December 2019

The Carlton TimesLove Honor Provide

H A P P Y

SYH O L I D A

2770 Pleasant Hill Rd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 925.935.1660 License# 071440541 www.carltonseniorliving.com

Get up, get out, and get happy. Experts say that even if you have to fake it, you'll soon be merry -- or at leasta little happier. People can have a good reasons to be wistful or even blue during the holiday season. Familymembers may not be near or physical conditions can limit activities which can certainly lead to seasonaldepression.

Isn’t it strange that just when we can't remember the current date, memories from 30 years ago are accessiblein every detail. It's great to remember , but to be happy today we need to stay in the present.According to happiness guru Gretchen Rubin, the key is to actively plan for holidays and make new memories.Here are some ideas:

▪ Plan to attend a community event with a friend or neighbor▪ Surprise someone you know with a thoughtful gift▪ Volunteer to help with a community project▪ Talk to someone who may be feeling the same way

The bottom line: Making a plan outside of your home, even if it’s simply to check in with a friend each weekwhile the holidays approach, can help you beat the holiday blues. Don’t be afraid to ask others about theirplans; people often love to share holidays. More importantly, don’t compare this year to happier times fromthe past and or the holiday you imagined it would be.

Create something for yourself and enjoy it, whether it be decorating your home, planning a holiday moviemarathon or dinner with a friend. It’s important to be grateful for the holiday you make for yourself.

HealthCorner

Tucked into our brains are the mysterious channels of memory: The kind thatfinds keys, remembers the route across country and knows how to ride a bike. Allof these kinds of "remembering" represent special kinds of memory, one of whichis called "procedural memory." According to Rebecca Rupp, author of Committedto Memory (Crown, 1998), procedural memory is a process of knowing how.

It is procedural memory that lets us, after many years, swim or type withoutthinking about the keys. Some say it is procedural memory that makes experts and geniuses, morethan genetics, more than brain power, more than special gifts. In fact, if you have 10 years andcomplete dedication, no matter what age, procedural memory can probably make you an expert atsomething, or get you very close to it.

Practice can compensate for age-related declines in motor abilities and general reaction time,according to a study at the University of Potsdam in Germany. The study showed that olderdedicated professional musicians, those who practiced consistently and constantly, performedequally as well as their younger peers. Researcher Michael Howe, writing in New Scientist, arguesthat ordinary people can be brilliant if given sufficient practice to build up procedural memory.

One example is a group of 18th-century orphans taught the violin by Italian composer AntonioVivaldi. The children came from impoverished backgrounds of extreme deprivation and sorrowbefore being taken into a church-run orphanage. Nonetheless, after years of instruction by thefamous composer, a stunning 30 percent of the orphaned girls developed prodigious musical abilities-- a far higher percentage of musical prodigies than would be found in the average population ofgirls. Practice, it seems, really does make perfect.

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December Theme Days

12/5 Candy Cane Theme • Celebrating the Season“Candy Cane Lane” Happy Hour

Wear Red & White

12/12 Holiday Sweater Theme • Ugly Christmas Sweater Day“Sweater Weather” Happy HourWear A Festive Holiday Sweater

12/19 Hawaiian Christmas Theme • Welcoming Winter“Aloha, Christmas” Happy Hour

Wear Hawaiian Print

12/25 Merry Christmas • Wear Red & Green

12/26 Hanukkah Theme • Celebrating Hanukkah“Festival of Lights” Happy Hour

Wear Blue

12/31 End of Year Celebration • New Year’s Eve“Ring in the New Year” Happy Hour

Wear Black, Gold and Silver

December Outings12/2 Cache Creek Casino Outing

12/4 Trader Joe’s Shopping Shuttle

12/4 Toys for Tots Walmart Shopping Shuttle

12/8 In-N-Out Lunch Outing

12/11 China Gourmet Dinner Outing

12/16 Lafayette - Moraga Scenic Drive

12/18 Christmas Lights Drive

12/22 The Nutcracker Ballet at El Campanil Theatre

12/29 Benihana Lunch Outing

12/30 Alamo - Danville Scenic Drive

Make Your Opinion Count!

Hillside and CreeksideResidents’ Activity &

Food Meeting

Community Meetings

Tuesday, December 3rd

2:00 p.m. Hillside LR

Hillside and CreeksideResident Council Meeting

Attend the communitymeetings and make yourvoice heard. Notes fromprevious meetings are

available at the Hillside FrontDesk so you can stay up-to-date on what’s happeningthroughout the community.

