Training to Become an Interventionist

When the decision is made to become an interventionist, it pays to become certified. A certified interventionist undergoes a two day (or sometimes more) of programing that teaches the individual about the various skills and traits that will be needed to lead a successful intervention.

In training the interventionist learns that there are a lot of self destructive behaviors out there, including excessive drinking, drug use, anorexia, extreme gambling, and seniors needing assisted living. The interventionist only needs to have caring friends and family of the affected individual so that an intervention can take place and the addict or other individual can receive the car they need.

An interventionist learns that the process needs to be done with the utmost of respect and care for the individual being intervened upon. There should be as little conflict as possible and it is the job of the interventionist to keep everyone calm and focused on the specific issues at hand. The certified interventionist learns the best ways to give the addict the courage it takes to take the first steps toward recovery. It is important to be trained on the traps that can wreck the entire process and learn how to get out of them, or avoid them altogether.

The certified interventionist learns to replace the frustration of this harsh process with the concepts of hope and positive action toward getting better. He or she is quick to decide who best should be involved in the intervention and who could make things worse. The interventionist must navigate the difficult aspects of inviting some people to the intervention while excluding others.

The interventionist helps determine the consequences of failing to enter treatment and helps the addict understand those consequences. There must be some negative consequences to not attending treatment and the interventionist must get those things across to the addict during this time. It is important to focus on the need to enter a facility because that is ultimately the most helpful for the addict.

The certified interventionist knows when to go ahead with the intervention and when to abort the entire thing. If there is not readily available treatment, it may be best to intervene after the individual has a treatment program to go to. A good interventionist also learns how to keep control over the situation, even if the addict acts inappropriately or does not seem interested. All in all, every person involved in the intervention must leave feeling satisfied that it was worthwhile. Training to be a certified interventionist Is a diverse job that takes a special set of skills, but it can also be rewarding for all involved.

Long Term Care Administrators and MDS 3.0 - How to Provide Facts, Calm Fears, and Ease Frustrations

When PPS altered the quality and reimbursement standards for long term care twelve years ago, I was a practicing Occupational Therapy Assistant. After PPS was introduced and implemented, a widespread panic emerged throughout the therapy world. Many therapists left the field all together simply because the stress, frustrations, and unknown facts about PPS were overwhelming.

MDS 3.0 is completely different than when we transitioned to PPS. Nevertheless, the angst of this change in our industry has been feared by many. As an administrator, I knew that in order to make the transition smooth, I needed to prepare my team. To best ready them for the change, I trained them, educated them, communicated with them and attempted to calm their anxieties well before MDS 3.0 went into effect. We installed and updated software changes to transmit accurately. Therapy and MDS staffing hours were increased to allow for additional time to provide treatment and assessments. Lastly, clinical and financial outcome projections were assessed and calculated, and shared with the team.

Preparing our leadership team came with many frustrating days. The unknown made it hard to launch a clear systematic change to our structure. We consistently disputed hypothetical challenges and found it hard to discuss these obstacles with one another. Their questions, concerns, fears and frustrations only made me step up more as their leader and go through the transition with them. Through it all, the strength of their own leadership emerged.

The MDS 3.0 can have a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of a facility. The changes to qualifiers, ADL scores, and acuity levels can impact and significantly influence direct care, clinical outcomes, and financial success. Before MDS 3.0, concurrent therapy had become a standard of practice in the industry. It was by luck that we were already prepared for this change by seldom practicing this therapy delivery model and by increasing our therapy days of operation to seven days.

The other area of strong impact as a result of MDS 3.0 is the changes to resident acuity level. The shift with MDS 3.0 transferred the acuity level weighted to nursing and not therapy. What does this shift mean to us as facility administrators in terms of our clinical outcomes and financial indicators? It means winning outcomes! If the residents are assessed and documented correctly, clinical outcomes will improve and financial gains will be made. It is all in how the information is taught, processed, and carried out by your team.

We are still recovering from the October 1 implementation of MDS 3.0. As an administrator, through education and communication, I was able to teach the facts, calm the fears, and ease the frustrations of our clinical, therapy, and financial team members. Because MDS 3.0 globally affected the entire team, it strengthened our leadership and facility processes. As a team, we have embraced MDS 3.0 and as a result, we are now more focused on our future and the future direction of the facility.

Affordable Housing for Seniors in South Orange County, California

In South Orange County, California finding affordable rentals for anyone, let alone a senior citizen who has very little savings, sounds like a true oxymoron. However with some research, time and a great deal of persistence something that resembles, or at least comes close to being budget conscious can be attained.

Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, my mother-in-law found herself in need of a new place to live after over 30 years in her rent-controlled apartment. She had been in a run down building in Hollywood. Her landlord had passed away and the relatives were selling the building. Thanks to my husband's research he found that there were several options, none of which would be at the same $460.00 a month, but closer to us and in a much better area than what she had been living in.

Living in South Orange County, we were able to check out the different areas personally. Since my mother-in-law doesn't drive and is 78, we had to make a list of definite needs to make the transition for both her and us as smooth as possible.

We decided we had to have it close by, but not too close-we wanted to keep our privacy and make sure she would not rely on us to take her places. The complex had to either have a bus stop within walking distance or a shuttle service. The most important was that she had to be able to afford the apartment on her own, since neither we nor my sister-in-law could afford to supplement her social security. If possible, since she wouldn't know anyone, we were hoping that there would be a social calendar for her to get involved with or a senior center close by.

Thanks to our local Social Security Office, they pointed us to the internet. We googled "affordable rentals for senior citizens". We narrowed the search down to our particular part of Orange County. We were able to locate several complexes and check them out. All but a "high end" offering had a lengthily wait list. Thankfully they all gave us an average of 6-12 months, which we managed to work out with the family who now owned her building. They were also going to give her a re-location settlement, which would provide her with funds to afford a mover and offset the cost of the rent increase.

All the places had brochures, applications and floor plans available for us to take back and discus with her. She decided on two. Then it was a waiting game. My husband would call the apartment managers every 2-3 weeks to check on where his mother was on "the list". Finally one came up. This particular complex had one coming up in a couple of weeks. My mother-in-law was actually still a few names off, but since the manager knew she had to be out of her present apartment by the end of the same month and my husband had been so good about checking in, she let the space go to her.

The apartment has a shuttle service several times a week to the local markets, to several medical offices (which included her Kaiser-Permanente clinic), an exercise room, a craft room, internet access (as well as classes!), weekly get-togethers and a host of supervised activities. They also have laundry rooms on each floor, central air-conditioners, private patios and dishwashers. All things her current place never even considered having!

Here are a listing of some of the alternative senior housing areas we found:

Freedom Village in Lake Forest: This is a religious-based complex, but it is open to everyone. Should it be necessary, assisted living and nursing centers are available on site.

Heritage Park and Square in Ladera Ranch: These were the most expensive and the nicest. No transportation, but otherwise had many social amenities available.

Buena Vida at Town Center in Rancho Santa Margarita: Senior apartments. Amenities were available, but not plentiful.

Fountain Glen in Laguna Niguel: Senior apartments. Due to long wait list of over a year, we didn't consider the area.

Hacienda del las Palmas in Laguna Hills: Closest to us, too close. However it had not only senior apartment, but if necessary, assisted living, residential car and Alzheimer's Care-the only one that did.

Renaissance at the Regency and it's sister, the Wellington in Laguna Woods and Aliso Viejo: Both are independent retirements centers which have both kitchens or without and use of a dining facility. These also had assisted living as well as residential care. Pricey and very "hotelish".

There are many others available, but all, again, have long waiting lists. The best suggestions:

Decide what the most important amenities are, what is the highest amount that the renter can afford to pay and then contact the local social security office for the best direction in which to start the hunt.

Senior Citizen Housing - A Growing Trend in the Society

Everyone approaches aging differently. For senior citizens, emotions differ from individual to individual. Some consider the retirement days as the best days of their lives whereas some feel insecure about their future. At this age, senior citizen housing is an ideal residential care option for the elderly who feel alone and insecure about their future life. As revealed by the recent study, senior independent living is the top choice of most seniors as it allows them to be independent and at the same time relieve the burden of staying alone and managing the daily chores. It has been found that many seniors are technology freaks and want it to be part of their old age. This new need has resulted in the formation of unique senior living facilities which offer state-of-the-art systems for the computer savvy senior people.

Some who have just left the job would like to spend the rest of their lives around computers because they are accustomed to such a lifestyle. Senior citizen housing is provides an environment where elderly people can live with their peers and can take part in a variety of activities. This kind of housing facility ranges from single family homes to large apartment-style living facilities. The senior housing facility can be categorized into three basic types including independent living, assisted living and nursing home care. The choice can be highly personal depending upon the lifestyle and the health condition of the senior citizen. For healthy seniors who want their own space and freedom, senior independent living is an ideal residential option.

In the last 2 decades, the arena of senior housing has expanded, with multiple options available for the senior citizens. While selecting senior living facilities, it is essential to ask several questions to yourself including those pertaining to personal care, medical care, privacy, temporary or long term care and the cost. In case of senior independent living, the houses or apartments are well equipped with kitchens and a central dining area. However, the laundry services are available on a special request. Some of the activities which can be enjoyed in senior citizen housing include recreational, educational and social events, along with health and exercise programs, religious services, golf courses and clubhouses.

