Project 365 - Week 13/52
25th March 2018
26th March 2018
27th March 2018
28th March 2018
29th March 2018
30th March 2018
31st March 2018
This week has been the first week of Easter half term and we've packed so much into it. We started with a family day out to Blackpool on Sunday. I managed to win Merlin annual passes last year so we got to go to Madame Tussauds (Noah loved the new Marvel exhibit) and Blackpool Tower free of charge. We did plan on going to the Sealife Centre too but we ran out of time. We had such a great day, it was nice to feel a little bit of sun on our faces and cannot wait for it to finally start warming up. The rest of the week has gone by in a crazy blur, we've been so busy. We've had play dates, been on numerous walks, had an Easter egg hunt, been to an Easter party and so much more. We've not had one single lazy day, I'm worn out! I think I need a parent half term once Noah's back at nursery, ha ha.
What have you been up to this week?
What have you been up to this week?
Will a Dementia Care Home Improve my Loved Ones Quality of Life
Recent studies established that about 920,000 people aged 65+ are living with dementia. However, the number is expected to double by 2050. Data from the Alzheimer's Society also found that dementia is one of the most costly diseases. In 2020, affected people spent approximately 34.7 billion on treatment and care for those suffering from the condition. Out of the 920,000 people with dementia, 61% remain at home.
However, most people are not aware of when should someone with dementia go into a care home. Despite care homes being costly, they offer exemplary care services and support to your loved ones to keep them healthy. There is also added security and safety measures in place such as life alert necklace to protect seniors from falls - putting family members minds at ease.
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Your Loved Ones To a Dementia Care Home?
Most people choose to keep their loved ones at home during the early stages of the condition, sometimes with the assistance of a specialized alzheimer’s dementia care team. These teams can be incredibly helpful to those who are handling this condition, and to the family members who are unsure of what to do. It can be a tense time for everybody, so having people who are well versed in this area, can alleviate stress over the subject.
In addition to this, NDIS Service Provider In Sydney, Care For Family provides a high level of in-home care - which is not only professional but personal too. This is ideal when you just need a little support but don't feel the need to uproot their lives.
However, frustrations due to limitations increase as the condition grows. Family members become overwhelmed hence finding challenges on how to offer more support. At this point, most people opt for care services to help take care of their loved ones.
Whether you are choosing to place your loved one into a care home or not, this decision is entirely personal. Every family has its own unique set of circumstances, and what's right for one family may not be right for another. In some cases, individuals with dementia can continue living at home with the help of professional caregivers or family members. For example, home care services in Allentown PA can provide tailored support, allowing loved ones to remain in familiar surroundings. Care homes, however, provide 24/7 supervision, structured routines, and access to medical professionals, which can greatly benefit individuals in the later stages of dementia.
They Offer Customized Services to Their Clients
Care homes can offer customized services in line with their client's demands. Every patient has unique challenges that should be addressed differently. These plans are designed respectfully and responsively to ensure the improvement of one's quality of life.
They Engage Your Loved Ones in Meaningful Activities
All employees in a home care company have medical knowledge on the aspects of dementia. This knowledge helps them offer better services to their clients. It assists in enriching the quality of life through social interaction activities. Caregivers learn about their patient's interests and hobbies and offer a customized environment to improve engagement levels. They also use music therapy sessions that play a crucial role, especially in the late stages of dementia.
They Offer Specialized Care
Care homes offer specialized care services to your loved ones, such as memory care avon. The employees are well-trained in how to offer these services. Most companies also provide constant training to their employees to improve service provision. The employees can positively engage with your loved ones and help them manage unpredictable behaviours through validation, good communication, and redirection. Their actions are often logged with home care scheduling software to keep their care team organised, and families in the loop.
When Should You Take Your Loved Ones To A Dementia Care Home?
Before deciding whether to take your loved one to a care home, it is important to understand the benefits. Care homes make things better and easier for you and your loved one. Deciding to take your loved one to a care home is difficult due to many reasons, such as resistance and other core beliefs.
Look for homes that offer specialized services to dementia patients. Their main objective should be to meet the needs of their clients. Do not get exhausted; reach out and find homes that can help provide specialized care to your loved one.
