Monitor Your Loved Ones’ Cognitive Health

It is important to closely monitor your loved one’s cognitive health to assess whether they are doing as well as they can. Some family members resist the idea that their loved one’s health is declining, which is normal because AD is a difficult disease to accept. However, it is important to note if your loved one’s symptoms are getting worse. Family members can create a support system for their loved ones by engaging others as early as possible.

“I encourage family members to be on the look-out for changes in their loved ones’ health and behavior during family visits,” said Dr. Yanira Cruz, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging. “It is important that as a family member caring for a loved one you have regular conversations with the doctor and discuss any new behavior or concerns you have regardless of whether your loved one is exhibiting symptoms repeatedly or has been diagnosed with AD.”

Alzheimer’s: A Progressive Disease

Age is the biggest risk factor for AD, as the chances of developing the disease doubles every five years after age 65. Disease progression is generally described in three stages – mild, moderate and severe. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates more than 5 million Americans age 65 and older are living with AD, and 72 percent of these patients have moderate or severe disease. By 2050, as baby boomers age, it is estimated 13.5 million Americans will have the condition.

AD affects more than just the patient – it impacts caregivers and even the entire family. Thirty percent of people serve as caregivers for their aging parents with AD as well as their children or grandchildren younger than 18 years old living at home. Nearly 11 million people in the United States – mostly women – take care of a loved one with AD in addition to their families.

Provided by: ARA

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Follow these tips to help your feline friend age gracefully:

Stay current on vital vaccinations

 As a cat grows older, it is essential to keep Cat Flu and Feline Infectious Enteritis in check. Though sometimes tempting to overlook, an older cat has a less efficient immune system and is thus more susceptible to disease. Most older cats will only require booster shots. However, if no vaccinations are on record for a cat, or if you are unsure, you can begin vaccinations at any age. Vaccinations can be found for Cat Flu, Enteritis, FeLV, Chlamydia, FIP and Rabies in most areas. Consult your veterinarian for specific details.

Don’t hold your breath on oral health care

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 70 percent of cats have some form of oral disease by age three — by age 10, it’s safe to presume that cats’ mouths can be rife with infection. At-home oral care programs are ideal to help address the daily oral hygiene needs of cats. According to most veterinarians, brushing cats’ teeth on a regular basis is the best action to take to promote good oral health. For cats that are a little more temperamental about pet owners or vets touching their teeth, a simple and effective solution can be found using a new type of probiotics, called Teddy’s Pride Oral Care, that have been designed specifically for the oral care needs of cats and dogs. These probiotics can be used in addition to brushing or as a stand-alone oral care routine.

Eliminate pesky parasites

Fleas are the most common skin parasite of cats, leaving many cats with an itchy reaction. To prevent flea bites, use a flea spray or flea powder specifically formulated for cats. Internal parasites, like tapeworms and roundworms, distress older cats, particularly those that go outdoors. Most vets recommend that cats be treated for worms every three to six months — indoor-only cats may have longer lapses between treatments. Always check with your vet for the best possible treatment program.

These tips, along with a healthy diet, will help your feline companion remain feeling young. Also, remember to schedule regular veterinarian visits for a professional evaluation on your pet’s health and safety.

Provided By: CopyRightFreeContent.com

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Take advantage of your smart phone.

Weight Watchers offers an application for iPhone and iPod Touch users. All users of the free app can view recipes and articles, create shopping lists, learn to make smarter food choices with interactive cheat sheets, and much more. And if you’re following the popular weight management plan and subscribe to Weight Watchers Online or Weight Watchers eTools, the iPhone App lets you access your plan information and track your food and activity from wherever you are – at a restaurant, in the grocery store, on vacation or just out running errands.

“As mobile technology advances so do the tools that help enhance your healthy lifestyle, making it easier for you to keep track of your weight loss no matter how busy you might be,” says WeightWatchers.com’s Editor-in-Chief Theresa DiMasi. “These tools help you make healthy choices and help you stay on track which can make a significant difference in your success.”

Track with a variety of tech tools.

Along with making better food choices, many factors can help you achieve healthy, sustainable weight loss including exercise and sleep. Keeping track of calories burned is easier by using a pedometer that can monitor how far you’ve walked or run.

Sleep is also an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and can play a crucial role in weight loss. There are a number of high tech products on the market today that can monitor your sleeping patterns, helping gauge your sleep quality and pinpoint the factors that affect it.

Virtually connect with like minded individuals.

Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, offer the opportunity for millions of users to connect with each other based on similar goals and interests including healthy living. Companies like Weight Watchers also have robust, interactive social networking sites. Weight Watchers Community site lets users connect with other people in their quest to better health, and exchange motivational wall posts with friends. The site also offers many challenges, insights from bloggers, and encouragement for anyone striving to live a healthier lifestyle.

