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Home Safety Modifications for Seniors

Senior Walkin Tub 300x300 Home Safety Modifications for SeniorsHome modification is a fairly new concept that has come along with the incarnation of seniors choosing to stay living in their homes in place of moving to assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Due to limitations that naturally occur as we age changes need to be made in order for needs to be met and safety kept at a premium. Home modifications can range from replacing the knobs on cabinets to bathroom remodels that include barrier free entry tubs.

Seniors need home modifications in order to age in place. They promote keeping independence in senior citizens’ lives while keeping them safe. It is important to recognize that eighty-five percent of elderly people wish to stay in their homes and are doing so. Out of those eighty-five percent only a small percentage are equipped with accommodations that will allow them maximum safety.

Homes without age in place modifications become harder to maintain and live in for seniors. It is proven that a home that is perfectly safe and allows for independent living at sixty-five does not necessarily accommodate the needs of a seventy year old. It has been proven that simple modifications done to the home can eliminate up to fifty percent of the accidents that occur to seniors aging in place.

The most common accident to occur within the home to seniors is a fall. There are many home modifications that can be done to prevent accidental falls. Many age in place specialists will come into the home and do a free home analysis of problem areas. With this information homeowners can budget to make arrangements to accommodate their needs as they begin the aging process. If their goal is to age in their homes and wish to live as independently as possible starting out early in making simple changes will ease both the financial and emotional burdens that can occur.

Below is an example of an inspection of the kitchen and bathroom space within a home. With this general look it is easy to see how home modifications are necessary to safely age in place.

  • It is important to make cabinet knobs easy to pull open. As people age they often begin to lose the strength and ability to work door knobs that have to be turned or that are hard to pull open.
  • Stove controls must all be marked with bold lettering and easy to use. It is important that there are lights that are on the stove that signal when it is on and the stove top is hot. This is important to prevent the stove from being left on or a hand placed on the stove while it is still on.
  • Faucets should be levered instead of turn knobs. This will ease turning them on and off.
  • Grab bars should be put in place in spaces such as tub and toilet areas. It is also important to evaluate the area around the toilet and the toilet itself. Seniors begin to have a harder time lowering and raising themselves. This issue can be resolved with grab bars and high rise toilet aids.
  • Ovens are also another area of concern. They are often heavy and hard to open. This is something to look into. A convection oven can be purchased to help with this issue.
  • A place to sit while working in the kitchen becomes necessary. The aging process has a strange effect on joints and the ability to stand for long periods of time. Cutting celery and dicing carrots is made simpler with a seated work area. The risk of falling or slipping while using a knife decreases significantly.
  • The tub and shower is a large area of concern. A barrier free shower entrance is an incredibly nice feature to have installed. Bathroom remodels are a common renovation for homeowners. A bit of forwarding thinking can save a lot of money later on.
  • Water temperatures should be regulated to prevent burning. This is something that is simple and does not require any renovations.
  • Items that are used on a regular basis such as shampoo and dish soap should be within reaching distance. Over reaching can lead to falls. It is important that everyday use items are well within reach.

Home modifications can improve the lives of those aging in place. Safety is of course the main concern; however, a skilled age in place contractor can blend safety and aesthetics while putting in place home modifications.

If you have enjoyed this article on home safety modifications from Kevin Germain at CPS visit our website http://www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com/about.php today where you will find useful information on installing home safety modifications. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Germain

Every little bit counts! Recyling facts that may surprise you.

landfill bottles 300x225 Every little bit counts!  Recyling facts that may surprise you.“Going green” by recycling efficiently is something everyone can do to preserve and protect our environment and natural resources.  To drive this fact home, below are some interesting facts about America’s consumption of recyclable materials.

Statistics from the Clean Air Council include:

  • The average office worker uses about 500 disposable cups a year — a good incentive to bring your own coffee mug to work!
  • In America we use approximately one billion shopping bags annually — creating 300,000 tons of landfill waste.
  • During the 2009 annual International Coastal Cleanup, the Ocean Conservancy tallied shopping bags as the most common form of waste, comprising 10% of the waste items picked up.

