You could say they “aren’t your grandmother’s toy dog,” except that Joy for All robotic pets are designed for grandmothers and other seniors. These amazingly lifelike toy animals are made to provide some of the benefits of pet ownership, where…
Author: Katherine Swarts (page 19)
Choosing a Summer Camp for 2024
While July 2023 may seem early to be thinking about summer 2024, many camps fill their registration lists months in advance—especially with well-known or specialized programs. And it’s often easier to start the planning momentum when summer activities are already…
Assistive Technology and Independence
Happy Independence Day month, everybody! No one is “confined to a wheelchair.” Or “stuck in a wheelchair.” Or “wheelchair bound.” Any such phrase marks the speaker as insensitive to wheelchair users. It’s not that wheelchair users have anything against the…
Fun Time: BridgingApps Summer App List for Kids
To most kids, summer means all the free time in the world—and fun, fun, fun!! Parents’ idea of the perfect summer is somewhat different, often starting with how we don’t want our children to spend their vacations. Who hasn’t been…
PTSD Awareness: Finding the Right Organizer App
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is not an illness exclusive to battle-scarred Veterans: about one in twenty Americans have it, and they come from all career fields, genders, ethnicities, and ages. Nor do all trauma survivors develop PTSD: probably the highest…
The Freedom to Be Respected
“As we celebrate Independence Day, I think it aligns with our mission perfectly. Supporting clients and their families as they gain strength, skills, resources, and information to build the life they want is what independence is all about. Our work…
How to Keep Physically Active in Summer Weather
It’s not only academic skills that can suffer from “summer slide.” As every Houstonian knows, a summer heat wave—which can strike anytime from May to September—can make it a challenge just to walk to your car without collapsing. So if…
A New Level in Noise Cancelling: myNoise App
Cancel the environmental noises you don’t like, by filling your ears with sounds you do like. The myNoise app is free to download and provides 20 My Noises options that include favorite low-noise indoor backgrounds (e.g., airplane, Restaurant, Calm Office)…
Why Cognitive Decline Needn’t Be Inevitable
Nearly 6 million Americans—and 1 in 9 people over age 65—have Alzheimer’s disease, the best-known and most dreaded form of dementia. But Alzheimer’s isn’t the only cause of memory, reasoning, or concentration difficulties in senior adults. Vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalances,…
Starting Fresh After Your Life Is Turned Upside Down
June is Rebuild Your Life Month. What does “rebuilding life” mean to you? Although many people decide on their own to start fresh/look for a new job/revive old dreams, “rebuilding season” forces itself on many others. The trigger might be:…