|
|
|
Healthy Choices
Pecan-Crusted Catfish with Lemon-Thyme Butter
Prep: 11 min. Cook: 30 min. Catfish takes an upscale turn with a pecan crust and an herb butter sauce.
Ingredients:
1½ cups pecan halves, toasted and divided ¾ cup all-purpose flour 2½ teaspoons Creole seasoning, divided 1 large egg 1 cup milk 6 (6-ounce) catfish, flounder, tilapia, or trout fillets ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, divided 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 6 large fresh thyme sprigs ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Garnishes: fresh thyme sprigs, lemon slices.
Directions:
Process ¾ cup pecans, flour, and 1½ teaspoons Creole seasoning in a food processor until finely ground; place in a large shallow bowl. Whisk together egg and milk in a large bowl; set aside. Sprinkle both sides of fillets evenly with remaining 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Dip fillets in egg mixture, draining off excess; dredge in pecan mixture, coating both sides, and shake off excess. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat until butter starts to bubble.
Place 2 fillets in skillet; cook 4 to 6 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on a wire rack in a jelly-roll pan; keep warm in a 200° oven. Wipe skillet clean; repeat procedure with remaining fillets. Wipe skillet clean. Melt remaining ½ cup butter in skillet over high heat; add remaining ¾ cup pecans, and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes or until toasted.
Stir in Worcestershire sauce, 6 thyme sprigs, salt, and pepper; cook 30 seconds or until thyme becomes very aromatic. Stir in lemon juice. Discard thyme sprigs. Place fish on a serving platter; spoon pecan butter over fish. Garnish, if desired.
Yield: 6 servings. Per serving: Calories 674 (76% from fat); Fat 56.8g (sat 21.5g, mono 22.6g, poly 8.9g); Protein 24.4g; Carb 19.7g; Fiber 3.1g; Chol 163mg; Iron 2.3mg; Sodium 1213mg; Calc 94mg"
Mixed Fruit Granola
Prep: 10 min. Cook: 30 min. Serve with nonfat vanilla yogurt.
Ingredients:
6 cups uncooked regular oats ½ cup wheat germ ½ cup sunflower kernels ½ cup chopped pecans ¼ cup sesame seeds ½ cup honey 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract Vegetable cooking spray 1½ cups chopped mixed dried fruit
Directions:
Combine first 9 ingredients; spread on 2 pans coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring 3 times. Cool. Stir in dried fruit.
Yield: 7½ cups. Per ¼ cup: Calories 145 (33% from fat); Fat 5.3g (sat 0.6g, mono 2.1g, poly 2.2g); Protein 4g; Carb 22g; Fiber 3g; Chol 0mg; Iron 1.4mg; Sodium 2mg; Calc 28mg
Note: Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks."
Berry-and-Spice Whole Wheat Muffins
Prep: 15 min. Cook: 21 min. Other: 5 min.
Ingredients:
¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons chopped pecans 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour ¼ cup granulated sugar ¾ teaspoon baking powder ¾ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground allspice 1 large egg 1¼ cups buttermilk 1½ tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries.
Directions:
Combine brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, and pecans in a small bowl. Stir in melted butter; set aside. Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
Stir together egg, buttermilk, and oil; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Spoon about ⅓ cup batter into each of 12 lightly greased muffin cups. Sprinkle batter evenly with reserved pecan mixture.
Bake at 375° for 19 to 21 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pans on a wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool slightly on wire rack. Serve warm.
Yield: 1 dozen. Per muffin: Calories 168 (27% from fat); Fat 5g (sat 1.2g, mono 2g, poly 1.4g); Protein 4.2g; Carb 28g; Fiber 2g; Chol 21mg; Iron 1.2mg; Sodium 151mg; Calc 61mg"
Parmesan Corn Muffins
Prep: 10 min. Cook: 15 min.
Ingredients:
2 cups white cornmeal mix ¾ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper 2½ cups fat-free buttermilk ½ cup egg substitute 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Vegetable cooking spray
Directions:
Combine first 4 ingredients in a mixing bowl, and make a well in center of mixture. Stir together buttermilk, egg substitute, and oil; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Spoon into muffin pans coated with cooking spray, filling two-thirds full. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until golden.
Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.
