Forms of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing Home Abuse

There are few things as tragic as abuse targeted towards those who cannot readily defend themselves. Because of this it is painful when someone you care about falls victim to neglect and abuse in an elder care facility. While there are many forms of abuse which can occur in a home for elderly care, it is important you are aware of the most common forms in order to better protect yourself and those you love.

Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse

Elderly individuals in nursing home care vary in their levels of health, mobility and independence. However, all elder care home residents can easily fall victim to neglect when caretakers act negligently and without care. Some common forms of nursing home abuse include the following:

• Physical abuse, such as forceful grabbing and hitting


• Sexual assault, either performed by other residents or by caregivers


• Fraud and theft from residents


• Mental and emotional abuse, such as humiliation and verbal abuse


• Isolation practices and other detrimental practices


• Malnutrition and improper feeding practices


• Improper medicating practices, such as over medicating or leaving out vital medications in the daily doses

The victims of these forms of abuse and neglect are likely to suffer greatly from the experience. From emotional trauma and physical pain to a financial burden there are a number of hardships that can arise from these unpleasant experiences. Because of this it is imperative those responsible for the experience are held accountable for their role in causing harm. If your loved one has been harmed in their elder care home, an experienced legal professional can help you seek compensation.

Great Activities for Seniors in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Homes

Senior citizens that find themselves in nursing homes or even in one of those assisted living facilities can at times can fall victim to boredom and become apathetic due to it. If they are not kept active it is had to stay excited about anything and it will not be of any help in trying to help their minds to stay young for a longer period of time. A lot of times in these facilities the people who work there are overworked and simply don't have time to come up with things for their residents to do. If you would like to help seniors have more active lives, get in touch with one of these facilities and see if you could volunteer to do some work with their seniors.

Once you find a place that will allow you to work with their seniors there are a variety of different things that you might be able to do to help keep the seniors more active and less bored with their lives. One thing you might consider doing is help them start up a newsletter for their nursing home or assisted living facility. You might be surprised at how many seniors are talented writers and poets and you can use those talents to have them write news articles, fiction articles as well as poetry that could be added to the newsletter. This will let them share their talents with others and will keep their minds active and it will give them also a reason to pay more attention to what's going on around them since they are going to want to be able to write interesting pieces for the newsletter.

Another good idea to try and do is to set up an arts and crafts show. Check with your seniors with regards to the kinds of crafts they like to do and have done and take those talents and let them create a variety of different items. Once they have done this you might see if the nursing home or facility will allow you to open up the arts and crafts show to the public. This way a variety of different people will have the opportunity to purchase these handmade items. It will also help these seniors with any self-esteem issues they might have. It will make them feel important and needed again.

Consider setting up different kinds of exercise groups all varying in levels of complexity because you want to be able to include even those that might be restricted to a wheelchair. You could have yoga, simple stretching exercises, take them to community pools where they can get some aquatic exercise, whatever you can think of that's going to help them benefit from the movement of the exercises.

If there is a special event coming to town like the fair, or a special speaker, consider taking a group out to one of these events. Even take them to your local Saturday Market or out to a park as a group activity. Getting them involved with doing things outside of the facility is going to go a long way in helping them feel better about themselves and feel healthier.

Finding a Nursing Home - How to Deal With the Emotional Factor of Moving to a Care Home

In your senior years, one of your major tasks may be to find a nursing home. In fact, finding and moving into the right caring home is the key factor in determining the quality of your life. By choosing the right care home for your needs, you're entering an environment especially designed for people with your particular circumstances. Your new care home is a place where you can relax and not worry about the practicalities of daily life. You just need to focus on being as happy as possible. But this is not as simple as it sounds. For one thing, finding a nursing home and moving in is a very emotional experience.

So let's consider the emotional factors involved in moving into a caring home. Like all major life changes, it gives rise to a number of fears. These fears, which include fear of regimentation, of losing your identity and being institutionalized, can have profound emotional effects on the new arrival at a nursing home. The fact is that arriving at your new care home can be a daunting business and how you handle it will depend on your personality. If you're the resilient type, you can take it all in your stride. But most people experience a sense of anxiety, bewilderment and dislocation when first entering residential care.

So what can you do about this? One important way to do this is by finding a nursing home that you feel comfortable in. You shouldn't view a nursing home as just a building with a range of facilities and a collection of staff; you should view it as your new home, a place where you're going to spend most of your time in the future.

That's why it's important to visit every care home before deciding to move in. With luck, you'll find a place that feels just right but in any event, a detailed examination of potential nursing homes will mean that when you come to move in, it will be less of a surprise.

Other than visiting the homes and talking to residents, you should also ask questions about you potential new home. You need a find out to what extent you can maintain your independence. The fact is that caring homes vary considerably in their adherence to fixed routines.

So you need to find out answers to questions such as:

How much flexibility there is regarding meal times and bath times? Being able to follow your own routine as much as possible can help you feel more independent.

What are the visitor arrangements? In the early days, regular visits will help dispel in the initial sense of dislocation and loneliness. And are your pets allowed to visit?

What personal items can you bring with you? Obviously you'll probably have less room that your former home. But being able to bring your own small items of furniture and hang your favourite pictures will go a long way towards creating a homely atmosphere.

What organised activities are there? The best way to become part of a community is to be socially active. This way you'll feel a sense of belonging and quickly make new friends. Likewise, if you're used to being out and about, you should check if residents are encouraged to step outside the home.

Obviously living in a residential care home is regimented to some extent, and fixed routines have to be the order of the day. Flexibility varies from home to home and depends on such matters as budgets, staffing and facilities. But by creating your own personal routine and environment as much as possible, you can retain much of your own lifestyle and so avoid much of the emotional turmoil.

Failure to deal with the emotional consequences of moving into a care home can be serious and can have a profound effect on your emotional well-being and ability to adapt to life in your new home. So choose your new nursing home with care, make it your own special place, and join in the social life. In this way, your new nursing home will be not just a place to live and be taken care of, but a place where you can thrive and enjoy a whole new lease of life.

How to Engage Students With Experiential Learning in Your Classroom

As a principal, school administrator, or department head, your number one priority (after safely getting the kids out of the hallways and into a classroom) is to ensure that learning actually takes place in between the ringing bookends of your bell schedule.

As a veteran teacher, with over 18 years of classroom experience (including one surprisingly enjoyable summer school now under my belt), I can tell you that I feel sorry for the students that had to endure my first year of employment back in 1993 - a date that now seems ages ago.

I was enthusiastic and well educated, and I established a good rapport while maintaining a disciplined environment - but I feel I utterly failed when it came to delivering lessons that actually STUCK with my students for more than a few days after their scantron tests were graded.

My problem then, and the problem of so many teachers that truly care about and take responsibility for educating their students, was that I did exactly that - I DELIVERED the information in nice, easily digestible chunks of notes and review games, but I seldom provided opportunities for them to actually experience the information.

I know now, as many of you do from the wealth of research that is available, that memorization or lecture style delivery does little to inspire any long-term learning. For our students, as ourselves, to actually recall and feel and internalize any information or insight, it must be attached to a meaningful and memorable personal experience.

Experiential Learning is the best way to engage the attention of those students your teachers are responsible for, and it provides a significantly better return in terms of recall and application of knowledge and skills.

So, in order to impress upon you the importance of exposing your staff to this teaching tool and its many benefits, I would like to share a little background information about the history of Experiential Learning and then provide you with examples that your faculty could implement easily and effectively.

So, what is TEACHING? Is it just telling, or does it require that learning occurs?

I believe that the job of a great teacher is to facilitate his/her students' movement from where they are to where he/she wants them to be regarding specific skills, information, and behaviors.

So how does your faculty get them there?

Well, consider this analogy...

As trainers, coaches, or teachers, we choose the vehicle our clients or students will use on their journey to reach that destination of acquired skills or knowledge.

Unfortunately, what most teachers still use is as outdated as a horse-drawn wagon... (and, just to be clear, your students are the horses that are encouraged, implored, and even threatened to go where the teacher has already been with little thought about the horses' desires, past experience, or needs!)

Horse and Wagon? Huh?

Yes!

The horse and buggy, as a style of transportation, is just as outdated (and nearly as ineffective) as the still popular lectures and worksheets have been. But even though the horses are often unmotivated, unaware of why they are being driven, or otherwise distracted from working to get there, this is the style that a majority of educators continue to choose!

THE TRUTH IS THAT TELLING & USING PASSIVE-LEARNER TEACHING STYLES JUST DON'T GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT!