To learn more about Weight Watchers, visit www.weightwatchers.com.

Provided By: ARA

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 The very qualities that make some seniors feel safe – a tendency to not use credit much, operating on a cash basis and avoiding technology – make identity thieves view seniors as very appealing targets, credit experts warn.

“Anyone with a Social Security number needs to be aware of the risk of identity theft,” says Jennifer Leuer, general manager, ProtectMyID.com. “Seniors, however, should be especially vigilant about identity theft protection, because they are often a preferred target of identity thieves and scammers.”

While identity theft can happen to anyone at any age, seniors may be at greater risk for a number of reasons, including:

• Many states display social security numbers on Medicare cards. Even if your card is never lost or stolen, enterprising thieves may be able to snatch the number when you show your card for a legitimate purpose.
• Seniors often have more to steal than other people. They tend to carry higher cash reserves and home equity than other age groups.
• Seniors may be less technologically savvy, and may be more likely to respond to scams because they haven’t researched them online.
• Seniors may feel less need to closely monitor their credit reports and financial accounts because they tend to use credit less. Identity thieves know that it may be months – or even years – before senior victims check their credit reports and discover they’ve been defrauded.
• Seniors’ personally identifying information is more likely to be exposed to people through extended caregiver networks, nursing homes, doctor’s offices and other service organizations.
• Seniors are more likely to trust official-looking emails and open unsolicited communications and click on links that could lead to malware or phishing attacks.

Common forms of senior identity theft include check fraud, credit card fraud, phone or e-mail solicitations, social networking schemes and Social Security fraud. Fortunately, there are many ways seniors can protect themselves, or adult children can help protect their aging parents, from identity theft.

• Never carry your Social Security card with you. If your Medicare card has your Social Security number on it, make a photocopy of the card and black out everything but the last four digits of your number with a permanent marker. Carry the copy whenever you need to show the card.
• Carry only the checks you will need for a specific use on any day. Leave your checkbook at home in a secure location.
• Pick up checks at the bank to avoid having them stolen from your mailbox. Better yet, set up direct deposit with the Social Security Administration and any retirement accounts that you regularly draw on such as pensions or IRAs.
• Learn to pay bills online, if possible, or mail bills and other paperwork from a secure mailbox at the post office. Don’t mail bills or any documents with identifying information from your home mailbox. .
• Always lock up financial statements and any items, including computers, which contain personal information. Especially for seniors who live in assisted care facilities. There are too many people with access to rooms in these facilities to leave sensitive information out for anyone to see.
• Use an updated cross-cut or diamond-cut shredder to shred all personal and financial records before you throw them away. It’s a good idea to complete a thorough inventory of all old files – receipts, financial statements, taxes – shred the ones that are no longer needed and secure the ones that are.
• Consider using an identity monitoring product that gives you identity theft protection, like www.ProtectMyID.com. The product monitors your credit report on a daily basis and alerts you to activity on your credit accounts. And, with one phone call to a specially-trained fraud resolution agent, you can report all your cards lost or stolen and they’ll contact the credit card companies for you. And if you do become a victim of identity theft, you’ll have a designated fraud resolution agent by your side through the whole process of resolving the situation. You can learn more at www.ProtectMyID.com.
• Know who to call. You can opt out of credit card offers – which thieves may use to steal your identity – by calling (888) 567-8688. If you believe your Social Security number may have been compromised, call the Social Security Administration fraud line at (800) 269-0271.

Provided By: ARA

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• Eco Friendly Entertaining

Unfortunately, the increased interest in organic gardening has led to some confusion – and some deception – about what it means for a product to be “organic.” The labeling of products has become a minefield for consumers who are interested in eco-friendly agriculture. It can be difficult to know exactly what is meant by products labeled “natural,” “plant-based” or “organic.”

Official organic labeling comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their seal comes in a few forms, denoting whether a product is “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic” ingredients. Unfortunately, anecdotal evidence suggests this multi-tiered labeling system is also contributing to consumer confusion.

For example, for a product to be labeled 100 percent organic, everything in it must be certified organic. If it says just “organic,” that means that it must contain 95 percent certified organic ingredients. If a product contains 70 percent organic ingredients, it can be labeled as being “made with organic [ingredients].” Any product with less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot carry the USDA seal.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a product labeled “natural” is not organic. While there might be some naturally occurring ingredients in the product, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe or earth-friendly – not to mention organic.

Perhaps in an effort to simplify the consumer’s “organic” label options, the USDA also directs consumers to other organizations that can help them determine whether or not the products they’re buying are 100 percent organic. One of those, the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is a non-profit, independent organization that gives reviews of products and how they stand up to the National Organic Standards from the USDA.

