As we age into our senior years, we all struggle with keeping our flexibility and our strength levels. It creeps up on us and then all of a sudden, seniors will notice that they are not hitting their drives quite as far as they used to drive it. These seniors simply cannot turn as far on their backswing which equates to not being able to generate the same power as they produced in the past.
Simple and inexpensive golf fitness equipment for seniors is easy to find and below are a few pieces that seniors can use to build their strength and flexibility. Of course before starting any fitness program, you will want to check with your doctor and get his or her recommendation.
Fitness Equipment: Swiss Ball
A Swiss ball is also known as an exercise ball or a core balance ball. No matter what you call it, it is a great piece to add to your home gym just due to its pure flexibility. Not only can you perform many stretching exercises on the ball but you can also do many of your strength exercises as well. Doing strength exercises on an exercise ball will make you use your core muscles to keep you stable during the exercise. In turn, you get a larger benefit from each exercise.
Fitness Equipment: Weighted Golf Club
Weighted golf clubs are available in different weights depending on your current health. Although it does not sound like much weight, swinging a practice club that weighs 1.75 pounds can easily change your mind. As you swing the weighted practice club very slowly, you can build strength in many areas of your body. In addition, while making a full swing the extra weight will help you increase your range of motion and increase your flexibility.
Fitness Equipment: Resistance Cords
Resistance cords are inexpensive to purchase and very easy to use. Like an exercise ball, resistance cords can be used to work out basically every muscle group in your body. Many people like them because of their size and do not take up any room in the house. Due to their size, many like to use resistance cords because they are simple to pack if you travel often. This way they always have their gym with them no matter where they are.
No matter what your age, you can always improve or at least maintain your current fitness level. By using the golf fitness equipment above at home or in the gym, you can improve your current flexibility as well as your strength levels. The best part about using this equipment in your home gym is that these pieces of equipment will not break the bank as they are all affordable. Once you implement this golf fitness equipment we will see you farther down the fairway!
Jeff Dailey
Very often all our photographs stay in boxes or drawers because we never seem to have the time to sort through them. Some of our favourite ones may get framed or put into albums which then just stay on a bookshelf gathering dust. But photos often depict milestones in our lives. These photos are often taken during important occasions such as weddings, christenings and birthday parties.
Scrapbooking has become one of the nicest hobbies for people to do when they are at home and creative memory scrapbooking means that all those old photos can now be retrieved from the boxes and drawers to be sorted and reminisced over in the nicest of possible ways.
It is a very therapeutic pass time which keeps memories alive for the whole family to enjoy and appreciate. This whole concept of scrapbooking is an inventive approach to making sure nothing is ever forgotten. Scrapbooks are far nicer than simple photo albums because you can make them into beautifully decorative books which have your own very personal touch to them. These books tell the world exactly who you are and how you express yourself. This is all achieved in the manner in which you create your personal scrapbook.
Your treasured moments are there for all to see on the pages you have personally made and creative memory scrapbooks suddenly have a life of their own, with memories of times long past suddenly jumping out of the pages at everyone who views them. The great part about it all is that you can add text to each of the pages, so that your story is not only visual but written as well. Each of the pages will lead to the next in a wonderful way if you plan it well.
To create a memory scrapbook is easy these days. Just by going on the Internet you will be able to find all the tools and materials you would ever need to start off doing this lovely and creative hobby. Just by looking around your own home, you will find simple mementos and decorations which you can use to embellish your scrapbook. This is how they use to create scrapbooks in times long past.
We are lucky to have so much at our disposal, but it is always nicer to mix what you find yourself with things you find either in a craft store or on the Internet. You can create a very personal scrapbook by doing just this instead of just using prepared ready to use items. But if you are stuck for decorations or need extra embellishments to add that little bit extra to your scrapbook, you will find a treasure trove of goodies by going on the Internet.
There are websites which specialise in scrapbooking and they offer some great ideas as well as supplying materials and kits which help get you started. Once you have created one scrapbook, you are well on your way to creating another because it is such a fun thing to do. Your children will love to be a part of the project and it will encourage them to use their imaginations and give you ideas on how to go about decorating your book.
A well kept scrapbook is an heirloom. It is a family legacy that generations to come will enjoy leafing through. It is something that you will enjoy creating, it will preserve your memories perfectly and it is a way of passing a little bit of yourself to those who come after you in one of the nicest art forms you can create.
