The Best Nursing Home for the Elderly

Growing old is a reality that each of us must face. We cannot be young forever. Life is a mystery that none of us can fathom. We live, we were taken care of, we grow up to become responsible adults, had a family of our own and take care of our kids as well as parents. But sometimes due to time constraints as well as the inability to take care of an elderly parent we are forced to find a nursing home for them.

Though this may be hard for you but you have to analyze your options well. It does not mean that when you send them to a care home, you love them less. It is very painful for a child to leave the care of their loved ones to other people. Surely, it will not be a good thing but if you are left with no options then there is nothing else that you can do but leave them with the care of other people.

There might be some apprehensions on your part; guilt may be felt at first. But in the long run, you will realize that you made the right decision if you will see you parent happy and contented. Finding the best care home for your parent may be difficult but you could always start searching for the best through the help of friends. You could ask around if they do have an idea whether there is a nursing home they could recommend.

Choose a nursing home that is near your house in order for you to visit your loved one from time to time. The short distance will make everything easier for you. Not only can you visit them everyday, you will also be updated on their status. You could also search online on this kind of homes within your area. Check out the testimonials of those who have tried it first. Check their reputation online as well. They may have a history of abuse that may give you second thoughts of acquiring their services.

Know the fees first and see if you can afford it. Sometimes the financial aspect can be a hindrance in choosing the best nursing home for your loved ones. If you want to compare different quotes or payment options from different nursing shelters then seek the best one that you can get online, for you to seek out the best care for your loved one. Do not let them suffer more but let them enjoy their new life together with other elderly.

Try to make life easier for them and that you can do it by choosing the best home for them. Let them be taken care of very well. Do not let life be difficult for you. Now is your chance to make it happen for yourself. Just be responsible of the consequences of your actions. Even if they are in a home for the elderly, still you have the responsibility to help them out and secure their safety. Show them your love and do not let them feel like they are an outcast thus the reason for putting them in a nursing home. Show them love and care. Have fun!

Nursing Home Acquired Bed Sores - A Billion Dollar Problem?

Research published by the National Decubitus Foundation reports that over one million people each year will acquire a potentially fatal bed sore or pressure ulcer of some kind. The same report also found that approximately 12% patients of nursing home patients at any given time have a bed sore or pressure ulcer. That's one out of almost every 8 patients. As shocking as that statistic may be, what's worse is that real bed sore statistics are probably higher. Why? Because many of the nursing homes or assisted care living facilities who have had the highest incidences of bed sores and pressure ulcers refused to participate in the research study.

In this day in age, an unavoidable bed sore or pressure ulcer is rare. There are well recognized and proven medical guidelines that all nursing homes are required to follow which have demonstrated that bed sores and pressure ulcers can be prevented. It can not be denied that most, if not all, of the bed sore or pressure ulcer occurrences in nursing homes are the result of pure negligence. Some examples include instance where nursing home or assisted living patients are ignored for hours, sometimes in urine soaked sheets and clothes and develop bed sores as a result.

Are Nursing home poor?

Typically, when nursing homes and assisted living facilities are asked about these statistics, the usual response is that the homes are underfunded and are too poor to afford additional staff or expensive equipment for bed sore prevention. But is this really the truth, or fiction? Lets analyze the numbers and decide.

Published statistics show that in 1994, the US had 6,374 hospitals with an average of 177 beds per hospital. The statistics show an 66% occupancy rate. This means that about 745,740 beds had patients on any given day. When the bed sore and pressure ulcer percentage is applied to the hospital population, the numbers reveal that are about 80,000 patients with bed sores or pressure ulcers sitting in hospital each day. Take that number and times it by the average hospital stay of 27 days for patients with bed sores, and you find that over 1,000,000 patients develop potentially fatal, yet preventable bedsores per year.

Now lets look at the costs associated with bedsore and pressure ulcer care. Studies show that the average costs about $2,360 for a patient over 65 to be cared for in a hospital each. If the same elderly patient develops a bedsore, the projected hospital stay is now increased by additional 27 days. This means from a pure numbers standpoint, there is about $51,000.00 in added medical costs per bed sore patient. When that number is multiplied by the 1,088,778 patients developing bed sores per year, the sum is an astronomical number of $55,000,000 that is just wasted on bedsore care! Shockingly, experts agree that this is a conservative estimate because bedsore patients are required to stay longer for skin grafting and infections. Add to the mix the thousands of other patients that actually die as a result of these bedsores. To their friends and family, the loss of that life is priceless.

The sad part is that based on the numbers presented above, hospitals and nursing homes can save $44 Billion in health care costs just by preventing bedsores. This money can be used to invest in better technology and enough personnel to provide quality care to patients and long-term residents. That is why many insurance companies now refuse to reimburse medical facilities for the costs associated with bedsore care.

Families should lose a healthy loved one because a billion dollar medical facility would not hire and extra nurse or two to ensure proper staffing. Similarly, nursing homes who spend millions on beautifully landscaped grounds and palatial lobbies in order to attract customers, have no right to neglect patients and cry poor when a resident dies from a bedsore infection. The economics and math demonstrates that the billion dollars that are wasted each year as a result of treating bad care, should be spent on preventive care to improve the quality of life for hospital and nursing home residents in this country.

How to Recognize Signs of Neglect in a Nursing Home

So your family member, loved one, friend is in a Nursing Home and you are paying a visit? You have put all of your faith and trust into the facility and assume that they will take good care of your Mum/Dad/Relative/Friend but you start to see some signs that alarm you.

How To Recognize Signs of Neglect in a Nursing Home

When the time comes for your loved one to enter into a Aged Care Home you are giving the facility the trust that they will look after your family member the way you would - with love, respect, kindness, caring, and embracing them as a person with feelings. So it will be upsetting to see that the chosen facility is not meeting your standard of care, or even the minimum level of care that all Nursing Homes are expected to meet according to the Aged Care Accreditation team. But do you really know How To Recognize Signs Of Neglect In A Nursing Home?

Aged Care Nursing Homes Care and Services

Each Aged Care facility has to give a level of care according to the Accreditation Standards to receive Government funding. This Aged Care Standards cover such things as health, personal care, lifestyle, safety and quality of buildings and surroundings, and even ensures that the management team fall in line. Once the Home is awarded the accreditation then each year they must go through checks and pass all test to up keep their awards and funding.

If you start to Recognize Signs of Neglect in a Nursing Home that your loved one is living in then you are able to step in a take the matter further by going to The Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme. It is best that you first try to resolve the matter within the Facility but if you feel like the neglect is still occurring and is not resolved then taking the matter is in the best interest of the Resident/your loved one. For more information about Aged Care in Nursing Homes go here.

7 Signs Of Neglect In A Nursing Home:

1. You are visiting your loved one the second time that week and you notice that the resident is still sitting by themselves and have no buzzer near by, nor a drink within reach


2. Your family member is wet upon you arriving with incontinence of urine, and no carer is aware of your loved one being left to sit in their own urine


3. The room your loved one in has a bed that is not made, covered in urine and faeces and smells stale


4. Upon arrival of entering the facility you notice a smell that goes from room to room


5. The bins of rubbish and linen have not been emptied and are sitting in the corridor and its late afternoon.


6. You loved one has come up in a few bruises and there is no explanation for them


7. After hugging your loved one you notice that they have lost a fair bit of weight, and you start to ask questions but no one has noticed that your loved one is not eating... therefore losing weight.

If you feel like the neglect is dangerous for your loved ones safety then you need to discuss the situation immediately. Even if you suspect that their has been an elder abuse situation then you need to contact the police. It is better to known exactly what has happened then to ignore and find out later that there was a dangerous situation that could have been reported and prevented from occurring again. There more ways to Recognize Signs of Neglect in A Nursing Home - with in many departments.

Are the Workers in Your Loved One's Assisted Living Facility Qualified?

"Are you dedicated, driven, committed, and professional? Do you want to make a difference by caring for others and working with people from all backgrounds and socio-economic levels?"

Yes, this could be an ad aimed at recruiting knowledgeable senior caregivers for openings at an assisted living facility. And, in fact, the many qualified care providers on the staff of a facility work together to make sure each day's routine runs smoothly. Of course, in order to ensure the highest level of quality and care for your loved one, verifying the facility's credentials and the staff's training and on-the-job experience are vital.

Essentially, an assisted living facility provides care for individuals who can no longer live independently but do not necessarily need round-the-clock care. More importantly, however, you must remember that an assisted living facility is not a nursing home nor can it provide the kind of medical care your loved one may require. And while there are many safeguards in place, there are many more caregiving roles at the facility that are not required by law to be provided.

But how do you know what to expect from each caregiver? First and foremost, inquire about the hiring requirements of the senior caregivers - what are their daily tasks? What sort of training have they received? Remember you can never be too careful or too inquisitive, so before your tour, prepare yourself with a look into the care provider structure of an assisted living facility.

• 
  RNs/LPNs - Even with an extended staff of experts and senior caregivers on hand, an assisted living facility is not required by law to have registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on staff or even on call.
  
  Nurses are often required to assess the health care needs of residents in coordination with the administrator and the resident's physician, serving as a sort of liaison between the two parties. They are responsible for developing a comprehensive plan or outline of care for each resident (if necessary) and carry out these tasks on a daily basis. In addition, they train new hires that have an active part in the resident's health plan.
  
