16 Accessories for the Bed By: Heather Latimer / Heather’s Self-Help Tips In earlier times a bed was merely a piece of furniture used for sleeping. An attractive quilt, camouflaged sheets, blankets and an eiderdown was often added for extra warmth. “At nursing school, part of our training was how to make a bed so it was neat, comfortable and helpful for the patient’s condition,” said Carolina Cesena PCA. “We could not leave wrinkles in sheets and blankets or unfluffed pillows, and the necessity of tucking in bedding at the two lower corners at the foot of the bed by using a precise triangular positioning called military style was stressed repeatedly.” Today most patient beds in assisted living and other non-hospital care facilities have accessories attached to ease symptoms of various health issues. There are hundreds of those simple add-ons and many can be purchased for your own use if you know the name and description. Some examples: Baby It’s Cold Outside By: Pat Alexander / Art of Entertaining When you come from a big city and settle in a small town, you learn to make your own fun. Every January, after the hoopla of greeting in the new year, we were faced with a cold, dark month that just called for a diversion. The lake behind a friend’s house froze over each winter, and one January we decided to plan a fun day around it. We chose an ice skating party with prizes for best and worst skaters, fastest time over a specified course, most inventive outfit, etc. I won a prize for being the best slider. Here’s where I should mention that I can’t ice skate. The only skating I’d ever done was sliding over a frozen pond in red galoshes when I was a kid. I think it was a pity vote! I still remember how cold it was! In movies, you see people at outdoor ice skating rinks looking glamorous in little jackets and gloves and bare heads. No red noses, frozen hands or ungraceful falls. So not real! Decked out in thick sweaters under heavy jackets, woolen mittens, scarves, hats, and thick socks, we all looked like ungainly, colorful, but frozen, January 2024 1. For climbing into a bed that is too high - Step stool with adjustable height handle. 2. Skin on buttocks irritated and painful - An alternating pressure pad designed to prevent ulcerated bed sores. 3. Heartburn, acid reflux - A wedge pillow to keep the head raised. 4. To reduce fear of falling out of bed whilst sleeping - Two cloth-covered bumpers for adults that are laid along each side of bed. 5. To prevent falling whilst getting in and out of bed - Bed grab rails. 6. Bed clothes wet with sweat or urine - Washable bed under pads that are water resistant and non-toxic. 7. To move patient from one side to the other side - Bed repositioning pad for one person to place under patient and pull on pad in desired direction. 8. For sensitive toes that hurt when heavy blankets put pressure on them - Blanket lifter bar. Heather Latimer is a nationally recognized specialist in making difficult subjects easy and author of 17 books. See amazon.com/ heather latimer/how to overcome. snowmen! So much fun, but so cold! We were so happy to head to a warm house at the end of the day, shedding our multitude of outer garments. We gathered on sofas, around tables, drinks in hand, tasting all the delicious foods, partying and laughing at all the silliness and hi-jinks that had gone before. A party is my answer to so many things. I love the mingling, the conversations, the ideas shared and the camaraderie. It’s the best way to bring people together. My advice for a dank January – have a party! And try the recipe below to make it even better. Cheese Tarts: Defrost a box of mini phyllo tarts. In a medium bowl, mix 4 oz. each of room temperature goat cheese and cream cheese. Stir in 3 tbs. minced fresh chives, 1 tbs. olive oil, 1 grated or finely minced garlic clove, 1 tbs. fresh minced dill, ¼ tsp. flaked sea salt and ¼ tsp. white pepper. Taste for seasoning. Fill tarts. Garnish with a sprig of dill. Serve. Pat Alexander writes about all things home. She is well known for her cooking, parties and interior design, and consults on kitchen and bath remodels.
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