There is a French electronics producer that is already producing tablets, netbooks and other devices that are specialized for children. Lexibook is trying to grow their niche market by putting out a tablet that is designed for senior citizens. With their new Serenity Ultra Tablet, they may have finally put out a product that is easier to navigate, and simpler to use.

The table does use an Android based operating system, but the big difference is that the user interface has been simplified. The settings are simpler and easier to follow. Probably one of the nicer features is that the icons are much bigger and easier to read. This means that using apps will be easier.

Many tablet users use the devices to do their shopping. Whether ordering something from Amazon, buying birthday gifts for the grandkids from Lego, ordering Medical Supplies, or ordering a pizza, the whole process will be simpler, and faster.

The Serenity Ultra tablet is sold in France right now for around 300 Euros. But indications show that Lexibook hopes to sell the product in the US in the coming months.

The Serenity Ultra has a screen that is roughly the same size as the iPad mini (7.9 inch), a 1024 x 768 pixel display. Utilizing a 1 GHz dual core processor, and 8GB of storage, with a microSD card slot, HDMI and USB ports, and to finish it has front and rear cameras. With the front and rear cameras it makes it easier to keep in touch with the grandkids via skype or other software that allow face to face chatting.

Serenity is powered  by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and comes with some pretty great software from Lexibook. In tests the battery life was able to deliver about 5 hours of heavy usage on a single charge, delivered from the 3800mAh battery. The total weight puts the tablet at around 1.1 pounds.

It will be exciting to see if Lexibook can successfully integrate the tablet into the Fiercely competitive US market.

FBI Computer virus? Don’t think so.

There is a new version of an old scam going around right now, and they are targeting senior citizens. This scam starts off with a phone call from a “Microsoft Technician”. The “Technician” then has you go to a website called teamviewer.com, they ask you to type in a few commands and very soon they have control of your computer.

They will ask you to put in your credit card information, and with that they will have access to every account the user has ever accessed. Whether you have shopped online for golf clubs, medical supplies, dresses, or shoes, the crooks will have access to all of that account information. Once they have control of your computer they will install a computer virus. This is a multibillion dollar computer scam that is going on right now.

It is not that people are stupid; the people that are running the scam are very good at what they do. Once they get you on the phone, they start to ask some questions and get you engaged in the conversation. They will tell you that they have noticed how much slower your computer is going or that during their investigation your IP address was a victim of a Brute Force assault that was infected in your region. They may tell you this was part of the FBI computer virus attack.

They will ask you to log on to teamviewer.com (Which in itself is not malicious). Team Viewer is a software that allows remote access to your computer from anywhere on the web. In the right hands it is a powerful and helpful tool. In the wrong hands, they will infect your operating systems with computer viruses, and take everything you have.

When dealing with these situations it is always best to use some common sense. If you think about it logically, do you really think Microsoft has enough time to have their technicians call people up to tell them they think they have a computer virus? They have no vested interest in helping you keep your computer running.

The best thing you can do if your computer does get infected is to remove the malicious software, then contact the FTC. For more information on how to remove a computer virus, Click here.

One of the most common types of scams that online, and brick and mortar retailers employ is the classic bait and switch.

While this technique is not technically legal Retailers frequently side step the legal obstacles by offering limited quantities of the advertised product. Below I have listed some of the most common Bait and Switch scams that have been with us for decades.

