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Stay Cool - Protect Yourself From Overheating
Freedom. What Does It Mean To You?
Cat Bathing as a Martial Art
Welcome New Additions to the Certified Senior Approved Network
Reporting on Elder Care Businesses
Congratulations to Jean Wales!
Calendar of Events
NEW! Online Support Group for Family Caregivers
Writers Wanted!

Stay Cool - Protect Yourself From Overheating

Those with a history of stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease and respiratory disease need to take special care. However, overheating can happen to any one if you’re not careful.

Pay attention to the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Some symptoms are: heavy sweating, pale or clammy skin, fainting, and vomiting. A heat stroke is a true medical emergency. A delay in treatment can be fatal. If you know someone who is elderly or fragile, check on him or her to make sure they stay cool. The elderly are much more likely to suffer from heat related illnesses. If a person becomes dehydrated and cannot sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke

Are your feet and hands swelling? Heat edema is swelling of the hands and feet when blood vessels expand and allow fluid to pool under the skin. Is your skin itchy? Prickly heat is an irritating rash that is caused by a blockage of the sweat pores, usually under clothing.

Your sweat is your body's main system for getting rid of extra heat. As long as blood is flowing properly to your skin, extra heat from the core of your body is "pumped" to the skin and removed by sweat evaporation. If you do not sweat enough, you cannot get rid of extra heat well. If you have poor circulation it is also difficult to stay cool because your body can't get rid of heat as well if blood is not flowing to the skin.

Dehydration will make it harder for you to cool off in two ways: if you are dehydrated you won't sweat as much, and your body will try to keep blood away from the skin to keep your blood pressure at the right level in the core of your body. But, since you lose water when you sweat, you must make up that water to keep from becoming dehydrated. If the air is humid, it's harder for your sweat to evaporate -- this means that your body cannot get rid of extra heat as well when it's muggy as it can when it's relatively dry.

Other precautions to consider include:

• Increase your intake of water – avoid alcoholic, carbonated, sugar and caffeine drinks. This may sound crazy – avoid ice cold drinks. When your tummy receives fluid that is ice cold, your internal body temperature must rise in order to compensate – leading to further internal heat
  
• An old farmers’ trick (you learn this quickly if you’ve ever helped to bail hay in August) Wet a bandana (or scarf) and put it in the freezer. Wrap this around your neck, once the fabric is thawed, wrap the cool scarf around your forehead. My grandma use to have a large wrap that she would position around her bust line. (Bailing hay is a family event :))
  
• Wear clothing that is light in color and loose fitting (let your skin breathe)
  
• Avoid outdoor activity during the afternoon hours
  
• Eat less protein and more fruits and vegetables (proteins increase your metabolism which heats you up inside) this leads to further water loss. The fruits and vegetables will add minerals, water, and salts that you are loosing in your sweat.
  
• Treat yourself to a cool bath
  
• If you don’t have air-conditioning, stay in the lowest section of your home if possible. Keep in mind, heat rises. If you have window fans, set the fan to pull hot air out of your home, rather than pulling more hot air in from the outdoors.

Seniors living without air conditioning may want to consider spending the hottest part of the day where relief from the heat can be found. Senior centers, the mall, libraries, churches and museums are all (almost always) air-conditioned.

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Freedom. What Does It Mean To You?

My elders were quite versed in history and were intelligent enough to question what was recorded as history. They often times weaved quotes from famous people in to their own life’s history as a means to emphasize the feel of the day, so-to-speak. I learned so much as a child, just by sitting at the feet of a person that had experienced a full life.

I recently asked our readers to submit a short description of what freedom means to you. Every submission to this request came in from a senior. For those of you who look at our elderly as being uninformed or you lose your patience because they move or talk slower than you’d like, I invite you to read what these seniors have submitted and plan to be amazed. Freedom, in the eyes of the seniors responding to this question, includes the freedom of all persons, not just personal freedom. They express so well that what they wish for themselves, they also wish for you and your children.

