Assisted Living and the Job Shortage

The New York Times recently posted an article titled "How in the World Will We Care for All the Elderly?" A few very important points were brought up here, especially the fact that other nations in the world are experiencing problems in this area than just the U.S. Still, this question does need to be addressed by our healthcare structures if we are going to give our elderly loved ones the level of support that they deserve. It's estimated that there will be around 90,000 extra jobs needed if the elderly population expands in the way that experts believe that it will. This creates a big problem for the healthcare industry, but it is something that can be solved.

Joblessness is currently at a relative low, but at just under 9 percent of the U.S. population, there are still millions of jobs needed to completely revitalize the country. The easy solution here would be to start expanding healthcare, especially elderly healthcare, before this job shortage becomes an even larger problem. The healthcare industry has remained largely immune to the job shortages in the U.S., and it looks like this trend is going to keep going on stronger than before. Regardless of what happens to the economy, we will need many more doctors, nurses, therapists, and caregivers if the population of our country keeps going up. As we age, it only becomes more likely that the median age of our population keeps going up.

The world's population is getting older-this is a hard truth. With an older population comes an increased need for elder care. It is important that this problem be solved before it gets even more out of control. The one factor that many people overlook at first is the fact that there is a high proportion of elderly folk that deal with disability. Worldwide, about 46 percent of people over the age of 60 have some sort of disability. This is a huge number of people, especially considering how many people are over this age currently. With improving technology and medicine, these numbers are going to keep going up every year for quite a while into the future.

Dealing with people that have disabilities requires a more intensive type of care. This is why assisted living is so important. Assisted living facilities have the staff knowledge and numbers to more effectively care for this segment of the population. But unless something changes, this sector of care will also be affected by the job shortage. In order to help your elderly loved ones out as much as possible, you need to start planning ahead. Lining up care for them before this shortage gets out of hand is an easy solution here.

Nursing Home Abuse - Why is it Happening?

Today, there are approximately 17,000 nursing homes in the United States that house almost 1.6 million residents. According to a troubling report recently released by Congress, nearly one third of these homes, or more than 5,000 in number, have been cited for abuse between 1999 and 2001. Below are the leading 'categories' of abuse.

Physical:

There have been innumerable reports of physical abuse by residents and their families in recent years. Most times, this abuse comes from staff members who are frustrated for one reason or another. For instance, one resident in particular, Helen Love, was featured on CBS News a few years ago. She told a tale of having her neck and wrist broken by a nursing assistant who was angry with her after she soiled herself. She died two days after the interview. This is all-too-typical of physical nursing home injury problems.

Emotional:

A large percentage, with one estimate stating that more than half, of nursing home residents are admitted with some form of lack of mental capabilities. Examples include Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and senility. These conditions only leave a nursing home resident more vulnerable than others to emotional trauma, and thousands of reports of this type of abuse have pervaded the industry in recent years.

Sexual:

The same 2001 Congressional Report detailed horrible stories of sexual abuse, and cited several examples. The specifics included such acts as molestation during bathing, staff members exposing themselves to residents and all-out rape. These instances were not limited to staff members, either - many reports of sexual abuse accused other residents of such behavior.

Overall:

The most troubling statistic from the report is that the percentage of nursing homes cited for abuse in the United States rose from just over 5 percent of homes in 1996 to more than 15 percent in the year 2000. Obviously, this is a growing problem that will only get worse as the population ages collectively. If you have suffered from this terrible tragedy, contact a nursing home lawyer as soon as possible.

What To Know About Healthcare Management Careers

When we think of a career in health care, we think of the numerous positions that exist throughout the medical community. Health care careers conjure up visions of doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and others who provide patient care. We do not often thinks about healthcare management and what careers are available.

The important patient care that the health care industry provides would not be possible without the proper supervision and administration. It is not easy for people to think of health care facilities as a business, but it is. Without the managers and administrators working to ensure the smooth delivery of health care services, and manage the budgeting and other administrative tasks, facilities would not survive.

Managing health care services involves the planning, organization, supervision, and coordination of the delivery of the services. The health manager works in hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and a number of other health services. Professionally trained individuals are hired to carry out these tasks to keep the facility or organization running efficiently.

For those who are interested in working in the health field but do not want direct patient contact, managing and administration may be a good career match. This is also an area that is increasing in employment opportunities. Interested persons should research the academic programs that are designed for the organization and direction of health services.

The individual who is interested in a career in health care administration will first need to obtain the proper education. Health care services managers must posses keen aptitude in administration and business, and the have the skills to clearly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing with others.

These skills can be acquired through a good academic program. Most facilities are interested in hiring those individuals who meet the minimum education qualifications. The minimum qualifications are usually a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration. For those who are interested in higher positions offered in this field, a Masters degree, or higher, in Healthcare Administration will be required.

The many advances in technology and the complexity of medical regulations required by law, can be challenging to the professionals in the field of health care services managing. The planning and supervision of the delivery of health care services in any facility, involves a team of service managers working under the direction of an administrator. The daily tasks of the manager will involve supervision of personnel, finances or budgeting, operating functions, and admissions.

Within the healthcare management field there are a number of career opportunities in clinical managing and health information managing. Clinical managers supervise specific clinical areas and must be experienced and trained in the particular area. The health information manager is responsible for the secure maintenance of patient records. Individuals interested in this area of administration must have an undergraduate or graduate degree in the management of health information. Regardless which area the individual chooses to work, this is a field that has the promise of employment growth for the future.

Wide Variety of Careers Available in Nursing Homes

There are many different careers you can have at a nursing home. If you enjoy working with the elderly and making an important difference in a person's life, a nursing home career may be right for you. There are positions available for people with different levels of education, experience and skills.

Positions are available for orderlies who have high school educations. These people are largely responsible for cleaning, personal care of patients, helping patients to move from one location in the home to another and delivering meals. They may also help with activities and interact with family members.

There are typically two types of nurses working in nursing homes. Licensed practical nurses can perform many of the duties that registered nurses do, but there are several important differences. Registered nurses typically have bachelor's degrees in nursing while LPNs usually have only associate's degrees. In addition to the difference in years of education, there is a difference in the licensing examinations that each must take before they can begin working.

Each state has a different set of requirements for what LPNs and RNs are allowed to do but most consider LPNs to provide basic nursing needs while RNs may provide treatment that is more advanced such as starting an intravenous line. Often, in long-term care settings, both types of nurses work together to provide patient care.

Other positions available in long term care facilities include nurse managers who oversee the care of patients and handle the interaction with family members. They are responsible for tracking a patient's progress and noting any changes in either health or behavior. When necessary, they interact with doctors and hospitals to be sure patients are receiving the care they need.

Most nursing homes also have doctors who are either on staff or are affiliated with the senior's home. They make regular rounds to check on patients and be sure they are receiving appropriate care.

Other positions available include occupational therapist, physical therapist, hairdresser, recreational activities coordinator, marketing director, and facility manager. Accountants and file clerks interact with state agencies, private individuals, and insurance carriers.

Some other positions you may not realize are available include chefs and kitchen staff. Some facilities hire wait staff to serve patients meals in a communal dining room.

Social workers help patients to understand why they are being admitted to a nursing home facility. They work with the family to be sure that the patient and family have the services they need. They also ensure that everyone's needs are being met.

Therapists and psychologists or psychiatrists may be employed at a nursing home to provide counseling services to patients and families and to deal with the depression and other mental health issues that can sometimes flare up when a person enters a nursing home.

There is a wide variety of careers available in nursing homes. The common denominator in all of these positions is that they offer opportunities to interact with older patients and improve their quality of life.

Assisted Living And Long Term Care Insurance

Assisted living is a nice alternative to a nursing home but can be costly. Whether you are planning for yourself or an aging parent, financial planners are stressing the importance of long term care insurance to help protect retirement savings and other assets. This insurance can also help keep you or your loved in the home.

Since nobody can predict whether you will need long-term care, and the costs could completely wipe out everything you've saved for retirement, some sort of financial protection can really give you peace of mind. Long term care insurance covers skilled, intermediate, and custodial care in nursing homes, plus home care services including nursing care, physical therapy, homemakers, and home health aides.

At the very least, you should get some quotes on the costs of long-term care insurance. Rates can vary between companies so try to get at least three quotes. And keep in mind that rates increase as you get older, so the sooner the better. Rates are also determined by your current health and the benefits you choose.

With long term health insurance, you can choose different benefit amounts based on what you might think you need. This is usually a per-day amount such as $30, $100 or $300. Of course the higher the benefit amount, the higher your premium. You can also choose a waiting period. This is the amount of time that elapses after you need long term care, to when the benefits start.

There are several ways you can get quotes. One of the most convenient ways is from the privacy of your computer. You can find different long-term care insurance companies online and request quotes. Or, you can go to an insurance comparison Web site where you enter your information once and receive several quotes back.

Take your time to review each quote, comparing costs and benefits carefully. Ask questions of the agent or company representative. Once you've found a quote you like and are ready to purchase this coverage, be sure you understand what you are buying before signing.

Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes

Every day, thousands of elderly Americans are physically abused by their nursing home attendants. Many of these patients suffer serious injuries while others eventually pass away from their injuries. Abuse in any form is unacceptable, especially when it occurs in a retirement home.

Physical abuse includes any type of physical contact one individual inflicts upon another with the intent to injure or harm that individual. In nursing homes, this occurs with a surprisingly high frequency. An estimated 30% of all homes in the United States are cited for abuse each year.

There are a number of reasons why this occurs. In most cases, it involves employee frustration. Though handling patients that may be needy can be frustrating, it is never an excuse to lash out and abuse someone.

In many cases, elderly individuals who suffer physical abuse in retirement homes will not report the instances of abuse they have experienced. This is usually for fear of repercussions from the facility's staff, though some patients are unable to do so because of medical conditions.

Many cases of abuse are actually reported by families of abused individuals. There are many signs that family members may observe in their loved ones if they are being abused. These signs usually include:

• Bumps, bruises, and cuts


• Unexplained injuries


• Loved one seeming emotionally distant


• Sudden personality changes

Families that witness these changes in their loved ones should report the homes for management negligence immediately to a legal authority. Reporting these individuals may save future residents from similar abuse.

How To Start An Assisted Living Facility In Delaware

Delaware has many industries such as chemical, paper, plastic, rubber, and food processing units. Chicken farming, banks, pharmaceuticals, and auto manufactures are a part of its economy despite the fact that it is the second smallest state in the U.S.

Starting an assisted living facility in Delaware can be a good business idea if you have an aptitude as well as genuine intent to care for the aged who need assistance.

Tips for Starting an Assisted Living Facility:
The number of senior citizens who live alone but in need of assistance is ever increasing. It could be a drain on their finances to hire qualified full-time help to assist them with their daily chores, and the option of moving in with their children does not appeal to many of them because they prefer to be independent and not be considered a burden. This is why the demand for an assisted living facility is ever increasing.

It is recommended to carefully analyze the demographics and verify if there is a market for your services. Research in detail the kinds of facilities operating in your area, the rates they charge and services offered and the demand for their services; and estimate if there is a niche you could specialize in, such as a disease-specific assisted living facility.

Once you are sure about the demand, select an ideal location to start your facility. It can be built as per your requirements, or you can lease a suitable facility. Ensure that it is located in a predominantly residential area and that it has proximity to health care facilities and is within easy reach of physicians. Supermarkets, pharmacies, and shopping malls near the facility could be an added advantage. Make sure the rooms are not too many or too few in number and that you charge as per your services after comparing rates of your competitors. The rate has to be in proportion to the service charged and at the same time not be over-priced, intimidating potential residents.

Carefully consider the services you offer, your residents, and their needs; and hire the appropriate, experienced, and qualified staff. They have to be service-oriented with a caring attitude and must be patient with the residents, making sure they are happy in your facility. Monitor them frequently to see that they are not the cause of discomfort of the residents. A geriatrics care manager, cooks, aides, nurses, and cleaning staff have to be hired.

Have a good method of selecting candidates, making sure that those admitted are in need of the services you offer and not in need of extra care. It would be unwise to admit those folks, as the service will exceed the money paid by them as well as be a burden on your staff. Ensure that all residents' health is carefully monitored and evaluated.

Advertise your services regularly and use the products available in plenty to help you run a better establishment. It could not only be a profitable business but also leave you feeling satisfied that you have helped the community in some way.

Diabetes and Alcohol Abuse

DIABETES

Diabetes is so wide spread in the world that there are hardly any person who does not know what diabetes is. But to recap, there are predominantly two types of diabetes; Type 1 and Type2. Some general information on these types of diabetes is given below.

In Type 1 diabetes the pancreas in the body is not able to produce insulin (the only hormone that reduces the content of sugar in the blood stream) and is common in children but not restricted to them. This type of diabetes is insulin dependent.

Type 2 diabetes is more common and it is estimated that some 95% of all diabetic patients belong to this type. In this case, the body does produce insulin, but either in insufficient quantities or the insulin produced is inefficient. This condition is also known as "Diabetes Mellitus". This type of diabetes is non-insulin dependent.

Another variety of Type 2 diabetes is "Diabetes Insipidus" where there is excessive excretion of highly diluted urine. Reduction in the amount of fluid intake does not have any effect on this condition. There are also different varieties of Diabetes Insipidus, the most common being "Neurogenic Diabetes Insipidus" and the other is "Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus".

There is another type of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women and is known as "Gestational Diabetes" and occurs in women with no history of diabetes but develop such symptoms during pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

The symptoms of diabetes varies from person to person and depends on the following factors:

i. Type of diabetes,
ii. The stage of advancement of the disease,
iii. The age of the patient,
iv. The progress of the disease - slow or gradual
v. The history of diabetes in the family of the patient,
vi. The dietary and lifestyle of the patient, and
vii. The presence of other complications.

Based on the above factors the symptoms vary though there is some similarity. Some of the more obvious symptoms are described below:

i. The foremost symptom would be excessive urination, in excess of the quantity of fluid intake; the urine being thin and pale in color.
ii. Excessive thirst.
iii. Significant increase in appetite but no significant weight gain.
iv. General body weakness.
v. Skin problems such as itching, more predominantly in the genital areas.
vi. Slow healing of wounds, a serious condition.
vii. Pain in many parts of the body, especially in the lower back and the limbs.
viii. A sort of side effect would be loss of vision with patients becoming myopic.
ix. Impotence in men.
x. Both the blood and the urine show a marked content of sugar.

Diabetes currently has no known cure and can only be controlled through medication, diet control and regular exercise preferably walking for a minimum of twenty minutes a day; the distance covered does not matter it is the duration of the walking that counts.

COMPLICATIONS

Know that we know, more or less, the details of diabetes and its symptoms we shall move on to the complications of the disease. The most common complications include the following:

i. Kidney function complications. The earliest to occur. More so if the diet contains too much of fat. Narrowness of the arteries leading to the kidney occur and the toxins in the system are not flushed out completely leading to a complication known as "Uremia".

ii. Cardio-Vascular problems leading to hypertension and heart disease.
iii. Damage to the retina of the eye and resultant blindness.
iv. Nervous damage causing loss or destruction of the senses of the patient. In severe cases may cause paralysis.
v. The most appalling complication is undoubtedly gangrene especially in the toes leading to its amputation.

As such it essential that a specialist in Diabetology is consulted if there is a suspicion that a person is diabetic and find out exactly what type of diabetes he/she is suffering from and follow scrupulously the physician's advice in the control of the disease.

DIABETES AND ALCOHOL

The adverse effects of the abuse of alcohol is too well known and really does not really require elaboration.

A drink of alcohol in normally associated with 12 oz. (350 ml.) of beer, 5 oz. (145 ml.) of wine or 1.50oz. (45 ml.) of hard liquor. Each of these is equal to some 15 gms. of alcohol. What is the quantity of alcohol that is considered "light or moderate" and what is considered as excessive? Drinking 15 to 30 gms. of alcohol a day is considered as light or moderate and any excess of this quantity is "excessive" drinking. There are some people who should not drink at all. They include:

i. Pregnant women and those who are trying to become pregnant,
ii. Alcoholics who are recovering,
iii. Individuals who are planning to drive or engage in other activities that need skill or concentration,
iv. Individuals taking certain medicines such as antihistamines, antidepressants and anticonvulsants and
v. Individuals with certain medical conditions such a advanced neuropathy alcohol abuse, pancreatitis and hyper-triglyceridemia.

In respect of individuals with diabetes who have not been drinking it is better not to start.

WHEN IS DRINKING HARMFUL?

Drinking is considered to be harmful for diabetics if they have the following conditions:

i. Damage of the nerves in the arms or legs,
ii. Diabetic related eye disease,
iii. High levels of triglycerides and
iv. High blood pressure.

Alcohol normally damages nerve cells, even light drinking. For those diabetic patients with nerve damage there will be an increase in pain, numbness and burning or tingling sensations.

For those with symptoms of eye disease, drinking can worsen the condition, leading to blindness.

Levels of triglycerides and blood pressure increase with the consumption of drinks, in whatever quantities. Diabetic patients with a high level of triglycerides should not drink at all.

Does this mean that a diagnosis of diabetes is the end to drinking? Well, yes and no. Traditional medical practice advocates the complete cessation of the intake of alcohol. Modern thought differs. Taking a drink is not advised but allowed, but there are some considerations.

- Alcohol can metabolize to produce energy and has dietary consequences.
- Alcohol supports the intake of blood glucose into the liver.
- Many alcoholic drinks contain sugar, especially mixed ones.
- The symptoms of hypoglycemia (drop in blood sugar) and drunkenness are similar and as such alcohol is liable to mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- Excess consumption of alcohol increases the level of triglycerides.
- Diabetics with drinking habits must remain sober enough to take care of themselves.

What is acceptable in moderation are:

- Red wines,
- Dry sherries,
- Spirits with "diet" mixers,
- Dry light beers (light ales with low residual sugars and lagers) and
- Dry or medium dry white wines.

What can be used with extreme caution because of their high content of sugar include:

- Sherries or sweet wines,
- Ports,
- Wine coolers,
- Liqueurs,
- Cocktails,
- Spirits with normal mixers and
- Stout, Porters etc. that have a high residual sugar content.

