Retirement Communities Are Key to Living Well

Today, growing older doesn't necessarily mean slowing down your life. In fact, just the opposite is true, as thousands of seniors have already discovered how to enjoy their "golden years" with vigor and style.

Not content with sitting in front of the television, today's senior citizens are swimming with dolphins, learning a new art form and even plunging from a plane in their first skydive.

What is the key to their happiness and well-being? According to a recent study, it could be living in a retirement community.

According to a University of Michigan study, people who live in retirement communities are more satisfied with their daily lives and are more likely to be happy than their contemporaries who remain in their own homes.

Residents of these communities also are more likely to say their health is better today than it was two years ago, the study concluded.

Many retirement communities not only give seniors a place to share common interests, but also provide unique opportunities to try new hobbies and experiences.

For instance, the Fountains communities, located in 13 states at 19 locations, plan activities and excursions for their residents. On a recent excursion to Key Largo, Fountains residents age 78 to 98 swam in natural lagoons with six Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

Creative expression also is encouraged at the Fountains, home to hundreds of artists - both

professional and amateur. Each year, the company produces an annual calendar featuring the work of its resident artists.

Communities such as the Fountains also offer various styles of retirement living to meet different needs and desires.

For seniors who want to maintain or enhance their independent lifestyle, the Fountains' "Town Center" neighborhoods offer apartments, cottages, cabanas, casitas, bungalows, suites or condos. Amenities include dining venues, fitness centers, salons, lounges, movie theaters, bank branches, convenience stores and wellness clinics.

For seniors who want to live independently with some assistance and supervision, the Fountains provides ready access to services, gentle encouragement and motivation from the community's 24-hour staff. Medicare-certified nursing care for those recuperating or rehabilitating from illness is also available at many locations. 

in Elderly Care

Tramadol - 10 Things You Should Know

Tramadol, the generic version of Ultram, is a synthetic analgesic medication. The exact mode of action of tramadol is unknown but it is said to work like morphine. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain -- receptors that transmit the sensation of pain throughout the body. Here are 10 things you should know about tramadol to ensure its safe use.

1 - Tramadol is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

Tramadol belongs to the class of drugs known as opiate agonists. Primarily, tramadol works by changing the way the body senses pain. Some people mistakenly believe that tramadol is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), but it is not.

2 - Tramadol is available in immediate release and extended release formulations.

Tramadol may be prescribed as an immediate release tablet (50 mg.) or as an extended release tablet (100, 200, or 300 mg.). The extended release tablets are usually reserved for patients with chronic pain who require continuous, long-term treatment. Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage schedule for you.

3 - Tramadol extended release tablets must be taken whole, not split, chewed or crushed.

It is important to take tramadol properly and to follow prescribing instructions. If taken improperly or in a way that is not recommended, serious side effects and even death can result.

4 - Tramadol can be habit-forming for some people.

Do not take more tramadol than has been prescribed for you. Taking more tramadol or taking it more often can cause dependency on it. You should also not stop taking tramadol without first consulting your doctor. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stopped it suddenly. You doctor will likely decrease your dose of tramadol gradually.

5 - Drug interactions are possible with tramadol.

Be aware of the following possible drug interactions:

• Carbamazepine reduces the effect of tramadol
• Quinidine increases the concentration of tramadol by 50% to 60%
• Combining tramadol with an MAO (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) inhibitor or SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to seizures or other serious side effects.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.

6 - Tramadol, when combined with certain other substances, can increase central nervous system and respiratory depression.

In other words, breathing may be affected or even stop if tramadol is combined with alcohol, narcotic drugs, anesthetics, tranquilizers, or sedatives.

7 - The use of tramadol during pregnancy should be avoided.

Because the safety of tramadol use during pregnancy has not been established, the medication should not be used during pregnancy. The safe use of tramadol in nursing mothers has also not been established.

8 - Tramadol is usually well-tolerated. Any side effects are usually temporary.