For concerned consumers, they provide a comprehensive list (available online) of products that pass the test. “OMRI’s list is an invaluable tool for gardeners who want to keep their plots organic,” says Claude Boisvert, president of Tree World Plant Care Products. “It makes it easier than ever to find gardening supplements that are not harmful to the environment.”

If your main concern in planting an organic garden is providing your family with safe-to-eat, healthy food right from your own back yard, you’ll want to take the trouble to make sure you’re using truly organic gardening products. At the same time, you want your garden to look great and produce well.

One of the biggest challenges to organic gardening is keeping pests away in a way that is humane and safe. For smaller pests, it is increasingly easy to find organic insecticidal soaps that are safe unlike some traditional pesticides. Larger garden plant browsers can really wreak havoc unless you use a rabbit or deer repellent. An OMRI listed solution, developed in eco-conscious Sweden and now made in the United States, is Plantskydd. Its effectiveness and environmental soundness as an organic repellent have made it popular for farming and among gardeners, professional landscapers, nurseries, foresters and state conservation agencies.

It’s important to remember that you have the power to influence the products that are available to you. If keeping your organic garden truly organic is important to you, discuss your concerns with local retailers. By asking them to stock products that have been subject to rigorous standards, like those of OMRI, you’ll make it easier for everyone in your community to have access to verified organic materials.

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What happens to the rest of the roast chicken that didn’t get eaten at dinner? Or the extra rice or couscous the family couldn’t finish? It might get pulled out a few days later for a meal of boring leftovers that will be met with groans. Or it could just be forgotten. In fact, nearly 15 percent of the food purchased for meals ends up being thrown away.

Why toss out perfectly good food – and potentially hundreds of dollars each year – when you can use those ingredients to create a whole new recipe?

Once cooked, many remains of a meal will stay fresh for up to a week – and some even taste better the second time around. These recipes use common extra ingredients, along with Pompeian olive oils and vinegars, to turn them into exciting new recipes.

For more recipe ideas and coupons, visit www.pompeian.com.

Couscous Cakes with Fresh Mango-Ginger Chutney

Ingredients

Chutney

• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 cup diced fresh or frozen, thawed mango
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

Couscous Cakes

• 1 1/3 cups water
• 2/3 cup original couscous
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Pompeian Classic Mediterranean Olive Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Chutney: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onions 2 minutes. Stir in remaining chutney ingredients, except ginger, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, cool and stir in ginger.
2. Couscous Cakes: Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat, stir in couscous and salt, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let stand 5 minutes to cool. Combine couscous, cilantro, egg whites, flour, and lemon zest in a medium bowl.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Working with half of the couscous mixture, spoon about 2 tablespoons into skillet to make a mound, repeat, making 8 mounds total. Flatten slightly using the back of a spoon and cook for 3 minutes each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining oil and couscous mixture.
4. Serve the couscous cakes with mango chutney.

Serves

Serves 4

Herbed Olive Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 6 ounces dry whole grain penne or rotini pasta
• 1 cup cooked chicken breast meat, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
• 24 pitted Kalamata olives, or your favorite variety, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped, fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (1/2 cup)

Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Remove pan from heat. Place chicken in a colander; pour pasta over chicken and shake off excess liquid. Return pasta and chicken to pan. Stir in remaining ingredients, except feta. Top with feta and toss gently, if desired.

Serves

Serves 4

Basil-Rosemary Turkey Panini

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Italian bread, cut in half lengthwise

Dressing

• 1/3 cup Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon dried pepper flakes, optional
• 1/2 cup chopped, fresh basil or 2 1/2 tablespoons dried basil leaves

Filling

• 1 cup thinly sliced leftover cooked turkey or chicken (about 5 ounces)
• 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
• 4 slices Monterey Jack cheese with peppers, provolone, or mozzarella (about 3 ounces total)

Preparation

1. Whisk all dressing ingredients, except basil, in small bowl. Lightly brush outside of bread halves with 1 tablespoon dressing mixture and place, cut side up, on a clean work surface. Stir basil into dressing mixture and spoon over bottom half of bread. Arrange turkey, tomato, and cheese on top. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, if desired. Top with remaining bread half and press down firmly to adhere.
2. Heat large, nonstick skillet over medium low heat until hot. Place sandwich in skillet, cover with a sheet of foil, top with a dinner plate and several bread plates (This will weigh the sandwiches down, to help cook evenly and absorb flavors.) Cook 8 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cheese is beginning to melt.
3. Place on cutting board, and using a serrated knife, cut into four equal pieces.