The City of Mesa, Arizona, also supplies some fascinating stats:

  • Each year we manufacture enough plastic film to shrink wrap the entire state of Texas!
  • Recycling five plastic soda bottles can create enough fiberfill for one ski jacket.
  • Nearly 40% of the U.S. waste stream is comprised of paper.
  • By recycling just two gallons of used oil, enough electricity can be generated to run an average American household for nearly 24 hours.

Take the small steps needed to eliminate the use or  increase the recycling of the common items above.  By simply changing just a few of our daily habits, together we can make a discernible difference in protecting our environment.

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer and enthusiastic whole health advocate.

Healthy Grain Alternatives

buckwheat photo 300x225 Healthy Grain Alternatives

Buckwheat

Lately many people are avoiding or reducing the amount of wheat or wheat-products they consume.  Rice, potatoes and corn are frequently the top three foods heading the “instead of” list, but there are actually a variety of other tasty and nutritious grain alternatives out there.  Here are just a few:

Buckwheat – Though its name sounds like a grain, buckwheat is actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb and sorrel.  Favored in Eastern Europe for use in meat and winter root dishes, it has a nutty flavor.  Many stores carry buckwheat flour or you can buy whole-grain buckwheat groats, known as kasha.

Millet – An important food staple for many cultures throughout history, much of the world’s millet is grown in India.  In its whole state it can be used in place of couscous in many recipes; ground, it serves as a substitute for rice flour.  Dry skillet toast before cooking to enhance millet’s mild, nutty flavor.

Quinoa – Protein-rich with lots of vitamins and minerals, quinoa has been called a “supergrain”.  It is available in a variety of forms, including quinoa pasta, quinoa flour and whole-grain quinoa.  In its whole-grain form it should be rinsed before using to eliminate a coating called saponin, which can cause a bitter taste.

Amaranth – This grain a relative of pigweed, and also high in both fiber and protein.  Less well known than the other wheat-free alternative grains, it is most commonly available as flour.

Many grains are delicious in both hot and cold dishes, and grain recipe sites abound on Google.  If your local grocer or the big chain markets don’t carry some of the wheat alternatives listed above, they may also be found at area health food stores, specialty grocers or online.

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer and enthusiastic whole health advocate.

Better Breathing for Better Health

breathing Better Breathing for Better HealthWith the confusing myriad of exercise programs out there, people often have difficulty choosing — and sticking to — a healthy physical regimen.  It’s not all about burning up the calories, either.  The reason aerobic exercise is good for us is because it enables us to take in more oxygen, expel carbon dioxide and give that muscle known as our heart a healthy workout.

Do you know that you can also begin improving your health by simply changing the way you breathe throughout the day?   When we breathe too shallowly, which many of us do, over time our chest and lung tissue can become constricted.  This reduces the flow of oxygen to all our tissues.  Consciously practicing deep, rhythmic breathing throughout the day has a number of benefits, including expansion of the diaphragm, the cone-shaped muscle beneath our lungs.  It also expands the air pockets in our lungs, which triggers a relaxation response in our bodies.

But it’s not just about the lungs and the heart.  When we breathe our circulatory system carries oxygen and nutrients throughout our body; the lymphatic system completes the equation by eliminating what we don’t need.  Deep, regular breathing stimulates and enhances the functioning of our lymphatic system, which in turn carries away toxins, dead blood cells and other matter that our body no longer requires.

Start being healthier and more relaxed right now.  Before you get up from your chair, take a few moments to sit up straight.  Breathe in deeply, expanding your chest and filling your lungs with air.  Slowly exhale.  Repeat three or four times.  You’ve just taken a great first step toward better health!

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer and enthusiastic whole health advocate.

