Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2024-05-23T11:01:00

(BPT) – Nothing beats summer days spent on the water. Looking to get your feet wet? There are plenty of ways to get on the water whether you own a boat or are just getting started. Boating has seen a surge in popularity as millions of Americans prioritize experiences, outdoor recreation and work-life balance.

Being on the water provides freedom to explore and is one of the most fun, relaxing ways to escape stress on land. Plus, there is a scientific connection between water and happiness — it has a positive impact on psychological, emotional and behavioral health.

Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced captain navigating best practices, remember boating should be fun, not intimidating. Understanding basic skills and passenger etiquette will boost your confidence and help create a safer environment to allow for an enjoyable, stress-free day on the water.

“Spending time on the water with loved ones away from all the distraction on land is one of the best ways to decompress and create lasting memories,” said Ellen Bradley, senior vice president of Discover Boating. “Before stepping on board or taking the helm, it’s a good idea to brush up on the safety essentials. There are a variety of educational resources available to not only ensure the safety of those on board but also protect other boaters so everyone can enjoy a fun day on the water.”

Discover Boating is a one-stop resource for all things boating, from safety and education articles, maintenance checklists and boating destinations to finding your dream boat, locating verified dealerships in your area, and more.

Below are five tips from Discover Boating to improve your nautical know-how to ensure the best possible experience on (and off) the water.

1. Watch a video. View Discover Boating’s new Boating Safety Basics Video Series, Presented with Progressive Insurance for expert tips to prepare for your captain duties and be the best boat guest including fueling best practices, proper use of navigation lights, trailering techniques and safe seating tips.

2. Take a class. Sign up for a boating lesson to hone your powerboating, sailing or watersports skills by mastering the basics while having fun along the way. On-water training courses, watersports camps, youth boating programs and more are offered across the U.S.

3. Visit a boat show. Boat shows are an ideal place to immerse yourself in the boating lifestyle and provide a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with — and shop — a variety of boat dealers and marine product companies all under one roof. Most boat shows also offer educational opportunities whether you’re a seasoned skipper looking to improve your skills or a new boater looking for tips on everything from boating safety to navigation and boat operation. Find a boat show in your area.

4. Look for the seal of approval. When shopping for a boat, whether at a boat show, online or at a dealership, check to make sure it is NMMA Certified. NMMA Certified boat and trailer manufacturers have been independently inspected to ensure they meet strict industry standards for safety and construction, as well as all federal regulations. Look for the NMMA Certified sticker near the helm of a boat.

5. Preserve your boat with proper maintenance. Similar to cars, there are a few areas that require regular maintenance by the owner, and a few areas that require maintenance at routine intervals, which most leave to the professionals. Prepare a boat maintenance checklist that covers everything from engine needs to cleaning to electrical systems to ensure your boat has a long lifespan.

Enjoy your next boating adventure and be sure to use the social media hashtag #SeeYouOutHere to share your favorite moments on the water.

Visit DiscoverBoating.com for safety tips, storage options, boat shopping tools, how-to’s for getting on the water and more.

2024-05-23T10:01:01

(BPT) – As your mother ages, it’s natural to start thinking about where she’ll live out her golden years. Don’t be surprised if she decides to stay put instead of moving.

Over the last 20 years, more and more older adults are living in traditional housing. The trend is called “age in place.” A recent survey found that 92% of older adults prefer to live out their later years in their current home instead of a care facility or other assisted living housing.

Aging in place and living independently for as long as possible provides several benefits for older adults. According to the Cleveland Clinic, aging in place can preserve independence, reduce health care expenses, provide consistency (which lessens confusion for people with memory issues) and helps aging adults maintain their support networks. More importantly, Mom gets to stay in a place where she’s built a life and created beautiful memories, providing a sense of security and emotional well-being.

Of course, there are challenges to aging in place. Namely, the risk of falling.

A balancing act

As you begin a conversation about aging in place, you’ll have to balance protecting your mom with preserving her privacy. Both are important especially as risks, like falls, increase.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in four adults 65 and over fall each year in the U.S. While this can happen to anyone, women fall more often than men, accounting for three-quarters of all hip fractures.

Accidents happen, but some factors can increase your mother’s fall risk. For example, the National Council on Aging found that medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs can affect a person’s balance, and antipsychotics can increase dizziness and confusion, which can lead to a fall.

When an older adult falls, it can cause more than just a bruise. According to the CDC, one in five falls cause broken bones, head injury or other serious injuries. Not only are these falls scary and potentially life-threatening, but falling once doubles a person’s chances of falling again.

Caregiving crisis

To safeguard your mother’s desire for independence, while prioritizing her safety, you’ll need to address her care. Even if your mother is currently diligent about keeping you up to date with her care needs that may not always be the case.

