BEWARE OF BAD STAIRLIFT SERVICE

STAIRLIFTS HAVE proven to be a blessing for seniors who want to stay in their own homes. Many of us live in two story houses, and have no desire to move into a cookie cutter, one story house in a new sub division. For years, my husband struggled up and down the stairs, until his knees gave out. Due to his age and various health issues, knee replacement surgery isn’t possible. Therefore, we invested in a brand new, Acorn stairlift. But now, a year and a half later, the battery is acting up, and the company is no longer responsive to our calls for repair and maintenance. Beware of bad stairlift service.

We looked into a stairlift several years ago, and even got a detailed estimate from a bright and personable sales representative who assured us that service was readily available. They even tout their trusty stairlift service on their website : “We employ highly-trained service technicians based all over the USA who are dedicated to servicing and maintaining our customers’ stairlifts” We were impressed. . And then, our fickle hearts lost interest, and we opted out of the installation. It seemed like a drastic solution, which would change the character of our 100 year old farmhouse. Then things got worse. Three years later, we called Acorn, and they had the old bids on file. They agreed to install the stairlift for the originally quoted price, which seemed like a very generous offer, considering inflation pressures.

BEWARE OF BAD STAIRLIFT SERVICE. If you can't get it fixed, it won't do you much good. — BEWARE OF BAD STAIRLIFT SERVICE. You can’t wait around for weeks on end if you need it fixed.

The first year, things went pretty well. Although, we did have to call and remind them that we were due for the yearly maintenance check which was promised as part of the deal. At that point, nothing was wrong, so all the service rep had to do was whatever is required just to make sure things are clean and running okay. Mission accomplished. When you have a machine that is in good working order, you take it for granted that it will always be that way. But it won’t. Like any other electrical appliance, it eventually develops some glitches. . And for us, that’s when the trouble began.

Our battery appears to be in need of charging. . At least, that’s how it looks to us , as the blinking numbers keep going down. But it could be something else. We called the Acorn phone number, and had to wait about 45 minutes on hold until someone finally answered. Actually, it was an answering service. Should you have to wait that long for a recorded message? Anyway, we left a message, and never received a call back. Finally, my husband drug out the original contract and found the phone number of the salesman who got the commission for selling us the stairlift. He assured us that we would receive a call by the end of the week. That was a week and a half ago. Still haven’t heard from them.

Now, we wonder what we’ll do if they’re in the process of going out of business. However, their website is active, so they’re still advertising their stairlifts for sale to gullible seniors. Beware of bad stairlift service.

September 25, 2022September 25, 2022

A ROYALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY

As Tolstoy once wrote,” happy families are all alike; unhappy families are unhappy in their own way. ” Witnessing the funeral ceremonies after the death of Queen Elizabeth, we saw many signs of a royally dysfunctional family. For example:

King Charles’ facial redness suggests some type of medical problem. The most common cause of ruddiness is rosacea which can be triggered by sun exposure, heat, stress, alcohol, or medicines prescribed for blood pressure. Hopefully, it’s nothing more serious, but he doesn’t present a picture of vibrant health. .

Queen Consort Camilla’s face is wrinkled as a Slovenian peasant. Most 70 year old women who’ve led a cushy city life have smoother skin. Does she smoke too much? Go to sun tan parlors? It’s a puzzle. Maybe it’s stress. If her husband is a billionaire, seems like she could easily afford some type of facial treatment like dermabrasion or retinol. If she lives as long as Queen Elizabeth, she’s going look like a scary old hag unless she gets some help. Hopefully, by then, she’ll have ditched the brassy yellow hair.

A ROYALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY WAS on full display during the Queen's funeral. — A ROYALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY WAS ON FULL DISHPLAY DURING THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL.

Princess Anne wearing a military uniform when she’s never actually served in the military. The media raved that she looked like a powerful woman in her uniform.. Personally, I thought she resembled a World War II comic book character . Let’s face it, pulchritude is not her long suit. Dressing like a man didn’t do much for her looks..

Prince Andrew, accused sex addict and friend of notorious sex offender Epstein. His Mom spent 16 million dollars settling a lawsuit claiming he solicited the services of an underage woman. He’s pretty well toast right now as far as the public is concerned, and from the expression on his face, I think he knows it. . Maybe he ought to start his own business, or head off to America..

Prince Harry looking totally disgusted the entire time.. First , he had to wear a morning coat like his disgraced uncle Andrew,. Then, His Dad maybe had a few Scotch whiskies that night and decided, hey, we’ll let Harry wear his uniform after all. Then, the next day, they changed their mind, and once again had him back in a dark suit . And Harry wouldn’t even sing “God Save The King.” He was probably thinking his Mom would be alive today if she hadn’t been messed over by the old man.

