While we don’t recommend that anyone walk around on icy surfaces, we are thrilled to learn about a product that can make that walk a little less treacherous. We already know that one out of three adults 65 and older falls each year and that those falls lead to a high rate of Traumatic Brain Injuries, fractures, and increase the risk of early death. The good folks at Spiky have a unique product that can easily be billed as fall prevention.
Spiky works like a studded snow tire for your feet with a lightweight rubber pullover for your shoes. They can be worn on both icy surfaces and concrete without wearing down the steel spikes. They can also be worn indoors, however we wouldn’t recommend wearing them on nice wood floors or other hard surfaces, unless you are going for the “distressed” look for your floors. These would be ideal for anyone who lives in an area that has snowy, icy winters. In fact, I’m going to send a set of these to my grandmother who insists on getting her mail everyday, despite the conditions outside.
Spiky offers two products- The first is a Spiky Sling which has spikes in the front (toe area) of the rubber sling only. The second Spiky product is the Spiky Plus which offers an extra set of spikes in the heel area of the sling. Both can be worn with all types of shoes from work boots to high heels. The Sling retails for $24.95 and the Plus for $29.95. If you plan on buying 5 or more, the price per Spiky decreases.
We had the opportunity to have a face-to-face with the Spiky Plus. The rubber feels strong and durable, although might be a challenge for older hands to get on a shoe. The steel spikes are inset in a way that does not pose a danger to small children or fragile older skin since they are not cut to a point. Once on a shoe, they are lightweight and can even be worn while driving. The Spiky is compact and can easily be stored in a purse or coat pocket. Since we don’t have any snow or ice in our neck of the woods right now, we aren’t able to comment on their effectiveness in the elements, but will provide an update to this review once we have a chance to get to the mountain. For additional information about Spiky products or to place an order, visit their website at www.spiky.com.
The Senior List is proud to announce the winner of the GreatCall 5Star Medical Alert System drawing. If you’ll recall The Senior List wrote 
system called the 5Star
other emergency procedures“. There is no limit to the number of times your loved one can depress the emergency call button (says Bonnie- one of GreatCall’s customer representatives). If the user is anxious and needs to be connected to their caregiver, loved one, or nurse… A GreatCall operator will patch them through.
The 5Star can not be used as a mobile phone. After all, there are no numbers to dial out. You either connect to GreatCall’s call center, OR you connect directly to 911. 
Years ago The Senior List wrote about the need for more 
The new must-have medical alert system features include GPS monitoring, hearty battery life, medication reminders, access to nursing staff, and more. The Senior List has been following the medical alert system market for a number of years now, and we like where this is going (finally)! Check out our product reviews of the currently available medical alert systems. We’ve previewed the traditional products as well as the newer cell based mobile systems. There’s room for everybody in this growing market, land-line based systems AND cellular based medical alert systems! Competition in this space is welcome, and it will continue to drive manufacturers to innovate and get better. This market will be a lot of fun to watch in the coming years…
Product Review: LifeTrac Mobile Protector
A Computer School For Seniors
We wanted to take an opportunity to thank our readers and contributors during this holiday season. There is so much to be grateful for! With so much negativity filling the news reels and the blogosphere (guns, healthcare, fiscal cliffs, unemployment, etc., etc.) we wanted to take a minute to acknowledge just a few of the good things going on around us.
The market for hearing aids is already huge. The NY Times reports that 37 million people already suffer from some form of hearing loss in the United States. We believe this number will skyrocket in the coming decade. Given so many of us will be 
First; The “completely-in-the-canal” fit: This style fits all the way inside the ear canal, and is barely noticeable (if at all). They are the smallest type hearing aid which means their batteries are also very small. This usually translates into shorter battery life mind you… The completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are typically ordered after a custom mould is taken. These types are great for use with telephones (your not bumping the hearing aid on the phone) and wind noise (the blowing wind) is minimized. The completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are targeted at individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Second; The “in-the-canal” fit: The in-the-canal fit doesn’t sit as far into the ear canal as the completely-in-the-canal fit (obviously). These hearing aids are usually custom molded, and also fitted for folks with mild to moderate hearing loss. Using the in-the-canal hearing aid in conjunction with a phone (at the same ear) is not much of a problem. People with smaller ear canals can have some trouble finding a good fit with these units. This fit is barely detectable by others, and quite conspicuous.
Third; The “in-the-ear” fit: The in-the-ear fit is just how it sounds. It fits nicely in the ear, but this unit is visible to folks that approach at an angle. All of these fits are personal, but frankly we don’t think that anyone needs to keep their hearing loss a secret. There millions of folks out there that admittedly have hearing loss, and millions more that aren’t doing a darn thing about it! OK back on task… In-the-ear hearing aids are custom made to fit your ear. These aids can pick up some wind noise, and can interfere with a telephone that might be resting on it (really depends on the fit and the phone). The larger physical size means that larger batteries can be utilized for more useful-life from the instrument. In-the-ear hearing aids are typically a little less expensive than their in-the-canal cousins. Choose these types for mild to severe hearing loss.
Fourth; The “behind-the-ear” models: Behind-the-ear hearing aids are designed to hook onto the top of the ear and rest conspicuously behind the ear. These models are sold either as an “open fit” or with an “ear mold” that fits into the ear. They are versatile, and quite popular choices for people with all grades of hearing loss (and for children). Behind-the-ear hearing aids are more visible, and larger as compared with the other in-the-ear models, but there are several brands that are making streamlined versions that are smaller and more comfortable to wear.
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