Proper Exercise Not Negotiable If You Want to Stay Out of the Nursing Home

The older we get the more we need to protect ourselves from the ravages of aging which are not pretty. Adults who do not do enough muscle building and maintaining activity lose muscle tissue at the rate of 4 percent per decade until age 50 then the loss accelerates to 10 percent per decade.

Along with the muscle tissue loss is the accompanying loss of bone strength as without strong muscles pulling on the bones they are attached to they have no reason to stay strong. Negative body composition changes (muscle/fat ratio) decrease the efficiency of the metabolism (the body's engine) heart and lung function declines and health is pulled into a downward spiral.

With the muscular strength loss is a loss of body endurance and stamina which is noticed when everyday tasks and activities become harder and more tiresome. Extra energy that could be used for enjoyable activities now has to be used just to get through the day.

Although these are age-related conditions - they are more noticed as one gets older they have been happening since a much younger age. Somewhere in the mid 20's these decreases start happening and are closely linked to how much proper exercise is done.

This loss of muscle is known as sarcopenia affecting both genders and plays a huge part in the multitude of health issues and physical function decline during the aging process.
We all need to participate in a proper strength training exercise program to fight the effects of aging so we can get through them with a good quality of life and plenty of protection from premature and preventable disease.

Proper exercise is not a 'luxury' or "if I have time left over I'll do it" scenario. It is a non-negotiable high priority self care necessity that will make aging a much more enjoyable experience and not something to be feared as an inevitable trip to the nursing home.
If we want to stay out of those places we each need to take responsibility for our own strength and health. If left to chance they will disappear along with our quality of life. When the human body is allowed to become weak, disease is always waiting in the shadows to pounce.

To get yourself going your local gym or fitness center can help you get started on a proper exercise program and monitor your progress. Time and effort should not be wasted doing the wrong types of exercise or at too low an intensity (degree of effort).

We are the lucky ones as our parents and even our grandparents did not have access to this knowledge and we watched them lose their strength, health, independence and dignity. We do not have to follow in their footsteps on this one. A strength training program is a key anti-aging strategy to reduce, delay and reverse the villain sarcopenia. Get yourself strong so you look and feel better and more youthful than you will believe.

Home Nursing - What You Should Know First

Normally, any individual desiring of health care treatment for his body condition approaches a health care setting. Based on a doctor's advice, he gets admitted in the clinic or receives outpatient care. With home nursing, individuals can now receive healthcare treatment in their homes. This form of healthcare treatment is useful for people who can't move out of their homes due to any impairment.

This type of nursing is also useful for elderly people who can't travel distances to get admitted into a health care setting. In fact, in more than 80% of cases where people have volunteered for home nurses have said that the hospital or the clinic was too far from their homes, and they would ideally like the treatment to be provided in their homes.

Home nurses normally attend to patients who suffer from chronic ailments like heart diseases, high blood pressure and so on. Such patients would always need services as mentioned below.

- The feeding tubes need to be changed regularly
- Urine catheters need to be cleaned, disposed and new catheters need to be installed
- Wounds need to be dressed
- Blood sugar levels need to be checked regularly
- Injections if any, to be provided.

Home nurses accomplish these tasks, easily as well as professionally too. This allows elderly people, who are non-ambulant to stay in their homes with their loved ones, while the home nurses take care of their healthcare needs.

Home nursing is less expensive than staying in the hospital or the health care clinic. Getting treated in home reduces expenses by 30%, as you don't have to pay for the bed charges and doctor's visit if the patient would have been in the hospital. That being said, these home nurses wouldn't be able to provide medical advice for the patient's illness, so it is extremely important that the patient gets proper and prompt advice from a doctor.

Home nurses thus simplify the whole process of patient recovery post medical treatment. A lot of these nurses do this form of nursing as private practice.

Before hiring a nurse though, be sure you have checked their credentials. It is important for you to have a nurse who knows what she is doing. Normally, these nurses only follow the administrative and medical procedures laid out by the doctor for the patient. Having a professional and a credible nurse does help in speedy patient recovery and is the best thing to happen for the patient.

Benefits of Senior Assisted Living

In everyday life, everybody tends to get old at one point or another, that is if you live for long enough. As everyone knows, age has its disadvantage the most notable ones becoming failing health and incapacitated physical movement. As such, elderly people require a lot of proper care and around the clock monitoring, this is where assisted living comes in.

Senior assisted living generally involves the provision of personal care services to a elderly person by professional staff in assisted living facilities. These facilities provide assistance or supervision for the aging adults when performing day to day activities and also medical care. There are lots of primary advantages of elderly assisted living, such as:

Security

Security can be considered among the most notable benefits associated with assisted living for elderly people. A majority of elderly people are frail and have slightly impaired physique function such as poor vision and loss of hearing. This makes performance of daily tasks such as bathing and walking very difficult and they stand a high risk of getting injured when doing theses responsibilities.

In senior assisted living facilities, trained staffs are usually available to assist the elderly perform these tasks. These facilities also contain special support structures that the elderly use when doing day to day activities to avoid falling and other related injuries. Some of these structures include furniture with padded sides and support railings that are usually designed into corridors and bath rooms.

Companionship

As we grow older, we're sure to lose one or more of our friends. Senior citizens tend to lack company since the only people they can connect with are family members and individuals within their age group. Most members of the family tend to be busy throughout the day making the elderly person lack companionship most of the time. Assisted living facilities generally bring together senior citizens within the same age bracket. New friendships can be struck up between members and the members can enjoy social activities such as board games with each other.

Nutrition

The diet of an elderly citizen greatly differs from what healthy young individual. Senior persons usually require a strict dietary plan to replenish certain nutrients inside their body and also strengthen their health. Providing such a diet can be quite cumbersome in a domestic environment since the normal family diet greatly differs from this type of diet. Senior living facilities have special diets specifically designed to meet the nutritional requirements of the aging seniors.

Health Care

Generally, almost all assisted living facilities have professionally trained medical employees on hand in case of any emergency situation. The medical employees also offer regular checkups for the elderly and give personalized recommendations for every senior citizens.

Exercising

Exercising is extremely important when it comes to the normal functioning of the body. Elderly people are not cut out for the normal regular exercise routines and usually perform light specialized exercise to improved blood circulation and keep healthy. Senior assisted living facilities have appropriate amenities and qualified employees for this type of exercises. In view of the above explained factors, the use of senior assisted living facilities is very recommended.

Seattle Assisted Living Info

Residents of Seattle senior living communities can take advantage of all the trappings of a thriving city: world-class shopping and dining, natural scenic beauty, exciting cultural events, all the while maintaining the intimacy of a close-knit community.

Seattle Recreation & Activities

Many assisted living facilities in Seattle are conveniently clustered around shopping and recreational facilities in any one of the many residential neighborhoods throughout the city. Here are a few of the more popular recreational activities that Seattle senior living residents and their families can take advantage of:

North Seattle

Assisted living facilities in Seattle, north of the ship canal, are a short distance away from one of the most popular and scenic recreation centers in Seattle, Greenlake Park, which boasts ADA compliant pedestrian paths and a public theater. It is a great place to read a book, set up a fishing rod or people watch from a shaded bench.

During the winter months or to escape the rain, assisted living seniors can take a trip to Northgate Mall. When the weather turns nicer, University Village, an outdoor shopping center with retail, restaurants, and adjacent grocery and drugstores, is a another great option.

North Seattle senior living residents can also participate in activities at Senior activity centers in Ballard, Wallingford or Greenwood.

Central Seattle/Downtown

Seattle assisted living seniors who live downtown or in the First Hill neighborhood are located a short distance from the Downtown retail corridor which houses most major retailers, Seattle's theater district, world-renowned restaurants and two major cinemas: AMC Pacific Place 11 and Regal Meridian 16.

Assisted living facilities in the Capitol Hill neighborhood are a short distance from an assortment of cultural, recreational and dining activities. A stroll along Broadway, the main commercial thoroughfare, offers an array of local eateries and entertainment such as the Harvard Exit and Egyptian theaters located at either end of boulevard.

All these residents are a short distance from the Central Area Senior Center.

West Seattle

West Seattle assisted living complexes boast convenient access to Alki Beach, which features a pedestrian friendly boardwalk and stunning views of Puget Sound. The West Seattle Junction retail district is packed with restaurants and specialty stores along Main Street, great for window shopping or grabbing a cup of coffee. Residents can also opt for a more conventional mall experience at the recently renovated Westwood Village shopping center.

Open to all is the Senior Center of West Seattle specifically geared for senior activities.

South Seattle

South Seattle assisted living communities are clustered in the Rainier Beach, Columbia City and Beacon Hill neighborhoods. Residents enjoy easy access to some of Lake Washington's most pristine views, especially form Seward Park, a 277-acre peninsula at the southeast edge of Seattle. There are great activities to be found at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center.

Seattle Medical Facilities

Seattle has become a biomedical research hub, and attracts some of the greatest doctors and healthcare providers in the country. Residents of assisted living facilities can get preventative and emergency care at a variety of high-quality, local hospitals and medical centers:

North Seattle

North Seattle is home to the University of Washington Medical Center, a nationally-recognized, state-of-the-art medical research facility. It is the teaching and research hospital of the University of Washington.

