Coping With the Burden of Caring for a Senior

Greater longevity of life and rising nursing facility costs are forcing many into elder care situations they aren't prepared to deal with. After all, it's a tough job, it often involves living with another adult which changes the lifestyles of both, and it entails making critical decisions about a loved one's health and care. No matter how much you love your parents, it's going to add more burdens onto your already-overtaxed shoulders in order to care for them in old age. In some cases this situation works out well; however, for many, it can seem like the straw that's breaking the camel's back unless they learn some coping strategies to help them.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. This doesn't mean trying to dump the burden onto someone else, but it's not a sign of weakness to ask another friend or relative to stay with Mom for awhile in order for you to take a little time off to indulge yourself. If you don't ask any one individual to do this very often, they'll be glad to help, and you'll feel much more energized and ready to go on.

Be sure to keep in touch with your loved one's medical caregivers. Know exactly what he or she is able to do and what they should be doing for themselves. Some seniors will try and do more than they should just because it's what they've done all their lives. Others, though, will try and take advantage of the situation by wanting you to do more and more for them. Years ago my grandmother lived with my parents. When it got to the point that Grandma was expecting my mother to lift her in and out of the tub and attend to her other personal needs, Mother had to insist that Grandma be put into a nursing facility. Mother was damaging her own health trying to care for Grandma, and that wasn't the best case scenario for either of them, especially since Grandma could have done the things herself.

Try to find appropriate activities for your loved one to participate in order to keep them occupied. If there is a senior citizen's center in your community, check into the types of activities they offer. Even if he or she objects to going at first, as soon as they begin making friends and enjoying themselves again, the objections will cease. Remember, though, that this isn't adult day care. You can't expect the center staff to shoulder nursing tasks or to become full-time caregivers. Talk to the person about what he or she likes to do if you don't already know, and supply them with materials so that they can work on hobbies they enjoy.

Free CNA Classes in Texas - How To Find Them

Now that you've decided to become a CNA, you need to get training from an accredited training provider in Texas. A college or nursing care facility that is accredited by the Texas nursing board is your best bet for getting trained. After completing the training you will be eligible for the certification exam that will get you a step closer to becoming a certified nursing aide.

If you can't afford the tuition costs for CNA training, there are a couple of ways you can get it for free. One of those ways is to ask your nearest Job Corps office if they're providing CNA classes. There are four Job Corps offices in Texas. They are located in San Marcos, El Paso, Laredo and Mckinney. Not only do they have CNA courses from time to time but they also offer pharmacy technician and medical assisting courses. Both of those are great alternatives to CNA training should you opt for them.

Another way of getting free nurse aide training in texas is through nursing care facilities. There are a lot of nursing homes in Houston, Dallas and Austin who you can approach for employment. Basically, you should look for nursing homes that are looking for CNA's. You then approach them with an interest to work as a CNA. A lot of these facilities will hire you and then pay to get you certified since there is an imminent shortage of CNA's across the United States. You can rest assured that this will be the case for many years to come since the demand for CNA's is rising every year.

Sometimes, you can contact the nurse aide registry or the Texas nursing board and ask them if the government is having any subsidized training programs. If there are any that are running at that moment, the cost will usually be minimal enough for you to be able to join.

Atlanta Assisted Living - 3 Questions to Ask

Chances are we all will reach a certain stage in life when it is no longer possible for us to live independently, all by ourselves doing laundry, cooking food, dressing, eating, housekeeping, and taking medicines, etc. Some people have already reached that age where they need assistance in doing small little things called the Activities of Daily Living (ADL). At that time, moving to an Atlanta Assisted Living Community might be a good choice.

Atlanta Assisted Living Communities come as a blessing to people who need a little bit of support in performing their daily chores, but are capable enough to live through the day mostly on their own. You need to be very careful when choosing an Assisted Living Community for either yourself or for a loved one. It is good to sift your choices through the following filters.

Question 1: How good is the place?

This should be at the top of your priority list when looking for an Atlanta Assisted Living Community for your family member, because he or she is going to stay there for years to come, if not for his or her entire life. You need to double check the facilities before you send your loved one to one of these facilities.

