Spring 2008- Food for Thought

OK, so let's talk about everybody's favorite topic…food! Depending on your weight at the moment, you either love or hate to talk about it!

Food is so central to our lives and our well-being. Countless books and magazines are written about it, research surrounds it and the food industry..from farmer's markets to specialty food retailers (and everything in between) employs huge numbers of our population!

Here at the Abigail Adams Center, food serves a very central role. For some, who are in the most advanced stages of AD, it is the only pleasure, other than sleep, that people still hold on to. For others, who are not as progressed in the illness, it is still a highlight of life; one that can be appreciated and discussed over and over. Ask Lucia, when she makes the "100 word list of food" with our clients, they are never at a loss to contribute! But if you try asking for 100 word lists of animals or flowers, they might struggle a bit! So it is well worth the effort to think about and plan for; as the payoff is huge!

We (the staff here) are so delighted and rewarded when we see a formerly "skinny" (as in too-skinny) patient start putting on weight. It is also satisfying to enchant the membership with little treats here and there (OK-maybe a little more than here and there)! We have learned over time that presentation is everything!

We are spoiled at the Abby Club, because we are lucky enough to have Lucia, out activities director, who was previously (in her former life) a chef and is still a "foodie". She has taught us many kitchen tricks and because we lovingly call her "a food snob", she forbids us from using many products that are of the "quick-fix" category. She's one of those people who can whip up things effortlessly…like meatloaf, beef stew and pumpkin whoopee pies to name a few! We are also blessed by having Gloria Varrasso, our baking-volunteer, each Tuesday who brings in a baked treat, everytime she comes! (her oatmeal cookies are to die for!)

Even our van driver, Joe is hard-pressed to take off Tuesdays , as he might miss "Gloria Day". And did I mention that Maria Festa, our Wednesday nurse (who is of Hungarian descent), can whip up a mean pork loin roast and Hungarian goulash?

So, my point is that one of the best outlets you can use, as a family caregiver, to connect to your loved one is FOOD! If your Dad loves seafood, take a drive over to Cohasset, Scituate or even Quincy and munch out on oysters, squid rings (only if his teeth can handle it) and sole almondine! Take your Mom out to a lovely tea room on the weekend for a delicious brunch of real teapot tea, chicken salad on crumpets and lemon tart for dessert. If your loved one loves sweets, a weekly run to the Dairy Queen or Friendlies is a fun and worthwhile tradition. And don't forget that homemade meals are the stuff that memories are made of and can even bring back happy thoughts and bygone days ("Oh, carrot cake…that was your Dad's favorite cake!")

We only live once, and for people in their 80s and 90s, every day is precious time gained! So why not make their lives a celebration! We all know the old adage…"life is short, eat dessert first!"

Julie Wesolowski-Program Director

P.S. Please see below: "Abby's Food Tips"

What's Cooking at The Abby Club

It's finally spring and time to start going out on field trips. Our first field trip of the season will be on Wednesday, April 30th and will be to D'Anns restaurant in Abington. Please send in $15 toward the meal and the bus ride. Also, if anybody has a good idea for a field trip please let us know! If you do not want your loved one to attend, please let us know in advance. We will be able to accommodate those who do not go, but need to know a count.

Our last Saturday open date only had five sign-ups. We really need six or preferably more to open. Our next Saturday date will be May 17, 2008. Please note that Linden Ponds senior community is holding a family caregiver seminar that day and we are offering a discounted day care rate to any caregiver who plans to attend that day, so as to defray the cost of the seminar. Please see Julie if you are interested for details. Linden Ponds phone number is (781)-534-7272 for more on the seminar.

Our next caregiver support group with Aldo and Priscilla will be on April 29th from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM upstairs in the conference room. All are invited to attend, even if you are not a caregiver of an Abby Club member.

We are open on Patriot's Day/Marathon Day, Monday April 21st.

Lastly, we would like to acknowledge our newest volunteer, Barbara Feldbeau, who comes to us via our assistant director, Joyce's, circle of friends. Barbara is very much involved with the activities and has been helping Lucia with one-on-ones and small group activities and generally assisting the large group. She is a sweet, lovely woman with a big heart, whose love of the elders really shows! Barbara is originally from Hingham and was a school psychologist for the town of Weymouth for thirty years! Barbara's Mom had Alzheimer's and she has a wealth of knowledge on the subject and has even done research on it in the past. Barbara also does some volunteering at South Shore Elder Services. She LOVES working with the clients at Abigail Adams and truly feels at home with us. We look forward to her spending more time with us at the club! Please introduce yourselves to Barbara and make her feel welcome!

On Abby's wishlist: Small photo albums from client's home with photos in it for show and tell, Noodles (those foam sticks that kids play with in the pool), small clay flower pots

Abby's food tips for people with AD

1. Don't put your loved one on a diet. They may be a little plump now, but eventually AD may rob their taste buds, swallowing abilities, and ability to eat on their own. Make hay while the sun shines and let them eat now!
2. For people who have already lost some taste ability, give them spicy or sweet food so that they can still taste it and enjoy it. (sweet and spicy are the last "buds" to go!) Otherwise tasteless meat and potatoes go down like blobs to them. You can add honey or sugar or maple syrup to many things (like veggies or oatmeal) or serve things that are already sweet (ex.-sweet potatoes, glazed ham or carrots, Chinese food with pineapples or sweet and sour sauce.)
3. The current philosophy for diabetics is to allow them a little bit of something sweet (such as fruit with a little whipped cream) and there are certainly many wonderful diabetic products out there that taste just as good as real!
4. For people who don't like to eat because they must eat pureed food…try to serve them things that already come in soft form: oatmeal with ice cream on top is a sure winner, garlic mashed potatoes, squash seasoned with maple and cinnamon, bisque soups, whipped yogurt with blueberry sauce, puddings, ice creams, sorbets and mousses. Puree does not have to be boring!
5. Keep them hydrated! The flavored waters taste good, and you can vary them. You can have a different juice a day for variety! The juices at Whole Foods Market never cease to astound and delight!
6. If your loved one likes the same thing over and over, and refuses anything else… then give it to them! As long as they eat! That's the prime directive!
7. Don't overwhelm an advanced AD patient with too much food on the plate. Give them one thing to start on and add to the plate as they go along. Colorful is good too, as they may have diminished eyesight and might not be able to see what they eat.
8. If your loved one hates the taste of Ensure or Boost..then make them a blender shake!
9. People with swallowing trouble usually need thicker liquids that go down slowly. Thick-it (a powdered thickening agent) can be added to make liquids go down more slowly (can be added to juice, coffee, water). A honey consistency is what is usually desirable.
10. People who are not "boomers"-or-under, generally don't enjoy whole-grain, earthy "health foods" and they may be hard to chew, swallow and digest. They may also eat less of these foods and lose weight as a result. Don't impose your food beliefs on your parents! There are already enough difficulties inherent in AD, food should not be one of them!