Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2023-02-23T08:15:00

(BPT) – If you’re going meatless on Fridays or you just want fun, convenient ways to add flavorful seafood to your meal plans, you’re in luck. You can create effortless, affordable dinners and snacks featuring these delicious SeaPak selections: Popcorn Shrimp, Butterfly Shrimp and Shrimp Scampi. From flatbread pizzas and tortilla shrimp bowls to one-pot creamy shrimp scampi, SeaPak is at the center of fast, delicious meals and appetizers that can be prepared in a traditional oven, toaster oven or air fryer. Here are three easy-to-prep, creative recipes that taste great and are a perfect choice throughout Lent and beyond.

Popcorn Shrimp:

A fan favorite the whole family will love, this option is great for snacking, weekend get-togethers or weeknight meals. Ever try popcorn shrimp on a pizza? Combine them in this crispy flatbread pizza topped with popcorn shrimp, along with a fresh salad, for an ideal combo.

Popcorn Shrimp Flatbread Pizza
10 minutes prep time, 30 minutes cook time; 4-6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (18-ounce) package SeaPak Popcorn Shrimp
3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound fresh or thawed frozen pizza dough, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese
5 ounces fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup pitted and chopped green olives
1 cup arugula
1 cup flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Flaky sea salt
Coarsely ground black pepper

Directions

Heat oven to 500F. Pour 3 tablespoons oil onto baking sheet and brush to coat bottom and sides. Stretch dough to evenly cover baking sheet. If dough resists, let rest a few minutes and try again.
Sprinkle Italian seasoning over dough. Dollop ricotta around dough. Tear fresh mozzarella into pieces and distribute evenly over dough.
Line second baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick baking spray. Spread popcorn shrimp evenly on baking sheet. Bake flatbread pizza dough on bottom rack of oven 15 minutes. Remove pizza from oven and top with olives.
Reduce oven temperature to 450F. Return pizza to oven for 5 minutes. At the same time, bake shrimp 10-12 minutes. Top pizza with cooked shrimp and serve.

Butterfly Shrimp:

America’s favorite for a reason, everyone loves the taste of juicy butterflied shrimp in a crispy coating. It’s perfect for dinner or a party, and even better dipped in queso. Enjoy Mexican flavors like fresh cilantro, avocado and queso fresco with this popular shrimp dish.

Mexican Tortilla Shrimp Bowls
15 minutes prep time, 18 minutes cook time; 4 servings.

Ingredients

1 package SeaPak Butterfly Shrimp (9 ounces)
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 can black beans (15.5 ounces), drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 avocados, sliced
1 cup crumbled queso fresco
Tortilla chips

Directions

Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in medium saucepan. Add rice and return to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Stir in lime zest, lime juice and cilantro.
While rice cooks, bake butterfly shrimp according to package directions.
Meanwhile, combine black beans, garlic, chicken broth, cumin and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in small saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes.
Divide rice evenly between 4 bowls. Top with shrimp, black beans, avocado and queso fresco. Serve with tortilla chips.

Shrimp Scampi:

America’s #1 frozen shrimp scampi never disappoints! This whole tail-off shrimp scampi is expertly seasoned in delicious garlic butter sauce with a hint of red bell pepper and herbs for extra flavor. Not sure what to make for dinner tonight? This one-pot dinner couldn’t be easier — or tastier — with its velvety sauce, earthy spinach and succulent shrimp.

One-Pot Creamy Shrimp Scampi
5 minutes prep time, 25 minutes cook time; 4 servings.

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) package SeaPak Shrimp Scampi
1 1/4 cups half-and-half (can substitute milk)
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
6 cups fresh spinach
8 ounces linguine noodles
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 lemon wedges

Directions

In large, high-sided saute pan, add shrimp scampi and cook according to package directions. Remove shrimp to bowl and keep warm.
In same pan with scampi sauce, stir in half-and-half and stock. Bring to a low boil. Add pasta. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked al dente (8-10 minutes).
Stir in spinach and cook just until it begins to wilt. Stir reserved shrimp into the pan.
To serve, divide between 4 bowls and top with grated Parmesan. Serve with lemon wedges.

Find these and other amazing recipes at seapak.com.