Central Seattle/Downtown/West Seattle

The following are all large, modern hospital centers that serve the entire Seattle community: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Swedish/First Hill Medical Center, and Harborview Medical Center.

Seattle Transportation

Many Seattle assisted living facilities employ their own fleet of handicap accessible shuttles for shopping, medical appointments and other activities. King County (which includes Seattle), provides the Senior Services Transportation Program, which is free to any King County resident 60 years or older, who are able to enter and exit vehicles with minimal assistance.

Seniors with limited mobility may be able to use for Seattle Metro's Access transportation service or ADA Paratransit Program. The Access shuttles are specially equipped to handle wheelchairs and provide shared ride service along existing Seattle bus routes. Personal care attendants and service animals can accompany the senior for no additional charge.

You can find assisted living in Seattle at our Seattle Assisted Living page.

IP Camera Video Surveillance For Hospitals

In hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities, it cannot be stressed enough how important video surveillance is. It not only increases the security within the facility, but also controls costs. The patients are protected, the employees are protected, and the administration can keep an eye on the employees in order to increase productivity. To make this possible, Internet Protocol cameras, or IP cameras are being utilized in many healthcare facilities due to the fact that remote video monitoring is possible.

Benefits of Hospital Video Surveillance

Security and safety is increased - Crimes, break-ins, and injuries to patients and employees are prevented or documented if they occur within the hospital. This also allows the hospital personnel to monitor patients and watch out for unauthorized visitors.

Productivity - If employees know they are being watched, their productivity will increase. Communication can improve, the administration knows what is going on, and more will get done.

Prevent dishonesty - There are times when a visitor or a patient may state that they were injured on the hospital's property. When there is visual evidence through IP cameras, these claims can be proved either way. This can save the hospital from being sued, which can save them money in their insurance premiums.

Take care of employee disputes - If two employees are in the middle of a dispute, the visual proof can put an end to it. It is amazing what surveillance cameras can do in this instance.

Monitor in real-time - There is no having to go back and watch a recording of footage. You can do that if you wish, but you can also watch what is going on in real-time.

Storage - IP-based surveillance systems can take advantage of digital storage. The footage is recorded on network servers, on hard drives, or on NVRs. This makes the footage easily accessible to those who have authorization to view it. Searching is also made easier through digital recordings.

Remote monitoring - Remote monitoring is an important aspect of IP cameras for the fact that what is going on within the hospital can be viewed from a remote location. If an administrator needs to view a particular area of the hospital while they are vacationing in Mexico, they can. If they want to check in while they are at home, they can. All they need is access to the IP camera's network via the Internet.

An Assessment of the Risks

As with anything, there are risks associated with monitoring a hospital through surveillance systems. Those risks include:

Relying too much on the video surveillance system because physical security is also very important.

Making sure patient privacy is respected. The IP cameras should monitor those areas that are open to the public and nothing more.

Tampering is a risk with any security system. The video signal can be lost if there is any tampering with the system. There should be alternatives put in place in order to make up for a signal that is interrupted. This includes vandal resistant IP cameras or installing the cameras in areas out of reach by intruders.

Setting Up Your System

Make sure there is a view of all entrances and exits so everyone going in and out can be seen.

Monitor the hallways to keep watch over visitors and the overall flow of activity.

Make sure fire escapes and elevators are covered.

Make sure the parking lots are within view, as well as loading areas.

Restricted areas need to be monitored.

Copyright (c) 2009 Wes Fernley

What Constitutes Nursing Home Abuse

It is a federal, criminal offense to deprive nursing home residents of their freedom from abuse, neglect and misappropriation of property or funds. The laws apply to visitors, facility staff, volunteers, family
members, guardians and other residents.

The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 entitles residents to live in an environment that improves or maintains their physical and mental health.

What is Abuse?

Nursing home abuse is any act that causes intentional harm or pain and can include psychological, physical or sexual attacks. Also included are intimidation, seclusion and corporal punishment (hitting, slapping, etc.).

Mental, psychological or emotional abuse may include berating, ridiculing, cursing, threatening, ignoring or deprivation of food, activities or visitors.

Physical abuse can result in both pain and visible injuries as a result of slapping, scratching, hitting, shoving, pinching, rough handling, unnecessary immobilization, or substandard care.

Rough handling may occur while administering medication, moving the patient or during other types of care such as bathing.

Substandard care often results in pressure sores, also known as bed sores, depression, incontinence or dehydration. In severe cases, more than one of these conditions are present.

Sexual abuse can occur as coercion to perform a sexual act, rape, improper touching or being forced to watch a sexual act.

What Qualifies as Neglect?

Nursing home neglect doesn't need to be intentional. It's the failure to provide the appropriate level of care, including the failure to react to any situation that can result in the resident's harm, such as failure to:

Promptly change disposable briefs or provide access to bed pan/toilet

Assist with eating, drinking, walking, bathing

Answer cries for help or call bells

Help resident participate in activities

Correctly position the resident in bed

Reporting an Incident

Your report should be in writing and dated. Keep a copy! Include every detail including the resident's name and age, facility name, employee(s), what, where, when, and all signs of abuse or neglect.

Start your complaint with the director of nursing, social worker and the facility's administrator. Ask them what, if any, other steps must be taken to have the incident investigated.

If a serious physical injury has occurred, contact law enforcement.

If the situation remains unresolved, contact your state ombudsman, local adult protective services agency and the state licensing agency.

Follow-up with the resident and all people or agencies investigating the incident. If possible, obtain written copies of the results of all investigations.

Features You Can Expect Inside Adult Day Care Centers

As people get older, their immune system weakens. This exposes them to several illnesses. Their bones and muscles get weaker and they no longer have their usual energy. It can be hard to take care of the elderly especially when you do not know anything about proper care. Adult day care centers can help old and sick people recover faster.

Aging is a natural process. As the body continues to deteriorate, it loses its ability to defend itself from diseases. If they get any injuries, it may take a long while before they fully recover. For serious cases, some old people may never walk again if they slip and fall at home. Simple accidents can cause great damage to their body that is why you need to take extra care. Your home will not have the proper materials to help them get better faster. Their condition might only get worse if they are not getting the medical attention they need. A nursing home is complete with experts to help keep their health in check.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider the services of adult day care centers.

Accessible Facilities

Compared to staying in your home, patients can easily socialize with other people in these facilities. Family members are busy with work or school. No one is left behind to take care of the elderly. They need to socialize and they should never feel alone as this contributes to the speed of their recovery. In adult day care centers, they will have several activities to participate in. They can meet new people and they will receive assistance from nurses. If they need anything, there will be people to get it for them.

Health Experts on Watch

During this stage in a person's life, their health becomes more and more unpredictable. One moment they may seem fine but in the next minute, they may need emergency help. If this happens and there is no one left at home, the patient may suffer and die in the process. Without people watching over them, they might get into another accident. Even when there are people to guide them, this does not assure them of their health and safety. If those people do not know anything about taking care of the sick and elderly, they might not be of any help. Experts in adult day care centers know how to give first aid and are prepared for any emergency.

Diet and Nutrition in Check

To help them recover faster, you should make sure they get the right nutrition. In a nursing home, they will receive meals exclusive to their needs. Doctors will assess their condition and prepare a meal plan that nurses will follow for them. This way, you are sure they are only getting the right nutrition. In this place, they will also not forget about taking medicine at the right time.

You can have all of these conveniences when you choose a good facility.

CNA Training - Increase Your Portfolio

Presently, there is a big demand for certified nurse's assistants (CNA's) in America predominately due to an aging population that is correlated to those "baby boomers" born between 1945 and 1962. With the advent of technological improvements, discoveries of new drugs which can battle previously incurable diseases and a definite switch towards healthier lifestyles and food choices, people are living longer but with this ability to fight disease and death comes the debilitating effects of extreme aging. Occupations in the medical field are naturally thriving in the United States due to this demographic restructuring and nursing assistants are predicted to be much sought after by employers in the medical field.

If you plan on moving to the United States and want to pursue a career as a nurse's aide, there are some things you should know that will help you initiate your desire to work as a CNA. First, you should know that as a potential certified nursing assistant, you will be trained in caring for physically or mentally disabled individuals, many of whom will be the elderly who have been confined to nursing homes. You will also learn the basics regarding human physiology, commonly used medications, taking a patient's vital signs such as their heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, and giving injections. Other duties of a nursing assistant in the U.S. include bathing and feeding an incapacitated individual, and patient rehabilitation services. As a certified nursing assistant, you will be an indispensable member of a team consisting of other CNA's, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and doctors

CNA training in America consists of enrolling in a two year college or a vocational school that offers accredited nursing aide programs. Such programs will take approximately six to nine months to complete, after which you will have to pass a comprehensive exam in order to receive your credentials. Some nursing homes or other long-term care facilities will offer such a program for free but with the stipulation that you must remain employed by that facility for up to a year after passing the program.

There are certain requirements that must be met before enrolling in CNA training in America. You must be at least eighteen years of age, and possess a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). You cannot have any prior felony convictions, nor can you be a carrier of any infectious diseases. A good place to start your search for certified nursing aide training is the American Red Cross, which has a training program that is broadly available in 36 cities across the United States.

