Design Tips Perfect for Older Adults

Design Tips Perfect for Older Adults

While not everyone can completely remodel their home to fit their aging needs, there are a few design tips that can ensure every older adult has a more pleasant and safer life. The best way to start your renovation is to look at senior homes and seek some inspiration for safe and stylish senior life. Let’s see what older adults need and prefer when it comes to interior design.

Practical entryways

Every house starts with a good entryway, so make sure to make it practical and safe. For instance, fumbling for keys while you hold grocery bags can cause you to get distracted and lose your balance. So, it can be smart to place a small table or bench next to your entrance. This addition will not only boost the practicality of your entryway but also increase its aesthetic appeal.

Safe bathrooms

Many falls at home happen right in the bathroom due to slippery showers, baths and floors. So, consider investing in practical grab bars you can find in many places in senior care facilities. These ensure a more practical and safer entrance and exit out of the bath. But, their stainless steel look can also boost elegance in your space. You can also place them next to your toilet for when you need extra support getting up. Additionally, consider ditching baths and investing in a practical step-in shower and hand-held showerhead. This combination will ensure the most practicality and style.

Good lighting

Any dark corner, poorly-lit room and shady stairway can result in a potential fall or a bump. This is especially important for stairs, hallways and entryways that usually hide the biggest number of obstacles, so it’s no wonder every modern aged care facility is well lit from the entrance to the last room. For instance, if you look at retirement living at Mark Moran Vaucluse you can see that the facility is filled with layered light, both natural and artificial. Their design experts chose to shower the rooms with light to prevent injuries and promote wellbeing. So, make sure to take inspiration from these respectable facilities and light up your space, especially those nooks that can hide sharp corners and other hazards.

Smart doors

In order to boost mobility between rooms, try to invest in pocket doors. They always stay out of the way when opened and they prevent them from getting caught on clothing or walking aids. Additionally, you can also replace all your doorknobs with more practical levers. These are easier to grip and handle, especially for seniors with arthritis and similar afflictions.

Easy-to-climb stairs

For older people, stairs are often a true nightmare. They are exhausting and dangerous, so make sure to equip any stairs in your home with handrails, preferably on both sides. Clearly visible and separate steps can also make your ascend and descend safer, even if your vision is impaired. There are cheap stickers you can get that will allow you to mark your steps and prevent trips and falls.

Anti-slip floors

Oftentimes, danger lurks under your feet. With age, you start to lose your balance and speed, so slips can end up with a serious injury. The easiest way to prevent slips yet keep your home stylish is to invest in nonskid mats under your rugs. If you use a walker or wheelchair to get around, it’s best to opt for a low-pile carpet that won’t get caught in your wheels and walkers. You can also ditch your area rugs and embrace the popular minimalist style that’s also very easy to keep clean.

If you follow these senior design tips, you’ll have a home that will allow you to age with grace, safety and style. You’ll get to enjoy your home for many, many years to come, but whenever you notice you can’t take care of your safety, make sure to find a good senior care facility.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

All You Need to Know About an Expert Plumber Service

All You Need to Know About an Expert PlumberService

Call for an expert plumber service is never pre-defined. Plumbing emergencies can happen at any point of time. A good plumber comes into picture when a person finds himself in a pinch of plumbing problems. Numerous advertisements are out there in the market of people claiming to be an excellent plumbing service. Sometimes, those may prove to be misleading ones. Clinging on to a professional plumber requires a bit of research as fixing plumbing complications is tedious. A licensed plumber is the one who possesses sound technical skills as well as knowledge to serve his or her clients efficiently. 

Tips for Choosing the Expert Plumber Service:

License and Legal Documentation:

Every expert plumber service provider must possess an official permit for running his plumbing business. For those who seek a plumber’s assistance should ask for relevant and valid working license conferred by the State Government. No matter whether it is a residential or a commercial plumbing emergency, hiring a professional plumber without a valid working permit should never be entertained. License assures for the compliance of the service being provided by the plumber to be in accordance with the state regulations. 

Experience Accounts for The First Priority:

Out of all the governing factors, experience of the plumber is must. Thus, when a person is in search of an expert plumber, it is important to track for how long the plumber is functional in the market. New plumbing professionals may or may not be able to meet all your plumbing requirements.

On the other hand, an experienced plumber shall evaluate the plumbing requirements of any commercial or residential set-up and customize solutions accordingly. This helps their customers to save on their time and money investment. Warranty of the plumbing service is not an issue whenexperienced personnel is hired. 

