Advantages of Assisted Living Facilities For the Elderly

Assisted living facilities bridge the gap between self-sufficient living and living in a nursing home. People who choose such facilities are ones who are not able to live completely on their own but at the same time do not require continuous care either. Assisted living facilities proffer assistance to the aged people with daily tasks such as, laundry, housekeeping, eating, dressing, bathing, medications, and the like.

Remember, assisted living facilities are not a substitute for nursing homes, but are a great midway stage of unceasing care required by many seniors. There are many advantages of these communities. Here are some of the rewards offered:

Takes care of all the needs while giving the elderly a sense of freedom

Assisted Living Facilities proffer timely and well-made meals, periodic housekeeping facility, assistance with medication, and even helping to manage finances for the old. This form of assistance is excellent when the aged decide that they cannot live on their own completely, but do not want to give away their freedom.

TIP: The best way to find out good Assisted Living communities is by surfing online.

Provide health care and personal assistance

These Facilities provide excellent health care and medical assistance for people who do not need constant health care. They have enough expertise and backup for a senior citizen who may require immediate medical attention for major or minor reasons. These facilities accomplish this goal by having medical centers connected with their community. This way an elderly is given a substitute to nursing homes, which they usually dread because of their dull living environment.

Very Organized and Strategic

These living facilities are highly organized and strategic. They plan a separate strategy for every residence depending upon the needs and requirements. Moreover, they ensure great-customized personal services and care. These should definitely be a consideration when elders want to hand over some of their personal responsibilities to the professionals.

However, although they may not give the same independence as living alone in a house, but still they make life fairly simple. Moreover, I feel, in this, fast, demanding, corporate world, children hardly have time to take care of their parents. This leaves them feeling guilty, as they do not like the fact that their parents are being neglected. These Living Facilities are set up for this cause alone. It enables the children to live their lives while their parents get the help that they need. Since well-qualified professionals take care of all the medical and personal requirements of the parents, children get to spend a lot of quality time enjoying their company.

Elder Abuse - How Can I Protect My Aging Parent Against Financial Abuse?

Elder abuse is something I don't like to think about. It's a tough subject to write about. But, each of us needs to raise our level of awareness so we can protect our aging parents. Elder abuse can take many forms. When I hear the term, I think about physical abuse and neglect of the elderly by hired employees in a nursing home. But, it encompasses so much more. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) lists these other forms: emotional or psychological abuse; verbal abuse and threats; financial abuse and exploitation, sexual abuse, and abandonment. It can happen anywhere: nursing home, private home and other institutions. Surprisingly, it affects the elderly across all socio-economic classes. Dementia is an especially strong risk factor.

This particular article focuses on Elder financial abuse. The elderly can be financially abused by mail fraud, phone fraud, business fraud and stealing by a family member or hired caregiver, or visitor. Today, I heard yet another instance of a trusted caregiver stealing a large sum of money, $20,000, from an elderly man.

Here are some key ways we can prevent financial abuse from happening to our elderly loved ones.

• Stay in frequent contact with elderly relatives, and keep lines of communication open.


• Be observant and perceptive about any physical or behavioral change.


• Choose any caregiver carefully. Never select one through an ad. Use a licensed, bonded agency. Hire an investigator to ensure the potential caregiver is not a convicted felon.


• Keep a photographed inventory of all jewelry in a locked box.


• Use a criss-cross shredder on any paperwork containing identifying information.


• Protect incoming and outgoing mail. Getting a Post Office box is a good preventive measure.


• Obtain a credit search for your parent 2-3 times a year.


• Have Caller Id on the phone. Teach your parents to not answer "unknown" or "out of area". Tell them that scam artists use the phone as a weapon, and it is OK to hang up on someone.


• Tell them "You will NEVER win a foreign lottery".


• Have a duplicate copy of their banking account statements sent to a trusted family member.


• Tell them to not assume a handyman is to be trusted, even if he has a wonderful name and is charming. Check the Better Business Bureau and state licensing. Always get 3 estimates. Obtain a written contract. And, never pay more than 10% or $1,000 up-front, whichever is less.


• Have a second line of defense at their front door (a peephole or locked screen door).

Report any suspected mistreatment immediately. Contact the Helpline for your state at http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/NCEAroot/Main_Site/Find_Help/State_Resources.aspx

Living Independently in Old Age

Growing older into retirement can, and should be, an enjoyable time of life. The opportunity exists to relax after retirement and to pursue hobbies that one has not yet had time for. Spending time with family and giving back to the community can enrich the lives of seniors. A person can pass their wisdom and knowledge and rest happily on the successes of the past.

Old age can be a time for socialization and creativity. However, many might worry that as certain physical faculties start to weaken that independence can be lost. However, with certain preparations and some renovating of the home, senior citizens can maintain much of the independence and dignity they have earned in their hardworking lives despite infirmity.

As we age, our balance and mobility can sometimes deteriorate. With the loss of calcium in our bones and the lessening of balance, fractures and broken bones can occur from falls that would not have fazed one back in one's youth. Luckily, there are a few tips to consider when it comes to making a home safer.

A Safer Bathroom

For the bathroom, along with considering getting a bathtub with a walk in door, consider rubber mats that will not cause tripping to reduce the unneeded risk of slipping. Handrails near the tub and the toilet can help with unsteadiness when trying to stand or sit down. For safety, it is a great idea to join a medical alert company and to keep a button, or a nearby emergency phone that will prompt emergency workers in the event that a fall does happen.

A good place for this is the bathroom, since often the surfaces in a bathroom can be slippery and wet. To prevent from adding more of a risk of slipping, it is great idea to avoid the use of bath oils since they tend to leave residues. For better and safer results, moisturize with a lotion or cream right after one is out of the shower on a carpeted surface to take the danger away.

Additionally, the risk of burns while using the shower or bathtub can be heavily minimized just by setting the maximum water temperature on the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Making the Kitchen Safer

In the kitchen, certain accidents can be greatly diminished by putting normally used products in drawers and cabinets close to eye level. If anything is put too low to the ground, it might cause straining of the back or a fall. Anything too high that requires a stool could cause an unneeded fall in the case of sudden vertigo or loss of balance. To prevent accidents with kitchen tools, certain handles with better grips for arthritic hands can be found.

A Safe Home

For the rest of the house, certain simple changes can make a load of difference. Install rails and keep stairs from getting slippery. Keep phones in most of the rooms so that no one has to rush and potentially fall to reach a ringing phone. Having bright lighting and keeping a nightlight in every room can ensure that there is never a risk of tripping in the dark. To prepare for the occasional power outage, keep a flashlight in every room as well. Installing a carpet is also a very good idea, since it helps prevent slipping and adds a coziness and warmth to a room.

It is encouraged that one does not use rugs that could pose the pernicious danger of tripping. Furniture should be sturdy, and most importantly, out of the way. The same goes for power cords and other appliances or convenience items that could pose a danger. For less hassle, doorknobs can be easily changed to be easier to open and less of a problem for those with different types of arthritis in their hands.

Consider A Lift Chair

For the ultimate in luxury, consider living room chairs that can be brought to a tipping angle to allow one to easily stand up and sit down. Many versions also come with several reclining settings, massages, heating pads, and easy controls. For anyone that spends much of their time sitting and struggles with an ailment like osteoarthritis, which can cause joints to feel stiff after sitting in one position for a long time, an affordable or luxurious power lift chair can be a worthy investment for safer independence and relaxation.

Old age does not have to be a chore. With just a few changes to your home, it can be a more stress free and safe time of life.

Nursing Home Humiliation

When people age, they often lose the ability to care for themselves for natural reasons. This usually means that an individual may lose the ability to function in some ways, which requires them to rely on the assistance of others to live out their remaining days.

Since this is a full time job, families are often left to admit their elderly loved ones to nursing homes where attendants are available to offer care and assistance 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, this is an idealistic picture of nursing homes; the reality may be in stark contrast.

Some nursing home attendants become frustrated with their jobs and take out their anger on their patients. One way in which they may do this is through humiliation. Humiliation is the act of emotionally attacking an individual for his or her qualities.

Many of the qualities that an elderly care attendant may emotionally attack a patient for are beyond a patient's control. That is, patients are unable to care for themselves because of the way they have aged, which they cannot influence.

Nursing home staff may humiliate individuals in front of fellow residents or in front of other staff members. This may lower the elderly individual's sense of self worth, sending him or her into a state of depression and loathing.

This severe emotional trauma may cause an individual to suffer a rapid decline in health, which may ultimately lead to a premature death. As such, families of individuals who have been humiliated in elderly care facilities should fight to hold the responsible facility accountable.

Patient Hoists - When Carrying is Not an Option

Persons with weak leg muscles now have the capability of being lifted to their feet with the help of useful and durable machines that are called patient hoist. The first model was made to fit any patient that cannot move on their feet. This unit help them stand on their feet and even move around from one place to another.