American Red Cross CNA programs satisfy federal requirements regarding what constitutes a certified nurse's assistant, with each individual Red Cross procedure for implementing their nursing programs being specifically geared toward their states' requirements regarding practices and hours needed. A partial list of cities in the U.S. carrying these chapters of the Red Cross which offer CNA training include Los Angeles, California; Tampa Bay, Florida; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Detroit, Michigan. If you are interested in this type of program, you will easily find contact information on the internet for these Red Cross cities.

10 Tips on How to Help Elderly Parents Accept Help

One of the biggest challenges baby boomers face; Mom and Dad are becoming frail and can no longer live safely on their own. They tell you that they are not going to move. Now what can you do?

It is very difficult for aging seniors to face the fact they are unable to maintain living independently at home. This can be frustrating to adult children who are worried about their parents or other elderly relative's safety and well being. Adult children often have to start providing more and more assistance as their parents or elderly relatives become increasingly frail. This causes problems for working caregivers as well as for their employers. Problems of unexpected absenteeism, workday interruptions, supervision cost, unpaid leave, reduction of hours affect employees as well as the employers of "Boomers". According to an extensive study by MetLife, reported in 2004, adult child caregivers cost employers an estimated $2110-$2441 per employee.

In addition, whatever plans established for elder-care can quickly unravel with a change in health status or unexpected absence of a paid caregiver. For example, Janet and her brother were both sharing the responsibility of their elderly mother and suddenly both had to be out of town during the same week. "Within two days we had to find other arrangements for Mom." "It was an overwhelming nightmare." "The worst part was my brother and I ended up in a huge argument."

10 Tips on How to Approach this Topic with Your Mom or Dad:

1. First assess what your parent's needs are. Are they able to maintain interior/exterior care of their home? Are they eating nutritious meals? Are they still able to drive? Are they occasionally isolated and lonely? Do they uphold their own agreements?

2. Plan ahead and start early with discussions of options. Mom is more open to a discussion if you say "In the future if you ever need more help would you want to move to an independent retirement community or would you prefer to get help at home?" If you already have a few options in mind if and/or when a crisis occurs you and your parent are not only more prepared but the parent will be more accepting of the change.

3. Couples can often manage in their own home longer than singles. Often they help each other out. One may still be driving or able to still handle the financial affairs. The average age for needing some help is eighty-three. Options range from getting help in the home to independent or assisted living communities.

4. Mobilize during a crisis. If they end up in the emergency room or with a hospital stay use the momentum of the situation to help your elderly parent see that it is time for a change.

5. Don't give up. If during your first discussion mom and dad don't want to talk about this tell them you still want to talk about it. Ask them to think about it and bring it up again and again until you can flush out major objections to the change. Janet said, "I listened to my mom's concerns about moving because the monthly cost. Once I knew this we sat down and focused on her financial situation. We found with all the amenities it was going to be about the same cost as staying at home with live in help."

6. Be honest about your feelings, capacity to help and your own concerns. Be respectful and caring as you discuss how your own children need your time and attention. Be open about what help you can provide and what help you cannot. Be understanding but firm when presenting your concerns.

7. Start touring independent living communities. No one will ever want to move if they don't see it first. It can really reduce resistance once they see how nice come of the senior living places are. If you are short on time adult children should look at several and pick out two or three that mom and dad might like best. Then take your parents to see them. It is easy to bridge into a conversation on which community they like best.

8. Communicate to them how you can help with all aspects of the move. The whole idea and the process of moving is overwhelming. They know it is beyond their current capacity to facilitate on their own. Senior move managers such as Paxem,Inc. help adult children and seniors from start to finish with the entire moving project.

9. Focus on keeping positive with your siblings or other involved family members. This can be difficult as you may feel like not everyone is doing his or her share of involvement. Hopefully you are doing what you are doing because you want to help your parent. Not everyone will be involved at the same level and you may need to accept that, ask for specific help at times or hire out for certain services.

10. Remember they are still your parents are not children. As adults, they do not like being "told" what to do or facing change. As long as they have the cognitive skills, it remains up to them and is their decision. In summary, remain positive and be persistent as in negotiating any challenge. Your parents need to be able to maintain their dignity while accepting their newly acquired limitations. It is a difficult but important skill to manage for both of you.

Are Your Nursing Assistants in the Know About Advance Directives?

How much do your nursing assistants know about advance directives? Are they aware of the difference between a living will, a health care power of attorney and a DNR order? Do they know that all clients must be asked about advance directives...and must be given the opportunity to create one? To make sure that your CNAs understand the basics, consider giving them the following important information:

What Is an Advance Directive?

As a health care worker, you've probably heard the term "advance directive". But, what is an advance directive anyway? It is a document that outlines people's preferences for medical care when, in the future, they are unable to communicate their wishes. It is particularly useful when someone is terminally ill, critically ill or has advanced Alzheimer's disease.

Advance directives are not just for people who are sick or old. Advance directives are something that all people should consider having. Keep in mind that having an advance directive is not a sign that someone has given up on life since it takes effect only when people can no longer communicate their own wishes.

REMEMBER: Advance directives give people a voice in their own medical decisions even after they have lost the ability to speak for themselves.

What Is a Living Will?

A living will contains written instructions detailing a person's wishes for end-of-life care to family members and to doctors. These wishes might include preferences about:

• CPR


• Tubes to provide nutrition and/or hydration


• Kidney dialysis


• Ventilators


• Blood transfusions


• Invasive procedures


• Pain medication


• Surgery


• Organ transplantation


• Chemotherapy


• Antibiotics


• Dying at home or at a medical facility

A living will becomes effective when it is determined that a person can no longer make his or her own decisions. As long as the requests in the living will are legal (and don't go against reasonable medical standards), doctors will usually honor them.

Living wills must be signed and dated. They must also be signed by two witnesses. Health care workers should never be witnesses to a living will! If a client asks you to be a witness, explain that it's against your workplace policy.

What Is a Health Care Power of Attorney?

The second kind of advance directive has a few different names, depending on your state. For example, you may hear it called a health care power of attorney (HCPOA, for short) or a health care proxy or a health care agent.

A HCPOA is a legal document that names a particular person to be in charge of future medical decisions. Many people choose their spouse or an adult child to serve as their health care power of attorney. Other people choose a close family friend or even a lawyer.

It is against the law for physicians or other health care employees to act as HCPOA for their patients. For example, Mr. Stone lives in a skilled nursing facility. He has a favorite nurse, Marsha, with whom he has discussed his end-of-life wishes. He says he trusts her the most and wants her to be his health care power of attorney. Marsha knows this is against the rules so she asks the social worker to discuss the matter with Mr. Stone. The social worker helps Mr. Stone choose an appropriate person to be his HCPOA.

The idea is that the person named in a HCPOA will make the same decisions that the patient would have made if he or she were able. It is very important for people to discuss their end-of-life wishes with whomever they choose as their HCPOA. Good communication helps ensure that those wishes will be honored when the time comes.

Remember that clients who have completed a HCPOA form have not given up the right to make their own medical decisions. A HCPOA takes charge only if and when clients are unable to communicate their own wishes.

What Is a DNR Order?

Advance directives give important directions for medical care, but to be official, a person's wishes need to be put into medical orders. An important medical order that many people want when they are very old and/or terminally ill is a Do Not Resuscitate order.

A Do Not Resuscitate order tells medical professionals to suspend action even if someone's heart and breathing stops. This means that doctors, nurses and emergency medical personnel will not use emergency CPR to try to revive someone.

DNR orders are designed to help people who are in the final stages of a terminal illness, who suffer from a chronic serious condition, or who are old and ready to die. Often, the process of establishing a DNR order helps people begin to come to terms with death-whether it is their own or the death of a loved one.

DNR orders must be signed and dated by a physician. They may be written for people in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities-and, in most states, for people living in their own homes.

Generally, paramedics working in the community have a duty to perform CPR when a person's heart or breathing stops. For people still living at home, many states have a special DNR order-called a "Prehospital DNR", an "Out-of Hospital DNR" or a "Portable DNR". If you are a home health aide, you may see one of these forms. It is usually written on brightly colored paper and should be posted in an obvious place so that the paramedics know not to resuscitate the person.

Some states have portable DNR bracelets that alert paramedics that a DNR order has been written by the person's physician.

A Final Word about Advance Directives

As medical technology has become more advanced over the years, doctors have been able to keep people alive longer and longer. Many people have wanted to say "enough is enough"! This is where advanced directives come in. Living wills and health care powers of attorney give people control over what happens to them.

There are both federal and state laws about advance directives. The federal law, the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA), took effect in December of 1991. It requires that patients/clients/residents must:

• Be asked if they have advance directives on admission to a health care organization.


• Be informed of their rights to refuse treatment and to prepare advance directives.


• Have documentation of their advance directive status in their charts.


• Have their advance directives honored.

In addition, all health care organizations (that accept Medicare and/or Medicaid funding) must have a policy on advance directives. This policy must be available in writing to all people who are admitted to the facility/agency. And, all staff members must be taught about advance directives.

The public needs to know that it is a federal requirement that healthcare workers ask about advance directives. By doing so, you support the rights of every client to be involved in decisions regarding their medical care-whether it concerns a simple procedure or the end of life.

Employing Young People Today

I recently advertised for a business support apprentice which is an office based role in a formal business environment.