Serves

Serves 4

Source

Pompeian

Provided by Family Features

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Ingredients

Chutney

• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 cup diced fresh or frozen, thawed mango
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

Couscous Cakes

• 1 1/3 cups water
• 2/3 cup original couscous
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Pompeian Classic Mediterranean Olive Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Chutney: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onions 2 minutes. Stir in remaining chutney ingredients, except ginger, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, cool and stir in ginger.
2. Couscous Cakes: Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat, stir in couscous and salt, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let stand 5 minutes to cool. Combine couscous, cilantro, egg whites, flour, and lemon zest in a medium bowl.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Working with half of the couscous mixture, spoon about 2 tablespoons into skillet to make a mound, repeat, making 8 mounds total. Flatten slightly using the back of a spoon and cook for 3 minutes each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining oil and couscous mixture.
4. Serve the couscous cakes with mango chutney.

Serves

Serves 4

Source

Pompeian

Provided by Family Features

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Seniors living in retirement communities will find no lack of educational opportunities. These communities offer courses on everything from foreign languages to ballroom dancing. There are myriad clubs and organizations available to residents. Outside lecturers and performers are often brought in for extra entertainment. But how can seniors living on their own, outside a retirement community, find appropriate educational programs?

The first place to look for such programs is at the local level. Most communities have a governmental department dedicated to serving seniors in the community. They often publish a list of activities available to area seniors and frequently are able to provide transportation to and from activities. In addition to meal programs and social gatherings, these departments often offer educational courses in many different subjects.

Local public schools are also a good source of interesting courses and opportunities. Many school systems publish a continuing education guide that lists the content, times and prices of classes that are held in the evening or on weekends at public schools. These courses range from academic enrichment like English as a Second Language, to arts and crafts and exercise classes. These courses are open to the community and typically consist of a wide range of people of all ages.

Community colleges also offer a wide range of continuing education experiences. Continuing education courses are taught on a non-credit basis and cost far less than for-credit courses. However, if a senior has the time and inclination community colleges are more than happy to enroll seniors in their degree programs. Seniors may be eligible for a tuition discount, depending on their age. Although some seniors may be intimidated by attending classes with much younger students, the experience can be extremely gratifying. Younger students often appreciate having seniors share their courses and instructors enjoy teaching seniors who are often more disciplined and interested than their younger counterparts.

Finally, the community library often offers activities specifically tailored to seniors like book clubs, discussion groups and the like. Libraries also offer computer literacy courses and courses on how to use the Internet, sometimes tailored specifically to seniors.

Provided by: Article Circle

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When your family is short on time, there’s no need to shortchange them when it comes to a wholesome dinner. The key to getting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less is to plan ahead. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

Make a Menu. Planning your meals for the week is the best way to save time and money. Stock up on quick dinner recipes, then stock up on the ingredients you need to make them. The two recipes here bring Bob Evans Food Products’ farm-fresh taste to the family table in no time.

Plan Your Leftovers. Instead of wondering what to do with the leftovers from Monday’s meal – or worse, just throwing it out – plan your menu to turn one night’s leftovers into another night’s dinner. Leftover rotisserie chicken can turn into spicy quesadillas. Extra meatballs can morph into meatball grinders.

Cut Down Prep Time. Take advantage of prepared foods in your grocery store. Pre-cut veggies, pre-washed bagged salads, pre-made pizza crusts, even Bob Evans Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes – they can all come in handy and save you time. Also, think about making double batches of food – one lasagna to serve now, one to freeze for later. Roasting two chickens tonight doesn’t take that much longer than one and saves you from having to do it twice.

For more fast, family-friendly recipes, visit www.bobevans.com.

Speedy Spaghetti

Ingredients

• 1 pound Bob Evans Original Recipe Roll Sausage
• 1 28-ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce
• 1 8-ounce (minimum) package of your favorite pasta

Preparation

1. In a skillet, crumble and brown sausage over medium heat until cooked.
2. Stir in your favorite pasta sauce and heat until warm.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions. Serve sauce over pasta.

Serves

Makes 4 servings

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 1 pound Bob Evans Original Recipe Roll Sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper (optional)
• 1 1.3 ounce envelope Sloppy Joe seasoning mix
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 8 sandwich buns, split and toasted

Preparation

1. In large saucepan, over medium heat crumble and cook sausage, onion and pepper until sausage is browned.
2. Stir in seasoning mix, tomato paste and water.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Serve on buns.

Serves

Makes 4 servings

Source

Bob Evans Foods

Provided by Family Features

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Ingredients

• 1 pound Bob Evans Original Recipe Roll Sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper (optional)
• 1 1.3 ounce envelope Sloppy Joe seasoning mix
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 8 sandwich buns, split and toasted

Preparation

1. In large saucepan, over medium heat crumble and cook sausage, onion and pepper until sausage is browned.
2. Stir in seasoning mix, tomato paste and water.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Serve on buns.

Serves

Makes 4 servings

Source

Bob Evans Foods

Provided by Family Features

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