Solution For Challenges With Dexterity

Dexterity is most commonly defined as the ability to execute fine finger movements, such as gripping, pinching, twisting and turning.  Challenges to dexterity may affect our ability to use our hands and fingers to manipulate familiar objects. These movements may prove painful, and many people notice a loss of strength and/or sensation while handling the everyday tools of living.

Sometimes we tend to associate only our  senior years with a decline in different abilities to cope and function on a daily basis.  While this may be so, people who are recovering from surgery or stroke, those who have experienced an accident or trauma, or those, young or older, living with chronic medical conditions, such as arthritis, may also find everyday tasks to be quite a challenge.

Truly, anyone, at any time or age, can discover that the simple activities we take for granted aren't so simple if we become disabled even on a temporary basis.  There really is a time when we all can use a little help! 

As an example, a lady close to us recently tripped and fell, resulting in an upper arm fracture. This independent senior lady has found herself in a cast and sling to ensure that her right arm remains immobile. For her, it will be  a very long six weeks!  She has suddenly found herself needing assistance to do all those little things that we tend to take for granted.

Always a glamorous and well groomed lady, it has been frustrating for  her to be unable to properly care for her finger and toe nails. Both she and her family, are delighted to have discovered that Marnau has available special large non-slip nail and toe clippers that she can use with both hands.

These clippers will be great for her to have and use now, and will help her to maintain her independence in the years ahead.  

5 Easy Tips To Keeping Skin Moisturized

It's hard to believe that summer is actually winding down and soon winter will be upon us.  Many of us tend to spend more time indoors then, enjoying the cosy warmth of the a snuggly blanket, a fireplace and of course,  furnace heating.

Unfortunately, all types of indoor heating  can play havoc with our skin, robbing it of needed moisture which results in rough, dry, itchy skin.

The biting winds of the Fall and Winter seem to go right through us.  This harsh weather, with its dehumidified air, also both increases our skin's loss of moisture, and it's natural oils.  

Here are some suggestions to help decrease the amount of moisture loss in skin: 

• wear protective clothing when outdoors
• increase humidity levels in the home
• avoid using harsh soaps and solvents when cleaning or wear rubber gloves if using them
• wash skin with gentle cleansers
• moisturize directly after bathing.

Many people encounter difficulty when applying much needed moisturizer to those hard to reach places, such as the back or feet.  The Skinfinity applicator from Marnau Adaptive Products is a wonderful solution to overcoming this problem.

This skin care body wand with 4 unique detachable heads is easy to use, easy to clean and comes in a convenient travel bag.

Magnifiers - Keeping The Details in Focus

There was a discussion on a local AM radio station the other day. The guest, who was being interviewed, was speaking about the need to give our brains the stimulation they need to keep growing and developing into old age. "If you don't use it, you lose it ".

 It was mentioned that this could be accomplished by taking on new and unfamiliar mental challenges and "getting out of our comfort zones".  Start solving sudoku or crossword puzzles, reading, doing needlepoint, or knitting were a few other suggestions offered.

 Now I don't know about you, but lately I have noticed that my vision isn't as sharp as it once was. If I want to accomplish the fine stitching required in needlepoint, or be able to take on a difficult puzzle, I'll need a bit of assistance. A friend told me about the LED Floor Standing Magnifier available from Marnau and it is really a life saver.  I am now able to see the fine details in many of the hobbies that I enjoy.

Submitted by Mary Alice Bennett

Marnau Adaptive Products offers a selection of items to aid with magnification.  The Standing Magnifier is one of the more popular, but there is also a Free Standing Magnifier, Standing Page Magnifier as well as a selection of portable magnifiers.

Marnau Offers A Simple Solution For Traveling By Car

One of the movements that most people simply take for granted is the ability to, easily and smoothly, both enter and exit a vehicle - that is until they are experiencing limited or reduced mobility. 

Severe pain and/or numbness is a complaint that we hear often from our clients who are experiencing difficulty during the transition both in and out of their vehicles.  The movements can add additional stress to the back, abdomen, hips, legs and knees.

It is not realistic for most people to simply opt not to travel by car.  Marnau offers you more wonderful aids to help ease discomfort - a portable swivel cushion and a 360 degree memory foam swivel cushion. These cushions are padded for your comfort and help to reduce the pain that may be caused by a torso twisting motion.  

The addition of such a simple tool can truly allow for independence and the maintenance an optimum quality of life.

Having Trouble With Your Balance?

Balance is the ability to maintain bodily equilibrium; the line of gravity of our body within the base of support.

We maintain our balance as a result of several of our body's systems working together: the visual system (our eyes), the vestibular system (our ears), and something called proprioception, which is our body's sense of where it is in space. If there is a loss of function of any of these systems, we can develop a balance disorder, resulting in our inability to maintain standing erectly. 

Some people who have negative balance issues may become dizzy, feel lightheaded, have trouble reading or seeing, feel nauseous, possibly vomit, have diarrhea, changes in blood pressure, feel anxious and afraid, or may even panic. As a result of these symptoms they may become very tired, feel sad or depressed, and may experience a lack of concentration for everyday tasks.

Disorders of balance may be caused by health issues, be a side effect of some medications, or may be caused by inner ear problems.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of imbalance, a visit to your doctor for a check-up is definitely in order.

It would be helpful to your doctor if you could keep a record of how frequently you have trouble keeping your balance, how you feel during these episodes, names and doses of all the medications that you are taking, and if you have fallen.  Ask questions of your doctor and write down his/her instructions.

Unfortunately as we age our systems are slower to react to stimulation, often resulting in poor balance, and thus an increased risk of tripping and falling. It is noted that one in three adults aged 65 and older will fall each year.

To help reduce injury from lack of balance, avoid walking in the dark, and wear low heeled shoes .  It would be helpful to install handrails in your home to increase your safety and security. Marnau offers a continuous handrail system that can be installed throughout your home; in hallways, stairs, bathrooms, etc...

Making Life A Little Better - One Product At A Time

Everything that we do at Marnau Adaptive Products is done with the intention of making someone's life a little better.  We often get notes of appreciation for how our products have brought back a certain quality of life to fellow Canadians.

Here is a message we received recently - we just wanted to share it with you too:

Dear Marnau,

 

Suffering from restless leg syndrome meant interrupted sleep and periods of terrible discomfort. I was prescribed a drug used to treat Parkinson's Disease (Mirapex), but it has a serious side-effect, causing some users to develop a gambling addiction. It may sound funny, but as I already have a tendancy to buy things I really don't need (esp. shoes, purses, and books), I was not keen on taking any chances. I had noticed that if I could find a cool spot on the sheets, I could get a few seconds of relief, and had even taken to ironing my sheets to maximize the coolness factor. When Sandra introduced me to the cooling pads, I jumped on them. I have only taken the medication I was prescribed twice in the past 5 or 6 months, which, to me, is a miracle. I cannot recommend these enough!

- Linda

It certainly touches our hearts to know that we have made your life a little easier. 

Arthritic Hands Are Still Useful

Many people don’t think twice about picking up everyday household objects, however, if you are dealing with Arthritis, this simple task can be painful and frustrating.  Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide. It can affect the hand joints and make grasping thin objects especially hard to maneuver and employ.

Let’s look at a run-of-the-mill kinda day….. everything from using a tooth brush, to using standard cutlery and writing implements - and let’s not forget about keys, can be struggles with frustration.  

There are many adaptive devices available to help ease the discomfort. This Closed-Cell Tubing is one of the easiest to adapt hard to hold handles and objects in and around your home by offering greater control.  The slip-resistant “skin” is dishwasher safe -  and adaptable to a variety of lengths.