Are you looking for a great senior independent living community for yourself or a loved one? Maybe you’re just testing the waters to see what’s out there.

Almost 90% of people living in independent living facilities are enjoying their time there, and nearly as many would recommend it to a friend. Maybe it’s your turn to take the plunge and join one yourself!

How do you find the right community though?

This is where the hard part comes in. There are so many options, especially if you’re not constrained by location. How are you supposed to choose the right independent living facility for you?

We’re here to help you narrow down your search.

Keep reading for a few things that you should look for when you’re deciding on your next home.

1. Cost

Let’s get this out of the way first. Cost is an important factor when you’re considering a new home.

Everyone has different budgetary concerns. You may have been saving up for this for your entire life! If that’s the case, you may not be as worried about how much your new independent living facility is going to cost you.

Most people, though, don’t have that privilege. They might be limited by the money that they have available to them.

While some communities are definitely closer to “luxury”, they often come with luxury prices.

Make sure that you’re getting the features that you need before the ones that you want and then go from there. Be careful not to overspend.

Independent living communities can cost thousands of dollars per month, and sometimes that price is just the basics. More amenities will require more money. Make sure you know that you’re able to cover the costs.

2. Amenities Offered

Not all senior living communities are created equally. As we mentioned under “cost”, some of the facilities with more luxurious options are also going to be hard on your wallet.

That said, it’s important that you’re happy in your new community, so looking for certain non-negotiables is important.

Is there free parking or transportation? Is there a laundry service, or do you clean your own? If you clean your own, are the machines free or paid (and are they in your unit)?

You might also be interested in specific amenities. Maybe your new home has to have a gym or a pool. Maybe it has to have some kind of clubhouse where you can congregate and make friends.

Make a list of the things that you need and want and see how your options stack up.

3. The Community Itself

Sometimes independent living facilities will have mixers where you (as a non-resident) can go hang out with the people who are already living there. This is a great opportunity to see what the place is actually like straight from the mouths of those who are staying there.

You can get real answers to any of your questions while socializing a bit with the locals.

This is also a good opportunity to see if you really get on with the people who are already there. Let’s face it, not every community is going to suit every person.

If this group is a bit quiet or uptight and you’re the kind of person who likes to hang out and let loose with friends, this might not be the best community for you. Maybe you just don’t like these people. There’s no shame in that.

You’re doing this to figure out where your place in the world is. Take every opportunity that you can to ensure that you do so correctly.

If the community isn’t fulfilling for you, move on. You’ll be spending a lot of time in this new home, so you need to get the right fit for your own social health.

4. The Location

When you’re moving into an independent living community you get to decide where you want to live. This doesn’t just mean the facility itself, but also the location.

Do you dream of living in a warm, tropical climate? Maybe the beach is a few steps away and you can sit out by the pool with your new friends.

Maybe you want to live in the mountains. You want beautiful views and to finally see what that fresh mountain air is all about.

You have these options when you’re choosing a new home.

However, maybe it’s more important to you that you live close to your family. Moving into the city where your children or grandchildren live might be a priority.

Don’t exclusively look for places in your direct area. You have options!

5. The Care

You’re probably moving into independent living because you’d like the security of a community and the ease of assistance when you need it.

Some communities are more independent than others.

If you have specific health needs that should be addressed, you should know whether or not these things will be made available to you.

Are there nurses or assistants available at the community itself for small needs? Is there an in-house medical team? How close is the hospital, and are they efficient with transportation?

Knowing these things ahead of time will help you plan and determine if this new facility is going to be right for you.

Are You Ready for Senior Independent Living?

Making the transition from a “normal” home to a senior independent living community doesn’t have to be jarring. It can just be your next big adventure!

Choose a place and community that you can truly blend into. This is the start of an awesome new stage of life, so you should enjoy it!

For more posts like this on senior living, visit the rest of our site.

Incredible varieties of themes, genres, bonus features, paylines, jackpots and so on, make it nigh on impossible these days to not find an online slot game you love to play. There is quite literally for game for everyone and anyone. (To explore these games, check out the impressive range over at Gold Rush Slots.)