1. Car Dealerships – You may see a car that you want, at a price you can afford being advertised in a circular or on television. The price may be well below the High Blue Book value! Amazing! After heading to the said dealership you are told that the advertised price was for a vehicle that they had in stock, and they have sold out of that product. At this point the salesman will offer a similar product at a much higher price. The Bait and Switch is on!                                                                                                     *How they get away with it – It is legal to promise a very low price to a customer, who promises to pick the vehicle up at a future date (The day the Ad runs). Therefore technically on the running of the Ad the dealership had the vehicle on site and sold it for the price listed.
2. Limited Supplies – While flipping through an Ad for Laptops, you notice that with the purchase of any printer you qualify for free ink cartridges! After getting to the store, and placing the Printer in your shopping cart, the salesman lets you know that the special was only while supplies last. He shows you that they do in fact have the cartridges you are looking for and they are available for purchase.                               *How they get away with it – By starting the special out with a VERY low supply of the free ink cartridges, the retailer is able to capture more sales than they ever dreamed out of the wallets of disgruntled customers.
3. Financing – Many large items such as Home appliances or Automobiles require some financing in order to complete the transaction. The tactic here is to offer very low interest rates as low as 0% interest! This is amazing I need a new car! Once again you head down to the car dealership excited to get the new car. You pick it out, fall in love with the color, laugh with the salesman and look at some pictures of his smiling teenager daughter, agree on a price you are happy with, enjoy an ice cold soda while he prepares the paperwork and runs your credit. As you are preparing to make the final pen strokes you realize 9% is not 0%! What happened!                                                   *How they get away with it- The 0% interest is for those that qualify (ie have PERFECT credit) even very good credit does not qualify. The dealership is counting on the fact that you already fell in love with the paint, and the price. They gamble that you will shrug your shoulders and pay up. Most do.
4. Actual Item not Pictured – While looking through the Sunday paper for car deals, you notice that one of the dealerships you were thinking about going to is giving away a free TV with vehicle purchase! You think “I’m getting a car anyway, why not get an awesome flat screen to go along with it for free!” After signing the paperwork and going through the whole process the salesman brings out a 9 inch flat screen TV? What the? You go for the picture in the Sunday Ad and show him there is some mistake because the picture shows a 50 inch TV with surround sound.                                                    *How they get away with it – After the Bait and Switch has transpired the salesman lets you know that in the tiny print of the Ad the words “actual item not pictured” He smiles, you put your tiny TV in your shirt pocket and walk out. Enjoy your 9%.

So what then can be done to avoid falling prey to these scams? ANY time a deal seems too good to be true, read every word of the fine print. The fine print will reveal the deceptions every time. Retailers know if they don’t reveal the secrets in the fine print they are wide up for false advertisement law suits. Ironically these lawsuits rarely work. All the retailer is required to do is sell the item at the advertised price to the one battle axe that took them to court.

If you read the fine print, you won’t be surprised by the bait and switch, in fact the fact that you recognize that a store employs this technique may be a marker to you to shop somewhere else.

Thanks to JRSmedical for their continuing effort to provide top level customer service to its seniors.

There is some pretty exciting news  about Smart phones that has recently come out. There is a Smartphone in the UK called the Big Button Mobile Voiis V1 senior citizens phone.

As a long-time provider of health care, I have seen many of my clients switch from standard cell phones to using Smart phones. Often times these phones can be a bit confusing.

The Mobile Voiis V1 phone has gotten it right. The big buttons on the phone face make the numbers easier to see. Another attractive feature is that it allows the user or authorized cloud user to use large photographic icons for several users. No number is necessary. By allowing this feature there is little to remember when trying to dial loved ones.

Using the SOS button located on the back of the phone, up to five contacts can be alerted via text message that include the GPS location, This is achieved with the push on one button. This feature would prove very valuable when dealing with time sensitive issues such as a stroke, or in the event of a fall.

The Voiis mobile device can be setup to schedule medication reminders, doctor’s appointments, meal time reminders, when to pay bills, or anything the user desires. One of the nicer features is that these reminders can be set by the spouse, or child of the user, from the other side of the world via a cloud based interface.

After inputting the new settings for the device, the user simply texts the phone a code, and the phone instantly updates. If the phone is turned off, any of the 5 authorized SOS users can call the phone and using Instant On the phone will power up and ring.

This phone is perfect for the Senior that has no idea how to program a Smart Phone. The real bread and butter here is that someone can update her settings remotely, and she never has to touch the phone.

We are awaiting arrival of this product in the US. For a preview of the Product click here.

This blog was provided by Jason Monroe.  Thanks to JRSmedical for continuing to provide top level customer service to its seniors.

Elderly to pay property taxes

After I married my husband and we had our three children, we paid school taxes gladly because our children enjoyed the benefits of a public education system. We paid our taxes and watched them steadily increase over the years. Our children graduated, moved on with their lives and had their own children. My youngest grandson just graduated from High School two years ago.