  As RNs and LPNs are licensed medical caregivers, only they can administer and/or distribute medication to residents. While many facilities do have RNs on call, it makes administration and/or distribution of medication to residents harder as they are the only ones able to perform these tasks. If your loved one requires round-the-clock care and supervision from senior caregivers, a skilled nursing facility may be a more practical option.
  
  


• 
  CNAs/General Caregivers - Certified nursing assistants and general caregivers are hired to bathe, dress, feed, and tend to residents on a daily basis. While CNAs have extensive training, hands-on experience, and a considerable subject knowledge base, general senior caregivers often receive on-the-job training, learning as they go, so to speak.
  
  In addition, some facilities require specialization in key areas such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. CNAs and general senior caregivers are the primary point people that interact with residents every day and often provide them with much-needed social and emotional support.
  
  


• 
  Administrator/Director of Marketing and Sales - Initially, you'll speak with the administrator and/or the director of marketing and sales, who will guide you through the entire process, conduct a tour of the facility, and answer all of your questions regarding the senior caregivers and staff. The administrator oversees all operations within an assisted living facility, keeping track of the staff, and monitoring residents' needs and well-being. He or she is responsible for the training of all licensed and unlicensed staff and senior caregivers on the premises.
  
  The director of marketing and sales, on the other hand, promotes the assisted living facility, ensuring the proper advertising messages are relayed regarding the approach to resident care, amenities, and services. He or she will speak with you to discuss the features and benefits of the facility as well as pricing, on-site senior caregivers, and any other perks.
  
  


• 
  Activity Coordinator - The duties of the activity coordinator are an important part of your loved one's daily routine at an assisted living facility. These individuals are called on to provide stimulating, mind-challenging, and invigorating games and therapies that help residents get moving and thinking. The activity coordinator keeps aging minds thinking cognitively and aging bodies moving actively with singing, outdoor adventures, movie nights, shopping trips, and other engaging events and games.
  
  During your tour, observe some of the in-house activities to get a feel for what residents do each day. The activity coordinator at an assisted living facility is also responsible for special programs and social events that occur outside of the scope of daily activities.
  
  


• 
  Dietician/Chef - The makeup of a senior's diet is much different, and meals require nutritious elements that aid in recuperation, rejuvenation, and weight maintenance. Though a dietician may not always be on staff, if one is, he or she will be able to offer helpful insights into the necessary requirements of a senior diet, including reduced sodium, increased fiber and calcium, and more protein, all while supervising calorie intake.
  
  Besides proper food handling and sanitation requirements, a head chef at an assisted living facility is often required to have line experience, efficient organization and time management skills, and a basic understanding of preparing food for the senior stomach.

The senior caregivers at an assisted living facility promote interaction and prevent isolation but are not capable of caring for a loved one in poor health. Above all, the most important thing to keep in mind when finding the right place for your loved one is that it offers quality assistance from kind senior caregivers and satisfies the requisites for welfare, health, and happiness.

What Is the Correct Home Health Care Franchise for Me?

There are over 14 different home health care franchises out there to choose from as a business opportunity. Which is the right one for you and what are the differences?

Right now, the home health care industry is booming but even without the boom it would still be a good business to get into. It has some features that are particularly good when looking at what type of business to get into. It has repeat customers, is recession resistant, has a management style business model, and has in-demand services.

Repeat customers are important aspect to any business. It is much easier to grow a business when you have a base to work with. You can provide good service to keep your current customers while you grow the business by finding new customers. Plus, with repeat customers, you have a better chance of an existing customer referring your services to someone else since they see you often.

The in-home health services are always going to be needed to some extent because it is based on the age of people rather than some fad.

Typically, you manage this type of business rather than do the physical work. Because of this, you can enjoy a white-collar style position. Also, it is easier to sell a business in the future if you manage as opposed to "being the business."

Right now, the home health care services are in demand and will continue to be in demand so the aging population can stay in their home while they age.

So what are the differences. The main differences are the services provided. Almost all provide non-medical services. In addition to the non-medical services provide, some will provide medical services, staffing services, and placement services.

Non-medical services may include light house cleaning, light cooking, companionship, transportation, bathing, dressing, grooming, repositioning bed-bound patients. Most non-medical services can be provided by a Certified Nurse Assistant or a Home Health Assistant but verify this with each franchise.

Medical services could include wound care, giving medication, physical therapy, blood sugar testing, IV hookups, catheters, etc. Medical services typically require a Registered Nurse to be a director with LPN's or RN's performing the work.

Staffing services are another revenue source that some franchises chose to add. Since you are already finding work for caregivers by getting your own clients, you could easily speak to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living homes, etc to see if you can place employees into their systems. If you have an abundance of caregiver applicants, this seems like a great additional revenue source. Keep in mind, your main focus should be building in-home clients for your caregivers. Also, remember that there are companies that do just staffing for health care workers.

Placement services or assisted living placement services are another revenue source for many of the franchises. When your client becomes unable to live at their home, you can refer them to an assisted living home or nursing home if needed. You will receive a referral fee from the assisted living home or nursing home. You will have the referral agreement created with the homes before you start referring clients.

You may just want to focus on non-medical and/or medical and not worry about the other services. Or maybe you see the advantage of being able to offer those additional services.

Another aspect to look at when choosing the right one is what type of workforce do they have. Almost all the systems make their caregivers employees, while just a couple make them independent contractors. This model can make a substantial difference to your bottom line.

Also, you may want to find out if the franchise company works with Medicare and Medicaid. Some people view this as a positive because of the guaranteed payments while others know the hassle it creates and the lower payment produced by Medicare.

All of these are aspects to consider when you are looking at which home health care franchise to buy into.

We can help narrow down which one is best for you. We are franchise consultants that specialize in the home health care franchises. Our services are free to you, we save you endless hours of searching for the right one, we get you in contact with the appropriate people quickly, and we have other references and material to help you conduct your research.

Physical Therapist Resume - How to Write a Good Resume For Your Physical Therapist Job Application

If you are the type of person that can find self-satisfaction for helping people than becoming a physical therapist just might be the job for you, not to mention that you can earn handsomely for it too. Obviously before you can do so you will need to get a job and for you to land one you will need a resume that is not only appealing but can portray you as the person that you say you are. So besides listing down all your educational background your resume should also be able to list your characteristics as well.

As such you have to be very careful when you write your resume, the reason for this is because this is the first ever interaction you will have between your future employer. So the resume must be able to stand out from the crowd and one that the employer will be able to remember from the stack of applications that they receive. This is of course not the only step as you will need to go for interviews and so on but nonetheless this is the most important step of all.

When writing your resume you should not just list down all your past achievements and educational background and be done with it. Today the problem is that anyone can get a degree but whether or not they have the necessary skills to back up the certificate is an entirely separate question. So make sure that you include other important information about yourself that will attract the employers.

Don't write a sloppy bio data about yourself, instead take the time and effort to compile all the necessary information and write a proper resume. Even through the simple task as that, your potential employers will have a glimpse of your passion about the job. Having said that you are not writing a biography so make it concise where they employers can get a sense of who you are.

Employers don't want a robot that can only heal patients they want people that can help other people too. This means that your soft skills should be as good as your medical knowledge, so make sure that you not only graduate at the top of your class but when it comes to dealing with people you have the patience for it even though there is no certificate for that.

Working in such as high risk environment the extra knowledge of CPR or first aid would certainly be an added advantage on your part. Include such information on your resume so you can land that dream job.

Convincing an Elderly Parent to Accept In-Home Care Assistance

When an elderly person begins to show signs of requiring in-home assistance, it is usually an adult son or daughter who first recognizes the need. However, quite often it turns out that the parent does not feel that he or she needs help in the first place. Sometimes no amount of reasoning or persuasion can overcome the disagreement. What to do?

The reason this issue can become such a point of contention across generations has to do in part with a difference in perspectives. A son or daughter may notice a parent exhibiting gait unsteadiness, missing medications or showing impaired ability to perform self-care or household tasks. This naturally leads to concerns about safety and well-being. Arranging for help in the home is an obvious solution that can allow a parent to live comfortably and safely.

The parent's perspective, of course, may be quite different. His or her focus may be on privacy and independence. To accept the need for an aide or companion may seem like surrendering one's dignity and control. Cost may also be a concern. Reconciling these different perspectives can be difficult if not impossible. Here are some suggestions from our experience that may be of help to the children of elderly parents:

Try to Avoid No-Win Arguments

We see lots of families locking horns over whether the parents are really slipping or not. A typical discussion goes this way:

You:"Mom, I've been noticing you haven't been eating as well lately, and when I look in your refrigerator it seems like you have barely touched food that I bought for you days earlier."

Mom:"I'm eating perfectly well, dear. You know I'm not as active as I used to be, and I don't need as much. I'm certainly not going hungry."

You: "But wouldn't it be easier if we had someone come in and cook for you?"

Mom:"No, I don't want that and I don't need that. I cook for myself just fine."

You:"Another thing, we've noticed that you aren't as steady on your feet as you used to be. We're worried that you could fall."

Mom:"I'm very careful. Don't worry about me."

You:"But you fell last month getting out of the tub. It was lucky you didn't hurt yourself."

Mom:"That was just a fluke accident because the vanity light wasn't working. I'm really fine. I don't need any help."