Certain complexities are attached to some types of senior citizen housing. Therefore, in some instances it is better to seek a professional advisor so the right kind of facility is chosen for the rest of the life. If the elderly person is unhealthy it may be wise to seek the advice of a doctor. According to a recent survey, certain trends have been found that reveals that independence, technology, health, environment and education will keep the members of senior independent living communities occupied, challenged and productive for years to come. In the case of independent living, no assistance is provided to the senior citizens as it offers maximum freedom to the elderly people. The senior living facilities are known by several names like senior apartments, senior housing, retirement homes, retirement communities and independent living communities. Regardless of the type of independent living you choose, it is important to keep certain considerations in mind.

Comparing Medical Alert Systems to Assisted Living Arrangements and Nursing Homes

Age and medical issues can make independent living a challenge for many people, especially those more prone to diseases and injuries caused due to accidents. The sheer range of health problems we face as we age makes it necessary for us to have immediate support and help, especially in the case of emergencies. Assisted living and nursing homes are one alternative, but many of us don't need that kind of round-the-clock care, and want to keep our independence. That's how the concept of medical alert alarms came about, which many feel is a far better option than nursing homes or assisted living.

Understanding Medical Alert Systems Medical alert systems are technologically advanced electronic devices, typically presented in the form of a pendant or a wristwatch that you wear, as well as a connected console with an emergency button. Some of these systems can be personalized in such a way that alarms and alerts can be created depending on an individual's health requirements. For instance, a person could create an alarm for his or her daily medication, as well as for regular checkups. Similarly, the button on the console or on the pendant/wristwatch can be pressed in times of emergency to immediately connect the wearer with a customer service representative who can determine their medical requirements and make sure that help will arrives at their doorstep. Additionally, this medical alarm service can be used to notify next of kin immediately during times of need. What makes the system even more special is the fact that such services can be used 24/7, making the medical alert system a true companion for life.

Comparing Medical Alert Systems with Assisted Living or Nursing Homes Taking care of people with extreme physical or psychological needs can be quite difficult in certain cases. Under such circumstances, nursing homes or assisted living are usually the preferred choices for various reasons. But despite the advantages of using these kinds of services, it is important to realize that they have disadvantages, too, which could prove to be the underlying reason why they don't work for everyone:

- Independence: One of the primary factors to be considered when choosing care services is the level of independence given to the person in question. Most people prefer to be independent and take care of their own needs, unless they have a medical condition that makes it impossible for them to do so. Given this situation, nursing homes can be extremely restrictive for people, even when they claim to offer a lot of independence. Assisted living, similarly, has its own problems Here, the perfect solution is a medical alert system, which allows the individual to live on his/her own while also ensuring complete safety, especially in times of emergency and need.

- Continuity and comfort: Another factor most people deem absolutely necessary is the continuity factor. We all prefer living in a place that is known to us and where we are comfortable. This is usually our own home where we may have lived for years. Opting for a nursing home means taking us away from our zone of comfort, which may not really be advantageous. It's not unheard of for people to experience severe psychological trauma in the face of having to move out of their homes.

- Cost of safety and help: When comparing nursing homes and assisted living with installing a medical alert system, it is obvious that the latter is cheaper than the former. Nursing homes, especially good ones, can cost quite a lot, which is also the case with assisted living facilities. This is largely because the cost of such living is directly proportional to the amount and nature of amenities that the person in question would need to ensure comfortable living. Medical alert alarms, on the other hand, are simple, easy-to-use pieces of electronic equipment that can be rented out from various companies that offer such services. Additionally, the cost of the subscription plans on offer - even the most detailed and complete ones - will be far less than what one would pay for a nursing home or assisted living companion.

- Immediate response: While nursing homes do have round the clock doctors and medical practitioners on their rosters, it is possible that a resident could lose some time in getting immediate care, especially as these professionals may have several people to attend to. Similarly, with assisted living, there may be situations where there is no one present with the elderly 24/7, which could again delay the process of getting help in times of emergency. Under both these circumstances, a delay could lead to a dangerous situation that could easily be avoided with the help of a medical alert alarms. Here, the simple press of a button will connect the wearer to a representative, who in turn can send immediate medical help. Since the distress call is responded to immediately, precious moments are not lost.

- Notification to kin made easy: When someone is in a nursing home or living with assistance, notifying his/her relatives in case of any accident or other emergency can be difficult and confusing, not to mention take a bit of time. This is largely due to the fact that the resident has to wait until the authorities find the necessary information and make that phone call. However, medical alert devices can be set up in such a way that in case of any emergency, the next of kin gets notified immediately. Additionally, such devices offer an individual the chance to personalize his/her emergency and other alert systems to suit his/her needs. This will not only ensure immediacy of medical help, but also enable speedy flow of proper information.

While these factors mentioned above are definitely good reasons for adopting medical alert alarms, the most important factor remains that they are extremely safe and user-friendly. Irrespective of whether the wearer is tech-savvy or not, they can get immediate help with the simple press of a button and even get their queries answered should the need arise. If only everything else in life was so simple.

Nursing Home Neglect - Emotional, Verbal and Physical Abuse

A nursing home that does not have the properly trained staff to carry out its responsibilities often dooms patients to regular abuse. While it is not a general observation or a fact that nursing homes neglect their patients, there are actually a number of nursing homes reported to have been mistreating and abusing their residents.

The elderly are often brought to nursing homes because their sons or daughters believe that these homes can take care of them better. However, blinded by the façade of these amazing elderly residences, those brought to the care of these homes suffer from physical and emotional neglect, as well as different kinds of abuses.

Commonly, areas of abuse include bedsores, malnutrition, wandering, physical abuse, mental abuse, falls, dehydration, and elopement. It is definite that these patients deserve only the best care, but with the rate of abuses that are regularly reported, this is no longer the case. The abuse does not only include in some mistreatment by neglect of physical needs but also both verbal and emotional abuse as well. Stories related by some patients tell of the insufferable verbal abuse that they often hear from nurses and attendants that were given the task to take care of their needs. These needs are all-encompassing and should be given the proper attention by these nurses.

Nurses should be appropriately trained so that they could in turn provide the right treatment to nursing home patients. When these nurses do not receive the proper training, their tendencies are to be impatient and unkind, often these emotions bring about the abuse they inflict on the elderly.

At times, abuses to the elderly result to serious injuries, and in the worst cases, result to death, either directly or indirectly. An elderly may run off and hurt himself, after hearing foul language or verbal abuse from his attendant. Words that hurt should not be heard since these old people lack the emotional security by being confined in these homes just to be aggravated by heartless nurses. Oftentimes, health requirements of patients are neglected such as the proper medical treatment or medication, dehydration, urinary tract infection, weight loss, and respiratory infections, which when left untreated would surely complicate the health of the patients and lead to death. The really unfathomable situation is when these homes justify death as the effect of poor health of the patients which they do not attribute to their own negligence.

When this happens, it is a very wise thing to seek the help of lawyers and attorneys who can help you in seeking justice for the injuries or death of a loved one, suffered under the hands of nurses and attendants in nursing homes.

Choosing Care Homes in Scotland - Edinburgh Care Homes

If you're looking for a care home in Scotland, you'll find plenty to choose from no matter which area you want to live in. This article looks at Edinburgh and some of the care homes in this attractive city.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is best-known for its historic Old Town, which includes its most famous landmark, Edinburgh Castle, on the Royal Mile. Much of Edinburgh has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its historical significance, but it also has excellent contemporary amenities including shops, restaurants, cafes and cinemas. The city is also famous for its annual Edinburgh Festival, which attracts world-class comedians, dancers, musicians and authors, and also includes the Military Tattoo.

You'll find many different types of care home to choose from in Edinburgh including residential care homes, care homes with nursing and specialist care homes. Care Homes in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has a wide range of residential care homes. Clermiston House (93 Parkgrove Terrace, Edinburgh) is a large residential home, operated by the City of Edinburgh Council. This five-story, purpose-built care home offers single rooms which have their own washbasins, but residents share bathrooms. There are a number of communal rooms and Clermiston House also incorporates a day center.

There are plenty of activities on offer in the care home and day-trips are also arranged. A hairdresser visits the home twice each week and a mobile library services also makes regular visits.

Edinburgh also has some excellent nursing homes. Ashley Court (33 Craighouse Terrace, Edinburgh), for example, is a 60-bedded care home with nursing, located in the residential district of Morningside in the south-west of Edinburgh.

This nursing home, operated by the Randolph Hill Group, is purpose-built and has 50 single and 5 double bedrooms, all of which are en-suite. There are communal lounges and three dining rooms, and residents can also enjoy the home's private, landscaped gardens. There is a varied program of activities, and the home organizes regular outings in the company minibus.

The home is staffed by qualified nurses and carers, who are available 24 hours a day, and all bedrooms have a nurse call system for peace of mind.

Specialist care homes in Edinburgh include: * CIC Drummond Place (40/1, 40/2, 40/3 Drummond Place, Edinburgh) - a small facility in a town house which has been divided into 3 flats for 8 people with learning difficulties, autism and epilepsy. Carers are available 24 hours per day.

* Leonard Cheshire (161 - 163 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh) - a 7-bedded care home for adults with physical disabilities. The care home is operated by Leonard Cheshire Services and is located in a residential area of the city.

* Barony House (13a/13b Dublin Street, Edinburgh) - a 9-bedded care home for adults with mental health problems. Carers are available 24 hours per day and the home is operated by the Barony Housing Association.