Some of the common side effects associated with tramadol include:

• nausea
• constipation
• dizziness
• headache
• drowsiness
• vomiting

Less common side effects include: itching, sweating, diarrhea, rash, dry mouth, and vertigo. There have been patients who developed seizures after taking tramadol.

9 - A Cochrane Review of tramadol to treat osteoarthritis revealed some small benefit.

The Cochrane Review stated that when tramadol is taken for up to 3 months, there may be decreased pain, improvements in function and stiffness and overall well-being. However, tramadol can cause side effects that are significant enough to require that the patient must stop taking the medication. Risks outweigh benefits for many people who have tried tramadol.

10 - If an overdose of tramadol has occurred, call your local poison control center, or call 911 if it appears to be an emergency situation.

Symptoms of an overdose include decreased pupil size, difficulty breathing or staying awake, unconscious, coma, heart attack, or seizure. Call for help, even if you are unsure about what to do.

_Sources:

_{Tramadol. MedlinePlus. 7/1/2007.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a695011.html>}

Are Robotic Lawn Mowers Safe?

You're standing in your front yard minding your own business when a robot with three razor sharp blades spinning at 5,800 rpm starts racing toward you. What do you do?

Is this some kind of nightmare? No, you're awake and this is really happening, so once again, what do you do?

The answer is nothing. It will just bounce off you and go another direction. Rather anti-climatic ending wasn't it? That is just the way the robotic lawn mower companies want it to be.

The greatest concern most people have about robotic lawn mowers is safety. 'Bots with Blades' just can't be safe. According to Ames Tiedeman, National Sales Manager for Systems Trading Corp., the US distributor for the Friendly Robotics Robomower, over 72,000 emergency room visits involved lawn mowers in 2005. ZERO involved robotic lawn mowers.

These mowers have so many safety features and shut-off triggers that it is amazing that they are actually functional.

The Friendly Robotics Robomower turns the blades off at 16 degrees, not even high enough to get a hand under. Even if a small hand could get under, the blades are far back and recessed into a chamber in the body. It would take creativity, not stupidity, to get to the blades while they are still turning.

Unlike push and riding lawn mower safety devices, robotic lawn mower features are not easily disabled. The tilt detection devices are soldered on to the main boards. Even the resistance against the blades and the ability of the software to stop them is measured in thousandths of seconds 

Since these robotic lawn mowers are designed to mulch there is no easy outlet for flying debris. Pebbles and pine cones do not get tossed very far and at low velocity.

Some robotic lawn mowers have sonar detection systems that if any moving objects get close they'll slow down and at another point stop the blade before even being touched. All have some sort of touch sensors that when they lightly bump into a stationary object that they change direction. So actually getting run over is unlikely.

Another big concern is pets getting chopped to bits, again, no reported accidents involving robotic lawn mowers. Dogs have a tendency to chase and bark, but not attack. A dog actually chewing up a robotic lawn mower is more feasible than a robotic lawn mower chewing up a dog.

Robotic lawn mowers move relatively slow, people and animals can easily move out of the way. Although it takes a lot longer to mow, if everyone used them there would be 72,000 fewer hospital visits this year.

This article was written to educate people that robotic mowers under intended circumstances are safe. There has been a great deal of thought and engineering involved to make robotic lawn mowers safe for public use.
  

in Landscaping

Door Knob Hangers

A doorknob hanger is an excellent way to convey a temporary message. It is ideal for patient rooms, guest rooms, offices, baby's rooms and conference rooms. Some of these hangers are specially designed to convey a message of "privacy wanted". Children love to use knob hangers to send messages to their parents, siblings and friends. For a library or a reading room, door knob hangers are a funny and creative way to promote a library referendum and encourage reading. They are also used by companies to announce their deals and new products. Additionally, these hangers work as a marketing pieces in canvassing programs. Making doorknob hangers is a fast and simple craft for kids.

