I have a friend who has been struggling with macular degeneration. He has always been an avid reader but now struggles even to read books that have large type. I suggested books on tape and that has been a hit, particularly now since there are so many offerings available and modern recorders are so easy to use.
For those with computer and internet access, Audible.com has more than 23,000 digital audio books, magazines, newspapers and radio programs available for burning on CDs or downloading to desktops, iPods, Palm-handhelds and Pocket PCs. There’s no waiting for tapes or CDs to be shipped, and downloading onto the recipient’s equipment takes minutes. Visit www.audible.com for costs.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/nls) provides free tape-recorded books to libraries within each state. These libraries are either called a Talking Book Library or the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
The Talking Book Program of the Texas State Library & Archives Commission offers more than 80,000 titles in fictions and nonfiction and more than 80 national magazines for adults and children in Braille and large print, and on cassette and record. The selections are sent to and returned from the door of the recipient free of charge.
The program offers free magazine subscriptions to adults and children in audio cassette, Braille and disc formats, and guides for librarians and teachers using TBP materials in the classroom for disabled students.
According to the Texas Talking Books Web site, “Texans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or reading disabilities, whether permanent or temporary, may avail themselves of this free library services.” Visit www.TexasTalkingBooks.org, call 800-252-9605, or send an email to tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us for information and the certification-of-need form that can be signed by a teacher, doctor, nurse, librarian or social worker.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Is it Crazy to Cruise?
As the horror of the ill fated Italian ship, the Costa Concordia, screams out from the television screen, we wonder if traveling on a cruise ship is safe. The industry says yes; that it is in fact the safest of all modes of transportation, and although there have been incidents of drunk and disorderly travelers, muggings in dark recesses, and the occasional disappearance of a new wife (not a great ending to any honeymoon), for the most part, they are right.
But like any time you leave the relative safety of your own home, using good sense and taking precautions is critical. We must be smart and careful whenever we travel, and barring the cowardly captain who steers the ship into the rocks (a real rarity), cruising is still a good option for seeing the world.
Seniors spend a lifetime postponing their needs and desires to fulfill family and work obligations. They've earned a retirement abundant with peace and pleasure, and travel is one route.
Cruising is a luxurious way to experience the exotic and explore the world. It is an all-inclusive, hassle-free vacation that seniors can tailor to their needs whether value-priced or deluxe, relaxing (lounging by the pool, reading, lectures and culinary demonstrations) or thrilling (singles parties, gambling, snorkeling and diving, and shore adventures).
Travelers can consider a special interest or theme cruise--roaring twenties, big band, 50's sock hop, arts & crafts, historical, and sports are just a few examples. For those singles who love to dance, they can select a cruise line that offers "social hosts" as an amenity. These dapper, retired professionals provide company (for dining, dancing and excursions) for women traveling alone.
Many cruise lines offer stateroom-share-options (economical and the way to make a friend). They guarantee a match with someone of same gender and smoking preference, similar age and compatible lifestyle. Ask for a room in mid ship-has greater stability and is closer to the dining rooms and elevators, especially important if walking is a problem. Choosing small to mid-size ships is an option for easier access to events, greater senior clientele, and an even more personal experience.
Diet regimens aren't a problem. Most cruise lines offer flexible dining schedules and menus (kosher, vegan, and low calorie, sodium and fat). Discuss any special needs you have at the time of reservation (three weeks ahead), and again when you board.
Contact your travel agent or cruise specialist for ship options, ratings, costs and travel secrets.
Visit www.mustcruise.com/cruise_info/seniors.html, and call 800-365-1445 to ask about AARP member discounts. Bon voyage!
But like any time you leave the relative safety of your own home, using good sense and taking precautions is critical. We must be smart and careful whenever we travel, and barring the cowardly captain who steers the ship into the rocks (a real rarity), cruising is still a good option for seeing the world.
Seniors spend a lifetime postponing their needs and desires to fulfill family and work obligations. They've earned a retirement abundant with peace and pleasure, and travel is one route.
Cruising is a luxurious way to experience the exotic and explore the world. It is an all-inclusive, hassle-free vacation that seniors can tailor to their needs whether value-priced or deluxe, relaxing (lounging by the pool, reading, lectures and culinary demonstrations) or thrilling (singles parties, gambling, snorkeling and diving, and shore adventures).
Travelers can consider a special interest or theme cruise--roaring twenties, big band, 50's sock hop, arts & crafts, historical, and sports are just a few examples. For those singles who love to dance, they can select a cruise line that offers "social hosts" as an amenity. These dapper, retired professionals provide company (for dining, dancing and excursions) for women traveling alone.
