Advice for adult children of aging parents who need help at home
(BPT) - Helping a parent stay active and healthy at home can be achieved with careful planning. The rewards of personally caring for, or managing the care of, a loved one who needs help are innumerable. It’s an opportunity to give back and to offer a return on the loving investment they once made in us. The trade-off is that in-home care costs money; money that may not be available. In-home care may be provided by loved ones, family, friends, neighbors or professional caregiv
The most common causes of homeowners insurance claims
(BPT) - The value of homeowners insurance is often thrust into the national spotlight when natural disasters happen. The devastation and financial loss they can cause reinforces the importance of making sure you have adequate insurance coverage to rebuild if disaster strikes your home. In 2017 alone, the U.S. was struck by 16 separate billion-dollar disaster events, resulting in a record-breaking $300 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini
Eating right and staying healthy in retirement
(BPT) - Americans are now living longer than ever before. In fact, one of the fastest growing segments is people over the age of 85 who will represent 20 percent of the population by the year 2040. Because we are living longer, certain conditions specific to seniors are also on a steady rise. Dehydration, falls, fractures, cognition loss and attention deficits are now becoming more commonplace. In a recent paper titled “Salt Appetite Across Generations” presented at a medical
5 tips for selecting the right railing for your deck
(BPT) - As one of the most visible elements of a deck, the railing serves an important aesthetic and structural role — adding support, safety and style. Here are five expert tips for creating the perfect perimeter for your outdoor space. 1) Aim high and low — When choosing railing, look for high-performance and low-maintenance materials, so that you’ll be able to spend more time relaxing on your deck rather than maintaining it. Although a classic option, wood railing requires
Wildfire protection starts in these 5 places
(BPT) - It’s National Wildfire Awareness Week. So, if you live in a wildfire-prone area, make sure you’re taking the right steps to stave off potential damage long before flames rage toward your doorstep. And one of the best ways to do that is to take a look at the home itself. "It's a combination of the house materials, the house design and then everything around it within 100 feet that makes the difference between a safer home and one that has a greater risk of damage from