As they age, older adults tend to experience a soft decline. They may not notice a decrease in their physical and mental functions. As they age, their functional skills decline. You may not be able to count on your aging parent to self-report accurately, so you’ll want to keep a close eye.

However, not every caregiver lives near their aging parents. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, 5-7 million U.S. caregivers are long-distance, making regular check-ins virtually impossible.

If you live nearby, checking in on your mom is doable, but what about at night or during work hours? Caregiving for a parent can be exhausting, and many family caregivers experience burnout and fatigue.

Whether you live near or far, you could hire a professional caregiver … assuming you can afford or find one. Due to a combination of factors, including the pandemic, the U.S. is facing a growing nursing shortage, with about 9 nurses per 1,000 people in 2023 compared to almost 12 nurses per 1,000 people in 2021. The shortage will likely continue, considering that 610,388 registered nurses plan to leave the workforce by 2027 due to stress, burnout and retirement.

A new solution for safety, privacy and peace of mind

So, what are your options? Thankfully, new technology has made it possible for older adults to stay home safe and secure. Whether you live across the street, across town or across the state, these tools allow you to check on Mom and her daily activities remotely.

Advances in potential fall detection are making life easier for everyone. Early fall detection systems on the market were limited — only providing information when an event had occurred. These systems were unable to provide a broader view of daily activities that could be indicators of physical decline, including potential fall risks.

The latest systems combine simple movement and motion-sensing technology with the power and the portability of mobile apps. These systems greatly expand the ability to check on a loved one day or night before a fall or to alert of an actual fall.

What about cameras? For older adults who feel cameras are invasive, the choice could be between safety and a sense of privacy. But, technological advances can now capture and report the normal motion of daily activities without cameras.

Nomo Smart Care™ is an affordable, easy-to-install system designed around the idea of normal motion. What is normal motion? It’s a person’s simple daily routine, like getting out of bed and opening the refrigerator and the medicine cabinet. Changes in Mom’s expected normal motion could signal a decline in her health and well-being. Patterns have power. Disruption in normal patterns of behavior can provide early warning of potential problems and open the door to early intervention.

The Nomo Smart Care system is made of three basic components: the hub, satellites and tags. The hub and satellites detect motion. For example, a person moving through a room. The tags report activity in the room. Tags are applied to any surface, like doors and drawers, and report when they move. Because tags detect movement, they can also be set up and worn as a potential fall-detection pendant. All three components work together to create easy and intuitive reports and logs of Mom’s motion and movement, day or night, without using cameras.

Using the free-to-download app, an unlimited number of family members and caregivers can check on normal motion in real time. Mom didn’t open the medicine cabinet? No movement in the kitchen this morning? The user can also set triggers to be alerted when some activities occur or when expected activities don’t occur. If needed, the system can alert caregivers of an emergency and provide seamless connection to 9-1-1 services.

Keep your mom happy at home

Statistics point to the broader need for simple, effective solutions in the face of a groundswell of age-in-place parents. Technology can help. Cutting-edge systems like Nomo Smart Care are helping provide both independence and comfort for older family members who want to stay in their homes, and peace of mind for the caregivers who are supporting them. Visit NomoSmartCare.com to learn more.

2024-05-22T23:01:00

(BPT) – Summer break can be wonderful for kids, as they are able to explore new activities, visit with friends or just have more free time to play. But summer can also get hot — and long. If you’ve ever struggled to find more ways for your kids to have fun when the temperatures climb, or heard them complain about being bored, there’s a great solution: Urban Air Adventure Park, the largest indoor adventure park operator in the world and part of the world’s first Youth Enrichment franchise platform company Unleashed Brands, helping families get the most out of summer breaks.

Whether your kids are between summer camps and classes, it’s too hot or rainy to play outside, or you’re just looking for new ways to keep your kids more active and off their screens, Urban Air offers a wide variety of engaging activities — with a range of options that will turn any summer day into an exciting excursion.

While every location has unique offerings, all of them include something for everyone, for all ages and skill levels. Activities at most locations include options like Warrior Courses, Climbing Hills, Tubes Playgrounds, Battle Beams, wall-to-wall APEX trampolines and more. Some locations may also offer additional attractions like Bowling, Mini-Golf, Climbing Walls, Ropes Course, Go-Kart Tracks, Spin Zone Bumper Cars and Virtual Reality. Urban Air also provides a convenient cafe, with kid-friendly favorites like pizza and nachos (menus vary by location).

This year, Urban Air wants to help families get the most out of their summer breaks with new “All You Can Summer” offerings, available now. The Summersational Play Pass unlocks three months of adventure* and the All-In, All-Day Group Pass is perfect for the entire family, complete with fun and food. Urban Air is a top choice for memorable birthday parties, family get-togethers or just the best everyday reason to get out of the house and have a blast, all summer long.

