Well, it’s that time of year again! But this time, it’s a little bit different. Okay, it’s a lot different. At this point, we’ll take any sort of normalcy we can get, so it’s time to the kids (and maybe yourself) ready for back to school in the time of COVID-19. Getting School Clothes and Uniforms ReadyYou may not have done the usual annual shopping trips this year for new wardrobe staples. And that’s okay. Social distancing is more important right now than getting your hands on the latest fashions for your kids. But that may mean you have to dig last year’s stuff out of storage. School uniforms are usually a bit trickier to care for than traditional jeans and t-shirts. Be sure to take them to the dry cleaner at least a week (more if possible) before school begins. Check for stains, rips, or missing buttons beforehand. Most dry cleaners can do repairs like that for a very low cost. Also, be sure to ask them about alterations for those hand-me downs! Don’t Delay Those ShotsEveryone is a bit nervous about medical appointments these days, especially if you’re perfectly healthy. Medical offices are well aware of these fears and are taking extra precautions to keep germs away. There’s no excuse to put off those back to school vaccinations. If you’d rather go somewhere more convenient, where you can get in and out quickly, check with your local pharmacy. Most pharmacies offer low cost (or even free with your insurance) vaccines and are almost guaranteed to have the ones your kids need for school requirements. And don’t forget your flu shot! Stock Up on Flu Season EssentialsFlu season is going to be even more intense this year, with the threat of COVID-19 still looming. To prepare, stock up with all the necessary over the counter medications for cold and flu. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, cold medicines and cough drops are all great things to have on hand. Vapor rub and chapstick are helpful to have on hand too, and all available at your local drug store as well.
Things may be different this year, but it’s still an exciting, fun time for the kiddos to see their friends in school again. Taking a little extra time to prepare will make it a lot less stressful. Stay safe! So many Americans are affected by skin allergies, so much so that skin allergy remedies are a lucrative industry. Different factors can make skin allergies worse like weather, pollen and common airborne allergens. Here are some tips for those dealing with skin allergies Check With Your Local PharmacySkin allergies are sometimes tricky to treat since they vary so much from person to person. Check with a compounding pharmacy about medications specifically for your individual needs. Compounded medications for skin will be specially formulated for you by type and dosage, so you'll get the quickest most reliable results. Be Aware of What Fabrics Irritate Your SkinYou may be unaware that some of the clothing you wear regularly is irritating your sensitive skin. It could be the fabric itself, or the detergent you've been using to wash them. Always look for "free and clear" detergents that don't contain any dyes or perfumes. Additionally, look for a local green dry cleaner nearby that tailors to those with sensitive skin. Ask for no fragrances and hypoallergenic products. Check With Your DoctorSometimes skin allergies could be pointing to a more serious health problem. If your skin suddenly becomes dry or irritated, its best to have it checked out by your doctor or dermatologist. Raised rashes, odd-shaped markings or irritation paired with fevers should always be checked by a medical professional right away. Moisturize FrequentlyDry weather or heat can bring on skin allergies, especially if you're already prone to dry skin. To avoid this, I always keep my skin moisturized with a natural, perfume-free lotion or oil. I like to buy lotions and creams specifically formulated for sensitive skin at a local drugstore near me, which also can fill prescriptions from my dermatologist. Older people also tend to have dry skin, so family caregivers or professional home health aides should also take care to keep their loved one or client's skin moisturized.
Skin allergies are a pain, but they don't have to be. Take care of your skin and take care of each other. Father's Day is right around the corner and it's time to start thinking about gift ideas for all the special guys in your life. This year is undeniably different than previous Father's Days, so it may require a little thinking outside the box. Some traditional stores aren't yet fully open, and special outings and celebrations may not be possible because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not to worry! I've compiled some unique Father's Day gift ideas that are perfect for our current situation. Gift CardsGift cards are always a good idea for any holiday gift. But this year, consider a gift card from your Dad's local dry cleaner. Once things get up and running again, he'll want to freshen up his wardrobe and get out of those sweats and t-shirts. Or he may try shirt laundry service at his office so he can look his best always at work. If the dry cleaners won't work for your guy, the local drugstore will have a large selection of gift cards for local restaurants and stores. Private Home CareThis gift could work for grandpas as well as Dads. If your dad is caring for his elderly father, or could just use some help himself, contacting a private home care agency may be the perfect gift idea. A caregiver or home health aide could be a lifesaver, and something they may not always feel comfortable asking for themselves Last-Minute GiftsBecause of COVID-19, it's hard to follow our usual gift-giving routines. If you haven't been able to go to a department store or find what you need online, you may need to run out and grab something locally. Luckily, pharmacies are considered essential right now and almost all are offering special extended hours. The local pharmacy near me, for example, turns out to be a treasure trove of Father's Day gifts. Cologne, coffee mugs, fancy chocolate - you'd probably be surprised what you can find at the drug store. The community pharmacy probably carries Father's Day gift sets as well to make it even easier. Don't let the global pandemic stop you from treating those special Dads in your life to the perfect gift they deserve.
