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Spring Isn't the Only Thing in the Air!

For some 35 million Americans the pollen from trees, flowers, grasses and other plants promises misery in the form of seasonal allergies. How do you know if you have allergies? Itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose are the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies. Pollen can also trigger asthma symptoms and attacks in asthma sufferers. While over the counter and prescription medications can bring relief from allergy symptoms, they often come with undesirable side effects. Natural remedies and simple lifestyle changes can be a great option for those with mild symptoms or to be used in addition to more traditional medications. Read our blog for helpful tips on handling allergies naturally.

Heart Healthy Recipe

Omega-3 fats, found in foods like walnuts and salmon, may reduce inflammation and ease the pain of arthritis. Try this salmon recipe with an Asian twist from the American Heart Association today!

Honey Soy Salmon

Dates to Remember

May 5th: Cinco de Mayo

May 11th: Mother's Day

May 26th: Memorial Day

We've moved again!

Our new address is:

2040 eWall Street

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 29464

Home Care Plus is Hiring!

Are you or someone you know interested in joining the Home Care Plus team as a caregiver? If you are compassionate, dependable, and have a current CNA certificate from an approved program in South Carolina, we are looking for you! Visit our website for a complete job description. Make a difference in someone's life today--become a caregiver!

May 2014

May is Arthritis Awareness Month

Some 50 million Americans suffer from arthritis, a complex group of musculoskeletal disorders characterized by joint pain that can threaten mobility. Many people think arthritis is a disease that only affects old people, when in reality two-thirds of arthritis sufferers are under age 65. The three most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid, osteoarthritis (the most common form) and juvenile arthritis. Another misconception about the disease is that people think you can't or shouldn't exercise if you suffer from arthritis. More and more research is pointing to the benefits of physical activity and weight loss for those battling this disease. For more information on the different types of arthritis and tips on living with the disease, visit the Arthritis Foundation's website.

Make Mother's Day Special

Caring for your aging mother can leave you feeling more like the mom and less like the child. If possible, try to reverse roles this Mother's Day. Plan a day that can put you back into the role of daughter/son and your mom back into her role as mother. Reminisce about fond memories over a special lunch out or do an activity that you two used to enjoy doing together. Most importantly, put aside the stress of being a caregiver and the worry about your mother's health for a day and try to appreciate everything she has done for you over the years. it just might make the challenges ahead a little easier to bear.

Things To Do Around Town

There is a lot to do around town this month! Mark your calendars for these fun events:

North Charleston Arts Festival through May 10th

This art festival has it all--both free and ticketed performances, exhibits, and activities presented by local, regional, and national artists in the areas of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, media arts, and literature.

SweetGrass Music Festival May 2nd & 3rd

If you love bluegrass you won't want to miss this festival! Some of the bands performing include Common Ground, Barefoot Movement, the Lonesome River Band,
Grass Cats, Flatt Lonesome, and IIIrd Tyme Out.

Lowcountry Shrimp Festival & Blessing of the Fleet May 3rd

Enjoy delicious shrimp and other food and beverages while watching the annual blessing of the shrimping fleet.

Greek Festival May 9th-11th

For its 44th year, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church hosts its festival, which is open to the public. Enjoy delicious Greek food, music, dancing, exhibits and shops, as well as tours of the church.

Charleston Forget-Me-Not Ball May 16th

Join fellow supporters for a live and silent auction, dinner and dancing benefiting the SC Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Disability Awareness Walk & Festival May 17th

This fun and festive walk also has plenty of educational activities and kid-friendly fun.

Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival April 27th

This festival pays tribute to Mount Pleasant's local shrimping and fishing industry and features a boat parade, live music, craft show and lots of free activities. Therapeutic dogs and disability awareness activities round out the event.

Spoleto Festival USA
May 23rd-June 8th

This 17-day international festival features theatre, music, ballet, opera, and much more. Acclaimed artists from all over the world perform in the Holy City during this one-of-a-kind event.

Piccolo Spoleto
May 23rd-June 8th

This celebration of performing, literary and visual arts showcases artists primarily from the Southeast region. This festival offers visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theatre, poetry readings, children's activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and film.

Recommended Reading

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Overview:

Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love--and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

The Goldfinch is a mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate.