With the way technology is out-doing themselves year after year with newer, better, bigger and improved products for computer users, you can just imagine the amount of waste that is generated when consumers upgrade along with the process. One household may have one or two computers to upgrade on a yearly basis but if you add to that computers and monitors from even a small business, the numbers add up very quickly.

What is the problem with throwing computers, their monitors, TVs and the like away with the rest of our trash? The main concern is that with CRTs and TVs they each contain approximately four pounds of lead per unit. Lead can’t be biologically broken down and if it were placed in a landfill there is the possibility of the landfill becoming contaminated with the toxins from lead.

Lead poisoning has been associated with several health problems in children, including, learning disabilities and behavior issues and in some extreme cases, where high doses of the lead has been found, there have been reports of seizures, coma and even death. There is always the risk of lead toxins seeping into a water source if left in a landfill and any results of lead poisoning are made even more tragic because they are so easily preventable.

In addition to the lead in some household items like computer screens and TVs, the plastic parts of these items sometimes contain a component that is called, brominated flame-retardant that helps the item to be resistant to flames in case of a fire. Unfortunately, while the exact results of exposure to this additive are undocumented there is sure to be some kind of negative result that it’s just better to steer clear of.

In an effort to keep these potentially hazardous materials out of landfills there are many other options for ridding your home of older, outdated technology. The first option should be to check with your community to see if there is a program set up to receive older CRTs and TVs for recycling. Many cities and towns are given grant money for the specific purpose of setting up such a program.

If your town does not have such a program the next place to look would be at a local TV repair shop or even an electronics retailer because they may be able to reuse what you want to throw out. Some areas even have electronic recycling companies that will come to your residence or business and pick up such items and from there they are responsible for the recycling of the items.

Even if a piece of electronic equipment can no longer be used for refurbishing an older model they can always be dissected and the individual components can be sold for their scrap value. No matter what the item is that you want to recycle, there is a way to do it, all you need to do is make a phone call or two and you will have done your part to follow the recycling laws.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation Of America is doing it’s best to raise awareness and help as many people as possible by organizing free screenings to detect possible early signs of this dreaded disease. It’s a scary thing to see someone you love slowly forget everybody and everything and people all over find this a very important cause for donations because we probably all know of someone that has suffered.

You can read about the aging process and get some wonderful tips on their site and you can urge others to go get a screening. Many of us put off doing something good for ourselves until it’s too late. We don’t always heed the warning signs and with something of this magnitude it’s better safe than sorry. I’m not getting any younger, but I certainly want to keep my memories and make a few more. So I urge you to check out this site and find an area near you.

Care giving is a very important part for patients with this disease and the foundation does it’s best with the donations and help from corporations to provide it, but until a cure can be found I know everyone will do their part in helping because we are a caring group of people.

November 13th is National memory screening day and during the month of Nov. screening sites in an area around your town will be offering free screenings for early memory loss and other related illnesses. If you live around York, Pa. I urge you to call the number below and find out if the time has been set and go get a free screening. This is also a very good cause to donate to and are always appreciated to help find a cure.

Organization: Goodnews Consulting Inc.
Address of Event: 783 Priority Road
York
Date: November 13
Time: TBD
For Information: 717-843-1504

Alzheimer’s is often hard to detect during its early stages because the symptoms aren’t much different from those experienced by other seniors who don’t develop the disease. Everyone as they age seem to go through mild confusion and forgetfulness and we accept it as just getting older and something that just happens, but it can also mark the onset of Alzheimer’s.

The forgetfulness gets worse gradually, until it begins to alter daily routines and reminders have to be written down or verbally delivered by others. The next step is an acute inability to do anything without help or supervision and can ultimately render the sufferer helpless.

Even if the body is willing and in good shape, the mind is not. I have seen people just standing in a daze which they pretty much are simply not knowing what to do or what they are suppose to be doing. It’s very sad, but thank God for the AFA and other people that are doing research

In advanced Alzheimer’s Disease aggression is often seen and seems to be a common symptom. Violent and verbal outbreaks can occur because of the confusion and anxiety that the person sufferers all the time because they are no longer themselves and it can be very difficult and they may seem like a totally different person from the way they use to be as the disease progresses into its later stages. It can take between three and fifteen years for a person to get to this stage though.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are medical centers and foundations that need our donations to keep the research going to find a cure. For now there is only drugs to help offset the symptoms when found early. A couple of drugs that are used to delay the process are Exelon and Aricept, but they will only delay the degeneration for a time and when they stop working the process of the disease will continue. Learning to cope is essential in dealing with this disease.