Dealing with Dysphagia? A Provale Cup can help.

Individuals who have had a stroke often develop a condition called dysphagia.  Dysphagia causes difficulties in swallowing such as aspirating or inhaling liquids when swallowing.

Normally, the muscles in your throat and esophagus contract to move food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach without problems.  But after a stroke, this complex series of contractions may not function properly.  As many as 70 percent of stroke survivors may suffer from Dysphagia according to the National Stroke Association.  

People with dysphagia aspirate when they drink, which leads to fluid trapped in their lungs.

Studies have shown that taking smaller sips when drinking reduces the likelihood of aspirating.  That is where the Provale Cup comes in handy.  The Provale Cup regulates the amount of liquid in each drink or sip; allowing only small swallows with every drinking motion.  

Click here to learn more about the Provale Cup and how it can help with Dysphagia.  

Weighted Utensils for people with Parkinson's Disease or Hand Tremors

People with Parkinson's disease or hand tremors can benefit from using weighted utensils when they eat.   At Elderstore, we carry two models of weighted utensils.   KEatlery utensils have the appearance of normal, quality flatware, but they weigh approximately 8 ounces each.  The other model of weighted utensils we carry are the same weight but with contoured handles to help you or your loved one maintain a better grip.  Click here to learn more.       

Laundry Carts

Lugging heavy laundry baskets around the house gets more difficult with age.  One of our most popular products to deal with this problem is the Panache Laundry Cart.  You can set your laundry basket on this lightweight, folding cart and wheel it wherever you need to in your home.
The other product we really like for moving the family laundry around easily is the VersaCart laundry cart.  This cart has swivel wheels and folds up like an umbrella.  This cart eliminates the laundry basket altogether since you can directly place the laundry directly in the cart bag.

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation reminds us that April is Parkinson's Awareness Month.  As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson's Disease.

Incontinence products for men

Lots of men dislike the idea of using incontinence products -- items like adult diapers, clamps, travel urinals, and catheters. But if you are a man having a problem with incontinence, these products can really help. They can prevent embarrassing accidents and increase your confidence.   We described some of our most popular  incontinence products for men at this link.  The Afex incontinence management system is one of our best selling items to help men with incontinence.  You can find descriptions of all of our incontinence products for men on elderstore.com.

New Travel Pill Box

Check out this sleek new travel pill box.  The travel pill box is designed to carry daily medications or vitamins when you are on the go.

New Pill Cutter

Our latest addition to elderstore is this cool pill cutter.  If you need your pills smaller to make them easier to swallow or to reduce the dosage, take a look at this easy to use pill splitter.

March is National Essential Tremor Awareness Month

In 2010 Congress designated March as National Essential Tremor Awareness Month.  This year, the International Essential Tremor Foundation is organizing walks on March 22 to raise awareness of the disorder.  Visit the foundation's site to learn more.

Alcohol consumption and elderly drivers

A study by the University of Florida has found that alcohol consumption, even within the legal limits, impacts older drivers more than younger ones.  It is a good caution to us all as we age that just because we are under the legal limit doesn't mean we aren't driving impaired.  Use a designated driver!

Red meat and exercise

So this study suggests that the combination of eating lean meat and doing strength training can prevent the muscle deterioration of old age that can lead to falls.  Not surprisingly, it also has a positive impact on mental health. So get a pedal exerciser or a stepper to do your exercises and keep eating your steak and hamburger!

The Death of Santini

Pat Conroy has always been one of my favorite authors.  Last fall I got to hear him speak when he was in Nashville.  If you haven't read his book about his evolving relationship with his father, I highly recommend The Death of Santini.  Here is a picture of Pat Conroy signing a book for my son.

Study - Arthritis pain is impacted by weather

According to Reuters a new study says that weather may in fact effect arthritis pain.

The study concluded:
"It turns out the participants' aches were just a little worse and joints just a little stiffer when humidity and barometric pressure levels rose."

Independent living aids for the kitchen

As a person ages, it becomes more difficult and sometimes painful for them to do the things they have done their whole lives. The kitchen is an area where many feel they become very challenged as they get older. If you are a person who is finding it harder to make your way around the kitchen, or you are the concerned child or loved one of an aging person, then you should check out the following independent living aids for the kitchen:

Eye Vac Automatic Vacuum

The Eye Vac automatic vacuum allows you to sweep the kitchen without worrying about needing to bend over to pick up the debris. Infrared technology is used to activate the vacuum when debris is in need of vacuuming and the vacuum will turn off automatically once the debris has been collected. This product makes cleaning the kitchen much easier.

Easy Cling Wrap Cutter

Arthritis sufferers can find it extremely difficult to fight with cling wrap. The Easy Cling Wrap Cutter is one of the greatest independent living aids because it makes cutting that cling wrap extremely easy. The cutter attaches easily to the box of cling wrap and you can slide the cutter easily through the cling wrap once you pull out the desired amount.

MaddaGrip Jar Opener

As a person ages those jar lids get tougher and tougher to open. The MaddaGrip Jar Opener adds the necessary amount of grip to make it extremely easy to get even those stubborn jars open. The outside of the opener is textured and it has a longer shape to it which makes it great for those with weaker hands.

One Handed Cutting Board with knife

Someone who has challenges with arthritis or weakness in one hand as a result of a stroke will find a one handed cutting board extremely useful.  There are a variety of cutting boards designed to be used with one hand, but one favorite board comes with a knife, spikes and corner guards.  Even with only one good hand it is perfect for safely cutting, chopping, grating, peeling and making sandwiches. 

There are Independent living aids for many purposes

There are independent living aids to help with everything from cooking and eating to cleaning the kitchen. These aids will give you your freedom back and help you to continue being able to do those things for yourself that you have always done, but which may be becoming more difficult.

Lap Desks and Lap Trays

When my grandmother lived alone she had this one particular chair she sat in to read, write, watch television and sometimes even eat.  She had arthritis so it was hard for her to move around the house a lot.  At Elderstore we stock several lap desks and bean bag lap trays that would have been so helpful to her if I had known about them at the time.  The lap desks are really useful for every day tasks like opening the mail, paying bills, writing notes, or even holding a laptop or book.  If you want to have dinner while watching the olympics, "Nashville", or some other favorite show then one of our bean bag dinner trays is a comfortable way to hold your plate and protect against spills.  Consider one for yourself and one for your favorite grandmother!

Cold weather impacts on elderly

With the temperatures dropping outside, I got to thinking about the impact cold weather has on the elderly.  I found this article from the American Heart Association with some good advice on avoiding hypothermia and reducing your risk of heart attack when dealing with the cold.

Popular item - Panache Laundry Trolley

One of the best-selling items on Elderstore is the Panache Laundry Trolley.  Well built and easy to use, this laundry trolley prevents having to carry a laundry basket by hand or bend over to reach the clothes to put them in the wash or in a drawer.  You can find this laundry trolley and others on foldingcartstore.com as well.

New research linking low levels of pesticide exposure and Parkinson's

A new report in Medical News Today links low levels of pesticide exposure to the development of Parkinson's disease.

Challenges with snow and ice

Having trouble with all the snow and ice this winter?  Some people have found the shoe treads for snow and ice and the ice grip cane attachment to be helpful ways to improve their footing in all this snow and ice!

Recliner Lever Extender

Having trouble reaching the lever on the side of your recliner?  Try this Lever Extender to make your life easier.

Outdoor Grab Bar

This outdoor entry way grab bar is attractive and can provide useful stability for elders without detracting from the exterior of the home.