Yes, a photograph.

“We love wood,” Walsh tells Selling to Seniors. “Our motto is ‘the feel of nature,’ and we know when seniors touch and use our wooden canes it takes away the ‘senior stigma’ you get — you’re considered old and feeble if you use a metal cane.” A one-of-a-kind wooden cane is likely to draw compliments instead of derision.

But Walsh couldn’t figure out how to overcome a particular logistical problem with a trade-in program: “How could they ship in their old cane before they get a new one in the mail? The logistics with retailers were crazy, too,” he says.

A Snapshot for a Discount

The breakthrough came when Walsh, inspired by the success of a recent website promotion calling for seniors to send in photographs of their walking sticks in action, settled on the idea of exchanging a photo of the user’s metal cane for a wooden one.

“That’s all they have to do,” he says. “Send in a picture of their ugly, metal Medicare cane and they’ll get a really unbelievable deal on one of our handcrafted wood canes.

“It’s a huge chunk of money,” he admits, “but we want people to experience first-hand the beauty of a wood cane.” Walsh adds that recent research shows that “we probably have the largest assortment of wood canes in the United States,” with materials including sassafras, hickory, sweet gum, oak, ash and iron bamboo.

Walsh, of course, is hoping the Cane Exchange will lead to repeat business and sales by referrals. “We just want people to touch a wood cane,” he says. “Our emphasis is quality, and the best advertising there is actually word of mouth,” Walsh says.

The promotion will continue until March 15, or until 50 canes are exchanged.

Make sure your doctor approves.
Info: Cane photographs should be sent to info@brazossticks.com. See www.brazos-walking-sticks.com; to see walking sticks in action, see http://www.youtube.com/BrazosSticks.

Selling to Seniors is an independent news service.

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Cane Maker Offers Unique Trade-in Promotion: Half Off for a Photo

Tinnitus can affect just one or both ears. In most cases, those affected by it describe it as a ringing sound, but can it also be characterized by whining, buzzing, roaring, hissing, whistling, tinging and wooshing. The sounds that tinnitus induces can come and go or be continuous, which can cause a lot of distress. Some people report that the intensity changes with movements of the eyes, jaw, tongue, head, or shoulders.

Objective tinnitus can be caused by muscle spasms in the ear that make clicking or cracking sounds near the middle ear. Some people who have objective tinnitus hear a sound that actually beats in rhythm with their pulse.

Long-term exposure to loud noises – Common sources of hearing loss are loud noises such as from heavy equipment, firearms, and chainsaws. The use of earplugs or headphones in portable music devices can also cause noise-related hearing loss if the music is played loudly and for extended periods.

The treatment for tinnitus is based on the underlying cause. For instance, if the tinnitus is due to an earwax blockage, removing the earwax should decrease the tinnitus. If a certain medication is the cause, the doctor will recommend stopping or reducing the dosage of the drug, or changing to a different one. For a patient with objective tinnitus who is diagnosed with a vascular condition, the treatment could be anything from medication to surgery to correct the condition.

Post from: Today Senior

Seniors Who Suffer From Tinnitus (Ringing of the Ears)

Common symptoms include a toe nail which becomes thick and dull in color with no shine, a toe nail that becomes distorted in shape or darker in color, pain at the nail site accompanied by a bad odor, a brittle or crumbling toe nail or a toe nail that begins to separate from the skin.

With almost one out of two individuals experiencing toenail fungus infections by the age of 70, it is important that seniors take the time and energy to take preventative measures. It is simply easier and cheaper to take preventative measures than to deal with toenail fungus once it has developed. There are some easy and simple steps to follow to avoid the expense and health risk of developing toenail fungus.

One of the most important preventative measures against toenail fungus is keeping toenails neatly trimmed, as well as dry and clean. That means changing your shoes on a daily basis if sweat makes them damp or moist. Wear clean socks daily as well to keep feet dry. For feet that tend to sweat, cornstarch powder makes an inexpensive treatment to absorb any moisture on your feet and within your shoes. There are also many good inexpensive dry medicated powders that can be purchased at your local drugstore over the counter without a doctor’s prescription.

