Home Safety

I wanted to post some more tips on caregiving. I never had any of these tips when mom started getting bad with her Alzheimer's so I like sharing these with the people out there just starting this long road. I never liked reading about this disease much. I never even liked it when people tried to give me tips. But here I am doing it to you. Only when I have nothing else to post about. Sorry.
1. Try to make your love ones  world simple.
2. Use plain -colored placemats, tablecloths , bath towels and sheets.
 Be careful about using tablecloths or even stuff on your end tables. Mom would put her hand on the table for balance and it slipped off and down she went with everything on the table coming done with her.
3. Block off stairs so they can't fall up or down them.
4. Have all of your house locks keyed to the same key.
6. Place safety latches up high and down low on doors leading to the outside.
7. Have her wear an Id bracelet if she wanders, and sign her up for the Alzheimer Association's Safe Return Program .
 I have told you this before I think but we almost lost mom at the mall once.  My brother saw her turning the corner way at the other end of the hallway . Good thing he had good eyes or we  would of  lost her. No more leaving her alone at the table while we went to get our plates at buffets anymore.
Mom did not like to walk much. She has always had bad legs. So when we went anywhere with lots of walking she like to find a nice spot and sit . She loved watching the people go by and visiting with others sitting close to her. At Wal-mart she would sit on the benches in the front of the store and we would get her on the way out. She had done this for years. Sometimes she would shop a little than want to go sit down. But she started getting up and wondering the store . Only happened a few times. I still did not relize she did not know what she was doing. I thought she just wanted to find us or look around . This was before the Mall thing. But after the Mall I stopped leaving her alone anywhere. Stuff like this is when your life starts changing. Having to be with her 24/7 . Not being able to just rely on her to take care of herself and you do what you need to do. It is the beginning of a whole new world. I keep thinking back to all the times she would be sitting at a bench some where while we were off doing things. It is scary because someplaces could of been very dangerous. If she had been wondering at that time. Thank the Lord for watching over her when I was not.
8. Use locked cabinets for soaps,cleaners, poisons, and medicines. I found mom trying to eat something weird once but I can't remember what it was. I think it was an napkin. She was at the finger food phase . Every thing she could pick up went in her mouth. I kind of liked that stage she still fed herself. Just had to make sure she was eating the right stuff.
9. Take up all throw rugs. We never had throw rugs . We have carpet in every room almost . Even in the kitchen for awhile. I pulled that up as soon as I could. It was nasty.
These tips are from Coach Broyles Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers

Coconut Cream Pie

My son and his girlfriend made the best Coconut Cream Pie the other day. When she started to go home I ask if she wanted  some but she no. Well my son ate it all. I did get a taste . But today she came over wanting a bite. But it was all gone. So they went to the store to get the makings for another one. Oboy! I am going to get a bigger taste today. They are making choc. cream pie too . I can share the choc. pie with mom . She will love that. Sweet and Choc. Can't beat that.
My son has been on spring break this week. He has been busy all week. Hiking , biking , painting and cleaning out the garage. If it had been me I would of had to take a day or two off resting up after doing one of the things he did . And he mowed the yard and cleaned the backyard .  Than went and sold the scrap metal. We got a whole $20 . Than he took me out to eat and to the movies. Boy what a week. Busy , busy. When he goes back to school I am going to rest. But I loved every minute of it. But my back hurts just watching him do all that.  LOL!

Goodwill Store and The Good Samanitan Store

Did I tell you all about my Good fortune at the Goodwill Store and The Good Samaritan Store. Well it was all Good. :)
 About once or twice a month I go to these stores to see if they have something I can use for mom. I was looking around  the Good Samaritan Store but did not see anything so decided to ask in case I missed something. I ask the lady if they had any adult diapers or anything like that I could use on my mom. She went to the back room and brought out a package of under pads and adult pull ups. I said how much and she just gave them to me. She said they were donated so no cost. I was very happy . And thanked her many times. Than I went to the Goodwill Store and looked in the usual place where they keep those kind of things and found 7 packages of adult diapers for $3 a piece. What a great find.
 Hospice brings me stuff like this but not all I need sometimes  and I don't want to seem greedy and ask for more. I do every now and than . And they will bring me what I need anytime I need it. But I am not passing up a good deal and I think I found two good deals that day. Just remember if you need something at these stores and don't see it . Ask. It can't hurt.
For supper tonight mom is having pureed New England Clam Chowder. It looks much better than the pureed meatballs. I forgot to tell you I added some canned carrots to mom's meatloaf so she could have some veggies and it still tasted good. Anyway  when we used to go out and eat a lot. Mom always got New England Clam Chowder at Denny's so I know she will enjoy her supper tonight. And it is going to be so easy . I have a can of Campbells Chunky New England Clam Chowder. Just going to open put in blender than mivowave. Have a great week .

Rachael Rays Mini Meatballs

It was good today. I pureed mom some real food and you all know how I hate doing that. But I love meatloaf but hate waiting for it to cook. I am always hungry and in a hurry so Rachael Ray did mini meatloaves on her show one day and I decided to try them today. I did not have all the fancy ingredients she puts in hers but I changed it up a bit and made my own with what I had in the refrigerator and cabinet. Anyway they were so good I wanted to share with mom. Well here they are  before and after . I had to test the pureed mess to make sure it was not to hot  for mom and it tasted good. Might not look good purred but believe me they tasted good and mom ate them all up. Here's Rachael's Fancy Recipe . Or you can click on  the title of this post to go to her site.  I only had ground beef. And mine only had catsup on it no fancy gravy . LOL!!!