With everything going on in the world right now, prepping for a holiday celebration is a welcome distraction. Memorial Day is coming up, and although we may have to tweak our traditions a bit, it’s still entirely possible to have a good old’ fashioned American BBQ. Here are some things to consider as you’re preparing for Memorial Day. Get Those Flags ReadyI know you don’t need a reason to proudly display your American flag, but Memorial Day is a perfect reason to freshen it up a bit. Did you know that some dry cleaners will clean flags for free? Call your local dry cleaners and ask about their flag policies. An old crumpled flag can accumulate a lot of grime and even mold, so getting it cleaned once a year is a good idea. Prep the Picnic LinensWhether you’re planning a social distancing gathering with the neighbors, or a family backyard barbecue, it’s still important to make sure your table linens are ready to go. Most linens can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle. However, sending your linens to a local dry cleaner with laundry delivery service will not only ensure they’re washed properly, but also save a lot of time and effort. For anyone attending your gatherings that may want some extra protection, consider washing some bandanas or small cloth squares that can be used as face masks. Prepare for Outdoor GatheringsWe’ve all been cooped up inside for months, so it’s easy to forget about the necessary outside preparations. Your local pharmacy will have everything you need to stock up on like allergy meds for high pollen counts, insect spray for those pesky mosquitos and even last-minute paper products like napkins and paper cups.
Once you’ve made these simple Memorial Day preparations, you’re ready to enjoy the start of the summer with your family! Enjoy! Photo by Michael Skok on Unsplash We usually celebrate Mother’s Day with flowers and gifts for mom, taking her out to dinner and may be a shopping spree or a trip to the spa or salon. While our city is still in lockdown, with restaurants, salons and shops closed, how are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Mother's Day GiftsFor the most part, we can order gifts online and get them ready by Mother’s Day. If you cannot get a gift delivered in time, don’t forget that your local drugstore is still open and carries a variety of health and beauty products that your mom would love – from age-defying skin care, hair coloring and styling to perfumes and manicure products. Your community pharmacy may provide curbside service so you can stay safe. Take a load offMom is always busy caring for her family. The list of household chores is never ending. During the quarantine, the amount of cleaning and disinfecting has probably quadrupled. So a great gift would be to take over some of her work. How about letting the local dry cleaner nearby do the laundry? Schedule a laundry pickup before Mother’s Day, so that she is relaxed and not worried about doing the laundry. If mom’s work includes caring for grandpa and or grandma, which is not unusual in this age of the “Caregiving Crunch,” you can take a load off her by hiring respite care providers from the local home care agency. A home health aide can provide respectful professional care and companionship for a senior loved one while the family caregiver takes a break. Fun activity togetherDo something fun with your mom at home, such as watch a movie on TV, take a trip down memory lane by viewing old photos together, make handicrafts or artwork, give mom a manicure, and so on. Mother's Day dinnerIf your mother is living in the same house, you can perhaps cook a nice dinner or if you are not a good cook, you can order a big meal online and get it delivered to the house. But if your mother is not under the same roof, you can try sharing a virtual dinner on Zoom. That way, you can still see and chat with each other during dinner.
