Good Ol' Mom, she has her touch on us in times of sickness and tribulation and every holiday event. Grown men get misty eyed when they speak of "Mom's home cooking." Her chicken soup cures us. The way she does her mashed potatoes inspires us.
What happens though when Mom gets dementia and is no longer able to manage her kitchen? The fear of her leaving a burner on becomes all too real. There's another fear though, if she was a good cook and has some recipes stored, you will want to make sure that those don't get thrown away.
This past weekend the newspaper had two articles that appealed to me as a Baby Boomer. One headline "Recipes helped writer cope with mom's dementia" and the other "Someone to watch over me"...with the sub text "Many childless boomers wonder who will look out for them as they age". Both journalists did a good job of explaining what our fears are and how to deal with them.
Alex Witchel has penned a book "All Gone" [A Memoir of My Mother's Dementia, With Refreshments] and chronicles caring for an aging parent which includes working her way through recipes that her mother had given her. The book is described by Diane Lade of The Miami Herald as being "part family history, part practical advice and part cookbook."
The book can be ordered from your favorite book retailer. As an alternate to having the hard copy, you can order it as an ebook as well.
Always looking for things to pass along to you, Anita Creamer of The Sacramento Bee caught my eye and delved into the plight of those who never had children, now concerned about their future and perhaps needing long term care down the road.
Food for thought: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/10/4975282/childless-boomers-wonder-who-will.html
My children, now embarking on their own adult lives have turned out to be better cooks than me and I look forward to the day when I can go to their place for a taste of home.
