Happy Fall Ya'll

Gold among the brown,
Leaves of rust and scarlet,
Trembling slowly down.
Birds that travel southward,
Lovely time to play,
Nothing is as pleasant,
As a lovely autumn day!
---Carmen Lagos Signes

With the Fall season we turn back the clocks ...... 

.... pull down or put in the storm windows ....

 

... and pull out the rakes...

 

… we also want to make sure we check and/or replace the batteries in our smoke detectors. 

 

It’s important to help our senior friends with these seasonal tasks since completing them can pose safety risks to someone who may not be as strong or as steady on their feet.  Changing out the batteries in overhead smoke detectors can be hazardous for anyone but especially seniors who shouldn’t be balancing on stools, furniture or stepladders. 

 

Manipulating storm windows can be a chore for most of us but nearly impossible for an elder.  We all know what’s involved in raking and bagging up those Fall leaves but leaving them scattered about can cause potential accidents and falls.   

Checking on your elderly family members, neighbors and friends could go a long way in keeping loved-ones safe during this brisk, colorful season. We have a few helpful hints you can use to help your friends, family and loved ones this season.

Click HERE for a great Smoke Alarm Safety Checklist to print off!

Hate raking leaves ... most of us do.  It's one of those necessary evils but here are ten health tips for Autumn leaves clean-up from MedicineNet.com

1.     Avoid twisting your body while raking. Use your legs to shift your weight rather than twisting your back. Throwing leaves over the shoulder or to the side while raking involves twisting movements that can overly strain the muscles in the back.

2.     Use a properly-sized rake for your height and strength.

3.     Wear gloves to help prevent blisters on the hands.

4.     Bend at the knees, rather than the waist, to pick up items.

5.     Do some form of light exercise for ten minutes to warm up the muscles prior to raking.

6.     Try to vary your movements as much as you can to avoid overuse of muscle groups.

7.     Wear shoes with skid-resistant soles to minimize the risk of falling. Sturdy shoes can also reduce the risk of injuries to your feet.

8.     Don't overdo. Raking is an aerobic activity - you may need to take frequent breaks or slow your pace if you are an infrequent exerciser. (It's better to live with the leaves tomorrow than with a sore back!)

9.     As with any form of exercise, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

10.  When you're done, gentle muscle stretching can help relieve tension in the muscles. A hot bath can relax muscles.

For an informative video on inserting the storm windows back into the window frames please click HERE .

 

 

“Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference"  Robert Frost