With a little creativity and preparation, we can still give mom a memorable Mother’s Day during these unprecedented times. Stay safe and have fun with your mom on Mother’s Day! Photo by Karolina Bobek ✌ on Unsplash Everyday household tasks can become a source of anxiety in these times. Do you start worrying about how to get the basics done while keeping yourself and loved ones safe and healthy? Simple hygiene measures can help. Personal HygieneA piece of advice that is repeatedly stated by the authorities as a top precaution is to wash our hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Make sure the soap or sanitizer fully covers your hands, then rub hands together for 20-30 seconds. For hand sanitizers, use those that contain at least 60 per cent alcohol. Having trouble finding hand sanitizers in the grocery store? Try your community pharmacy. If they have the ability to provide compounded medications, they may be able to produce sanitizers themselves. Remember to avoid touching your face because the virus is spread through droplets that may cling to surfaces that you touched. Cleaning ClothesThere’s no research as yet on how long the COVID-19 virus can survive on clothes or other fabrics, but it’s still a good idea to change and wash your clothes regularly — especially if you’ve just come home from the grocery store (or the office if you aren’t working from home). If you are doing the laundry at home, wash your clothes using the warmest appropriate water setting in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you dry the items completely. Consider using a laundry delivery service instead of making trips to the laundromat to avoid too much people contact and save time for other chores. Dry cleaning can help to disinfect clothing and other household items like towels and bedding because it uses high heat. Some Boston dry cleaners provide germ-free laundry services, too. When handling dirty laundry from a person who has symptoms, wear disposable gloves. If you are using a drycleaning pickup service, you should tell the dry cleaner that the laundry may be infected. HousecleaningIt is also important to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces or objects including tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, desks, phones, keyboards, sinks, and faucets at least daily. Clean dirty surfaces with a regular household detergent first, then disinfect with any EPA-registered household disinfectant.
Let’s all stay safe and healthy during these unusual times! Photo by Irina Ba on Unsplash Newton has the fifth largest senior population in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and older people are known to be at higher risk from COVID-19. Although the city is working to make sure seniors are safe, you may be wondering if your parent or senior loved one who lives alone needs extra support during this pandemic. The best thing you can do is encourage them to stay home and practice social distancing to avoid exposure. Here are a few things to make staying home easier. Before you talk with your loved one about the need for COVID-19 precautions, get up to speed on facts and information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or from the state or local health department. This will help you be better able to correct any misinformation they may have. If there is a home health aide, some precautions are needed. Discuss with the home care agency what protocols they have in place to reduce risk. In addition to helping with activities of daily living, the home caregiver can help your loved one follow the CDC’s risk-reducing recommendations and also monitor for symptoms so they can alert you. To make sure they have enough of the daily essentials like food and medicine, you may want to stock a couple of weeks’ worth of groceries including food, pet supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. and to gather a one to three month supply of medications. Use a prescription pharmacy in Newton that provides prescription delivery service and/or curbside pickup to keep up with the medications. For groceries, remember to check the availability of time slots for delivery. Laundry pickup service can help avoid trips to the nearest dry cleaner in Newton or laundromat where social distancing is hard to maintain.
Check in frequently by phone, FaceTime, or Zoom to stay connected. Companionship and social relationships are important to the mental health of an aging adult. Social distancing makes it difficult for us to communicate effectively and intimately with our senior loved ones, but digital communications can help quite a bit during these unprecedented times. photo credit: Image by Sabine van Erp from Pixabay There is no need to spend tons of money on expensive skin products and lotions. But by stocking up on a few different natural ingredients that are inexpensive and easy to find at a local grocery store or community pharmacy near me, I can always be prepared for a variety of skin-related situations. Read on to learn more. Witch HazelNo, it’s not something to use to put a curse on someone. Witch hazel is actually a common astringent that used for many different topical needs. Besides being very inexpensive, you can usually find it in a few various forms at your local independent pharmacy. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, you can use witch hazel for a variety of skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes from allergic reactions and even hemorrhoids. AloeAloe vera is a handy thing to have in your cabinet, especially in the summertime. When rubbed gently on the skin, aloe vera is incredibly soothing to sunburns and can even help it heal faster. While I could easily pick up aloe vera lotions and creams in the grocery store or a drug store near me, having an aloe vera plant is another great way to reap its benefits in raw form. Simply use the gel-like substance directly from its thick leaves. Coconut OilCoconut oil is great to cook and bake with, but it’s also amazing for your skin. Besides having natural anti-bacterial properties, it’s incredibly moisturizing and can be used even on sensitive skin. Use it when treating athletes foot or toe fungus, or for clearing up folliculitis, a common skin rash caused by inflamed hair follicles on the arms and legs. Coconut oil is very high in antioxidants, which means regular use can actually improve the texture and appearance of your skin. So next time you’re at the drug store, pharmacy or grocery, keep a lookout for these natural ingredients that can help keep your skin healthy. But if you have more serious skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, warts, fungal infections, wounds and scars that require customized treatment, you might need prescription drugs and for those you would need to consult a professional healthcare provider. Compounded medications can be ordered from a dermatology compounding pharmacy to contain ingredients to help with various skin conditions. They include topical delivery systems to provide localized treatments in many different forms, including ointments, gels and creams to enable better absorption into the skin.
