The Music Gym

Amongst the squash courts and practice nets at Horntye Sports Centre in Hastings is the Decoda Music Gym, an area designed for experimenting and playing with music and movement. For the physically able there’s an interactive bouncy castle, dancing-boards that trigger music, or the opportunity to dance with your shadow on a large screen. For the less able, or less energetic, there are Soundbeams, vibro-acoustic seats and cushions, bubbles, and switches to operate film.

The Gym is overseen by popular local blues musicians Tom Smurthwaite and John Ballard. Its clients range from people with profound disabilities to conventionally able but playful or curious adults and youngsters – but this isn’t a mere leisure activity. When administrator Sue Heath invited me to attend one of their regular Friday sessions, I was in for a morning of surprises and learning.

Sue says: “Years ago, as a Relate counsellor, I was surprised to find that mentioning a client was a musician would trigger smiles all round. The label ‘musician’, I discovered, was taken as shorthand for totally unable to communicate except through his/her music. The film The Commitments bears this out – a band delivering Irish soul music on stage and beating nine bells out of each other in the dressing room.”

So why is it that a pair of typical pub-musicians have made such a hit as facilitators at Decoda, working with people with profound and multiple disabilities? How did they come to feel at home with people who find it so very difficult to communicate? And why have they have gone to such lengths over the years to bridge the gaps in those people’s lives?

John with his band Night Shift, and Tom (playing under the name of Junior Thompson) are regulars on the circuit of blues-loving pubs around Hastings and make occasional appearances in Europe. They’re both life-long blues musicians; singer songwriters with a strong local reputation. Playing in pubs has given them the confidence to walk into any situation and know that they can turn it around. A lack of initial response from an audience doesn’t worry them. In short, they can bypass the rituals of polite, social behaviour without embarrassment and without making judgemental responses.

Tom says: “In an open situation, [such as a pub] you’re not just playing to people who know you. There are people walking in and out all the time. If people stay, that affects you. Equally if people leave that affects you. Sometimes you’re not entertaining in respect of people looking at you, but rather you’re creating an ambience.”

John felt this was particularly important and something young bands don’t necessarily recognise – the need to be sensitive to the feel of the venue, rather than demanding attention and immediate positive feedback.

The Decoda project started with the aim of taking good musicians of all genres into day centres and residential homes. It was an inclusion issue – why shouldn’t people with learning disabilities enjoy live music in the same way as anyone else? But not everyone was included – the people in wheelchairs, on the edge of a group, couldn’t participate in playing the percussion instruments, they simply had something done for them – bells strapped on their wrists, their hand held around a tambourine.

Gradually the attention shifted to those with the least chance of joining in, with the least experience of having an effect on their surroundings. How to enable them to be more involved? When Tom and John were asked to run a regular workshop consisting solely of people with profound disabilities this question became a real issue. None of the things they had been doing with other groups worked with them. It might keep them, and their staff, amused for a couple of hours but Tom and John wanted to be more than entertainers.

They decided to start from where the people were, to explore how their unconventional gestures could be used to express themselves through music. One of the results of their experiments was their installation of The Soundbeam – a ‘keyboard in the air’ which turns movement into sound.

Using the Soundbeam meant that a young woman who had no movement other than her eyelids was able to compose music, or a man who constantly jerked his head learned to control this to create the sounds he wanted and then, spectacularly, to sit completely still for twenty minutes. People were now making something happen who had maybe never experienced this before.

Communication requires the ability to make choices and to convey them to others. Tom speaks of a “wordless communication that develops amongst musicians, working together to produce the end-sound, recognising their part in the whole and playing the most compatible part.”

So for all their reputation for being social misfits off-stage, pub performers know of more ways to communicate than they are often given credit for. “Playing in a pub,” says Tom, “you learn to observe how things are going between yourself and the band plus between the band and the audience. The same is true when working with people with PMLD (profound and multiple learning disabilities); noticing how they become engaged, how they react, and noticing in enough detail to see when they doing something they’ve never done before.”

Such moments can be the key to great progress. B is a young woman who has been a regular visitor to the Music Gym since it started. She has no speech, is visually impaired and confined a lot of the time to a wheelchair. She is also blessed with two support staff who saw immediately the potential of the Music Gym. With their help she tried out the castle, pushed the huge ball, played the Soundbeam and walked, supported, with a metal frame – Tom and John noted that the sports hall allowed a lot more space for this than a house would. On the last day of the pilot project she walked without staff support for the first time in her life. She now enjoys the shadow-dancing as the contrasting images allow her to see her support staff making shapes on the screen.

But what of the people who couldn’t be enticed to use the Soundbeam? What of someone with so-called ‘challenging behaviour’ whose energy could erupt in a disruptive manner?

Sometimes in a pub people feel they have a right to tell you what to play. Tom recalls a man asking for a number while he was actually singing – without halting he managed to let him know that that wasn’t the right time AND he wouldn’t be playing that. In a rowdy environment it can be vital to turn around stubborn or unrealistic demands quickly without getting into a conflict situation. Tom enjoys ‘grabbing’ people with something they weren’t expecting, something beyond what they think they want. He brings the same attitude to his work with Decoda clients. He’s always on the look out for ways to extend people’s boundaries, to enable them to experience something new and unexpected.

So the Decoda team turned their attention to clients whose behaviours had previously been seen as wholly negative – something to stop, or get control of. What if someone who liked to punch were given a punch-bag fitted with sensors so that each time he punched it he produced a sound? What if there were a room full of similar devices? Plus space to move around and freedom to choose what to do?

This was the thinking behind the Music Gym. It took another two years to access the funding which would make it a reality, albeit for just one morning a week. The pilot scheme started in October 2005, funded by the local Learning Disabilities Development Fund and run in partnership with MCCH (a regional care-providing organisation).

Part of the funding was for an independent evaluation which found that 97% of questionnaires completed stated that their client had benefited overall from their participation in the Music Gym. 88% stated that the client had developed over time and 72% of clients had tried things new to them. In addition 55% of participants demonstrated sustained learning. These latter points are often not seen as potential achievements for people with such complex needs. It was observed that where staff believed in their clients’ capacity to make their own choices and in their potential to develop, they were actively encouraged and clearly benefited. In addition to the activities, clients benefited from the opportunity to participate in the wider community, and from the space that the sports hall provided.

The Music Gym is now an ongoing weekly facility for people with profound disabilities, some of whom travel over 20 miles for the experience. In the huge sports hall they can be as energetic, creative, or simply relaxed as they like as they find their way around the fascinating array of technology, but what stuck in my mind after my morning with the Decoda team was the power of music under the direction of these gifted facilitators.

I watched John charging around with a young man in a wheel-chair, activating a patchwork of sound-emitting mats and boards. There was no pattern to it that I could see and I had no way of interpreting the signals John was clearly getting from the young man – but when they returned to us, and John said to his partner in the chair; “That was great – shall we do it again?” Even I could see the eager ‘yes’ in the eyes that answered him.

The Music Gym

The Music

Kay Green is an English teacher and editor of Earlyworks Press

How To Relocate To Tampa Bay

Its no wonder that Florida’s Tampa Bay area has become such a popular choice for relocating adults and families to call home. The west coast of Florida has mile after mile of white, sandy beaches and magnificently, beautiful natural resources. These areas include the city of Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, as well as Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar.

Picture if you will, the opportunity for renewing your spirit any time you need a recharge. Dip your toes into the gentle, warm gulf waters of Tampa Bay. Let your troubles roll out to sea with the tides. As the waves return to once again touch the shores, let them bring you peace and a renewed sense of self. Now that you feel newly invigorated, perhaps you will want to head over to one of the areas more populated beaches, such as Clearwater Beach or St. Petersburg Beach, for some adventure. Take the whole family for a day of fun-filled activities such as collecting sea shells, building sand castles, swimming, fishing, parasailing, or take a cruise for the chance for spotting a whale or a group of dolphins.

You will find exciting activities away from the beaches as well. You can spend the day shopping to find that unique gift for yourself or a loved one. Take in an art gallery or take the family on a historic tour of the area or even to one of the many museums you will find throughout Florida’s Tampa Bay area. When you get hungry, you will find plenty of fine dining and family restaurants to satisfy even the most finicky of eaters.

The Tampa Bay area is also home to some of the best theatre productions, live music, and sporting events to be found anywhere. Attend a play or watch in awe, the beauty of ballet, for a cultural experience your family will not soon forget. The sports fan will be delighted as a spectator at one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers action-filled football games. Those who like to gamble a bit might enjoy a little time spent betting, at one of the areas Greyhound Racing tracks.

You will find that life along Florida’s West Coast offers on one hand, an oasis from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and even the influx of tourists that visit Florida each year: but also provides you with many recreational and educational activities to enhance the time that you spend with your family. And of course, you are just a short distance drive from family attractions such as Disney World, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, Cypress Gardens, and Universal Studios. But unlike visitors who only get to experience some of what Florida’s West Coast has to offer, as a resident, you can discover and explore all that is here, at your own pace.

You can rely on your Tampa real estate representative to provide you with all of the information and assistance that you will need as you become an official “Floridian.” A real estate agent can help you select the neighborhood that best matches your living style and needs. Whether you’re looking for a suitable neighborhood to raise a family in, or a community for adults 55 and over, or looking to settle in where other single, middle-aged people are already living: your real estate agent can help you locate these areas.

Together you and your agent can explore the many housing options available to you. From single-family dwellings to single adult condominium complexes and retirement villas, so that you can choose the one that is best for you. These friendly and knowledgeable real estate representatives can also assist you in obtaining the financing you need to make your dream of relocating to Florida’s West Coast, a reality!

Snow Birds Prepare To Fly

Each year, active seniors prepare for their annual trek to warmer pastures. Instead of shivering through yet another frigid Midwest winter, they pack up for Florida with bathing suits, clubs, and Bermuda shorts. As summer temperatures reach uncomfortable levels, the return trip begins, allowing active seniors to continue their active lifestyle without the discomfort of extreme temperatures. Snowbirds also enjoy the convenience, security, and safety that comes from elegantly designed, technologically equipped, and medically prepared active retirement communities with golf courses in Florida.

The number of 55+ adult communities with golf courses continues to grow as active seniors demand high-quality services, personal independence, autonomy, elegant dining facilities, extensive libraries, state of the art medical facilities, pools, spas, to provide opportunities for those with extensive life experience to continue pursuing their interests, as well as gaining new skills. These are not the retirement homes of yesteryear.

Convenience And Security

There are many advantages to living in one of the many Florida retirement communities during the fall, winter, and spring months. New construction, innovative designs, indoor and outdoor activities, transportation, social events, and plenty of world-class golf are all available to residents of today’s retirement communities with golf courses in Florida.

As active seniors prepare for their summer excursions, a simple phone call to management and a few other details can leave their home safe and secure while they are away. Other steps necessary include a thorough housecleaning, notifying the post office, offering a neighbor or food bank the perishable foods in the pantry and asking a neighbor to keep an eye on things. It’s also important to make sure that the trash and recycling are taken care of. If the majority of neighbors are also snowbirds, most cities in Florida have a property management company that will check on homes on a regular basis and take care of maintenance and upkeep while the homeowner is gone.

Fun In The Sun

One major advantage to living in one of the modern 55+ adult communities with a golf course is that residents enjoy all the privacy and security of a country club, without the high cost. Neighbors become close friends, both new and old interests can be pursued, and there are countless outside activities geared toward active seniors. Family and friends are welcome to visit, but the serenity of the retirement communities and the gold courses in Florida are a commodity that is actively protected. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed without the noise, chaos, crowds, and risks associated with more public places.

For The Love Of The Game

Golf aficionados understand all too well the disappointments and frustrations that come from playing on a poorly designed or maintained course, or having to deal with those who may be lacking in the appropriate social skills one would expect on the course or in the club house. Today’s 55+ adult communities with golf courses make a substantial investment in the comfort, quality, and overall experience of their residents.

