Kibworth and Smeeton WI
Our March speaker, Mark Draper, talked about “Memory – Are You Worried about It?”
Mark works for the Memory Advice Service at AgeUK. He began by asking how many of us go upstairs, or into another room, then wonder what we went there for! We laughed at that familiar scenario! As we approach our 80s, we wonder if we should worry, but it happens to most of us as we age.
Short term memory has limited capacity and only stores information for a short time. By contrast, long term memory can hold a vast amount for long periods. Mark explained comparisons between common signs of ageing and possible signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s. He talked about age-related problems such as forgetting names or words, misplacing items and not recalling details of recent events. We naturally remember best the actions and routines we perform most often. Health can affect memory, such as stress, menopause and insufficient sleep. We can reduce the risk of dementia by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and by trying to remain social, while keeping our minds active. For example, by reading, doing puzzles, crafting and enjoying music.
AgeUK gives local support to anyone with concerns and Mark left us booklets containing useful information and contact details. His talk was well-organised, interesting and importantly – reassuring.
County Federation Annual Council Meeting
On Saturday 29 March some members enjoyed the County Federation’s Annual Council Meeting at Leicester Grammar School. There was a variety of stalls offering handmade goods and displays of impressive competition entries. Three interesting speakers included Vicky Macqueen BEM, former England International Ladies rugby player and head of women’s rugby at Leicester Tigers. Vicky won 11 caps before complications from a leg injury became serious, but she fought back to win a total of 34 caps! Vicky has become an energetic motivational speaker.
Looking forward, our Thursday 8 May meeting, at 7.30pm in KCH, will have a VE Day vibe to it!
Pat Sharman
Tuesday’s treat in Kibworth