The Rocky Mountaineer Group has launched a new service called the ‘Whistler Mountaineer’. This round trip journey can be undertaken in a day. It takes six hours and covers 140 miles. A day , you will never forget.
The train travels, north from Vancouver, along an underused freight line. It travels along the coastline of British Columbia until it arrives in Whistler, the world famous ski resort. Whistler is an all year round resort which offers skiing and other outdoor activities. If you choose a different itinerary then you can choose to extend your stay in Whistler.
North American trains are big. You can choose from two types of carriage on the Whistler Mountaineer, the Coast Classic and the Glacier Dome. The Glacier Dome is the more luxurious.
This journey leaves from the North Vancouver dockside at 8.30 am. The port is very busy but you are warmly welcomed by staff in uniform. Very quickly North Vancouver is left behind and you view the backyards of homes in the prosperous West Vancouver. As you enjoy your breakfast you will notice how relaxed people are as they go about their daily tasks.
The train leaves West Vancouver through a tunnel at Horseshoe Bay and then you can begin to enjoy the scenery. The train travels high alongside the Pacific Ocean. There is an onboard commentary which tells about the history of the coastline and of the train company. The train driver is very accommodating and slows down at points that are worth taking photographs of.
For a different experience, travel for part of the journey in the Henry Pickering. This is an open-sided observation car that was commissioned in 1914. Looking to the west it allows you to view the southernmost fjord in Canada, Howe Sound. By looking out towards the East you will see that the rock face has disappeared and you are now looking at waterfalls that are being fed by glaciers and valleys that are inaccessible. Travelling in the open carriage also gives you the opportunity to take in all the fragrances of the surrounding forest.
When the train reaches the old logging town, Squamish, it begins to head inland and starts the climb up into the coastal mountain range. Slowly it travels along the edge of the Cheakamus Canyon. You can see the most spectacular waterfall as it cascades down the high rocks surrounding it. In the distance you can see the 3000 metre peaks of Mount Garibaldi. At this point the train travels across a single-track trestle bridge, If you are brave enough to look down you will see the water raging beneath as it traverses the jagged rocks.
Once out of the canyon the scenery opens up again. The train crosses Brandywine Falls and into the Canada you see on postcards. You will see lakes and forests nestling beneath the snow capped mountain peaks. If you are not extending your stay, then you only have a stopover of one and a half hours. This gives you enough time to enjoy lunch at one of the outside cafes. Once you have taken your fill of fresh air and good food it is time to board the train for your return journey.
As the train heads back for Vancouver and we leave the mountains behind a whole new view is opened up. It is seen through a totally different perspective.
On returning to Vancouver you will want to continue exploring Canada by train as it is one of the most breathtaking experiences you will have.
The Essence of Estate Planning
Having a good estate plan requires the self-realization that we will not live forever. So given this fact, ask yourself “What will happen to all of my stuff, and who is going to take care of my overall well-being if I am not able?” As you ponder this thought, either a sense of angst or peace will follow. If you have angst then you probably need to do an evaluation of your current estate plan.
2. Funding the trust as is important as drafting the trust document itself. A trust is ineffective if your assets (property and investment accounts) are not titled in the name of the trust. This is a common mistake made by many so it’s important to make sure all your assets are titled correctly.
3. Conduct a review of your retirement accounts and life insurance policies to make sure that your primary and contingent beneficiaries are named properly. Play out differing scenarios to make sure that you understand exactly how these assets will be treated both from a succession plan and a tax planning perspective. Doing so could save the family from additional stress and unnecessary taxes.
4. Death is not the only reason to create a plan. An unexpected or long term disability can have a bigger impact on your personal and financial affairs. Prepare for who might raise your children, who will handle your finances, and who will make health care decisions if you were to become incompetent or disabled. You can do this by having a Health Care Directive and proper Durable Power of Attorneys in place.
5. In naming your successor trustees, it is important to make sure that they are trustworthy, capable, and willing to help. For example, you should place control of your assets in the hands of a person who is financially healthy themselves and has an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a successor trustee. If you cannot determine a competent individual successor trustee, it may make sense to name a corporate trustee to assume the role of trustee after you pass.
6. Planning ahead will help ensure that your estate tax exemption amount will be fully utilized to your advantage. Under the current estate tax law for 2015, each individual can pass on up to $5.43 million dollars of assets to their heirs, estate tax free. Amounts in excess of this can be subject to taxation of approximately 40%.
