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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 SeniorSmart All the choices and comforts of home 650 Ocean Avenue, Portland, Maine thecedarsportland.org Maine's first and only Households—The Sam L. Cohen Households—offer an entirely new level of person-centered care in a real home. Within welcoming private residences and warm and cozy community spaces, specially trained and dedicated staff provide award-winning care in the moment to support a lifestyle filled with social connection, meaningful activities, and personal growth. Private rooms with en suite baths Always-open kitchen, dining, and living rooms Sunporches and sensory gardens Private rooms with ensuite baths Always-open common spaces Person-centered care from highly trained staff Call 207.221.7000 to tour the Lunder Memory, Assisted Living, and Enhanced Assisted Living Households. Seek support T h e n u m b e r o f M a i n e r s w i t h Alzheimer's disease is expected to almost double from about 26,000 in 2010 to nearly 50,000 by 2030, according to University of Maine research. About 12% of Mainers 65 and older have Alzheimer's, and another 5% have some other form of dementia. More than 51,000 Maine residents are now caring for a family mem- ber with dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. e value of unpaid care they provide is estimated to be $1.8 billion annually. e asso- ciation says a public health approach is needed to reduce the burden on sufferers and their families. ere isn't a one-size-fits-all solu- tion for every Maine family dealing with dementia, says Dr. Heidi Wier- man, division director of geriatrics and medical director of healthy aging at Maine Medical Center in Portland. "Every individual experiences dementia differently based on the type and how it impacts the brain," Wierman says. "It can affect mem- ory, language, personality and motor function, and this is superimposed on our underlying human nature that may have had different strengths to begin with. "How it impacts an individual will also change over time, and peo- ple are more likely to have good and bad days that are more extreme. e Alzheimer's Association has groups for people with memory loss as well as sessions for caregivers. Groups are for people with all types of demen- tia, not just those with Alzheim- er's disease." Sources: University of Maine; Maine Department of Health and Human Services; Alzheimer's Association; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention J. Craig Anderson, a freelance writer, can be reached at editorial @ mainebiz.biz Brain-stimulating activities Some of the more popular dementia-fighting activities recommended for seniors include: • Brain games: Crosswords and sudoku, Scrabble, card games, chess and checkers, board games, puzzles, online video and digital games. • Reading and writing: Daily reading, book clubs, journaling, writing a memoir and handwriting cards and letters. • Arts and crafts: Painting and drawing, sewing and needle- point, woodworking, scrapbooks and albums, holiday crafts, jewelry making and compiling recipes. • Learning new skills: Taking a class, learning a language, photography, new technologies, online lectures and programs and birdwatching. • Music and dancing: Listening to music, singing, learning or playing an instrument, dancing, attending music programs and planning a music session with others. • Exercise: Walking, stretching, yoga and tai chi, chair yoga, online exercise classes, dog walking and gardening.