Here’s what’s included in the passes:

Summersational Play Pass:

Adults can purchase the Play Pass online at UrbanAir.com/summer-pass for access to instant fun for unlimited visits during a 3-month period. While prices vary depending on each location, this pass starts as low as $44.99 and includes indoor play socks, with no blackout dates.

All-In, All-Day Group Pass: For less than the cost of a family night at the movies, the All-In, All-Day Group Pass includes top-tier passes to your local Urban Air Adventure Park for three children and two adults, with Urban Air socks, plus food and beverages including pizza, sodas and ICEEs — like the special Urbie’s Razzamatazzberry Blast flavor. Bundle prices vary by location and can be purchased online.

Check out the best way for families to beat the boredom and the heat by finding an Urban Air Adventure Park near you at UrbanAir.com/locations.

*The Summersational Play Pass is valid for 90 days once parks begin to accept visits for the play pass. The Summersational Play Pass is only valid on NEW purchases and cannot be combined with any other offers or promos. This is not a membership. Participating locations only. Attraction height and capacity restrictions may apply.

2024-05-22T10:59:00

(BPT) – By Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, executive vice president of Innovation for LG Electronics, head of LG NOVA

In business, meaningful growth can’t happen without innovation. It’s essential if your organization is to evolve and thrive, and if you’re serious about adding value to people’s daily lives.

With a thirst to drive innovation, and a wealth of knowledge in the area of IoT, I set out to establish and grow my own startup. I’m happy to say I succeeded in this endeavor. However, with the business model being rather narrow — a continuous cycle of making products and then selling them — there were limitations to what I could do.

After making the decision to sell my company, I went on to serve as the Presidential Innovation Fellow for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), a program run by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It was a valuable and enlightening experience. There, I had the chance to work with leading tech companies to further develop and execute plans for industrial IoT and global smart cities. During my seven years in the U.S. federal government, I realized that there are limits to what governments can do with regard to building smart ecosystems. In the end, private companies are the ones bringing the ideas and concepts of smart solutions and businesses to fruition.

This was when I was first approached by LG Electronics. The company wanted to create a new organization dedicated to the discovery of future businesses. LG offered me this amazing opportunity to head up a team they were in the process of putting together.

I thought deeply about the prospect of joining LG. While the company is universally recognized as a strong player in the consumer electronics field, looking in from the outside, it seemed to lack what some might call, a certain ‘disruptive innovation.’ However, I was intrigued by its determination and desire to uncover future business and was confident that the company possessed the agility necessary to change and ‘disrupt.’

Personally, I believe that if there are ten great ideas on the table, seven or eight of them will fail to develop into successful businesses. While many people view this way of thinking about business creation as just plain crazy, LG CEO William Cho is, thankfully, not among them.

At LG NOVA, an initiative I am grateful to lead, our mission is to establish a community for nurturing, growing and creating new businesses in new market areas for LG. Early in the LG NOVA journey, we realized that entering new businesses — or new business areas — is difficult if you’re relying solely on your internal capabilities.

If LG wants to create new home appliances, it is in a good position to do this internally because it is already a global leader in consumer electronics, with all the necessary expertise and experience at its disposal. LG NOVA’s mandate is to explore entirely new and different concepts, not currently in LG’s wheelhouse. Although there are thousands of engineers and experts working in LG’s R&D centers, their expertise is in products and areas of business that LG is already in. This is why the LG executive team resolved to look outside of LG.

Our goal is to explore new business avenues that would, ultimately, help contribute to the advancement of LG Electronics. Startups, by the nature of their business model and ability to be at the ground-level of market needs, are leading the forefront of innovation. However, startups will not partner with just any firm that approaches them. This is why we needed to show that LG, as a company, has the commitment and capability to go far beyond home appliances and TVs. This is where LG NOVA comes in.

To establish ourselves in the market, we came up with the idea of hosting a grand challenge. In September 2021, we announced the launch of Mission for the Future, an annual, global competition for startups where we could identify innovative technologies and business ideas for a better tomorrow. The participating startups were tasked with developing and presenting technology-based solutions for improving daily life, our communities and the planet. The tech areas we asked them to focus on included clean tech, healthcare and future tech/AI.

To give you an idea of how it works, imagine there is a startup that creates sensors for use in healthcare devices. They might pitch a scenario or concept where their sensors are deployed in TVs to enable innovative new services. Our own business experts, or entrepreneurs in residence (EIRs), would then work with the startup to assess the feasibility of their idea. In many cases, EIRs would work closely with the startup to develop a relevant, but entirely different business idea that could be exciting to both parties. If the idea was deemed to be viable, and in alignment with LG NOVA’s goals and values, a partnership agreement might result and LG NOVA would launch a new business based on the collaboration. This is how a small, fledgling company can set its unique concept on the fast track to becoming a commercialized product.