7. Tax law as well as personal circumstances change. It’s important to review your plan periodically for potential changes with a competent estate attorney or advisor that has expertise in this area.
These are just some topics to be aware of. Other topics might come up and being proactive and partnering with a good financial planner can ensure that you are well-informed and well-prepared. Apriem Advisors have financial planners on staff who can help you.
BILL PUGH, CFP®, AAMS, Wealth Manager
Apriem.com
Representing a loss of independence, being placed in a nursing home is a difficult milestone for both seniors and their families. It is also costly for seniors, their families and the health care system. The cost of a single room in a nursing home averages more than $200 per day and close to $200 billion for all Americans annually. About 62 percent of this cost in the United States is assumed by public, taxpayer-financed sources such as Medicaid and Medicare.
Almost half of seniors aged 65 and older take at least five different prescription drugs regularly, and one in four take between 10 and 19 pills each day according to data compiled by Kelton Research. In addition, more than half of seniors admit to not taking their medications as directed, and the adherence rate decreases as the number of daily medications prescribed increases.
“For seniors, taking one pill a day is manageable, however the complexity of taking multiple medications each with its own set of instructions, represents a real challenge that impacts their health and independence, says Ian Salditch, CEO of Medicine-On-Time. “However, the difficulties associated with taking multiple medications can effectively be addressed through customized prescription packaging.”
Salditch’s company developed Medicine-On-Time, where local pharmacists sort and organize medications into personalized pill cups labeled with the day, date and time to take them. Pharmacists provide all the pill cups to the patient organized into colorful calendar cards. It’s convenient, easy-to-use and, most importantly, proven effective to help people maintain independence and enjoy better health. A study released in the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy found that seniors using Medicine-On-Time were 66 percent less likely to be admitted to a nursing home.
“It is an all too familiar process – adult children sorting their parents’ medications into pill boxes,” Salditch says. “Medicine-On-Time puts this process in the hands of licensed pharmacists and in doing so helps to ensure safety and accuracy, helping seniors maintain their independence and their quality of life.”Believe it or not, research conducted by Prince Market Research shows that seniors fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than they fear death. The same study found that baby boomer children of seniors also fear for their parents,-particularly their parents’ emotional and physical well-being should they have to enter a nursing home.
- Lower cost. With the majority of people vacationing during summer, the demand and the prices are higher during those peak months. If you wait a bit longer, demand is down, and often, so are prices.
- Less crowded. Fewer fellow tourists mean shorter lines and the ability to explore attractions at your own pace.
- Better weather. Favorite summer hot spots are cooler and winter destinations aren’t yet freezing cold, so you enjoy the visit without extreme temperatures.
So where can you go to enjoy an off-season trip and get more for your money? Here are just a few ideas from the travel experts at Country Inns & Suites.
Chicago
The Brookfield Zoo is home to more than 300 animals from all over the world. Not only can you enjoy the exhibits, but the zoo has seasonal celebrations, too. In September, there’s a weekend celebration of National Hispanic Month; October brings Boo at the Zoo with costumes and activities; and in December the Zoo lights up with nearly a million twinkling lights, ice carving demonstrations, Santa, and a chance to sing to the animals.
New Orleans.
In addition to having great food and music, New Orleans is home to the National World War II Museum. With moving personal stories, historic artifacts and powerful interactive displays, it’s an important experience for the whole family. Around Halloween, enjoy the music, food and crafts of the Voodoo Music Experience. And in early November, check out the Cajun Swamp Fest at the Audubon Zoo.
Minneapolis/St. Paul.
The Twin Cities are widely recognized as an exceptional place to live and vacation. In addition to a thriving arts community that features concerts, plays, exhibits and festivals, there’s the famous Mall of America. The mall covers 4.2 million square feet of space, houses more than 500 stores, 50 eateries, 14 movie screens, a theme park, a 1.2 million gallon aquarium, and more.
Boston.
This historic city is also rich in culture. In September it hosts the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival with intimate club performances and free outdoor concerts by jazz greats. And in October, don’t miss the Harvard Square Oktoberfest, which features entertainment for the whole family, food tastings and kid activities. There are museums as well as an observatory and an aquarium open year round.
Before planning your trip, be sure to visit the local tourist bureau online. You can find out about more events and sometimes find discount coupons or entertainment books that will help save even more money.