Wed., December 11th

2:45 p.m. HS LR

*Held twice in HS andthen once in CS

Residents’ Birthdays for December

Musical PerformancesHappy HourHymn Sing

Songs From The Heart ChorusTuesday Performances

Physical Activity

Balance FitnessBalloon VolleyballGentle Exercise

Live 2 B Healthy FitnessMorning or Afternoon WalksStretch & Balance (Yoga)

Wii BowlingZumba Fitness

Brain Fitness

“A New Life” Discussion GroupCurrent Event Discussions

Dakim Brain FitnessElder Wisdom Discussion Group

Group CrosswordsBrain Games & Word Games

Trivia

Location KeyActivity Locations

Each activity on thecalendar is marked with

either HS (Hillside) or CS(Creekside). Below are

abbreviations for the roomin which to meet for that

activity:

DR = Dining RoomLIB = Library

LR = Living RoomPER = Personal

Expressions RoomPvt DR = Private Dining

RoomSR = Sun Room

Carlton’s Monthly SafetyStar Award Winners

Please join us in congratu-lating our winners for last

month. Thank you forhelping to keep our

community safe!

Marcos & ShelbyNovember’s Safety Stars

Cathy Bentley - Dec 20th

Richard Young - Dec 21st

Bob Ferm - Dec 22nd

Mildred Bittner - Dec 23rd

Anne Willmer - Dec 28th

John Harrell - Dec 30th

Jean Weber - Dec 1st

Delores Center - Dec 2nd

Bill Rainford - Dec 5th

Sandra Shinault - Dec 5th

Rene Fox - Dec 6th

Audrey Haney - Dec 6th

Donna Love - Dec 10th

Marjorie Bigot - Dec 11th

Angela Gonzales - Dec 16th

Jennie Uzialko - Dec 16th

Barbara Ralls - Dec 17th

Sunday, December 18:45 Church Shuttles9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)10:00 - 2:00 Shop the Holiday Bazaar (HS LR)10:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)11:00 Play Pictionary with York Peppermint Patties (CS PER)3:00 Afternoon Stretch (HS LR)3:00 Parkinson’s Support Group (CS LR)3:30 Bingo (CS PER)6:30 Hymn Sing: Jack Martens (HS LR)

Carlton Pleasant Hill’s Annual

Holiday Bazaar

Shop for handmade crafts, gifts, jewelryand more. This year’s event will feature

vendors local to the PleasantHill/Martinez area.

Sunday, December 1st

10 AM - 2 PMHillside Living Room

The more, the merrier so invite yourfriends and family to shop the bazaar.

Podiatry Visit with Dr. Spurs, DPM

Monday, December 9th

Hillside Salon

Appointments start at 1:30 PM for HillsideResidents and 3:45 PM Creekside Residents.Please sign up in advance to reserve a slot.

Please bring your Medicare Card or Cash.

Purchase a gift wrapped copy of theThird Edition of Carlton’s Cookbook For a

Cure at the “Aloha, Christmas” Happy Hour onThursday, December 19th and don’t forget to

wear Hawaiian print!

Tree Trimming PartyHelp trim our Christmas tree while lis-tening to festive holiday tunes and bring

your gifts to be wrapped.

Sunday, December 8th

9:30 AM • Creekside Living Room10:30 AM • Hillside Living Room

Mingle & Be MerryTree Lighting CelebrationInvite your friends and family to join us

for live music with Mark Shaw, tastyholiday treats and a good old fashioned

holiday sing-along as we light ourgrand Christmas tree.

Sunday, December 8th • 2:00 PMHillside Living Room

Monday, December 2 Friday, December 69:00 Cache Creek Casino Outing9:00 Morning Stretch (HS LR)10:30 Play Bounce Off (HS LR)1:00 Afternoon Stretch (CS LR)2:00 Watch “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (HS LR)2:15 POKENO (CS PER)3:30 Daisy Girl Scout Troop #31033 Carolers (CS LR)4:00 Daisy Girl Scout Troop #31033 Carolers (HS LR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Balance Fitness with Jo (HS LR)9:30 Watch “The Lion in Winter” (CS LR)10:00 Wii Bowling (HS LR)11:00 Open Piano Hour (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)2:30 Bingo (HS PER)3:00 Any Wednesday Trio (CS LR)3:30 Any Wednesday Trio (HS LR)

