Antipsychotic Medication Overuse In Nursing Homes


The past couple of mornings, I have been hearing the same story in NPR that has really alarmed me since my grandfather once has spend some time in nursing homes. If you have loved ones in nursing homes you need to pay attention. According to the NPR news, over 300,000 nursing home residents are wrongfully getting antipsychotic medication for Alzheimer or other forms dementia for which these drugs can be deadly. The Food and Drug Administration has black box warning for this drugs saying that they can increase the risk of heart failure, infections and death.

In 2012 the federal government started a program to get nursing homes to stop using such drugs. Nevertheless, nursing homes rarely get penalized for not complying with the program. My grandfather spend some time in nursing homes after losing his leg to gangrene and we brought him home after several incidents with nursing home abuse and I cannot imagine someone else’s loved ones going through this.  Remember FDA did not approve the drugs to treat dementia. Nursing home residents should only receive antipsychotic drugs only medically necessary.

Our current federal law prohibits the use such drugs for staff convenience, known as “chemical restraints”. These drugs can abruptly change behavior, can cause sedation, and increase the risk of fall. This is a public health concern and we need to adequate action. If you have a loved one in nursing homes make sure if he staff tells you that the doctor prescribed a medication and asks you to sign a form, ask questions and don’t sign until you are sure of what medication the doctor described and what it is for. Remember, getting informed consent when prescribing antipsychotic drug is required by law. As a public health person I found this topic quite important and hence wanted to bring it to you attention. If you have faced any issues with nursing homes with your loved ones please don’t forget to comment. Happy reading.

Forever NijLeave a comment

Holiday Shopping


Now that holiday season is upon us, I know that everyone is already busy deciding what to get the loved ones for the holidays. I for one love this time of the year, the lighting, and all the decorations and festivities. It is all so magical…enchantment of the disenchanted world, as George Ritzer, Sociologist and author of McDonalization of Society, might put it as. Through Ritzer’s point of view one can argue, in today’s McDonalized society all the holiday decorations and lighting we see outside is just a mere attempt to create a feeling of grandiose and magic to lure shoppers to malls and stores and empty their wallets to shop during the holiday seasons. In many ways, that is true.

Nevertheless, whatever the reason might be, I love the warm fuzzy feeling that this season brings; whether drinking hot chocolate or making holiday deserts with family; shopping for gifts for friends and family or just spending quality times with the loved one, it is all so just magical. No matter what religion you belong to, this season is still joyous and magical for all. I was watching the news the last few days regarding holiday shopping, and learned that more and more people are shopping online. I for one am one of them. It is more convenient for one. I can do all my shopping in the comfort of my home. One thing that I have been doing lately that has helped me earn money while shop online I will share that secret with you today.

ebatesThe site is called Ebates. I have made close to three hundred dollars so far just for shopping at my favorite stores, such as Sephora, Nordstorm, Bath and Body Works, Body Shop, Gap, Macy’s, Best Buy. You go the the shopping sites through Ebates and you get paid just for shopping at your favorite sites. I even got paid for booking my travel through Expedia and Priceline. If you are a online shopper like me that this is the site for you. You have nothing to loose. Just click on my link and you will get a $10 gift card just for signing up and after you sign up refer your friends and they will receive gift cards for signing up.

As part of my holiday giving mood, I am providing you with some online promo codes from some of my favorite stores. Hopefully, you all can sign up for Ebates, which by the way is absolutely Free to sign up. You use the following coupons to not only save online but use Ebates to earn some cash back as well. Hence, this going to be double savings. Hopefully,  you will take advantage of it. Happy readings.

  1. Aldo Shoes:  CM14 – Cyber Monday Extended Sale – 20% off full-priced items (Exp. 12/3/2014)
  2. Amazon:  WATCHES25 – Take 25% off select Anne Klein watches! (Exp. 12/16/2014)
  3. Amazon:  CYBWEEK14 – Spend $100 and receive 30% off Fashion! (Exp. 12/06/2014)
  4. American Express Gift Cards and Business Cards:  FPHURRY – Green Monday – No order fees on Gift Cards. (Exp. 12/17/2014)
  5. Amrita Sign: EBATES10 –  Save 10% off Your Entire Order (Exp. 12/31/2014)
  6. Barnes and Nobel: BN10OFF75 – $10 off $75+ order! (Exp. 12/03/2014)
  7. Bath and Body Works: WINTERXD8z7sw60WTJ – 20% off any online order (Exp. 2/28/2015)
  8. BCGC: FREESHIP- Free shipping on any order. (Exp. 12/31/2050)
  9. Bliss: Blissrocks – 20% off any order. (Some exclusions apply.) (Exp. 12/25/2014)
  10. Bluemercury: SCOTCH – Free Bobbi Brown Gift with $50+ Bobbi Brown order. (Exp. 12/19/2014)
  11. Dell Consumer: G1TWNG6GD6L8F$ – Cyber Week – 38% off Inspiron 17 5000 Series laptop with Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB memory, 1TB hard drive and Windows 7 Now: $699.99 and Free shipping. (Exp. 12/08/2014)
  12. E.l.f. Cosmetics: COLOR – Free 12 Custom Colors and 3 Custom Compacts with $25+ order. (Exp. 12/31/2014)
  13. ebags: LEATHER – 20% off Leather Handbags. (Exp. 12/06/2014)
  14. Express: 1848 – $10 off $30+, $30 off $75+, $60 off $150+ or $90 off $225+ order. (Restrictions apply. See store for details.) (Exp. 12/05/2014)
  15. Foot Locker: LKS14D5B – 15% off $75+ order. (Online Only. Exclusions May Apply.) (Exp. 12/31/2014)
  16. Gap: HAPPY – 30% off any order. (Restrictions apply, see site for details. ) (Exp. 12/03/2014)
  17. Giorgio Armani Beauty: FAMILY14 – Get 20% Off your purchase of $75 or more, plus free shipping. Spend $150 or more and get 20% off, plus 5 Deluxe samples and free shipping! (Exp. 12/07/2014)
  18. Godiva: CARAMEL – Rush shipping only $5 on $25-$64.99 order. (Exp. 12/21/2014)
  19. Guess: FNPNTEB – 10% off all regular priced items site-wide! (Exp. 12/31/2014)
  20. JCPenny: CYBRMNDY – Take an extra 20% off purchases up to $100 and 30% off purchases $100 or more. (Exp. 12/03/2014)
  21. Kate Spade: WHATFUN – 25% off full priced items! Free shipping and free returns. (Exp. 12/03/2014)
  22. Kohl’s: CYBERTAKE20 – Cyber Monday Sale – 20% off any order. (Exp. 12/03/2014)
  23. Lancome: FRIENDS – 20% off any and Free shipping on $49+ order. (Exp. 12/07/2014)
  24. Macy’s: EBATESFF – Friends & Family Extra 25% off. (Exp. 12/08/2014)