Steam Cleaners For Hospital Cleaning - The Truth Behind Antibacterial Machines

Steam cleaners are widely used to clean a wide variety of surfaces hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. Among these facilities, hospitals face the most demanding applications. Tackling the sanitization of multiple surfaces is challenging, but must be done to ensure the health and safety of patients, visitors, doctors, nurses, and other employees.

A search on the internet will reveal a number of different steam cleaning machines, including industrial steam cleaners, vapor steam cleaners, and commercial steam cleaners. While many suppliers claim that their systems can eliminate bacteria, only a select few can truly sanitize surfaces. Read on to find tips on selecting true anti bacterial steam cleaners for cleaning hospitals and nursing homes.

How to Find the Right Machine

Before focusing on the anti bacterial aspect of a steam cleaning machine, it is important to find a powerful system that can carry out a variety of cleaning applications. The efficiency of a steam cleaning machine depends primarily on its output temperature rating. Quality machines eject dry steam onto the surface. Dry steam is superheated water with a water content of less than 5 percent. The output temperature can be as high as 360簞F, with higher temperatures working to more readily dissolve stubborn stains and residues.

Another specification of these machines is output pressure rating. Output pressure can reach as high as 150 psi. Higher pressure levels translate to greater power; however, steam cleaning machines are not designed to eliminate grease due to their characteristically low pressure levels.

Anti Bacterial Technology

For cleaning hospitals, healthcare facilities, and nursing homes, one must select a steam cleaning machine capable of eliminating bacteria and fungi commonly present in hospitals and nursing homes. Maintenance professionals cannot solely rely on high temperatures. Instead, systems equipped with special bacteria-killing facilities are required.

The best anti bacterial technology eliminates more than 99% of all commonly occurring microorganisms and harmful bacteria. Such machines can eliminate the threat of Escherichia coli, listeria, and other kinds of disease-causing microorganisms to create a healthier hospital environment.

Filters

The atmosphere of hospitals must be free of dust and devoid of any impurities. To make sure the environment and the surfaces of hospital buildings are clean, one must use steam cleaning equipment with HEPA filters. These filters can absorb extremely small particles.

Machines having quality HEPA filters can extract dust particles as low as 0.3 microns. Ordinary steam cleaning machines will only reintroduce these particles back into the air. Such small particles might cause asthma and allergies in patients and visitors. Therefore, removing them is an important cleaning task in hospitals and nursing homes.

When selecting a steam cleaner for hospital or healthcare maintenance, be sure to remember these essential features: high steam temperatures, anti bacterial technology, and HEPA filtration. Machines employing these three features are simply the best systems for hospital cleaning.

Catholic Retirement Communities - A Good Way to Take Care of Your Old Parents

The Catholic believes in taking good care of parents when they have advanced in age. In fact, it is seen as a basic responsibility in Catholic to take care of parents in their old age. A proof of this belief is the Catholic retirement communities. The needs of older people are unique which includes daily physical needs as well as spiritual needs. Thanks to the idea that gave birth to special homes and communities where senior citizens can obtain assistance for their daily and spiritual needs just in their own unique ways.

A good number of these established Catholic retirement homes offer varieties of living options such as assisted living/care, independent living and the rehabilitation option. In order to decide the option that will best suit you or your family member's need, consider your level of independence as well as personal needs. You can find these Catholic retirement homes in different states. One of the states with high population of elderly residents is Virginia; in such state, the Catholic retirement homes have been established with facilities offering various housing or living options. Most of these housing options have been comfortably appointed and need little maintenance.

You can find a bedroom apartment, three-bedroom apartment or the studio apartments options in these homes. Other services are rendered such as regular meals, housekeeping, grooming, dressing and many others. The living options are also equipped with modern amenities. There is usually staff on duty to attend to any requirement of the senior citizens. There may also be internet services and phone lines depending on the policies in operation. Of course, daily mass and other programs have been put in place.

Culture Change in Nursing Homes Can't Come Soon Enough

The idea of 'culture change' has been around for awhile now, at least fifteen years. Many of us who work in nursing homes are familiar with the concept that nursing homes should become less institutional and more homelike. As a nurse who has worked in the field of geriatrics for most of my nursing career, it's a change I embrace. Why, then, is progress toward culture change so glacially slow?

'Culture Change' means different things to different people. Some embrace the term as a total transformation to resident directed care. Others envision incorporating bits and pieces, gradually working choice into their institutional settings.

My vision of culture change is simple. If people can do something in their own homes, without impinging on someone else, they should be able to continue their lifestyle should they need nursing home care. This usually isn't the case. Nursing homes walk a tightrope between what individual residents want, and how their choices impact the other residents. In addition to regulatory requirements, there are the preferences of families and doctors to be considered. There is also the philosophy of the nursing home itself, or the corporation to which it belongs. Is the emphasis on individuality or community? Is efficiency valued above everything else? What really matters, the residents or the bottom line?

Many agree with the idea of culture change but come to a dead stop when it comes to implementing changes. Why is this logical, humanizing effort so difficult to begin? Changing nursing homes from institutions modeled on hospitals to warm, nurturing environments isn't easy. Most facilities don't have the option to start over with small households, each with their own dedicated caregivers.

Nursing homes are congregate living. What one person does affects others. Staffing levels are often such that one nursing assistant attempts to meet the needs of ten to fifteen residents or more. With those staffing ratios, care is seen by the staff as a series of tasks they must accomplish as efficiently as possible.

What happens in one department also affects other departments. this is especially true of the nursing and dietary departments. If residents are late getting to meals or meals are late coming out from the kitchen, sparks fly!

What will a changed nursing home look like? Residents will get up and go to bed when they choose. They will eat meals when they want. They will have choice in what they eat. Meals are often one of the only things residents look forward to. Meal service is an excellent place to start implementing culture change.

Staff members will have more time to spend with the residents. They will need more time, because a home-like environment isn't as efficient as an institution, but who wants to live in an institution? Staffing levels will need to increase, as least in the short-term, as changes are made. Change itself is inefficient, and makes everyone uncomfortable until they get used to the new routines.

Is all this effort and upheaval worth it? Residents who live in humanized environments would shout a resounding yes! Studies have shown depression, feelings of worthlessness, and use of pain medications are lower in nursing homes that have undergone culture change. Staff turnover is reduced, because caregivers are doing what they want to do - spend time with and make a difference for the residents.

Top Cities to Retire in Canada - 2012 Edition

Each year MoneySense Magazine reviews the best cities to live in Canada under categories including 'Best Places for Kids', 'Best Places to Find a Job', and my favorite being 'Best Places to Retire.' Why does, 'Best Places to Retire' jump out at me? Probably because looking ahead to retirement doesn't seem as dull as it did 25 to 30 years ago. Today's retirees are painting a new more colorful picture of life as a senior.

In the 2012 review of Best Places to Retire, MoneySense lists 190 cities from which municipal statistics and data were gathered. The cities were rated on climate, affordable housing, sports/hospitals/universities, health, crime, population growth, walk/bike to work and taxes.

Top five Canadian cities to Retire

Kingston, ON - The beautiful city of Kingston usually makes the top when it comes to lists of cities people love to live in. This year it's number one for the low crime rate, low taxes, ease of walking or biking to work and around town, and proximity to sports centres, hospitals and universities. Independent living in the Holiday retirement community of Kingsdale Chateau is just of the many reasons that folks love Kingston for retirement life.

Halifax, NS - Being on the Atlantic coast would be the attraction to Halifax for me; but the Nova Scotia capital got high scores for low crime, the ability to get around as a pedestrian (or biking), low taxes, and like Kingston, access to athletic centres, hospitals and universities. Halifax is a city with a high availability of services and retirement communities. From HomeInstead Senior Care, a provider of Homecare and caregiving, to the ORCA approved Berkeley and the Gem Health Care group, Halifax places a high value on their senior care. These are just a couple of examples of what's available in senior housing, independent living and retirement communities in Nova Scotia.

Saanich, BC - It's not surprising that Saanich BC ranked number one out of 190 cities on the list in the climate category. Saanich is just minutes from downtown Victoria BC and shares Victoria's mild temperatures rarely rising above 30簞C in summer or dipping below −2簞C in the winter months. All styles of retirement home are available in and around Victoria. Independent living in a Holiday Community such as the Victorian on Feltham Road or the Victorian at McKenzie, are beautiful examples of a convenient all-inclusive lifestyle for seniors.

Victoria, BC - The climate of Victoria makes this city a desirable retirement destination. Victoria also receives good rankings in the categories of health care, taxes and proximity to hospitals, sports centres and universities. Being known as the 'City of Gardens' means residents have beauty and sanctuary nearby not to mention the perfect photo ops at the famous Butchart Gardens.

Ottawa, ON - I'm never surprised to see Ottawa on the list of top cities in Canada to retire! The people of Ottawa love walking and biking, and the city's pedestrian paths make getting around on foot a pleasure even in winter. The low crime rate and high population of seniors make Ottawa a senior-friendly place to live. Sunrise of Erin Mills in Mississauga is one of the many Sunrise Retirement homes across Canada. They offer independent living, assisted living, and additional levels of service in a continuum of care that many seniors today are looking for.

