Where Do You Stand On The Paper Vs. Plastic Debate?

We all want to help the environment. Nobody wants to intentionally cause harm to Mother Nature or her inhabitants that share the world with us. However, we’ve also heard conflicting messages about the benefits of using paper vs. plastic, and vice versa. Most chain grocery stores use plastic bags, but if you ask, they will give you the paper instead. Is one choice really better than the other?

Consider the Life Cycle of Each

When we think about this debate, most of us tend to consider only how the bag will be used - generally, to carry groceries from the store and into the house. But, the reality is, we have to look at the entire life cycle of both plastic and paper bags to get an idea of which is better (or just less worse) than the other. 

• Plastic – The downside to using plastic is that plastic is made from a non-renewable resource – oil. It also requires huge amounts of energy to be produced, which means burning coal (another non-renewable resource). All of this has a negative impact on the environment. The good news is, plastics can be recycled, however, when they are “down-cycled” the resulting product is not as high-quality as the original. 

• Paper – Paper comes from a renewable resource – trees. However, harvesting these trees requires expending energy that ultimately harms the environment (using gas or electric loggers, etc). These production methods cause a buildup of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and in turn, there are fewer trees to help balance out the buildup. The good news is, some states are now enforcing that for every tree taken down, one must be planted (California is one such state). Also, paper can be recycled and used to create other products. 

How to Help the Environment

Whether you choose paper or plastic, the environment is affected in some way. The best thing to do is to reuse the bags that you have for as long as you possibly can. Consider also taking fabric grocery bags to stores to eliminate the need for either paper or plastic. When it comes to helping the environment, a little bit goes a long way!

If you live in the Raleigh NC area and are interested in learning about elder care in Cary, or would like to get free referrals for assisted living in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, or Johnston County, call the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 to set up a free consultation. With 20 years in the senior care giving industry, they have established a fine reputation and they look forward to chatting with you!

With Age Comes Wisdom: Advice From Seniors

Today, life expectancy for American’s has reached almost 80 years. That’s nearly double what it was one hundred years ago. Clearly, people are living longer, happier lives, and enjoying family and friends more than ever before. Want to know what advice seniors have on life in general? Read on:

• Being a senior is much better than what younger people think. You’ve adapted to life in a way that you can handle ups and downs more readily than when you were younger. You are content and at peace with yourself.

• When choosing a partner or spouse, do so wisely. One of the biggest regrets for seniors is that they rushed into a marriage with the wrong person. The decision to spend years with someone should be made with a clear heart, mind, and soul. And it should never be done in haste.

• Parents need to spend more time with their children. The number one thing that will drive children to success? Time spent with parents. Being neglectful will cause them to wander haplessly on their own – with no guidance. So be there for them.

• Own your own happiness. External situations should not have the ability to increase or take away your happiness. Create your own happiness within yourself and it will be more real and more long lasting.

• Instead of being obsessed with dying – be worried about developing a chronic disease. Act like you will need your body for a century by eating right, sleeping right, exercising, laughing often and loving hard. Keep yourself in good shape for old age and it will serve you well.

Always Best Care, an in-home senior care giving company with locations all over the United States and Canada, has been providing quality, compassionate care to seniors since 1996. They employ the finest, most dedicated caregivers who are always employees, never contractors. Their caregivers are licensed, bonded, highly-skilled, and well-trained. They undergo thorough background checks so that their senior clients can enjoy peace of mind. If you live in the Raleigh area and are interested in learning about Raleigh assisted living or other options for senior living in Raleigh, you can contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location at (919) 724-4297 or email sdas@abc-seniors.com to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to helping you shape an even brighter future!

Seniors: How Dangerous is Breaking a Hip?

As people get older, bones become more brittle, balance is harder to obtain and falls become not just more common, but also more problematic. Breaking a hip can lead to serious injury, and even death. Even though the rates for hip fractures are steadily declining in America, falling remains the number one cause of injury in the elderly. 

Women are twice as likely to fracture their hip as men are, and a full 20% of patients who have suffered from a hip fracture die within one year of the injury. About one in every three falls leads to a serious injury and 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls. 

Outside all of the statistics, what’s important to keep in mind is that even though a senior’s risk of falling increases as they get older, there are also preventative methods they can utilize to reduce the risk of falling, and subsequently, reduce their risk of mortality due to a fall.

