Category: Family & Teens

Being active is important for the happiness and health of senior citizens. For the generation that got to experience the explosion of American muscle cars and the global dominance of U.S. car makers driving represents so much. Freedom, independence, a connection to the community – all that is available by simply getting behind the wheel.

As we age the physical, mental and sensory skills needed to safely operate a vehicle start to slip a little. It’s become such a subject of concern that the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is having an Older Driver Safety Awareness Week from December 2-6 this year.

The Biscoe Insurance Group, Inc wants to do our part by providing seniors as well as their family members and caregivers with advice on what older drivers need to be aware of and concerned with to ensure they keep driving safely for years to come.

Physical Concerns for Older Drivers

Take a driving fitness evaluation. There are many types of driving fitness evaluations. Some are simple self-exams that can highlight areas that may need attention. Others are more in-depth analysis done by a driving rehabilitation specialist. These specialists are trained in accounting for how medical conditions and the affects of aging can alter driving abilities. Each facility will have their own criteria for the evaluation but typically they include an examination of physical, cognitive and sensory functions as well as a test drive.

At the end of the evaluation the specialist will provide recommendations on equipment and strategies to improve driving safety if needed. You can locate nearby driving rehabilitation specialists on the AOTA website.

Test your reflexes. Quick reflexes are often needed to avoid accidents. A physician can test muscular reflexes as well as other reflexes to ensure that an older driver is physically fit enough to driver and under which circumstances.

Know how medications could affect your driving. Many prescription and even over-the-counter medications can have adverse physical, mental and sensory affects. Read the side effects for each medication you’re taking very carefully. If you have any questions about how a medication could affect your ability to drive discuss them with your physician.

Look into adaptive equipment. Adaptive equipment is specifically designed to help older drivers operate a vehicle better. From getting in and out of the car to seeing better at night there are a range of products that can help meet certain needs.

Cognitive Concerns for Older Drivers

See how sharp your cognitive skills are. People often forget how mental the process of driving is. Every second you’re behind the wheel you have to make decisions and assess situations. That takes competent cognitive abilities. Today there are tests that can be used to access cognitive skills. Not only will you be able to see where you’re current cognitive levels are, but the test will serve as a baseline for future test to see if improvements or declines have occurred.

Don’t forget to renew your car insurance. Your age may actually play in your favor when it comes to car insurance. Older drivers may be eligible for better benefits, but you have to remember to keep your insurance up-to-date to reap the rewards. Likewise if you find that another family member or friend is often driving you around in your car consider adding their name as a secondary driver on your insurance.

Drive only in areas you’re familiar with. Driving in an unfamiliar area can be confusing for any driver. For older drivers it’s best to stick to areas that you are already familiar with and know your way around so there is one less thing to worry about.

Sensory Concerns for Older Drivers

Regular eye exams are a must. The eyesight test is one of the major factors in many senior citizens not being able to renew their driver’s license. It’s important to visit an ophthalmologist annually to ensure that your prescription is up-to-date and that your eyes are healthy.

Check out your hearing. Hearing isn’t as important as eyesight, however it is an aide in safe driving. Cars have horns for a reason. Sound is just one more way of gauging what’s going on around you and alerting others. During your annual physical make sure your doctor checks your hearing levels. And always wear your hearing aides while driving if you have them.

Other options like public transportation and carpooling can also be solutions to keeping older drivers safe without limiting their ability to get around. Just because adjustments need to be made in how you get around doesn’t mean that mobility or independence no longer exists. There are a lot of ways to improve older driver safety so that they can remain on the road for longer.

Image Source: http://www.aota.org/, http://ehstoday.com/safety/dec-3-7-older-driver-safety-awareness-week?page=2

Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/family-teens/guide-driving-safely-get-older

 

Chances are you don’t think about the roof over your head too often. For millions of others that don’t have a home, or worry whether their roof will be there tomorrow, it’s a constant worry. A solid roof that they can count on to protect them from the elements is something that many people strive for.

In honor of National Roof Over Your Head Day we’re turning our attention upwards by providing tips on keeping your roof in shape over the winter months and suggesting one way you can help the less fortunate this holiday season.

Protecting Your Roof During the Winter

When it comes to protecting your roof during the winter there are things specific to the season that need to be addressed as well as regular maintenance.

Regular Maintenance That Needs to be Done During the Winter

Check the ceilings – Water stains on the ceiling are an indicator of problem areas on the roof. Areas directly over these spots should be checked first.