Whether you're consulting the yearly lists of 'best places to live' or doing your search for a retirement community on foot, seniors have more to choose from today than ever before. Take your time, search wisely and only make your move to a retirement residence when you're one hundred percent ready.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Start a Career Academy in Your High School

Reason number one is that your school has over a student population of one thousand students. Students tend to be safer and more engaged if they are in a smaller group within a big high school.

Your school wants to connect the rigor of college-prep courses with the relevancy of the "real" world is the second reason. If the "real" world context is embedded in the classroom, students are motivated to learn.

Reason three includes that your school wants to consider high school reform efforts that are inclusive of all students including high achievers and those at-risk for failure. Schools should not be tracking students. All students are smart in some way, so teachers need to help students figure out how they are smart and can succeed with the "smarts" they have.

The fourth reason is that your school wants to find proven methods of increasing attendance and graduation rates. Academies support students and make them feel welcome and valued. Of course, students who feel wanted stay in school.

Your school wants to build partnerships among educators, employers, parents, and community leaders is number five. Most business leaders don't know to "get their arms around" a high school, but, these same leaders know how to connect with a health academy or an engineering academy.

Sixth is that your school wants to implement strategies that increase teacher job satisfaction and effectiveness. Teaching can be a lonely profession when a teacher closes the classroom door. Most teachers love being part of a team and sharing ideas and strategies with other teachers.

Reason number seven is that your school wants to build a sense of belonging and well-being among its students. Think of the career academy as a gang - except this is a positive gang. Why do students join a gang? The answer is to belong and be accepted.

Your school wants to find proactive ways to decrease discipline problems and prevent violence is number eight. Again, students who feel welcome and accepted don't need to cause discipline problems to be noticed.

Nine is that your school wants to challenge students to perform at their full potential. Because career academies are a school within a school, teachers know each individual student and can challenge students to a higher level of achievement.

Number ten and lastly is that you want to do all that you can to prepare your students to succeed in the workplace and to assume roles of responsible citizenship. Teachers in a career academy generally have more autonomy and can accomplish more than the regular high school teacher or counselor or administrator.

Caring For Aging Parents? Here's an Action Plan You Can Use

Be proactive.

Don't wait until Mom is lying in a hospital bed to start thinking about finding a good elder care solution-by then the family will be in crisis mode, making it hard for even the most reasonable people to make informed decisions. Decisions made under crisis circumstances are usually bad, expensive or both.

The best time to create a caring for aging parent plan is before a senior parent becomes ill or unable to make decisions. Start by scheduling a family meeting. Invite your parents as well as your siblings and other family members who might help with your parent's care.

Don't let distance prevent family members from contributing to an elder care solution. By using a video conferencing system, like Skype, loved ones across the globe can participate-you just need a web camera, an internet connection, and web-savvy teenager to set it all up.

Name a facilitator.

Help an elder care solution meeting run more smoothly by naming an objective family member to help direct communication. Ideally, your elderly parent will be able to take on the role, but it can be filled by any appropriate member of the family. If you know your family won't be able to meet effectively on its own, consider an outside facilitator. Ask your local agency on aging if they can recommend a geriatric care manager to run the meeting.

Identify needs.

Make a list of everything that needs to be done to help Dad live a life that's as full and healthy as possible. To make the process easier, divide caring for aging parent tasks into time periods. Start by identifying what he needs help with everyday: shaving, preparing meals, and so on. Next, figure out what needs to be done weekly: bill payments, bank deposits, grocery shopping, etc.

As you identify an elder care solution need, write it down. While old-school pen and paper works well, consider using a white board, which can be found at any office supply store, to write down tasks so everyone at the meeting can easily see them.

Ask for help.

Once you've identified what needs to be done when caring for aging parents, it's time to figure out who's going to do it. If a nursing home or assisted living facility just isn't right for your loved one, you may need to appoint a primary caregiver.

Although one person might take on the responsibility for 24/7 care, it's important to ask every family member to contribute in some way. Pair a family member with a task that uses their expertise. A sister with medical training can help translate medical-ese into language you and your family can understand. Even teens can help by doing chores like mowing the lawn or trimming hedges.

Be realistic in your expectations when asking family to contribute to an elder care solution. If your sister is allergic to cats, don't expect her to change litter boxes for Dad's furry friend. Likewise a brother with a special needs child might not be able to care for provide full time care for Mom.

Make sure to recognize elder care solution needs your family may not be able to take care of. However, don't assume Dad will need to live in a nursing facility if you can't provide all the care he needs. For example, if Dad is recuperating from a stroke, consider hiring an outside health care professional.

Meet on a regular basis.

Because caring for aging parents is, in many cases, a long-term commitment, be sure to meet regularly. Find an elder care solution meeting schedule that works best for your family-maybe it's monthly or twice yearly. This gives you the chance to address new needs. For example, maybe Mom's recent stroke left her unable to do the most basic personal care tasks.

It's also a good time to re-evaluate caring for aging parent roles. A granddaughter who enrolls in college might not have as much time to spend weeding Grandma's veggie garden. You might need to assess if another family member can take on the task or if you need to ask Grandma to scale back on the number of prized tomatoes she plants.

Finding an elder care solution is not usually the preferred topic at family gatherings-after all, it's easier to gossip about that girl you and your siblings graduated with. You do, however, owe it to your family and to parents to set aside time to thoughtfully consider how you will be caring for aging parents.

Government Assistance For Single Mothers - Grants, Housing, Living Expenses and Medical Care

A single mother is tasked with the responsibility of performing the role of mother in addition to the father role. Fortunately there is government assistance for single mothers through various programs available.

A single parent has a harder task than any two parent family. Most of the single parent head of households are females. Many single moms have not had the opportunity to get a good education nor sufficient housing.

Food and funds are often insufficient and the single woman, in many cases cannot afford child care nor can she afford a home. Consequentially, she requires assistance in order to for basic provisions for her children.

There is a government program called WIC which is designed for single women or qualified parents with children five and under. Food such as milk, cereal, cheese, juice, beans, peanut butter and eggs are the main foods that are provided.

Each month the qualified parent or parents are given vouchers which are to be use at any time before the expiration date. The above listed foods are all rich in vitamins and nutrients necessary good health. This program is offered by the Department of Children and Families.

Another program offered by the Department of Children and Families is called TANIF. This two parents or single mother government assistance program offers temporary financial assistance for needy families. Monetary funds are provided to qualified families. The parent or parents must meet all of the income and need criterion.

Grants and housing vouchers are also part of a government assistance program. The housing authority will house a single mom and her family for a fraction of the cost of basic apartment.

Food stamps are also provided. Over ten years ago food stamps came in the form of paper vouchers. Now single mothers use a card similar to a credit card to make all of her purchases. Each month, depending on a her situation and income, she is awarded a specific dollar amount of food stamps.

For medical assistance, there is Medicaid or various other healthy kid programs. Children can receive medical care at not cost if they qualify. Depending on the income, a small co-payment may be charged. Every state has similar rules and regulations that apply to single mother support programs. For more information on government assistance for single mothers, visit your local Department of Children and Families or see the site below for list of resources specifically to address individual needs.

Reflections of Suicide

Suicide is a somber topic, but one that needs to be addressed in these stressful times. The purpose of this article is to offer a new perspective on suicide to those of you who had been affected in some way by this unfortunate event.

I was raised Roman Catholic. At an early age we were taught that people who committed suicide "slapped God in the face" and resided in purgatory, a "half-way" house for souls. Those who committed suicide were not allowed to be buried in the Catholic cemetery. As students of St. Mary's Catholic School, we prayed everyday for those "lost souls," because if they received enough prayers, they could then be released from their limbo.

As an intuitive, I knew better. Throughout my Catholic upbringing, I fortunately had my guides clarifying information I received from the priests and the nuns almost as soon as they spoke--sometimes before. I also was blessed with an Aquarian mother, and we all know Aquarians beat to a different drummer and often question authority (in my Mom's case it was the Church). I knew of a life review instead of "God's judgment" long before I helped clients comprehend near death experiences.

Years ago I was in Chicago speaking on the topic of color, and as I normally do, I pick a few people from the crowd and answer questions. If a loved one has passed and is with them in spirit, I will offer a message. There was a young woman with a brother "on the other side." He was very adamant about giving her a message so he caught my eye; I pointed her out and asked if she did indeed have a brother on the other side? Her face turned ashen and tears began. (I was also a little perturbed at the brother for not warning me of the impending emotional outburst.)

The young woman was raised Catholic, and her brother had committed suicide. She had felt for years that he was either in hell or trapped in purgatory. The shock of having him by her side and my telling her he was happy was a bit hard for her to take. Her paradigm was shifted, and the reality of a loving, compassionate God took its place. Likewise, it opened an hour-long discussion on suicide and the repercussions of taking one's own life.

I help clients understand suicide by explaining my standpoint as a former university professor. Think of your life lessons, or contract, in this classroom called "earth" in terms of an "academic load" at a college of your choice.

When my older son recently went through college freshman orientation, these wonderful young adults, chatting away, eager to sign up for courses reminded me of my years spent as an academic advisor. During that time, I had many students sitting in front of me trying to convince me that they can handle 21 credit hours in one semester! Then they would shift to 18 credit hours--and STILL get a "no" from me. When starting out, they are eager and can rationalize the hours and the workload (and try to second-guess the professors), but it catches up with them after about six weeks and BOOM!--there is a crash. "Eager" is the key word here. Suicide victims are on overload. Suicides take on too many credit hours and become overwhelmed. It is an overload of life lessons, ending with a crash. They feel the only way out is to end their pain through death. Of course, there are complications to the act of suicide, but it is really about learning and teaching life lessons.