What can be used with extreme caution because of their high concentration of alcohol are neat, undiluted spirits

The above are not meant as a substitute for proper advice from a physician. As the complications of consumption of alcohol by diabetic patients are more and severe than the detrimental effects of drinkers without diabetes, proper competent advice is advised.

Assisted Living Homes and the Retirement of the Baby Boomers

Baby boomers are the people born during the period 1946 - 1964, the era after World War II. They are unique from other generations in that they lead a tedious life, and prefer working even after retirement. Usually, the retirement age of the baby boomers is 65 and according to the calculations, many of those 77 million people are ready for retirement. They mark the social responsibility and have an impact on monetary issues of the nation. Even the women baby boomers are more educated and mature to make wise decisions.

The baby boomers get into a part time job or own businesses after retirement. The main objective to work even after the age of 65 is not money but something more than that i.e. motivation. They get the motivation to survive from new challenges they face in their work environment. This is why they lack their skill to plan and manage their retirement and psychological life. The baby boomers would usually get a stock of money from the 401K retirement plan, which enables the employees to transfer a portion of their income in a specified account, which is exempted from the tax payments.

The baby boomers have difficulty managing their stress and after retirement they would usually prefer assisted living homes. These facility centers can assist the aged in surviving their remaining life by helping them in carrying out their daily activities with ease and also engaging them in the communities and gatherings. These sexagenarians require good exercises for their bones and muscles. Hence, it is important that the assisted living homes provide facilities for better exercises and physiotherapy. Even after retirement, the baby boomers look for a new definition of life and engage themselves in different jobs. And many of them are even back to the colleges.

In order to keep up the energy and enthusiasm of baby boomers, the assisted living homes should organize more interactive programs. Moreover, the facilities provided to baby boomers would be much more improved in future, especially with regards to the aspects of technology and quality. This has been made possible because assisted living centers are studying the needs and tastes of baby boomers with regards to housing and activities. The technology like security and door locks would be much improved and communication with service providers and residents would be easier, hence reducing the response time of staff for an emergency call.

Allowing pets in the assisted living facility homes can also help the baby boomers in engaging in other activities and help them in reducing their stress levels. This would also help in increasing their capability of thinking smarter. The assisted living facility homes should make changes accordingly with the next baby boomer generation in the next 18 years with the base of current retired baby boomers thoughts.

Types of Care for the Elderly

You cannot simply split social care services between residential care and home care. There are many new schemes, such as extra care housing and sheltered housing that enable you to receive care, as and when you need, yet remain as independent as possible. This article gives you an idea about the needs of people who use care service and care homes and what is offered in each case. Care Homes There are two main types of care homes, those with nursing care and those without.

Residential Care homes

Residential homes offer an option for those who are having difficulties coping, or need more help than their carers are able to provide. A residential home provides you with accommodation, meals and personal care and is usually long term. This means help to bath and dress, but not nursing care for any medical conditions you may have. The normal minimum age for admission into a residential home is sixty-five, but you should check, as some homes may admit younger residents. You may be able to mix and match various types of care, including taking regular short breaks from the relative who usually looks after you. This is called respite care and fees are generally higher.

Care homes with nursing care

Nursing homes also provide accommodation, meals and personal care, but additionally always have qualified nurses who can give care for those who have more complex health needs. They may also provide specialist dementia care. The fees are usually higher than in a residential home but it is possible to receive funding towards them. Again the minimum age is usually sixty-five.

Dual registered homes

These offer both nursing and residential care. This is ideal for couples who require different levels of care, or if your needs may change in the future. Dual homes are usually registered for a detailed number of nursing and residential beds.

All care homes and nursing homes are registered and inspected frequently

Dementia and specialist care

The elderly with Dementia related conditions like Alzheimer's may, depending on the level of dementia, receive care in a nursing or residential home. However there are specialist units, which have experienced staff and modified facilities. It's always best to discuss your needs with your local home first. They can offer guidance and arrange an assessment if needed. There are also specialist care homes for conditions like Parkinson's disease; again the staff will be specially trained and have adapted facilities.

Convalescent or post-operative care

This offers short-term care for people recuperating from an operation or illness. Most nursing homes offer both restorative and post-operative care, but residential homes will generally only offer convalescent care. Fees are generally higher for short stays.

Palliative and terminal care

This is compassionate care of the long term and terminally ill and fixed on improving the quality of life. Palliative care mainly concentrates on pain control and symptoms. These specialist approaches include the individual, the family, friends, carers and, and expands to grief and bereavement.

Care in your own home

You can arrange to be cared for in your own home or get local agencies to arrange this for you. Carers can help with personal care, dressing, bathing, preparing meals or provide support and respite for carers. This type of care may just be for a few hours or twenty-four hour care if needed. If you need to make your home more comfortable and user friendly, grab rails, stair lifts etc, it may be possible to get a grant for this.

Nurses agencies

Some nursing agencies send nurses to visit the elderly at home if they need medical or specialist care. This is usually after discharge from hospital. The regularity of the visits can fluctuate from several times a day to once a week, depending on the requirements of the individual.

Yes Wii Can Kinect With Our Grandparents!

Twenty-five years ago, Nintendo released its original game console, and the world has not been the same since. Kids were addicted to their own epic adventures killing dragons, saving princess, and maybe, just maybe, jumping over flagpoles. But for all those hours of hair raising quests, their grandparents sat back and yawned. They could not share the excitement.

Indeed, the elder generation has been slow in general to share in the joys of technology, but the gaming world has been particularly incomprehensible for them. Blame the music, or the controls, or the general kiddish marketing. No matter what the reason, the aging population endured video games, and did not revel in them for more than two decades.

The Nintendo Wii

And then came the Nintendo Wii. Whether the manufacturers knew it or not, the Wii would turn out to be a massive hit for senior citizens all over the country. Assisted Living centers and Nursing Homes from Oregon to Florida were buying them up and installing them in their common rooms. Patients and residents took to it quickly, and have since become almost as absorbed as their children were two decades earlier. What changed? The shift from tiny buttons to motion activation. The Wii allowed users to to control their games by moving naturally with a controller in hand or a balance board under their feet. And after just four years, the entire demographic has changed dramatically. More than 25% of the gaming population is over the age of fifty.

The Xbox Kinect

Today, we are being barraged with advertisements for another system which will only increase this trend. The Xbox Kinect system picks up where the Wii left off. With the Kinect, a user does not have to hold any controllers, or stand on any board. The gamer's own body genstures and voice commands operate the games. So now, seniors will be able to gather in front of a TV, talk to the Kinect, and play a round of virtual golf in a startlingly realistic setting. There are no complicated tiny buttons to navigate with, and nothing they have to hold on to.

Xbox has upped the ante in another way, too. The Kinect, which is connected with the Xbox 360 system, has video conferencing capabilities and a sophisticated online environment. For seniors, this could be a huge draw. Not only can they talk to their ten year old grandson on the television, they can also challenge him to a virtual inter-state grudge match.

The Wii became a way for seniors to embrace technology. The Kinect could do something even more profound. If seniors can get past the price tag (the Kinect will easily cost more than $400 for the full console, game, and add on features) this system could allow kids to embrace their grandparents on terms that they are both comfortable with, no matter where they live.

Become a Certified Nursing Assistant With Free CNA Training!

Free CNA training for those looking to become Certified Nursing Assistants can often be found through employers, such as hospitals, through local vocational training organizations, and through online training. It should be noted that becoming a Certified Nurse requires taking and passing a state exam, which may not be covered by online CNA training. CNA training "classes" are different than training "courses".

The classes usually include hands-on clinical learning and practice, while courses are usually in the form of printed or online courseware. Depending on where you live, hospitals or nursing homes may hold free CNA training in exchange for you working for them. The best way to check is to get your local phone book and call them up. Look up long term care centers and call them up and ask.

Some hospitals have contracts with local community colleges and offer their courses free to the student. There are also CNA/HHA Scholarship Programs, which sponsor free CNA and HHA training for qualified individuals who would like to become Certified Nurse Assistants and/or Home Health Aides (HHAs) and work in long term care. These programs often cover the full cost of training, including the CNA state certification exam. They are usually administered and funded by the states Department of Public Health.

The Armed Services also offer various training programs. Through the Air Force Aid Society Spouse Employment Program, some facilities were recently approved to offer the Certified Nursing Assistant Program in partnership with Spectrum Medical Services. Through this program, the Air Force Aid Society will pay for 10 spouses of active- duty military to become certified nurse assistants. If you are a spouse of an active-duty military member and are interested in becoming a CNA, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at the AFB.

Going beyond free CNA training, if you're already a Certified Nursing Assistant and have been working in the same facility for some time, particularly if your employer has paid for your CNA classes, they may also be willing to send you back to school to get your RN certification.

Alzheimer's - Protecting Choices With Durable Power of Attorney and Advanced Health Care Directives

As soon as you are about to care for an elder with Alzheimer's you need to review your loved one's durable power of attorney for finances and their advanced health care directives. Unfortunately, if that person is not of sound mind or body (especially if they are in middle to late Alzheimer's), then it is too late for them to prepare these important legal documents. However, if you go to court and ask the judge to name you the guardian (either full or financial conservatorship), then you will be held responsible for your elder's legal and financial decisions.