More affordable trips with smaller crowds and better weather – off-season vacations are a great value and a great way to get away.
But it may be possible to avoid some types of back pain by better understanding its causes and avoiding or preventing them in the first place.
And while over-the-counter pain relief medications can help lessen back pain once it occurs, exercise, improved posture, and good furniture can strengthen and heal your back and even prevent back pain from occurring in the first place.
This article will guide you in both ways: how to avoid back pain and how to find back relief.
BACK PAIN CAUSES
The back is a powerful structure comprising bone, muscle, and elastic discs. This marvel of efficiency allows you to bend, twist, and carry weight. However, its flexibility makes it susceptible to injury and pain. Not surprisingly, back pain often results from neglect or other lifestyle factors such as:
- Bad posture – A normal adult spine resembles a double ‘S’. When you slouch, the pelvis and the stomach thrust forward, the knees bend, and the back muscles are strained. This strain can easily lead to back pain.
- Sedentary lifestyle and stress – Lack of exercise tends to weaken the muscles in the body. At the same time, stress can lead to muscle tension, causing the unprepared muscles to spasm.
- Weak abdominal muscles – Back pain is often related to weak stomach muscles, which can place added stress on the back.
- Obesity – Overweight people may find it difficult to maintain proper posture, and the burden of additional weight puts pressure on the back.
- High heels – They push the body’s center of gravity forward. To offset this, people tend to bend their knees and move their torsos forward. This can exaggerate the spine’s inward curve, leading to back pain.
People can also experience back pain as a result of specific health conditions:
- Spondylosis – Arthritis of the spine occurs due to degenerative spinal changes, and is often characterized by back pain.
- Spondylolisthesis – This occurs when one spinal vertebra slips forward on top of another one, causing back pain.
- Spinal stenosis – When the space around the spinal column and nerve roots is reduced, nerves are pinched or pressed, resulting in back pain. Arthritis and bone overgrowth trigger this condition.
- Herniated disc – One of the most common causes of back pain, this condition occurs when a spinal disc presses on a nerve. It’s also referred to as slipped disc.
- Sciatica – Sharp, shooting pain that radiates through the lower back or buttocks to the back of the leg when a herniated disc presses the sciatic nerve.
- Spinal infection – When this occurs, back pain is often accompanied by fever and tenderness.
BACK PAIN RELIEF OPTIONS
Not every type of back pain is a condition you have to put up with. In addition to medication and home therapies, there are a variety of complementary and alternative therapies that can provide back pain relief.
Bed rest may help relieve acute, temporary back pain. But this may not work for chronic back pain, which may require long-term treatment.
Here are just some of the methods you can try to get back pain relief:
- Heat and ice treatment – For lower back pain relief, use an ice pack first to sooth the sore muscles. You can use a cold compress several times a day for up to 20 minutes per treatment. A warm compress or a heating pad loosens the muscles and increases blood flow, which can provide some back pain relief.
- Chiropractic care – Some research on pain relief has shown that chiropractic manipulation may be as effective as pain relief medication for certain patients.
- Acupuncture – In this alternative medicine procedure, the practitioner inserts sterilized stainless steel needles at specific points on the body. This may stimulate the brain to release natural endorphins, which can provide some level of back pain relief.
- Electrical stimulation – Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) often works for acute back pain. In this procedure, weak electrical pulses sent to nerve pathways through specific points prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. This back pain relief procedure may be appropriate for those who prefer to avoid medication.
- Over-the-counter medication – Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and relieve back pain, while acetaminophen controls pain without addressing inflammation.
- Prescription medication – When over-the-counter drugs fail to provide pain relief, doctors may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (other than aspirin or ibuprofen), a muscle relaxant, or other medication.
- Epidural injections – When other measures fail to relieve back pain, doctors may prescribe epidural injections of anti-inflammatory medication such as cortisone to provide pain relief.
BACK PAIN DON’TS
- Do not exercise while suffering from severe back pain.
- Do not sit for long periods when suffering from back pain. Sitting exerts more pressure on your nerves than standing or lying down. This can exacerbate back pain.
- Do not slouch or overarch your back, as this increases pressure on the lower back and may cause back pain to become more intense.
HOW TO AVOID BACK PAIN
Many people who suffer from chronic back pain have found that a few lifestyle changes and healthy work habits can help them avoid recurrences of back pain:
- Exercise – Exercise not only helps to maintain proper weight, but also helps build and maintain strong muscles. However, if you already suffer from back pain, consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine.