There are plenty of other activities, events, and distractions available in today’s 55+ adult communities with golf courses. Residents can take up painting, writing, photography, enjoy a massage, a hot tub soak, or a pleasant stroll through well-manicured grounds. Family and friends will always find a way to visit the many high-class retirement communities with golf courses in Florida with the state’s many attractions, beautiful beaches, and their most favorite retired relatives!

Living in Tranquility and Cooking in Style

A home is said to be where the heart is; this may be so, however, it is also an important fact for someone’s home to be built for comfort especially if it is meant for people to spend their retirement years in. Retreat at Carmel has developed a neighborhood to serve this exact purpose for the active adult community.

This place caters to the adult community aged 55 and above; the manors and condominiums it offers can be easily personalized to fit one’s taste. It is made to let the active adult community be able to live in both comfort and luxury without compromising quality. The homes at Retreat at Carmel are distinctively designed from the exterior down to every corner of the home’s interior. At first glance, the details of the house’s appearance is impeccable; the elegant shingles installed will last for 30 years at the least, the door handle set and hinges are custom-chrome and has a decorative finish, the windows are double-hung with insulated Low-E vinyl and the gutters, fascia and frieze are fiberglass which is all finished with good quality paint.

Depending on the resident’s taste, one can also opt to have decks on walk-out basements, patios on all slab conditions, rear vinyl sliding door made from Low-E argon and doors with maintenance grid-free front entry doors and side lights. One can be confident that the house is built to last as the construction was executed with the latest innovations, highest quality materials and was created with the best process; the foundations of the house are concrete cast-in-place and the entire abode is installed with good quality house wrap.

Retreat at Carmel did not only focus on the exterior of the houses they offer the active adult community, they also kept in mind the needs of the residents and what would complete their satisfaction meters when they walk in the house. Thus the reason for them to be mindful of how the kitchens were designed to give it not only a sense of class but a sense of optimal utilization as well. The smart kitchen enables a person to prepare the quickest meals to the most festive spreads; as it is very accessible, it is also useful for novice and professional chefs alike. It is equipped with state of the art kitchen fixtures and appliances to maximize utilization.

Among the features are a 30-inch gas range with self-cleaning convection oven feature, a 24.6 cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator and integrated water dispenser, ½ hp garbage disposal, dishwasher with hidden controls which can be set up to a 24-hour delay for programming efficiency and a 1.8-cubic foot microwave oven equipped with sensor cooking controls. The countertops are granite with a bullnose edge in a 4-inch backsplash, the faucets are chrome and the double bowl kitchen sinks are stainless steel, and all the kitchen cabinets are made from maple which includes a 42-inch upper cabinet, dovetail drawers, crown and 1 lower roll-out. The equipment does not only scream class and luxury; it is also economical and energy efficient. Although all these features are already enticing, the residents can still opt to have further modifications and alterations according to their needs.

Understanding the Housing Market

Texas Housing Market offers many choices in styles, locations

 

Every housing market is different and unique, with a variety of products, locations and choices in new homes. In many major metropolitan areas in Texas, the housing markets offer a wide variety of community and housing types and it’s always helpful to be familiar with the different terms.

 

Following are terms and descriptions relating to communities and housing styles, which are heard in locations throughout Texas.

 

Master-planned Community

Master-planned communities are an important part of many Texas markets including Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. The term master-planned defines a large-scale community that has a plan in place at its inception. That plan, which includes a diverse mix of housing and amenities, and in many locations, schools and commercial development, is carried out throughout the community’s development.

 

New-home buyers like master-planned communities because they have an idea, at any phase of development, what to expect of that community at its completion. The master plan will define the community’s borders, and will outline neighborhoods, common areas and amenities that can include walking/greenbelt trails, lakes, and neighborhood parks and pools. Master-planned communit ies are often compared to small towns and typically hold their housing value, particularly during times of economic downtown. Master-planned communities benefit from strict deed restrictions which preserve the integrity of the community.

 

Deed restrictions designed to protect the integrity and long-term aesthetic appeal of the community.

These restrictions maintain a uniform look throughout each neighborhood and offer residents the peace of mind that they and all of their neighbors are held accountable for things like the property maintenance of the exterior of their home, the care of their yard etc.

 

Deed restrictions also protect residents by making sure that their community maintains its character as a residential community, with all-residential development and commercial development remaining in areas designated in the community’s master plan.

 

Active Adult

A term that has become very familiar across America in the last decade, Active Adult is best described as age-targeted housing and communities.

 

The aging and healthy baby boomer population is more important than ever, and meeting their needs has become a priority among builders and developers.

 

Active Adult communities are typically designed for buyers age 55 and up and include a mix of housing and amenities. Many active adult communities are gated, and offer a central social center, such as a recreation/activity center. Just as the name implies, this buyer has an active, bu sy lifestyle and wants all of the luxuries and amenities to which they have grown accustomed, in a home that is designed to meet their needs.

 

Active adult housing is created for luxury and low maintenance, with innovative floor plans and all of the features and appointments buyers in this market demand with design features that include open living areas, ample storage and work/hobby rooms. Many active adult homes offer more than one master suite, or two-bedroom plans with a study, second-floor options and covered porches and courtyards. The homes reflect the changes in the lifestyles of this market – those who no longer need a lot of bedrooms and a game room, but want enough room to accommodate their furniture and important items, as well as enough space to entertain family and friends.

 

While many active adult communities are age restricted, other communities offer an active adult or age targeted product.

 

These communities are also located close to major roadways, medical, retail and recreation centers.

 

Urban/Loft Living

Urban living in many cities has taken on several different looks. Lofts in most cities are often commercial or commercial style buildings that have been converted into residences. The designs are open and flowing, with high ceilings and in many places, exposed beams which add to the home’s urban charm. Lofts can be ground-floor or in mid- and high-rise buildings. They are usuall y at the center of a city.

 

Other urban styles include townhomes and brownstones which have long been and continue to be popular among urban dwellers. In many cities, brownstones are often historic buildings that are urban residences, while in other places, are built to resemble classic townhomes or brownstones. The homes share in their open, flexible designs, expansive windows to bring in the city views and luxury appointments. Other well-known features in urban lofts, townhomes and brownstones can include patios, balconies and rooftop terraces.