Durable Power Of Attorney

A durable power of attorney names you as the person to pay the elder person's bills, collect and deposit their income and take care of any other financial matters. You will need to find your elder's legal and financial documents and feel comfortable with their assets, income and expenses.

Here is a list of documents you should gather:

o Wills
o Bank and brokerage accounts
o Deeds, loans and ownership statements
o Pension and retirement benefits
o Social security information
o Insurance policies

As someone who is charged with caring for an Alzheimer's patient, you need to know that Alzheimer's is a progressive disease and that level of care may grow and change over time. You'll need to consider the cost of long-term care, prescription drugs, and in-home caregiving services. There are several ways you may be able to cover the costs of long term care that includes looking at your elder's employer's insurance plan (group and retiree coverage), disability insurance, Medicare and Medigap, and long-term care insurance. Your elder might also qualify for social security disability and/or Medicaid. And you should not forget about community programs to help with meals, respite care and transportation.

Advanced Health Care Directives

Advanced health care directives ensure that your elder person's health care requests are communicated to the health care providers and that you as the guardian act on your elder's behalf. Advanced health care directives also include a living will which tells health care providers what your elder prefers should become incapacitated. The living will gives preferences for life-prolonging treatments such as using a respirator, CPR, dialysis, surgery and antibiotic drugs. The elder and guardian can choose to receive all life-prolonging treatments, a few or none at all. The living will should also state whether your elder wants artificially administered food and water when they are close to death.

Here is a checklist of other advanced health care directives:

o Appointing your durable power of attorney for heath care who will consent or refuse consent (who would usually be the guardian). He or she can also fire and hire medical personnel, gain access to medical records and get court authorization
o Naming the doctor to supervise care
o Identifying and specifying treatments given or withheld (stated above in living will)
o Stating feeling about care-does the elder want full does of pain medications every time?
o Providing instructions for organ donation

After all of the papers have been signed and notarized, be sure to make plenty of copies and keep the originals in a safe, with other copies readily available at a moment's notice. Handing the details for your loved one with Alzheimer's is a great deal of work, but you will be saving yourself so much time and agony if the financial, legal and healthcare matters are well-planned before your loved one moves into an assisted living facility or if additional home service care is needed.

Resources: Alzheimer's Association 225 N. Michigan Ave. Fl. 17 Chicago, IL 60601-7633 1-800-272-3900

Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center P.O. Box 8250 Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250 1-800-438-4380

Why a Nursing Career is the Most Highly Rewarding Career You Can Choose

Nursing careers provide a richly rewarding career option. If you enjoy helping people and making a difference in their lives, then nursing is a wonderful career choice for you. The life of a nurse is that of selflessness and giving. Each and everyday you will come across people in need; sick, injured, or elderly. As a nurse you must be personable and friendly as well as caring and supportive. Nursing careers go beyond just knowing the technical side of nursing; it involves you being a friend and guide to your patients.

Nurses conduct some or all of the following tasks on the job:

- Assess and gather patient information
- Diagnose patient problems and needs
- Implement nursing plans
- Provide emotional and physical support to patients
- Evaluate patient progress and results
- Communicate with the patient's family members

These are just a few of the tasks that nurses do at work. Of course your tasks will totally depend on where you gain employment. Not all nurses work in hospitals. There are also options to work in schools, nursing homes and other locations.

You can also choose to specialize in particular nursing departments. These can include child birth, palliative care, children's wards, counseling and more. As you study to become a nurse you will be exposed to options on each career path which will make your decision easier. However the best way to choose a career is to undergo work experience in a hospital or other medical facility. Here you become exposed to all the different specialties so that you can make a wise choice based on your area of interest.

Nurses often work very long hours involving shift work so you must be prepared for this and take it into consideration before embarking on this richly rewarding career path. Although nurses get paid a fairly high salary, nursing is not a career that people choose for money; it is usually chosen due to a passion to turn people's lives around.

Whether you are helping to deliver babies, helping injured people or assisting the ill, nursing careers are highly satisfying and rewarding. No other career offers the opportunity to make such a profound difference upon the lives of people who truly need and appreciate it.

Nursing Salaries

Nursing salaries are often at the center of controversy, with most people believing that they are not high enough. Thankfully improvements are being made to increase nursing salaries which is good news for you if you are considering going into this industry.

Nursing salaries are on the rise, with 2004 seeing a 14% increase in nursing salaries. The average is said to be around the $64,000 mark with 11% of nurses in 2004 earning $75,000 or higher.

Nursing salaries for graduates differ widely between locations but the average is around $40,000 for an entry-level nurse.

The areas with the most nursing jobs available are those in large, major cities. These include Chicago, New York and Los Angeles amongst others. You can also expect higher nursing salaries in bigger cities as well as better employment benefits. Nonetheless it can be very beneficial and rewarding to be a nurse in a rural area. Sometimes you may be the only nurse on staff so you provide an exceptional service to the local community. Often nurses in very small towns achieve almost celebrity like status!

Nurses in larger cities may get paid more but their jobs are often much more stressful. There are a much larger number of patients and a variety of cases that come in. This can lead to very long hours.

Nursing salaries are heavily affected by a number of factors. Because nurses tend to work a lot of overtime their salary can rise significantly on a week per week basis. Night shifts usually pay more than day shifts, sometimes $5 or more extra per hour. Most hospitals impose 12 hour shifts on nurses so night shift workers generally start at around 7.30 pm and finish at 7.30 am. The benefit is a four day weekend and a 36 hour week which is still considered full time.

Nurses can work in a particular ward of the hospital such as the maternity ward, intensive care unit, and children's ward, among others. Nursing salaries generally do not depend upon which ward a nurse is placed in.

Nursing salaries are on the rise and provide a good standard of living for nurses who are one of the most important groups of people in our society. If you are seeking a highly rewarding career in the medical field, then working as a nurse is something for you to consider.

Why Is Continuing Education Important For Teachers?

While education certainly may not be a field where you would consider a great number of advancements, however, that is certainly not true. Therefore, continuing education is crucial for teachers.

Since technology is advancing so quickly these days, it has opened up a whole new world of ways for teachers and instructors to educate their students. This requires a little bit of extra instruction and learning on the teacher's part. These advancements in education technology need to be understood by the teachers in order for them to use it successfully with their students.

Continuing education, however, doesn't just need to be required for technological advancements. There are new ways of teaching students fundamental math, science, and reading skills, as well as updates to lesson planning. Teachers who have been in the education profession for a long time may also need refresher courses on dealing with parent complaints or even basic computer skills, since so many parents take to their e-mail to communicate any questions or concerns they may have with a teacher.

As an education administrator, being up-do-date on the latest educational trends can also help you lead successfully and create a better school for your staff and your students.

Continuing education serves as a helpful tool in refreshing teacher's skills as well as informing them of new changes within the educational field. It also helps them network with other teachers and creates a nice forum for discussion of trends and techniques they may not have known about before. It creates stronger and more well-informed teachers which can only benefit their students in the end.

Sample Press Release For Activity Professionals

The following is a sample press release related to recreation programs in long-term care. Note: Before writing a press release or any other public relations activity, refer to your facility administrator, marketing director, etc. to ensure you are following guidelines.

CONTACT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person Date
Company Name
Telephone Number
FAX Number
Email Address
Website URL

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: A FUN-DAMENTAL COMPONENT IN LONG-TERM CARE

"Activities are the heartbeat of the facility," a resident in a long-term care facility once said. The importance of activity in long-term care is just one reason why name of facility offers a variety of recreational activities that stimulate minds, promote physical fitness, increase social interaction, teach new skills and, overall, improve the quality of life for all residents.

At name of facility, residents are engaged in person-centered, meaningful activities, specially adapted to meet the needs and interests of each resident. For example, the wide range of therapeutic recreational activities at name of facility include pet therapy, music therapy, intergenerational programs, community outings, exercise and creative-expressive programs, cognitively challenging games, cultural programs, clubs and special events, programs for the cognitively impaired, etc. are just some of the activities offered. Programs are offered daily and provided in small, medium and large-sized groups, as well as on a one to one basis.

The team of professionals at name of facility believes in creating an environment that is fulfilling, holistic and nurturing for the residents. For that reason, name of facility has an inter-disciplinary approach to quality of life. As an example, the Food and Nutrition Department hosts a monthly cooking class, in which residents share in the preparation of their favorite recipes. Similarly, the Rehabilitation Department works in conjunction with the Recreation Department to increase residents' physical functioning. Even the Nursing Department can be found reading the newspaper or singing in the dayroom. In addition, there are numerous community groups and volunteers that enhance the quality of life of the residents.

The long-term care industry has changed dramatically over the years. Now, quality of life is as equally important as quality of care. Recreational activities have become a heightened focus of regulatory agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and are a FUN-damental component of today's long-term care facilities. Name of facility is one of 10 skilled nursing facilities in the xyz Corporation that provides both short and long-term care and rehabilitation services. For more information on name of facility, please call (555) 123-456-7890 or visit us on the web.

