Aging and Disability Network of Saratoga County Meeting Minutes 11/14/17

Aging and Disability Meeting Minutes 11/14/17

Present

Mary Rickard (SCOFA), Ardis Armer (SCOFA), Donna Rudzinski (Shenendehowa Village), Jane Kurr Sussman (Saratoga Senior Center),  Beth Baldwin (DSS-APS), Sharon Emerson (CHOICES), Emma Schmitt (SCOFA), Cailin Timmins (Saratoga Hospital), Susanne Bernard (Section 8-Family Self Sufficiency), Karin Droschick (MACC), Ben Nichols (SCOFA), Kym Hance (Herzog Law), Rachael Fragomeni (SCOFA), Patrick Harrington (SCOFA), Karen Laing (Health Literacy for All), Sarah Ryan (MACC), Amy Poness (Saratoga Hospital), Tena Bunnell ( Home Helpers), JoAnn Zales (National Grid)

The next meeting of the Aging & Disability Group will be on December 12^th in Saratoga at the United Methodist Church at 2pm.  This will be a networking meeting.  Please bring your business cards and pamphlets as well as ideas for

speakers for next year.

2018 Meetings: Mark your Calendars

January 9 at St. Edward’s Church in Clifton Park- Mary Moeller, Program Specialist at the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease will provide an overview of the Center (CEAD) to share information about the types of services that are available and will provide a brief training on A-Typical Dementias. This meeting will start at 1 pm!!

February 13 at Malta Community Center- Dr. Michael Prezioso, Director of Saratoga County Mental Health will speak on the services provided by that agency.

March 13 at Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church-Theresa Alger from  Young Living Essential Oils will speak on the benefits of essential oils.

April 10 at St. Edward’s Church in Clifton Park- Jenna Gladfelter from the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol will speak on the background of SMP along with handing out materials with information regarding important information about Medicare.  She will also cover information regarding the new Medicare card.

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Today’s presenter was Lori Randle from The Brain Injury Association of NYS.  Her presentation was Brain Injury 101: Causes, Challenges & Strategies for Supporting Individuals.

Every 13.1 seconds, one person in the United States sustains a TBI and more than 50,000 die every year as a result of a TBI. Brain Injuries are the second most prevalent injury and disability in the US.

The brain controls everything we do. There are two types of brain injuries: 1. acquired brain injury (abi) which is injury to the brain after birth and is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative and 2. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) which is an insult to the brain caused by an external physical force.

Causes of ABI: aneurysm, tumors, stroke, anoxia, strangulation, toxic exposure

Excludes: congenital disorders such as cerebral palsy, progressive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Psychiatric disorders.

How brain damage occurs in a TBI:

Focal damage: skull facture or contusion or bruises under the location of a particular area of impact.

Fronto-Temporal Contusions/Lacerations: bruising of brain or tearing of blood vessels caused by hitting or rotating across ridges inside the skull

Diffuse Axonal Injury: shifting and rotation of brain inside skull will result in tearing and shearing injuries to the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers.

Some common problems after TBI/ABI:

Physical: loss of smell and taste, hearing, visual and balance difficulties, fatigue, seizures, headaches, sleep disturbances and decreased tolerance for drugs and alcohol

Cognitive: short term/working memory, attention, concentration, information processing, problem solving, slowed reaction time

Executive Functioning : goal setting, self-monitoring, planning, initiating, modifying, bringing to completion, time management.

Affective/Behavioral: impulsivity, emotional lability, irritability, decreased frustration tolerance, impaired judgment, tension/anxiety, depression, aggressive behaviors, changed sexual drive, and changed personality.

Psychosocial: educational,/vocational problems, family issues, interpersonal difficulties such as alchohol/drugs, intra-personal difficulties including loss of self-esteem, depression/frustration, shaken sense of self and profound sense of loss.

Working with Brain Injury:

Don’t overestimate: they also have areas and a lack of self-awareness that may not be readily visible.

Understanding the Person:

Use of a neuropsychological evaluation is helpful for determining what strategies will be useful to the person as well as shows how the person learns best.  Important to understand how the evaluation translates into the daily experience of the person.

Strategies:

Monitor for fatigue/pain, present information in slow format, use a multisensory approach, extra time to process and form response, repeat, assess, repeat, assess comprehension, increased supervision without increasing dependency, communication should be clear and concise

Additional considerations:

Be encouraging, focus on strengths (yours and theirs) acknowledge their struggle, use humor, use non-confrontational approach, allow for time to decompress, offer choices, use person centered approach.

Contact Information:

The Brain Injury Association of NYS

4 Pines West Plaza, Suite 402

Albany NY  12205

518-459-7911

518-482-5285 (fax)

1-800-444-6443  Family Help Line