More experienced slots players are often comfortable with their own game preferences and have their own style of gameplay. Some opt for choosing a slot game and continuing to play until a significant prize comes their way; believing that eventually their final win will compensate any accumulated losses. Other players change games following every win, small or large, with the belief that this method is the most rewarding.

In fact, neither strategies can be considered highly effective. The best way to win while playing casino slots online is to utilise your own experience, remain focused and make your own informed predictions. Here are some useful hints and tips to get you started.

Choose Your Game Carefully

The most important thing to remember that you’re playing online slots for fun. Ensure the experience is enjoyable by selecting a game you really like. If you enjoy it, you’ll stick with it and are more likely to be engaged and play the game well. If you like swash buckling adventures try pirate slots, if you prefer myth and legends the why not try wizard slots, the choice is endless. Be guided by your own personal tastes and preferences when it comes to themes, features, colours, etc.

Set a Budget – and Stick to It

There a couple of things to do before you start playing. First up, set your budget. This is your finance limit, and one that you’ll stick to. This is to ensure that the recreational activity of online gambling remains fun; the moment you start spending what you cannot afford, the hobby has gone beyond light entertainment and fun.

Do Your Research

Secondly, before gameplay, study the game. It’s better to start off well-equipped; knowing how the game works, how to trigger the bonus features, etc., places you in good stead for grabbing that win. You should always familiarise yourself with the Return to Player value and the number of paylines too, so you can weigh up your chances of a win.

Keep Focused

The previous tips, if followed, will also help you to remain calm and focused while playing, as you’re more likely to be enjoying your experience. However, when you lose, it can be too easy to become frustrated, anxious, stressed or even angry. Accept that losses will always occur. Focus on this; you can’t win if you don’t ever lose. If you’re trying to keep calm and focused but the negative emotions are getting the better of you, perhaps it’s time for a break or a different game.

Final Thoughts

Strategies based on magic or superstition unfortunately do not work when it comes to online slots. To play at your very best, follow the tips listed above, use your head, stay focused and within your budget, and most importantly, have fun. After all, that’s what it’s all about.

 

Did you know that one in ten Americans use telehealth? The study found that 75% of Americans didn’t know about telemedicine or couldn’t get access to it.

Meanwhile, in Australia, 49% of people said that they wouldn’t use virtual hospitals, while 20% said that they would use telehealth to reduce costs.

So, what is telehealth and what are the benefits of telemedicine? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about telemedicine.

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth, or telemedicine as it is also referred to, is virtual medical assessments and information. Instead of going in to see your doctor, you can use electronic communications to get a diagnosis and to come up with a suitable treatment plan.

Telemedicine has been around for several decades, but with technological advancements, it’s now easier than ever to see and speak to your doctor online.

What Are the Benefits of Telemedicine?

There are lots of telehealth benefits, both for doctors and for patients. We’ve compiled a list of 5 telemedicine benefits, but there are many more.

1. Access to Essential Care

One of the main benefits of telehealth is that it provides access to essential care.

Distance, travel time, and world pandemics can restrict and limit the care that patients can receive. But telemedicine can help to ensure that care is provided for all, despite their geographical location or other factors.

2. Improves Patient Engagement

Another of the key advantages of telemedicine is that it can improve patient engagement while lowering healthcare costs. Remote health consultants can act as coaches or counselors.

They can provide constant help, information, and encouragement for patients, this is particularly useful for those with chronic health conditions.

3. Offers Greater Convenience and Flexibility

Patients who use telehealth systems report greater levels of satisfaction because they believe it is convenient.

Telemedicine also provides greater flexibility, so they can schedule appointments that suit them. This means that patients don’t need to take time off work or take time away from childcare or other commitments.

4. Better Care Quality

Patients can expect a better quality of care with telemedicine as this real-time healthcare system is focused on the patient.

Traditional appointments might see patients waiting days, weeks, or even months, to be seen by a healthcare professional, but this isn’t the case with telehealth. Instead, patients can instantly access real-time urgent care consultations and find a treatment plan that is right for them.

5. Saves Money for Patients

Telehealth visits can save patients a lot of money. For example, you don’t need to pay travel costs, parking, childcare, or have to take time off work.

