100% of Amazon earnings for February are being contributed to the Food Bank of Guanajuato City. Included in the list which follows are gifts chosen especially for loved ones living with dementia, the care partner team, their household, and those who identify in any way with the dementia community.
The theme: “A Valentines Gift for Each Day.”
A quick online search reveals almost as many explanations about the origins of Valentines Day as there are days in the month. A perfect solution would be to celebrate each remaining day of the month with a small gift-wrapped remembrance in honor of all the St. Valentines!
I can think of no more grateful recipients of this idea than people living with dementia and their care partners who are most frequently house-bound together for extended periods of time.
“The connections we make in the course of a life – maybe that’s what heaven is.” – Mr. Rogers
Valentines Day Face Masks
Good Trouble Mask – Inspired by John Lewis, statesman and civil rights activist. Dad would have liked this one. He often spoke out for marginalized and vulnerable people. For many years, he served in roles which generously contributed to his community. In those early years, he might have been regarded as the “moral rebel” who looked for and expected only the best. Learn More.
More Mask Selections
50 Pieces – Valentine’s Day Hearts – disposạble face masks for coronavịrụs protectịon. 3-ply fịlters, elạstic, eạrloop, face mask for women and men. Mother would have enjoyed the variety of these designs throughout the month of hearts! Learn More.
Scrubs – Women’s medical v-neck scrub top – with Valentines Day print. Made from a 4-way stretch, lightweight fabric offering a drapey and comfortable fit. Learn More.
Leggings – Wear this style with everything from tops to tunics and heels to boots. Versatile styling you can wear every day. Machine wash cold, gentle cycle. Line dry. Learn More.
“Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.” – Mr. Rogers
Hallmark pack of Valentines Day cards with envelopes for Happy Heart Day – Valentines to sign, seal, address, stamp, and drop in the mail to great grandchildren. Learn More.
DVD – When Harry Met Sally – A classic romantic film for Valentines Day – with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. I did not view this one with my parents, but know that it is one they would have enjoyed! Learn More.
DVD – Age Reversing Workouts for Beginners: Mobility and Bone Strengthening – Classical Stretch by ESSENTRICS – Miranda Esmonde-White (Actor). Safe and slow-paced full-body workouts, I was introduced to this series on PBS. Learn more.
Tea Recipe Book – The Big Book of Kombucha: brewing, flavoring, and enjoying the health benefits of fermented tea. Kombucha is a recently-acquired taste since arriving in Mexico. It has now become a refreshing and healthy part of my diet. Learn more.
After-dinner Ghiardelli chocolates – Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense 72% CacaoBars – 3.5 oz – 6 pk. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, “Dark chocolate offers up more than a sweet treat – it is genuinely beneficial for your heart. Find out what makes the dark variety so healthy, and what to look for when buying.” Read Dr. Weil’s blog entry about dark chocolate. Learn about purchase on Amazon.
Recipe Book – NutriBullet Natural Healing Foods – Hardcover – Smoothie recipes for weight-loss, detox, anti-aging and more! Learn more.
NutriBullet – What is Nutrient Extraction? – Unlike blenders & juicers, NutriBullet Nutrient Extractors are specifically-engineered to break down the cell walls of whole foods to create the most nutrient-dense smoothies possible. After seeing an infomercial, we used the early smaller NutriBullet products at the ranch when they were being introduced. Today I use this latest upgrade on a daily basis. Cracks through stalks. Busts open seeds. Rips apart pulps. Shreds through skin. Learn more.
100 Graces: Mealtime Blessings – At the ranch, Mother loved to read oratorically to us! She would have liked this book of prayers to read to us before a meal. It’s a collection of ancient and contemporary graces from many traditions, including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and Native American. Paperback. Learn more.
Space Organizer – Footstool with basket – Handmade rattan wicker ottoman footstool with cushion and basket. Learn More.
The Lost Art of Dying: Reviving Forgotten Wisdom (Large Print) Publication date: July 2020. Dr. L.S. Dugdale, a Columbia University physician, is a specialist in both medical ethics and the treatment of older patients. She writes about the cultural norms which contributed to my personal commitment to be together with my parents at the ranch:
“Dr. Dugdale knows a great deal about the end of life. Far too many of us die poorly, she argues. Our culture has overly medicalized death. Dying is often institutional and sterile, prolonged by unnecessary resuscitations and other intrusive interventions. We are not going gently into that good night—our reliance on modern medicine can actually prolong suffering and strip us of our dignity. Yet our lives do not have to end this way.” Learn more.
Massage Oil & Moisturizer – ArtNaturals USDA Organic Avocado Oil – Feeling stressed out? Massage may help. In the early 80’s, I took several massage courses at the Body-Mind Center on Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue. I loved to give massage and, at the ranch, my parents loved to receive it! Who wouldn’t?! A good massage can help to ensure a good night’s rest – without resorting to pharmaceuticals. How often is it used to calm agitation in elder care? Learn more.
“Love is like infinity: You can’t have more or less infinity, and you can’t compare two things to see if they’re ‘equally infinite.’ Infinity just is, and that’s the way I think love is, too. – Mr. Rogers
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Hold onto what is good!
Author: Susan Troyer
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