Yield: 17 muffins. Per muffin: Calories 118 (28% from fat); Fat 3.7g (sat 1g, mono 1.5g, poly 0.9g); Protein 5g; Carb 16g; Fiber 1g; Chol 5mg; Iron 1.2mg; Sodium 284mg; Calc 138mg
10 Snacks Under 50 Calories
1 cucumber, sliced 12 baby carrots 16 celery sticks 1 large tomato, cut into wedges 22 fat-free pretzel sticks 1½ cups broccoli florets ½ apple, slice 12 radishes 4 low-fat crackers 12 medium strawberries"
Prime Rib with Spicy Horseradish Sauce
Prep: 15 min. Cook: 1 hr., 12 min. Other: 30 min. During cooking, rock salt’s protective covering produces a juicy and perfectly seasoned beef dish. The salt is brushed off after baking.
Ingredients:
1 (6-pound) boneless beef rib roast 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons coarsely ground pepper 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 (4-pound) packages rock salt ½ cup water Spicy Horseradish Sauce Rub roast on all sides with garlic, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
Directions:
Pour salt to a depth of ½ inch into a disposable aluminum roasting pan; place roast in center of pan. Pat remaining salt onto roast; sprinkle with ½ cup water.
Bake at 500° for 12 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 145° (medium rare) or to desired degree of doneness. (Be sure to use a meat thermometer for best results.)
Let stand 10 minutes. Crack salt with a hammer; remove roast, and brush away salt. Let stand 20 minutes.
Serve roast with Spicy Horseradish Sauce.
Yield: 12 servings. Per serving: Calories 749 (78% from fat); Fat 64.5g (sat 26.7g, mono 29.5g, poly 7.8g); Protein 37.5g; Carb 1.9g; Fiber 0.3g; Chol 167mg; Iron 4.1mg; Sodium 598mg; Calc 39mg
Spicy Horseradish Sauce
Prep: 5 min. Other: 1 hr.
Ingredients & Directions:
⅔ cup reduced-fat sour cream 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon dry mustard ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper Stir together all ingredients.
Cover and chill 1 hour.
Serve with beef, pork, steamed shrimp, as a sandwich spread, on baked potatoes, or as a dip.
Yield: 1 cup. Per tablespoon: Calories 22 (78% from fat); Fat 1.9g (sat 0.8g, mono 0.5g, poly 0.4g); Protein 0.4g; Carb 1g; Fiber 0.1g; Chol 5mg; Iron 0mg; Sodium 64mg; Calc 13mg"
(All Recipes courtesy Southern Living Cookbook)
Preserving the Dignity of Our Aging Parents
Provide autonomy and choices whenever possible
by Lee Woodruff, AARP, June 16, 2020
There will eventually come a point in time with aging parents when the world tilts and roles begin to shift. It's the period when, as children, we begin to feel more like the parent. And for our parents, like it or not, they can begin to feel as if they're being treated like children. None of this is comfortable. All of it feels sad.
This transition can happen gradually, as cognition and physical ability change. Or, in the case of a medical emergency, the balance of decision-making and independence can be transformed overnight. In all cases, navigating the new landscape is fraught with emotion and confusion and, for many, requires strategies that can help preserve dignity and hand back power in the relationship. Making matters worse, adult children are often put in the position of having to say no to their parents, whether it's due to physical balance, safety issues or other reasons. In every case this is usually a complicated and frustrating journey for all involved.
As my father began to succumb to the ravages of dementia, independent tasks and activities gradually disappeared or were taken away. The ability to travel alone was the first painful step. As a retired businessperson, he had enjoyed donating his time and talent on the boards of charitable organizations, but that eventually ended. Next up on the chopping block was his ability to drive and, after that, manage my parents’ finances. For both of us, the conversations were painful. Each diminishment felt like a wound.
So, how could I find ways to demonstrate that he was still my father and I his child? Beyond simply feeling love and devotion, I wanted him to understand that I still viewed him as an accomplished person, someone whom I respected and admired.
The biggest ways I could achieve that goal were to focus on the small things. I found that I could reaffirm that he had choices in his life by asking questions, sometimes as simple as did he want to wear the gray pants or the black ones?
I canvassed a number of caregivers to see what worked for them and what tips they had to offer. For most everyone it came down to the same formula I had hit on: providing choice in every possible situation, from what to eat, to whom to visit, to which game to play, to whom they might want to talk to on the phone.
Provide choices
"Being able to offer an array of options regarding the small, daily things is essential,” says Tracy Turner, a social worker and bereavement counselor. “Another way to engage is to draw on your parent's decades of life experience and wisdom, whether it's asking a question about child-rearing, events from the past or their opinion on a topic or news item.”
