Change the Clocks, Change Those Batteries!

Daylight Savings Time took place this weekend, but it's not too late to take care of that OTHER piece of business - changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

One of the easiest ways to remember to take care of this annual chore is to do it the same day you change your clocks. Working smoke alarms cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Worn or missing batteries are the most common cause of a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector malfunction. Changing the batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to prevent tragic deaths and injuries.

November is Assistive Technology Month

In celebration of Assistive Technology Month, here is some helpful information from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is any service or tool which can help an older person or a person with a disability perform activities that might otherwise be difficult or not be possible.

Such technology may be something as simple as a walker to make moving around easier or an amplification device to make sounds easier to hear (for talking on the telephone or watching television, for instance). It could also include a magnifying glass that helps someone who has poor vision read the newspaper or a scooter that makes it possible to travel over distances that are too far to walk. In short, anything that helps the elderly continue to participate in daily activities is considered assistive technology.

For many seniors, assistive technology makes the difference between being able to live independently and having to get long-term nursing or home-health care. For others, assistive technology is critical to the ability to perform simple activities of daily living, such as bathing and going to the bathroom. Read more...