Picking the Perfect National Park

If your idea of a national park visit is driving bumper-to-bumper along crowded roads at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Glacier National Park, it’s time to broaden your vacation horizons.

The big national parks out West are teeming with visitors in the summer for good reason, of course: Their spectacular scenery rivals that of the most dramatic destinations on Earth. But within the National Park Service’s 63 parks and hundreds of sites, you’ll find a wealth of historic and natural attractions and activities for every family member, especially during the warm weather months.

Site Visits

The National Park Service’s parks, monuments, scenic trails and battlefields are easy to explore online. Start your research at www.nps.gov, where you can click on the heading “Find a Park” and choose from park indexes by name, location, activity or topic. If you or other family members have a particular passion—horseback riding or Civil War history, for example—you can easily pinpoint places where you’ll be able to indulge your interests.

Seeking Shelter

From deluxe lodges to barebones camp sites, you can find a wide array of accommodations options at national park properties. But you’ll have to plan ahead to get reservations at the most popular, well-known parks—sometimes as much as a year in advance.

You can make campground reservations online at http://www.recreation.gov/. At some parks, you can find hotels and motels near the park entrance or in neighboring towns. These accommodations may be easier to get into during the busy summer season, but keep in mind that you may have to wait in line at the entrance gate to drive into the park.

Take a Pass

If you’re planning to visit several parks during the year, it could pay to invest in an annual pass to save on admission fees. The $80 “America the Beautiful” pass is good for one year of free admission for a group of up to four adults (children 16 and under are always free) at all federally operated U.S. recreation sites. Be sure to check out the admission fees for the parks you plan to visit before you pay for a pass, since not all parks charge an entrance fee. So it doesn’t always save you money to buy the annual pass.

You can purchase an annual pass or get a lifetime pass for seniors ($80) or permanently disabled visitors (free) at any national park that charges admission. You can also order a pass online at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/general.html.

Kid Stuff

If you’ve got children 12 and under, the free Junior Rangers programs at many national parks offer a fun, painless way to learn more about the park you’re visiting. Just check in with the park visitor center to pick up a copy of the Junior Rangers workbook with activities for kids to complete. A park ranger will check the completed workbook and then reward your new Junior Ranger with a badge, patch or certificate.

 Danger signs

For a current listing of the national parks with Junior Ranger programs, visit www.nps.gov/learn/juniorranger.htm.

For online park-related activities, visit National Park Service WebRangers.

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Use It or Lose It: Maintain Your Mobility

Our mobility tends to decline as we age. This decline may be due to chronic diseases or a general loss of muscle strength and flexibility from lack of physical activity. However, mobility problems don’t just affect the elderly. About 10 percent (19 million) adults in the U.S. have mobility limitations. The most common culprits: arthritis and back problems.Some of our greatest fears are tied to our loss of independence due to the inability to remain active because of conditions that often accompany aging. Mobility problems can cause depression, anxiety and other problems. You can’t stop the aging process, of course. However, you can definitely take steps to preserve your mobility—at any age.Know your risk of falling. Ask your doctor to evaluate your risk of falling. Ninety-five percent of hip fractures are caused by falling (usually from falling sideways), and falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. Every year, about one out of four adults 65 and older falls, and about 20 percent of those falls result in serious injury.A complete physical exam can help your physician determine if you have a medical condition, such as osteoporosis, that requires medical treatment. Although everyone loses bone mass as we age, people with osteoporosis lose too much, making their bones brittle and more likely to break. A bone mineral density test screens for osteoporosis. If you are a woman 65 and older, are a man 70 and older, or have a history of falls or fractures, talk to your doctor about bone mineral density testing. Your healthcare provider can also evaluate your gait for problems that may throw off your balance. Furthermore, some medications, such as those for blood pressure or heart disease, can make you susceptible to falls. If you’re at risk of falling, your doctor may recommend a lower dose or switching to a different medicine.Get an eye exam. Poor vision can lead you to trip or misstep and fall, particularly in poor lighting. See your eye doctor for a comprehensive exam, and wear corrective lenses if needed.Make your home safe. Most falls occur at home and are preventable. Look for trip hazards, such as loose carpets or obstructions in walkways. Increase the lighting so you can see. Add grab bars in the bathroom to help you safely navigate the tub and toilet. Add a second railing to your staircase. Wear shoes instead of socks in your house. Shoes with rubber soles will give you good grip.

Use an assistive device. Canes, walking sticks and walkers can also help you stay stable while being mobile and can help prevent falls. Each serves a slightly different purpose. For best results (and to prevent misuse), have your physician or a physical therapist fit you properly and teach you how to use your device.

Risk Factors for Falls

• Lower-body weakness
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Difficulty walking or with balance
• Medications
• Vision problems
• Foot pain/poor footwear
• Home safety hazards
• Osteoporosis

Simple Exercises to Improve Balance

• Stand on one leg at a time for 1 minute and slowly increase the time. Try to balance with your eyes closed or without holding on.
• Stand on your toes for a count of 10. Then, rock back on your heels for a count of 10.
• Make a circle to the left, then the right, with your hip. Repeat 5 times without moving your feet or shoulders.

Move It
While it may seem contradictory, the more active you are, the less likely you are to develop a major mobility disability. Physical activity builds strong bones and muscles. It also increases your endurance, and specific activities (such as standing on one leg) can improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling.

Henry County Medical Center is fortunate to have an offsite outpatient facility offering physical, occupational and speech therapy for our community and the surrounding areas, for individuals ages birth to unlimited.  We have a dedicated, knowledgeable staff determined to provide every patient with the most effective, evidence based practice treatments, to allow for excellent outcomes. For more info, call 731-642-2411.