If you took a poll of your friends, what would they say is the household chore that they dislike the most? Plenty could be listed. What would Americans most love to give up doing?
 
Here's the countdown:
 
5. Vacuuming or mopping. This job is a real work-out, especially hauling around machinery, listening to the noise and trying to get to every surface, under furniture and in the corners.
 
4. Washing dishes. Every day the dishes come out of the cupboard, get used, get dirty, and have to be cleaned and put away again. Even with a handy dishwashing machine, there's the loading and unloading.
 
3. Grocery shopping. Rain or shine, it has to be done. What to buy? Look at the prices! How come we can't get a good roast anymore? Too many choices! 
 
2. Cleaning the bathroom. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Mildew and mold, dust and water spots are all the enemy, and it seems like there's a different, bad-smelling product for each part of the job. Which is harder: the bathtub or the toilet?
 
And we come to the chore that several studies have found more people dislike most:
 
1. Laundry. This is another chore that always seems to need to be done. Gathering, sorting, lifting, loading, shifting, bending, folding, sorting again, and putting away! No wonder this is a job that some people avoid as long as possible. 
 
One of the nice benefits about downsizing, moving to an apartment or a senior living facility is having fewer of these disliked jobs! 
 
Charlene Frazier 
Community Coordinator, Residence 600
600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401
785-822-1300
residentservices.600@gmail.com

 Keeping fit is important at any age. Even as bodies grow older and less limber, there are many things to do to keep in good shape. Everyone has read articles about what to eat, what to drink, what to avoid, but how much do we really know about those healthy hints?
 
What we've heard: Stay out of the sun!
What we need to know: Minimizing exposure to the sun and wearing sun block is excellent care against skin cancer. But our bodies need 15 to 30 minutes of sunshine every day. Moderate exposure helps the body create vitamin D, maintaining calcium to strengthen bones. Sunshine also helps improve mood and encourages good sleep.
 
What we've heard: Walking is the best exercise.
What we need to know: If we're depending on a brisk walk to keep us well, we need to remember to exercise our other muscles. Lifting moderate weights helps with strength and bone density. Balance can also be improved. A medical professional can help explain how much weight or resistance is appropriate for an individual.
 
What we've heard: Nutrition drinks and power bars are a quick way to eat well. 
What we need to know: The doctor may indeed prescribe a nutritional supplement in certain cases, but grabbing a power bar is probably a lot like grabbing a candy bar. Check the label to see how much sugar and sodium they contain. Vitamin supplements also need to be okayed by a medical provider. Some supplements fight with medicines we're taking.
 
Staying healthy starts with staying informed!
 
Charlene Frazier 
Community Coordinator, Residence 600
600 E. Elm, Salina KS 67401
785-822-1300
residentservices.600@gmail.com