Monday, October 26, 2015

Years of Birth and Chinese Zodiac

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

Years Corresponding to Chinese Zodiac Sign

Rat19001912192419361948196019721984199620082020
Ox19011913192519371949196119731985199720092021
Tiger19021914192619381950196219741986199820102022
Rabbit19031915192719391951196319751987199920112023
Dragon19041916192819401952196419761988200020122024
Snake19051917192919411953196519771989200120132025
Horse19061918193019421954196619781990200220142026
Sheep19071919193119431955196719791991200320152027
Monkey19081920193219441956196819801992200420162028
Rooster19091921193319451957196919811993200520172029
Dog19101922193419461958197019821994200620182030
Boar19111923193519471959197119831995200720192031
Below are the Chinese Zodiac signs, and the characteristics that correspond to each one.

Chinese Zodiac Sign Meanings

Chinese Zodiac Rat
Rat:
Element: Water
Partners well with: Dragon and Monkey
Characteristics: Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted, charming, artistic, sociable. 


Chinese Zodiac Ox
Ox:
Element: Earth
Partners well with: Snake and Rooster
Characteristics: Loyal, reliable, thorough, strong, reasonable, steady, determined
Bull Symbolic Meaning here. 


Chinese Zodiac Tiger
Tiger:
Element: Wood
Partners well with: 
Horse and Dog
Characteristics: Enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, leadership, confidence, charismatic
Click here for more Chinese symbolic meanings for Tiger. 


Chinese Zodiac Rabbit
Rabbit:
Element: Wood
Partners well with: Sheep and Boar
Characteristics: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, diplomatic, sincere, sociable, caretakers. More on Rabbit meanings here. 


Chinese Zodiac Dragon
Dragon:
Element: Earth
Partners well with: Rat and Monkey
Characteristics: Lucky, flexible, eccentric, imaginative, artistic, spiritual, charismatic
More on Chinese Dragon Symbolism here. 


Chinese Zodiac SnakeSnake:
Element: Fire
Partners well with: Rooster and Ox
Characteristics: Philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, decisive
Symbolism of Snake here. 


Chinese Zodiac Symbol Horse
Horse:
Element: Fire
Partners well with: Dog and Tiger
Characteristics: Adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, strong 
(see also Horse symbolic meanings. 


Chinese Zodiac Symbol Sheep
Sheep:
Element: Earth
Partners well with: Boar and Rabbit
Characteristics: Tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive, sensitive, calm 


Chinese Zodiac Monkey Symbol
Monkey:
Element: Metal
Partners well with: Dragon and Rat
Characteristics: Quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright, versatile, lively, smart. More on Monkey symbolism here. 


Chinese Zodiac Rooster
Rooster:
Element: Metal
Partners well with: Snake and Ox
Characteristics: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, confident. For more information onRooster Symbol meanings, click here. 


Chinese Zodiac Dog
Dog:
Element: Earth
Partners well with: Tiger and Horse
Characteristics: Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, smart 


Chinese Zodiac Boar
Boar:
Element: Water
Partners well with: Sheep and Rabbit
Characteristics: Honorable, philanthropic, determined, optimistic, sincere, sociable 

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Do your part to help cure Alzheimer's

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

Dear Reader:


Congress has proposed the first significant increase in funding for Alzheimer research in five years. The increase would push funding to approximately $662 million and keep pace with medical research inflation.


Unfortunately, Congress may not bring the bill with the proposed increase for Alzheimer research funding to a vote before adjourning for the election in November.


Your lawmakers are home in August and are listening to their constituents. Demand that they vote for the proposed funding increase for Alzheimer research when they return to Washington DC in September!


Take Action:


Email your Senators and Representative. Demand a vote on the Labor/Health & Human Services/ Education Appropriations bill (S 32

Remember to personalize the email by adding a few words on why Alzheimer research matters to yo

THANK YOU

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

National Cocoa Day is coming

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to  get an easyceu or two

Punchbowl


It’s National Cocoa Day! Nothing warms you up better on a cold winter day than a nice cup of hot cocoa! Cocoa (the dried, fully fermented seeds of the cacao tree) is the basis for cocoa powder, which is used to make the hot cocoa beverage we all know and love. Did you know that monkeys were the first creatures to discover that the cacao plant was edible and quite tasty? Over 1500 years ago, monkeys began to consume the pulp of the plant and spit out the beans. Humans soon began to follow the monkey's example and the rest is history.

Cacao trees are grown all over the world, but it is believed that the first cacao trees grew in South America. Cocoa is similar to wine in that its flavor differs depending on the location where it is grown. It's a good thing that cacao trees are plentiful because approximately 300 to 600 cocoa beans are needed to make just two pounds of chocolate!

To celebrate National Cocoa Day, make your favorite type of cocoa to enjoy. For a holiday twist on a traditional cup of cocoa, try adding a candy cane!


Sunday, October 4, 2015

Alzheimer's cooking activity with cocoa

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

Making a sweet treat with cocoa We are going to talk about making cocoa. However, this is not ordinary cocoa.This is healthy cocoa
Here are the ingredients
2 heaping teaspoons per 5 ounce cup(standard Styrofoam coffee cup)
a little more or less depending on how much the participant likes chocolate.
1 packet of sugar or sugar substitute
5 ounces or less ,hot water*actually, you can use cool water if you prefer
Optional milk substituted for all or some of the hot water.Were you wondering about this 
By adding just a few teaspoons of water or milk, you can make a chocolate sauce.
You can spread the chocolate sauce on a graham cracker for a yummy treat

Directions
Give each participant a Styrofoam or other coffee cup with 2 heaping teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa in it.
Leave the spoon in the cup if this is appropriate
Give each participant a packet of sweetener depending on his/her dietary restrictions.
Have the group members open the sweetener packet and pour the contents into the cup. As always, give help as needed
Here is the next step to making a healthy brain boosting treat for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias .

Have each person mix the cocoa and the sweetener with the spoon. Assist those needing help

If you are concerned that someone might get hurt pouring hot water near the group members collect the labeled cups, pour the water into the cups. Allow them to cool and distribute them.

There are many variations
Add a few teaspoons of room temperature water or milk to each cup with mixed cocoa and sweetener.

Have the group member mix the ingredients together.
Of course, this is a good activity for all long term care residents because it is simple, healthy, and easily adaptable to a wide variety of people.

You must mix this well for the cocoa to dissolve. Scoop the mixed chocolate sauce onto a graham cracker, piece of plain cake, plain yogurt  or ice cream.

If someone needs to have thickened liquids,make the cocoa with 5 ounces of water and add thickener to the mixture to get the right consistency.

What I like about this activity is that you can make a cocoa treat for just about anyone unless he/she does not like chocolate. This is also a great activity because unsweetened cocoa is extremely high in antioxidants. As you know, foods and beverages rich in antioxidants combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a key componant to Alzheimer's disease because it can increase the amount of plaque in an Alzheimer's brain. There is much more information to follow

Please join us in a discussion.

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals, a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.