The concept of patient hoists was born from the idea that if loads can be supported and lifted, so can people. Before this hoists were brought out, care takers or nurses are given the tasks of moving their patients around or lifting them to their feet. Aside from being time consuming and energy draining, this method can even use additional injuries to the patients.

What are some of the types of patient hoists?

1. Unilift ceiling hoists for patients.

This is the first patient hoist that has been used worldwide for many years now because of the unlimited options that these hoists are built with. This unit is placed permanently on the ceiling and is made to fit the dimensions of the room where it is being used. It also offers a variety of curves, traverses and rails so that movement is not hindered.

There are available switches available on the rails for patients to be able to use if they want to move around the room using the lift on their own. It can be noted that these type of unit is very well designed with the best technology and is known for their safe use.

With unilift hoists, patient are able to go to the bathroom and bask to the room with no trouble.

2. Multi-purpose and transport patient hoist.

This hoists is considered the one with the most capabilities. This is a patient host that is used as a lifting belt. Because of its swiveling designs, there are various applications and capabilities that one can use with this hoist. Patients can be lifted even if they are lying or sitting down. Whatever position the patient is comfortable with, they can taken easily from one room to another.

An additional feature of this patient life is its feeling of comfort and security. Movements are minimized so that the patient will not feel any sway or unnecessary moves while being lifted to their desired place.

3. Patient hoist used in nursing homes.

The universal patient hoist is known for being the choice among nursing homes and centers. Persons using this are those that have limited movement capabilities. This is the perfect hoist for patients that need to be carefully handled while being lifted.

It also helps the nursing aids put their patients in the proper position while taking into account that there are certain limitations to the positions that they should be placed on. There are a lot more varieties of them out in the market. Some of these can even be custom-made to the preferences that the patient and their care taker have.

The different types of patient hoists that are now available and can be bought makes it possible for sick people to enjoy some of the benefits of movements and going places. Just imagine what it was like back when these people have to be carried around manually and you will be able to appreciate the creators of patient hoists.

More Long Term Care Insurance Policyholders in Nursing Homes?

Even though 80% of the elderly population have expressed their desire to receive long term care in the comforts of their homes, a recent data of claims that were made by insurance long term care (LTCI) policyholders shows that 31% of benefit claims were for home care service while 39% of the claims were for receiving professional care in a nursing home. The remaining 30% of claims were from those who used assisted living facilities.

This only goes to show that regardless of one's preference for LTC setting, he could be placed in a nursing home especially if his health condition deteriorates even more, and requires a skilled nurse to monitor and administer his medication on a daily basis.

Conducting interviews among senior citizens led to the discovery that most of them prefer to stay at home even though they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Staying home, they say, gives them the feeling of security knowing that they are surrounded by the people they love, and who love them in return.

Unfortunately, not every home has a family member who is a doctor by profession or a licensed nurse. Once you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, you should entrust your health into the hands of individuals who are skilled on the medical field.

Going to a nursing home, however, would mean arming yourself with at least $80,000 as the cost of a private room in a nursing home has increased by four to five percent since 2005. You're not sure though of your length of stay in a nursing home so if you have only set aside $80,000 or $90,000, where will you pull out the funds for your future nursing care expenses?

The above scenario clearly explains the importance of having long term care insurance since getting old nowadays is really expensive. Maybe this is the reason we can't blame the increasing number of cults left and right who can only wish and hope that their claims of immortality were true. With a well-planned out long term care ins in your possession, however, there is absolutely nothing about aging that you should fear. Your policy will cover all your long term care costs from the moment that an event in your life qualifies you for long term care. Perhaps, you'll only need to spend out-of-pocket for a month or two depending on what is stipulated in your policy, in compliance with the elimination or waiting period. Once this is done, your policy automatically takes over.

Thirty five years ago, people had a choice whether to buy an LTCI or not. These days, considering the longer life expectancy, everybody seems pressured to secure themselves with LTCI. Those who solely rely on Social Security for their income need not apply for this type of insurance anymore as they have Medicaid to lean on should they require long term care afterwards.

However, if you happen to have accumulated a number of assets during your heyday, you wouldn't want to just spend down all of these just to qualify for Medicaid, would you? Of course, you would want your children to inherit and benefit from everything that you have worked hard for so many years.

IRS Tax Issues - Tax Solutions For Those With Parents in Nursing Homes

Tough Choices: Having ailing parents is heartbreaking. Sometimes, you have no choice put to place your mother or father into a nursing home. It's hard enough to deal with this issue without having to make sure your finances are in order. But you need to stay one step ahead of the game if you want to avoid IRS troubles.

Nursing Home FAQS: People have often asked me questions about Nursing Homes. I thought I'd use my knowledge as a former IRS Hit-man to share these with you.

Who is a Qualifying Relative for my Tax Deductions?
The IRS considers the following to be qualifying relatives (from IRS Publication 502):

• Son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, or grandchild


• Brother, sister, or neice/nephew


• Father, mother, or an ancestor or aunt/uncle


• Stepbrother, stepsister, stepfather, stepmother, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law


• Any other person (other than your spouse) who lived with you for the whole year as a member of your household

My relative is in a nursing home. I pay for the entire cost. Can I deduct the expenses on my tax return?

Maybe. This will depend on a few factors. In most cases, nursing home expenses are allowable as mecial expenses. If the main reason they are in the nursing home is for medical care then the entire cost is tax deductible. This includes meals, lodging, and medical expense. If the person is in the home for personal reasons, then the cost of medical care, meals, and lodging are not deductible. So make sure to prove they are in the nursing home for medical reasons. Save the hospital records and doctor notes!

Now You Have The Smoking Gun...Use it!

The Age Wave - Understanding the Diversity and Needs of Older Clients

Me work with older adults? Not if I can help it! That is frequently the attitude of students I encounter who think of the elderly as a boring and debilitated population residing in nursing homes or other institutional settings. While not saying so in such blunt terms, many clinicians in practice secretly share the same perceptions. The reality is that whether one has planned to or not, working with older adults is an increasing likelihood for all clinicians unless they limit their practice to children and adolescents. Even marriage and family therapists will find more of their caseloads taken up with adult children confronting problem parents (Should they be driving? Can they safely stay in the family home? Are they making bad financial decisions?) rather than problem children. Demographic data tell us that the fastest growing segment of the population is adults over the age of 75, with the over-85 group increasing more than six fold. As Baby Boomers age, the number of adults living well into their 80s and 90s will jump exponentially. Identification and classification of the aging population has proved challenging. For example, gerontologists traditionally identify persons aged 60 years and above as older adults. Researchers, however, often break old age into three categories: the young old (ages 65-75), the old (ages 75璽??85), and the oldest old (age 85+). Others have argued that health not age should be the criterion so that the young old are all those who are over 65 and healthy while the oldest old are those over 65 who are I'll or disabled. Much of this confusion in terminology is related to the changing character of aging in this country. Current generations of older adults are healthier and better educated than past cohorts. They enter old age with more old_resources and different expectations from those of earlier cohorts. The consequence is that as Baby Boomers age, they will be more psychologically minded and open to psychotherapy as a helpful process than were their parents and grandparents.

*Barriers to Working with older Adults* Unfortunately, the average counselor usually has had little direct contact or experience working with a large number of older adults. This lack of experience can limit the counselors interest in or comfort with this population. As a consequence, it is easy for societal myths about older people and inappropriate stereotypes to Impact the mental health professionals attitudes toward older clients. For example, a common misperception is that most older adults live in nursing homes or other institutional settings. However, the reality is that less than 5% of the elderly population reside in nursing homes. The majority of older adults never spend any time in a nursing home but rather live independently, successfully coping with their life situations. Another barrier to services is the myth that older people do not change or benefit from counseling. Multiple studies have consistently documented that psychotherapy is effective in overcoming depression and other mental health disorders in older adults. In fact, rates of Improvement and the extent of gains are often similar to those found among younger groups. In addition, interventions that focus on family members or on hospital or nursing home staff can result in significant Improvements even for patients who are unable to participate in traditional psychotherapy (such as dementia patients). Counselors must examine and challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions that limit their understanding and willingness to serve this population.

The reality is that older adults experience the same broad array of psychological issues and disorders that affect younger adults. To be helpful, counselors need to better understand the diversity of situations and needs of the hase clients and the wide range of issues and concerns confronting them. This is not a homogenous population. Often the only commonality among them is that they are over the age of 65. Differences in education, health status, economic status, and life experiences are often greater in this group than in younger clients and must be recognized and evaluated if effective treatment is to be provided. Working with older clients presents a challenge to mental health practitioners and demands that they acquire specific knowledge and skills needed to work creatively and effectively with this population. (Unfortunately, few have had even minimal academic or clinical training to prepare them to work competently with older adults.)

