In time for holidays, I have a gift  recommendation for yourself, or for any any family you know that has a loved one diagnosed with dementia.  The Past is Now My Future by Lanny D. Butler, MS, OTR and Kari K. Brizendine, PT is an excellent resource for professionals, caretakers, and persons with dementia diagnosed in the early stages. ...

As promised this month's posts will be full of fun holiday therapy crafts, recipes and activities! Today's post highlights just some of the endless ideas which can be found on Pinterest. For those of you who are new to the Pinterest scene, the following information from Wikipedia may help to answer any of your questions: What IS ...

This week's post is written for parents who are interested in making their own baby food. With both my girls I have used a combination of homemade baby food and store bought organic baby food. I really enjoy making my own purees and have learned that the process can be healthier for babies, as well as simple and cost effective. In addition, I feel ...

Etsy knows best. How many of you know Etsy? According to Wikipedia, Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. These items cover a wide range including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, food, bath and beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks, and toys. Many individuals also sell craft ...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All! Over the next month I will be highlighting holiday recipes, crafts and various speech and language activities that can be used both in the classroom and at home with young children in need of speech and language therapy. Here are links to some fun Christmas ideas for your therapy sessions this month. Each ...

 While most apps on this blog are for use in therapy, this week I'd like to discuss an app that may benefit clients living with brain injury, dementia, or other memory impairments in their lives outside the therapy room.  Qcard is a new life management app for iPhone designed by a brain injury survivor to help others like him. ...

I have a confession to make. I do not like, cook with or eat Brussels sprouts (or so I thought!). Even though I know they are ''good for me'' and full of vitamin C, they are simply not a food I normally choose to eat. Growing up, my own mother never really made Brussels sprouts (sorry mom, the secret is out!). She made broccoli, green beans and ...

 In July of 2011 I shared a zesty recipe for ''Rainforest Salsa,'' which consisted of chopped tomatoes and onions, fresh cilantro and lime juice, as well as some basic seasonings. Today I would like at share a cozy fall alternative to the cool summer salsa published over a year ago: Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa! It is heartier and has a ...

In the SNF, therapists often get accustomed to choosing pureed, mechanical soft, or regular diet textures. At times, I request a mechanical soft meal with pureed meats, and some facilities ask us to specify mechanical soft with chopped meats or mechanical soft with ground meats. In some facilities, mechanical soft texture is by default softer ...

These hot summer months are a great time to dine outdoors!  Several weeks ago I wrote a two-part post entitled Picky Eater Summer Solutions, which presented a list of creative ways to promote healthy eating habits with small children during the summer months. One of my suggestions was to embrace the outdoors by laying out a blanket and having ...