The obvious things to look for are the kinds and sizes of rooms offered, the heating, sanitation, air circulation, amount of sun-light, and cleanliness, etc. In addition, there are many not-so-obvious factors like the social life in the assisted living home, the kinds of people living there and their levels of ADLs, the level of support offered, and the variety of daily planned activities. All of these things need to be examined before you send your family member there.

Question 2: Who will be there to help when your loved one needs someone?

Although people living in Atlanta Assisted Living Communities do not need the amount of care required by people living in nursing homes, nevertheless, they need some degree of assistance in their daily lives. Examine not only the quality, frequency, and the immediacy of medical and daily care offered by the home, but also examine the quality and behavior of people offering them. Are the people attending your loved one caring enough? Are they friendly? Do they smile often and talk kindly to residents?

You also should talk to the person who will be responsible for meeting any general or specific need (both medical and non-medical) of your family member. The goal is to make sure your loved one gets the care and support he or she requires every time, without any delay or loss in quality, whatsoever.

Question 3: How much will it cost?

Money should not be your consideration when looking for an Atlanta Assisted Living Community for your loved one. However, you still need to know how much money you should put aside every month so that your family member gets all the care he or she requires. Therefore, do not feel guilty when asking this question.

I have been taking all along about Atlanta Assisted Living Communities all through this article, but have you thought why I am emphasizing so much on Atlanta?

Why ATLANTA?

I have been emphasizing so much on Atlanta because of the facility the city provides as well as the cultural makeup of the city, which makes it almost a perfect place for the elderly. Atlanta is home to many good things. It is the home of Coke, the soft drink with which people born in 50's or earlier have a strong emotional connections.

The city is also high on art, culture, music, and theater. The city has famous art galleries like the Center for Puppetry Arts, the Georgia Museum of Contemporary Art, and High Museum of Art that make a field trip from an Atlanta Assisted Living Community an art-treat for your loved one.

Atlanta is also known for classical as well as live music scenes. If the Fox Theater, one of the highest grossing music venues in the world, rules the live music performance, then the Atlanta Ballet, the Atlanta Opera, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Boys Choir, the Atlanta Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, the New Trinity Baroque, and Georgia Boys Choir are known for their mesmerizing classical music performances.

The downtown area of Atlanta has cultural and historical attractions like the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic site, the Civil War Museum, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center, Fernbank Science Center, Historic Atlantic Station, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the world's largest aquarium, and more.

Entertainment options and amenities located in Atlanta make living in an Atlanta Assisted Living Community one of the best choices for a senior family member of your family to spend his or her life comfortably in peace.

Tragic Case of Abuse Serves As Reminder to Be Vigilant

Nursing home abuse often sounds like a scene from a movie or a tale of folklore, but for many families it is a sad reality. A shocking case of suspected abuse recently captured on video serves as a reminder for us all that nursing home abuse is an issue against which we need remain vigilant.

On the video, a nurse appears to jerk a wheelchair out from underneath an elderly patient. The 85-year-old patient who suffers from dementia was tossed from the wheelchair, suffering a broken hip. Worse yet, the nurse appears to walk away from the injured patient, not once, but twice, as the patient lays on the ground in pain.

After a couple of minutes the video shows another employee approach the injured patient. However, this employee appears to wait another minute before helping the injured patient. Having the whole incident caught on camera will allow the nursing home to discipline those involved, if in fact they are found guilty of abuse.

The convalescent home has a video system in place for the protection of the patients and staff. The administrator of the nursing home where this incident occurred stated: "Our video system, which is in place throughout our center, assists us in providing our patients the best treatment and care available."

Unfortunately, the video system was not able to protect the injured patient in this instance. Hopefully the recording of this event may be used to protect the safety of the other patients - prompting other facilities to install surveillance cameras for everyone's protection.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

While this shocking case of suspected abuse was captured on videotape, it may be more difficult to discover if a loved one is experiencing abuse. A loved one may not reveal abuse when it is present. A patient may fear retaliation or increased abuse, or may be physically unable to report the abuse due to illness or mental limitations.

Abuse and neglect can manifest in many forms, including physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Even if you do not suspect your loved one is currently being abused by a care facility, it is always important to be aware of the signs of abuse.

