Watching someone endure the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease is difficult. It is called “the long goodbye,” because it lingers and lingers, and we must watch as our loved ones slip deeper away. Even though they are physically in front of us, they are gone. They are not the same people we knew.
There are several ways to help someone with Alzheimer’s that will make life a little easier for both of you. Don’t argue with them. If they insist the sky is pink, you should agree and remark that it is a lovely shade of pink at that. Try to help them fill in the gaps. If they forget the way, don’t scold them. Gently remind them it is “this way.” And if they cannot think of a word they are trying to say, gently help them with it. Don’t fight them verbally. Always be kind and soft-spoken. They are already going through enough turmoil in their minds. My dad enjoyed it when I sang songs to him. These were songs from his past and he always smiled and laughed while I sang them. Bringing up stories from the past that he remembered made him feel less stress. Give them permission to die. People often hang on thinking they are needed. Their subconscious might be working against their conscious mind. They might be ready to go, yet feel the need to stay for their loved ones. Giving them permission to go is the best gift you can give anyone. Every time I left my dad I would tell him it was OK for him to go away. Most of the time his mind didn’t comprehend what I was trying to tell him. Then, one day I was lying with him in his bed, we were singing “Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra,” and he had some moments of clarity. I used that opportunity to tell him again it was time for him to go. He looked at me and asked if it was his time. I said it was. He said he would miss me. I assured him I would be fine and everyone would be all right. He didn’t have to worry about anyone. We would all be OK. For some reason, that day I got through to his subconscious. By the next morning, he had passed away. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s takes a lot of patience. Remember to keep you cool, don’t argue with them, and by all means, make them feel safe and loved. And, give them permission to let go. Give them permission to die. That is the best thing I ever did for my dad. While I miss him greatly, I know he wasn’t the dad I had known all my life. The last two years, he was a different person. For someone who had been very active while I was growing up, he turned into a shell of a man. It was indeed, a long goodbye. Everyone these days is talking about how to make your cooking healthier without losing out on taste. Let us share with you some tricks of the trade we’ve discovered.
Salt Yes, salt makes everything taste better, but it is a major culprit in high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. To cut the salt intake without cutting the taste of food, avoid adding salt while preparing the dish. Salt added sparingly just before eating maximizes its effect. And try adding other herbs and spices to flavor a dish so that less salt is needed. When using canned foods, make sure to buy low sodium versions. That gives you more control over the amount of salt in your cooking. Instead of using tomato sauce, which adds not only extra sodium, but often other unhealthy ingredients, buy no salt added canned tomatoes and puree them in a blender or food processor. The more control you have over what is added to your food, the healthier you can make it. Grains It is common knowledge now that whole grains are healthier for you than refined grains. But have you ever used whole-wheat white flour? It has the health benefits of whole-wheat flour, but is lighter and less strong of a flavor, for those who enjoy the light flavor of white bread. And while we’re talking about ways to eat healthier grains, try using rolled oats instead of breadcrumbs in your next recipe. If you don’t like the texture of the oats, put them in the blender for a minute and they begin to look just like breadcrumbs. Quinoa has become more available here in the United States, and with its ability to boast high fiber, high protein and nutrient density, quinoa is a great substitute for rice and pasta. Other recommendations include trying spaghetti squash in place of spaghetti, English muffins in place of hamburger buns, nuts instead of croutons and a cauliflower crust instead of pizza crust. Oil When a baking recipe calls for soft butter, consider substituting avocado instead. The taste of the avocado disappears, but the creaminess remains. Olive oil and canola oil are full of heart healthy fats and are a good alternative for butter as well. Mashed bananas and applesauce can be substituted for oil for a healthier, more nutritious recipe. Meat Doctors and dieticians have long recommended swapping white meats, such as chicken and fish for red meat. But did you know that chunk white tuna contains less mercury than albacore tuna? And have you thought of adding grated vegetables, such as mushrooms, peppers, zucchini and carrots to your ground beef? It increases the dish, but decreases the calories and saturated fat. And you’re sneaking in those servings of vegetables. Dairy Many have praised the benefits of Greek yogurt, and we’ve discovered that it substitutes well for sour cream and mayonnaise. And as an alternative for whipped cream, try whipping chilled coconut milk. Sweets Are you one who craves soda? Try this healthier choice. Mix ¼ cup 100% fruit juice with ¾ cup sparkling mineral water. Craving ice cream? Try blending frozen bananas. They are creamy and sweet, and you can add some cocoa powder for a chocolate twist. We hope some of these ideas will help you to cook healthier. Enjoy! References: http://www.health.ri.gov/healthrisks/salt/ http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2014/02/17/pantry-raid-10-healthy-ingredient-swaps/ http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/5_small_food_swaps_to_make_you_instantly_healthier http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/weight_loss_diet_plans/cut_875_calories_with_these_sneaky_food_swaps?page=3 http://pickyeaterblog.com/be-a-picky-eater-make-healthy-food-swaps/ "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily." --Zig Ziglar
U.S. News & World Report has released their survey of the best diets of 2013. A panel of experts who are specialists in fields such as nutrition, diabetes, heart health, human behavior and weight loss were asked to rate 32 of the most popular diets of 2013. The panel evaluated the diet on the basis of safety, nutrition, short and long term weight loss, and ease. Would you like to know the winners? First Place: DASH The DASH diet was developed by the US government to fight high blood pressure. To find out more about DASH, you may read the brochure from the US government here. Second Place: TLC The TLC diet, or Therapeutic Lifestyle changes, was created by the National Institutes for Health to improve cholesterol levels. For more information, go here. "Those who have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness." --Edward Stanley
According to an article in the BBC news, you might not need eight cups of water a day, as is commonly held. But don't worry about it too much. In the end, if you get too much water, your body gets rid of it by urinating. If you drink too little water, you get thirsty. Just pay attention to what your body is telling you, and you'll be great!
Read the full article here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24464774 It sounds counterintuitive, but light exercise can help your head cold to clear up more quickly. According to an article on abc News, there are many kinds of exercises that could help you get over that cold more quickly. They include:
There are a few exercises, however, that you should avoid while you are sick. Those include:
Read the whole article here: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/best-worst-exercises-cold/story?id=20534681# Who hasn’t forgotten occasionally where they put their keys? Or that important date? Memory loss is an issue for all of us. While some kinds of memory loss is normal as we get older, some memory loss happens even to the young and invincible. What causes memory loss and how do we overcome this frustrating setback? The number one cause of normal memory loss is stress, distraction, and lack of focus. We are simply so busy that we never pay close enough attention to details to remember them. Like the name of that person you met ten minutes ago. One easy way to remember things better is to write down important information, and to make lists. In view of this, we’ve created a number of lists all about memory loss. Perhaps it will help you remember this article when your moment of loss occurs. So read on, and remember! |