Healthy Living

Gardening is a great way to make your yard look nice, but it’s also much more than that. Gardening is good for the mind and for the body. It’s also a lovely activity to do with your older loved one. The two of you can bond, and you’ll both reap the physical and mental benefits. Gardening is good, safe exercise. Many older adults do not get enough exercise. They may not be capable of going for a jog or even a long walk, but gardening is an approachable activity, even for adults with limited mobility. If yo u  garden alongside your older loved one, you can let them handle what they can, and then pick up the slack. For example, you can let them put plants in the dirt while you do the more demanding activities — like raking and mulching. If your loved one has an i n-home caregiver , you can also suggest gardening as an activity for the two of them to do together. Drop off any supplies they may need, like pots and potting soil. Gardening has other health benefits. In addition to being g...

Spring will be here before we know it! This season represents a fresh new start. The warm air, budding trees, and birds chirping are all so enjoyable after a chilly winter. So, how can you prepare for the arrival of this rejuvenating season? Start with these suggestions. 1. Clean Your House Spring cleaning is an age-old tradition. And indeed, this is the perfect time of year for a thorough, deep clean. Most people like to go room by room, as this makes it easy to divide the whole-house cleaning across a few days. Some important cleaning tasks to include are: Pulling furniture away from the walls to clean behind it. Wiping down ceiling fan blades and vent covers. Washing your curtains  or window treatments. Cleaning light fixtures. Wiping down window sills. Changing your furnace and air conditioner filters. Wiping down baseboards and doorframes. 2. Re-Organize Your Closets How  m uch stuff has accumulated in your closet that you no longer use? Spend a day sorting through your c...

  St. Patrick’s Day is typically an occasion that calls for big parades and parties in the streets. But since most of us have still not received   vaccinations   against COVID-19, social distancing is still vital — which means this St. Paddy’s Day will feel a little different. There can still be plenty of fun, safe ways to celebrate the luck o’ the Irish! Here are a few ideas. 1. Plan a Camping Trip With the weather growing warmer,  t his is the perfect time to plan a camping trip. Buy some  sunscreen  at the pharmacy, as you can sunburn even when it’s cloudy. Bring along a  propane tank  and a small grill, and enjoy a weekend in the woods. Here are a few fun ways to work a St. Patrick’s Day theme into your camping trip: Have a contest to see who finds a 4-leaf clover first. Prepare a traditional Irish dish, like boiled cabbage and bacon, over the fire. Drink an Irish drink, like Guinness or Bailey’s, by the fire. 2. Have a Costume Party on Zoom H...

The winter weather can wreak havoc on our skin. It can be even worse if you have sensitive skin to begin with. It’s important not to ignore the beginning signs of dry skin, since it can quickly become flaky and cracked if ignored. Cracked skin can lead to pain, bleeding and even skin infections. Here are some ways to take care of your dry skin in the wintertime. Stock Up on Good Quality Lotions, Creams and Moisturizers Lotion is an absolute must in the winter. You’ll find that you need to moisturize much more often than you do the rest of the year. Having several bottles of good quality moisturizer or cream in your house, in your car and in your purse or backpack will keep you prepared. Apply it on your hands and forearms several times a day, as those are the areas that tend to get the driest. But also apply to your whole body right after a hot shower, that will ensure your skin will stay moisturized longer. The  pharmacy near me  has a great selection of lotions, creams ...

  It’s a new year! That, of course, doesn’t mean that the hardships and uncertainty of 2020 will disappear. However, we can make a conscious effort to declutter our minds by simplifying our lives. So, to maintain that “New Year, New You” mentality, here are some great tips that are easy to implement. Take Care of Your Health If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to focus on our health and the health of our loved ones. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be as easy as starting to take a multi-vitamin every day, if you don’t already. Talk to your doctor about any  nutritional supplements  that might be beneficial for your specific health concerns. Your local pharmacy should carry everything you need. And you may even be able to get a nutritional consultation from your pharmacy as well. Don’t Stress About the Little Things We all have daily chores that can get ahead of us if we let them. It’s silly to stress about things like housework and laundr...

  2020 was a tough year. And as much as we wish it were true, the clock turning to 12:01 on New Year's Day doesn’t make all of that hardship disappear. Sure, we’re going into the New Year with a sense of optimism and hope, but that still doesn’t mean we all can’t get bogged down with a case of the winter blues. That term in itself has a deeper meaning this year. Luckily, there’s plenty of easy things we can do to make things a bit simpler.  Clean House Did you know that  studies have shown  that keeping your house tidy and eliminating clutter can actually decrease anxiety and lessen depression? Executing a little action on the things we can actually control in our life keeps us from dreading the things we can’t. So winter is the perfect time to do those chores you’ve been putting off all year. Clean out that crawl space, organize that closet, rearrange that pantry. All these things can create a little order in a chaotic time.  Take those blankets and comforters ...