The kind of socks you wear can help to prevent toenail fungus by keeping your feet nice and dry. Many synthetic blends are actually more effective than cotton or wool socks because they help to wick or absorb the moisture away from your feet and into the sock. If your feet perspire during the day and your socks feel damp, change into a clean, dry pair of socks at mid-day. At breaks or at lunch time, remove your shoes for a few minutes to give your feet a chance to breathe. Whenever possible, wear open toed shoes or sandals that allow your feet exposure to the fresh air.

Make sure to always wear shoes that fit properly. Often shoes that are too tight don’t allow any air circulation around the feet, leading to fungus growth under the toenails. Always wear shoes when walking in public places where germs and bacteria abound. Avoid walking barefoot in public because this is an easy invitation for fungus and other bacteria to cause toenail infections.

After trimming toenails, never pick at your cuticles or the skin around the toenails. When getting a pedicure, make sure that the pedicurist is using sterile and clean instruments. Anyone who has experienced toenail fungus infections and has cured the problem should invest in medicated anti-fungal spray or powder to use on a daily basis to prevent future outbreaks.

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How Seniors Over 55 Can Prevent Toenail Fungus Infections

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NOW CASTING FOR TV PILOT

There is a good feeling that goes with knowing that you have made sure your affairs are in order long before you need to them to be.  Senior citizens today are in the best health of any other generation.  So while you are still healthy, active and vibrant, now is the time to make sure your insurance, funeral directives and wills are all in order so you have that information on file and a designated loved one well trained in the event of your early departure from this life.

But there is one will you may have left out of your preparations so far.  That is what is called your Ethical Will.   An Ethical Will is unlike any other document you will prepare.  This document has no legal bearing on your estate.  It does not pass along property or instruct your executor on how you want your financial, business or property affairs to be handled.  Instead, your Ethical Will passes along to your loved ones something more precious than property.  It passes along your values.

An Ethical Will is a very personal document or set of documents that is used to resolve issues that may be remaining at end of life, to communicate the ethics and morals behind your legal decisions or to provide sage instructions to your children or friends about how you want them to carry on your legacy of charitable work or value based activities once you are gone.

In a way, the Ethical Will requires more thought, prayer and consideration of what you actually want to say to your loved ones than your conventional will.  Typically, you prepare an Ethical Will to be given or read to your loved ones after funeral as way of giving them one last touch of who you really are as a person.  So you can see that an Ethical Will can be a precious memory that will be treasured long past when your wealth or possessions are no longer around. 

Your Ethical Will may be passed from generation to generation.  Just imagine if you had a document written by your grandparents or great grandparents that spoke with heart and from a personal perspective about what they found wonderful about life, where their values took them and what they would pass to you from their heart to you, their child far off in the future.  That document would be of tremendous value to you and would be precious to your children and grandchildren down the line.

Ethical Wills can also be used to seek forgiveness for wrongs committed that you just could not resolve in life.  Conversely, you can give forgiveness where it may be needed and heal a life long rift between you and a family member and provide peace and closure as you go to your reward.  You don’t have to prepare just one Ethical Will.  You could prepare a separate one for each child, for your spouse and for your business associates and friends.  Obviously each will address a different level of intimacy and arena of values and ethics.

It’s a good thing to think about if you want to leave an Ethical Will for your friends and loved ones.  There is able reading on the market about how to get started writing your Ethical Will.  And if you take the time to put down on paper your heart and soul in this way, it will be source of comfort for a level of your “affairs” that you put in order well in advance that is even more meaningful than your conventional will or other end of life documents.

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Ethical Wills

Because online casino games are becoming more and more popular, many websites are offering them for free. But there are many things to consider before joining such online game sites. Remember, real money is involved in these games so you must be very careful to avoid scams.

