An estimated 34 million Americans provide unpaid care to adults age 50 or older every year, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, and that number is rapidly growing. More than half of those caregivers feel they have to make compromises at work to care for their aging parents, according to a new survey from Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network.

With the rise in our aging population, more and more adult children are assuming the role of caregiver while also maintaining a full- or part-time job. This pressure to balance work and caregiving responsibilities has left 61 percent of working caregivers feeling as if they must choose between being a good employee and being a good daughter or son. To make matters worse, only 29 percent of these caregivers are satisfied with their employer’s family leave policy.

As this issue grows to impact a larger percentage of the workforce, it will be essential that employees and employers work together to find solutions. Consider the following recommendations as ways to get started:

1. Ask for help – For caregivers, it can be extremely difficult, but also tremendously beneficial, to ask their employer for help. For employers, create opportunities for employees to express their needs. Schedule brief weekly meetings to check in and ask how they are doing. Transparency helps eliminate pressure on the employees to keep their concerns to themselves.

2. Create a flexible policy -When it comes to caring for a loved one, there are no fixed hours or planned deadlines; emergency situations can come at any moment. With a plan in place, employers and employees can be on the same page about flexible working hours or situations that require time off.

3. Offer in-office assistance – Employers can create a culture of safety for working caregivers by forming a support group for employees who are in similar situations. Such groups not only provide a place for relief, but also create the opportunity for employees to grow relationships with one another – positively affecting workplace culture.

4. Provide care for the caregiver – It can be easy for a caregiver to quickly forget about his or her own needs when caring for a loved one. Encourage individuals to take time to care for their own physical, mental and emotional well-being. In addition, pay attention to signs that indicate your employee may need a break. Connect them with available resources or encourage time away from work.

5. Make time to listen – Lending an ear is one of the most impactful things an employer can do for a working caregiver. More than half of caregivers have expressed feelings of depression and find it difficult to care for themselves. When employers open the door for a conversation, they are providing hope and reassurance to the working caregiver.

Family caregivers and employers can view more resources and tips at caregiverstress.com. Or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office for additional resources and to learn how a professional CAREGiverSM may be able to assist.

Find an office near you at www.homeinstead.com/state/.

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August: the dog days of summer are still long and warm, and there’s still time to indulge in an adults-only vacation before the pace picks up in the fall with a return to school schedules and the impending holidays.

The Caribbean remains a hot spot all year round, including August, and island breezes keep the heat at bay.

Calabash Cove, a secluded luxury resort on the island of Saint Lucia, is a place where adult singles and couples can enjoy an intimate beachfront location with no crowds and plenty of peace and quiet for reading, relaxing, and reflecting.

Some top reasons to choose the Caribbean in August:

– Good deals: August is often a slower travel time, so flights are often cheaper than they were earlier in the summer and many resorts, such as Calabash Cove, offer special promotions for the end-of-summer vacationers.

– No kids: August is a great time to send the kids to camp or to Grandma’s, so busy parents can take a break and recharge on their own before school schedules take over with the soon-to-be hustle and bustle of the impending holidays.

– Special events: Summer is festival season at many Caribbean islands and Saint Lucia is no exception. Visitors considering an August trip may want to include the Roots & Soul Festival, which takes place August 23-25. The festival features musicians on the cutting edge of reggae, conscious hip-hop, Afro-punk, and R&B, and includes performances and master classes.

Whatever the reason or season, Calabash Cove offers a perfect change of pace.

The Unconditional All-Inclusive package covers all food and drinks, including room service, daily specials, an in-room bar, lobster (in season), and more than 20 wines by the bottle from an extensive wine list. For those who want to relax, but not unplug, WiFi is included (as are tips).

Calabash Cove’s property of 26 guest suites features not only a private beach, but also a nearby coral reef, tropical gardens, and architecture designed to promote relaxation and enhance the sunset views.

Guests looking for a bit of adventure can explore the nearby Rodney Bay Village, which boasts approximately 40 bars and restaurants, and those craving action can take advantage of Calabash Cove’s paddle boats, kayaks, and snorkeling gear at no charge.

Guests who miss their traditional workouts can work up a sweat at the resort’s Cybex cardiovascular fitness center, while those who seek more pampering can indulge in a full range of services at the spa.

For more information, visit www.calabashcove.com/summer-days/

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Americans love their cars — especially the classics. Coupled with a long road trip, well, it doesn’t get better than that.

This winter, three vintage cars from the LeMay — America’s Car Museum will make the trip of a lifetime when they participate in The Drive Home, a 13-day journey from Tacoma, Washington, ending in Detroit to coincide with the opening of the 2016 North American International Auto Show.

The ride will follow a 1957 Chevy Nomad, a 1961 Chrysler 300G and a 1966 Ford Mustang as they make their way back “home” to The Motor City from Dec. 27 to Jan. 8. To ensure the drive is safe and without incident, Michelin North America will be literally helping the caravan roll.

