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Baby Safety Month

September is Baby Safety Month. Sponsored by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), this observance strives to educate parents and caregivers about the safe use and selection of juvenile products. This year’s campaign focuses on the importance of safely using and introducing age-appropriate products, as well as when to transition to different products based on age, weight, and developmental needs.

Check out JPMA’s safety tips for more information on the basics, sleep safety, car seat safety, and product safety.

Dehumidifier safety

Spring and summer are prime seasons for increased humidity. Basements, crawl spaces, and indoor pool or spa areas are key locations that may be affected by moisture in the air. When not addressed, excessive humidity can result in mold, musty scents, uneven floorboards, and stains on walls and ceilings. Dehumidifiers can do a great job of minimizing moisture and protecting your home, but there may be some risk involved.

Over the last 15 years, there have been a number of high-profile dehumidifier recalls from several name-brand manufacturers after faulty units caught fire. In some cases, these fires were devastating to the homeowners. Before you turn on your dehumidifier, please make sure it hasn’t been recalled.

Check out these West Bend Cares blogs for more information.

Dehumidifiers can overheat and catch fire. Do you have one?

A faulty dehumidifier could burn your house down

Then, if you want to learn more about dehumidifier operation and maintenance, as well as dehumidifier components and common failure modes, read Dehumidifier Fires – Expert Article on Forensic Investigations. 

National Assisted Living Week^®

According to the National Center for Assisted Living® (NCAL) there are approximately 28,900 assisted living communities with 996,100 licensed beds in the United States. Additionally, as of January 2019, there were nearly 453,000 total employees in the assisted living profession.

September 8 – 14 is National Assisted Living Week. Celebrated annually in September since 1995, this campaign provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding communities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. The observance, which kicks off on Grandparent’s Day each year, encourages assisted living communities to offer a variety of events and activities to celebrate the individuals they serve, as well as to help educate the public about the long-term care services assisted living facilities provide.

Each year a different theme is chosen for the week. This year’s theme, “A Spark of Creativity,” is intended to inspire residents to tap into their creative side, whether through the arts or beyond. While engaging in the arts can be a fun pastime, according to the American Art Therapy Association, it can also offer many benefits to older adults, including improving cognitive and sensory-motor functions, fostering self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivating emotional resilience, enhancing social skills, and reducing and resolving conflicts and distress.