Waterline News JULY web

DEMENTIA SPECIAL
FEATURE
Part 1. When your relatives think you
“shouldn’t have moved mum”
When the holidays come around, your
relatives come in from out of town. And, of
course, they also bring a lot of opinions
with them.
I can’t tell you how many of my
residents’ adult kids come in, upset, and
tearfully tell me that their cousins/
siblings/aunts and uncles/friends/etc.
think that they “shouldn’t have moved
mum [the loved one with dementia] into
a home.”
I wrote my book “When Someone You
Know Is Living in a Dementia Care
Community” because there’s almost no
information out there for people looking to
move a loved one into a long-term care
community.
If you Google “dementia care,” you’ll
find a ton of information about how to
care for a loved one at home.
You’ll learn a lot about dementia and
probably a lot of tips and problem-solving
tricks for people who want to keep a loved
one with dementia at home with them.
You’ll find nearly nothing (except a bunch
of ads) on long-term care living.
It’s a type of “shaming” that I’ve
recently become familiar with.
Nearly everyone I talk to who is thinking
about moving a loved one with dementia
into long-term care feels guilty and anxious.
They often have a bunch of relatives
providing unsolicited advice about caring
for their own loved one. “Well, mum
always said she didn’t want to go to a
home,” one relative may say. “Why can’t
you just take care of her here?” another
may ask.
They all have opinions, but, as I tell my
family caregivers, none of their opinions
matter.
You’ll also hear from the people who had a
loved one that they moved into long-term
care. “Well, I moved dad into such-andsuch
place and it was a terrible
experience.” That’s one person with one
dad. That’s like reading one bad
restaurant review out of thousands of
good ones and deciding that the one bad
reviewer must be correct.
I’ve worked in three different communities,
with hundreds of people with dementia, and
I can honestly say that only one of my three
communities wasn’t that great. The other
two have been fantastic, and I would move
my own family members there if I needed
to.
The only opinion that matters when it
comes to moving a loved one into longterm
care is yours.
That’s it. (Well, and maybe a knowledgable
physician, social worker, or gerontologist
with a history of good decisions in these
matters.)
Dr. Rachel Wonderlin
http://www.dementia-by-day.com/
foods you should never reheat
Many of us regularly use our microwave to
warm up leftovers. But did you know there
are some foods that you should never
reheat?
1. Leafy greens including spinach
The high nitrate levels of some leafy greens
can become carcinogenic nitrosamines
when heated. So leave the spinach and kale
off the plate when you are reheating
veggies in the microwave.
2. Chicken and turkey
The issue with poultry is that it can contain
salmonella, and needs to be prepared
carefully and be cooked well to avoid
contamination. In the microwave the meat
can be heated unevenly, so the protein
breaks down faster in some places, which
can lead to a stomach upset. If you choose
to reheat in the microwave ensure that it is
piping hot before consuming.
3. Mushrooms
The proteins in mushrooms can easily be
destroyed if not stored properly. So long as
you keep your cooked mushrooms in the
fridge for 24 hours maximum you can
safely reheat them in the microwave.
4. Rice
When rice is left on the bench at room
temperature it can become a breeding
ground for bacteria. Reheating cooked rice
in the microwave won’t remove the
potential poisons so always bin your
leftovers.
5. Potatoes and sweet potato
Cooked potatoes shouldn’t be left out at
room temperature, as there is a risk of
bacteria growing and food-born viruses too.
The microwave won’t kill the bacteria and
can lead to stomach pains and discomfort.
Always let your potatoes cool on the bench
5
Health
before placing in a container in the fridge.
July 2016 Page 10