This morning I sat down at my computer, opened my email and looked at the unread emails in my inbox applying for the apprenticeship I had advertised earlier this week. I was quite pleased with how many I had received and smiled as I opened the first one.

My smile soon faded as I read the first line of the covering letter of the first application which said "please find attached my application for Nursing Home Administrator". I sat and read it again wondering why I had received an irrelevant application, knowing as I did this that the applicant had just not paid attention to what they were sending. This is not the first lack of attention I have received; it is one of many and without any doubt will not be the last.

Apprenticeships are the best way to invest in our young people who are leaving full time education, providing them practical skills and experience. The problem facing businesses today is that these young people have not been taught basic life skills for gaining employment which, in my opinion should be a compulsory part education for all 15 and 16 year olds. What most young people do not understand is that a potential employer is going to initially judge them on the CV and covering letter they receive. In such times of high youth unemployment this initial contact is the key to getting an interview.

My recent experience of CVs and cover letters has been one of frustration, I have received letters with bad spelling and grammar, only because the applicant has not asked anyone to read it through, there have been statements of "you will find no one better than me, so call me and tell me when I can start" and one applicant who stated that "you couldn't make me loose it" (I assume they meant their temper).

The government have rightfully pledged to create 100,000 apprentice roles but without investment in job seeking skills prior to leaving school these roles may not be filled as employers will reject a high percentage of candidates just based on their poor application. I recently received a letter from the department of education which states that it is up to schools what they teach their pupils. For the most part schools are teaching this generation about enterprise which should be encouraged but this should be taught alongside job seeking skills that encourage young people to have career options and ambition in the work place as well as promoting the strengths of enterprise, thus providing a balanced view of work life after education coupled with practical skills enabling employment or entrepreneurial investment.

These basic skills should be part of the curriculum and it is in the best interest of education, business and society that we teach these valuable skills and make sure we do not have an unemployable generation.

Hidden Spy Cams From Nanny to Granny Cameras - Gotcha Covered

Hidden spy cameras are most times used to catch somebody doing something they shouldn't be doing. Usually that something is illegal. Stealing from a home, a nanny abusing a child, a theft from a business by an employee, elder abuse in a nursing home, home security and business security are good examples of the many versatile uses of them.

A spy camera is nothing more than very small board camera placed inside a common object. Usually that object is a working object to further the deception. Some examples are an alarm clock, mirrors, wall clocks, AM/FM radios, smoke detectors and so on.

All hidden cameras require some kind of device to record the images like a DVR or VCR. Some hidden spy cameras have DVR's built into them making them exceptionally easy to use.

Two of the most common uses of hidden spy cameras are as nanny cams and a so-called granny cams. When we entrust the care of our young children to a babysitter or a nanny we want to be sure that they are doing what we pay them to do - watching the kids and not talking on the phone are having a party at the house. The easiest way to do that is with a hidden camera.

Senior citizens are the fastest-growing segment of our population. As they get older many of them require in-home care or a stay in a nursing home. In either case there is no absolute assurance that your mother or father is getting the best care or that they are not being taken advantage of.

Incidents of elder abuse in nursing homes is well documented. A home health caregiver is subject to the same temptations as any burglar. There could be many valuable things around the house and with only a senior citizen around theft is quite common.

So from a nanny cam to a granny cam we have you covered. Getting a spy camera DVR or a regular spy camera and find out what is going on with your mom and dad or your kids when you can't be there.

Online Job Openings - Easiest Way to Succeed!

Jobs are the fuel that keeps society going. Job is the one thing that everyone wants to have to earn their living with all the skills one has. We all know that the world was hit by recession. But the bad time is over now. There are many job openings in every sector and in every field. Most of the people face difficulties in finding a job. The truth is that most of the job openings are not widely advertised. But now internet has changed the scenario, finding a good job is not a problem.

If you are looking for a new job, an online job search may be one of your best tools for finding a new position. Online Jobs are basically the jobs that can be done via the internet or via the World Wide Web. The Internet is an endless resource of information and data, which you would need for everyday living. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people, who are making good money on the Internet today.

Today, there are a good number of sites on the web that provide good opportunities to earn. These sites provide complete details about different types of jobs. So, you can directly access them. There are many types of jobs available on the internet according to your comforts. There are full time jobs and part time jobs are also available as well. Those who can't afford to go out for a job they can simply earn their livings by working from home as there are many job opening firms which provide the opportunity to work from home. So you can choose the job depending on the kind of work you prefer.

The best thing about online job sites is that they are so easy to use, and can be quite effective as tools for accessing a large number of employment opportunities. There are many sites available online from where you can search for multiple job opportunities. You can also search jobs by state and city, and view everything that is posted. The sites with a large quantity of jobs usually have a feature to filter jobs based upon your interest. Many of these websites are paid. You are also available with many free online websites. These websites also update you with the latest job openings and news related to various jobs. So, all you need to do is a quick search and in no time plenty of job opportunities will be available to you.

Making the Home Safe For Seniors - What Makes the Stairway Dangerous

There are many places that are risky for seniors and others with ambulatory diseases to use. Sometimes accessing these places can be thought of as an extra, as it were, without which the senior can still live a normal and happy life. However, often the most risky place for a senior is in their own home, so it can not be avoided as easily or without having to make a significant life change. This area is, of course, the staircase and can not only be extremely hard for seniors to use, but also presents some very serious dangers.

Each and every year, falls on the stairs are one of the predominant causes for serious injury among the elderly. There are a significant number of staircase related fatalities and hospitalizations each year, which are why the stairs are the most dangerous area for seniors. The stairs present a number of features that make them hard to use for someone with a disease like arthritis, which is common among elderly people.

There are many factors that make the stairs very dangerous. For example, each step requires that the user not only raise their foot high enough for the next step, but also place it properly. This motion, of bending the knees and supporting the body on one leg, presents some large obstacles for seniors, greatly increasing the risk of a fall.

Also, it is not only the motion of climbing the stairs that presents risks and difficulty, but also since there are many surfaces that are very hard and unforgiving on the stairs, a fall can be much more serious. Even if the senior doesn't fall down the stairs, the steps have a knack of finding the knees or hips when you fall on them.

One of the reasons that falls and other accidents are so serious for seniors, is that the actual recovery process is much more difficult with age. For example, in a recent study, it was discovered that after a fall where a hip or knee injury is sustained, the senior is much more likely to die within the same year.

In those who do not die, the chance that they will need extended assisted care and will have to more into some sort of assisted living situation is also much more likely. For many, this move to a retirement home might actually be the best choice, but it doesn't change the fact that this move can be very expensive and also can mean that the senior must move further away from their family.

Since the stairs are so very dangerous and falls much more likely among the elderly, it is important to always be careful when using the staircase. When away from home, it is a good idea to avoid using the stairs as much as possible and always have someone provide a hand when climbing a staircase. Using the handrails is also very important, with studies actually finding that having two handrails, with one installed on either side of the staircase, can actually help to reduce the risk of a staircase fall.

After You're Bitten - Proving Ownership of the Dog For Liability Purposes

When you pass a dog along the street or sidewalk during your morning run or even the short trip to your mailbox, it's important to remain vigilant. You may know the dog, or at least have seen it around the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean the dog is passive or friendly. If you attempt to extend a friendly hand or acknowledge the animal, you risk being bitten. In the event it should happen, the steps you need to take should be first designed to address your health and then your ability to file a claim to cover any expenses - medical and potentially more.

After you have been bitten and are able to confirm the identity of the dog in question, you must identify the owner. Typically, if the dog is wearing a collar with identification, ownership may be easily determined, but what happens in the event the dog has no identification, or the current ID is invalid? It is possible to discover the name and address on a dog's collar belongs to a previous owner who may deny liability for your injury. If ownership is not clear or easily determined, you will need to investigate. When you retain the services of a personal injury attorney who works on dog bite cases, he will interview you about your knowledge of the dog and anybody connected to the animal. It isn't unusual for an attorney to contact people in the neighborhood for answers. There are several possibilities to look to for help in identifying the dog and its owner:

• Postal carriers- The neighborhood mailperson will have an intimate knowledge of the neighborhood, and may recognize pets that play in the yards. If your carrier can connect the attacking dog to a house, that's a plus.


• Service people- Think of all the recent services that have come into the neighborhood recent weeks: painters, contractors, landscapers, and the cable guy. If any recall such a dog in a home where they worked, get that information.


• Police or animal control authorities- If the dog in question has been involved in a prior incident that was reported to the police or animal control authorities, there will be a record you can access for identification purpose.


• Veterinarians- If the dog has been treated by a veterinary clinic, there will be records available. Your lawyer may research all the clinics and animal doctors in the vicinity.

With careful research, you can identify the owner of the attacking dog, then work toward getting appropriate compensation. One reason why few dog bite victims are compensated is because the claims are not filed. If you feel you deserve compensation and you cannot identify the dog's owner, don't give up! There are people who can help you, not the least of which is an attorney who regularly deals with animal attack cases.

Granny Flats: An Alternative to Retirement Homes

Many retirement homes, nowadays, have impressive facilities unlike what is commonly portrayed in movies and TV as a sad and very strict institution for the elderly. Many private institutions have vastly improved their facilities to provide better care for their residents. However, the cost of living in retirement homes is expensive for some folks. Also, the notion that you are putting away an important member of your family may not be agreeable for others. This is ideal for elderly folks who want to live on their own but prefer not to enter a nursing home or live in another separate location.

