The U.S. Travel Industry Association
estimates that more than 5 million family vacations a year in the United
States now encompass three generations, with grandparents often footing
the bill. Multi-generational travel is a hot trend, having increased
from 22 to 32 percent in the last five years, with the phenomenon
expected to grow as the U.S. population ages. Read More.
If you've ever thought "wouldn't it be great if I could move around the
place merely by twitching my buttocks?" then we've got good news for
you: the Honda UNI-CUB
could well be the answer to your lazy prayers. It's a "personal
mobility device" that enables you to scoot about the place like
something out of WALL-E. So what is it, and why has Honda built it? Read More.
HARTFORD -- Families must play a key role in preventing
overmedication of seniors suffering from dementia, state and local
officials said Monday.
Increased communications among patients, their families and hospital
staff, particularly care-giving aides and nurses, can go a long way
toward cutting down on the overuse of drugs, they said during a
two-and-a-half-hour field hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging led by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Overmedicating is one issue facing seniors seeking medical help.
Seniors are disproportionally affected by medical errors, with one in
seven Medicare beneficiaries harmed in the course of care, according to
federal health officials. Read More
(ARA) - Whether
it's at work, at home or among friends, building and maintaining
relationships is one of the most important parts of life. As people get
older, however, the ways in which connections are made and kept change
due to life adjustments, new technology and health.
Those changes often mean challenges. For instance, hearing loss is a
common cause of diminishing connections. Those who suffer from it might
be reluctant to say or do anything, but not being able to hear can lead
to isolation and frustration in all facets of life. Your professional
life can suffer just as much as personal relationships, and hearing loss
has even been linked to weakened earning power in the workplace.
Putting off hearing loss testing is common, for any number of
reasons, ranging from not wanting to admit the problem to worry about
having to use a bulky hearing aid. But those who take that first step
find that their lives take a dramatic turn for the better, with
strengthened relationships and greater ability to enjoy what they were
previously missing out on.
To keep your life connected to those around you, on a personal and professional level, consider these ideas:
* Remember the health connection. With age comes an increased
awareness of the true value of health and how deeply it affects our
lives. By paying attention to and making an honest assessment of health
concerns like hearing, it's easier to ensure that you can stay active
and connected to your loved ones and friends over the long term. Get
your hearing tested and learn about the wide array of new developments
in hearing products that can help you live life to the fullest. Visit
Starkey.com to find a hearing professional and learn more.
* Find ways to maintain your lifestyle. When you've worked to create
a life that you enjoy, it makes sense that you want to keep it up, in
spite of life changes. Whether that means going out to dinner with
friends every Thursday or opening your home as a gathering place to
watch movies or sports with family, it's important to keep those
connections and habits going. With the help of state-of-the-art hearing
aids and hearing aid accessories like SurfLink Mobile, you can maintain
your lifestyle without any sacrifices. The SurfLink Mobile device from
Starkey Hearing Technologies enables completely hands-free cell phone
conversations. In addition, SurfLink Mobile can act as an assistive
listening device and hearing aid remote control, as well as stream music
and TV directly to a wearer's wireless hearing aids.
* Seek opportunities to learn. The constant flood of new gadgets and
ways to use them can feel overwhelming, particularly if you were born
into a generation that knew a world before personal computers. However,
most of these technological developments have been designed for easy
use, as long as you have a little background information. Look for
community education classes, stop into a computer store that offers
instruction, or even ask a friend to help you learn. You might find it
easier to connect with loved ones and friends through texting, email and
the Web, and that knowledge will also help in the workplace, where
computer literacy is now essential.
In today's society, "connectedness" refers to technology usage as
much as human interaction. But interestingly, the two ideas intersect in
ways that improve everyone's lives, with technology driving human
connections and vice versa. By taking advantage of the new ways to
connect, you'll make your relationships even stronger.
If your plans include remaining in your home you should read the booklet Modifying Your Home to Promote Greater Independence by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. The booklet covers ways you can make your home more "senior friendly" and includes examples of ways people have modified their home to fit their changing needs. Read More.
Thanks to better at-home care and in-office
dental treatments, more people are keeping their teeth throughout their
lives. Some diseases and conditions can make dental disease and tooth loss more likely. But most of us have a good deal of control over whether we keep our teeth into old age.