Through this process, and by combining our capacity with the startup’s capacity, we can create a joint business where LG has as much ‘skin in the game’ as the startup. And at every step along the way, LG NOVA will be right there with them, from meeting with investors to introducing and marketing the ‘final product’ to customers. Through LG NOVA, we can create new products and services that can make a positive difference — and do it at a much larger scale than a startup could manage, if it were to go it alone.

I am proud to be a part of LG and to help guide LG NOVA into exciting new territories where boundless innovation awaits discovery. And I can say, without exaggeration, that I truly love this role. Ultimately, I’m striving for Innovation for Impact — which also happens to be the motto and the philosophy of LG NOVA. While there are many, many ways to make a profit, we have committed ourselves to achieving profitability in a meaningful way, and to leaving a lasting, positive impact on the world.

2024-05-22T12:01:01

(BPT) – If you’re experimenting with going vegan, you’ve got good timing. Even just a decade ago, it was difficult to find meat- and dairy-free options in restaurants and in the grocery store, let alone tasty vegan recipes to make at home. But now, it has never been easier to focus on plant-based eating. Grocery stores are filled with vegan products — plant-based yogurt, like Icelandic Provisions Oatmilk Skyr, and even meat substitutes like burgers and chicken. Many restaurants offer vegan menu items, denoted with a green V. Vegan cookbooks are on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Still, it seems like a huge dietary change to make. Do you have to overhaul everything?

The good news is, the answer to that is no. In fact, experts like those at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health say that, while a vegan diet can reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, blood cholesterol and diabetes, it’s best not to go all in, all at once. It can feel overwhelming, difficult and restrictive, so much so that you might just abandon the effort.

A great way to start small is to swap out some ingredients in your favorite meals to make them vegan, without the fuss.

Here are some easy swaps to make some of your favorite dishes vegan.

Oatmilk skyr for regular yogurt. Not familiar with skyr? It’s like yogurt, but creamier, thicker, higher in protein and usually lower in sugar. It’s a staple for many Nordic peoples, but because it’s traditionally made from milk, vegans haven’t had that option. Icelandic Provisions solves that dilemma, by using thousand-year-old heirloom Icelandic cultures adapted to perform in a vegan environment to create Icelandic Provisions Oatmilk Skyr. Take a single-serve cup on the go or use it just like you would milk-based skyr or yogurt — a bowl with berries and granola starts the day off right.

Chickpeas for tuna or chicken in salad sandwiches for wraps. This clever trick will transform your lunches, and it’s so easy to do. Start with a can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and lightly mash so they’re still chunky. Then dress it up the same way you would a tuna or chicken salad sandwich — diced celery and onion, a dash of parsley or dill, and vegan mayo or plain oatmilk skyr for the base. Spread it on bread and add lettuce, tomato, avocado or whatever your taste buds fancy!

Lentils for beef or pork in spaghetti sauces. Many people find they can’t even tell the difference when they sub lentils for ground meat in sauces. Here’s the trick: Cook the lentils bolognese-style, with a vegan twist. Start by sauteing onion and garlic. Add your lentils, and then pour enough oat or soy milk to just cover the lentils and let that boil down. Then, add white wine, and boil that down, too. While the wine is reducing, add Italian spices. Last, add your tomato sauce and paste and simmer. Bonus tip: You can twist this recipe for tacos, too, by using Mexican spices. Top with plain oatmilk skyr, a great replacement for sour cream, and cilantro.

Oatmilk skyr, bananas or applesauce for eggs in baking. You can get all the moisture with none of the dairy by subbing oatmilk skyr, bananas or applesauce for eggs in your favorite baking recipes. Here’s what you need to know: One-fourth cup of oatmilk skyr or applesauce equals one egg. For bananas, one-half cup of mashed banana equals one egg. Give it a try! You’ll be surprised how delicious it is.

Going vegan, a little at a time, is an easy way to lighten up your diet. By swapping vegan ingredients for meat or dairy in your favorite dishes, you won’t miss a thing!

2024-05-22T15:39:00

(BPT) – With warmer days come picnics at the park and backyard barbecues — and that means it’s potato salad season! Here are 10 ways to make the best potato salad of your life.

1. Start with the right type of potato.

While any potato can be used for potato salad, russets and yellows are the best options because they can absorb the dressing and flavors the most. Fingerlings and petites can also be good choices, and as a bonus, you don’t have to cut them.

2. Cut and soak potatoes before cooking.

Cut your potatoes into 1.5-2-inch chunks, as consistently as possible. If your chunks are too small, you’ll end up with mashed potatoes. Keep the peel on for extra flavor and nutrients. Soaking your potatoes in cold water before cooking will help prevent oxidation and remove excess starch. Don’t soak them for long — just a minute or two will do the job.

3. Simmer – don’t boil!

Boiling your potatoes will cause them to break apart. Simmer them until they’re fork-tender. However, when in doubt, overcooked is preferable to undercooked.