 

 

Affordable, luxury, custom

Many builders like to describe or even categorize the homes they build.

Most communities will offer a wide variety of styles and prices, but some neighborhoods will focus on a specific product.

 

Affordable, in a market like Texas, is considered a home priced under $150,000, and there is still a good selection of new homes in that category. Luxury can be considered a home that is priced $250,000 and up and include production and custom homes.

 

A custom home is one that can be built from the builder’s floor plan or set of floor plans, or the buyer can work with a builder and create a design, or hire an architect to design a home and bring the plan to a custom builder. Custom homes in planned communities often have to meet deed restrictions that are in place, which a build on your lot builder, who will build a home on a home site20owned by a buyer, may not have the same restrictions, depending on the location of the land.

BREAKING NEWS: THE “GREEN HOUSE”® MODEL RESHAPES THE TRADITIONAL NURSING HOME TO BECKON BOOMERS

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that there are 306 million Americans, 78.2 million of whom—more than one-quarter—are Baby Boomers.  The oldest Boomers began turning 60 on New Year’s Day, 2006, slightly more than 40 months ago.  The generation that sincerely believed that it would never grow old is doing precisely that.  
This generation, “the pig moving through the python”–a disparaging reference to its size–is both the largest in American history and the first to have significant responsibilities for its aging, frequently infirm, parents’ needs—housing, healthcare, insurance, end-of-life planning, and a lot more.  
As we Boomers school ourselves about caregiving options for our parents, most of us ought to be thinking about our own advancing age and figuring out how we’re going to pay for our care.  We may consider nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or an alternative that will enable us to continue to live at home and receive the care we’ll need, such as <a title=In home healthcare from Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/InHomeHealthCare.aspx>InHomeHealthCare</a>or  <a title=Adult day care from Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AdultDayCare.aspx>AdultDayCare</a>.  But it’s a demographic inevitability that as life expectancies continues to extend, we’re going to need help with basic daily functions—dressing, bathing, cooking, to name a few—perhaps for decades.
How will Boomers select OUR senior housing?  Proponents of “generational marketing” believe that generational values drive product marketing, and that each generation has unique values that are determined by their life experiences, lifestyles and social values.  Baby Boomers are routinely characterized as the “me generation,” the most egocentric in history.  This is the generation, after all, that grew up believing that the economic prosperity that existed after World War II would continue indefinitely.  “Shop ‘till you drop,” and “He who dies with the most toys wins!” are slogans that are claimed to reflect Boomers’ values and buying habits.  

On the other hand, Baby Boomers are also the “Woodstock Generation,” an age group that raged against their parents’ attitudes and mores, embracing the “hippie” lifestyle of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.”  Many of them rejected the traditional family formation and structure, opting instead for informal, even communal, living arrangements, often seeking self-sufficiency by “living off the land.”

It is this latter modality that has gotten increasing traction as Boomers age.  After decades of indulging every shameless, greedy impulse, our generation seems to want to age gracefully and adopt healthy lifestyles.  Health, wellness and sustainability have become compatible and complementary to us.  

As a result, it may be no surprise that the “greenest” Americans are the oldest Americans.  As reported by WSL Strategic Retail (http://www.wslstrategicretail.com) a research firm that provides marketing information to retailers and manufacturers, fully 85 percent of those over 55 try to conserve energy or use natural products, for example, compared to only 65 percent of Americans under age 35.

The emerging model of elder living for Boomers.  In 2002, Dr. William Thomas began to develop an alternative to traditional nursing home care that he called the “Eden Alternative.”  Here’s how he describes his motivation for changing the culture of nursing facilities:

“I went to the nursing home and sat.  Yes, I just sat and watched.  . . .  I was just observing.  I sat in the lobby.  I sat in the dining room.  I sat in the solarium.  What I saw was something I had been too busy to see before.  What I saw were the elders suffering – not from the physical ailments that brought them to the nursing home, but from plagues of the human spirit.  I saw patients suffering and dying from loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.
“I knew that I had to do something.   This brought me to the story of Eden.  Every child in America knows this story of world-making.  Yes, I thought, ‘Human beings were not meant to live in a cold, sterile environment.  They were meant to live in a garden.  That is a true human habitat. We must create a place for our elders that is much more like a garden – the Garden of Eden!”
Dr. Thomas developed the Green House® model, a small, “intentional” community that is a radical departure from the traditional nursing home or assisted living facility.  This model changes the size of the facility, its interior design and staffing patterns, and, most important, the methodology for delivering services.  The Green House website (http://www.thegreenhouseproject.org) describes this approach as “a place where elders can receive assistance and support with activities of daily living and clinical care, without the assistance and care becoming the focus of their existence.”
The Green House serves six to ten elders, blending architecturally with neighboring homes.   Each resident has a private room or unit with a private bathroom.  The rooms are bathed with sunlight and are organized around a hearth, an open kitchen and dining area. They’re intended to look and feel like a home, with few medical signposts.  The floorplans, décor and furnishings provide a sense of warmth, while the use of smart technology (e.g., computers, wireless pagers, electronic ceiling lifts, and adaptive devices) demonstrates sustainable, “green” practices.

Equally important, residents are not subject to the limitations of the typical institutional schedule.  They sleep, eat, and participate in activities according to their own schedules.  Meals are prepared in the open kitchen and served at a large dining table where staff, elders and visitors enjoy nutritious food and good conversation with people who care about each other.

The Role of Histamine in Mental Illness and its Attenuation with Vitamin C – Part III

Chapter 5: Conclusions, Implications and Recommendations for Further Research

Conclusions and Implications:

The role of histamine in mental illness has been theorized about for several decades, but both the conventional and alternative medical fields have been very slow to respect histamine’s influence in mental health. In addition, the vast majority of conventional and alternative practitioners do not realize that vitamin C has potent antihistamine effects, which can be beneficial in both physical and mental health. Conventional medicine uses pharmaceutical antihistamines to treat histamine-related physical complaints, and sometimes mental ones as well. As mentioned earlier, pharmaceutical antihistamines have several side effects, including many that worsen mental health. It is lamentable that the vast majority of alternative practitioners are ignorant of vitamin C’s antihistamine effects. It is the purpose of this dissertation to convey vitamin C’s antihistamine effects, especially as it pertains to treating various forms of mental illness.

