One month almost down and eleven more to go! Is keeping that New Year’s resolution harder than you thought? If your resolution entailed improving your general health by exercising and you already feel you are on the downhill stretch, follow these easy uplifting tips.

Safely operating a motor vehicle in wintry weather is a challenge for drivers of all ages. For seniors, the hazards of winter driving can be compounded further by a variety of issues such as decreased reaction time, reduced mobility, and other age-related health concerns. However, with a little extra planning, preparation, and caution, senior motorists—and younger drivers alike—can commute with confidence this winter. Here are some timely tips that will help drivers stay safe behind the wheel when winter weather makes driving dangerous:

Gathering with family and friends around a traditional wood-burning fireplace is the very essence of comfort in wintertime, especially during the holidays. But that cozy, crackling fire can also present some serious hazards—ranging anywhere from smoke filling your family room to a full-fledged house fire—if you don’t use and maintain your fireplace properly. Here are some commonsense safety tips that will help you enjoy the warm glow of a wood fire without all the worry:

The Long-term-Care (LTC) Ombudsman program advocates for LTC consumers across the United States. In our region (Region 4), we serve all 10 counties of northwest Ohio to provide advocacy and support to anyone receiving LTC supports and services.

Every winter, snow shoveling causes more than its share of injuries, ranging from strained or pulled muscles to thrown-out backs. Also, after a heavy snowfall, it’s not unusual to hear news reports of people who suffer heart attacks—sometimes fatal—while shoveling. These avoidable injuries and tragedies occur because it’s easy to underestimate how the sudden, intense exertion of snow shoveling taxes the body—especially when that body has been otherwise sedentary for most of the year.

Isolation is a major cause of depression. As we move into adult responsibilities, such as work, parenting, and marriage, we tend to let our relationships fade into the background. The trend to work remotely has increased our isolation. In the ever-increasing tasks of “adulting,” self-care often takes a back seat. Self-care includes physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, personal, and professional tasks. A healthy support system plays a role in all these categories of self-care.

In a recent issue, I told about our visit to Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. But, wait, there’s more. On that same trip, Shirley and I also stopped at Bandelier National Monument about an hour northwest of Santa Fe and Hovenweep National Monument on the Colorado-Utah border. All three parks are dedicated to the preservation of Ancient Puebloan Indian sites.

With 2020 just a month away, it’s time to start thinking about those New Year’s resolutions and a perfect time to re-evaluate your personal fitness goals. If you’re a novice runner, an advanced runner, or even a member of a local gym, the approaching New Year is a great time to set short- and long-term goals for yourself. Whether it’s for weight loss or to improve your 5K run time, personal goals will keep you on track.

Given all the benefits that companion animals bestow upon us, it’s no wonder that puppies, kittens, and other pets make such popular holiday gifts. But before you bless one of the loved ones in your life with a furry friend, keep in mind that what you’re actually giving is a major commitment that will stretch far into the future. If you give a companion animal to someone who is unprepared for this high level of commitment or if the animal proves to be a poor match for the recipient’s lifestyle, energy level, or financial resources, the outcome could be disastrous. And when the reality of pet ownership collides with preconceived, unrealistic expectations, it’s almost always the pet that gets the short end of the stick.

Moving to a senior living community can benefit older adults in a variety of ways. A broad range of amenities and services, enhanced opportunities to socialize, engaging and stimulating programming, and access to a broad continuum of care are just some of the rewards they stand to reap in a quality community. Not to mention, they get to leave behind all the burdensome chores of private homeownership, which frees up time that they can now devote to their favorite pursuits and passions.