As we’re heading toward holiday baking season, a virtual program Wednesday afternoon will help people with dementia to be safe and still function in the kitchen.
Brenda Roberts of Gratiot county is the executive Director of Dementia Minds, which is hosting the event.
She said the “Cooking with Dementia” program is structured to allow participants to share strategies and work-arounds in the kitchen.
"I know that some of them will talk about how they use different timers to remind them for different tasks that they're working on. Let's use Alexa to tell them specifically what they're working on. They'll probably share ideas about you know, getting all the ingredients out, lining it all up in order and maybe even pre-measuring it."
Roberts said worldwide, someone is diagnosed with dementia every three seconds. And the warning signs may not be what you expect.
"look at executive function, such things as paying bill, are you starting to make mistakes with some bill paying maybe. Or another thing I hear a lot about is I can't figure the tip anymore, I used to be able to calculate a tip also is visual spatial. Like we have one lady she was having a hard time, you know, with the drive in window, fitting through the drive in window feeling like she could get through it lining up between the lines to park."
Roberts said a Traverse City chef will be on hand at the cooking program to answer questions. The event is open to people living with dementia, and – if needed - their care givers. Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvceytrjwpH9zhQQJQXVDR01d8rorIY-wR