2023-02-22T11:01:00

(BPT) – Spring isn’t just the start to a new season. It signals sunshine, longer days and the chance to renew your plates with fresh flavors — like the juicy goodness of seasonal citrus.

Whether you’re enjoying a spring holiday or simply embracing the opportunities that the new air brings, food remains the centerpiece. And with citrus, each moment can be a celebration. From baking to cooking to snacking, you name it, citrus has got you covered.

Because Sunkist^® believes the endless possibilities of citrus are worth celebrating, National Sunkist^® Citrus Day on March 1 celebrates the 130th anniversary of the multi-generation growers who remain at the heart of their sweet legacy. The grower-owned cooperative offers nearly 40 different citrus varieties — from oranges to lemons, grapefruit, mandarins and tangelos — grown in California and Arizona.

When it comes to spring, citrus know their way around the season. Here are three easy tips to stay fresh when we spring forward:

1. Get your vitamin C: Oranges are a popular citrus, with many varieties ripe for spring picking. Impress any guest with a super sweet, seedless Cara Cara orange, which is pink on the inside (thanks to the antioxidant lycopene) and has 100% of your daily recommended vitamin C. Or opt for the iconic Blood orange, with ruby red flesh and a bold, berry flavor. Yes, this orange is both eye-catching and complementary to the flavors of many meals.
2. Freeze your citrus: Citrus doesn’t just go far on your plates; it can liven up leftovers and last for weeks with the right tips and tricks. Freeze lemon peels to use in soups or broths, store citrus in the fridge for a snack that lasts and keep juice in the freezer to toss into a Sunday sauce. The season is already looking brighter. See where you can find these in-season citruses at Sunkist.com/Where-To-Buy.
3. Add zest to your routine: From zest to juice to a bright aroma, lemons are the best way to freshen things up in time for spring. Try their zest in desserts, a squeeze onto main courses, a garnish for cocktails or fresh, healthy dressings for salads. Plus, if you’re looking to lower sodium intake, fresh juice makes lemons the supreme s’alternative.

To help ring in spring and celebrate the possibilities of citrus, Sunkist^® has new seasonal recipes, including a standout Lemon Loaf starring Sunkist^® lemon juice and zest, ideal for brunch, dessert or an afternoon treat. Find more citrus recipes at Sunkist.com/Recipes.

Sunkist^® Lemon Loaf

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

Loaf

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs, room temperature

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups cake flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Zest from 2 Sunkist^® lemons

Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Zest from 1 Sunkist^® lemon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line your 8 x 4” loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add in your eggs one at a time and vanilla extract. Into a smaller bowl mix together your flour, salt and baking soda. Alternate adding your dry ingredients with your sour cream. Fold in fresh lemon juice and zest and mix until well combined. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in oven about 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, prepare glaze by mixing powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest together until smooth.
4. Remove loaf from oven and let cool completely before topping with glaze.

2023-02-21T01:01:00

(BPT) – Face it, winter driving is no fun — and it can be downright dangerous. While you may already be familiar with techniques for careful winter driving, like slowing way down and going easy on the brakes, you could be neglecting crucial safety steps to take even before you get on the road. Along with making sure your vehicle is winter-ready, it’s also vital to pack your trunk with must-have emergency essentials, in case you get stuck somewhere during a severe winter storm.

Approximately 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that sees five or more inches of snow each year. Between the snow, icy roads and bitter cold, this kind of weather is a real hazard that needs to be taken seriously. Nearly one in five yearly weather-related crashes occurs on snowy, slushy or icy surfaces. To help you and your vehicle be fully prepared for safe travel no matter how frightful the weather becomes, the experts at State Farm offer their recommendations for prepping for winter weather before heading out.

Get your vehicle ready

Every winter, make sure to bring your car in for an overall safety check — with a focus on brakes and tires — so you’ll know your car can handle winter weather more effectively. Have the mechanic check all the fluids and test your battery strength. Sub-zero temperatures can challenge most batteries, so don’t wait until it’s too late to be sure your battery is in top condition.