Tuesday, December 3 Saturday, December 79:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)10:15 Wii Bowling (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)1:45 Group Crossword (CS PER)2:00 Activity & Food Meeting (HS LR)3:30 Welcome Committee Meeting (HS LR)6:00 Paul Fontes Performs (CS LR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)10:00 Podiatry Visit for HS (HS Apartments)10:00 Play Bounce Off (CS PER)11:00 Balloon Volleyball (HS LR)1:45 Knitting Group Resident Led (HS SR)2:00 Watch “Vertical Limit” (CS LR)2:30 Bingo (HS PER)4:00 Brain Games (CS PER)

Wednesday, December 4 Sunday, December 89:00 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (CS LR)9:30 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (HS LR)10:00 Trader Joe’s Shopping Shuttle10:00 Piano Performance by David Blau (HS LR)11:00 Blood Pressure Clinic (HS LR)11:00 Brain Games with Hot Cocoa (CS LR)2:00 Toys for Tots Walmart Shopping Shuttle2:00 Bingo (CS PER)3:30 Armchair Theater presents: A Christmas Carol: Act One (HS LR)

8:45 Church Shuttles9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)9:30 Tree Trimming Party (CS LR)10:30 Tree Trimming Party (HS LR)11:45 In-N-Out Lunch Outing1:00 Group Crossword (CS PER)2:00 Tree Lighting Celebration with Mark Shaw (HS LR)3:30 Bingo (CS PER)6:30 Hymn Sing: Jack Martens (HS LR)

Thursday, December 59:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)11:00 Play Sequence (HS LR)1:00 Word Games (CS LR)2:00 POKENO (HS PER)3:30 “Candy Cane Lane” Happy Hour with Jack and Tom Lucia (HS LR)

White Elephant Gift Exchange Party

Wednesday, December 11th • 10:30 amHillside Living Room

Everyone that would like to participate mustbring a wrapped gift of ten dollars in value.

• • •Re-gifting is strongly encouraged.

The more outrageous the gift, the better!

Monday, December 9 Friday, December 139:15 Morning Stretch (HS LR)11:00 Trivia (CS PER)1:00 Afternoon Stretch (CS LR)1:30 Podiatry Visit for HS (HS Salon)1:45 Watch “Winter’s End” (HS LR)2:00 POKENO (CS PER)3:30 Volunteer Craft with Haley (HS LR)3:45 Podiatry Visit for CS (HS Salon)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Zumba Fitness with Jo (HS LR)10:00 Wii Bowling (HS LR)10:00 Watch “The Price is Right” (CS LR)11:00 Bring Your Gifts to Be Wrapped (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)1:45 Watch “Jakob the Liar” (CS LR)2:30 Bingo (HS PER)4:00 Word Games (HS LR)

Tuesday, December 10 Saturday, December 149:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)10:15 Wii Bowling (HS LR)1:00 Graham Cracker House Craft (CS LR)1:45 Songs from the Heart (HS LR)3:00 Monthly Discussion Group (HS LR)6:00 Jack Martens Performs (CS LR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)10:15 Walker Wipe Down with Carlos (HS LR)11:00 Trivia (CS PER)1:45 Knitting Group Resident Led (HS SR)2:00 Watch “All Mine to Give” (CS LR)2:30 Bingo with Janine (HS PER)4:00 Play Dominoes (CS PER)6:00 Stars 2000 Carolers (HS LR)

Wednesday, December 11 Sunday, December 159:00 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (CS LR)9:30 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (HS LR)10:30 White Elephant Gift Exchange Party (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)2:00 Brain Games (HS LR)2:45 Resident Council Meeting (HS LR)3:30 Bingo (CS PER)4:30 China Gourmet Dinner Outing

8:45 Church Shuttles9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)11:00 Play Pictionary (CS LR)2:00 A New Life Discussion Group (HS LR)3:00 Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life" (HS LR)3:00 Bingo (CS PER)4:00 Carolers from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (CS LR)4:30 Carolers from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (HS LR)

Thursday, December 129:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)11:00 Play Sequence (HS LR)1:00 Bring Your Gifts to Be Wrapped (CS PER)2:00 POKENO (HS PER)3:30 “Sweater Weather” Happy Hour with Todd Netland (CS LR)4:30 Dakim Brain Fitness (HS LIB)

CSL Pleasant Hill Resident Council

Esther Pezzola, PresidentDonna Love, Vice President

Attend the Resident Council Meeting onWednesday, December 11 at 2:45 pm in

the Hillside Living Room.