The Sexual Con, Part I

Sex is a con game; and a pro game. It's about pros and cons, for and against, the upside, and the downside. There are two sides to everything and sex is no exception. In fact, sex is perhaps the quintessential representation of duality, of polarities, of opposites. Positive and negative poles of an electric current are polarities. Attraction and repulsion are the two poles of a magnetic field. We can be highly attracted to the opposite sex; and, we can be highly repulsed as well.

Sexual attraction is based on a variety of complexities some of which are psychological, i.e., cognitive and emotional, and some of which are biological and chemical. A fair amount of sexual attraction is based on smell. The body emits hormones, called pheromones, which can be smelled, though often not consciously registered. In some cases these pheromones are an attractant, in other cases a repellent. Biologically, there is a fundamental drive to perpetuate the species and sexual attractions, at the biological level, take into account fundamental criteria geared to that drive such as fitness, adaptability to the environment, genetic predispositions, etc., some of which is gauged by smell. These elements are ascertained almost instinctively, sub-consciously.

At the biological level, based on the perpetuation of the species, women have a much more active sexual drive than men. A man can have sexual intercourse with a woman, ejaculate, with the intention of fertilization, and after which, generally speaking, his sex drive is low. A woman, though she may have climaxed, could easily have another sexual encounter with another man fairly soon afterwards. This works in favor of species perpetuation in which the impetus is to become impregnated and the more opportunities for impregnation, the better. On a cognitive and emotional level, i.e., a psychological level, it is a very different story. Here is where issues of connection, attachment and bonding become dominant and which have a role to play in child rearing. Species perpetuation is not exclusively about reproduction. It is also about nurturing and sustaining that which is reproduced, which is the offspring, the child. Women are particularly good at this, if not exclusively qualified, especially during the first years when nursing occurs. However, having a mate to help, helps, a lot. But, before all that happens, a man and a woman must first get together, sexually.

Men and women usually get together sexually based not just on 'urges' but erotic love as well, which combines the psychological needs for connection, attachment and bonding, and the biological drives of species perpetuation. These two energies combined tend to generate what we typically call a romantic relationship. Romantic relationships can be quite blissful; however, they can also be agonizingly tormenting. Romantic relationships are fueled and held together by sex. If the sex wanes, the romantic relationship would fall apart. When the sex is good, the relationship flourishes. Although women, as stated previously, have a higher sexual capacity than men, due to the biological imperative of species perpetuation, there is a religious-based guilt and shame conjoined. Women's sexuality has been distorted and repressed, and at the same time, displaced outward onto men. Men have accepted and internalized this displacement. Men are viewed as having an insatiable sex drive. All men think about is sex. And women don't? This is not to say that men don't have organic-based, animalistic drives to perpetuate the species, for they do. In men it takes the form of frequent ejaculations of semen. Semen, of course, is an absolute essential for impregnation so it works to the female advantage that there's a lot of it all around and not difficult to obtain.

Clearly sex is an incredible motivator, for both genders, used extensively and excessively in marketing and advertisement. One of the key ingredients in these advertisements is "attract-ability, i.e., one's ability to attract.? Although both men and women desire to be attractive, women go to greater lengths to achieve that end.? Feminine cosmetics, particularly perfumes, which are based on the principle of pheromones as an attractant, is a large, profitable industry. Women strive to not only look attractive, but to look 'sexy' as well; and, men respond accordingly, further reinforcing the collective perception that all men think about is sex. Men think about sex because women look sexy. It's a con game.

The underlying motivation for women wanting to look sexy and attractive is not nearly as much for biological perpetuation of the species as it is for psychological, i.e., cognitive and emotional, connection, attachment and bonding. Women today, in most western cultures, have much more choices about bearing children and child rearing. Contraception and artificial insemination has transformed the reason for and meaning of sex. Women are becoming less sexually repressed and more sexually active for the psychological needs it provides. Cognitive and emotional connection, attachment and bonding are to psychological sex what genital contact is to physical sex. There are pleasures (and pains) in both. Women value psychological sex. The cognitive and emotional connection, attachment and bonding is far more lasting than the physical sex. Women like to look physically sexy to attract that psychological connection, attachment and bonding into their lives. Certainly, physical sex is a gateway to that, but is not the end goal. Men, typically, are less adept at the psychological component and are responding to women's enhanced sexual consciousness with performance anxieties and a burgeoning market for 'male enhancement' drugs. It's another con game.

Psychological sex can be replete with con games. Power and control issues, possessiveness, jealousy, passive-aggressive behaviors and violence are but a few of the dynamics that occur because of sex. Although these con games are acted out physically, they originate in the psyche, i.e., in cognitions and emotions. The idea of cognitive sex, or emotional sex, might appear novel; yet the interaction of polarities, of opposites, which is a basis of sex, does take place in the psyche, and amongst psyches. Psychological interaction is a give and take, an exchange of messages and behaviors amongst speakers and listeners, actors and observers. In close, intimate, psychological relationships, there is transference of cognitions and emotions, thoughts and feelings, almost like an exchange of fluids. There can be a sharing of history and experience from which dreams are conceived.

It is in the psyche, in the mind, where meaning resides. What 'sex' means, is made up in the mind. The sexual con games originate in the mind, not the body. What does sex mean to you??

What sex can come to mean is the pro game.

Nursing Assistants - Playing An Important Role In The Health Industry

There are many competent, caring and compassionate individuals in the healthcare industry, said individuals of which include certified nursing assistants (CNA). Becoming a nursing aide is relatively easy, too, thanks to the 12-week CNA training program followed by the 2-part CNA certification exam.

If you believe that becoming a certified nursing aide is your ticket to a better life, then read on and find out more facts about the profession. Keep in mind that it is to your best interests to know the waters before plunging right in with your head first, so to speak.

Facts of Work

Nursing aides are considered as the front-liners of the healthcare industry because of their direct dealings with the patients on a daily basis for longer hours than, say, doctors and nurses. This is because their work involves providing for direct care for patients and residents in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities for disabled individuals. Said direct care includes the following tasks:

• Cleaning and bathing patients as well as dressing them up in appropriate clothes

• Helping patients to use the toilet

• Turning, transferring and repositioning patients from their beds to their wheelchairs and vice versa

• Wheeling patients to other areas of the facility

• Taking vital signs

• Serving and feeding meals to the patients

• Listening to the patients' health concerns and then reporting to the supervising nurse

All of these tasks must be done with competence and compassion, which can be learned during the CNA training program. Also, the CNA certification exam also contains a skill test component to test the applicant's practical skills. From the above mentioned list of tasks, you can easily conclude that most certified nursing aides are the de facto principal caregivers of patients and residents. Many, in fact, develop caring personal relationships with their nursing aides.

Risks of Work

Nursing assistants are exposed to health risks as well mainly because of their working environment. Keep in mind that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are hotbeds of germs, infections and illnesses, thus, the staff must take all necessary precautions to keep themselves healthy - or at least, sufficiently healthy to provide good medical care for their patients and residents.

The working hours of nursing assistants are variable in that shifts are implemented. If you become one, you can expect to work during the graveyard shift especially in hospitals. You will also be expected to work weekends and holidays when your shift manager says so. Since nursing aides also lift people and perform other strenuous tasks, the risks for injuries like sprained muscles are high. You will be taught, fortunately, how to lift people and objects properly.

Don't be discouraged by these risks because the rewards of the job are great! You can earn starting salaries of $22,000 per year plus the benefits package and security of tenure. In the tight job market, the job is good news, indeed.

The Evolution of Assisted Living

National Assisted Living Week is recognized during September 11-17, 2011. Data from 2010 states that there are approximately 6,315 professionally managed assisted living communities nationwide with approximately 475,500 apartments. The number of older Americans (persons 65 years or older) will more than double by 2030 compared to 2000. Approximately 72.1 million people or 19% of the U.S. population will be 65 by the year 2030. Due to lack of construction financing for senior housing during the U.S. housing crisis, the supply of available communities has been reduced. With a growing senior population that will be living longer, the senior housing industry expects more residential care communities will be needed to handle the increased demand. This rise in residents will be reflected in an evolution of service offerings to cater to the diverse resident base found in these communities. Communities will be created to be places where people want to live not where they need to live due to physical, emotional or mental health issues.

Some trends that are occurring now in these communities and will continue to evolve are specialized memory care units. As the fifth leading cause of death for those aged 65 or older, Alzheimer's disease will affect 16 million Americans by 2050. Alzheimer's disease requires an enormous time investment from the caregiver. If those living with the disease can afford it, they can live full-time in an assisted living environment that specializes in Alzheimer's and dementia.

The average monthly cost to live in an assisted living community is $3,270/month. This is for basic level of care. Prices vary greatly depending on location, room size, amenities, health issues and services offered. Personal finances affected by the U.S. economy combined with the cost to live in an assisted living community have brought about another industry trend - the timing when caregiving transitions from the family to a residential care community. To save money and delay the need to move into an assisted living community many seniors and their families are choosing to retrofit their own home to keep their loved one at home for as long as possible. This has led to the recent boom in home modifications for elder safety.