Doorknob hangers are pieces of materials with different messages printed on them, making them an economical and convenient way to advertise. They are brightly colored and approximately 12 by 24 cm in size. For advertising requirements, double-sided full color hangers are available. Door knob hangers are made of heavy plastic and are designed to fit on any door knob. Today's door knob hangers are professional and classy-looking. They are available in as homemade products and can be purchased in shops or at craft shows.

Door knob hangers made of fiber board make great reminders. Hangers with removable magnets are also commonly used. These are decorated with stickers, markers and crayons. With the growing number of manufacturers, an extensive collection of doorknob hangers in different color and design are available with prices varying on the basis of design and quality of the material. 

in Interior Design

Bathroom Glass: Invisible Opportunities.

Glass is very ancient material. Now it's very difficult to invent something new in glass making. Though we can still enhance the strength of the glass and vary the bathroom design.

The main methods of enhancing the strength of glass and its safety are based on the latest production technologies. Today glass is used to produce virtually all products, that's why glass objects are widely applied in the interiors of living and non-living premises. But mainly it is found in the bathroom interiors: it makes these rooms spacious and airy.

Quite often in the new bathroom design ideas there are lots of design projects where we come across the combination of a bathroom and a bedroom, where the doors are replaced with the glass walls, movable panels or shields made of transparent or matte glass. This bathroom and bedroom combination creates an illusion of one common room which is very important if the bathroom space is not big enough.

Tinted, transparent or matte glass walls, open glass shelves can become an "invisible" zoning element in a large bathroom, where the bath area is rather remote from the wash stand. Even the low decorative walls will make the bathroom interior look heavy, but the glass walls will make it more functional and cozy.

Among a variety of glass types presented in the bathroom design projects (transparent, matte, tinted), a new product - variable-transparency glass appeared recently in the bathroom stores. It does not break, it is absolutely safe and adds an air of some mystery in the bathroom aura: when the lights are on - it is transparent, but it becomes matte when the lights go down. Such glass is widely used in design of the interiors including bathrooms.

New bathroom installation or old bathroom remodeling would give you an opportunity to make the interiors of your bathroom bright and airy. You may use colour (bent, fused, roasted, sintered) glass, it will shine with all the colours of the rainbow under the bathroom halogen waterproof spotlights. This glass is used to produce not only washbasins, bathtubs and bathroom worktops of the bizarre form, but also bathroom glass furniture: it does not overload the area and it does not make even the smallest bathroom look narrow. 

Shower cubicles with the glass doors can be both a bathroom accessory and attire of the interiors. Various types of fit-outs and colour glass create additional opportunities to set your interiors apart.

Glass floor in the new bathroom design (a special kind of glass with anti-slip surface is used for it) is a very original idea, it is also comfortable and functional - when the upper lights are off such floor becomes a magic source of light. Besides, there is such a great variety of glass floors. The bathroom floor can be made of color glass with or without highlighting, it can have illuminated elements in the form of still-life of shells, sand and pebble.

When the bathroom has several zones, you can arrange them at different levels. Glass edges of the stairs with illumination can be a perfect decorative component in such large bathroom. Their light combined with the water flows reflecting in the mirrors will create inimitable sense of the magic palace.

Stained glass is a fashionable element of the bathroom interiors now. It can decorate the wall adjoining the hall. Then on turning the lights in the bathroom, you can enjoy the view of the stained glass from the hall and on the contrary: the light in the hall will be enough to take the bathroom in the romantic atmosphere. The translucent ceiling in the bathroom as well as decorative illuminated alcoves will turn the usual ritual of taking bath or shower into a more pleasant procedure, in the aesthetic sense.

The more glass you have in your bathroom, the more attractive it is, with the illusion of mystery and you will unravel it every time you expose your body to the warm sprays of the shower or taking aroma bath.