Players who join online casinos do not have to deposit only money, but also some important information, such as their credit card number. If the moneys and essential information were stolen, then the players would be at a huge loss. That’s why online casinos take action to solve such problems. Here are the things that the players should understand before joining such gambling sites.

Privacy Policy

One method to provide security is through Privacy Policy. This contains the details about the gathered information–how it will be used and kept secured.  If you join any kind of online gaming site, then you should read first their Privacy Policy before you agree to their terms and conditions.

Encryption Protocols

The most vital feature of online gambling security is the protection of the money throughout fiscal transactions over the Internet. Encryption protocols have been developed to guarantee that the transaction of money and information is safe.

Dispute Resolution

The third feature to ensure security of the players is the dispute resolution.  Gaming and financial transactions are archived to guarantee transparency. Players can check these if they want to. In case of a dispute, these archives will be checked out to study the tracks, and resolve the problem.

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How can Seniors Play Online Casino Games without feeling at Risk of Fraud

Owning a pet requires a lot of care and patience, and it is the responsibility of the owner to look after his pets. But imagine the time when you need to take your family on a long, pending vacation or travel for business to get that important contract. Who’s gonna look after your ‘loyal friend’, who’s gonna do the daily chores like feeding, bathing, washing up the pet’s house, cleaning up the mess that the pet might have caused, or giving that monthly dose of Sentinel to your dog to get rid of fleas and heartworms? It’s in times like these that Pet companions come into play. They not only provide loving companionship and care for your pet while you are away from home, but can fill-up the void created by you .You can rest assured that there is someone who will be constantly watching over and caring for your pets just as you would care for them.

There are many pet companion agencies around who can help you in this kind of situation. But there are certain basic rules to follow while hiring such people:

1) Before getting into the contract, check whether the agency is a valid one that provides reliable services.

2) It should have well-trained professionals to perform the various daily activities associated with your pets.

3) The sitter should be sensitive and considerate enough to gel with your pets and look after them the way you do.

4) Make sure you gather contact numbers from the agency to get in touch with them as and when you want to know about how your pet is doing.

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Pet Companions: Everything you Need to Know

Accepting The Facts

Although it’s easier said than done, accepting the fact that your hair will never be the same is an important step and vindicating experience. Even if you plan on wearing a quick weave or getting hair transplants, the truth is your hair will never be like it was when you were young. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can move on.

Trying Hair Growth Products

From Rogaine to dietary supplements… there are a number of products on the market that claim to be able to help. Although they may help to a degree, scientists have not yet found a hair loss cure. Therefore, it’s important to have realistic expectations when using these products. They may help some, or they may not help at all.

Wearing a Wig or Quick Weave

For many, the only way to completely correct their hair loss is to cover it up. Luckily, these days the wigs they make are now more realistic than ever. Many of them actually use real remy hair. Now you may be asking what is remy hair? Well, it’s minimally processed hair that comes from a single donor. This helps to ensure the texture is uniform. A lace front wig is a good solution if you have gone bald, but if you only need minimal correction, you may want to look into a quick weave. A quick weave is a type of hair piece which attaches to your natural strands of hair; therefore it’s a great way to augment thinning hair.

Hair Transplants

For those only experiencing hair loss in one hair, you may want to look into getting hair transplants. The surgeon will transplant follicles from one area and put them into the area which needs hair. If you have a thick, dense head of hair, this can be a good option since there’s plenty to spare. But for those that have overall thin hair to begin with, it’s probably not a good option.

Conclusion

This a problem that not only men, but also many women will experience during their senior years. It’s an inevitable problem and it’s important to accept this reality. Although there are a wide array of options – from quick weaves to transplants – the truth is it’s impossible for us to have the same head of hair that we did during our youth.

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Senior Hair Loss: What Are Your Options?

