Saturday, January 18, 2014

Why You Should Start an Adult Day Care Center


Starting an adult day care center is a business which gives senior citizens an advantage over other types of retirement options because it allows them to stay at home longer. When the new health care laws come into effect it will cut $500 Billion in Medicare benefits. The costs of an adult day care center are supported by medicaid and private pay clients. Senior care centers offers people an option to live at home and still be a vital part of their family. Starting an adult day care center allows people from the ages of 18 and up who have trouble with everyday activities such as bathing, toileting, dressing or are socially isolated to have a place to come to everyday which helps them live a life with independence as well as with the necessary aid they might require due to age or an accident.

A part of the adult population which has been overlooked are the mentally challenged who now have aging parents taking care of them. The parents need a break and their children could benefit by the socialization and the physical and psychological care given to them by professionals. This population can be taken by an adult day care center but mostly states require a training program for these individuals to be working members of the community and learn a trade. However, if they are severely mentally or physically impaired an adult day care center would be a place where they could receive the attention and activity they need, provided they are private pay clients or are receiving medicaid benefits.

Starting and owning this type of business is also an advantage to a person looking to be in the health care field with regular hours. Many centers start at 7am and clients board vans and buses by 4:30pm for home. Its rewarding to be able to take care of clients psychological and physical needs, socialize with each other, and be an asset to the community. As owners run good businesses, word of mouth takes over and people come to your center. The advertising is very easy once you begin your center. the clients tell their friends and the families tell each other and soon its a thriving center full of life.

In conclusion, starting and owning an adult day care is a good business investment with government funding, is good for them community and provides an option to assisted living, nursing homes and other health related institutions. For additional information and the necessary requirements for starting a senior care center contact Adult Day Care Group at www.adultdaycaregroup.com

Pros and Cons of Living Under the Same Roof With Your Elderly Parents


There will come a time when elderly parents won't be able to stay alone anymore. In many cultures, it is the responsibility of the children to make provision for their parents and it is expected that they will care for the parents. Taking care of elderly parents is a big responsibility and one that should be considered carefully. There are many joys in having your parents living with you, but there are also times when it might be difficult.

Pros of Having Elderly Parents Living with You

- You won't have to be concerned anymore that they are safe, eat properly and take the medication they might need.

- They can be a big help around the house. You are obviously not going to expect them to do physical tasks or chores, but they have wonderful patience with little ones and can be great story tellers or they might enjoy playing cards or board games with the children. You won't have to feel guilty anymore because you simply don't have the time or energy for this.

- Older people that are still of sound mind enjoy sharing their knowledge and can keep an eye over homework activities of school going children.

- Some older people that are still mobile enough actually enjoy cooking and if they offer and want to, allow them to do it once in a while. It should never become their responsibility, but it might give them a sense of worth and make them feel they are still needed.

- Those who were avid gardeners in their days might enjoy taking care of those poor potted plants that are crying for a bit of water and loving care.

- You will have more quality time with them, even though it might be for shorter times.

Cons of Elderly Parents Living with You

- Parents who are not financially strong might add an extra burden to your budget. If you are the only child it can become a problem, but if there are other siblings you should ask them to assist. It is not only your responsibility to look after your parents.

- If your elderly parents can't take care of themselves anymore you might need to get help in the form of a caregiver or other help in the house. This will also add financial strain.

- Unfortunately all older people are not easy to live with. This can cause stress and problems between you and your spouse or children.

- Parents that interfere with the way you run your house and discipline your children can become more of a burden than a joy.

- Your independence will be limited. Holidays, weekends away or even evenings out will have to be planned with them in mind. If they can't be left on their own for a while, you will need to get help or arrange for them to stay with someone else for the duration of the time that you will be away.

We are not all natural caregivers and in some instances it might be to everyone's benefit not to try and co-exist in the same house.

LPN Salary Information


If you are thinking about becoming an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), you undoubtedly want to know how much the typical LPN salary is. While the average salary stands at $46,000 a year in the USA, there are several variables which come into play which can affect the salary.

Factors Affecting LPN Salary

1. Healthcare Facility
LPNs can be found working in hospitals, clinics, nursing care centers, private homes and doctor's offices. While the job duties are similar, the salary differs depending on where one works.

Nursing Home: $42,400

Retirement Home: $31,900

Hospital: $39,950

Home healthcare services: $42,400

Doctor's offices and clinics: $36,800

2. Location
The location of where an LPN works plays an important role in affecting the salary of LPNs. Sometimes the difference in salary can be quite large, especially if you compare an LPN working in a metropolitan area to a suburban area.

High Paying States

California: $50,000

Connecticut: $52,250

New Jersey: $50,200

New Mexico: $49,720

Rhode Island: $50,100

High Paying Metropolitan Areas

Albuquerque, NM: $55,980

Oakland -Fremont-Hayward, CA: $57,100

Salinas, CA: $60,000

San Jose, CA: $57,050

San Francisco - San Mateo, CA: $55,550

3. Experience
Whatever the career, the more experience a person has, the more they will be paid - working as a licensed practical nurse is no exception. Take a look at the average LPN salary relative to experience:

Less than 1 year: $28,000 - $45,000

1 to 4 years: $30,000 - $48,000

5 to 9 years: $31,000 - $51,000

10 to 19 years: $32,000 - $ $54,000

20 years>: $35,000 - $56,000

How Career Advancement Affects LPN Salary

As mentioned, moving to a different state, acquiring more experience or working in a different healthcare facility all play a role in affecting an LPN salary. However, many LPNs decide to advance their careers, not only to earn a higher wage but also to take on more job responsibility which results in a more rewarding career. Many LPNs take their career to the next level by becoming "Change Nurses," meaning that they have the additional responsibility of supervising other LPNs working in the healthcare facility. However, this position is not available in all healthcare settings - nursing homes seem to employ the highest percentage of change nurses.

Many LPNs have taken to advancing their career by going back to school and completing an LPN to RN Bridge program. As a registered nurse is able to earn double the amount an LPN earns and has a higher level of job responsibility, it is no surprise that enrolling in this type of bridge program is a popular choice.

Now you know what the average LPN salary is relative to location, experience and setting. While the majority of people do not go into the nursing field for the money, most people would agree that money matters. If you are one of the many people who shares this opinion, it is recommended that you enrol in an LPN to RN bridge program as soon as possible to advance your career, and thus start earning a higher salary.

Caring For Elderly Parents - In-Home Care Decisions


Caring for Elderly Parents

There comes a time in most of our lives when adult children find themselves responsible for their parent's well being. This usually happens when the parents have exhibited behavior that proves they can no longer able to take care of themselves.

Nursing Homes

For some people, the care of an elderly parent means selecting the best possible nursing home. The advantage to putting a parent in a nursing home is that they will receive round the clock professional care, and that the nursing home will have everything they could possibly need.

The disadvantage to nursing homes is that the facilities and people are unfamiliar which can sometime stress the elderly to the point that their overall health deteriorates. Also, nursing homes are very expensive and many families simply can't afford them.

In Home Care

For people who don't feel a nursing home is a viable choice, they can choose to move their elderly parent into their own home.

A great deal of preparation, both mentally and environmentally must be done before a family brings their elderly parent to live with them. Families need to prepare for is arguments. By nature people tend to resist being taken care of, and most people really don't like the idea of their children being burdened by them. This often leads to outburst and arguments that can leave everyone feeling hurt and helpless. The best thing a family can do is try to stay calm. It doesn't hurt to find tasks that the parents can do so that they can still feel like they are a help rather than a hindrance. Most people are healthier, mentally and physically, when they have something to keep their mind active.

Before moving their parent into their home, adult children need to spend some time researching their parent's condition. The more they know about what to expect as their parent's mental and/or physical state deteriorates, the better able everyone will be able to prepare for things.

Another thing adult children need to consider before moving an elderly parent into their home is how much care the parent is going to need, and whether or not the adult children will be able to provide it. If the parent needs round the clock care, the family might need to consider hiring a part-time, in-home nurse.

One of the things that many people learn after moving their elderly parent into their home, is that caring for the parent often involves a great deal more than making sure they get enough to eat. Most of the elderly have mobility problems and need to be helped out of bed and off of chairs. At first this doesn't seem like it will be a problem, but after a while it can become tiresome. Lift chairs are products that can help the entire family retain their humor and mobility. Lift chairs are a step beyond the average household recliner. The seat of the chair tips to a 45 degree angle, making it easier to stand the person on their own feet.

Lift chairs have been beneficial to people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, Alzheimer disease, poor circulation, arthritis, and numerous other ailments and conditions.

Interesting Facts to Know About Medical Jobs


Unlike jobs in other industries, jobs in the health care field are continuing to grow. Both medical jobs and administrative jobs in health care facilities are growing because people are living longer and baby boomers are aging and becoming in need of more health care. If you are just beginning to consider looking for a job in the health care field, you will find that you have many options. Some jobs will require college degrees or special certifications while other jobs are available as entry level jobs. Most health care jobs require at least a high school diploma or a GED.