Monday, December 16 Friday, December 209:15 Morning Stretch (HS LR)10:00 Lafayette - Moraga Scenic Dive10:30 Kings in the Corner Resident Led (CS LR)11:00 Play Picture Caption Game with Hershey’s Kisses (HS LR)1:00 Afternoon Stretch (CS LR)1:30 Watch “Christmas Vacation” (CS LR)2:00 POKENO (CS LR)3:00 Armchair Theater presents: A Christmas Carol: Act Two (HS LR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Balance Fitness with Jo (HS LR)10:00 Wii Bowling (HS LR)10:00 Watch “The Price is Right” (CS LR)1:00 Bring Your Gifts to Be Wrapped (CS PER)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)1:45 Watch “The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular” (CS LR)2:00 Trivia with Jon McCraw (HS LR)3:00 Bingo (HS PER)

Tuesday, December 17 Saturday, December 21 First Day of Winter9:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)10:15 Wii Bowling (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)1:45 Songs from the Heart (CS LR)3:00 Housewarming (HS LR)4:30 Dakim Brain Fitness (HS LIB)6:00 Buck Shot and Friends Perform (CS LR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Watch “The Nutcracker” (CS LR)11:00 Word Games with Gingerbread (CS PER)1:45 Knitting Group Resident Led (HS SR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)2:00 Balloon Volleyball (HS LR)3:00 Bingo (HS PER)4:15 Brain Games (HS LR)

Wednesday, December 18 Sunday, December 22 • Hanukkah Begins9:00 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (CS LR)9:30 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (HS LR)10:00 Piano Performance by David Blau (HS LR)10:30 Blood Pressure Clinic (CS LR)11:00 Play Cribbage (HS SR)2:00 Girl Scout Troop #30203 Carolers (CS LR)2:30 Girl Scout Troop #30203 Carolers (HS LR)2:30 High Stakes Bingo (CS LR)3:45 Town Hall Meeting w/Management (HS LR)5:00 Christmas Lights Drive Outing

8:45 Church Shuttles9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)11:00 The Nutcracker Ballet at El Campanil Theatre11:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)2:30 Group Crossword (HS LR)3:00 Watch “The Women’s Balcony" (HS LR)3:00 Bingo (CS PER)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)6:30 Hymn Sing: Jack Martens (HS LR)

Thursday, December 199:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)10:00 Kings in the Corner Resident Led (CS PER)11:00 Play Sequence (HS LR)1:00 Brain Games (CS PER)2:00 POKENO (HS PER)3:30 “Aloha, Christmas” Happy Hour with Ed Davin (HS LR)

Town Hall Meetingwith Carlton Pleasant Hill

Management• • • • • •

Wednesday, December 18th

3:45 pm • Hillside Living Room

Monday, December 23 Friday, December 279:00 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (CS LR)9:30 Stretch & Balance with Sherry (HS LR)11:00 Play Apples to Apples (HS LR)2:00 Watch “The Best of the Andy Williams’ Christmas Shows” (HS LR)2:15 POKENO (CS LR)3:30 Trivia (CS LR)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)10:00 Wii Bowling (HS LR)10:00 Watch “The Price is Right” (CS LR)11:00 Open Piano Hour (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)1:45 Watch “A Christmas Carol” (CS LR)3:00 Bingo (HS PER)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)

Tuesday, December 24 Saturday, December 289:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)10:15 Wii Bowling (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)1:45 Songs from the Heart (HS LR)3:00 Graham Cracker House Craft (HS PER)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)6:00 Melody Makers Performs (CS LR)

9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)10:30 Brain Games (CS LR)1:45 Knitting Group Resident Led (HS SR)2:00 Watch “When Harry Met Sally” (CS LR)2:30 Bingo (HS PER)4:00 Bean Bag Baseball with Fudge (HS LR)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)

Wed., December 25 Merry Christmas! Sunday, December 299:00 Morning Stretch (HS LR)9:30 Play Pictionary (HS LR)10:00 Watch “The Holiday” (CS LR)1:00 Afternoon Stretch Stretch (CS LR)1:30 Group Crossword (CS LR)1:30 Watch “White Christmas” (CS LR)2:00 Watch “Miracle on 34th Street” (HS LR)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)

8:45 Church Shuttles9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)11:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)12:00 Benihana Lunch Outing2:00 Group Crossword (HS LR)3:00 Watch “Santa Clause" (HS LR)3:00 Bingo (CS PER)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)6:30 Hymn Sing: Jack Martens (HS LR)