*Successful Aging* One of the most Important new trends in working with older populations is a de-emphasis on only negative aspects of aging and a growing emphasis on successful aging. Prevention and early intervention are playing larger roles in helping to optimize life satisfaction and quality of life in old age. There appears to be some truth to the wry observation of the elderly gentleman who commented, If Id known I was going to live this long, Id have taken better care of myself. A multidimensional approach is needed to achieve optimal quality of life for the elderly. It has been suggested that positive aging is associated with: avoidance of disease and disability; maintenance of high physical and cognitive function; and sustained engagement in social and productive activities. One of the most striking aspects of working with older adults is the need to go beyond an individual focus to develop a multidisciplinary approach that involves the medical, family, and social systems of the client. Christian counselors have a unique opportunity to enhance the hase multidimensional goals by providing an additional focus on clients spiritual and religious old_resources as well as drawing on the church community for support and care. A finding often ignored by mental health professionals is that religion plays a significant role in the lives of older adults. In fact, it has been reported that religious affiliation is the most common form of organizational participation among older adults, with 50% attending religious services weekly.

*What Mental Health Professionals Should Know about older Adults* The majority of older adults manage to face problems and overcome them effectively, but others will need help facing the challenges of aging. Depression and anxiety should not be considered normal conditions of the elderly. The hase are treatable disorders. In fact, older people evidence fewer diagnosable psychiatric disorders than younger persons. Only cognitive Impairment (dementia, delirium) shows a definite age-associated increase in incidence. What information, then, should counselors have to provide useful and competent help to older clients?

Normal vs. Pathological Changes of Aging It is critical to be able to differentiate the normal changes of aging from those that are indicators of pathological conditions. For example, normal physical changes in aging include mild to moderate hearing Impairment, visual changes such as slowed reading speed, difficulty seeing in dim light or reading small print, slower reaction time, high likelihood of having multiple chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, cataracts, heart disease, and osteoporosis. In addition, the likelihood of needing personal assistance with normal activities of daily living increases with age (up to 50% of those aged 85 and older need some form of assistance). Cognitive changes in aging are highly variable from one person to another. In some older people, general patterns of normal cognitive change include: slowed information processing speed (which results in a slower learning rate and greater need for repetition of new information); decrease in ability to sustain attention; some decline in long-term memory (but often benefits from cueing); decline in word-finding or naming ability; decrease in visuo-spatial ability; and some decline in abstraction and mental flexibility.1 Little or no change is found in short-term memory, language ability (including verbal comprehension, vocabulary), and continued accumulation of practical expertise (or wisdom).

*Specific Challenges for Late Life Clients* The challenges facing older adults, such as chronic Illness, disability, and the death of a loved one, can occur at any time but are likely to pile up with greater frequency in the latter part of life. Loss is a common theme, but it will not necessarily be experienced in the same way by all clients. The counselor must explore the meaning of the experience for each individual client before rushing to provide an intervention. As with younger clients, older adults have vastly different psychological, social, and spiritual old_resources available for coping with the hase challenges. Respecting those differences and drawing on the unique strengths of each individual will best promote resiliency in the face of the multiple stressors of late life. One caution is that it is Imperative to assess suicide potential in depressed elderly clients. The highest rate of completed suicides is in the over-65 age group. In addition, marriage and family counselors need to be aware of the Impact of chronic Illness, disability, or change in work status (e.g., retirement) on marital and family systems. The hase changes can trigger crises for an individual or the family. For example, as adult children become aware of changes in their parents functioning, they must shift roles to become parents to their parents. Some of the stresses on the family system may be unexpected, such as the reappearance of sibling rivalries as adult children are forced to work together to make decisions about a parents care. In fact, the hase types of conflict are often more difficult to manage than the actual parent care itself. In addition, long term successful marital systems can be thrown into chaos when one spouse becomes disabled due to Illness or injury, thus disrupting set patterns of functioning. Another specific challenge of later life counselees is elder abuse. This includes physical abuse, neglect, and chronic verbal aggression, most commonly at the hands of a spouse, adult child, grandchild, or professional caregiver. It occurs at all economic levels and among all age groups in later adulthood. Abuse is much more likely to occur when the older person is experiencing physical, emotional, or cognitive problems. Persons with Alzheimers disease and other dementia disorders are at greater risk than others for elder abuse. Because medical practitioners may overlook signs of physical abuse, such as bruises or other injuries, or assume they are because of falls, it is Important for the mental health professional to question the cause of physical injuries. Christian counselors may find this a particularly sensitive area to assess due to the shame associated with acknowledging anger or resentment by Christian family members and caregivers. Helping caregivers including family members to recognize their negative feelings and develop appropriate coping responses is critical in preventing further abuse. Many states require reporting by health care, social service, or other professionals if abuse is suspected in the home. All states require reporting when abuse occurs in an institution.

*Knowledge of Community Resources and Services for Older Adults* One of the most unique aspects of working with older adults is the need to tap into the larger network of aging services available in the community. The difficulties facing older adults that threaten their quality of life and well-being frequently result from medical, physical, or economic circumstances that limit independence and functioning. Often, there are community old_resources that can meet some of thesis needs and thus enhance the quality of life for the client. At a minimum, the counselor should be familiar with the Area Agency on Aging, a federally mandated agency available in every city, county, or region of the United States that acts as a clearing house for all senior services available in that area.

*Conclusion* Counseling older adults presents a complex and challenging array of issues and circumstances with which the mental health practitioner must work. This can be rewarding for counselors who are willing to set aside negative societal stereotypes and engage thesis clients in the process of growth and healing. In addition, the experience of counseling older adults can also deepen counselors awareness of their own aging and, hopefully, generate a voice of care, compassion, and advocacy for the needs of this special population.

Elderly Abuse And Neglect: A Real Crime That Needs Addressing and Brought To Justice

Elder abuse and neglect can happen anytime at any place, and it will bring forth real and very serious repercussions including bedsores and other physical damages such as broken bones, hip problems, gangrene and hematoma. If caretakers are neglectful of their elderly patients and everything else is dismissed or overlooked, the end result is the untimely death of the elder.

The National Center on Elder Abuse recently published a paper that defines neglect as the following: "the refusal and/or the failure by those in charge to provide food, shelter, health care or protection of a susceptible elder."

Of course, there are various definitions as to what is considered elder abuse in different states. Researchers, in the meantime, have utilized other definitions to explain and study the issue.

How To Handle Those Folks Responsible For Elder Abuse/Neglect

People have morals and they have the means to apply or disregard them. Of course, there's no legal duty that says people have to help others in peril. However, there are instances in which there is a duty to helping the elderly.

1 - A Statute Compels A Duty Of Care

The NCEA says that 30 states have put in place filial responsibility acts that make it a legal duty for adult children to care for and look after their elderly parents.

2 - Contract That Creates Duty Of Care

Organizations and people can enter into contracts that make it a duty to take care of an elderly person. This includes:

- Home care agencies

- Individuals

- Long term care facilities

- Nursing homes

3 - Special Circumstances That Set A Duty Of Care

People who voluntarily take the caregiver role could be seen as the person to give the duty of care or look for help from other people to give that duty of care.

A Look At Duty Of Care

Now, caregiver duties rely on the method to impose the duty of care. Laws may spell out the civil liability or put forth criminal penalties for the acts of caregivers or their failure to act. There are some cases where the duty comes about because of a contract relationship... meaning a person or company consents to give care to an elderly person

A Look At Statutory Duties Of Care

The filial responsibly act places the duty on adult children to give their parents financial support, should their parents be unable to support themselves financially.

Each state varies in their terms for specific obligations. However, the NCEA says that most will impose the duty of care to give elderly folks the basic necessities such as food and shelter. Remember that 30 states have passed laws regarded filial law but 11 of them have never enforced it.

Other laws have been designed and set caregiver duties based on special circumstances. For instance, a caregiver may be a person that is related to the person either by blood or marriage... or:

- Lives with the elderly relative

- Resides in the same building and visits the elderly relative

- Lives with elderly relative and should understand that relative is not able to care for him/herself

A Look At Contractual Duties Of Care

Now, the NCEA says that people who commit institutional abuse are those who have a legal or contractual duty of care to give their elderly victims both care and protection. For instance, nursing home doctors and nurses, board and care facility staff members and paid caregivers have promised to give an elderly adult the level of care they need to stay alive. Once this contract has been entered into, they may not be allowed to intentionally and knowingly endanger or neglect the person.

A Look At Other Duties Of Care

Even when there has been no set definition of a caregiver and there is no contracts, courts have ruled that a caregiver relationship can be voluntarily created. The court will look at four things to see if a caregiver relationship has been created voluntarily:

- Do the parties live together?

- What tasks are being performed for the elderly person?

- Does the caregiver designate the title to him/herself? Do other people view those people as caregivers?

- Was help requested to provide care?

If the court finds there is a reasonable amount of the above criteria satisfied, the person could face both civil and criminal punishment for any neglect and/or intentional abuse.

Elderly abuse potentially has criminal civil and administrative consequences to it. Negligent caregivers could be subjected to civil liabilities that include monetary damages, criminal charges and a denial of the right to work for older persons again.

Anytime a person, be it family members or friends, are concerned about an elderly person, they need to speak with an elderly abuse attorney about their grievances and to find out what options they have to address the problem and caregiver/business.

