How to Claim for a Personal Injury

First and foremost this article tells you everything you need to know about how to claim for a personal injury. It is important to note that any claim must be made within three years of the injury date. However, in some cases, such as a car accident, the injury may not become apparent until after the accident. Should this be the case, you have three years from the diagnosis date to file a personal injury claim.

Starting the personal injury claim process

If you are considering making a personal injury claim, the first step in the process is to hire a personal injury solicitor. A solicitor will be able to discuss the specifics of your case, such as how much compensation they think it could yield and the likelihood of the claim being successful. This information will then allow you to make a more informed decision about whether or not to go ahead with your personal injury claim.

Solicitors vary in terms of both expertise and experience. Therefore, when choosing a personal injury solicitor for your case it is recommended that you search for somebody who has experience dealing with a similar case and has also spent considerable amounts of time dealing with court cases should it go that far.
Once you have had this initial meeting with a lawyer, they can then make a claim against the other party on your behalf. See below for the 5 main steps in the injury claim process:

1. Your lawyer makes a claim against the other side
2. The other side chooses to either accept or reject the claim
3. You submit all evidence to the other party's lawyer
4. If the other party agrees, the requested compensation amount is paid and the case is closed.
5. If the other party disagrees or fails to pay then the case goes to court and is settled by an independent person.

When making a claim be sure that you are fully aware of all legal fees that you may have to pay both if you win or lose. Some lawyers operate on a no-win-no-fee basis meaning that if your claim is unsuccessful then you don't have to pay for their services. However, you may be liable for the other side's legal fees so it is worth finding this out before deciding to make a claim. The last thing you want is to be left with a hefty legal bill that you cannot afford to pay.

Home Care Explained - Everything You Need to Know About Home Care

Homecare - Who needs it?

Everyone needs care at some point in their lives; from little babies to centenarians and everyone in between. Most of the time when we need care, our families and friends provide it. However some people require more care than family and friends are able to provide. Often in these instances the person requiring the care (care recipient) may be a new mother, have a disability, be frail aged, have a severe illness or a mental health issue. Depending on the needs of the person, particular home care supports will be put in place to assist them to live or manage at home. Many people who receive home care would need to live in a nursing home, hospital or institution if that support was not available. Other terms such as 'home health care' and 'domiciliary care' are often used interchangeably with home care - but can refer also to care provided by a health professional.

Homecare - What is it?

There is a wide range of services and supports that fall under the banner of home care. In short, the type of care provided is what the person is unable to do for themselves. Listed below are some of the main ones with a brief description:

• Personal Care - Refers to all care that addresses the personal hygiene of the care recipient. Personal care support can include; assistance to shower or bath, to dress, to use the toilet, to change continence aids, to shave, apply lotions and cosmetics, brush hair and brush teeth.
• Domestic Assistance - refers to all housekeeping and cleaning tasks. Services can include; cleaning the house, doing the dishes and laundry.
• Transportation- This can be driving the person to appointments and can also include accompanying them if required.
• Shopping- This can involve driving the person to the store and assisting them to do their own shopping, or the home care worker can do the shopping with a list.
• Respite- This type of support involves remaining with the care recipient while the usual carer has a break.
• Nursing Care- refers to the home care that needs to be provided by a registered nurse. Can include: medication monitoring, wound dressing, injections and nursing assessments.
• Case management - Case management involves a comprehensive assessment and the development of a care plan in conjunction with a case manager. Case management can be short or long term depending on the needs and requirements of the care recipient.
• Social Support - refers to services that focus of the social needs of the client. This type of service can include companionship, visiting and community access.

Homecare - Who pays?

Depending on the country you live in there may be government funded programs that assist in paying home care costs. Some health insurance can cover some of these costs - check with your insurer for more information.

There is also a wide variety of home care agencies that can provide you with a home care worker for a fee.

Homecare - Who provides it?

In most instances friends and family of the care recipient are able to provide them with home care. However in those cases where family and friends cannot do so, or where the care recipient prefers; a professional care giver will provide the care. Professional care givers can also be referred to as: support workers, carers, community workers, personal care aides and assistants and nursing assistants. The terminology will vary between countries. The level of skill and qualifications required for professional care work will also vary depending on country. It's best to check with your care provider to find out the minimum requirements in your area.

Alleviating Driving Concerns With Assisted Living

You may have heard the story about a 100 year old man who recently ran his car into 11 different people-9 of which were children. If you're like most of us, this news story prompted a lot of thoughts about how to determine when someone is too old to continue driving. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to something like this. Each individual ages a bit differently and someone unfit to drive at age 65 because of advanced Alzheimer's disease will definitely be in a different profile than a very sharp 85 year old.

If you have an elderly loved one that is starting to have difficulties driving, there are choices available that can help them. One of the most basic responses to this loss of independence is living in an assisted living facility. This might seem like an extreme response; why would you take away someone's freedom if you didn't absolutely need to? The answer to this question lies in the fact that assisted living is one of the most misunderstood aspects of senior care. Assisted living does not hinder someone's independence in the least, but rather enhances their daily lives.

So how does this relate back to the elderly driver problem? Well, in assisted living, transportation is generally provided for the individual. If they need to go to the store to get some supplies or they have a doctor's appointment, the facility that they live within will generally provide a ride for them. This instantly alleviates the problem of having to take away the keys from mom or dad. They won't need to drive because all of their rides will be provided for them.

Some senior citizens may balk at the prospect of residing within an assisted living facility. Luckily, this misconception goes away quickly. The majority of elderly adults find that they enjoy the camaraderie that is created within such a facility. It is a lot easier to meet and socialize with friends in this atmosphere. All of their needs are also provided for them. No longer is it necessary to spend hours cooking and preparing meals every day-these are all provided for you. Also, a lot of household chores are performed by the staff members within a facility. The responsibilities of living on your own disappear here and are replaced with a more relaxed and fun vibe. This is all accomplished within the safety net of 24 hour supervision by a trained staff-just in case an emergency were to arise.

If you have doubts about assisted living, it is important to get the facts before you move in. Find out if transportation is provided. Find out about access to activities. These things are offered by the most reputable homes, so make sure the homes you are looking for have them.

Nursing Home Abuse: Would You Know It When You See It?

Nursing home abuse and neglect can manifest in a number of different ways, some more easily identifiable than others. Physically, signs of abuse or neglect may be more easily recognizable, whereas signs of emotional or verbal abuse may be more than difficult to recognize, let alone identified in a timely manner. Therefore, it is important to have a solid understanding of what signs and symptoms are indicative of abuse and neglect among the elderly of some nursing home care facilities throughout the nation. Knowing what to be on the lookout for and how to act in response could make a world of difference for the elderly individuals suffering; sometimes, it could be the difference between life and death.

For anyone suffering from abuse, the act of making the mistreatment known can seem more than impossible, frightening even. For the elderly, these feelings are often multiplied greatly. Physically less capable than they once were, older individuals are not often able to successfully defend themselves against abusive behaviors of any nature - verbal, physical, sexual, or emotional. Instead, many elderly patients of nursing homes resort to confinement and withdrawal. It is not uncommon for these individuals to become depressed and hopeless, a mere specimen of the person they once used to be. This situation is unfortunate in more ways than one: Not only are the elderly persons suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally, but they are likely doing so alone, unknown to those around them.

Certain signs of abuse and/ or neglect may be abundantly visible, as some physical behaviors leave marks that cannot be hidden. If an elderly resident of a nursing home begins to don open wounds, cuts, bruises, etc. that cannot be seemingly explained for there is a good chance that they may be suffering from physical or sexual mistreatment; neglect may lead to physical manifestations of the problem as well. Therefore, keeping a vigilant eye out for any wounds, unexplained sores, and the like is the best way to ensure that physically abusive behaviors do not plague the aged residents of the care facility in which they live.

Aside from the obvious signs, there are much less subtle warning symptoms that should not be overlooked when attempting to detect abusive behaviors of any type. A sudden drop in weight, burns, poor hygiene, bloody clothing, and the like are almost surefire indications of abuse or neglect in some way or another. However, these signs are not symptomatic of other types of abuses such as emotional, verbal, and financial exploitations. Very often, older adults react to mistreatments of this nature by withdrawing from social activities, sometimes even retreating from their closest friends and family members. Warning signs that may be less obvious include: strange behaviors that are out of character, emotional withdrawal, listlessness, unresponsiveness, unusual financial transactions, and even a disappearance of personal items.

It is far too easy for an able-bodied person to take advantage of a less physically apt person, and this is often the impetus for many of the abuses that occur within nursing home facilities throughout the country. Very often, older individuals are less than willing to make known their abuses out of fear for what could happen. Therefore, it is up to the friends and family of nursing home residents to take swift action in their notice of the emotional behavior and physical appearance of their loved ones who may be in a nursing home facility. In this way, abusive and neglectful actions can be quickly identified and put to an end.

Maneuvering Skateboards Upside Down - Controlling the Hover Board of the Future

The engineers and designers are getting serious about building the skateboards of the future, but these will not be regular skateboards, we are talking hyper-maneuverable hover boards. In fact the Online Think Tank is now preparing a special report the Future of Skate Parks, Skateboards and Hover Boards of the Future. Indeed one of the most serious questions is safety.