Watching my mother's life become more circumscribed in her independent living facility, I witness my mom's frustration at not being able to do things for herself as her skills and abilities lessen. I've found that some of our best conversations are when I ask her to tell me specific stories from the past or ask her to recount some of her experiences raising me and my sisters. “Did you ever struggle with …?” is an opener that I like to use. It feels to me both intimate and inviting. It signals that I'm about to tell her about something I am experiencing in my life or marriage and I'm asking her how she handled it. These are conversations I will remember long after she is gone.
Memory is a funny thing as we age. Like for so many of us, my mom's older memories are more vivid in her mind. The stories she recalls most clearly and loves to tell are of summers in Arkansas, watching her mother teach piano, her father's hole in one on the golf course and, yes, even getting pinned by old boyfriends. We got a giant giggle when I suggested we Google some of those past loves to see where they are now. Those moments of connection with her past reconfirm her sense of a full, well-lived life. They remind her that she is so much more than the less mobile person she is now, at 87.
Heather O'Leary, 53, of Manchester, New Hampshire, takes care of her mother, Kathleen McCullough, who suffers from COPD, arthritis and other health issues. “Straight talk about her situation works for us, and we communicate about everything,” says O'Leary, who helps her mother with the tasks of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and remembering medications. “We talk about how we can work around her limitations, and I let her try things on her own. I only step in when she says she can't do something.”
Provide purposeful work
It was important to Kathleen Cairnes to make sure her mother, who lived with her before she passed away, had meaning, purpose and responsibility. Cairnes wrote menus on the kitchen blackboard so that her mother could choose what interested her and tasked her with folding laundry on the couch.
“I even put her in charge of changing channels on the TV, so we could watch our favorite shows."
Life changed overnight for J. Appell when her father suffered a stroke and she returned home to Belgrade, Serbia, to help him get back on his feet and relearn simple tasks. Just when things began to turn around, her mother had a stroke, plunging life into chaos once again. “Trying to keep their independence was important to them and to me,” she explains. “Often caregivers take things over and start doing things out of good intentions, but they unnecessarily add to the decline of those they care for."
Appell created a giant wall calendar so that her parents could follow the new routines. Large print and photo instructions on walls helped them remember medications and important tasks for the day. She installed shower safety bars and put a list of emergency numbers over the phone, along with loading a laptop with an automatic answer feature in the Skype app. While her mother no longer cooks, she is able to clear the table after dinner. And Appell continues to modify the routines as her parents decline in health. “The independence recipe is ever evolving, as is the level of care,” she reports.
Give control with some oversight
Sometimes it's the invisible things that help return power to ailing parents and maintain their dignity. Kathy Silhavy's mother in Cartersville, Georgia, still pays most of her bills because it makes her feel in control. “I have the stamps,” Silhavy says, “so I'm able to check her bills before they get mailed."
In the end, each of us knows our parents intimately.
One size doesn't fit all in caregiving, and finding the balance with different personalities and within the parent-child relationship is often a complex dance.
Toward the end of his life, my father lost the ability to speak. I could read the pain on his face at his inability to find the words. In those moments all that was required was a hug. “You are my dad, and I love you so much,” I would say. “You will always be my dad."
Lee Woodruff is a caregiver, speaker and author. She and her husband, Bob, cofounded the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which assists injured service members and their families. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Summer 2020 Movie Preview: Films You Won't Want to Miss
In the strangest summer ever, here's what's coming and where to find them
by Tim Appelo, AARP, Updated June 26, 2020
Yes, there will be a movie season this summer (drive-in theaters are even opening back up), but some of the hits will be on streaming services instead of — or also in — movie theaters. Here's the best of what's coming up — but check this page for updates, as COVID-19 may rejigger studios’ best-laid plans to make your summer cinematic.
July:
Hamilton hits your home screen and Mulan returns in live action.
Hamilton (Disney+, July 3)
Can't afford an $850 ticket to the insanely popular hip-hop musical about one of our famed Founding Fathers? Celebrate the nation's birthday by enjoying Lin-Manuel Miranda and the original Broadway cast in a filmed stage production with Daveed Diggs as Lafayette and Jefferson.
The Truth (Scheduled for theatrical release July 3)
French screen goddess Catherine Deneuve, 76, has a big comeback role as a movie star whose memoir upsets her daughter (Juliette Binoche, 56) and son-in-law (Ethan Hawke), who return from New York to Paris for a feud-filled reunion. All three stars and director Hirokazu Kore-eda have Oscar honors, and art-film fans are eager to see this.