Many cruise lines offer stateroom-share-options (economical and the way to make a friend). They guarantee a match with someone of same gender and smoking preference, similar age and compatible lifestyle. Ask for a room in mid ship-has greater stability and is closer to the dining rooms and elevators, especially important if walking is a problem. Choosing small to mid-size ships is an option for easier access to events, greater senior clientele, and an even more personal experience.
Diet regimens aren't a problem. Most cruise lines offer flexible dining schedules and menus (kosher, vegan, and low calorie, sodium and fat). Discuss any special needs you have at the time of reservation (three weeks ahead), and again when you board.
Contact your travel agent or cruise specialist for ship options, ratings, costs and travel secrets.
Visit www.mustcruise.com/cruise_info/seniors.html, and call 800-365-1445 to ask about AARP member discounts. Bon voyage!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
20 Clever Ideas
The credit for these great ideas goes to Bed, Bath & Kitchen, Decor & Furniture, Organise & Personalise by Simone, but I thought they were so clever that I would pass them along.
* Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40. (also works on walls)
* Stop cut apples from becoming brown in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.
* Overhaul your linen closet by storing bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
* Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.
* Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.
* Pack baby powder in your beach bag. It gently removes sand from your skin.
* Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
* Put a stocking over the vacuum hose and use it to look for a lost earring or coin. The suction will find it but it will be caught at the mouth of the vacuum.
* Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.
* Mount magnetic strips behind a bathroom vanity door to store beauty items like bobby pins, tweezers andclippers.
* When you're packing shoes in a suitcase, cover them first with shower caps and get nothing else dirty. You can get the shower caps in any hotel you visit.
* Use a muffin pan with a cup in each hole as a craft caddy. Put a magnet at the bottom to make them tip-resistant.
* Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.
* Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.
* Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.
* Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. It is much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
* Install a tension rod under your sink and then hang all your spray bottles.
* Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.
* Create a window-box garden using guttering.
* Rub a walnut over scratches in your furniture to disguise dings and scrapes.
My own suggestion is to take a piece of velcro and dab sweaters that have little balls. You will make it look brand new!
* Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40. (also works on walls)
* Stop cut apples from becoming brown in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.
* Overhaul your linen closet by storing bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
* Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.
* Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.
* Pack baby powder in your beach bag. It gently removes sand from your skin.
* Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
* Put a stocking over the vacuum hose and use it to look for a lost earring or coin. The suction will find it but it will be caught at the mouth of the vacuum.
* Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.
* Mount magnetic strips behind a bathroom vanity door to store beauty items like bobby pins, tweezers andclippers.
* When you're packing shoes in a suitcase, cover them first with shower caps and get nothing else dirty. You can get the shower caps in any hotel you visit.
* Use a muffin pan with a cup in each hole as a craft caddy. Put a magnet at the bottom to make them tip-resistant.
* Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.
* Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.
* Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.
* Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. It is much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
* Install a tension rod under your sink and then hang all your spray bottles.
* Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.
* Create a window-box garden using guttering.
* Rub a walnut over scratches in your furniture to disguise dings and scrapes.
My own suggestion is to take a piece of velcro and dab sweaters that have little balls. You will make it look brand new!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Making the Bathroom Safe
I helped a friend move her aged parents into an apartment in an assisted living development. It is so gorgeous and offers so many amenities and services that I was ready to move in.
But in the process of setting up furniture and unpacking boxes, it became clear just how many dangers there were even in this beautiful place for these sweet, frail people. The bathroom is a particularly lethal, so this column is dedicated to identifying some of those problems and suggesting solutions.
Smooth surfaces, glass and mirrors, soap and water, and the small spaces of a bathroom can spell disaster, particularly for the aging. Precautions against falls, burns, poisons, drowning, and electrical injuries must be taken.
The ideal bathroom would be on the first floor with a door that swings out (allowing access to a fallen person blocking the door), has a 32-inch doorway (without a sill) and five-foot turning radius (to accommodate a walker and wheel chair), rounded-edge cabinetry and counter tops with knee space, slip-resistant floor (vinyl, matte-finished, textured-tile, low-pile carpet but no throw-rugs or bathmats), tempered or shatterproof-glazed glass, and roll-in shower.
Install non-skid, adhesive strips in the shower and bathtub and institutional-grade, stainless-steel, grab bars for solid support in the bath and near a toilet that is adjustable or has a seat 18 inches from the floor.
Use a portable, water proof, non-slip shower chair and hand-held, shower head. Hang a soap and shampoo dispenser and a ceiling-mounted, heat lamp to maintain a warm bathroom, especially important for those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Insulate exposed pipes and mount a single-lever, touchless or push-button faucet with temperature and volume control to prevent burns. Set water heater at 120 degrees.
Avoid keeping medications in the bathroom. Their organization and careful dispensing is more difficult, and moisture and heat can be damaging. Toiletries and medicines should be stored separately from household cleansers.