You: "John and I think you do, Mom."

Mom: "Well, I don't."

These kinds of arguments usually don't accomplish much. They can lead to anger and can just harden resistance.

Emphasize Your Needs, Not Theirs

A parent may be a little more accepting of home caregiver services if you emphasize that it's for your benefit. Point out that you would feel more comfortable knowing someone was helping with the meals, laundry and household chores. Pose it as a favor for you. Explain that it would give you peace of mind as you attend to your own personal or job priorities.

Accept that Safety Doesn't Trump Everything Else

One important lesson we've learned over the years is that compromise is almost always necessary on the issue of safety. An elderly person with functional impairment and/or chronic illness is at increased risk of mishaps, injuries and adverse events. To make safety the overriding issue seems like the compassionate, ethical thing to do. But if it comes at the expense of dignity and quality of life, it may not be.

Better to accommodate a parent's values and preferences while practicing the art of the possible. If your parent refuses your entreaties to get live-in care or move to assisted living, set up more limited home care visits and arrange for an emergency alert system. If imbalance is a problem, make sure a medical evaluation is done, and then learn about the many ways a home can be modified to protect against falls (e.g., installing grab bars and rails; using no-slip mats; assuring good lighting; removing trip hazards and clutter.) If medication errors are a concern, make sure that a physician reviews all prescriptions to keep the regimens as simple as possible, then at least buy a medication dispenser. There are even a variety of electronic dispensers that will automatically dial a programmed telephone number if doses are skipped.

Don't ignore the many possible ways in which technology can allow adult children to monitor the safety of aging parents. Remote monitoring of vital signs like blood pressure, tracking movement throughout the home with motion detectors or cameras, confirming compliance with medications-all of these and more are possible nowadays.

A great deal can be done to improve safety for an elderly person living alone. But at the end of the day, no combination of strategies will eliminate all risk. The challenge is to maximize safety while not ignoring important values like self-esteem, dignity and reasonable independence.

Focus on Help with Household Tasks

One way to persuade an elderly loved one to accept in home assistance is to present it as help with household chores, laundry and meals rather than personal care. Many people of all ages use housekeepers, and this doesn't entail the perceived stigma that a personal care aide may represent. Once the "foot is in the door," the elder can develop a relationship with the caregiver and then become less resistant to personal care.

Enlist the Help of a Trusted Professional

Whereas an elderly individual may resist the pleas of concerned family members, the advice of a trusted personal physician, lawyer or clergyman may be more persuasive. Meeting with such an individual is almost always a good idea. But be careful about appearing as if you have enlisted the professional to press your point of view. If the elder feels he or she is being "ganged up on," this approach may backfire.

Don't Ignore Signs of Dementia

Behaviors such as repeating the same story over and over, forgetting appointments, becoming lost in previously familiar surroundings or losing the ability to perform tasks that were once routine, are signs of dementia. Too many people ascribe such behaviors to normal aging.

When a parent has dementia, persuading him or her to accept help becomes much more complicated, because judgment may be seriously impaired. How assertive should you be? What are your filial and ethical obligations? At what point do you insist upon taking control, and at what cost to your relationship?

The first critical priority is to arrange a medical evaluation to assess the cause and extent of dementia and to initiate treatment, if possible. Find out from the physician how much cognitive impairment exists, and what kinds of decision-making responsibilities you should be taking over for your parent. Educate yourself about the problem by contacting the Alzheimer's Association or the NIH's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center.

Receiving the Education Necessary for a Career in Human Resources

With enrollment in an accredited human resources school or college you can receive the educational training needed to pursue the career of your choice. Receiving the education necessary for a career in human resources will also you to pursue the profession you desire. Opportunities exist at various levels allowing you to obtain the education needed to pursue the career you dream of. You can select from various specialized areas of study in order to enter into the career that best fits your individual goals and needs.

Specialized areas can be entered in order for you to receive the education that is needed for the career of your choice. You can select from human resources and human resources management. This will help you to follow the career path that fits your individual needs and goals to pursue the profession you desire. Professionals in this field are trained to work with different people in various businesses to put policies and strategies into action in the workplace. You can pursue a human resources career by finding a program that meets your needs and learning more about the educational training options available to you.

Human resources careers can be entered once you earn an accredited education. This can be done at various levels including an:

• Associate


• Bachelor


• Master

...degree level. The level of education being obtained will help to decide the length of time that needs to be spent on studies. Associate degree programs can last two years and prepare you for a four year bachelor degree program. Training for a master degree will require an additional two years of study. Coursework will vary but can include training in public administration, management principles, industrial psychology, computers, organizational structure and more. Accredited schooling will prepare you for a career working as a recruiter, director of employment, occupational analyst, benefits specialist, placement manager, and many other professions. You can start the path to a career in human resources by finding a program and enrolling today.

Human resources management career training programs allow you to select from a variety of educational options. You have the opportunity to earn an accredited:

• Associate


• Bachelor


• Master

...degree in this exciting area of the field. Obtaining an accredited higher education at any of these levels will help you to prepare for the career you dream of.

Coursework will cover various topics to allow you to obtain the knowledge you need to enter into employment. Studies can include courses in business administration, psychology, accounting and finance, managerial ethics, marketing and other related studies. Training in human resources management will help to give you the skills you need to become a professional training specialist, assistant training manager, personnel recruiter, compensation administrator, and more. You can enter into the field by researching accredited schools and colleges and enrolling in a program today.

Accredited schools, colleges and degree programs can help you obtain the education necessary to enter into a successful career. There are various agencies that can fully accredited educational training programs that offer the best quality education. The Accrediting Council for Independent Schools and Colleges is one of the agencies that can ensure you will receive the accredited education you desire by providing human resources schools and colleges with full accreditation. You can begin the path to an exciting career in this field by enrolling today.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Picking the Perfect Nursing Home

If you are in the process of looking for a nursing home for a loved one you will want to find the best possible care available. It can be a trying time when you have to watch a loved one be re-located to a nursing home so it is reassuring to know that you have done your part and looked in detail for high quality care. Empower yourself and your family member by taking the time and effort to research all of the homes available to you. This is a rough guide to help make this process slightly easier.

The first thing to do is to research homes in your area or the area you wish your loved one to be re-located to. This can be done via the internet or using the phonebook and you should look to shortlist at least five or six nursing homes to further research.

Once you have taken the time to research and short-list some nursing homes the next step is to call each of the homes and arrange a tour. One useful tip is to listen carefully to the person's voice who answers the phone, take into account their tone and demeanour as this could be a first indication of what the quality of service will be like. Whilst on the phone take time to ask question and be specific. Ask all of the questions you can think of whether they are about the various medical suppliers the home uses or about the available recreational activities for the patients.

When you arrive for your tours of the various homes make sure aware of your first impression, is it airy, clean and bright? You need to assess the atmosphere and best judge whether your family member will be happy staying in the home. Also take into account all of the little details. What is the hospital furniture like? Ask about the equipment, if they mention something you don't know about like bp monitors then you should ask. One of the most important things to do on a tour of a nursing home is to use your own eyes and ears, the tour guide will only tell you how wonderful the home is so you must be on the lookout for negatives. This is not to say that you should go on the tour with a negative outlook you should just keep your eyes open for anything that does not look good. Also remember to ask for an information package about the home, this will help to further research the home.

Whilst you can receive all the advice in the world about looking for the perfect nursing home nothing will compare to your own instinct. Always keep in mind that your loved one will be living in the home you choose and this will ensure that you pick the best possible option for you and your family.

Senior Care Jobs

What opportunities are available for employment in senior care?

Senior care jobs are available in retirement communities, senior home care agencies and nursing homes.  Retirement communities employ managers, sales, support and care staff, usually consisting of a Registered Nurse and a few Certified Nursing Aides to support the community.  Senior home care agencies employ managers consisting of registered nurses and social workers along with office and field staff including schedulers, recruiters, bookkeepers and receptionists or in-take coordinators.  Field staff consists of Certified Nursing Aides, Home Health Aides and Certified Personal Care Assistants (all states in the U.S.A. certify nursing aides and additional senior care certfications vary by state).

What training is required?  Some positions do not require training beyond a caring personality.  Other positions require experience in that area of expertise.  Non-medical senior home care agencies are able to staff companion caregivers in most states.  These caregivers receive caregiver training through the senior care agency and the only requirements are dependablility, compassion and experience interacting with seniors.

What certifications are required?  Retirement communities and nursing homes usually require caregivers to be certified as a nursing aide.  Senior home care agencies are considered non-medical and may require some caregivers who are working in nursing facilities or reimbursed by long-term care insurance to be certified nursing aides or certified home health aides or certified personal care assistants if these certifications are offered in the state where care services are provided.

What are the job duties?  The caregiving job duties will consist of:  companionship, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation (and planning), assisting with personal care and safe transfers, exercise coaching, medication monitoring and errands.  Mental and physical exercises along with social activities may be included in the senior's plan of care.

How do you become certified as a nursing aide?  You should check the certification requirements in your state.  Many community colleges offer nursing aide certification programs and some hospitals and nursing homes may also offer the nursing aide certification.  You are usually able to obtain certification within 6 to 12 weeks, depending on if you attend a full-time or part-time program.  After finishing a certification program, you will be required to take the state exam.  Usually your program will provide you with practice tests.  Skills learned include proper emotional interaction with the senior, along with how to bathe, transfer and maintain cleanliness in the patient's environment.  Feeding tube and colostomy maintenance are also taught.