The Outpost (Scheduled for theatrical release July 3)
Rod Lurie, the only A-list director who attended West Point, adapts Jake Tapper's best seller The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, about the heroes of Afghanistan's bloodiest battle (played by Clint Eastwood's son Scott, Mel Gibson's son Milo, Orlando Bloom and Specialist Ty Carter, an actual veteran of the battle).
Unhinged (Scheduled for theatrical release July 10)
The first major theatrical release of the summer is a psychological thriller about the world's worst case of road rage, with Russell Crowe as the unwise driver driven to extremes by a fellow motorist.
Mulan (Scheduled for theatrical release July 24)
In Disney's latest live-action remake of an animated hit, Liu Yifei plays the plucky dame who impersonates a man to join the army
.
Radioactive (Netflix, July 24)
Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) plays the double-Nobel-prize-winning scientist Marie Curie, who was poisoned by her world-changing X-ray discoveries.
August:
Colin Firth revives The Secret Garden, Bill & Ted write a song to save (we hope) the universe and Christopher Nolan's trippy new blockbuster arrives.
Tenet (Scheduled for theatrical release Aug. 12)
The big kahuna of the summer is Christopher Nolan's follow-up to Dunkirk, a no-doubt head-trippy thriller starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh and Elizabeth Debicki.
The One and Only Ivan (Scheduled for theatrical release Aug. 14)
A live action/CG/animated fantasy based on the popular children's book of the same name is about a gorilla, a dog, an adult and a baby elephant living in a mall. The amazing cast includes Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie and Sam Rockwell.
The Secret Garden (Scheduled for theatrical release Aug. 14)
Colin Firth and Julie Walters star in the adaptation of the beloved 1911 novel about an orphan girl who sleuths out family secrets. But wasn't Firth also in the previous, 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame version of the story? Yes!
Bill & Ted Face the Music (Scheduled for theatrical release Aug. 21)
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return in the third episode of their time-tripping fantasy comedy. The music they face this time is aging, but with help from Holland Taylor in what used to be George Carlin's mentor role, they'll write a song to save the universe.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on May 28, 2020. It has been updated with the latest theatrical release dates.
Latest Updates on Coronavirus: Older Americans Urged to Continue ‘Distancing’
As states reopen, high-risk individuals are asked to stay home in early phases
by Rachel Nania, AARP, Updated June 26, 2020
- The White House coronavirus task force held its first briefing in nearly two months on Friday. Public health officials urged Americans to adhere to social distancing and other preventive measures to combat the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. New cases surged by more than 39,000 between Wednesday and Thursday; some states have paused their reopening plans as a result. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar mentioned in the briefing that the federal government has distributed the antiviral remdesivir and the steroid dexamethasone to states across the country. These are not officially approved treatments, but both drugs have been shown in preliminary studies to help some severely ill patients recover from COVID-19.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday expanded its warning of who is most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19, dropping 65 as the age-specific threshold for when risk increases in adults. “To put it another way: There’s not an exact cutoff of age at which people should or should not be concerned,” CDC official Jay Butler said. The CDC also clarified which underlying conditions are most associated with COVID-19 hospitalizations and death. On the list: chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity (BMI of 30 or higher), a weakened immune system, type 2 diabetes, sickle cell disease and heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies.
- The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut — three states where coronavirus cases are falling — announced on Wednesday a joint travel advisory that all individuals traveling from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 must quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state. The U.S. is experiencing an increasing number of new cases; several states recorded record highs this week, including California, Florida and Texas, according to the COVID Tracking Project. “We've worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down and we don't want to see it go up again because people are traveling into the state and bringing it with them,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release.
- Top public health officials have expressed concern over the recent spike in coronavirus cases in communities throughout the U.S. In a June 23 hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, called the next couple of weeks “critical” for controlling the spread. CDC Director Robert Redfield emphasized that the “most powerful weapons against this disease” are social distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene. He also called for increased testing and contact tracing to help “break the chains of transmission” and asked the public to “remain vigilant” so that those at highest risk for severe illness are protected from infection. Older adults are included in this high-risk population. Redfield told lawmakers that the CDC is working with AARP and other organizations to distribute tools and information to older adults and Americans with disabilities during the pandemic.
