 1971, older and disabled adults have received more than $8 billion in property tax and rent relief.

The link for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is: https://www.revenue.pa.gov//IncentivesCreditsPrograms/PropertyTaxRentRebateProgram/PAges/default.aspx
Assistance with the application process is provided by State Representative and Senator Offices.
Find Your Legislator-PA General Assembly (state.pa.us)

Honor or Memorialize Your Loved One and Make a Lasting Difference

Dementia Friendly Lehigh Valley can receive honorarium and memorial gifts for loved ones. By making a gift to our non-profit, you not only honor or memorialize your loved one, but also contribute to a cause that held significance to them, you, or your family. Your generosity will enable us to carry on their spirit and make a lasting impact in the Lehigh Valley regarding Dementia Friendly resources, training, and support.

Contribution information: Please make checks payable to Humanitarian Social Innovations. Include Lehigh Valley Dementia-Friendly Coalition in the memo. 301 Broadway, Suite M100-F, Bethlehem, PA 18015 or donate online at dementialv.org. Thank you to the family of Jean Brinker for their memorial gifts and the family of Joane Hockenbery for congratulatory gifts in celebration of her retirement.

Highlights for Seniors and their Families in the Upcoming Budget

Today nearly one in four Pennsylvanians are seniors. By 2030 that number will be one in 3. An early review of Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget indicates a vision of the importance of assisting the growing numbers of older Pennsylvanians and their families. An increase in funding to local Area Agencies on Aging to coordinate and provide needed services is included. This includes a $10 million increase from the Lottery Fund. Another $5.2 million is designated to find safe emergency housing or placement for older Pennsylvanians/individuals after they are released from prison. An $11.7 million new appropriation, Aging Our Way, which will help administer services for Older Pennsylvanians and caregivers. The establishment of an Alzheimer’s Disease Division within the Department of Aging to support families dealing with Alzheimer’s and related disorders. $1.9 million is earmarked in the budget. An additional $10 million is allocated to support Long Term Care Facilities. All of these investments are in preparation for the implementation of the first ever Master Plan on Aging. Pennsylvania is committed to supporting older Pennsylvanians so they can live their lives with a sense of dignity.

Connection and Community are Good for Your Brain

It has long been known that social isolation is bad for your health. People who have limited relationships, social connections, and/or social support, as well as those who describe themselves are lonely, are at higher risk for a multitude of negative health outcomes. These well documented negative health outcomes include hypertension, stroke, and premature death, as well as an increased likelihood of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. In addition to these findings, there is an expanding body of evidence confirming an increased risk of developing dementia among those who lack social connection and support.

Click here to read the entire article.

Preparing Seniors for the Upcoming Flu and Cold Season

Now that the summer heat is behind us and the weather is getting colder, flu symptoms will become increasingly common. For seniors, common cold can lead to complications like bronchitis and pneumonia. For seniors struggling with more chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma, a flu infection can worsen things. Your loved one’s health should be your priority as the winter draws closer, and taking the right steps to prepare your seniors for the season is essential.

Click here to read the entire article.

Get Some Rest! Your Brain Health Depends Upon It.

We live in a busy world and each of us faces multiple competing demands that require our time and energy. Moreover, our society tells us that being busy is good and that its achievement, accomplishment, and success matter. In this context, many people forgo sleep in order to address the “to do” list in their lives. ” If there are not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done, skip that extra sleep and use the time to be more productive” – or so the logic of it goes for many people.

Click here to read the entire article.

Are Crossword Puzzles Good for Brain Health? Maybe…

There is a common belief that doing a crossword puzzle every day will help preserve cognitive function. While there is a grain of truth in this idea, like many commonly held beliefs, there is more to it than you might realize. It is more accurate to say that doing a crossword puzzle every day is good for your brain health IF you don’t usually do crossword puzzles. If the New York Times daily crossword has been you favorite pastime for years, learning to square dance may be better for your brain health. And if you both square dance and do crossword puzzles, then perhaps tutoring kids as a volunteer may be better for you brain.

Click here to read the entire article.

Brain Health: The Best Bet for Reducing Dementia Prevalence and Risk

For decades scientists have been searching for a treatment and cure for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). This research has resulted in some positive outcomes related to understanding the disease processes underlying different forms of dementia, new tools and techniques to diagnose dementia, and the development of a few treatments that can help to maintain function for a time. But currently, we still do not have a cure for dementia, nor do we have treatments that truly hold disease progression at bay.

Click here to read the entire article.

Morningstar Living’s Memory Lane Series for Greater Community

The majority of people who are living with dementia in our community are receiving care in their homes from a family member or friend. And most of the caregivers providing this care are also working a full-time job or are raising young children. Whether you’re caring for a spouse, parent, other family member or friend, caregiving is hard work. And caring for a person who is living with dementia can be even harder. Family caregivers of people who are living with dementia are at greater risk of depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life, than caregivers of people with other medical conditions.

Click here to read the entire article.

Previously Printed, Archived Newsletters

Newsletters changed from printed newsletters to e-newsletters via Constant Contact in Winter 2023. News stories from those issues are posted above. To receive the e-newsletter in full, please access the sign up in the footer.

Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Fall 2022 – English

Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Summer 2022-English

Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Spring 2022-English

Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Winter 2022- English Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Winter 2022- Spanish

Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Fall 2021- English Dementia-Friendly Newsletter Fall 2021- Spanish