Dominoes keeps him in the game of life ABOUT TOM FAULK BUILD UP YOUR BRAIN HE'S NO PIP SQUEAK

By CATHY DYSON

Tom Faulk can't keep track of the details anymore. He doesn't remember how long he was in the Air Force, when he got married or if he's taken his morning medicine.

But put a game of dominoes in front of the 83-year-old, and his focus becomes clear. He shuts out everything but counting "pips," or points on the domino tiles.

The Stafford County man will play for eight to 10 hours at a stretch.

He doesn't stop to eat, and he's not interested in television, reading or going to gatherings for seniors.

If he's not playing, he's sleeping.

"I told him he should change his name to 'Domino King' Faulk," said Tommy Bartley, his son-in-law.

Faulk's obsession with dominoes may have something to do with dementia. He played the game as a child "because we were poor folks, and that's all we had when I was growing up," he said. "Everybody around where I lived played dominoes."

As Faulk's health failed and a daytime caretaker became necessary, he picked up the game again.

His family's unusual living arrangement--and perhaps, even his domino playing--may have kept him and his wife, Mary, who also suffers from dementia, out of nursing homes.

The Faulks live with their daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Tommy Bartley. The Faulks lived in Dale City and the Bartleys in Spotsylvania County until the older couple had problems. Tom Faulk suffers with chronic back pain and had to go to a nursing home for rehabilitation three times in recent years.

The Bartleys were trying to care for their parents and maintain two homes. As things worsened, both couples sold their houses, pooled resources and built a new handicap-accessible home.

They moved to Falmouth in November 2006.

But there was still the issue of daytime care for the Faulks.

The Bartleys checked into various services, but couldn't handle the cost or having strangers in their home. About the same time, Tommy Bartley's brother, Benford, retired after 30 years with the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center.

Benford Bartley, a retired correctional officer, decided he'd rather care for the couple than work at a discount store. He takes them to doctors appointments, dispenses medicine and, most importantly for Tom Faulk, plays dominoes.

"It was like a puzzle that fit together," said Marilyn Bartley. "It's really worked out well."

Benford Bartley makes enough to cover his health insurance, and his brother and sister-in-law have peace of mind.

"It's just a family looking out for each other," Benford Bartley said.

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com

Tom Faulk, 83, and Benford Bartley, 54, have played almost 800 games of dominoes in the past year. Bartley leads, 395-381.

Faulk clearly flatters his opponents to keep them playing, Even when he's ahead, he'll say, "I wish I could play as good as you," or, "Boy, you're putting it on me now."

The men play a basic game, in which they line up same-numbered tiles in an attempt to score points in increments of five. Whoever gets 250 points first wins. Each game has about 10 rounds and takes about 45 minutes.

Tom concentrates on the tiles and gets annoyed when people talk.

"I've seen him sit there for 15 or 20 minutes to try to figure out his next move," Benford said. "He might not be able to remember if he took his medicine five minutes ago, but he knows his dominoes."

AGE: 83

FAMILY: Married to Mary Evelyn Faulk, 79, for 58 years in April. Has two children.

CAREER: Drafted in 1943 into the Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force. Rejoined after World War II and worked in food services until 1963. Did the same work as a civilian at Bowling Air Force Base until the mid-1980s.

CHRONIC PAIN: He says his back is paying now for a lifetime of hard labor. He worked on the family farm in Alabama as a child, lifting hay bales and fertilizer bags, then spent decades as a butcher.

Various medical studies show that playing board games can help keep the brain sharp, if the player learns new skills. Here are seven mind-boosting tips from sixwise.com:

1. Exercise

2. Challenge your mind with games, puzzles, learning a new language, reading or creative writing

3. Eat healthy meals

4. Listen to music

5. Have a drink (one-half to one a day)

6. Get enough sleep

7. Meditate

Date published: 2/27/2008

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