Beyond just ensuring that your tires are in good shape (with adequate tread life) and that they have the correct air pressure (which can drop along with the temps), installing all-season tires is a good idea if your region is regularly affected by snow and ice. Additional items you’ll be happy that you checked are your wiper blades (installing winter blades can make all the difference when visibility is paramount), making sure your car’s coolant/anti-freeze is fully topped up and that the heating system is in good working order.

Restock your trunk

Now is also the ideal time to get rid of any junk you’ve got cluttering up your trunk. Instead, make sure you have everything you might need organized, packed and ready to use in case of an on-road emergency — such as items that will keep you warm, connected and able to survive in case you get stuck in your car for an extended period of time.

Here are trunk essentials to make sure to include.

Safety essentials:

• Hazard triangles
• Jumper cables
• External battery charger
• Tire changing tools
• Spare tire (in good condition)
• Small snow shovel
• Ice scraper
• Fire extinguisher
• Wiper fluid

Supplies to keep you warm and comfortable:

• Hats, gloves, scarves and blanket
• Hand and foot warmers
• Wool socks
• First aid kit
• Thermos/bottles of water
• Shelf-stable snacks in air-tight/critter-proof containers

Tools to stay visible and connected:

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Bright cloth to tie on your car and/or flares
• Phone charger (make sure all cell phones and tablets are fully charged before heading out!)

You can adjust the contents of your emergency supply kit to suit your family size and the area where you live. Once your trunk is fully packed with these essentials, you’ll feel much more secure venturing out on the road all winter long. Make it a habit to refresh and repack your trunk once or twice a year by adding reminders to your calendar.

Learn more safety tips to help you and your vehicle handle any kind of weather at StateFarm.com/simple-insights.

2023-02-20T11:03:01

(BPT) – Have you ever wanted to visit the Windy City? Chicago is a diverse city with something for everyone. Whether you go by yourself, with the family or with a few buddies, you’ll be sure to have fun and make memories in Chi-Town.

The current U.S. economy can make it difficult to enjoy travel on a budget. However, you don’t need to let inflation get you down. CEO Hussein Fazal of Super.com — a tech company with products that let you spend less, save more and gain time to do the things you love — has provided four tips to help you enjoy a Chicago getaway on a budget.

1. Plan a winter vacation

Like many Midwestern states, Illinois has true winter weather. Don’t let the cold temperatures keep you away: embrace them! If you live in a warmer state, you can bundle up and enjoy winter weather and activities you can’t get at home.

Tip from a pro: Traveling outside your destination’s peak season is always a good idea. Hotel and airfare are generally cheaper, you’ll avoid the crowds that head to Chi-Town during the warmer months, and you can enjoy the beauty of a Chicago winter.

“I love visiting Chicago during the colder months,” said Fazal. “A lot of people balk at the idea of traveling to Chicago during the winter, but it’s a great time to have fun, save money and avoid the crowds.”

2. Use a travel agent

With the internet at your fingertips, you can research and book everything for your trip yourself. However, booking flights, hotels and transportation through a travel agent can help you save time, reduce trip planning stress and offer expert advice on must-see sights and events.

Make trip planning even easier by using an online travel service like SuperTravel. This free platform offers rates you can’t find online because they’re in a private 1:1 booker.

SuperTravel operates as a travel agent over messaging, offering these same great rates over a private 1:1 chat while eliminating the overhead of a physical retail store. Feeling fancy? You can get 20% off four-star Chicago hotels in winter.

3. Go where the locals go

Whether your vacation is a 3-day weekend or longer, you’ll want to make the most of your Chicago trip. Of course, you’ll want to visit the Windy City’s greatest hits, like Millennium Park and take a picture in front of The Bean, visit Navy Pier, stroll down the Riverwalk and immerse yourself in culture at the Art Institute.

In between visiting these well-known sites, you’ll have a lot of time to dine and explore the city, and the best way to do it is by going to restaurants, breweries and other attractions popular with the locals.

If you don’t have friends or family living in Chicago, finding local spots can be tricky. However, you can check out this handy Chicago city guide and see the latest local favorite restaurants, events and rare sights.

4. Find travel deals at a steal online

If it’s been a while since you’ve traveled or your suitcase and duffel bags have seen better days, you should consider upgrading your travel gear before you hit Chicago. A new rolling suitcase, packing cubes and other travel accessories can make your trip easier and more enjoyable.

