Here are a few ideas to preserve those recipes.

Make the Recipe Together and Record It

Grab mom, don your aprons, and bake together. As you bake, record her doing each step of the recipe. Often our aging relatives don’t even use exact measurements anymore. They just eye it. Make sure you get a shot of how much they’re using.

Preserve It in Plastic

Take that old recipe, and laminate it. No doubt it might have some vanilla spilled on it over the years, or some crumbs. Before something soaks it and it’s no longer legible, laminate it.

Put it Under Glass

Frame the recipe and hang it on the wall as a treasured memento. Before you frame it though, make sure you make some copies – plenty of them. The more the better. That way you will have the copies to use and pass out, as well as the recipe frame on the wall. A nice touch would be to get a snapshot of grandma making the recipe and put it in a double frame alongside the recipe.

Write Some More

Make the recipe, and as you do see if your aging relative will write out a few more copies. Serve the dish at a gathering and hand out the handwritten copies. It will be a great memento to have mom or grandma’s own writing on the recipe card. They can even be used as place cards or decorations at the Thanksgiving meal as you’re serving the beloved homemade pumpkin pie.

Take a Photo

An easy way to preserve the memory is to take a photo and save it to favorites on your phone. Any time you want to make it, just pull up the file.

Gather Together and Pass it On

To help future generations know the recipes, gather everyone around to make it together. You can bake batches of mom’s favorite raspberry Linzer bars or gingerbread cookies. While you might not remember the exact molasses mom used in her cookies, the grandkids might remember the jar and can help you pick it out at the store.

Things to Celebrate

6 Sensible Sleep Tips for Older Adults

1. Keep a steady sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps support your body’s natural sleep rhythms.
2. Make sure you have the right mattress. You spend a lot of time in bed—so your mattress should be comfortable. Choosing the right kind can make all the difference in the quality and duration of your sleep. Adjustable beds, for example, can help you achieve the ideal sleep position and relieve pain that’s causing sleep disruptions. Some even have anti-snore features.
3. Avoid heavy meals right before bed. Indigestion from a big meal can make it hard to fall asleep, so keep evening meals and snacks light. It’s also a good idea to avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol too close to bedtime–since they can all interfere with sleep.
4. Keep napping to a minimum. When you sleep too much during the day, you may feel too alert to settle down at night. Limit daytime naps to no more than one hour and try to restrict them to earlier in the day.
5. Wind down before turning in. Create a quiet, calming bedtime routine to help your mind and body relax. This may include reading or listening to your favorite soft music. If you’re feeling stressed, try meditation or journaling.
6. Avoid screens right before bed. The blue light emitted by smartphones, TVs, tablets, and computers can disrupt our body’s circadian rhythms. Unplug from all devices at least 60 minutes prior to bedtime and keep them out of the bedroom.

Another key part of sleeping well is creating a sleep-friendly bedroom environment. Keep reading for tips on setting the stage for a restful night.