4. Season the water for added flavor.

Add flavor to the potatoes as they cook. A few recommendations:

• Generously salt your water.
• Use vegetable stock.
• Add lemon juice, garlic and other seasonings to the water.

5. Drain well, but don’t cool completely.

When the potatoes are fork-tender, drain them well and let the steam escape. Get rid of as much excess moisture as you can. But don’t cool completely! While the potatoes are still warm, put them on a baking sheet, and sprinkle on some acid like apple cider, rice wine or red wine vinegars. Pickle juice is another great acid choice! Adding the acid when the potatoes are warm maximizes the flavor.

Avoid white vinegar, which is too strong, or balsamic vinegar, which will add a weird color. Afterward, sprinkle salt over the potatoes, unless you used pickle juice, which is already salty.

6. Make the dressing separately.

No matter what dressing base you choose (e.g., mayo, oil, etc.), don’t combine all the dressing ingredients with the potatoes. Make the dressing in advance and then mix with your potatoes once seasoned. If you’re using a dairy-based dressing, let the potatoes cool before mixing.

A classic potato salad dressing has mayonnaise, mustard and some type of acid (like vinegar or citrus juice) and relish. You want the dressing to have a more liquid consistency before adding it to the dish. The starch in the potatoes will thicken the dressing and make it creamier. Add seasonings like paprika, salt, pepper, parsley and dill to amp up the flavor.

Bonus tip: make a little extra dressing to give new life to leftover potato salad the next day.

7. Choose onions wisely.

Onions are great but avoid harsh yellow and white onions. Green onions tend to work well, and red onions are okay, too – just make sure to dice and rinse them in cold water first!

8. Give it some texture.

For a classic, all-American potato salad, add hard-boiled eggs to get a great mix of textures. Celery is another option to give you some crunch.

9. Serve at room temperature.

Avoid serving cold potato salad in general, but it’s particularly important to bring potato salad with oil-based dressing to room temperature, because oil can harden when chilled.

10. Play with variations on your salad.

Don’t be afraid to play with your food! Try using different flavor profiles and ingredients to spice things up. A current fan favorite is a potato salad inspired by Mexican street corn with cotija cheese, charred corn, lime juice and the perfect amount of heat.

In addition to being delicious, potato salad is a showcase for America’s favorite vegetable. You’ll be happy to know that a medium (5.3 oz), skin-on potato has more potassium than a banana, 3 grams of plant-based protein and almost one-third of the vitamin C we need daily — so enjoy!

To check out more great potato salad recipes, visit PotatoGoodness.com.

2024-05-22T14:01:00

(BPT) – Summer is a great time of year — full of new activities, outings, road trips and all kinds of adventures. As your family gears up for a season full of fun, one of the top items on your must-have list is portable snacks to fuel them all day long. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for wholesome, tasty and easy-to-pack snacks the entire family will love — and great tools to help you keep those snacks safe and secure, wherever you and your kids are headed next.

Here are some snack ideas to help you keep everyone happy and full of energy through this busy, sun-filled season.

Choose food bags designed for busy families

Whether you’re packing hearty sandwiches, cut-up fruits and veggies or a variety of other foods your kids need to get them through their busy day, choose easy-to-use, durable food bags that not only seal reliably, but are large and strong enough to contain generous portions of food — and keep summer essentials like travel-sized containers of sunscreen, bug spray, wipes and napkins organized.

For example, Hefty Press to Close Food Bags have a unique double zipper that seals with a single press and slide across the closure. They are available in a variety of sizes, including a convenient XL Sandwich size that can easily fit fruit salads, sub sandwiches or watermelon slices. Hefty Press to Close Food Bags also have an expandable bottom that makes them easier to fill. Best yet, they’re budget-friendly, as they cost less than the leading brand.

Recruit the kids

Help ensure that your kids will enjoy their snacks by involving them in making and/or packing them. You can set up a build-your-own trail mix station in the kitchen, providing options including a variety of nuts and seeds, raisins and other dried fruits, chocolate chips, granola or their favorite cereals, etc. Provide scoops and let kids fill their own Hefty Press to Close food bags with customized trail mix they can bring along with them, wherever they’re headed. Your kids can write their names on their trail mix bags using the convenient write-on label area of the bag.

Keep everybody hydrated and stay cool

You can also provide extra hydration through foods with high water content, like fresh fruits and veggies. The best options for on-the-go snacking include cut-up pieces of celery, carrots, cucumber, apples and melons. Even easier are items that don’t need cutting up, like cherry tomatoes, snow peas and mandarin oranges. Include a container of dipping sauce, hummus, cream cheese, dressing or nut butter to make these snacks extra tasty.

Another effective hack is to pack along a few fruits that are frozen ahead of time, like grapes, bananas or melon slices, plus some yogurt tubes.

