Alzheimer's and the Great Outdoors

We've been watching Ken Burn's PBS series on America's National Parks and are lucky enough to often visit the nearby Schoodic Section of Acadia National Park.  As the haze of dementia progresses we find that the lessening of outdoor activities decreases our quality of life and wonderment.

On the occassions that get us moving outdoors we realize how beneficial a natural outdoor session can be in promoting positive changes to our physical and emotional well-being.  Exercise, fresh air and the opportunity for informal encounters with the flora and fauna, and other people promote self-esteem and trigger memories.

Whether it's hiking in the Park or working in the garden, the feeling of sun and wind - even fog and rain- is enlivening.

Things to plan for on your outing >>>

• safe walking - paths that are wide, flat, even and slip resisitant
• walking sticks
• choices of sun or shade
• choices of wind or in the lee
• places to sit and rest
• familiar, reassuring companion
• sunscreen
• drinks and snacks
• flexible time frames

So let's get out there and help maintain residual skills.

Sculptures in Stone

I've been volunteering as a docent at the Second Biennial Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium (SISS) located in front of the Rockefeller Building in the Schoodic Section of Acadia National Park. It's been a wonderful opportunity to meet new folks and experience the transformation of local blocks of granite and basalt into monumental works of public art for area towns. Be sure to look at the website. One visitor relayed the words of a cathedral stone cutter who said " The stone is torn from the earth and is born, it dies at the hand of the stone sculptor and is reborn at it's resurrection as a finished work of art".

That's something for you to consider - get out there in your community, find a niche of interest and volunteer your time. Many rewards are to be had.

http://www.schoodicsculpture.org/home.html