Safety

A classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch from the ‘70s featured Dan Aykroyd as a smarmy, fast-talking toy executive defending his company’s “Bag O’ Glass” and “Teddy Chainsaw Bear” holiday offerings. Few of us have given our grandkids anything that dangerous — at least, not on purpose. Yet toys that seem perfect may not be safe. Age matters. ...

Almost every older person I know has been the victim (or almost a victim) of a grandparent scam. Scammers have targeted my dad, who's 88, several times. Fortunately, he's been savvy enough to evade a rip-off. Know a scam when you hear one. ...

The pandemic has a silver lining: It's made us tougher. It helped us find new ways to cope with the major life disruptions it caused. This helps us to face the future more boldly, because now we know we can adapt. ...

Are you a candidate for over-the-counter hearing aids? A new FDA ruling should dramatically cut the cost of and increase accessibility to hearing aids for people with mild or moderate hearing loss. ...

If you're a grandparent, then you know that a lot has changed in the baby-care arena, and new parents spend a lot of time explaining those changes to us. That's why we're passing along updated infant sleep guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. ...

Face masks are required for doctor visits, tests and visits to hospitals and other health facilities. However, they can impair communication far beyond speech transmission; they affect interpersonal connection and the willingness and ability to hold a conversation. How can older patients, many with hearing and vision loss, still experience an effective medical appointment? ...

Worth Noting: Honoring veterans with free flights, marking Title IX’s 50th Anniversary, recognizing Broadview Heights team as Mind Challenge Champs (again), appreciating free grief support from The GriefCare Place for 25 Years, and stocking up for the unknown with Agewise Emergency Prep. ...

As you're bracing for (or embracing) the cacophony of backyard fireworks this Fourth of July, you might be surprised to learn that, more than a century ago, Cleveland women's groups tried to ban the noisy and dangerous celebrations. ...