Best on-the-road snacks

For road trips — or trips back and forth from summer activities — you may want to bring along several snacks that aren’t too messy for kids to eat in the car. For example, you could fill your Hefty Press to Close Food Bags with options like string cheese, whole grain crackers and pretzels.

Stocking up on plenty of easy-to-pack snacks and food bags ahead of time will help you feel ready for everything summer has to offer, from impromptu trips to the beach and picnics, to playdates and soccer games — and any other adventures that come your way.

Be sure to check out Hefty Press to Close Food Bags at your nearest Walmart and at Walmart.com.

2024-05-22T02:01:01

(BPT) – Given the current economic climate, social issues, and rising college tuition, completing a higher education degree has become quite difficult.

While some students are still overcoming the 2024 FAFSA difficulties, consumers are smart to evaluate their investment in a college education the same way any large purchase is made. Understanding the terms and conditions, and particularly the refund policies of the school you attend is vital.

The essential fact is that, according to the National Student Clearinghouse, nearly 76% of the 2.4 million students who started college in fall 2021 returned for their second year. In addition, the same source has reported that 113,000 students withdrew from college in 2021 for legitimate reasons, including medical conditions.

For these students and families, it is important to ask what will happen if your student is forced to withdraw due to an unexpected reason such as an accident, illness, injury, or even job loss. Most schools report only providing a prorated refund through the first weeks of class and nothing thereafter.

According to the College Board, in 2023-24, average estimated budgets (tuition and fees, housing and food, and allowances for books and supplies, transportation and other personal expenses) for full-time undergraduate students range from $19,860 for public two-year in-district students and $28,840 for public four-year in-state students to $46,730 for public four-year out-of-state students and $60,420 for private nonprofit four-year students.

Given this risk and the billions of dollars families invest, it’s smart to learn more about college tuition insurance. The idea is fairly simple: Should a student have to leave college for a legitimate reason covered by the plan, tuition insurance can provide a refund to cover the financial loss. If you cannot afford the cost of an extra semester, then families are smart to evaluate tuition insurance providers like GradGuard, which offer plans that can protect up to 100% of the cost of college from $1,500 to $50,000 per term.

Not convinced it’s worth the investment? Check out these seven reasons why tuition insurance is worth asking for from your school.

1. Tuition refund

Life’s stressors and unforeseen circumstances can lead students to withdraw from college. It’s more common than you think. A 2024 study by Gallup and Lumina Foundation found that more than a third of college students pursuing a bachelor’s degree considered withdrawing from their program for a semester or more.

Should you withdraw, recouping tuition expenses may not be possible. Tuition refunds vary by institution, but according to a 2019 study by HigherEd Study, very few schools offer full or partial refunds.

However, with college tuition insurance, you may be able to receive a partial or full tuition refund should you withdraw for a reason covered by your plan. This safety net can provide much-needed financial relief in an otherwise stressful situation.

2. Return to school

Many students who withdraw from their programs do eventually decide to re-enroll. That said, returning to school after an unexpected withdrawal is easier said than done. If you withdraw and decide to return to school, you may owe additional expenses that can prevent you from enrolling.

Tuition insurance can pay those account balances and help students return to classes when they are well enough to do so. In fact, according to a 2023 survey by GradGuard, 75% of students with paid claims returned or planned to return to school.

3. Reducing financial stress and negative mental health impacts

Mental health can tremendously impact a student’s ability to succeed academically. Sometimes, mental health issues force students and their families to make a hard decision between pursuing mental health support or withdrawing from their studies.

Disruption to your education because of mental health issues doesn’t have to add to your family’s stress. Depending on your plan, college tuition insurance can cover mental health-related withdrawals, ensuring your student gets the help they need without worrying about tuition costs. In fact, according to the 2024 Gallup-Lumina Foundation study, 64% of students who considered stopping out say emotional stress or mental health concerns are significant reasons.

4. Housing and fees

In addition to the lack of tuition refunds, virtually no institutions offer refunds for housing costs and fees. Most national forms of tuition insurance, like GradGuard, can provide refunds for housing expenses and academic fees associated with attending college should you leave for a reason covered by your plan.

5. Accidents, illnesses, and injuries

Accidents, illnesses, and injuries happen. Depending on the severity, a student may have to withdraw from college to take care of their physical health. Focusing on healing is hard enough and only more difficult if a student also has to contend with financial loss because of an academic withdrawal.

College tuition insurance can protect you financially if you have to withdraw due to an unexpected medical reason. If you must withdraw for medical reasons covered by your plan, you can focus on recovery without worrying about tuition costs.

6. Loss of employment

Many students depend on the financial support of their families. If a parent should lose their job, it could impact the ability for a student to complete a term. A new feature some tuition insurance companies like GradGuard now provide coverage for is the involuntary loss of employment of a tuition payer, depending on the plan. This added financial protection can help students overcome a loss if they cannot complete the term.