How can we keep the hover board systems safe for the rider? How will we keep them from dumping their rider when maneuvering upside down asks one Technology Expert from Amherst University in Massachusetts?

Great Question and for your question of Hover Board stabilization, loops, rolls or upside down flight here are some thoughts; We keep the skateboard or hover board in "Positive 'G' Mode" all the time. Just like doing a barrel roll in an airplane, hang glider, parasail or helicopter. If you start with a high-speed steep bank and carry it all the way around you stay in the positive G sector.

In the special report from the Online Think Tank you will see two items in the report's reference section; # 2 and # 8. The board's on-board sensors will sense the weight distribution and adjust it for the rider. Consider the Segway methods or the young scientist who has the Motorcycle that competed in the DARPA Grand Challenge?

This technology is available now and will be further refined in the use of wheel chairs, artificially intelligent robotic android assisted living units and similar gyro systems are used throughout the space, aviation, marine industries. There are six axis communication antennas now used in many sectors. It is just a matter of size, weight, cost and Moore's Law. These sensors and systems will get so small that you can build a Mosquito size flying unit, and they are doing it now. This will help the stabilization system.

Most military fighters now have computerized flight control auto-pilot type systems for launching off an aircraft carrier to dampen the buffeting and to prevent over correction by the human pilot. Also there are system which prevent a pilot from departing from flight by making an impossible maneuver that the plane cannot do.

As the skateboarder puts in a command the board will move, but not allow the rider to be in jeopardy based on the level of play. You might be a beginner, but an advanced rider might turn that system off. Then someone will come along with magnetic boots to affix them for upside down flight without the use of "G-Force" stability techniques and that invention will add to the fun for the most advanced riders. The Skateboard/Hoverboard will merely become a platform "zoom-zoom" and it will have many uses besides just having fun.

The final stages of this technology in the future period will be a hoverboard controlled by thought, like the future HUD systems used in the Apache Attack Helicopters but the helmet used for skateboarding will be a very thin cap of carbon nano-tube material to protect the rider and read the neuron transmissions using an ultra-sound stereo system on an extremely low power setting between the cap and through the skull.

"Your wish is my command and control"

And this is how The Online Think Tank envisions all these integrated stability and control systems will work. And they believe it will work very well too. The question is are the young riders daring enough to go for it? Well, it appears that they are, at least all the ones we asked for the research project that is.

Elder Care & Elder Rage - Know the Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

For eleven years I begged my obstinate elderly father to allow a caregiver to help him with my ailing mother, but after 55 years of loving her--he adamantly insisted on taking care of her himself. Every agency and caregiver I hired to help him sighed in exasperation, "Jacqueline, we just can't work with your father--his temper is impossible to handle. I don't think you'll be able to get him to accept help until he's on his knees himself."

My father had always been 90 percent great, but boy-oh-boy that raging temper was a doozy. He'd never turned his temper on me before, but then again--I'd never gone against his wishes either. When my mother nearly died from an infection caused by his inability to care for her, I immediately flew home to try to save her life--having no idea that in the process it would nearly cost me my own.

EARLY SIGNS OF DEMENTIA?
I spent three months nursing my 82-pound mother back to relative health, while my father said he loved me one minute, but then get furious over some trivial thing, call me nasty names and throw me out of the house the next. I was stunned to see him get so upset, even running the washing machine could cause a tizzy, and there was no way to reason with him. It was so heart wrenching to have my once-adoring father turn against me.

The doctor evaluated my father, but I was flabbergasted he could act so normal when he needed to! I could not believe it when the doctor looked at me as if I was the crazy one. She didn't even take me seriously when I reported my father had nearly electrocuted my mother, but luckily I walked in three seconds before he plugged in a huge power strip soaking in a tub of water-along with my mother's feet! Much later I was furious to find out my father had instructed his doctor (and everyone) not to listen to anything I said because I was just a (bleep bleep) liar and all I wanted was his money! (I wish he had some.)

Then things got serious. My father never laid a hand on me my whole life, but one day nearly choked me to death for adding HBO to his television, even though he had eagerly consented to it a few days before. Terrified, I dialed 911 and the police took him to a hospital for evaluation. I was so shocked when they released him saying they couldn't find anything wrong with him. What is even more astonishing is that similar incidents occurred three more times.

CARE GIVING CATCH 22
I was trapped. I couldn't fly home and leave my mother alone with my father-she'd surely die from his inability to care for her. I couldn't get healthcare professionals to believe me-my father was always so sane in front of them. I couldn't get medication to calm him and even when I finally did-he refused to take it, threw it in my face or flushed it down the toilet. I couldn't get him to accept a caregiver and even when I did-no one would put up with him very long. I couldn't place my mother in a nursing home-he'd take her out. I couldn't put him in a home-he didn't qualify. They both refused Assisted Living-legally I couldn't force them. I became a prisoner in my parents' home for nearly a year trying to solve crisis after crisis, crying rivers daily, and infuriated with an unsympathetic medical system that wasn't helping me appropriately.

GERIATRIC DEMENTIA SPECIALIST MAKES RIGHT DIAGNOSIS
You don't need a doctorate degree to know something is wrong, but you do need the right doctor who can diagnose and treat dementia properly. Finally, I stumbled upon a neurologist specialized in dementia, and under threat of being put in a nursing home my father finally consented to go. The doctor performed a battery of blood, neurological, memory tests, and CT/P.E.T. scans. He reviewed my parents' medications and ruled out reversible dementias such as a B12 or thyroid deficiency. And then, you should have seen my face drop when he diagnosed Stage One Alzheimer's in both of my parents-something all their other doctors missed entirely.

TRAPPED IN OLD HABITS
What I'd been coping with was the beginning of Alzheimer's (just one type of dementia), which begins intermittently and appears to come and go. I didn't understand that my father was addicted and trapped in his own bad behavior of a lifetime and his habit of yelling to get his way was coming out over things that were illogical... at times. I also didn't understand that demented does not mean dumb (a concept not widely appreciated) and that he was still socially adjusted never to show "Hyde" to anyone outside the family. Even with the onset of dementia, it was amazing he could still be so manipulative and crafty. On the other hand, my mother was sweet and lovely like she'd always been.

BALANCING BRAIN CHEMISTRY
I learned that Alzheimer's makes up 60-65% of all dementias and there's no stopping the progression nor is there a cure. However, if identified early there are medications that in most people can mask/slow the symptoms of the disease, keeping a person in the early independent stage longer, delaying full-time supervision and nursing home care. (Ask a Dementia Specialist about: Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne and Namenda.)

After the neurologist treated the dementia and the depression (often present with dementia) in both parents, he prescribed a small dose of anti-aggression medication for my father which helped his temper without making him sleep all day. (I wish we'd had that fifty years ago.) It wasn't easy to get the dosages right and not perfect, but at least we didn't have any more police intervention! Once my parents' brain chemistry was better balanced, I was able to optimize nutrition, fluid intake, and all their medications with much less resistance.

CREATIVE BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES
Additionally, I was finally able to implement techniques to cope with the bizarre behaviors. Instead of logic and reason-I used distraction, redirection and reminiscence. Instead of arguing the facts-I agreed, validated frustrated feelings and lived in their realities. I learned to just "go with the flow" and let nasty comments roll off. And if none of that worked, a bribe of ice cream worked to get my father in the shower, even as he swore a blue streak he'd just taken one yesterday (over a week ago)!

Then finally, I was able to get my father to accept a caregiver (he'd only alienated 40 that year-most there for about ten minutes), and with the benefit of Adult Day Care five days a week for them and a support group for me, everything started to fall into place. It was so wonderful to hear my father say once again, "We love you so much, sweetheart."

ALZHEIMER'S / DEMENTIA OFTEN OVERLOOKED
What is so shocking is that no one ever discussed the possibility of dementia with me that first year. I was told my parents' "senior moments" and odd behaviors were just old age and a "normal part of aging". Since one out of eight by age 65, and nearly half by age 85, get Alzheimer's-I should have been alerted. Had I simply been shown the "Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's", I would have realized what was happening and gotten my parents the help they desperately needed. If any of this rings true for you or someone you love, I urge you to seek a Dementia Specialist-immediately!

Had I simply been shown the "Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's", I would have realized a year sooner what was happening to my parents and known how to get them to the right doctors to get the help they so desperately needed. If this rings true about you, or someone you love, I urge you to get help from a dementia specialist immediately.

TEN WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S
(Reprinted with permission of the Alzheimer's Association)
1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation of time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

Nursing Homes and Malnutrition

The number of senior citizens growing in America and thus the number of people entering nursing homes for constant and reliable care is becoming more prominent. A proper diet becomes essential to residents of nursing communities as the their health deteriorates and their mental cohesion decreases. Unfortunately, many times nursing homes can neglect the basic nutrition needs of their residents. This in turn causes hardship and strain on not only the seniors themselves, but also their families and loved ones.