7 out of 10 individuals say that they are caring for a parent. 36% say that the person they are caring for lives with them. 55% of caregivers have been providing care for over 3 years. This has led to another trend. People are joining assisted living communities at an older age when health issues are more prevalent. Care coordination and communication between medical providers and family members is essential to ensure that a resident is getting quality medical care. Many assisted living communities are embracing third party partnerships with professionals in the community that can provide additional services to enhance each resident's experience and improve quality of life. Independent patient advocates or medical navigators along with other health and wellness professionals are examples of third party partnerships.

You will begin to see more communities utilizing technology solutions for monitoring residents and communicating with medical providers. Some communities will cater to 'environmentalism' and promote their renewable and sustainable building products and living environment. Organic foods and gardening will be available at some select communities.

Several communities are already extending their reach to the local community. They are offering programs and services to individuals not residing at the assisted living community. For example, adult day care and geriatric medical providers are now located within some assisted living communities. Additional services that support the elderly still living in their homes will be offered at local assisted living communities. This provides another revenue stream to the communities and gives those living at home (future potential residents) an opportunity to see and experience the assisted living community firsthand.

Another trend you will continue to see is a continuum of care. Many communities want their residents to be able to 'age in place' and not have to relocate to another facility due to a decline in health and increase care needs. 'Enhanced Assisted Living' communities will have licensed nursing care available 24/7. A primary care manager may also be available for each resident to encourage individualized, relationship-based care.

The Eden Alternative, developed by Dr. Bill Thomas, has a philosophy for culture change in this industry that will continue to resonate and take hold within communities. The primary concept is to create a living environment for elders that will nurture them rather than being an institutional facility for the frail and elderly.

Assisted living communities have certainly evolved over the past 25 years to provide a myriad of choices for consumers and a more positive living environment for the elderly.

Dr. Bill Thomas has coined a term called Eldertopia which I hope many assisted living communities will embrace and find ways to incorporate within their own four walls.

Eldertopia/ell-der-TOE-pee-uh/noun: A community that improves the quality of life for people of all ages by strengthening and improving the means by which (1) the community protects, sustains, and nurtures its elders, and (2) the elders contribute to the well-being and foresight of the community. An Eldertopia that is blessed with a large number of older people is acknowledged to be "elder-rich" and uses this wealth to advance the good of all.

What Makes a Medical Assistant Such a Valuable Health Care Resource?

Most people are familiar with what doctors do, but not enough know what Medical Assistants (MA) do. This is a profession that is often overlooked in regards to its importance to the overall public health care system. They play an important and vital role. They are health professionals who work with and around traditional medical doctors. They work on administrative and other similar tasks to help support traditional doctors while they perform tests, tend to patients, and order drugs.

MA's have a wide range of responsibilities, but their main tasks include working with patients before the doctor arrives. That often means measuring these patients' vital signs, performing injections and other small medical procedures, recording information and then presenting it to the doctor, preparing the medical instruments for use by the doctor or other health care professionals, and collecting and or preparing the patient's bodily fluids or tissues.

MA's tend to work in care centers, urgent care facilities, as well as clinics. Today, they are finding more work in hospitals, both public and private, as well as assisted living facilities for the elderly and inpatient and outpatient facilities where doctors perform simple surgeries.

They also have many different names in the various countries where they perform work around the globe. They can be referred to as Medical Office Assistants, Clinical Assistants, Assistant Medical Officers, or Ophthalmic Assistants. What Medical Assistants are not are Physician Assistants. Physician Assistants perform many advanced medical procedures that Medical Assistants don't. Some of these advanced procedures include surgery and therapeutic options, which Medical Assistants aren't licensed to do.

MA's are a valuable part of the healthcare workforce, and they perform a number of jobs that make the health care professional's job easier. They work with doctors on a variety of issues and these make the overall level of care higher for patients everywhere. Without the work of MA's, the quality of care would go down and there would be a number of medical issues that might be missed.

MA's require education and training just like any other medical profession. Medical Assistants require formal training at postsecondary institutions such as technical institutes and vocational schools. Sometimes future Medical Assistants can get their education from online education programs or even community colleges. After these medical workers graduate from college, they have to become certified before they can be hired by health care providers. In the United States, four major organizations certify MA's. The certification test that is administered is usually the CMA. The American Association of Medical Assistants, or AAMA, is one of the four major organizations that offers certification to new graduates. The CMA can be taken online and is offered at different periods throughout the year. Another test that graduates may elect to take is the RMA, which allows them to become Registered Medical Assistants. The RMA certification test is administered by the American Medical Technologists, or American Medical Technologists.

Overall, MA's are a valuable resource for all medical professionals and their patients. Without them, the quality of care would drop and patients would get correct care less of the time. It's important for the Medical Assistantship career to keep growing over the years as the medical field continues to grow.

When Assisted Living Isn't Enough, What Can You Do?

One of the great things about assisted living is that the communities are designed for seniors who are able to maintain a high degree of independence, requiring assistance on a limited basis. However, as some conditions may develop or worsen, residents can encounter a new challenge: needing services or care beyond that which is offered at their retirement residence.

In these situations, residents may be confused about how to proceed.

Most communities offer only a select range of health care services, usually limited to medication monitoring and health record upkeep/maintenance. However, assisted living is different than life in nursing homes, so the equipment is generally not in place for more in-depth and extensive medical care. For example, weekly housekeeping services may have been sufficient when you or a loved one initially moved into a nursing home. As it becomes harder to maintain mobility with age, it may become necessary for someone to attend to your housekeeping and cleaning needs on a daily basis. In this case, it is time to consider making some changes so that your needs are met.

Options for increased care services

If a resident needs care beyond that which the staff can provide, they can choose to bring in-home care to their home at the assisted living residence. This is a great option for seniors who prefer to stay in their own home as opposed to going to a hospital or nursing home because they can hire the care they want and receive it in the comfort of their familiar surroundings.

For those with a more significant care needs, there are two options you might consider depending on the problem:

- If it is a short term, single event, residents may choose to stay at a hospital for treatment. Once they have recovered, they can return to their home at the assisted care residence and reassess their needs as necessary.

- If the condition is one that is rapidly deteriorating and ongoing care is a necessity, residents may choose to move into a nursing home where they will be able to receive the 24-hour care they need.

Often, memory problems are the first indication that a resident may need more than traditional assisted living. Although this can be upsetting to the resident and their loved ones, ignoring the signs of memory deterioration increases the possibility that the resident will injure themselves or suffer a lower quality of life. Fortunately, there are assisted living facilities and nursing homes specifically designed to meet the needs of patients dealing with these issues. These facilities are designed and staffed in a way that will protect the residents' safety while ensuring a higher quality of life.

Why Nurses Are Upset About Nurse Jackie

Emmy winner Edie Falco's portrayal of "Nurse Jackie" in the Showtime drama is gaining much less than rave reviews in the medical community. Nurses everywhere are raising a public outcry over the conception the show raises over their profession.

Falco stars as Jackie Peyton, an emergency room nurse with a habit of pill-popping and cheating on her husband at work with her drug provider, the hospital's pharmacist. In the first episode alone, Jackie forges organ donor documentation, steals money from a patient, snuffs Oxycotin for chronic back pain and flushes the severed ear of the Libyan Executive Secretary down the toilet for beating up a prostitute.

Needless to say, Jackie Peyton is like no nurse on any other medical show - from MASH to Scrubs, ER to Grey's Anatomy. Within hours of the premiere, the New York State Nurses Association went public with their complaints about the portrayal of Nurses in Nurse Jackie, stating in a letter to Showtime, "We believe that the public's view of nurses is influenced by TV dramas, and we have yet to see an accurate portrayal of what nurses really do."

In a show dominated by a character who sweetens her coffee with powdered Percocet, it's easy to see where the New York State Nurses Association would have a problem. Nurse Jackie is a good nurse, but at the same time, she takes almost a childish glee in flaunting her disobedience. With no interest in abiding by the nursing code of ethics, Nurse Jackie fails as a perfect example of the nursing profession.

The Nurses Association requested that Showtime include a disclaimer stating that Nurse Jackie's conduct was inappropriate and should not be used as reflection of a nurse. Their request was denied, as the network believes that audiences will understand the difference between fact and fiction, a viewpoint supported by Falco. As she said to the Daily News, "We're not saying this is a show about nurses. This is a show about a nurse."

Nurses across the nation are joining the New York State Nurses Association in their denial of Nurse Jackie. Barbara Crane, president of the National Federation of Nurses and a registered nurse, states that Nurse Jackie's drug problem could never exist in a real life nurse, as "We would be getting her help and keeping her away from patients. We don't let people drive that way, so why is it OK for her to interact with patients completely stoned? Those patients are in the path of a speeding bullet with her at their bedside."

Is Nurse Jackie a speeding bullet? Hardly. She may have her issues, but she is good at her job, when she chooses to do it. Sandy Summers, registered nurse and executive director of The Truth About Nursing, best known for her book bashing medical shows like House for contributing to negative stereotypes of nursing, believes that Nurse Jackie provides the most honest portrayal of nursing on television.