Rocker light switches and levered door and drawer pulls are crucial for those with arthritic hands and weakened muscles. Increase lighting for the vision impaired. Install a night light, and easy-to-reach telephone or emergency call button. Keep a key just outside the door.
Visit www.carepathways.com and www.senioremporium.com for more information on bathroom safety and ordering items, and read Rosemary Bakker’s book, Elderdesign (Penguin).
But in the process of setting up furniture and unpacking boxes, it became clear just how many dangers there were even in this beautiful place for these sweet, frail people. The bathroom is a particularly lethal, so this column is dedicated to identifying some of those problems and suggesting solutions.
Smooth surfaces, glass and mirrors, soap and water, and the small spaces of a bathroom can spell disaster, particularly for the aging. Precautions against falls, burns, poisons, drowning, and electrical injuries must be taken.
The ideal bathroom would be on the first floor with a door that swings out (allowing access to a fallen person blocking the door), has a 32-inch doorway (without a sill) and five-foot turning radius (to accommodate a walker and wheel chair), rounded-edge cabinetry and counter tops with knee space, slip-resistant floor (vinyl, matte-finished, textured-tile, low-pile carpet but no throw-rugs or bathmats), tempered or shatterproof-glazed glass, and roll-in shower.
Install non-skid, adhesive strips in the shower and bathtub and institutional-grade, stainless-steel, grab bars for solid support in the bath and near a toilet that is adjustable or has a seat 18 inches from the floor.
Use a portable, water proof, non-slip shower chair and hand-held, shower head. Hang a soap and shampoo dispenser and a ceiling-mounted, heat lamp to maintain a warm bathroom, especially important for those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Insulate exposed pipes and mount a single-lever, touchless or push-button faucet with temperature and volume control to prevent burns. Set water heater at 120 degrees.
Avoid keeping medications in the bathroom. Their organization and careful dispensing is more difficult, and moisture and heat can be damaging. Toiletries and medicines should be stored separately from household cleansers.
Rocker light switches and levered door and drawer pulls are crucial for those with arthritic hands and weakened muscles. Increase lighting for the vision impaired. Install a night light, and easy-to-reach telephone or emergency call button. Keep a key just outside the door.
Visit www.carepathways.com and www.senioremporium.com for more information on bathroom safety and ordering items, and read Rosemary Bakker’s book, Elderdesign (Penguin).
Get Covered--Medicare Prescriptions
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (referred to as Medicare Part D) is available to anyone eligible for Medicare Parts A or B.
There are two ways to get the prescription drug plan (PDP). If you already have prescription drug coverage with a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you’ll be placed automatically into a Medicare Advantage plus Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD) effective January 1, 2006. The MA-PD will replace the plan you have now.
If you already have a Medicare plan or a Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan, but no prescription drug coverage, you can add the PDP. Consult with your insurer about your current coverage and before making any changes to your policies.
Though joining a PDP is not a requirement, if you don’t have prescription drug coverage with your Medicare plan or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, seriously consider this option as you will probably save money on your prescription drugs. If you have a limited income, you may qualify for a Medicare PDP with little or no premiums. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 for information.
Be sure to carefully compare costs and benefits as they vary. Some PDPs may cover more drugs, but charge higher premiums, or greater deductibles and co-pays. Call 1-800-633-4227 to order the handbook Medicare & You 2006. It lists the comparative information about the PDPs in your area. You can visit www.medicare.gov for the same information and to enroll in a plan, though not all insurers offer their plans on that site.
Before you join any plan, make sure it’s approved by Medicare. Call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for help in deciding which PDP to choose.
There are two ways to get the prescription drug plan (PDP). If you already have prescription drug coverage with a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you’ll be placed automatically into a Medicare Advantage plus Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD) effective January 1, 2006. The MA-PD will replace the plan you have now.
If you already have a Medicare plan or a Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan, but no prescription drug coverage, you can add the PDP. Consult with your insurer about your current coverage and before making any changes to your policies.
Though joining a PDP is not a requirement, if you don’t have prescription drug coverage with your Medicare plan or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, seriously consider this option as you will probably save money on your prescription drugs. If you have a limited income, you may qualify for a Medicare PDP with little or no premiums. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 for information.
Be sure to carefully compare costs and benefits as they vary. Some PDPs may cover more drugs, but charge higher premiums, or greater deductibles and co-pays. Call 1-800-633-4227 to order the handbook Medicare & You 2006. It lists the comparative information about the PDPs in your area. You can visit www.medicare.gov for the same information and to enroll in a plan, though not all insurers offer their plans on that site.
Before you join any plan, make sure it’s approved by Medicare. Call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for help in deciding which PDP to choose.
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