Are positions full-time or part-time? Both full-time and part-time positions are available as often seniors will only need part-time services in their home when additional care is first needed.  Many times senior home care agencies will need to staff morning or afternoon or evening caregivers in order to meet a senior's care needs, which means a wide variety of part-time schedules are available.  This makes companion care an attractive opportunity for both seniors and students.

How do you find available senior care positions?  It is always a good idea to obtain some experience through volunteering at a senior center, nursing home.  Opportunities also exist through associations for age-related diseases such as Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's Disease.  You may also explore senior caregiving jobs through career centers for caregivers where one application will reach all the senior care companies in your area.

Retirement in Diaspora: Are You Preparing For It, or Are Your Chickens Going to Come Home To Roost?

With medical advances, decline in smoking, more physical activity and better eating habits, and other factors that enable people to live longer, the average lucky person in a western country could expect to spend 18-plus years in retirement.

Let you and I work on solutions together: Email me how you are planning for retirement. Share your ideas for all of us to learn from your insights.

Retirement is one of those life's mirages: you know it is there and coming towards you, and yet it surprises you how fast it arrives. Many of us in Diaspora refuse to see the magnitude of it. Even as retirement stares us in the face, we don't plan for it. The Igbos have an adage: not mentioning death by name does not mean a moratorium on dying. "Ma akpoyi onwu aha, ya di ka o naghi egbu egbu." Although we would rather not talk or think about this modern taboo; talking, thinking, and planning for retirement is something we must do, indeed.

To live those golden years in relative comfort, you need money - lots of it! With a longer life comes more expenses, including medical bills. And retirement benefits from governments and pensions may not be there, as deficits and cutbacks occur.

Not preparing for this eventuality does not make it go away. It might even lead to retirement in poverty and misery. Failing to plan means planning to fail. This report is not to scare anyone, unless it is to scare one straight into preparing for one's own retirement. The goal of this article is to inform, to awaken, and refocus commitment to this all important, looming phrase of our lives, if we are lucky enough to get there in the first place.

For those of us in Diaspora, I strongly urge everyone to volunteer to work a few hours in a nursing home during the holiday season. It is one way to give back, and also a way to see, first-hand, what retirement is really like in our host country. Secondly, each of us needs to have in-depth conversations with someone handling the finances of an elderly parent or relative to learn the financial aspects of getting old in Diaspora.

It may help you rethink your choices: building a village mansion without resale value, buying a home and vehicle you cannot really afford, wasting dollars you should be saving, and working yourself to death, when what you need to do right here and now is "cut your coat according to your size."

With real needs ahead, we should focus on important things: our individual and collective retirement, health, education of our children, eradication of poverty, reduction of crime, and fostering of true

prosperity in both our native and host nations.

In Nigeria, we should forsake the politics of corruption, division, suppression, and oppression. Why pay attention to corrupt politicians and leaders who ride around in motorcades full of $100,000 cars, fly in multi-million dollar jets, and live in Saddam Hussein-like mansions while their people lack basic drinking water, electricity, fair roads, sanitation and health care and roofs over their heads? Where women still die needlessly during labor, and countless children perish before the age of five with worse mortality rates than stray dogs, where university graduates can't find self-sustaining employments?

Why worship mortal leaders who plunge the masses into hell on earth? Rather, let us give full attention to more important and urgent matters. We should eschew avarice, hatred, jealousy, and the ugada (upside down) mentality of eating while others starve.

"The primary goal of devising a safe retirement program is to create a sustainable source of income that will benefit you in the long run. Saving money and properly allocating it in different arenas is the first step towards that end," according to Martin Lukac of RateTake.

Every culture has it own way or ways for dealing with retirement. As great as the United States of America is in so many ways, the manner in which many old, poor, and sick Americans are housed in an out-of-sight-out-of-mind way should spur many of us immigrants (who notice this ugly side) to prepare for our own retirement in America. Having overcome adversities in our home countries, immigrants have enhanced threshold for pain; however, we may find retirement in abject poverty in America too much to bear. This is no joke. It is quite a serious matter. It's your life in golden years in preview.

If you think life is challenging during your productive years, think how more challenging it will become when you stop working but still need, at least, 70% (for gentlemen) and 85% (for ladies) of your pre-retirement income just to maintain your current standard of living, if you are in relatively good health. If you have underlying health issues that increase your out-of-pocket costs after insurance, then you are going to need even more funds.

Retirement planning is like insurance planning: you need to have it before you need it. It takes years of dedicated planning and saving to establish enough funds for your old age, according to retirement experts.

For many of us first generation immigrants, our situation is quite unique and will require unique solutions. Many of us have adopted strategies that straddle prevailing retirement programs in Diaspora and those of your native country. These methods are neither mutually exclusive nor are they necessarily compatible. Most of them are untested and therefore fraught with point-of-return uncertainties. In other words, by the time the inherent deficiencies are discovered, you have already retired and don't have time to choose a do-over.

Conditions on the ground and frankly our own myopia in our respective new homelands precluded many of us from starting jobs early where we paid into various retirement systems like social security, 401K or employer pensions programs. Taxi drivers, ice-cream hawkers, house cleaners, child care providers, under-the-table-paid workers, or short-term workers, did not start paying early into the retirement program. Of course, employers were all too happy to oblige us, because they saved money by not contributing their share to our retirement funds.

Compounding is an amazing thing when it comes to savings, either accumulating sizable cushions, or decimating our retirement nest egg. Some of us are using every reason to borrow from our 401K's without understanding the long term disastrous effects. No, you are not paying back yourself the interest incurred. Please educate yourself on how the 401K program works. Those who thought they were outsmarting the system by not paying into, not contributing the maximum, or borrowing against their retirement program are bound to watch their chickens come home to roost when they retire with a depleted reserve.

Many of us were late in homebuying (you are not a homeowner until you have paid off the mortgage) in Diaspora. Before the housing crisis hit hard, some followed the herd mentality by unknowingly buying at the top of the housing market in the boom years. We further exacerbated the situation by using our homes as ATMs, and maxing out Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) loans. Many are now facing foreclosure because we bought homes we could not afford with adjustable rate loans we did not understand, which we cannot refinance (even though rates are low) because of current appraisals and stricter underwriting conditions. Too many of us played the real estate game without first knowing the rules. All the business degrees not withstanding we have still allowed ourselves to fall into this trap.

Real estate should be part of any successful retirement program, so everyone needs to get this part right. Doing it right includes buying right, financing right and paying off the mortgage on your primary residence prior to retirement.

Paying off your mortgage, putting your children through university, and saving for retirement are tall orders and doing them closer to retirement age due to our late start and missteps are even more challenging. That is why prudent use of every resource is in order as we march towards retirement in foreign lands.

How prepared are we to weather the coming storms of inflation or deflation, cuts in entitlements, hikes in taxes, and the additional costs of traveling back and forth to Nigeria?

When that time comes, each of us will have to go down the long retirement road alone. It's not a bad dream you can wake up from to avoid. It will not be a case of "may the last person turn off the light." It might even be a time of "To your tent, Oh Israel."

Although some of us have built houses in our respective villages and made plans to retire there after many years of sojourn overseas, this approach raises many questions: How are you going to retire in Nigeria when your children and, perhaps, grandchildren are here? How can you afford to maintain two homes, one there and another in your overseas base? How can you access medical care in your old age in your village in Nigeria? How can you be safe in your village if the current insecurity remains unabated? Why are you going to rush in when most people want to get out? And if you want to be buried in Nigeria when you die, have you made plans to foot the bill or are you going to let your survivors undergo the rather shameful act of wake-keeping for money so that your body can be flown to Nigeria? Will we start making hay while the sun is shining? When are we going to start fetching water to put out the fire on our burning homes rather than chasing escaping mice? Or are we waiting for greedy and unreliable politicians to do it for us? Who would you rather control your destiny, you or them?

Let us all work on this together. Let us all learn from each other. Share your insights and knowledge and perspectives here. What are you doing to prepare for your own retirement? Why do you think your way is a better course of action? E-mail me your concise and practical ideas in one or two paragraphs. I will compile the responses and publish it for all of us to learn from and possibly adopt. This will be a practical and here-on-earth way we can learn from each other to prepare for this eventuality. Credit will given to you and if you would rather not have your name mentioned in the compilation article(s), please state so in your e-mail and I will abide by your wishes.

Information About Taxi Cab Accidents

For a person living in a smaller community, riding in a taxi cab may be a foreign activity; but to those that have lived or visited big cities, using a taxi for everyday transportation is like second nature. Each day, many people use taxis as a mode of transportation without thinking twice about the possible risks of being a passenger. Unfortunately, taxi cab car accidents occur on a daily basis and yield many different types of injuries as a result.

Some of the most common types of injuries seen in taxi accidents include whiplash injuries, cuts and bruises, broken bones, and trauma to the face and head. While some taxi drivers will enforce the seat belt laws (varying state by state), many taxi companies and drivers are lenient in regards to the regulations on passengers wearing their seat belt in a taxi cab. When a taxi is involved in an auto accident and the passengers were not properly buckled into their seats, the injuries may drastically increase.