Submitted by Fran of AZ

Submitted by Elizabeth of MI

Submitted by Gloria Anne from OH

Today's conservatives define patriotism as being nothing short of all out, unquestioned loyalty to G. W. Bush, regardless of how improper or unconstitutional his proposals and policies might be. I sense a loss of freedom, I am afraid of the Homeland Security authorities. I was around during the reign of McCarthy and Hoover. Does anyone else remember this?

Read more by visiting Freedom

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Cat Bathing as a Martial Art

I've spent most of my life believing this folklore. Like most blind believers, I've been able to discount all the facts to the contrary, the kitty odors that lurk in the corners of the garage and dirt smudges that cling to the throw rug by the fireplace.

The time comes, however, when a man must face reality: when he must look squarely in the face of massive public sentiment to the contrary and announce: "This cat smells like a port-a-potty on a hot day in Juarez."

When that day arrives at your house, as it has in mine, I have some advice you might consider as you place your feline friend under your arm and head for the bathtub.

Know that although the cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom.

If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)

Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.

Prepare everything in advance. There is no time to go out for a towel when you have a cat digging a hole in your flak jacket. Draw the water. Make sure the bottle of kitty shampoo is inside the glass enclosure. Make sure the towel can be reached, even if you are lying on your back in the water.

Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule. If he does notice your garb, calmly explain that you are taking part in a product testing experiment for J.C. Penney.)

Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life.

continue reading at Cat Bathing

Do you have words of wisdom that you would like to share? See Submit Words of Wisdom

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Welcome New Additions to the Certified Senior Approved Network

The SCOOTER Store, the nation's number one choice for power chairs has recently completed the survey process and far exceeded our required 90% senior satisfaction rating! Feel free to visit The SCOOTER Store

We have a selection of home care services (both medical and non-medical) in the state of Illinois that have recently completed the survey and are now Certified as Senior Approved Services.

Stellar Living Assistance, Inc. and Life Care Home Health Services are both located in Downers Grove. Congratulations and welcome!

Hamilton Home Care Services serves Villa Park and the surrounding communities. Congratulations and welcome!

My Home Care Inc., serves Springfield and surrounding communities. Congratulations and welcome!

Ma'Dear Home Services serving Chicago and surrounding communities. Welcome! (focus page coming soon!)

Our first adult group home in Dallas Texas has now been added. Sweet Adeline's Welcome!

Our network is growing! Keep an eye on this directory - we are currently surveying our first non-profit organization serving the state of Ohio and a well-known home care service serving Florida.

Reporting on Elder Care Businesses

As you know, we do not use negative reporting or fear tactics to inform consumers on elder care services. We have chosen to take the positive approach by simply focusing our attention on those elder care businesses that can prove their commitment to serving our senior citizens. Each service within our exclusive network is literally approved and endorsed by the very seniors they currently serve.

Not every business would open themselves to such scrutiny, especially given the fact that this consumer-driven survey process is not mandated. Not only is this voluntary, each business within our network has paid a fee for the survey process. That in itself should alert you to the fact that these businesses are not only confident in their ability to serve our elderly with great care, they are willing to prove it.

Nay sayers have said all along, "Barb, you'll never get businesses to agree to this, let alone pay for the survey process", followed by, "You will have to offer this at no charge to the business community and charge the senior for your service."

I feel (strongly) that seniors should not have to pay just for the privilege of learning which service is safe to use, which service will meet his or her needs and budgets. Seniors are hit hard enough these days. To date, we are the only service available to seniors that will --

1. Recommend and endorse a service based on survey results compiled by surveying actual senior clients
   
2. Assist the senior (or anyone searching for a service) by matching his or her needs, desires, geographical location and budget - to an appropriately matched service provider
   
3. Remain actively involved after the service has been contracted - we are the link between the senior receiving care and the service providing that care
   
4. Provide consumer education (not only sharing what can be expected from the service, but also sharing other options, i.e., many folks are not aware of the benefits of adult day services or how invaluable a qualified elder-law attorney, financial planner, preparation of Living Wills and so forth, can be)
   
5. Directing families to only the very best services - we do not allow any business in our network (they cannot buy a listing, buy advertising space, pay to join) unless we have the quality assurance results from the survey process
   
6. Yes. This is a lot to offer at no charge - but again, why should a senior have to pay for this when they are going to have to pay for the service they eventually select from our network?