According to J.W. Wilson, author of Cracking the Learning Code, "Experience automatically stimulates approximately 95 percent of all neurons that provide the massive neural firing that is the basis for all long-term memory, verbal presentation in general fires only 5 to 20 percent of neurons"

And even if they sit there, un-stimulated, and passively receive the information that is fed to them, the fact is that your students will not have internalized or processed that information in a way that really impacts them.

Howard Gardner, the renowned Harvard Researcher, explains that "Investigations document that even students that have been well trained and who exhibit all the overt signs of success -faithful attendance, good schools, high grades and high test scores, accolades from their teachers -typically do not display an adequate understanding of the materials and concepts with which they have been working."

Common sense dictates that, if you simply consider how YOU best learn, you may begin to appreciate how experiential learning and can transform your school.

Take out a scrap sheet of paper and draw a lines so you have split the page up into two columns. Then do the following:

1 - Think of something you are good at. What are some reasons you got good at it?

2 - Next, think of something you not good at. Why didn't you learn it better?

Whatever your responses to those questions, you can be assured that other people are very similar! The most common answers for question 1 are that:

You experimented and learned by doing it yourself You had others help you do it yourself, and You learned by working with and/or teaching others.

...and the most common answers for question 2 are that:

You didn't spend enough time to really get comfortable with or good at it You didn't understand the information the way it was presented You didn't care because topic was applied to their interests, not yours!

To change the results and create better learning experiences, we must first change the paradigm of what constitutes an effective vehicle for teaching! Instead of us driving the horses to perform or remember things that they are not truly invested in understanding, a wiser and more effective teacher could...

1. Supply a better, more enjoyable vehicle for them to use 2. Hand the keys to the students / clients 3. Focus on providing a safe road to travel on

THAT is Experiential Learning!

Unlike Discovery Learning, which can be far too unstructured for many teachers to consider adopting, and has been criticized (a 2004 study by R.E. Mayer, discussed in American Psychologist magazine, reviewed educational literature from the past 20+ years to demonstrate that "pure discovery methods are simply not effective. Without guidance, learners do not effectively track down the pertinent information needed to achieve their learning goals."), Experiential Learning Paradigm depends upon the teacher to be involved and help guide the student's behavior.

The teacher remains involved by first defining the specific relevant learning activity, by ensuring the students are actively involved in the experience, and by creating and monitoring a safe classroom culture where this can occur followed by providing questions to reflect on that emphasize the intended insights or outcomes

BUT REST ASSURED, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IS NOT A FAD!

IN FACT, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF ITS EARLY PROPONENTS...

Einstein wrote that "Knowledge is experience, everything else is just information."

And before him, Sophocles (495-406 BC) claimed that "One must learn by doing the thing; though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try."

AND THEIR IDEAS INFLUENCED MANY MORE RECENT VOICES!

Let me share a quick summary of the prominent names that have provided research based models for Experiential learning.

In the 1930's, John Dewey became famous for pointing out that the authoritarian, strict, pre-ordained knowledge approach of modern traditional education was too concerned with delivering knowledge, and not enough with understanding students' actual experiences.

Dewey became the champion, or philosophical father of experiential education or as it was then referred to, progressive education. But he was also critical of completely "free, student-driven" education because students often don't know how to structure their own learning experiences for maximum benefit. According to Dewey, "Experiential Learning takes place when a person involved in an activity looks back and evaluates it, determines what was useful or important to remember, and uses this information to perform another activity."

Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) was the German "Father of Social Psychology," best known for developing a four-stage "cycle" of education.

David Kolb (1939-) then built upon ideas of Dewey and Lewin, and created a four-part "cycle of learning" model of his own.

Finally, Phil Race (1942-) has been one of the most inspiring and practical staff development researchers in UK higher education. He supports a model similar to that of Kolb, but imagines his model as "ripples" instead of as Kolb's sequential cycle.

Needing/Wanting - motivation

Doing - practice; trial and error

Feedback - seeing results; other people's reactions

Digesting - making sense of it; gaining ownership

If this brief historical background has made digesting the ideas behind Experiential Learning seem too complex, it really does not need to be!

Based on those researchers, you could actually employ a far simpler three-stage learning cycle for use and reference in your classrooms!

The MAIN THING is that you recognize the need for Active Student Experiences, and then provide relevant Review Questions and Reflections.

The active student experiences should be less-structured than a PowerPoint lecture, of course, but meaningful, learner centered and engaging.

The review questions and reflections at the end of the experiential lesson are a vital stage that allows discussion, but the answers must be theirs, not yours, in order to ensure that the learning has truly been internalized and understood.

A key part of the experiential learning cycle is that, when students do not carry from the planned experiential activity the learning, skill, or insight intended, the teacher must then plan and provide another experience that will produce that intended outcome.

SIMPLY PUT, INSTEAD OF AN INSTRUCTOR COVERING COURSE CONTENT WE ALLOW STUDENTS TO UNCOVER IT THEMSELVES!

THAT creates ownership!

Experiential learning is nothing more than organizing "active student experiences" such as learning a physical activity, games, role play / charades, teaching others, taking field trips, engaging in class debates, or creating something new and relevant.

Think back with me... Could you ever accurately explain to someone what kissing is like by giving lecture notes or describing the scientific physical action only?

NO... YOU LEARNED BY EXPERIENCING IT!

And you can transfer this idea to your teachers and their classrooms!

Have your faculty identify one topic, skill, or lesson that they have previously delivered as theoretical or "told" information?

Then, have them write out two ways they might transform that lesson into an experiential activity and engage students actively instead of allowing them to remain passive receivers of information?

Consider this example...

Would you simply tell a NURSING SCHOOL STUDENT what the procedure was to take a patient's vital signs? Could you possibly expect them to successfully recall a PowerPoint bulleted list of instructions and then do an acceptable job of changing the sheets on an occupied bed?

Our schools are now lagging behind the many professional programs that have already developed and implemented a "SEE ONE, DO ONE, TEACH ONE" model.

Couldn't your school benefit from a similar teaching and learning style for certain topics?

Want a YOUR WORLD Example?

In English class, instead of a vocabulary word list being memorized for only a brief time using workbook activities and sentences, how about having the students engaged in physically acting the words using a charades activity, or write a letter to editor about a chosen topic and use five words in context!

As shared earlier, it is important that every experience be "debriefed" and reflected on for students to take meaning away from the activity

The role of teacher is to ask questions only at that point, and students will provide the answers and insights. This is the part of Experiential Learning that demands your teachers provide both lower and higher level reflective questions to draw out and focus attention on the actual purpose of the activity.

Some examples of "lower level" Reflective Questions are:

-What did you do? -How did you feel? -What was most difficult? Easiest? -If you could do it again, what would you change?

And after discussing those, the teacher then continues to drive the lesson deeper with Higher-Level Discussion questions such as:

-What did you learn about ______ -What problems or issues did you experience? -What did you learn about yourself? -How can you apply this lesson to ______?

Despite the ease and many benefits of incorporating Experiential Learning into your faculty's toolbox of ideas, there are a few issues that your staff may encounter when first beginning to implement this style of instruction.

Some teachers may be concerned that outcomes are sometimes difficult to measure or that this requires more planning time. My answer is that yes, this is true - but even though it may takes up more class time that telling, and even though it can sometimes be difficult as an instructor to bite their tongue and let students make their own personal discoveries instead of feeding them the desired information, the rewards far outweigh those initial uncomfortable feelings.

Your staff will be rewarded with a more engaging, fun classroom environment, the participation and interest of students who are normally bored, and the pride that comes with providing students a long-term memory and depth of understanding instead of an easy short-term band-aid that is pulled off after test-time.

Your faculty will report the joy of watching HA-HA moments become A-HA's...

And they will soon agree with basketball coaching legend Pete Newell, who said that "you can never change a habit, or create one, with a word or piece of chalk. You can talk all day, put all sorts of diagrams on the board, but a habit is not going to change... Learning is created through physical acts."

So I encourage you to consider, instead of driving your student "horses" to perform or remember what they aren't really invested in understanding, you can use a faculty teambuilding event to transform your campus into a more impactful place where teachers

1. Supply a better, more enjoyable vehicle for them to use

2. Hand the keys to the students / clients

3. Focus on providing a safe road to travel on

THAT is Experiential Learning!

Nursing Home Neglect - What to Do if You Suspect Negligence in a Nursing Home

Sadly, nursing home neglect is not uncommon. Even the best nursing homes can hire someone who shouldn't be caring for patients, while other nursing homes don't provide or expect the appropriate training for their care attendants. Learning to recognize the signs of neglect...and then doing something about it...is essential if you want to protect your family members.

Because many nursing home patients cannot communicate, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms of neglect, including both physical and medical neglect.