Instead of nursing homes for the elderly, granny flats are becoming a new option to consider. An extended home within a property can be set up for the elderly. It provides privacy from the main residence but is also easily accessible if family members need to reconnect and bond once in a while. A granny flat usually has its own entrance and all the basic amenities like kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room. It works like a regular small apartment but is situated in the same property as the main residence. Homeowners can decide whether to create an adjoining entranceway or keep it separate for more privacy.

The advantage of granny flats over retirement homes is that it's affordable and convenient. If you want to know more about granny flats, you can also check kit homes offered in your area. You can choose to construct a kit home for a cheaper but good quality alternative over stick-built homes. Minimal repairs and maintenance are required with good quality kit home. The low cost is also ideal for an elderly living on pension or supported financially by family members.

Elderly people who are suffering from any illness can be easily taken care of by family members. Although retirement homes have good healthcare facilities and professionals, being near family in these times will help the elderly manage an illness and put him or her in good spirits. A personal nurse can be hired if the family can't provide care for the elderly full-time. This becomes even more convenient for both parties.

A granny flat was originally built for the elderly, but nowadays, this term is also used to describe a guest home or extended home for another family member, relative, or tenant. A son or daughter who has graduated from college can use a granny flat to feel less dependent on parents. You can also choose to rent out the flat to another person. If you have extra space and would like to get profits out it, this is a good idea.

Before you build your granny flat or kit home, make sure you check zoning law and requirements in your area and adhere to all these requirements to prevent any hurdles in your construction. Also, if you will be renting out the flat, there are also regulations set by councils and local government. Make sure you know more about granny flats construction and regulations.

Texting While Driving is Dangerous & the Negligence Results in Personal Injuries

The introduction of Apple's new iPhone 4, is only one indicator of the rapidly growing and constantly improving market for cell phones. The number of smart phones being purchased and used in California has greatly increased, allowing users to access various applications any place at any time. Inevitably, this has lead to the increase of text messaging while performing other tasks. One such example of this growing trend: texting while driving.

In fact, this became such a common habit among drivers that as of January 1, 2009 California banned the act of text messaging while driving. Even before electronic devices are considered, automobile accidents take place every day around the country, especially in the state of California, with one of the highest number of registered vehicles in one state.

Texting creates a distraction for drivers, and leaves them at risk of incapably responding to their surroundings. In fact, some statistics conclude that texting while driving can lead to a car accidents twenty-three times more likely than if a drive her had not been texting. More over, drivers who are texting while driving are at risk of slower reaction times in the face of an accident (or a potential one). According to the January 2010 report by the National Safety Council, an estimated 30% of all automobile crashes (1.6. million) are caused by drivers talking and texting on their cell phones. This figure reveals that by simply waiting for a few moments, millions of drivers and victims could avoid collision, unnecessary car repairs, and bodily injuries.

Over the past couple years with the rise in popularity of text messaging, the law firm of Ledger & Associates has seen a dramatic increase in the repeated and devastating effects of negligent driving all over the state of California. There have been too many cases dealing with wrongful deaths and negligent drivers who have injured innocent people as a result of choosing to text while they drive. Therefore, carelessness can put drivers at fault in a personal injuries case, for lack of attention and negligence. In essence, texting while driving is inherently dangerous. Now falling under the phrase "distracted driving" in many articles, this activity is not only potentially criminal, but there are also personal injury lawsuit ramifications.

If you or a loved one are the victim of a car accident caused by a driver's inattention, and especially while on the phone or driving, you deserve to be compensated for your sufferings, and you may need a lawyer to help you win your case.

In order to avoid this kind of incident from continuing, drivers must practice safe driving. Keeping your eyes on the road can avoid mild or severe injuries, even death, in many cases.

Nursing Homes - 9 Compelling Reasons to Choose One

1. Assistance with daily tasks - nursing homes provide assistance to their residents with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, drinking, using restroom, running errands and administering medicine. Typical daily tasks can become increasingly difficult with old age. Many seniors lose their driver's license at some point and are no longer able to drive to the grocery store or local pharmacy.

2. Social environment - residing in a nursing facility provides seniors with a built-in social network of their peers. Senior residents can enjoy the company of others who are living in the same facility and share their experiences. Many nursing facilities also offer organized social events open for participation from all residents. Many senior citizens suffer from depression due to feelings of isolation from living alone and not having access to social outlets.

3. House keeping - the nursing home staff will take care of laundry service, dry cleaning and general cleaning services in your apartment home. Cleaning can be an arduous task for many aging seniors. Having an on-site cleaning staff can prove to be valuable and save time and energy.

4. Food service - nursing facilities provide all meals and snacks. Many facilities offer various meal plans to cater to different tastes and dietary requirements. Some facilities also offer meal planning services with a licensed dietitian to ensure that their residents are enjoying a healthy and balanced diet. The food services and meals provided is incorporated into the nursing home cost.

5. Health care services - Amongst the most obvious benefits of skilled nursing facilities is the personalized health care services offered to residents. These services typically include regular administration of daily prescriptions, medical attention when needed, emergency medical services, 24-hour health monitoring services. Having on-site medical care available from registered nurses and health care providers is crucial to a senior's safety and well-being.

6. Safety - the elderly are frequently targets of physical, emotional and financial abuse. Living in an assisted living facility offers seniors a protected environment to help insulate them from possible abuse. Imagine if a senior was living alone and forgot to lock their front door at night due to Alzheimer's or dementia suffering. Nursing homes offer greater levels of security and protection than seniors who are living alone or un-supervised.

7. Access to resources - while living in a nursing home, residents enjoy easy access to whatever resources they might need. Nursing home residents don't have to worry about learning how to use the internet or holding on the phone while trying to obtain information. The nursing home staff will help residents find the information they need quickly and efficiently.

8. Relieving your family - many family members become caretakers for elderly parents or relatives. Many of these people have their own lives with busy work schedules, children, obligations, etc and don't have enough time to attend to their own personal lives while providing constant care to their elderly family members. By living in a nursing home, the senior citizen is taking a burden off their younger family members and is also receiving care from dedicated professionals who are available 24-7.

9. Specialized health care - skilled nursing facilities are staffed by registered nurses and they have the ability to provide proper health care to seniors with serious health conditions. This level of care is above and beyond what a family member can provide. Many of the serious diseases that plague the elderly such as Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, cancer and diabetes require health care by a medical professional. Living in a facility with 24-7 health care services will maximize a senior's health and safety.

Protecting Assets From Nursing Home Costs

Protecting assets from nursing home costs is the latest challenge for seniors where government is demanding an uncapped spent down of their asset if one of them falls victim to a nursing home.

Canada and some other countries offer this benefit as part of their rights, since they contributed to their Medicare Medicaid system during their working years.

The United States apparently, is going the route of demanding that seniors cover their own expenses, eve if they carry private plans. What hurts the most is that there's no cap on what has to be the spent down under the new provisions mandating that all states adopt the new federal guidelines on nursing home eligibility or lose their federal funding.

The evidence is clear, the baby boomers generation cannot expect government to cover their medical and nursing home costs. They have begun with existing seniors, who before they can even qualify for the nursing home cannot move their assets (asset protection) without the 5 year look-back, it was 3 years.

You don't need a fortune teller to point out, that if one of you gets sick, your hard earned assets will vaporize right before your very eyes. Even if you planned carefully for your retirement, a catastrophic medical event will leave both of you devastated, one sick one without any resources.

Planning for your reducing your nursing home costs has to be done early and definitively 5 years before you plan to get sick. Any string attached to your planning will void your plan to protect your assets from the nursing home costs. Your plan must be irrevocable. You cannot be the Indian giver, or the kid with the basket ball making-up the rules as he sees fit whereby if he doesn't like the way the game is progressing takes back the basket ball and goes home to his mommy.

Any asset transferred from you to something else, some legal structure has to be at the "fair market value" the price paid by a willing buyer and a willing seller neither under a compulsion to buy or sell, each acting in their best interest. If it's a taxable gift, it has to be justified with a legitimate appraisal and taxes have to be paid on the gift by the transferor, the receiver of the gift is always tax-free. If it's a sale, the cash has to be exchanged. There are methods by which no cash need to change hands and still be a legal exchange. It's called the "private annuity."

A private annuity is nothing more than a contract between the guy with the money and a custodian whereby in exchange for the cash the custodian promises to pay over the transferor's lifetime a certain amount, thus limiting the amount that can be used to defray the cost of the nursing home.

Your Aging Parent - Six Questions to Determine What Help Your Parent Needs

If you are the adult child of an aging parent, you have probably asked yourself, "How do I know what type of help my aging parent needs?" Unless you are a senior resource professional, sorting this out can often seem overwhelming. So, here are six questions to ask to help sort it all out.
 
1.       What is my parent's physical condition?
2.       What is my parent's emotional condition?
3.       What is my parent's cognitive level?
4.       What financial resources are available to pay for help?
5.       What human resources are available to provide help?
6.       What input has my parent given on the entire topic?
 