A physician assistant is one of the fastest growing health care jobs. A physician assistant does most of the same things that a doctor does, but they do it while being supervised by a doctor. Schooling to become a physician assistant usually takes at least two to three years.

Medical secretaries are also in great demand. They perform administrative duties in health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors offices and nursing homes. Although formal training above a high school diploma is not always required, employers will look favorable upon medical secretary training or at the very least a strong administrative background.

Along the same lines as medical secretaries are medical assistants. Medical assistants not only perform clerical duties, but also do some medical procedures such as taking and recording the temperature and blood pressure of a patient. They may also take the medical history of a patient and some even draw blood. If you are interested in a career as a medical assistant you can usually finish training in ten to eighteen months time.

Of course, physicians, surgeons and registered nurses are in great demand as are licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses. Some RNs, LPNs and VPNs work in health care facilities while others provide home health care. It can take anywhere from eleven to sixteen years to fully complete schooling as a physician or surgeon. You can become a registered nurse in four years and a licensed practical or vocational nurse in one to two years.

Pharmacy is another job industry that is growing. Since you actually become a doctor of pharmacy it will take approximately eight years of schooling beyond high school to become a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants also work in pharmacies. Pharmacy technicians work under the direction of a pharmacist. While certification is not always required, a potential employer will look favorably upon an applicant who is certified. The pharmacy assistant generally works with the public and does not work with medications. This is an entry level job.

There are also jobs associated with the health care field that you can train to do and work from your home. Medical billing and medical transcription are two such jobs. Medical billing clerks bill insurance companies for services received by the patient. A billing clerk works in hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and some are independent contractors who work from their home. Most billers who work from home successfully have had some training and or experience working in an office setting. Medical transcriptionists transcribe doctors notes and must be proficient in medical terminology as well as have good transcription skills. Training can usually be completed in less than eighteen months. Like a medical biller, some work in traditional settings while other transcriptionists work from home.

As you can see, there are many medical jobs to choose from. Whether you are just entering the job field or looking to make a change, health care offers so many options. It is up to you how much time and money you want to spend to complete training and land your dream job in the health care field.

CNA Certification Can Help You Get a Great Position As A Nurse


The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving and provides many career opportunities for people who want to enter the field of patient care. Certified Nursing Assistants are health-care employees who are responsible for providing direct care to patients who are unable to take care of themselves. Common responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, assisting patients with getting out of bed, bathing and dressing patients and providing emotional support. Someone interested in this career must undergo CNA training and pass a certification test before being allowed to provide care to patients.

A Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) can find positions in many different medical environments. Medical offices, hospitals, therapy centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are just the most common places of employment. As the Baby Boomers enter into their senior years, the need for CNA's in assisted living facilities is anticipated to triple. CNA training can be completed in a very short period of time. During your CNA training you will learn everything you need to pass your state exams and to work in a professional environment. Many people who enter into the course are surprised by the amount of knowledge they already have in the field.

Many places have their own rules and it is up to you to determine whether you would like to go to a school, a nursing home, or other location to get your learning. Some schools offer CNA Certification classes and then you can move up to becoming an LPN and even an RN. Depending where you want to go the best way is to start at the bottom and move up. This will help you determine if it is the right field for you.

Most states require that you have CNA training and pass a board exam before entering the field. The exam is quite simple if you have been trained, and the monetary benefits are well worth the effort. CNA's earn a good living and many people who enter this career find that they pursue further training and become nurses. CNA programs are available through campus based education or distance learning programs. This allows anyone with an interest the capabilities of going to school on their own terms. Because many of these programs are accelerated programs, students may find themselves with a new career in less than a month.

With the current economic situation, it can be difficult to find and maintain a career. For those who enjoy taking care of others and providing loving support to those who need it, becoming a CNA is the right choice. CNA training is the first step to this wonderful and emotionally fulfilling career.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Nursing Home Elder Abuse With a Spy Camera - The Best Prevention


Millions of Americans are experiencing the dilemma of what to do with their parents as they age. Seniors are the fastest growing segment of our population and as they get older the question of how they spend their final days looms large.

With more and more baby boomers reaching retirement age, the stress and strain put on assisted living facilities and long term care homes is growing every day. The supply of qualified people to staff these facilities is not keeping up. One of the reasons is because the healthcare industry is in such a shortfall of people that their wages are much much higher.

What happens then is assisted living facilities are almost forced to make compromises in hiring people. Is an unqualified and under trained employee in a nursing home good enough for your parents? I don't think so.

And that's only half the problem. Not everyone can afford a home like that. Home health care givers are even less qualified. Abuse and theft are very common. Kind of a scary thought!

One out of six nursing homes or assisted living facilities report some kind of elder abuse. That can come in many forms-physical, verbal or psychological. Nursing home elder abuse is particularly widespread in nursing homes or assisted living facilities that specialize in Alzheimer's disease.

How can you best prevent this elder abuse? The best way is with a spy camera.

The newest hidden cameras have a camera and DVR hidden inside the most common objects like alarm clocks and car key fobs. Some models even have a microphone-so called "body worn" models.

They are easy to use and install. Images are recorded to an 8 GB SD card. To playback just insert that card into your computer's SD card reader and see what you found.

When you suspect abuse of your folks in a assisted care facility don't delay find out today what is really going on with a spy camera.

When are you getting one?

Eight Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Nursing Agency or Nursing Home for Sale


If you are looking for a recession-proof investment, buying a nursing home or nursing agency for sale currently makes a lot of sense. While consumers tighten their budgets in many areas, the need for independent healthcare provision isn't going to go away any time soon. Indeed, the demographics of baby boomers coming up to retirement and ever increasing life expectancy means that the potential client base for nursing homes and agencies is steadily rising. In addition, government cutbacks are reported to be already impacting on waiting times for NHS provided treatment, driving many people to look at private medical options. This in turn is creating more business for private healthcare firms, and an increase in demand for nursing staff of all kinds in the private sector - supplied, of course, by nursing agencies.

But although the top level business case for buying a nursing agency or nursing home may be solid, choosing a specific nursing agency for sale is not so simple. Every nursing agency and nursing home for sale is different in terms of its client base, its funding sources, its premises, its management and its staff. So it is important to understand the particular features of any home or agency you may be considering buying, to ensure it will be a good fit for your requirements. Here are the eight questions you must ask before buying a nursing home or nursing agency for sale.

Why is This Nursing Home or Nursing Agency for Sale?

Knowing what is motivating the vendors to place their nursing home or nursing agency for sale right now can give you a lot of clues about the current state of the business. Just as you are interested in nursing agencies or nursing homes as a business investment, so will the vendors before you. (Even owners motivated by the desire to provide excellent care will need to have made sure that the business is sustainable and can provide a living income.) Motivation to sell can be of three main types:

The business is doing well and the vendor wants to realise the increase in value.

The business is doing badly and the vendor needs to sell.

The vendor wants to retire and use the proceeds from the sale to fund their retirement.

All other things being equal, a business which is performing well will be a more attractive investment than one which is not. But it is not necessarily bad for you if a particular nursing agency or nursing home for sale isn't performing well financially. Sometimes this can represent a bargain investment, provided you fully understand why the business is struggling and have the ability and vision to turn things around. From an investment point of view, this type of sale can represent the biggest opportunity for value increase - but it will require experience and expertise to know what needs fixing. If you are a hands-off investor with no experience of nursing homes and agencies, an underperforming business should be avoided in favour of one which is already financially successful.

What Are its Income Sources?

Nursing homes and agencies in the UK can receive income from three main sources:

Direct from the NHS (e.g. an NHS hospital pays for temporary nursing cover)

Local Authority (e.g. a local authority assesses someone as requiring care in a nursing home and pays for that care directly)

Privately (e.g. an individual arranges for domiciliary care to be provided in their home, or a private health company wants to recruit nursing staff)

As a business investor you need to know the current mix of income sources and whether there is over-reliance on one type. For instance, many nursing homes flourished over the past decade or so based on local authorities' legal obligation to provide residential care. Many local authorities are now reassessing people against new criteria and withdrawing funding, as a way of cutting expenditure. Nursing homes which have not also built up a healthy private client base, with associated marketing to support it, may find their funding position looking shaky as a result.

What is its Reputation with Clients?

What do clients and their families think about the agency or home? When it comes to personal care services such as residential care or domiciliary care, families place considerable importance on the experience their relative is getting, at least as much as the technical quality of medical care or the cost of the service. Put simply, even when changes in the economic landscape may be creating funding uncertainties for nursing homes and agencies, businesses which are loved by customers will have the easiest time in attracting new clients and maintaining a healthy business.

What is its Client Base?

Apart from income sources, what type of customer does the nursing home or nursing agency cater for? This will indicate the likely size of your potential customer base (important if you have plans for growing the business) as well as funding stability. It may also affect how well the new acquisition fits into an existing portfolio. For instance, if you already own a chain of residential homes for the elderly, a home currently catering for young adults with learning disabilities may not fit the current brand as well a home specialising in dementia care. The client base will also determine the skills needed to run it successfully - so if you intend to be an owner-manager it's important to choose a nursing home for sale which matches your background and skills.