Using Public Records To Investigate Nursing Home Employees Prevents Abuse Cases

"Families turn to nursing homes to give the elderly the care and attention they need, but a congressional report out Monday says 1,600 U.S. nursing homes - nearly one-third - have been cited for abuse." This in a report from CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker.

Some 5,283 nursing homes were cited for abuse violations, according to a review of state inspection records requested by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. These homes were cited for nearly 9,000 abuse violations from January 1999 to January 2001.

"We found examples of residents being punched, choked or kicked by staff members or other residents," Waxman said.

It was indeed a sad day when the time came around to place my mother in a nursing home. Even though the director was understanding and explained that almost everyone that was forced into sitting in her office and having the conversation we were having felt the same way. I could not help thinking about the first day of school when I cried and wailed and just wanted to go home with mother as she headed down the hallway and out to the parking lot. I know that I couldn't hear her footfalls over my own crying, but to this day it seems somehow that I could. I still remember the look on her face clearly now some 40+ years later. I imagine my face looked a bit like that as I sat listening to the practiced monologue of the nursing home director. A mix between mind numbing guilt and stoic determination.

My mother has always been the rock of our family, even before dad passed she was the one you took your problems, any problems to first. She was the one who found shoes, and managed to always know when and what you were hungry for, many times before you did. Now the rock is crumbling around the edges and I just can't leave her alone anymore. Mom has always been independent and has never needed to depend on others for her daily needs; she is the one everyone depended on and so I made good use of online background check services when I finally decided on a Nursing home for her.

I made it a deal breaker to get a list of the nurses and nurses aides that would be attending my mother, the management objected softly but in the end I got my way, and a good thing too. In the first attempt at being an from home detective I found 4 nurses aides with criminal records at the home, 2 had felonies, one for assault. I took this to the managers of moms home and threatened to sue if something wasn't done. They now do intensive background checks on all employees. So if you really love your loved one, I advise you to join a background check website the cost is very affordable. My service gave me a 3 year unlimited search membership for only $29, it has proven its worth several times already. I can also use it to check license plat numbers and telephone numbers even teachers and new neighbors, anybody. It is proving to be the best 20 dollars I have ever invested.

The Real Difference Between Staying in Independent and Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living facilities is a great choice if you need more personal care services than you can get at home or a living retirement community, but you don't need the round-the-clock medical care and supervision of a nursing home. Assisted living facilities provide the security and safety of 24-hour support and access to care. Day or night help is only a telephone call away. However, privacy and independence are motivated. A good center will build-up a customized plan that meets your needs and accommodates your disabilities, while giving you the freedom to do what you could for yourself.

Assisted living facilities are a fantastic option for families whose loved-ones need aid with the activities associated with everyday living. These activities of daily living or ADLs ranges from just a little helping hand all the way through comprehensive watch care including aid from medical staff. The standard services offered in these living facilities include meals, laundry services, and housekeeping. Depending on the needs of the citizen, they can also include assistance with bathing and dressing, ambulating, and all types of medical care as needed. Different facilities have different set-ups, of course, with some designating certain wings from specific levels of care.

Independent living facilities, however, are simply just any housing arrangement designed mainly for seniors, generally those aged 55 and over. Housing differs widely, from apartment-style living to free-standing houses. In general, the housing is friendlier to older adults, often being smaller sized, with easier navigation and assistance in yard maintenance if there is a yard. You can even hear the terms retirement communities, retirement houses, senior housing and senior apartments applied to independent living. The key difference between independent living and other housing options is overall health and assistance in daily living activities.

Independent living is a favorite option of self-reliant seniors who maintain active lifestyles and enjoy the convenience of having cultural, social and physical services at their fingertips. Seniors are free to go in and leave the community as often they wish. However, many prefer to take advantage of the amenities, activities and sense of community provided by their like-minded neighbors. Independent living expenses can also be often equivalent or even more affordable than those needed to own and maintain a home.

Finding a new home for an elderly family member, whether it be independent or assisted living facilities, can be a bit frustrating to say the least. If you are, however, equipped with the right tools, locating the optimal home for them can be such a breeze. The key factor is finding one that will give the best care and attention to your loved-one. It should provide activities that he or she likes to engage with. Surrounded with people he or she can very easily relate with. Most importantly is that it should be accessible to you so you can visit them anytime you want.

Choosing a Nursing Home - 3 Steps to Finding the Right Facility For Your Loved One

Choosing a nursing home is an important decision, and it is vital to ensure that the facility you select will provide the highest quality of care for your loved one. There are three main steps you can take to find the nursing home that offers the services, environment, and lifestyle options that best suit your loved one's needs and preferences. Planning ahead, taking the time to analyze your options, and carefully researching several facilities before making a decision will help to ensure that the nursing home you choose will help your loved one maintain health, happiness, and dignity. Review the steps listed below as you begin this critical decision making process.

Step 1: Find nursing home facilities in your area.

- Ask people you trust, like your doctor, family members, friends, neighbors, and clergy if they have had positive experience with a particular nursing home Keep a list of the names of these facilities and look up contact information for each using the phone book or internet.
- Call your Area Agency on Aging (AoA). This telephone number should be listed in your local telephone directory or you can find it online by visiting aoa.gov. The local AoA can provide information about nursing homes in your area.
- Call the Medicare Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for information about nursing homes in your area.

Step 2: Find out how nursing homes compare in quality.

- Nursing homes are certified to make sure they meet certain Federal health and safety requirements. To find out how nursing homes compare in quality in your area, look at http://www.medicare.gov on the web. Select " Nursing Home Compare." You can compare the State inspection reports of the nursing homes in your area and look at other information, like resident characteristics and staffing levels.
- Ask friends and other trusted community members if they are or were satisfied with the quality of care.
- Call the local office of consumer affairs for your state. Ask if they have information on the quality of nursing homes. Look in the blue pages of your telephone book for their telephone number.
- Call your state's health department. Ask if they have information on the quality of nursing homes. This phone number will also be listed in the blue pages of your phone book.

Step 3: Visit the nursing homes you are interested in.

- Before you make a decision, visit the nursing homes you are interested in. This will give you the chance to see the residents, staff, and facility. It also allows you to talk with nursing home staff, the people who live and get care at the nursing home and their family members. Be sure to call the nursing home office and make an appointment to tour the nursing home before you visit.
- Ask about the types of services and activities the nursing home provides for residents.
- Ask about the cost and fees for care. Find out if there is an extra charge for any special medical needs your loved one may have.
- Ask to see a copy of the most recent inspection report for the facility. Ask if the deficiencies noted have been corrected.
- Revisit the nursing home a second time, on a different day and at a different time of the day than when you first visited. Staffing can be different at different times of the day, and on weekends.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Find out if the nursing home is Medicare/Medicaid certified, if there is a waiting list, and what their visiting policies are.

Potential nursing home residents should be involved in the decision-making process if possible. However, cognitive ability, emotional issues, current state of mind, and physical status may limit a senior's ability be an active part of the nursing home selection process. It is important to be honest, forthright and supportive with your loved one during this time. Don't forget to keep visiting once your loved one has been admitted in order to ensure that he or she is handling the transition smoothly and that the care is of the quality that you expected.

Organized Chaos on Purpose

As a child deeply in love with nature, living on the edge of a park, and the 5th child of 6, I knew a lot about chaos, the beautiful, free, creative and exhilarating kind. Starting out free to explore, school at age 5 felt like bitter confinement and at times crushing domination, with me acutely aware of the down-side to our civilization process. As a result, I have always been drawn to unorthodox concepts of how people might form community and in the last 20 years have turned that awareness into an obsession (and a company), leading to questions which have since liberated my life.

How can we shift the civilization process so that rather than diminish people and demean the human spirit, each person is assisted in expanding into their wholeness?

What can we do to create a world in which it feels safe to be powerfully influential, inventive, and collaborative so that we are authentically free co-creators?

What does an organization look like in which people thrive rather than simply survive?

It's clear that our current organizational structures are not working well. News headlines make us all too aware of the meaning of the term dysfunctional within schools, families, businesses and institutions. Schools struggle to effectively educate, many businesses, marriages and families are in a state of crisis. And then there's the current state of health care, the economy, welfare, our judicial systems, the environment, and governments.

Additionally, a requirement for mutual cooperation is essential as we expand our increasingly technological and global community. We are evolving at an accelerated pace which creates greater stress and a pressing need to be more inter-dependent and streamlined in our evolution. What once took years and even decades to create now takes only months or days and our outdated organizational systems can't keep up with our present or future. What's the answer?

Recently, in studying a variety of organizational models, I was delighted to discover a human system that is synonymous with the work of my company Expanding Human Potential. The model is called a chaord, derived from a combination of the words chaos and order. In a chaord, all the best within human beings and all manner of systems is honored and focused towards what is both most meaningful and effective.

Leading scientists from many disciplines have recently discovered that life itself thrives on the edge of chaos with just enough order to give it patterns we have taken for granted and assumed developed in a linear, plodding manner. It's not true. Much of what exists in nature formed in both a complex and simultaneous way. In other words, a variety of systems acting independently worked in harmony to rapidly collaborate and create what could not otherwise occur. Nature literally explodes with creativity and cooperation.

