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Jelly Drops Are Sweets That Help Keep People With Dementia Hydrated

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A new sweet could be the answer to a serious health concern. With Jelly Drops, it’s easy for elderly people and others to boost their water intake.

Why Hydration Matters

Dehydration is a serious problem for older people. Many elderly people with dementia and Alzheimer’s don’t drink enough water to stay hydrated. Every day, older adults are hospitalized for life-threatening dehydration.

It’s also a serious concern among children with special needs and people in nursing homes.

An Easy Way To Drink More Water

Now, an easy-to-eat jelly candy could be the answer for people with dementia and their caretakers.

Jelly Drops are round, brightly colored jelly candies that come in fun fruit flavors. Each is about the size of a ping pong ball. You just pop it in, chew it and enjoy the juicy goodness.

The Story of Jelly Drops

Lewis Hornby invented Jelly Drops after his grandmother ended up in the emergency room with dehydration. He knew she loved sweets, and he used that knowledge to develop Jelly Drops.

The candies were an instant hit with elderly people and their caretakers. Jelly Drops have received awards and recognition from a slew of organizations, including the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Alzheimer’s Society, the European Investment Bank and the Helen Hamlyn Center for Design.

Drops of Goodness

Jelly Drops contain 95% water, natural fruit flavors and no sugar. They are soft, chewy and easy to eat. The bright colors and fun shape make them attractive to people with dementia who have lost interest in food.

If you eat 10 Jelly Drops, you take in the equivalent of a cup of water. They contain no harmful ingredients, and it’s safe for children and elderly people to eat as many as they like.

Where Can You Get Them?

You can buy them directly from the Jelly Drops website. Most people use the monthly subscription service.

Jelly Drops

Gatlinburg’s Treetop Skywalk is the Longest Tree-Based Bridge in North America!

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When you were little, did you dream about walking in the treetops like a bird or a squirrel? You can live that dream at the Treetop Skywalk in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Anakeesta Theme Park takes you soaring above the earth and through the forests of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains.

FLY ABOVE THE CITY

The Treetop Skywalk is a series of interconnected bridges that soar high above the city. Its 16-bridge skywalk is the longest tree-based bridge in North America.

Walk through the trees as you catches glimpses of birds, bears and other wildlife. Watch as the fog that gave these mountains their name rolls through.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

The park is more than the Treetop Skywalk. According to Knoxville Moms, Anakeesta is the family-friendly destination you need to visit right now. This year, Anakeesta has added the AnaVista Observation Tower. It’s the tallest building in Gatlinburg, and it gives you breathtaking 360-degree views of the forest and mountains.

If you feel daring, try zip-lining through the treetops or ride the mountain roller coaster. Try the various obstacle courses. BearVenture is an easy activity all kids can enjoy. TreeVenture offers more of a challenge.

MAGICAL MOUNTAINS

The Smoky Mountains Local Expert Team has high praise for it, saying it’s a magical experience: “As your eyes seek to take in the utter splendor of the living mountain, you are surrounded by the aroma of dogwood trees, spruce and hemlock. No matter how warm the day, the air that touches your face at that elevation feels cool and fresh.”

WIND DOWN AND RELAX

If all that activity makes you hungry, stop for a bite to eat. The park offers several places to eat and drink, including some that offer panoramic views. Wrap up your day with a drink or a bite by a cozy fire pit.

If you’re looking for a fun activity in Tennessee, get your spirits soaring at Anakeesta Theme Park.

Treetop Skywalk

Pets For The Elderly Charity Expands Effort To Help Isolated Seniors

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A charity that brings pets and people together is expanding its outreach during the coronavirus pandemic. Pets for the Elderly specializes in helping people over 60 find a loving, four-footed companion.

Pets For The Elderly

HELPING SHELTER PETS AND PEOPLE FIND EACH OTHER

Loneliness is hard on seniors, and animals make wonderful companions. Those two facts are the driving force behind Pets for the Elderly, whose mission is to end loneliness among the elderly. The organization calls its program Companion Connection. The program helps pay the adoption, spaying and other fees for people over 60 who adopt shelter pets. It’s a win-win. Seniors find a fluffy friend, and pets find a forever home.

Around 50 shelters in 30 states take part in the program. It has helped more than 100,000 shelter pets find homes.

FORGING A LIFELONG CONNECTION

This week, the organization announced it was ramping up efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pets for the Elderly is reaching out to help older people pay for food, grooming and in-home visits from shelter workers.

Loneliness is a serious problem for older people. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, more than a third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of people over 65 are “socially isolated.” Many are even more isolated without the ability to socialize or receive visitors because of the pandemic.

IT’S THE RIGHT TIME

Executive Director Susan Kurowski said this is the right time to increase the organization’s efforts.

“With COVID, bridging this isolation gap with companionship is going to show, when we look back, as being key to many people’s mental wellness. You don’t have to live alone to feel isolated.”

Has a pet helped you cope with the pandemic? Let us know.

Kroger Hires Homeless Woman Who Slept In Their Parking Lot For A Year

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Lashenda Williams was sleeping in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store in Nashville. One day, she took a step that changed her life.

Kroger Hires Homeless Woman

Larry McCormack | The Tennesseean

A DIFFICULT LIFE

Williams had a tough life. She grew up in foster care. She had cerebral palsy, a severe learning disability and a history of addiction. She was working occasional cleaning jobs, but her history and health problems made it hard for her to find steady work. Unable to afford housing, she began sleeping in her car in the Kroger parking lot. The store was open 24 hours, and she got to know the employees there.

“I felt blessed on the days when I could walk into that store and get something to eat and drink and hear a kind ‘hello’,” she said. “I’ve always felt safe there.”

THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED

One day, she saw a flyer announcing a job fair. Williams asked if there might be a job for her at the store. Jackie Vandal, the assistant store manager, helped Williams fill out an application and hired her on the spot.

She started as a part-time cashier. A month later, she became a full-time associate.

HER FIRST HOME

After a few months, Williams had saved enough money for a deposit on a one-bedroom apartment. Although she was thrilled, she didn’t have any furnishings for it.

Verlenteez Williams, a regular customer at the store, told her he could give her some items he didn’t need. He also posted a message on Facebook asking for donations.

Enough donations poured in to completely furnish the apartment.

LEARNING WHAT LOVE IS

Williams’ story was featured on local news and Good Morning America.

Williams said she still can’t believe she gets to drive home now instead of sleeping in her car. She said, “I have never known love like the love I got from Kroger. I never knew what love was before now.”

Kroger Hires Homeless Woman

Turkey Pants allow plenty of room to stuff yourself with Thanksgiving food

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Are you wondering what to wear to your Thanksgiving feast? Wonder no more because roomy, feast-ready Turkey Pants are here.

If you count on wearing sweatpants or other loose garments while you chow down, these pants might just be a stylish alternative.

Turkey Pants

Eat Your Fill While Wearing Turkey Pants

The pants are comfortable, loose and expandable. They’ll let you stuff your stomach without worrying about making your pants too tight.

There’s no belt. You don’t have to worry about loosening anything. You can just sit back, relax and enjoy that second or third serving of pumpkin pie. Nobody will notice if your tummy looks like it’s ballooned several sizes.

Feel Like a Turkey

Made of a cool, breathable cotton blend, these pants are a combination of leggings, harem pants and joggers. The shape is definitely unusual. They’re fitted at the shin and baggy on the stomach and thighs.

In fact, their weird shape and brown color make them look just like turkey legs. Be careful if you decide to take a walk in the woods while wearing them.

Turkey Pants

It’s a Holiday Tradition

Expandable pants for Thanksgiving are not new. A few years ago, the makers of Stove Top Stuffing launched their own expandable Stuffing Pants for Thanksgiving.

The pants were so popular that the company had to limit buyers to one pair at a time.

Are You Planning to Gobble Up These Pants?

Would you wear Turkey Pants to celebrate Turkey Day? Let us know what you think.

Turkey Pants

How To Keep A Christmas Cactus Looking Beautiful All Season Long

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The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful plant that produces bright, delicate blooms during the holiday season. It’s not just a seasonal plant, however. Many people enjoy keeping this plant alive and healthy all year.