Hope you will enjoy using these promo codes and shop through Ebates and get paid for shopping and save during this holiday season. Hope you’ll enjoy the warmth of the holiday season and all the blessings that comes with it. I will love to here your comments. Happy reading.

Forever NijLeave a comment

Roasted Turkey Pinwheel


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Now that Thanksgiving is over. What do you all do with the leftover turkey meat? I for one love making leftover roasted turkey pinwheel. This is the recipe hope you like it.

Ingredients

  • 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet
  • 2 tablespoons fat free ranch dressing
  • 1/4 cup leftover shredded turkey meat. I liked to take the white meat if there are any I lightly cook it in olive oil and 1 small chopped onion until the onion is golden with little bit of seasoning as desired.
  • 1/2 cup finely shredded fat free cheddar cheese (2 oz)
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions (4 medium)
  • 1/2 jalapeno

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12×4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.
  2. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12×4-inch rectangle.
  3. Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges.
  4. Sprinkle each with turkey, cheddar cheese, jalapeno and green onions.
  5. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal.
  6. If too soft leave in refrigerator for 1o minutes to harden a bit.
  7. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.
  8. Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown.
  9. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.
  10. Serve warm.

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Chocolate Delight


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I made this second desert for the Thanksgiving dinner, which everyone absolutely enjoyed.

Ingredients

  • I cup all purpose flour
  • I  stick I Cannot It’s Butter, softened
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 6 tablespoons Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 8 oz of fat free cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup Splenda
  • 2 8-oz fat free cool whip
  • 1 3.9-oz fat free sugar free instant jello chocolate pudding
  • 3 cups fat free half and half milk
  • Semi-Sweet chocolate for garnish

Crust Instructions

  1. Combine flour, butter, pecans, cocoa, and salt and press into the bottom on a 13X9 baking dish.
  2. Bake at 325 dish for 25 minutes.
  3. Cool completely.

Filling Instructions:

  1. Mix cream cheese and splenda with an electric mixture until smooth. Fold in half cool whip and mix until combined. Spread the mixture evenly onto crust. Let the cream cheese layer to set in refrigerator for an hour.
  2. Mix pudding mixes, milk, and 2 tablespoon of splenda with an electric mixer until combined then mix on medium speed for two minutes. Spread mixture evenly onto cream cheese layer and again leave in the refrigerator the the pudding to set.
  3. Spread remaining cool whip onto chocolate layer then sprinkle with shredded semi-sweet chocolate.

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Chocolate Cheesecake


20141126_223542[1]For Thanksgiving, we have a years old tradition of going to our aunt’s house to celebrate. However, this year I have decided to make two deserts, chocolate cheesecake and chocolate delight cake and I will share the recipes for both. I tried to make substitute Splenda for sugar since we have a lot of diabetics in the house with genetic carotid artery blockage. Hence, I also have to find fat free alternatives as well. Hope you enjoy the diabetic friendly recipe. *Please note that the splenda from cheesecake was added was added one spoon at a time just to make it sweet enough for my family who eats very little sugar. You should add to for your taste-bud. Everyone loved the cheesecake and asked for the recipe so I guess it was a success. It was a trial and error. I always have to experiment because of because special dietary needs of my family.

Ingredients for Chocolate Crumb Crust

  • 1  Stick Butter (I used I believe It’s Not Butter for healthy substitution)
  • 1-1/2 cup (about 45 wafers, crushed) reduced fat vanilla wafer crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons Splenda
  • 6 tablespoons Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa

Cheesecake Ingredient

  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (I used I believe It’s Not Butter for healthy substitution)
  • 1/2 cup Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa
  • 3 package (8 oz each) fat free cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (14 oz) fat free evaporated milk
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons Splenda*

Crust Instructions

  1. Place butter in medium microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted.
  2. Stir in water crumbs, sugar, and cocoas, blend wells.
  3. Press mixture onto bottom and 1/2  to 1 inch up side of springform pan.
  4. Bake at 300 degree F for 10 minute

Cheesecake Instructions:

  1. Place butter in medium microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted.
  2. Stir in cocoa until smooth and set aside.
  3. Beat cream cheese in large bowl. Add cocoa mixture; beat well. Gradually beat in evaporated milk, splenda, until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Pour batter into on top of crust.
  4. Bake 1 and 10 minutes or until set at 300 degree F (Center will be soft). Remove pan from from oven to wire rack.
  5. Cool and remove from spring from.
  6. To serve garnish as desired. 12 servings. Refrigerate leftover cheesecakes.

 

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