However, access to virtual healthcare can help cut those costs. All you need is a phone, laptop, or another digital device to communicate with your consultant.

If you’re looking for an online consultation, check out Therapy Works. This company offers one-on-one private and personalized telehealth consultations.

Access Appointments and Your Doctor With Ease

As you can see there are many great benefits of telemedicine. The main one that might convince you that telemedicine is a good idea for you is that you can access appointments and see your doctor easily.

If you found this article insightful, be sure to check out some of our other lifestyle and family articles.

Finding eyeglasses that are perfect for your face can take a lot of time. Now that you have them, you just want to do everything necessary to make them last. It’s a good thing that even first-class eyeglasses, such as those that are available from 1001 Optical Premium Glasses, are not that hard to take care of.

Let’s take a look at some of the things that you may do to take care of your eyeglasses:

Rinse or Spray Before You Wipe

The lenses of eyeglasses come in various materials. They include polycarbonate, high-index plastic, and glass. Each one of the materials comes with advantages and disadvantages. Glass is the strongest of the bunch. However, it is not impervious to scratches.

No matter the material, remember to rinse the lenses off with water before wiping them. This helps remove dust that can scratch the surface.

Use the Right Kind of Eyeglass Cleaner

Some people choose to use an eyeglass cleaner on the lenses of their glasses. This product is available at optical shops. You may also use a homemade version of it. You can make it by combining water, rubbing alcohol, and a little dishwashing soap.

Whether purchased in an optical shop or homemade, make sure that you use the right eyeglass cleaner. Refrain from using a household glass or surface cleaner on your eyeglasses.

Reach for a Microfiber Cloth

Avoid using any cloth for drying the lenses of your eyeglasses after rinsing them off with water or spraying them with an eyeglass cleaner. The right cloth for the job is a microfiber cloth, which is what experts highly recommend for cleaning lenses.

Even though tissue paper or the tail of your cotton shirt feels soft, using it for wiping may leave tiny scratches on the lenses of your eyeglasses.

Keep Eyeglasses in Their Proper Cases

When purchasing reputed brands like 1001 Optical Premium Glasses, the customers receive their eyeglasses inside hard cases. Do not throw yours away as this hard case from the optical shop is where you should keep your eyeglasses when they’re not in use.

Placing your eyeglasses in its hard case when you are not wearing them helps to keep the dust at bay. It also helps protect them from damage due to falls.

Do Not Leave Them in Hot Areas

High temperatures can cause plastic eyeglass frames or the plastic components of metal frames to warp. This is why you should refrain from leaving your eyeglasses on areas where it’s hot. One example is the dashboard of your car in the middle of the day.

Avoid placing your eyeglasses near appliances that give off heat. Some common examples are a desk lamp, computer, television, radiator, and microwave oven.

Hold Your Eyeglasses Correctly

Your eyeglasses can be of service for a long time simply by handling them properly. When cleaning the lenses, hold your eyeglasses by firmly grasping with your fingers the piece that goes over the bridge of your nose. This can keep the frames from bending.

When putting on and taking off your eyeglasses, hold them with both hands. Using only one hand can cause misalignment that can affect your vision and looks, too.

Especially if the eyeglasses from 1001 Optical Premium Glasses or elsewhere are top of the line, do your best to take care of them. Follow the simple tips above to keep your eyeglasses out of harm’s way.

A Christmas tree is an object that is in every family household all over the world during the Yuletide season where kids and kids at heart alike place their holiday presents, and Christmas won’t be the same without it. As that popular song goes, Christmas is truly the most beautiful time of the year. It is the time when people can enjoy feasting on scrumptious food, gift-giving, and family bonding. The festive and nostalgic feeling that the Christmas season brings is indescribable; it is because this season takes everyone back to the time of childhood bliss, no matter what age.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree 

What’s so special about a Christmas tree anyway? For one, most people use the fir tree, which is a type of an evergreen conifer tree that keeps its leaves all-year-round, unlike other deciduous trees that shed leaves all the time. Secondly, Christians believe that an evergreen tree symbolizes the everlasting life with God.