Malnutrition can occur in many ways, the most obvious being that seniors are not be provided the amount of food needed to remain healthy. This problem occurs much too often in residents of nursing communities. Other forms of malnutrition include the neglecting of providing the proper vitamins needed for a strong immune system. The staff of the nursing home is responsible to attend to the needs of their patients and thus it is unlawful for them to disregard for the essential care of their residents

Fatigue, rashes and bruising, and weakness are symptoms of malnutrition. Vitamin deficiencies such as folic acid, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, and vitamins B12, C, D are commonly overlooked by nursing home staff. These deficiencies can lead to more serious health problems. Serious illness can lead to chronic ailments as well as serious lung and heart conditions that can lead to death.

Malnutrition is a serious health concern for seniors and it is the responsibility of care takers to address their needs. In the event of nursing homes neglecting the needs of their patients, there are many resources available.

Non-Profit Versus For-Profit Senior Care Jobs - The Pros and Cons

If you're interested in pursuing senior care jobs, one decision that you're going to have to make is whether to work for a non-profit or a for-profit organization. Many assisted living jobs fall within the non-profit sector; but just as many long term care jobs fall within a for-profit sector. Like anything else, there are definite pros and cons associated with either work environment. The best way to find the nursing home administrator jobs that are right for you is figuring out what the drawbacks and advantages of working for non-profits and for-profit organizations are - then zeroing in on one or the other. An overview of the pluses and minuses of each is outlined below.

Non-Profit Senior Care Jobs

There are many benefits associated with a nursing home job in the non-profit sector. Non-profit organizations tend to offer great benefits, especially if they've been around for a while. The waiting period for qualifying for those benefits tends to be shorter than it is within for-profit companies. The atmosphere at non-profit assisted living jobs tends to be laid back; if you like a less stressful environment and slower pace, this type of job may be right for you.

Of course, a non-profit nursing home job has its drawbacks. Salaries tend to be quite a bit lower than they are at for-profit organizations. The same RN job at a non-profit may bring in a salary that's 25% less than at a for-profit corporation. That being said, jobs for nurse practitioner within a non-profit usually offer great perks like topnotch benefits and plenty of paid vacation time. For many people, those perks offset the lower salary enough to make working an RN job at a non-profit worth it.

For-Profit Senior Care Jobs

One of the big pluses of working at a for-profit company is a higher salary. Most of the time, jobs for nurse practitioner at for-profit organizations come with significantly higher salaries than their non-profit counterparts.

There are many more opportunities to earn a competitive salary at a for-profit nursing home or assisted living facility, like a nursing home administrator jobs. While there are usually great health care benefits and other perks, you'll usually have a longer "probationary period" to wait through before you can start enjoying them. Finally, for-profit companies tend to have more regimented environments and atmospheres; procedures and protocol tend to be highly important. This is worth keeping in mind if you don't do well in such environments.

Another item worth noting is the overall intent of the organization and their philosophy toward elder care. Often this alone is a topic that can ignite passion in whomever you speak with. Some people feel that for-profits are always looking for ways to make more money and therefore cutting corners on the care that they provide their patients or residents. Other people feel that not-for-profits are frequently underfunded and thus never have enough staff for proper resident care. In reality, both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations still have to meet their bills and do their best to acquire appropriate funding. This means that the deciding factor on the overall philosophy of care is typically generated by Executive Management and not the tax-filing status of the organization.

Needless to say, some people will prefer the experience of working for a non-profit senior care facility; others will feel more comfortable in a for-profit environment. Consider both options then focus on the type of facility that is right for you.

How Do Assisted Living Programs Differ From Home Health Care

This article examines how assisted living programs differ from home health care as to costs and the types of services that are provided to the elderly. Just like the former, home health care is also provided for older people who are unable to perform certain activities that are necessary in daily living. They may need assistance in preparing their meals, taking a bath, cooking, dressing, or even toileting. An aide is made available and assists the retiree on the performance of these tasks. Regular visits by physical therapists and/or nurses may also be provided if their health requires it. All of these are done while the elderly person is at home. However, in assisted living programs, the retiree lives in a retirement living community.

An important difference between the two kinds of services is whether Medicare can be used. In general, Medicare cannot be used to cover for assisted living costs unless the resident is required to stay in a nursing or rehabilitation facility for a certain period of time. However, for some states, such as in RI and in Kansas, Medicaid can be utilized for a certain percentage of the costs. As for home health care, Medicare can cover certain types of expenses, such as the purchase of durable medical equipment including a wheelchair or walker, physical therapy, medical social services, some medical supplies, skilled nursing care and the services of home health aide.

It should be noted that the primary difference between home health care and assisted living programs is that the latter is designed for the elderly who need more supervision. Some people may think that those who live at home have more independence compared to those who are staying in a retirement community. However, some assisted living facilities offer accommodations that are not different from a regular home and sometimes they are even better because there is no neighbor playing the radio so loud. Moreover, some conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, require constant supervision and home health care is definitely not recommended for them.

While it may seem at first glance that home health care is cheaper than assisted living programs, the reverse is true. The latter kind of arrangement is less expensive and costs about half of the expenses required for home health care. Fortunately, Medicare can cover some of the costs in home health care and the elderly enjoys the benefit of remaining at home. Meanwhile, Medicare will not cover assisted living expenses but they are only half the cost of home health care. Moreover, Medicaid can take care of some of the costs in some states. There are many arguments that can be provided for having the advantage of staying at home. However, there are also several benefits for staying in a retirement community. For one, residents find it easier to socialize and interact with other people. Those who remain at home have less chances of socializing and run the risk of boredom and loneliness. Of course, the final choice will depend on the person and what he or she values most.

Things You Need to Know About Whiplash Injuries Before Making a Compensation Claim

If you've been involved in a road traffic accident - especially if your vehicle was struck from behind - there's a chance you may have suffered painful injuries to the soft tissue in your neck as a result of being suddenly jolted forward. Since the movement is similar to that of a cracking whip, it's come to be known as whiplash, and it can be painfully debilitating.

People suffering from severe whiplash can be in enough pain to miss work, which can lead to financial problems due to lost wages. This can lead to disastrous results in the current economy, and if you've been involved in a rear-end shunt through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to personal injury compensation from the other driver's insurance company, which will offset any missed work.

Before you start running Google searches for personal injury lawyers in your area, you need to know a few things about the process. A whiplash diagnosis can be tricky, so you'll need to be examined by a doctor that is a whiplash injury specialist and has a familiarity with the legal claims process in order to support your claim.

More important is selecting legal representation with care to ensure your claim will be successful. If you've been out of work due to debilitating pain as a result of whiplash or a whiplash-related injury, you may not have the ability to hire a law firm with cash out-of-pocket - but many legal firms will take on your case for no money up front.

By entering into a conditional fee arrangement with a law firm, you'll be free of any financial obligations. More widely known as 'no win, no fee' arrangements, lawyers will take their payment only in the event of you winning your car accident claim - and in the UK, your legal team claims their fees and costs not from your settlement amount but directly from the losing defendant (the insurance company); this means that your law firm is highly motivated to win their case, as they don't get paid unless you do.

However, there are new laws currently working their way through Parliament that could put a change to this. While this new legislation won't eliminate no win no fee whiplash claims, they will change how they work significantly: no longer will lawyers be able to claim their legal fees and court costs from the losing side and will instead take them from your own compensation payment, so keep aware of this in the future, or you'll be in for a nasty shock!

Nursing Home Design

Nursing homes are designed to serve usually elderly patients who require long-term, therapeutic and preventive care. Residents normally have non-acute medical conditions and are frail but not bedridden. They may need canes or walkers to help them get around and aid with everyday tasks such as eating, dressing and washing. Most nursing home residents will stay for the remaining months or years of their life, which is why the design of the home is so important.

A nursing home isn't just a facility where care is provided - it really is a home for its residents. This special design challenge means that the environment of the nursing home must be conducive to both emotional and physical long-term human needs. A welcoming atmosphere must combine with all the practicality that is needed to give a good quality of medical care. Nursing homes are unique in that they're very patient-focussed, so the overall design scheme is an essential part of the quality of the home.

The nursing home environment can have a great impact upon the health of its residents. Architects and designers must pay attention to details such as catering for those with physical or mental disabilities, or loss of sight, yet still retain a homely atmosphere. A welcoming environment is far more conducive to the recovery of patients than a sterile hospital.

The efficiency of a nursing home is also very important, both for the care of the residents and for the performance of the nursing staff. There should be short distances between frequently-used areas for example, such as dining halls and bathrooms. This allows frail residents ease of access to areas of the home. Spaces should be open and incorporate interior windows to allow nursing staff to see large areas of the home at any one time. This minimises the number of staff needed for supervision and also frees up staff to perform other important tasks.

Cleanliness is a third important feature of a nursing home, because many patients may experience some form of incontinence. Not only is this unsanitary, it can give an overall impression of an unhygienic environment if the nursing home has an unpleasant odour. Easy-clean surfaces are therefore an integral part of the design, as is effective ventilation and built-in housekeeping spaces. All of the finishes on surfaces must be durable to protect them from both stains and knocks, and there should be no unfilled cracks or crevices which could hide dirt or be difficult to clean.

