Let us help you get back in the game Let us help you get back in the game

Villages Rehab & Nursing Center

The brand new and state of the art Villages Rehab and Nursing Center is now open and accepting seniors in need of a helping hand recovering from a recent hospital stay to quickly and thoroughly return to their previous active lifestyle. We are proud to bring to the area pioneering concepts to make rehab a personalized and positive experience for the patient and their family.

Source: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

Pets: A healthy investment

Few things in life are as enjoyable as owning a pet. Pets make loyal companions and love you unconditionally. Of course, few may realize being a pet owner also comes with added health benefits. According to the CDC, pets decrease the following:

• Blood pressure

• Cholesterol levels

• Triglyceride levels

• Feelings of loneliness

Pets can also increase the following:

• Opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities

• Opportunities for socialization

There are other benefits, according to the Delta Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing human health through positive interactions with animals.

• Pet owners enjoy a better psychological well-being and feel less afraid of being a victim to a crime in their home.

• A survey of 11,000 people found that pet owners made 15 to 20 percent fewer visits to the doctor each year than non-pet owners.

If you would like a pet, consider contacting the following local animal rescue shelters:

Humane Society of Lake County (Umatilla)

352.589.7400

South Lake Animal League (Groveland)

352.429.6334

Houndhaven, Inc. (Minneola)

352.243.9795

Cat Protection Society (Eustis)

352.589.6228

Pet Lovers Rescue (Lady Lake)

352.598.1588

Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County (Lake Panasoffkee)

352.793.9117

A Toast To Responsible Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. While one ice-cold beer or a tasty glass of wine is relatively harmless for most people, binge drinking can ultimately lead to alcohol addiction. According to the CDC, binge drinking is defined as “consuming four or more drinks per occasion for women and five or more drinks per occasion for men.”

Here are some sobering statistics to consider.

• Nearly 18 million Americans suffer from alcohol-use disorders.

• Approximately 25 percent of U.S. children have been exposed to alcoholuse disorders in their families.

• Teens who experiment with alcohol before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent.

• Seventy-five percent of domestic abuse is committed while one or both members are intoxicated.

• Drinking and driving causes 16,000 deaths each year.

• As many as 75 percent of crimes are committed by people under the influence of alcohol.

If you are an alcoholic who needs help, call the Lake Sumter Intergroup, an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter, at 352.360.0960.

Detoxify Your Life

The environment around us alarms Jean Sumner of The Villages. There are toxins in the air we breathe and in the water we drink. Our skincare products, food, and household products are also filled with toxins.

“These toxins are causing many diseases, especially cancers,” says Jean, who is co-founder and president of World Wellness Education, an organization that encourages people to lead healthier lifestyles. “We need to know how to avoid these toxins whenever possible. This means making changes in our lives.”

Making those important changes may be easier thanks to Jean’s recently published book titled, R U Toxic. The book offers 52 weekly changes people can make to help minimize their exposure to toxins.

“I did try to look on the brighter side and give readers alternatives for the products they are currently using. For example, I found a recipe for weed killer that really works well and contains a much milder formula than the weed killers found in stores,” she says. “Prepare to be surprised by the information in this book, and remember it is just one change a week. This will lead to a healthier and happier you.”

The Floor Shoppe