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How to Stay Safe Around the House This Summer

Donna Nichols • June 19, 2023

Another great article in the June 2023 AARP Bulletin discusses ways to stay safe this summer. It covers ways to stay safe around the house, around town, when you travel and outdoors. The first blog will cover ways to stay safe around the house. Each section was written by different experts, so I will highlight some of the bullet points for you here.


Tony Nestor suggests storing at least 3 to 6 gallons of bottled water per person – enough to last three days – along with chlorine dioxide tablets to purify additional water, if available. This is in case there is too much power being used and the power company must turn grids off or there are blackouts, or there is severe weather, and the power is out for days. He also suggests having a hand operated can opener, hand flashlights, and batteries.


Steve Kerber points out that you have only three minutes or less to escape a home fire. Steve says if you’re on an upper floor and have only one staircase, please make an alternate escape route. He also says to make sure you have smoke alarms installed on the ceiling or high on the walls on every level of the house, inside every bedroom and outside sleeping areas. Make sure you check them at least twice a year.


Blake Layton says if you notice signs like pencil-thin mud tubes along your home’s foundation or discarded wings after a termite swarm, call for help right away. Also, if traveling, bedbugs like to hitch onto your clothes, so check the mattress for dark or reddish spots and use the luggage cart for your suitcase instead of putting it on the bed.


Susan McKelvey points out that more than 19,000 burned barbecue chefs and their guests end up in an emergency room. Before the start of grilling season, check the tank hose and connection points for leaks or breaks; spray them with a light solution of soap and water while the propane tank valve is open. If you see bubbles, shut off the tank, because there may be a leak. If you smell gas when lighting the grill, turn off the tank, then the grill. Keep your grill clean, as built-up grease and drippings cause many fires.


Tobie Stanger touches on the home-repair scams and says that summer typically brings an army of scam contractors going door-to-door. They will claim they just happen to be paving a driveway down the street and have leftover material, or they’ll offer to pave your driveway for a low price. If you take the bite, they’ll generally take your money and do the work shoddily, fail to finish the job, or do nothing at all. Be aware of anyone offering to do work unsolicited!


Alyssa Spence talks about garden accidents and says that mishaps involving lawnmowers and other garden equipment sent more than 112,000 adults to emergency rooms in 2021. Handheld tools pose a hazard too, they injured another 43,000 people. Don’t work outside if you’re distracted, overheated, or overtired. Don’t let grandkids ride on the lawnmower with you and shut all gear down completely before cleaning or adjusting. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated on hot days. Always wear gloves when working with hand tools.


As stated, I just pointed out the bullet points, to read the entire sections, pick up the AARP Bulletin. The next blog will cover ways to stay safe around town. I hope you find some valuable tips in my blogs to keep you safe!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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