Mental and Emotional Injuries

When you suffer from a personal injury or a traumatic event, it may not be just your body that has ill effects. Your mind can be just as harmed as your body. Mental or emotional injuries can be complex and can take a long time to heal.

While some people may think of mental injuries as oversensitivity and as weaknesses, there are some things that are out of your control. People who suffer from this type of harm may not be able to control the way they feel about a traumatic event, and treatment for mental injuries can include coping methods to help you deal with them.

Probably the most well-known mental injury is posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Studies estimate that 7-8% of the population will suffer from PTSD at some point in their lives. Although we most often associated PTSD with military or combat experience, any traumatic or emotionally taxing event can contribute to this problem. Physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, serious accidents, divorce, and loss of employment can also cause PTSD.

Not only does PTSD cause emotional withdrawal, but it can also contribute to things like irritability, withdrawal, phobias, and hypersensitivities. Additionally, one of the three main symptoms of PTSD is intense flashbacks, nightmares, and memories. These can cause blackouts that may interfere with your ability to carry on a normal life.

Acute stress disorder is another mental disorder than stems from experiencing, witnessing, or confronting a traumatic event. Like PTSD, acute stress disorder can cause flashbacks and hypersensitivity to people, places, or things that remind a person of their traumatic event. Also, acute stress disorder can hinder someone from his or her regular lifestyle due to the feeling of being in a daze and the loss of awareness of surroundings.

Another example of emotional injury is verbal abuse or neglect. Verbal abuse, where one person degrades another by calling him or her stupid, ugly, incompetent, etc., can destroy a person's self-esteem and make it difficult to function normally. Suffering from verbal abuse can cause someone to "escape" by picking up self-destructive habits like binge drinking and drugs.

Neglect, such as nursing home neglect, can also degrade a person's self-respect. In a nursing home, neglect can not only cause physical damages, but it can wrongly teach a helpless elderly person that he or she is so unwanted and unloved that they do not warrant attention and care.

If you or someone you know has suffered from mental anguish stemming from nursing home malpractice, such as neglect or verbal abuse, these mental and emotional scars can be hard to heal. To help you fight for your rights, check out the Law Offices of William K. Goldfarb today.

Are Your Nursing Assistants in the Know About Emotional Losses of the Elderly?

It's part of life. As people get older, they are forced to deal with a greater number of serious emotional losses. Do your nursing assistants have an understanding of the types of losses experienced by the elderly? Do your CNAs know how to help their elderly clients deal with those losses? Consider sharing the following information at your next CNA inservice meeting.

Emotional Losses of the Elderly

There's no way around it. Losses are painful and often sad. They represent an end to something-and this ending creates an emotional wound. This is especially true for the elderly who must endure a number of different emotional losses. For example:

• At age 65, Sarah Smith retires from her job. Even though this gives her more free time, she misses the daily contact with her former coworkers. A year later, Sarah's husband dies. His sudden death leaves her devastated...and in some financial trouble.


• During that same time, Sarah is diagnosed with both diabetes and hypertension. She also develops chronic back pain.


• On her 67th birthday, Sarah receives word that her sister has passed away. Three months later, Sarah's best friend dies from cancer.


• Six months later, her son decides that she should no longer live alone. He helps Sarah sell her house and moves her into an assisted living facility.


• To the staff at the facility, Sarah seems like a grumpy, forgetful woman who keeps to herself and seems impossible to please. No one is very fond of her. But look at things from Sarah's point of view. Within two short years, she has lost her work, her friends, her health, her husband and her home. Is it any wonder that she tends to be grumpy and withdrawn?

Just like physical injuries need time to heal...so do emotional wounds. People who spend time grieving are doing what they need to heal their emotional wounds. The only "cure" for grief is to go through the grieving process. People must do this in their own way and at their own pace.

Grieving is hard work and can leave people physically and emotionally exhausted. In the end, the process of grieving encourages people to take charge of their own lives and to move forward.

Keep reading to learn more about the losses people face as they age, the different ways these losses can affect people and what you can do to help.

The Loss of Youth

As people lose their youth, they may start to realize that their days on earth are growing short. Some people react to this by considering every day to be precious. They work hard to live each day to the fullest. Others react by becoming depressed and by giving up their youthful hopes and dreams.

What You Can Do to Help

• If you have negative feelings about getting older, don't let them show during your work with your clients.


• Help your clients focus on the things they are still able to do, rather than dwelling on the things they can't do anymore.


• Talk to your clients about current events, such as politics, music and movies. Keeping up with the times helps people stay "young at heart".