Space Clearing for Better Health – 4 Starter Tips

clutter1 300x199 Space Clearing for Better Health   4 Starter TipsIf you constantly feel disorganized, out of time and overwhelmed, you are probably among the many of us who need some space clearing and de-cluttering at home or work.  Living and working surrounded by unorganized “stuff” can be fuel for the fire of unhealthy stress.  And who needs more stress and anxiety?  Begin by clearing just a counter space, storage area or cluttered corner.  It will generate a great feeling of accomplishment and energize you.  Here a four simple tips to get started:

Start small. When a task seems daunting — like your office, the garage at home or the big closet in the hall — break it down into manageable chunks.  Set a time limit, schedule it and stick to it.  Book 30 minutes after lunch on Monday to clear your desktop; do the same on Wednesday and Friday, 30 minutes each for the main file drawer, then the storage box in the corner.  Set a manageable pace to finish the room – this stuff’s not going anywhere and every bit of headway you make will lighten your load.

Carry something away. Whenever you leave a room, be it your office, your kitchen or the family rec room, take something with you and put it where it really belongs or get rid of it.  Keep it simple:  just one item, every time you leave a room, and you’ll be seeing a difference in a matter of days.

Trash junk mail – every day.  Take a quick look, and if it’s not something you feel compelled to even open and skim, don’t set it aside for later.  Shred it or tear it up, and into the recycle bin it goes.  You may also want to check out options for reducing junk mail by visiting Direct Mail’s Facebook page for information  on its “National Do Not Mail List.”

Make a Donate box. Pick a box of manageable size and keep it near the exit door.  Whenever you come across something useable and in good repair that you don’t need anymore, put it in the box.  Each time the box gets reasonably full (meaning you can still easily carry it), put it in the car and drop it off the next time you go out.  As your de-cluttering becomes habit, you’ll become a familiar face at the Goodwill and other local charities.

Give yourself three weeks of using these simple starter tips (they say that’s how long it takes to make habits stick), then take a look around and enjoy your cleared space and reduced stress level!

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer, enthusiastic whole health advocate – and recovering clutterer.

3 Ways to Jump Start the New Year

jumpstart ornament 3 Ways to Jump Start the New YearThe days before the New Year are a reflective time for a lot of people. Many of us decide we are going to start off the year with a clean slate and a few well-intentioned resolutions – which usually fall by the wayside before the end of January, leaving us with a nagging sense of guilt. This holiday season, why not launch the new year by making time for three small tasks:

Thank someone. Sit down and hand write a note or pick up the phone to tell someone you’re grateful for knowing them. Maybe it’s the math teacher who tutored you through sophomore year, or your Aunt Ruth, who loaned you the down payment for your first car, or your parents, a co-worker, or a friend. You’ll probably come up with a whole slew of people you’d like to thank. That first note or call is a great way to roll into the new year.

Forgive someone. Been harboring resentment or irritation toward someone? Does your blood pressure go up every time you think about the incident or exchange that ticked you off? It’s amazing how many of the events that raise our ire occurred ages ago, and have often been long-forgotten by the person who offended us. Whether or not you forgive someone directly or in the privacy of your own mind, making the conscious decision to release lingering anger and resentment is a healthy and liberating step and also reduces stress.

Perform a secret act of kindness. Be creative and enjoy your mission. Leave an elderly neighbor a gift card, with a note that says, “Treat yourself today.” Donate clothing or toys to a local shelter. Brush the snow off the car next to yours. Send flowers to someone who might least expect them. Leave a book at the coffee shop for someone else to enjoy. Give up your parking space to a stranger. Then savor the notion of knowing that your simple kindness made the start of the New Year happier for another person, too.

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer and enthusiastic whole health advocate.

3 “Bright” Safety Tips for the Holidays

Christmas Lights dreamstime m 17923339 e1324304639209 3 Bright Safety Tips for the Holidays‘Tis the season to be jolly – and it’s also the season of lights and electricity.  Tree lights, exterior house and yard lights, and candle lights.  It’s a very busy time of year when people get caught up in the excitement and can use a few helpful safety reminders:

  1. Be sure that all electrical decorations are in good working order:  no frayed wires or sparking plugs, or plugs that feel warm to the touch.  This is important both inside and outside the house.  If you’re using older lights that have been in the family for years, be especially careful and consider replacing them with new lights that may also be more cost-effective and use less electricity.
  2. It may be tempting to add just one more string of lights before the big party, but first check to ensure that your electrical outlets are not maxed out or overloaded.  This is important both before the holiday and once the gifts have been opened.  Lots of electronic toys and gadgets will be plugged in and played with by children and grown-ups alike, so make sure that outlets are used sensibly and that younger children have assistance from adults.  When the use of extension cords becomes  tempting, be aware that they can also pose an overload hazard or cause dangerous trips and falls if not located safely.
  3. Candles are also a holiday favorite when it comes to decorating, especially as centerpieces or accents on a mantel or end table.  While they look lovely, they can also be a fire hazard, especially in combination with rambunctious children and pets.  Even if you’re a holiday purist who prefers the warm glow of “real” candles, consider using the new cordless battery-powered candles instead.  They are realistic and some even provide that “natural” candle scent that we recall so fondly.

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer and enthusiastic whole health advocate.

5 Tips for Stress-Free Winter Holidays

relaxingHolidayCandle 5 Tips for Stress Free Winter HolidaysA five-year-old of our acquaintance once offered this gem of advice to his harried mother during the pre-holiday season: “Why don’t you just sit down and delax for a while.”

That sums up our first tip for having a stress-free holiday. Here are a few more:

  • Pick up the phone right now, and schedule yourself for a therapeutic neck and shoulder massage a couple of days before a major holiday gathering. Just knowing that you’ve set aside some “me time” for yourself will give you something personal and pleasant to look forward to at this hectic time of year.
  • Lower the bar a little. Do you really have to have all the trim in the bathroom painted before Aunt Lois visits? Is it essential to string lights over every piece of foliage in the yard? Is it absolutely necessary to have hand-lettered place cards at the dinner table? If all the “extras” are keeping you up at night and causing your eyes to glaze over, cross them off the list and take those few extra moments to enjoy the anticipation of the holiday season with family or friends.
  • Don’t wait until you’re at the breaking point to yell for help. Plan with your family and delegate early in the season, especially when it comes to decorating, special cleaning chores or preparing meals. And be willing to let go of some of the tasks you’ve always done your way; let others try their creative hand at things and simply enjoy the results.
  • Last but not least, make sure you get your sleep in. Instead of feeling that you need to work through the nights to get things done, opt to get to bed at a reasonable time and get up an hour earlier if you must. Having a reasonably good night’s rest goes a long way toward a more optimistic view in the morning.

Have a healthy, happy and “delaxing” holiday season!

Article by Kim Washetas, contributing writer and enthusiastic whole health advocate.

Best Health Secrets – Hot Tomatoes

tomatoes Best Health Secrets   Hot Tomatoes

health eating tomatoes

Hot tomatoes are what you pick out of your garden in August, if you’re lucky. And hot tomatoes are just about the hottest and most popular vegetable out there, surpassed in consumption each year only by potatoes. Needless to say, tomatoes beat potatoes in nutrition by miles. Filled with vitamins A and C, tomatoes are high in dietary fiber and low in sodium, with no saturated fat or cholesterol. They are also a good source of vitamin K, vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, potassium, and manganese. Whew! Tomatoes are one of the best nutritional packages around and are commonly available to nearly everyone.

Think of all the different ways you eat tomatoes today. Start with sliced on your plate at a picnic on a hot summer day. Move to piled on a sandwich, then to wedges nestled around a salad, and then to hollowed out and stuffed full of tuna or crab salad on a restaurant plate. Tomatoes cubed into spicy chili. Tomatoes diced up tiny into tacos.

Then start thinking about tomato products. Ketchup, of course. Tomato sauce poured over meatloaf. Tomatoes chopped up with onions and cilantro into salsa for a burrito. Tomatoes simmered with oregano, basil, and garlic into rich goodness to top spaghetti. Tomatoes drowning with molasses and chili peppers in your favorite barbeque sauce. Tomato juice, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, canned crushed tomatoes, Italian-style, Mexican-style, stewed. Is your mouth watering yet?