You’re already spending money to go to Chicago, so it can be difficult to justify adding more travel expenses. However, there are plenty of deals online for everything you’ll need on your trip.

Using discount sites like SuperShop, you can find deals online for backpacks, suitcases, portable chargers and even clothing and shoes for your trip to Chi-town. Whether you’re looking for fun finds, discounts on designer brands or everyday essentials, SuperShop will deliver the steal right to you.

Don’t wait until the snow melts. Start planning your winter trip to Chicago today, and use these four tips to get the most out of your vacation. To learn more about how to spend less, save more and enjoy what life offers with SuperShop and SuperTravel, visit Super.com.

2023-02-17T11:01:00

(BPT) – A mission like no other

Feb. 18, 2021 is a date etched into the mind of the global space community as the day human exploration on Mars made a groundbreaking leap. It has been two years since NASA’s Perseverance Rover touched down on the surface of the Red Planet, landing successfully in the 28-mile-wide Jezero Crater with one mission: to search for signs of ancient microbial life.

In the 700 sols (Mars days) since, Perseverance has explored the terrain extensively, characterizing the planet’s geology and climate and gathering nearly 400,000 raw images and 15 rock core and sediment samples ready to be returned to Earth for analysis.

The technologically advanced rover — known affectionately as Percy — may be more than 141 million kilometers away but it is having a big impact on what is happening on Earth today, helping pave the way for interplanetary exploration.

Answering the call

How this modern marvel came to safely land on Mars ties back to a century-old company on Earth in Southern California: Airborne Systems.

Since the 1960s, the height of the space race, Airborne Systems has been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to Entry, Descent & Landing Systems (EDLS). The company, part of the TransDigm Group, has designed and developed EDLS for many groundbreaking unmanned space missions, beginning with the Discoverer XIII re-entry capsule, the first manmade item ever recovered from orbit. With such a long-standing heritage in space innovation, it was no surprise when NASA enlisted Airborne Systems’ expertise for the Mars Perseverance mission.

While many of the world’s greatest scientific and engineering minds were involved in ensuring Perseverance would launch successfully and travel the massive distance to Mars, like most interplanetary research missions, the last yards are the most challenging.

Touchdown on Mars

Being able to safely descend from orbit and travel through Mars’ thin atmosphere meant Airborne Systems creating the state-of-the-art parachute capable of helping Percy descend from supersonic speeds and prepare itself for its final SkyCrane maneuver.

With Percy weighing in at over 2,200 pounds — about the weight of a standard car — and boasting sophisticated mission-critical equipment, this was no easy feat. In fact, it was the heaviest Mars landing to date, requiring the strongest parachute ever flown on Mars, or any other non-Earth planet for that matter.

The finished model came in at approximately 180 pounds and reached 70.5 feet in diameter. It deployed four minutes after atmospheric entry, at an altitude of seven miles and a velocity of 940 miles per hour, with the parachute inflating at around Mach 1.75 (75 percent more than the speed of sound and 65 percent faster than the speed of light).

It took less than one second to transform an 18-by-26-inch cylinder of nylon, Kevlar and Technora, compressed to the density of wood, into a fully inflated and operational 70.5 ft diameter parachute — one that successfully helped Perseverance touch down on the dusty surface of Mars and, in doing so, potentially helped change the course of human history.

One giant leap for mankind

What makes this landing even more exceptional is that it was the first time a parachute had been tasked with performing in the Mars atmosphere. Previously, parachute performance on Mars had been deduced or inferred based on data. This time, NASA was able to capture high-speed video footage that has been pored over frame-by-frame to aid in future missions.

Every space mission requires collaboration, ingenuity and engineering precision to make it successful. Thanks to Perseverance — and its unassuming but revolutionary parachute — NASA has been able to take another giant step forward in its understanding of our planetary neighbor.

While the pioneers at Airborne Systems are already working on building America’s next-generation fleet of spacecraft to replace the space shuttle — including Orion, CST-100, Dragon and New Shepherd — there is now real hope that the lessons learned with Perseverance will help humans explore the majesty of both Mars and the Milky Way.