There are those that are in despair and cry for help. When they die, they go through the same death process as any other soul. They are around us for a while after they have transitioned. They understand and learn from the pain created by their act. They understand what they taught during their life on this earth and what they taught through their exit. They process the emotions left behind. Yes, they attend their own funeral, like all souls that pass, and are aware of any grief they have caused. They also know the lessons they have facilitated due to their living, as well as their passing.

How we exit is a choice in itself. It is our own free will. The lessons taught to others by our choice of exits are as purposeful and powerful as the way we choose to live our life. The keyword here is "choice."

There are those that maliciously choose to end their life in order to instill guilt and pain upon others. They, too, have their life and death review and their own lessons to process. It is not for us to judge them in human terms. Perhaps you contracted to learn forgiveness or learn about the human emotion of guilt, and they were facilitating that lesson. Again, the lesson is about letting go of the pain, the guilt, the anguish, because that is the answer to, "Why did they do it?" For all of us to learn something, it may take a "God Minute" to understand the reasons, but eventually we will comprehend the meaning.

Some suicides are actually accidental. Many years ago, someone on the other side communicated to me that he wanted to contact his grieving mother. He referred to his death as an "accidental suicide" because he knew better than to leave his van running, but thought he could stay warm a little while longer. He fell asleep and died. Many of us can make sense of an accident, but not suicide. In the end, it is all a matter of choice.

Assisted suicide is a cultural taboo. We humans cannot assist someone in their death. Even the medical profession can attempt to take away the pain, but not invite death. We can offer support and comfort through prayer, thereby giving the dying energy to use however they choose. Many linger because of fear. In many cases, the pain can be karmic for those involved, but does not make it easier to experience or witness. Many feel it is OK to help a loved one transition when they are in physical pain, however, spiritual or psychological pain are not viewed under the same criteria.

Understanding the nature of free will choice and understanding that we have several "exit points" throughout our lives can also help us cope with suicide. We blame ourselves for not being there, being too busy, not "seeing the signs," etc. Understand that they are no longer in emotional, physical, or spiritual pain, and it is up to us to understand how their actions relate to our life lessons.

Years ago, I recall meeting a couple that had done absolutely everything for their only son. They paid for counseling and placed him in a facility to help him. They did all they could do financially until finally they did not have any more money to spend. He finally succeeded in shooting himself. They berated themselves by statements such as, "if we had only mortgaged our home" or "if we had sold everything, we could have gotten him more help. Essentially, they had done everything, but they could not accept the outcome. To add to their grief, their only daughter left the family to join the Carmelite Order, which had a strict vow of silence and solitude. Yes, in a sense, they lost another child. By being so caught up in their grief years after their losses, little had been learned by all involved. Their losses were compounded by the belief that their son was in limbo and their daughter was giving her life in the form of prayer to help him.

I feel that some of my clients have committed suicide in a previous lifetime and are back this time to finish their life lessons. Not only is it about suicides making to the other side, they generally come right back down to earth to continue their lessons after some "soul counseling" and "course adjustment." Some are even hesitant to be here again after making the eager decision to come back. Often, you can recognize these reluctant souls as they seem to carry an energy about them that says, "I don't want to be here."

As a medical intuitive, I can see a person's energy pulled to the right side of the body. Also, some physical signs, such as feet turned inward (pigeon-toed) can indicate reluctance about being on this earth. This is good to know, particularly if you are blaming yourself for someone else who is not "engaged" in his or her life. That doesn't mean that you should walk up to every pigeon-toed person you see and tell them they are a reincarnated suicide! Again, every situation is unique.

Those that contemplate suicide may find that just in waiting 24 hours brings a shift in energy, perspective, and circumstances. I have also found that understanding the metaphysical arena can be of great comfort. I myself was very depressed two years ago. My significant other encouraged me to talk to an astrologer friend of his. She did save my life, corny as it sounds. She gave me hope and explained that I was coming out of a twenty-year cycle, which would be up in May of 2009. According to her prediction, my life will be nothing but what I have foreseen, but lost sight of at the time: success, love, and joy, joy, joy! She was absolutely right.

Did things get better immediately? No. but I knew everyday was a little brighter, and one day less of the cycle I had been in. Therefore, if you are in a "funk" right now, examine your year vibration, or talk with an astrologer to understand what is happening. Look at the spiritual and metaphysical support you have, and you will get the answers you seek. The key is, you have to ask, whether it is this side of the veil or the other. Ask, and the answers will be there--guidance and help are only a thought away!

Elderly Parents in Need of a New Living Situation

Are you concerned about their your parents personal safety? Have they been doing pretty well, but are now needing some extra care? Do your parents skip meals once and awhile and are not getting proper nutrition? At some point in time we all reach a place where we need help. With elderly parents there is always a worry about them eating properly, falling or living in a house that is in desperate need of repairs. Changing their living conditions may fall on you, so get your research done so you can make a good case for their change.

If your parents are simply no longer able to take good care of themselves, someone needs to make a new plan for their living conditions. Whether you have one elderly parent living alone, or both parents who are struggling, their safety is paramount. The process of losing their sight, becoming forgetful, or even depressed can happen slowly and may or may not be noticed for what it is, by your parent.

The first step is to find an alternative living situation. Most elderly people prefer to live in the same vicinity they have been living in, so that is the first place to look. If they live in a rural area, or a facility is not available look for something that is close to one of their children. You obviously want the nicest place you can find for your parent, that they can afford, and if there are several available you will need to check each one out carefully. Depending on the situation, you may be looking at a retirement apartment, which is quite independent, or assisted living which involves more care. Make a list of things you need to know and make an appointment to visit with the administrator of each establishment. Not all places are going to be alike and not all are going to be well kept up. Come early for your appointment and sit in a public area where other residents may gather. Ask them how they like living there, and why.

Add these comments to your notes for each place you visit. If your parents know anyone living there, visit with them and ask them if you can give their phone number to your parents, should they want to call them regarding how they like the change in their living situation. Make sure you take brochures and if there is not an apartment available, if you think this is a good candidate, add your parents name to the waiting list. Do not wait to discuss this with your parents. If an apartment becomes available and you are called, you don't need to take it, if you parents are not ready to move. However make sure you understand what happens if they don't move in. Ask if their names get bumped to the bottom of the list or if they simply get moved down one spot. Also make sure that you are clear on what services are available with the cost of the apartment and what are additional costs. Tour the complex and one of the rooms or apartments. Know if they have additional care available should the need arise. Some apartments are attached to assisted living places, and some of those may be associated with a nearby nursing home.

After you have acquired the information, compare each place. Narrow it down to your first, second and third choice. Organize your comparisons and prepare good reasons for moving, to what you consider, to be the best place.

Rick Management Certification - The Path to an Exciting and Emerging Field

Attaining a risk management certification is an exciting way to launch a new career. The risk management field is experiencing incredible growth, and has become a required area of expertise for high-functioning companies. Receiving a this type of certification can lead to an increased rate of pay and promotion, and a heightened feeling of prestige. It also allows a certified individual to undertake new challenges in high-paying and rewarding industries such as bank finance and strategy consulting.

A risk management certification can be achieved through a number of educational institutions and in a number of different formats. The process includes courses, training, and in-the-field experience. The amount of time required to achieve a risk management certification depends on the chosen institution and the time constraints of the student. The process can cost as little as $300 or as much as a full college degree. Examples of risk certifications are the CRCMP and the CISRCP.

Achieving a risk management certification is a worthwhile endeavor, and can open the door to many new opportunities. It is a professional designation that demonstrates the acquisition of unique skills and can improve the individuals competitiveness in both the internal and external job market. This type of designation can also be used to aid a professional association or charity in analyzing strategy, projects, or fund-raising efforts. Following the recent setbacks in the economy the need for insightful risk analysis has increased, and has spawned new government legislation demanding it. This changing regulation is pervasive across a number of industries and provides an opportunity for motivated individuals with a zeal for risk analysis to become vital players in the new economy. Since the financial crisis in 2008 and the ensuring recession, the need for understanding and controlling risk has been forced to the forefront of business management. During the crisis many firms failed to recognize how compartmentalized risk can interact and form together to create massive consequences. A certified risk professional would have implemented various tools and techniques to prevent firms, and ultimately entire industry sectors, from being overly exposed to structural risk.

A risk management certification provides the individual with the educational and practical foundation required to conduct in-depth risk analysis. This analysis includes interpreting a standard risk template and aiding the management team in developing a company risk policy. This certification also provides more tactical skills such as conducting assessments, developing event responses, and implementing response action plans.

The three most common types of risk management that certified individuals are asked to address are operational, financial, and credit. These fields are constantly expanding and updating, and a certified individual is exposed to these exciting and dynamic changes. By undertaking this designation and all the required educational requirements, the individual can effectively network with risk professionals and associations. This 'inside' connection and communication will aid the newly certified individual in not only recognizing new changes in the risk analysis field, but play an integral role in its development and progress. By supporting a certified risk specialist, an organization can not only demonstrate commitment to their organizational risk philosophy but also maintain a link to an advancing science.

A risk management certification helps the individual fully embrace the role of a risk administrator and develop into an irreplaceable member of the management team. An effective and actionable risk policy allows the senior management of a company to be more confident in their forecasting, estimating and decision-making. Eliminating unforeseen events in their entirety is an act of magic and simply unachievable, but a certified manager can effectively reduce the prospect of these events while also properly preparing the company should these events occur.