7. Peace of mind

Overall, the reason college tuition insurance is worth the investment is the peace of mind it can provide students and families. You can rest easy knowing your financial costs can be protected for various reasons. This security can help a student pursue higher education more confidently.

Consider these seven reasons why college tuition insurance is worth the cost. To learn more about the types of plans and range of benefits, visit GradGuard.com/Tuition.

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply, including for pre-existing conditions. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Recommended and provided by Grad Guard, a service of Next Generation Insurance Group, LLC (NGI), the licensed agent for all insurance programs. AGA Service Company, dba Allianz Global Assistance (AGA), compensates GradGuard, their national program management partner, for the marketing, distribution and administration of the products. Insurance plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Pricing may vary by state. Insurance benefits are underwritten by Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233) rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., A+ (Superior) is the 2nd highest standard of A.M. Best’s 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Non-insurance benefits/services are provided by AGA Service Company. Claims are administered by Allianz Global Assistance (AGA). Allianz Global Assistance is a mark of AGA Service Company or its affiliates. AGA Service Company is an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Except as expressly provided for under the plan, consumer is responsible for charges incurred from outside vendors. Contact AGA Service Company at 888-427-5045 or 9950 Mayland Dr., Richmond, VA 23233 or tuition@allianzassistance.com. Schools do not receive compensation for purchase.

2024-05-21T08:01:00

(BPT) – One of the most praised skincare ingredients on social media is Vitamin C, with influencers and dermatologists alike touting its benefits of brightening the skin, adding luminosity and even diminishing the signs of aging.

Is the hype real?

The answer: Yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Vitamin C can indeed do all of these things, and more, for your skin. But because Vitamin C is an unstable molecule, it can break down easily. How it’s formulated and packaged really matters in terms of its efficacy. Not all brands get it right.

“Using a Vitamin C serum consistently not only helps protect and repair damage from UV and environmental stressors, but it can also lighten, brighten and diminish the signs of aging,” says Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, Board-Certified Dermatologist. “But it’s important for consumers to do their homework and invest in products with stabilized formulations and optimal packaging to deliver the best results.”

The market is flooded with Vitamin C serums from many brands. How can you make sure you’re choosing the right one? Here’s what you need to know.

Vitamin C serums are concentrated skincare treatments that use a powerful antioxidant to revitalize, brighten and tighten the skin. The top benefits of using a Vitamin C serum include the following:

• Luminosity. Vitamin C helps produce a brighter and more even skin tone, giving you a radiant, luminous glow.
• Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps stimulate collagen production, which increases skin’s firmness and elasticity.
• Brightens dark spots. Can help fade dark spots because it inhibits an enzyme that causes discoloration.
• Antioxidant protection. Helps protect your skin from free radicals that come from environmental aggressors, which cause premature aging. That’s why it’s best to use it in the morning. The protection lasts all day long.

Even with these great benefits, Vitamin C serums are NOT created equal. You might find yourself not getting the results you want or feeling uncertain with what, if anything, it does for your skin. If this sounds familiar, you may have chosen the wrong brand. Here are some common mistakes people make when choosing a Vitamin C serum:

• Choosing a little-known brand. Yes, you’ll find many brands out there on social media, touted by influencers and celebrities. But choosing a respected, trusted brand matters. For example, RoC Skincare, an esteemed brand developed directly with dermatologists, has a Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Vitamin C Serum, which is the result of years of research and clinical testing. It combines a patent-pending blend of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, the most stable and effective form of Vitamin C, with Peptides to help nourish and calm skin. This powerful combination produced incredible results in clinical trials — 94% of users reported instant luminosity and improved elasticity, and within 4 weeks, 100% reported brighter, tighter skin and reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
• Not looking at the packaging. Because Vitamin C can degrade, opaque packaging keeps it stable and effective longer. If you choose a brand with a glass bottle — if you can see the serum in the jar, in other words — that serum may lose its efficacy before you use the last dose in the bottle. It’ll do little for you that plain water can’t.
• Too highly concentrated formulation. Some Vitamin C products contain acids that can irritate the skin and cause redness. Look for a brand that contains a more gentle formulation, like RoC’s patent-pending blend.
• Too expensive. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a serum. More expensive doesn’t mean better. Instead of looking for a high price tag and thinking that might mean it’s a better product, look at clinical results. That should be your benchmark. RoC’s serum is affordable and one of the most effective on the market today.

Bottom line, when choosing a Vitamin C serum, choose one from a company you trust that offers clinical results and is dermatologist-recommended. Brighter, more luminous skin awaits!

Find RoC’s Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum for under $30 at Target.