The evidence for vitamin C’s positive impact on mental health is compelling. Vitamin C can act as a mild antidepressant via boosting cAMP levels. Low cAMP levels are associated with depression. Vitamin C also helps produce norepinephrine, which, like cAMP, is often low in depression. In fact, cAMP is downstream of the norepinephrine pathway, which is the pathway that many pharmaceutical antidepressants use to boost mood. Vitamin C also hydroxylates dopamine to help form norepinephrine (Goodman, et al., 1996).

Vitamin C, when used in large doses, can potentially reduce anxiety (Balch & Balch, 1997). As mentioned previously, the brain constantly strives to keep the vitamin C levels constant, no matter how low the levels are in the rest of the body. So, the question arises: how can low or high vitamin C levels affect mental health, assuming that it is at a constant concentration in the brain? A plausible explanation is the following: the total vitamin C pool in the body may become more oxidized than reduced. Recall that only oxidized vitamin C enters the brain, where it is then reduced. If there are not sufficient reducing agents in the brain, then the vitamin C will remain oxidized, and therefore most of its properties rendered useless. Reduced vitamin C modulates dopamine levels in the brain, and can thus act as a natural antipsychotic by lowering high dopamine levels. It also helps secrete oxytocin, a pleasure hormone, thus improving mood. As mentioned previously, “ascorbate promotes myelin formation” (Rice, 2000, p. 214). Vitamin C also inhibits release of the stress hormone cortisol, which in excess for prolonged periods can precipitate depression. It also helps protect the brain from drug-induced neurotoxicity, presumably by its antioxidant effects.

However, by far the most important positive effect on mental health that vitamin C has is its antihistamine effect. This is because, as mentioned before, histamine has several detrimental effects on mental health. Administration of histamine into animal brains reinforced fear memory (Blandina, et al., 2004). It is well known that histamine plays a major role in allergic reactions, and allergic people are significantly more likely to suffer from depression (Firshein, 1996; Ossofsky, 1976). Histamine itself can directly cause behavioral depression (Arrigo-Reina & Chiechio, 1998).

As mentioned previously, histamine either directly or indirectly influences all other major neurotransmitters, often via inhibition of neurotransmitter release (Brown, Stevens, & Haas, 2001), thus theoretically causing anxiety, depression, or both. The anxiety may be caused by histamine’s inhibition of GABA, which slows nerve transmission. The depression may be caused by inhibition of the ‘antidepressant’ neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. However, histamine can also release norepinephrine (Bugajski, 1984), thus potentially causing anxiety or mania. Stress often releases histamine, which in turn will help release the HPA axis stress hormones. It is known that chronic HPA activation is associated with depression and brain alterations. There is also evidence that histamine activates the calcium pathway more than the DAG pathway (Sarri, Picatoste, & Claro, 1995). There is abundant evidence that the DAG pathway is antidepressant-like, and the calcium pathway may cause depression.

Besides its antihistamine effect, there are multiple sources of evidence to suggest that humans should supplement with vitamin C. Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, believes that adult humans need between two to nine grams of vitamin C daily (Haas, 1992). Animals who can synthesize vitamin C do so at 45-300 times the adult human RDA, which is about 0.9 mg/kg/day (60-90 mg/day) (Levine, 1985). For a 150 pound human, this would extrapolate to about 12 grams per day, if humans synthesized their own vitamin C. Vitamin C blood and tissue levels decline with age (Lieberman & Bruning, 1997), which is an additional reason to supplement. If vitamin C is taken as a supplement, then other supplementation should be considered, since vitamin C needs calcium, magnesium, and bioflavonoids to help its own assimilation (Balch & Balch, 1997).

Recommendations for Further Research:

Since vitamin C and histamine are involved in both physical and mental processes, this leads to the question of psychosomatic issues with both molecules. Recall that both molecules are also involved in the immune response and pro- or anti-allergic responses. There are three possible links between psychic state and somatic allergy. First is that allergies are produced by psychological stress. Second is that psychological stress is produced by allergies. Third is that allergic exposure can produce both psychic and somatic responses. This third link has been proven in a double-blind study (King, 1981). As mentioned earlier, allergy-mediated histamine release is associated with various mental reactions.

There have been various theories on the molecular basis of mental illness for several decades. The first theory is called the monoamine theory, formed in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It proposes that abnormal brain function is directly dependent on fluctuating monoamine levels (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, GABA). Interestingly, histamine was not included in the original monoamine theory, probably due to the lack of research at the time regarding its mental health effects. At that time, doctors would most often give only antidepressants to depressed patients, and benzodiazepins (ex. Xanax, Valium) to anxious people. The second theory is the comorbid theory, which dominated psychiatric philosophy in the 1990’s. It was formed after the realization that drugs such as Prozac could singlehandedly reduce both depression and anxiety. The third is the subsyndromal theory, which evolved from the discovery that the vast majority of anxious people have some depression, and vice versa. The philosophy of the subsyndromal theory is basically in-between the monoamine and comorbid theories.

The discovery that histamine can inhibit all other major neurotransmitters suggests taking another look at the original monoamine hypothesis of mental illness. It is known that dopamine tends to be high in psychosis, norepinephrine high in mania, and serotonin low in depression. It could be postulated that psychotics have a dopaminergic-dominated neurotransmitter system, bipolars a norepinephrine-dominated neurotransmitter system, and depressives a serotonin-dominated neurotransmitter system. The fourth major monoamine, histamine, may very well be dominant in atopic (allergic) people. People with histaminergic-dominant neurotransmitter systems could have a very wide variety of mental illnesses, since histamine affects the release of all major neurotransmitters. The biochemical characterization of the histaminergic person may therefore be of interest to practitioners in order to help that person physically and mentally. This characterization leads to the topic of metabolic typing, described below.

In the emerging nutritional science of metabolic typing, people are asked a series of questions to determine what type of biochemistry they have. Some people are slow oxidizers and tend to be sympathetic nervous system dominants. Those people do better on carbohydrates. Others are fast oxidizers and tend to be parasympathetic nervous system dominants. These people do better with more fat and protein in their diet. Too many carbohydrates for a fast oxidizer can bring a lot of physical and mental problems. Since histamine is a stimulatory molecule, it may hasten oxidation, and histaminergic types may want to consider limiting carbohydrates.

There is some evidence to suggest that histamine is involved in creating the parasympathetic dominant biochemistry in a person. The parasympathetic branch of the CNS is responsible for decreased heart rate and increased digestive secretions, both of which are also caused by histamine release. Also, physical tendencies of parasympathetic dominants include allergies and excessive appetite (Wolcott & Fahey, 2002). Histamine is a major cause of allergies and its stimulatory effect on digestion can result in excessive appetite.

Besides its antihistamine effect, vitamin C can help a person’s biochemistry in other, more subtle ways. Vitamin C can be purchased as straight ascorbic acid, or the pH neutral calcium ascorbate or sodium ascorbate. For people who are sympathetic dominants, straight ascorbic acid should be tried, since those types of people may not have sufficient hydrochloric acid secretions. The loosely bound hydrogen from the ascorbic acids hydroxyl group will dissociate in the stomach and help digest protein. Ascorbic acid may also be helpful to balance the blood pH of people with metabolic alkalosis.

Conversely, parasympathetics, who tend to have robust hydrochloric acid production, should try calcium ascorbate, since the ascorbate will accept excess hydrogen ions in the stomach. Calcium ascorbate taken in large doses may help neutralize acid reflux. Calcium is also good for parasympathetics, since it slows down oxidation (Wolcott and Fahey, 2002). Calcium ascorbate may help balance the blood pH of people who have metabolic acidosis.

Other future research may concentrate on how megadosing with vitamin C affects mental health quantitatively. There has already been research proving that vitamin C intake enhances mood (Brody, 2002; Balch & Balch, 1997). So far, there has not been a large study to see if vitamin C alone can significantly reduce depression or anxiety, either in conventional or alternative medicine. There are two main clinical scales to measure depression and anxiety—the Hamilton depression scale and the Hamilton anxiety scale. It would be of interest to see if vitamin C alone could significantly reduce depression and/or anxiety.

Since different people have different biochemistry, the question arises of how much vitamin C is needed daily by a person for physical and mental health. One of the best ways to test how much vitamin C a person needs is to have them do an ascorbic acid flush. This can be done with both ascorbic acid and calcium/sodium ascorbate. The protocol can be varied, but it usually consists of a person taking 1-2 grams of vitamin C every hour until bowel tolerance occurs (diarrhea). The grams of vitamin C are counted and recorded. The final gram(s) that cause bowel tolerance are usually multiplied by 50-80%, and that is the baseline daily dose that the person should take from then on. For example, if 18 grams causes bowel tolerance, than 9-16 grams is the daily baseline amount. If the person is under an unusual amount of stress, or has a viral infection, the baseline can be raised until bowel tolerance occurs at a higher level than before. Again, the new temporary bowel tolerance is lowered a certain percentage until the stressor abates.

Summary:

The contents of this dissertation have introduced a multidimensional model for the attenuation of histamine-related mental illness via vitamin C supplementation. Both histamine and vitamin C affect the human body on multiple levels. Histamine plays many different roles in the body, including neuromodulation, neurotransmission, allergic mediator, inflammatory mediator, and gastric acid secretion stimulator. When histamine levels are in the normal range, the above processes are usually in equilibrium and functioning optimally. It is when histamine levels become too low or high that trouble can arise. One of the roles of vitamin C in the body is to modulate histamine levels; if histamine levels are low, vitamin C administration will cause small amounts of histamine to be released. When histamine levels are abnormally high, vitamin C acts as an antihistamine, destroying excess histamine and thus bringing this chemical down to normal physiological levels.

In addition to its antihistamine effect, vitamin C has many other actions on the body. Like histamine, vitamin C is also both a neuromodulator and an immunomodulator. In fact, based on the information earlier in this dissertation, it is not an exaggeration to state that vitamin C is histamine’s counterpart and molecular ‘watchdog’. Unfortunately for humans, vitamin C cannot be synthesized in the body, so it must be supplemented either in food or nutritional supplements. If humans could synthesize vitamin C, a 150 pound person would make roughly 12 grams of vitamin C daily. That’s 133-200 times the US RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin C. This statistic underscores the fact that there is a huge difference between the RDA of vitamin C designed to prevent rare diseases, and the optimal amount to sustain physical and mental health.

Sub-optimal amounts of vitamin C in the blood and tissues can allow histamine to rise to dangerous levels. Histamine competes with other neurotransmitters, and excess histamine can end up dominating and inhibiting other neurotransmitters. This can lead to anxiety and/or depression. Histamine sometimes releases norepinephrine and dopamine, and these two neurotransmitters in excess can precipitate mania and psychosis, respectively. Histamine may also be involved in ADD (Passani, Bacciottini, Mannaioni, & Blandina, 2000). Stress releases histamine, which then in turn releases various stress hormones that can result in serious bodily harm if the stress is chronic. Just as histamine dominates other neurotransmitters, it also can deregulate the HPA axis by overstimulation of the pituitary and adrenal glands.

The molecule cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an extremely important regulator of metabolism. Robust levels allow the maintenance of both physical and mental health. Low levels can result in asthma, depression, and possibly even cancer. Histamine lowers cAMP levels, by a mechanism that is not completely elucidated; it may have to do with the calcium pathway antagonizing the cAMP pathway. Vitamin C boosts cAMP levels by at least three methods: directly degrading histamine, synergism with cAMP producers, and inhibiting the enzyme (phosphodiesterase) that degrades cAMP. In this way it can attenuate, prevent, or even reverse asthma, depression, and cancer. Vitamin C also helps reverse asthma by slowing down synthesis of the inflammatory mediators arachidonic acid (AA) and PGF2a. cAMP also inhibits histamine release (Mohsenin & Dubois, 1987).

