Dear Heloise: I have read your column in the Dayton Daily News for years and have put many of the tips to use in my home. I’m a senior citizen, and I’ve had difficulty moving the screen pointer on my laptop using the mousepad. The pointer will not budge, or it will slide over the spot where I want it to be.

I found that if I wrap a rubber band around my fingertip, I have control of the pointer again. My best friend used this tip to move the pointer on her touch screen, and it worked great for her, too. — Nancy, in Brookville, Ohio

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com

KILLING MOSQUITOES

Dear Heloise: We’ve found a way to help control the mosquitoes around our home. There are products that have a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis (BT for short). It can be put in standing water such as a pond or a bucket of water. The mosquitoes will then be attracted to this water and lay their eggs there.

When the eggs hatch, BT kills the larvae. Because most mosquitoes don’t fly very far from where they are hatched, you can reduce the population of mosquitoes in your area this way. There are also BT products that kill tomato hornworms, moth larvae, and other insect larvae. — Elaine F., in Bakersfield, California

A GIFT TO YOUR FAMILY

Dear Heloise: As you pointed out to Frances A., equally important to a will is a medical directive and a power of attorney. As a CurePSP volunteer, I am asked about this often because progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a terminal form of Parkinson’s disease without a cure.

I tell people that these legal documents are a “gift” for their family. Your family will be going through a very emotional time if you become incapacitated, then again at your death. Not knowing your wishes about “do not resuscitate,” not having a POA so that bills can be paid, and having no idea what your estate plan wishes are only adds to the emotional burden on one’s family. Even the most reluctant person should not want the lack of these documents to add to their family’s stress. — Allen N., in Farmington, Connecticut

A MEMORY TRICK

Dear Heloise: Too often when I lay down to sleep at night, I think of things that need to be done the next day. I don’t want to get out of bed and write them down, so I make a sentence out of those letters and repeat it a few times. The next morning, I can usually remember the sentence, which then reminds me of the tasks.

For example: “Empty recycling, add hand soap to grocery list, call Susan.” A reminder sentence might be: “Randy had some soup.” This is easier than remembering a whole list. It might be silly, but it works for me. — Jacque P., via email

CREATIVE THINKING

Dear Heloise: My creative husband suggested to me that when I can’t remember something, I should go back to where I first thought of it, and this will help my memory. Lo and behold, I’ve been using this trick for years now, and it does work!

I love your hints! — Barbara M., in Tucson, Arizona

Barbara, I’ve had several people tell me that they remember things better if they are chewing gum when an idea crosses their mind. Still, others have said that if there is soft music without lyrics in the background, they can keep a new idea in their mind for a much longer time. Thanks for your helpful hint! — Heloise