Ten Ways to Work With Stubborn Parents

Sitting hunched over in his recliner chair, wearing oxygen tubes in his nose, John declared that he and his 89 yr old wife were just fine and they could take care of themselves, thank you very much. He was a real curmudgeon, although I expected that behind the facade of a grumpy old man, was a very nice person who was just scared to death and mad as hell at being old and sick.

One of the first questions I asked was, did they have children,and if so, where were they and would they help with the move to Assisted Living? They both replied, almost in unison, that their kids were not interested in helping in any way whatsoever. That shocked and saddened me, if that were really true. However, being in the Senior Move Management business, I have learned that there are two sides to every story.

Dynamics in families are often, if not always complicated. Elder parents, while seeming frail and helpless and also quite sweet and cuddly, can be altogether different when they are with their kids. While I see a good proportion of disinterested adult children, what I mostly see is families torn apart by denial, anger and a lot of hurt feelings. Parents know where all of their kids button are, and, as they get older, like to push them more often. Sometimes, for seniors, its just plain fun to be in the middle of family drama! Sometimes they are in denial that they need help or have some dementia. Sometimes, it is because there are unresolved hurts and resentments that suddenly surface in this new crisis.

In this particular case, the kids were actually very nice people and very concerned. The problem was that Dad was very stubborn and combative and wanted to remain in control. Mom, also very frail and ill, was very passive and just let her husband have his way to avoid being yelled at- even though he yelled at her anyway. The kids were afraid of him too. Every time they offered help, they had been rebuked, often with harsh words of criticism. So the kids,frustrated at every turn, backed off and waited until it was almost too late and their help would be unavoidable.

So,knowing all of this and seeing it often, here's some insight into the problem that I hope will help you Boomer Kids feel better.

1. Understand your parents point of view. They have lost control of their lives. They really feel uncomfortable with the role reversal - you becoming the protective parent, they the helpless children. Ask them what a solution would look like to them rather than telling them what you think they should do. That often changes the dialog to positive and puts the responsibility back on them. Remember, that's what they want!

2. They have few options left and the one thing they can still do is say NO - just because they can and often even before you've finished asking the question! When they do this, say, OK, well, I'm worried about you. How can I help?

3. Even if they seem totally lucid, there may be some dementia involved -perhaps not enough to get conservancy but still enough to slow down any process that needs doing. Frustrated kids tell me that Mom or Dad can muster up enough lucidity to fool their doctor only to become completely confused again in the parking lot! Murphpy's Law. Consider not sharing every bit of information with them and possibly giving out information on a "need to know" basis. Seniors listen through a different filter and may be sent into an emotional tailspin over something seemingly trivial. Don't feel bad about your little omissions. Your goal is to keep them safe, in spite of themselves.

4. Don't let one stubborn parent refuse help to the detriment of the other parent. Sometimes it is the caregiver spouse, in seeming good health, who suddenly dies while caring for the other spouse. Sometimes they just don't want to face the truth. Appeal to the stubborn person's "love" of their partner. If that doesn't work, feel confident that safety comes first and do what you have to do, despite their objections. You may have to ignore the rants of one parent to protect the other. Be prepared to be strong in this regard.

5. It is OK for you to feel uncomfortable in your new reversed role as parent to your parent. No other generation has ever been faced with this problem on this magnitude. You are inventing a new business model for taking care of Seniors in the 21st century. Your own kids will bless you for this and will know how to take care of you!

6. It is OK to also feel sad at losing your childhood home when your parents move into smaller digs. It's a rite of passage for you too. Don't underestimate the importance of that.

7. Don't take their mean words personally. Try to remember that a lot of what your parents might say to you is flavored by fear as well as some dementia. You always hurt the ones you love. They feel safe with you in speaking their minds. Be flattered, not hurt.

8. Know that there are professionals, such as Senior Move Managers, who deal with seniors on a regular basis and truly understand your point of view. They can be a great source, not only of information but also comfort. They understand. They have seen it many times before and you are not alone.

9. If you are struggling with family secrets or unresolved issues that are just surfacing now - childhood abuse, neglect, etc., don't be afraid to get professional help to sort those feelings out. It may be too late for you to clear the air with your parents but you deserve to put that all finally at rest and move on with your lives too.

10. Know that your parents didn't come with an instruction manual, no more than you did. Do your best, with love and compassion and a clear conscience.

Remembering Our Legends

As I sat on the edge of my chair at the Huemann Bookstore in Harlem, peering into the eyes of film legend Melvin Van Peebles, it was hard for me to fathom the lack of promotional fanfare. I could not understand why Mr. Peebles, as so many other legends, are infrequently receiving the accolades for breaking into Hollywood, theater and or music. Mr.Peebles sat in the bookstore without major paparozzi, and spoke to me and several other reporters, producers and scholars, as well as aspiring writers and children, on the systematic approaches he needed to break into Hollywood. Amidst the systemic racism, stereotypical roles, and lack of technical assets Mr. Peebles moved to Europe and eloquently informs of his causasian comrades that have assisted him along the way. Mr. Peebles spoke of the power of unity in the community prior to integration, and how not having come from a culture that promotes unity, for individualism is an American tradition and that we as a people were critically effected by racism. He explained the lack of cohesiveness. He spoke of being able to use the passport to avoid the radical, and powerful tools corporate America uses to stagnate your growth. It was a learned experience and I am prompted to have you, the reader, research all that you can on the life and works of this genius. I use Melvin Peebles as an example of great African-Americans that are pioneers in the film industry, and whose art and style set the trends for action packed movies. His association with Stax records led to the making of some of the greatest soundtracks of the 1960's and '70s.

Melvin Van Peebles confirms African Americans have set the cultural standard of music. He says that with film the larger movie houses continue to utilize Black recording artists to sell their movies. As he said, now a days, movies are just long soundtracks. Sometimes people go to a movie because of the sound track.

The legacy of Melvin Van peebles, filmmaker, writer, pioneer, is like the instruction manual for independent filmmakers. I am urged to advise all artists, music lovers, writers and filmmakers to study his works, his films, and to learn from the hardship and success stories.

Being a lover of film and music it was not very hard to choose both genre's as my column's topic. It is vital for us to continue to observe, praise and document the many contributions Blacks continue to make in this country and the world.

All things new are old:

As of late, many corporations, media houses, and universities, are attempting to document the contributions that have been made in hiphop. Although there have been many great innovative artists that have been promoted in the mainstream, there still is a decade of artists that go almost unnoticed. I remember when lawyers, librarians, record labels and mass media thought disco would be the music that would be forever. I observed the music scene at a very early age. My father's cousin, Fats Lewis and Bobby Robinson owned Fury and Enjoy records. In the early sixties Gladys Knight and Pips graced their label. Later in the mid seventies Bobby promoted rappers. I was influenced by music from that era but it was my Grandmother, who sang gospel everyday, that exposed me to music. My uncle Al Eford wanted a club and he decided to take on the task of running a club, which became 22 West 135th Sstreet. So of course the family worked there, and I sold tickets for any party my mother and aunts gave. From promoting 22 West and going to parties at Harlem World, Harlem Prep and the Celebrity Club and Renaissance Ballroom I met a lot of Djs. My experience with living in Manhattan and the Bronx, partying in the centers, parks, fire escapes, roofs, led to my love of aerial views and prompted me to get into video at an early age. I still wrote poems and news articles on a freelance basis with the Amsterdam News and other small tabloids when I got older. I still, however, loved music and thus learned how to produce my own songs and worked with young producers like Strafe, Toney Woods (New Jack Swing/Teddy Riley's producer) Donald D, Pumpkin King of the Beats (PBUH) and Paris Ford (7 Minutes of funk) Michael B and Richie Weeks (Weeks and co). Then later Barry B (Get Fresh Crew). I learned to respect the innovators who also had been influenced by the legends of rap and r&B and of course funk.

Although music was a passion, I rarely witnessed women on tv being promoted or promoting rap on a positive level, or even allowing new rappers to speak to the public and see a more intelligent side. I observed that women on tv were promoted as hookers or emasculate. So I decided to get into tv production and public access was a vehicle.

Moments in Hiphop are vignettes of the talk shows that I hosted/produced. It shows a side of many artists who may have set trends and who have had an opportunity to influence the sculpture of the ever evolving hip-hop culture.

We as producers, artists, poets, actors, filmmakers, writers, painters, dancers, djs, are the creative force that shape the world. We are the true innovators and it is only genius when we learn from history how to identify the new to preserve our HISTORIES...

We must be the authors of the dictionaries that define our works. All too often creative individuals do not receive the proper acknowledgments for their contributions, because somewhere in this generation, someone decided that when you are too old you are not important. Remember it was the elders that gives the knowledge to the young who are to manifest what is learned. It is up to us to tell Our story. When DJ Yoda spoke of a plan to preserve the hiphop culture with pioneers in the industry, I referred him to the necessary grant writing agency that could do the job in raising funds for his tasks.

History tells me that it is important because it can repeat itself. As the scholar Professor James wrote in his expose' Stolen Legacy, "if it remains to be seen if we are beyond typical historical responses to challenging ideas and if we only had original documentation. We must keep in mind the burning of the Egyptian and Ethiopian Libraries, the sacking of Timbuktu, the Inquisition and the many book burnings in history".

