Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Spring 2018

During the Flower Ceremony at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, participants carry flowers that identify their journey with Alzheimer’s: caregiver, supporter or advocate, living with Alzheimer’s, or lost a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Your memory often changes as you grow older. But memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of dementia. Dementia is a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) disease, a fatal disorder that results in the loss of brain cells and function. This list can help you recognize the warning signs of Alzheimer’s: 1 Memory changes that disrupt daily life 2 Challenges in planning or solving problems 3 Difficulty completing familiar tasks 4 Confusion with time or place 5 Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships 6 New problems with words in speaking or writing 7 Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps 8 Decreased or poor judgment 9 Withdrawal from work or social activities 0 Changes in mood and personality William “Bill” Zinsmeyer, long-time mem- ber of the Methodist Healthcare Board, and his wife, Janet, are chairs of the 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer’s®–San Antonio. The walk is the largest community event of the Alzheimer’s Association, San Antonio and South Texas Chapter, to raise awareness and funds. The walk will be Saturday, Oct. 20 at Palo Alto College. The fundraising goal is $500,000 and 5,000 participants. The couple married in 1965. They have three children and six grandchildren. Bill is a proven community leader and care- giver to Janet who was diagnosed with Join Methodist Healthcare in Supporting the 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer’s®–San Antonio Alzheimer’s last August. Turning frus- tration into determination, they formed “Team Z” just two months before last year’s walk. They raised over $33,000 and were the number one fundraising team in San Antonio leading the fight against Alzheimer’s. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and as many as 16 million are expected to have the disease by 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association, San Antonio and South Texas Chapter, serving 47 counties in central and south Texas, provides a variety of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias support programs In 2017 Bill and Janet Zinsmeyer and their “Team Z” raised over $33,000 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s®and were the number one fundraising team in San Antonio. For more information, view the 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report at alz.org/facts . 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and services. These have been developed to support the person with the disease, their families and professional caregivers from the onset of symptoms through the pro- gressive and final stages of the disease. Support the walk by forming a team, joining the Methodist Healthcare team, or donating to the Methodist Healthcare team. For more information, visit Join the Walk To End Alzheimer’s. N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 K E E P I N G W E L L 5 Red Dress 5K Fun Run Karen Pence, Second Lady of the United States, visited Methodist Children’s Hospital in February to tour the Tracy’s Kids Art Therapy Program. Committed to raising awareness and educating the public about the mental health profession of art therapy, Mrs. Pence serves on the board of Tracy’s Kids, an art therapy program for young cancer patients. Tracy’s Kids was established at Methodist Children’s Hospital in 2012 and is the only pediatric oncology art therapy program in San Antonio. Tracy’s Kids uses art therapy to help patients and their families cope with the emotional stress and trauma of cancer and its treatment. In addition to touring the unit and meeting patients, Mrs. Pence had a roundtable discussion with hospital leadership and staff to express her appreciation and support of the Tracy’s Kids mission. Methodist Stone Oak Hospital raised more than $16,100 for the American Heart Association through its Red Dress 5K Fun Run and Walk, held in February on the hospital campus. One of the most popular Heart Month events, it gives the community a fun way to fight heart dis- ease and remember loved ones affected by the disease. Participants are encour- aged to wear red or their favorite red dress. Hospital CEO Marc Strode, known for getting into the spirit of the event, presented the donation check to Amanda Gonzalez, Corporate Market Director, Heart Walk (L) and Jennifer Meachum, Senior Director, Community Impact, Health Strategies. Second Lady Karen Pence Visits Tracy’s Kids