Active Senior Living

Stairway Safety Tips

Stairway falls are a common accident that can occur around the home and often result in serious injuries especially in seniors. There are some simple preventive measures that can be taken to minimize the risks.

• Keep stairways clear at all times. This includes the landing areas.
• Make sure stairs are equipped with secure handrails and that they are installed at a comfortable height.
• All stairs should be at the same height and depth and be equipped with a non-slip surface.
• Repair any stairs that are loose, broken or have a slippery surface. Fix loose or torn carpeting.
• Ensure that stairways are well lit and have a light switch at both the top and bottom of the stairs. Install a low intensity night light if possible.
• If there are rugs at the top or bottom of the stairs make sure they have a non-slip backing.
• The edge of each stair should be clearly visible.
• Be aware of alcohol consumption or any medicine that may cause side effects such as dizziness or blurred vision.
• When using stairs, take your time, don’t carry items that will block your view of the stairs or prevent you from holding onto the handrail and make sure you can see clearly. This includes removing reading glasses or wearing glasses prescribed for distance.

Live Long, Live Well.

Photo Credit: Tree Rings

Recently, AgingFabulous.com had a list of simple anti-aging tips anyone can incorporate into their lives. Nothing earth shattering on the list. The same simple steps keep coming up over and over again.

To improve longevity:

• Minimize sun exposure.
• Quit smoking.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Incorporate green and red vegetables in your diet.
• Keep sugar intake to a minimum.
• Eat fish regularly.

You can read the complete entry at Aging Fabulous.

Decide which diet is best for your weight loss goals.

Is there anyone you know who isn’t following a special diet or just wishing they could lose some weight? You just have to visit a bookstore to see the large selection of diet books available. If you’re confused about the many options, want to know the philosophy behind a diet, or how much success people have had on a given diet then you’re in luck.

The social network site for dieters, Fat Secret, provides a summary of each diet, recipes, diet journals for members and tracks weight loss levels for different diets.

The diets currently covered on the site are:

• The South Beach Diet
• Atkins
• Fat Smash Diet
• Weight Watchers
• Fat Flush Plan
• You: On a Diet
• The GI Diet
• Blood Type Diet
• Sonoma Diet
• Ultrametabolism
• LA Weight Loss
• The Abs Diet
• Shangri-La Diet
• Slim Fast
• Rice Diet Solution
• The Zone
• Jenny Craig
• Cabbage Soup Diet
• Curves Diet
• NutriSystem
• Dr. Phil
• Bob Greene’s Total Body Makeover
• Bill Phillip’s Body For Life
• Sugar Busters
• Liver Cleansing Diet
• The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet
• 3 Hour Diet
• French Diet
• Perricone Weight-Loss Diet
• Mediterranean Diet
• Fit For Life
• Grapefruit Diet
• Ornish Diet
• Medifast
• Macrobiotic Diet