The most important thing you can do is to brush and floss your teeth each day.
Most mouth woes are caused by plaque.
Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria, bits of food and other organic
matter that forms on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque make acids that
cause cavities. Plaque also leads to periodontal (gum) disease. This can
become a serious infection. It can damage bone and destroy the tissues
around your teeth.
The best defense is to remove plaque before it has a chance to build up and cause problems. Brushing removes plaque from the large surfaces of the teeth and from just under the gums. Flossing removes plaque from between your teeth. You also can use other tools to keep your mouth and teeth clean.
Read More.
(ARA) - When the
weather warms and the heat arrives, it seems everyone has a reason to
smile. Whether you prefer to cool off with a dip in the pool or with a
tall cool drink in the shade, we all have ways to beat the heat. But
what about your dog? Pets can suffer from heat just like people.
There are steps you can take to help ensure your dog doesn't
overheat in hot weather. Dawn Bolka is a registered veterinary
technologist (RVT) and full time veterinary technology instructor at
Brown Mackie College - Michigan City. She offers insight into keeping
your dog safe during the hot months.
"A dog's normal body temperature is 101 degrees, and sometimes up to
102.5 degrees," Bolka says. "Match this base with rising temperatures,
and a pet can get hot quickly." Fortunately, your pet has two ways of
cooling down. "Panting through the mouth is a form of sweating. Dogs
also sweat through the bottoms of their feet," she continues.
One of the first things Bolka recommends doing for your pet is take
time to brush out the undercoat during the spring shed. Dogs shed twice a
year - once in the spring to get rid of the winter coat, and once in
the fall to lose the summer coat. "Most dogs like the brush. Removing
the thicker winter coat helps to keep your dog cooler," says Bolka.
Two of the most important things you can give your dog in the summer
are water and shade. "Never leave a dog out in the sun - even in the
backyard - without an ample supply of drinking water," Bolka continues.
"A shady area should be within easy reach, providing the dog with a
place to get out of the heat. When given the options of both sun and
shade, dogs know when to take them."
Another way to protect your dog from summer heat is to be aware of
the ground temperature. "Pavement can get hot enough to fry an egg,"
says Bolka. "Taking a dog out for a mid-day walk is a common mistake dog
owners make, and it can result in burnt pads. It's best not to walk or
run your animal in the heat of the day." Much like pavement, sand at the
beach gets hot. Bolka advises giving your dog access to a grassy area,
or protecting the dog's feet with booties. Pool decks are another
culprit to consider. Bolka's rule of thumb is: If it burns your feet, it
will burn your dog's feet.
It is not a good idea to shave a dog during hot weather. "A dog's
summer coat actually insulates the skin, offering protection from
harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays," says Bolka. However, it is possible for a
dog to experience sunburn. "If your dog has a black nose, the nose is
protected from sunburn," she continues. "A pink nose is more susceptible
to UV rays. You will sometimes see a dog bury his nose in dirt, caking
mud on it for protection. As long as dogs have shade and water, they
tend to do well."
Another bad idea is to leave your dog in a car on a hot day, even
with the windows cracked. The American Veterinary Medical Association,
reports that temperatures in a car can rise 20 degrees in just 10
minutes, and 30 degrees in half an hour. "Heat builds up fast inside a
sitting car," Bolka says. "A dog can suffer heat exhaustion in just 20
minutes."
Heat exhaustion is defined by DogChannel.com as a life-threatening
condition that "occurs when a dog's respiratory tract cannot evacuate
heat quickly enough." Signs that a dog is in heat distress include
excessive panting, thick saliva, dark red gums, and non-responsiveness.
"A dog experiencing any of these symptoms should be taken to a
veterinarian immediately," Bolka says. "You can offer water, and place
wet washcloths on the dog, especially around the head and paw pads." The
Indiana Veterinary Medical Association cautions dog owners not to use
ice or extremely cold water on a dog with symptoms of heat exhaustion. A
veterinarian can run tests to find out if any internal damage has
occurred.
With a little knowledge and a lot of common sense, you can help
ensure your dog safely enjoys outdoor summer activities and sunny
weather.