Christmas Cactus

Keep Your Plant Alive All Season

With the right care, your cactus can live, thrive and continue to bloom year after year.

To know the basics of caring for one, it’s important to know that these cactuses come from the mountains of South America. There, they grow in cool forests under the shade of giant trees. They receive scattered sunshine, cool mountain breezes and light rain.

You don’t think of succulents as forest plants, but that just tells you how unusual these plants are.

How to Care for Your Christmas Cactus

To keep your plant healthy, follow these steps.

  1. Bring your plant indoors. Keep it in a cool area away from heat sources.
  2. Don’t rush to repot your cactus. These plants do well in tiny pots. Repotting can shock them, so don’t do it until it’s necessary.
  3. Keep the plant in indirect sunlight.
  4. If your Christmas Cactus is still in its decorative wrapping, cut holes in the bottom to allow drainage. Place the plant on a dish to catch excess water.
  5. Speaking of water, don’t over water your plant. Give it a little water about every three days.
  6. If you need to add soil, use a cactus mix.

Keep Your Cactus Blooming

The above steps will keep your plant healthy. If you want to have blooms every year, follow these steps:

  • Cut back on watering in the spring and summer. This lets the blossoms rest.
  • At the end of summer, feed it with bloom food diluted to one-quarter strength.
  • When buds form, stop fertilizing and go back to normal watering.

Enjoy Christmas All Year

Do you ever wish it could be Christmas all year? You can’t make that happen, but you can keep one part of Christmas alive with a little loving care.

Do you have tips for keeping Christmas plants alive and blooming?

Christmas Cactus

Struggling 89-Year-Old Pizza Delivery Driver Receives A $12,000 Tip

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A pizza delivery driver in Utah got the tip of his life after his regular customers did something wonderful for him.

Struggling 89-Year-Old Pizza Delivery Driver Receives A $12,000 Tip

KSL News

HE’S A HARDWORKING MAN

Derlin Newey is 89 years old. He works evenings delivering pizzas for the Papa John’s pizza chain.

Derlin became very popular with his customers for his cheerful, friendly personality. His signature greeting was to shout, “Hello, are you looking for some pizza?”

HE BECAME A TIKTOK CELEBRITY

One of his best customers was Carlos Valdez. The couple has a TikTok account with over 50,000 followers.

They were so charmed by Newey’s friendliness that they began featuring him on their TikTok videos. Viewers began asking to see more of Derlin and his funny greetings.

TikTok is a video-sharing social media site where users can post 30-second videos.

INSPIRED TO HELP

Some of their viewers began wondering why Derlin was still working at his age. Inspired to do something, Carlos asked his account followers to chip into a fund for the older man.

The donations came pouring in. By the time the donation period ended, the TikTok account had raised more than $12,000.

HE BURST INTO TEARS

Carlos and his wife went to Derlin’s home with the check signed, “From your TikTok family.” The older man burst into tears when he saw how much the check was.

They also gave him a shirt that says, “Are you looking for some pizza?”

The event was filmed for the TikTok account and by local news station KSL.

CARING COMMUNITY

Derlin lives alone. He said he works about 30 hours a week as a delivery driver because he can’t pay his bills on Social Security. The Valdez family said they are still getting donations for him.

Derlin didn’t even know what TikTok was, but he certainly knows what generosity is, thanks to a caring community.

Struggling 89-Year-Old Pizza Delivery Driver Receives A $12,000 Tip

This Couch Pet Bed Provides Comfort and Security for Pets Who Love To Nest

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We never get tired of spoiling our pets. Now, you can give your favorite furred friend his or her very own couch pet bed. They’ll love this soft, cozy bed that pampers them in style.

Couch Pet Bed

Luxury for Your Pet

This adorable couch pet bed is a little bit of luxury for your pet. It’s a stylish sofa your pet will love snuggling into every day. Your dog or cat can get cozy with you while you watch TV, read or relax.

The best part is you can choose your favorite fabric because you make this couch pet bed yourself. Create a one-of-a-kind bed for your special buddy.

Make Them Feel Safe and Secure

This is the bed your pets want.