The nursing home furniture can also aid both hygiene and the performance of the nursing staff. Easy-clean fabrics are essential, and furniture can also be designed to give staff ease of access to patients. The overall scheme must still be homely however, so furniture must create a warm, welcoming look but still retain its functionality.

These design considerations present a unique challenge to designers and architects, but when met they can help to give nursing home patients a good quality of care and a comfortable environment for as long as they need it.

Niche Marketing Strategies For Tutoring Businesses Looking To Attract Senior Citizens

For years, we've heard about the graying of our population from the baby boom years. Our current class of senior citizens inductees (the population born during the Baby Boom after World War II from 1946 to 1964) is going to make up close to 20% percent of the total US population by 2029 according to the US Census Bureau. What often goes unmentioned is that this mature population also controls one of the largest percentages of disposable income. As a group, senior citizens are and will be for some time the most affluent Americans. They hold about three quarters of the nation's financial assets worth approximately $1 trillion in disposable income annually.

Again, that is $1 trillion dollars in disposable income annually.

Many product and/or service oriented businesses have taken the long view and begun marketing various products and services geared specifically to the older consumer. Despite this recognition on the part of a few marketers, this financially secure, mature group of consumers remains largely untapped by educational companies and services. Take for instance the onslaught of new technologies that seem to pop up like daisies in the spring, out of all consumer groups, our seniors, are usually the last to be courted. While it may be true that certain technologies are better suited for younger tech savvy consumers (I am reminded of my elderly grandmother who purchased an unlimited text messaging package on a small phone without text messaging capability and did I mention she had arthritis), it doesn't mean that this market is entirely unsuited for those educational businesses and services that use technology to deliver their product or service.

For a supplemental education service tutoring provider, this mature consumer group is wide open with far less competition and minimal requirements in the way of overhead expenditures. Two of the much-needed services that senior citizens in particular lack are computer training and technology acclimation. Many of the services supplemental education companies can provide, are the ones that are most often overlooked or taken for granted, i.e. using the internet, opening up an email account, social networking account registration, etc. If you are reading this article, you can definitely offer those services and more. Suppose for a moment you feel uncomfortable with your level of competence in offering a few of these services, let me repeat what I said in my previous article, Niche Marketing Strategies for Tutoring Businesses Looking To Attract Parents of Students Taking State Standardized Tests, you do not have to be an expert in the subject matter in order to provide supplemental services in the subject matter, you just need to hire people with thorough experience related to the field.

The reason for the lack of competition in this age group is precisely because this mature audience is a bit more discerning with their spending habits and a more sophisticated approach is required to gain their attention, loyalty, and dollars. However, it is for this very reason that supplemental education service providers should dive into this market with fervor and enthusiasm. Education is, and has always been a cornerstone for any age group. The value that the 50 and over age group places on education should not go unnoticed. Along with education, communication plays an important role in everyone's lives and its role only expands as one gets older. In the past, many grandparents would send letters to their grandchildren and eagerly await their response. Grandparents yearn to be a part of their grandchildren's lives. Why not offer the ability to stay in touch while simultaneously helping an older population learn and acquire new skills? Imagine grandma's joy every time she logs on to her e-mail account and sees a message from her grandchild or when she receives a tweet. It's truly a win-win proposition!

Of course that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the type of services supplemental education providers can offer up in addition to computer training. Curriculum and/or activities marketed to senior citizens can range from learning a new language to scrap booking to ballroom dancing. If you're looking for ideas on what senior citizens are interested in learning, you can find a compiled starter list below. Since most of your organized activities and programs will consist of a variety of group sizes, you will have the ability to market age specific specials and discounted tuition fees accordingly. Remember, you run a supplemental education service business that should be able to teach and tutor in multiple disciplines. You do not need to have any expert knowledge in any of these areas, just hire someone who does. It is highly unlikely that Sam Walton knew how to repair the diesel engines of every tractor-trailer that brought in a load of merchandise to his stores, but his business (Walmart) hired people who did have that expertise.

The best part about marketing to this age group is that they are fairly accessible if you know where to look. Putting up postings/flyers at local community church bulletins, visiting the adult education departments of local community colleges, and contacting the Facility Director or Onsite Coordinator at various assisted living facilities to propose your computer training or other services to their residents, is a good way to start. If interested, there are plenty of online directories that list full contact information for assisted living facilities narrowed by zip code or state.

How about the Bingo nights? They are usually held at lodges, halls, churches, and schools/community colleges.

Hold the presses! Yet another great source that has been largely abandoned by the younger generation is the newspaper. Here's a little known fact about the newspaper industry - 65% of its readers are over the age of 55. By advertising in this medium you are reaching over half of the newspapers readers - Now that's worth another read!

When it comes to reaching senior citizens, let your creativity lead the way, your opportunities are limitless. For the astute, forward thinking individual, this is a unique opportunity to service an undeserved demographic and separate your business from the competition. Remember, thinking outside the box never gets old!

Activity Ideas for Senior Citizens:
繚 Computer Training
繚 Dance
繚 Yoga
繚 Painting
繚 Sewing
繚 Journal Writing
繚 Knitting or crocheting
繚 Photography
繚 Discussion Groups
繚 Exercise
繚 Knitting
繚 Foreign Language Conversation
繚 Needlepoint
繚 Pinochle
繚 Quilting
繚 Tai Chi
繚 Writing workshops
繚 Crafts
繚 Bowling
繚 Bridge

Healthy Elderly Get First Crack at Nursing Homes

After a series of articles in the Toronto Star last year highlighted the manner in which the elderly suffer from poor care in Ontario hospitals and abuse in Ontario nursing homes, we learned the true reason for the cause for congestion and long waits for the sickest of the elderly.

Lo and behold, our nursing homes, which we as taxpayers fund, are playing games with both the elderly and the families that must care for them: they are choosing the healthiest of the elderly to populate their facilities, while those that need it the most, are left behind in hospitals, who in turn, threaten families and elderly with illegally inflated fees, despite the fact that the Premier and the Minister of Health both stated that fees should not exceed $50. Sounds like a tag-team wrestling match, with nursing homes and hospitals teaming up, only we are the ones being pummelled to the ground, face-first, with our hands and feet tied behind our backs.

Shameful. Dishonest. Not Acceptable. This government and its lack of oversight must be challenged.

The easiest way to ensure that there is transparency and a forum for citizens to complain about one of the most essential of human rights, as protected under our Charter of Rights, is to allow the Ontario Ombudsman to oversee and investigate into all areas of healthcare. Today, the office of the Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints against the following:

• 
  court decisions
  


• 
  doctors
  


• 
  hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities
  


• 
  school boards & universities
  


• 
  lawyers
  


• 
  police
  


• 
  federal government programs or decisions
  


• 
  private companies & individuals

Why shouldn't nursing homes, hospitals and doctors have objective oversight? Only through an external mechanism can we truly have accountability and responsibility in what are growing areas of concerns. Self-regulation through Ontario College of Physicians, or Ontario Long-Term Care Organization or, Ontario Long-term Care Association, has not proven to be sufficient in the protection of our needs, rights and health care.

We can collectively make change happen. My motivation stems from my father's last years' being cared by some of the best minds in terms of medicine, but also by some that were found lacking in both requisite experience and compassion, and in facilities that represented some of the worst parts of the Ontario healthcare system. I also want to be able to look my mother in the eye and know that I am doing what I can to stand up for their rights.

Your MPPs need to be reminded that we want more, not less protection and oversite.

Do you care enough to contact your MPP and voice your concern?

Choosing A Retirement Home: What Are Your Options?

As we grow old, we start thinking more and more about where we will spend our retirement years. We spend our younger days working hard and saving money for our retirement. As our children grow, they leave home to pursue their careers or start a family of their own. While some children have all the right resources - time and money, essentially - to have their parents live at home with them, others are left with an option to send them to retirement homes.

Although it can be quite sad to realize that your children are not going to be able to fully take care of you when you get old, living in a retirement home can also be a very practical choice.

Disabilities or ill health is commonly linked with age can make living at home a real struggle if you do not have full-time help. Your family may try to do all they can to help you out, but they cannot be there every time you need them. After all they also have their own families and work to attend to. Some people don't even have families to care for them.

For elderlies in any of these situations, choosing to live in a retirement homes or assisted living communities is the most practical decision.

There are numerous advantages of living in a retirement community. The biggest one is that experienced professionals are available 24/7 to provide care and assistance in day-to-day activities, and most especially, emergencies.

Different retirement communities offer different options to individuals. Depending on your physical and medical needs, you can choose any of the following:

1. Nursing Home

This is the best option for elderlies who need full-time - either short term or long term - nursing care. Seniors living in a nursing home are provided with assistance in their daily activities as well as recreational and therapy services.

2. Independent Unit

Retirement villages are made up of several independent units that are each equipped with their own bathroom, kitchen and living room. This is the practical choice for individuals who are able to mostly manage living on their own.

