Grab bars in the bathroom

Installing grab bars near the toilet and inside the shower cubicle make the bathroom a lot easier to use for people who have mobility issues.� A grab bar can support a weight of about 250 pounds if installed properly.� Make sure your floor surface is non-slip too.

Lose the rugs

Floor rugs that aren�t fixed into place are hazards for wheelchair users. Take them out where possible, especially in the entrance hall, kitchen and bathroom. If your living room has non-slip backing and stays in place, this should be ok to leave where it is.

Rearrange your furniture

Some of your furniture may be too low for someone to sit at comfortably in a wheelchair. You can raise certain items using small blocks of wood under the legs of tables or desks.� Sofas can be raised using furniture coasters, so that moving from the wheelchair to the sofa is easier. Even an inch or two in height will make a big difference.

Rather than adjusting existing furniture, you may want to replace some items.� For example, you could get a cheap dining table that is the right height for a wheelchair user. There are also many fabric sofas that are higher than average and quite reasonably priced.

1. Take up a new sport. You don�t need to over-stretch yourself physically, but trying something new is a good way to stay mobile and meet new friends. Try crown green bowling, short tennis or snooker for example.

2. Help out a charity. You might want the regular hours of volunteering in a local charity shop or how about raising money for a national cause or your nearest hospital. There is always someone that will be glad of the help you can offer.

3. Start a new interest. It could be settling down to read all those classic novels you�ve never had time for or maybe improving your gardening or cooking skills.

4. Protect your independence. Make sure your house is equipped with everything you want to be comfortable such as curved stairlifts if needed. Consult Homelifestairlifts.co.uk for expert advice.

5. Plan the trip of a lifetime. Maybe you�ve got long lost cousins in Australia or a desire to see St Petersburg or Tokyo. Treat yourselves to an amazing holiday � you deserve it!

6. Get your finances in order. Make sure you are happily set up for a long and fulfilling retirement with some appropriate financial advice.

7. Review your will. Not the most pleasant thing to think about but ensuring that your wishes are up to date and clear will save your nearest and dearest from unnecessary issues at a difficult time.

8. Get a pet. Maybe you never had time to walk a dog before or you just fancy curling up on the sofa with a cat to stroke. Retirement is a lovely time to get a new furry friend in your life.

9. Look up your own family history. Inspired by popular television shows on the subject there are more and more ways to research your family tree and the results can be fascinating.

10. Make the most of your family. See the grandchildren more, visit that Aunt who lives in a remote corner of the country and value the loved ones you have around you.

Photo: JD Hancock

One of the first things to consider is whether you will be having a straight or curved rail fitted to your stairway. You can choose from curved and straight staircases depending on which product would be appropriate for your home. Some stairways are able to have either a straight or a curved rail fitted, so if you are unsure what to go for the best bet is to arrange for an expert to visit your home and assess the situation for you. They should then be able to advise you as to whether you should select a straight or curved stairlift, or whether either is possible.

As well as being able to select from straight or curved, you can find stairlifts designed especially for smaller spaces, ideal if you have a narrow stairway. You can also choose from specially-designed waterproof stairlifts for use outside. It all depends what your personal requirements are – there is a product out there to suit most needs.

Once you have decided on curved or straight stairlifts and have taken all other factors into consideration, you will need to consider whether you wish to rent or buy your stairlift and whether you will choose a new or a re-conditioned product. If you buy your stairlift, ensure it has a warranty so that you are protected financially if anything goes wrong within a certain time period after purchasing.

For installation, it’s highly recommended to use a professional, as it is important that all electrical features are wired up correctly and that the whole process is carried out safely.

Before selecting the correct stairlift for your home, you should be aware that there are in fact different kinds of stairlifts from which you can choose. Consider firstly whether you will need a straight or curved rail on which to fit your stairlift, as this will determine what kind of stairlift you then purchase. When you have determined which type of rail you will need, you can look for the ideal stairlift for you, choosing from curved stairlifts, straight stairlifts and outdoor stairlifts in a range of different designs, sizes, motor powers and capacities.

If you are struggling to make a decision, a good tip is to ask friends or family who have used stairlifts whether they have any hints, tips or personal recommendations that could help you make your purchasing decision. After having spoken to your friends or family, if you feel you need further help in making your decision, you could seek professional advice on the types of stairlifts available to you.

The most important factor when choosing a stairlift is to consider what will meet your personal requirements and which product will fit in well with your home. Take your time to consider all your options carefully and look at the various types of stairlifts available at Homelife so that you are in a position to make the right decision for you.

Photo: Roblawol

On occasion life happens and you can’t get away to change your adult diaper. You’re at the mall, on in a plane, you’re at work, or maybe you are at school and you’ve forgotten your extra supplies, or you can’t get away to change now that there’s no place to change. The crisis is worse if it is a hot, maybe even oppressive, summer day, and odors are heightened.

