5 Easy Ways to Make Your Spring and Summer More Accessible

Spring is finally here and with that comes sunshine, clear skies and beautiful weather that should inspire all of us to get active and enjoy the outdoors. The best part about this time of year is that we have several months of spring and summer ahead of us, making this the perfect opportunity to set goals, gear up and plan to get outside as much as possible. Whether you are looking to protect your eyes, see things clearer, increase your mobility or just make life a little easier, here are 5 Easy Ways to Make Your Spring and Summer More Accessible:

5 Easy Ways To Make Spring and Summer More Accessible - MaxiAids.com

1. The sun is so bright, you gotta wear shades: No warm weather season is complete without sunglasses. As fun as it is to bask in the sunlight, it's equally as important to protect your eyes. Sunglasses are vital to protecting your vision and helping you alleviate painful exposure to light and harmful UV rays.

Cocoons Low Vision Sunglasses - MaxiAids.com

MaxiAids offers a wide selection of protective sunglasses eyewear and UV protective sunglasses to help maintain your eye health and minimize light sensitivity. Sunglasses options from MaxiAids include Cocoons Low Vision Sunglasses available in four specific tints to help increase visual acuity, Cocoons and NoIR fitovers that are designed to be worn over prescription glasses, flip up sunglasses that you can attach to existing eyewear, and stylish all-purpose protective sunglasses suitable for everyone.

2. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood ... so let's get moving: When the sun comes up on a picture-perfect spring or summer morning, you might find it hard to look on the bright side if you don't move as well as you used to. The good news is you don't have to let decreased or limited mobility put a damper on your outlook because MaxiAids has mobility solutions to meet all of your special needs and get you moving, including these brand new electric scooters from eWheels that are the perfect combination of speed, safety, performance and personality!

These colorful, stylish scooters even come shipped fully assembled and ride ready so you can get rev up that engine and revel in the outdoors as soon as possible.

3. I can see clearly now the strain is gone: Are you tired of squinting and straining your eyes whenever you are at a concert or a ball game, on vacation or outside trying to enjoy nature? Whether you have low vision and are seeking a way to magnify your view or simply want the clearest focus you can possibly get from a distance, these innovative and lightweight head worn binoculars from Beecher Optical Products can help.

Beecher Mirage Binoculars for Distance Viewing - MaxiAids Binoculars Store

Beecher Mirage Binoculars are one of many binoculars and monoculars available at MaxiAids. They are designed for distance viewing and perfect for bird watching, viewing special events, church services, vacation activities, sporting events, museums, theater performances, concerts, hobbies/crafts, computers/TVs, and much more.

4. Put Me Into The Ball Game, Take Me Out of the Crowd: Just because a child or adult is visually impaired, it does not mean he or she has to sit on the sidelines when it comes to playing sports or remaining active. Audible and beeping balls make it possible for sporting activities and competitions to be more inclusive, and MaxiAids is proud to offer a wide selection of accessible balls to help anyone with low vision enjoy the upcoming spring and summer months on the field with their friends and teammates.

Audible and Beeping Balls - MaxiAids

5. I would walk 500 miles, without even realizing it: While we all make an effort to exercise year-round and even set goals at different points of the calendar year, it is no secret that the spring and summer give us extra motivation to ramp up our fitness routines. With that said, a little positive reinforcement goes a long way and by tracing your everyday steps and seeing how many calories you've burned along the way, that just might be the key to gaining some confidence to help boost your desire to stay active. 

Talking WalkFit Pedometer - MaxiAids Exercise Store

If this interests you, MaxiAids has Talking Pedometers to get you moving in the right direction, both physically and mentally. Simply clip to your clothes or even place in your purse or backpack, and the Talking WalkFit Pedometer will count your steps and announce the amount back to you. It also tells you the time, exercise time, distance walked and calories burned in a clear female voice, making it a valuable exercise tool for anyone including those with low vision.

Well, there you have it, our list of 5 easy ways to make your spring and summer more accessible.

We hope you found this post to be a helpful resource in adding accessibility to these upcoming warm weather months, and from all of us at MaxiAids Products for Independent Living, we wish you a happy, healthy and accessible outdoors season!

Visit www.maxiaids.com for the largest selection of products for independent living at the lowest prices. 

MaxiAids Unveils 2015 Coupon Book Featuring Over $1,500 in Savings with Coupons on Magnifiers, Watches, Low Vision Products, Mobility Solutions, New Assistive Technology Innovations, Medication Management Systems, Accessible Cell Phones and More!

Unlock over $1,500 in Savings with MaxiAids 2015 Coupon Book! Great deals on accessible, affordable products for those with special needs!

MaxiAids Products for Independent Living is proud to give back to its amazing customers with the 2015 Coupon Book featuring over $1,500 in savings with coupons that can be redeemed at www.maxiaids.com!

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Save big on top sellers, new innovations and accessible products that are designed to meet the unique needs of seniors, caregivers, blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, arthritic, diabetic and anyone who just needs a little help in improving their daily lives and maintaining an active, independent lifestyle.

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4 Helpful Tips to Make Holiday Food Traditions More Accessible

With the holiday season in full swing and just 10 days until Christmas, it's time to think about not just what holiday gifts will be under your tree but also what you will be putting on your dinner table. Some of the best (and most delicious) holiday traditions involve classic family recipes, from plentiful platters of food to delectable Christmas cookies that make anyone want to take home leftovers.

With that said, one thing that is often overlooked during these festive family gatherings is how to add a little bit more accessibility to the table in order to make sure that those who need some extra help can still enjoy the holiday food traditions they have come to cherish so fondly over the years.