It has been shown in this dissertation that vitamin C is very beneficial for mental health in many different ways. Vitamin C benefits mental health both with its antihistamine effects and in numerous other ways as well. It is very unfortunate that humans cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. Animals who synthesize their own vitamin C develop cancer much less than humans. Yet the RDA for vitamin C is a paltry 60-90 mg/day, just enough to prevent certain diseases that are very rare in developed countries. The time will come when vitamin C is recommended by both doctors and nutritionists in doses that are appropriate to a person’s weight—about eight grams for every 100 pounds, as suggested by the two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling.

 

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What Type of Community is Your Best Place?

Often confused with a housing development or neighborhood, a retirement community is not about the community being “gated” as much as it is about the fact that they are “planned.”

With or without a gate or guard house, people feel safer living in a community with like minded people with similar interests and communities are becoming very popular especially with people in retirement.

Most all communities are deeded real estate. And today, there are many different types and styles of “communities” which have various levels of amenities.  It is important as you explore in search of finding your Best Place to live, you know and understand all the choices that are available.

An “Active Adult Community“ is an age-restricted community requiring at least one household resident is age 55. No one under age 19 may be a permanent resident. Residents usually engage in community activities and are retired, employed in some manner or have their own business.

Many Adult Communities maintain the property for the residents. I like to call them “Active Lifestyle Communitiesbecause, for the most part, the focus today seems to be more on lifestyle and amenities, rather than age.”

Some communities are centered on boating, golf, horses, fitness or some other outdoor activity. They have a certain “style” to them.

“Private Residence Clubs“ is deeded real estate ownership (fractional ownership) without the added responsibility of owning. The price varies with residence and number of weeks in your plan.

With “Destination Clubs“ you don’t own any of the real estate and for only a membership fee and yearly dues, provide access to houses throughout the world. Both Private Residence and Destination Clubs provide high-end housing at resort destinations with five-star amenities.

The explosive “New Urbanism“ communities tightly cluster a wide variety of home types, foster interaction; residents are diverse from the retired to young families; feature walkable Main Street shopping, restaurants and a mix of commercial development.

The New Urbanism community de-emphasizes the need for a car has undeveloped common “green space” and offers residents of different ages and economic backgrounds.

New Ruralism communities foster connection with nature, privacy, and community involvement only as desired.

The home sites are usually large and separated by nature preserves, natural features, and agricultural land.

New Ruralism communities are characterized by undisturbed open spaces shared by everyone.

A new type of community real estate is Co-housing. Co-housing is where people are committed to helping each other and becoming popular with the same generation that gave us the commune.

Residents of a Co-housing community own a townhome or condo and share a “common house”, participate in the design, operation and maintenance of the community.

The common facilities usually contain a kitchen, lounge, children’s room, recreational facilities, meditation room and workshops.

As you can see, there are many different types and styles of “communities”.

Whether you’re retired or relocating to what you want to be your Best Place to Live, communities offer a wide variety of lifestyles.

There’s no better way to find out more about the communities you are considering, than taking a trip to visit them. Many offer “discounted“ weekend packages.

However, before you spend all that time and money, make sure you read the fine print.  Also, many provide a video or DVD of the community, so you can get to know them without ever leaving home.

Visit www.PlacesOfValue.com for more information on the best places in North Carolina and South Carolina, relocation and/or retirement made easy.

Get Your FREE REPORT on “Affordable Best Places In The Carolinas”, and find your Best Place to Live in North Carolina or South Carolina. Visit:

http://www.placesofvalue.com/go/go.php?c=ncscad2

 

 

 

 

Park Homes: 7 reasons for choosing a Park Home lifestyle

If you’re thinking of ‘downsizing’ your living arrangements, then a Park Home could be the ideal answer for you.

Here are seven great reasons for choosing a Park Home lifestyle:

1. Park Homes are Affordable
Park Homes are very affordable, and often significantly cheaper than buying a traditional home. The Park or Lifestyle Village usually takes care of major site maintenance which means you get to spend your time and money on your hobbies or travel instead!

2. Luxury
I bet “luxury” didn’t cross your mind when thinking about Park Homes did it? Well today’s modern Park Homes often come with plush carpeting, wooden floors, modern fixtures and spacious designs making them very comfortable residences.

And the Parks and Villages are also changing to meet the needs of active retirees. Fancy a swim in the heated pool? What about keeping fit by using the onsite fully-equipped gymnasium? Relax and socialise in the Clubhouse. Learn a new hobby or skill by doing activities in the Community Centre.

3. Appearance
One of the attractions of a Park Home Village is that there is maintenance of the grounds, and rules about the appearance of properties. Generally these rules are reasonable and serve to make the appearance of the Park a pleasure for all those who live there.

4. Sssshh
Hear that? Its quiet…
Lets face it, most people have loved and raised kids, but sometimes you want to live in a quieter environment. Living in a Park Home village is an adult-community, usually for people aged “over 55?.

5. Security
Many Park Homes and Lifestyle Villages are ‘gated’ with security entry and fencing around the Park which keeps you safe and crime levels low.

6. Community
It’s wonderful to live where you know your neighbours and you share common interests. A well-designed Park Home allows connections with like-minded people to be made easily. Many Parks and Villages also have a Clubhouse or Community Centre for residents to socialise and take up group activities. Its easy to stay active and interested in your community and make new friends.

7. Lock up and leave
The world is a big place and if you enjoy travelling then being able to simply “lock up and leave” your Park Home while you roam the world on your travels is a great benefit. You won’t need to worry about who will collect the mail; look after the gardens; and check on the house. You just need to make sure you’ve packed your bags and have your passport and your camera!

If you’re looking to downsize but still want all of the above amenities in your next home, then maybe a Park Home is what you are looking for. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you see!

Communication is the Cause of Many Issues in the Workplace

Communication is the cause of many issues in the workplace – or rather the lack of communication.  Bad communication leads to arguments, misunderstandings, errors and time wasted trying to determine the way forward.

