A Checklist Becoming a Wellness Enthusiast for Your Family
You may have heard the term “wellness enthusiast,” and wonder what it means. Becoming a wellness enthusiast will mean your family’s overall wellness will become your priority. One of the ways a wellness enthusiast can help their family stay healthy is to protect their safety. Here’s a checklist for some important items a wellness enthusiast should place on their checklist:
1. Install a Driveway Gate for Your Family’s Protection
One of the ways some homeowners protect their family’s safety is to install a driveway gate system. Gate systems allow you to decide who is allowed to enter your property. In addition to limiting entrance to your home, it will also prevent your children and pets from wandering away and risking running into the street.
Safety is only one reason why you might install a driveway gate. Installing a driveway gate will increase your property value. When a prospective buyer sees a driveway gate, they will be reassured that the home is well-protected. A driveway gate will also add an element of attractiveness.
Some driveway gate systems will include a video camera. When you are home, you can decide who will be allowed in. When you’re not home, the video camera will record attempts to enter. To have a driveway gate installed, contact a fencing services contractor – who will also be able to help with the next item on this checklist.
2. Research Different Types of Fences to Protect Your Children and Pets
A fence around your property will provide the same safety as a driveway gate. If you’re planning both these home improvements, a fencing contractor will not only install both but can coordinate the pattern and match the materials used. Your budget can be a big determinant in choosing fence materials, but high up-front costs may prevent high maintenance costs.
Vinyl fencing material fits that description- and it’s an excellent choice for a wellness enthusiast whose primary reason for buying a fence is to protect the safety of their family. Vinyl has a relatively high up-front cost, but it requires very little maintenance. Vinyl is also easy to clean; you only need to rinse it and use mild soap. Vinyl is much easier to care for than wood.
Vinyl fencing has another advantage, in that it isn’t damaged by water from rain or snow. One of the best reasons to choose vinyl is that it’s not vulnerable to termites (as wood is.) Vinyl is also easily installed. Although some homeowners may decide to go to a vinyl fence company, purchase the vinyl, and install the fence themselves, it’s much safer to contact a fence installation professional.
3. Look into Pricing for Building an Additional Space for Your Home
When you have a new baby or take a parent into your home, it’s time to build an extra room. Your older children may be willing to share a room, or you may decide to sleep on your sofa. However, a wellness enthusiast will be able to recognize these are not permanent solutions and choose to add space to their home. By contacting a home remodeling contractor, you’ll be able to get a new room for your home.
When interviewing a home remodeling contractor, be sure the company is licensed and certified. Ask the contractor for pictures of other home additions they’ve done to get an idea of the quality of the contractor’s work. By the end of a contractor’s visit, the contractor should give you an estimate of how much your home addition may cost.
Many homeowners will need help paying the total cost of constructing a home addition. If this is the case, you can go to your bank for a home equity loan or a second mortgage on your home. If you don’t qualify for a home equity loan, some homeowners decide to borrow against a retirement fund or life insurance policy; however, these methods should be a last resort.
4. Speak to an Expert About What Rooms You Want for Your Loved Ones
Before looking for a home contractor, you’ll need to decide which kind of home addition you need. Think about what you’ll need in a home addition. If you need a room for a new baby or an elderly person, you won’t want to place them upstairs. This is especially true of a baby since their room should be close to yours. If your parent is disabled, they may not be able to climb stairs.
If your parent is still independent enough to care for themselves, consider using a modular unit in your yard. These are pre-built structures that can be placed conveniently in your yard. This allows your parent to retain their independence but to remain close to the family. This will allow interaction between the family members without a long trip for a visit.
A wellness enthusiast understands the importance of family harmony. You may have a good idea of what kind of construction arrangements can work for your family. However, if you only have an approximate idea and can’t decide, a general home contractor can help you by providing construction estimating services.
5. Discuss Other Living Options for Your Elders Down the Line
When your parent’s degree of disability goes beyond what you can provide, it will be time for you to search through local senior living communities. It may feel devastating to consider placing your parent in a facility, but their safety and comfort will be your priority. As a wellness enthusiast, you know your parents’ needs and can find the most appropriate place for them to live.
In case you’re unfamiliar with senior living communities, seniors who need assistance typically live in assisted living communities or long-term care facilities. Assisted living communities are for people who need some help with their activities of daily living but can do some of their care tasks. For example, a person who can wash and dress themselves but can’t walk further than the bathroom may be a candidate for an assisted living facility.
Long-term care facilities have registered nurses available on staff 24 hours a day. People who need long-term care have chronic medical conditions – such as heart disease or stroke. They need help with many or all their activities of daily living. Your parents’ doctor will be able to give you an idea of which level of care your parent will need.