Cling More on Recommendations:

While connecting with an expert plumber service provider, it is better to look on for suggestions. Recommendations or referrals give an insight into the best and worst plumbing service providers available near you. Ask family and friends about their recent experience with a professional plumber. Also, jot down all the plumbing issues they faced and the solutions provided by their plumber. Some professional plumber service providers have their Google listings wherein a customer can cross-verify about the past customer feedback and experience. 

24/7 Customer Support Facility:

While choosing an expert plumbing solution service provider, it is essential to check for their 24/7 customer service availability. Water is a crucial resource, and no one can afford wasting water due to erroneous plumbing issues. Plumbing emergencies can arise at any point of time, and hence, a professional plumber should be reachable quickly. Ensure for their quick reachability through text messages, calls or even through their website. Customer service and satisfaction should top their priority list. Finally, they a professional plumbing solution provider should stand high with a technical troubleshooting ability.

Affordability Matters:

There are heaps of expert plumber service providers claiming themselves as highly experienced with a wide array of services. However, it is the customer’s responsibility to take a dig at the pricing of their service of interest. An excellent and professional plumber shall never overcharge for the service above the market price. A professional plumber is the one dedicated towards a quality intact servicing at highly affordable pricing. This benefit in two-ways- the plumbing service provider has an excellent customer retention ratio, and the customers invest low on their money. 

Thus, choosing an expert plumber service provider requires a bit of thorough research on experience, service quality, and affordability. Reliability and trustworthiness of a plumbing solution provider go hand-in-hand with these three characteristics.

 Guest Contributor, Nivi Watson

5 Ways to Choose the Best Plumbing Company If You Have Blocked Drains

5 Ways to Choose the Best Plumbing Company If You Have Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are one of the biggest problems with any household. Drainage system faltering can get messy and cause huge problems. Having the drain cleaned once in a while is a good option but it gets hard to figure out when exactly the drain might get damaged. For times like these, one needs a good idea about how this entire mess works. Therefore, needs a good plumbing company to sort the mess. There are a lot of plumbing companies out there and it can get a little too tough to choose but here are some ways which can be followed while choosing a plumbing company if one has blocked the drains.  

1. Look for Certifications: To get the best out of the lot one needs to check for quality certification. The certification of the plumbing company is important since it measures the quality of the work of the plumber they will send. Having this part sorted can guarantee a good service since qualified workers delivers quality work. Therefore, looking for certifications is an important job. 

2. Reputation Research: Reputation of any worker is worth of gold so is the case for a plumber or a plumbing company. A researchregarding the reputation of the company will provide a good deal of information and an insight of things. Customer reviews, asking around, ratings on customer services can be a good way of testing the reputation of the company. Better the reputation, better the work on the blocked drains.

3. Look for Specialities: All plumbing companies have a special set of specialities. For example, some of the plumbing companies are commercial and the plumbers work in the generic old-fashioned manner. On the other hand, there are companies that provide high tech work or even eco-friendly work. Once one looks into the specialities of the different companies, it will be easier to select the perfect company as per the need.

4. Warranties and Repair Plans: Warranties and repair plans are important to look for when it comes to any repairing work even for blocked drains. It is clever to look up the companies’ terms and conditions when it comes to repair and warranty because this might come handy later. This can turn out to be cost effective and beneficiary for the future. Having purchased a good plumbing plan can not only help with blocked drains but also with the broken pipes, pump failures, and all other plumbing problems.

5. Do Cost Estimates: After an extensive research, one must look for the perfect plan and plumbing company keeping in mind the cost estimate. Doing the cost estimate will provide the perfect company which one can afford. This factor is important and can plan the perfect budget for the services and make it cost effective with the quality of the service. For the best results out of this plan one should consult at least four to five different plumbing companies before narrowing it down to one. 

Choosing a plumbing company can be a headache at times since there are too many things to look into but if these simple steps and ways are looked into, the work becomes much easier. These ways not only guarantee the solution to the problem of blocked drain also provides the solution with the quality services. The services that the plumbing company will provide will be cost effective. Therefore, the matter to be solved can come with a solution which guarantees warranty, quality, and less of a mess.    

Therefore, opt for the best solution for the blocked drain in case you are looking for the plumber or a plumbing company.

Guest Contributor, Lara Buck 

Tips To Pull Off A Gorgeous Eclectic Design

Tips to Pull Off a Gorgeous Eclectic Design

Eclectic design is super attractive. It’s full of freedom, mismatched items and fun colors. However, because it’s so hard to define, creating a beautiful eclectic space is not an easy task, especially if you don’t want to end up with an overly kitsch home. Luckily, here are a few tips that will help you create a successful eclectic design that matches your lifestyle and feels just right!

