While aging can bring positive life changes, such as retirement and the freedom to spend more time on hobbies, travel, and visiting family, it also presents unique challenges. Ooma presents a safety guide for seniors, highlighting 30 tips to help them age safely, stay connected, and maintain independence. Instead of a simple list of helpful gadgets, the team created a roadmap to help seniors navigate a rapidly changing world with confidence.

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One of the most crucial sections focuses on digital safety and online scam protection. Seniors can use the Internet to learn new things and connect with others, but it’s also full of risks and schemes where criminals prey on uninformed elders. The article explains how to avoid scams with password managers and multi-factor authentication. These tips on strong password creation and extra protection can drastically lower the risk of identity theft and financial loss due to scams.

The following section focuses on physical safety and emergency response. While most of us know to call “911” in an emergency, many of us are unaware of Enhanced 911 (E911), which automatically sends a senior’s address to responders. This is critical if the senior who placed the emergency call cannot speak. A medical ID displayed on a smartphone lock screen can help EMS workers begin treatment instantly and save more lives. Fall detection devices make good use of these services by automatically sharing location and calling for help. These affordable, simple tools can save a senior’s life.

Next, the chart moves on to home security. Smart security cameras and motion-activated systems don’t have to be complicated. They can help seniors reduce stress and increase their peace of mind. Smart doorbells and two-way audio allow them to communicate with visitors without having to go to the door. Environmental monitoring devices are essential for detecting poor air quality and dangerous temperature conditions. Practical advice and the article’s compassionate tone remind readers that safety offers seniors independence.

In that same spirit of independence, the article turns to accessibility. These include visual/hearing alerts, simpler phone interfaces, and medication reminder apps. These tools address health issues that affect all seniors, like hearing loss, vision changes, and memory challenges. These apps and aids will help seniors develop healthy daily routines, reduce frustration, navigate the world, and make the most of their lives.

Lastly, the guide addresses phone safety and scam calls. Seniors can use caller ID authentication and call blocking to reduce fraudulent calls. Unfortunately, seniors are often victims of these scams. While education is also essential for helping seniors navigate these calls, modern VoIP technology and other features make the process much easier. A caller’s sense of urgency can sway them, so these tools can help them avoid the calls altogether.

The team’s tips empower seniors and their loved ones, helping them prepare for the future. This list is a conversation starter to help families plan for independent seniors to live safely and healthily.

Deciding which home improvement projects are worth your time and money can yield big payoffs. Whether you think you’ll sell yourself soon or want to increase your comfort and value, you can use this new study from Ace Handyman Services to decide which projects to tackle. Their article “Which Handyman Home Improvement Projects have the Biggest ROI?” pinpoints the upgrades and repairs that will give you the greatest return on investment.

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The study focuses on cost-effective projects that offer a tangible increase in home value. These projects will improve the home’s functionality and make it look more cared for. Both qualities are appealing to potential buyers. Some of the top upgrades the team lists are garage door replacement, new entry doors, refinishing floors, fixing siding, and painting the walls. Landscaping and proper lawn care also go a long way toward increasing curb appeal. Nationwide surveys show that simple cosmetic upgrades can add over 100% of the project’s cost to the home’s value. This is particularly true if you paint in neutral or modern colors.

Experts also point to kitchen and bathroom improvements as good, modest cost investments. Replacing fixtures and cabinets can make a big difference. National data points to small-scale kitchen remodels recouping 80% to 96% of their costs, which is a much better ROI than big, expensive remodeling overhauls. We see in the team’s data that flooring and exterior upgrades also have a major impact. Well-maintained and upgraded floors are often worth more than the cost to do the project. New hardwood floors or sanding and refinishing floors add around $5,000 of resale value. A lawn care service has an enormous ROI of 217%, underscoring the massive impact of curb appeal. Upgraded landscaping can add $9,000 in value, and even simple landscape lighting can add around $4,000. You could also consider adding an outdoor fire feature, which would add $5,000 in value.

Overall, these projects had the highest ROI:

1. Replacing the garage door
2. Standard lawn care service
3. Replace the entry door
4. Install manufactured stone veneer
5. Sand and refinish hardwood floors
6. Install new hardwood floors
7. Replace siding
8. Paint interior
9. Landscape maintenance
10. Upgrade the landscape

The biggest message the team’s study underscores is that handyman projects can outperform big remodels and renovations in terms of increased home value. These handyman-friendly projects that the average DIYer can achieve represent a balance of cost-effectiveness, value impact, and everyday comfort enhancement. Always lean toward adding visual appeal and increasing functionality when deciding on ways to improve your home. The projects on this list will help you make a more beautiful, comfortable home without breaking your back. Whether you hire a handyman service or take on the project yourself, these projects are within your grasp and will give you a solid return on the investment.

Millions of Americans travel for New Year’s Eve and Day celebrations, but unfortunately, the last night of the year can be one of the most dangerous for drivers. CarInsurance.com analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find that certain states and counties have consistently higher fatality rates on December 31 and January 1. The team identified where and when the risks are highest.

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The team’s analysis examined NHTSA fatality numbers between 2014 and 2023, then adjusted this data relative to population to calculate the number of fatalities per 100,000 residents. They discovered that these states had the highest per-capita traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve:

• South Carolina – 1.39 deaths per 100,000 (71 total)
• Mississippi – 1.35 deaths per 100,000 (40 total)
• Louisiana – 1.33 deaths per 1000,000 (62 total)

Florida was also a high-risk location. Its deaths per capita rank fourth on the list, but the total number of New Year’s Eve fatalities are much higher than the top three states, with 270 deaths in total. This is largely due to Florida’s large population and number of dangerous counties.

Focusing on these high-risk counties revealed some especially hazardous locations. The deadliest U.S. counties on New Year’s Eve and Day were:

• Sarasota County, Florida – 2.3 fatalities per 100,000 (10 deaths)
• Manatee County, Florida – 2.0 per 100,000 (8 deaths)
• Davidson County, Tennessee – 1.96 per 100,000 (14 deaths)

Sarasota and Manatee counties are both linked to high rates of DUI-related traffic fatalities, which can help explain their placement at the top of the list.

The danger not only varies by place, but by the time of day. On New Year’s Eve, the deadliest hours occur between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. for 38 recorded fatalities. On New Year’s Day, the early morning hours are by far the most dangerous, with 137 deaths occurring between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. and 131 deaths between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.

Over the decades, we see 1,047 deaths on December 31^st and 1,474 on January 1^st, so New Year’s Day has the most fatalities overall, which is probably due to partygoers under the influence returning home in the early morning hours.

The largest contributor to New Year’s traffic deaths is certainly alcohol impairment. For example, in 2022, 37% of deadly crashes on New Year’s Day involved an alcohol impaired driver. This number varies year-to-year, but it does highlight how common drunk driving is during holiday celebrations.

This pattern aligns with a broader national trend of alcohol-impaired driving leading to traffic fatalities. In 2023, a third of U.S. traffic deaths involved drunk drivers, prompting campaigns run during the holiday period with slogans like, “Drive sober or get pulled over.”

Understanding the safety facts the team outlined can help drivers make safe decisions over the holidays. We can see from the data that they should avoid driving between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They should arrange a sober ride and never drive under the influence. Always wear a seatbelt and be extra alert when driving.