The Loss of Family & Friends

As people age, it's common for them to lose a number of loved ones. They must face the deaths of their parents, their siblings and their friends. However, it's not always death that takes away family and friends. Longtime friends may move away-to retirement homes or nursing facilities. Children and grandchildren may also move. But no matter what the cause, the result is the same: older people feel they have lost their loved ones.

People who have lost friends and/or family members may feel unloved and unappreciated. They are at risk for depression.

What You Can Do to Help

• Don't dismiss the grief that older people feel when they lose their parents. For example, if your 75-year-old client loses her 95-year-old mother, her grief may run very deep. Encourage her to talk about her feelings and reminisce about her childhood.


• Remember that social connections are important for seniors. You can help by encouraging them to talk or write to friends and family members on a regular basis. And remember...it's never too late to make new friends.

The Loss of Work

Some people look forward to retiring at age 65. Others keep on working well past retirement age. However, even people who are looking forward to retirement feel some grief over the loss of work. Older people may feel pain over losing their daily schedule. They miss having someplace to go every day.

Many people take pleasure in being productive. A large part of their identity comes from their work-whether they are paid for it or not. If they lose the ability to be productive, they may feel worthless. They may start to think, "I am no good to anybody...I'm just taking up space."

What You Can Do to Help

• Remember that the goal for most seniors is to fill their time in a rewarding way-rather than to have each day drag on with no purpose. So, help your clients find a variety of interesting and fun ways to pass their time.


• Help your clients feel valuable by recognizing the knowledge and wisdom they have gained through the years. For example, ask for their opinion on a current event or on an issue such as how to invest money or discipline a child.

The Loss of a Spouse

Losing a spouse, especially after a long term marriage, can be especially devastating. With the death of a spouse, many people lose their best friend, their confidante and their sexual partner. Every area of life is affected.

As married couples age, they usually hope to grow old together, but death often interrupts these plans. Most people live out their final years alone-especially women. (Among senior citizens, over half the women are widows. Only 13% of men have lost their wives.)

What You Can Do to Help

• Encourage your client to share some special memories of their spouse with you.


• Avoid offering false comfort such as, "You'll get over it some day." or "It was for the best." It's better to say nothing at all than to use "clich矇s" like these.


• Ask your supervisor is there is a support group that might help your grieving client.

The Loss of Health

As people age, they can experience a loss of health in a number of different ways. It can be a gradual process...slowly losing eyesight, hearing, muscle strength or memory. Or the loss of health can be a dramatic process...a sudden heart attack, stroke or tumor.

Some people react to a loss of health by denying that they have any problems. They continue with unhealthy habits such as eating too much, drinking too much and smoking cigarettes. Their attitude is, "Well, I'm going to die anyway...might as well do what I want."

Other people react to a loss of health by getting angry. They feel betrayed by their bodies and "cheated" out of a healthy future. Still others react by focusing on every little ache and pain. Their reaction is based on fear. They anxiously wait for the next health problem to appear-and they look for death around every corner.

What You Can Do to Help

• Help your clients maintain their health as much as possible by eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and avoiding too much alcohol.


• Because chronic pain can be a problem in the elderly, learn all you can about pain management.


• Be patient with elderly clients who are dealing with chronic illnesses. It may sound to you like they are constantly complaining about their health, but would you trade places with them...even for just one day?

The Loss of Independence

Many elderly people can still function on their own-they just take longer! Others may only need help for certain tasks like shopping for groceries or balancing their checkbooks. And, some seniors need help with basic everyday activities, such as bathing, grooming and dressing. Losing the ability to perform their own personal care can make your clients feel like children again. This can be difficult for many people to accept.

People who feel as if they have no control over their own lives may lose self-esteem. They may also become depressed and uninterested in doing anything for themselves.

What You Can Do to Help

• Allow your elderly clients to make as many of their own decisions as possible. This allows them to feel "in control" and may keep them from becoming more and more dependent on you.


• Enhance your clients' sense of purpose by giving them a responsibility: caring for a potted plant, straightening their room or folding their laundry.


• Above all, treat your clients with respect and dignity!

Remember...You'll Be Old One Day, Too!

As you work with elderly clients, do your best to maintain your patience and your sense of compassion. Your clients deserve it! Here's a little reminder, from a poem by Shel Silverstein.

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."

Said the old man, "I do that too."

The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."

"I do that too," laughed the old man.

Said the little boy, "I often cry."

The old man nodded, "So do I."

"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems grown-ups don't pay attention to me."

And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.

"I know what you mean, " said the old man.

Board and Care Homes - What Are They?

