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What You Need to Know About Safety and Mobility Equipment

If you are concerned about the health and wellbeing of an aging family member, it’s important to be aware of the most effective tools available to help prevent accidents at home.

The following article outlines some of the most important equipment that can be used in homes with seniors. You can find such specialty equipment on websites such as safetyandmobility.com.au. The following article also talks about the guidelines on how to use and maintain specialized mobility equipment.

Safety and Mobility Equipment for Seniors

At some point, most seniors require assistance with mobility. It is mainly the case if they cannot walk independently or have family members who can assist them. There are many options available in the market, but the most common mobility assistance equipment include:

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs can provide firm support for seniors who cannot walk or stand up independently.

There are both manual and electronic wheelchairs. It’s important to note that when choosing a wheelchair, it is crucial to ensure it can be used safely in the environment where they live.

Wheelchair Lifts

It is common for seniors who use wheelchairs to require assistance with getting into cars or other types of vehicles. It is where wheelchair lifts are helpful. A wheelchair lift can provide an accessible platform to help them transfer from the wheelchair to a vehicle seat.

Transfer Benches

A transfer bench allows users to slide across a stable surface, such as their bed or couch, into a seated position. They are available both with and without handrails.

Crutches

Crutches can be used to support a person who has difficulty walking, for instance, due to arthritis. It is because crutches reduce the amount of weight that they need to place on their legs and feet.

Walking Frames

Walking frames can be useful for seniors who require support to stand up safely. Walking frames commonly feature four supporting legs, making it easy to balance. They also have handrails so that they can hold on if needed.

Crash Mats

Crash mats are designed to protect individuals from falling from the bed. They must be placed on the floor beneath the bed’s mattress, with an area cut out for easy access. It is also important to ensure that the mat doesn’t get bunched up under the mattress.

Bed Alarms

Bed alarms effectively prevent seniors from getting up at night and avoid falling. Bed alarms can be installed underneath the mattress or on the bed frame to provide added protection.

How to Buy Safety and Mobility Aids For Home Use

When it comes to using mobility equipment in homes, there are some essential things to consider. For example, it is crucial to ensure that the equipment is durable and withstand regular use in the home environment.

Moreover, they must be stable when in use. It means they won’t trip or move when someone transfers onto them from their wheelchair, for instance.

It’s also crucial to ensure they are safe when in use. For example, wheelchairs need to have brakes to stop moving if they want to.

Additionally, all mobility equipment must be well-maintained. It means having a good understanding of how to clean and store them correctly between uses.

It’s also essential to ensure that the user can easily access all safety and mobility equipment. For example, if seniors use a wheelchair, they must get in and out of their car or safely transfer onto seats in other vehicles.

When you’re looking for a website that provides all types of equipment for special needs, consider looking through safetyandmobility.com.au, which has multiple models for different types of requirements.

*This is a collaborative post, please see my privacy and disclosure policy

What Are the Common Questions to Ask an Architect?

by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

So, what are the common questions to ask an architect? When you meet an architect who you intend to hire for your project, make sure you have a list of questions to ask. Well, such a meeting can involve dozens of questions depending on the available time, but do not forget to ask the following questions in particular.

This is the only way to determine the quality of work the architect will deliver and gather the information to make important decisions. So, read and take notes.

Questions to Ask an Architect: Why You?

Of course, you need to know more about the architecture firm and why they think they are the best for your project. Hence, this should not be missed from your questions to ask an architect. Here, you will be looking for strengths such as resources, skills, expertise, and commitment to projects.

If there is a problem, you will identify the red flags from the response to this first question. Also, you need to make the conversation as friendly and free as possible especially when asking this first question.

What Are the Expected Challenges in My Project?

When making a list of questions to ask an architect, this is among the first ones. You should understand the expected challenges so that you can work with the architect to try to prevent or address them. Although reputable firms have the expertise and resources to work on any project, being ready is very important.

This will also help you know where you come in and what your input will be to make the project as smooth as possible. It will give you an assurance that the architecture firm has the capability to tackle any challenges.

Do You Have References and Endorsements?

Whether you choose an experienced architecture firm or not, you need to know for whom they have worked in the past. Therefore, you should simply ask for their contacts and do some follow-ups.

Endorsements by big companies are an assurance that you are likely to get professional and high-quality services from your architect. Humphreysandsons, for instance, has listed some of the big clients they have worked for so that potential clients can check and confirm. You may also ask them about this when making an inquiry.

How Much Time Do We Need to Commit?

Architects are planners of building projects. Because this is among the important questions to ask an architect, you should get an answer with an estimated amount of time that the experts will dedicate to your project.

You also should know the time they need from you, especially time for meetings and other important discussions.

Questions to Ask an Architect: How Much Do You Charge?

Although it is often asked last, it is one of the most important questions you should ask your architect. They should discuss the fee structure and explain some of the costs you do not understand.

Most importantly, this is the opportunity to negotiate and understand whether you will get a good value for your money. So, when listing the questions to ask an architect, do not leave this one behind.