Thursday, December 269:15 Live 2 B Healthy Fitness Class (HS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (CS LR)11:00 Play Sequence (HS LR)1:00 Brain Games (CS PER)2:00 POKENO (HS PER)3:30 “Festival of Lights” Happy Hour with Rhonda Kenney (CS LR)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)

Please join us as we celebrateHanukkah by lighting the

Menorah• • • • • • • •

Hillside Private Dining Roomstarting at 4:30 pm

December 22nd through 30th

Monday, December 30 • Hanukkah Ends9:15 Morning Stretch (HS LR)10:00 Alamo - Danville Scenic Drive11:00 Play Dreidel (CS LR)1:00 Afternoon Stretch (CS LR)2:00 Watch “Santa Clause 2” (HS LR)2:15 POKENO (CS LR)4:00 Trivia (HS LR)4:30 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting (HS Pvt DR)

Tuesday, December 31 New Year’s Eve9:00 Morning Stretch (CS LR)9:30 Doctor Shuttles9:30 Morning Stretch (HS LR)10:15 Wii Bowling (HS LR)1:00 Balloon Volleyball (CS LR)2:00 “Ring in the New Year” Happy Hour with Jack Martens (HS LR)6:00 Erin Plus One Performs (CS LR)

Please congratulateCarlton Senior Living Pleasant Hill’s

winners!

“Best of the Best” award nominationforms are available at the Front Desk.

Happy Hour

12/5 Jack Martens & Tom Lucia

12/8 Mark Shaw

12/12 Todd Netland

12/19 Ed Davin

12/26 Rhonda Kenney

12/31 Jack Martens

Hymn Sing12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22

& 12/29 Jack Martens

Songs From The Heart

12/10, 12/17 & 12/24 Jack & Rose

Tuesday Performances

12/3 Paul Fontes

12/10 Jack Martens

12/17 Buck Shot & Friends

12/24 Melody Makers

12/31 Erin Plus 1

Guest Performances12/2 Daisy Girl Scout #31033 Carolers

12/4 & 12/18 David Blau12/7 Any Wednesday Quartet

12/14 Stars 2000 Carolers12/15 Carolers from St. Mark’s Lutheran

Church

12/18 Girl Scout #30203 Carolers

Sommart SriprasertThird Quarter Winner

Yvonne GarzaDecember Winner

Staff BirthdaysCollin Bruce - December 1st

Kathe Villa Navarro - December 7th

Marivi Qually - December 9th

Cristina Villarama - December 14th

Haley Friel - December 14th

Sommart Sriprasert - December 17th

Artemia Kaipat - December 24th

Azizur Khan - December 31st

Armchair Theater presents

Read a part or simply come and listento Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic.

eAct OnefWednesday, December 4th

3:30 PM • Hillside Living Room

eAct TwofMonday, December 16th

3:00 PM • Hillside Living Room

Help make the holidays morememorable for a child in need

by depositing a new, un-wrapped toy in one of the col-

lection barrels in the lobby.The toy drive ends December

15th and gifts for babiesthrough teens are needed.

Need to buy a gift?Purchase a gift during our

Toys for Tots Walmart Shop-ping Shuttle on Wednesday,

December 4th.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to ride in a horsedrawn carriage, view the lay of the land from a hot

air balloon, or take a sunset cruise on the bay.We’d love to hear what you’re wishing for in the

new year. Simply complete the section below andplace it in the ‘Wish Box’ at the HS Front Desk and

your wish may just come true!

My name is

_______________________ and in the

new year I wish…

Church ShuttleSundays from 8:45 am - 12:00 pm

We provide transportation to services at Christ the King Church, Faith Lutheran, FirstChristian, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian and Unity of Walnut Creek.

To reserve your place on the shuttles,please sign up on the sign up sheet table.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

Doctor ShuttleTuesdays & Thursdays / Appointment Times: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

We provide transportation on both Doctor Shuttle days to the following locations;Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Rossmoor & Walnut Creek. The shuttle

begins transportation at 8:30 am and returns to the community by 4:30 pm. Transpor-tation on the Doctor shuttle must be requested at least 48 hours (2 days) in ad-vance. Transportation is subject to availability for appointments scheduled less than48 hours in advanced. Please provide the Front Desk with the following information:

• Appointment time • Doctor’s name • Doctor’s exact address• Doctor’s phone number • If an escort is needed

Appointments outside of the locations above and/or outside of the 9:00 am to 2:00 pmwindow will be accommodated if possible. These appointments have a service chargeof $15.00 per half hour of driving time (one half hour minimum, and $7.50 per quarterhour thereafter. If an escort is required, please complete a Valet Transportation

form which is available at the Front Desk.

