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Supplements
I started y dad on Valerian Root 800 mg/ day 7 days ago. He is calm and sleeps through the night. I am in shock because I have been giving my dad various supplements including CBD oil, chill pills, and melatonin,
Dementia Caregiver Eating Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
My dad is losing weight because he does not eat full meals. He does not have an appetite. His favorite foods have changed over the past few months. My dad tries to feed the dogs his food instead of eating his own food. We are constantly asking them what they feel like eating. We try to get their favorite foods.
Irritation
My dad gets angry and irritated easily and for no reason.
When he gets angry, it is frustrating but I check his blood sugar. According to my friend, Wanda, "Elderly are angry because they did not eat right, as we age we lose our sense of thirst and hunger so they may not have eaten a meal throughout the day that could have given them energy. Veggie smoothies are good when they try to tell you they do not want to eat. No one passes on a milkshake even if it is green! ". It's important to fill Dad with plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Hungry?
Breakfast ideas
oatmeal, eggs, cereal, fruit, Orange Juice, waffles, yogurt, nuts, egg omelet with spinach and mushrooms
Lunch ideas
salad, chicken, fruit, soup, hard-boiled eggs, steamed vegetables, tuna, nuts, seeds
Dinner ideas
steak, chicken, sweet potatoes, salad, fruit, steamed vegetables, fish, salmon, pork chops, stir fry,
We are following Dr. Mark Hyman's diet plan (functional medicine). We have lowered our sodium and sugar intake and avoided processed foods. We have cut back on white rice, white potatoes, and bread. Reduced soda intake. Increased supplements especially magnesium.
https://www.shdc.com.au/holistic-dentistry/magnesium-matters-likely-deficient/
You can locate a Functional Medical doctor in your area. Google 'Functional doctor'. I found one with great reviews within 30 minutes of my house.
Dementia Book Review
I am so excited to enjoy my latest book, Young Forever by Mark Hyman, MD. The author is @63 years old, in good health, and has traveled the globe searching for people who have longevity in life.
What is a Blue Zone?
He is documenting the secrets to their good health. He visited BLUE ZONES (areas with 20 or more people who lived to be over 100 years old, the name Blue is from the Scientist who circled the map with a blue marker to identify the towns) His conclusions are similar for all Blue Zone areas, eat what you grow, surround yourself with family and friends, walk the farm/ mountains, be happy, live a simple life. These people felt good and had sharp minds. When it was time to die, they died quickly and without pain.
How to Live a Healthier and Pain-free Life?
This book is a game changer. I don't want to live longer, I want to live a healthier and pain-free life. I want to run around with my grandchildren and have fun. Should you purchase this book? Buy this book and take notes in the margins. Highlight important facts and circle things you can do to improve your health.
The first few chapters of the book explain why we are aging and developing different types of diseases including medical terms with definitions and personal stories. According to the author, aging accelerates the risk of all chronic diseases. Some people want to look younger and are searching for the fountain of youth, while other people want to be pain-free. To make lifestyle changes, you need to understand the causes of the disease.
What is my Biological Age?
You need to identify your 'health span' (biological age) and your 'life span' (chronological age). Your health span can equal your lifespan if you eat right, exercise and live stress-free.
Who is Mark Hyman?
Mark Hyman describes the way he follows Functional Medicine instead of Traditional medicine. As a doctor, he asks different questions to get to the root of the disease. What is the cause of the medical problem? Functional medicines address the cause of the problem with diet and lifestyle changes, not just a pill. Aging is a disease with too much decay and not enough rebuilding, but this can be changed by you and the way you live. Dr. Horvath discovered a way to measure a person's biological age by measuring the 'epigenetic clock' which shows how your gene expression changes with your environment throughout your life. This reminds me of cutting down a tree and seeing the rings inside. The rings show you the lifespan of the tree and which years had more growth. You are not going to cut yourself open but you do need to know about your DNA, your years of growth, years of poor health, years of infections, years of poor diet, and so on. Your DNA is damaged by UV radiation, a poor diet with high sugar, and processed foods combined with daily stress.
What is a disease?
Diseases are a result of an imbalance in blood sugar and insulin resistance. To improve healthy aging you need to regulate your blood sugar, keep insulin levels low, eat a low-sugar diet with low starch, and eat lots of good quality fats and protein with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. This is easy to say and easy to type but how do we change our diets when we live in a fast-paced community with processed foods and busy lives? I want to make changes but how? We need to realize that food is medicine. We control how we feel by what we eat, how we think, and what we do.
Can you repair your DNA?
You can repair your DNA by taking care of your 'MITOCHONDRIA'
"membrane-bound organelle found in the cytoplasm of almost all eukaryotic cells (cells with clearly defined nuclei), the primary function of which is to generate large quantities of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondria are typically round to oval in shape and range in size from 0.5 to 10 μm. In addition to producing energy, mitochondria store calcium for cell signaling activities, generate heat, and mediate cell growth and death." (https://www.britannica.com/science/mitochondrion)
What is a Mitochondria?
The best way to revitalize old 'Mitochondria' is to eat whole foods low in starch and sugars,
Increase fiber intake, eat organic and local foods, eat lots of colorful berries, nuts, and seeds, practice intermittent fasting, reduce stress, and increase daily exercise.
How to Increase My Biological Health
TOP THINGS TO DO TO INCREASE BIOLOGICAL HEALTH
Eat foods that are whole, unprocessed
Eat wild or pastured-raised meats and eggs
Increase fiber in your diet
Increase micronutrients (vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, omega-3, B vitamins)
Absorb adequate light exposure at the right time of the day
Breath clean air
Get exercise and move every day
Yoga, meditation, and breathing work
Volunteer in the community, join community groups, go to Church
Have a sense of purpose and meaning in your life
Drink water
Get plenty of sleep
Every two hours a small amount of food could make them feel better and more energic. Blueberries are in they are great for taking toxins out of their systems! If it is getting hard for them to digest food, use baby food or puree a small meal. Soft foods and pureed foods are what the doctors call predigested food because it is easier on their bowels. If you use protein shakes, baby food, or premade foods, look at the labels. Check for salt and sugar levels. keep the sodium levels down. My dad enjoys eating a banana with breakfast.
Soups
My husband makes soups for my dad. He enjoys the soup and can take his time eating it. Dad usually eats some crackers with the soup. My dad uses a spoon to eat soup and now I give him a spoon for every meal.
Prunes and prune juice help keep my dad regular. He likes fruit, especially bananas.
IPeppermint for nausea
f my dad feels nauseous, we give him peppermint.
We also have a liquid peppermint on a cotton ball in a small glass container. When my dad feels sick, he smells the peppermint. He likes the smell. If the nausea continues, we put ice on the back of his neck for 20 minutes.
I have a folding table for my dad to use when he eats on the couch. The table can slide under the couch and the side of the table gets close to his stomach so food doesn't fall on his lap.
Please join me as I research and learn how to better care for my elderly parents with Dementia. https://www.facebook.com/groups/276568263823321/
UPDATE
November 2022
My Mom passed away in April. My dad lives with me full-time. He loves to eat and snack.
I purchased special utensils for him to use to help him handle the fork and spoon easier. He mostly eats with a spoon now. It is easier to pick up food with a spoon. The food seems to remain on the spoon better than on the fork. My dad's hands are shaky and it can be difficult for him to eat. I tend to cut his food small so it will fit on the spoon. He doesn't like to eat cereal or soup now because they are difficult for him to put the cereal/soup on the spoon. He lost the ability to feel full. He wants to eat and eat and eat.
Dementia Caregiver Eating Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner log book for meals consumed and daily activities
Caregiver Daily Log Book: Caregiver Organizer Log Book | Caregiver Log Journal Medical | Routine Records of Meals | caregiver log book for Elderly | caregiver log book a daily record Paperback – March 20, 2022
Healthy Recipes for the Elderly Paperback – October 29, 2009
by Mary D Davis (Author)
4 stars
Cookbook of soft foods
Dementia Caregiver Eating Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Eat to Beat Alzheimer's: Delicious Recipes and New Research to Prevent and Slow Dementia Kindle Edition
paperback also available
The delicious food choices and easy-to-prepare recipes in this book are based on the latest findings showing that they can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and other conditions like it or prevent them entirely. Readers will gain the knowledge and tools to take charge of their health by incorporating tasty, healing foods into their diet.
The End of Alzheimer's: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline Kindle Edition
by Dale Bredesen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
In this hopeful book, Dale Bredesen, MD, offers a chance to anyone looking to prevent and possibly reverse Alzheimer's Disease, memory loss, and cognitive decline. Indicating that Alz Disease is not one condition, as it is currently treated, but three separate diseases. The End of Alzheimer’s outlines 36 metabolic factors (micronutrients, hormone levels, sleep) that can trigger "downsizing" in the brain. The protocol shows us how to rebalance these factors using lifestyle modifications like taking B12, eliminating gluten, or improving oral hygiene. Ten participants were part of the first study utilizing the program and changing lifestyle activities. 9 out of the 10 had significant improvement in memory and cognitive abilities within 3-6 months of using this program. I believe more studies are needed to verify the findings.
I hope this book doesn't give false hope to loved ones who are struggling to care for family members. Lifestyle changes can be difficult to implement especially when someone is suffering from dementia.
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