Innovations in Aging Collaborative
Striving to become an Age-Friendly Community where individuals of any age feel valued, respected, and supported by their community.
By joining the Goat Patch Tribe on a Bleating Heart Night, every
pint you purchase between 5pm – 9pm will result in a $1 donation to the featured non-profit.
On Tuesday, July 30th, Goat Patch Brewing Company will be hosting Innovations in Aging Collaborative.
On March 27th, Innovations in Aging Collaborative joined Dementia Friendly America in their efforts to make America a safer place for people with Dementia. Colorado Springs is now considered a Dementia Friendly city and IIAC is working hard to improve our city for those experiencing dementia. In society there is often a cloud of confusion and myth surrounding Dementia. To become more Dementia Friendly, it’s important we educate ourselves and our community about Dementia. To do this, we need to define what dementia is and debunk some of the common myths about it.
Dementia is defined by the Mayo Clinic as, “a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life. It isn’t a specific disease, but several different diseases may cause dementia”.
Myth: Dementia is the same thing as Alzheimer’s Disease.
This is false. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is caused by plaques which are buildups of protein, and tangles which are tangled bundles of protein in the brain. These plaques and tangles can cause memory loss which contributes to dementia.
Myth: Dementia is a normal part of aging
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Many older adults will experience some minor memory issues such as temporarily forgetting an event or the name of an acquaintance but eventually recalling it. Persons experiencing Dementia on the other hand may not remember the name of a relative or what season it is. Some memory loss is normal for aging adults, but when it interferes with their quality of life or ability to function it could be considered Dementia.
Myth: Only seniors can experience Dementia
Early onset dementia affects people under 65 years old. 5% of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease experience early onset. Although it is a small percent, it is a significant group of people that are experiencing symptoms of dementia as early as their late thirties.
Myth: If your parent has dementia, you will have Dementia
There are different types of Dementia and the majority of them are not hereditary and will not be passed down to children or grandchildren.
Myth: You cannot do anything to prevent getting Dementia
This is false, there are multiple lifestyle changes that can aid in keeping you healthy later in life. Through research and clinical trials, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found three practices that can prolong Dementia: Increased physical activity, blood pressure management for those with hypertension, and cognitive training.
Myth: People with Dementia need to be treated like children
This is an especially harmful myth. There is a phenomenon called ‘elderspeak’, which is a term used to describe how younger people talk to elders. Elderspeak often has a high-pitched tone and the use of words like ‘sweetie’ and ‘honey’. Elderspeak can make seniors feel disrespected and degraded. Studies have shown that elderspeak is correlated with an increase of challenging behaviors such as refusing care.
These myths are commonly held to be true in our community. As we learn more about Dementia it is important that we all do our part to educate each other. The more we know, the more we can support those living with dementia and their caretakers.
To learn more about Dementia and Dementia Friendly America visit these resources:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
https://www.dfamerica.org/
Walk to End Alzheimers’ 3rd Annual Walk Karaoke Kick-off is next Thursday July 18. It’s their way of officially kicking off Walk Season with 10 weeks to go before the Walk! Inviting Returning Teams, New Teams and people that need to learn more about why we Walk! RSVP to Kelly @ 719-372-5979 by July 15!
Southeast Colorado Springs Seniors and Community Members of all ages are invited to the Active Living Program Open House! Please join us on Thursday, July 18th from 11:00am – 3:00pm to find out more about Silver Key’s “new and innovative ways for people to engage at every age”. There will be lunch and activities.
Innovations in Aging Collaborative is excited to release the results of research conducted by Elevated Insights and funded by the NextFifty Initiative. Come learn about the needs, awareness, and satisfaction of older adults and caregivers in Colorado Springs and how we are using these findings to make Colorado Springs more Age Friendly.
This is a free event and RSVPs are not required.
In a 2018 survey conducted by Elevated Insights, 94% of older residents (60+) said they are likely or very likely to remain in El Paso County throughout retirement. As our older population increases and decides to stay in Colorado Springs, we must find creative and resourceful options to fulfill their demand to age in place. A person can age in place and in community, when their housing options and community accommodate possible changes in ability, mobility, or physical and/or mental health.
Above all, we need to make our city more age friendly and accommodate people of all ages. Anti-ageism activist, Ashton Applewhite, notes that “although they make up only 35 percent of the population, people over 50 contribute 43 percent of the total US GDP — a cool $7.4 trillion.” Colorado Springs is well positioned to entice our residents to stay into retirement, but we need to encourage innovative options for aging in place. One option that increases housing density and encourages aging in place is Accessory Dwelling Units.
An Accessory Dwelling Unit or an ADU is a secondary apartment on a residential lot or within the main home. ADUs are often referred to as mother-in-law suites, granny flats, guest houses, etc. They are beneficial because they increase housing density in an unobtrusive manner. The height and size regulations, already required by the city mean an ADU will blend in with the existing house and neighborhood. Additionally, expanding the code to allow ADUs in single-family zones will increase and diversify the housing stock. These new, smaller units will ease the need for affordable housing and give people greater variety in their housing options.
Accessory Dwelling Units advance aging in place because they encourage multi-generational living, offer a convenient option for downsizing, and create an alternative source of revenue. ADUs are often termed mother-in-law suites and granny flats because they allow different generations of the family to live in the same lot with privacy. Beyond encouraging intergenerational interaction, ADUs allow people to age in place because of the revenue they can generate. Because many older adults are on a fixed-income, renting out an ADU or the main house provide them financial stability to age in place. Finally, detached ADUs are a great option for aging in place because many have a zero-step entry. As home owners are building ADUs, they have the flexibility to construct the unit with ADA accessibility and Universal Design standards in mind. Universal Design accommodates ADA regulations and encourages other modifications that allow easy mobility throughout a home.
The City Planning Commission will present City Council a proposal on expanding ADUs in Spring 2019. ADUs are currently allowed in two-family and multi-family zones. This proposal would allow ADUs in single-family zone districts and reduce the challenges many homeowners face when trying to build an ADU. Click here to learn more about the proposed ordinance and how you can voice your opinion.