Producing tomatoes to fill all these needs is big business. Commercial farms in California grow tomatoes on acres of sun-drenched soil. Their harvesting machines can gather over a ton of tomatoes each minute, and the tomatoes are then sent to a processing plant that can handle over a million pounds of tomatoes every hour. Tomatoes from these farms are specially developed to ripen simultaneously, maximizing yield and efficiency in harvest. The fruits are fleshy, with small seed compartments and thick skins to withstand machine harvesting. The varieties grown here, with names like Heinz 2401, are resistant to viruses and fungi that plague home gardeners, as well as to nematodes and beetles. Corporate giants like Heinz, Campbell’s, Pizza Hut, and Ragu pay for the research that turns out these commercial crops, and they reap the rewards of the harvest.

At the other end of the spectrum lie heirloom tomatoes, with names like Brandywine, Marvel Stripe, and Green Zebra. To be classified as an heirloom, the seeds must have bred true for at least 40 years. Heirlooms have become increasingly popular in the last few years and they turn up in organic bistros as well as pricey fine-dining establishments. These varieties are not suitable for commercial production and are usually grown by individuals in small gardens. But individuals cannot supply the growing demand for these tasty reminders of days past, and organic farms, much smaller than the giant commercial operations and often family-operated, are beginning to offer a more reliable supply to restaurateurs and grocers.

The escalating demand for heirlooms is based mostly on flavor, although increasing awareness of pesticides, pollution, and Big Farming have swayed some converts. Consumers have grown tired of the “green baseballs” found on produce shelves these days and long for the flavor of real tomatoes, the kind their parents picked out of the family garden a generation ago. Heirloom varieties offer both flavor and a greener footprint.

Whether out of a can or from an organic garden, tomatoes hold a place–indeed, many places–in today’s menus and lifestyles. Lest we forget, the tomato is the basis of that lovely invention, the Bloody Mary.

Linda Manley, a retired university research director, writes website articles on topics that interest her, such as retiring in warm places, staying fit and healthy, and saving money while doing both. You can find more of her articles at http://BestHealthSecrets.com | Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Manley | Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2751588

Laughter and Health – How They are Interrelated

laughter Laughter and Health   How They are InterrelatedWhile you might think that you need to see many doctors and take many medications in order to remain healthy, researchers now believe that laughter is actually the best medicine and the best way to stay healthy. Laughing can relax the body and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, arthritis, and other serious illnesses. It can rid the body of negative emotions -such as stress, anger, anxiety, and depression, which have all been proven to lead to heart disease.

Some other benefits are:

  1. Laughter can help lower blood pressure. Research has shown that people who laugh on a regular basis tend to have lower blood pressure than the average person. When laughing, breathing becomes heavier and this sends more oxygen through the body. This allows for blood pressure to rise when laughing and then fall to levels below normal after laughing.
  2. A good laugh can actually be equivalent to a good workout. Laughing can work out your diaphragm, respiratory, back, leg, and facial muscles. It also is a great way to boost your heart rate and increase digestion. Researchers believe that a good laugh can burn approximately the same number of calories as riding an exercise bike for a few minutes. One study concluded that laughing for 10-15 minutes can burn about 50 calories.
  3. Laughter can change the biochemical makeup of the body. It will decrease the amount of stress hormones that the body is releasing, while increasing beneficial infection-fighting antibodies.
  4. While relieving stress, laughter can also help improve brain functioning. Since the body is producing less stress-causing hormones, the muscles in the brain relax. This allows the brain to become more alert and retain more information.
  5. Finally, laughing can protect the heart from heart attacks. Research has shown that people with heart disease laugh approximately 40% less than people without heart disease.

In order to gain the benefits of laughter, it is important to allow yourself time to laugh every day. For example, watch comedy TV, listen to comedy when driving, and make friends with funny people. You should understand that humor is good, so don’t take life and yourself so seriously! Be sure to laugh at yourself and have fun!

Assisted Living New York http://LakeShoreLI.com/ The Lake Shore Assisted Living Facility, located on beautiful Lake Ronkonkoma in Long Island, New York has been providing seniors with assisted living care, delicious dining, friendly services and award-winning recreational programs for many years.  Submitted by Victoria at NewSunSEO, Inc. http://NewSunSEO.com.  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_M._Brown. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/892400.