2023-02-16T23:01:00

(BPT) – Nineteen-year-old Meredith Cowden was nearly through her first year of art school when she started feeling sick. She visited her school’s clinic and received a diagnosis of mono, along with antibiotics, and looked forward to feeling better soon. Instead, her symptoms worsened, leading her to the emergency room — where she received a diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Shocked by this turn of events, Cowden leaned on her loving parents for help and support.

“My parents took me back home for treatment,” Cowden remembers. “My life felt like an alternate reality where I really didn’t know how to make any decisions for myself, so I let the doctors tell me what I needed to do and I went along with it because I was so overwhelmed by the diagnosis.

When chemotherapy proved ineffective, Meredith was able to receive a bone marrow transplant from her sister, who was the best match. After Cowden’s transplant, she spent 100 days in isolation, the critical time to determine if the graft takes to the host — and if a patient might develop acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (aGVHD). She noticed symptoms of this disease shortly after her transplant, and then later also developed chronic GVHD (cGVHD). More than two decades of challenging symptoms and medical treatments followed.

“I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride of trying to find a treatment plan that worked for me, trying to guess what was going to happen next,” says Cowden. “In that time, I developed a series of distressing, chronic, and life-changing conditions either because of GVHD or the treatment for it.”

With ongoing treatment and support from her healthcare team and her family, Cowden has been able to live life despite her chronic symptoms — pursuing a meaningful career helping others, enjoying creative pursuits, and spending time with her family and friends.

What is GVHD?

Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) is a rare disease that commonly impacts allogeneic (meaning cells come from a donor) blood and marrow transplant recipients. Depending on the severity of symptoms and number of organs affected, GVHD can impair a person’s ability to engage in daily activities — and in severe cases can be life-threatening. The Cleveland Clinic describes GVHD symptoms as including a rash that may cause thickening or tightening of the skin, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal swelling, dry eyes or mouth, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing, muscle weakness, pain and/or fatigue, decreased range of motion, or tightness in joints. These and other symptoms may occur at any time after a transplant, when your body recognizes the donated cells as foreign, resulting in an immune response against your own tissues and organs.

Support for people with GVHD

Responding to her experience, Cowden’s parents created the Meredith A. Cowden Foundation, dedicated to educating people about GVHD and raising funds for research to help those who are suffering. To further their reach and impact, the Foundation is one of several organizations that comprise the new GVHD Alliance.

The GVHD Alliance aims to bridge existing gaps in the unmet needs of the GVHD community by bringing together several leading transplant organizations to support people living with this disease. One of the GVHD Alliance member organizations is Be The Match, a global leader working every day to save lives through cellular therapy. The Be The Match Registry is the most diverse registry in the world that includes adult donors willing to donate to strangers in need and stored cord blood units. The group also provides patients and families with support, education, and guidance before, during, and after a transplant.

“We are proud to work with the Alliance to reach GVHD patients with information they need to recognize and treat symptoms earlier,” said Jeffery Auletta, MD, Senior Vice President of Patient Outcomes and Experience, Be The Match and Chief Scientific Director, Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. “This collaboration will help connect patients to support groups, and access resources like social workers and patient navigators who can help them advocate for treatment, while addressing their fears and concerns.”

What has Cowden learned from her years of experience after receiving her life-saving bone marrow transplant?

“GVHD has been part of my life for a long time now, so I know the impact this disease brings to patients and their families,” says Cowden. “You will not be the same person you were before your transplant. You will have knowledge and experience many do not; take that and use it to make your life as meaningful as you can.”

Current GVHD Alliance member organizations include American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), Be The Match, Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network (BMT InfoNet), Meredith A. Cowden Foundation, and National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK). The GVHD Alliance and GVHD Day are supported by Sanofi.

To help people living with GVHD access valuable resources and information to help them live their best lives, the Alliance is launching GVHD Day on Feb. 17, 2023. Learn more about GVHD and access a variety of educational resources and support tools for the GVHD community at GVHDAlliance.org.

2023-02-16T06:01:00

(BPT) – February is American Heart Month — aimed at raising awareness for heart health, risk factors for heart disease, and how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.