The lack of communication can have an impact on

Health and Safety Equality and Diversity Performance Employee engagement Employee loyalty Change management

 

Communicating Health and Safety policy to your employees is a legal requirement and a requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.  Health and Safety matters need to be communicated effectively in order to avoid accidents at work.  If an accident has taken place in the workplace it needs to be communicated in order for it to be investigated so that similar or more severe accidents do not happen in the future.  By law any accidents that result in an absence of 3 or more days – that is, an employee is absent or is unable to perform their normal day to day tasks for a period of 3 or more consecutive days, major injury, injuries to members of the public, lose of consciousness or death must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as soon as possible after its occurrence or a fine will be levied.   This falls under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (1995) (RIDDOR)

Failure to communicate your policy on Equality and Diversity could lead to instances of bullying and harassment that would leave you open, as an organisation to Employee Tribunals or prosecution under civil law. 

If your employees do not receive an adequate induction when they join your organisation where the policies are made clear and their duties are provided – which is also a legal requirement – then performance issues will arise.  If employees are not informed and communicated to they will not be engaged and then their loyalty will be questioned. 

The biggest failure of Change Management is the lack of communication.  Getting people to understand why the change is happening is the biggest hurdle to them accepting it. 

The biggest change to communicate effectively is redundancy.  Redundancy is one change that affects everyone in an organisation whether you are being made redundant or not.  Even if the redundancy taking place is being done on a voluntary basis, the communication still needs to be clear and easy to understand. 

So why is communication in the work place so difficult?  Is it a lack of understanding ourselves of what needs to and is happening? 

How to improve our communication

Improving our communication can be an easy task if we want it to.  First we must identify how we communicate and the first step here is to listen to those that we communicate with.  This means Actively listening to what is being said not just to the words that are being used but, how it is being said and why.  Professor Albert Mehrabian has carried out much research in the field of body language and non-verbal communications.  His most famous model, and one that is frequently quoted and often inaccurately is that communication is made up of

7% of meaning in the words that are spoken. 38% of meaning is paralinguistic (the way that the words are said). 55% of meaning is in facial expression.

 

Source: www.businessballs.com

This is the simplified version.  Mehrabian’s research stated that these figures were pertaining to feelings and attitudes in each area.  When we actively listen we need to be aware of all three areas when the communication is verbal and face to face.  When we communicate with another medium, Telephone, written, email etc, this model then becomes unreliable.

By listening to who we communicate with we are able to understand if our message has got across.  If it has not then our verbalising of it needs work to make it clearer.  The fewer questions that are asked can mean that the message is understood or that they were not listening in the first place!

When the communication is written, there is more reliance on the words used and their interpreted meaning by the reader.  Written communications need to be thought through carefully and the words used, used wisely.  Reading English does depend on your frame of mind when reading it.  The same sentence read in three different frames of mind, anger, upset or happy will have three completely different meanings.  The written message will not have changed, only your state of mind. 

Staying with that theme, email is a fast and sometimes efficient way of communicating with many people at the same time.  How many of us have received an email and been enraged with it’s content and fired off a reply only to regret it when the message is read again at a later time or date?  The message has not changed, just our state of mind. 

Communicating on the telephone is slightly easier as you can respond with questions if the message received touches a nerve to clarify understanding.  Without the visual cues, communication gets harder.  VOIP, Voice Over Internet Protocol, services such as Skype, Windows Messenger and others offer video calls.  This provides us with the three areas and Mahbrabian’s model comes into play. 

If we are able to say confidently that our communication is good – and be honest with yourself here, most of us could improve in some area!  Then we need to try and understand how the other person communicates. 

There are various models of how we communicate around, for example

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Transactional Analysis

 

NLP was created in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and Dr John Grinder.  It was developed to study the world’s greatest therapists – Dr Milton Erickson, father of modern hypnotherapy; Fritz Perls, creator of Gestalt therapy; and Virginia Satir, the mother of modern-day family therapy.  They wanted to discover what made these therapists effective[1].  What they came up with was NLP.  An explanation of what NLP was provided by Richard Bandler – ‘NLP is an attitude and a methodology, which leave behind a trail of techniques.’ And Dr John Grinder, ‘NLP is an accelerated learning strategy for the detection and utilization of patterns in the world.’

Within NLP three communication styles are described, these are 

Visual Auditory Kinaesthetic

 

A person that that communicates visually, use pictures and images to describe something and uses phrases such as, ‘I see where you are coming from’ or, ‘The way I picture it’. 

A person that communicates auditory – uses sound – to describe something uses phrases like, ‘It sounds like…’ or, ‘I hear what you are saying’.  They will also have an internal voice and usually rehearse conversations before having them.

A person that communicates kinaesthetically uses feelings and gut feel to describe something and usually uses phrases like, ‘I feel that…’ or, ‘That doesn’t sit well with me’.

Transactional Analysis was developed by Eric Berne in the 1950s.  Berne describes three communication states Parent, Adult and Child.  These states are within us all as we have all have had an authority figure growing up (Parent), we are adults and we have all been children.

In the model there are different states within Parent and Child.  A Parent will either be nurturing or domineering.  A Child will either be adapted (positively or negatively) or free (creative, mischievous, free thinking).  An Adult is level headed and calm.

Neither of the communication styles in NLP or Transactional Analysis is right or wrong and we will use all of them at some point.  We have a style that is stronger than all the others and this will be our preferred communication style. 

When using Transactional Analysis, the ideal state for effective communication is Adult to Adult as this is the most productive.  The goal of Transactional Analysis is to leave a transaction (conversation) in the state of ‘I’m OK, You’re OK’ and this is only achieved in an Adult to Adult transaction. 

When you understand how another person communicates, especially in NLP, you are able to mirror (copy) their communication style and communicate more effectively with them.  In Transactional Analysis you want to get the other person to the Adult state – as long as that is where you are! – for effective communication. 

When you are being communicated to, ask questions to clarify what is being said and if the communication is not clear make the other person work a bit harder to explain what it is they mean.  We can all help each other with our communication skills and this can only improve the way messages are delivered and received. 

 

[1] Source: www.businessbalss.com

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