March 2025

By Bill Herr

For persons with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), they may know more about their surroundings and what is said to them than people think. They ought to be treated in conversation just as though they don't have AD, but have awareness and recognize what is being said, even if they don't reflect it. And they, like all of us, appreciate warmth and friendliness.

According to current research, we have 86 billion neurons in our brain. Whether we have dementia in AD or not, some of our neurons are constantly dying, just as cells in our bodies are constantly dying, but new ones are also being produced. There are neurons that transport information to parts of the brain involving memory and reasoning. This part of the brain is like a factory. When certain elements of a factory shut down, confusion and inefficiency occurs. But some of the images stored in this factory in the brain remain, although they may be mysteriously hidden. Sometimes they may surface like the sun breaking through the clouds on a dark day.

The Ada Public Library will host the following events and activities during the week of March 10 to 15. For further details and dates, visit www.adalibrary.org/calendar.

Monday, March 10

Chess Club - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11

Tween Time (6th grade) - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Family Storytime - 6 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12

Family Storytime - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Chair Zumba - 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

Zumba - 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

Thursday, March 13

The Ada Academic Boosters will hold their March meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Media Center. 

This parent-run booster club is focused on supporting the academic portions of school life at Ada Schools.

By Lindsey Buddelmeyer, Leadership Education & Training Specialist

Falls are a common cause of injury, particularly for seniors. As we discussed in a previous column, the two primary reasons for falls are a decrease in strength and balance; and environmental factors. We previously focused on preventing falls outside your home. In this column, we will focus on preventing falls inside your home.

As we age, our balance, strength, and visual acuity naturally decline. According to the National Institute on Aging, common visual changes for older adults include struggling to see up close, difficulty with distinguishing colors, and needing additional time to adjust to changing levels of light. Certain conditions also contribute to a higher likelihood of falling. Let’s examine the inside of your home, determine if there are any unsafe spaces, and find strategies or modifications to make your home safer.