Attention Coupon Clippers!

On July 31, 2010, In Senior Home Care, By SilverCensus

Are you a coupon clipper? Have you checked coupons online?

Many company websites have coupons online that are easily searchable and printable. There are many other websites that have coupons for stores, however, I’ve heard that some companies don’t honor those coupons, so getting them from the store’s website is best.

www.retailmenot.com is a website that has coupons from many different stores and users rate the effectiveness of the coupons.

Here are some links to some online companies. Some of them are based on specials, and typing in your zip code may be necessary:

  • Walgreen’s: http://bit.ly/bI6yIb
  • Pick ‘n Save: http://bit.ly/bKqXFx
  • Kroger’s: http://bit.ly/3FVHmv
  • Winn-Dixie: http://bit.ly/b2dX9Q

Let me know if you have other stores you would be interested in finding coupons for!

Post by Kate Valdovinos.

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Expiration Dates on Food

On July 30, 2010, In Senior Home Care, By SilverCensus

“Germs don’t have an expiration date,” a doctor once told me. We were discussing outdated pet medications, and the discussion went to food. “Milk doesn’t go bad at the stroke of midnight on its expiration date.”

After that conversation, I didn’t take the expiration date on foods as serious but I still use common sense.

I researched a website called www.gourmetsleuth.com, where they had a nice chart that had various foods and when you should cook or freeze them by. They said to follow the “use-by” date, but if it’s a “sell-by” date, there is more leniency.

Some product dates were:

  • Beef: cook or freeze 3-5 days after purchase
  • Ground meat: cook or freeze two days after purchase
  • Milk: drink until 5-7 days past the cell date (don’t use if sour smell)
  • Soft cheese: good one week unopened or two weeks for cream cheese

I’ll push any food to its limit. One time I baked brownies with eggs that were over a month old and the brownies tasted great.

Chart information obtained from http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Nutrition-Health-Food-Labeling-646/food-expiration-dates.aspx. Post by Kate Valdovinos.

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Things to Look For When Buying a Car For Seniors

On July 29, 2010, In Aging in America, Senior Living, By SilverCensus

Buying a new car is a big decision and everyone has preferences. Some of the features of a new car are great, but aren’t always specific to seniors.

Here’s a list of things to think about when purchasing a new car and to pay attention to when you’re test driving it.

  • Make sure you can see out of the mirrors and windows easily. Sometimes it’s difficult to check your blind spot, so being able to comfortably and quickly see what you need to see on the road is crucial.
  • Open all the windows when you’re on the road to see what type of breeze you can get. This may not sound like a big deal, but some cars, even small cars, have really big windows which allow too much wind in. If you like to drive with the window open most of the time, large front-seat windows can often be a problem.
  • Make sure the seats are easy to get into. Larger vehicles should have an extra or very easy step to use, so practice getting in and out (driver’s seat and passenger seats).
  • Check to see if you can see all the dashboard lights, including the speedometer, oil gauge, gas gauge and other alert lights. If the numbers and words are too small, it might not be the car for you. Many of these lights alert you to serious problems, so being able to see them right away is crucial.
  • Make sure you understand how to use all the buttons for A/C, heat, cruise control, the stereo and others. Some stereos just don’t seem to be put together using common sense, and these may be difficult to work with, especially if you are driving. See if you can figure them out without help first.

Are there any other important characteristics a new car should have for seniors? Feel free to comment.

Post by Kate Valdovinos.

 
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Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Support Themselves

On July 29, 2010, In Aging in America, Caregiving, By SilverCensus

Guess who painted this picture? Or better yet, guess how they painted it.

It was painted by Natalina Marcantoni with her mouth.

The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists are a non-charity group whose members use their mouth or their feet to paint art because they have lost the use of their hands. They create paintings that are made into postcards, bookmarks, calendars, books, notepaper, gift wrap, address books, birthday books, jigsaw puzzles, wall hangings and greeting cards and sold to support their group.

The Mouth and Foot Painting Artist group began in Europe in 1956 when Erich Stegmann, a man with polio, got together with other people with disabilities. “Their ultimate goal was to make their living through their artistic efforts, and to obtain a sense of work security that until then had eluded them.”

Their objectives are to find and contact people that have lost the use of their hands and help them become painting artists. They continue to offer moral support and the financial ability to continue practicing their craft. Some students have their tuition paid to attend artist’s school. With the paintings, they contact publishing houses and recreate their work to support their organization.

“Anyone who has lost the use of their hands and paints by holding the brush in their mouth or with their feet, regardless of race, creed or color can join Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.”

You can order online and are very reasonably priced. A 25 card assortment box is $20.70 or four color reproduction prints are priced at $19.95. There are many more to choose from at http://www.mfpausa.com/. Go to ‘Our Products’ the select ‘Order Form.’

Posted by Kate Valdovinos. Information obtained from http://www.mfpausa.com/.

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Medication and Sun Protection

On July 27, 2010, In Aging in America, Caregiving, Healthy Aging, By SilverCensus

Are you taking a medication that makes your skin sensitive to sunlight?

During the summer months, it is especially important to research your medication and take precautions from the sun if necessary. Here are some tips from Consumer Reports on Health:

  • Seek shade: Avoid walking in areas without trees and try to walk on the side of the street that has more shade if you are outside. Also, the early afternoon hours are when the sun is hottest for us on Earth, so it’s best to avoid it at that time if possible.
  • Choose the right sunscreen: Remember to use sunscreen with an SPF recommended by your dermatologist, not just what you think is best. Consumer Reports on Health recommend using an SPF of at least 30.  Also remember that even if you don’t get a sun burn, the sun can still damage your skin.
  • Cover up: Wearing hats that cover up your face and your neck are best, but also wearing a long sleeve, loose shirt can help protect you. Remember if your clothes are too tight, it just traps your body heat in, making it more uncomfortable.
  • Take medication at night if possible: Consumer Reports on Health says that it “reduces the amount of it in your system during daylight, lowing the risk of a skin reaction.”

Information obtained from Consumer Reports on Health, Volume 22 Number 8. Post by Kate Valdovinos.

 
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