Conclusion

With the above questions, it is easy to know how your architect will perform. So, carefully listen to the answers they give as you converse. With a talented and well-qualified architect, your project will be off to a great start.

Please read my disclosure policy here.

Financial Planning for Peace of Mind

by Anne Sweet 4 Comments

When you have a chronic life limiting condition like I have then it makes you think about what happens to your family after you have died. Everyone needs some peace of mind. I thought about this long ago when a friend who’d had a baby the same time as I had Star, found out she had cancer. I immediately started to think about getting some life insurance quotes and took out a policy sixteen years ago. (My friend lasted another five years.)

It’s Not Nice to Think About

Nobody wants to think about dying but the simple truth is that it happens to us all, and none of us know when. I am the sort of person who likes to be prepared and I bought a book on Amazon similar to this one, The Peace of Mind Planner. (affiliate link) It’s no fun filling it all in, but it does what it says on the cover and gives you some peace of mind.

My family leave me to everything, all the bill paying and house maintenance. I don’t do the work, but I’m the one who sorts it out and makes the phone calls. I get paid monthly by the adults in the house an I work out all the finances. It’s not easy but it’s best left to one person so we know where the money goes. The problems occur when that one person is no longer around.

Having a planner means I can write everything down so they will know exactly who to pay and when.

Final Arrangements

Life insurance is important because it means that my family will have some extra cash when I’ve gone. But it’s not always enough. Funerals are expensive so I also have a funeral plan which will pay for everything and stop my family from worrying about the cost of my funeral. When someone dies unexpectedly it can leave a family in a terrible mess, planning is really for peace of mind for everyone.

My Mother passed away quite suddenly, although she had been ill for a while the doctors had given her another 10 years. But then cancer reared it’s ugly head and she was given weeks, not even months to live. It was a terrible shock for the family. Mum had some savings which were used for the funeral. But the stress of coping with running the house without her was too much for my brother. Even with family health, his grief was too much and he decided that he didn’t want to do it and ended his own life before our Mom was even buried. Of course my brother had no planning for his funeral or death so our grieving family had so much to deal with.

When to plan?

As morbid as it sounds, I don’t think it’s ever to soon to plan for death. I should have started sooner having two children many years ago. But it was only until my friend of the same age got cancer than I took out a policy. I increased my insurance and added a funeral policy when I got sick nearly six years ago. I know that when my time does come that everything should fall in place for my family. I still have some pages to fill in on my planner. It’s not an easy task because it’s so difficult to think about. But I will get it done soon. At least the important stuff is sorted.

If you are wondering what my ailment is, I have written a post about 10 Facts About my Condition I’m happy to answer any questions about Stiff Person Syndrome.

My Thoughts on Squid Game…is it worth the watch?

by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

First up, I’ll be honest. I had no intention of watching Squid Game. I thought it was probably over hyped (which it is) and I had no desire to watch people dying in horrific ways just to win money, knowing all the time that there would be only one winner and everyone else had to die. I’d seen comments that most of the gory stuff happens in the first three episodes and ‘hands up’ I haven’t watched them.

I found my adult daughter watching while she was on the fourth episode and it ended in a cliffhanger (literally you might say) so she asked if it was okay to continue watching. I watched the rest of the series with her and it was quite compelling.

The Sets

First, can I give a big thumbs up to the sets! I think these probably made the show. The big dorm (With all the games on the walls in stick man form) and all the beds which decrease as the numbers of contestants decrease from 456 to only 3. With each death, the ball of money fills up with the prize going to the last survivor. The contestants enter the game rooms through a colourful maze reminiscent of a soft play area to the tune of Blue Danube.

The games are all based on childhood games from South Korea, but many of them of popular enough to be known world wide. Red light/green light (the first game) is where you have to move on the green light, but stop on the red. We used to play it as ‘What’s The Time Mr Wolf’ but no-one got shot. (oops, spoiler! but to be honest, you’d have to be living under a rock if you didn’t know.)

I’d not heard of the second game but apparently they had to cut a shape out of honeycomb without breaking it. The harder the shape the harder the task.

The third game is Tug of War, which I think everyone has heard of. This is the one that ended on the cliff hanger but the winning team had a cunning plan.

The Fourth game involves playing marbles in an ally way with a partner. We’ve all played marbles.

The Fifth involved crossing a bridge but you had to choose the right path. They had to go in order and it was obvious that those at the back at the best chance of getting across as the others had led the way. The bridge was made of glass panels. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

The final game is the Squid Game where the players are on field marked with two circles at each end divided by a triangle and a square. I’ve not heard of this game but the objective is to be the one left in the circle (I think!)

The Plot

It’s been done before and I don’t think there were many surprises. I guessed two major twists instantly despite watching half way through. It’s not really my cup of tea watching mindless violence just for money, but I guess in some situations, the prospect of death is the only option if you don’t get the cash. It’s a strong message, especially in the South Korean Society where Squid game is set.