- Good posture – A balanced posture allows the body to relax while maintaining an erect position. If you stand for long hours, avoid back pain by placing one foot on a stool or a box to avoid stressing the pelvis. While sitting, make sure that your lower back is supported and that your feet stay flat on the floor.
- Bend and lift properly – Improper bending is a common cause of back pain. When bending down, bend your knees, separate your feet about shoulder width apart, and keep your back straight. When lifting things, let your legs bear your weight, keep objects close to your body, and ask for help if the load is too heavy.
- Sleeping position – Sleep on your side, with your knees bent towards the chest. Place a pillow between the knees to reduce pressure on the back.
- Heel inserts – To reduce the risk of back pain, some doctors recommend heel inserts to alleviate stress on the lower back and provide shock absorption.
- Medium-firm mattresses – Sleep on a mattress that is firm enough to support your body but does not distort the body’s natural curves.
- Car seating position – Tilt your car seat back slightly, so that your knees are higher than your hips. Place the seat close enough to the wheel to let your arms bend.
Posture Counts to Avoid Back Problems
Remember how mom always reminded you about your posture? Turns out she was right. Your posture counts! Posture Counts to Avoid Back Problems
Years of poor posture, we now know, puts undue pressure on the spine and supporting muscles and ligaments that can result in everything from back pain to muscle strain to degenerative arthritis. And many of us make things worse on a daily basis.
How so?
Research has found that common things like stress, obesity, incorrect posture while sleeping, walking and working, and — yes, all you fashionistas out there — wearing high-heeled shoes can contribute to poor posture.
And the back pain alone that often follows hurts us in more ways than one. “Americans spend at least $50 billion each year (seeking relief from) back pain,” notes the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. “And it’s one of the most common reasons for missed work.”
If you just read those stats while seated, here’s a quick checklist to see if you’re maintaining the correct posture:
- Relax shoulders and keep forearms parallel to the ground when working at a keyboard.
- Don’t cross your legs.
- Use a footrest if your feet don’t reach the floor.
For those who are past the checklist stage, know that the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research almost twenty years ago recommended spinal manipulation provided by a doctor of chiropractic as a “safe and effective, drugless” treatment for sufferers of low back pain.
“Old habits die hard,” says Ron Kirk, DC, an avid supporter of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress and founder of Straighten Up America (straightenupamerica.org). “But a doctor of chiropractic can recommend exercises to strengthen core postural muscles and can help you choose proper postures to reduce your risk of injury during activities.”
For more information, visit www.yes2chiropractic.org.
Watch a related video at http://youtu.be/ye/ynGfJhUtalw.
1. Demolition
For several home owners, the demolition process of any home DIY project represents the most fun a person would be able to have in relation to labor. Having the opportunity to tear out the old look in order to open the foundation to new opportunities, is a stepping stone towards total project satisfaction. When you are looking to start the demolition process, its vital to remove any objects from the room that will interfere with this process, and ensuring you remove all the pre existing flooring. For a room that has carpet, you will need to remove the carpet and even the underlay underneath, in order to avoid any undesired staining or scents in your new carpet installation. For hard wood or stone flooring, there’s often opportunity to simply lay a new carpet on top and avoid the demolition process of chipping up tile or scraping out wood.
2. Selection
The very next step of this home DIY project is taken with the selection process of your new carpet. The timing associated with the selection can occur following the demolition step or before the demolition step, depending on your uncertainty about flooring options. When making your selection for the best carpet to fit your home, its vital to consider price in addition to what the carpet offers you. Selecting a product solely based on price could lead to making the wrong selection for your home environment and traffic demands. Often, a home owner will discover a quality product that doesn’t cost much more than the low cost alternative, making it the better bargain.
3. Installation
The last step of any project is commonly found with installation. When installing your new carpet, it is vital to make sure you have all the right products and also all the essential tools. With your best carpet selection, make sure you have the appropriate underlay and any adhesives or tack strips that might be required. When you have accumulated the appropriate tools and products required to complete your installation process, you’ll achieve fantastic results in your goal of completing your flooring.
BuildingChoice is a website created for Australian consumers in particular to freely access up to date information and prices on a wide range of building products and appliances. It features a Trades Directory to enable consumers to easily locate and contact the professionals needed to complete a building project, from architects and interior designers to plumbers and plasterers.
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