Your parent's physical condition will help you determine such things as whether your parent needs help with activities of daily living (e.g., toileting, dressing, feeding, mobility), with medication management, or with managing medical conditions such as diabetes or using supplemental oxygen. Your answers will help you decide whether your parent's physical condition allows them to be safe in their current living environment without extra help, or whether you need to arrange for in-home help or possible transfer to an independent or assisted living setting.   If your parent's physical condition is likely to be short-term, as when she is recovering from surgery, you have other options to consider, such as having physical or occupational therapists come to the home, or perhaps a short stay in a rehab setting.
 
Sometimes, your parent is physically capable of taking care of himself, but he has become isolated and is not engaging in social interaction with others. This might be simply because he can no longer see well enough to drive or because many of his friends have passed away and he lacks someone to "hang out" with. Whatever the reason, social isolation can often lead to depression or other emotional difficulties. If this is your situation, you might decide to look into available senior centers, adult day care, or companion services for your Dad.  Depending upon your answers to the other questions, you might also consider an independent or assisted living arrangement since these environments generally offer a great deal of social interaction and stimulating activities.
 
Some of the toughest decisions come when your parent is memory impaired. If your parent wanders outside of the house and gets lost, or leaves the stove on overnight, she needs closer supervision. If she becomes agitated due to the cognitive impairment, she may require someone around all of the time to keep her calm. If your parent suffers from Alzheimer's disease, there are often physical considerations as well, especially in the later stages of the disease. As is always the case, safety should be your first concern.
 
When it's time to figure out what help to put in place, there is no way to escape thinking about the financial side of the decision. While some home care is covered by health insurance such as Medicare, most care related to activities of daily living is not. If your parent has long term care insurance, it will generally begin paying for services once your parent meets the policy guidelines, which typically state that a physician must certify that they have difficulty with two or more ADLs and that this state will continue for at least three months. Some long term care policies provide for "first day" coverage for in-home assistance or services within an assisted living facility.   You need to know whether the care you seek will be covered by Medicare, and if so, you must use a Medicare certified home health agency. If you are paying privately, then you have the flexibility to use any agency or to use a private caregiver who is not associated with an agency. Be sure to take the time to decipher your parent's insurance policies in advance so that you have some idea about what will be covered.
 
Many families are able to take care of their aging parents themselves. This is especially true when there are many adult children who live nearby and who can take turns or divide up the duties. If this is the case with your family, it is helpful to sit down before a crisis strikes to figure out who has the capabilities and the time to do what. In that way, the entire family will function as a team, and if supplemental resources need to be hired, everyone on that team will understand why that needs to happen. Some families set up care contracts so that the family caregiver is paid by the parent for whom they are providing the care.
 
Last but not least, if your parent is able to provide input to this discussion, it is a good idea for them to do so. It is helpful to understand what your parent's desires are, and if practical, to honor at least some of them. This is not always possible, but when it is, it is an important step in the process of a smooth transition.
 
©2009 LifeBridge Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved.

How Much Does a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Earn?

There are so many great reasons to become a Certified Nursing Assistant: plenty jobs available; choices in work environments; the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives every day; and the ability to earn a good living. The average annual salary for a CNA is almost $30,000.

Training can be completed in as little as two weeks through a hospital or nursing home, or take up to 3 or 4 months through a community college training program. Once training and licensing is completed, a Certified Nursing Assistant can  see an average starting salary between $11/hour and $14/hour.

Exactly how much a Certified Nursing Assistant earns will vary somewhat, depending on geographic location, workplace, experience, and other factors. A CNA working in a hospital in New York, for instance, will earn approximately 8% more than a similar position in  Arizona. Generally speaking, salaries follow COA's or "Cost Of Living" indexes. The more expensive area's such as the Northeastern US generally pay higher wages than the mid-West.

The type of position will have a bearing on earnings as well. Hospitals are usually the highest salary, followed by nursing homes, then patient homes. Even within a hospital, pay will vary by department: a nurse assistant working in ICU - the Intensive Care Unit - will often receive a slightly higher wage than a nurse assistant in a lower-stress department.

A working CNA can also expect their pay scale to go up with experience. As a profession, nursing - and Certified Nursing Assistants in particular - have a fairly high 'burn-out' rate. As the job often carries with it a great deal of physical and emotional stress and exhaustion, some people find they don't want to stay in the field. One result is that the numbers of CNA's with experience diminishes. Another result is that there are plenty of jobs in the field available.

In addition to base pay, most nurse assistant and medical assistant positions offer benefits, such as health coverage and retirement savings plans. While some nursing positions are filled through agencies, and those typically do not have the same types of benefits, most medical facilities and institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, medical clinics, and such do offer excellent benefits packages to their employees.

The medical and health care fields are virtually recession-proof. Even in the toughest economic times, a properly licensed Certified Nursing Assistant rarely has difficulty finding a good-paying job. There were estimated to be over 500,000 individuals employed as nursing assistants, medical assistants, etc. in 2008.  As a profession, nursing assistants are ranked well above average in the field for job growth, job sustainability, and potential. It is expected to remain one of the market's fastest-growing jobs for years to come.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projection, the projected growth rate for nurses aides and nursing assistants is expected to grow by a combined 28 percent. This is even faster than the medical health care field in general, far outpacing the expected 14 percent growth of LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurse) between the years 2006 and 2016.

By becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, you take the first steps towards a rewarding and fulfilling career, unlike any other. As a medical professional, you will earn respect, personal satisfaction, job security, and financial safety.

Daily Living Aid Tools For Elderly People And Patients

For those who need medical care or elderly people who are not able to move around freely and to take care of their selves within their house, life is very challenging. Nevertheless, with the help of some of the routine-living aid tools, life is now more comfortable for them. A house is a private environment where they model, alter, and ensure according to the necessities and demands. After all, it is the place we live and spend our time away from the outside world. So there is no harm in altering the house as the way we want it to look. Especially for patients and elderly people, daily living aid tools are like a blessing which lets them live their lives with a personal space.

Some of the most useful daily living aid tools are extension cords for wall switches, which helps the elderly people to manage their lighting and fan on their own. They do not have to wait for someone to come inside the room to switch it off for them. If they face the mobility challenge, it is almost like spending most of their time in bed. You can ask them or even encourage writing something as it will definitely make them happy and give a positive mindset. Special pens which are ergonomically designed with cushion wrapped around the grip area will come handy as it will not hurt them in any way. It will be light as a feather and easy to write.

As they spend most of their time in bed, their skin would get damaged. An effective moisturizer cream will help them from bedsores, acne, and other dreadful skin discomforts. You can also think of safety alarms, switches reachable to the elders or patients, if they feel necessary love and support from others. It will certainly help the people in the other rooms or the care givers to attend them immediately. Among all the daily living aid tools for the elderly people and patients, bedside commodes are the most important one to have. Go for the one which is known for their high quality and comfort products. A good heavy-duty bedside commode will help people who have trouble getting to the toilet as it is easily portable, come with soft handles, and extended seating area for balance. Most of them even come with a back rest and they capable of being placed on the existing toilet.

What Is Durable Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal arrangement where one person - the Principal - authorizes another person - the Agent - to "stand in their shoes" and act on their behalf. The relationship of Principal and Agent has been around a very, very long time. The best way that I've found to explain this with clients is to use a hypothetical example.

Pretend that I'm interested in buying a condo on the beach in North Carolina. Unfortunately, I'm just too busy to get down there for the closing right now. But, I know your heading down there for vacation. So I sign a power of attorney authorizing you to sign the closing documents for me. The power of attorney will be filed in the land record in North Carolina in front of the deed to show you had the authority to sign for me.

Let's say that while you're on your way, I'm in an accident that causes me to be unconscious. At that point, you can no longer act as my Agent. Because you are merely "standing in my shoes" doing what I am capable of doing, you can't act for me if I'm not capable. An ordinary "common law" power of attorney is terminated when the Principal becomes incapacitated.

Obviously, this makes a power of attorney a poor incapacity planning tool. To create an incapacity planning tool for people, state legislatures across the country have enacted laws that allow for what are known as a "durable powers of attorney". This is done by allowing you to add these "magic words" to the power of attorney, "this power of attorney shall not lapse upon the subsequent incapacity or disability of the Principal".

Probably the single most important document you could have, a durable power of attorney can provide the security of knowing that in a crisis situation, a family member or a trusted friend will have the legal authority to carry out your wishes if you can no longer speak or act for yourself. Without a durable power of attorney, if something happens to you that results in your incapacity or inability to make decisions, your family may face costly and time consuming court proceedings and even ongoing court supervision.

Who you select as the person to be your durable power of attorney requires careful consideration. The person selected not only has authority to act when you become incapacitated, but also immediately upon the execution of the document as well. And, they can essentially do anything that you could do yourself.

Many people ask if they need a lawyer to draft the durable power of attorney for them. The easy answer is "no". The better answer is "it depends". The most important consideration is the complexity someone's financial affairs.

Many clients come to my office with "power of attorney forms" purchased at an office supply store or downloaded off the Internet. Those "statutory short forms" may be fine to transfer real estate or apply for Medicaid. But, many financial institutions are afraid of liability unless the Agent has specific authority to take certain actions for the Principal.

Let me share with you a couple of examples that might surprise you.

Helen came into my office to talk about applying for Medicaid for her mother, Eleanor. Eleanor was in a nursing home under private pay. Eleanor was now incapacitated, but Helen had her sign a "statutory short form durable power of attorney" that she found online some time ago.