Legends of film, like Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks,and all the masters of Rock, Soul, Jazz and the true pioneers of Rap like Kool Herc, Afrikaa Bambatta, Grand Wizard Theordore, Jazzy Jay, Pete DJ Jones, Pebblee Poo, Cold Crush Brothers, Crash Crew, Mike and Dave, Eddie Chebe and Reggie Wells, Mr. Magic, Frankie Crocker, Eddie Ojay, and that bum DJ Red Alert, and so many others that would run off this page, must be remembered, documented and preserved.

Protect Assets From Nursing Homes - Medicaid Asset Protection

Question 1: How much do nursing homes cost?

Based on recent studies, the average stay is around two years. The costs about $80,000-144,000 per year depending on the state with which you reside. The states with higher costs of living tend to have more expensive care, but even within each state there is a range depending on the quality of facility.

Question 2: Will Medicare pay for the costs?

Medicare does not pay any nursing home expenses. Medicare in care coverage is available, but the only time Medicare will remit a payment is if the individual is placed in a skilled nursing facility.

Question 3: Medicaid application: What government program will pay for the costs?

When applying for Medicaid you must understand that if you have sufficient assets to pay for nursing home care yourself, no government agency or program will pay for your expenses. Medicaid is a government program that will pay for most of the expenses if you have already spent your money and have run out. If you are a veteran, you may get additional benefits that will help with the expenses.

Question 4: How to apply for Medicaid: How can I avoid being impoverished due to the high costs of elderly care?

This will largely depend on your marital status as well as your planning prior to entering a nursing home. Another determining factor is whether you are already in a nursing home or anticipate a long stay. Unless you are facing a lengthy stay, it is recommended you do not give away your assets. Giving away or gifting your assets will likely cause you to be denied Medicaid coverage. If you were to gift or divest your assets to your children within 5 years of entering a nursing home and you apply for Medicaid online or off, you will be denied coverage until the money is returned. The real problem comes in when the children spend the money and do not have it to give back in a situation like this one.

One way to reduce the cost of nursing home care is to live in a state where nursing home care is less expensive. For instance, in Texas, Medicaid nursing home care costs are less than in New York. Yet another example would be in Florida, Medicaid nursing home care costs are less than in California.

Question 5: If my spouse is going into a nursing home, can their assets be transferred to me and then qualify for Medicaid?

This will probably not happen. All non-exempt assets owned by the couple are added together to determine your eligibility for Medicaid. The spouse that is going into the nursing home is disqualified from receiving Medicaid until the individual spouses' assets total $2,000 or less. The other spouse can retain their non-excludible assets to a maximum of around $100,000 (it changes annually). States have different laws pertaining to Medicaid eligibility. It is best to check with your state to learn what the qualifying factors are.

Some assets are exempt and others are not. You have one opportunity at submitting an application form to Medicaid. Do not submit it until it has been reviewed by an expert - it could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

States typically offer online forms that you may download and print, however no states allow you to currently apply for Medicaid online.

Question 6: Medicaid income eligibility requirements: How much income can I make and still qualify for Medicaid?

The requirement is that you are over the age of 64 years and earn less than $1,700 a month. It is possible to qualify if you earn more than this amount, depending on the cost of the nursing home. The spouse of the individual receiving Medicaid benefits is allowed up to $2,300 of income per month. These figures change annually, so be sure to stay up to date on what the actual qualification requirements are.

Hiring Boilers for Care Homes and Nursing Homes

To ensure these temperatures are kept up, it is essential that the fixed boiler in each home is reliable and regularly serviced. But the reality is that so many of these boilers are old and often defective, particularly boilers that have been in place for decades in a mature property. This means that a drop in room and water temperature (or no hot water or heat at all due to a complete boiler breakdown) is something numerous homes experience each year. For residents and patients, this can be a potentially fatal situation.

The good news is that hiring boilers from a specialist boiler rental company is quick and easy to do. And it is not only in the event of a boiler failure that specialists can help...

Supplementing an existing hot water supply

During a particularly cold spell when a hot water and heating supply at a care home or nursing home can prove insufficient, the option to hire additional boilers (to supplement a fixed boiler that is probably running over and above capacity) can prove invaluable. 100kW to 550kW mobile boilers (and multiples thereof) are most commonly supplied. They can also be coupled together to meet higher requirements.

Heater hire will also be available

As well as mobile boilers, portable heaters can be rented from most boiler hire specialists, to boost the existing heating provision, and also where a catastrophic boiler failure occurs at a home. In such situations, small rented heaters (e.g., oil-filled radiators, 3kW DE-25 units...) are usually best as they have simple controls, are safe and unobtrusive, and are easily powered.

About specialist boiler rental companies

Specialist boiler rental companies recognise the importance of sufficient hot water and heating provision at care homes and nursing homes in winter, and so will do their utmost to provide a stop-gap boiler solution until a fixed on-site boiler is repaired and operating fully again.

At their depots located nationwide, boiler rental specialists will have a wide range of portable boilers in stock, and will know which hireable boilers are best for a care home or nursing home environment.

So many benefits to hiring boilers

As well as being the ideal emergency back-up option, hired portable boilers are energy efficient, and can be:

- Rented on a short contract basis

- Used immediately (for both dual circuit hot water and heat)

- Run on diesel or mains gas (with gas being the much cheaper option)

- Rented during planned servicing or maintenance work to a fixed boiler at a home

- Added to an existing boiler solution when a boosted hot water (and heating) supply is required

- The perfect stop-gap between the removal of a fixed boiler system at a care home or nursing home, and the installation of a new one

What is more, managers at care homes and nursing homes can enjoy peace of mind by safeguarding themselves against the consequences of a boiler failure in winter. When formulating a contingency plan with a boiler hire specialist (during the autumn months), a site survey can be performed by the specialist who will consider crucial factors, such as:

- Their fastest possible response time in the event of an emergency call-out

- Building access (and available space there)

- Best positioning on site (noise and diesel fumes can be a factor, so a boiler rental expert will always look to position mobile boiler units away from any open windows)

- Available power supply (and if connections to the main boiler system are readily available as an emergency connection point can be installed at a home in readiness for a boiler crisis.)

- Budget

With all this information clearly logged (and quickly accessible), the boiler hire specialist team will be fully prepared and primed to respond immediately to an emergency call-out to a care home or nursing home, should 'the unthinkable' suddenly occur.

Calculate Funds With The Help Of The ACFI Calculator And Allocate Money Correctly

ACFI is referred to as the Aged Care Funding Instrument and this is usually provided to the facilities that have met the requirements with regard to receiving finances. Men and women nowadays no longer worry about the welfare of their precious elderly when they place them in a nursing home because they are well aware that they will be able to acquire their requirements thanks to the additional funding provided for these facilities. Nursing homes will not have any difficulties when it comes to obtaining the equipment they need to help the seniors. They will also have enough money to maintain their facilities. However, they also need to use an ACFI calculator in order to calculate a resident's rate.

They can save time when they are calculating everything and they will no longer have to face the excessive paperwork. It will be easy for them to determine the exact amount they need to spend for each client, thanks to this calculator. However, you need to remember that you should not only choose the nearest establishment that can provide your elderly with the help and equipment they require. You should also make certain that they can allocate the appropriate funds for every individual so that they will be provided with what they really deserve. This is possible when you choose one that has acquired the ACFI. Nursing homes that have obtained this will have an easy time especially when they are planning on upgrading their equipment and fixing their facilities as a means of relieving pain and discomfort felt by the retired men and women.

Even if you want to provide for them in the comfort of your own home, you will be unable to accomplish this especially if you do not have the right equipment and the qualifications to look after them. Aside from that, you will not be able to guarantee if you will have the time to cater to their needs every day. You will need to leave your home and proceed to your own job. You cannot avoid it if an accident were to occur to your retired relative because they had no one to look after them and are no longer capable of looking after themselves. This can be avoided when you place them in the appropriate facility that can cater to their every need.

Leave them in the hands of these facilities and professionals who have enough ACFI funding. You will be assured that they will feel happier and safer there because they have the right professionals handling the job.

Non-Sale Job Training For Social Butterflies

You probably know the standard fare of sales, marketing or customer service, but if you're looking for training that'll get you working with the public and use your social talents without needing you to push a product, there's more out there to explore. Many booming sectors and categories need people who excel at interpersonal relations. It would be impossible to cover everything, but there are lots to look into, from real estate support careers to healthcare diploma programs.

Real Estate and Housing

You probably know about the role of the real estate agent in the sale of a house, but selling a property is not the only people focused job. Skilled trades related to maintaining a home, as well as being ideal for those who don't want to spend their careers behind a desk, also mean daily interactions with all sorts of other people. That is true whether you're handling a plumbing emergency in the middle of the night or working to put in new electrical wiring with an interior designer. And careers don't stop there, with insurance and home inspection programs preparing you for the day to day work assuring home owners of their ongoing safety. You'll meet all sorts of people as you visit their residences and consult on the strength and sturdiness of their repairs and renovations.

Healthcare

A nurturing personality compliments great patience and enjoyment with working with the public, if you choose to train for a career in healthcare. From nursing aid to medical office assistant, you'll be helping people heal. Not everyone you deal with will be at their best, so if you have a knack for never taking things personally and can always bring a kind word to say about everyone, you could consider looking into healthcare diploma programs.