A chaord is similar; people share power, are equipped to co-create change, and independently self-govern so that everyone can then harmoniously blend available chaos with order for rapid, effective change. In ordered chaos, each person is first and foremost purpose-oriented, focused on the vision and intent. Next, everyone is organized to expediently harness the creativity, gifts, initiative and collective talents available in service to that purpose or vision. Ordered chaos is to vision what a bow and arrow is to a target. Control is released so the arrow can literally fly to the target!

What does this mean specifically? Organizations operating as a chaord function by a set of principles in which power is shared, knowledge and initiative are distributed at all levels and self-governing teams work independently to accomplish their goals with faith in each other to deliver their part. Imagine families and classrooms in which children and adults learn to share decision-making, governing, and whole tasks are delegated to individuals and teams independently and yet, interdependently. In this system internal motivation, purpose, vision and self-management are top priorities that replace traditional command and control, linear top-down managing so that joyful participation from passion and purpose reign. I have successfully created this very system in my own family and in client sites within schools and businesses.

A great recent example of a chaord is Best Buy. Management chose 2,000 of their employees to participate in ROWE, a result oriented work environment. There are no mandated work hours or schedules and employees are free to work at the local coffee house or on their patio, take off in the middle of the day, work in the middle of the night, or even hike all day when they want. There's no need to ask permission because they are self-governing. The only requirement is that the job gets done and they have been prepared for it socially, professionally and emotionally as well as given the authority to make it happen.

Best Buy management was delighted to discover their people actually worked harder and produced better quality outcomes, processing 10 to 20 percent more orders than contract workers doing the same job in a traditional office setting. They found a focus on results and not the number of hours at a desk fostered an entrepreneurial spirit. Employees began thinking about their jobs differently and coming up with innovative ideas that save the company time and money. Some employees even passed up promotions because the other team wasn't operating in a chaordic ROWE manner yet.

We live in exciting times with tremendous opportunity to expand into the amazing, capable, creative human beings we are and to have fun alone and with others. A chaordic model is exciting because it provides meaningful uncertainties, risks, challenges and opportunities to contribute that cannot be found in traditional models. Vision, with action, leads to infinite possibilities. It's time to buckle up, and go for the ride of our lives. We are designed by nature itself to function within organized chaos on purpose!

Submitted By: Judy Ryan

How a Prize Wheel Can Make a Difference in a Nursing Home

Taking a job at a nursing home can be one of the most rewarding, or draining, experiences of one's life. It takes a very unique individual to perform the duties of a certified nurse's assistant, licensed practical nurse, activities director, or physical therapist without forgetting that the patient is a human being.

One of the most important experiences that a member of a nursing home's staff should undergo is team building exercises to improve communication and develop long-lasting bonds. Caretakers often must cooperate with a wide range of medical professionals on a regular basis. Without a healthy working relationship and strong communication between professionals, the healthcare of the patient will suffer.

A prize wheel can be the perfect complement to a healthy dose of compassion by injecting fun into one of the most draining, emotionally depressing workplaces in the country. By giving staff an opportunity to have fun and enjoy each others company, whether at an employee picnic or team building retreat, the door to strengthened interpersonal relationships can be opened and patients will directly benefit.

These amazing tools can even be used to complement speech therapy by providing patients an opportunity to practice their linguistic skills in identifying images placed in the slots around the spin wheel. Even for those residents with no cognitive impairments, a little prize wheel fun can help relieve suffering during difficult, often life changing experiences. Remember, not everyone in a nursing home is suffering from a form of dementia or preparing for the great beyond. Some unfortunate people find themselves sitting in a nursing home with debilitating injuries ranging from a severed spinal cord to severe head trauma. Often, these individuals are younger than forty years old.

An American made prize wheel can even be used to divide responsibilities amongst Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) by placing each nursing assistant's name into a slot in the prize wheel and spinning the wheel each time a new task comes up. This application, however, should not be considered when urgent tasks present themselves. In a medical emergency, every second counts. Using a little common sense with one's prize wheel can go a long way.

Many staff members at nursing homes enjoy giving gifts to residents on birthdays and around the holidays. With a prize wheel, deciding which employee buys gifts for which resident can be fun and charitable at the same time! In fact, participating in such an activity can have powerful team building effects.

For those who believe that working at a nursing home is an opportunity to help others, a prize wheel and a little compassion can make all the difference.

RN Jobs - What You Will Be Expected to Do

RN jobs entail providing direct care to patients, from generalized to specialized practice, in numerous areas of health care. When working in a hospital, an RN is often required to assign tasks to others, and might even supervise nursing staff who have a lower level of seniority, including nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses.

Besides working in a hospital setting, registered nursing jobs are available in public health agencies, home health care services, nursing care facilities and physicians' offices. Depending on the setting worked in, registered nurses might even receive specialized on-the-job training in order to prepare them for a specific type of care, such as paediatrics, oncology or women's health.

Long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes or chronic care hospitals require RNs to work long hours, weekends and nights. However, other health care settings do not expect so much from their registered nurses; an example may be a registered nurse working in a physician's office. This entails standard 8 hour shifts during regular hours - the same schedule as the doctor worked for.

RN Jobs Overview

Duties

The most common duties which registered nurses are expected to perform on a daily basis are as follows:

- Provide treatment for patients suffering from chronic medical conditions, injuries and illnesses
- Observe and record symptoms of patients
- Administer injections and medications
- Help physicians carry out examinations and in surgery
- Assess the progress of patients based on their treatment plans
- Dress wounds and incisions
- Offer support to patients and their families to help them cope with the diagnosed illness
- Educate patients on how they can improve their health
- Assign and supervise nurses as they carry out patient care plans

Required Skills for RN Jobs

In order for a registered nurse to obtain a job and excel at it, a few skills are required. These include:

- Compassion
- A high attention to detail
- The ability to deal with stressful situations
- Very good communication skills
- A decent level of physical fitness

Is Becoming a Registered Nurse Right for You?

As I am sure you are already aware, health care is one of the few industries which is able to enjoy a high level of employment growth despite the bad economy - job stability is usually a good enough reason for many people to enter into the field of nursing. However, you will also need to be compassionate, want to make a difference to other people's lives, and be prepared to work long hours. If this accurately describes you, you can start you career as a registered nurse by obtaining an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in nursing.

RN Jobs are available in a range of settings; therefore, you can either work in a traditional health care facility or explore non-traditional options. For example, you can become a travel nurse, where you are free to choose your assignments and the duration of these assignments. In addition, you can receive free housing, a signing-on bonus and relocation costs. Whatever you decide, I am confident that you will find working as a registered nurse, both a rewarding and satisfying career.

Nursing Homes and Necessity - Has the Time Come?

No one welcomes the day that they have to start looking at nursing homes for themselves or a family member. But if an elderly parent has reached the point where living alone is impossible, this may be the best option for the future.

If you have an aging parent who is frail, forgets to eat, is accident prone or is physically unhealthy, full-time care might be the only viable. This is especially the case if the individual's family does not live close by. Sometimes a move to a home is the best thing for the person, as it will ensure that their needs will be met.

You want your elderly loved one to be well taken care of in every way. You want them to receive compassionate and qualified care from people who are skilled at their jobs and really care about the human side of the work they do. Before you start scouting out nursing homes in the area, your family member should have a thorough evaluation done. A geriatric assessment needs to be conducted by a doctor or nurse practitioner to evaluate the individual's mental and physical status.

It is important that the medical professional that does the evaluation is in-depth and as thorough as can be. In particular you want to know how well your family member can perform activities of daily living, such as getting up out of a chair without help, walking, eating and dressing themselves. The person's balance also needs to be checked, as does such things as signs of anxiety or depression, memory problems or any indications of Alzheimer's or dementia.

Identifying any physical or psychological problems that the person is living with can help with the planning stage of which facility would be best suited to the senior. It is important though to not let the person get lost in the planning. After all, this is their life so do not act as if they are not a part of their own future.

However, you might be able to put off the day when you have to start researching nursing homes if there are good local resources in your community from which to draw upon. For example, for a senior who is depressed and sits alone, an adult day program can provide the opportunity to get out of the house and talk with others.

A person who only needs help once in awhile or a couple of hours a day is different than a person who needs 24-hour care. If your parent falls into the former group, find out what your community has to offer. There should be a listing of local services in your area for companies that provide in-home nursing care. You should also research to find out if there are volunteer groups that arrange rides for older individuals to get to and from their appointments and to do their shopping. Check online, your telephone book or the local newspaper for the information you seek.

Med Carts and Assisted Living Facilities

Med Cart Features

Contemporary med carts are sturdy in construction and adaptable in use. They are made of lightweight aluminum and contain a steadfast inner framework. This flexibility allows the facility to create a customized cart for their specific needs.