The shame as people around you begin to smell the air, and you’re keeping your eyes pointed ahead praying, wishing, that nobody realizes that it’s you. Or, preferably, you are putting up a front because you’re sniffing the air too – trying to divert the long hard look away from you.

Customarily people do not choose to sit in a fouled adult diaper – but when life happens and you can’t change your cruddy adult diaper – what can you do to hide the… ahem… bouquet?

When you are desperate, you’ll make use of anything to try and hide the odors stemming from the adult diaper. Pinpoint a petrol station and stock up on those air freshners and wear them within your adult diaper. That’s a visual for you!

But it does not have to be that way…the remedy is easier than you suspect – and quite cost friendly! A travel sized spritzer container filled with water and a drop or two of essential oils. Stand by – men – before we fail to keep your attention — not all essential oils are flowery smelling. So, utilizing essential oils will not make you ‘womanlike’.

You will need a regular and a small (purse-sized), spray bottle, essential oils and water. Essential oils can be purchased as a single oil or an oil blend. Many large commercial stores and your corner pharmacy carry these oils and they can also easily be found online. Many malls have specialty stores dedicated to soaps and oils. You can find “feminine” oils (herbaceous scents like Jasmine, Lavendar, Geranium) or masculine (earthscents like Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, most citrus scents, etc).

While several of the more red-blooded scents are not as a matter of course readily available (like Black Pepper) at your corner retail stores, if you look for masculine blends – you will find that many blends incorporate several essential oils into a blend.

Take your spray bottles, drop in1-3 drops of the essential oil (3 drops for the everyday spray bottle, 1 drop for the small (purse-sized) spray bottle – and fill with water.

When getting ready for the day – take your run-of-the-mill-sized spray bottle and lightly spray your adult diaper – one quick spray will do it. Carry the small (travel-sized) spray bottle in your supply bag, in effortless reach. This will assist to mask any worrisome odors. And, because the smaller spray bottle is purse-sized, it fits handily into a pocket or handbag – backpack, laptop bag – you guessed it – no one has to know. Then, if you recognize in the heat of the day that you’re not smelling as fresh – you can shrewdly bring out your bottle and add another squirt. All people will notice is the perfume of your choice of essential oil.

An added reward to this cost effective way of handling odor, is that you and everyone around you benefits from the properties of the essential oil. As we all know, Lavender has a soothing affect, Grapefruit bolsters concentration, eases anxiety and cheers the spirit, Peppermint helps soothe headaches.

You can even have a little bit of fun during Christmas season – by applying holiday scents – so everybody thinks you’re assuredly in the Christmas spirit!

Before you go anywhere – visit DryDiapersPlus Canada for IncoStress and Hold it Sister incontinence aids, exceptional savings on all of your incontinence supplies and ABDL needs. At DryDiapersPlus Canada we offer terrific customer service, affordable pricing and discreet packaging.

Tammy Chamberlain is an incontinence products specialist at DryDiapersPlus,

Buy your adult diapers online at DryDiapersPlus. Serving the US and Canada (visit DryDiapersPlus.ca for Canada Shoppers)

Photo: quotlumen

Nonmalignant mesothelioma affects more men than women and approximately half of the persons with this disease do not show any symptoms. It is only when the tumor grows in size that it pushes on the lung and caused shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include chest pain and chronic cough. The tumor is usually found by accident when a chest x-ray is done for other reasons, but it can also be detected by CT scan of the chest and open lung biopsy. Patients with mesothelioma have the options of curative or palliative treatments to extend survival. Conventional treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

The major goal of treatment is to reduce pain and suffering and prolong the patient’s life while providing the highest quality of life possible. Before undergoing mesothelioma treatment, it is important to explore the various treatment options available to be informed of the risks and benefits before making the final decision.

Photo: Simon Pais

Now obviously it has its drawbacks: you can’t try clothes on, you can’t feel fabrics or finishes and sometimes the photos are misleading when it comes to colour or quality. But for day to day goods and products which can be easily selected from pictures on screen you really can’t beat it. And let’s face it, when you’re shopping for office supplies who can get over excited about doing it in person anyway?! The new office shredder may well be available in a choice of three colours and two styles but we don’t actually care which one we get as long as it works.

And what about gifts? Well I like to purchase things for the man who has everything (my husband) in person if at all possible but there have definitely been occasions when I’ve spotted something in a shop window as we’ve walked past on the way to ballet/football/swimming etc and have simply ordered it online that evening. You can’t beat the convenience and I love opening all those tantalizing parcels filled with shredder paper and discovering the delights inside – it’s like Christmas everyday when the postman calls.

So if you are a virgin online shopper then give it a whirl – I guarantee you will never look back!