As average life expectancy continues to grow longer, more and more of us could be faced with the task of dealing with aging parents. There are many components to this type of care. And while you may have considered how to go about arranging care to help with your parents' day-to-day activities, you may have overlooked the financial impact caregiving can have. The financial cost of caregiving for you and your family depends on the level of care you give and your family's status. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), there are over 22 million US households caring for a friend or relative over the age of 50, with 41 percent of those caregivers having children of their own, meaning that many caregivers carry out dual caregiving roles.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of injuries from falls and other causes that are especially prone to seniors.

Falling is one of the greatest concerns among elderly people, and for good reason- falls are one of the leading culprits for loss of independence, serious injury, and even death among seniors. One of the primary reasons that falling is such a serious issue is because many elderly people cannot get back up on their own; as a result, they do not receive timely medical attention and face more severe injuries as well as increased hospital time.

As I'm writing this I have the windows open and a warm breeze blowing in. It is carrying pollen, of course, so my allergies will soon start acting up. But there's also the sound of birds as well as children playing floating on the breeze and through the window as well. Spring is definitely coming and I can't help but smile.

A study conducted in 2000 by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, has shown that flowers have a positive effect on the life satisfaction and happiness in women, and the results of this study have established that flowers can actually moderate mood naturally. Upon receiving flowers, participants demonstrated exceptional gladness and gratification, with the same reaction occurring in all the age groups included in the study. In 2001, Rutgers followed up on the 2000 study by conducting the Flowers & Seniors Study, which analyzed the effects of flowers on seniors.