The ongoing feud between brothers, William and Harry. They kept their distance from one another, and you didn’t see much eye contact. Doesn’t look like they’ll get together over the holidays.

Young Prince George pinching his royal sister, hard enough to make her cry. Aggressive behavior in a 9 year old calls for some serious counseling. Why is little George so hostile? Kate and William better get this straightened out before he reaches puberty.

The turnout for the Queen’s funeral procession was impressive. You have to give her credit for putting up with a lot over the years, and keeping a stiff upper lip. I guess that’s what the English are known for. Now that she’s gone, you wonder how long the monarchy will last.

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022

FOUR GAME CHANGERS FOR SLEEP

Younger people who work or study hard find it easy to sleep at night. But after retirement, seniors often complain about falling and staying asleep. Consequently, they’re groggy during the day. It’s a vicious circle that never seems to end. We get all kinds of advice from well meaning family and friends. As an example,” don’t drink water before you go to bed”. But if you have allergies or a dry mouth, you will probably keep a water bottle on your bed stand. Doctors often prescribe sleeping pills, but they can be addictive and if you’re like me, you don’t care for the side effects of drugs like Ambien and Lunesta. And Melatonin actually keeps me awake. Lately, I’ve been investigating alternative strategies, and have discovered four game changers for better sleep. They may not work for you, but you might want to give them a try.

Bamboo sheets have two advantages: A) They’re hypoallergenic and keep you cool. They are naturally thermal regulating and don’t retain moisture. Instead, the bamboo moves heat away while you sleep – keeping you at the ideal temperature all night. It is also very lightweight and breathable so it feels easy on your skin even on hot nights. B) They’re hypoallergenic and anti microbial. For those of us who have skin allergies (psoriasis, eczema), skin asthma, or sensitive skin, we may experience itching and irritation that becomes worse at night. However, bamboo beddings are free from allergens, dust mites, odors, and bacteria so it reduces your allergies and it’s gentle on sensitive skin.

When I switched to bamboo sheets, I noticed an immediate difference. No more coughing and sneezing at night.. My skin stayed dry and cool. I felt more rested, because I wasn’t waking up so often. . And yet, I was still having trouble falling asleep. That’s when I started discovered weighted blankets.

Weighted blankets. According to the sleep foundation “ Many people find that adding a weighted blanket to their sleep routine helps to reduce stress and promote calm. In the same way as a hug or a baby’s swaddle, the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket may help ease symptoms and improve sleep for people with insomnia, anxiety, or autism. “
FOUR GAME CHANGERS FOR SLEEP. Try bamboo sheets and weighted blankets.

When ordering a weighted blanket , I saw that the manufacturer cautioned it might take a week or so to become accustomed to it. That proved to be true for me, as it really was a radical change. However, after a few days, I was sleeping more deeply and waking up later in the morning. It’s a mystery to me why they work, but I’m sold on weighted blankets.

3. Darken the bedroom. .Now that you’ve settled into your new bedding, be sure that you’ve blocked out any light in the room, . Cover digital clocks, bright buttons on television and computers. It’s been proven that our eyes are sensitive to this type of lighting, which may keep you awake.. If outside light peeps through your window shades, you may benefit from wearing a sleep mask.

4. Drink beet juice. Beets aren’t a very popular vegetable, but you might try acquiring a taste for beet juice. Recent studies showed that when COPD patients drank concentrated beetroot juice at bedtime, their overnight sleep quality improved and the duration of deep sleep episodes was increased. This is due to the nitrates in beets, which increase oxygen consumption.

These four game changes have helped me sleep better. . They may or not not work for you, but why not give them a try?

Here’s wishing you sweet dreams.

September 15, 2022

5 REASONS FOLKS FLEE FRUGAL CITY

About a month ago, the Chamber of Commerce announced the results of a survey about the way the locals feel about our town. To their dismay, it turns out we have a negative self image. Even though 59,000 people live here, they don’t think it’s a very great place, and lots of them have moved away in the past several years. We used to have a population of 71,000 in 1960, but it’s been slowly dwindling ever since. What is wrong? College towns are supposed to be attractive. Recently, we’ve built a mega million dollar convention center, and voted in a new casino to attract the gambling crowd. We have a new concert center, great parks, and low cost of living. And the mayor just announced that we’ve balanced the budget. What are the 5 reasons folks flee this frugal city?

5 reason folks flee frugal city. Who wants to stay in a place with poor infrastructure?city — 5 REASONS FOLKS FLEE FRUGAL CITY. Poor infrastructure and lax code enforcement don’t help.