Assisted Living Facilities can determine what type of medicine cart or unit dose cart they require. Questions they might ask themselves: what type of organization is necessary for patient records, what accessories for the cart will be needed, like amount of dividers and placement of chart holders? In addition, what safety mechanisms are available for narcotic lock boxes and Sharps disposal systems?

Size of the facility is another consideration. Will a multiple of small carts be used to cover a larger facility? Will one sizable cart do? Will only a small cart be needed to dispense medications to as few as ten residents or is a medium-sized cart necessary in order to service more residents.

Med cart options vary; therefore, the amount of assessment questions Assisted Living Facilities need to ask themselves is immense. In the end, what is generated is a custom-made med cart that adapts to each facility.

Med Carts--Aesthetically Pleasing

Innovative series of med carts that easily integrate into a facility's environment are becoming increasingly popular. Since Assisted Living Facilities are not nursing homes, a more pleasant and comfortable atmosphere is desired. Here, facilities have a great deal of options available to them as well.

Med carts with the same functionality described in the previous section can be outfitted with an assortment of hard wood finishes. Light oak, dark oak, and even cherry wood finishes are currently available. As a result, options available can address specific needs of residents, but still contribute to the ambience of the facility.

Significantly, med carts of today combine ease of use, choice of configuration, and variety of remarkable exteriors that reflect the individual expression of the Assisted Living Center.

Will My Employer Fire Me If I Claim For A Personal Injury At Work?

Personal injuries can happen anywhere and if you suffer an accident at work that was because of another person's negligence or irresponsible or illegal behaviour you could be entitled to make a compensation claim.

Your employer has no right to fire you for making a claim against them, but the procedures can still be very tricky and stressful. You should remember that, in any personal injury claim situation, the regulations state that you have a right to seek compensation if someone else has caused you harm. Furthermore, it is important that you seek out a legal team to uphold your right to justified compensation to hold those responsible to account and help prevent a similar thing from happening to another person.

Unfortunately many people are put off making an injury claim against their employer because they think they will be treated differently in the workplace as a result. It is important that anyone who thinks they have a claim should seek expert help and get professional advice on their position.

All employers have a legal health and safety duty to keep their staff safe while at work. This also applies to contractors and visitors. They must adhere to the health and safety regulations and take all reasonable steps to prevent accidents and minimise the risk of injury.

So if your bosses were not meeting their obligations and you suffered an accident and were injured as a result, you are justified in finding out about being financially compensated. By law, Employers' Liability Insurance should be in place and this will cover the company in such circumstances, so even if you work at a small firm you should not avoid making a claim with the excuse that it will damage the company, and other employees, financially.

If you have had an accident at work, whether serious or minor, whether because of a fall over wiring or on a spill that should have been wiped up, because protective equipment was not provided or you were not given proper training, do not worry about making a personal injury claim. Attorneys and lawyers can handle the claims process for you and speak for you in court if necessary. You should concentrate on your recovery.

Do not worry about losing your job - employers have no right to dismiss you for making a justified claim - and remember that making a claim is about getting justice and compensation to help you and ensuring any problems with health and safety in the workplace are recognised and dealt with.

Whatever the situation, you can get free legal advice on making a claim and everything can be dealt with by solicitors on your behalf, from getting medical reports and witness statements to paying your expenses and negotiations with insurers.

Nursing Career - Alternative Career Options For Registered Nurses

So you're getting bored with your nursing job and thinking of alternative careers that may be more exciting, possibly expanding your horizons and allowing you to take you and your landau scrubs free shipping onto some new heights of adventures and experiences? Who says you have to be stuck in the hospital you work for, for the rest of your life? There are other options you can pursue without wasting your nursing diploma and career investment. If you dream of traveling the world, why not become a flight nurse? If you want a more thrilling and suspenseful work environment, why not become a forensic nurse? If you wish a more laid-back and glamorous job, why not a writer? And if you crave for more independence, control and power why not consider becoming an entrepreneur or consultant? These are just some of the options laid out for you in the exciting world of nursing career possibilities.

Flight Nurse

A flight nurse assists in the emergency and non-emergency air transfer of injured or ill patients, including inter-facility transport and "scene calls" for medical emergencies and trauma. The role of the flight nurse is to provide patient care, and to be a trainer, educator, administrator, and researcher. This type of work is very challenging and involves working with diverse types of medical professional and patients. It is also physically demanding with a high level of acuity. To qualify, one must be a registered nurse with certification in Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and, typically, Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS). Potential employers include private and public transport companies, trauma centers, and the military.

Forensic Nurse

A forensic nurse works together with law enforcement officials and is involved in the investigation and treatment of victims of child and spousal abuse, sexual assault, trauma, unexplained accidental death, as well as the investigation of the perpetrators of relevant criminal activities. This is a fairly new and challenging job that requires investigative and counseling skills. Possible employers include correctional institutions, acute healthcare facilities, county prosecutor, insurance companies, and psychiatric facilities.

Medical Writer

A medical writer (or editor) writes, edits, and proofreads technical materials used for medical research, training and education, communication, sales and marketing, and others. Possible positions for this field include medical writer, medical proofreader, medical copy editor, medical researcher, medical editor, editorial assistant, and managing editor. For those nurses who have secretly dreamt of writing, this is a great opportunity to work flexible hours and combine medical knowledge and experience with writing skills. You can let your hair down and do away with your landau scrubs free shipping! Possible employers for this field include pharmaceutical companies, medical publications, general interest publications, freelance (self-employment), and not-for-profit organizations.

Entrepreneur or Consultant

For those who are willing to take the risk, becoming an entrepreneur-that is, starting your own business-can be very rewarding. Being your own boss requires independence of mind and a lot of creativity. Nurses turned entrepreneurs or consultants can work in almost any aspect of the healthcare industry, and even starting their own private practice.

A Guide to Choosing a Slip and Fall Attorney

Choosing a slip and fall attorney has never been more challenging than it is today. There are so many different types of lawyers that claim to be the best that it can be hard for you or anyone to find the right type of lawyer especially since your situation requires a slip and fall attorney. If you choose the wrong legal representation, you run the risk of damaging your credibility and end up losing your case.

It is hard to try to get anything done in the legal system without having the proper kind of legal counsel. Laws and mandates are so tricky and complicated that to anyone who is not properly trained and experienced in litigation will almost certainly lose their case as soon as it starts. If you want to spare yourself that fate, you need to hire a good slip and fall attorney to help guide you in your time of need. There is no time that you will be more vulnerable than you are now, right after a slip and fall incident. Instead of waiting to see if the company responsible is going to offer you some kind of compensation to persuade you from going to court, you need to be proactive and hire yourself a good attorney that specializes in slip and fall cases right away.

This doesn't mean that you should hire the first lawyer that volunteers to take your case. You need to actively seek out the best person that is well qualified for the job. In order for you to find the right person, you have to know where to start looking. Instead of looking in the phone book and looking through the exhaustive lists lawyers, you could use anther resource to make your search much easier. You could just go to the legal aid office in your area and ask them for the names of lawyers who specialize in personal injury and slip and fall accidents. They will be more than glad to help and provide you with some of the resources you need.

Once you have gotten that list, you need to contact several individuals and schedule a meeting. Many attorneys provide the first meeting free of charge and often refer to it as a consultation. It is during this time you need to let the slip and fall attorneys know all of the details regarding your case. They will then let you know if they are equipped to take on your case and provide you with legal guidance so you are not left in the dark about what happens next and what you need to do.

It is also during this consultation that any fees will be discussed. Some lawyers will ask for a small retainer fee as a sign of good faith to make sure that you want to them to take on your case; others may not charge you anything until after the case is resolved. It is best that you go over the details of both payment structures and determine which one works best for you.

Three Things to Look for When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been seriously injured and are looking to hire a law firm or an individual lawyer to get you the compensation you desire then there are some very important things you need to consider. I will cover the three we feel are the most important.

Just Any Lawyer Won't Due

Don't just call any lawyer; you need one who specializes in personal injury cases. Personal injury is a very particular area of law and when the stakes are so high, you want an expert in that area to represent you!

These lawyers know how the insurance industry works and how to get results. There is a lot more involved here than just getting money. A good injury lawyer will know how and where to access the various community services that will be big part on your road back to health.

I know this sounds rather "tired" but you want to ask for referrals from people they have represented in the past. Ask them for client referrals. Check them out on Google; you may be surprised by what you might find. It's always best to interview at least to different lawyers / law firms before you make a decision.

What is Their Track Record?

Are they successful in getting their clients the help and money they are entitled too? What you want to know is what have been the amounts they have gotten for others in a similar circumstance. Just because, in most cases, the law firm will get a percentage of the final settlement that does not always mean the get the maximum amount possible. Maybe they settled out of court quickly just to make a fast buck.

Most of these cases are settled out of court but you still need to educate yourself as to what is fair and what is not. Because the recovery can span months or even years or maybe not at all, don't settle just because you are advised to. Do your homework.

Good Communication!

