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Mentor

Brain Health: Keeping your brain active

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Jul 30, 2020

One of the things I really admired about my wife's mother was her humor and her really sharp wit even at the age of 90+. She lived with us for the last 7 or 8 years while she was alive. It was no secret how she kept her mental sharpness – she loved crossword puzzles and worked on various puzzles during the day. Crossword puzzles could be found laying around the house that she had started but not finished. Woe be to you if you penciled in any answers in one of her crossword puzzles. I occasionally like doing puzzles but they are not on my regular diet. My wife, much like her mother, loves doing crossword puzzles.

I recently ran across a free online lesson on How to Promote Brain Health from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal – How to Promote Brain Health: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/e-learning/how-to-promote-brain-health — Discover six ways you can promote brain health and reduce your risk of developing dementia.

What do you do to keep your brain healthy and active?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

1oldbuck | @1oldbuck | Aug 8, 2020
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hi @lioness, You mentioned The Sound of Poetry on CD. Is this something you purchased or..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hi @lioness, You mentioned The Sound of Poetry on CD. Is this something you purchased or made yourself? Is it a collection of poetry of different types? It sounds like it would be a good CD to use at bedtime😊

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I laughed as I read this. A good CD to use at bedtime. In 2013, I read 23 of my rhymes on a cd and gave them to a friend that is very good with computers. He added photos, clip art, sound affects and music to make a dvd that lasts far longer than one can listen. I've watched it many times and still don't know how it ends. ;o( oldbuck

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Aug 8, 2020
In reply to @1oldbuck "I laughed as I read this. A good CD to use at bedtime. In 2013, I..." + (show)
@1oldbuck

I laughed as I read this. A good CD to use at bedtime. In 2013, I read 23 of my rhymes on a cd and gave them to a friend that is very good with computers. He added photos, clip art, sound affects and music to make a dvd that lasts far longer than one can listen. I've watched it many times and still don't know how it ends. ;o( oldbuck

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@1oldbuck, what a great gift from your friend. And a good idea for a way to make others who are suffering a little happier at the end of the day. Do you know if it has a surprise ending?I probably couldn’t resist going to the finish line.

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

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1oldbuck | @1oldbuck | Aug 9, 2020

The end is probably like the feeling you get as you leave the dentist's office.
"That wasn't as bad as I originally imagined but not anxious to relive the experience." ;o)
The DVD was well done and enjoyable but it's basis was still my silly rhymes. oldbuck

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mariajean03 | @mariajean03 | Dec 3, 2022

I crave face to face contact too. But people are distant due to my mental illness. I'm a wonderful person with OCD and depression. Even my siblings stay away. It's taboo in the Catholic Church. Getting out makes a world of difference!

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imallears | @imallears | Dec 3, 2022

@mariajean03

Hi,

I am not sure what you mean by OCD and depression being taboo in the Catholic Church. There were saints who suffered from OCD and depression among many mental illnesses.
While I think , as a Catholic, the church has not always been the best at counseling or accepting any type of mental illness, it has come a very long way in educating its clergy. Due to the mental health crisis in this country the Catholic church is trying to incorporate its belief system with acceptable treatment. There is even a CatholicPsych Institute in Connecticut…one that I am aware of.
So, no, the issue is not taboo. I have 16 years of Catholic education and have seen first hand at the young age of 81 how much the Church has grown.

I can understand why a lot of people shy away from associating with someone who has OCD and depression. They really don’t understand and even want to bother….depression is difficult to understand. I had a friend with severe depression…highly educated ..great job….sweet and kind …younger than me. She moved to an independent facility because of increasing debility from CP (she was born with it and eventually went on disability). We were friendly…not that close …but I traveled to see her about once a month and helped her with a lot…gladly. I could see she was having bouts of depression. The last time I visited she exhibited Bipolar tendencies and lashed out at me several times during the day. I frankly did not want to be around her anymore and I could see how others reacted to her the last day I was there.

That was my excuse but I found being around her difficult to take. This is just my side of one story and by no means a criticism of you.

