Audio Book Resources
Gloria’s Oatmeal Cookies
Preparation Time: 15 minutes Baking Time: 15–16 minutes Oven Temperature: 350°F Yield: 2 dozen cookies
Ingredients: 1½ sticks (¾ cup) butter 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda. 2½ cups flour. 4 tbsp milk. 7½ oz raisins 2 cups oatmeal
Gloria’s Tips: Store cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread to keep them soft and moist for several days. Also, chilling the dough overnight makes them extra delicious!
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar and eggs until creamy.
3. In a second bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and flour.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture while blending.
5. Stir in the raisins and oatmeal.
6. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. 7.
Bake for 15–16 minutes. Notes: • This recipe can easily be doubled. • The dough freezes well.
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Appendix A. Strategies for Managing (or Reducing the Risk of) Dementia
Many people ask whether there are ways to reduce the risk of dementia. While no strategy can guarantee prevention, growing research indicates that certain lifestyle habits support brain health and overall well-being. These activities enrich our lives regardless of age or diagnosis by keeping us connected, engaged, active and emotionally supported.
1. Exercise. Exercise is at the top of the list for maintaining brain health. It is believed to be the single best thing we can do for our brains. If you’re unsure about suitable activities for you or your loved one, consult your doctor for guidance.
2. Focus on eating habits. A plant-based, organic diet is not just a suggestion; it’s a fundamental key to wellness. Ensure you drink enough water, limit sugar intake, and include Omega 3-rich fats in your diet (found in nuts, seeds and fatty fish, like salmon, rainbow trout, and lake whitefish). 167Looking Past Dementia
3. Reduce your stress. Devote plenty of time to things that help you relax and give you joy. One possibility would be listening to your favorite music for thirty minutes daily.
4. Maintain a sense of purpose, meaning and engagement. It’s important to stay involved in tasks you love and to show your care for others. We all need opportunities to make a difference.
5. Get 7–8 hours of sleep each night. This is vital for protecting brain health and managing dementia. Avoid consuming caffeine in the afternoon or evening to improve your sleep quality.
6. Learn new things. Complexity grows the brain. New interests can be developed, and creative pursuits can be adapted to suit our abilities as we age.
7. Stay engaged. As social creatures, we need to interact and be in community with others for our mental health as well as our brain health.
8. Humor is healing. We should do whatever we can to bring more humor into our lives. A moment of laughter can reduce stress, lift spirits, and help people feel more connected to one another.
The author gratefully acknowledges the Dementia Action Alliance, including Laurie Scherrer, Janice Bays, and Casey Venturini, for their inspiration and guidance related to the ideas presented in this appendix.
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Appendix B. Making the Move to Memory Care
Moving a loved one into memory care is often an emotional and complicated process for everyone involved. Families may struggle with questions about safety, timing, independence and quality of life, while the individual living with dementia may feel confused, frightened, resistant or even relieved. So, when is it the right time to move? And how do we do this?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. It depends on the individual and the stage of their dementia progression. Do they understand they have cognitive issues, or are they unaware they are living with dementia? Is their current environment safe and supportive enough for their needs? How quickly does the person seem to be advancing? Signs that it may be time include:
• episodes of wandering away from safety or getting lost. • poor hygiene
• medication mix-ups • difficulty socializing or avoiding others
• changed eating habits or weight loss • decline in overall well-being
• increased caregiver strain or burnout
If an individual clearly needs more structure, engagement and direction, an adult day program is a wonderful transitional step toward memory care and allows them to live longer in their home while giving you a much-needed break.
There are various approaches you can use when discussing the need to transition someone to memory care. But no matter what, don’t just take them, drop them off, and leave. (Yes, sadly, that happens.) And it’s also better not to inform the person weeks in advance. Instead, consider using one of these options:
• Some people take the person out to lunch at the residence once or twice, and then, having already moved their belongings, show them their new room: “Surprise!” This can be an effective option, though it may not be particularly pleasant for some. Still, people can and do adjust.
• Engage the person’s physician to gain their support. If the individual being moved trusts them, perhaps the doctor could deliver the initial message.
• If you are comfortable with therapeutic fibbing, carefully chosen white lies can sometimes ease the transition.
Dementia care expert and educator Rachael Wonderlin offers three things to say that can be helpful:
- Blame the doctor: “The doctor wants you to go here.”
- Name a vague length of time: “for a little while” or “for a few months.”
- Give a plausible reason (unrelated to dementia): “so they can better monitor your new medication,” “while your leg heals,” or “for your arthritis.”
See Rachael Wonderlin, “The 3 best things to say when transitioning someone to a dementia care community,” YouTube video, January 5, 2022, emeraldlakebooks.com/wonderlin.
- Alternatively, saying “Your house has mold in it and it’s going to take some time to get that fixed” worked very well for one family I knew to convince Mom to move into assisted living.
- Another alternative… Tell the truth (what a concept!), especially if the person is aware of their cognitive decline and is able to reason. “The doctor thinks we should try this place out, and that it might be good for you to get a little extra care right now.”
- Is there anything your relative used to say to you that could be useful in this situation? “You always told me, Mom, that sometimes life is hard, but we get through, and we can adjust.”
In discussions regarding an upcoming move, avoid arguing or attempting to persuade. Tread lightly, speak softly and clearly, and be patient.
Regardless of how the transition unfolds, people generally settle in and adapt. This process typically takes anywhere from three weeks to three months. Here are a few things you can do to make the transition easier for your loved one:
- Visit the selected community with the individual who will be relocating multiple times before moving day. Have lunch there or participate in an activity.
- Make their new environment as much like their current home as possible.
- Work with a moving company that understands memory care needs.
- Validate the person’s feelings: “Dad, if I were you, I would feel the same way.” “I know, this is hard.” “I’m so sorry, Mom. I wish things were different.”
Once you have moved your relative, consider participating in the life of the community, especially during those first few days and weeks. Attend events and activities with your loved one or 171Looking Past Dementia share a meal together. If you have time to volunteer by playing the piano or showcasing another special talent, or if you can help lead an activity that highlights something amazing your family member accomplished in their life, speak with the activities director or memory care coordinator about making that happen.