March 2014
Applegate House
Grants Pass
Administrator: Sherri Scott,
Assistant Administrator: Stacey Smith, RN: Shari Stading
A Fool’s Errand
April Showers
Brings May
Flowers
Happy Easter
April 20
It is a strange tradition that on April 1 we celebrate the
practice of making others look foolish through tricks and
practical jokes. But April Fools’ Day, or All Fools Day as
it’s sometimes called, is boisterously celebrated
throughout the world as an unofficial holiday.
There is confusion surrounding the origins of April
Fools’ Day. Some believe it sprang from the ancient
Roman festival of Hilaria, which celebrated the arrival
of spring with silly masquerade parties. Another belief
is that it developed out of the medieval celebration
known as the Feast of Fools. On this December
holiday, common folk and young people were allowed
to become popes, archbishops, and bishops for a day.
The social order was turned upside down, and power
was handed over to those who did not have much.
These people took names such as “Lord of Misrule”
and “Pope of Fools.”
But how did two separate celebrations, one in March
and the other in December, turn into the holiday
celebrated on April 1? Some think April Fools’ Day
became official when Pope Gregory XIII established
his new Gregorian calendar in 1582. This new
calendar ordered that New Year’s Day be changed to
January 1. While many adopted this change, some
refused and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day
on April 1. As a result, these traditionalists became
the butt of jokes every April 1.
In France, someone who is tricked is called a poisson
d’avril, or “April fish.” Victims are humiliated by
unknowingly having a paper fish taped to their back.
In the United Kingdom, joking traditionally ceases at
midday, and anyone playing a joke after noon is a
fool themselves. Iranians have been playing pranks
on April 1 since the year 536 BC, which makes Iran's
holiday of Sizdah Bedar the oldest pranking holiday
in the world.
Sundowner's Syndrome
She's still my Mother
She's still my mother, who's standing there,
It's still her face, her eyes. It's her hair.
It's still her body, but it's just the shell,
Of the mother I once knew so well.
She's still my mother, who looks at me,
Then asks the question," who might you be?"
Her memory's fleeting and her gait is weak.
Loved ones long gone are those that she
seeks.
She's still my mother, whose angry words,
Like a sharpened sword, my soul can hurt.
She's still my mother, who shares our home.
This one we dress and whose hair we comb.
She's still my mother...I know it's true.
And so dear God, I turn to you.
Please give me patience, wisdom and love,
Till the day you take her to Heaven above.
Let me return, if even through tears,
The love she gave me through all these years.
Though she may think that I'm her brother,
I'll love her yet...she's still my mother.
© 1997, Jerry Ham
People with dementia may have more behavior
problems in the evening. The frustrations and
sensory stimulation build up throughout the day
and, by "sundown", they are not able to cope as well
with the confusing environment around them. They
may become increasingly confused, agitated, and
anxious and may pace the floor, begin to wander or
show other nervous behaviors.
To help minimize Sundowner's Syndrome, maintain
a structured daily routine. This reduces the anxiety
that decision-making can produce. Scheduled rest
periods should be included in that routine. Try to
keep the daily activities within the person's coping
ability. Surprises, challenges or lots of new
information can be very upsetting. Special
occasions, outings, family visits and other changes
in routine should be explained in advance and
approached gently. It is best to schedule these
events after quiet days. Turn lights on inside the
house well before dusk to lessen disorientation.
Tit-for-Tat
While a handkerchief,
table runner, doily, or
collar made of intricate
knotted lace appears
nearly impossible to
construct, the art of
tatting is easy to learn.
All you need to start
tatting is thread, a
shuttle (a small device that helps guide a silk
thread through loops into knots), and your two
hands. Give it a try on
April 1, International Tatting Day.
Perhaps this decorative art form grew from the
netting and ropework handmade by sailors and
fishermen of olden times. Tatting became
fashionable in the 1800s and enjoyed a surge
in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s.
Technology has usurped the handiwork
required to make tatted lace, making
handmade tatting more appreciated than ever.
April 2014
Meals with Alzheimer’s
Five Baby Bunnies
Five baby bunnies hopping out to play,
Hopping in the forest on happy Easter Day.
The first baby bunny carried his new cane,
He twirled as he came hopping down the lane.
The second baby bunny came to the river's
brink.
Tasted the cool water and took a long, long
drink.
The fourth baby bunny skipped down the shady
lane.
He opened his umbrella just in case of rain.
The fifth baby bunny said, "Look what I see"
Lots and lots of colored eggs hiding near the
tree.
The Alzheimer person may see food on their
plate, yet fail to connect the chain of logic from
hunger to food to feeding to gratification. This is
often the way they perceive the world around
themes well. Because of this loss of
comprehension, the Alzheimer person may sit
and stare at the food and while hungry, may be
unable to put the steps in motion that would
allow him to pick up a fork, place food on the
fork and put the fork to his mouth, chew, and
swallow. If the eating can be initiated, the
remainder of the meal usually can be
accomplished without incident. Many times the
caregiver complains that the patient is being
difficult or just plain obstinate. Not so, he has
just lost the ability to eat normally.
Mealtime can be traumatic for the Alzheimer's
person in the moderate to late stages of the
illness.
"Within the framework of their own personality,
habits and traits, they are bewildered human
beings, bound on all sides by the progressive
limitations of their own body and mind, and this
is not easy."
(Quote from Alzheimer Society of Canada
Report, Spring 1982.)
Postage
Information
Applegate House of Grants Pass
1635 Kellenbeck Ave
Grants Pass, Oregon 97527
. PACIFIC LIVING CENTERS HAS SEVEN LOVING
HOMES FOR THE MEMORY IMPAIRED
Delivering Quality of Care, Enhancing Quality of Life
Northern Oregon Communities:
HARMONY HOUSE OF SALEM
3062 Hyacinth St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
Administrator : Michele Nixon
HAWTHORNE HOUSE OF SALEM
3042 Hyacinth St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
Administrator: Kirshanna Jaramillo
HERITAGE HOUSE OF WOODBURN
943 N. Cascade Dr
Woodburn, OR 97071
Administrator: Shannon Souza
Southern Oregon Communities:
APPLEGATE HOUSE OF GRANTS PASS
1635 Kellenbeck Ave
Grants Pass, OR 97527
Administrator: Sherri Scott
AUTUMN HOUSE OF GRANTS PASS
2268 Williams Hwy
Grants Pass, OR 97527
Administrator: Becky Scriber
ARBOR HOUSE OF GRANTS PASS
820 Gold Court
Grants Pass, OR 97527
Administrator: Shelly Boatman
BARTLETT HOUSE OF MEDFORD
3465 Lone Pine Road
Medford, Or 97597504
Administrator: Dora Howard