Helen knew her mother was nearly out of money and had to make a Medicaid application. When we submitted the application, the Medicaid eligibility worker wanted bank statements going back three years. Helen went to the bank where her mother had one active account and two accounts that were closed a year ago.

The bank manager told Helen he could give her the statements for the open account, but her power of attorney did not authorize her to get the statements from the closed accounts. We ended up having to go to probate court for a conservatorship over Eleanor to access the closed accounts

Let me give you another example.

John bought a "statutory short form durable power of attorney" at Staple's where he named his son, Tom, as power of attorney. John had an IRA that named his wife, Ann, as the beneficiary when he died. Sadly, Ann was living in a nursing home incapacitated with Alzheimer's.

John had always told Tom that he wanted his IRA to pass to his five grandchildren if he should die. But, John never changed the beneficiary designation on his IRA. Before he could make the changes, John suffered a severe stroke and became incapacitated himself.

Tom contacted the IRA plan administrator about using his power of attorney to change the beneficiary designations. The administrator refused to accept the power of attorney because Tom did not have specific authority to change IRA beneficiaries. When John later passed away because of medical complications from his stroke, all of his IRA went to Ann and she lost Medicaid because she was over assets.

Now you can see what I mean by "it depends". Unfortunately, these situations are not unique. Many people feel their power of attorney allows their agent to do anything and everything. Bottom line: the advice and counsel of an experienced elder law attorney should be sought to properly draft a power of attorney.

Issues to Consider When Evaluating Nursing Homes

Time stands still for nobody. For families, this means serious consideration needs to be given to planning for the care of elder family members. In many cases, this means evaluating the merits of nursing homes.

What is a nursing home? It is a full care facility for individuals who suffer from a variety of potential issues. These can range from the simple wear and tear that comes with aging to more specific problems such as a function inhibiting problem like a dementia diagnosis of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or vascular dementia. Regardless of the problem, the home is designed to provide the individual with full time care.

The decision to place a person in a nursing home is not an easy one. First and foremost, it usually takes place during a time when the person in question has suffered a development that makes the discuss necessary. The heightened stress and emotions can make it difficult to evaluate the various homes available in your area.

When checking out a nursing home, take the time to first read up on as much information as you can. Next, be prepared to ask boldly ask questions and make sure you get credible answers instead of a pseudo marketing pitch. With this in mind, a few issues you want to focus on include the following.

A nursing home is a care facility. With that in mind, what is the level of training in the home and for the staff? How many licensed RNs are on the staff? Most important, is the staff credentialed to deal with the specific ailment suffered by your family member? For instance, some otherwise excellent nursing homes do not provide care for patients suffering from Alzheimer's.

What is the approach of the nursing home? In the bad old days, patients were treated more like prisoners in that they were often expected to spend most of their time in their room. This meant there was little social interaction. Modern nursing homes incorporate a community approach. Residents are encouraged to do activities together from simple meals to day trips. Social interaction is critical, so make sure the home provides it.

Seniors often have negative views of nursing homes because they feel like they are being shuttled off to wait until their death occurs. That's a horrible fate for anyone, so make sure you are not sending them to such a place. Walk the nursing home without any representatives. Get a feel for the place. Do people look happy? Are they clean? Are the halls clean? How about the surrounding grounds? Trust your instincts and judgment.

Ultimately, a nursing home should provide a resident with a quality of life that is similar to living outside of the home. Take the time to really pay close attention to the details when evaluating a nursing home and you'll have a much better chance of getting the process correct.

Benefits of an Ombudsman and How They Can Help You!

Every state has ombudsmen at both the state and local levels who are dedicated to protecting the rights of nursing home residents. An ombudsman is an official who is appointed to receive and investigate complaints on behalf of a group of people. A long-term care ombudsman is there to listen to and help resolve complaints on matters affecting residents and their families. Where one complaint might not be enough to cause significant change, an ombudsman can collect and organize information from a large number of individuals, and help direct their collective voice into action.

Because they specialize in issues surrounding nursing homes, this type of ombudsman can also be a valuable source of information if you are considering a skilled nursing facility for yourself or a loved one. They can provide tips on what to look for in order to make your search easier and more successful using their expertise. They also help promote awareness of the issues affecting residents to the general public, helping give the elderly a voice in their larger community. A long-term care ombudsman serves as a "watchdog" and an agent of change where there are problems that need to be solved.

Your local ombudsman is not affiliated with your skilled nursing facility or insurance agency, and therefore can provide you with uncompromising, objective counsel on matters that you are concerned about. They can provide you with information free of charge, that might otherwise require consultation with a lawyer. A nursing home ombudsman also tries to come to you, to be accessible to everyone, and do the best they can to make sure the people they represent are heard and responded to.

With all the issues to consider when choosing a facility, weighing pros and cons, and then continuing to make sure the resident's needs are met over the long term, it is reassuring to know there are services out there working on your behalf. Allowing someone else to do the monitoring lets you concentrate on the more personal details of your loved one's life in the nursing home, and relax and enjoy your visits.

If you have questions or concerns about any number of issues regarding your nursing home, your rights as a nursing home resident, and more, contact your ombudsman. If they can't take care of your inquiry directly, they will be able to refer you to someone who can. Take advantage of the benefits of an ombudsman and how they can help you; they are a valuable source of information and support. It is their job to work on your behalf and for the continued quality of life for residents of nursing homes across the nation.

Duties of a Health Care Administrator

Health care administration itself is an extremely broad area. However, their duties depend on the type of facility they are working in, as well as the size of it. For large facilities like medical centers, there would be a few layers of administrators, whereby there will be one head of administrator to oversee the rest by setting the goals and directions as well as making the final decisions. This person would usually be the one who reports to the board of directors. However, in smaller facilities like a clinic, the health care administrator's duties would be general, whereby they would oversee the whole operation.

In large facilities, assistant administrators would usually oversee some specific areas of the health care operation, for example, someone may be in charge of the personnel and nursing activities, while others for finance and other areas. The administrators here would need to set procedures and policies for the organization so that the operations will run smoothly, and they are in charge of implementing them.

On the other hand, small facilities as usually run by doctors, whom would be the one who makes the decisions. Yet, they would need to hire administrators to take care of the daily operations of the facility. For these administrators, their duties are less specialized as compared to large facilities, but they are more hands-on with their approaches. They usually focus on business aspects of the facility like personnel, staffing, and finance.

The salary of an administrator is rather lucrative; however, unusual work schedules are part of the package. They are usually on-call especially when there are problems because most health care services have the responsibility to provide their services around the clock. Apart from that, they will need to attend many meetings, depending on the size of the organization, and attend conventions. They also need to take care of budget and staffing matters.

The position you get depends on your qualifications and experiences. If you are aiming for a higher level position, you should opt to pursue for a Master's degree in Health Care Administration. One of the best ways to climb the ladder faster is to gain experience by working in a health care setting, while completing your Master's degree. This way, you can eye for a higher position when you have completed the degree.

Developing Company Strength From Within

Imagine you arrive at work tomorrow to learn that a member of your senior management team has resigned.

Immediately, your mind races through the checklist of steps you must take to fill this key position. After a couple of minutes of sheer anxiety, you come to the conclusion that-whether through the help of headhunters, networking, or just plain luck-you will be able to find that right person for the job.

Now imagine this same scenario with a twist: You are allowed to recruit only from within your company. That might push the panic button for some of us, but there is a "business" out there for which this scenario is always a reality-the U.S. military services.

Be-Know-Do: Leadership the Army Way has been adapted from the official Army Leadership Manual for the benefit of civilian managers. This books gives readers insight into one of the only institutions in the world that must recruit its c-suite leaders of tomorrow from its frontline leaders of today. When a general retires, Army leadership doesn't have the option of posting an ad on Craigslist: "Seeking a dynamic and skilled leader that has a proven track record of leading hundreds of thousands of combat troops; U.S. citizenship and the ability to speak English preferred."

But seriously, what if starting tomorrow you could only promote from current associates and no one else? Imagine as well that from this pool of associates you have to identify, train, and grow every position your company will need for the next 20 years, including executive directors, human resources executives, controllers, and even a CEO. How would that change the way you look at your current team? How would it change the way that your company or team looks at training and leadership development? My guess is it would turn upside down what you are doing now in several key areas.

Be-Know-Do is a compelling read for senior living executives for several reasons, but two major themes that run throughout the book are particularly valuable- the importance of leadership at every level and the principle that people are at the core.

Leadership Boot Camp

As far as what makes for an effective leader, Be-Know- Do goes right to the core values and strategies that we must execute to succeed.

• Be. The Army Leadership Manual makes it clear: The values and character of a company, for better or worse, are a direct reflection of the values and character of its leaders at the highest levels. This makes sense to most of us in that when we think of a great company, we almost always in the same breath talk about the great leader that is behind it.

• Know. When you are a senior leader, all eyes are on you. Everything you do and say is always being noted, analyzed, and critiqued. One of the simplest ways to gain the confidence of your team is to simply know your stuff.

• Do. To paraphrase the book: Leaders act; they do. They bring together everything they are, everything they believe, and everything they know how to do to provide purpose, direction, and motivation-especially in challenging and uncertain times.

