Updates from your APTS Family!!

Monthly News & Updates from APTS MAY | 2021

Happiness

cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness

is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace & gratitude.

~Dennis Waitley~

Sweet smelling lilacs are a true sign of spring!

This flower is one of the first to make its appearance during the month the May. Symbolizing the essence of first love and confidence they can also grow up to 10 feet tall.

Learn more about this iconic flower HERE.

Acts of Kindness In Our Great Community: Laura's Story

A Note From Sally

Meet Laura Robinson.

Laura has worked for Cummings Market for 21 years. She always has a friendly smile and a hello for all of her customers. Every time I go into the Market (which is often) Laura always greets me with a smile and a warm hello. She knows everyone’s name and treats them all with kindness.

Last week, I witnessed Laura take notice of one of her customers who has dementia. He was wandering around the store, somewhat aimlessly. Laura left the deli and went to find him and greeted him by name in the kindest tone. She helped him find what he was looking for, but Laura was concerned that he was alone. She knew his wife had passed away. Laura scanned the parking lot and the rest of the store to see if anyone was waiting for him. There was no one.

Laura asked him so kindly how he got to the store. His response was, “ I snuck out and even wore my glasses to drive.” Laura knew this was not a safe situation for him or others on the road. She discreetly called the police to come help the situation.

Laura led her customer to a seat to wait a few minutes, all the while, never raising her voice, she treated him with the utmost dignity while keeping him safe. This brought tears to my eyes to witness the genuine kindness of people in our community and going above and beyond to look out for the most vulnerable population.

I want to express to Laura and the entire Cummings Market team

a big thank you for caring and respecting all the people in our community.

Well done!

~IN THE NEWS~

Recent research shows a link between gum disease and Alzheimer's

In the new study, the researchers found that people who have more harmful than healthy gum bacteria were more likely to also have a protein marker for Alzheimer's disease, known as amyloid beta, in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Read full article below

Link to Gum Disease

Given the recent pandemic, we have seen an increase in mental health awareness across all populations. It can be very challenging to recognize the signs of someone, regardless of their age, who is struggling with some anxiety or depression or feelings of despair. Here are some ways to help you recognize depression in elders.

Read full article below.

Mental Health in Elders

~REMINDERS & COMMUNITY NEWS~

Join Us!

Good News! We are starting to introduce some small group gatherings as the weather allows and as CDC recommendations and guidelines allow. We have a few brown bag lunches planned for the month of May so be sure to check out the dates! We are excited to be able to slowly gather and have safe, socially-distanced events after a full year! We look forward to seeing you!

[To get your full calendar, click image above]

We also understand that not everyone is comfortable with gathering right now. If there is ANYTHING anyone needs during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email.

We are still available for consultations and we remain only a phone call away!

Hannaford Community Bags

Bags That Give Back!

A Place To Start has been selected again this year by the local Hannaford store leadership team as the benefiting non-profit in the Community Bag Program for the month of May!

This is an easy way for shoppers to give back to the local community and the environment as part of the regular shopping routine. Every $2.50 reusable Community Bag sends a $1 donation to a non-profit local to the Hannaford in which it was purchased.

During the month of May, A Place to Start will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the reusable Community Bag purchased at the

Kennebunk Hannaford location.

(65 Portland Road Suite 9, Kennebunk ME)

~ADDITIONAL SERVICES~

Difficulty getting vaccinated?

Are you or someone you know having a hard time accessing a vaccination

because you’re homebound or can’t get online?

Southern Maine Agency on Aging has a dedicated COVID vaccine message line to provide assistance to individuals who need help accessing vaccine information and to help schedule vaccine appointments! We are supporting individuals with the greatest need who might have limited access to technology, have difficulty navigating large vaccination sites, or are homebound. Northern Light Home Care and Hospice and Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) have teamed up to provide this vaccine assistance.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please call:

SMAA vaccine call line 396-6500 and press 1.

*If you would like to make a donation, please visit our website HERE for a

safe PayPal transaction.*