One of the most obvious signs of nursing home neglect is a failure for care providers to assist in personal hygiene, including unsanitary or unclean conditions. If you would not want to live in the conditions you find your family member in, you need to make a complaint and let the nursing home management know that the conditions you see are not acceptable.

If your family member is not bedridden, you also need to make sure they are protected from health and safety hazards. As an example, if they have a mobility problem, there should not only be grab bars in the bathroom, but also assistive devices to help them get out of bed, out of their chair, and so forth.

Sometimes neglect is harder to detect. For example, your family member may have developed bedsores. In almost all cases, bedsores can be prevented by frequently turning the patient, and you should be concerned if your family member develops bedsores. On the other hand, sometimes bedsores occur, no matter how conscientious the caretaker.

As a result, in addition to noting how often your family member is moved to a new position, look for other things such as dehydration or wet diapers...these are indicators of neglect.

Obviously, if you are concerned about the care your family member is receiving, you can talk to the doctor in charge. However, do not get caught up in the "a doctor is a god" routine. If you are concerned about the care your family member is receiving and the doctor dismisses your concerns without giving you reasonable explanations, do not accept that. Medical neglect is no better than physical neglect...indeed, it can be worse...and poor access to decent medical services is simply not acceptable.

Should you suspect nursing home neglect of any sort, approach the nursing home administration first and express your concerns and your expectations for improvement. Should you see no improvement after having done so, then report the neglect. After all, it is a violation of both state and federal law to neglect a nursing home patient.

Reports can be made to the state health department, your state or local ombudsman for nursing home care, law enforcement, adult protective services, or a nursing home advocacy group.

Personal Injury Attorney: Methods To Pay For Legal Help

You deserve to have the help of a personal injury attorney, no matter your financial situation. This is why there are several ways to afford the help of a firm. If you think you cannot afford it, think about the fact that you may have to pay for all of your medical bills, property damage, and other expenses related to the injuries on your own, which is much more expensive.

If you cannot afford to pay your personal injury attorney upfront through cash or debit card, you may be able to work out a payment plan. In fact, many attorneys accept financing as a way to pay for legal assistance, so you should definitely ask about this possibility. Make sure you understand the terms of the agreement so that you are able to pay every month on time, since otherwise you might jeopardize the legal help you are getting.

If your lawyer does not offer financing, you might consider putting the fees on a credit card. This is essentially the same, especially if you have a low-interest card. It will allow you to get the help you need now instead of waiting until you have saved up the money. In the end, you will likely get back any money you had to pay in interest since you will probably get more than what your injuries and damages cost you. This means you should have enough left over to pay off your card once you get what you are owed.

Some lawyers even work for free if you lose the case. Thus, you only pay when you win the case, and by then you should have more than enough money to pay both your lawyer and your bills related to the crash. This is called a contingency fee, and some lawyers' use this method when they believe you deserve help even though you cannot current afford it. If you can find a personal injury attorney who uses the contingency fee method, you should discuss your case beforehand with him or her since many such lawyers only take on strong cases.

You should use your initial consultation to talk about the payment methods available to you. You do not want to commit to legal help from a personal injury attorney without being able to afford it, yet you should not completely avoid it just because you cannot pay right now. There will likely be a solution that works for you, so be sure to check out your options.

Prolonging Senior Independent Living Adds to Quality of Life

Remaining living independently in one's home for as long as possible is very important in maintaining a high quality of life and keeping healthcare cost to the minimum. Prolonging senior independent living can be accomplished through a series of coordinated objectives. Each facet of one's living arrangement must be considered to identify areas of risk and improve the overall efficiency and quality at which one maintains their independence. Matters such as financial considerations and legal decisions must be addressed in order for of your loved one to have the foundation necessary to make decisions which are appropriate for their independent living arrangements.

Concerns such as safety around the house are important to consider because high-risk areas which are prone to cause accidents need to be removed from the living environment. A perfect example of this is slip and fall areas such as wet tile floors in bathrooms and patios and area run rugs which can be easily cause trips and falls. These things are common in many homes and can be overlooked as dangerous if not considered with the perspective of creating a safe environment for which a senior can live independently without common risks of falling.

Many seniors today live alone without close relatives nearby staying in communication and having the ability to monitor your loved one's well-being makes the situation more tolerable for the senior and for the person who loves them. Regular feedback and status monitoring can be accomplished through a variety of different solutions available on the market today such as weekly senior care services, in-home monitoring systems, and companion living or visiting arrangements. Recently in the bad economy there has been an increase of seniors sharing housing together which provides the comfort and safety needed to prolong senior independent living for both who were previously living alone.

There are many options to consider when devising a plan for prolonging senior independent living. A good plan makes for more consistent action. Seniors and their loved ones should factor in as many risk considerations as possible and mitigate risks with as much attention as possible. It is recommended the family consult with a professional familiar with elder care issues to identify areas where attention is needed. Areas to consider include budgeting, safety around the home, sufficient planned activities, and capability to perform routine household chores. Aging is a process we all will have to encounter, understanding how to maintain independence as we age is knowledge we all can benefit from.

Some Advantages of an Adult Day Care Facility

Adult Day cares are on the rise and they are a very good thing to have in our Community, most Communities favor these facilities because not only it provides needed service to the Elderly but they also provide employment for the Community.

It has been documented that there are more Elderly People in our Society today than ever before, a lot of them live alone and is not in the best of health. Adult Day Care can be ideal for those who live alone but are not ready for Nursing Home placement. They could attend one and receive at least two full nutritious meals and a snack. They could interact with other People of their age, this stimulates the mind, and help to keep it focus. Daily activities are provided to keep their limbs loose and their mind alert. Nursing service is provided to assist with their medication ensuring it is taken properly. Social service is also provided; they will keep up with their needs such as Doctor Visits. Inspirational time is also available if the desire to attend.

In order for a Facility to be paid by Medicaid, their Client would have to be there for at least four hours but normal working hours are eight hours.

Most Adult Day Care Facilities provides transportation for their Clients to and from the Facility. If someone would need to go the Doctor, the Facility will provide the transportation for him or contact another service that specializes in transportation.

These Facilities offers employment to others such as a Director, License Nurse, Nurse Assistants, Cook, Housekeeper, Office Manager, Activity Director, and a Driver. These employees should be on hand at all times. A Social Worker is not needed everyday so that Person can work by contract.

This type of service can provide release for a Caregiver, they would have down time when the Client is at the Center but will need to be home when the Client returns.

Doctors favor these Centers and will recommend their Patients to receive care from it.

These Centers are really an asset; they help our Elders to live a more productive life. Most of them enjoy being at these Center because it gives them a chance to do things other than just sitting around the house.

The Services Offered by Assisted Living Concepts Inc

This article focuses on the services provided by Assisted Living Concepts Inc., which provides assisted living accommodations to the elderly who want to maintain as much of their independence as possible. These retirees may have lost some of their physical ability to do certain things that are necessary for daily living, such as taking a bath, dressing, eating, cooking or even toileting but they do not want to lose too much of their independence. This usually happens in nursing homes but assisted living residences offer an alternative lifestyle whereby the residents have more freedom to do what they want and are assisted only when they need it. But how do you evaluate the quality of the services that are offered by a company like Assisted Living Concepts?

Some of the factors that you can check when assessing assisted living programs include the safety features, services, equipment and amenities, financial issues, atmosphere and comfort level. Do not forget to examine the different amenities and equipment that are made available based on the fees that are being charged. Some of the features that you may want to check with regards to amenities in Assisted Living Concepts and compare them with the features of others include whether they have the capacity to accommodate the specific needs of a resident, the availability of religious facilities, the provision of a telephone and television unit in every unit, the presence of exercise equipment, the presence of a kitchen unit and refrigerator, and the availability of additional storage. It is also important to check whether shopping and entertainment centers can easily be reached.

Of course, you will also need to check on the monthly expenses and if there is a deposit requirement. Other issues that you need to check include the rules of refund in the event that you want to terminate the services, credit policies, whether the housing units are furnished, the types of housing that are available, the actions taken by management in case the resident is unable to make the monthly payments, the kinds of services that are covered in the fees that are charged, and the possibility of changing the kind of care when the need arises in the future.

When checking the services offered by retirement living providers such as Assisted Living Concepts, it is also advisable to inquire as to the types of activities that are allowed. These include whether socialization is encouraged, the availability of a common dining room, whether there are plenty of chances to socialize with the neighboring communities, the presence of a lounge area and other ways that make it easier to interact with other community members. Safety features are also essential and these include the presence of hand rails, door alarms in each unit, an intercom in each unit, air conditioning, heating and ventilation, the availability of staff at any time, the availability of a doctor in the community, the presence of a hospital nearby, and the availability of a way to communicate with staff if there is an emergency.