Board and Care homes (also known as RCFE's - Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly) are residential private homes that have been licensed by the Department of Social Services to provide services to seniors. Most accept no more than six residents, but offer a cozy, home-like setting for frail seniors. At least one caregiver is on the premises at all times to assist residents.

Board and care homes come with a variety of characteristics. Rooms can be shared or private and may include a shared or private bathroom. Limited social activities are provided, but not to the extent of an assisted living facility. Specific needs can be met in this small setting, such as language, ethnic or food preferences, even accommodating a loved pet. Meals, laundry, housekeeping, transportation to doctor appointments are usually included. Most provide assistance with dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, medication management, and hygiene and continence issues. With hundreds of these homes scattered throughout most geographic areas, there is hardly a situation that cannot be met in a board and care home.

With most board and care homes, a resident will interact with just three or four caregivers each week. This allows caregivers and residents to form a close bond, which many seniors prefer. Homes range in care giving levels, from simply providing a personal presence for seniors to dealing with severe medical conditions. If fact, some specialize in very specific areas of healthcare and their related needs, such as non-ambulatory residents, stroke or paralysis residents, diabetes care, oxygen needs, catheters, colostomy's, and cognitive and memory impairments such as dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Some medical conditions such as a feeding tubes or tracheotomies cannot be handled by board and care homes.

Generally, Board and Care homes are managed and owned by an individual or family who are closely involved in the day-to-day activities of the home. Board and care homes are a refreshing alternative to the more business like approach of an assisted living or skilled nursing facility.

The Myths on Long Term Care

The insurance business is something that I've been working in for more than a decade now and I have listened to a lot of peoples explanations on why they avoid buying insurance coverage. Most of the challenge comes from long held ideas which people look at to be true, while others are entirely false. It appears that most scenarios, for which we need insurance unless required by law, provide us an "option". Nevertheless, knowledge really is our finest educator and Long Term Care Insurance is no exemption. Any person who has experienced care for the elderly understands, with no doubt, just how significant this protection can be.

These are the four myths which guide people to think that they will never need this essential coverage.

1. My loved ones will take care of me, so I really don't need Long Term Care!

This is a really common belief and one that I have seen over and over again. In the 1950's when grandma required a place to live she usually journeyed amongst her kids. Nowadays; things are a little bit different. People are now having fewer children with the outcome being that the obligation for parental care may turn out to be the job of only one or two siblings supposing they are accessible AND have the time and money to take care of grandma. There's an old quote, "One mother can take care of ten children, but ten children can't take care of one mother?" This just goes to show that probably moving grandma around in the 1950's didn't work and it absolutely doesn't work nowadays. Include the fact that in many households where both spouses work, marriages frequently end in divorce and seniors are living for a longer time than they ever have. I absolutely don't want to live long enough to turn out to be a problem for my children.

2. When I'm old, Medicare will pay for whatever I need! Right?

Medicare was never created to pay for Long Term care expenses. Quoting the Medicare website, "Medicare doesn't pay for help with activities of daily living or other care which people can do themselves. Medicare will only pay for skilled nursing or home health care if one meets certain specific criteria. "

3. If I can't find the money, than Medicaid will pay for what I need! Right??!!

This is completely accurate! BUT! In order for a person to be eligible for Medicaid they need to first meet really strict guidelines with respect to assets. Simply put, they need to confirm that they are indigent. Furthermore, if there is a partner involved, any assets relocated from one to another are subject to a five year look back. For that reason, if you have assets including a house, a vehicle, or a 401K, this will provide some very huge problems needing the service of elder care professionals such as lawyers and planners and need to be done prior to the problem occurring. Even if you are eligible for a Medicaid price cut, your family may continue to wind up paying in over half the amount of your monthly rent at a experienced medical center. Are you informed that in some urban locations monthly nursing home expenses are between $10K and $15K per month?

4. I can take care of myself! I saved up enough money!

Sure, you can pay your long term care bills from your own savings account. Having said that, you need to think about the cost of long term care providers before depending on "private pay" as a strategy of financing care. Here are the latest national costs for long term care companies:

• $20/hour for a home health assistant
• $61/day for care in an adult day care facility
• $3,270/month for care in an assisted living facility
• $207/day for a semiprivate room in a nursing home
• $235/day for a private room in a nursing home

In 2011, the "average" value of a semiprivate bedroom in a nursing household, nationwide, was $75,555. In respect to the U.S dept of Health and Human Services, the typical period of stay in a nursing home is 2.4 years. Are you regimented enough to conserve this type of money? Is this where you want your savings to go if you are competent of such discipline?