In the last reported year of auto accident statistics and fatalities by the United States Census, approximately 10.8 million motor vehicle accidents were recorded. Many accidents that involve taxi cabs are caused by the cab driver themselves or an external force, such as a drunk driver, distracted driver, or a person who was speeding, among other causes of cab accidents. If you have been involved in an accident while riding as a passenger in a taxi, it is important for you to understand your rights immediately.

Suffering injuries in a taxi accident will be extremely difficult to manage, especially if you are attempting to heal from your injuries and pursue a personal injury settlement simultaneously. These types of accidents are often more difficult to deal with than car accidents involving passenger vehicles because a cab company will immediately become involved. At the time of their involvement, the cab driver may be instructed to rid of any evidence that may link the cause of the accident back to the cab company or driver, as they do not want to be held financially accountable for the damages caused. It is important that you involve an attorney on your case right away to ensure that the investigation into the accident is prompted immediately.

If you were injured in an accident caused by a reckless driver, now is the time for you to pursue justice. Your injuries may range into the thousands of dollars just for the first treatment, and if you are out of work due to your injuries, it may be nearly impossible to keep up with the hospital bills. Don't let yourself get dragged down by an injury sustained in an accident; speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Ways to Pay For Nursing Home Care

The easiest way to pay for nursing home care for an elderly or disabled family member is also the hardest. You write the monthly check. It hurts because the average yearly cost is now $70,128.

Before writing a check, it makes sense to talk with a knowledgeable attorney or accountant so that your family does not overlook tax deductions or available benefits. For example, if you pay more than 50% of the support for a relative who meets certain gross income guidelines, then you may claim the relative as a dependent on your own federal tax return. You might also qualify for the dependent care credit which is available for a dependent parent who needs full time attention.

The I.R.S. also permits a tax deduction for qualified long term care services. Many of the costs incurred in a nursing home can qualify for the medical expense deduction under a proper plan as long as it is set up by a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Medical expenses can be claimed as itemized deductions, so long as they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. Qualified health insurance premiums, long term care service and other eligible medical expenses can be added together to meet this cutoff. If you pay nursing home costs for a parent or disabled family member, it is important to consider this deduction.

Many people turn to Medicaid to write the check for nursing home care. The program is jointly funded by the states and the U.S. government. The first hurdle is that your family member must have a medical reason to be in a nursing home. It is not a housing program. The next hurdles are the income and asset guidelines. The single person guidelines for Medicaid limit assets to $2,000 in the bank, possibly a car, some personal property and a prepaid funeral account. The rules are more generous for spouses. A spouse can keep approximately $100,000 in assets and the family home. If any assets were given away within five years prior to applying, those transfers may block your family member from eligibility. The guidelines do vary from state to state.

Considering that some government statistics predict that 50% of U.S. population will spend at least some time in a nursing home, it is a good idea to consider long term care insurance. Our average stay is 11 months. Long term care insurance policies have many different features, including daily benefits, elimination period, inflation riders and benefit length limits. Two good starting points are to be sure that any policy you purchase is tax qualified and that the insurance company is sound. Since long term care insurance is a new product and the companies have had limited claims losses, it tends to be reasonably priced.

The United States Veterans Administration is another possible source of nursing home care. The U.S. Veterans Administration maintains about 115 nursing care facilities. That is a very small number to house all of our veterans. They have about 300 beds each and there is some availability for spouses of veterans, surviving spouses and certain eligible parents, such as Gold Star mothers.

Medicare is another checkbook but its funds are very limited. It doesn't come out until a patient spends three days in a hospital and is prescribed to a nursing home by a doctor for "skilled nursing care." After 21 days you have to write checks for a significant co-pay of $128 per day. A medi-gap policy can cover this but your own checkbook comes out again for full pay after 100 days.

It pays to plan and consult ahead and long term care insurance may be a bargain in the long run.

Joseph M. Hoffmann, Esq. is an attorney in Newton, who helps clients with trusts, estate planning, Wills and related transactions.

RN Jobs Plentiful at Nursing Homes

There are many different areas of practice that the registered nurse can investigate in the nursing home. Not only does the registered nurse have the option of practicing in a clinical area of the nursing profession, they can also decide on a career in nursing that entails only administrative duties such as an MDS Coordinator position that is unique to the long term care industry. This position deals with medicare and medicaid reimbursement criteria.

Nursing homes offer the new graduate or any nurse, flexibility that they might not experience if they worked in a hospital setting. The patient acuity level can sometimes be less, but this depends on whether or not the nursing home is a skilled facility or an intermediate facility. Usually at nursing homes, the nurse only dispenses medications and does treatments, because the CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant performs most ADL's for the residents. ADL's are activities of daily living, and they consist of bathing, dressing and grooming the resident.

Scheduling of the nursing home registered nurse can be more flexible too. Many nurses choose to work part-time, and according to a recent report, approximately 21 percent of registered nurses worked part-time. Many nursing home facilities, allow the nurse to choose their own hours, providing a great option to working mothers. According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, 7 percent of registered nurses hold more than one job. Nursing home schedules allow the nurse to work the hours they want in order to accommodate a second job.

RN jobs in the area of geriatrics are plentiful because the nursing home atmosphere isn't usually a popular choice among new graduates, or nurses looking for a change in the work environment. However, registered nurses that choose to work in a long term care facility can sometimes get very lucrative sign on bonuses as a result. These homes are also a great option for the older nurse who wants to return to the nursing field but is hesitant because their clinical skills need refreshing.

Many hospitals offer refresher courses to registered nurses who are reentering the nursing practice after an extended absence. Nursing homes usually don't offer such courses, however, they can provide some valuable hands on experience in an environment that can offer a lower stress level than that of a hospital. The pay scale for registered nurses in the nursing home are very competitive, and sometimes they even exceed that of the hospital. There are also many hospital affiliated long term facilities that offer identical pay and benefits of the hospital they are affiliated with.

It is important to note that the job outlook is very promising for the RN, as the health care industry is thriving. From 2006-2016, the Bureau Of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses are anticipated to generate approximately 587,000 new jobs, which is one of the largest numbers of all occupations. Registered nurses also comprise the largest occupational group in the health care industry. RN job prospects are excellent, and the nurse can achieve even more flexibility in their careers if they choose employment in a long term care facility.

How To Land Your Ideal Nursing Job

After graduating or obtaining a degree in nursing, the next thing to do is to get ready for job hunting. On the other hand, if you are an experienced nurse the next step is to find for a challenging new place, such as a higher spot in the medical field. In spite of the range of your nursing background, the process of seeking for a new career is time-consuming and a bit exasperating. The main thing you need to consider in the entire job search procedure is finding for the vacant nursing positions.

Following are rules and guidelines created to cut career search problem and to give you proper idea on how to get your dream-nursing job.

Set an appointment and visit the recruiting agencies and departments of local hospitals, medical centers, and doctor's offices to find out the vacant positions available. If ever there are no open spot, ask if you can send your application or resume for future job opening.

Call recruitment and contract employment agencies and make sure to get in touch with a recruiter in the agency to give you information about several job openings, and even some not advertised vacant job. Through recruiting agencies, your chance of finding a job increase for you got the opportunity to apply for positions at multiple companies at the same time with single resume submission.

Search on major job boards online. You could visit job sites such as Monster.com and Hotjobs.com and get the chance to work on several available job vacancies. One piece of advice, keep in mind that due to a lot of number of applicants this kind of search would be very competitive.

Accept training or contract work for the mean time, for these chances sometimes serve as a good opportunity for a long-term career in the medical profession. Furthermore, this also provides you proper training on the field at the same time it gives you the time to test your skills before committing in the job for a full-time position.

Consider seeking a career to colleges and universities that offers nursing degrees, for often they have a record of vacant positions in the school itself. Connect with the career center advisory of the school to acquire more information on how to connect with other people in the industry that could give career opportunity.

Use your connections, the more connected you are with friends, family and casual acquaintances the number of chances you get to let them know you are aspiring for a job. Recommendation from a related friend or family member helps a lot especially if it gives you the chance for an interview with the particular company or institution you seek. If you have a close friend or relative working in a hospital or institution, you wish to apply. Do not hesitate to ask them for help. They can make the hiring process easier for you.

Research more on often disregarded nursing job possibilities including opening for school nurses, health department staff vacancies on other state or county, health insurance institutions, assisted living facilities and retirement homes, teaching career for nursing school programs at universities and colleges, mentor-ship programs, and programs for traveling nurse that assigns you on varied locations locally.

After covering the above mentioned job search suggestions on how to get your ideal nursing job, one last piece of advice is to keep on researching about the background of companies where you want to apply. Finally, make sure to customize your own resume as well as your cover letter for this could be the best weapon you could present aside the skills you could give once hired.

Affording a Good Nursing Home

Last year, the world's only Titanic survivor faced a quandary. Millvina Dean was only two months old when the great ship sunk, in 2008 she was in her mid-nineties and needed money to pay for a nursing home to live out the rest of her days in relative comfort. What to do?

Well, like many people the world over, Miss Dean took a long look at her assets - and decided to sell them. More precisely, she decided to sell the mementos she still had of the disaster, a suitcase full of clothes her family was given to help them begin a new life. The auction of the wicker case and clothes, along with rare prints of the ocean liner and letters her mother received from the Titanic Relief Fund, raised almost $54,000 - ten times more than she thought it would.

It's official: getting old is expensive. If you are lucky enough to live a long life, chances are you'll eventually be paying for it by the nose. Many people end up having to finance their own care near the end of their days, and it can cost a fortune. In fact, the New York Times reckons that an independent-living facility can cost up to $9,000 a month - that's about what a a New York penthouse could cost!

If you are looking into a nursing home - defined as a home that provides 24/7 care as well as administers medicines and even some medical procedures - for you or a loved one, here are some ways to pay...

Reverse Mortgage. This is a mortgage that allows homeowners to convert part of their assets into cash. Kind of like a home equity loan. Ask for professional advice if you are interested in going down this route, and only deal with a reputable lender. Be aware that the loan must be paid in full if you fail to have the home as your primary residence for one year or more, ie, if you stay in a nursing home for more than 12 months.

Long-Term Care Insurance. Most people do not have this type of insurance, but it can be very helpful if you do. The earlier you start to pay the more you will accrue - and the less you will pay initially. It is advised to take this route only to avoid burdening family members with bills for your care, and not if paying the premiums could become insurmountable. And remember you will not be sold a policy if you already have a health condition such as Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's.

Medicare or Medicaid. It's estimated that about 45 percent of all spending on long-term health care is covered by Medicaid, while about 11 percent is covered by Medicare and Social Security. The rest is paid for by the individual, by and large. Medicaid is both federal and state funded, and there are strict rules regarding who qualifies.

Win the Lottery. What could be better? Don't forget you need to buy a ticket first. And keep in mind that statistically, you have a better chance of walking up to a complete stranger and correctly guessing their telephone number than you have of winning any lottery at all. Still, every week there are winners!
繚Inherit a Fortune. Easy and simple, this is a fantastic way to afford a nursing home - as well as a new Porsche, a vacation in the Bahamas and a college education for all the grandkids. Great if you can get it. Most of us can't - even if we hire a treasure hunter to find out if we are a long-lost heir to some incredibly rich dead soul.

Check Into a Veterans' Nursing Home. In theory, all veterans should have a place waiting for them when they need it. In practice, so many people need places that people on the lowest incomes usually get first priority. Check to see if you qualify before counting on this option.

Get Help from Other Family Members. Often family members will club together and pay what they can to insure that their parents or aging relatives are cared for when they need it most. Unfortunately, in many case family members simply don't have the funds - or have them earmarked for other priorities, such as Junior's college fund and Barb's new house in the 'burbs. Don't make the mistake of expecting a cash gift - you may be greatly disappointed. It's better to have an open talk in advance to learn whether any funds will be forthcoming, however uncomfortable this may be.

Top Tips for Paying for Care

Affordable long-term care will be a priority for many of us, but protecting our assets and savings should be a top priority as well. Here are some tips to do just that...

Don't give away all your assets. Remember the government can look back five years - if you gave away money that could make you ineligible to receive Medicaid for a period of time.

Avoid what is known as "spousal impoverishment," when the spouse who is left at home can also be left destitute as his or her assets are used to pay for the other person's nursing home care. You are allowed to opt out of having your assets count against you.

Read the fine print. It may sound like a fab idea to have a home equity loan or the equivalent, but know what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line.

Hire a good, honest lawyer - if you can find one. Someone who specializes in Elder Law will be your best bet, as he or she will have years of experience in this type of thing.

Sadly, Millvina Dean died this May at the ripe old age of 97, in a private nursing home in the town of Ashurst, Hampshire in England. As the last survivor of the Titanic, her death was a memorable event. Three years earlier she had broken her hip and needed specialist care, and the sale of her historical memorabilia helped her through the most difficult times. We should all be so lucky!

How Can You Afford Elderly Care With Most of the Money Gone Due to the Recession?

Over the past year seniors watched their 401K, pension plans and other investments loose over 50% of the original value. Seniors lost most of their savings due to the recession. The young and the middle age crowd will have time to make up for the losses in the next decades. Elderly or disabled don't have a lifetime to financially recover from the losses. 

How much money does it cost to hire a live-in care provider? How much does a nursing home cost? How about assisted living community?  

The exact amount will depend on the type of care, location and the facility itself. However, in majority of cases, you can expect to spend thousands of dollars per month. The question is: does the elderly need a full-time, round the clock care due to a debilitating illness or does he need part-time assistance with home care, driving, running errands and daily chores? 
 
Instead of moving into a nursing home or letting senior home care agency manage your money and your live for you, think about exchanging your spare bedroom for part-time help. There are plenty of students and graduates working hard just to pay for their room and board. Getting free room in exchange for helping you out on part-time basis would allow young person to have more time for studying or saving all the money they earn from a part-time job. You would have no additional expense. The guest bedroom gets heated and cooled one way or the other. In addition to helping a young person in need you also help to save the environment. Most of all, you help yourself. You don't need to spend a penny to be driven to the Mall or to the church. You no longer have to pay bills for all the services you spend your money on.   You get to keep all your money. There is another advantage you could get from opening your home to a student - companionship. If you opt for an international student who came here to polish her English language skills you would have a companion to talk to all day long.

Helping Families and Loved Ones Identify Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

One of the most difficult decisions a family can make is to place a loved one in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. Although such facilities can provide a level of care and supervision that many families cannot give on their own, poor care can sometimes worsen a resident's condition, or even hasten his or her death. Most nursing homes are staffed with caregivers who want to provide the best care, but the work is difficult and many facilities have high staff turnover. This can lead to facilities that are understaffed or have poorly trained or inexperienced workers.

Families often must select a nursing home quickly when a loved one is injured or ill and suddenly needs full-time care. Family members want to be assured that the facility they've selected has an excellent record, but even with web sites such as Medicare's "Nursing Home Compare," the task can be daunting.

A study by Wisconsin's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel highlights the difficulties in finding accurate and specific information on nursing home violations, as the article's authors had to manually compile information from thousands of pages of records. The 2008 study revealed that over a recent three-year period, 359 nursing home residents in Wisconsin were subject to violations that "put patients in jeopardy." Surprisingly, many families were unaware that their loved ones' injuries or deaths later resulted in citations against the nursing homes.

Against this background, it is easy to see why many instances of nursing home negligence and neglect are unknown, even to family members.

Detecting Injuries That May Be Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

Bed sores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, are among the most common signs of neglect. They form as a result of a lack of blood flow to areas of the body with significant pressure, such as the backside of a person confined to a bed or wheelchair. Although they can be avoided by simply moving the person every two hours, the infections they cause can be life threatening.

Other injuries that should be red flags include:
• Broken bones or fractures
• Bruises
• Infections
• Internal bleeding
• Malnutrition or weight loss
• Dehydration

Asking the Right Questions

Having looked up to parents, grandparents and other relatives for so many years, family members concerned about nursing home abuse or neglect may find it difficult to ask what seem like very personal or even embarrassing questions of loved ones in nursing homes. If they have concerns, however, family members should not be afraid to question the staff and loved ones.

These are warning signs to look for during visits:
• Does the staff deny or delay your visit?
• Do you get enough "alone time" with your loved one?
• Does there seem to be enough staff on hand when you visit?
• Is the staff following the orders of the doctor and family?
• Have there been errors in medication?
• Is the facility using what seem to be unnecessary restraints on your loved one?
• Do you see signs of poor hygiene, such as soiled bedding?
• Are changes in the patient's condition reported to you and the doctor promptly?
• Have there been any unusual banking or financial transactions, or changes to wills or life insurance documents?
• Have any of your loved one's personal items disappeared?

Some forms of nursing home abuse can be more difficult to detect, such as verbal and mental abuse and sexual abuse . Often, patients do not report them for fear that the abuse will get worse or they will face reprisal. If your loved one shows signs of depression or anxiety, talks of wanting to move to a different facility or mentions caregivers whom he or she dislikes, it may be a cry for help.

Seeking Legal Help

Just as placing a family member in a nursing home is an important decision that should be made carefully, the decision to seek legal help following an injury or death of a loved one can seem daunting for many families - particularly those who are grieving.

It is important to remember, however, that even outstanding facilities can face some of the same problems as poorly equipped or poorly staffed facilities. Even if you selected what appeared to be excellent care for your loved one, it is possible that the actions, or inactions, of the home's staff are the cause of your family member's injury. An attorney who has dealt with nursing home abuse can help you determine your legal options and help cut through administrative red tape.

If you have questions about nursing home abuse or neglect, it is important to not be silent. Talk to your loved ones, talk to the staff, and if your questions are not resolved quickly and to your satisfaction, talk to an experienced attorney.

Mental Health Nursing Jobs - Working in a Diverse Environment

If you are considering a career in mental health nursing, you will gain experience in giving treatment, care and support to clients with moderate to extreme emotional, mental and psychological problems. Mental health nursing jobs offer you the opportunity to work in a diverse environment. Some of the roles you will find yourself performing in include, assisting in identifying client's problems and doing preliminary assessments, monitoring and reporting on the mental condition of the client and helping clients to manage their mental illness and give counsel and support. You will also give prescribed medication to clients and facilitate and organise therapy groups. Helping clients with personal-care and day to day activities will also be part of your job description along with visiting clients in the community and networking with community organisations, employers, government agencies, the police and lawyers.