- In Tuesday’s high-profile hearing, Fauci said that he is “cautiously optimistic” the U.S. will have a vaccine for the coronavirus by the end of 2020 or early in 2021. He confirmed that several vaccine candidates are moving through clinical trial phases and that the federal government is taking financial risks “so that when — and I believe it will be when, not if — we get favorable candidates with good results, we will be able to make them available to the American public.” More than 100 research teams around the world are working on vaccine development.
- Federal health officials are bracing for the fall, when the flu and COVID-19 will be circulating at the same time. The CDC’s Redfield on Tuesday urged the public to be prepared and “to embrace” the flu vaccine. “This single act will save lives,” he said. The CDC is also developing a test that can simultaneously test for flu and COVID-19.
- Black and Hispanic Americans have higher mortality rates when accounting for age than white Americans, a new analysis from the Brookings Institution shows. What’s more, a report released June 17 from the CDC found that black patients in Atlanta with COVID-19 were more likely to be hospitalized than white patients between March and April, further underscoring the racial disparities in the disease. About 79 percent of black patients were hospitalized, compared to 13 percent of white patients. These are the latest in a series of recent reports that show minority populations are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. Nursing homes serving minorities have been hit harder by the virus, as well. The federal government on Tuesday announced a $40 million initiative with the Morehouse School of Medicine to fight COVID-19 in racial and ethnic minority, rural and socially vulnerable communities.
- Preliminary results from a study led by the University of Oxford have found that the steroid drug dexamethasone, which has been used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in a range of conditions, reduced deaths by up to a third in severely ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The full study has not been published, but in a statement, the WHO called the findings “great news.” In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir after preliminary results from an international clinical trial found that patients with severe illness who received the drug recovered faster than those who received a placebo. Still, there is no formally approved treatment for COVID-19.
- The FDA on June 15 revoked the emergency use authorization it previously issued for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat people hospitalized with COVID-19. In a statement the agency said the drugs are “unlikely to be effective” in treating the disease, and that “in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other potential serious side effects, the known and potential benefits of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine no longer outweigh the known and potential risks for the authorized use.” On June 20, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it stopped its clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine, saying the drug is “unlikely to be beneficial to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.”
- A new report from the CDC shows that hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 are six times as high and deaths 12 times as high for patients with reported underlying health conditions. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung disease have thus far been the most frequently reported underlying health conditions among COVID-19 patients.
- The CDC has updated its official list of COVID-19 symptoms. Warning signs of the illness include: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; and diarrhea. Symptoms that require immediate medical attention include: trouble breathing; persistent pain or pressure in the chest; new confusion; inability to wake or stay awake; and bluish lips or face.
Older adults and people with chronic underlying health conditions are more likely than younger, healthier people to experience serious illness from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. There is no specific age at which risk increases. Rather, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says “risk increases steadily as you age” and despite initial warnings from the agency, “it’s not just those over the age of 65 who are at increased risk for severe illness.”
Part of the reason risk increases with age is because people are more likely to have other health issues later in life, and underlying health conditions are a huge driver of complications that arise from COVID-19. A June report from the CDC found that hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 were six times as high for patients with chronic health conditions, compared to otherwise healthy individuals; deaths among this population were 12 times as high.
Health conditions most associated with severe illness from COVID-19 include:
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- A weakened immune system from organ transplant
- Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
- Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Asthma (moderate to severe)
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- A weakened immune system
- Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
- Liver disease
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
- Smoking
- Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
The CDC has issued specific guidance for older adults and people at high risk for serious outcomes. Here’s what the agency recommends:
Avoid close contact with others
Older adults and people with underlying health conditions are encouraged to limit interactions with people outside their household as much as possible and to take preventive measures when interactions do take place. Wash your hands often with soap and water and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not an option. Keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others when in public; cover your coughs and sneezes; and disinfect high-touch surfaces often.
The CDC also recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public to help slow the spread of the virus.
It’s a good idea to draft a plan in case you do become sick, experts say. Identify a designated sickroom in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from healthy ones. And identify aid organizations in your community that you can contact for help should you need it.
Stock up on supplies
Older Americans and adults who routinely take medications should make sure they have at least a 30-day supply of prescription medicines on hand. It’s also important to stock up on over-the-counter medications to treat fever, cough and other symptoms, as well as tissues and common medical supplies.
Major health insurers have pledged to relax prescription refill limits on “maintenance medications” in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Prescription refill limits are also being waived for many Medicare Advantage and Part D beneficiaries.