2024-05-20T13:43:00

(BPT) – Did you know people do more to defend their pets from ticks than for themselves? Pet owners are nearly three times as likely to always protect their pets from ticks than to always protect themselves (36% versus 14%) while only a third (31%) of all Americans are consistently taking measures to protect themselves. Pets are well taken care of, since 85% of dog or cat owners take action to safeguard pets from ticks in some way, such as a tick collar.*

A recent survey for OFF!^® brand insect repellents by The Harris Poll also found that many people are unclear about where ticks live. Three in four Americans (75%) know ticks typically live in wooded areas, yet only half know ticks can live in suburban backyards — and 51% mistakenly think you can avoid ticks by staying in low grass.

Knowing facts about ticks,which may carry Lyme disease, and other bothersome pests is key to defending yourself and your family as you enjoy time outdoors.

For Lyme Disease Awareness Month, here are tips from SC Johnson’s Center for Insect Science entomologist, Dr. Tom Mascari, to help you keep pests at bay.

Snap a pic of the tick

Whether you’re hiking for an hour or camping in a suburban backyard, it helps to know what you could encounter. There are around 80-90 tick species in the U.S. that survive in varying conditions, but only a small percentage of these species may transmit diseases. Reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tickborne Diseases of the United States guide and the Environmental Protection Agency’s repellent search tool can help you find an appropriate repellent to avoid tick bites.

It’s important to learn where these arachnids live to defend against them. If you encounter a tick, take a picture of it so you can look it up online and discover if the species of tick you encountered can transmit a pathogen in your area. For example, in the United States, Lyme disease-carrying ticks are most prevalent in the Northeast and Upper Midwest.

While not all ticks carry illnesses like Lyme disease, they can cause irritation, discomfort and skin damage — a nuisance to spending time outdoors. “If you are concerned about ticks, having knowledge about where to expect them and how to choose an appropriate insect repellent that best suits your needs can help reduce your worries,” said Dr. Mascari.

Choose the right “PREtection”

Instead of waiting until after you’ve been bitten by bugs, add “PREtection,” a word inspired by expert SC Johnson entomologists, to protect against bug-related risk ahead of time, even before playing with the kids in the yard.

“Ticks love the places you do,” said Dr. Mascari, “and they can live in places beyond wooded areas, so it’s vital to defend against them when spending time outdoors.”

No matter your lifestyle or where you’re heading, OFF! brand recommends various repellent options to keep you protected with a variety of formats and quality active ingredients:

• OFF!^® Clean Feel products are perfect for everyday use. These fragrance-free repellents provide non-sticky protection proven to repel ticks (including ticks that may carry Lyme disease) and mosquitoes (that may carry the Zika, West Nile or Dengue virus). Formulated with Picaridin, which is not greasy or oily, it feels good on skin and won’t damage clothing.
• OFF!^® Deep Woods^® Insect Repellent V (Ticks) is formulated with 25% DEET to provide long-lasting protection against ticks (including ticks that may carry Lyme disease), mosquitoes (that may carry the Zika, West Nile or Dengue virus), biting flies, stable flies, black flies, sandflies, chiggers, fleas and gnats so you can enjoy the outdoors, uninterrupted.
• OFF!^® FamilyCare Insect Repellent IV (Unscented) provides the right level of protection for spending shorter times outside. With a traditional unscented formula with aloe vera and 7% DEET, this is the perfect choice for the whole family for feel-good mosquito protection. This product repels ticks (including ticks that may carry Lyme disease), mosquitoes (including mosquitoes that may carry Zika virus and West Nile virus), biting flies, gnats, “no-see-ums,” and chiggers.

Consider your clothing

When temperatures are 45°F or higher, ticks can be active. Further protect yourself by opting for long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked in socks. Light-colored clothing also makes it easier to see ticks. For more information, check out the CDC guidance on preventing tick bites.

Set up outdoor defenses

Creating a tick defense barrier in your backyard can help safeguard you and your family. Consider stone walls or other physical barriers to separate moisture-prone zones where ticks may live (with more vegetation) from your lawn or outdoor living spaces.

“Ticks cannot jump or fly, but they can be carried by animals like dogs, cats, deer, rodents and birds to move around,” added Dr. Mascari. “A physical barrier makes it harder for ticks and their hosts to get to your favorite outdoor hangouts.”

Check for ticks

When coming inside, make it a habit to check everyone — not just the dog — for ticks.

“Ticks migrate from lower limbs and arms to more dark and humid areas like waistbands, scalps and ears, and they may be as small as a poppy or apple seed. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as possible with tweezers, then clean the bite area,” advised Dr. Mascari. Ticks can also be carried into the house on clothing. To eliminate them, dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes or wash them in hot water.

By taking these precautions before enjoying the great outdoors — and checking for ticks when you return — you’ll help ensure everyone has a happier, healthier time, all season long.

*This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of OFF! from March 28-April 1, 2024, among 2,066 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,392 are dog/cat owners*