1/2 pound ground beef

1/2 pound ground pork

1/2 pound ground veal

2 cups (about 2 large handfuls) breadcrumbs

3 sprigs sage, leaves removed from stems and chopped

1 cup (about 1 large handful) parsley, chopped

1/2 bunch scallions, finely chopped on an angle

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 egg

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 pints grape tomatoes

Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling

1/2 medium red onion, sliced

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 to 1 1/2 cups beef stock

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

In a large bowl, mix ground beef, pork, veal, breadcrumbs, sage, parsley, scallions, Worcestershire sauce, egg, salt and a palmful of freshly ground black pepper.



Using a 6-cup muffin pan, divide the meat mixture into 4 equal parts and scoop the portions into four of the muffin cups. Bake the mini meatloaves until cooked through and golden on top, about 30 minutes.

While the mini meatloaves are cooking, toss the grape tomatoes and onion slices onto a baking sheet along with a drizzle of EVOO, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Once the meatloaves have been in the oven for about 15 minutes, put the tray of veggies in and roast until the onions are caramelized and the tomatoes have burst open, about 15 minutes.



While the tomatoes and onion are roasting away, get the roux started: Melt the butter in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter, cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the balsamic and stock to the pan, whisking to incorporate. Cook until thickened, then remove it from the heat and reserve.

Remove the mini meatloaves and the tomatoes from the oven and set the meat aside to rest for about 5 minutes.

Add the roasted tomatoes and onion to the sauce and break up the veggies with a potato masher. Serve one mini meatloaf per person with a hearty ladle of the tomato balsamic



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Alzheimer's Assocation New Facts and Figures

There are nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers providing 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $202 billion.
Alzheimer's disease is the nation's largest underfunded public health threat with an estimated 5.4 million Americans living with the disease.

Alzheimer's is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. In fact, Alzheimer's kills more people than diabetes and more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

In 2010, Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers had $7.9 billion in additional health care costs.

This just stinks!!!!

Another Wedding

I am going to a wedding tomorrow. My sister is staying with mom. We are going to leave her in bed all day so my sister won't have to use the lift to get her in and out of bed . She is so scared of the lift.
  My son is going camping this weekend. He was going to the wedding with me but got a better offer. Now I am on my own. That might be fun and it might not. I have to drive 2 hours to get to  there. Lets just hope it is a nice day. This is the third wedding I have been to in less then a year I think.
I do like weddings because of the reception. I love food. And I like to watch the other people dance if that is going on. At one of the weddings you were suppose to give the bride or groom a dollar to dance with them. We tried to get my niece to dance with the groom but she would not. I think she kept the dollar I gave her for herself. It was fun anyway. The aid just came to give mom a bath. After the aid leaves I will get mom up and feed her lunch. I already gave her a breakfast shake with all her medicines in it to hold her over till lunch or brunch. I will feed her again before I put her down for her afternoon nap so I guess that will be lunch. Than up again at 4 to get her ready for supper. Up and Down all day. She might like getting to stay in bed   tomorrow. I hope everyone as a great weekend. And lets pray for the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami today.

Yearly Check-up

I called today to get a refill on my blood pressure medicine. The Pharmacy said no more refills. But it seems like I just went to the Doctor for  my check-up. So I called my doctor and I had not been there since Feb. 2010.  Go figure. The date on my bottle does say good till Feb. 2011. You would think I would of noticed that. Well, I have an appointment for Tues. to get my yearly check-up. What fun! I called my sister and ask her to watch mom so I could go. I did not figure a doctors appointment into my budget this month. I think I told you I put a gas grill on lay-a-way for my son's birthday in April. I had that figured into my budget. Now I have to do some more figuring. LOL!
When mom went to Little Rock to have her eye surgery we were only suppose to be there a couple days so I only took enough blood pressure med. for 5 days. Big mistake. We were there 9 days. I thought It would be ok because the doctor said we would go home tomorrow . Than he said no maybe tomorrow . So I had to hunt down a Wal-mart and get them to refill my medicine for me. The funny thing is I just had it filled at home and that was on there computer . But I told them my medicine was in Springdale and I was in Little Rock so they did it for me. Thank Goodness . I could tell I needed my medicine. Mom use to have very high blood pressure and my dad too. Hospice took her off her blood pressure medicine and she is ok. They check it twice a week. Don't know why it is not high. I guess she does not get stressed like she used to. Except on bath day . She hates bath day. That is the only time she really gets mad anymore. Just like a kid . That reminds me . I need to go take a shower. Night all.

Great Book

I just finished the wonderful book my blogger friend Carol sent me . It is great! You have to get one. Getting Off The Niceness Treadmill is  an inspiration in how she goes from being taken advantage for all her loving Christian kindness  to still  being a loving caring Christian in all things without letting the world run over her. Plus a look into her life and times as a child with her family.I too miss sitting on my front porch with my family. When my son was little many a days mom and I would sit on the porch and watch the kids play basketball or skate board. Our neighborhood used to be full of children . We had friends, cousins, grand kids, nieces and nephews everywhere. So the front porch was busy in the summer time. In Carol's book she longs for those days back on the front porch with the family. As I do.
 Carol is a great lady , author and blogger. Check her out . Just click on the title of my post and start enjoying the newkidontheblog.