If you run into difficulty stocking up on your prescriptions at the pharmacy, consider refilling your medications with a mail-order service, the CDC says. You can also ask your physician to switch your prescription from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply to make sure you have enough medication to get through a longer period of time.
And make sure you have enough food in the house in case you have to stay home for an extended period. If you need to run out for necessities, the CDC has guidance on how to do so safely. On the list:
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and while in line.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth face covering.
- Consider running your errands first thing in the morning or at the end of the day when fewer people are likely to be shopping. Some stores have special shopping hours for high-risk individuals.
- Disinfect your shopping cart or basket with disinfectant wipes.
- Use hand sanitizer right away if you handle money, a card or a keypad.
- Wash your hands when you get home.
- When getting gasoline, use disinfectant wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them; use hand sanitizer immediately after.
What about travel?
The government advises against all nonessential international travel, including cruise ship travel, during the pandemic. As far as domestic travel is concerned, the CDC encourages travelers to study the current situation ahead of their trip to “learn if coronavirus is spreading in your local area or in any of the places you are going.”
For older adults and others at high risk for severe illness from a coronavirus infection, traveling can be dangerous, especially if you are in close contact with others. “People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra precautions,” the CDC says. Staying home is still the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick, the agency adds.
If you do decide to travel, the CDC outlines steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting sick:
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Wear a cloth face covering in public settings.
The CDC also recommends making sure that you are up to date with your routine vaccinations before you travel, including the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine. And do not travel if you are sick or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
The CDC, U.S. State Department and World Health Organization (WHO) websites have up-to-date travel information.
Unique Gadgets That Will Make Staying At Home Easier, Ideal As Gifts.
Published on Sun, 1st June 2020
Blaux Personal Fan: Carry a Cool, Refreshing Environment With You Wherever You Go
Problem: If you’re like me, you also can't stand it when it’s hot outside. I’m the type of person who is always sweating and feeling overwhelmed in the summer heat!
Solution: Blaux Personal Fan
The Blaux Personal Fan blows a constant stream of clean, refreshing air at you while you wear it. The big lithium internal battery has enough juice to work for up to 30 hours on a single charge!
Blaux Personal Fan can moves a massive amount of air with a rating of 1.9 CFM+ (Cubic Feet Per Minute), with positionable air flow and 3 fan speed modes. You will feel cool and comfortable all the time.
Fit Track - Revolutionary New Scale Lets You Look Inside Your Body
Problem: When it comes to your body, everyone thinks they know what’s good for you. But the problem is it’s impossible to check for yourself. You see yourself getting fatter, skinnier, stronger or weaker but you don’t know what is the cause.
Solution: FitTrack
Thanks to recent developments in consumer technology, it’s now possible to “see inside your body” and track vital health signals yourself in the comfort of your own home. FitTrack is a revolutionary home wellness technology which monitors 17 key health insights and allowing you to measure, track, and trend your health data in real time.
FitTrack data includes your body fat percentage, muscle and bone mass, hydration levels and more important informations that can help you make smarter decisions about your health.
In other words, it’s like taking a free physical exam – at home, whenever you want! Get it for your parents and family members today.
Muama Enence - This device lets you speak 43 languages at the touch of a button
Problem: Do you agree that language barrier is one of the greatest challenges when communicating with foreigners? When was the last time you felt confident asking for directions abroad?
Solution: Muama Enence
Muama Enence is the ideal device for all holidaymakers, business travelers, and employees who frequently encounter language barriers. Difficulties caused by language barriers will soon be a thing of the past!
With just a few button clicks, language can be translated into over 43 languages in real time. The ultimate gadget for every traveler. It is ideal as gifts during especially those who are traveling overseas soon.
Keysmart – No More Bulky Pocket Or Lumpy Keychain
Problem: Does your pockets feel bulky while traveling around and storing your keys in them? Do you simply have too many keys that are completely unorganized? It’s a problem most people have chosen to live with but now there’s a much better way to go about your day! “You’ve got “smart” everything — phone, watch, thermostat, lights, TV — so why is your keychain still so dumb?”
Solution: KeySmart™ Key Organizer
KeySmart is the compact solution to your bulky, leg-poking keyring. The patented ’S’ design creates a perfectly organized keyring and multifunctional tool.
You can even easily attach your car key fob with a FREE loop accessory! It’s fully customizable, you can add on a 16GB USB thumbdrive, bottle opener and many more features. This is the one gadget you didn’t know you needed until now. It’s also the perfect gift for everyone!
|
|