Communication is a very important part of the process. Ask how and how often you will be updated and from whom. In personal injury cases there is an "immediate need" for information because there is pain and suffering and time is of the essence. You don't want to be sitting around not knowing what is going on with your file. There is tremendous emotional stress attached to the physical injury and good communication is essential to your mental health and you're over all recovery.

Find Your Niche In The Field Of Nursing!

Are you looking to make a difference in your life? Earn a degree that will take you far. Nursing is a multifaceted field that offers many benefits both personally and professionally. As the health care industry is rapidly changing and growing, there will be an even larger demand for nurses once health care is available to a substantially larger population.

In order to become a registered nurse and be licensed to practice, you must first obtain your Bachelor's degree in nursing. After you obtain your four year degree, you will need to pass a comprehensive certification exam in order to be a licensed R.N. Similar to attorneys who do not pass the bar, nurses who do not get certified are unable to practice.

For those that do not wish to obtain a four year degree, or who are earning their degrees slowly, there are certified nursing assistants that function at a level below registered nurses. They are employed is hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. Hopefully, after taking the certification courses and becoming a certified nursing assistant, you will enjoy the field so much that you will want to go back to school and progress into a registered nurse.

Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) are registered nurses that have earned their Master's degree in one of four specialized areas: 1) certified registered nurse anesthetists, 2) certified nurse midwives, 3) certified nurse practitioners, and 4) clinical nurse specialists. Before becoming an ARNP, the nurse must pass the NCLEX or, National Council Licensure Examination at an approved testing site.

There are several specialty areas that nurses can choose to enter. One amazing type of nurse is a neonatal nurse. Helping the doctor in the birthing suite and taking care of the newborns after they are born can be a very rewarding experience. There is nothing like welcoming a new life into the world several times a day! These nurses are met with disappointment if there are complications with premature babies. Oftentimes, newborns are forced to stay in the hospital for extended periods of time until they are healthy, or even pass away.

Hospice is a great program that provides comfort and care to those in their final days. Hospice patients that are living their final days in the comfort of their own homes still need special care. Nurses that travel from home to home providing essential medications and routine medical exams help the sick or elderly keep their dignity and enjoy their last days.

Plastic surgeons and cosmedical institutes are growing in popularity. The physicians in these places will need dedicated nurses who assist their patients after procedures and surgeries. This is a great environment for a nurse to work in if you do not want to see any patients that are severely ill or in a lot of pain.

5 Safety Measures to Put in Place Before Implementing in Home Care

In home care can be a blessing, when elderly home health care is started in a home and done right. We all hear the horror stories of the individuals that took advantage of that aging senior while providing care for them. Many times, this occurred right under the noses of the family.

There are many safety measures you can take to protect yourself before you begin in home health care. If you are reading this, and have not taken these steps, it is not too late. I will address five of them today.

There are many good people in health care. But I am an individual that believes you should not tempt fate. You cannot put a price tag on preventing something disastrous from happening to your family. In home health care means bring strangers into your home. Many of these strangers, over time, will grow to be like your own family. Minor problems with any situation are not uncommon. There is always an adjustment period, for the aging senior family member as well as the health care workers.

The more serious problems, fraud, theft and abuse are rare. But, it does occur. So it is my goal to help you not to become a victim. I have had the opportunity of compiling a list of things that family members have shared with me. Many have had had some very unpleasant experiences and do not want others to have the same things happen to them.

The most simple advice is to use common sense and do not make anything of value easily available to anyone that is coming and going from the house. Sounds simple enough, but you do not think about keeping alcohol or narcotics locked up.

More on in home care and safety

Do not allow anyone to bring in the mail or make the mail available to anyone in the house. Credit card statements and bank account numbers make an individual a target for easy prey.

It is important that you take the time to make a room that you can lock up the valuable knick knacks, jewelry, credit cards, checkbooks etc. You may feel like these are extreme measures, but when you put things away and make them inaccessible it protects the health care worker as much as it does you and your family member from theft. It not only removes the temptation to take things it also protects the in home health care worker from being accused of taking something if it comes up missing. And I will tell from personal experience that things do get lost, or misplaced and even stolen by other family members.

Do not allow the wallet or the credit cards of the aging senior to be available to any outside help. Remove money, social security anything that can be used to steal an identity or obtain credit. If you have an aging senior that is adamant about keeping their wallet and having a credit card, get one with a very low limit, as in a few hundred dollars. Be sure to monitor the activity on this card online or monthly if not more often.

If you have a senior that is at home and uses a computer, make sure that their personal information or areas where they pay bills etc is password protected. It is important to make the computer off limits as a house rule. If you are not going to be able to monitor the activity when you are not there, just be on the safe side and make certain areas on the computer password protected just in case.

In home care allows caregivers freedom and the ability to carry on their lives while trying to honor the wishes of their loved one and keep them at home. The individuals that work and provide care for elderly home health care are very special people, kind and caring. When you find a good employee, treat them like gold, because they are priceless. Just use common sense and protect yourself and give yourself peace of mind.

Personal Care Homes - A Better Alternative to Nursing Homes

In many families there comes a time when the elderly have to move out of the home and into a long term care facility. This transition time it is usually a tough time, sometimes even traumatic for the whole family. However, with understanding, help and planning, the uncertainty of entering and adjusting to a life in long term facility can be greatly minimized.

In order to make the move easier for your loved ones you must plan ahead and if possible, let the resident to be involved in selecting a long term care facility. Depending on the condition of the resident, there may be different options when choosing a nursing facility. The most common type of facilities are nursing homes, assisted living facilities and personal care homes or residential care homes. Most people have heard about nursing homes and assisted living facilities. However, personal care homes are not as popular even though they are a great alternative to nursing homes.

In this article I would like to give you an overview of a personal care home and also inform you about the benefits you will get when considering this type of long term option.

A Personal Care Home is a perfect environment for residents who do not want to live in a large community such a nursing home and prefer a homelike setting. It is very tough for your loved ones to be removed from their home and placed in a nursing home. A move to a residential care home is much easier because the homelike setting is very similar to their own home.

• The cost of a Personal Care Home is about half the cost of a nursing home.

• Your loved ones get a better quality care. In a typical Home in Georgia, the number of residents is about 3-6. The number of residents per caregiver is much smaller which means that the residents are better cared for.

• In a Personal Care Home your loved ones feel like home. They do whatever they want whenever they want. They have a more relaxed schedule that meets their needs and desires. In a homelike setting they have a much more quiet time which is very important for them in this stage in life.

• A Residential Care Home provide all the necessary services for your loved ones, services such as: three meals per day and snacks, laundry services, housekeeping, utilities and transportation, assistance with medication and personal care.

A Residential Care Home may be the perfect long term care facility for your loved ones. You get better care for a very affordable fee, often times just half of the fee charged by nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The Caregiver Trap

National studies find that elder abuse is often committed by family members. Many times these are Caregivers. The resulting conflict and alienation can be avoided. A "caregiver contract" can eliminate problems of financial elder before they occur.

There comes a time when an aging parent needs a full time caregiver. Many times a child, usually a daughter, steps up and either moves in or takes mom in her own home. Everybody knows that being a full time caregiver for an elderly person is a difficult job, but not everybody appreciates how dangerous it can be for the caregiver and the elder. Too often elder abuse becomes a part of the relationship. While there is a wide array of abuse, one form may easily be avoided and that is financial abuse by an exhausted child caregiver.

Reports have shown that elder abuse is most often committed by persons known to the elder. Spouses and children are the top perpetrators. There are abusers who are caregivers for only one purpose - to get the elder's
money. When financial elder abuse is committed by children, it is often by those who have a history of financial problems or addictions. The great majority of caregivers are not in it for the money. They don't want any of a parent's property and if asked will say "if I wanted money I would have gotten a job." Yet there are times when these well meaning children dip into their parent's accounts to benefit themselves.

A short definition of elder abuse is any taking of a vulnerable adult's property for self use. If a parent is dependent on a child for full time care then she is vulnerable. Even if she is of sound mind her will can be overcome by
pressure from the caregiver. A simple statement such as "I will have to put you in a nursing home and get a job" can cause the elder to give the caregiver almost anything.

There is a complex interplay of fact and emotion that can drive a caregiver to financial elder abuse. Studies show that the stress of full time care giving causes serious health impairments. The stressors are many. The parent may be a demanding, unappreciative patient. The child may be on 24 hour duty for months without a break. The caregiver may become emotionally exhausted and angry at the parent for her loss of health and lack of appreciation. She be angry with siblings who do not do their share to help out.

A child caregiver's services, no matter how valuable, are presumed to be rendered gratuitously. The unpaid child caregiver who lives in the parent's home often has very little financial means. The caregiver may only be available
because she is not employed. She often has no spouse and very little in savings. The caregiver may note that the siblings are doing well financially while she is tottering on the brink of financial ruin. She may become aware of the commercial value of her care. A live-in aide may cost over $7,000 per month. Finally feeling at the end of her rope she may conclude that all her effort has merely saved mother's money for the inevitable nursing home.