Most cats only feel secure when they can sleep in a snug, enclosed space. That’s why they like to hide in drawers and boxes. It isn’t just cats, however. Many dogs also prefer a bed that makes them feel tucked in.

Older pets will appreciate a soft, warm place to snooze their days away, and young pets will enjoy a place to flop after a day of playing.

Couch Pet Bed

It’s a Perfect Holiday Gift

Take care of your holiday gift giving with this couch pet bed. You can make a gorgeous bed for every pet lover on your list. You can even make it in a holiday pattern.

Where Can You Get the Couch Pet Bed Pattern?

You can only buy this couch pet bed pattern from Etsy seller Pillow Pops, a seller who specializes in exclusive, charming home accessories.

When you order the pattern, you’ll receive detailed instructions, a tissue pattern and photos to show what the item should look like at different stages. Have fun making this beautiful bed for your favorite pet.

Couch Pet Bed

Goat Sneaks Into Deputy’s Patrol Car, Eats Her Paperwork!

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A deputy sheriff in Georgia had an encounter that really got her goat when she was making a routine paperwork run.

IT TURNED INTO A GRUFF ENCOUNTER

The Douglas County deputy was delivering civil papers to a farm. When she arrived, she left her cruiser’s passenger door open since it was a quick stop.

In a Facebook post about the incident, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office explained that, “Due to the number of houses she visits daily, she routinely leaves her vehicle’s door open because she has had to retreat on a number of occasions from vicious dogs. Never once did she expect or even consider what was about to happen this day!”

THIS GOAT WASN’T KIDDING

The deputy opened the door to find a goat in her car and her paperwork in shreds. He found all that paper irresistible and decided to help himself to a snack.

A body cam video shows the officer trying to shoo the goat away, but he takes his sweet time leaving those tasty, shredded treats.

A TALE WITH A HAPPY ENDING

The deputy tried pushing the goat, pulling his tail and swatting him away. At one point, the goat accidentally knocked her over as she was trying to remove him.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the good cop, bad goat encounter. The sheriff’s office said, “We all got a little laugh out of it, and we hope you do, too.”

We’ve heard of dogs eating homework, but this is the first time we’ve seen a goat eat official paperwork. This deputy has a great excuse for not turning in her work.

Goat Sneaks Into Deputy’s Patrol Car

Clawgs Help Protect Your Pup’s Paws from Hot Asphalt and other Abrasive Surfaces

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If you love your dog and love the idea of helping a small independent, it’s time to look at Clawgs. This ingenious paw-wear protects your dog’s pads from uncomfortable, dangerous surfaces like hot asphalt, gravel, sharp ice, salted roads, slippery floors and rocky trails.

There are other dog booties out there, but they don’t have the incredible details that these protectors do. It’s obvious the inventor is someone who knows and loves dogs.

Clawgs Help Protect Your Pup's Paws

Why Dogs Need Clawgs

Your dog’s paw pads were designed to run on grass and dirt. Today, your dog encounters different surfaces that can damage her paw pads.

Rescue dogs often need padded shoes to protect their feet from broken glass and concrete when they’re digging through rubble.

Clawgs let your dogs walk or run safely on any surface.

What Makes Them Special

Here’s what makes Clawgs stand out.

  • They’re thin and flexible. Your dog can still feel the surface of the ground without damaging his paw pads.
  • They have grip to help your dog walk on slick surfaces.
  • They’re breathable. Many dog booties suffocate your dog’s feet by not letting them sweat. They allow your dog’s feet to sweat and breathe naturally.
  • They allow dogs to use their claws. Dogs can still walk naturally wearing them.
  • They’re soft, lightweight and comfortable.

Clawgs Help Protect Your Pup's Paws

Where Can You Get Clawgs?

These special dog booties are only available from a Kickstarter project. Depending on the level of support you pledge, you can get them at an early bird discount of more than 30%. Pledging now will get you a set of Clawgs by Christmas.

As the project creator says, “Please consider preordering Clawgs. If you do not have a dog but love them and want to help, please donate. Our mission is for you and your best friend to travel further together.”

You can learn more at the Kickstarter page.

Clawgs Help Protect Your Pup's Paws from Hot Asphalt and other Abrasive Surfaces