Jigsaw puzzles Stave off ageism

I’m not sure what the proportion of grey hair or hairlessness triggers the attraction of older people to jigsaw puzzles. At a certain point, old people can’t do anything else except weekly BINGO (housie). Set out a puzzle or two and watch clients congregate.

To make life more challenging for elders, senior centers often use only the most beloved puzzles, with a couple of pieces missing.

Jigsaws are an especially valued activity for the senior center itself because if it does get visitors, the visitors will tell others– “They always look so busy up there!” And it keeps them quiet.

But I don’t know why we have to get stuck with the same old-fashioned, simplistic ones that younger people choose. I think Dover Publishing offers 3-D towers and other structures and Brentano’s used to sell them, too.

The 2-D puzzles manufactured by Stave Puzzles are luscious to look at and while simple, are hardly simplistic.

http://www.stavepuzzles.com/

Let’s add them to the wish-list!

http://theelderlies.wordpress.com/2005/07/18/improve-our-community-by-better-serving-the-older-people/

O’Folks, off their rocker Add this to Bookmarks:

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Site Search Tags: BINGO, StavePuzzles.com, puzzles, Bethel

2006 National Adult Day Services Week

2006 National Adult Day Services Week Theme Announced

From Sept. 17-23, NADSA members across the country will “Tell the Story of Caring” through their National Adult Day Services Week celebrations. According to NADSA Board Chair Merle Griff, this year’s ADS week theme “reflects the need to let the public know about the good work our members do both for elders and in their communities.” Members will soon receive a planning guide featuring a poster, tips, tools and activities to promote Adult Day Services Week in their communities.
Start your celebration by collecting completed “My Adult Day Story” from your clients.

http://www.nadsa.org

Senior Services Transportation

The photo is of Bethel’s senior bus. The bus makes rounds on a set schedule, but the schedule is infrequently posted on the bulletin board. The first step is at the level of the person’s knees. Note also the narrow doorway, the grab bars are inside, and the lack of assistance.

…Santa Fe Ride provides around-the-clock, curb-to-curb transportation for residents with disabilities and eligible seniors. It logs 150 to 200 trips a day, Granillo said.

Changes will include a telephone-reservation system and a service that lets customers schedule recurring trips up to two weeks in advance. Also, for the first time, city employees will drive customers between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Previously, the city contracted with Capital City Cab to transport all its clients to grocery stores, the doctor, friends’ houses and elsewhere in the city. The cab service still will transport Santa Fe Ride customers on weekends and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday. …

One-way trips for riders holding an Americans With Disabilities Act card — issued by the city transit division — will still cost $2. Seniors with a “ride card” will continue to pay $5 per one-way trip. “I don’t see Santa Fe Ride fares going up,” Granillo said. The city has nine vans for the program, eight of them with raised roofs and mechanical lifts to accommodate wheelchair-bound customers, she said. The ninth vehicle is a minivan equipped with a ramp but not a mechanical lift. In some cases, Granillo said, seniors prefer the minivan because it is lower to the ground and easier to climb into and out of. If the minivans prove durable enough, the city might buy more, Granillo said….

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/45473.html

Small wheelchair car you drive with a joystick

Who knows if possible in the US, but an interesting idea for metro areas or suburban areas without adequate public transportation and with stupidly designed sidewalks.

Start here to find article–
Friday, June 16, 2006

Small wheelchair car you drive with a joystick
This Hungarian (concept?) car, the Kenguru, is designed as a stylish small vehicle for wheelchair users. You can wheel your chair right into it and drive it with a joystick.”

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/06/16/small_wheelchair_car.html

Incoming links

Word Press blogging host has a “dashboard” or central area to manage one’s entries. Along the side is something called incoming links. Usually, this lists cross-references I made and splogs (those blogs which are mostly slews of links to generate ad income for them).

But here is a gem. I recognize the BlogHer name from http://www.timegoesby.net/

Health & Wellness
What’s hot in health and wellness blogs, led by Denise and mipmup.”http://blogher.org/topic/health-wellness

the BlogHer community’s beta site … is building a guide to women bloggers. In 20+ popular topics, you’ll find lists of blogs by women and [updated blogosphere topical] guides written by our contributing editors.