Technology can help us maintain social connections, encourage exercise, provide important reminders and safety alerts and deliver entertainment and mental stimulation. Unfortunately, technology can also be a source of annoyance and frustration. One important piece of technology is the mobile phone. This critical item can sometimes be difficult to use for those with even a slight impairment to vision or fine motor skills. Fortunately, more … [Read more...]

There is no “one size fits all” approach to caregiving for those with dementia. As dementia progresses, a person’s characteristics may change, and culture and background often play a role in the care and support that a person prefers to receive. Cultural understanding is a key factor for building a successful care plan for dementia patients. It is important that caregivers and family members of dementia patients are cognizant of the important … [Read more...]

Occasional mask-wearing is likely to be part of everyday life for people in the United States for the foreseeable future, as it has been in some other parts of the world for some time. Guidelines about when to wear masks, what types of masks to wear and the best mask materials continue to evolve and change. The dynamic nature of this information leads to lots of questions: How do I know when I should be wearing a mask? When is one-ply mask … [Read more...]

Maryland’s temperate climate and early spring weather results in an abundance of pollen in most years and also a high prevalence of hay fever and other seasonal allergies. Scientists say that allergic reactions are the most common of all immunological diseases and are one of the most widespread chronic human health problems for people in developed countries. Most seasonal allergies are limited to annoying, but fairly benign symptoms, such as a … [Read more...]

Even the healthiest of people experience inflammation. From bug bites to viral infections and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and more, inflammation affects millions of people across the world in various ways. Experts estimate that joint diseases and arthritis alone, which cause painful inflammation, affect some 350 million people, or approximately twenty percent of the population. The bad news is that inflammation naturally increases with … [Read more...]

In recent years, the demand for wearable personal technology devices (such as activity trackers, heart monitors and smart watches) has increased exponentially. Some manufacturers have even introduced smart jewelry, such as the Oura health tracking ring, and smart clothing such as Siren Socks (which detect developing foot ulcers). Recent social distancing may have been responsible for some of the recent surge in sales of wearable devices, as … [Read more...]