




As we age our risk of falling while doing everyday tasks increase and more falls occur in the bathroom than any other, but affordable bath safety products (i.e. grab bars, bath lifts, raised toilet seats, etc.) can help prevent falls and spare you the cost of an entire bathroom renovation. Bath lifts in particular continue to increase in popularity because they provide many of the same benefits as walk-in tubs at a fraction of the cost and without the installation issues.
Continuing on from my last blog of “kid tested, mother approved” must have back to school supplies, here are more of my favorite back to school items your kids will deem cool enough to use (and maybe even like – gasp!) that also have health benefits that aren’t so obvious your kids will reject them (unless you have teens, in which case pretty much anything you suggest is deemed automatically uncool for the mere fact that you suggested it).
School supplies have certainly changed a lot since I was going to school – today’s version of a notebook is a miniature computer instead of the Big Chief tablets I associated with so we’ve put together a list of back to school must haves kids will deem cool and parents will appreciate for their “secretive” health benefits.
Moving yourself is usually cheaper than hiring movers, but if you hurt your back in the process you end up having to pay for medical care and potentially lost wages if your injury keeps you from being able to work. Hand dollies are an essential for moving, but shoulder dollies (also called “moving straps”) promote proper posture and lifting techniques to help you avoid injury (and strain) when moving large, heavy objects.
Often we think of low vision to simply mean a need for glasses so low vision aids can seem unnecessary, but low vision isn’t a synonym for needing glasses. Low vision is “a visual impairment, not correctable by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, that interferes with a person’s ability to perform everyday activities” (National Eye Institute). Vision is an integral part of our daily lives, and low vision aids such as portable video magnifiers help people with macular degeneration and other visual impairments maintain independent living.
Adjustable toilet seats are often only thought of for bariatrics, but anyone with mobility issues (including those with disabilities, illness, or the elderly) can benefit from a larger, stronger toilet seat. The Big John toilet seat is the most popular heavy duty toilet seat on the market, but the new Adjust For Comfort Toilet Seat has additional features above and beyond what the Big John offers, making it ideal for disabled, elderly, or bariatric people.