AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
For more than a dozen years Carla Flemings has served the Severna Park community as Director of Ministries for Asbury Town Neck United Methodist Church . She’s also taught bible classes and handled media relations. It was Flemings who first made us aware of the 138-year-old church on Asbury Drive’s renowned Johnson Male Chorus. She also acquainted us with the dedicated volunteers of the Asbury Church Assistance Network Food Pantry.
These days, however, Flemings is becoming well-known as a first-time author with her book, “Dementia, Hope Awaits”.
It had been a while since we’d last visited her office for an interview, but we found her busy as ever bouncing back and forth between her computer and paperwork on her desk. But she did manage to save time to autograph some copies of her book while speaking with us about what inspired her to write the book.
“Dementia, Hope Awaits” was “born out of necessity,” Flemings explained.
Her mother was diagnosed with the Lewy Body form of dementia (LBD).
“Our family had lots of questions and wanted to know what the expectations were and nobody was giving us any information.”
She added that the book details what she learned about dementia in the hope that other people “do not have to start at ground zero like we did,”. The book outlines what people should expect.
“On the cover, you’ll see the words ‘read this book first’. I did that to let readers know, if they happen to be walking the journey of caring for a person experiencing dementia, that the person is no longer the same,” Flemings said. “Mom or dad may end up cussing, for example, where they have never cussed before because the part of their brain that controls language may have an issue. Different lobes control different things and, if those areas don’t get enough oxygen and the nerve endings aren’t communicating, their function is affected.”
The first chapter of the book explains the brain and the function of each of four lobes and also describes the four types of dementia. The Lewy body type of dementia experienced by Carla Fleming’s mother, for instance, is caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain. Symptoms can include cognitive fluctuations, delusions, visual hallucinations and movement disorders.
Flemings next addressed the issue of home care versus assisted living options, describing key factors for home care consideration or for seeking an assisted living care facility. She said she was strongly motivated to write a chapter on how to choose the “best” care for the patient.
“I break down the things you must consider if you are going to take care of the patient at home – things you will not know until you are knee-deep in it and literally experiencing on-the-job training,” she said. “The same thing applies to finding a facility to care for a dementia patient.”
“We initially started off taking care of my mother at home and did that until we couldn’t due to safety issues and the fact that my sister and I both worked. One thing it’s very important to realize is that you’d better seek the help needed before it’s too late.”
Flemings added that some people put off making a decision until the patient is so impaired it’s beyond their ability to properly care for them. By that point, if the patient is unable to understand or communicate or is incontinent a care facility may not accept them. It’s important to get your loved one into assisted care as early as possible (they are not going to get better) so they can take advantage of the benefits of living in a place where they can ride out the next few years with a quality of life that includes dietary management, medication, socialization and exercise.
“I can’t stress enough how important exercise is to a patient,” she said. “When patients exercise, the blood is flowing and carrying oxygen to their brain. When our mother exercised, she was really in-the-moment.”
One chapter is dedicated to being present in the dementia patient’s life whether caring for them at home or especially if they are in a care facility. Other chapters deal with financial, legal and end-of-life issues.
The book is also filled with practical tips and illustrations from Fleming’s own experiences on how to best deal with a variety of situations. She strongly advises that if you plan to travel with a dementia patient, “go First Class”. When traveling with her mother, she handed the flight crew one of the Grace Extended cards she had printed up and still gives out saying “The person I am with has some memory challenges. Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding.”
We chatted with Carla Flemings about what it was like getting her first book published. She noted that, since traditional publishing is hard to find and her time was very limited, she self-published her book through Amazon which turned out to be a much easier process than she expected. She appreciated the fact that Amazon will help push your book if the content is good.
One thing she’s learned as an author is that she is now in demand for speaking engagements and book signings. We spied a poster on an easel that Flemings brings with her on such occasions.
Another thing she is delighted about is her recent appearance on the Jocelyn Moore Show – Danger In Delay that is carried on You Tube. The episode featuring Carla Flemings can be seen by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIsADseoEtA&t=1269s.
For more information or to obtain a copy of “Dementia Hope Awaits”, you can visit http://www.bestforthemandyou.com/
Update on development of Severna Park Golf Center property
Last week, County Councilwoman Amanda Fiedler provided an update on a bill she introduced (Bill 5-26) that, if passed, would “prevent the proposed residential development at the Severna Park Golf Center from achieving the potential 60 home density bonus they are seeking in order to fulfill a county requirement, and instead would allow for the original plan of a smaller number of homes.”
Severna Park and Arnold residents have expressed widespread opposition to the development, citing a host of issues including congestion due to what appears to be unchecked development of the Broadneck Peninsula.
Fiedler explains that the property has been zoned “residential” for many years and recently received “R5 Zoning” – a residential zoning classification that allows for medium to high-density housing, including apartment buildings, two-flats, and townhouses.
Fiedler said she’s “sad” that the proposal is on the table but acknowledges the right of every property owner to develop their property to the degree zoning allows.
Development was originally planned to include 74-75 detached single family homes as allowed by the zoning. Fiedler’s bill would still allow that number of homes to be built.
However, 135 homes are now proposed for the 19-acre (5 homes per acre) property because of a change to county law this summer in response to the Housing Attainability Act (HAA) – an Anne Arundel County bill sponsored by Councilwoman Pickard, Councilwoman Rodvien, Councilwoman Hummer, Councilman Pete Smith and County Executive Pittman.
The bill “creates an inclusionary housing policy requiring developers to make a
percentage of new units affordable to moderate income residents under certain circumstances.”
Consequently, the property developer adjusted the design of the development to “make the proposal work” according to Fiedler.
She further explained that the “anticipated revenue loss” for the developer due to the county’s Act would be offset by “a 50 percent reduced fee to connect the lower cost homes to county utilities and a density bonus of up to 150 percent if a development could achieve 100 percent of underlying zoning capacity (maximum number of units allowed).
Left unsaid is how the reduced fee and the “density bonus” would be paid for. Will county taxpayers be on the hook for payment despite widespread opposition to the development?
Fiedler said that her bill would set “a narrowly tailored moratorium on the requirements of the HAA law, within a 5-mile radius of College Parkway and Rt 2. “
She points out that the HAA bill passed 4-3 the first night it had a hearing, adding that “no amendments would be entertained to adjust it – despite concerns from the public and dissenting members of the council.”
Fiedler said she voted against the HAA bill because of the volume of homes proposed from the density bonus allowance.
“I voted against the HAA bill, not because I am against making home ownership more affordable, but because of the unintended consequences I knew the offsets/incentives could create somewhere in the county,” she stressed. “It is important to balance the need for affordable home ownership and housing with areas that can absorb the impacts of the incentives. I want to see future generations as first time home buyers in our county, but I also want to make sure they and their neighbors can get to and from daily activities as simple as grocery trips, school, doctors appointments etc., without crippling traffic congestion.”
Bill 5-26 will have a public hearing on Monday February 2nd, 7pm in County Council chambers located at 44 Calvert St. Annapolis. Each person testifying will get 2 minutes to speak.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