This is a tough time. COVID-19 has shifted our entire world. Things aren’t back to normal yet, and we have no idea when they will be. If you’re already prone to stress and anxiety, this time may be especially hard on you. Or it may be triggering your anxiety or depression. Know that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. Don’t be afraid to get help, or speak with your therapist about new issues that are coming up due to the pandemic. In the meantime, I have a few ideas to take some of the stress out of everyday activities. Every little thing helps, especially now. Don’t Worry Too Much About Home Chores Since we’re home a lot more than usual, there could be some extra pressure to keep your home clean and tidy. But in reality a lot of people have a messy home right now! To take some pressure off, consider hiring a maid service, and taking your laundry to the  dry cleaners nearby . They probably offer more services than you realize. If you care for your elderly parents or famil...

Summer is here, but the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Most of us are still leery of flying, so vacationing overseas or out of state is not under consideration. Although we are in phase 2 of re-opening and many restaurants and shops are now open, our safest activities this summer would be outdoors, especially in parks and beaches, with social distancing, of course. One place I’d like to visit with my family is the Minuteman Campground in Lexington, which is just 30 miles northwest of Boston. There, you can enjoy a quiet, spacious campsite among the tall pines. The campground has tent campsites, RV campsites and cabins. The RV sites have picnic tables , Wi-Fi, laundry, fire pits and electricity hookups, so you won’t need propane for RV generator . For fun, the campground provides kids playground, swimming pool, basketball, volleyball and more. As long as the family is outdoors, you always should be prepared with insect sprays and sunscreens, first aid kits and wound care supplies...

We usually celebrate Mother’s Day with flowers and gifts for mom, taking her out to dinner and may be a shopping spree or a trip to the spa or salon. While our city is still in lockdown, with restaurants, salons and shops closed, how are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day Gifts For the most part, we can order gifts online and get them ready by Mother’s Day. If you cannot get a gift delivered in time, don’t forget that your  local drugstore  is still open and carries a variety of  health and beauty products  that your mom would love – from age-defying skin care, hair coloring and styling to perfumes and manicure products. Your  community pharmacy  may provide curbside service so you can stay safe. Take a load off Mom is always busy caring for her family. The list of household chores is never ending. During the quarantine, the amount of cleaning and disinfecting has probably quadrupled. So a great gift would be to take over some of her wo...

Do you have sensitive skin? Since 70% of Americans describe themselves as having sensitive skin, I'm going to guess that you do. Sensitive skin is defined as skin that gets easily irritated by the use of products with added perfumes, dyes, or chemicals. Irritation can present itself as redness, itchiness, or even rashes. So if you have sensitive skin, you should be careful, otherwise you would end up spending a lot of money on skin products or even need to see a dermatologist for compounded medicine for skin care . Fortunately, there are easy precautions you can take when it comes to doing the laundry or cleaning in your home, to avoid aggravating your skin. Photo by  Sarah Brown  on  Unsplash Always Read Labels Whether it's laundry detergent, cleaning products, or face wash - I always read the labels on any product I buy to look for ingredients that may irritate my skin. Sometimes that can be tricky if you're not sure which ingredients are causing your ...

If we humans find snow and ice such an inconvenience, imagine how our furry companions feel! The rock salt that we spread all over the ground to help combat the slippery ice can actually wreak havoc on the sensitive little paws of our doggy friends. The salt can also be damaging to their noses, skin and even digestive systems if ingested. So how can we be more careful in the wintertime to protect our precious puppies? Keep Your Pup’s Feet Dry It’s a good idea to rinse or wipe your dog’s feet off if they’ve been walking in the salt and ice. But make sure to dry them afterward. Wetness behind your dog’s toes can lead to bacterial or yeast infections, so it’s essential to keep their feet dry after spending time outdoors. Golden retrievers and labs are prone to skin infections due to wetness, as are most dogs with longer fur. If you own a long-haired breed, it’s a smart idea to keep the hair around their nails trimmed. This can cut down on bacterial growth. Buy a Cute Dog Jacke...

We all love our furry friends, but the truth is they can be quite messy and smelly. Unlike humans, pets keep themselves warm with their soft fuzzy fur. But that fuzzy fur can shed, collect dander and be annoying to clean. Besides the hair, even the best-trained pets have accidents or throw up, usually in the most inconvenient of places. So for my fellow animal lovers, here are some tips on how to remove pet stains and odors from your home. Carpet Stains Pet stains on the carpet are the most frustrating since I can’t pack up my floor and take it to the dry cleaner near me or throw it in the laundry . But before you call a professional carpet cleaner, try this method. After soaking up as much of the fresh stain as possible with a towel, mix two cups of warm water with two cups of vinegar and four tablespoons of baking soda. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle and saturate the stain. After letting sit for 10 minutes, blot dry with a towel. For extra odor removal, sprink...