Maintain Good Bone Health

• Some people are more inclined toward brittle bones than others; these include small-boned people, Asians and Caucasians, women, and those who are slender. Knowing this predisposition is beneficial to taking the right steps toward prevention.
• Eating a healthy diet will help keep bones strong. Include lots of calcium found in foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, kale, broccoli, watercress, etc.
• Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia will have a depleting affect on bone health (and health in general).
• Take your daily vitamins to make sure your bones are getting the nutrients they need.

Preventing Falls

• Medications can cause dizziness, check with your doctor to make sure there are no negative drug interactions with your medications, and if a medication does cause dizziness, try to take it at night before bed.
• Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles and maintain focus and balance.
• Keep your eyes healthy by regularly visiting the optometrist.
• Wear appropriate shoes (flat) to avoid tripping and falling.
• Add grab bars, railings, tack down carpets, and install good lighting at home.

If you live in the Raleigh area and are interested in receiving Alzheimer’s care in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Clayton and the surrounding areas, you can call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at (919) 724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They can also offer you free referrals for assisted living placement in Raleigh. Call them today; they look forward to hearing from you!

Obtain Premium Home Care Assistance in Raleigh with Always Best Care

Are you a senior living in the Raleigh area? Has the time come for you to consider your options for the future like obtaining in-home assistance, or moving into either an assisted living facility or other type of senior living community? The team at Always Best Care in Raleigh can help you decide what is best for you. Simply call them and set up a free care consultation and they will help you make the decisions that are best for you and your future.

The in-home care assistance in Raleigh that Always Best Care provides includes an entire spectrum of services. These services fall within the home helper, companion, and personal care categories and include (but certainly aren’t limited to): light housecleaning, grocery shopping, home maintenance supervision, medication and appointment reminders, pet care, companionship, assistance with evening tuck-in and morning wake-up, escorting to various locations such as doctor’s appointments, grocery store, etc.

Regardless of the level of care that you need, Always Best Care can provide it. The company takes enormous pride in pairing the best caregiver with the best senior client. They will also create a free care plan for you which is a detailed personalized assessment of your needs. You can rely on Always Best Care when you require:

• Companion Care (Level 1): Personal Care Assistants assist with all types of errands, light housekeeping, preparing meals, and friendly companionship. It is perfect for seniors who would like to have non-medical in-home assistance, giving both the senior clients and their families’ peace of mind.

• Personal Care (Level 2): Trained Caregivers visit you to help with daily activities such as medication reminders, bathing and grooming, incontinence, as well as everything involved in companion care. 

• Very High Level of Care (Level 3): Highly Experienced Caregivers provide everything in levels one and two, plus knowledgeable assistance to help seniors who are suffering from a chronic illness, who are bed-bound, and those who are on hospice.

If you live in the Raleigh area and would like information about home care assistance in Raleigh or Apex home care, you can call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Vacationing With Your Senior? Plan Ahead to Avoid Problems

Vacations are the gateways to provide a chance to unwind from daily stress and hectic lifestyle.However, before going on vacation, you need proper planning, especially if you are traveling with seniors.When traveling with your elderly family member(s), you need to plan ahead, so that you are always one-step ahead. Here are some tips for it.

• Medication – If your elderly family member is on medication, make sure to pack more than enough medication, so that you are not in a tough spot in case of a flight delay or change of plans.


• Divide time accordingly – Senior members of your family may not be able to match the energy of younger ones. Therefore, make your plans accordingly. Make sure to provide enough breaks in between of plans to give elders the time to rest. They should not feel rushed on a vacation that is meant to be relaxing.


• Choose activities wisely – Before planning your travel itinerary, consider the health and mobility of your seniors. Their idea of fun is probably different from youngsters. So, choose the activities for vacation wisely, so that everyone enjoys it.

Even at the airport or on an airplane, your elderly family member may require assistance, like a wheelchair. Thus, you should be prepared for such things in order to avoid delays and inconvenience to your senior.

Being prepared is the key to enjoy a vacation to its fullest. You can also ask your elder’s caregiver to help them prepare for the trip. A caregiver who has been caring for your elderly family member can help you prepare according to senior’s health, medical condition etc.

Furthermore, you should choose a trained and experienced caregiver to ensure the best possible care for your elder.Always Best Care has been providing senior care services for several years. To know more about in home senior care in Raleigh, call Always Best Care at (919) 724-4297.