But did you know that if you have a chronic heart condition, you may be at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia? It’s a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can put you in the hospital or even be life-threatening.

The heart and lungs are teammates — working closely together to ensure the body has the oxygen-rich blood it needs to function properly. Often, the close connection between the heart and lungs means that common health problems, like irregular heartbeats, exercise intolerance, sleep apnea and pneumococcal pneumonia, can affect both organs — even if you think it’s only affecting one. That’s why it’s so important to take a holistic approach to helping protect your health.

Adults 65 or older and adults 19 or older with certain underlying medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and chronic heart disease, are at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia.

So, if you have a chronic heart condition, you may be at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia — and getting vaccinated against it is one of the best ways to help protect your health.

Even if you’ve already had a previous pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine, your healthcare provider may recommend additional vaccination to help prevent the disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination today and visit knowpneumonia.com to learn more.

2023-02-15T09:01:00

(BPT) – It’s the sweet sounds of your favorite music and your loved one’s voice. It’s the morning alarm nudging you awake or the car alerting you that it’s low on gas. It’s the oven buzzing that your food is done or the fire alarm blaring that dinner is overdone.

From cherished melodies to important alerts and life-saving alarms, your world is full of sound. However, as people age or have exposure to excessive noise, their hearing can start to deteriorate. Almost half of people in the United States over the age of 65 have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Despite how common hearing loss is, everyone experiences it differently, which is why professional hearing care is so important.

Treating individual hearing loss

“Your hearing is as unique as your fingerprint,” said Dr. Leslie Soiles, Chief Audiologist with HearingLife. “While you may be tempted to treat your hearing issues yourself, I highly recommend you see a professional to check for other medical concerns, to diagnose your specific hearing care needs, and provide professional guidance on your options.”

Getting checked by an expert is imperative to rule out any other issues that may be impacting your hearing before diagnosing you with hearing loss. This includes wax buildup, and infections or injuries that may require different types of treatment. To educate Americans about the importance of caring for their hearing and getting hearing tests, as well as pointing out ways to identify hearing loss in your loved ones, HearingLife has partnered with William Shatner to launch a campaign entitled “Live Life to Your Fullest.”

“Proactive health habits are so important to living a long and healthy life. For me, especially as I struggled with tinnitus, taking care of my hearing has been a big part of living life to the fullest with my family and in my career, allowing me to enjoy every special moment,” said actor William Shatner. “When I met with the audiologist from HearingLife and saw her dedication and commitment, it was truly inspiring. I realized the care that HearingLife provides can be life-changing for so many.”

Which hearing aid is right for you?

There are many things to consider when starting your hearing care journey. Since the types and causes of hearing loss are numerous, and without a proper hearing assessment and diagnosis, buying over the counter (OTC) hearing aids may not be the right choice for you.

“Seeing a licensed hearing care professional to assess your hearing and provide you with options that best suit your hearing needs, budget and lifestyle will enable you to hear to your full potential and get the most out of life,” said Dr. Soiles.

OTC hearing aids do provide access to hearing devices at a lower cost, however there are key challenges to self-diagnosing and buying these devices:

They do not require a hearing evaluation from a licensed professional to determine the degree and type of hearing loss, or if there is a medical concern that may need to be addressed by a physician. It is left to the individual to be the expert by self-diagnosing their hearing challenges and deciding which devices will best meet their needs. OTC offers little to no professional set up or adjustments for different sound experiences by licensed experts.

Unlike OTC, prescription hearing aids often include professional services to help you hear your best. For example, prescription hearing aids purchased from HearingLife that include an AfterCare program come with: complimentary annual hearing assessments, the services of a hearing care professional, fine-tuning, programming, fitting, troubleshooting, Bluetooth assistance, coaching and re-instruction, free non-rechargeable batteries and replacement domes and filters, and cleaning and maintenance for the life of the devices.”

If you’re confused by your options, HearingLife’s OnDemand expert team offers free consultations on the phone or through video chat. Visit HearingLife.com/OnDemand or call 866-YES-HEAR today to get help with your hearing loss and have your hearing aid questions answered.

2023-02-15T09:01:00

(BPT) – If you’re a caregiver for a spouse or other family member at home, you already know how emotionally and physically challenging it can be. When you need to lift, turn or transfer a loved one to or from a wheelchair or bed, it can put added strain on your bones and joints.

