To Do Together - Making no-cook Treats

I was searching for a recipe for "edible dough" - as in a play dough substitute. The ones I have seen are peanut butter. This recipe from www.cooks.com came as a surprise! Although they include food color, I personally wouldn't use it unless it was 100% natural. Why toxify your elder?

Make a batch of this super easy-to-make dough, and then have fun creating little treats with your elderly charge. If you get really creative, you may melt semi-sweet chocolate and dip your finished product, to create chocolate covered mints.

UNCOOKED MINT CANDIES OR EDIBLE PLAY DOUGH

Printed from COOKS.COM

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1 brick (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 to 3 drops peppermint or spearmint oil
Few drops food coloring

To make candy: Press into candy molds; roll out and cut with tiny cookie cutters; or shape with hands into balls or wreaths.If using as play dough, keep in a tightly closed container.

Mike Rowe Speaks To Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Wonderful video of Mike Rowe, and his testimony to his Grandfather. 

 http://youtu.be/3h_pp8CHEQ0  

Help Your Elder's Digestive System With Probiotics

Has your elderly charge been on a round of Antibiotics? Just look at the word, and you can see that, although the doctor may have thought it was necessary, you'll want to correct and balance the digestive system. Anti = Against. Biotic = Life. 


It is advisable for the elderly to consume probiotics on a daily basis. Choose wisely, and don't be fooled by advertising which touts certain sugar-filled, processed foods as "probiotic".


Many illnesses are worsened by an abnormal ratio of intestinal bacteria, usually caused by poor diet or toxins. A diet rich in probiotic foods is known improve gut health, thereby engendering longer life, aiding the body’s production of vitamins, helping to break down toxic substances, elevating mood, improving glucose metabolism, 


Here is a good list of foods which will actually benefit the intestinal flora:

• Kefir - like drinkable yogurt
• Yogurt
• Raw Cheese
• Sauerkraut
• Coconut Kefir
• Miso 

Miso has also been beneficial in overcoming a bout of diarrhea. Yogurt and kefir should always be purchased at a health food store, or a high-quality grocery store where organic and preferably raw products are sold. Don't believe everything you see on those television commercials! Read the label. 

The company I represent has several products with pre and probiotics. Click one of the links if you would like further information. 

Activites You Can Do Together

I found a great website with ideas for crafts and activities Elderly people can enjoy. It's totally free. Check it out by clicking here.

Ruth

To Soup, or not to soup

Soup is comfort food, and this is the time of year when it seems like exactly the right thing to make. It can be... unless your elderly person has trouble bringing food to their mouth without spilling. In that case, eating soup can turn into a disaster, and prove to be humiliating.

Cream-style soups, made very thick, can prove to be a good option. Try making cream of potato soup. It's super easy, delicous, and can be healthful.

Chop onion and celery, and carrots if you like.
Saute in coconut oil with garlic until tender
Add diced potato, and vegetable broth, just covering vegetables
Simmer until potatoes are tender
Stir in coconut milk, and add salt and pepper to taste

Make this soup very, very thick. You may top with shredded cheese for a treat. Serve with a large spoon, and some crusty bread.

I made your bed, now you can lie in it

Making the bed of an elderly person can be a chore - especially if they suffer from overnight incontenence. Here's a trick I implemented which worked very well.

Strip the bed down to the mattress. Take two extra large disposable underpads, and tape them to the mattress so that they are centered under where the person's bottom will rest. (Sounds like a "duh", but all of my clients lie in their beds very differently!) Make sure you secure all sides to avoid bunching. Next, put on the mattress pad. On this, also, place two underpads, taped securely. Cover this with a fitted sheet with one extra large underpad taped to it. On top of this, place a second fitted sheet, protected in the same manner. Then make the bed. If the incontenent person suffers a breakthrough in the night, simply pull off the top fitted sheet, exposing the clean one. If you experience 2-3 changes a night, just increase the layers.

Rubber sheets are a good thing to use, also. I do not recommend covering the entire mattress with plastic, as this promotes unhealthy sweating and may contribute to skin breakdown.

Water for Elderly, not Elephants

The human brain is 77 - 78% water. Dehydration in the elderly is serious, and possibly fatal. Let's make it easy for them to get the needed water. By the way - in my opinion water is the best, if not only, source of hydration. You may add a small amount of sea salt to the water to increase the hydrating effect. Here is the recipe:

How much salt should you take? F. Batmanghelidj M.D. suggests:

1/8 tsp of salt (unrefined sea salt is best) for every 16 oz (half a liter) of water we drink. Use ½ tsp of salt for every half a gallon of water and a full tsp of salt for one gallon of water. This is not to say that mixing the salt into the water is the best way to consume it. In the case of an elderly person, who will not know to or remember to take the salt directly on the tongue, it can be mixed. I would make a 16 ounce supply, and split it into two servings. If you are caregiving for the person, place 1/8 tsp of salt directly onto the tip of the tongue, and make sure the patient tastes it. Then have them drink the water, "washing" the salt down. In cases where there is no Dementia or other mental impairment, this simple routine can be taught. Few elderly will consume a gallon of water a day, however a half gallon is reasonable.
This "recipe" is attributed to curing an impressive number of ailments.
Many elderly are reluctant to drink. Is there a fear of looking stupid by not having the strength to lift the glass? Are they suffering from hands shaking? Is the huge glass intimidating? Do they resist having to go to the bathroom too often? The bathroom issue is tough to overcome, but you should make the dangers of dehydration very, very clear.

For ease of handling, and visual apeal, I use brightly colored, plastic, "Old Fashioned" style cups. These are available at large variety stores, appropriate for the season. You may also find great drinking cups on caregiving supply sites. Some have splash guards (for shaking).

Encourage your elderly charge that you would rather help them to the bathroom, than take them to the emergency room!

Tips:
Cucumber flavors water enough to make it more appealing. Lemon is good, as well. Ice is sometimes a welcome addition.