You have to wonder if saving all that money –to the point where we have an excess of tax money—is such a good idea. It’s great that the City Council and the politicians who run things are investing in ways to attract tourists. After all, tourists spend money in restaurants, hotels, and malls. But then they leave. Not many of them are so impressed with what we have that they feel any great desire to relocate.

As a long time resident who’s also lived in other cities from time to time, it’s easy to see what’s wrong.

1. Infrastructure is sadly lacking. Yes, our main streets and highways are paved and well maintained. But if you drive through the inner city, along side streets and alleyways, you will encounter numerous pot holes, crumbling sidewalks, and deteriorating , poorly maintained houses. Quality of water supply is questionable, when black sediment is frequently seen in toilet bowls.

2. Code enforcement is not functional. The inner city is blighted with run down, weed filled yards and properties. When you complain to someone in that office, they claim to be understaffed, to the point where optimal code enforcement is not possible. Other cities impose large fines for homeowners and landlords who don’t maintain their property.. But not this city. Why do we not have enough money for optimal code enforcement? Maybe that would be a place to spend some of that extra money, rather than building more and more running trails for wealthy suburbanites,

3. The city does not have a municipal indoor swimming pool. They gave into pressure when the local YMCA closed their pool, and agreed to partner with them to reopen their aging pool Unfortunately, the YMCA is poorly funded, and managed by the YMCA in an adjoining county, who has no vested interest in improving our community. . The pool is frequently closed due to broken parts and electrical problems—sometimes for months at a time.

4. Poverty level is 26%–twice the national average for a city of this size. The problem is way too complex for me to solve. I suspect poor people stay because of cheap housing in run down areas. They simply can’t afford to move. Unfortunately, many don’t have cars and you see them walking along the streets with bags from the Dollar Store. Homeless people congregate near the library, but unlike many other cities , no social worker is stationed inside to help find them a place to live.

5. Trains running through the city cause traffic jams and delays to everyone going about their business and ambulances headed for hospitals.. There are three overpasses on the outer edges of town, but that doesn’t solve the problem of long waits at numerous inner city rail crossings.

Instead of spending tax dollars to attract tourists, it might be better to find ways of persuading people to stay. Right now, we are earmarked for 34.1 million dollars in American Rescue plan money. However, the politicians who run the city can’t decide how to spend it. How about asking all of the folks who live here?

September 11, 2022

OLD MENUS CAUSE STICKER SHOCK

On Labor Day, we ordered out from our favorite Asian restaurant. The printed menu warned that unless you order $15 worth of food, they couldn’t make a delivery. Seemed fair enough, and no problem, because your mouth waters as you scroll through the list of delicious goodies like Crab Rangoon, Seafood Soup, and Chicken with Almonds. Besides being the best Asian food in town (IMO), the prices have always seemed incredibly reasonable. However, we were in for a surprise when they totaled the bill. Warning! Old menus cause sticker shock.

The last time we ordered from that same restaurant was back in June. At that time, the prices hadn’t changed at all. This time, we didn’t have to worry about their predicament. It was obvious they’d had to do something to make enough to stay in business.

Here’s the comparison of the price of a few menu items between June and September:

June: September:

Egg Drop Soup: 4.50 5.00

Seafood soup: 6.00 8.00

Egg Rolls 2.00 2.50

Crab Rangoon 4.00 5.40

Total: $17.50 $20.90

This amounts to a 13 % increase. Wowza! I thought inflation was supposed to have capped out at 9%.

In addition to the food costs, a delivery charge of $3.00 was added to the bill. Since we only live 1.2 miles from the restaurant, this means that they’re probably netting around $1.50 for the short trip to our house. Obviously, gas and labor prices have escalated within the past year or so.

I asked my husband if we should tip the delivery person, since we’re already paying a delivery fee. He said, “of course.” To verify his response, I googled the answer. They said we should, so I threw in a few extra dollars. Then, of course, the 8% sales tax was added on.

I’m not complaining about any of these price increases, because it’s a lot more expensive to run a restaurant than it was a few years ago, due to costs of food and labor. Consequently, the consumer should be prepared for higher restaurant prices.

But what if the inflation rate begins to fall—to something like 3%–and food costs come down? Will prices come down at your favorite restaurant? I think you know the answer.

Warning! Throw away those old menus and get some new ones. Otherwise, you’re in for a sticker shock when you pay the bill.