Start from scratch

This is a trick that many interior designers swear by: every time you’re designing a new look, start with a blank canvas. Since the eclectic look is definitely in-your-face and very eye-catching, starting with a neutral background is a great idea to avoid creating an overwhelming space. While neutral colors like white, gray and beige instantly come to mind, you can also opt for various natural materials like wood and stone. They are eco-friendly and look neutral, but are also warm and inviting.

Coordinate your colors

Many people think that nothing is supposed to match in eclectic design. However, that’s not true! The key is in coordinating your colors that will allow you to create a successful design and a coherent space. For instance, choose a color that can be introduced in multiple areas in your home and use it on everything from textiles to art and paint. Opt for a variety of different prints and patterns in your chosen color to stay true to your eclectic design yet subtly pull the room together.

Add statement pieces

Every space needs a statement piece that will be the star of the show. No matter if you opt for an art piece or a furniture item, this is the element that will make your eclectic design come to life. So, don’t hesitate to make it bold and make it big. In this case, forget everything about coordination, because you want your statement piece to pop. Even your quirky collection of items can serve as a focal point. For instance, if you’re an avid comic book fan or someone obsessed with music, there are super cute bobbleheads in all styles and themes that can be grouped together. These figurines will look amazing when displayed on your shelf and will definitely start a few conversations. All in all, find something you like, make it stand out and you have your statement piece!

Find balance

The goal of every interior is to have balance in symmetry and scale. Even if you have furniture in different styles, textures or from different periods, you can still use similar lines and sizes to create a sense of harmony. Your space is meant to be lived in, so don’t sacrifice good layout and organization for forced diversity.

Mix textures

In order to add more interest to your eclectic home, try to invest in different textures. When you combine rough and smooth textures, you can opt for a simpler color palette and still have a fun and quirky space. For instance, think fluffy pillows, shaggy rugs, rough wooden furniture and smooth, polished finishes. Combine them and your home will be full of surprises.

Think outside the box

The eclectic look has no clearly defined rules, so take advantage of that and let your mind play with different ideas and solutions. Grab an item and find a new and unusual use for it or instead of throwing something away, repurpose it and give it new life. This process is super fun and will give your space character and interest—that’s what eclecticism is all about!

Creating a successful eclectic look is all about achieving balance. Don’t give yourself too many limits, but also don’t go crazy. Eclectic design can easily get out of hand if you’re not paying attention! So, keep these tips in mind, be moderate but let your imagination fly high.

 Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

5 Tips Organize Your KitcheN

If you want to function in the kitchen then the only way is to keep it organized. Nothing is worse than having to work in a messy, disorganized kitchen with bits and bobs laying all over the place.

Not only is it difficult to cook in a messy kitchen, but it is also challenging to find things. So, to avoid all this, it is crucial that the kitchen is kept tidy and organized at all times. 

Keeping all this in mind, we have created the top five tips to help you to keep your kitchen fully organized and neat. Let's go and take a look at it. 

Use of transparent jars for the junk drawers

We are all familiar with that drawer in the kitchen that holds all kinds of necessary junk items. This drawer holds the things that come in handy but is so messy to the point that it is a quest to find anything in there when you really need it. 

Here is an idea, bring some small transparent jars with lids and fill each of them up with all the similar category items and then sort them out in the drawer.

This trick will help you to save a  lot of space inside the drawer and also make room for other items. Plus, you will be able to find things more easily around the kitchen. 

Sort the cutting boards in a magazine holder

Have cutting boards laying aimlessly on the kitchen counter and taking up all the space and messing things up? Well, worry no more, as we know just what you should do. 

It is not a great look for the kitchen counter when you just let your cutting boards lay anywhere haphazardly. Plus, this eats up a lot of workspace in the kitchen. 

So, what you have to do is, bring in a magazine holder and put all of your slicing or cutting boards in that. Magazine holders can easily hold your cutting boards and give your kitchen an organized look plus make a lot of space for you to work in. 

Keep measuring spoons in a transparent jar near the stove

This is a great tip that will not only organize the kitchen but will also help you to access the measuring spoons easily whenever you need it as you won't have to waste time finding them as all you measuring spoons will be stacked in one single place. 

Well not just that, it looks really good when you keep the spoons in the jar and adds a dainty touch to the kitchen. 

Use hooks around the kitchen to hang accessories and other useful items

Using hooks that can be stuck with the walls around the kitchen is a great way to clean up a disorganized kitchen. 

You can hang pots and large spoons or other items in these hooks instead of letting them sit idly in the kitchen top blocking space.

Store all your small spice jars in a large cake pan

This is one of our favorite tricks, to keep the kitchen organized and also to ease up the work around the kitchen while cooking. 