Facts And Myths About Online Nursing Degrees

Do you want to be licensed nurse? Are you looking for the best nursing program that will allow you to learn online? Online education is the trend today. As it permits the students to carry on with their present commitments while simultaneously have the time to work out a degree. Before, breadwinners who have families to feed didn't have the time to go to traditional schools to study. Now that we are living in a fast-paced world, people easily can accomplish most of the things online. Moreover, people can now choose to study with their preferred courses online and at an accelerated pace. Then again, there are people who think that online nursing degrees are fraud because of the different rumors going around which are halfway true and halfway false. As a result, applicants and students are torn whether to study in conventional schools or go for online nursing degrees. If you are undecided whether where to enrol, following are the facts and myths about online nursing degrees that you should know.

Myth: Online Nursing Degrees Are Low Quality Education.
Fact: Many people are afraid to enrol online because they think that all online degrees are fraud. Perhaps, they have previously become victims of online fraud. However, without generalizing, several institutions today are hiring professors with Master's Degree and quality instructors to ensure that they are providing quality education to their students. They guarantee that their curriculums are timely and evidence-based.

Myth: Online Nursing Degrees Are Not Accredited.
Fact: Again, people should not be generalizing. Yes, there are online nursing degrees that are not accredited, but others are accredited. Certainly, it is more challenging to check if the online degrees are of quality and that the nursing instructors have the necessary credentials. However, there are accreditation systems that are encouraging nursing schools and nursing institutions to submit their nursing programs for evaluation. The Department of Education is in charge for overseeing the accreditation process. The DOE is working side by side with the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or NLNAC. They are responsible for determining which schools are to be accredited. Other accrediting agencies include the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and Council on Occupational Education.

Myth: The Level Of Difficulty Is Different From Studying In A Conventional School And That Of An Online Degree.
Fact: Don't enrol in any online degree if your reason is it is easier to graduate or you do not need to study hard. Before you enrol in any programs, check the curriculum because they are almost the same as that of the campus nursing degree program. However, since it is more of an independent study, it makes studying more difficult. Then again, there are still instructors that will be assigned to help you in case you will have a hard time on a subject matter.

Myth: You Won't Get A Job If You Will Study In An Online Degree.
Fact: This is definitely false especially if you will enrol in a qualified and accredited institution where you will receive proper training. These days, most employers know the significance of technology in education. They are open to individuals who did graduate from an online degree. Moreover, if you are a Bachelor's graduate in Nursing, you will still need to pass the NCLEX exam if you wish to apply for a job in the United States. The purpose of the NCLEX exam is to ensure that the public is protected and that the nurse is capable of what he or she is doing.

Today, thousands of online nursing degrees are available that you can choose from. Be careful when choosing the curriculum and consider the tips above. Protect yourself by being informed.

Living Arrangements and Accommodations - Assisted Living Homes

Living arrangements and accommodations in assisted living homes will vary. They can be very opulent and resort like or more family oriented. There is literally an arrangement for everyone. There are several different models that assisted living homes can be set up under. From the very small intimate model to those that are like living in an opulent hotel community.

Actual Homes

Many adult group homes are set up in actual homes. Usually these homes are four or more bedrooms with central living areas. Each resident has their own space in the form of a bedroom and may or may not have their own bathroom. The bathrooms might be shared. In homes that are set up in this arrangement the kitchen, living room and dining room are community areas. Meals are served family style and there is a sense of an intimate family setting.

In all of these homes there is twenty four hour staff. The staff is there to supervise activities including dispensing medications, handling personal care needs, and transporting residents for shopping, doctor's appointments, and errands. This is a warm intimate setting, where fast friends are made. It is like having a community of folks living together that shares a common bond, are from the same generation in most cases, and can relate to one another extremely well. One of the greatest benefits of adult group homes is that it allows people who would ordinarily be alone most of the day to socialize with others and participate in activities that they enjoy.

Facilities and Communities

There are some assisted living homes that are set up in apartment buildings or in large communities. The assisted living homes that are set up in apartment buildings usually are set up with centralized areas that are used for organized games. They may contain a restaurant style dining room and other facilities to include gyms and pools. Each resident has their own apartment which is typically a one bedroom, living room and eat-in kitchen with a private bath. Usually these apartments are set up with call buttons in each room and an intercom system. The same services are provided that are provided in smaller assisted living homes just on a larger scale.

There are some adult group homes that are actual communities. The communities are typically divided into different levels. There are almost completely independent living opportunities as the first level, than an intermediate part of the community where the folks that need a bit more help may live than finally an area where the living is very dependent on the staff for care. These types of assisted living homes provide the same services as the smaller homes do but on a much grander scale.

Adult group homes come in a variety of sizes and a full range of accommodations, it is entirely up to the individual and their family as to what type is right for them.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920: Section 27 B The Jones Act

Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is known as The Jones Act. This act was written to protect seaman who are injured while on a vessel. Basically, the The Jones Act declares the rights of seaman on US owned or operated vessels.

The Jones Act is designed to protect seamen from unsafe living and working conditions while working on a US vessel. This act covers not just the crew, but also the masters of that crew. The employer of the vessel is mandated by US law to compensate an injured seaman while working on board the employer's vessel. Under this act, when seamen are injured they have the right to make a claim and collect from their employers. If the injury is the result of the negligence of the vessel owner, they have the right to file a claim for damages. As well, if the injury resulted from the vessel and staff that created a environment of unseaworthiness, a seaman has the right to make a claim. Injury or death benefits can also be awarded if the vessel was assessed to be in a state of 'unseaworthiness.' A seaman can make a claim under this act if they comply with the The US Supreme Court ruling stating, 'Any worker who spends less than 30 percent of his time in the service of a vessel on navigable waters is presumed not to be a seaman under the Jones Act.'

Under the Act, a seaman can make a claim in the U.S. Federal Court or in a State Court. The act has provisions for providing compensation in certain areas. For instance, compensation can awarded for lost wages as the result of an injury where it can be shown a minimum 1% the fault of the employer. As well, the act gives an injured seaman the right to compensation regarding maintenance and cure until the seaman has been cured, or all medical treatment has been provided in an effort to achieve a cure. This means a seaman is entitled to compensation for medical expenses, accommodations that are comparable to accommodations on the vessel, hospitalization, medicine, doctor care, and nurse care. Maintenance begins once the injured or ill seaman departs the vessel and ends once the seaman has reached a maximum medical cure.

When a seaman has been injured on a vessel, the best thing he or she can do is contact a Jones Act Attorney, especially if the employer is negligent or the vessel is deemed unseaworthy (vessel or crew not fit). A Jone Act attorney specializes in Maritime law. This area of the law can be quite confusing for the novice so it a good idea to have an attorney that understands the act. The attorney will advise a seaman of his or her rights and explain the step-by-step process of obtaining fair compensation. A Jones Act attorney helps seamen navigate the legal process, prepares a case on behalf of their clients, and fights for their clients to ensure they receive the compensation that they deserve. If you have been injured working on a US vessel, you should hire a Jones Act Attorney.

Assisted Living FAQ - Questions to Ask Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living offers a mix of security and independent living, privacy and companionship and physical and social well-being. Assisted living communities in Ohio are required to be licensed by the State as residential care facilities if they provide any skilled nursing care such as administering medication or supervising diets. However, there are limitations to the amount of skilled care that a resident can receive within a licensed assisted living community. Below are lists of questions you should ask both yourself and the administration when looking at assisted living facilities. There are not necessarily any right or wrong answers; however, it is important to find a facility that can accommodate your needs.

About the organization

Is the environment comforting?

Does the assisted living community have a written description of its services and fees?

Will an admission contract be used? If so, does the admission agreement describe the service package (room, board, supervision, personal care, etc.) and prices?

Does the community strive to maintain resident autonomy and independence?

Does the assisted living community conduct a preliminary evaluation of the types of services the resident needs? Are family members or appropriate health care professionals involved in this evaluation?

Does the community create a service plan for each new resident?

Is there a staff person to coordinate home health care visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, etc. if needed?

Does the assisted living community explain the resident's rights and responsibilities? Ask to see a copy of the rights and responsibilities information.

Is there an official process to address resident complaints?

Does the organization have a resident council? A resident council meets regularly to talk about the care and services provided and ways to improve them. If there is a resident council, how often are the meetings? How does management deal with suggestions from the resident council, families and residents?

Are there different costs for various levels or categories of services?

Do billing, payment, and credit policies seem fair and reasonable?

Are there any government, private, or corporate programs available to help cover the cost of services to the resident?

Are residents required to purchase renters' insurance for personal property in their rooms?

Is 24-hour supervision or assistance available if needed?