No one truly knows for sure as to when and where the first Christmas tree was used to celebrate Christmas, but it is said that it began during the 16th Century. During this time, a story was told that Martin Luther, a German preacher, was mesmerized by the magnificence of the stars that shone through the trees as he was walking within the forest one Christmas night. He shared this experience with his children and told them that it made him remember Jesus and how it felt as if He left heaven to visit Earth for Christmas. What a magical story.

 

Which is a Better Christmas Tree: Artificial or Real?

For the longest time, it has been every Christian family’s tradition to put up and decorate a Christmas tree during Yule. It is one of the best kinds of bonding between families or relatives. So how can you create the best Christmas tree this year? First off the list is to choose the type of tree that’s easily available. Several types of trees that are popularly used as Christmas trees are fir, spruce, cedar, cypress and pine. But what if a real tree is not available to you? There’s no need to fret, since there is another option, and that is by using an artificial one.

There are real advantages to choosing artificial trees over the real ones. One, it eliminates the hassles of travelling to the forest, cutting your tree, and carrying that massive thing over to your vehicle. Another advantage is that an artificial tree can be easily kept once Christmas time is over; it can simply be disassembled into several pieces and stored into a box. What a relief!

 

Where to Purchase a Christmas Tree and What are Some of the Options?

Hundreds of online websites are available that offer not only artificial Christmas trees with various types to choose from, but also Christmas ornaments and accessories such as bows, wreaths, and even a tree skirt. One can choose from the traditional and unconventional trees that can best suit your style and taste. For those who don’t like putting Christmas lights on your tree but still like the idea of lights on it, you can choose the ones with Fiber optics. Just plug it in and voila! It suddenly blinks to life! For people who don’t have enough space to put a giant Christmas tree, you can choose the potted ones instead. And finally, for families who love snow, you can purchase a snowy Christmas tree. Cool eh?

Christmas will always be magical no matter what, but it doesn’t hurt to spend extra time and effort when creating your Christmas tree. It’s something that can show a person’s personality and make the season more endearing to the whole family.

 

 

Online casino gambling is a very popular area of online gaming. With thousands of online casinos available, it’s no wonder that there are some people who find their favorite online slot games at online casinos can be somewhat expensive. The number of slots available in each online casino can be quite large. In order to find the best online casino site for you, you need to consider these factors.

Factors to Consider

The first factor you should consider when searching for online slots for sale is the dealer of the online casino. Each online casino will have its own dealer that you can choose from. They can vary greatly in terms of trustworthiness. You want to choose an online casino that specializes in the type of slot that you are interested in playing. If you find that the online casino you have chosen doesn’t carry that slot machine game, move on to another online casino.

The second factor you should consider when searching for online casino sites is the ease of use. Some websites for online casinos to offer customers free bonuses or discounts, but these bonuses usually don’t last long. Check the fees of the online casino before you register.

The third factor to consider when shopping for online casinos is customer service. Before you select a website, visit the website and see if the customer service of the site is good. If they do not have a good customer service, move on to another online casino.

The fourth factor to consider when shopping for online gambling sites is customer support. It’s important to check how quickly the customer support agent is able to answer your questions and what kind of customer support they provide.

Customer Reviews

The fifth factor to consider when shopping for online gambling sites is customer reviews. These reviews will usually give you some insight into how well the online casino has done with previous customers. You should also look for online gambling sites such as SpinBonus that allow you to view customer feedback on their sites. Review sites will usually let you know how much the online casino has changed over time.

When you shop for online gambling sites, the point isn’t to be choosy. All of the factors mentioned above are important to consider. Choose the website you will use wisely, and you will have a lot of fun with online gambling.

There are plenty of online casinos to choose from. Most of them will be open to consumers who are looking for online gambling sites. So find the one that works best for you and enjoy all the action of online gambling.

 

Although you might have gotten married with the best of intentions, not all marriages can stand the test of time. In many cases, a marriage will end in an divorce. But even in this unfavorable situation, there are things you can do to leave your marriage in such a way that you and your former spouse don’t become mortal enemies who despise each other.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for working with your ex through your divorce.