Mummy & Me - March 2018
On my Mummy & Me post last month, I wrote how it was a little bit of an emotional one for me. You can read more about that here. I'll be honest and say that this months post is no different. It's an emotional one, in the best kind of way. At the start of March it was Ava's 1st birthday and I still can't quite get my head around it!
March has been one amazing month, we've loved every minute of it. With having such a busy month we've taken so many photo's, it's been quite hard to narrow them down. That being said the first picture for this months Mummy & Me has got to be one from Ava's first birthday party. I've taken similar pictures with Noah over the years, him sat on my lap, with a birthday cake, blowing out the candles (Nov 2015 & Nov 2016) and I love looking back to relive those birthday milestones. I guess it's going to become a little tradition for Ava and I too.
March has been one amazing month, we've loved every minute of it. With having such a busy month we've taken so many photo's, it's been quite hard to narrow them down. That being said the first picture for this months Mummy & Me has got to be one from Ava's first birthday party. I've taken similar pictures with Noah over the years, him sat on my lap, with a birthday cake, blowing out the candles (Nov 2015 & Nov 2016) and I love looking back to relive those birthday milestones. I guess it's going to become a little tradition for Ava and I too.
I adore these photo's that were taken on our little holiday to Center Parcs a couple of weeks ago. These pictures show Ava finding her bearings, walking outside for the first time. I think it's lovely that she walked outdoors for the first time whilst we were away. Noah came over to help too, ever the protective big brother.
Last but not least is quite the signature shot of Noah and I. I've lost count of the amount of times that Nick has taken photo's of me holding Noah's hand walking through the woods, sometimes with Ava strapped to my chest or me pushing her in the pram. I never grow old of them though, I treasure them and I'm so grateful that he remembers to take photographs of me and the kids.
Last but not least is quite the signature shot of Noah and I. I've lost count of the amount of times that Nick has taken photo's of me holding Noah's hand walking through the woods, sometimes with Ava strapped to my chest or me pushing her in the pram. I never grow old of them though, I treasure them and I'm so grateful that he remembers to take photographs of me and the kids.
Piccolo Organic Stage 1 Baby Food - Review & Competiton
One of my favourite journeys when it comes to parenting has got to be weaning. I think that it can be such an enjoyable and exciting experience for both baby and parent, thus creating positive association from the get go. When it comes to weaning I've always offered a wide range of different types of tastes, from pouches through to finger foods. For me, this is the best of both worlds and I like to think that it's one of the reasons why both children are such great little eaters.
Having weaned two children there are brands which have become household favourites, one of which is Piccolo. They are a breath of fresh air when it comes to baby food, they promote and are all about Mediterranean goodness. The Mediterranean is known for having good, honest, healthy and natural food, which is prepared lovingly, as a family. Piccolo believe that introducing a little Mediterranean goodness helps develop our little ones taste buds when it's needed the most, right at the start of their weaning journey.
With already being such a big fan, I was delighted when they offered to send out a large selection of their Stage 1 pouches to review. The Stage 1 pouches are suitable from six months and although Ava is now 1 year old she still really enjoys this stage of pouches.
Having weaned two children there are brands which have become household favourites, one of which is Piccolo. They are a breath of fresh air when it comes to baby food, they promote and are all about Mediterranean goodness. The Mediterranean is known for having good, honest, healthy and natural food, which is prepared lovingly, as a family. Piccolo believe that introducing a little Mediterranean goodness helps develop our little ones taste buds when it's needed the most, right at the start of their weaning journey.
With already being such a big fan, I was delighted when they offered to send out a large selection of their Stage 1 pouches to review. The Stage 1 pouches are suitable from six months and although Ava is now 1 year old she still really enjoys this stage of pouches.
I decided to start the review with the Stage 1 Pure Pouches. These pouches contain just one fruit and are available in four different flavours; Pure Banana, Pure Stanley Plum, Pure Williams Pear and Pure Mango. They are 100% organic, vegetarian, gluten free and contain no added sugar. The Pure pouches are ideal for first tastes, when your baby is at the start of their weaning journey. They are also great for a snack and I've also been using them as toppings in porridge and weetabix.