Are health-related services and trained staff available should the resident need them?

Does the residence have specific policies regarding storage of medication, assistance with medications, training and supervision of staff, and record keeping?

Is self-administration of medication allowed?

Is staff available to assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses?

What happens if the resident needs skilled nursing care temporarily and what are the costs?

As the resident's needs change, how is the decision made whether he or she will be able to continue living in the assisted living community?

Do they offer other services such as skilled nursing, memory care or rehabilitation on site?

Physical Features of the Residence and Facility

Is the community well-designed for your needs?

Is the floor plan easy to follow?

Are doorways, hallways, and rooms accommodating to wheelchairs and walkers?

Are elevators available for those unable to use stairways?

Are handrails available to aid in walking?

Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?

Are floors of non-skid material and carpets firm to ease walking?

Does the residence have good natural and artificial lighting?

Is the residence clean, free of odors, and appropriately heated/cooled?

Are units for single and double occupancy available?

Do residents have their own lockable doors?

Is a 24-hour emergency response system accessible from the unit?

Are bathrooms private and designed to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?

Are residents able to bring their own furnishings for their unit? What may they bring? What is provided?

Do all units have a telephone and cable or satellite TV? How is billing handled?

Is a kitchen area provided with a refrigerator, sink, and cooking element?

May residents smoke in their units? In public spaces?

May residents decorate their own units?

Does the residence provide housekeeping services in residents' units?

Can residents arrange for transportation on fairly short notice?

Are pharmacy, barber/beautician, and/or physical therapy services offered onsite?

Does the residence provide transportation to doctors' offices, the hairdresser, shopping, and other activities desired by residents?

Does the residence have sprinklers and clearly marked exits?

Does the residence have a means of security if a resident wanders?

Social & Recreational Activities

Is there evidence of organized activities, such as a posted daily schedule, events in progress, reading materials, visitors, etc.?

Do residents participate in activities outside of the residence in the neighboring community?

Does the residence have its own pets?

Are residents' pets allowed in the residence? Who is responsible for their care?

Do volunteers, including family members, come into the residence to help with or to conduct programs?

Does the residence create a sense of community by encouraging residents to participate in activities?

Are there opportunities to attend religious services?

Food Service

Do dining room menus vary from day to day and meal to meal?

Does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week?

Are snacks available?

May a resident request special foods, and can the residence accommodate special dietary needs?

Are common dining areas available?

May residents eat meals in their units?

May meals be provided at a time a resident would like, or are there set times for meals?

Step by Step Guide to Finding Assisted Living Facilities For Elderly Care

Choosing a facility for your aging parent, friend or family member can be a vast responsibly. The longer and elderly person can stay independent the better, but there comes a time in their lives that they will need special care and attention that can only be provided by a caregiver or an assisted living facility.

Caregivers are normally a first option as this will allow the person to stay in his or her own home or that of a family member or friend. Unfortunately caregivers are an expensive option and it is not affordable for many older people or their families.

The next option is to look at a care facility that will be able to meet the needs of the person.

Assisted care is less intensive than nursing home care, where licensed nurses are required staff.

In assisted care the elderly person will have an own room, studio or apartment. They will also have access to certain services, such as meals, social and wellness activities. If they need help with daily tasks such as bathing, getting dressed or combing hair there will be people to help with that.

Many assisted living facilities have libraries, swimming pools, small shops, hairdressers and other services that will allow the elderly very much the same living conditions they had while living in their own home.

It is very important to allow the elderly person to be part of the decision making. Remember what they need and what you think they need are not always the same. They might prefer a smaller place with less people even if it is not as smart and luxurious as other bigger facilities. They might want to go to a place where they already know people or have friends or family members living.

Seek advice from doctors, spiritual leaders or family and friends in the same situation.

Take the elderly person's medical condition into consideration. Make sure emergency medical services are close by and available. Living somewhere in the country, close to friends or family, might not be such a good idea if these services are not available.

Affordability is also a main consideration. If the elderly person doesn't have the means to pay for this facility you should find out if there are grants available or if an affluent friend or family member can maybe assist.

Some of the services provided at facilities maybe excluded from the given price. Be sure you know exactly what is included and what extra fees will come to.

Making the right choice will ensure many happy years to come for your elderly loved one.

Becoming a CNA: Classes and Training

What does a CNA do?

A certified nursing assistant, better known as a CNA, is a healthcare professional who provides direct patient care. These people are sometimes referred to as patient care technicians, home health aides, or orderlies, but they all perform the same job.

Daily tasks that CNAs help patients perform include eating, bathing, getting dressed, moving around the living space and other basic activities. CNAs are also frequently responsible for keeping track of the patient's physical condition and any concerns that a patient may have.

Once a CNA has collected this information, he or she gives it to a nurse in charge.

These duties prepare a large number of CNAs to later become registered nurses. Becoming a CNA requires specialized training, as well as having active registration with the state in which the CNA intends to work.

What Registering CNAs Need

Special CNA classes are required for anyone who wants to register as a nursing aide. The basic academic coursework is just part of CNA training, however.

To become a nursing assistant, it's also necessary to receive hands-on training under a nurse or doctor's supervision. Different states have different requirements for the length and type of experience required, but it must occur in a hospital, nursing home or other medical establishment in most cases.

Finding CNA Programs

Attending the wide range of CNA classes available in most states can be difficult for people with other jobs. However, employer-supported CNA classes are available for people who already have healthcare jobs.

Individuals who are not eligible for CNA programs through an employer, can attend evening classes or choose online coursework as a good secondary choice.

It may be necessary to do extra research about your CNA classes if you decide that online or distant schools are your best option. This is because accreditation and certification standards vary by state.

Make sure that the program you pick is compatible with your state requirements. Every CNA program in the U.S. must provide 75 hours of academic and practical coursework or more.

Career Opportunities

It's true that nursing assistants can only progress so far in a CNA job. CNA salaries average between $21,000 and $29,000 per year, with some rare positions providing up to $40,000. Many CNAs advance their career by getting more education and becoming nurses or physician's assistants.

Increasing medical costs are now prompting many hospitals to use CNAs to do the work that once required a registered nurse. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for CNAs is expected to grow by 20 percent by 2020, especially as more older people need nursing home care.

This increase in demand means that CNA training is a smart choice for anyone who is interested in a caregiving career.

What Should I Know About Assisted Living?

Just about everyone looks forward to retirement as a time to relax and enjoy life. Often, though, we get too consumed by daily responsibilities to fully relish the leisure time we've worked so hard to gain. That's where a move to assisted living can make quite a difference.

Although Massachusetts assisted living communities tend to be very well-regulated and of unusually good quality, there are certainly major differences among them. People who are familiar with many communities tend to prefer those that that stand out by placing far more emphasis on helping to keep residents active, busy, and involved than most other facilities do. This philosophy can often be manifested by a very warm, personal feeling that comes across readily to prospective residents who stop to talk with current residents, and ask their feelings about living at New Horizons. Indeed, one of the most important considerations for anyone considering assisted living is to speakk directly to existing residents of any particular facility.

Most seniors considering such a move to assisted living are very concerned about maintaining their dignity and independence. Their ages typically range from about 65 to 100, with an average in the low to mid 80s. Moving to a fine residential environment with quality accommodations, good neighbors, and a strong program can often be a major benefit to seniors who have previously lived by themselves. Indeed, they very often "come alive again once they no longer have to concern themselves with the burdens of living alone.

One of the most common sources of confusion for those looking into retiremetn living is the challenge of correctly understanding the difference between independent retirement living and assisted living. The former is typically a living arrangement in residential apartments where elders share common space, but are able to maintain their independence with little or no assistance. Better facilities typically provide three meals daily for all residents, plus utilities, some transportation, housekeeping, etc., as well as standby assistance, if needed, and a wide variety of social activities. In Massachusetts, communities often blend independent living and assisted living options into one facility.

Similar to independent living, assisted living is a housing option for older adults who need some assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, bathing, ambulating or toileting, but who do not require 24-hour nursing care. They are still able to live independently with some assistance, but that assistance is generally necessary on a daily basis. In many ways, assisted living might be seen as "independent living with an added bonus!"

MA senior assisted-living communities and retirement residences for aged citizens are among the very best. Many folks profoundly seek and appreciate the opportunity to enjoy their "golden years" in a very caring assisted living place convenient to Boston, Worcester, Southboro, Hudson, Northborough, Westboro, Framingham and Fitchburg, Marlborough, and Woburn, MA. Other nearby communities well-populated with quality assisted living options include Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Waltham, Weston and the other towns along MA Route 128. Often, the majority of seniors looking into these communities prefer the many benefits of a large community, with the intimacy of a small assisted-living home where everyone knows your name.

