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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2022 Page 17 RATES | FROM Page 1 Adaptive Clothing Takes the Stress Out of Dressing Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of clothing options are available to mobility challenged seniors who have a diffi cult time dressing? Looking for Mom Dear Looking, The chore of dressing and undressing in traditional clothing can be diffi cult, time-consuming and even painful for millions of people with certain health and mobility problems. Fortunately, there’s a wide variety special clothing, known as “adaptive clothing,” that can help with most dressing challenges. Here’s what you should know. What is Adaptive Clothing? Adaptive clothing is specially designed garments for people with mobility issues, disabilities and cognitive challenges who have a diffi cult time getting dressed. This type of clothing incorporates discreet design features to make dressing and undressing easier, while still having the outward appearance of typical clothing. Depending on your mom’s needs, here are some of the many diff erent types of adaptive clothing options that could help. For self-dressing seniors who suff er from Parkinson’s or other disabilities that aff ect dexterity, there are pants, shirts, dresses and outerwear made with Velcro or magnetic closures instead of buttons and zippers, which are much easier to fasten and unfasten. But be aware that magnetic closures are not suitable for those who have pacemakers. For those who are disabled or who have limited range of motion and need assistance dressing, there are adaptive pants with zippers or snaps on both sides of the pants that are easier to pull on. And a wide range of rear closure shirts, tops and dresses with Velcro or snap fasteners in the back for those who can’t raise their arms over their head. For wheelchair users there are higher back and elastic waistband pants that don’t slip down, as well as pants with fabric overlaps at the seat to allow for easier toileting access. For people with tactile sensitivity, there are garments you can purchase that have soft and stretchy fabrics without tags and are sewn with fl at seams to help preventing chafi ng. And for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease there are one-piece jumpsuits that have a back-zipper access to prevent the wearer from disrobing inappropriately. Where to Shop? Because each person’s dressing needs and style is so specific, fi nding appropriate adaptive clothing can be diffi cult. Recently, mainstream clothing stores like JCPenney (jcpenney.com), Target (target.com) and Tommy Hilfi ger (usa.tommy. com) have started off ering a line of adaptive clothing for adults that combines fashion and functionality, but their instore options are limited. To get a bigger selection, visit the store’s website and type in “adaptive clothing” in their search engine. You can also fi nd a large selection at online stores that specialize in adaptive clothing like Buck & Buck (buckandbuck.com) and Silverts (silverts.com). Both of these companies have been selling adaptive clothing for decades and off er a wide variety of garments to accommodate almost any need, condition or style, for independent self-dressers and for those who need help. Some other adaptive clothing sites you should visit include Joe & Bella (joeandbella.com), Ovidis (ovidis.com), and IZ Adaptive (izadaptive.com), which sells clothing primarily designed for wheelchair users. And, if your mom is in need of adaptive footwear, Velcro fastening shoes (instead of shoelaces) have long been a popular option and can be found in most local shoe stores. Some other new lines of adaptive shoes that may interest her include Kiziks (kizik.com) and Zeba (zebashoes.com), which make fashionable sneakers and comfortable walking shoes that just slip on, hands-free, along with Billy Footwear (billyfootwear.com) and Friendly Shoes (friendlyshoes.com), which makes uniquely designed zip-on shoes. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. feet (HCF), and the commercial rate will be $28.08 per HCF, a 4.25 percent increase from the current fi scal year. “It is extremely important to 1. On June 10, 1898, the U.S. Marines landed where in Cuba? 2. In the early 1900’s what was nicknamed the “Beaneaters,” “Pilgrims” and “Plymouth Rocks”? 3. Legally, Queen Elizabeth II owns every one of what type of bird in the UK? 4. According to Guinness World Records, who are the two country artists with over fi ve decades on the Hot Country Songs chart? 5. June 11 is National Corn on the Cob Day; which country produces the most corn: Brazil, China or USA? 6. Goldfish belong in what fi sh family? 7. What common English word is a loanword from Finland? 8. On June 12, 1931, gangster Al Capone was charged with conspiracy to violate what laws? 9. In what Massachusetts city is the International Volleyball Hall of Fame? 10. Queen Elizabeth II was the fi rst British royal family member to send an email – in what year: 1976, 1984 or 1997? 11. In what building Answers would you fi nd a bailey, a bastion and a bulwark? 12. On June 13, 1898, what territory was formed that now has Whitehorse as its capital? 13. The noodle soup pho is what country’s unoffi - cial national dish? 14. On June 14, 1777, what group stated, “Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue fi eld, representing a new constellation”? 15. What was the “Curse of the Bambino”? 16. On June 15, 1994, what country and citystate (both in the Mediterranean area) started full diplomatic relations? 17. In what would you fi nd spindrift, a curl and a trough? 18. Which monarch reigned longer, Queen Elizabeth II or Queen Victoria? 19. What shortstop from California had over 200 hits in 1997? 20. On June 16, 1893, what treat containing molasses, peanuts and popcorn was invented? note that the recommended increase is much lower [than] what would be needed to fully fund the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund for FY2023,” said Viscay. “In fact, without a subsidy from other fi nancing sources, the increase would need to be nearly 17 percent.” The increase is a result of increases to the city’s fi xed costs, including a $1 million increase to the debt service, a $1.28 million increase to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) sewer assessment and a $570,000 increase to MWRA water assessment. Viscay noted that the actual operating costs outside of the fi xed costs decreased by 6.4 percent from FY2022. “We all know that this is terrible news, so after strategizing and talking to the mayor and some of the people in the Water and Sewer Department, we are before you to present a plan to try to stabilize the rates over the next three years,” Viscay told the council. The plan would keep the rate hike for FY2023 as well as the following two fi scal years at 4.25 percent, he said. The plan would include the use of $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds over the next three years, as well as $1 million from the water and sewer stabilization fund and $900,000 from the water and sewer retained earnings account. “So, long story short, it’s going to take us $3.4 million in FY2023 to keep our rates at 4.25 percent,” said Viscay. “We are asking the council to consider adopting a three-year rate structure so that we can apply our ARPA funds and keep the rate stable over the next three years.” Ward 4 Councillor Patrick Keefe said he has a number of questions about the plan and the rates, but would bring them up at the Ways and Means Subcommittee meeting. “I don’t think anyone is thrilled with that plan, but we are here before you to explain that these unfunded mandates from the consent decree and the debt service charges … [leave] us with no choice but to come up with a plan we think is as best as we can put together for the rate payers and the community,” said Viscay. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocatecall The Advocate Newspapers Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@ advocatenews.net 1. Guantánamo Bay 2. The Boston American League team 3. Swans 4. George Jones and Dolly Parton 5. USA 6. Carp 7. Sauna 8. Prohibition 9. Holyoke 10. 1976 11. A castle 12. Yukon 13. Viet Nam 14. The Continental Congress 15. After Babe Ruth left Boston in 1918, the Red Sox did not win a World Series until 2004. 16. Israel and Vatican City 17. A wave 18. Queen Elizabeth II (Victoria reigned for 63 years, whereas Elizabeth has reigned for over 70 years.) 19. Nomar Garciaparra 20. Cracker Jack (introduced at Chicago’s fi rst World’s Fair)

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