Category Archives: Lifestyle

3 Considerations to Make if You’re Making the Switch From Bathtub to Shower

12/28/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Remodeling a bathroom is one of the most popular home improvement projects owners consider, and it’s easy to understand why. Bathrooms are often too small, and many are just plain inconvenient to use. Many property owners no longer like their home’s tub and consider replacing that tub and shower combination with a walk-in shower. However, home improvement experts and real estate professionals encourage homeowners to consider a number of issues before removing that tub.

How Much Space is Available?

When working with clients, Bathroom Remodelers review the existing spaces to determine what options homeowners should consider. In smaller spaces, tub and shower combinations make sense, but there are other factors to consider. If a bathroom has the only tub in the home, most experts recommend keeping the tub, as not having a tub often creates issues when selling a home. On the other hand, if there are multiple bathrooms with tubs, moving to a walk-in shower is certainly an option to look at.

If the existing bathroom is large or space can be taken from an adjacent room, it’s quite possible to have both a soaking tub and a shower. One of the current trends is wet rooms, where both a shower and tub share the same large, waterproof space. It pays to discuss your goals with a bathroom remodeling expert to see which options would best suit your needs.

Who Is Using the Room?

If you’re the type of person who enjoys a long, hot bath, removing the tub and replacing it with a walk-in shower may not be the best choice. While young, busy individuals may prefer a shower and don’t care about having a tub, others don’t share that sentiment. Make sure everyone is in agreement when making a bathroom remodeling decision.

If you’re older and planning to age in place, a walk-in shower or a walk-in comfort tub may be a better option. Again, if there are other bathrooms in the home, these types of decisions are easier to make. However, if there is only one full bath, take the time to consider not only your current needs but also what the future may hold.

What is Your Budget?

Replacing one tub with a similar one is not overly expensive, but completely altering a bathroom can become costly. When walls are moved, plumbing and electrical lines rerouted, or additional space is added to the home, the total cost of a project can get out of hand quickly. Homeowners are always encouraged to explore all the options with a contractor before making any important decisions.

Many times, a bathroom remodeling professional will provide ideas for ways to achieve your goals without going over the established budget. Careful measurements and planning make it possible to know exactly what will work for your bathroom remodeling project. During the planning stages, it also makes sense to contact plumbers or electricians to determine how many changes would be necessary for the project.

The Choice is Yours

Even though there are numerous factors to discuss when deciding to replace a bathtub with a walk-in shower, the ultimate decision is yours to make. However, take the time to get advice from the experts who know what it takes to see that a bathroom remodeling project is completed on schedule and meets your goals.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle

5 Challenges Faced By Modern Pharmacies and How to Adapt

12/17/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Pharmacies face daily challenges in trying to stay profitable and get more out of their investments. The businesses provide medication and health supplies for the masses, and today there are so many obstacles that affect their business negatively. From the pandemic to shortages of supplies, pharmacies continue to follow strategies to improve operations and get more out of daily operations.

1. The Theft of Narcotics

Pharmacies continue to lose profits because of the theft of narcotic drugs in their facilities, and even with more safety precautions, it is still a growing problem in the US. Addiction is a serious disease, and more people fall victim to it each year. When staffing the pharmacy, the managers must follow careful criteria to eliminate applicants with a history of drug use or theft. Unfortunately for some, the signs of addiction do not emerge in workers until after the pharmacies have lost hundreds of dollars and medications. Pharmacy owners can learn more about a pharmacy inventory management system by contacting a vendor now.

2. Changing to a More Digital World

Emerging technologies present more complications for some pharmacies since with each emerging technology there comes the need to retrain their staff. The pharmacies experience downtime to ensure that their workers understand how to use the new systems and avoid errors. The implementation of new technology makes it easier to complete transactions and keep track of prescriptions, but it may also present some challenges for smaller pharmacies that do not have the capital to implement new systems when IT standards continue to change and evolve.

3. Securing the Right Medications

Shortages of medications in local areas make it difficult for pharmacies to serve their customers, especially customers that come in regularly to pick up monthly prescriptions. When shortages occur, the pharmacies lose money if they cannot accommodate their customers each month. With changes in medications for specific conditions, some pharmaceutical companies have stopped manufacturing medications that some patients have used for years. This can present issues for the patient and prevent the pharmacy from serving its customers. In the end, the pharmacies suffer when the medications are changed to new products and more customers experience serious side effects.

4. Declining Sales Due to High Drug Prices

In today’s society, drug prices continue to surge and present a serious issue for pharmacies and patients. With so many patients facing financial crises because of the pandemic, pharmacies are losing money. For instance, more pharmaceutical companies are providing vouchers and coupons for customers that cannot afford to pay for their medication because of the price or because of a lack of insurance. The pharmacies see a decline in profits because they pay full price for the medication, and the pharmacy doesn’t receive as much when customers purchase the medication.

5. Managing Health Risks Because of COVID-19

The recent pandemic presents health risks for the pharmacy, its employees, and customers. With surges in cases, the pharmacies are facing staff shortages and more risk as patients enter the pharmacy to get their medications. Even with protective barriers, everyone wearing masks, and further precautions, the virus is so unpredictable that it is taking a toll on the pharmacies, too.

Pharmacies are dedicated to providing safer health services for patients and lower risks for customers and their staff when they are providing medications and medical supplies. With emerging changes in how pharmacies operate, smaller and independent pharmacies must step it up a notch to get ahead of their competition.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle

Why Sleep Matters As Much As Exercise For Your Dog

12/14/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

As a dog owner, you would want your furry companion to be active and healthy throughout its life. Ensuring a balanced diet can make all the difference, and you will probably emphasize a lot on exercise as well. Even as you wouldn’t ever want to miss out on its daily walks and playtime, there is another factor you cannot ignore. Giving them ample rest is equally important to keep their health and energy levels on top. Surprisingly, sleep matters as much as an exercise to keep your dog happy and healthy. Here are some reasons why you should make sure that the pet is getting enough sleep and rest every day.

Keeps physical illness at bay

Just like humans, dogs need enough sleep to be healthy and stay safe from disease. A lack of sleep wreaks havoc on the animal’s immune system, and it will fall sick often. Ample rest, on the other hand, boosts immunity and keeps disease at bay. If your pet has medical conditions such as joint problems, it will need an extra dose of rest to stay comfortable. It is best to discuss the optimal sleep period with your pet and ensure that it is getting enough. Also, your vet will have the recommendations for the kind of exercise that would work for the sick animal.

Helps in processing life skills

Sleep is as important for your pet’s mind as it is for its body. A restless dog tends to be lethargic, and there are good chances that it will develop behavioral issues such as separation anxiety and aggression. Moreover, good rest lets the animal develop social and behavioral skills. If you are training the animal, investing in natural sleep aids for dogs is a good idea because it is likely to be overtired during the training phase. The effort is worthwhile because you have a healthy, happy, and well-behaved companion at the end of the day.

Know how much is enough

Now that you understand the value of good sleep and rest for your dog, you will also want to know how much enough is. Although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula, the age and size of your pet can help you decide the right number of hours of sleep that would be sufficient. Puppies require 12-18 hours of it because they are often highly energetic and stay on the move. Adults require 14 hours, while larger breeds may even need up to 18 hours of sleep. The requirement increases as the animal ages, so you can expect the senior dog to rest for more than 18 hours a day.

A dog owner needs to pay attention to the signs of insomnia and check with the vet immediately at the earliest symptoms. The problem may not be serious as your pet maybe a little more tired than usual on some days, just because it has been extra active or it isn’t well. You can consider missing the walk once a while if the pet appears to need a rest day.