Theme Day at the b5 media Health & Wellness channel centers around the topic of Summer Fun. Hosted by Lib at Healthbolt, the round-up offers some last minute, end -of-summer suggestions. 
Check out what our bloggers have to say:

At Healthbolt Lib and Liz believe you should be able to laugh a little about your health, and thus, would like to introduce you to the Laryngospasms. Enjoy.
While it’s often difficult for Alzheimer’s caregivers to plan for summer fun, Mary Emma Allen has some ideas at Alzheimer’s Notes.
At Mental Health Notes, Alicia tells us how to find free mood boosters to manage depression …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
I was asked, in a recent comment on a post,  what a daughter should do when her elderly father, who had broken a leg and was in a nursing home, acted like a zombie.  That previous post concerned overmedication, with a link from a post by Liz Lewis.  I had related an experience with my mom.
Since I’m not trained in the medical field nor know the complete situation with the lady’s dad, I don’t want to give suggestions that will steer her in the wrong direction. So I’ll suggest places one  might go for answers.
*Have you talked with his doctor to see why this amount of medication …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
Health and Wellness Channel’s theme this month centers around “Independence” and is hosted by Kendra James at A Healthy Life. 
The various bloggers have adapted this theme to their particular topic for some very interesting ideas and reading.
Alzheimer’s Notes participated with the post, Giving Up Their Independence – Discouraging for Alzheimer’s Patients. 
Losing their independence becomes one of the challenging aspects of this disease that Alzheimer’s patients and their families have to face. I discusses this topic and invite our readers to “chime in.”

AlzheimersNotes.com

 Thanks, everyone, for visiting Alzheimer’s Notes and participating in the drawing for Finding the Joy in Alzheimer’s. The random drawing has taken place…..and the winner is…..Donna Sparks.
Congratulations, Donna!  Your copy of Finding the Joy in Alzheimer’s will be on its way.
Also, when Brenda Avadian, editor of the book, answers Donna’s question (the value added part of the contest), I shall publish that on the blog. 
I’d asked those who commented to mention their connection to Alzheimer’s.  Donna said:  I’m Alicia’s mom, and I was a caregiver to both my grandmother and my mother. Many women in my family have had Alzheimer’s and I’m …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com

What recreational activities or hobbies are you involved in  this summer with your Alzheimer’s patient (parent, spouse, or relative)?  Do you have special projects you do together?  If you have children in the home, too,  you’ll be looking for activities they can be involved in with you.  These also will help build great family memories and carry you over the frustrating times.
Some of these the Alzheimer’s patient may not be able to do too well and may lose interest, but it will help keep them occupied for awhile. Others will be activities for younger children which may be all the patient can handle, …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
 More food ideas from the Food Bloggers to spark up your meals and snacks. 
Sometimes it’s so difficult to get Alzheimer’s patients to eat that something different might appeal to them.  Also, experiment with something new for yourself that will add variety to your menus.
Ah!  Here’s something at the top of the list of the “not-so-healthy” foods.  However, it’s an easy recipe for Chocolate Drop Candy, in celebration of National Candy Month, just one of the holidays we discuss at All Holiday Cafe. 
Nicoise Salad, as made Nice, France, is a healthy, refreshing summer fish. It’s quick to make and may be …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
 Throughout the week, the Health and Wellness Channel has been focusing on Celebrities and Health. 
Some are Hollywood celebrities; others come from other walks of life.  By going public with their illness, they often make the world more aware and more willing to talk about a health situation that families keep”hidden in the closet.”
You, the caregiver,  and your Alzheimer’s patient also are celebrities and heroes in this challenge with a devastating disease.
Liz and I have written a number of posts on this topic this week.  In case you’ve missed any and would like to check them out, here is a roundup:
Celebrities Health …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
To keep you informed about the inside info on the health care industry, you now have Health Care Insiders at b5media.  Written by Jennifer Hinkel and Becky Ramsey, this blog will have the latest news on what’s going on in this arena that’s of great concern to most of us.
Check out this blog, see if it has information and answers that will aid you as a caregiver as well as in your personal situation.  Let Jennifer and Becky know what information will be helpful for you.
Health care is of concern to all of us as we encounter personal and family health situations.  How nice to have a …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com   With summer approaching (in the Northern Hemisphere), we begin to pull our shorts and bathing suits out of the closet and see if we can can fit into them.  If they’re a bit snug (a lot snug) we begin thinking of losing a few pounds.   
We’re not obese, but want to be comfortable in our clothes, can breathe without puffing up the stairs, and can run easily if we have to chase after a wandering Alzheimer’s patient.
Also, by losing some of those pounds, we may be helping the environment and cutting down on global warming! 
 ”What!”  you say.  “Obesity/overweight and …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
 With the warmer weather leading us into summer (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers will be outside more.  That generally means more exposure to the sun and the need for sunblock.
Scott Warthon, at b5’s Health and Men, has some great information about Understanding Sun Protection Factor or SPF .  This helps us understand why and how the different levels of SPF work as they do.  He also has posted a chart giving us information regarding which SPF to use with which skin type.
(Scott learned the hard way…he got a sunburn!  See This is Why You Should Wear Sunblock)
(c) 2008 …read more