3. Serviced Apartment A hosted or serviced apartment is the type of accommodation for elderlies who need help with personal as well as day-to-day activities, such as dressing, preparing meals, and doing the laundry.

Each type of accommodation vary not only according to service, but the costs as well. You can also expect to pay fixed fees that cover an entry contribution, taxes, management charge, and in most cases, a special levy that is sometimes asked from residents for special projects.

If you and your family has made the decision for you to move into a retirement or senior assisted living community, it is best to know what your options are. If possible, go along with them when looking for your future home.

Why Medical Billing and Coding Jobs Are in Demand Nowadays

What does a medical billing and coding personnel do? Why is it that this job is very much the trend and in demand nowadays? For one, hospitals, private doctors, insurance companies - for their insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid, community hospitals, medical outsource companies, nursing caregiver facilities; home health care, long term and outpatient care facilities, etc. greatly need the expertise of somebody to efficiently perform medical billing and coding for them.

There are lots of employment opportunities for those with this kind of expertise. You will not be surprised to find yourself working with private lawyers helping out with the claims of patients of their clients, the hospitals, private clinics and even rehab and physical therapy facilities. If you are seriously inclined to engage in this field, you can be both the employer and employee coder/biller from the comfort of your home armed with a top-of-the-line computer, high tech software and internet access.

Usual job openings are as medical billing specialist, in patient or outpatient coder, billing clerk, billing associate, senior claims operation associate and many more. As a billing specialist, you must have at least a one year hands-on experience and knowledge of the latest coding software. Your responsibility is the procedural and diagnostical coding of every patient case, supervision of accounts receivable and patients' statements of accounts.

For the job of a billing associate, you should have at least finished High School or possess a GED equivalent and must have at least 2-3 years experience in medical billing. You must have technical knowledge with computers and skills with MS Excel, EMR, electronic claims, billing procedures and revenue monitoring.

If you are after the position of an outpatient coding specialist, you should have finished High School or GED with at least one certification as a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). In addition, a three years coding experience in ICD-9-CM, DRGs, and CPT/HCPCS, including modifiers and APCs are necessary.

Let us go into details with what your job as a Corporate Outpatient Coding Specialist will be. You are to coordinate with the Health Information Management group to provide outpatient surgery coding support. Assignment of accurate diagnostic and procedural codes with ICD-9-CM and CPT / HCPCS (3M coding software), and appropriate references is your main responsibility. Another important work is the centralization of a coding system for CHS hospitals through scanned medical records and abstracts by way of access to hospital abstracting systems. In addition, you will be making independent decisions regarding accurate code assignments. The decisions you make will determine the formulation of appropriate company policy, reimbursement viability of CHS and corporate compliance with regulatory requirements for an accurate billing strategy.

When it comes to a senior claims operations associate job, you should have a High School diploma, at least 2-3 years experience in Medicare Part A and B claims processing and medical billing, knowledge in medical coding like CPT, HCPC, ICD9 and DRG. Your job is data entry, review and process, and monitor and log production of error free claims.

Having a bachelor or postgraduate degree, proven track record experience, updated knowledge and technical skills with the latest technology coding, certification from the American Medical Billing Association are your plus factor credentials. This is the reality of the supply and demand free market. A medical billing and coding job is trendy and much in demand nowadays! If you are competent, a very bright future awaits you with a competitive compensation and bonus packages as well as a fantastic professional development career with the way things are shaping up in the medical industry!

Health Information Management: An Auspicious Career Path

One of the essentials components of the health care system is health information management (HIM). It is the practice of acquiring, organizing, and maintaining of both traditional/paper-based and electronic medical records to ensure the highest quality of health care service. These medical records may be taken by hand or on a computer, and can either be stored in a filing system or computer database. Either way, data must be stored and managed efficiently to guarantee the excellence in patient care. This industry is also dedicated in evaluating the information and coordinating with physicians to ensure that patients are treated properly, administered with the appropriate medication, and discharged or retained as needed.

As this field expands and information technology becomes a vital part of the medical industry, HIM is transitioning from the traditional way of preserving information through papers to a more efficient digital means. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $19 billion is earmarked to bring electronic record programs to physician practices and hospitals across the nation over the next five years. Meanwhile, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, the field of HIM is growing rapidly and employment is expected to increase by 21% for the 10-year timeframe between 2010 and 2020. That's faster than average for all occupation!

At this pace, HIM industry is an auspicious career path for interested parties. HIM professionals care for patients by tracking and maintaining their medical data. These records demands confidentiality and should be kept accurate and complete, yet readily available for healthcare providers when needed. Likewise, the demand for health care services is expected to increase because of the growing aging population, which will need more medical tests, procedures, and treatments. This will also means more claims in getting imbursements from health insurances. These additional health records would certainly results in crucial need for qualified HIM professionals to organize and maintain needed information in the healthcare industry.

In order to become a HIM professional, you will need to get an associate's degree (to become a Registered Health Information Technician), or a bachelor's degree (to become a Registered Health Information Administrator) from a CAHIIIM-accredited school. For aspiring HIM executive, a Master's degree in Health Information Management is often necessary. You could also work in obtaining your certification as Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or Certified Coding Specialist Physician-based (CSS-P).

HIM professionals must also develop certain skills essential to the job. You must be detail-oriented, highly organized, and equipped with the ability to keep files confidential. You must also have good leadership and management talents. The job offers opportunities to work either in public or private sector, and you could work in a variety of settings such as small and large clinics, doctors' offices, hospitals, nursing facilities, government agencies, health insurance companies, and other facilities providing health care. Additionally, Bureau of labor Statistics boasts an average salary of $90,970 for health information managers in United States as of May 2009.

A career in health information management offers diverse opportunities for aspiring individuals. It involves various disciplines including medicine, management, information technology, finance, and even law! It is perfect for those who would like to work within the health care industry, but not directly with patients. A HIM professional coordinates with other professionals within and outside the field, so it provides a great opportunity in cultivating your collaborative skills. If you possess these interests, consider taking a career path in the field of HIM and work in a variety of settings across the healthcare environment!

Nursing Home Insurance - How to Apply For Coverage

Who is Eligible for Long Term Care Insurance? Long-term care insurance covers care in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or in home-care for individuals who do not need skilled medical care but cannot take care of themselves. The need for the care is determined by not being able to care for oneself in two or more activities of daily living, including: eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, continence, and transferring. Cognitive impairment, the mental confusion of a person posing as danger to themselves or others, is another reason for long-term care.

When to Apply for Long-Term Care Insurance? Long-term care insurance premiums are fixed when you apply. You may be tempted to buy coverage when you are still young; but by buying too early may be throwing money away for years as you cannot use the insurance until you are 65. The ideal age to buy is 59. Having said that, to qualify for long-term insurance you must be in good health. If there is a history of a chronic illness in your family, it may make sense to apply at the earlier age. Once chronic illness symptoms appear it is unlikely you will be able to get coverage.

Daily Benefit Payout You can opt to get reimbursed for the actual daily expense of your long-term care (up to a daily limit) or choose a fixed daily amount for which you will be reimbursed. The fixed amount option will lower your premium as you are not purchasing as large a benefit. Make sure your policy includes inflation protection so the fixed amount still meets your needs as the cost of living increases.

The Tricky Parts - Length of Benefit and Waiting Period Although the average length needed for long-term care is two years, if you are under the age of 65, it is recommended you purchase a four-to-six year benefit period. Indeed the longer the benefit period, the higher the premium, but you do not want to risk losing protection when you need it the most. The waiting period is much like a deductible on a health insurance policy. The longer you can wait for long-term insurance coverage, the lower your premium will be. As with the benefit period length, the waiting period can be difficult to determine. Review your finances carefully to make sure you can cover the care costs should you need them before the waiting period is over.

Characteristics of Emotional & Psychological Abuse

Abuse is not limited to physical violence. While psychological and emotional manipulation may leave no visible marks, the effects of these forms of abuse can be just as serious as physical trauma. Abuse that does not affect the body can have greater long-term consequences than abuse that leaves scars, but it can be much more difficult to recognize. Learning to recognize the signs and effects of abuse are the first step to ending and preventing serious harm.

The signs of physical abuse can be easy to detect, but often go unnoticed. Bruises, cuts, and other types of physical trauma are common indicators of domestic violence and should always be taken seriously. Victims of domestic violence typically also experience psychological and emotional abuse, and may feel helpless and unable to escape their abusers. In some cases victims even rationalize their mistreatment, making themselves believe they "deserve" to be mistreated for whatever reason.

Domestic abuse is not the only source of psychological or emotional abuse. The residents of nursing homes, for example, are sometimes mistreated by their caretakers. Unethical caretakers may steal or attempt to gain the trust of the residents for financial reward, coercing them into handing over their savings, pension, or other forms of income.

In order to psychologically manipulate their victims, abusers take notice of their victims' particular insecurities, fears, and psychological vulnerabilities. Abusers hide their actions behind a smile, or by presenting them as necessary or condoned, in order to get their victims to lower their guard. By alternately offering positive and negative reinforcement, abusers can make their victims psychologically dependent on them.

