Page 34 – North Central News, October 2012

Sharing a toughroad–with support

“What do we do now?” KarenSwaine, a North Central resident, askedthe neuropsychologist.

That was six years ago, when herhusband, Archie, was diagnosed withAlzheimer’s. Karen knew she could notfight the inevitable but she wanted totake good care of her husband.

Karen attends one of Duet’s special-ty support groups for those taking careof loved ones with Alzheimer’s. It is oneof the ways Karen takes care of herselfwhile she cares for Archie.

“After you get your spouse the helpthey need, then you need to start lookingout for yourself,” she explained. “We still

go to movies, to plays, out to eat. We doa lot of stuff, because I want to.”

Karen had to be persistent to makesure Archie was properly diagnosed inthe first place. He passed tests for the dis-ease every time, but Karen knew hismemory loss was not normal. To thisday, Archie has progressed to a moderatestage of the disease, and Karen is gratefulshe can still do things with him.

“I wasn’t just going to sit back,”Karen recalled.

Duet’s Alzheimer’s support groupserves as a source of references and sug-gestions for Karen. “Dementia patientsare so different,” Karen pointed out.Everyone in the support group has aunique experience with their loved one.But Karen thinks everyone is “very

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GENERATIONS

North Central resident Karen Swaine, far right (with her hand raised), participates in a dis-cussion about issues faced by those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. She is a mem-ber of a free support group hosted by Duet (submitted photo).

North Central News, October 2012 – Page 35www.northcentralnews.net

strong” as they share the journey witheach other.She keeps up with her long-time

friends and starts new friendships withother women in the support group. Inbetween meetings, Karen rallies her fel-low caregivers together for lunch.“She is a model caregiver,” said

Brett Petersen, Duet’s director ofCaregiver Services. “She takes care ofher husband so much, but she stillmakes time for other friendships.”The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Group is

held on the first and third Tuesdays ofeach month from 12:30 to 2 p.m. atthe Church of the Beatitudes, 555 W.Glendale Ave. Other specialty groupsand general caregiver groups also areheld each month. Call 602-274-5022or visit duetaz.org for more informa-tion. Call Duet before attending agroup for the first time.

Senior LivingEducational, funevents at centerThe Sunnyslope Senior Center, 802

E. Vogel Ave., offers a monthly calen-dar of events to entertain, educate andenliven. This month’s events include:• Shopping trip to the Chris-Town

Walmart, 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9.Suggested RAR is $2.50. Sign up at thefront desk.• A Breast Cancer Awareness &

Education Ice Cream Social, 10 a.m.Thursday, Oct. 11, with guest PhilHendricks.• How to Make Journaling a Habit,

10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, with DianeWilliams, who has degrees in counsel-ing and journaling.• Free Blood Pressure Checks, 9

a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18.• A visit to MacAlpine’s for lunch at

the soda fountain and browsingantiques, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23.Suggested RAR is $2.50. Bring moneyfor lunch. Sign up at the front desk.• Writing Your Memoirs, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 24.For more information on these and

other programs, call the center at 602-256-4387.

Kids & FamilyBabies get free introto swimming poolHubbard Family Swim School in

northeast Phoenix offers free “babysplash” swim classes every Tuesday this

month at 11:30 a.m. for parents withbabies under 6 months of age.These 30-minute water acclimation

classes give parents or caregivers achance to learn tips on how to enjoytub time at home with baby and alsolearn how to prepare baby for swimlessons. The temperature of the heated,indoor swimming pool is 90 degrees allyear long.Advanced registration is required.

Hubbard Family Swim School is locat-ed at 13832 N. 32nd St., Suite 100.For more information or to register fora free class, call 602971-4044 or visitwww.hubbardswim.com.

The ‘rock doc’gets metamorphicThe North Mountain Visitors

Center is celebrating Earth ScienceWeek with a special program,“Metamorphic Rocks of the PhoenixArea,” with special guest Dr. RaymondGrant, aka “the rock doc.” The pro-gram takes place 6-8:30 p.m. Monday,Oct. 15 at the center, 12950 N. 7th St.Grant retired after teaching geology for31 years at Mesa Community College.

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Page 36 – North Central News, October 2012 www.northcentralnews.net

He currently is president of theMineralogical Society of Arizona and isco-author of “Mineralogy of Arizona.”There will be a meet-and-greet

mixer and tours of the center and giftshop beginning at 6:30 p.m., followedby Grant’s presentation at 7:15 p.m.,and concluding with refreshments andmore mingling at 8 p.m.The program is free, however,

RSVPs are requested by Oct. 14. Call602-335-1962.

Free events atSunrays centerChildren ages 6 months to 16

months can enjoy free gymnastics class-es every Wednesday morning inOctober from 9:30 to 10 a.m. atArizona Sunrays Gymnastics & DanceCenter, 3110 E. Thunderbird Road.Babies get to jump up and down on

trampolines, tumble on mats andcrawl, jump, swing and climb on vari-ous pieces of gymnastics equipment.Parent participation is required.Advanced registration is not required.

Just show up and have fun.In addition, Sunrays has partnered

with Hubbard Family Swim School tohost their fourth-annual “Swim &Gym Festival” to raise money forPhoenix Children’s Hospital. The eventtakes place 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.Children of all ages, including

babies and toddlers, are welcome andwill get to enjoy free gymnastics anddance classes. Children and adultsshould bring their swimsuits and towelsto enjoy a free family swim and waterfun. There also will be live music,Phoenix police cars and a fire truck toexplore, bounce houses, face painters,an appearance by Miss Arizona 2012,and plenty of food vendors, vendorbooths, and much more.The event will be held in the park-

ing lot between the Hubbard FamilySwim School and the Arizona SunraysDance Center, located at 13832 N.32nd St. Admission is free but dona-tions to Phoenix Children’s Hospitalare encouraged.For more information, call 602-992-

5790 or visit www.arizonasunrays.comor www.hubbardswim.com.

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Literacy festivalhas fun for allThe nonprofit Friends of the

Phoenix Public Library will host a freeFamily Literacy Festival in Margaret T.Hance Park on Saturday, Oct. 27 from10 a.m. to 2 p.m.There will be presentations by chil-

dren’s authors Steven Riley and LyndaExley and the Mad Science crew(www.madscience.org). The first 2,500children will receive a free book andbookbag courtesy of Kids Need to Read(www.kidsneedtoread.org).Festival activities will be divided into

four age-appropriate areas. Activitiesinclude a video game truck, photobooth, button making, crafts, face paint-ing, rock wall, bounce houses and more.The Arizona Avengers and other

storybook characters and mascots willbe in attendance to meet and greetyoung readers. Festival attendees canuse their library card to enter a rafflefor a netbook or a Nook Tablet.The park is located at 1134 N.

Central Ave.. For more information,visit www.plfriends.org or call 602-534-5208.

GENERATIONS

ROC DOC continued from page 35