Driven by these factors the caregiver may appropriate a parent's money to pay her bills or to buy things that salve the hurt. Without voluntary and informed consent by a competent parent, these appropriations are elder abuse and the daughter could be subject to criminal prosecution. While even the smallest taking is criminal, it is often that the money taken is small at the start and then rapidly grows. The result is an elder who loses her caregiver and has no money left to pay for commercial care.

Dysfunctionality of the family is another factor often at work in these situations. While there are many causes, a commonly overlooked component is that of the dependent personality of the parent. It sets up a psychodynamic
between the parent and those upon whom he or she depends. I describe it as the pattern of the dependent person who needs others for support. This type of person marries a spouse with a "strong" personality who proceeds to be the "one in charge who takes care of everything."

The "weaker" spouse develops ways of manipulating the stronger to get his or her needs met. When the strong spouse dies the weak spouse needs somebody to depend on. The pattern, including manipulation, continues. This is a setup for conflict. Then comes the drama where the parent has "scripted the parts" and the children play their roles. The setup in the caregiver context is the the parent's message "I'm so thankful for you. Nobody else cares about me." At different times the parent may have said the same thing to other children. Compounding the difficulty is that one child may adopt the personality of the weaker parent and the sibling adopts the stronger. For example, the oldest son may not be suitable for care giving but may have the personality of the deceased stronger spouse. In that case then he often "comes to the rescue" of the parent against the "abusive" sibling caregiver.

The best way to avoid this type of conflict is to act before it happens. An elder law attorney should set up the business relationship of care giving. All interested persons should be involved. There should be an independent,
professional assessment of the extent of the need for assistance. The commercial cost of these services should be identified. The persons who perform the services are identified. A contract is completed specifying the services to be provided and the compensation for those services. In this way nobody is taken advantage of, not the elder nor the caregiver. There would be no charge of financial abuse of an elder or the permanent alienation of the caregiver as a thief.

Dysfunctional family relationships are a common cause of caregiver conflict.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

If you are responsible for administering care to a loved one who is growing older and increasingly dependent on the assistance of others, you may consider placing him or her in a nursing home. While assisted living facilities are a popular solution for many, you should be careful about the establishment that you choose. Sadly, many nursing homes are understaffed or fail to adequately train their staff members, resulting in gross negligence and mistreatment.

Warning Signs of Abuse

When searching for the nursing home that best suits your needs, you should be conscientious of the warning signs of abuse. While reading reviews online, visiting the establishment, and speaking with current residents can help you get a feel for the place, be on the look out for:

• Bed sores--Caused by lack of movement; lying in bed for too long without exercise


• Bruises or other wounds--Potentially a result of inadequate assistance; infected wounds should especially be cause for concern


• Weight loss--A classic warning sign of depression or neglect


• Unsanitary or unclean conditions--May be an indication that the facility is understaffed, and that their patients are not receiving the care they deserve


• Verbal abuse--Insults, harsh demands, or degrading comments should not be tolerated


• Malnutrition--An indication that patients are not being fed well or properly looked after; may result in weight loss or other medical conditions


• Excessive medications--Sometimes staff members over-medicate their patients to make work easier

If you have noticed one or more of the above warning signs of abuse, speak with your loved one in-depth about the care they are receiving. If you suspect abuse or neglect, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Jewish Wisdom on the Afterlife

Scattered throughout the large body of Talmudic and later writings, one can construct a comprehensive picture of the Torah's (Bible's) understanding of the hereafter.

Immortality of the soul, Resurrection, and the concept of Heaven are all featured prominently in Jewish tradition, but they are not explicitly stated in the Torah. For this reason, a careful analysis of Jewish texts and commentaries is needed in order to create a clear picture of what happens to the soul after the body has died.

THE SOUL

According to rabbinic material the soul goes on a journey after it departs the body. Along the way it may encounter such things as 'pains of the grave' (Hibbut ha-kever), the 'angel of silence' (Dumah), the 'angel of death' (Satan), 'catapult of the soul' (Kaf ha-Kela), 'purgatory' (Gehinom), and 'paradise' (Gan Eden). These concepts are often expressed via analogies and parables by the Jewish sages, as they felt that these concepts were beyond average human understanding.

According to the Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism), after a person passes on and sheds the physical form, the soul continues to be quite conscious of the people and the universe it has left behind. But as time goes on, the soul ceases to dwell in the physical universe as we know it and journeys into a non-dimensional reality.

Existence in the afterlife is a continuation of this life, organically flowing from this life into the next, minus one's physical form. A person's individuality, contained as a memory unit, lives on after death. The entire personality, which is the cumulative selfhood of the soul-type, survives, including all life experiences that have been imprinted on the soul.

The measure of survival and immediacy of "soul memory" capable of attaining reintegration with "gan eden" (heaven/paradise) is commensurate with the level of soul actualization manifested during life. If we have lived in complete harmony with our soul, the transition is immediate, while those who have lived a more disharmonious and misaligned existence may need to trek a longer route in order to reach their destination. Eventually all souls get there, completing full circle and returning to their Source.

REINCARNATION

According to the sages, the 'sparks' that were one's soul in this life remain part of the soul in the afterlife, while other sparks reincarnate and gradually become individualized souls for other people. The unifying factor between all these incarnations is that, collectively, they constitute "one soul."

Just as a tree has one root, but also has multiple branches extending in all directions, so too does each individual soul share the same root but unfolds and unravels and becomes apparent throughout many lives as individual spiritual soul energies for different people. Although the soul keeps on dividing and subdividing itself in each incarnation, it retains wholesomeness and a sense of completion.

Even after the first possesssor of the soul passes away and elements of soul that became exclusively that person's remain his or hers, and only the remainder of the soul reincarnates, this "remainder" is also complete.

Contrary to popular belief, souls do not reincarnate to rectify previous misdeeds or to complete someone else's story. Rather, they exist to reach their own actualization and individuation. In each evolving incarnation, the soul articulates another element of its nature.

Reincarnation from one human being to the next is for the purpose of self-elevation, not so much for the correction of past life errors. Errors are amended for and fixed in the afterlife, not on earth. When souls descend for rectification in this world, they mostly do so as other forms of life, not within the human form.

Another, more unique form, of reincarnation is discussed by the Sages: the reincarnation of the perfected soul...or a soul belonging to that of a "tzaddik" (righteous person). Normally a soul will return to attain a deeper, more expansive level of articulation. Yet from time to time, souls settle in this realm of existence, not for themselves per se, but to help those around them attain their own "tikkun" (restoration or repair) and reach their soul destiny.

There are clusters of souls that gravitate toward each other physically as they are spiritually linked, sharing the same soul roots. Occasionally, a "perfected" soul will descend to assist those souls to which it is connected, in order to help them reach their maximum spiritual potential.

Ultimately, the purpose of a soul's descent into various forms of existence is for lessons it can acquire, and once these are achieved the soul re-attains its purity and is able to enter "Gan Eden" (paradise/heaven).

HEAVEN

In Judaism, Heaven and Hell are not physical places - they are better described as 'states' in which the soul can reside. The blissful feeling of heaven or the agonizing dread of hell is based on the choices we make. Throughout life, we can either pick heaven or choose hell. Heaven is inclusive, hell is exclusive. In the heavenly paradigm, it is me and you. In hell there can only be me or you.

To exist in heaven is to live in an embracing condition of openness and transcendence, whereas living in hell is where every person we meet is suspected as an enemy, and every experience we have is potentially threatening.

To live in a heavenly manner is to experience a self devoid of opaque ego, aggression, or resentment. The converse of this state is considered hell. With regard to the afterlife journey, in a manner of speaking, one soul's heaven is another's hell. To some degree, all souls return to the same place: for some souls, merging with the light is a transcendent elation, while other souls - those accustomed to being ego oriented, self centered, and selfish - experience the very same encounter as hell.

Movement into the afterlife is determined by the soul's success in developing in this life. As in this life, what we are when er are older is generally, though not necessarily, a reflection of who we were when we were younger. Similarly, in the afterlife, what is experienced "there" is a reflection of what was accomplished "here." The soul advances from one level of awareness to a higher one in accordance with the life it led. Souls can also be assisted in their afterlife journey by the actions performed in their memory by the living.

Although "Gan Eden" (Heaven or Paradise) is the ultimate destination for souls, infinite levels exist within this destination. Most broadly, higher/deeper gan eden us dedicated to the expansive pleasure of divine contemplation; the less intense level of gan eden is more an emotional form of delight. The level the soul attains immediately following death depends on the measure of spiritual attainment it has reached here on earth.

A soul that finds itself too confused or bewildered to enter higher/deeper dimensions within gan eden may first experience lower grades, until it becomes fully acclimated. The lower levels of gan eden serve as an orientation, allowing the soul to become accustomed to its new bodiless existence, until it becomes able to reintegrate with the infinite light and join with eternal goodness.

Heaven is the spiritual culmination of our work here in this world. While for some people this is the glorious end of life to a mediocrity of life's middle, for others this evolved spiritual condition is attained, partially or even fully, in the present world.