6. Purchase Comfortable Furniture for Everyone’s Wellness
Sitting on uncomfortable furniture can cause pain and back problems. If your child does homework or if you have a home office, having an ergonomic chair may be a necessity. An uncomfortable couch or chair can cause posture problems, neck pain, or headaches. A wellness enthusiast knows replacing uncomfortable furniture will help the overall health of those sitting on it.
An uncomfortable bed can cause even more severe problems. Sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress can lead to physical and mental issues. If your child has an uncomfortable bed, it can lead to their inability to concentrate in school.
When it’s time to go to a furniture store, you may fear the cost of new furniture. A straightforward way to save is to use a credit card that gives you ‘cash back.’ In addition to allowing, you to pay over time, your timely monthly payments will boost your credit rating. Look for sales at your furniture stores or ask the store where their clearance warehouse is located.
7. Ensure You Remove All Dangerous Pests
Homeowners are always looking for pests – not just because they make us squirm when we see them. Pests such as vermin, bedbugs, bees, wasps, termites, and ants can cause damage to the foundation of the home. They can also cause diseases to your pets and your family. A wellness enthusiast is dedicated to ensuring their home is pest-free.
Preventative maintenance is the best defense against invading pests. Store food leftovers in tightly sealed glass or plastic containers. Leaking faucets can cause pools of standing water that pests can move into. Get rid of clutter, like stacks of newspapers or magazines since clutter is where pests love to hide.
One pest a homeowner will often see during warm weather is wasps. Wasps build nests in corners of roofs and can sting and otherwise torment you. It’s not a good idea to try getting rid of wasps by yourself because they will fly out of the nest and sting you. Contact a professional pest control service for safe and effective wasp extermination.
8. Buy High-Quality Coverings for Your Windows to Assist with Sleep
When you and your family members go into the bedroom, they won’t want streetlights or the lights of nearby buildings to interrupt their sleep. You can use the shades and blinds to provide a window covering to limit the light in your bedrooms. The first thing to do is discover each window’s geographical direction.
If your window faces east and you don’t want to get up early, select Roman and Zebra roller shades. Zebra roller shades have dark backgrounds with lightly colored horizontal stripes, while Roman shades are monochromatic fabric shades that block the light. Windows that face west will need shades that block the afternoon light, such as cordless pleated shades. Cordless shades resemble tightly fitted blinds. For windows that face north, choose roller shades or basswood blinds. Basswood blinds are woven from thin slabs of wood to make a pattern with few spaces for sunlight to penetrate. Roller shades resemble the maps that used to grace schoolrooms, where the map would roll up into a tightly curled coil on the top.
9. Assess the Status of Your HVAC System
When you need warmth during the winter and a cool home during the summer, you’ll be thankful your HVAC system is working well. One of the most essential things to do to keep your system running is to change your air filters once every quarter. If your air filter is dirty, it will cause your HVAC system to work harder – and be in danger of breaking down prematurely.
A wellness enthusiast knows an annual inspection of your HVAC system is essential. A yearly HVAC inspection will check your heating system and AC services. The HVAC contractor will keep your system free of dust and test the components of the system. They’ll provide you with any service recommendations at the end of the visit.
To save money while keeping everyone healthy, many homeowners find it practical to install a smart thermostat. They can be lowered when you leave the home to save energy and costs. The best thing about a smart thermostat is if you forget to adjust the temperature before leaving your home, you can do so away from home via the app that controls your smart thermostat.
10. Have Backup Sources of Heat to Protect Your Loved Ones When It’s Cold
If your power goes out during the winter, you won’t want your family to stay cold for any longer than needed. You’ll want a backup heat source if your heating system goes out. Some home heating systems provide an emergency heating option built into the system. These systems can detect when the home is too cold and use a backup heat pump to provide warmth.
Other emergency heat sources include an indoor space heater using canned heat. Some homeowners purchase terra-cotta pots, which can be placed in the center of the room. When canned heat is placed inside the terra-cotta container, it radiates heat to the room.
Propane heaters of various sizes can also be used. One of the most popular options is building a fire in an indoor fireplace. Not only is a fireplace a good source of heat, but a fire also creates an ambiance of coziness – rather than reminding you of having your heater broken. When the winter months are approaching, if you’re fortunate enough to have an indoor fireplace, gather some firewood to use when your heater goes out.
Being a wellness enthusiast on your family’s behalf means anticipating some problems and reacting when other issues arise. If you follow the checklist above, you’ll have done the critical actions to keep your family safe and secure at home. It’s easier to stay healthy when you live in a healthy home.