Mental health nursing jobs will provide you with the opportunity to specialise working with a range of different groups of people such as the elderly, families, women, children and adolescents, Maori and Pasifika people and offenders with mental health illnesses. You will also be able to specialise in areas such as crisis assessment or telephone triage where you will gauge mental health needs and risks based on symptoms reported to you via the telephone.

As a nurse in this specialisation you will be skilled in many areas such as knowledge of different nursing methods and theories, psychiatric disorders, different diseases and illnesses and how the body works. You will also be knowledgeable in areas of medicines and treatments, and the effects these medicines have on patients and you will be skilled in counselling and therapy techniques. You will also know the ins and outs of relevant legislation and your oral and written communication skills and listening skills will be excellent. Things such as organising and decision-making will become second nature to you. You may work for hospitals, nursing homes and community care services and you will spend time in the community making calls on clients. Mental health nursing jobs involve a lot of contact with a diverse group of people that include other health professionals, clients and their families, community agencies and police and ambulance officers. The salaries for nurses in this profession are around $44,000 to $66,000 and you will potentially be able to advance your career by moving into clinical specialist roles within the health industry or into research or management and education roles.

I've Been Injured At Work - What Should I Do Now?

If you have been injured at work, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. However, many workers who suffer a workplace injury find that their worker's compensation claim has stalled or does not resolve in their favor because they are unfamiliar with how the system works. Furthermore, in certain situations, an injured worker may have additional claims against their employer that fall outside the workers compensation system. By following these useful steps you can build a solid case for your workers compensation claim and protect yourself on additional claims that might be available:

1. Seek medical treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. If you are seriously injured, call 9-1-1. Provide the doctor with all the details surrounding your injury so this will become part of your medical treatment records. Be sure to keep copies of your medical records related to your workplace injury.

2. Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Request a copy of the employer's incident/accident report and keep this with your records.

3. Document the incident. If possible, take photographic documentation. Be sure to take pictures of any injuries, machinery or equipment involved in your injury and any incident scene details. Keep a written log of the incident, including the name of any machinery or equipment involved in your injury, and the names and contact information for any individuals who witnessed your injury. If any safety equipment has been removed from machinery involved in the injury such as a safety guard, be sure to document and photograph this hazard.

4. Consult an attorney as soon as possible. An experienced worker's compensation attorney and/or injury attorney will evaluate your case and will explain what your rights are. An attorney will help your worker's compensation claim process smoothly by ensuring that all appropriate documentation is submitted. An experienced worker's compensation attorney may also advise you of additional benefits that you may be entitled to. An experienced injury attorney will be able to assess if you have additional claims to pursue to obtain justice.

A personal injury attorney will maintain objectivity and work with you to find the best resolution to your case. A qualified injury lawyer will be able to determine, based on your specific circumstances, whether your claim is best resolved through mediation- saving you time and money. Additionally, if your claim goes to court an experienced injury lawyer will handle your claim effectively to get the best possible jury verdict.

Caring For Elderly Parents - Warning Signs

There is no special or specific age that signals when your elderly parent can no longer be on his or her own. We need to be vigilant to make sure that our seniors are eating well, taking proper care of themselves, staying on top of their medications, and keeping all medical appointments. It is also important that their home environment is clean and safe and that they have a social support system. These are ideals that we all need to strive for.

The time to take action is when you see changes, no matter how subtle. Is the mail going unopened for days? Are bills being ignored? Is your parent declining to answer the phone or stay in touch with family and friends?

You also need to step back and take a hard look at your parent's environment. Consider how you can make things safer, brighter, and cleaner, given your time and finances. This includes a wide range of questions you need to ask, including:

• Are the locks adequate and working?
• Is the electricity and all of the lighting fixtures and appliances in working order?
• Is the exterior of the home and grounds kept up?
• Are your parents worried about getting adequate food and nourishment?
• Are they taking their medications and going to medical appointments?
• Are they getting exercise?

When you have done everything within your power, and it becomes obvious that it's not enough, it is time to reevaluate the situation and explore other housing options. It is crucial when caring for elderly parents that you include them in the decision making process each step of the way if possible. Open communication is invaluable. Be aware of the options that are available such as: moving in with you or another family member, moving to a smaller apartment/living space closer to you, retirement homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing facilities.

Homecare Services Ensure Medication Compliance

Medication compliance is important for everyone taking prescription medications, but it is especially crucial for the elderly who generally have more difficulty with adherence. Why? Because the elderly are far more prone to noncompliance due to overuse and abuse, forgetting, and altering schedules and doses.

As a parent or other loved one, it can be difficult to be available every day to monitor adherence to medications, so hiring a homecare services agency to oversee medication compliance can ensure the daily safety of your loved one. This is critical, because decreased compliance to prescribed medications almost always leads to symptoms worsening, health declining, the need for additional treatment, hospitalizations and, most drastically of all, death.

The prevalence and consequences of noncompliance are alarming:
--Approximately 125,000 Americans pass away every year due to poor medication compliance
--As many as 25 percent of hospital and nursing home admissions are due to people being unable to take their prescriptions as directed
--As many as 40 percent of people do not follow their prescribed treatments and up to 20 percent of all new prescriptions go unfulfilled

A homecare services agency can make sure loved ones avoid becoming a statistic and enable them to live happily and safely in the comfort of their own homes. Proper medication compliance involves:
--Seniors understanding which medications they are taking and why they are taking them. They must also understand that their medications need to be continued as ordered by their doctor regardless of whether they feel better. Adherence is important for every medication, but especially for high cholesterol medication, antibiotics, and high blood pressure medication.
--Ensuring medications are refilled on time and throwing out expired prescriptions. Expired medications lose their efficacy and can cause toxic side effects.
--Making sure all medications are correctly labeled. If the senior is taking several prescriptions, it may be easier to remove the pills from their containers and put them in a daily pill organizer. A homecare services agency can refill the pill organizer each week and monitor daily use.
--Establishing daily routines, such as taking the first medications of the day with morning coffee, taking midday medications at lunch, and taking evening medications before bedtime. Knowing when they need to take their medications is often one of the biggest barriers for seniors to overcome.

The bottom line? All medications must be taken as prescribed, at the dosage prescribed, at the time prescribed, and for the length of time prescribed. Some seniors can manage prescriptions themselves. If they can't and if family members are unavailable, the easiest and most cost-effective solution may be to hire a homecare services agency to ensure safety and medication compliance.

Visit http://www.CambrianHomecare.com or call 877.422.2270 to learn more about homecare services and medication compliance.

Do You Have a Family Member That Is A Victim of Nursing Home Abuse?

Every day, people are faced with the issue of having to put a loved one into a nursing home. While people do this with love in their hearts, and the best of intentions, their intentions are often dashed with reports of nursing home abuse.

Of course no one wants to see their loved one harmed, so when allegations or evidence of abuse are present, family members often feel as though they are to blame. The fact of the matter is, only the people providing the care and carrying out the abuse is to blame.

Since many nursing home patients are in poor health, and many are limited in their ability to speak, it can be somewhat difficult to determine if abuse is taking place. The best way to determine this is to carefully monitor your loved one and look for key warning signs.

The most common types of abuse include the following:

• General Assault
• General Battery
• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Battery
• Physical Restraint to an Unreasonable Degree
• Deprivation of Food or Water for Prolonged Periods of Time
• Chemical Restraint by Use of Medication Not Prescribed by A Doctor for the Patient's Medical Condition
• Overmedication
• Under-medication
• Injuries That Cannot be Explained
• Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises, Welts, or Open Sores
• Reports of Mistreatment
• Evidence of Pushing, Beating, Slapping, or Shaking
• Forcibly Keeping a Patient in Their Room

If you suspect abuse, it is important that you look for the following signs:

• Medical Neglect - A lack of medical care, or a lack of daily medication.
• Physical Neglect - A lack of general care, or a lack of basic daily needs.
• A failure to provide adequate nutrition or hydration
• A failure to assist with general grooming, or personal hygiene
• Infections
• Unsanitary conditions
• A lack of cleanliness
• A failure to provide protection from general safety or health hazards

In addition to physical abuse and neglect, it is also important to look for signs of verbal and/or emotional abuse. This type of abuse degrades the patient and destroys their self-esteem. Warning signs for this type of abuse include:

• The patient appears to be very upset or agitated
• The patient does not want to speak and appears to be withdrawn
• The patient is exhibiting abnormal behavior such as biting, rocking, or muttering
• The patient wants to be left alone all the time
• The patient is ignoring or being insulting, threatening, or humiliating toward friends and family

There are also other warning signs of negligence or abuse that should be noted when visiting patients in a nursing home. These include:

• Injuries that require hospitalization or emergency medical treatment
• Broken bones that cannot be fully explained
• Unexplained medicating or sedating
• Unexplained or unexpected death
• Repeated illnesses that are not reported to the primary care physician
• Patients injuring other patients
• Episodes of wandering where the staff does not notice the missing patient for an extended period of time

It is important to understand that neglect and abuse need to be stopped and there are many state and federal laws in place that have been designed to protect the rights of nursing home patients. Patients also have distinct security, privacy, and other civil rights that should never be violated.

If you believe your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, there are steps you can take to verify your concerns, and take action if necessary.

First, try to visit as frequently as possible, and vary your schedule so the staff does not know when to expect you. Try to visit both night and day, weekends, and holidays, to assess the care that is being provided by the different shifts.

