Sweet, Sweeter, and Sweetest-Oh My!

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Since my dad is so frail and has lost so much weight over time, we try to get him to eat whenever he can. He has a sweet tooth and loves pie, cake, and cookies. Quite often, it's the one thing that will motivate my dad to eat when nothing else will.

Of course, we tried to get extra calories in by topping it with ice cream, but is it taking a toll on my dad's health? The last two lab tests have come back with high blood glucose scores. We don't want him to become diabetic on top of his other health issues.

I think one time he heard me mention my concern about this, although others tell me I shouldn't worry, because at least he's eating something. Since then, my dad hasn't been having us put the ice cream on his pie or cake the way he used to. He's a very smart man and is looking after his welfare. I am very blessed to have such a proactive role model in my life. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Educational video 7: Diabetes and the Elderly
By: EatWellNutrition via You Tube



What Happened to the Meds?

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Luke 6:37 

When my dad first got here, he prepared his daily doses of medications himself. At a point, it seemed that he started forgetting to take them, at times. I realized that we needed a new approach.

I got him a two row pill dispenser. It had a section for Sunday through Saturdays pills in both the morning and the evening. This worked for a while, but then, I kept noticing he would run out of medicine sooner than he should. What happened to his meds? I can't be angry with my dad, because he doesn't realize that he's done this.

I realized that he must be forgetting that he had taken them, and be taking them again. Becoming concerned that this might have a detrimental affect on my dad's health, I was prayerful about this situation. The idea in my mind, which is often how God works in my life, it to put rubber bands on each day and to move it over to just expose one day of medicine at a time. Although it isn't perfect, it is working out better and the weeks worth of medicine is lasting a week. That's a big relief! I am truly blessed in the ways that God works in my life to assist my dad. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Luke 6:37 

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Managing Your Medications
By: NationalStrokeAssoc, www.stroke.org, via You Tube

Clogged Again!

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15: 4 

I'm not really talking about the toilet being clogged again, but my dad. He gets so uncomfortable when he gets clogged. He felt uncomfortable and didn't feel like eating anything which is concerning, since my dad's weight is steadily declining.

I talked with his home health nurse, who said that's quite common. Often when people are constipated they feel full, like they can't eat anything else. So, what do we do because this has become a reoccurring theme? He will take medications to help clear him out and then, in a few days, he's clogged again! Constipation is one of the symptoms of his having a Parkinsonism, similar to Parkinson's, but somewhat different.

They said to give him Miralax powder or something similar each morning with his breakfast liquids. If his bowels are moving regularly, skip a day, two at the most, and start giving him the powder again. Of course, this means that I need to ask my dad periodically about whether he's clogged or not. He's starting to get the idea that when he skips too many days, he goes back to being clogged again. I feel so blessed to have my dad here for what ever time God allows. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15: 4

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Causes of Constipation, How to Avoid Constipation?
By: Healthtipss Best via You Tube

Food Wars!

2 Corinthians 4: 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, ye the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

My dad lost lots of weight over several years prior to moving here. Somehow, I thought that I was going to be able to fatten my dad up so his frail body could better withstand his health issues. Boy, was I ever wrong! For the most part, he gains two pounds, and loses three.

There are so many issues involved. My dad is elderly, so his body runs more efficiently and doesn't need as much food. He also has GERD which affects whether he can eat at any particular time, not to mention his Barrett's Throat. When he is constipated, he has a full, uncomfortable feeling and eating is the last thing he wants to do. He often naps, which leaves him awake in the night and sleeping late to make up for that lost sleep. When He eats breakfast late just before lunch time, he misses one meal and the calories he would have gotten from it. Additionally, his health issues leave him with less of an appetite.

What I did learn, is I can't get into Food Wars with my dad, although I've tried. It's counterproductive. I just have to back up and provide opportunities to provide things that might tempt him to eat, but wait until it's been sufficient time before trying to entice him. Even that isn't successful for the most part.

 Being prayerful about my dad's declining weight, I have learned that I need to turn this over into God's capable hands instead of thinking I can change things.  I can't, but God can!  2 Corinthians 4: 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, ye the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Elder Care Chapel Hill: Tips on Senior Nutrition 
By: Todd Palmer via You Tube

Ready, Aim, Oops!

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

My dad has Macular Degeneration on top of his other health issues. It's been frustrating for him in that he can no longer read the newspaper and do his crossword puzzles the way he used to. He sometimes misjudges how far back he needs to sit in a chair or on the bed, sometimes slip-sliding onto the floor.

In addition to this, his aim is not what it used to be. There are times when we find that the base of the toilet or the floor have the tell-tale signs of ailing eyesight. We don't want to embarrass my dad, because he just can't see well. You can't get angry with someone who doesn't have control over a situation like their eye sight.

My husband so graciously, bought disinfectant wipes, so we can just clean up after times like this in order to maintain his dignity. We feel really blessed to have my dad here for whatever time that God allows. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: How to Make the Bathroom Safer for Your Elderly Parent
By: Visiting Nurse Service of New York via You Tube

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