Unless it is addressed, abuse may continue unabated for years. By acting now, you can put an end to the abuse. To learn more about what courses of action are available to you, visit the website of the Charlotte personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of William K Goldfarb.

Accident Guide in the State of California

In 2009, 33,808 traffic-related fatalities were recorded in the United States out of 30,797 fatal crashes. Additionally, out of the total US fatalities recorded that year, the State of California topped all 50 states with 3,081 - ten times more than the State of Texas. The two states were followed by Florida, North Carolina and Georgia.

Road accidents remain a major problem among traffic authorities all over the US, especially in California. The fact that the state has many urban areas makes it an accident hotspot because of the high volume of traffic. But, despite this, traffic authorities are doing their best to maintain major thoroughfares and to remind motorists of possible mishaps. Also, the state government is finding ways on how to alleviate the incidences of traffic accidents even more through their traffic laws.

What You Need to Do

Since accidents are unavoidable, it is important for persons involved in the mishap to be ready and extend a hand in such instances. If a person driving in the State of California encounters or gets involved in a traffic accident, he or she must consider the following procedures:

• Halt and assess the situation
He or she must look for the extent of the damage inflicted during the mishap, as well as any signs of injury or death. In California, if a driver gets involved in an accident but doesn't stop his or her own vehicle right at the scene, he or she can be cited for a serious criminal charge. This widely happens in hit-and-runs. The driver holds responsibility in reporting the accident to the police or to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

• Provide proof
Once the person finishes his or her assessment of the accident, he or she must provide proof of being a legitimate driver. He or she must show his or her driver's license, car registration documents, evidence of financial responsibility, and current home address to other people involved in the accident and to the authorities present at the scene. If he or she cannot provide evidence of financial responsibility, he or she can be cited and charge a $250 fine.

On a Serious Note

A more serious accident wherein a driver or a passenger from the other vehicle sustains an injury or dies on the spot must be reported to the police or to the CHP within 24 hours. A serious accident must also be reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if someone is killed or seriously injured or that the extent of the damage to property exceeds $750.

When you report a serious accident to the DMV, you, your insurance provider, and/or your Los Angeles injury lawyer must fill out the "Report of Traffic Accident Occuring in California Form" (SR 1). You must also submit the accomplished form to the insurance companies, police, and other administrative agencies involved.

Common Personal Injury Claim Mistakes

Personal injury claims are often difficult and complicated. But, still there are many people who choose to pursue their own claims. While it is true that making an injury claim all by yourself is possible, it must also be noted that not all types of injury claims can be handled without specialist help. Injury claims where the victim has been severely injured may require specialist legal representation. The reason is that an experienced injury lawyer can help you achieve a better outcome and substantial compensation for your damages.

If you have been injured in an accident, you can choose to seek legal help or handle your claim on your own. If you choose the second option, then it is also important that you avoid the common mistakes that most people make when handling their own claims. In this article, we will look at what these common mistakes are.

You provide a recorded statement - insurance adjusters will tell you that they need a recorded statement before they could make you an offer. This is not right. The fact is that these insurance adjusters can use anything you say against you. When making an injury claim, it is essential to avoid making this mistake. In fact, you must seek legal help and make any statements after you have consulted with your injury lawyers so that they ensure that you do not say anything that can affect your claim in a negative way.

You demand too little or too much - if this is the first time you are making a claim or if you don't have much knowledge about injury claims, then it is highly likely that you don't know how much to ask for. It is always important to understand the value of your injury claim before you demand. If your demand is too little or too much, then your opponent's insurers will know that you don't know how much your claim is worth and this can impact your claim and the compensation you receive.

Accepting the insurance company's offer - if it is clear that another person was at fault, their insurers will make an offer. If you receive an offer from the opponent before you start a claim, don't think that you are lucky. Insurance companies are very clever and they will often try to offer less than what you deserve. If you accept their offer without seeking legal advice, then you will be settling your claim for a fraction of what it is actually worth.

Elder Neglect: When To Seek A Reputable Litigation Attorney

When the topic of elder abuse is introduced, physical wrongdoings are often first to come to mind. However, abuse comes in many different forms and levels of severity. Physical and emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect are all common varieties that afflict the elderly. When it comes to elder abuse in America, more than half of all cases reported each year are instances of neglect - both passive and active. However, due to recent advances in elder law, these victims are protected under various state acts, and no longer have to suffer in silence. There are many reputable litigation attorneys who specialize in elder law and are willing to give a voice to thousands of elderly victims each year.

What Constitutes Neglect?

Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to provide the food, water, medicine, clothing, shelter and personal hygiene assistance an older individual needs to survive and live a healthy life. Laws have been enacted across the country mandating that caregivers provide these basic living essentials to those elderly citizens who cannot perform such duties themselves.

Neglect of the elderly is categorized into two types: active (intentional) and passive (unintentional). In many cases, a caregiver may genuinely believe that an older family member needs less help than is actually required, resulting in an unintentional lack of adequate care. Although such instances are inadvertent, they are neglect nonetheless and require immediate attention. An example of such carelessness may be a caregiver failing to provide food or medication, or refusing to assist with bathing. While these types of situations do happen in nursing homes, it is far more prevalent in the home. Often, it is a family member committing the abuse. If you or a loved one has suffered from either active or passive negligence, a litigation attorney can educate you on local elder laws and advise you on possible actions to take.

How Can I Tell If My Loved One Needs Help?

The signs and symptoms of this prevalent form of abuse include, but are not limited to: extreme weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, multiple falls, and poor personal hygiene. Other signs can be found within the home, such as unsanitary and unsafe living conditions, bugs and other pests, and soiled bedding. If you notice any of these signs and symptoms around your loved one, talk to them immediately to find the source of the negligence. It may just be self-neglect as a result of diminishing cognition and ability to care for oneself; or it could be carelessness at the hands of a caregiver. If it is the latter, the advice of an experienced litigation attorney can be an important asset.

How Litigation Attorneys Can Help

It is estimated that for each case of elder abuse reported in the United States, there are as many as five cases that go unreported. With a myriad of laws enacted to protect victims, and many qualified litigation attorneys practicing elder law across the country, these statistics do not have to be. If you suspect that you, or an older family member, are suffering from negligence, a reputable litigation attorney in your area can help stop the abuse and lead you to safer and healthier living conditions.

Requirements For Starting an Adult Day Care Business

Starting an adult day care business is not like starting a child care business. Yes, there are similarities because its first of all a business where you are providing a people oriented service so you will need insurance, a building conducive to your state regulations, and the building must be designed for the operation of your business, policies and procedures in accordance with your state regulations. However, that is where the similarities stop.

One should know their audience when starting a service oriented business, just like in any business. The older generation today, which adult day care centers serve, have been given choices in their life, they need respect and to be respected, both men and women have had careers, they are intelligent and need activities to suit their abilities and interests. They have been members of their community and active their whole lives.

Further, adult day care clients need to have a care plan to track their progress and illnesses. These care plans also support the staff for documenting any changes in health and provides goals for the clients to meet. When starting an adult day care center,One needs a team of hands-on care taker aids, an activity director, a RN or LPN, and a consulting doctor, a social worker in some States is not necessary but it is a good idea. This person can work with the families and the client to make sure they are getting consistent care at home and their home is a place where they are safe and free of physical hazards such as; too little lighting, stairs without railings, etc.. Also, an administrator is necessary.

Your clients will have a variety of conditions either physical or psychological due to age. These conditions may include but not limited to, Dementia, Alzheimer's, confusion, a feeling of loss of independence and physical problems. All these need to be accommodated in one way or another. For Alzheimer patients its best to have multiple rooms where they can wander in and out of with out disturbing others or a walking track they can walk on and follow.

Others with physical aliments will need chairs that are not to low or soft so that they are easy to get up from, chairs that fold out to a bed are very useful when someone wants to rest. Carpeted floors are always necessary to limit any damage if someone should fall. A facility with no stairs is necessary or a ramp must be provided. An outdoor activity area would be nice so everyone gets some sunshine and a gardening area is a great activity when set-up correctly for the elderly. Adult day care costs are provided by Medicaid and private pay clients. rehabilitation may be added and billed to Medicare. A great place to get started with the materials and information you need is Adult Day Care Group.

Finding Good Hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan

Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and also the capital of the Punjab province. It is the fifth largest city in South Asia and the 26th largest city in the world. Lahore is a favorite tourist destination and The Guardian has ranked it as the 2nd best tourist destination in Pakistan.

In Lahore city some of the major private and government hospitals offer world class medical facilities and provide the latest medical equipments and modern technology. English speaking staff are available in many leading hospitals.

This is a short description of some of the major hospitals in the city of Lahore in Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Lahore General Hospital, situated in Lahore, is a famous hospital in the city and offers modern and comprehensive health care services to the people at an affordable cost. This is a government owned and operated hospital and the provincial government is the administrative authority. Their neurosurgery department is very famous.

Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Lahore is the most renowned children's hospital in the city. This pioneer center was founded in 1990 and offers most effective diagnostic, clinical, preventive and surgical facilities in pediatrics and appoints eminent medical professionals. This is a famous training and research center also. The institute has established school of nursing and school of allied health sciences.

Naz Hospital is regarded as one of the best hospitals in Lahore and is situated at 6-A, Link Shadman Road, Shadman, Lahore. The full fledged general hospital was established in 1980 by a famous doctor and is now managed by an American trained administrator. The modern hospital has three operation theatres, two delivery rooms and all other medical facilities. Ph.+92-42-758 7912, +92-42-758 8711, +92-42-759 1087

Mayo Hospital is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in the city and has been providing high quality diagnostic, medical and surgical services to the people since its foundation in 1871.This government owned tertiary care hospital is attached to the well-known King Edward Medical University. This 1799 bed hospital offers cost effective treatments in 42 out-patient departments and gives 100% free treatment to poor people.

Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), situated in Lahore, is the largest cardiac center in the country and is also the first ISO certified government hospital. This premier health institute with 292 beds and highly sophisticated equipments has been offering world class cardiac care services to the patients for the last 18 years. This tertiary care hospital carries out more than 1700 cardiac surgeries and treats over160, 000 patients annually. This is also a well known research and training center in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Ph.+92-42-9203051-60

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is another well trusted hospital in the city that has been offering modern and reliable medical services to a large number of people since its establishment in 1921. This 700 bed private multy specialty hospital is managed by a family trust, well known for their invaluable services in public health care sector. The hospital employs eminent medical professionals and offers high quality services in all major departments.

Jinnah Hospital, situated at Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani Road,Lahore, is one of the largest and most reputed hospitals and teaching schools in Pakistan. This government owned hospital with 1100 beds offers modern and effective treatments and service in all departments through a team of 65 eminent consultant physicians and surgeons. Most of the training programs offered by this famous institute are recognized by Royal college of physicians, Royal college of surgeons and Royal college of obstetrics and gynecology in UK and Ireland. The hospital treats an average of 550,000 patients every year. Ph.+92-42-9231400-23

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, located in the Lahore city at 7-A, Block R-3, Johar Town, is the most leading cancer hospital and research institute in Pakistan. This charitable institute, founded by Pakistan's most well known cricket player Imran Khan in 1994, has established itself as a centre of excellence that offers latest, comprehensive and affordable treatments to a large number of cancer patients. This 115 bed modern hospital employs 1393 staff which includes 41 eminent consultants, Physicians and surgeons. This HACCP certified hospital has affiliation withUniversity of Bradford (UK) and has Membership of International Union against Cancer (UICC). Ph. +92 42 5945100

Nadeem clinic and maternity home is another reliable hospital in Lahore and is located at the town of Allama Iqbal. The hospital offers modern and complete treatment at reasonable cost and is particularly well known for their excellent services in gynecology and obstetrics. Ph. +92-42-445182, +92-42-445179

Top Reasons to Enlist the Help of a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

When someone that is near and dear to you is not physically or mentally sound enough to live on their own, it can be a hard choice to put them into a nursing facility. You want to make sure that you research facilities thoroughly to find one that will care for your loved one properly and give them the attention and healthcare that they need. Even with doing extensive investigation, you can still end up finding out that your family member has been a victim of neglect or abuse in a nursing home. If this is the case, then you need to get help from a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer.

Reasons You Should Hire a Professional Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

• You cannot fight against large companies in the healthcare and insurance industries all by yourself.

A large company will have a staff of lawyers who are dedicated to getting them out of any situation. You cannot feasibly stand up to their knowledge of the laws and expertise in litigation all by yourself. Hiring a qualified nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer to research and present your case for you is the best way to ensure that you and your family member will have the best chance at getting the compensation that you need.

• A lawyer can help you to side step a long trial and get the other party to settle.

A trial can take weeks and even months of your time and is often subjective. Avoiding a trial and settling out of court is the best case scenario in most abuse situations and can lead to the most amount of compensation awarded. When you hire a professional attorney to work out a deal on your behalf, you can cut the process time in half and avoid any unnecessary court house trips, so that you and your family can resume normal life.

• You send a message to the company that they cannot do this to other people.

When you stand up and fight for your rights and your family member's rights, you are showing these large healthcare and insurance companies that they cannot bully you or anyone else. A nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer will send a powerful message to all of these companies that everyone has a voice and deserves to be treated with respect and decency. Do not let large companies get away with neglecting or harming people you love; hire an attorney to show them that you cannot be taken advantage of.

The Growing Problem of Elder Abuse

Many uncompensated caregivers - spouses, adult children, relatives and friends - find caring for an elder to be satisfying and enriching. However, the responsibilities and demands of elder caregiving, can be extremely stressful. The stress of elder care can lead to mental and physical health problems that contribute to caregiver burn out. This stress often leads to unintentional as well as intentional elder abuse.

Even caregivers in institutional settings experience stress at levels that lead to elder abuse. Nursing homes may be susceptible to elder abuse issues if their employees do not receive adequate training, or have too many patients or responsibilities, and/or work under poor conditions.

The symptoms of caregiver stress include:

o Withdrawal
o Sleeplessness
o Sleeping difficulty
o Lack of concentration
o Weight loss/gain
o Drug/alcohol abuse
o Eating disorder
o Mood swings
o Chronic fatigue
o Feeling overwhelmed

Several of these symptoms can affect a person's ability to "think straight" or control their anger.

The different types of elder abuse

Abuse of the elderly takes many different forms, some involving physical or emotional intimidation, and neglect, sexual, financial and medical fraud. The following defines the different types of elder abuse.

Physical abuse

Physical elder abuse is non-accidental use of force against an elderly person that results in physical pain, injury, or impairment. Such abuse includes:

o Slapping, punching, hitting or pushing.
o Inappropriate use of drugs for the purpose of sedation
o Hand or ankle restraints
o Confinement to a room also constitutes physical abuse. This type of abuse most often occurs in an institutional setting.

Emotional abuse or intimidation

Emotional or psychological abuse and intimidation consists of:

o Verbal threats
o Withholding food or drink as a form of punishment
o Humiliation and ridicule
o Ignoring the elderly person
o Isolating an elder from friends or activities

Sexual abuse

Sexual elder abuse is contact with an elderly person without the elder's consent and consists of:

o Physical sexual contact with a person unable to consent
o Forcing older person to watch sex acts
o Forcing the elder to undress
o Forcing a person to look at pornographic material

Neglect or abandonment

Neglect or abandonment is describes as not fulfilling caretaker obligations whether a family member or professional caregiver. This category of abuse accounts for more than half of all reported cases of elder abuse in the US. It can be intentional or unintentional, based on factors such as ignorance or the denial that an older person needs as much care as he or she does.

Financial abuse

This can be the most difficult form of abuse to detect, as it involves the use of an elderly person's funds or property, by a caregiver, fraud artist or unscrupulous company. The following provides examples of financial abuse:

o Misuse of personal checks, credit cards, or financial accounts
o Stealing cash, income checks, or household goods
o Forging signature on legal and financial documents
o Identity theft
o Announcements of a "prize" that the elderly person has won but must pay money to claim
o Phony charities
o Investment fraud

Healthcare fraud and abuse

Carried out by unethical doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and other professional care providers, examples of healthcare fraud and abuse regarding elders include:

o Not providing healthcare, but charging for it
o Overcharging or double-billing for medical care or services to Medicare or Medicaid
o Getting kickbacks for referrals to other providers or for prescribing certain drugs
o Stealing or selling personal information: social security number, credit card number or check routing number.

What can a caregiver do to prevent elder abuse?

Know what behaviors and situations trigger your emotional reactions. Its' not possible to be in control all of the time however by being aware of what "sets you off" you can plan for your response. There are also steps that are useful in understanding and dealing with your feelings.

Identify your feelings. Anxiety, anger, depression are qualitatively different and have different antecedents. Although it is unpleasant, admit and accept that you have a negative feeling.

Put distance between yourself and the situation. Go to the next room. Take a walk.

Take time to figure out what triggers your anger or negative feeling. What it is about a situation that makes you feel a certain way? How do you react? What does the situation mean to you?

Talk about your thoughts and feelings with someone who you trust, or write them down to express them. Sometimes writing helps one to understand, and begins the problem solving process. Talk to a professional if you are getting overwhelmed.

Make a plan. Figure out what you can do differently when you recognize that feeling again. Make the plan very concrete.

Remember there must be a balance between your needs and those of your loved one. Be comfortable with your limits. This means accepting what you are realistically able to do. Remember to be a good caregiver and to go beyond caregiving, your life must continue and be meaningful.

Ask for and be willing to accept help.

What can a long-term care facility do to prevent elder abuse?

Long term care facilities have a moral and legal obligation to make sure that their patients and residents are safe and well care for. They can help address the problem of elder abuse by:

o Increased staffing ratios - few patients per caregiver
o Employee caregiver support group
o Ongoing staff training and development programs
o Expanded training in dementia care
o Offer Employee Assistance Program
o Employee Appreciation events and awards

Professional caregivers are often reticent about asking for help, concerned that it might have a negative impact on job security. This is only one reason why employee support groups as well as EAP's are so important...offering a safe place for a caregiver to share their feelings. Also county funded elder abuse hot lines offer help for caregivers as well as the care recipient.