4 Helpful Tips to Make Holiday Food Traditions More Accessible - MaxiAids Blog

Here are 4 Helpful Tips to Make Holiday Food Traditions More Accessible:

1. For plate settings, keep in mind those loved ones who have hand issues, low dexterity or arthritis. Arthritis of the hands has become a fairly common ailment among older adults, and when someone has trouble grasping or gripping objects with their hands, it can really take the enjoyment out of eating. When setting your dinner table for a holiday gathering, it's a good idea to write out a list of who is attending and see if they need a little extra assistance gripping onto their utensils. One cost-effective solution for dinner guests with hand issues are these soft, easy grip built-up arthritis handles that can be attached to any fork, knife or spoon to increase the gripping surface while adding comfort and stability to the dining experience. Something like this can be a real lifesaver for a parent or grandparent who has chronic hand pain, and it also goes a long way in showing your guest how much you truly care about them and their comfort level when they are eating in your home.

2. Organize your kitchen for food prep with accessibility in mind. It is inevitable that when you are hosting a big family gathering such as Hanukkah or Christmas dinner, you will be tasked with organizing your kitchen to make room for friends and relatives who are also fellow foodies and want to help you prepare the best meal possible. One thing that can happen with too many cooks in the kitchen are spills or slips when someone isn't paying full attention to the task at hand. In these situations, you can cut down on the accidents by sectioning off areas in your kitchen and creating specific food prep stations. When your cooking helpers arrive, kindly direct them to their designated area for that they will be doing, and make sure that anyone who is not helping to prepare the meal is entertained by others away from the kitchen. 

Also, to make sure there are no accidents in the kitchen, just like with the plate settings you should think about who will be helping you prepare the meal and how you can accommodate them. Chances are that grandma and grandpa will want to help keep family food traditions alive in some way, shape or form, and so you want to make sure your designated areas for them have the food preparation cooking helpers they might need to make sure they are safe in the kitchen. One invention that is sure to save a few fingers and avoid a trip to the hospital or urgent care center on Christmas is this EZ grip low vision cutting board, which is specially designed to grip your kitchen counter using four suction cups while the stainless steel corner plate / slicing guide holds the food in place. Solutions like this add accessibility to food prep and are sure to be appreciated by your sous chefs who could use the extra assistance while graciously helping you.

3. Stay cool and don't get burned by your oven. With all of those aforementioned kitchen helpers comes the chaos of recipes being recounted, side conversations overlapping each other, and other distractions. Because of this, it's important to take extra precautions to ensure that everyone stays safe, particularly around the oven. One misplaced hand when distracted can cause serious burns, and that is the last thing anyone should have to worry about when hosting a holiday gathering. That is why it is important to have the proper protections in place, and there are several solutions that can help promote oven safety in your kitchen. First, make sure you keep your oven mitts handy and close to your oven area. You may also find these Cool Touch Oven Rack Guards to be extremely helpful in preventing burns since they are designed to easily attach to most oven racks and snap in place to add another layer of protection when you need it most.

4 Helpful Tips to Make Holiday Food Traditions More Accessible - MaxiAids Blog

4. Make sure everyone can enjoy their coffee, tea or hot chocolate with dessert. After the big holiday dinner is over and everyone has had a chance to catch up and converse, it will then be time for dessert. You've worked so hard all night long, and all that's left is to unveil the cakes, pies and cookies, then serve the coffee, tea or hot chocolate. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that some of your guests might be a little tired and so they may not pay as much attention when gripping and drinking the hot beverage that is in front of them. This is where your last bit of ingenuity comes into play for the night, by doing your best to make sure that your guests don't slip up and spill their drinks. All you have to do is invest in something like this ergonomic clip-on handle that easily attaches to any standard coffee mug and adds a stronger, more comfortable and stable grip that all of your friends and family members will appreciate at the end of the evening.

We hope you enjoyed this 4 Helpful Tips to Make Holiday Food Traditions More Accessible, and all of us here at MaxiAids wish you a happy and healthy holiday season, as well as a Happy New Year!

Visit www.MaxiAids.com for the largest selection of products for independent living at the lowest prices. You can also check out our Cooking Store here.

MaxiAids Cooking Products to Make Your Kitchen Life Easier

MaxiAids.com is the trusted source of reliable products for independent, active and healthy living ... and that includes your kitchen life!

MaxiAids Talking Liquid Jug - Great for the Visually Impaired

From cooking helpers and utensils to food preparation devices and specialty kitchen thermometers and timers, MaxiAids has everything you need to cook with added comfort and ease.

Angled Measuring Cups available at MaxiAids.com

With the lowest prices and the largest selection of household cooking products for the blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, seniors, arthritic, diabetic and individuals with special needs, let MaxiAids be your one-stop shop for all of your everyday and adaptive kitchen needs.

Shop cooking items at MaxiAids right here.

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New Jersey Library Makes Reading and Computer Use Easier for Seniors

Reading books and using the computer just got easier for senior patrons of the West Caldwell Public Library in New Jersey. The library has opened what is being called the Savvy Senior Center, a dedicated area featuring equipment designed to make the tasks of reading and using the computer easier for senior citizens.

An electronic magnifier enlarges type so that those who have difficulty reading standard sized print may once again enjoy their favorite books and magazines. A computer in the center offers larger type, as well as computer instruction tutorials.

Hopefully the Savvy Senior Center, which is open to public, is a model that will be replicated in libraries around the country to accommodate the needs not only of seniors, but of the low vision community as well.