Be Wise When Communicating

Your marriage likely ended because something within your relationship wasn’t working. In many instances, communication is one of these things. With this issue, working through your divorce with your spouse can be a challenge. But luckily, there are some things you can do to make this a little easier to manage.

According to Deanna Conklin-Danao, a contributor to Divorce Magazine, it’s best to keep your communication with your ex as brief and to-the-point as you can. While you should try to be friendly, you also don’t want to continue communicating in a way that makes you or your ex emotional about your marriage, as this could derail or complicate your divorce. Because of this, try to communicate only about issues regarding your divorce and discuss these issues in a productive way.

Set Clear And Healthy Boundaries

Just like with any relationship in your life, it’s wise to have clear and healthy boundaries between you and your ex as you work through your divorce together.

As part of this, Dr. Andra Prosh, a contributor to the Huffington Post, advises that you situate yourself in your relationship with your ex so that neither of you falls back into old patterns of behavior that created an unhealthy dynamic for the two of you. This might mean communicating only through your lawyers or otherwise steering clear of one another until you’ve had some time and distance from your relationship and can relearn how to safely be around each other.

Commit To Working Together When You Must

In some situations, there’s going to have to be continued communication after the marriage has dissolved, especially if you had children together.

In situations such as this, HelpGuide.org suggests that you and your ex commit to working together on issues regarding your kids. This likely includes being able to communicate and compromise with one another, even if this wasn’t your strong suit while you were married. By doing this, not only will you be able to maintain good parenting for your children, but you’ll also be able to maintain some peace in your life as well.

If you’re at the beginning stages of a divorce, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you successfully work through this with your ex.

 

 

People have been enjoying the sport for quite some time now, and it is always fun to have friends or family around. Think about how fun it could be enjoying a good strike or the heckling if in case you missed out on one.

Located on the east side of Melbourne’s business district, Clayton is a suburb located in Victoria. It is a relatively quieter place compared to Australia’s other busy cities. Clayton is the best place to find a bowling alley, chill out with your friends, order some food, and practice your skills on the lanes.

There are a lot of right places to enjoy bowling in Clayton. Along with recreation, the suburb boasts of a shopping district and railway station, making it easier for the residents, and tourists to move around.

Asides from looking for the best place to play the sport, one thing you need to know is how to play a good game. It’s relatively easy to play, but here are our suggestions to enjoy playing a good one.

Find the best ball

The bowling ball is your weapon when it comes to playing the sport. It has to feel comfortable, or what players usually say, that it has to be like a part of you. There are ways to throw a ball to get a good strike accurately, and understanding how you can do the perfect spin or hook with the bowling ball is a must.

One of the considerations that you need to have with getting the perfect ball is its weight. The average number for men is 14 pounds, while 13 pounds are the average for women. For children, the average weight of the ball should be at 12 pounds.

There are also the quintessential holes you need to think about as well. You wouldn’t want to stick your fingers into it and have an accident when you throw the ball for the shot because the ball is still in your hands with your fingers in the holes. The holes should be big enough for your fingers, but not too small or too big enough that it easily slides even if you curve your finger inside the holes to hold it.

Be aware of the ratings as well as how you do your shots. Its Flare Potential and RG Radius can tell you if the ball is best for curve shots or a straight shot, so plan accordingly.

Get good shoes

If you watch a few official matches over the television or online, you would see the usual poses and stances that bowling players have before or after throwing the ball. Bowling may be easy to play, but you still need to make sure that you are using the right kind of shoes when playing. You might end up with a strain or a broken bone if your shoes are too big or too small.

Bowling shoes can just be like your regular ones. It’s best to use your own because it gets you comfortable, no matter which way you strike your pose or stance to take the shot.

There may be several good locations where you can play bowling Clayton has in their vicinity, so make sure that your shoes are good not just for playing but for walking as well.

Start with the best stance.

What you need to remember before you do your shot is to check the balance of the ball, making sure that you have a good grip on it and that you can adequately support the weight.

Do an upright bowling stance, where you keep your ball on the palm of your throwing hand, fingers in the holes. Keep the ball by the chest or stomach height, while using the other hand to support the weight of your ball.

