Apr

27

Aging In Place: New Technologies Abound!

Filed Under Aging In Place / Aging At Home | Leave a Comment

3 New Offerings In Development at University of South Carolina

SMART HOME ™ will enable older adults to use a “smart cup’ to monitor their fluid intake, a smart fridge to detect food spoilage, and home designs that will help builders to design elder-friendly homes with built-in systems to promote independence.

SMART WHEELS (tm) is a team that is developing state-of-the-art  drive simulation centers to evaluate and rehabiliate older drivers. Experts will work with auto manufacturers to create safer vehicles for older adults. A key objective is to develop an interdisciplinary adult driver facility for training, assessment, and rehabilitation.

Participants

 

SMART BRAIN ™ will promote brain health while preventing cognitive decline and brain disease, including Alzheimer’s and stroke. Prevention,, rehabiliitation, and research will promote  and maintain brains that remain healthy as older adults age. Smart BRAIN brings together experts in nutrition, exercise, geriatrics, neurophychology, and neurology to provide assessments of nutrition, exercise, medications, and health status, focusing on the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Apr

23

Home Safety Tip: G(FC)I Jane on Outlets

Filed Under Home Safety Tips | Leave a Comment

gfci_outlet

Jane Regan of HB Building and Design shares the following tip:

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Outlets (GFCIs) are designed to reduce the risk of electric shock. Building codes require GFCIs to be used in “wet” areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and outdoors. GFCIs damaged by lightning or electrical surges may fail to provide adequate protection. Our location in rural Northern California frequently experiences power surges or outages during storms. Lots of older homes do not have these outlets installed in their bathrooms.

In order to make sure that your GFCIs are working properly, they need to be tested regularly, about once every couple of months. Your GFCI outlet has a TEST and a RESET button.  Pressing the TEST button will trip the outlet, breaking the circuit. You should hear a pop* when you press this button. To restore the circuit, press the RESET button.

*Note: If you don’t hear the pop, then the outlet is not functioning properly and may be dangerous. Contact us to check or replace the outlet. If you don’t have GFCIs in your bathrooms or kitchen, call us for a quote  650-728-5878 or fill out our online contact form. We will help make your home safer!

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