The exclusive bathroom glass interior is able to work wonders: leaving your bathroom, every time you will feel full of energy you cannot do without.
  

in Home Improvement

Growing Beautiful Flowers From Bulbs

When most people think of bulbs they often think of daffodils or other similar flowers. However, the bulbous variey of flowers goes well beyond that.

While tulips, hyacinths and snowdrops also belong with the 'true' bulb family, there are many flowers that have corms, rhizomes or tubers. These include agapanthus and hippeastrums, dahlias, cannas and other lilies, irises, begonias, anemones and amaryllis, to name just a few.

Not only do bulbs do the work of reproducing the plant, they store food for those months when the leaves die and the plant is dormant. Thus, when the conditions are right the new plant has all it needs to thrust new shoots up into the sunlight.

Most bulbs need moist, rich, free draining soil and a sunny position to grow happily. Many flower in the spring, but such is their diversity, it is possible to have bulbs flowering in every month of the year.

To grow bulbs such as tulips in a temperate region, keep them in the refrigerator for four to eight weeks before planting out at the coldest time of year. In cold ares, plant in late autumn. Tulips like warm, dry summers alkaline soil. They may be affected by aphids, or a fungal condition called 'tulip fire' if there is too much moisture about. Their vibrant colors make them well worth a place in the garden.

Bulbs will usually do well if their natural habitat is approximated in the garden. For instance, daffodils are meadow flowers, so like plenty of sun. They will naturalize successfully in the lawn and flower early before the grass becomes too competitive. It's best not to mow for at least six weeks after the flowers die, because the leaves provide food to the bulb for next years' growth 

Woodland bulbs like bluebells and snowdrops will do better in a semi-shaded or a dappled sun position. They do well under deciduous trees. Spring-flowering bulbs may be planted near a well-used path or where they can be seen from a window to save trekking over soggy lawns to admire them.

Most bulbs can be grown successfully in containers, but need at least four inches ((10 cm)) of soil below them and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) above. It's a good idea to plant bulbs in a pot and bury it in the garden to prevent them from being accidentally hoed during a weeding session. If you have trouble with rodents eating your bulbs, plant them inside a wire cage buried in the garden.

Many bulbous varieties grow easily and are quite tolerant. Do your research, however. Some of the more unusual ones can be found via mail order or on the internet, so take the time to look for them. You'll be pleased with the result.
 

in Gardening

Home Security Systems - Best Way to Keep your House Safe

The number of burglaries and property violations are continuously increasing so an alarm monitoring system may be a perfect solution to prevent thefts. Recent research has proven that owning a home security system makes you 3 or 4 times less likely to be burglarized. Who knows, maybe acquiring a home alarm system may even save your life! Many times thieves and burglars prefer robbing a house without a home alarm system than a house that has one installed.

What can a home security system do? Well it can monitor a house 24 hours a day, and if something unusual occurs, it sends an alarm signal through the phone line. After the signal is received, a phone call is made to your house to see if everything is all right, and if no one answers or the incorrect password is provided then the local police is alarmed.

Setting a home alarm system up takes only one hour, and then it will work for months. It should be tested periodically however in order to make sure everything works just fine. In case a power failure occurs, the home security systems are equipped with a battery that can keep them running for 24 hours.

If you decide to purchase a home alarm system you should also follow some simple security rules. If you do so you can be sure that the chances that your house becomes the 'victim' of a burglary will be greatly reduced.

First of all you should always secure your windows and doors, because these are the places through which burglars enter the house. Their locks must be strong. Also, you should try not to keep things that may attract burglars outside, in order not to turn your house into a target. It would be advised to try to let people know that you own a home alarm system.

Furthermore, there are some other small things that can keep burglars away - always have outside lights turned on, so that burglars can't use darkness to hide, get a guard dog to watch over your yard, and talk to a neighbor to watch over your house while you are away.

But the home security system remains the best method to keep burglars away. It is a small investment that protects all the investments inside the house. 

in Home Security