Is it Profitable, and if so Why / Why Not?

You must find out the turnover and profits of the current business, before and after tax. This is normally disclosed as a matter of course by the vendor and is usually verified prior to completion of a sale. But it is more important to find out why the business is or is not profitable, than to look just at the bottom line. For instance, a lack of profits may occur in a well run home or agency but where financial management has been weak (this might occur in an independently run home where the owner is more focused on care issues than running a sound business). Equally, a profitable business may be the result of a vendor having an eye to selling and minimising investment in care and maximising profits.

How Vendor-Dependent Is It?

How well could the business continue to run when the vendor is no longer there? Does the business have a strong management team in place who can continue to run the business in the absence of the owner? If you want to be a hands-on owner, taking over the day to day running of the business, then this factor may not matter so much. But if you want to be a hands-off investor, you will either need a team already in place, or you will need to appoint a manager on your behalf.

What Development / Expansion Potential Does it Have?

Assuming you are look at nursing agencies and nursing homes for sale as an investment opportunity, you will want to know what scope there is for adding value to the business after you have bought it. In the case of a nursing home, can the value of the premises themselves be increased through refurbishment, or is there scope to increase capacity? In the case of a nursing agency, could business be increased by bringing in new clients? Or could the range of services be expanded (e.g. a nursing agency deciding to also provide non-medical domiciliary care)?

Is it Independent or Franchise?

Some nursing agencies and homes are fully independent, while others operate as part of a franchise. Buying a franchise will be less expensive, and may appeal to those with appropriate nursing background and skills but with less cash to invest - but the scope for adding value or increasing personal income will be strictly limited. Buying an independent business will cost more - often including the price of the premises - but you will own everything and will have a far greater degree of control over how the business is run. Perhaps more importantly from an investment point of view, you will benefit from any increase in income and value you are able to generate.

Using a Business Broker to Assess Businesses for Sale

Finding out this level of detail about a nursing home or nursing agency for sale can be difficult, and may not be completely revealed until negotiations are well advanced. It is therefore useful to use the services of a business broker who is better placed to know these details or to find them out on your behalf. A broker who is representing a nursing agency or nursing home for sale (i.e. the home or agency has asked the broker to find a buyer) should have determined this type of information already in order to understand the business and find a suitable buyer.

But where information is not yet known, it is often far easier to make enquiries via a broker than to ask a vendor directly. Being able to ask these questions and to trust the information that comes back can help prevent time being wasted on unsuitable businesses. More importantly, it should prevent you from completing a deal only to find out later the true position of the business.

Assisted Living Homes and State Laws


At a later stage in life seniors are unable to carry out the functions that they have taken for granted for decades. They require assistance for the completion of daily activities. Diseased, paralyzed, and elderly come under this category. Assisted living homes help in achieving basic activities of daily living. These communities have obviously fall under various state and federal laws which govern the assisted living industry.

The residents of assisted living homes are protected under many state laws, which safeguard their rights regarding various aspects like security, abuse, discrimination etc. The laws and regulations are different for different states. It is important that every resident is aware of the laws and utilizes the facilities accordingly. There are also certain state laws that restrict the admission of a person into an assisted living home. These laws are made taking into consideration the health status and the ability of person and at the same time maintaining the safety of other residents.

In place of nursing home or assisted living, elderly seniors are usually prone to abuse either by the staff, fellow residents or visitors. It may be sexual, physical or mental. Not maintaining proper cleanliness, providing overdose of the medicine in order to free from the patient, not providing food and other amenities etc, are the kind of abuses that generally occur in such environments. The family members need to be vigilant with the conditions of their loved ones. If any suspicion, contact the government officials and maintain a record of the people you approached. Take the assistance of an attorney in order to evaluate the legal remedies available for you.

People seeking an assisted living home for themselves or for the loved ones, need to check with some predefined states to be eligible for the admission. The centers look for certain criteria before a person is admitted in the assisted living home. Factors like the persons suffering from infectious diseases, the quality of medical facilities required and the kind of services that a resident would be requiring etc, are necessary for the joining resident to observe.

The state laws define regulations on trainings of the care takers and the eligible qualifications of staff. The state laws also define the kind of services that are offered by each of the assisted living centers. The Assisted Living Consumer Alliance (ALCA) is a group formed to frame the policies of the assisted living homes.

The Business-Oriented Entrepreneur Nurse


Becoming a registered nurse (RN) opens many doors. The reasons for seeking the education and license are as varied as the dedicated individuals who serve in the nursing field. Some RNs know from the beginning that their happiness lies in self-direction; great hourly pay will never be enough incentive to hold these nurses in a job where someone else makes the decisions. Others decide to become an entrepreneur nurse later in their careers. Either way, combining business acumen with a nursing degree is a profitable mix.

Areas of Need

There are jobs for independent contractors that would, make sense, to the layperson. Some of the more traditional opportunities are:

-Home care nurse.

-Independent contractor.

-Staffing agency nurse.

Home Care Nurse

A home care nurse cares for patients who need professional medical attention, but not to the level of nursing home care. Emergencies are few; nurses follow a schedule for patient care. Visits consist of monitoring the specific conditions of each client, checking vital signs, and observing well-being in general. Nurses advise patients and doctors regarding the case.

Independent Contractor

Nurses do the work of an employee, but as a contractor. The set-up provides some advantages. Employers do not pay social security tax for these nurses; however, they get the same work from contractors and employees. The social security tax of employed nurses costs the employer seven and a half percent of the gross wage; employees pay the same amount, for a total of 15 percent. Self-employed contractors pay the entire 15 percent. The amount of money this represents is lower because the independent nurse has a lot more tax advantages than does an employee. Employers also pay unemployment insurance for employees, but not for contractors.

Staffing Agency Nurses

The nurse is employed by an agency, and can work in a variety of settings. This is an advantage for professionals who enjoy getting to know new people and places. One benefit of belonging to a staffing agency, is that the agency helps nurses keep up with licensing requirements.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Part of being an entrepreneur means recognizing a need, and finding a profitable way to fill it. Only people working in the medical arts have the necessary vantage point to spot these opportunities. Some non-traditional roles are:

-Author.

-Specialty nurse agency owner.

-Online Instructor.

Author

Nurses know what others want to read about. A hospice nurse is an expert in the field, a book about the specialty would benefit someone about to start work in the area. Experienced independent contractors have already lived through paying their own taxes; writing a book advising others may be a profitable venture.

Specialty Nurse Agency Owner

An entrepreneur nurse who specializes in a challenging area is the perfect owner of an agency offering to serve in the field. She hires, or contracts nurses. As the owner of the agency, the entrepreneur spends more time running the business than tending to the needs of patients.

Online Instructor

Nurses need continuing education. A highly educated nurse, who no longer wants to report to a job in person, may be qualified to work as an online instructor. Home-based instructors are normally contractors, not employees.

Working as an entrepreneur means more freedom; responsibility comes with it. It is an advantage to have a business plan before starting to work independently. A consultation with an accountant is a smart idea. Decide if your situation is best defined as a corporation, sole proprietor, or partnership. You already know what your particular business needs in the way of equipment and computers; knowing what to expect at tax time helps you avoid financial catastrophe.

Copyright (c) 2012 Nurse Entrepreneur Network

Assisted Living Considerations


How to take care of the elderly entails making difficult choices. Whether hiring home caregivers or taking the services of a specialized facility, there always has to be a balance between doing what is best for the senior citizen and what is suitable to their lifestyle. One of the most popular choices brings together the independence of living in their own home and the care provided by a nursing home. Assisted living homes offer this kind of compromise.

For those who are looking into the possibility of assisted living to provide elderly help then there are some elements that need to be thoroughly considered in order to get the best kind. Since these facilities exist primarily to ensure that the patients are safe and comfortable, the choice needs to be one that caters to these needs.

Practically speaking, budget plays a key role in choosing the assisted living home. The good news is that these kinds of home are more inexpensive compared to nursing homes. However, this does not mean that they come cheap. One of the best ways to ensure that the money is spent wisely is getting as many quotations as possible. Ask several facilities for the price range of their services and find out what are included in the packages offered.

Keep in mind that what is written in the brochure can be vastly different from what happens in real life. Take the time to visit the assisted living facility to see how the staff works and the kind of environment offered. One of the main things that should be considered is the quality of the food. It may not seem like a big deal at first but it is indicative of the type of service and attention to detail rendered by the facility.

Although assisted living homes are not as medical-centered as nursing homes, this does not mean that they are no less safe. A topnotch assisted living facility should have a medical team on call at all hours of the day. Some of the people that should be included in the staff are doctors, nutritionists, and even therapists to take care of the patients should any medical emergency come up.

Finally, look into other features of the facility. See if there are telephone services, gyms, or cable television. After all, the elderly should not feel deprived of any of the comforts that they have grown accustomed to. In addition to this, check to see if the assisted living facility is near the store, market, and hospital for their convenience.