Check all roof penetration points – Vents, pipe boots, chimney flashing – any place where the shingles are penetrated or not flush needs to be properly sealed. Fix any points that look questionable.

Replace shingles – Any shingles that are broken, loose, etc. should be replaced before they become a problem or expose the substructure.

Look for sagging and softness – Once you’re up on the roof feel for any soft spots underfoot. Also get low and look for sagging or uneven spots. Any of these can indicate that maintenance is needed and there could be rot.

Winter Specific Roof Maintenance

Clear all gutters and downspouts – They are sure to have had some build up after the fall and will only get worse as winter sets in. If drainage isn’t moving properly buildup can cause the gutter system to loosen.

Check the fascia and deck for deterioration – Weak spots in winter will be made worse by the cold, which can make materials contract further loosening them and creating cracks that are wide enough for water to penetrate.

Clean off the roof – It’s a good idea to keep your roof clean all the time. But the more buildup you have going into the winter months the more potential there is for problems.

Help Blue Santa Give Others a Reason to Celebrate the Holiday Season

For decades there’s been an organization that has come to the homes of people that aren’t quite as fortunate at Christmas. No, it’s not the real Santa climbing up on the roof and down the chimney, it’s Blue Santa. At the heart of the 501 nonprofit is the Austin Police Department.

It all began with 20 families in 1972. Today, Blue Santa provides Christmas presents for kids 14 years old and younger and a holiday meal for 3,500 families. The Austin Police Department is joined by the Austin Fire Department, Austin Water, Austin Energy, the Texas National Guard, sponsors, businesses and fellow Austinites. That’s right, people just like you are helping to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people.

You can give back this holiday season too! This time of year Blue Santa is always in need of donations and volunteers. They are happy to work with your schedules, and the whole family can get involved sorting, wrapping and packing gifts that will be given to local kids. If you prefer to donate Blue Santa accepts both funds and toys.

Regardless of how you choose to give, the most important part of National Roof Over Your Head Day is giving thanks for the one you have and helping others to have that same security.
Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wdwbarber/4256732237/, http://www.bluesanta.org/

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When you have a child there are a lot more things to consider in life – especially when it comes to your insurance needs. Whenever you welcome a baby into the world most parents begin to take their life insurance options a lot more seriously. One of those considerations is whether or not to take out a life insurance policy for your child as well as yourself.

In this post we’ll take a look at life insurance policies for kids – what they entail, their benefits and how to decide if it’s time to get one.

What a Kids Life Insurance Policy Includes

Kids life insurance policies aren’t very different from those designed to cover adults. These policies are typically available to children aged two weeks to 18 years old. They are meant to provide a financial safety net in the event that a child should pass away.

The Benefits of a Child Life Insurance Policy

Death Benefit – Should your child pass away the death benefit would be paid out by the insurer to cover funeral costs and outstanding medical expenses. The amount of the death benefit varies per policy.

Child Won’t Be Denied a Policy in the Future – In the event that an already insured child develops an illness they can still retain their policy into their adulthood.

Fixed Rate for the Future – As mentioned above once the child becomes an adult they can continue to maintain their policy on their own as an adult, including the fixed rate.

Can Build Cash Value – This isn’t the main benefit of life insurance for kids, but building the cash value of a policy is a residual benefit. The cash value can be borrowed against or a portion can be cashed in if needed.

Should You Get Life Insurance for Your Kids

If you have the means to do so then extra coverage is never a bad idea. Fortunately, there’s only a 1 in 3,000 chance of a child dying before age 18, but being prepared for the unthinkable means there’s one less thing to worry about during an extremely trying time.

According to a survey of over 1,000 funeral homes conducted by eFuneral, the average cost of a funeral in 2012 was over $8,500. There are many affordable kids life insurance policies with death benefits of $10,000 or more.

However, if you can only afford to cover one person in your household, forgo the kid’s life insurance and get the breadwinner of the family covered. The death of a parent has a much larger financial impact on a family, is more likely and unfortunately many adults are under insured or not insured at all. First make sure both parents have adequate life insurance coverage, then consider insuring your kids.

An Alternative Option

Another option in addition to a separate life insurance policy is adding a rider to the policy of a parent. A child rider can be added to cover one or more dependents. A small premium paid once a year will offer a single death benefit in the event any of the dependents should pass away.

Original Source: http://www.mybiginsurance.com/family-teens/kids-need-life-insurance

Image Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory