Knowledge Is Power

Port Angeles Senior Center

Contact Your Legislators

Contact Your City Council for Local Issues

 

Home

PA Senior Center

PA Senior Games

Programs/Activities

Art, Music & Dance

Classes & Discussion Groups

Computer Lab

Cards & Other Games

Health & Fitness

Sports

Support Groups

Trips & Tours

Current Events that Effect Seniors

Knowledge is Power

Olympic Area Agency on Aging

Area Information

City of Port Angeles

Olympic Community Action's Senior Nutrition

Senior Information & Assistance

Internet Search
/WebMail

Google

MSN Hotmail

Olypen

Yahoo!

Other Information

Contact Us

Legislative Contacts

Click on legislators name to visit their website

Washington D.C

Senator Patty Murray
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington
, D.C. 20510

Senator Maria Cantwell
717
Hart Senate Office Building
Washington
, DC 20510

Rep. Norm Dicks
2467 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Olympic
Peninsula Office
332 East 5th Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3207

Washington State

Rep. Kevin Van De Wege
Olympia Office:
316 John L. O’Brien Building

PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600

Rep. Lynn Kessler
Olympia Office:
PO Box 40600
Mod 2 Building, Rm104C
Olympia, WA 98504-0600

Sen. Jim Hargrove
Olympia Office:
330 John A. Cherberg Bldg
PO Box 40424
Olympia, WA 98504-0424

Legislative Hot Line:
1-800-562-6000

Local Issues Contacts

City of Port Angeles

City Council

321 East 5th St.

Port Angeles, WA 98362

(360) 457-0411

Email:council@cityofpa.us

 

Back To Top

 

Click on Titles to see the related ARTICLES
(Most recent articles listed first)

Exercise Improves Learning & Memory

Are You Ready For Anything? Disaster Preparedness

10 Ways to Maintain Your Brain - Alzheimer Assoc. Article

Falls Prevention Checklist

EXERCISE IMPROVES LEARNING & MEMORY

Chalk up another benefit for regular exercise. Investigators from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) have found that voluntary running boosts the growth of new nerve cells & improves learning & memory in adult mice.

“Until recently it was thought that the growth of new neurons, or neurogenesis, did not occur in the adult mammalian brain,” said Terrence Sejnowski, an HHMI investigator at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies. “But we now have evidence for it, & it appears that exercise helps this happen.”

“These observations support the idea that exercise enhances the formation & survival of new nerve cells as well as the connections between nerve cells, which in turn improves long-term memory.”

In future experiments, Sejnowski & his colleagues will follow individual mice to see whether longer running times generate more new nerve cells & stronger long-term potentiation. They will also explore if other factors, such as hormones released by exercise, influence memory & nerve cell growth.  “We still don’t have the causal link between exercise & neurogenesis,” said Sejnowski.

Source: http://www.hhmi.org/news/sejnowski.html

ARE YOU READY FOR ANYTHING?

The following is information provided by Olympic Area Agency on Aging, National Family Caregiver Support Program. Make sure you have enough supplies for 7 days. Keep medical information with medications and carry it with you.  Have extra cash put aside in your kit along with other important information, like insurance policies, Wills, and phone numbers for out of state relatives. Your kit should have the following:

1.       20 gallons of water (or the equivalent in bottled water) a quart of bleach (the bleach can be used to purify water: - a cap full for a five gallon bucket - let it stand for an hour before use).

2.       Dry packaged and small canned foods for 7 days, with a manual can opener, and small pots for cooking over a campfire or outdoor grill.

3.       Paper products, plates, towels, napkins, toilet paper, and plastic eating utensils, garbage bags (five and ten-gallon sizes) with two five gallon buckets.  Use one five gallon garbage bag with one five-gallon bucket for a port-a-potty.

4.       Clothing:  Having a mix of clothing is good, summer and winter, (do not forget the underwear!) along with bedding (sleeping bags are good), two pair of sturdy shoes, (if you need a walker bring it, too, or wheelchair) two tarps (which can be used for shelter), extra personal grooming supplies and most important, your medications and eye glasses.

5.       If you have pets, put aside food and additional water for them.  If they need medication set that aside as well.  Put the items in an animal crate (if applicable) with a leash.

6.       Have a battery operated radio, flashlight (two extra batteries), first aid kit (one for pets), candles and matches.

7.       Bring your humor with you - without it life would be tough.

Back To Top

10 ways to MAINTAIN YOUR BRAINTM

The Alzheimer’s Association has launched a Maintain Your BrainTM program. These are brain healthy life choices people can make now that foster awareness of the rapid progress in research and to offer hope to prevent and possibly cure Alzheimer’s disease.

Head first

Good health starts with your brain so pay attention to your brain health. It’s one of the most important body organs and needs care and maintenance.

Take brain health to heart

Do something every day to reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke-all of which can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s.

Your numbers count

Keep your body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels within recommended ranges.

Feed your brain

Eat less fat and more vegetables, especially leafy greens and those rich in antioxidants.

Work your body

Physical exercise keeps the blood flowing and may encourage new brain cells.  It doesn’t have to be a strenuous activity. Do what you can - like walking 30 minutes a day - to keep both body and mind active.

Jog your mind

Keeping your brain active and engaged increases its vitality and builds reserves of brain cells and connections. Read, write, play games, learn new things, do crossword puzzles.

Connect with others

Leisure activities that combine physical, mental and social elements may be most likely to prevent dementia. Be social, converse, volunteer, join a club or take a class.

Heads up! Protect your brain

Take precautions against injuries. Use your car seat belts, unclutter your house to avoid falls, and wear a helmet when in-line skating.

Use your head

Avoid unhealthy habits. Don’t smoke, drink excessive alcohol or use street drugs.

Think ahead-start today!

You can do something today to protect your tomorrow.

Reprinted from Alzheimer’s Association Winter 2005 State Chapter Newsletter

Back To Top

Falls Prevention Checklist

·         Wear well-fitting, securely tied shoes.

·         Install hand rails and grab bars in the bathtub and near stairs.

·         Use a walker or cane if prescribed by your doctor.

·         Install rubber treads in your bathtub for added safety.

·         Remove clutter, throw rugs, extension cords and other items that can cause falls.

·         Drink alcohol moderately if at all; drinking alcohol increases the chance of a fall.

·         Exercise!  Even moderate exercise can improve strength and balance.

·         Make sure you have good lighting in rooms, hallways and outside.

·         Avoid climbing up ladders, step stools or chairs to reach things if at all possible.

·         Know your medication--some medicines can cause loss of balance.

·         Be careful walking on uneven surfaces.

·         Have your vision checked and corrected if needed--this can prevent falls.

·         Know where your pets are before you step...tripping over pets is fairly common.

·         Be careful when you walk outside.  Ice, snow and rain can cause slippery walking conditions.

·         If you are prone to falls, always wear an electronic monitoring device in order to summon assistance immediately.

·         Rest if needed.  Don’t force yourself to walk long distances or when you are tired or distracted

·         Take the elevator instead of the escalator or stairs.

·         Clean up spilled water on the floor or spilled oil in the garage immediately to prevent slipping and falling.

Back To Top