Instructions for Choosing the Best Car Accident Attorney


Car accident attorney is the person who is educated about automobile laws, and he/she follows the code of conducts set by the governing body. The car accident lawyer is responsible to handle the case of two parties, the guilty party and the claimant party. Both the parties need to hire the attorney. The road accidents due to drunken drivers has increased a lot in the recent years, that is why people hire lawyers all through their life as accidents and emergencies are not predictable. A lawyer is required to deal with the case, whether you are responsible for the accident or not. So in some situations, lawyer saves you from the penalty and punishments, while in other cases, he/she claims for your compensation from the opponent party. The lawyer can make you understand your rights and liabilities in detail, because the road accidents are not in the control of oneself. Thus, if you hired lawyer already, it would be beneficial for you in many ways. The lawyer is responsible for many of the works associated with the case like recovery of medical cost, lost of job cost, future medical cost, car damage cost, insurance cost and several other matters.

Car accidents now occur almost on every single day, so you need to remain prepared for dealing with such a situation. Most of the people want to know, how can one get the best car accident lawyer? There are numerous ways through which you can find the best automobile lawyer. The initial one is to conduct a thorough web search on different websites and make a list of lawyers. You can select the best lawyer by gaining information about referrals from your friends, relatives and colleagues. Your friends can tell you better about the competency of the lawyer, his/her way of responding to your call and several other details. In this way, you can hire the known lawyer and you can ask your friend, whether this lawyer has handled your type of case ever before and what was the result of that case. You can also find the lawyers by looking in the newspapers or you can better contact local lawyer's agency for hiring the lawyer. Make sure that the lawyer must be in your area so that he/she should be well aware of the rules and codes of conduct.

You must choose the lawyer, who contains a good record, who can argue and negotiate successfully, and who can make reasonable evidences. He/she should be capable of settling the case out of court as court hearings are difficult to follow. The lawyer must try to solve the case in minimum cost. You must find the right type of the lawyer for solving the case, and the right kind of lawyer is the one who has experience and with whom you feel comfortable. As you know, you need to tell everything to the lawyer, so that he/she can settle the case is most efficient manner. You should not hide anything from her/him as it would be questioning afterwards. Another important thing is to find the lawyer who gets the payment after winning the case i.e., you need to settle all monetary terms with him/her after the case. You should not sign the papers provided by the lawyer without reading it, no matter how much trustworthy is your lawyer, make sure you must go through all the terms and conditions of the paper before signing over it. In this way, you can create a healthy relationship that is not only comfortable, but professional too with your lawyer. Car accident attorney thus can be hired easily, if you follow the correct pattern of steps.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

10 Useful Nursing Home Questions


Placing a loved one in an assisted living or senior care environment can be quite stressful. If you properly prepare with the right nursing home questions in mind, chances are you will find it easier - and most importantly less stressful - to choose the option that best fits you or your loved one's needs.

Listed below are 10 examples of useful nursing home questions to make your decision easier:

1. How safe is the location where the care facility is situated? Is it in a good neighborhood with low crime, or are the police forced to step up patrols in the area? Have the police been dispatched to the nursing home itself?

2. What is the ratio of nursing home staff to residents? Do residents appear to relate to staffers in a positive way, or do smiles disappear when a certain orderly or nurse enters a room?

3. What procedures are in place to ensure proper dispensing of medicines? Are there examples of poor response in medical emergencies?

4. What is the atmosphere that exists among residents? Is it friendly and outgoing, or are there social groups that exclude certain residents?

5. How many complaints against staff or the firm itself have been filed by residents or family members? What was done to resolve such complaints?

6. How many accidents or injuries have occurred on facility property?

7. What social activities are offered by the facility? Are there volunteer youth groups that are called in to interact with residents?

8. How well-groomed are the residents? Have they been allowed to ignore their appearance, or does the staff encourage and facilitate a high level of cleanliness?

9. Does the facility itself appear to be well taken care of? Is it in a state of disrepair? Are air conditioners and heaters functioning properly? How clean are the bathrooms and floors?

10. What representations does the nursing home facility make regarding its obligations to residents? What guarantees do they make? What are they responsible for, and what am I responsible for?

Clearly there are many questions you will have as you begin the process of determining the right nursing home for your loved one. These ten useful nursing home questions will start you off in the right direction.

Knowing what to ask - and just as importantly, who to ask - is essential to ensuring the best possible care for your loved one.

An Alternative to Traditional Assisted Living


Assisted living facilities are a great resource for elderly folk in need of extra care, but they are certainly not designed for everyone. If you have an elderly loved one that is adamantly opposed to living in such a safe setting, make sure that they are aware of all of the benefits that come with assisted living. You cannot force someone strongly against assisted living into a home in the vast majority of cases, so it will benefit you to know that there are good alternatives to assisted living available. You just need to know where to go looking for this care.

One trend that is growing in the senior care community is continuing care retirement communities. This is only found in a handful of locations around the U.S., but basically, it is a way for seniors in need of assistance to get assisted living facility type help without having to leave their homes. This is a great tool for senior citizens and provides a lot more support than just basic in home care could provide. For example, your basic in home care is for only a few hours, five days per week. For many people, this is enough, but as we get older, we might end up needing a higher degree of help. If you have an untrained caregiver, this might turn out to be too overwhelming for them. Instead, make sure that your caregiver is fully trained and able to adapt to your changing needs.

Another benefit of these retirement communities is that if you are receiving in home care and your condition begins to warrant that you must move to an assisted living facility, in many cases, your caregiver can go with you. This might not seem like a big deal, but your first days in assisted living can be lonely and just plain scary. Having a familiar face there to help you through this tough transition time can make a world of difference in making you feel like you are at home.

Typical continuing care outfits can be extremely expensive. This does not need to be the case, though. Rather than living in a senior community with a lot of on-site amenities, you can remain in your own home and have a caregiver come to you, even if you don't live in a specially created senior living community. Senior living is a great concept, but again, it's not for everyone. Most people want to avoid moving as much as possible. This is why staying in the home until more intensive care is needed is a great option. This concept has been practiced for a while, but is starting to become more and more popular across the U.S.

Parents' Medicaid Application May Be Affected by Gifts to Kids


As your parents get older, they may decide that keeping the large house is too much work and they may desire a change of lifestyle. They may sell their house and then they decide to give some of the net proceeds to their children. As time goes on, if their health declines, they may need nursing home care. Can the gift that mom and dad made be spent or must it be held for a certain number of years? How does this gift impact mom and dad qualifying for Medicaid in the event that they need nursing home care?

The gift that you received from mom and dad can be used by you in any manner that you wish. However, if your parents enter a nursing home, they could be left in a bind. This is due to the Deficit Reduction Act, which was enacted last February, which tightened the rules for qualifying for Medicaid help with their long-term care after making gifts to family members.

The basic rules for applying for Medicaid to assist in the payment of the bills for long term care are that an individual must typically use up all but $2,000 of their cash and investments. One way to accomplish this is for the parents to make gifts to someone else, usually to their children. There were limitations on this practice in the past, which included a three-year "look-back" period, in which any gifts made within three years of the date that the individual tries to qualify for Medicaid assistance may be used to determine if they have met the threshold. Under the past laws, a government regulator could examine gifts made in the past three years and assess a penalty. (If a parent spends down the amount for their regular living or medical expenses, the rules set forth in this article do not apply).

Under the new rules, this "look-back" period has been extended to five years. The regulators now can examine any gifts made within that five-year period and then determine if a penalty should be assessed.

What kind of penalty can be assessed? The penalty is a number of months that Medicaid will not pay for the long-term care that is necessary, such as nursing home care. If a gift was made of $18,000 about a year prior to the date of application for Medicaid and assuming that nursing home care is about $6,000 per month, the penalty period would be a three-month window in which Medicaid would not cover the nursing home care. Under the old rules, the penalty began from the date that the gift was made. Under the new rules, however, the penalty begins on the date of application for Medicaid assistance. This application date may be at a time when your parents are already in a nursing home and your parents do not have the funds to pay for the nursing home care.

One way to handle the penalty period is to have the recipients of the gifts pay for the nursing home care for the penalty period. While no one can force the kids to return the money by paying the amount of the nursing home care, this may be the only way under current law to have a parent cared for in a nursing home setting. Alternatively, while waiting out the penalty period, the kids may have to care for mom and dad in their own home. If your parents had thought ahead, they may have purchased long term care insurance, which may help in offsetting the heavy cost of nursing home care.

In making later life decisions, it is always good to plan far ahead. Now, you just need to plan even further ahead in making the decisions that will be right for you and your family.

Doctors & Nurses In Diapers, Picture That! Part Two


This article is about people who do not need to medically wear diapers. This is NOT about anyone who medically needs to wear diapers. Anyone who is incontinent and needs to wear diapers should wear diapers. But those adults who have been taught to be lazy and pee and poop in their diapers just because it is easier for nurses and doctors to handle that ---these are the patients that this article is addressed to. (See disclaimer at the end of this article).

All over the world, at this very moment, there are nurses, staff and attendants who are trying to convince fully healthy, continent individuals to wear diapers when they do not medically need to wear diapers. All over this is happening. And this is making the patient more and more unhealthy.

