A Vision Plan You May Want to Look At.

I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL REGARDING MEDICAL PLANS SO YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR CURRENT PROFESSIONALS BEFORE SIGNING UP WITH ANY PLAN.

I came across this plan, Vision Service Plan - VSP, and decided to check it out. I went on to the website and did some searching about plans and costs -- it seems like a decent plan to look at. There are vision plans for eye exams, glasses, contacts, lasik surgery, as well as dental. Costs are for individuals as well as families. I also checked around looking for doctors in a variety of areas across the country ( I took out my Christmas card list and used different addresses) - not exactly the perfect sample but it did cover some major population areas as well as smaller ones. I was able to find doctors in all areas I checked. You can sign in as a guest first and do some searching. Depending on the plan you currently have, you may want to take a look to see how it compares to what your plan covers; or find out if it can be a supplement. Some of what it helps to cover may be a separate benefit, subject to an additional cost - so look things over carefully. Again - please check with your current medical plan to see IF or HOW it may help. As a caregiver, we are constantly trying to find additional resources that can help with medical situations that may arise and looking for low-cost ways of getting what is needed so it is not draining anyone's financial resources.

Dental Care and Dementia.

I was talking to someone the other day and our conversation centered around one of their parents being in a nursing home and having problems eating. My mom had the same problem and one friend, who is a dental hygienist, asked me if mom had a partial plate or dentures -- she had a partial. My friend also asked if mom had lost weight -- yes. Apparently, losing weight can change the size of the mouth and your partial will not fit properly!! So the thing to do is take out the partial when eating and ask the nursing home to grind up or cut up the food more. It worked!! This got me thinking about dental health...

A Pacemaker for the Brain

(picture from the ADvance Study website)
Two local hospitals, Butler Hospital & Rhode Island Hospital, will begin testing the effects of deep brain stimulation, or DBS, as a treatment for those with Alzheimer's Disease. According to the press release, this is a disease affecting more than 5 million people in the US and has no cure; they are hoping to investigate the safety and effect of DBS on memory loss and cognition. It is also called a 'pacemaker for the brain',using an implanted electrical device to stimulate a part of the brain. Read on...

Biomusic - A Special Program Being Tested in Canada

(picture from the Holland Bloorview website)
I found this on the website for The Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital website, a site I visit occasionally since I had the great pleasure of sharing a story with someone who works there, Louise Kinross - we traded stories of our sons. Although I have been trying to find additional information ...

Alzheimer's - Facts and Myths.

(picture from A Place for Mom website)I received 2 emails from 2 sites that I like: Caring.com and A Place for Mom, one site offering advice on what risk factors to consider when you are wondering about Alzheimer's and the other debunking myths about the disease. Both were interesting so I thought I would share it. Read on ..

Older Adults and Diet.

As you can well imagine, as we get older our nutritional needs change. According to an article from Caring.com, the average life expectancy of an average American is 78 years old. Caring.com interviewed Angela Lemond, the spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and she is a registered dietitian. Read on...

Caregivers May Want to See if These Can Help With Shoes.

I saw these in an email from Caring.com. It was an article about whether caregivers liked these elastic shoelaces, called Locklaces. I have not seen these in person but seem to be a great idea. We have all seen this type of closure before but now to put them on shoes, is a great idea, seemingly perfect for those who have issues with finger dexterity and strength,and balance problems if you have to bend over for a period of time.

What caregivers liked about them???
1.
They maintain tightness.
"I used to tie my shoes with the traditional method, even using the rabbit ears technique if the situation called for it. No longer! Lock Laces are extremely easy to use on any pair of shoes," says Abel. "It easily tightens and loosens at the simple push of a button. I even worked out for a few hours and they maintained the same tightness the whole time! I enjoy not having to tie my shoes again and again."

2.
The pull-and-lock mechanism is easy.
"The pull-and-lock mechanism provides ease of synching up and tightening shoes, as well as releasing the lace for easy of removal of shoes," says Fred. "The Lock Laces also help a person quickly put on shoes and remove them, saving time and effort."

3.
They turn any shoe into a slip-on.
"They sort of turn tie shoes into slip-ons," says Victoria. "Because the laces are elastic, they stretch as needed. I do not need to worry about falling/tripping, since the laces are secured to the top of the shoe and stay out of the way." "No more fumbling with trying to tie laces and keeping them tied," adds Carlene.

What caregivers did not like about them???
1.
Illustrations on the package aren't clear enough or big enough.
"I had a lot of trouble getting them put in my shoes properly. The instructions were not only confusing to me but I had trouble seeing them. The illustrations were tiny, as was the size of the font used to print the directions," says Carlene. "If I hadn't had my son and daughter-in-law here to help me, I probably would never have gotten them in my shoes."

"Instructions were not very clear," adds Fred. "Would recommend a YouTube video or online link demonstrating how to initially lace, apply locks, and trim to size."

2.
Some seniors may have problems setting them up.
"Snapping the two plastic pieces took a little pressure, which some people may not have in their hands," says Betsy.

The article suggests:

You Should Try Lock Laces if . . .
You (or your loved one) have manual dexterity problems.
You (or your loved one) have issues with your joints and hands.
You're looking for an easy alternative to constantly tying your shoes.
You want an easy way to slip sneakers on and off.