There is scientific research that shows walking a nature can do your body and mind a lot of good. It can decreased depression, improved well-being and mental health, and lower perceived stress. It can also bring about better cardiovascular health, healthy weight, and strengthened bones. In the city of Newton, MA, there are many places where you can walk in nature and enjoy its benefits. For example, Charles River Reservation, Cold Spring Park and Cutler Park are all well maintained and very popular spots for neighbors to enjoy a daily stroll or weekend hike. Given the current concerns about EEE, it is important to take precautions when you take a walk a nature. It is wise to wearing long sleeves and pants and use insect repellent sprays. Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk, so we should avoid being out in the woods during those hours. Of course, we should also bear in mind the usual warnings about ticks, mosquitoes, poison ivy, etc. On sunny days, sunscreens are a must. You can get sunscreens and insect sprays from big stores like Target or CVS, but there are many advantages to shop local and go to a local pharmacy like Keyes Drug instead. You’ll get better service and the pharmacists will get to know you and your family really well. They can provide compounded medications to help you get the personalized health care that you need. Veterinary compounding services can make customized medicine for your pets as well.
Don’t forget that sunscreens and insect sprays can leave stains on your clothing. Here are some tips for removing sunscreen stains. For best results, bring the stained clothing to your local dry cleaner or use their laundry delivery service. Summer is nearly over. Do take advantage of the beautiful Fall weather to enjoy walking in nature before Winter arrives! In case you haven't heard of Auburndale, MA, it is one of the thirteen villages that comprise Newton. Situated in the West part of Newton, it borders Wellesley on the West and Waltham in the North. It is conveniently situated at the intersection of the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) and Route 128 (Interstate 95). It is home to Lasell University and Woodland Golf Club. Auburndale Park has play & picnic areas, trails, tennis courts & a ball field in a tranquil location by the river. The playground equipment includes slides and climbing nets that blend in well with the natural surroundings. Auburndale Plaza is a shopping center conveniently located on the main thoroughfare, Commonwealth Avenue. It is anchored by the supermarket chain Star Market. There is also a dry cleaner, Utopia Cleaners, a Bank of America, Supercuts and Bruegger’s Bagels. Utopia Cleaners provides green dry cleaning services, as well as wash and fold laundry service. It’s open Monday through Saturday. As part of a dry cleaning company with 5 stores in Greater Boston, Utopia Cleaners processes clients’ dry cleaning and laundry at its own facility in Arlington. Through its free laundry drop off, dry cleaning pickup and delivery service, it serves neighbors not only in Newton, but also Wellesley and Waltham. If you need your clothing cleaned at the last minute, which happens when you are too busy and forget, then you can depend on Utopia Cleaners’ same day dry cleaning service. Also, just one block away from Auburndale Plaza is the local pharmacy, Keyes Drug. This popular drug store provides prescription refills and delivery, vitamins & supplements, vaccines, orthopedic braces, home health products like walkers, incontinence aids, and diabetic supplies, as well as general health and beauty products for eye care, dental care, hair care, skin care and much more.
Keyes Drug is also a compounding pharmacy that provides compounded medications for various conditions including Autism, Dermatology, Diet restrictions/allergies, GI/digestion, Hormone balancing for men and women, Mitochondrial and metabolic diseases, Pain management, Pediatric and Veterinary needs. Auburndale is a safe and beautiful community that is well-equipped with all your lifestyle needs and many more good things to offer! Photo: John Phelan |
Archives
March 2023
|