February 5th is the Super Bowl! Even though the San Francisco 49ers lost the NFC Championship in a close scrape, and won’t be heading to the Super Bowl, it’s still worth tuning in to see the New England Patriots battle the New York Giants. In the spirit of sportsmanship, here’s a little history on football’s ultimate championship, and a few ideas about how to celebrate—even if you’re not a football fan.

How It All Began: The Super Bowl was first played in 1967 as part of a merger agreement between the National Football League (NFL) and its then-rival league, the American Football League (AFL). Since 1970, when the merger officially began, the championship game played between conference champion teams.

Super Bowl Sunday: The day the Super Bowl airs is considered a de facto American national holiday. It’s the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption (after Thanksgiving), and the broadcast of the game is frequently the most watched American television broadcast of the year. In 2011 the Super Bowl XLV became the most watched American television program in history, drawing over 111 million viewers.

Commercial Craze: With such a high popularity, the Super Bowl isn’t just about football. Commercial airtime during the broadcast is incredibly competitive, with companies developing their most expensive advertisements. The halftime ceremony has grown to include performances by popular singers and musicians.

Snack Time: Even if you’re not a football fan, the Super Bowl is a great excuse to get together with family and friends to have a good time and eat some snacks. Try some healthy options, like whole-wheat pretzels, fruit salad, or air-popped popcorn. And no matter what team you’re rooting for, have a great time!

It’s important to remember that memory lapses aren’t always a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes they’re normal, and people of every age sometimes have trouble remembering why they came into a room, where they put their keys, or what they were supposed to get at the grocery store. Everybody’s brain ages.

However, it’s important to pay attention to memory lapses. Only a qualified physician can be certain if a person has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, but paying attention to signs of memory loss can help you or someone close to you receive the necessary physical and emotional care. Keep these questions in mind:

1. Does the person ask repetitive questions or repeat stories within minutes of the first instance?
2. Are memory lapses growing progressively worse, affecting information that was previously easily recalled?
3. Are memory lapses happening more frequently?
4. Does the person have difficulty finding the right words?
5. Does the person have trouble following a conversation or completing familiar activities?
6. Does the person become easily disoriented, even in familiar locations?
7. Does the person misplace items frequently?
8. Does the person have trouble planning ahead?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions any items, you may want to explore options that can make your loved one’s daily living easier. If your loved one is experiencing early memory loss, an assisted living community can provide the security of knowing that help is always there, while offering a high degree of independence.

One-on-one, you can try the following activities to reinforce working memory. Bear in mind that memories aren’t technically “lost”—they’re still in the person’s brain. The difficulty comes in saving and accessing these memories.

1. Simplify daily activities. Streamline tasks so that there are fewer steps to remember. This can be especially helpful when it comes to preparing meals.
2. Use repetition. Do things the same way with intention, over and over. This works for kids studying for tests, and can help seniors with tasks like getting dressed and eating breakfast, as well.
3. Provide reminders. Visual cues can help. This can be as simple as making a to-do list and crossing things off, or setting out clothes to wear the night before.

Everyone, no matter what age, takes precautions to stay safe at home. That’s why we install smoke detectors, make sure our doors and windows lock well, and keep well-stocked first aid kits. It can be helpful for seniors, however, to take a few extra precautions around the house to keep themselves safe at home.

Outdoors: Paint porches with grit or use grip tape to prevent slips. Inspect railings regularly to maintain sturdiness. Consider replacing steps with a ramp. Make sure walkways are clear and level.

Living rooms and bedrooms: Get rid of tripping hazards, like loose extension cords and throw rugs. Use light sensitive night lights to make it easier to see where you’re stepping or where the light switch is.

Kitchen: Always keep a fire extinguisher handy. Use sturdy step stools with handles. Make sure your kitchen is clean and free from grease buildup, which can be a fire hazard.

Bathrooms: Properly install approved grab bars, which are very important in preventing falls in slippery bathrooms. Apply non-slip strips to bathtubs and showers, use shower seats with back and portable shower heads. Consider modifying your bath with tub cutaways and doors, if necessary, and paint the room in contrasting colors. Installing an ADA-height toilet, which is higher than the standard height, can help with sitting and standing.

Basic safety: Keep your doors and windows locked. Use your peep holes, and never open your doors automatically. Notify neighbors or the police when you’re going on a trip, and never leave notes on your front door. Make sure your smoke detectors are working correctly and have fresh batteries. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help, whether it’s with renovations or with reading labels on medication.

If you or your loved one is finding that the risks of living at home are outweighing the benefits, it may be time to consider moving to an assisted living facility, where seniors can still enjoy having a personal space, but are reassured by a community whose facilities have been specifically designed for safe living. For questions about AlmaVia of Union City please call 510-400-7250 or e-mail us at info@almaviaofunioncity.org.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, which makes this the perfect time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. The Glaucoma Research Foundation says glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” because there are no symptoms, but once vision is lost, it’s permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing.

The optic nerve acts like an electric cable, carrying images from the eye to the brain. When glaucoma strikes, the optic nerve is damaged, which can slowly cause loss of peripheral vision and lead to “tunnel” vision. In its most advanced forms, glaucoma leads to total blindness.

The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get a comprehensive eye examination. After age 65, doctors recommend a vision check every six to 12 months. The vision loss caused by glaucoma is permanent, but caught early, further damage can be prevented through treatment. Glaucoma medications slow the progression of vision loss by reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) to prevent damage to the optic nerve. Surgical treatments are also available.

According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, and is the leading cause of preventable blindness, so talk to your friends and family about glaucoma and make sure they realize that symptoms can be hard to notice. You can help raise awareness by reading up on glaucoma at the Glaucoma Research Foundation’s website.