Here is why it is important that your family member or you do not wear diapers inside a nursing home or inside a physical rehabilitation and care center:


  • Once you begin wearing diapers, you will become in the habit of just pooping and peeing whenever you want to simply because you have a diaper on and because your clothing will not get wet or soiled. The diaper will protect your clothing. You are told to go in your diaper because that is what they are for. So, you begin to get accustomed to pooping whenever you feel like it. Wow. Think about it. You do not even have to get out of bed. No more nighttime trips. You just poop and pee whenever you want to do so. But what is happening to your body while you do this? Here is what happens. Eventually, you will lose control of those muscles that you are not using and you will make yourself incontinent. Yes, you, yourself, with the help of nurses and staff who are being paid good money, are helping you lose your muscles. Soon you will not be able to control your muscles and then you will indeed be incontinent. If you do not use those muscles to hold it in, you will lose the power those muscles still have. So you are actually making yourself sick. You are making yourself to have signs of being an invalid, when you came into the place a healthier person who was fully able to urinate and defecate in a toilet bowl. But for the convenience of staff, imagine that, for the convenience of staff, you become more ill and more dependent on the staff in a nursing home or in a hospital.



  • Now, if you are in such a mind that you think this is okay, think again. You are in the nursing home or in the rehab and care center --only temporarily. Yes, you are there temporarily, and after you leave there you will go home to your family. What happens when you get home? You will be there and you will be dependent on your family and also on temporary home care -to change your diapers. What if your family does not agree to changing diapers on you ---because you put yourself in diapers when it was not necessary? What happens if your family tells you that they will not change your diapers because you put yourself in that condition? (Of course this will be settled long before you leave the nursing home or rehab center). But I am trying to give you some ideas, some brainstorming of what your future might look like. Your future looks different if you are in or out of diapers, very different.



  • Once you are at home now, and you are still in diapers, you will be sitting in soaked diapers for long times, just like in the nursing home. Since you are in diapers no one has to change you immediately. Get the picture? You wait. And yes, you wait. You might be under the impression that you will soil a diaper and wet a diaper and then someone will come immediately to change you --but you are mistaken. Once your family knows that you did this to yourself, once they know that you could have avoided being incontinent, do you think that they are going to drop everything they do and run to change your diaper? Do you think that you will have your diaper changed any quicker than the nurses will do it? Perhaps it will take longer, since there are many nurses and great number of staff but perhaps only one or two family members. Yes, you will wait. And you will wait in a soiled diaper or wet diaper, just the same way that you waited in the hospital . No one says that the minute you pee or poop that someone must or someone will immediately come running to change your diaper. Your family member might be in the tub or they might be out to work or to school or to a volunteer job, and if that is the case --that they are out, you will wait for them to return. And upon their return, they will have to catch their breath, sit a few minutes and then when they are able to change your diaper , then they will change it.


  • So, you sit there smugly thinking that your home care attendant will change you promptly because that is what she is being paid for? Take the smug grin off your face and welcome yourself to reality and to the real world. When you have a home care attendant, you will have that person in your home only for short periods of time. You will not have someone there 24/7 . They work their own hours. So if they are there they can change your diaper. But what if you have a home-care attendant who hates her or his job? What if they are not happy people? What if they are not good workers? If this is the case, you can wait, yes , hours and hours to have your diaper changed, if at all. Your family member might say, that the attendant will be here soon to change the diaper and you might wait and then they might call in sick or not show up at all. And, there you sit in a messy, uncomfortable diaper until someone can change you. Remember, now, you put yourself in this position by volunteering to go in diapers when you did not need diapers. When I say volunteer, I mean that you did not insist that you be taken to the restroom but happily let the attendants put diapers on you when you were not medically incontinnet. You did this to yourself with the help of highly-paid staff at nursing homes and at physical rehabilitation and care centers.



  • What about depression? If you are a patient who has ever been depressed in your lifetime, once you submit to wearing unnecessary diapers, your depression will come back to you and worsen. You are making yourself more unhealthy by submitting to unnecessary diapers. Depression is banished most times, by action. And when you sit all day in a diaper, to even a normal human being who has no depression that is depressing. There is no one that can honestly tell you that sitting in soiled diapers , soaked diapers, diapers with diareahh is not depressing. So by making yourself more physically unhealthy, you are also making yourself more emotionally unhealthy. Depression comes and comes back and worsens when a person is wearing diapers if they do not need to medically wear diapers.

Wearing diapers is a comfort ONLY to those who NEED to medically wear the diapers. They are not a comfort to continent people. Do not let any staff convince you otherwise. Do not let any staff scare you with the threat of falls or scare you with the threat of "accidents". Insist on your rights if you are not medically incontinent.

The bottom line is that once you PUT yourself in diapers when you are not medically incontinent, you are putting yourself in a world that you have never known and you are making more problems for yourself and even making more medical problems for yourself. How? Well, as you sit in dirty and soaked diapers, you might begin to develop rashes, or problems or sores, especially if you are diabetic or especially if you have a skin problem to begin with. Everyone knows that diapers bring rashes sometimes. And most likely you will have your share of diaper rashes in your lifetime when you choose to be in diapers.

Now all these things are only possibilities, that is all, but they are possibilities that you have not thought of, correct? But they are all possibilities, depending on the staff, home attendants and the families, and depending on their attentiveness and their availability. What I am trying to say to you is that your life will be so much easier for you if you just grow up and keep yourself out of diapers when you are medically able to not wear diapers.

When you put yourself in diapers and you do not medically need to be in diapers, you are killing a part of yourself, you are humiliating yourself for no good reason. If you are a person that is not incontinent, and if you are a person that does not medically need to wear diapers, then you should make the decision yourself and demand to be out of diapers immediately. If you do not medically need to wear diapers, there is no reason for you to wear diapers.

What about the doctors and nurses in diapers? Here is what about them. Think about this:

When a surgeon or nurse needs hospitalization, or when a lawyer or judge or someone of high importance needs hospitalization or a nursing home or rehab stay, do you think that these dignified people would allow anyone to put them in diapers for the convenience of the staff? Probably not. No lawyer, judge, or doctor or surgeon or nurse would permit themselves to poop and pee in a diaper for the mere convenience of the staff of a facility.

They would protest. They would demand that the staff do their job and they would insist that no one put a diaper on them. So that is why you will not see lawyers in diapers any more than you would see doctors, surgeons or nurses in diapers. Why? This is why:


  • It is not medically necessary --in their cases.

  • It is an embarrassment even though staff insists it is not embarrassing. Sure, it is not embarrassing to them because it is not their bare but that is being wiped of poop. It is only embarrassing to the patient that is all. And staff spends time to reassure the patient that this is not embarrassing. Lie!

  • Lawyers, doctors and nurses have more recourse to argue the point and the staff knows that they had better not go against a surgeons words if that surgeon is insisting on NOT wearing diapers.

  • The nurses know that it will come out to the public, if not to the news stations when a surgeon is put in diapers unnecessarily because that surgoen will do everythying in his power to stay out of diapers.


  • That is why you do not see surgeons, doctors, lawyers or nurses in diapers. You will only see those patients who have been hoodwinked into thinking that they need diapers just in case or so they do not fall. It is all a lie. No healthy , continant patient needs diapers, EVER!

What about falls?

This is a big argument that staff has. Staff will insist that you have a diaper so you do not fall. Everyone knows that falls are dangerous. The fall is not the result of wearing a diaper or not wearing a diaper. You will not fall more if you do not wear diapers. You will only fall if you insist on net getting help to and from the bathroom. You will only fall if the staff is negligent and not paying attention and not coming when the bell rings. You will only fall if the staff ignores you.

So there you go, you have the fall situation solved. Your staff where you are should be attentive and should come when you call them. There is no excuse for negligence in any nursing home or rehab facilitiy. Do not worry about falling if you follow instructions.

To Avoid Falls do This:

Always ring the bell and do not get out of bed unatttended.

Always ask for help and get help.

This solves the fall problem.

And here is the biggy. If you are in a place where the staff is negligent and is not attending to you, you have many legal recourses and many organizations that will help you solve these problems. But the solution is not to wear a diaper for the convenience of the staff.

And yes, at this moment as I type and as you read this, hundreds if not thousands of patients are being forced into diapers just for the convenience of the staff. I wish Geraldo Rivera would do some kind of investigation into this diaper mess because it is a really big diaper mess. What are your thoughts?

I created this article on May 25, 2008. DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor, nurse or any other type of medical practitioner. If you need medical advice or professional advice you should call your own doctor, lawyer or other professional for that advice. This article is for basic social information and for basic behind-the-scenes information that the public should be aware of. Do not do anything that is not safe for you to do and before making any medical or professional changes,consult your doctors, lawyers or professionals. Never ask your attending nurse/ or attendant if you should be in diapers because most will tell you yes, and most times they are saying that for their own convenience. Consult your medical doctors, lawyers and other professionals.