Next we have the fruit and vegetable pouches; Spring Greens, Pear and Apple with a hint of mint, Mango, Pear & Kale with a dash of yoghurt and Courgette, Pea & Leek with a hint of mint. These pouches are perfect if you don't want to introduce anything overly sweet before savoury. I've always introduced both at the same time and as long as you offer both I don't think they develop too much of a preference. These pouches are loaded with vitamins, nutrients and Mediterranean goodness.
Last but not least we have a selection of the sweet combination pouches; Cherry & Yoghurt with Wholegrain Oats, Banana, Blueberry and Apple with a hint of Vanilla, Blushing Berries with Pear & Banana, Raspberry & Apple with soaked oats. These are Ava's favourites, she literally devours them in seconds and would probably have three in one sitting if we let her. She's been having them for her breakfast, a long side some fresh fruit or cereal or just as a snack or after dinner treat.
The organic ingredients which go into Piccolo pouches are planted and nurtured in independent family farms from across the Mediterranean, from countries such as Spain and Italy. A few of their more tropical ingredients are sourced from countries at the other side of the world. This is just another reason to love Piccolo.
"At Piccolo, independent family farms are at the heart of our sourcing decisions. We know our farmers and their stories, and have been lucky to have sourcing ethics very much part of our founder’s and her family’s background in food. It is an integral part of our Piccolo journey. We work closely with our farmers so that they grow for Piccolo bursting with flavour type produce to put in our recipes. It’s at the core of our promise to make sure we are getting the best possible ingredients for our range."
"At Piccolo, independent family farms are at the heart of our sourcing decisions. We know our farmers and their stories, and have been lucky to have sourcing ethics very much part of our founder’s and her family’s background in food. It is an integral part of our Piccolo journey. We work closely with our farmers so that they grow for Piccolo bursting with flavour type produce to put in our recipes. It’s at the core of our promise to make sure we are getting the best possible ingredients for our range."
Knowing the brands values, and where their ingredients come from really make these pouches guilt free. They are a little bit of Mediterranean goodness, all packaged up in pouch form, ready for your little one to enjoy. I think Piccolo are the best of the best and I cannot recommend them enough. The whole range of Piccolo products are widely available at Amazon, ASDA, Tesco, Boots and many more.
How would you like to win a selection of Stage 1 My Little Piccolo pouches? To enter simply use the Gleam form below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!
How would you like to win a selection of Stage 1 My Little Piccolo pouches? To enter simply use the Gleam form below. Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!
Terms & Conditions.
1. There will be 1 winner who will the prize mentioned above (10-15 pouches).
2. Prize sent directly by the PR.
3. Competition ends 29/04/18.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only.
My Favourite Holiday Moment
Moving to the Mediterranean is a dream of mine, and over the past couple of years I've brought up the possibly of emigrating. The Balearic Islands, Majorca in particular feels like a home away from home to me. As soon as I step of the plane, feel the sun warming my face and breathe in the Spanish air, I feel at ease and utterly content. I think that is all it'll ever be though, a dream. Uprooting the kids, selling our home and moving away from family just isn't feasible anymore.
Thankfully we love to travel so the need to emigrate is kept at bay. We are very lucky to go abroad once a year and go on a couple of UK breaks every year too. It's something we prioritise and look forward to all year round, just the two of us before we became parents and now as a family too.
Thankfully we love to travel so the need to emigrate is kept at bay. We are very lucky to go abroad once a year and go on a couple of UK breaks every year too. It's something we prioritise and look forward to all year round, just the two of us before we became parents and now as a family too.
Holiday Gems specialise in short haul travel locations such as Majorca and they recently invited me to write all about my favourite holiday moment. Having been abroad quiet a few times it was hard to narrow it down, but one moment stands out to me more than any.
It was back in 2012, before we had children. We were in Majorca, in our new favourite hotel. Whilst we were enjoying the sun and the all inclusive cocktails, we were reminiscing about the past and making plans for our future. We looked around at all the families and made a promise to come back when we have a child and become parents ourselves.
Just a few years later we did just that. Here's a photo of Noah in Majorca, at our favourite hotel, just like we promised. It was so surreal and humbling to keep the promise that we'd made together and it was the most magical holiday. It was quite the feeling to sit there and watch him splash about in the water, he probably wondered why Mummy and Daddy were smiling so much. We made so many incredible memories that holiday.
What's your favourite holiday moment?
What's your favourite holiday moment?
- This is a PR collaboration.