Keeping spice jars in a single cake pan will not only organize the kitchen but will also help you cook as all the spices you need will be stacked in one single place. 

Conclusion

Nothing feels better than working in an organized kitchen. The above tips will allow you to make more space and store more useful items.

Plus a clean and tidy kitchen is much more fun to work in as you can easily grab the things you need without wasting time to find them from a pile of objects.

Guest Contributor, Carl Nevins

An Introduction To Renters Insurance Coverage

An Introduction to Renters Insurance Coverage

Renters insurance is an extremely affordable way for tenants to keep their belongings safe, with the average premium totaling less than $150 per year. Yet under 40% of all renters are insured, in large part because of a lack of awareness among tenants about the benefits of renters insurance.

It’s impossible to predict when an emergency situation will strike, and the best way to prepare for the unexpected is to stay insured. Understanding the benefits and coverage of a renters insurance policy will allow you to make an informed decision about acquiring coverage.

How Does Renters Insurance Work?

Since relatively few people purchase renters insurance, there are some common misunderstandings regarding what exactly is covered under a typical policy. Some tenants assume that they’re automatically protected under their landlord’s insurance, but the truth is that you need your own policy to be covered in case your possessions are damaged or stolen.

Many tenants wonder if renters insurance covers water damage, bedbugs, and other unexpected occurrences. While there are some important differences in the fine print of many policies, a typical renters insurance plan provides coverage up to a certain limit in case of weather events such as rain, wind, fire, and hail. That said, more extreme conditions like earthquakes and floods will generally require additional coverage, so it’s important to make sure you’re protected if you live in a vulnerable region.

Your policy will also pay for temporary relocation in case your apartment is no longer habitable, a responsibility that may or may not be picked up by your landlord. The price of a few coffees each month is well worth the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ll be kept on your feet no matter what happens.

Exceptions to Renters Insurance Coverage

While renters insurance provides critical protection for a number of costly situations, there are some things that most policies won’t cover. The first two examples are earthquakes and flooding, which many insurance companies offer as a separate policy. 

Under a standard renters insurance policy, you won’t be compensated for any damage done to extremely valuable or rare items such as jewelry and fine art. The most common insurance limit is $100,000, but you’ll likely still need to purchase additional insurance if you want these items covered.

Other common situations tenants often find themselves in, like losing a phone or having a pet cause damage, are not covered under renters insurance. Your protection also won’t apply to anyone else living in the apartment unless they purchase their own coverage.

Renters insurance is a low-cost, reliable method of keeping your belongings safe and ensuring you’ll have a place to stay even in a worst-case scenario. For less than a dollar a day, you can cover all the possessions in your apartment from loss or damage resulting from anything from fire to theft.

Guest Contributor, Armand Levitz

Warming Places in Cook County

We’re lucky to have heat in our homes, unfortunately there’s families without heating or proper housing. It’s more sad to think that there’s homeless people dealing with this weather. It’s -50, please help the people that you could and if you can’t, call one of the numbers below they should be able to advise you.

Here’s a list of all the Warming Places in Cook County.

Berwyn (Library)

2701 S. Harlem Ave.
Berwyn, IL

9:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. M-THU
9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. F-SAT
1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. SUN
Transport: No

Berwyn (Freedom Park)

3701 S. Scoville Ave.
Berwyn, IL

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M-THU
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. F
Transport: No

Berwyn (Recreational Dept.)

6501 W. 31st St.
Berwyn, IL

7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., M-F
Transport: No

Bloom

425 S. Halsted St.
Chicago Heights, IL

8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. M/W
8:00 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. T/THU/F
Transport: No

Bremen

16361 S. Kedzie Parkway
Markham, IL

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., M-F
Transport: No

Calumet

12633 Ashland Ave.
Calumet Park, IL

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: Yes, please call 708.388.6606.

Cicero (Village Building)

4949 W. Cermak Rd.
Cicero, IL

8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Cicero (Library)

5444 W. 34th St.
Cicero, IL

8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m., M-F
Transport: No

Cicero (Community Center)

2250 S. 49th Ave.
Cicero, IL

8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m., M-F
Transport: No

Elk Grove

2400 S. Arlington Heights Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL

9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Hanover (Senior Center)

240 S. IL Route 59
Bartlett, IL

8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M/W/F
8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. T and THURS
8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. SAT
Transport: Yes

Lemont (Township Offices)

1115 Warner Ave.
Lemont, IL

9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: Yes, please call 630.257.2522

Lemont (Community Center)

16300 Alba St.
Lemont, IL

9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: Yes, please call 630.257.2522

Leyden

2620 N. Mannheim Rd.
Franklin Park, IL

6:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. M-F
6:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. SAT
6:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. SUN
Transport: No

Maine

1700 Ballard Rd.
Park Ridge, IL

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Niles

5255 Lincoln Ave.
Skokie, IL

9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Norwood Park

7833 W. Lawrence Ave.
Norridge, IL

9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. M – THUR
9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. F
Transport: No

Oak Park

130 S. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park, IL

8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Orland Park

14807 Ravinia Ave.
Orland Park, IL

8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M/W/THUR/F
8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. T
Transport: Yes, for seniors 55 and older. Please call 708.403.4222.

