IN THIS ISSUE
 
* Newsletter February 2016
* The memory
* Declaracion of a living will
* Latest news
 
Newsletter February 2016
 
Dear all,
 
Last month you could read about the benefits of physical activity for your mental health and memory. In this newsletter we will give you other tips to train your memory. We will also inform you about the declaration of a living will. A living will is a statement of what you want if you have a serious accident or illness and you can't express your wishes about treatment yourself. If you have any questions after reading this newsletter please contact us.
 
Best regards, 
Bernadette Veeger
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The memory
 
 
Memory means we are able to store information (imprinting), save information (remember) and then apply again. Memory problems are almost as common with young people as with the elderly. They also have the same memory problems.
Both: forgetting names, can`t remember words, loose things, forget conversations, forget appointments,...
Older people often believe that their forgetfulness is caused by their older brain. Youth blame causes outside of their brain. For example, they suffer from stress or are not interested. Older people also are more concerned about their memory. They are often afraid of getting dementia.
 
Tips in order to keep your memory healthy:
  • Search for mental challenges: Keep having conversations and discussions with other people, follow the news and read books and newspapers. Solving puzzles and special computer or memory games can help.
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs: Brain cells die faster from excessive use of alcohol and other harmful substances. Some drugs, such as sedatives, cause memory problems.
  • Eat healthy and varied: Your brain needs nutrients, vitamins and minerals to work properly. You can take these best from food.
  • Find relaxation: Tension and stress can lead to memory problems. Try to enjoy the things you do.
  • Prevent fatigue: Take regular brakes from activities for quiet moments; Your memory gets worse when you are tired.
  • Trust yourself: Have confidence in your own abilities and use them. If something does not work at the moment, take your time. Do not get distracted but focus. If necessary, ask for help. Our memory can let us down sometimes, this does not mean that your memory is bad or that you are demented. Keep using your memory.
 
Did you know you can train your memory?
 
Research has shown that you are mentally longer fit by regularly training your memory. This can be done for example by playing games such as Sudoku or card games.
In addition, it can help to use mnemonics to remember something. As number sequences can be remembered better when they are split into pairs. Suppose your PIN number is 2359, remember it better as two separate numbers: 23 and 59. If you can visualize something with these numbers that's even better. For example, you got your driver's license at the age of 23 and your pension at 59. This way you link these numbers to important events in your life, and you'll easily be able to remember your PIN.
 
 
Declaracion of a living will
 
 
What is Advance Health Care Directive and how do I make one?
 
In an Advance Health Care Directive statement, also known as a living will, you wish to determine your medical treatment or life ending. For example, about CPR. An Advance Health Care Directive is for situations where you no longer are able to talk about these kinds of decisions with the doctor. You can draw up a living will or you can use a standard declaration. Always discuss your living will with your GP. It is also important to inform your immediate family of your wishes.
 
Talk about your wishes on time.
It is important that you have a conversation with your family about your living will. And record your wishes in an advance directive. Because of talking about your wishes when you still can, you can avoid the last part of your life not being what you intended.
 
Wishes established in advance directive
You can define different wishes in a living will, for example:
  • Prohibition of treatment: With a treatment ban, you define the circumstances under which you refuse to undergo medical treatment. For example, if you are in a coma. Or if you're no longer approachable by a disease. With a treatment ban you also won’t be given food and water.
  • Do-not-resuscitate statement: Do-not-resuscitate means that you define in a statement that you do not want to be resuscitated.
  • Designate a representative: You can also specify in your advance directive who your representative is. The representative may, on behalf of you, talk with the doctor about your medical treatment. And possibly make decisions when you cannot do this anymore yourself.
Discuss with your doctor
It is important that you discuss the advance directive with your doctor. Your doctor will know exactly what your needs are and can indicate what he can do for you. Just make sure you regularly let your doctor know that you are still behind your statement. So there will be no doubt with your doctor when the time comes. If you change your mind, you can create a new living will or update your old living will.
 
On our website you will find the standard form of an Advance Health Care Directive in Spain. This should be filled out and then you make an appointment with the Junta of Andalucía in Malaga to validate these agreements.
 
For questions you can always  contact us.
 
 
Latest news
  • Due to a long waitinglist for physiotherapy we kindly want to ask you to cancel your appointment, if possible, at least 24h in advance. If not, unfortunately we will have to charge a 30€ cancellation fee.
  • Dr. Pedro Chinchurreta Capote, Cardiologist, will be visiting us on the 2nd of March.
  • Our neurologist Dr. Manio Maravich will be available on the 2nd of March.
    If you feel that your memory is failing and you want to have specific memory tests done you can make an appointment with him. 
  • Dr. Vicente Aneri Más, our Dermatologist, will be here on the 12th of March.
  • Janet van Dam, Thermal Imaging therapeute, will be available for appointments on Friday the 11th of March and from the 14th until the 16th of March.
  • To make an appointment or for more information you can call us on 952 532 065 or sent an email to info@centromarysalud.com. You can visit our website on www.centromarysalud.com.
 
 
Centro Mar Y Salud, paseo marítimo 4, El Morche, www.centromarysalud.com