Concierge Shuttle7 Days a week 9:45 am - 3:00 pm

The Concierge Shuttle offers transportation services 7-days a week to anywherewithin a 5-mile radius of the community. Check-in with the Front Desk or with a

member of the Personal Expressions team for service options.

Full-service is available Tuesday through Saturday with shuttle service available onSunday and Monday depending on scheduled activities and outings. This service is

available in addition to our regularly scheduled outings and shuttle services.

Please show a warm welcome to ournew residents:

Blanche Perry Jerry Simpson

Sally Guimbarda Suzzane Flatley

Victor Remorini

Meet your new neighbors as well as theirfamily and friends at our monthly House-

warming party.Tuesday, December 17th at 3:00 pm

Hillside Living Room

Carlton Senior Living Pleasant Hill

Jon McCrawExecutive Director

Terry BarrettAssociate Director

Jon PlatzChef

Janine SmithDining Room Manager

Sandra BowmanDirector of Resident

Services

Elvie JohnsonPersonal Care

Manager

Maricella CamposMed Room Supervisor

Haley WatsonResident Liaison

Rhodesia WrightAssociate Retirement

Counselor

Patrick ColemanPersonal Expressions

Manager

Mary GrafiloRetirement Counselor

Carlos CarrenoPlant Operations

Manager

Another pill bites the dust -or what they’re now saying about NSAIDs.

For the past 20 years, there’s been a common belief that braininflammation contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Therefore, it has been suggested that anti-inflammatoriessuch as NSAIDs could provide help keeping people

struggling with dementia from developing Alzheimer’s.Recent clinical trials with anti-inflammatories have

shown otherwise. And a new study published in ActaNeuropathologica may offer a glimpse as to why.

Researches with the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida, incollaboration with the University of Frankfurt, Germany, have shown that

inflammation of microglia (a type of brain cell) is not associated with dementia. Toshort-hand this complicated study: microglia are a type of glial cell that outnumber

neurons 10 to 1. They were thought to have been “activated” or inflamed byprotein clumps called beta amyloid - a potential cause of Alzheimer’s. Once

“activated” these microglia were believed to worsen the situation.

However, this study suggests that microglia are not activated by the beta amyloid.In addition, no evidence was found that inflammation is at all to blame for brain cell

death. According to Mark A. Smith, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Alzheimer’sDisease, “This paper potentially represents a paradigm shift in the way we look at

Alzheimer’s disease.”

So, while a pharmacological cure isn’t at hand, and wedon’t have the time to wait for it, there is much we can

do to reduce the risk for developing dementia andimproving our quality of life. We can all adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle - including controlling blood pressure,

cholesterol and diabetes while eating a health diet andgetting moderate cardiovascular exercise every day.

We should also give ourselves a rigorous brain fitness workout five days a week. Ofcourse, remaining socially engaged with others is a very important part of being

mentally active. Together, these lifestyle modifications can not only reduce our riskof dementia, they will improve our quality of life.

Can Marrying Someone Smarter Make You Smarter?That’s what married couple Warner Schaie and Sherry Willis,

developers of the publication Mind Alert, say they havediscovered in their work on aging and cognition. According to

them, “In our study, we followed a number of married couplesover a long period of time. It turns out that married couples’

intellectual performance converges over time: the spouse withlower cognitive functioning early in marriage moves in the

direction of the higher-functioning spouse, cognitively speaking.” We say that’s allfine and dandy but what happens to the spouse who started off as ‘the smart one’?

BrainStormTM

by Dakim®

Dakim is easy foranyone to use. Its ever-changing exercises are funand the program self-adjuststhe level of challenge to theability of the user. And whileit’s very entertaining andenjoyable to use, it gives eachuser a rigorous and thoroughcognitive workout in sixcognitive domains (long-termmemory, short-term memory,language, computation,visuospatial orientation andcritical thinking.) That’s whywe say Dakim BrainFitness isgrounded in science, based onfun. And Dakim BrainFitness isso enjoyable that users lookforward to their next session.

Ready to get started? Letyour Personal Expressions orProgramming team know.

Contact Us…If you have any thoughts,feedback or anecdotes, wewould love to hear from you.Send an email tobrainstorm@dakim.com orwrite at: Brain Storm, 2121Cloverfield Blvd., Suite 205,Santa Monica, CA 90404