Nurse Jackie Petyon corrects doctors, makes diagnoses, takes care of her family. She may not play by the rules, but overall, isn't she saving lives? And if she works in a little vengeance, maybe she's just doing her part to make the world a better place.

Careers in Healthcare: Become a Personal Support Worker or a Medical Office Assistant

If you have been thinking about starting a career in healthcare, now is the time to start moving. With the rise of an aging population, the healthcare industry can expect to see an increase in the demand for patient care services. What this means for the healthcare industry as a whole is that it will most definitely need to expand its employee base in order to be able to properly meet the needs of the public.

Of course, working in healthcare does not necessarily mean you have to become a nurse or a doctor. In fact, the healthcare industry survives on the diligent work of many behind-the-scenes employees. Here are just two examples of essential roles and extremely rewarding career options for any aspiring healthcare worker:

Personal support worker

A PSW plays a crucial part in ensuring that a patient receives proper care. Because PSWs are in constant contact with patients, interpersonal skills are among the fundamental qualities that they must master. This goes much beyond being a "people-person" insofar as PSWs need to be able to maintain a friendly and professional manner with even the most agitated patient. People being treated for an illness, be it life threatening or not, are often not their best selves. Needless to say, it is important for PSWs to be able to offer each patient a level of empathy, one that will communicate to the patient that their pain and frustration is recognized and attended to.

Further, while PSWs are not permitted to treat or diagnose patients, they are relied on to recognize patterns of behaviour that may indicate that a patient's condition has changed, however slightly.

Typically, students aspiring for a PSW career will study personal support worker courses that cover the following topics:

• Assisting a Person with Mobility


• Abuse Recognition and Required Action


• Household Management and Meal Preparation


• Personal Hygiene Assistance


• Assisting the Family/Coping Mechanisms


• Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues


• Assisting the Client in Managing their Ongoing Condition


• Medication Assistance/Administering and Educating


• Assisting the Client Who is Dying


• Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures


• Arranged Nursing Home Placement and a Community Placement


• National Certification


• CPR / First Aid (included)

Medical Office Assistant

With no exaggeration, a medical office assistant is like the calm in a storm. What you can imagine such a position to entail comes down to making sure that the team of nurses, doctors, PSWs, housekeeping, and everyone else that you work with is organized and up to date with the daily happenings. This may sound like a piece of cake, but if you've ever spent a day working in a hospital, you will know that it is extremely difficult to ensure that everything is in order.

Which is why medical office assistants are so important. They take of everything, from keeping track of appointment calendars to submitting medical records, a MOA is relied on to keep things in order so that the team can be as efficient and accurate in their work as possible.

Medical office assistant programs will most often include courses that train students on the following topics:

• Study of Basic Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology


• Pharmacology


• Computer Health Applications


• Systems and Data Management


• Advanced Documentation


• Medical Insurance


• Appointment Book Management


• Medical Procedures/Doctors and The Law/Clinical Procedures

Now that you've had a look at two of many promising career paths within the healthcare industry, making the decision to jump start your career may not be so difficult.

My Accident Compensation - Personal Injury Claimants Lose Out in Cost Reforms

Many reforms relating to the funding of personal injury claims come into force in April 2013 and these will affect the amount of accident compensation that Claimants will be able to recover.

One of the most significant reforms will see the end of No Win No Fee representation as we know it. Claimants will face having to pay up to 25% of their accident compensation to their solicitor as part of their costs. Currently, solicitors can recover all costs from the negligent Defendant.

To balance this out, it has been agreed that the injury compensation payable to the Claimant will be increased by 10% from April 2013.

However, less than 1% of personal injury claims actually end up before a Judge at trial and, unless there is a trial, there is no way for a Claimant to actually enforce this 10% uplift. In practice, it is very likely that defendants will simply start the negotiations lower than they normally would and the uplift will simply get lost in negotiations. Furthermore, even if the Claimant's solicitor is confident that the 10% uplift is not being reflected in the Defendant's offer, how many Claimant's will want to go to Court in the hope of achieving an extra 10% accident compensation, especially when there is a risk that a Judge will award an even lower amount of compensation?

The amounts awarded for accident compensation for injuries have not been reviewed properly for many years despite a commissioned report in 1999 confirming that personal injury compensation was too low. That report recommended an upward review of injury compensation over 13 years ago. Therefore, this 'increase' is now a token gesture. By applying the retail price index to compensation awards made in the 1960′s, it has been calculated that today's awards are around 50% lower.

Nevertheless, personal injury Claimants will stand to lose up to 25% of their accident compensation as costs from April 2013 and will find it much harder to get legal representation because solicitors will not be able to recover all costs from the negligent Defendant and will struggle to take on the riskier and lower value cases. And just to rub salt into the wound, the Government is now proposing to increase the Small Claims limit so that Claimants will effectively be unable to get legal representation for a personal injury claim worth less than 瞿5,000. Currently, a claimant cannot recover any legal costs for injury claims worth less than 瞿1,000. However, an increase in this limit from 瞿1,000 to 瞿5,000 will see an estimated 90% of cases fall into the Small Claims limit, meaning that a claimant would have to pay all legal costs privately to their solicitor.

Residential Homes and Care Homes with Nursing

For elderly people at the later stages of life it is a very difficult decision to ask for help and making that step to move into a residential care home or nursing home. To make sure you are making the right decision it is essential to realise what kinds of care and care home facilities are available to you, and what kind of home will be the best for you or your loved one.

Residential Care Homes

A residential care home should provide all the care they would receive if they where still at home being cared for by a family member, covering areas of personal caring such helping with bathing, washing, going to the toilet, getting dressed, preparing food, eating and drinking. Health Care Assistants in this type of care home are required to be at least NVQ level trained. Residential care homes are not always permitted to look after a resident if they have nursing needs, should this arise while someone is in a residential care home then a full a assessment would need to take place by either a GP, Social Services or Health Authority to decide on whether the person requires admission to a care home with nursing. When choosing a residential care home it is important to take in to account your specific needs and also what needs you may have in the future, some residential homes have nursing care within their group of homes so if you needed nursing care in the future you may be able to stay within their care with little disruption and going through the stress of moving to a new home.

Care Homes with Nursing

Care homes with nursing fulfill all of the caring provided in a residential home with the added benefits of being cared for by trained fully qualified registered nurses, who are able to provide the higher level of medical care needed 24 hour a day. Personal caring within a nursing home will include help with getting up and going to bed, eating, drinking, dressing, washing and going to the toilet. Nursing tasks will include dressings, injections and with the administration or supervision of medication. In a Care home for nursing there is always a qualified nurse on duty. Some nursing homes will have a proportion of beds only registered for personal care, and the remainder for nursing care, while in other homes all beds will be registered for nursing.

Medical Job Interviews - 4 Great Tips to Ace the Interview

Tips on Interviewing for Medical Positions穢

The primary goal of any job search campaign, including that within the health care sector is to garner the all-important interview. Whether you are seeking a position within hospital administration, a clinical role such as doctor or nurse, or even a clerical position, the interview is the pivotal point in your entire job search effort. Depending on how well you perform during this meeting, you will either advance or damage your candidacy.

Through adequate preparation, you can advance your candidacy, thereby greatly increasing your chances of being offered the job.

Interview Tip 1: Perform Research on the Employer

An important first step is to perform some research on the facility where you will be interviewing, whether that is a hospital setting, outpatient clinic, or private doctor's office. Review the facility Web site and jot down notes as you read. Critical information includes the facility mission statement, its history, scope of services, and staff bios, if available. Prepare a list of questions that shows you have performed some reading and are familiar with the facility.

A second strategy is to speak with those in the medical community who have some knowledge of the facility with regard to its reputation, financial stability, as well as overall culture. A viable source for this information with regard to a hospital setting is those physicians who have admitting privileges.

If you are seeking a position within an outpatient clinic or group practice, you may still be able to review the facility Web site as well as speak with those in the community who have frequent interaction with the staff, such as physicians in complementary practice areas or community

During the course of your research, pay attention to the culture and values of the facility and ask yourself whether these mesh with you own. A key to a successful long term career is understanding that there is much more to a satisfactory work environment than your just job per se. Being part of any organization means not only performing your work on a day-to-day basis, but also being immersed in the overall culture milieu. The more the culture of the organization matches with your own style, the greater will be your chances for success within that workplace.

Interview Tip 2: Perform Research in the Health Care Field

Another area of research concerns a review of any significant news within the health care sector that may directly impact the facility you will be interviewing with. As you read, create a set of bullet points for discussion that clearly illustrate the research you done. Such a discussion point could be, "I recently read that there is a critical shortage of emergency room nurses resulting in a significant increase in wait time for patients entering the ER. How is this impacting the effectiveness of triage and the overall quality of patient care? This type of questions shows that you are familiar with current issues and how these issues may affect facility services.

Interview Tip 3: Be Flexible

Much work within a hospital setting specifically will involve working non-traditional hours, to include evenings, weekends, and overnights. It will also frequently require that you work double shifts. It is often the case that crisis situations arise that will require that you work past your shit, at times working a double shift to accommodate staff shortages due to sickness, vacation time or recidivism.