When the Injury Is Intentional


Not all personal injuries arise from negligence. Some of them result from people who intentionally cause others injuries. These intentional physical or emotional injuries arise from two different types of wrongdoings or torts. These are assault and battery. These are the same in the sense that both are done intentionally by an offender. However, the similarity ends there, because in an assault case, the wrongdoer threatens and acts like he or she might do something to harm the victim, whereas in battery, the wrongdoer actually touches and makes contact with the person and does something to injure him. Some of these incidents result from minor altercations that do not necessarily require hospitalization and that get settled by simple settlement and understanding. However, when a victim gets hospitalized due to serious injuries, then that is a good enough reason to seek the help of a personal injury lawyer.

When a victim gets assaulted, it is much more difficult to prove because no physical injuries are likely to have stemmed from the assault. However, if the victim experiences severe emotional fear and trauma arising from the assault, then there is a good chance that the victim will get compensated as long as the personal injury lawyer gets to prove the extent of the emotional distress experienced by his client. The victim may get repaid for the amount that he or she spent in the hospital and other damages that might possibly arise from the assault or battery inflicted upon him or her. Some of these damages may involve settlement for pain, humiliation, suffering and anxiety. Some personal injury lawyers include demand for "loss of consortium" which is filed by the uninjured spouse against the wrongdoer for compensation for marital relation or time lost with the victim because of the injury.

If you are filing for claims against an assault or battery case, hire a good lawyer to defend you from possible excuses that an offender may present to the court. Your personal injury lawyer will probably have to eliminate the possibility of the offender claiming that he or she was acting out of self-defense when the situation happened. Moreover, your personal injury lawyer has to prove that you are not participating on a contact sport when the assault or battery happened. Also, your lawyer needs to prove that you have emotionally and physically suffered from the event and your life has been greatly affected. For example, you may provide concrete evidence that you have missed going to work for fear that you will find the offender waiting for you in some street corner to hurt you again. You may also have sustained injuries that you could photograph for record and reference to substantiate your claim to physical injury.

Everybody has the right to safety from malicious individuals who intentionally cause other people fear and harm. If you or someone in your family is subjected to grave threat and physical injuries, do not sit quietly and allow that individual to continue offending you and your loved ones. There are laws that protect you from people like these, all you need to do is ask the help of a lawyer and bravely face your offender in court. You might also save and vindicate other people who have been offended by the same person who caused you pain and suffering.

How to Make a Claim Following a Needle Stick Injury Suffered in the Workplace


It is a well known fact that healthcare workers are most at risk of needle-stick injuries in the workplace. Healthcare workers do not only include clinical staff (i.e. doctors and nurses etc.), but non-clinical ancillary staff such as receptionists and ward clerks who may have social contact with patients. However, these are not the only group of workers that are vulnerable and needle-stick injuries also occur in other areas of work such as the police force and amongst youth workers, who are all constantly at risk.

The injury itself suffered is not of course the important aspect for accident victims. It is the psychological impact of having to wait for HIV and related tests to be carried out to determine if any infection has been acquired. Many victims suffer depression and extremely low moods during the testing phase and these are issues which generally may need medical attention.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, the main risk posed by needle-stick injury to workers is when the worker is exposed to blood-borne viruses ("BBV"). Whilst there are certain protective vaccines available, not all types of BBVs can be protected against. The most common way in which a BBV infection is acquired is when a worker is exposed to infected blood. For example, with nurses and doctors, this may be whilst carrying out a medical procedure where the skin is scratched or punctured by a surgical knife or needle.

A recent 7-year study was conducted by the Health Protection Agency ('Eye of the Needle'). The report clearly stated that needle-stick injuries were the most commonly reported type of exposure and the majority of incidents were amongst healthcare workers. The following extract was taken from the report and provides a clear indication of the number of needle-stick incidents within the healthcare profession:

"Percutaneous injury was the most commonly reported type of exposure [78% (1,664/2,140)], with nursing related professions representing 45% (962/2,140) of the initial reports and medical professionals (doctors and dentists) accounting for 37% (793/2,140). If this is compared to the numbers of nurses and doctors practising, it suggests that within their professional group, there are a greater number of reported injuries among doctors"

Whilst there are clearly a large number of incidents amongst clinical staff, the study reports that 2% of the exposures occurred in non-clinical ancillary staff. However, majority of these were sustained from wrongfully disposing needles in rubbish bags. It is clear that many of these incidents were preventable by adhering to procedures for the safe handling and disposal of needles and other clinical waste.

Perhaps more could be done by the healthcare providers to ensure that staff adhere to disposal procedures? For example, failure to dispose of needles in the correct bins could lead to an employee being disciplined. This would encourage healthcare workers to take more care when disposing of needles or other clinical waste to help reduce the number accidental exposures each year. Ultimately, it is quite clear that any reduction is largely dependent on the training and high quality education by healthcare providers and all healthcare workers should be made fully aware of the organisational procedures in place to reduce their exposure to these types of injuries.

If you have been injured in this way then you may be entitled to make a needlestick injury compensation claim Specialist solicitors will be able to advise you on whether your employer should be held accountable for your injuries.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Nursing Offers Top Jobs for Felons - Get the Inside Track on Nursing Jobs for Felons


Finding good employment for felons is one of the most difficult problems that ex-convicts encounter. Since the economic downturn has left many unemployed, finding high-paying or even steady employment for felons has become very tough. One of the best ways to get a recession-proof job is to choose a career in a growing industry such as health care. Nursing, in particular, is a career that offers many advantages for ex-felons.

Felon Job Opportunities: Nursing

Nursing as a profession is now very much in demand. The U.S. has such a serious shortage of nurses that foreign nurses are being recruited in mass to fill the gap. From now until 2014, registered nurses are expected to create the second largest number of new jobs in the U.S. among all occupations, according to the Department of Labor.

In addition, the pay is good and there are numerous job opportunities for felons since nurses can work in many different places. These include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, residential homes, occupational health services, prisons, schools, leisure cruise ships, etc. Nurses can also work for the U.S. armed forces and voluntary non-profit organizations.

As a career choice for ex-felons, the medical field is one of the most prestigious and has the best potential for job security since there is a severe imbalance between demand and availability of qualified personnel. Not only are there plentiful job opportunities for felons who are qualified nurses, career advancement is also expected to be rapid due to the shortage of experienced nurses.

Felon Friendly Jobs: How to Become a Nurse

Nurses focus on the individual's needs and provide care, counseling and advice. This career is for people who have the qualities of compassion and patience as well as skills in critical thinking and problem-solving.

All paths to a nursing career must begin with a high school diploma or a GED.

The next step is to take either a diploma or degree course in nursing so that you will gain the proper clinical knowledge needed. You can finish an associate degree course in nursing in two years while a bachelor's degree in nursing takes four years to complete.

Then you will have to pass the state board exam for nursing to get your license. At this point you can get a job as a nurse.

Even after you get your nursing license, you can still choose to continue your education and specialize. Examples of nursing specialties are nurse anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, legal nurse investigators, critical care nurses, etc.

Employment for Felons: Nursing License

Of course, if you know anything about nursing the first question in your mind right now is whether or not you are eligible for a nursing license if you have a felony conviction.

You will have to check your state's laws about nursing licenses. Call your nursing board, explain your situation including the details about your felony and ask what you will need to do to get a license or to sit for the nursing exam.

All states will have stringent screening procedures in place for all registered nurses but most likely, having a felony does not automatically bar you from the profession.

The California Board of Registered Nursing, for example, evaluates each application they receive on a case by case basis and that there is no specific type of felony conviction that will disqualify an applicant automatically. If you have a felony and there is some question regarding your eligibility for a nursing license, you will have to submit some proofs of rehabilitation. Your case will then be judged depending on the nature, severity and how recent you were charged as well as rehabilitation and other extenuating factors.

In other words, you will have to jump through more hoops than a regular applicant but if you can show that you have been rehabilitated then you can still work as a registered nurse, especially if it has been many years since the felony.

Nursing Job for Felons: Summary

Nursing jobs for felons are a good choice for people who desire a secure, high-paying job with lots of potential for career advancement. You will also get to help others who are in need of care. Nursing jobs for felons are for people who have compassion for the sick and problem-solving skills. A nursing diploma or bachelor's degree is needed to apply for nursing. You will also have to pass the state board exam to get a nursing license. Job opportunities for felons with a nursing license are not limited to hospitals. You can get employment for felons who are registered nurses in places like clinics, cruise ships, nursing homes, schools, etc.

A Review of the Best Rated Assisted Living Homes


There are a handful of assisted living homes in each state but some stand out than others because of their excellent services and impeccable facilities. Reading nursing home reviews and client feedbacks of different retirement homes can help other potential clients choose the best assisted living home for them or for a loved one going on retirement.

Senior homes can have multiple services that range from independent living, assisted care for seniors to the more comprehensive medical programs for persons who are ill with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or any medical condition. Choosing the best facility is very vital and the needs loved ones should be the primary concern. There is no better way to give a retiree the comfort and caring he deserves than a superior facility that is devoted to achieving great customer satisfaction.