Please pick up the phone and call a hot line or support group if there is a possibility you might cross the thin line into elder abuse.

CIW Courses - Providing Valuable Skills to Boost Your Career Prospects

CIW courses are today held in high esteem among the new generation of emerging internet professionals. In fact, CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster) is almost like the standard certification for webmasters all over the world. All companies nowadays are on the lookout for skilled employees who are proficient in project management, web development, security management, e-commerce and the like. Encompassing all these skills, a CIW course enables you to become an empowered web professional in all respects.

Courses Available

CIW courses are available in various levels like associate, professional and master. Then there are four major areas of specialization provided by CIW - Enterprise Developer, Administrator, Website Manager and Designer. For these, there are various programs offered by the course like CIW Site Designer, CIW Foundations, CIW JavaScript Fundamentals, CIW Server Administrator, etc.

Here are 9 main courses offered by the CIW:

- CIW Security Analyst Certification

- Master CIW Enterprise Developer Certification

- Master CIW Administrator Certification

- Fundamentals of databases (IBM, Oracle, DB2, etc.)

- CIW V5 Database Designer Specialist Certification

- Master CIW Designer Certification

- CIW Professional Certification

- CIW Associates Design Specialist Certification

- CIW Associates

All these programs enable you to grasp not just the basics and fundamentals of web-based technologies but also the use of XHTML and network infrastructure that you need to make a mark in the world of internet.

How Job-Oriented Is It?

CIW is not just a curriculum publisher or a certification body but a comprehensive web-technology foundation that includes web designing, basics of internet, java, website programming, administration, internet server and much more. No wonder CIW courses are today recognized by academic institutions, governments and businesses all over the world.

The skills certified by CIW are in high demand in the e-business market. These career-oriented certification programs equip you with the right tools needed in the present career environment when companies stress the importance of networking applications and internet software. CIW courses also impart valuable skills like technical writing and project planning.

The Examination Point of View

Job-oriented CIW courses are also available as distance learning programs. That means you can learn at your own pace and appear for tests through the official site of CIW training certification.

Once you have completed CIW training, you have to register for the CIW exam through the authorized, online system of registration. CIW tests are then conducted at different centers. The tests are designed to measure web designing skills, web development skills and other technical and non-technical skills.

Since the CIW tests have set down 75 percent as the minimum passing score, the standard of these online tests are par excellence. The level of competition among the applicants is also very high since most of the applicants include hard-core professionals like e-commerce designers, database managers and system administrators.

CIW training courses are among the few certifications that are termed 'vendor neutral'. This implies that for acquiring a CIW certification, you do not have to possess any specific vendor-related certifications. By imparting vital technical and business skills and by teaching professionals how to effectively utilize these skills in the new workplace, CIW courses continue to empower people worldwide.

Bed Rails That Kill

As attorneys, many of us have consulted with clients and their families as a result of a fall from a hospital or nursing home bed. These falls result in fractured arms, legs, and hips, and often even more serious injuries such as skull fractures. The patient’s (or family’s) immediate reaction to these unfortunate injuries is to blame the hospital, nursing home, nursing staff, or attending physicians for the failure to have bed side rails raised and in place to prevent such falls. This typical reaction is based upon the assumption that bed rails, when properly used, will prevent the patient/resident from falling out of the bed and suffering injury. However, bed rails are not benign safety devices and this article will address the dangers created by their use.

Bed side rails have been in existence for years and are manufactured by several different companies with numerous configurations and designs. A quick search of the Internet discloses a number of medical supply companies which manufacture and sell these products. The most common bed rail designs include full-length rails, three-quarter-length rails, half-length rails, quarter-length rails, and split-rail configuration (often the most dangerous design).

Bed rails are used extensively in hospitals and nursing homes. In hospitals, their use is typically a nursing decision rather than based upon a physician’s order. However, in nursing homes, Federal regulations require a physician’s order if bed rails are to be used, as the regulations recognize side rails as a form of restraint. Notwithstanding the requirement for nursing homes, physician’s orders are often not obtained because of the belief that bed rails are simply a safety device. This is a misconception: bed rails often cause injury or death.

There has been little study or publication about the risks and benefits of bed rails. However, the reports of adult deaths and injuries from bed rails on file with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) (incidents from 1993 to 1996) provide significant information for attorneys investigating a potential negligence claim. The CPSC information reflects that seventy-four patients died as a result of the use of bed rails. Moreover, it in not unrealistic to conclude that the actual number of patient deaths far exceeded the reported deaths. Regardless of the true frequency of deaths, 70% of the reported patient deaths resulted from entrapment between the mattress and the bed rail such that the patient’s face was pressed against the mattress. 18% percent of the reported deaths were the result of entrapment and compression of the neck within the bed rails. Finally, 12% twelve percent of the reported deaths were caused by being trapped by the rails after sliding partially off the bed, resulting in neck flexion and chest compression.

The second source of significant information comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA issued a Safety Alert in August of 1995 regarding the entrapment hazards and safety concerns which accompany the use of bed side rails. The Safety Alert was communicated to hospital administrators, hospital associations, nursing homes, risk managers, bio-medical/clinical engineers, and directors of nursing. The Alert was not specific to any one manufacturer or particular design of side rail but warned health care providers that the FDA had received 102 reports of head and body entrapment incidents involving side rails between 1990 and 1995. The 102 reports of entrapment resulted in 68 deaths, 22 injuries, and 12 entrapments without injury. These unfortunate events occurred in hospitals, nursing homes, and private homes. The majority of the entrapments involved elderly patients.

In part, the FDA’s Safety Alert recommended the following actions to prevent deaths and injuries from entrapment in hospital bed side rails:

Inspect all hospital bed frames, bed side rails, and mattresses as part of a regular maintenance program to identify areas of possible entrapment. Regardless of mattress width, length, and/or depth, alignment of the bed frame, bed side rail, and mattress should leave no gap wide enough to entrap a patient’s head or body. Be aware that gaps can be created by movement or compression of the mattress which may be caused by patient weight, patient movement, or bed position. Be alert to replacement mattresses and bed side rails with dimensions different than the original equipment supplied or specified by the bed frame manufacturer. Not all bed side rails, mattresses, and bed frames are interchangeable.

The entire FDA Safety Alert may be found at: [http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/bedrails.html]. In 1999 the FDA, in conjunction with representatives from the hospital bed industry, national healthcare organizations, and patient advocacy groups formed the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup. The Workgroup’s goal was to improve the safety of hospital beds for patients in all healthcare settings who are most vulnerable to the risk of entrapment. In April of 2003 the Workgroup published the results of its research in an article entitled, “Clinical Guidance for the Assessment and Implementation of Bed Rails in Hospitals, Long Term Care Facilities, and Home Care Settings.” The guidelines published by the Workgroup are too lengthy to discuss in detail in this short article but do set forth valuable considerations with regard to patient choice, nurse training and education, policy considerations, and specific bed rail safety guidelines. The bed rail safety guidelines recommend:

1. The bars within the bed rails should be closely spaced to prevent a patient’s head from passing through the openings and becoming entrapped. 2. The mattress to bed rail interface should prevent an individual from falling between the mattress and bed rails and possibly smothering.

3. Care should be taken that the mattress does not shrink over time or after cleaning. Such shrinkage increases the potential space between the rails and the mattress.

4. Check for compression of the mattress’ outside perimeter. Easily compressed perimeters can increase the gaps between the mattress and the bed rail.

5. Ensure that the mattress is appropriately sized for the selected bed frame, as not all beds and mattresses are interchangeable.

6. The space between the bed rails and the mattress and the headboard and the mattress should be filled either by an added firm inlay or a mattress that creates an interface with the bed rail that prevents an individual from falling between the mattress and bed rails.

7. Latches securing bed rails should be stable so that the bed rails will not fall when shaken.

8. Older bed rail designs that have tapered or winged ends are not appropriate for use with patients assessed to be at risk for entrapment.

9. Maintenance and monitoring of the bed, mattress, and accessories such as patient/caregiver assist items should be ongoing.

For information about the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup, see the FDA’s web sight at [http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/beds/]. If you are confronted with a serious injury or death as a result of a patient’s entrapment in a bed side rail, the information contained in the FDA Safety Alert as well as the guidelines established by the Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup are essential. Consideration should be given to naming both the hospital/nursing home facility as well as the manufacturers and distributors of the side rails as defendants if a personal injury or wrongful death action is pursued. First, nurses often receive little, if any, training on the proper use of side rails. Secondly, it has been this author’s experience that facilities often “mix and match” beds, mattresses, and side rails from different manufacturers leading to poor and unsafe integration of the various parts. Finally, the manufacturers have known of the dangers posed by bed side rails since the late 1980’s or early 1990’s and have taken few steps to make the bed rails safer or warn the end user of the danger. A quick search of Lexis or Westlaw will reveal prior litigation against the manufacturers.