(1) Eat Healthy

While this may sound cliché, what you eat actually has a lot to do with not only your physical health, but your appearances also. Just like your other organs, your skin needs certain nutrients to be in optimal shape. Skincare professionals recommend drinking plenty of water on a daily basis. As far as what to put on your plate, fresh fruits and vegetables contain key ingredients – antioxidants, vitamins, and numerous minerals. There are also nutrients in some meats and eggs that are important like retinol A, which is the animal form of vitamin A. If you’re eating a healthy diet, you probably already have these things covered. But there is one important ingredient which many people don’t think of, and that is healthy oils. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat – a healthy fat that researchers claim has a number of health benefits. Flax seed oil does also, but this one is special because it also contains an ingredient rarely seen in Western diets – omega-6 and omega-9. Try adding a tablespoon of each of these when you’re cooking a dish.

(2) Exercise

Again, this sounds cliché, but there’s a good reason for it. Exercising increases circulation across your entire body. What does this mean for your skin? That the increased bloodflow delivers more nutrients to your skin cells.  So not only will you be helping your heart and muscles, but your skin too. Even if you have a physical disability, there’s always at least some exercises you can still do. Talk to your doctor to find out which would be right for you.

(3) Sun Protection

Like the other tips, this is a good rule of thumb no matter what age you may be. Researchers have discovered that all forms of ultraviolet radiation (UVA, UVB, and UVC) are what’s know as carcinogenic – they are something that is more likely to produce cancer. And while young people may get away with it, years and years of that sunlight beating down on your skin takes a toll. So pickup some sunscreen next time you are at the drugstore and use it anytime you go outside. There are even inexpensive anti-wrinkle creams which also have UV-blocking agents in them, so you can kill two birds with one stone.

(4) Cosmetic Procedures

Thanks to today’s technology, there are several lasers on the market which work wonders on your skin. There are also chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion procedures. Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons can offer you these treatments. Now if you’re considering something more drastic, like going under the knife, there are important things you need to consider. Reality TV shows may make it seem like a walk in the park, but not only is cosmetic surgery expensive, there are real risks and complications you need to take into account. Just read one of the online plastic surgery forums to hear some of these disaster stories. This is not something that should be taken lightly, so consult with multiple doctors as well as your loved ones before you undergo a face lift, tummy tuck, or other surgical procedure.

Most of these are simple and in-expensive steps you can apply to your daily life. Of course talk to your doctor first before making any dietary or other lifestyle changes.

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Looking Your Best At Any Age

Here are some common exercise issues that can lead to joint problems:

Excessive weight lifting: This is a common issue that can lead many fitness enthusiasts to end up with injured joints. Lifting heavy weights can lead to inflammation of the bursae; a small fluid filled sack that reduces the friction in joints. Bad lifting techniques also cause tears on the tendons which can lead to tendonitis. Slow and steady wins the race.

Rapid muscle strength increase: Supplements such as creatine and nitric oxide can cause our muscle strength to dramatically increase. When lifting heavy weights after taking these supplements there is a huge risk of joint damage. The reason being that muscle strength increases much quicker than joint strength. So your muscles may be able to lift the weight but your joints will be damaged in the process.

This problem is often encountered by young people as muscle strength rapidly increases due to the hormones been produced by the body at that age.

Lack of nutrition: Joints require nutrition and rest to stay in proper working order. Lack of proper nutrition diminishes the body’s ability to adapt to stress. As a result minute tears can occur in the tendons as well as deteriorating cartilage in joints. Poor nutrition along with aggressive and incorrect training techniques can lead to osteoarthritis or tendonitis (tendon inflammation). This form of joint care can be sometimes improved with glucosamine supplements, which is understood to rebuild the cartilage found in joints.

Not resting and recovering properly: Overtraining and lack of proper rest will also eventually lead to joint problems. Too much training or consistently doing heavy and extremely strenuous exercises will cause trauma and lead to joint pain. If the body cannot recover completely trauma is likely to lead to more serious problems later in life. Spacing workouts and ensuring different rep amounts are used is essential.

Hopefully these issues will highlight ways to improve your workouts and ensure you avoid making simple mistakes.

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Joint Care Tips