Office Administrator

Another field that requires constant communication is office administration. As the clerical scaffold that keeps company functioning, much of your job will be forging interdepartmental links. To do this, you'll be constantly helping people connect, taking the minutes at meeting to streamline them, working with executives to transmit their vision inside and outside the company and many more activities. Even comparatively less social activities like filing and achieves will demand patience with people, as you will become the gatekeeper of information. In addition to the material you cover in your office administration programs you will draw upon your easy going attitude and dynamic presentation to help grow your career.

Regardless of what you pick, as a people person and an extravert, you can be confident that once you finish your studies, the interview will be a snap and you'll be employed in no time.

Grandparent Rights to See Grandchildren: Solidarity Truly Is Power

If you've found yourself in the position of questioning your grandparent rights to see grandchildren, you're going to need all the help you can get. If you're very lucky, there's an amicable divorce and you have a child willing to make your visitation rights part of the divorce decree. If you're very unlucky, the parents never married and you are the paternal grandparents.

Each year many thousands of grandparents and their grandchildren find themselves just much collateral damage in the war of spite, revenge, drugs and/or alcohol addiction, or simply the desire to wipe the slate clean and start a new "nest". Where before there was genuine goodwill or respectable civility for the sake of the children, now there is ugliness and disdain.

When a parent denies a grandparent rights to see grandchildren - where long-term familial bonding has taken root - the effects are nothing short of earth-shattering. Grandparent Alienation Syndrome has been proven to have emotionally crippling and long-term, devastating effects on grandchildren.

So what can be done?

One of the strongest advocates for grandparents rights to see grandchildren is the American Association of Retired Persons. This powerful lobby boasts more than 40 million members. With many millions of baby-boomers retiring in record numbers, no organization in the country speaks with more authority on matters of elder issues.

Following are some of the ways this wise & powerful coalition makes a difference:

• Advocating for legal change. This is where the organization has proven itself over time. It has taken the lead in getting laws at the state level, favoring grandparent rights to see grandchildren.


• Strengthening social change for older Americans. The association advocates on matters pertaining to Social Security, access to affordable and reliable health care and laws protecting the aged in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.


• Voter education. The group provides information to voters about how politicians are voting, as well as positions taken on various issues. They are a marvelous resource for determining where your state and federal politicians stand on issues like grandparents rights to see grandchildren.

Granted, joining a lobby group isn't the most glamorous of ideas. When a grandparent is in the throes of hopelessness and despair over lost grandchildren, this kind of advice is seems sterile and cold. Get involved anyway. Keep your mind busy. Make a difference. There are others out there who feel as you do. You can chat with them in online forums, or start a grandparent rights to see grandchildren support group in your own hometown. Do something. Take action.

Because your grandchildren - and their legacy - matters.

The Importance of the Super Certified Nursing Assistant - The Front Line of Nursing

In consideration of the fragmented healthcare system in the United States and the co-existence of numerous health disparities and case of chronic illness, there has been a major focus on reducing healthcare costs. As part of doing so, the policies and procedures governing a healthcare organization becomes the number one priority. Healthcare personnel are the core in the achievement of the goal of a reduction in spending in healthcare. Because staff is the core in controlling costs, healthcare organizations must focus on the essential vs. non-essential as well as efficiency vs. inefficiency. There will be costs, but they should be essential and necessary for providing quality patient care. Consequently, when those costs are incurred, the care that takes place should be efficient. If the care is efficient, it will be based on professional standards of practice for all healthcare personnel.

One of the most essential healthcare positions is that of the certified nursing assistant. Although licensed nurses can perform the same duties, they are an adjunct to other roles and responsibilities combined which causes an entire level of care to become at risk or neglect: the fundamentals of nursing.

The fundamentals of nursing are the basic duties of the certified nursing assistant in the health care setting. They are based on activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, and ambulation. These are activities necessary for basic independence and survival. When a patient is admitted to a healthcare facility or to the services of a healthcare agency, these activities are strong indicators of recovery, function, and the ability to care for self. These essential activities are the decisive factors in determining a patient's level of care; factors that are critical in choosing placement. Thus, placement depends on whether or not a patient can be cared for by family or needs placement in a facility. Having staff designated to support these ongoing functions is the key to reducing healthcare costs; the higher the function level, the less dollars to be spent.

Therefore, the Super C.N.A., a well-trained, well-educated, and well-prepared nursing assistant, is crucial to any healthcare organization and most certainly a worthwhile investment.

Information About Nursing Home Abuse and What to Do

Aging is a natural part of life and is inevitable. When a person gets to the point that they cannot care for themselves they may need to be placed into a nursing home. Many will tell you that the nursing homes they have seen are nice and cozy. Unfortunately, that is not true for all nursing homes out there. Some homes are a place where your loved ones are enduring physical, mental or emotional, and sexual abuse.

Physical Abuse
It is natural for the body to become weak with years of aging. Unfortunately, this makes it all the more easier for a nursing home worker to physically abuse their patients. Many people do not realize that it can become quite difficult to handle taking care of an elderly person. While this does not justify abuse in a nursing home, it should be a question you want to address to your nursing home candidates to see whether or not they can handle your loved one. Examples of physical abuse include:

o Pushing- this is quite common because the patients tend to move slower due to their age. Workers can become impatient and push or shove their patients to get them to hurry up.

o Hitting or Shaking- it is not uncommon for a patient to get violent or act out, but that does not give the worker a right to retaliate. There have been instances where workers try to "teach the patient a lesson" by pinching, hitting, kicking, or shaking.

o Restraining- while restraining a hostile patient may be necessary, some workers over sedate or restrain a patient which is uncalled for.

o Neglect- some elderly workers get tired of running back and forth to a patients room, but that is a part of the job. When a worker neglects a patient and fails to change or bathe them in a timely manner, it can result in bed sores infections, and rashes.

Mental Or Emotional Abuse
Elderly people deserve the same amount of respect as any other individual. Belittling a patient who is reliant on your care is an abuse of power. It is inappropriate to exploit the patient's feelings of embarrassment to make yourself fell better. Unfortunately this happens all the time. Comments such as geezer, senile, lazy, fat, etc. are harmful to the patient's already fragile state.

Sexual Abuse
Unfortunately sexual abuse in nursing homes has happened. The inability of the patient to defend themselves leaves them vulnerable to this abuse. Forms of sexual abuse that have occurred in nursing homes include rape, assault, nudity, and sodomy.

Financial Abuse
Caretakers have been known to steal or threaten their patients to obtain money. They have also violated the law and forged a patient's signature to obtain their assets, property, and any other money available.

Assisted Living Facilities - Things to Consider Before Making a Decision

What indications are there that will determine the need to look for Assisted Living facilities?

- It is ideal for those who may require help with meal preparations, doing their housekeeping, showering, and remembering to take their medications.

- Not eating properly as my mother did by having pork 'n' beans or canned tomatoes over toast or soup.

- Falling frequently is another indication. When my mother fell in the bathroom, pulling the towel rod off the wall and hitting her shoulder on the tub, we knew we had to think of other options. She had had other falls but this was the worst. Bruising will be a tell-tale sign.

- When minimal housekeeping is not being done.

- Forgetting to take medications. This is usually a result of memory loss.

- Confusion and strange behavior. On one visit to my mother's place, she had a pot on the stove with the burner turned on beneath it. She said she was drying the pot. My mother was an extremely intelligent woman so this was definitely strange behavior for her.

- When isolation and loneliness become a factor and help is required, an Assisted Living facility becomes the ideal choice because they can receive the help they need but are still able to retain their independence.

What are some of the things to do when choosing this type of facility?

- Visit several in the area of your choice to get a feel for the place. Is it homey? Does it feel comfortable? Is it close to friends and family?

- Assess how the staff interacts with the residents. Do they take the time to talk to them or are they rushed? Are they warm and friendly?

- Is there enough staff, especially at busy times such as meals and when medications are given out.

- Speak to as many residents as possible to determine whether they are happy living there.

- Ask a lot of questions of both the residents and the staff to get as much information as possible before making a decision.

- Check to see if there have been any complaints about the facility.

- Ask to see certification inspection reports.

- Ask to see the Resident Agreement which outlines services, prices, staffing, extra charges and house rules. Do they charge extra for assistance with showers, toilet needs or giving medications? Determine what their obligation is as well as your own.

- Are there extra services available such as a manicurist, hairdresser or podiatrist?

- Is there a 24 hour response system in each unit?

- Is there a nurse available on staff 24 hours a day?

- Is there security on the doors?

- Are there handrails in the hallways and bathrooms, and are the hallways and elevators wide enough to allow for walkers and wheelchairs?

- Do they clean the rooms and do laundry? Is the facility, in general, clean and well maintained?

- Do they have cable and telephone hook-up in each unit and if so, is there an additional cost?

- Do they consider and accommodate dietary needs?

- Do they allow overnight guests and are residents allowed to keep their pets?

- What activities are available for the residents? Do they have regular bus trips?

- Eat a meal there to determine the quality of food and whether staff give assistance if necessary.

- Is there another level of care provided when more care is required than what is offered in the Assisted Living facility? My mother lived in a place that offered three levels of care.

- Try to determine by talking to residents what the staff turnover rate is.

There is a lot to consider when looking for an Assisted Living facility. It is a stressful change for elderly people. None of us like changes so it is important to make the best choice at the beginning before a move is made.