“Traveling from the Pacific Northwest to Detroit that time of year will certainly offer some winter weather challenges along the way,” says Ron Margadonna, Michelin tire expert. “We’re excited to help ensure the rally is a safe and comfortable one with proper winter tires for each of these beautiful, classic vehicles.”

Years ago, making this journey during the winter would have been nearly impossible because the tire technology just wasn’t the same as it is today. Now that the vehicles can be outfitted with technologically advanced winter tires, the cruise should be safe and seamless.

Whether you’re driving cross country or across town this winter, consider these tips to help make your ride safer:

1. Take care of the outside: Check essential safety components like your tires, headlights and windshield wipers. Make sure you have proper tire pressure and enough tread, that your headlights are bright, and that your wipers are clean and in good working condition. If the temperatures are still mild, it’s also a good time to give your car a good wash and a protective coat of wax.

2. Have the right type of tire: All- season tires are effective for three seasons and in regions with light-to-moderate winter weather. However, when winter precipitation is greater and/or when temps approach the freezing point and below, all-season rubber compounds begin to stiffen enough to compromise traction in emergency maneuvers or panic braking. If you’re driving in a climate where the temperature consistently approaches the freezing point, consider winter tires like the MICHELIN X-Ice Xi3 to better manage winter conditions.

3. Have a winter ready kit in the trunk: Be sure you know where your ice scraper or snow brush is. It’s not a bad idea to have an extra set of gloves and boots in the trunk, as well as a shovel, ice melt and jumper cables. Hopefully you’ll never need them, but better to be safe than sorry!

For more information, visit www.michelinman.com.

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A non-surgical technique for lifting double chins, reducing puffiness around the eyes, and improving the appearance of wrinkles is now available in the form of an easy-to-use home kit called The Face Wrap. (www.facewrap.com).

Previously available as a salon-only treatment, The Face Wrap lifts and tightens drooping areas on the forehead, face, and under the chin by firmly wrapping them up in a mineral-soaked, non-allergenic “face wrap” constructed of non-latex elasticized cotton fabric.

“The liquid minerals are the secret to the Face Wrap,” says Sarah Bolger, The Face Wrap’s spokesperson. “The minerals, which are all-natural, draw out impurities from the complexion while giving the skin a firmed and tighter look on the outside and a rejuvenated feel to the underlying tissues.”

Bolger says the all-natural, one-hour facial beautification procedure is safe and painless.

“Our Face Wrap kits have wrapped many thousands of faces, and we’ve learned how to produce wonderful changes,” says Bolger. “For those looking for an alternative to cosmetic surgery, wrapping your face is an easier way to reduce double chins and puffiness, lift and tighten the skin and enhance your own natural beauty.”

Bolger also recommends exfoliating before using to allow the minerals to absorb better, and exercising the face daily with a few simple exercises.

Working women want to look their best – especially after 50. But let’s face it, most working women find it difficult to carve out an hour or two a week for visits to the day spa. That’s the appeal of the home kit. The one-hour treatment can be done at home while reading or on the computer or while resting.

Women generally look five- to ten years younger after a series of three to six treatments. Most people are surprised to see their cheekbones and jaw bones again!

Visit www.facewrap.com for more information. The kit costs $139 and contains enough minerals for at least 20 treatments, or about $7 per treatment. A lot less than $80-plus for various salon treatments.

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Almost universal agreement surrounds the need to repair or replace America’s aging infrastructure of roads, highways, bridges, dams, drinking and wastewater facilities, ports, airports and other essential facilities that ensure the quality of living that Americans expect.

Finding consensus on addressing the question of how to pay for the massive investment needed to fix the problem, however, is another matter entirely.

As federal and state legislators discuss and debate the means by which to fund infrastructure improvements, what has become clear is that funds, whether from public or private sources or a combination of the two, are precious commodities that must be wisely spent and protected.

Mandatory bonding on federal and state public construction projects has been in existence for many decades, protecting and preserving countless projects through prequalification of contractors and providing guarantees of contract performance.

In fact, a recent study conducted by The Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis verified the economic value of surety bond protection.

“One of the conclusions which leapt off the page to us was…that non-bonded construction enterprises are 10 times more likely to become insolvent than bonded companies,” states Steve Ness, President of the Surety Association of Canada. Construction projects carried out under the protection of bonded contracts have reduced risk of contractor insolvency, greater protection of economic activity, and better management of economic risk, Ness adds.