Assisted living facilities should not be confused with a nursing home, but rather a Massachusetts retirement community with many activities. Most such communities are non-sectarian Boston-area senior communities that might offer frequent religious services on-campus and easy access to others. Some include at least weekly Protestant and Jewish services on-site and daily Catholic Mass. Enjoying metro-west elderly care assisted-living with elegant gourmet dining, at low, affordable rates can truly make a difference in the lives of seniors.

A wealth of information regarding the wide selection of Massachusetts assisted living communities is available on the Internet.

Assisted Living Facility Executive Director Answers 3 Important Questions for Seniors and Families

I'm here with Margie Veis, the Executive Director of Summerhill Villa, an assisted living facility in Santa Clarita, California. Hi Margie.

Margie Veis: Hi Kirk.

KH: How long have you been doing this?

MV: I have been an executive director for ten years, all of them at Summerhill Villa.

KH: This is an assisted living facility.

MV: Correct.

KH: Why is assisted living important?

MV: Assisted living is important because it can be a great alternative to living alone in your home, or living in a skilled nursing facility. It's that other alternative.

KH: What exactly is assisted living?

MV: Assisted living is a non medical alternative. We're licensed by the Department of Social Services and it's non medical, so we can have people live here that are independent or those that need assistance with personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, meal making, laundry, medication assistance.

The biggest difference is we're not a skilled nursing facility so we don't have doctors on staff, we're not required to have nurses on staff, we don't do nursing care. We can't give injections, and we can't have IVs. We are that intermediate care for those that say: "I don't want to be at home, and I don't have medical needs. I just need some custodial care." So an assisted living can be a great choice.

KH: What do you say to people that say: "I will keep my parents at home at all costs?"

MV: I hear that a lot. Sometimes that works. My biggest question is - Is it safe? If it is safe, there are options that you can do to live at home. There are some people who are not going to leave their home. You can't force them even if there is a safety issue but you can get home care. It's costly but that's an option.

Some choose to have a family member move in so that there's somebody there, so there are ways to make it work but you've got to weigh the financial and the bottom line - Is my parent safe at home? That's the real question.

Settling a Personal Injury Case: The Primary Factors

First things first: if you are attempting to settle a personal injury case without a lawyer on your side, you're probably making a big mistake. This isn't always the case; while a lawyer can almost certainly get you more money, it may only be enough of a difference to cover his or her fees, in which case you have wasted your time. But to forge ahead with negotiations without so much as consulting with a lawyer is a bad idea. Still, some people do it, and if you feel that talking directly with the insurance company is in your best interests, you should at least know the factors that go into determining a settlement.

Direct Damages

These, by and large, constitute your hospital bills and lost wages. If you have been permanently disabled, you probably want compensation that allows for projected wages for the rest of your life. This is going to be hard to come by in a negotiated settlement and it's going to be nearly impossible without the help of a lawyer. When you attempt to negotiate directly without hiring a personal injury attorney, the opposing insurance company has nothing to be afraid of. Even if the facts of the case are blindingly obvious, the results of a negotiation are going to hinge on how seriously the other side takes you. Without a lawyer or the threat of a protracted, costly lawsuit hanging over their heads, there is little incentive for them to settle a large sum.

Non-Economic Considerations

Damages in a personal injury case aren't limited to those in black and white. Most states allow for non-economic damages such as "pain and suffering" and a decreased quality of life. These are tough to put a financial price tag on, which is just one more reason why you would be better off hiring legal counsel.

Your Bottom Line

You can hardly hope to have a successful negotiation if you aren't sure what "success" means to you. Before you begin talking money, you need to have a figure in mind. This should be the minimum amount you'll accept as a settlement. Use the above factors to arrive at a number you feel is appropriate. While you can, and probably should, aim for more, you need to know the figure below which you will not drop. If the insurance company can't meet this number, you'll know you need to proceed with a lawsuit. Do not allow proceedings to become so protracted that you miss your filing window.

The Difference Between a Retirement Home and Nursing Home

Helping someone you love find the proper elderly home can be a difficult process. There are many different options out there, so make sure that you understand the distinction between the types of homes offered.

If your loved one is entirely mobile and they do not need any type of medical assistance, they will probably feel most comfortable at a retirement home. These homes are largely apartment buildings for seniors that include various activities and amenities - almost like a resort for the elderly. Contrastingly, nursing homes are establishments that have been erected in order to help those that need constant medical attention. Right from the start, you should be able to determine what sort of home your loved one needs.

It is not a good idea to place a mobile person in a nursing home, since they will not be autonomous. This is precisely why most nursing homes will not accept any new people that do not require outside help. While those within these types of homes do not have to be completely bed stricken, they usually need help attending to daily tasks such as brushing their teeth, getting dressed, and going outside for a walk. The routine inside of a nursing home tends to be organized and scheduled every day - in short, there is no room for individual activities within this type of establishment. Since the staff that works at a nursing home provides around the clock attention, the cost of living at this type of home is generally higher than a retirement home.

Those elderly people that simply want to live in a smaller space will often seek out a retirement home. This type of home does not include any type of medical care, though it may include various extras such as transportation, senior services, and events that are planned with seniors in mind. Many seniors move to retirement homes when their own homes become too much to handle. Retirement homes charge a monthly rental fee that changes from home to home depending upon the type of services offered.

Now that you know the fundamental differences, you can begin to look around for the type of home that your loved one needs. Make sure to visit any kind of home unannounced during the afternoon hours - this way, you can see what the regular operations look like. Also, always bring your loved one with you to visit a home, so that you can be sure they like the atmosphere. Even though this process is never easy, it can be a lot easier if you know what type of home you are looking for.

Helping The Elderly - Becoming a Social Worker for Seniors

With the numbers of seniors increasing every year with the baby boomers reaching retirement age the need for those social workers that help provide them with a variety of different services is increasing as well.

So it is important that people who are interested in helping people should consider becoming a social worker that specifically works for the older citizens of our country.

The first thing you will need to have to qualify is a bachelor's degree. This is the very first step in being able to be a social worker for senior citizens. Usually that degree would be in either human services or sociology.

You will then have to go on and get yourself a master's degree in overall social work. All states requires that a person has a master's degree in this field just to be able to get a license. During this time you will have a lot of different chances to participate in internships while you are getting your master's degree, some of the places you should consider doing this at is at nursing homes, senior centers or other organizations that work with older people in your area.

Many states are going to require that you also have completed a certain amount of hours in the field after you get your degree but before you get your license. This is supervised experience such as working with an organization that works with older clients.

After you have done this you will then have to move on and take the National Social Work exam. This exam is given by the ASWB or Association of Social Work Boards. This exam is the only way that you can get your license to become a social worker.

After you have passed your exam, you can then go a head and put in your application to get your license from your state. If you decide that you want to practice in a different state than where you got your education you will need to go there and apply with them because each state has their own application requirements.

So it is really important that you check with whatever state you are interested in working in, to see what kinds of documentation will be needed in order for you to apply for your license with them.

Once you have done all of this and you have gotten your license in hand, it is time for you to start looking for a place that you can work with senior citizens. You can work at a variety of different places once you have your license. There are hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing hospitals, state agencies and other community organizations that are in need of social workers to help represent the needs of their elderly citizens.

One final note: A major requirement for a person to get their license as a social worker is their ability to pass a criminal background check as well as a regular background check.

Medication Management and Supervision - Assisted Living Homes

One of the biggest benefits of living in an assisted living home environment for the elderly is medication management. It is expected that with age comes health problems. Older folks are usually on multiple medications; in fact, some individuals may be taking dozens of different medications each day. Keeping up with it all can be a burden. Of course making sure that medicine is taken as prescribed is very important in order to repeat the therapeutic or sometimes even life-sustaining benefits of what the doctor has ordered. Unfortunately as folks get older they may have trouble trying to make sure they are taking the right medicine at the right time in the right amount. Some may forget to take their medication at all, while others may forget that they have taken it and then end up taking too much. Medication management is a real issue for some elderly folks, especially since dementia is usually

Managing all the medication can be very stressful and many times it becomes overwhelming and the individual simply decides not to take the medication. This is where assisted living homes really can make a difference.

How It Works

The process is very convenient and simplistic. It is not intrusive, it is simply a matter of one individual is helping another to take the right medication. In most assisted living homes there are dedicated staff members that have some type of medical training that are tasked with dispensing medication and making sure that everyone gets what they need.

This is a perfect way to insure that all the residents are on the correct medication and that they take it when prescribed as prescribed. There are some cases where this can be the difference between life and death.