There were some sub plots around the games, one involving organ harvesting which was a bit gruesome. But it was found out and stopped.

Some of the characters had sad stories which were spread out through the series. I think probably the marble game was the most revealing. We saw betrayal, promises, hope and sadness. This episode had all the feels and even though half of them died, it was a lot less gruesome and much more emotional.

Another sub-plot was the policeman who had infiltrated the games but not as a player. He was looking for his brother who had been enticed into the games and never been seen since. Had he been a victim? Well, the chances are high.

We also get to meet the VIPs who are never named or unmasked but obviously extremely rich Westerners who have bets on who will win. (The creator later likens it to betting on horses.)

The Ending

The winner was not really a surprise, there are spoilers everywhere, but it was quite apparent anyway. But, winning was not all it was made out to be, especially with the weight of all the other contestants deaths on your mind.

The final scenes explain why the Squid Games happen and why children’s games were chosen. That’s quite interesting but not really unexpected. We get it, money is evil, but people will do anything to get it. But, is life really led by greed or will final act of kindness prove the creator wrong. All through the games it is claimed that all players are treated equally, which is unlike their actual lives where they have been living on very unequal terms.

The final scenes show things slowly coming together for the winner, but there is a final twist.

My Final Thoughts.

I didn’t want to watch Squid Game just because everyone else was talking about it. I probably wouldn’t have watched it had my daughter not already been watching it when I entered the room. I missed the first half and have no desire to watch it. My daughter filled me in with any plot I may have missed that were important.

I do think that we have been over sensitised to watching violence and death on Television, but I think the hype made the horror side of it out to be more than it actually was. The use of children’s games was explained and it made sense, but then you have people saying that children are replicating the games in the playground. Children have played these games for years but I very much doubt they are going to find the guns to actually kill the losers. We used to play some gruesome games as children which involved the death of the loser, but it was all pretend. (Oranges and Lemons Say the Bells of St Clements anyone?) If younger children have been watching Squid Game then that’s not so good.

The BBFC have awarded Squid Game a 15 rating in the UK for “sexual violence references, injury detail, crude humour, sex, suicide, sexual images, violence” The warnings are clear.

My 14 year old watched it without my knowing…I know, bad Mum moment. But she was willing to talk about it and seemed un affected by it. My 16 year old watched it with her boyfriend, but they watched it dubbed and spent most of the time laughing at it. I was in the room while she watched it on her tablet. She doesn’t like blood, but she didn’t find the series particularly scary.

My 11 year old will not be watching it and has no desire to watch it. A lot of his classmates have seen it but he is un-interested in peer pressure.

Have you watched Squid Game? What did you think?

I won’t be holding my breath for season two.

New Vertical Blinds for My Kitchen from Blinds By Post

by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

I was asked by Blinds By Post if I’d like to review some blinds in return for my honest review. Buying things like blinds online is a lot easier than you may think. I chose some lovely vertical blinds for my kitchen.

Kitchen Blinds from Blinds By Post

The Blinds By post website is really easy to use. The difficult part is choosing which blinds you want, there are so many options and the colour ranges are really extensive. Once you have chosen which colour and style of blind you want you then have several options to make sure they fit your window and your needs completely.

There are video guides which help you to measure your windows correctly so that your blinds will fit perfectly when they arrive. Measuring is really important so it’s good that there is plenty of help with this. Once you have your measurements and have chosen your type of blind and pattern you then go on to choose your options. These are in the form of drop down menus and the whole process is made really easy for you.

I like vertical blinds in my kitchen because it’s a large window and at the front of the house. I like to be able to look out of the window but also have a little privacy. With vertical blinds you can completely control how much you want to filter. Closing them completely blocks out everything for full privacy or shade. I can move them from side to side depending on which side the sun is shining so I can control the amount of sunlight or shade I need. The beaded chain, which is child safe, can be used to adjust the blinds to exactly how you want them. The second control can pull the blinds completely to one side which is great for cleaning the windows, or letting in more light.

I chose Carnival Ivy for the colour of my vertical kitchen blinds. I wanted something slightly darker to fit in my green kitchen. I’m really pleased with them. My husband took about 25 minutes to fit them which is so quick and easy. After putting in my sizes I chose a recess fitting because I wanted my blinds to fit inside the recess rather than on the outside of it. I then chose which side I wanted the controls for the blind which for me it is the left hand side. For the controls you can choose a wand, a plastic chain or even a silver or brass chain. You can also choose whether or not you want your blind slats to be chained together or not. For the first time ever I decided to go for chainless and I’m please with how well they hang and work together.

For my blinds which measure 150cm wide by 200cm long and my other choices of chains and fittings the cost is £71.81 which I think is a great bargain. I’m considering getting some blinds that open in the middle for my patio doors.

I also want a new roller blind for my bathroom but there is so much too choose from…I will have to paint the room first before decided which will match. But as it’s a small room the cost is amazing and now I’ve seen the quality of the blinds I won’t hesitate in buying from Blinds by Post again.

Have you ever bought blinds online?

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