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Have you been looking for ways to make a true impact on those around you? If the answer is yes, then you are not alone. There are tons of people who are beginning to feel the desire to make a difference in the world. And they are taking on the role of the helper in many ways, ranging from that of the philanthropist who donates money to causes that mean something to them, to those who get their hands in the dirt and build homes for Habitat for Humanity and other positive organizations. But if your desire to help others is reflected in a need to interact on a one-on-one basis then you might want to consider a career as a certified nursing assistant.

What is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?

The field of nursing is considered to be a "direct care giving" field. Whether you are a home health aide, personal care assistant, patient care technician, or certified nursing assistant (CNA), your specialty lies in your ability to care for a person on a one-on-one basis.

In a doctor's office, the certified nursing assistant is typically the person who you first work with when called to the back. This is the person who will take your "vitals," weigh you, then take you into the examination room where they will then question the symptoms of your condition, and essentially make you feel comfortable and settled until the nurse practitioner or doctor comes in to see you.

Certified nursing assistants work under the supervision of a nurse and usually are in charge of performing the general needs for the patient. Some of these tasks include, but are not limited to: dressing, bathing and feeding patients, assisting with bedpans and urinals, checking vital signs, assisting with catheter care, answering a call light when needed, helping the patient perform range of motion exercises as a supplement to physical therapy, assisting patients in wheelchairs, keeping living quarters neat for patients, and accurately documenting all care provided to patients as well as any mental or physical changes.

Opportunities for CNA's are vast and can provide work in places such as nursing homes, adult health centers, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and sometimes with personal home care services. Other CNA's have found work in areas of hospice care and comforting those who are dying. While this particular area can be very rewarding for some who find solace in ushering a person to the other side, some become overwhelmed by the concept of death, so deciding to participate in this aspect must be thought out carefully.

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant

There are several ways to get your foot in the door as a CNA. One way is to enter a training program through the Red Cross. They offer a nursing assistant program designed to teach you the necessities of the field, including learning medical terminology, basic human anatomy, communication skills, basic math skills, and how to care for patients with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, they give you hands-on experience in a health care setting. Toward the end of the course, you learn how to launch your career as a CNA. They provide instruction on how to conduct a successful job search, create an effective résumé, develop interviewing techniques, and eventually excel to new careers within the field if interested.

Other ways to step into the field are to take classes through your local community college or through a medical facility. Whichever route you choose to educate yourself, you will be provided with instruction generally be a registered nurse who will teach the ins and outs of the skill. Of course, all of the classes in the world cannot measure up to the experience needed in day-to-day activity, so before certification is obtained, it is advised that you begin pursuing opportunities to develop and perfect your new skill.

The Life of a Certified Nursing Assistant

Any person who is or has been a certified nursing assistant will profess to the number of challenges that face them. First and foremost, if you are not a people person, this field is not for you. Clearly, if you're a person with a short temper, you will not be as suitable for this field because of the multitude of people with short tempers you will have to deal with. You have to have "spine," if you will deal with possible sexist comments, racial comments and anything else the person conjures up to say or do (spit, kick, hit) to you. Your goal will have to be to take care of this person no matter what their personal issue may be with you, learning to forgive them for their ignorance, and believing that they deserve top-notch care no matter how they treat you. This is not easy for some people and is definitely something you need to take into consideration before committing to this field.

Also, if you have a weak stomach to blood, bodily odors, and bodily fluids, you are definitely in the wrong field. Often times, your job as a CNA is more "graphic" than that of a doctor because the doctor does not change bed pans or help patients shower, but you do. So you have to be ready and willing to face hygiene issues that others are not ready to handle. You may have to be in charge of the daily care of a person who is unable to move without your assistance, which means you will be responsible for helping them use the restroom, bathe, cleaning their bed sores, and much more.

Another issue with being a certified nursing assistant is often times the shortage of nursing assistants in one location. There are nursing assistants who find that they are caring for an insurmountable number of patients at one time and become quickly overwhelmed, resulting in them leaving the field altogether. This is especially true of those assistants who are sensitive to the physical and emotional ailments of their patients and absorb their pain on a deeply personal level. However, if being a nursing assistant is what you really want, you must not let this deter you and work diligently to find the work environment and set of circumstances that more closely suit you.

Becoming a certified nursing assistant can be a very rewarding field for those who have a great interest in helping others. But if you're unsure of whether you're able to handle the vast array of personalities you might encounter, or even what you might face from patients physically, you might want to take time to strongly consider your decision. There is nothing worse the choosing an important career such is this just for the money; not only will your patients suffer from the lack of caring you display, but you will also suffer from the lack of fulfillment you will feel. Be sure to conduct plenty of research on becoming a certified nursing assistant first then if you still feel inclined to take this career on, do so with a kind, open and warm heart.