An additional benefit, especially with a new medication, is having someone there to monitor the reactions of the medication on the individual. In assisted living homes, most of the staff get to know the residents very well and are trained to listen for cues indicating that a medication is not working as it should or that it is causing uncomfortable side effects. Regardless of the age a lot of folks are just not that in tune with their body's cues and they might take a medication that may cause side effects that they might attribute to other causes never realizing that it is the medication that they are taking.

Supervision can include checking blood pressure and other bodily functions for a sign of something amiss. This is a great service that is a safety net of sorts to be sure that the medication that is prescribed is working as it should.

Diabetes

Diabetes afflicts many older adults for a host of reasons. It is a very serious disease that needs to be monitored closely. In assisted living homes, when medication is being supervised, many times so is the resident's blood sugar level. This is a great service that can save lives.

Alzheimer's disease

Many elderly patients suffer from conditions that bring on dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Dementia patients in particular can benefit from medication management that is offered by assisted living facilities.

Assisted living homes are a great way to being sure that an older adult is being assisted with day to day needs to include taking medication.

Retirement Homes in India - Bliss For Aged

Retirement homes give senior citizens a healthy and peaceful environment, where they can simply unwind themselves and live those golden years again.

These homes are privately owned rental accommodations for seniors who are able to manage and pay for their own care. Generally, retirement homes are designed for seniors who need minimal to moderate support with their daily living activities. The settings of these homes enable residents to live as independently as possible, while providing certain services and social activities. Most retirement homes offer meals, housekeeping, laundry, and recreational and social programs. These homes can be an appropriate option for people who do not require 24-hour nursing care. One can live a healthy life with regular exercise, meditation, and healthy food in retirement homes.

With the increase in the spending power, the demand for retirement homes is expectedly on the rise. The financially secured senior citizens want to spend their last years in luxury, with all the amenities they were used to during their working years, and with the added comfort of having medical and other care services at hand.

'Retirement Homes' are also vacation homes for some. As many of these cater to the needs of retirees whose children live outside India. In recent years, several senior Indian immigrants from the US and UK have purchased villas and apartments in India. Some of them have already transferred their residence to India, and some others treat these much like vacation homes, with yearly trips for extended stays in India. Developers are also looking at a big non-resident Indian (NRI) retirement market and building homes for the high-income couples working abroad in the US, Canada, Europe and even the Middle East who will retire in the next 3 to 5 years. This is a big opportunity. There are couples working abroad who would want to spend 3 to 6 months in a year in India. Retirement homes could target them as well.

Though the concept is very western, many Indian developers are also coming up with Retirement Homes. Some property developers from Pune have introduced the concept of "Apartments for the old". They have constructed apartments that will suit the requirements of old people - the interior design and the amenities are built in a manner that will suit their needs. These Retirement Homes offer several advantages like:

The elderly can spend time with people of the same age. This helps them bond better and make lasting friendships with people they can relate to.

They can conduct activities which they can enjoy together - like playing games and going on a picnic.

Medical facilities are offered for its residents. This is especially useful if the individual has no family to fall back on.

Anyone can apply to a retirement home. You do not need to provide medical evidence that you need a minimum level of care. The retirement home, however, may assess your needs to ensure that it can provide you with appropriate support, or that you do not need more support than it can provide.

Besides these amenities, builders feel that it is important to develop these homes away from the crowded city life. Also, the prices of metros are beyond the reach of senior citizens. Some developers like Covai Property Centre feel Coimbatore is a promising option for development of retirement homes. Mr. A. Sridharan, Managing Director of the company has said that Coimbatore has a strong case for becoming a favoured destination of the retirees because of salubrious climate, excellent medical facilities, proximity to famous religious and tourism centres and the availability of direct flights to important international destinations.

Some residents of these retirement homes say that they have chosen to live their by choice and not because of any compulsion. They need their own space like younger generation. It's time for retirees to live life king size.

Legal Limits of Care in Assisted Living Facilities

When aging parents come to the point when assisted living seems like the best choice, it is usually their baby boomer children who see it first. Perhaps the adult children live in another state. Perhaps they are unable to visit Mom or Dad often enough to feel comfortable leaving them alone.

The death of a spouse or a gradual loss of independence in self care-any of these reasons may lead to the adult child's decision to move the parent. As an assisted living facility representative is likely to tell you, it is often the adult children who first come to look the place over, later bringing their parents to see the place for themselves. These adult children are the hidden consumers of services.

Assisted vs Nursing Home

As the hidden consumers, what do the adult children of aging parents need to understand about these facilities? Very simply: what the facility can't do. Invariably, the sales pitch tells you what the facility can do, which is fine, and to be expected. But as a consumer, you must understand the difference between assisted  and nursing care. First, an assisted living facility is not a nursing home with fancy furniture. Assisted living is not licensed to give nursing care.

Typically, assisted living facilities are places where elders live in a supervised community, with some personal care services available. Meals, social activity, and help with the activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing are all usually offered at such facilities. The focus is on providing a healthy social environment and preventing social isolation. It is a worthy focus, as isolation is dangerous, and widespread among elders whose independence is declining.

If your parent is in fragile health and seems to be steadily declining physically or mentally, be cautious about choosing an assisted living facility over a nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility). No one chooses a nursing home first. Nursing homes are more like hospitals, as they must be to deliver skilled care to frail seniors. But if your aging parent needs nursing care, and must be watched day and night, or you believe that he or she is likely to need such supervision in the near future, it is the only choice.

Assisted living facilities are not licensed by Medicare or Medicaid to give skilled care. Some have a separate skilled nursing facility on-site or nearby, but it will have its own license to deliver skilled nursing care. That license does not apply to the assisted living component, even the two facilities are located on the same campus or are operated by the same parent company.

Doctors & Nurses Not Required

Many assisted living facilities do not have any licensed nurse on staff, and may have no nurse connected to them at all. Because they are considered non-medical facilities, having a licensed nurse is not required by law. Even if a nurse is employed by the assisted living facility, the nurse cannot give hands-on care in the form of dressing a wound, administering around-the-clock insulin, administering oxygen, or other tasks that are defined by the federal and state governments as "skilled nursing care."

Skilled nursing care may only be administered within a facility that is licensed to do so. Legally, this kind of facility is licensed as a skilled nursing facility, although it may have a different business name that it markets itself as, such as an "extended care" or "long-term care" facility. Medicare and Medicaid also designate these homes as skilled nursing facilities.

Because skilled nursing facilities bill Medicare and/or Medicaid for skilled nursing care, they must comply with many complex legal regulations and requirements. Assisted living facilities are regulated by the state Department of Social Services, not the Department of Health, which regulates nursing homes. Assisted living facilities do not have the same safety or administrative requirements as a skilled nursing facility, and they are prohibited from giving care they are not licensed to give.

Limitations to Specialized Care Waivers

There are exceptions to some of the federal and state government's licensing requirements. For example, a licensed assisted living facility may take care of residents with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, if it has a waiver to accept this kind of resident. The facility must also have certain protections in place to prevent injury to its demented residents.

However, it is still prohibited from restraining a demented resident who has a tendency to wander. There are many other limitations to what an assisted living facility can do, even with waivers. Taking care of residents with dementia can be unpredictable, and skilled nursing can become necessary as the disease progresses.

When an aging parent has to move out of the family home, or out of a long-term residence of any kind, the move can be difficult, even traumatic. If you are considering assisted living as an option for your loved one, be sure your focus is on the long run. Carefully consider what he or she will need a year down the road. Moving an elder twice within a short period can be extremely hard on both of you, so make your decisions based on the overall picture, not just on what the assisted living facility can do for him or her right now.

As hidden consumers, adult children must be fully aware of the limits of assisted care. Assisted care facilities can be wonderful and supportive environments for residents who don't need skilled care. If you are considering assisted living for your aging parent, be sure this kind of place is a match for your parent's needs.

The Caregiver Trap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dysfunctional family relationships are a common cause of caregiver conflict.

Diabetes and Nursing Care

Health and fitness is a tri-billion segment of the economy. Everybody seeks to be worry-free and debt-free while achieving a healthy lifestyle. Reality tells us, however, that not all can be free from getting inflicted with diseases because some of them are attributed by the natural side of existence. Genetics can give rise to ailments like cancer and diabetes. Diabetes and nursing care is collectively among the popular topics in the health sector nowadays because old people who have Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are to be treated in nursing homes and health agencies. The American Diabetes Association has created standards in order to guide nursing professionals to afford diabetics with extra care and treatment.

Researchers keep track on how diabetic people are given blood glucose treatments, and according to recent surveys, around 40% of the patients meet the goals while the remaining 60% have to be given more attention to achieve satisfactory sugar blood levels. In diabetes, there are there fields that need to be checked on to determine life expectancy among diabetics. These areas are cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol, blood sugar level and hypertension control aspect. The basic information on diabetes and nursing care are health segments that experts and patients should be well-informed of so that appropriate treatments are secured.