Before making a choice of the most appropriate senior facility for your family member, it is best to do an extensive research of the candidate facilities to pick the right choice. The easiest and most convenient way to do this is online where nursing home reviews and customer feedback about retirement facilities are available in many websites, as well as contact information and virtual tours for those who want to assess the spaces and design of the apartments or rooms.

Below are some nursing home reviews of the top rated facilities in the country.

  • The Hearth Castle Gardens in Vestal, NY - this senior home offers assisted living care for seniors and at the same time offers Alzheimer's and Dementia care. The program for assisted living offers independence for active retirees minus the hassle of maintaining a home. The facility also offers comprehensive personal care for patients who need more support and caring such as those with Alzheimer's and Dementia by providing them with more specialized assistance such as personal aides and an individualized health program. The Hearth Castle Gardens provides plenty of space for activities and is fully equipped with resort-style amenities for the entertainment and leisure of the retirees.

  • Seirra Oaks of Redding in Redding, California - This facility offers only country-style assisted living and has received good reviews from clients they have served. The location of the home is perfect with oak trees spanning the entire community and a great outdoor view. The facility has a licensed nurse and a number of care-givers to assist in all the in-house medical care needed. Service is superior because it is tailored to the individual needs of the residents from the meals, activities and up to the personal and medical care. The staffs are friendly and very professional; it is easy to feel at home with the warm company and the great services in the facility.

  • Elsa's Adult Care Home in Tucson, Arizona - This home specializes in assisted living care and holds a license from the Arizona Department of Health as an Adult Care Home and Assisted Living Facility. The facility boasts of personalized service and health care for the residents in an environment that is homey, safe and ideal for retirees.

Take time to ask for specific program services and quotes from assisted living communities before jumping to a particular choice. The internet provides clients with information on various senior retirement homes as well as nursing home reviews for those who need specialized personal and medical care for patients who are ill with Alzheimer's, dementia or other medical conditions. Pick the assisted living facility that offers the basic services for you or your loved ones at a very reasonable price.

Unspoken Pain of Nursing Home Living


Moving to a nursing home is a major change especially when medical monitoring takes away independence, even if it is for the person's own well being. Dealing with serious health changes is more difficult when it feels like an exile from an individual's former way of life. While residents are taken care of medically, their mental health is usually ignored. As a mental health consultant in a nursing home, I listened to many voices who would not dare speak of their emotional pain to others. Here are some of their comments.

o People question my sincerity regarding my pain. They don't seem to understand that I am having trouble explaining it clearly to them.

o We are labeled with a disease.

o I feel stupid (about my failing health). Who can you blame but yourself when things don't go as planned?

o It's tough being in a wheel chair. I hope people understand that I can't keep up. I am embarrassed.

o It bothers me to not be able to write. I can't even sign my name. I have to be more resourceful. I used to be organized by writing everything down. Now I have to keep it all in my head.

o My kids don't get it. They get impatient. They forget I am here and don't even talk to me. They talk around me.

o When I try to express my feelings others respond with silly comments. While they are trying to empathize, I wish they wouldn't say these things. I think I should just watch what I say.

o I would like to be active with whatever abilities I have left. I really want to give.

o Getting people to hear you is the hardest thing to do. It's hard to speak up when you're feeling infringed upon.

o I am more than my adaptive equipment.

o People worry I am watching too much television but it is the only thing I have.

o The kids take over. You are the child again.

o Just because you are older doesn't mean you lose your identity.

o They filled out all the papers regarding my living situation. No one asked me how I felt about it.

o Where are my belongings? My house was sold behind my back.

o Others buy clothes for me. I don't even like the styles they choose. I used to have my own credit card. Now I am asking my children for money for hair appointments and simple spending.

o There's tension with my family around the holidays.

Nursing home residents speak of a loss of control when their lives seem to change drastically. These may be the final years of their lives, but they can certainly be spent with meaning. Residents want to be helpful to society still. They have great stories to tell of past achievements. The way they used to identify themselves is not how they are identified now. They are elderly, diseased, and needy and who they have been for the past several decades is now forgotten and irrelevant.

Families can help residents still feel relevant. Your loved one is a stranger to the nursing home staff until they become better acquainted with their new guests. As a family member, you can help this process become more successful.

An Old Folks Home Can Be A Great Place to Care for Your Loved One


The phrase old folks home is another name for nursing facilities that are made available for the aged and the elderly. There are various names associated with this facility and some of the common names are: retirement homes, elderly care homes and also homes for old folks.

In the past such homes were looked upon with disdain as these homes were not handled properly because they were understaffed and were neglected for quite some time. This is not the case now as a lot of people are now falling back to these homes thereby creating a lot of popularity for the homes all because in our world today the retirement homes are being well cared for by the government and also private individuals.

The old folks home that we have today has become a palace of sorts. This is because the inhabitants of the home receive pampering from the nurses like it was never done in the past. In the homes today there are varieties of social amenities that are made available to the residents. So many of the retirement homes that we have today is designed and built to fit the taste of the elderly. The construction of our elderly homes is built with the needs of our aged parents or family members in mind. Some of the options available include:

1. Full ownership of their own condos.

2. Life leases for those who don't want full ownership.

3. Rent-age of condos, houses or units depending on the taste of the elderly person or the taste of the family.

4. There might also be options of spas, swimming pools, indoor golf games and even exercise classes for the fit conscious elderly folks.

5. There are also caring hands on board to render help if the need arises.

Contrary to the popular belief that nursing is a thing of the past, it has been said that, a great way to care for your aged family members is to put them in nursing homes ( old folks home ). This is because there are caring hands on ground to care for them. They are not only caring they are also professionals and certified individuals who will do a better job of caring for your old folks in more ways than you can.

How to Choose a Reputable Personal Injury Attorney


Medical malpractice cases can be complicated and require an experienced personal injury attorney in order to receive fair compensation. Strong background knowledge and familiarity with historical cases is essential when litigating complex cases in state and federal courts. When seeking legal assistance from a professional, it is vital to make sure it is the right personal injury attorney with a specialty that meets your legal needs.

If medical malpractice prevents you from working, your family may face financial crisis. In this case, tactfully choosing the right personal injury attorney can result in receiving the fair amount of compensation necessary to avoid financial struggle.

When choosing a personal injury attorney, it is important consider the following factors:

Experience:

It is essential to review an attorney's experience to determine legal background and capability. In order to increase the chance of receiving fair compensation, look for attorneys with 5 or more years of experience.

Review Previous Work:

It is possible to receive full historical records of previous cases to learn more about the types of cases the attorney has participated in as well as their winning ratio. Medical malpractice cases can be complicated and require an experienced personal injury attorney in order to receive fair compensation.

Specialization:

Make sure that the attorney has a specialization suitable to your legal needs. While many lawyers practice in a wide range of areas, it is important that they be up-to-date concerning medical malpractice issues and familiar with other similar cases. An attorney specializing in medical malpractice is more able to navigate the legal system in order to receive compensation.

Ask for Client References:

In order to evaluate credibility, ask for client references. A professional personal injury attorney will usually offer references from previous clients without hesitation. It is also important to contact the clients directly if possible to receive the proper feedback about the attorney. References can be the greatest source of information when evaluating a legal professional.

Reputation:

A reputable attorney most likely has received awards and credits. Check out the reputation by visiting discussion forums or consulting with resources such as magazines, directories, or information from the bar association. Many online forums can be of great value as people share their personal experience without biased commentary.

These are effective ways to identify a professional personal injury attorney who has the experience and knowledge necessary in order to make sure you receive the compensation you need.

Criteria For Finding the Best Nursing Home


There are a lot of people looking for nursing home just like us. If you notice, the nursing home business is widely in boom because of the demand. This is fueled by our busy way of life and we cannot stop the aging process of the population. We cannot prevent or stop from getting older, even doubling the size of our population so this gave way for the rise in demand for these nursing homes.

With the number of these homes rising, we need to choose carefully for the services they are offering. The quality is very important because we are putting our family members here and also we do not want our hard earned money put into jeopardy.

We need to consider the different criteria in finding the best care home for our family. These are the factors that we need to check:

1. A nursing home should have a permit to operate or a license. When they are operating legally it means that they have met all the requirements and passed the standard that the government has imposed. Their legality in operating is not an assurance of quality, you need to further know the management aspect of the homes;

2. A nursing home should have good management. Consider the personnel who will take good care of our elderly. Though a lot of movies gave the scenarios of abusive caregivers it does not follow that this is not happening in some of our home care that is why we need to be very careful in choosing one. They should have enough reliable personnel to handle their patients.

3. A nursing home should be comfortable. After scrutinizing their staff it is time to consider their premises or facilities. Check their beds, bathrooms, air-conditioning and insulation of their building. Do not rely on the home care advertisement. You need to do the hands-on inspection as well.

4. Check whether the nursing homes are secure and safe. Of course all home cares are safe but check if they are elderly safe. If the family member that we are going to enroll is in a wheel chair, we need to check if they have enough ramps in the area for his mobility. Consider also if they are strict in implementing precautionary measures to prevent accidents.