Align the ball to the side of your body, where you would throw the ball in alignment with the seam of your shirt on one side. Keep your knees slightly bent, and relax your shoulders, the opposite foot (in relation to your shooting side) should be at the centre of the lane.

 

Remember to keep your wrists healthy to ensure that the ball will seem like a part of your arm, making sure that you would not feel any strains in your arm in the long run.

Author: Darren Wilson

Whether you’re buying a used piano or a new one, it can be a tricky purchase if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s easy to walk into a music store and find yourself overwhelmed by all of the choices. Therefore, before you begin your purchasing journey, it’s good to have a place to start.

Take a look at some of the best tips to know before buying a piano.

Consider Who You’re Buying For

The kind of piano that’s right for you will largely depend on who it’s for. Are you buying it for decoration in your living room? Is it for the whole family or just for your child to practice on?

These factors will determine how much quality you’re after and what kind of tone and touch you’re looking for. Ultimately, who you’re buying your piano for will determine how much money you’re going to spend. Obviously, the more you spend, the better of a product you’ll get.

Listen To The Tone

When trying out different pianos, make sure that you play on a few different kinds to hear the various tones. Compare models and the different tones that you like. Listen to them over and over and decide which sound you resonate best with.

Ideally, you should tone test at least three comparisons so that you have an idea of what’s out there. If you plan on buying an electric piano, make sure that you test them with headphones as well. Make sure that you bring your own headphones so that you get an accurate representation of what it will sound like once you’re back home.

Note The Ease Of Use

You can go out and find the fanciest and most expensive piano that money can buy, however, if you don’t know how to use it. Therefore, it’s critical to make sure that you’re comfortable on your piano. Think about the whole picture and whether you can see yourself comfortably playing.

Do you understand the commands? Does the cord sit in a comfortable place? Do you have enough ports to be able to do what you want to? How is the height? Make sure to take note of everything so that you know nothing about it will affect your playing experience negatively.

Above all, make sure that it feels right on your hands! Not every piano is created the same. When you eventually find the right piano for you, you’ll know!

There’s no one perfect piano that is a fit for everyone. By considering all of the crucial factors and taking your time making your choice, you should eventually make the right decision. In no time, you’ll be playing like Beethoven!

 

Moving? This can be an exciting time but also one which can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety because it is a big deal packing up your entire life and moving to a completely new home, particularly if you have been in the same place for a long time. The key to a smooth move on the big day is planning, so you need to know exactly what you are doing and who is helping so that you can co-ordinate the move and make it as simple as possible.

Here are a few moving day tips which should help.

Enlist Helpers

It is important that you have a few people helping you on moving day so that the move is made much easier. Friends and family are usually more than happy to help, but keep in mind that too many people can complicate matters. A few helpers will be able to assist with moving items, staying at one property, looking after the kids and/or pets and anything else that might need doing – just be sure to reward them with something like pizza and/or a bottle of wine at the end of the day!

Get The Right Vehicle

You need to have a big enough vehicle that can make it easy to transport your furniture, such as a van – this will help you to keep down the number of trips that you have to make. If you are borrowing a van for the move, make sure that you arrange temp insurance for cars and vans that allows you to get coverage for anything from 1 day through to 3, which can be an easy way to get covered.

Keep Security In Mind

It is easy for security to go out of the window when you are undertaking such a huge move and switching between two properties. You should avoid leaving your possessions out unattended in the street and always remember to either lock up at one property when moving to the other or have a helper stay.

Set Up Your Bed First

It may be the last thing that you want to do after a physically and mentally challenging day, but getting your bed set up is the first thing that you should do so that you can enjoy a good night’s sleep in your new home. The other items and boxes can wait till the next day, but being able to sleep in your own bed which is properly set up is important.

Treat Yourself

Additionally, you are not going to want to cook after a big move, so it is a good idea to treat yourself and your helpers to a nice takeaway. You will certainly have worked up an appetite and it is much easier simply to get a takeaway than to have to cook which will allow you to chill out and enjoy your new surroundings.

Hopefully, these tips will help to reduce stress on moving day and ensure that everything goes smoothly and according to plan.