September 6, 2022

WATCH OUT FOR THIS TIRE SCAM

The car manuals tell us we ought to buy tires every six years, even if the treads are good. When I was growing up, most people drove on their tires until they got a flat or a blowout. They felt fortunate just to have an automobile in the 40’s, when only about 10% of households owned a car. Things started changing in the 50’s, as more people owned cars, and traded them in every two or three years. But now, we’re keeping our cars an average of eight years, so more tires need to be replaced. Watch out for this tire scam, especially if you’re a senior woman:

One tire in our seven year old SUV started giving us problems. The manual, said we should buy new tires at six years. No matter what. Even if the treads look good. We decided to bite the bullet and invest in a new set. . Since my husband doesn’t hear well on the phone, I called a local dealer who’s always had a good reputation. They told me they needed the numbers on the old tires so they could replace them properly. Not an easy task for anyone with arthritic knees, but I did it.

WATCH OUT FOR THIS TIRE SCAM. They quote you a low price, then charge more when you go to pay. — WATCH OUT FOR THIS TIRE SCAM. They quote you a low price, but charge more once the new tires are installed, thinking you don’t remember the quote.

When I called in with the information. the salesperson seemed extremely helpful and considerate. He asked how many miles we drive the vehicle each year. Since we no longer go South in the winter, I figured less than 1000. He responded that we didn’t need the top grade expensive tires. Recommended a less expensive brand, at a savings of $500 over replacing the current ones.. Sounded good to me, so he agreed to order the tires and call me when they came in. A week later, when I hadn’t heard back, I called and talked with another person who said they had received them. . I picked up a book to read for the hour it would take while they put on the new tires.

When I went to pay the bill and get the keys to my car, the smiling person at the counter presented me with a bill for almost $1,000.

“But,” I said, “the person I talked to said the tires would only cost $555.”

He scratched his head . “This is what he ordered for you,”

I put my credit card back in my pocket. “No way am I paying twice what was quoted to me.”

“I’m sorry,” the guy replied. “I’m not the one who ordered them. I just gave you what he put in the computer.”

“But what about this other brand he told me about?” I asked.

He frowned. “I have them in stock, if that’s what you want.”

“So, I’ll have to wait another hour while you put on the tires I thought I was buying?”

He nodded in sympathy. “Fraid so.”

It was now lunch time, and I was hungry. But not hungry enough to be cheated out of $500. I waited another hour while they removed the expensive tires and put on the ones I had ordered.

On the way home, I ruminated about the entire transaction. Did they think a senior woman would not remember the price they quoted over the phone? And wasn’t it strange that they had the cheaper brand in stock when I refused to buy the more expensive ones? Had they given me a low quote just to get me into the place? It was disappointing, since the store had always had a good reputation . Then I remembered. It had been sold to a franchise dealership the year before. Perhaps the new management needed to improve their bottom line. But not at my expense, thank you.

It’s pretty easy to buy new tires. There are tons of stores all over town. However, not all tires are the same and prices vary widely. And seniors are often targeted for scams. Be careful what you pay for, and watch out for this tire scam.

September 1, 2022

WARNING! THIEVES STEAL DISABLED PARKING TAGS

Have you ever wondered how young, perfectly able people drive around with handicapped parking tags? When I see them, I assume someone in their family actually is disabled. Now I know that’s not necessarily so. Because this weekend , we accidentally left our car unlocked while visiting a friend in another part of town. And when we got back home, we noticed something missing. Warning! Thieves steal disabled parking tags.

What kind of person would steal a handicapped tag from a car in broad daylight? How do they rationalize that kind of disregard for disabled human beings? Do they smile as they drive into a handicapped parking place that is reserved for someone in a wheel chair? Maybe a disabled veteran. Or someone as old as their grandmother? Do they realize that by stealing a handicapped tag, they are committing a crime? Unfortunately, they know they will seldom be caught. How many police officers go around parking lots checking to verify the rightful ownership of a disability tag? Actually, if you have such a placard, you’re supposed to keep a permit in the glove compartment of your car. But police officers have more important things to do than inspect handicapped tags.

If you have no conscience whatsoever, there’s plenty of motivation for stealing disabled placards. Especially around apartment complexes, where it’s a problem finding a convenient parking spot. I used to wonder at the high percentage of disabled people who park in these spots. Now I know that they may simply be using their grandparents tag, or else they’ve stolen it. I would love to ask the Bureau of Motor Vehicles how many of the tags they issue have to be replaced due to theft. I doubt if they would want anyone to know.

In bigger cities, stolen tags can reap big rewards for the thief. The street value may be as much as $2000. For the buyer, the stolen permit may be worth as much a $10,000 a year in free parking

Lack of accessible parking has real consequences, as evidenced by the responses to a national survey of people with disabilities conducted in late 2017:

85% of respondents said they had problems finding accessible parking.

52% turned back when they were unable to find an accessible spot.

80% believe that enforcement of placard abuse is inadequate or nonexistent.

Month: September 2022