Matti Daniels

Providing full-time care for an older loved one is a selfless job many of us would readily take on if needed, but it comes with its own set of challenges and frustrations. A recent report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine said caregiver recognition and support is one of the most significant challenges facing the U.S.’s growing older population and their families. About 18 million Americans provide care for a relative 65 or older. Many of those caregivers sacrifice their own personal health and finances to adequately care for their loved one. In some cases, the caregiver puts their career on hold. The National Academies report that...

Storing home canned foods If you are lucky enough to have some home canned foods on hand (through your own or someone else’s hard work), be sure to store them properly so that you can enjoy the taste of summer throughout the coming year. Once jars have cooled for 12 to 24 hours and sealed, the screw bands should be removed for storage. This prevents the bands from rusting onto the jars and allows undamaged bands to be reused. The outside of the sealed jars should be washed to remove any food residue, then rinsed and dried. For best quality, all home canned foods should be stored in a cool, dark, dry...

Choosing the right college major If you are headed to college but still not sure what you want to do, you are not alone. Many students are in the same boat. Choosing a major is an important step toward a rewarding career, but many students change majors at least once; many workers also change careers, some more than once. Choosing a worthwhile major is one step in a life process that you may be making up as you go. How do you decide? Do what you want, not what others want. Are family members or friends telling you what you should be doing with your life? They very likely want the best...

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 382 children younger than age 15 drown each year in pools or spas. Of those, 290 (76 percent) are younger than age five. These drownings represent only those reported to CPSC, so the numbers are minimums. More significantly, for children younger than age five, over 86 percent of the drownings occur in residential settings. Drownings at home account for 54 percent; another 32 percent occur at the homes of family, friends and neighbors. Pools account for 95 percent of the drownings, broken down at 56 percent in ground pools, 22 percent above ground pools, 8 percent portable pools and 9 percent undisclosed type....

Many old-time recipes are family favorites, handed down through the years and enjoyed by everyone. But for safe home canning, only current, research-based recipes should be used. Old or untested recipes from the internet, cookbooks or grandma’s recipe stash should not be canned. Instead, enjoy those recipes freshly made or frozen for longer storage. Research-based home canning recommendations have changed over the years as more testing has been done. Some foods have changed, too. For example, many tomatoes now have lower acid levels than in the past. So, even previously tested recipes from the Cooperative Extension Service and other trusted sources may no longer be valid. The USDA Complete Guide...

Be an aware buyer We have all heard the old saying, “If something is too good to be true, it probably is.” This saying continues to hold true for consumers who are constantly bombarded with products claiming to be cure-alls in areas ranging from germ protection to quick and extreme weight loss. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission sent partial refund checks to more than 2,000 Americans who purchased Zadro’s Nano-UV devices, as a result of the commission’s settlement with the company. According to the FTC, Zadro falsely claimed that its Nano-UV devices safely killed 99.99 percent of targeted bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella and the H1N1 swine flu virus in 10...

How important is sleep? Do you feel like you are always tired? Perhaps you tell yourself that you will catch up on sleep when it gets to the weekend or when things “settle down.” Sleep is a very important part of staying healthy. And just like food, water and oxygen that are needed to survive, people need sleep. Sleep can also be a critical component to overall health and well-being. It would not be a stretch to think that you probably already know that sleep is important. But did you know that the average American reports getting approximately 7.5 hours of sleep a night. If you think this is an adequate amount,...

Spring clean your refrigerator As you tackle spring cleaning, do not forget your refrigerator! Keeping your refrigerator clean is an important part of keeping your food safe. Start by throwing out perishable foods that should no longer be eaten. As a general rule, the safe storage time for cooked leftovers is four days; raw poultry and ground meats is one to two days. Contact the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service office or refer to a cold storage chart like the one at http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html to find safe storage times for specific foods. Do not taste items to see whether they are still good. The bacteria that cause food poisoning cannot be smelled or...

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Let us use this time to reflect on this problem and to recognize the importance of good parenting. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is a federal law that broadly defines child abuse and neglect as any recent act or failure to act by a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, exploitation or presents an imminent risk of serious harm. Commonly recognized forms of maltreatment include physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect. It is also important to note, in the majority of cases, the abuse is committed by someone the child knows. With the...

Laughter encourages many individual health benefits such as reduced stressed levels, lowered blood pressure, enhanced memory, stronger immune system and enriched creativity and alertness. Families who laugh together are also often healthier and happier. Happy families are often close; they enjoy spending time together and supporting one another. While the typical day may be busy with school and work routines, it can be easy to add the goof-factor. For example, you can sing in the car or tell jokes or funny stories while you cook dinner or wait at a restaurant. Other ways that a family can laugh more includes: • Be silly. Say silly things, use crazy voices, make funny...