Before commencing a job search, take an honest evaluation regarding your willingness to work such a non-traditional schedule. Do you have family or other obligations that will interfere with your availability too work varying or double shifts? If your preference is to work in an environment that offers a more stable schedule, consider seeking a job within a private or group practice. While the salary may be lower in these types of settings, the trade-off may be worth it to you in terms of greater work-life balance.

Interview Tip 4: Demonstrate a Team Orientation

Patient care is truly a team effort. For any facility to work at its best there needs to be a good measure of synergy between clinical staff who provide direct patient care and administrative personnel who oversee daily operations.

During your interview you will want to exhibit a team orientation and "can-do" attitude. One way to do this is to talk about past situations where you worked as part of a team. This can be directly related to work or it can include experiences you have had as a volunteer or member of a sports team. The overriding goal is to show that you are a team play ready, willing, and able to contribute your efforts to the goals of your department.

Interview Tip 5: Interview Etiquette

Although many health care facilities may have a somewhat casual dress code (for staff not required to wear uniforms) be sure to "dress for success: and wear professional attire to your interview. Err on the side of being conservative with regard to jewelry, makeup, or cologne.

Do not staple or fold your resume but place it in a letter size envelope. If your resume is more than one page, use a paper clip on the upper left hand corner to keep the pages together. Be certain your cell phone is turned off, NOT set to vibrate (which can sound awfully loud should during any pause in the conversation.)

How to Become a Nurse Through Home Study Courses

If you are looking to be a nurse, there are a lot of different programs you can choose to use. One of the most popular out right now is the distance learning nursing programs. Today we are going to talk about why these kinds of distance learning programs are the best way to go. You will see that if you are studying to become a nurse, learning from home could be the best way to go. People usually do not understand or notice all the benefits from taking classes from home, but that is why we are going to talk about it.

First of all, there are only a selected number of courses that are offered for at home students. It just so happens that nursing is one of them. Now, before you go and try to sign up with distance learning nursing programs, you need to keep in mind that there are some prerequisites that you may have to take. These are no different than what you would have to be taking if you went to a traditional school. You just need to keep in mind that you do not get out of taking them for choosing to do distance learning. The second thing to note is the fact that you need to really make sure you have to the will power to make yourself work. You have to want to work and want to earn money. If you can do that, then you will notice that everything will work out a lot better for you.

Enough about what you need to take for distance learning nursing programs, it's time to talk about how they can help you! First of all, you are going to save a lot of money. It will not look like you are going to save a lot at first, because the prices to go to the school are about the same. However, because you will be taking the classes from home, you do not have to pay to live on campus, and you also will not have to pay for gas to drive around and go back and forth to campus. Also, you are going to want to note that you are going to save money on food, because you will be eating from home. These are small little things that you have to pay for at college everyday that add up very quickly. Over time, you will see how much money you are saving, even if it's not right away.

Last, but not least, you are going to save a lot of time and be able to keep your current job. Since you can take classes whenever you want to, when you are doing distance learning, you do not have to worry about your job trying to work around your schooling. Not only that, but you are going to be able to set your own hours, meaning that you can get ahead in your classes a lot quicker. Overall, it is going to be super easy to get the education you need to get the job you have always wanted.

Personal Injury Lawsuits, Statute of Limitations, Type of Damages

Personal injury lawsuit's statute of limitations vary from state to state and dependent on who is the defendant. This article delves into the elements involved in filing a personal injury lawsuit and the types thereof.

The purpose of personal injury law is to protect the victims of negligence, inaction, or recklessness of another individual. Personal injury law extends to a wide variety of cases which can include: dog bites, car/boat accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, wrongful death, worker's compensation, nursing home abuse, and slip and fall injuries. Before you file a personal injury claim it is important to consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who will be familiar with state specific regulations for filing and will help you understand your rights under the law.

STATUE OF LIMITATIONS ON PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS

If you are contemplating filing a personal injury claim it is important to file in a timely manner. All claims are subject to statutes of limitations which will vary from state to state. The statute of limitations is the timeframe a plaintiff has to file for damages, and often this time period is from one to three years.

The only exception to the statute of limitations is when the plaintiff is filing for damages against the government. In this case, the statute of limitations is often reduced to thirty days up to one year after the injury. Typically, the statute of limitations begins on the day of the injury. If a dog bit you yesterday, then your statute of limitations began yesterday as well.

However, sometimes as is the case with certain medical malpractice and drug injury lawsuits, the cause of injury is not identified for weeks, months, or years afterwards. For example, a form of birth control has recently been linked to an increase in cancer among some women. The statute of limitations for those women affected by this side affect begins when their symptoms are linked to taking this drug, and not when they initially began taking the medication.

FILING A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT

Prior to filing a personal injury claim, a plaintiff must always be able to prove that the person charged (the defendant) is legally responsible for the injury and that the injury suffered is truly the result of wrongdoing on the part of the defendant. In other words you cannot file a claim against a doctor who never treated you, nor can you seek damages for a broken leg you received while mountain biking from a doctor that treated you for gum disease.

There are several elements which may be helpful in establishing whether the person you are charging is actually responsible for your injury:

Negligence - the defendant failed to prevent your injury, and is therefore responsible for causing it. An example might be a horseback riding instructor who asks you to take your horse over a series of jumps without first warning you that the ground is muddy. If your horse slips and falls on you, perhaps resulting in a broken arm or debilitating back pain, your instructor may be deemed negligent and therefore responsible for your injury.

Strict Liability - this type of liability applies regardless of negligence, and is also known as product liability. If you use your electric razor as instructed in the owner's manual and you get electrocuted or suffer cuts/bruises then the manufacturer of the razor may be held liable for your injury.

Intentional Wrong - civil claims for an intentional wrong may be filed in addition to criminal charges. Most often victims of sexual assault or other forms of abuse will file their personal injury claims based on intentional wrong.

TYPES OF DAMAGES FROM PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS

When seeking damages for a personal injury, your accident lawyer may pursue compensatory or punitive damages. In some cases a judge may award both types of damages depending on the severity and type of crime committed.

1) COMPENSATORY DAMAGES - ACTUAL OR ESTIMATED

Compensatory damages can be actual or estimated and are meant to reimburse the plaintiff a pre-determined monetary value.

(i) Actual values for compensatory damages can be calculated based on medical bills, lost wages, or money paid to repair damaged property from the accident (a boat or car, for example).

(ii) Estimated damages are calculated based on the pain and suffering endured by the plaintiff as a result of the accident. An indirect victim, such as a spouse, may also seek compensatory damages for lost wages to their spouse's household contributions. Punitive damages are meant to punish the person responsible for the accident.

2) PUNITIVE DAMAGES

Punitive damages do not provide any monetary gain to the plaintiff.

If you feel that you are the victim of a personal injury it is important to consult an accident attorney as soon as possible. An accident attorney in Phoenix will offer much different advice than an accident attorney in Boston with regards to statutes of limitations and determining the at-fault party. Failure to file your claim in time and present proper evidence may cost you the case entirely and prevent you from filing for damages altogether.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits

When a case of nursing home abuse is brought to court, the home in question must defend itself and the actions in question of its staff. If irrefutable evidence is presented that the resident has been abused or mistreated in any way, the victim WILL receive compensation if proper actions are taken. In some cases, the home may also be ordered to shut down. Home residents' rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. The nursing home law requires homes to "promote and protect the rights of each resident".

In spite of the law, home abuse continues to be a serious problem. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates at least one in 20 nursing home patients has been the victim of abuse. According to the study, 57% of nurses' aides in long-term care facilities admitted to having witnessed, and/or participated in, acts of elder abuse. Unfortunately, the signs of home abuse are not always easy to recognize and ultimately prove.

If you think yourself or someone you know has been abused in the care of a nursing home ( and want to be financially compensated) they're are certain rules of thumb to follow. You should obtain and file all the names of the staff of the home in question along with any documentation that suggests or even proves you were abused. Such as medical bills, pictures of injuries, etc. When you have all of this together you should arrange a meeting with a personal injury attorney ASAP.

Why hire a personal injury lawyer? What a lawyer can do for you in these cases is invaluable. Your lawyer will (assuming he or she has experience dealing with elder abuse in your state) know what it takes to build you a solid case that will ultimately get you financially compensated for your injures, pain and suffering. While you can represent yourself against your nursing home and avoid fees of a nursing home lawyer, you can be assured everything is prepared up to par with a lawyer who has experience on your side. Also, most lawyers dealing with personal injuries and nursing home abuse will only take payment if a settlement is reached for their client.

Sometimes, the abused person and the nursing home in question can come to an agreement regarding compensation with the aid of their personal injury lawyer and the intervention of a judge is not required. This is normally the quicker and more convenient process, not requiring formal presentations of witnesses or evidence exhibits. If an agreement cannot be reached outside the courtroom however, the case may be pursued in front of a judge. Here, evidence and witnesses will be presented to support and disprove each case. The final outcome of the case will be decided upon by a judge, and although appeal processes are available, they are lengthy and hard to succeed with.

Also, you should know most states personal injury statutes of limitations grant a 2 year period in which you can file a lawsuit.