Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE WINTER Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener aturday’s blizzard dumped a lot of snow on Saugus and tied the record with February 17, 2003, in the Greater Boston area for the most snow in a 24-hour period. Snowstorms like this change the landscape for several days, longer when the temperatures remain below freezing, by adding new features to the terrain and hiding others. Mountains shaped like the Matterhorn have appeared at the edges of parking lots along Route 1, and small valleys and streams have vanished from view. My outdoor fl owers – the heath ((Erica darleyensis ‘Mediterranean Pink’) that has been blooming all month and the Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), whose fl ower buds seem to be frozen in time – are both snuggled under the blanket of snow this week, so I am relying on my amaryllis and a cut bouquet for some color indoors. While February has arrived S and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, there are lots of interesting cut fl owers PURR-FECTLY HAPPY: Brandi the cat welcomed the Year of the Tiger on Feb. 1 in front of a cheery pre-Valentine’s Day bouquet. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) A COLD WEATHER FAVORITE: Pale pink lisianthus (or Texas bluebell) is a popular fl ower for winter bouquets. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) available in addition to roses. On our dining room table today, we have an intriguing combination of deep pink roses, pale pink lisianthus, raspberry-toned Persian buttercup and orange saffl owers in a clear vase. Lisianthus (Eustoma russelliana) is a southwestern annual also known as Texas bluebell or prairie gentian. Flowers come in purple, pink, white and greenish yellow. Lisianthus is its former genus name, S y Senior Home Modifi cation Tips Sa a a Dear Savvy Senior, My wife and I would like to THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT PREVAILS: Someone created a message cheering on Team USA in boot prints on Pearce Lake in Breakheart Reservation. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) make some aff ordable changes to our home so we can remain living there for as long as possible. Can you recommend some good resources that can help us determine what all we need to consider? Getting Old Dear Getting, Many older adults, like you GROWING INSIDE: Plants, including a crocodile fern (on the right), provided some greenery in the window while snow fell outside on Saturday. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) and your wife, want to stay living in their own home for as long as possible. But being able to do so will depend on how easy it is to maneuver your living space as you get older. Here are some helpful resources you can turn to, to get an idea of the diff erent types of features and improvements that will make your house safer and more convenient as you grow older. Home Evaluation A good fi rst step in making BATTLING BIRDS: Goldfi nches fought over their place at the feeder during Saturday’s blizzard. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) but it seems to have stuck as a common name. It is native to the Great Plains. Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus and hybrids) is a double-fl owering relative of buttercup which has fl owers ranging from vivid shades to pastel tints in red, pink, yellow, orange, purple and white. Saffl ower (Carthamus tincHUNKERING DOWN: After the storm geese tried to keep warm on the frozen Saugus River, except for their sentinel, who stood to keep watch. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) torius) may be best known as a plant that produces cooking oil, but saffl ower seeds are GARDENS | SEE PAGE 17 your home more age-friendly is to do an assessment. Go through your house, roomby-room, looking for problem areas like potential tripping or slipping hazards, as well as areas that are hard to access and diffi cult to maintain. To help with this, there are several organizations that have aging-in-place checklists that point out potential problems in each area of the home, along with modifi cation and solutions. For example, Rebuild Together has a two-page “Safe at Home Checklist” that’s created in partnership with the Administration on Aging and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Go to AOTA.org and search for “Rebuilding Together Safe at Home Checklist.” You also need to get a copy of AARP’s “HomeFit Guide.” This excellent 36-page guide has more than 100 aging-inplace tips and suggestions that can be made to an existing house or apartment or incorporated into designs for a new residence. It explains how a smartly designed or modifi ed home can meet the varied and changing needs of its older residents. It also features easy-to-do, low-cost and nocost fi xes that lessen the risk of trip hazards and increase BY JIM MILLER for ‘Aging-in-Place’ Mdifi ti Ti the safety of high-use areas like the bathroom, kitchen and stairway. In addition, they also offer videos and a HomeFit AR app (available for iPhone and iPad) that can scan a room and suggest improvements to help turn your house into a “lifelong home,” free from safety and mobility risks. Visit AARP.org/HomeFit to order or download a free copy of this guide, or to watch their videos. In-Home Assessments If you want some personalized help, you can get a professional in-home assessment with an occupational therapist. An occupational therapist, or OT, can evaluate the challenges and shortcomings of your home for aging in place, recommend design and modifi cation solutions, and introduce you to products and services to help you make improvements. To fi nd an OT in your area, check with your physician, health insurance provider or local hospital, or seek recommendations from family and friends. Many health insurance providers, including Medicare, will pay for a home assessment by an OT if prescribed by your doctor. However, they will not cover the physical upgrades to the home. Another option is to contact a builder who’s a Certifi ed Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). CAPS are home remodelers and design-build professionals that are knowledgeable about aging in place home modifi cations and can suggest ways to modify or remodel your home that will fi t your needs and budget. CAPS are generally paid by the hour or receive a fl at fee per visit or project. To fi nd a CAPS in your area visit the National Association of Home Builders website at NAHB.org/capsdirectory where you can search by state and city. 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. Seni nior ni r ior
13 Publizr Home