These are simple but infinitely important and valuable points to keep in mind. In a fast-paced suite environment, the basics sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

Quality Personified

What makes companies great are the great people in them. Every good idea, every cutting-edge innovation, and every quality customer interaction is executed by great people. Be-Know-Do challenges us to lead the people who are at the heart of every business.

By motivating them, inspiring them, helping them grow in their jobs, and investing in them, you create an environment where your associates will in turn passionately invest themselves in the company. And ultimately, the result is a greater return to the business in many tangible ways.

Certainly, the U.S. Army has developed some remarkable men and women who have seen our country through some of its most challenging times. Perhaps in the pages of this book you will find a strategy that will do the same for you and your company.

Tips on How To Get Rich

Even though today's economy is not ripe for investment options to get rich, there are still more than a few ways to gain wealth. The following are but a few examples of ways to get rich:

1. Find a company that has a product that will reduce energy costs. Do some research to ensure the product is viable and in a price range that the general public will purchase. Buy as many shares as you can afford and then check into becoming a distributor for the product. Find the right market and sell as many units as it takes to get rich. Or invest in Emerging Markets. Many foreign lands have viable resources that have not been tapped into yet. Take China for example, there are thousands of natural resources and mines there that have not be found. Research companies that are mining or have just found a big ore and invest in them

2. Real estate is still a good investment in the right location. Many, many expensive homes are selling for forty percent or less of their value a few years ago. The price may never get back to 2004 levels but, you should be able to make twenty to thirty percent profit on each piece of property. Foreclosures are a great place to start. If you have 70,000 or 80,000 thousand already saved, then foreclosures could be a gold mine for you. Buying and flipping houses is one of the best ways to make a good living.

3. We as a population are living longer and longer. A good investment would be in anything having to do with any health care or living item seniors will need as they continue to grow older. Most seniors have a fair amount of cash they are willing to make their life more comfortable with. An assisted living facility would be a great investment.

4. Creating a home business that provides a product that makes the daily life of working parents easier to manage will reap great rewards. Think of something you would love to have to make your life easier. Chances are others would feel the same. You can enjoy the comfort of your own home while making money. Many businesses offer ways to make money, but it is hard to find the right one. Many times you may feel that they are scams, but actually many of them really work if you give them a chance. You will have to work on them a good bit, but you can follow guidelines that the business shows you, and I guarantee you will be working less than if you stayed at a business for your whole life. In addition you will have much less stress in your life.

5. The easiest way to get rich is marry someone with tons of money and treat them well.

Nursing Home Abuse is Grounds For a Personal Injury Lawsuit

A worrisome problem about nursing homes is that more people are being abused in these homes than ever before. Nursing home abuse is something that can be painful not only to a resident but also to the family members of the resident. This is why abuse can be covered in a personal injury lawsuit.

There are various injuries that can be covered in this type of personal injury lawsuit. These include injuries that were caused by the negligence that was held towards a nursing home resident. False imprisonment by a nursing residence attendant is another event that can cause injuries. Injuries that were caused by ongoing hazards in the nursing home can also be covered in a lawsuit.

The effects of these injuries can be notable signs of abuse. These signs include not only physical pains for a person but also isolation and a loss of one's ability to get one's prescriptions. Mental anguish is another concern to be aware of here.

These injuries and effects of nursing residence abuse can cause this condition to be covered in a personal injury lawsuit. This is provided that proof that relates to the negligence of a nursing residence can be found. This negligence relates to things like a lack of a process to maintain a home or not monitoring employees well enough. The negligence in a personal injury lawsuit will be related to things that a home should have been able to prevent but failed to.

Nursing residence abuse is a disturbing thing that is becoming common in many nursing homes. It is something that can cause an elderly person to suffer in an unnecessary manner. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed against a nursing home that engages in this type of activity.

When Alzheimer's Turns Abusive

There are secrets within the ranks of the Alzheimer's community that remain closed to the general public. While some memory loss is normal as we age, the initial symptoms of Alzheimer's can be deceiving and even go unnoticed. The perplexing aspect of this disease manifests itself in extremes ranging from lucidity to paranoia and total irrational behavior. In the majority of cases, the spouse is the first to recognize strange and unusual conduct. Over a period of time, these "odd" behaviors can become habitual and out of control. It is not out of the ordinary for Alzheimer's patients to hallucinate and see or hear images that are not there. The spouse or partner is often falsely accused of infidelity, or even worse attempting to inflict bodily harm. Yet the silence is deafening as the loved one endures such indignities out of loyalty, sympathy, and guilt. Why? Perhaps the best explanation goes back to the age old expression that love is indeed blind. After years of shared experiences such as child rearing, sharing finances, and growing old together - it is difficult to witness a loved one lose cognitive function. Even when that loved one becomes violent, which does happen more than reported, the state of denial is so powerful that many families continue to deny the obvious. Admitting a loved one to an assisted living facility or nursing home is a major step that a lot of family members simply aren't willing to take from an emotional or psychological standpoint. We must also factor in the financial component and its role in making this all important decision.

Going back to the abuse that takes place within marriages, and families in general, it is prudent to recognize this is a knife that cuts both ways. Caretakers come in many shades and that includes abusers. There are situations in which the individual diagnosed with Alzheimer's is being abused by a spouse, another family member, or some other party. This abuse comes in many forms including physical, verbal, emotional, and abuse of financial resources. It may occur for a brief period of time or continue for years without going detected. In fact, most cases of abuse are reported by a person outside of the family such as a social worker, doctor, or even a neighbor. When a person has Alzheimer's they may lack the ability to discern what behaviors are appropriate and those which are not acceptable. If physical abuse is involved, Alzheimer's patients may not understand why they are the subject of pain and discomfort. In extreme cases, they may not recognize the spouse or family member inflicting the pain and may equate the abuse with a painful experience in the past. As society continues to grow older and more susceptible, awareness of abuse and related issues are critical in our understanding of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Top 10 Considerations Before Choosing to Be Caregiver for a Loved One With Alzheimer's Disease

Choosing to become a caregiver for a loved one is a major life-changing decision. Here are some things to consider before making the commitment. Consider your options and learn as much as you can before making the choice that is best for you and your family.

1. Time Commitment: When your loved one begins to need help, it is natural to want to become their caregiver. Caring for a loved one is a more than a full time job. It's a twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week job. Don't forget about your own well-being too. The Alzheimer Society of Canada offers programs to help caregivers manage stress. They recommend setting realistic expectations and not spending every waking moment worrying about care giving duties.


2. Consider The Living Situation: At some point, your loved one will need more attention than a simply phone call or visit. Consider having them move in with you or you move in with them. It might mean moving them into an assisted living facility. Not sure what to do? Consider this. The care guide explains that moving them into a facility should be stress free, remind them of home and be an adjustment for everyone.


3. It Will Be Demanding: You could become physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted caring for a loved one.HomeHealthUnited.org mentions that caregivers sometimes injure themselves while caring for a loved one. This happens when a loved one has to be lifted or you must squat to help them. Maintaining good posture is important.


4. The Hardest Part is Letting Go: Try to accept that you will be caring for your loved one until the end. Caring.com has tips on coping with your loved ones changes in mood and attitude. They recommend focusing on being there for your loved one and communicating your love and understanding to them above everything else.


5. Figure Out The Money Situation: The bills will begin to stack up and taking care of someone you love isn't cheap. Equipment and modifications to a household make bills start to stack up. AgingCare.com includes many helpful guides about financial situations for the families of those with Alzheimer's. These tax tips also include what paperwork you need when you decide to become the primary caregiver for your loved one.


6. Find a Healthcare Service: You are not alone. Contact a local hospice or healthcare service to find caregivers to help you anytime you need it. WebMD gives a thorough overview of what hospice care entails and how helpful it can be. They have people available to stay with you 24 hours a day and seven days week. Find people to stay overnight and in the event of an emergency.


7. Get Some Training: It is important to learn methods like CPR or giving an injection. Affordable Home Health Care explains that becoming familiar with these methods will help you feel more confident helping with your loved one. The more you know, the more you will be willing and prepared to help. We Care Home Health Services also offers services to your home, workplace or community if you are needing additional help with these methods.


8. Don't Forget to Communicate: Keep all the your family members in the loop about what is happening. Even the one you are caring for. Talk about finances, living arrangements, medical care, etc. Caregiverstress.com suggests dealing with conflict before it becomes an issue. Make decisions together, ask for help, and leave grudges at the door.


9. Develop a Routine: Keep your loved on a schedule to help minimize confusion. Try to keep them active and aware, like engaging them in conversation. For example, the Alzheimer's Care Guide includes information about symptoms your loved one may express on a daily basis, so be prepared.


10. Plan activities for them: There are many activities a loved one with Alzheimer's can enjoy. ActivityTherapy.com mentions dozens of activities from walking to listening to music to cooking. The resource breaks down activities based on what level of Alzheimer's your loved one has.

About The Medical Arts Health Research Group:

The Medical Arts Health Research Group conducts clinical trials in the areas of Alzheimer's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus among others. As a volunteer in a medical research study, a patient helps in the possible development of medical therapies that may offer better treatments and even cures for life-threatening and chronic diseases. People volunteer to participate in a medical research study for a number of reasons, including the advancement of science, hope for treatment that doesn't exist or improved medical care and to be involved in research that could help others.