Fortunately, certain lifting techniques and proper planning can help prevent injury when caring for others. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers these tips for assisting someone at home and improving the safety of their home environment.

Lifting Techniques

When you need to lift or move a person, take your time and be aware of your posture and movement as you follow these guidelines:

• Keep your head and neck in alignment with your spine; your head, neck and back should be as straight as possible.
• Bend using your hips and knees rather than from your back.
• Avoid twisting your body.
• Always keep the person who is being moved close to your body.
• Keep your feet shoulder-width apart to maintain balance.
• Use the muscles in your legs to lift and/or pull.

If the person is too heavy or in an awkward position, get help rather than continuing on your own.

Sitting up in bed

To move someone lying in bed to a wheelchair, first put the chair close to the bed and make sure to lock the wheels. If the person is not strong enough to push up to a sitting position with their hands, place one of your arms under their legs and your other arm under their back. Move the person’s legs over the edge of the bed while pivoting their body, so the person ends up sitting on the edge of the bed. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees bent, and your back in a natural straight position.

Standing

If someone needs assistance standing from a sitting position on their bed, first position the person’s feet on the floor, slightly apart. Face the person and place their hands on the bed or on your shoulders. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with your knees bent. Place your arms around the person’s back and clasp your hands together. Hold the person close to you, lean back and shift your weight. Nurses, physical therapists and hospital workers often use lifting belts fastened around the person’s waist to help with these types of movements. The caregiver then grasps the belt when lifting the patient. You can order one of these “gait belts” online, or find them at a home medical supply store.

Sitting down

To help someone sit down into a wheelchair, first ensure that the wheels are locked. Pivot toward the wheelchair, bend your knees and lower the person into the chair. Make sure the person has both their hands on the arms of the chair before you lower them down into it.

For additional help learning these techniques, discuss or practice them with your family member’s physical or occupational therapist, if they have one.

To see illustrations for these movements, visit OrthoInfo.org.

Prevent accidents by evaluating your environment

It is also a good idea to make sure the home is clear of tripping hazards and arranged to improve accessibility. Consider securing area rugs to help prevent slips and use nightlights to illuminate all rooms for better visibility and clear pathways.

For more tips on staying safe while caring for someone at home, visit OrthoInfo.org.

2023-02-14T07:41:00

(BPT) – Reading, writing, science and math are subjects that have been associated with classroom instruction since school was established. And all are relevant, important subjects to master in order to succeed in society. But according to a new survey of 2,000 parent respondents conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, these subjects are not the only skills parents are looking to have their children learn in early childhood education.

An astounding 81% of parent respondents believe educators should spend time teaching things outside academics like soft skills and current events, with 60% wanting current events instruction to focus on cultural happenings like festivals and heritage celebrations.

This survey makes it clear that parents of today are focused on developing their children into well-rounded members of society beyond just traditional school subjects.

Sixty-two percent of parents in the survey responded that they prioritize their children learning soft skills like communication, critical thinking and problem solving before they’re 8 years old, with 40% of parents saying that practical life skills are the most important thing for their children to learn at a young age. The majority of parent respondents said that core curriculum classes should not begin until the first grade.

“Parents who place their children in a preschool environment that focuses on character development give children a strong start,” said Joy Turner, vice president of education for the Kiddie Academy brand. “Learning the ability to care about others, to communicate, and to understand how character affects the communities and world in which we live is important to early childhood education development.”

The majority of parents who took the survey think that social and emotional development are absolutely necessary to learn at their child’s school, with honesty ranked as the most important character trait to learn in early childhood. Therefore, parents are leaning on child care providers to bridge the gap between what parents are teaching at home and what children are learning in the classroom.

So how can parents find child care that aligns with these priorities? By asking thorough questions when touring a facility, researching social media and websites affiliated with their early childhood education options and paying close attention to the interactions they have with a provider during a tour or interview.

“Parents have many choices to make when it comes to sending their children to an early learning program,” said Turner. “Making sure you’re on the same page with the facility where your children spend so much time is key to developing them into the people we hope they become.”