FL Mary

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1 reply
mariajean03 | @mariajean03 | Dec 3, 2022
In reply to @imallears "@mariajean03 Hi, I am not sure what you mean by OCD and depression being taboo in..." + (show)
@imallears

@mariajean03

Hi,

I am not sure what you mean by OCD and depression being taboo in the Catholic Church. There were saints who suffered from OCD and depression among many mental illnesses.
While I think , as a Catholic, the church has not always been the best at counseling or accepting any type of mental illness, it has come a very long way in educating its clergy. Due to the mental health crisis in this country the Catholic church is trying to incorporate its belief system with acceptable treatment. There is even a CatholicPsych Institute in Connecticut…one that I am aware of.
So, no, the issue is not taboo. I have 16 years of Catholic education and have seen first hand at the young age of 81 how much the Church has grown.

I can understand why a lot of people shy away from associating with someone who has OCD and depression. They really don’t understand and even want to bother….depression is difficult to understand. I had a friend with severe depression…highly educated ..great job….sweet and kind …younger than me. She moved to an independent facility because of increasing debility from CP (she was born with it and eventually went on disability). We were friendly…not that close …but I traveled to see her about once a month and helped her with a lot…gladly. I could see she was having bouts of depression. The last time I visited she exhibited Bipolar tendencies and lashed out at me several times during the day. I frankly did not want to be around her anymore and I could see how others reacted to her the last day I was there.

That was my excuse but I found being around her difficult to take. This is just my side of one story and by no means a criticism of you.

FL Mary

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Sadly, the Catholic Churches in Iowa are only beginning to accept and understand mental illness. I don't act out, but was abused by my parents since a small child. The neglect never ended. I was a freak in a small town. Thank God for a loving room-mate. Thank you for helping your friend. I'm still looking for a companion. I have severe ulcerative colitis also. Can't eat when I go out. Lots of stuff, but God is always with me thru it all. Wish we could meet! We're both special. Maria.

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1 reply
cgirl0721 | @cgirl0721 | Dec 5, 2022

Crossword Puzzles - my grandmother was an avid puzzler and she read the newspaper from cover to cover daily. Those were the good ole days. Anyway, she was mentally sharp all of her life. She died at 96 and had a long sharp mind.

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1 reply
frenchie333 | @frenchie333 | Dec 6, 2022
In reply to @mariajean03 "I crave face to face contact too. But people are distant due to my mental illness...." + (show)
@mariajean03

I crave face to face contact too. But people are distant due to my mental illness. I'm a wonderful person with OCD and depression. Even my siblings stay away. It's taboo in the Catholic Church. Getting out makes a world of difference!

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Uhhhhh, mariajean03... Not being argumentative but...

No mental illness is taboo in the Catholic Church. Period.

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mikeynorth | @mikeynorth | Jan 2, 2023

I played bass guitar when I was an early teen, in a group. Never really learned it, but had fun.

I decided when I retired to take up the bass more seriously. With assistance of the internet I have started a group of lessons and now play along to approx. 15 songs.

I find the learning a good challenge for the old noggin.

I will never be like my idol, Jack Bruce, but I enjoy pretending. 🙂

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willows | @willows | Jan 3, 2023
In reply to @mariajean03 "Sadly, the Catholic Churches in Iowa are only beginning to accept and understand mental illness. I..." + (show)
@mariajean03

Sadly, the Catholic Churches in Iowa are only beginning to accept and understand mental illness. I don't act out, but was abused by my parents since a small child. The neglect never ended. I was a freak in a small town. Thank God for a loving room-mate. Thank you for helping your friend. I'm still looking for a companion. I have severe ulcerative colitis also. Can't eat when I go out. Lots of stuff, but God is always with me thru it all. Wish we could meet! We're both special. Maria.

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Maria Jean I feel sorry for your experience as an abused person but glad that you still have a positive outlook on life. You are to be congratulated. I know what it is to share living space with a close girlfriend who suffered from severe depression. She pursued every treatment including 30 electro shocks, but after nothing worked she did the unthinkable. She left behind a daughter of 5 and a son of 7. God bless you for your perseverance.

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