Q: Regular aerobic exercise will help you increase and maintain your bone density while also improving your overall health. Try to get at least half an hour of exercise each day to keep your bones healthy and to minimize bone loss.  Use cardio exercises like running, swimming, an cycling to work your muscles and build up your bones. Mix up your routine with exercises like brisk walking, hiking, tennis, or even dancing. Both aerobic and weight lifting exercises are good for you bone health, but resistance training, or weight lifting, can build up your bone mass and muscles in site specific locations. For example, you can use squats to build up the bone density in your legs. Do 2-3 weight lifting workouts a week to help build up your bone density.  Weight lifting also builds up your muscles, which help keep your bones in place and maintain bone density. Weight training, elastic exercise bands, and exercises that use your own body weight like pushups are excellent for strengthening. Yoga and Pilates can also improve strength and flexibility. However, people who already have osteoporosis should not do certain positions, as it may increase the risk of bone fracture or breakage. If you’re concerned about your risk factors, consult with your doctor or a physical therapist to see what exercises will be best for you. Plyometrics are exercises that involve a lot of jumping around, and the impact helps your body build denser, stronger bones. When you’re planning your workout routine, add a few plyometric exercises to build up the density of your bones.  Skipping rope is a great way to burn calories and strengthen your bones. You could also try jumping jacks, or using a trampoline. Smoking is associated with a higher risk of bone disease including osteoporosis. Smoking also affects how the density of your bones, so quitting can help improve your bone health. If you’re around others who smoke, try to avoid breathing in the secondhand smoke.  If you smoke,  quitting quickly decreases your risk for many diseases. The longer you smoke, the higher your risk is of low bone density and fractures. Secondhand smoke exposure during youth and early adulthood may increase your risk of developing low bone mass later.  Smoking also reduces the production of estrogen in women, which can also lead to weaker bones. If diet and exercise don’t appear to be improving your bone health, make an appointment to see your doctor. They can test to see if you have an underlying medical condition and can recommend treatment options and prescribe medications to help improve your bone density.  Estrogens and progestins help maintain bone density in both men and women. The aging process decreases the amount of these hormones your body produces. Hormone supplements including estrogen products may reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis. Medications that can help treat or prevent osteoporosis include ibandronate, alendronate, risedronate sodium, and zoledronic acid.
A: Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day to improve bone health. Build up your bones by doing weight lifting exercises. Use plyometric movements to help increase bone density. Quit smoking to keep your bones strong. Talk to your doctor if you have bone pain that won’t go away.

Q: Show those around you that you care by offering them assistance when they need it. Help them without expectation of repayment so you can feel connected to them in a generous way.  For example, you may go see a family member who is feeling ill or unwell. Bring food for them if they are too sick to cook. You can help your neighbor by trying things like shoveling snow for them or taking care of their pet while they are away on vacation. You can also spend time with a friend dealing with a recent break up. Cheer them up by inviting them out or by taking them on a special friend date. Look online for local organizations and charities in your area that need volunteers. Pick up a volunteer shift at your local homeless shelter or women’s shelter. Donate your time to a charity drive or at a local arts festival. Volunteering your time can help you feel connected to others in a positive way. Volunteering is also a great way to meet like minded people and make new friends or acquaintances. This can broaden your social network and make you feel less alone in the world. You can also put your money towards a cause you believe in. Give a donation to a local advocacy group in your area or to a national campaign that speaks to your goals and values. You may try donating money to a worthy cause once a year or once a month, based on your income. Look for mentoring programs in your area at local community or arts centers. Check your local schools for mentoring programs where you work with young people. Try mentoring in a program like Big Brother, Big Sister, where you are paired with a young person and act as their mentor.  You can also mentor others by being a volunteer tutor at an after school program. Some alumni associations at colleges and universities have mentorship programs for students to connect with professionals in their field of interest. Give back to your local economy by frequenting local businesses in your area. Seek out local businesses and support them by spending your money there. Get to know local vendors so you can feel in sync with your community. For example, you may shop at your local farmer’s market and get to know the vendors who sell their goods there.
A: Help a neighbor, friend or family member in need. Volunteer at a local organization. Donate money to a worthy cause. Become a mentor. Shop at local businesses.

Q: FM systems use radio waves and are best for noisy environments.  If you usually watch TV in a busy home or a home with a lot of commotion, this may be a good option for you. The FM system uses a transmitter microphone and a receiver.  The receiver can be used as headphones or used with your hearing aids.  FM systems are also portable and can be used in other environments (e.g. restaurants, school, work) FM systems are more expensive than TV amplifiers. You can buy an FM system online, in electronics stores, or through a hearing professional. The microphone can be connected to the TV using an audio jack, or you can place the microphone next to the TV speaker.  A 3.5mm stereo socket is usually used to connect the transmitter to the TV. Many transmitters will allow you to select a frequency as well.  Frequency options are helpful as certain frequencies can be noisy. FM systems typically use headphones, earbuds, or neckloops.  If your FM system has different frequency options, make sure that your receiver and transmitter are set to the same frequency. You can control the volume using your receiver. The receiver can be worn around your neck or sometimes clipped onto your pants.  Radio waves can go through walls, so you may be able to hear the TV from another room. Test the range of your receiver once everything is set up.  The transmission range can be up to 1,000 feet (300 m). If you are using hearing aids, turn your hearing aids to the "T"  position   Plug either a neckloop or silhouette inductor into the receiver. Neckloops are worn around the neck, and silhouette inductors are worn behind the ear.  Silhouettes are most useful for people with severe hearing loss.
A: Decide if an FM system is a good option. Connect the transmitter to your TV. Set up your receiver. Use the FM system with your hearing aid.

Q: An eyepiece is not necessary to see objects, but it helps to keep your eye off of the viewing lens. It can also make viewing more comfortable. Use a drill or sharp object (e.g. scissors) to make a hole in the bottom of a film canister. The hole should be in the center of the canister and large enough to slide the smallest tube through. Line the smallest tube up with the hole in the canister. Push the tube so that the top (side with the lens) inch is inside the film canister. If the tube will not fit, make the hole larger until it does. Use glue or liquid cement to keep the eyepiece in place. This will allow you to look through the eyepiece without it moving. Give the glue time to dry.
A:
Make a hole in a film canister. Push the lens tube through the hole. Secure the eyepiece.