5. Nursing homes should cater good food. Usually our elderly is very picky in eating, in this stage a lot of them are very hard to feed. Food presentation is important as well its palatability. We need to make sure that their food handlers are following the different guidelines in food safety.

6. A nursing home should give good medical services. If anything happens to our elderly, they have access to immediate medical services.

We are not very critical in choosing a care home. Always think they are our partners in giving our elderly love ones a better place where they can spend the remainder of their lives comfortable and enjoyable.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Why Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?


If you're asking about why you need a car accident lawyer, you're probably considering hiring one. Such question arises when the need comes up. It's either this or you just want to brace yourself for what may be bound to happen. It's a good thing that you're starting to be prepared but instead of doubting why you should get a legal expert in case something happens, you should be confident in what you're about to do.

  • Death

If the road mishap took a life or two, you know that it's a matter that should be forwarded to authorities. Being the one on the spot, you are sure to worry less about the situation if there's a professional who will save you from the mess you're in.

  • Personal injuries

When someone was hurt, you have to settle things properly. A transport accident lawyer will assess things for you and figure out who should pay for the damages. Medical expenses can be a lot to handle so if you think you shouldn't be the one shouldering them, an attorney will let you know so.

  • Justice

You can't just pin the blame on the other party to escape the consequences. If you're guilty that the whole accident is your fault, you won't have to worry excessively when there's a legal counsel on your side to advise you on how you should proceed.

  • Bystanders

When innocent people have been involved in the crash, don't ask yourself why do you need a car accident lawyer. Because there were those that you have compromised, they will come to you in rage. To better deal with this, there's a professional offering to help you out.

  • Insurance matters

Road crashes occur from time to time and they can be costly. Repairing your vehicle can be expensive. A legal adviser will fight for your rights. If you're supposed to receive an amount, you will and he'll be the one to let it happen.

You can't do it all on your own. Well, maybe you can but it's going to be a tedious process. Especially if you're new to the whole issue, you have to allow someone to help you out or better yet, let him take the matter in his own hands. As long as he's credible and competent, you can rest assured that everything will be just fine. Once you realize what the professional can do for you, you'll stop asking why you need a car accident lawyer.

Assisted Living Communities - What to Look for?


Being an elderly is going to be tough. There are things that we enjoy most doing but we can no longer do it, or worse, we are robbed of the opportunity to continue enjoying these things. It is therefore our mission to assist our parents in easing their way through senior years with less pain and depression. One way of doing this is by helping them look for the most convenient, friendly and affordable assisted living community that they can eventually move into.

No matter how much we want to keep them with us and care for them, our modern way of living makes this desire a bit impossible to fulfill. In fact, it may even be more devastating for them if we insist on taking care of them when they are much older, but fail to do so because we are just too busy attending to our own families. It may even cause more trouble and pain for both you and your parents, which can possibly lead to straining your relationship and good intention.

But we can do just the same by providing them with the most appropriate senior assisted living condition. And we can do this by putting in an extra effort to look for that one retirement home that will make their stay truly comfortable. There are quite a number of considerations in doing this and I hope that these tips will give you the right guidelines in searching for the best community from amongst the many assisted living centers available in Canada.

Tip # 1- Look for the cleanest and most organized center

You can easily spot if the management puts high priority on cleanliness, orderliness and sanitation. If from afar you smell a stench of urine coming from any part of the facility, then you can easily conclude that the place isn't clean. If they cannot maintain the center to be clean, then there is a very big possibility that your parents will not be kept clean at all times. This kind of special care is especially true for the most senior elderly. By choosing a well-maintained senior-assisted living home, you will have the peace of mind that your parents will not contract an infection because of unkempt facilities.

Tip # 2 - Security is always a good option

We can appreciate how elderly can feel a little insecure about their safety and protection; so, if they know that the centers where they will be staying maintain a 24 hour security system they will have better sleep at night. Choose an assisted living center that has highly reliable security system with top-of-the-line locks and alarms installed in all the entry points. It would also be ideal if they have cameras that monitor the move of their staff to ensure that they are performing their duties to the satisfaction of their guests. It will also be an added assurance that there won't be any mistreatment or better yet, quick response to any emergency situation.

Tip # 3 - Be sure that the staff are well-trained and trustworthy

When it comes to accommodation and service, nothing compares to a set of staff that are genuinely concerned about the elderly. It is one thing if they are only doing their job, but extending the courtesy and appreciation to all the guests are something that we want our parents to receive at all times. Make sure to choose a retirement home that will treat your parents with the same kind of care and attention as you would want to give if you are able to.

Nothing can be more rewarding than knowing that you did your best in making sure that your parents will stay in the most qualified assisted living home. You will not only have peace of mind but you will also feel the satisfaction in your parent's voice each time you pay them a visit.

You Don't Need to Pay All Your Assisted Living Costs Anymore


VA Benefits for Assisted Living

Assisted living is for adults who need help with everyday tasks. They may need help with dressing, bathing, eating, or using the bathroom, but they don't need full-time nursing care. Assisted living is growing rapidly, both because it offers an attractive option to senior citizens seeking assistance while maintaining independence, and because of the costs associated with traditional long-term-care institutions.

The great thing about an assisted living facility is that they are designed to maximize the resident's independence and dignity. Assisted Living is a residential option which stresses privacy, dignity, autonomy, and individuality. These residences vary in size and style ranging from small apartments to larger family style units.

Assisted living is the fastest growing type of senior housing, holding out the promise of giving people the opportunity to get care and help with daily living in a home-like environment. It represents a move away from the institutionalized care setting often found in nursing homes, toward an environment that allows for greater freedom and independence and a higher quality of life.

Assisted Living facilities can be expensive. The average cost is over $100 per day. There is, however, a well-kept secret source of VA financial assistance that many seniors know little about. This VA financial assistance is a pension that is available from the Veterans Administration. It is called the non-service connected disability pension benefit with aid and attendance entitlement.

The VA Pension is also called the "Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit":


  • It is available to all veterans who served a minimum of 90 days of active duty service with at least one day during a period of war. There is no requirement that the veteran saw action or served overseas.

  • There is no need to have a service-connected disability to receive this VA pension.

  • There is also pension money available to the widows of these veterans.

  • This benefit, under certain circumstances, can provide up to $1,843 a month in additional income to help the veteran pay for assisted living costs. The Pension is also available to low income veteran households without an aid and attendance rating, but it is a lesser dollar amount.

Unlike the common definition of pensions, Veterans do not have to be retired from military service for this pension benefit. To learn if you are eligible to receive VA benefits for Assisted Living visit Veterans Care Advisors dot com. Some of the other criteria for eligibility include having qualifying time of service and being discharged under honorable conditions to meet the basic requirements. The actual amount of pension benefits the veteran can be paid under this program are based on "countable" income and the need for assistance with at least one basic activity of daily living.

Many Seniors Choose Home Monitoring Over Nursing Homes


To place an elderly family member in a nursing home or assisted care facility is not an easy decision. A large part of the decision process comes down to the amount of care the individual will require. The person's physical condition, ailments and level of fragility will dictate whether they will require round-the-clock attention, day care, regular rehabilitation or periodic check-ins by health care personnel. Transportation for things such as doctor visits and grocery shopping must also be taken into account.

Another large part of the equation is the expense. Medicare and Medicaid will help pay for some of the costs of assisted care and full-time care facilities. But certain conditions must be met - such as using Medicare-certified facilities and services - to qualify for these benefits.

Many elderly adults end up spending their personal savings in order to live in a nursing home or assisted care facility. Eventually they may become eligible for Medicare benefits, but by that time their savings have been significantly depleted. And if a qualified senior chooses a facility that is not Medicare-certified, the expenses can be prohibitive, especially on a fixed income. Even part-time home care costs can add up and become a financial burden over time.

Living at Home

Elderly adult or not, there's no place like home. But this is especially true for seniors. Living in the familiar surroundings of their own home or apartment helps seniors feel they are still in charge of their own lives.

This is where senior medical alert systems come into the picture. If an elderly individual is still able to function on their own to an acceptable degree, a reliable medical response system backed by a reputable company can be invaluable.

Most elderly home alarm systems have two-way communication capabilities. When the button is pushed on a medical alert bracelet or pendant, a responder at a monitoring center will immediately be alerted that there is a problem and will go into action. The responder will then attempt to speak to the occupant of the home, proceeding to send police and an EMS response team to the site if contact is not established.

As we age, we sometimes have a tendency to forget things. Medical alert companies have come up with ways to remind seniors to take their medications during certain times of the day. Additionally, there are mechanized dispensers available that help prevent seniors from skipping or double-dosing on medications.

Fall sensors and motion detectors are also very important devices in providing a secure and well-monitored environment for elderly individuals in their homes. These devices greatly diminish the chance that an elderly friend or loved one will have some kind of difficulty where they are unable to reach their alert button. These sensors and detectors provide an added level of security.

Living at home can perpetuate independence and foster self-esteem. If an elderly person is capable of living on their own, then home medical monitoring systems can ensure that their quality of life remains at a good level.