My property taxes are going up again, and I am being called upon to pay more taxes for education. I have paid my whole life so that my children can enjoy this privilege, and so that their children could enjoy it as well.

It is not that I mind paying the tax as much as I can’t see why it is increasing so exponentially fast and I have to change my budget to prepare for the new situation.

I am a widow living on a fixed income. I am wheelchair bound, and suffer from Diabetes. Why should I be forced to pay for the education of someone else’s children? My biggest concern is that I have not been asked about this situation. Is it fair for me to struggle to pay for food, and my bills, while the taxation just gets higher and higher? I am starting to feel like I do not have a voice.

Gun Shows have a lot of variety to choose from.

Seniors are often times the target of criminals. Many times they are thought of as easy prey, as a woman in Indiana realized. After checking the mail, and closing the screen door, a young man tried to enter the home. The woman had locked the screen door as she was accustomed to for many years. The man punched through the screen door and fidgeted with the lock until he could gain access to the home. The woman was attacked, and robbed. She has sense recovered and now owns a hand gun.

With all of the recent controversy about gun control, many Senior citizens are attending gun safety courses. Gun sales are up with the talks about gun control in the media. All of the attention these recent school shootings have gathered, has people worried about what the government will limit in the coming years, with respect to gun ownership.

For a lot of seniors owning a gun can give them some confidence. Often times friendships are formed at the gun range, or in a gun safety course. Some senior citizen groups are attending these classes together.

Always check with your doctor before starting these classes to see if your bone health can tolerate the vibrations of gun fire.

Check your local paper to see if there are any gun shows, gun safety classes, and to see how much the shooting range is.

This is also an enjoyable way to get a little exercise, and get out of the house.

As age increases, the risk of a fall increases.

Statistics:

• 66% of indivuals that have a fall, will fall again in the next six months.
• In people aged 65 to 70 only 1 out of every 200 falls will result in a broken hip.
• In people over 85 years of age 1 out of 10 falls will result in a broken hip.
• 25% of people who fracture their hip, die within six months.
• Risk increases for a fall as age increases; the likelihood is even higher for women.
• 50% of elderly patients that have a fall related injury are released to a nursing home, and never return home.

Some causes, and things you can do to prevent a fall from occurring:

Staying active is key to preventing falls.

1. Little to no Exercise – as we age, we lose muscle. When we do not exercise, the effect is even worse. As the muscles start to atrophy and die, it becomes harder to walk correctly, and the gate changes, which causes the feet to drag very low to the ground. This increases coming into contact that may be on the ground, and a fall may occur.

Prevention: Start an exercise program, start walking, dancing, water aerobics, anything to help maintain muscles to help with stability.

Healthy bone vs. Osteoporosis affected bone.

1. Osteoporosis – A disease that leaches the minerals from the bones which in turn causes a weakening of the bone. When a fall occurs, it is unclear as to if the bone was under stress and fractured, or if the bone was fractured as a result of the fall. In either case the cause was bone deterioration.

Prevention: Increase Calcium intakes with calcium rich foods like, milk, cheese, shellfish, yogurt, broccoli, and almonds. Supplements may need to be used as well. Additionally getting exposure to the sun for several minutes a day allow the body to produce Vitamin D, which is essential for the body to assimilate all that calcium.

Carefully read medication labels, and let your doctor know of any changes you experience in dizziness.

1. Medication – Some medications cause drowsiness, reduce mental alertness, and can cause a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness, and a fall.

Prevention:  Be sure to mention to your doctor any changes that may affect your ability to walk.

Get regular eye examinations.

1. Poor Eye Sight – When eyesight starts to fail, it can be more difficult to recognize changes in elevation, such as a rug, or transition from the carpet to the tile.

Prevention: Regularly schedule an appointment with an eye doctor. In doing so you will be able to see better for longer.

Remove loose rugs, or tape them down.

1. Environmental obstacles – These most often include, loose rugs, furniture too close together, items left on the floor, poor lighting, or the fact that there are no rails or grab bars installed in key locations such as the restroom and bed side.