Palatine

721 S. Quentin Road
Palatine, IL

8:30 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. M
8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. T- F
8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. SAT
Transport: No

Palos

10802 S. Roberts Road
Palos Hills, IL

8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Proviso

4565 W. Harrison St.
Hillside, IL

8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M-F
Transport: Yes, for seniors 60 and older. Please call 708.449.4300.

Rich

22013 Governors Hwy
Richton Park, IL

9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

River Forest

8020 W. Madison St.
River Forest, IL

8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Riverside

27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Schaumburg

1 Illinois Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL

8:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. M-THURS
8:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m. F
Transport: No

Stickney

7745 S. Leamington Ave.
Burbank, IL

8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. F
Transport: No

Wheeling

1616 N. Arlington Heights Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL

8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Worth

11601 S. Pulaski Rd.
Alsip, IL

8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M-F
Transport: No

Couple Finds Thousands While Renovating Their Home

If you ever needed an excuse to remodel your home, here’s one: couple found thousands of dollars in the floorboards while renovating a home. They have been remodeling houses for 13 years. Their company, Accessible Homes, remodels homes for people with disabilities. I couldn’t have happened to a better company.

“We looked through it,” Rasmussen said of finding the money while renovating an accessible home for a nonprofit Thursday. “It’s $20s and $50s, I’d say $30,000. Maybe more.”

“When we opened up the floor there’s a heat duct that was run under the floor,” Rasmussen said. “And so someone previously must have gone into the utility room and thrown the money up on top of that duct. Pretty crazy.”

“It’s hard to process that amount of cash just laying around, and no one knew existed,” he added. “Well, someone knew, but forgot about.”

The house is owned by Bethesda, a non for profit that provides housing and services for people developmental disabilities. The money is going to help their organization make a difference in people’s lives.

source: http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/couple-finds-thousands-in-cash-under-the-floorboards-during-home-renovation

Make a DifferencE, change the roll

Everyone Wants to Change the World

“Changing the toilet paper roll won’t make a difference to the world, but changing the toilet paper roll will make a difference to one person.”

Make a Difference, Change the Roll.

Tips to Avoid Common Heating Problems This Winter

Tips to Avoid Common Heating Problems This Winter 

They say winter is the most magical time of the year, but is that still so if your heater breaks down? There’s nothing more troublesome than going through the cold months with a faulty heating system. Sure, it’s nice to watch the snow falling and feel the cold breeze once in a while, but it’s a different story when you’re looking forward to a cozy night at home only to find your heater fail you.

Keeping your home warm over the winter months is not only essential to your comfort but your health as well. The drop in temperature can affect your immune system and make your body more vulnerable to sickness and infections. That said, it is imperative that you take the time to make sure that your heater works well before the colder days hit.

How To Keep Your Heater Working Smoothly 

Schedule regular heater maintenance

Nobody will ever do it better than the pros. Make it a point to schedule a heater tune-up before winter starts and another when it’s over. Having your heater cleaned and checked by professionals will extend its life and give you peace of mind throughout the season.

Make sure the pilot light is on

Checking if the pilot light on your furnace is lit should be one of the first things on your list when preparing for the cold days ahead. This is a fairly simple task, and the steps on how to do it should be on your user's manual.

Clean your heater and perform a visual inspection

Wipe the dust off your heater and clean or replace dirty filters. Also, give your heater a visual once-over to ensure that all parts are intact. Check the wires closely for any signs of damage or fraying. If you see something wrong with the wirings, get in touch with an electrician as soon as possible.

Watch out for weird noises

As you clean your heater, turn it on and listen for any odd noises. Any weird or gurgling sounds could mean that there's a leak, a crack, or some other problem within. Holes in the heater can be dangerous and should be addressed by an HVAC professional immediately.

Give your heater a trial run

Lastly, do a trial run. Turn your heater on for about 10 to 20 minutes to make sure that the system is generating the expected level of heat. This will assure you that your heater is in prime condition and will work like new when you need it to.

Guest Contributor, Michelle West