In nursing homes in the United States and Europe, researchers and caretakers are continuously following certain protocols on diabetes and nursing care. These protocols are given to health directors of nursing homes so that they can be included in their regular studies. Follow-throughs are necessary to keep track on the efficacy of such codes of conduct. It has been discovered that diabetes appears to be on different degree for older individuals. Making it so complicated to manage diabetes are factors like aging process and health capacity to adopt treatments. There are opportunities, however, that health stability and prevention for the elderly to cope with diabetes and enhance the quality of their existence in the long run.

It's a serious note to learn all the angles of diabetes and nursing care. Elderly diabetes is triple times in need of extra treatment and hospitalization than those without diabetes. A great burden sets on the shoulders of those suffering such ailment especially when aging seems to conspire with it. Health care systems are being upgraded to meet the needs of diabetic individuals in nursing homes to avoid diabetes-related episodes like strokes and mild heart attack. Relatives of diabetics who are sent to nursing homes should not isolate themselves from the patients. Instead, they must extend support to whatever systems employed by the health professionals. They too can serve as caretakers when they opt to care for their loved ones at their own residence.

Non-Profit Versus For-Profit Senior Care Jobs - The Pros and Cons

If you're interested in pursuing senior care jobs, one decision that you're going to have to make is whether to work for a non-profit or a for-profit organization. Many assisted living jobs fall within the non-profit sector; but just as many long term care jobs fall within a for-profit sector. Like anything else, there are definite pros and cons associated with either work environment. The best way to find the nursing home administrator jobs that are right for you is figuring out what the drawbacks and advantages of working for non-profits and for-profit organizations are - then zeroing in on one or the other. An overview of the pluses and minuses of each is outlined below.

Non-Profit Senior Care Jobs

There are many benefits associated with a nursing home job in the non-profit sector. Non-profit organizations tend to offer great benefits, especially if they've been around for a while. The waiting period for qualifying for those benefits tends to be shorter than it is within for-profit companies. The atmosphere at non-profit assisted living jobs tends to be laid back; if you like a less stressful environment and slower pace, this type of job may be right for you.

Of course, a non-profit nursing home job has its drawbacks. Salaries tend to be quite a bit lower than they are at for-profit organizations. The same RN job at a non-profit may bring in a salary that's 25% less than at a for-profit corporation. That being said, jobs for nurse practitioner within a non-profit usually offer great perks like topnotch benefits and plenty of paid vacation time. For many people, those perks offset the lower salary enough to make working an RN job at a non-profit worth it.

For-Profit Senior Care Jobs

One of the big pluses of working at a for-profit company is a higher salary. Most of the time, jobs for nurse practitioner at for-profit organizations come with significantly higher salaries than their non-profit counterparts.

There are many more opportunities to earn a competitive salary at a for-profit nursing home or assisted living facility, like a nursing home administrator jobs. While there are usually great health care benefits and other perks, you'll usually have a longer "probationary period" to wait through before you can start enjoying them. Finally, for-profit companies tend to have more regimented environments and atmospheres; procedures and protocol tend to be highly important. This is worth keeping in mind if you don't do well in such environments.

Another item worth noting is the overall intent of the organization and their philosophy toward elder care. Often this alone is a topic that can ignite passion in whomever you speak with. Some people feel that for-profits are always looking for ways to make more money and therefore cutting corners on the care that they provide their patients or residents. Other people feel that not-for-profits are frequently underfunded and thus never have enough staff for proper resident care. In reality, both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations still have to meet their bills and do their best to acquire appropriate funding. This means that the deciding factor on the overall philosophy of care is typically generated by Executive Management and not the tax-filing status of the organization.

Needless to say, some people will prefer the experience of working for a non-profit senior care facility; others will feel more comfortable in a for-profit environment. Consider both options then focus on the type of facility that is right for you.

Examining The Role Of A Nursing Home Consultant

Nursing and rehabilitation centers of today have come a long way in the services they offer and in their quality of care. These positive improvements happened in large part due to the role that professional consultants play in the health care field. Without the guidance and knowledge of these professionals, many rehab homes and other similar facilities would be a lot different than they are today.

When it comes to changes or improvements in a system, nursing homes are usually focusing on the care provided for residents. Constant improvements in patient care starts at several levels. Some homes may need greater training for the nursing assistants in basic patient care. Some facilities must work hard at developing specialized care plans for the patients.

The assisted living and long term care industry has grown tremendously in the past few decades. The need for prioritized requirements within a facility is essential to providing the best patient care. Many consulting groups offer speakers for seminars and conferences. Learning a new way of doing paperwork at the end of a shift or better ways to achieve sanitary conditions within a facility could be some of the topics covered in a seminar for facility medical employees.

Some situations that could arise in a nursing or rehab center require the experience and knowledge of social workers. Hiring a consulting professional to help implement the attention necessary for social work is a good way to help your present employees ease into a new circumstance. Social improvements in this type of medical environment can have great benefits for everyone involved.

When a facility gets into trouble with things like code violations, professional care consultations could be a penal aspect of breaking code rules. The consultants role is to visit the home for constructing a plan to correct the risk of code violations. This could mean more detailed incident reports or higher standards for cleaning.

Administrators can benefit from consulting services as much as residents can in some cases. Knowing you have someone taking care of planning and helping employees to learn the best ways for putting those plans to work is a great relief. Administrators generally have a lot of responsibilities. The support administrators get from consulting experts is greatly beneficial.

Making changes in your facility starts with hiring professional, experienced nursing home consulting companies. By doing so, you and your employees can experience benefits of professional planning. Residents can also have greater levels of care and attention when expert planning is implemented inside a facility.

10 Key Questions to Ask Your Home Health Care Provider

Selecting the right home health care provider can be a daunting task. There are many agencies to choose from and the decision can seem overwhelming. Knowing the right initial questions to ask can mean the difference between choosing a top quality agency and choosing a poor one. Arm yourself with the following key questions:

(1) Does the agency conduct background checks on its caregivers and verify their nursing credentials? --- Ask them to describe the process. How often do these checks occur?

Different agencies have different standards on what constitutes a thorough background check. Some agencies have rigorous standards, while some agencies find caregivers through sites like Craigslist and do not conduct background checks whatsoever. Obviously, you should have complete peace-of-mind before bringing a caregiver into your or your loved one's home, so this question is of the utmost importance.

(2) What is the agency's level of accreditation?

Ask about accreditation from non-profit Medical Standards Organizations like The Joint Commission, C.H.A.P. or C.A.H.C. Obtaining these certifications means the agency has voluntarily met a high standard of care and business practices. These achievements are often used as benchmarks, determining whether or not the agency will be able to accept Medicaid.

(3) Is the agency licensed, bonded and insured?

Being licensed, bonded, and insured means that the agency (and its employees) are covered should any liability issues arise. This is a MUST-HAVE for any trustworthy agency.

(4) Can I change my caregiver for any reason?

Most agencies will try to accommodate you as best they can. However, be 100% sure that you are able to change caregivers should any incompatibility issues arise. Bringing someone into your home is a delicate endeavor, so the ability to be selective is key.

(5) What sort of supervision/additional training will my Home Heath Aide receive?

Ideally, Certified Home Health Aides should be supervised by a professional nurse (R.N.). Ask if a nurse is on-call 24/7 to answer any questions and solve any problems that should arise. In addition, ask about additional training for home care professionals. Reputable agencies will conduct regular training sessions with staff on the newest technologies in care, new protocol, etc.

(6) Can you point me towards some references?

When choosing a Home Health Care Agency, be sure to ask for references from other patients and nurses. A reputable agency will gladly provide you with contact information of people who will vouch for their quality of service.

(7) Do you have a minimum number of hours per week?

Many agencies set a minimum number of hours of care required. A common minimum is 9 hours per week. Other agencies have no minimum. If there is no minimum, be sure to ask how the pricing structure is set up for low-hour cases.

(8) Do you complete the necessary legal paperwork?

Most agencies will complete legal paperwork for the patient, but this is not always the case. When finding a nurse independently, the patient or their family must prepare documentation to pay an employee.

(9) Will I have the same caregiver on a consistent basis?

Some agencies emphasize continuity of care, while others seem to have a revolving door policy. Be sure to find out if you or your loved one will regularly receive the same caregiver(s).

(10) What are the official credentials of your caregivers?

Not all agencies require caregivers to have nursing licenses/certificates. Ask about the certifications of the agency's caregivers. Are they Certified Home Health Aides, R.N.s, L.P.N.s?