Prevention:  High contrast colors anywhere there is a transition in flooring. High contrast colors between carpet and furniture. Tape down, or remove loose rugs. Install hand rails. Repair cracks in concrete or pavement. Keep walkways clear from rocks and debris. Keep sidewalks free from ice and snow.

This means that an aging population will need some alternatives for transportation. Even after the driver’s license has to be given up, the need to get around, and to interact, is still very present. These seniors have money to spend. Law makers are trying to make it easier for this powerful demographic to matter.

The number of children the average household has lowered which will also tilt the scale toward an aging population. With all of the focus on healthcare, Social Security, and other government aid topics under heavy scrutiny, there is another problem emerging: How do we get these baby boomers into the cities so they can spend money?

Public transportation will reach out a bit further to communities that are close to the city, but do not have the luxury of public transportation.

There will also be campaigns trying to encourage the elderly to move back to the cities. The mayor of Phoenix said, the more senior citizens we can attract to the heart of the city, the better off the city will be.

Contact your state representative and ask what the plans are for strengthening the infrastructure in your area.

Consider moving into the city so that these transportation services can be used. Often times being isolated in a rural setting, with no one to provide transportation, the senior may have no choice but to move into an assisted living facility. If the same senior citizen moves into a larger city, there are more programs and transportation alternatives available. This simple change may allow the citizen to age in place.

Dancing is great exercise.

One challenge that many healthcare providers have is getting their elderly patients to exercise regularly enough.

Many seniors find it too challenging to take up a rigorous strength training, or cardio routine, due to health reasons. For many seniors these types of activities are not an option as they are just too physically demanding for their current health levels.

Joining a dance class can be an invigorating experience for a multitude of reasons:

1. Cardiovascular wellness  – Dancing is great exercise, and elevates the heartbeat enough to get some heart health benefits.
2. Increased Flexibility – The constant movement helps to keep muscles, and joints active, which helps to keep the body moving more freely.
3. Social Connections – After the children have moved on, and spouses pass away, many senior citizens start to develop pretty significant feelings of loneliness and isolation. Dancing is a social activity. A dance class is a great place to meet like-minded individuals and a good way to work on creating lasting friendships.
4. Relieve minor Joint pain and stiffness – Since dancing is a natural, fun activity, it doesn’t seem like a difficult task to perform. This ease in participation will often allow the participant an ability to move in ways they typically aren’t used to moving. This can lead to a reduction in pain and swelling of painful joints.
5. Improvements in Balance – Dancing improves balance and coordination. Falling and breaking bones is always a big concern when it comes to senior citizens. By dancing regularly the improved balance will help keep falls from happening.

The Villages Retirement Home

There is a retirement home in San Jose called The Villages. This community has a small problem. There is a 170 head Deer herd. In an effort to take care of the problem the retirement home decided to hire some archers to eliminate some of the deer. This was met with a large number of very public protests, and the director pulled the plug on the project.

Since that time the problem had doubled. The next plan is to capture the female deer and have them spayed. This should help keep the population explosion under control.

Run girl, RUN!

The deer in this example have caused over $150,000 worth of landscape damage. This is obviously at a premium property that has very expensive fees for the residents. If you even have a budget for landscaping, then most likely the home is doing pretty well. And if you have $150,000 for landscaping, you can imagine the other amenities are exceptional as well.

But what happens to other retirement homes that run on a very tight budget? When cuts are made, what goes first?

Often times the landscaping gets put on the back burner, one of the signs that this is happening is a change from seasonal, or annual blooming flowers to hedges. Hedges are still expensive but it is just a one-time installation.

Another thing to look at is wheelchair access. Most facilities will have easy access to the front and rear facilities. The real thing to look at when eyeballing a property is wheelchair access to the grounds. Wheelchair ramps should be easily accessible at all entrances. If it is difficult to get to or through the grounds, it is a safe bet that the residents don’t see much sunlight.

The most important factor when evaluating which retirement community to become a part of, is the quality of care that is delivered to the individuals on the inside.

Bad Retirement homes let the landscaping go

It is however to note the way the facility looks on the outside, If the landscaping has been skimped on, it is likely that there is not budget left over for things such as flowers and un needed decorative landscaping. If the facility is skimping on the outside, they are likely skimping on the inside as well.