DO THESE 10 THINGS.

You have more control than you realize. Eliminating bad habits and replacing them with good habit strategies can prevent the tell-tale signs of aging on your face.

1. Get enough Vitamin D, especially in Winter.
2. Use sunscreen when outdoors to protect against Ultraviolet rays.
3. Moisturize your skin daily to keep it soft and supple.
4. Stay active by exercising regularly.
5. Eat a healthy diet. Cut out junk food.
6. Cut down on alcohol. Moderate or eliminate it completely.
7. Stop smoking.
8. Hydrate yourself to keep skin clear, firm, bright, and smooth.
9. Avoid stress at work or at home. Try yoga or meditation.
10. Get enough sleep, ideally seven to eight hours each night.

Weeds in Nana’s Garden: A heartfelt story of love that helps explain Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.

Written and Illustrated by Kathryn Harrison

This well-written book is poignant and beautiful. The author tackles a difficult subject with which many families are forced to face. By using the metaphor of a garden overcome with weeds, the author introduces the subject of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.

The protagonist is a young girl who enjoys planting seeds in her Nana’s garden every spring. She laughs and dances as her grandmother explains the fairies are sprinkling their magic dust in the garden. They work the garden as the flowers spring to life. They observe the changes in the garden as the seasons change.

Then one summer, the little girl notices weeds growing in the garden. She inquires of her Nana whether they should pull them out, but her grandmother just nods. Confused, the little girl asks her mother why Nana does not remove the weeds and her mother tenderly explains that Nana’s brain is sick and that like the garden it is becoming tangled and confused. She reminds her daughter that like the flowers growing among the weeds, the Nana they remember is still underneath.

As time goes on, the weeds multiply and Nana’s condition worsens. The little girl has grown and she learns to deal with reality. She sings and dances in the garden once more, now taking over the responsibility for the garden while her grandmother rests sitting underneath a tree.

The author reminds us that our mothers and grandmothers are treasures, but like the cycle of the seasons, they will not be with us forever. There is a wonderful list of questions and answers that can be used to explain dementia to children. Harrison donates 20% of her sales to the Alzheimer Foundation in Canada. Recommended for parents, grandparents, teachers and children ages six and older.

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