Next, talk to the nurses and the aids about your concerns and judge their reaction. If you do not feel as though you are being heard, or if your fears are somewhat confirmed, speak to the nursing director, the staff social worker, and the nursing home administrator. If after doing this you still do not have the answers you need, or you feel as though your concerns are not being addressed, move on to speak with the doctor. Keep talking until someone listens.

Finally, call the agency in your state that oversees nursing home care. Usually the Department of Health and Human Services will be the guiding agent and is in charge of enforcing nursing home laws and regulations. This agency also will conduct a yearly survey of each nursing home in the state and must investigate every complaint filed. You can also contact this agency prior to placing a loved one in a nursing home in order to verify their standing and complaint history.

Any time you believe someone is being abused or neglected while in a nursing home, you should take action and file a complaint. If your claim is substantiated, the agency who oversees the nursing home will take swift action in the form of citations, fines, and will require immediate action to remedy the situation and ensure it does not happen again.

In addition to taking the above mentioned steps, you can also pursue legal action. One course of action is to file a civil lawsuit against the nursing home with the court of law in your jurisdiction. Each state has different criteria to file, as well as various statutes of limitations, so it is best to consult with an attorney to verify this information. An attorney who specializes in this area will also be able to provide you with a great deal of guidance on the legal process, as well as the best way to proceed in order to help your loved one.

You should always take prompt action when filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit. An attorney will work hard to protect your loved one, while acquiring damages to help pay for future care and medical expenses.

How to Assess a Senior Adult's Independent Living Ability - Part 1 of 3

As they age, people may have more difficulty performing the daily tasks we all do in order to live. To be able to assess a person's ability, or rather, where there is difficulty so changes, accommodations, or adaptations can be made, requires the assessor to be able to look at the details or steps it takes to do each task.

For instance, it usually will require 40 or more steps to actually brush your teeth. If you miss some steps, it is no big deal but some steps if missed, can have serious consequences. Most people will create their own adaptations or accommodations to problems they are having. Like not being able to see well at night, they do all of their appointments and errands during the day - thus no problem in continuing to live independently but there is actually a problem. Most accommodations and adaptations can be made easily and inexpensively and creativity goes a long way. Many catalogs now, cost effectively, offer products that can help an elderly person continue to function independently.

To assess a person's independent living skills, you will need to record your findings and then, several months later, go back and do it again to see if there has been a change. It is important too that your aging parent or senior adult is honest in what they report to you and/or you see or they demonstrate how they do a particular activity. Please you good judgment and good communication skills in how you approach doing an assessment.

Activities of Daily Living Guide/List

• Laundry:

• Flooring/carpeting clean, how often done:

• Counter tops clean in kitchen and bathrooms? How often, with what?

• Are the sinks, drains, shower/tub and toilets clean? How often, equipment used and cleaner? Check the back top of the toilet and around the base (for urine especially), look at the faucets and spouts (many times toothpaste and soap scum accumulate there and may not get cleaned).

• Closets, drawers and cabinet organized or has it changed?

• How often are dishes done, cleanliness and with what?

• Any maintenance needs to be done and if so, how long has it been in its current state?

• Is anything missing from the house?

• Trash containers clean, emptied or overflowing?

• Magazines/newspapers - organized or piled up, a fire hazard? Can the person get them outside for trash?

• Are devices such as walker/wheel chair/scooter/cane clean? How often? Repair needed?

• Overall bathing? Cleanliness? Safety in doing it?

• Oral care? Cleanliness? Are dentures/plates worn?

• Toilet? How often are hands washed throughout the day? Are they washed such as after going to the bathroom, touching raw meat, cleaning the litter box, etc.?

• Are finger nails and toe nails cut and clean? Any signs of infection in the toes?

• Is shaving done regularly (male and female), well and safely?

• Urinary incontinence (bladder control)? Are they up several times a night? Are there loose bowel movements or uncontrollable ones? Constipation, or urinary or yeast infections?

• Any skin redness or problems? Hair care & maintenance: Does the person continue to put on deodorant, perfume, shaving cologne, make-up, etc.?

• Are eyeglasses (or contact lenses) worn as prescribed, kept clean? Are regular eye appointments made and kept? Are eye drops taken as prescribed?

• Is clothing appropriate, clean, fit correctly, neatness, no rips/buttons missing or stains/holes?

• Do shoes fit properly, in good condition, comfortable, easy to put on/off and clean? Are weather appropriate coats/shoes available, do they fit, are they in good condition and clean?

• Is the pocket book or wallet a mess, too heavy, in need of cleaning, or need to be replaced?

• Is the person able to list out the pros and cons or options of the decision they are trying to make? Do they need a little or a lot of help, do they even want help, do they ask for help and if so, in what areas usually? What areas do family members see that there are problems in or with what decisions were made?

• Are appointments made when needed, are they kept, and are recommendations followed? Is the person sleeping through the night, if not, how often are they waking up & why?

• How many hours do they sleep at night? What time do they usually go to bed and get up?

• Are they taking naps during the day? If so, how often and for how long? Where do they take their naps - in bed, in the chair sitting up, in a recliner? Is there any particular task that makes taking a nap necessary?

• Even after a good night's sleep, are they still tired?

• How much energy does the person have - slight decline or more of decline than anticipated?

• How many typical daily tasks can the person do before they are winded or tired and have to sit down or take a nap?

• How is the person's ability to use utensils properly and safely? Are they messy, cutting pieces too large, eating with fingers, is food coming out of their mouth?

You will want to add this list to Parts 2 & 3, in order to have a complete ADL assessment tool to use.

Asking the right questions, listening, observation and trying different ways of doing things, while having meaningful conversations with your elderly parent, is key to really getting an accurate picture how well a person is functioning in their home.

If you have concerns or questions, there are several agencies who provide information - such as Elder Care, Senior Caregiving and The Practical Expert (which is the only certified coach specialist on aging parent issues & trained in home assessment and accommodations). Getting some assistance, can save you time, energy and help with making the assessment process smoother and more thorough and thus getting the information you need easier.

A Nurse's Perspective on Senior Care: Trust Your Instincts to Find the Best Senior Caregiver

Everyone is busy these days. The pursuit of "health, wealth, and happiness" is the goal, the dream we all aspire to. Yet, as we grow older, our bodies do not always keep up with the wishes of the mind.

If a health crisis (sudden stroke, broken hip, heart attack) or a slower progressing issue (age-related dementia, asthma, diabetes) causes a need for one to change how they live, what do you do?

Whether you are the affected senior, or the concerned family member, it is a difficult day when you realize a change in lifestyle, and possible living situation, must occur.

Those who have been independent their entire adult life may suddenly require around the clock supervision due to advancing memory problems. A broken bone may cause one to need help with activities of daily living, sometimes as simple as taking a bath, getting dressed, and using the bathroom.

Having been on the "inside", as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse in positions from direct care (bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, ambulating), to staff nurse (giving medications, applying treatments, assessing changes in condition) to supervisor (direct contact with MD's, families, residents, emergency situations), I know what happens in nursing homes, assisted living situations, and home care.

If you or a loved one are faced with placement in a skilled nursing facility, use your five senses and your "sixth sense" to assess its quality.

Visual: Is the lobby appealing? Welcoming? When you tour the facility are staff smiling and visible? The amount of staff is important; ask about staff to resident care ratio; it will vary from shift to shift. Is trash visible? Are residents dressed appropriately? Are they lined up in wheelchairs being ignored while the staff congregates at the desk? Are the halls well lit, and free of small items if there were an emergency requiring evacuation?

Hearing: When you enter what do you hear first? Are you welcomed, acknowledged? Is there music playing, or a fun activity going on where you hear residents voices? Ask questions, many questions! As you walk through do not be afraid to ask a random staff member how they like working there. If you get a funny look or hesitancy, you may need to be wary. Listen for residents crying, moaning, "help", etc... This does happen but if it is ignored for long periods of time, or it is many people at once, there is a problem.

Smell: Do you smell anything when you enter? Is it a strong chemical, or perfumey smell? They may be trying to cover urine soaked carpet, or incontinent bins. If you smell urine, that could be bad indicator, as is moldy/old smells. Ask about ventilation, cleaning.

Taste: Ask for a sample of food from the kitchen! Chances are you and your loved one will be invited for a complimentary lunch; any reputable home will make accommodations allowing you to sample their cuisine. This is important! If you or your loved one will be on a special diet, ask for a sample of that kind of food.

Touch: The bedroom: Besides making sure the room you or a loved one will occupy is neat, tidy, and aesthetically appealing, ask to lay on the bed. Sit in the chairs in the foyer, the dining room. Check the height of the toilets, making sure they are high enough for those needing "high rise" seats".

And finally, your "sixth sense": If something feels off, not right, uncertain, then it most likely is. Yes, you are going to be scared and likely nervous about this most important decision. But when your gut tells you to "run", follow it. If the person giving you a tour is smiling and trying to rush you through certain areas, or avoids areas, ask why! If they can't answer, that could be a red flag! If you don't feel comfortable, do not be swayed! There are other options out there, regardless of income level.

The thought of losing independence is a hard pill to swallow for many. Senior care centers, elder homes, the dreaded "old folks home"... Many would rather not face this and instead allow the problem to progress to a point where more help is needed. If you catch the issues early, chances are, you can live a longer, more active, productive life!