It has been a slow process, I'll admit it. But the business community is beginning to understand how very much our elderly (and their family caregivers) truly want a third-party unbiased source to validate the history of care that a business provides. Additionally, the business community is grasping the benefit of the Senior Approved Certification as a method to elevate themselves from their competition.

If you would like to help us reach more businesses and encourage them to apply for certification, I personally, would be most grateful. You may do this in one of two organized manners. See Advocate or by applying for a telecommuting position by following the directions at Employment Opp

As seniors continue to call, specifically to receive a recommendation for a Certified Senior Approved Service, the pressure is on for us to attract additional elder care services. When you visit Approved Services you may find that we don't have the service you need in your state. Unfortunately, this puts you in the necessary predicament of learning how to discern between an excellent service you can trust and one you ought to stay away from. You can help though.

As you make these inquiry calls to local services, make it a point to ask, as your very first question, "Are you a Certified Senior Approved Service?" The more often the business community hears directly from you, the consumer, that you want this level of assurance, the more open they become to your request. Thank you, very much for anything you can do to help us grow our network for you!

If you are a business owner that offers products, resources or services for the elderly, disabled and/or for their adult children, please read what other businesses in our network have to say about what it means to be Certified as a Senior Approved Service. We need your help in order to reach our lofty goal of advocating for the right of all seniors to receive excellent and safe care. We cannot add you to our network unless you go through this survey process. You will never pay for clients, leads or referrals and the survey is compliant with HIPAA. Help us point seniors towards your excellent service!

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Congratulations to Jean Wales!

Ms. Wales is one of two authors in the entire United States that have written self-help books for seniors and family caregivers to be Certified as a Senior Approved Service. Patti Bertschler , co-owner of North Coast Conflict Solutions co-authored "Truce! Using Elder Mediation to Resolve Conflict among Families, Seniors, and Organizations was our first!

Feel free to order these two very helpful and insightful publications knowing each are Certified Senior Approved!

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Calendar of Events

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Writers Wanted!

If you enjoy writing and would like your articles read by folks across the United States, we have a great opportunity available for you.

Please note, our ezine does not accept sponsors or advertisement and so this is a work of love, not one of profit. Having said that, we cannot pay you.

We will feature you as a contributing author and include your bi-line, and a link to your home page and/or contact information. We will also provide you with free advertising space on our business resource page on Business Resource Page

Businesses frequent our Business Resource page, you never know. Someone may be in search of a content writer for web sites, ezines, magazines and newspapers.

Please send a sample of your writing to our fax number - 216-883-3159.

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NEW! Online Support Group for Family Caregivers

In fact, while we were considering how to do this, we were contacted by a well-known and respected advocate for seniors, Barbara Halpren. Barbara is the founder of The Senior Coalition for Safety based in New York. She is now 'retired' and has started an online support group within the MSN groups page. Her group members have asked her to expand upon their support group and take it to the next level.

So. Barbara H. and I (Barbara Mascio) decided to try something, and we hope we can count on you for your suggestions, ideas and feedback. We are partnering the two sites for the time being. If we see a genuine interest (from each site) then we will move forward and create an exclusive online support group that will be hosted within the Senior Approved Free Web community.

Each of our web visitors and ezine subscribers are welcome to join this very active online support group. They offer articles, education, a message board, a chat room and more! See Caring for Elderly Family Members

Barbara H.'s group have agreed to turn towards the network of Certified Senior Approved Services as their very first choice when searching for a service for their loved ones. Again - I can't emphasize this enough - we need additional businesses in our network to accommodate these requests along with the (nearly) 3,000 inquiries received during the last 12 months.

I am very excited about this partnership and trust I can count on your feedback. Send your thoughts to Comment Form

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Please visit our Press Release Page for new stories and articles written about Senior Approved Services.

Regardless of your business model, you must market yourself. Be sure to check out the resources we've made available to you by visiting Marketing Tools If you're just starting out, visit Marketing Senior Services Finally, if you would like access to resources for your business see Resources

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