“Disastrous consequences for the public can result from instances when mandatory bond requirements are ignored,” asserts John Bustard, President of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers, Inc. and Executive Vice President of King & Neel, Inc., an insurance and surety bonding agency in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He cites the example of the city of Harrisburg, PA, which decided to retrofit its trash incinerator plant without requiring the contractor to furnish a bond guaranteeing its work. The work turned out to be deficient, leaving the city with more than $280 million in debt. A grand jury investigation of the situation produced “A Report of the Thirty-Ninth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury” under then Pa. Attorney General Josh Shapiro, in which it was concluded that “the absence of performance bonds which were equal to the contract amounts involved here was the single biggest factor in producing the overwhelming debt now facing the city.”

The report further states: “Had performance bonds been in place, they would have shielded the City from the financial fallout from the failed contract to retrofit the incinerator.” Subsequently, Pennsylvania legislators have introduced legislation to address this particular issue and to require bonds at 100 percent of the amount.

Even when infrastructure projects are not solely funded with public funds, such as projects undertaken through a combination of public and private financing, as through public-private partnership arrangements, those projects need bond requirements.

Approximately 20 states have already reached that policy conclusion, enacting public-private partnership legislation that also mandates bonding requirements on such projects. Situations have arisen, however, in which bonding has been ignored or reduced on public-private partnership infrastructure projects; and the public has paid a heavy price when problems have arisen with little or no backstop.

As Congress weighs how to address the tremendous infrastructure needs of the country in the coming months, protections in the form of performance and payment bonds will be absolutely necessary to ensure that the precious funds of America’s private and public investment are wisely spent and that the public receives the quality of infrastructure that it deserves.

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It’s home run time. From spring training through the World Series in October, baseball fans are glued to their flat screens.

Vascular surgeon David H. Stone, M.D., encourages arm chair enthusiasts to get into the game. “Find your favorite summertime sports pastime, and give your vascular system a great workout.”

As a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery, Dr. Stone encourages physical activity that can pump up blood while lowering blood pressure. “More than diet, exercise helps keep your weight down and provides positive health benefits,” said Dr. Stone.

After a one-hour workout, the Mayo Clinic states that a 200-pound person will have burned the following calories:

* Baseball — 455

* Bicycling, 10 mph — 364

* Golfing, carrying clubs — 391

* Rope jumping — 1,074

* Swimming laps — 528

* Tennis, singles — 728

To remain “in the game,” Dr. Stone recommends:

* 30 minutes of exercise daily.

This may reduce the risk of stroke, the fourth leading cause of death in America according to the United States Centers forDisease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2010 NationalVital Statistics Report. In 2010,137,000 Americans died ofstroke.

* a healthy diet

* not smoking

* maintaining a healthy body weight

The lack of regular physical activity results in 250,000 deaths annually, according to a 2003 report in the medical journal Circulation. The least physically fit persons have a mortality risk 4.5 times higher than physically fit persons.

Lifestyle choices affect blood flow and blood pressure. The 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics indicate that one in every three Americans more than 20 years old has high blood pressure.

To detect vascular disease, non-invasive screening tests are available. To treat vascular disease, medications and preventive surgical procedures are available.

For free print and electronic vascular health information, visit: VascularWeb.org.

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Many of us spend our summer soaking up the sun. Kids are out of school, outdoor sports are plenty, and people are enjoying warm weather activities. However, spending a lot of time outside in the elements puts you at risk for dehydration-related concerns.

While most people know that water is critical for your health, what you may not know is that water makes up about 55 to 65 percent of your body. Many may be surprised to know that losing only four percent of your body weight — roughly the equivalent of riding a bike for three hours in extreme heat without rehydrating — may cause you to faint.¹

The following simple tips from Dr. Ralph Holsworth, a board-certified family medicine physician and head of clinical and scientific research for Essentia Water, will help you stay well hydrated this summer:

* Sip with purpose; don’t chug. — When you drink too much water at once, it passes through your system too quickly, failing to go to the kidneys. This can lead to dehydration despite the amount of water you may be drinking. Drinking too much water can also cause cramping, as well as bloating and stomach pains, due to loss of electrolytes. Aim to take a sip of water every 15-20 minutes when you’re playing sports or when it’s hot outside and you should be right on track.

* Aim to drink 3 liters a day. — The age-old 8-glasses-a-day rule doesn’t always suffice in the hot summer months. People should try to drink 12 glasses a day, especially if they are planning on working out, playing sports or spending excessive amounts of time in the sun. A good trick to know if you’re drinking enough water is to keep your urine the color of straw (or transparent yellow).

* Bring water with you. — Spending more time out of the house often means less easy access to water. When you leave for a day at the beach, make sure you throw enough bottles of water in your beach bag to last throughout the day. Keeping a case of water in your car is another way to ensure you’ll always have water on hand.

* Limit sun exposure. — Not shielding yourself properly in the sun causes you to sweat more, which can lead to quicker dehydration. Wearing cotton clothes that are breathable in the heat and a hat that covers your ears will help protect you from potentially dangerous health issues such as heat exhaustion.

Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior or just want to take better care of yourself, staying hydrated is essential to a healthy body, especially during the hot summer months. John Ross III², wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, knows a thing or two about the importance of staying hydrated, especially during the summer heat.

“I push my body to the max every day and sometimes it can get into the 90s during practice,” says the recent first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft.

“If I’m planning to exercise outside in the heat, I always prioritize two things — sleep and staying hydrated. I always get at least 8 hours of sleep and always have a bottle of water by my side.”

For more information about Essentia Water, visit www.essentiawater.com.

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Summer vacation season may be over, but it is never too soon to start planning a Christmas- season getaway.

Christmas in the Caribbean means a stress-free change of scenery with warm weather and a serene setting.

Calabash Cove, a secluded boutique resort on the island of Saint Lucia, welcomes adults of all ages, such as empty-nesters who want to relax and reconnect, young adults looking to establish their own holiday travel traditions, or anyone looking for a unique Christmas vacation.

Visitors to Calabash Cove at Christmas can enjoy discounts of up to 53 percent, and the longer you stay, the more you save. A stay of seven paid nights or longer includes a complimentary car service to meet you at the airport in Saint Lucia. The resort’s unconditional all-inclusive package covers all meals including room service, and all beverages including premium liquors and a variety of wines from an extensive wine list.

An all-inclusive holiday package at Calabash Cove includes Christmas dinner with ham or turkey, a New Year’s Eve gala dinner, and complimentary champagne. New Year’s at Calabash Cove features a stunning fireworks display that can be seen from the resort’s restaurant or bar, or from the private balconies of the elegant guest rooms.

Other reasons to consider visiting the Caribbean for Christmas:

– Romance: The holidays are prime time for proposals, and what better place to pop the question than a tropical island? Planning a holiday wedding? A Caribbean destination is an ideal option, and resorts such as Calabash Cove work with couples to plan the ideal ceremony and other events. And wedding guests feel pampered, too. Holiday honeymoon? The intimate setting of Calabash Cove lends itself to honeymoons and anniversary trips.

– Restoration. A boutique resort offers the ultimate setting to recharge your batteries and prepare for the new year. Calabash Cove’s Ti Spa treatments, including massage, facials, and mani/pedis, are a popular way for guests to relax. Meanwhile, those who want to burn off stress with exercise can take advantage of the infinity pool and cardiovascular fitness center with inspiring ocean views. In addition, Calabash Cove staff can help arrange off-site activities, including kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, and diving.

For more information, visit https://calabashcove.com/news-usa/ to discover how you can make the most of a Caribbean Christmas that you’ll never forget.

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Google has been making news in recent months for its work in a ground-breaking area: driverless automobile technology.

A prototype of Google’s new self-driving car — a two-passenger electric vehicle with buttons to turn the vehicle on and off, but no steering wheel, accelerator pedal or brake pedal — was unveiled in May. Without a driver at the wheel, the car is instead guided by a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) rotating sensor on the vehicle’s roof that scan the vehicle’s surroundings to determine its driving route as well as to identify such obstacles as pedestrians, bicyclists and other cars.

While Google is widely considered a front-runner in the development of such advanced automation technology, the major automakers are also getting into the race. Albeit at a more conservative pace, they’re introducing automated features that perform specific tasks — such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and collision-avoidance braking — to their new car models.

According to a recent report by Lux Research, cars with these so-called “Level 2” features are expected to account for 92 percent of a worldwide $87 billion-per-year autonomous car market by 2030. Only 8 percent of the market will go to “Level 3” cars, which would be primarily driven autonomously, but would allow drivers to regain control of the vehicle in an emergency.

In addition, the research firm doesn’t expect any fully automated vehicles on the road by 2030. “We consider that ultimate level, Level 4, to be full autonomy, where you just get in and you don’t interact with the car at all,” explained Cosmin Laslau, lead analyst at Lux Research. “And we don’t think that’s coming by 2030. The biggest opportunity that we see will be actually from the Level 2 features, which are the more conventional advances that we’re already starting to see come onto the market from higher-end developers.”

Hermann Winner, director and professor of automotive engineering at Germany’s Technische Universit?t Darmstadt, agreed. “We will start with a partially automated car, then a highly automated one,” he said, adding that he doesn’t expect a completely autonomous car — one with no specific limitations with respect to traffic environment or driving speed — on the market for the next 40 years. “The big challenge to total automation is getting safety approval. Even if you assume the system is ready by 2020, approval is going to be problematic.”

Winner is scheduled to address the challenges facing the development of the driverless car during the panel session “IT Meets the Automobile: Interactive Advanced Vehicle Technologies and Self-Driving Cars” at the ASME Advanced Design and Manufacturing Impact Forum in Buffalo, New York. Visit www.asme.org for more information.

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