What Should You Expect As a Nurse in a Nursing Home?

With baby boomers nearing retirement, the need for quality nursing homes is expected to grow by more than 500 percent within the next 8 to 10 years. With more long-term care facilities opening their doors to communities throughout the nation, the need for qualified health care professionals will proportionately increase. If you are a CNA, an LPN, or a RN, consider the advantages of working in a nursing home or long-term care facility. As the fastest-growing part of the healthcare industry, nursing homes offer an opportunity for advancement and increased earning potential. Before you start applying for a position like this you should understand what to expect in the work environment. Decide if this nature of work is right for you and start a meaningful and fulfilling career.

Nursing Assistants Must Be In Shape and Capable of Physical Labor

All nursing assistants must be able to work on their feet. In long-term care facilities, nursing assistants can expect more intensive labor than in hospitals. The primary reason why these positions are more intensive is because a majority of people in long-term care require assistance transferring. CNAs will help lift and transfer patients in addition to performing bed baths and changing bedding while it is occupied. If you are a CNA it is important to understand that CNAs must deal with heavy work and stressful working conditions. The stress and heavy work load are the primary reasons why turnover in nursing homes is so high. Many long-term care facilities will raise wages to encourage nursing assistants to stay as the need for CNAs grows.

Registered Nurses and LPNs

While CNAs do handle heavy lifting, RNs and LPNs may have to perform these duties if an assistant is not available. While the job does sound difficult and many people have the idea that nursing homes and long-term care facilities are depressing, many nurses enter this atmosphere and never want to leave. Nurses who have been in long-term care for more than a decade, state that their job has become their passion. One of the main reasons why registered nurses and LPNs love to work in nursing homes is because they are made part of an interdisciplinary team made up of social workers, physical therapists, dieticians, managers, activity directors and more. The entire team works together to discuss the plan of care for a patient. Compared to hospital environments, nursing homes make nurses an integral part of care for residents.

Another reason why CNAs, RNs, and LPNs find a passion in nursing homes is because of the residents. When you deal with patients who live at the facility you can build a relationship with them. This bond is what keeps nurses in their careers. While building a bond can be difficult in some situations, the friendships you make will create lifelong memories.

Nurses who are employed in nursing homes need to be compassionate and knowledgeable. If you are looking for a stable opportunity that could change your life, consider the benefits of applying for nursing home positions.

Granny Flats Kit Homes: Tips in Choosing One for Your Elderly Relative

Granny flats kit homes are most popular in North America, Britain, and Australia. These are custom-built small houses that are commonly built in the same plot of land as that of the main house. These are particularly ideal for elderly members of the family who don't prefer to enter nursing homes but can't live on their own. Having these flats gives them a sense of independence as they will have their own living quarters that's very accessible to their loved ones. If you're planning to get one for your elderly relative, below are some pointers that may come handy when you look for kit home designs.

Searching for kit home designs:
While it's quite expensive to build houses these days, you can be cost-effective when building flats for your elderly loved ones. Kit homes are popular budget-friendly alternatives for people who aspire to build and have their own homes. The first thing you can do is to search for known companies that offer customizable and modern kit home designs you can avail for the family. You can check out their photo and work galleries online so you can save a lot of time trying to find ideal designs.

On choosing the flat designs and colors:
Since the flat will be built alongside that of the main family's home, it's best to go for designs and colors that will match or complement the original design scheme for your own home. Neutral shades can also give the house a classier appearance and impression.

Basic knowledge about zoning laws and land permit:
Before you purchase a personalized kit home design or decide to build a secondary building yourself, it's important to be informed with essential zoning laws and necessary permits you need to have beforehand. It's highly recommended to consult with local housing authorities right from the start so you can choose more suitable designs and proceed with your construction with no problems.

Deciding on the size:
Your elderly relative's lifestyle and specific preferences are important in determining the ideal size of their homes. While granny flats are commonly built with only one bedroom, you can still search for designs with 2 or more rooms if these are more preferable to them. Having at least 2 bedrooms is also ideal if there are visiting relatives and/or there's a live-in nurse taking care of your elderly parents. Single-storey flats are also most popular because utmost importance is given to safety and comfortableness.

On maximizing space:
Granny flats are usually smaller extensions to the main house and are generally small. However, you can still maximize space by going for comfy and highly needed fixtures and appliances at home. Also settle for color schemes that can give the impression of wider space, and don't forget to make the most of available light and natural ventilation.