The Elder Abuse Foundation suggests looking for the following signs of abuse:

• Bed sores


• Frozen joints


• Unexplained injuries, including bruises, fractures, burns or sprains


• Sudden change in behavior


• Missing possessions


• Change in banking practices or unexplained large withdrawals


• Sudden change in will


• Staff refusing or delaying visits or not allowing visitors to be alone with resident

If it is suspected that a loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home or other care facility, take action immediately. For questions concerning abuse, neglect or nursing home safety, speak with a personal injury attorney experienced in nursing home and elder abuse.

Nursing Home Insurance - Tips to Get the Best Coverage

Nobody wants to believe that one day they will require care from a nursing home; however, government data shows that a little more than fifty percent of Americans require specific care at some point in their lifespan. Nursing home insurance costs are constantly increasing and this is a part of the overall difficulty with special care - nursing home costs. Luckily there are different things that can be done to reduce the amount to be paid monthly, one of which is extremely easy - a profound, mysterious small and surreptitious matter that your agent wishes you will not learn about - something that would reduce the price of your insurance by about thirty percent in less than half an hour.

Prior to discussing the Huge Mystery for reducing the price for Nursing Home Insurance by approximately thirty percent, we will discuss other methods of reducing insurance costs even more.

For example, money can be saved monthly if the nursing home insurance is paid routinely every month. Once your insurance organization does not have the big cost of distributing your statement monthly (a larger cost than likely observed), they would be very content to transfer the majority of that savings to you via lower Nursing Home Insurance Costs monthly.

It is better to purchase your premium early. As you get older, the longer you wait the more you will have to pay monthly for senior insurance and nursing home insurance. In addition, despite not being something that most persons want to acknowledge, nearly ten percent of Americans aged from 40 to 65 require some type of specialized care for a period of time. The sooner you receive insurance, the less you would be required to pay monthly as you get older and costs are an increased problem to deal with.

Now for the Huge Mystery, the mystery that agents wish clients never learn of, the small mystery that can result in a reduction in costs of thirty percent or higher on your premium at once - and it is very easy, you may doubt its ability to save you thirty percent.

All that is required is for you to purchase insurance via the internet. Absolutely, you did not read that incorrectly. Simply purchase your insurance from an agent on the internet.

Why does purchasing your premium online give you such a reduction in costs? There are two causes. For one, agents who use the internet for sales have practically no operating costs to be concerned with. As there is no high cost for a location or furniture (or premiums) and other operating costs, these agents have the ability to sell insurance at blanket prices and benefit from increases in savings at the same time. The other reason is as a result of competitors. Because of the number of agents online competing for business, an agent becomes competitive by reducing costs to the bare minimum.

Medi-Cal Planning For Skilled Nursing Home Care in California

One of the greatest fears of elderly Americans is that they may require nursing home care. This not only means a great loss of personal autonomy, but also a tremendous financial price. Depending on location and level of care, nursing homes cost between $35,000 and $150,000 per year.

Most people end up paying for nursing home care out of their savings until they run out. Then they can qualify for Medi-Cal to pick up the cost. However, with careful planning, whether in advance or in response to an unanticipated need for care, you can protect your estate for your spouse or children.

Proper California Medi-Cal planning covers the following three areas:

1. Eligibility Planning - to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits;
2. Income Planning - to reduce or potentially eliminate a Medi-Cal beneficiary's monthly "share of cost" co-payment; and
3. Estate Recovery Planning - to potentially reduce or eliminate Medi-Cal recovery against the Medi-Cal beneficiary's estate.

For married couples, a Court Petition pursuant to California Probate Code Section 3100 is often a valuable tool used to significantly increase the standard Medi-Cal eligibility limit, reduce or possibly eliminate the "share of cost" co-payment and to transfer all assets to the Medi-Cal beneficiary's spouse thereby eliminating potential Medi-Cal recovery.

For single individuals, numerous "conversion" strategies (which turn otherwise countable assets into exempt asset categories) and "spend down" strategies are available to quickly qualify an individual for Medi-Cal benefits.

Unfortunately, many people are misinformed about the eligibility criteria Medi-Cal uses to determine eligibility. Such misinformation is likely due to the ever changing and complicated Medi-Cal regulations. Despite what you might have heard, you do not have to be destitute in order to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits. With the guidance of a knowledgeable elder law attorney it is possible to implement various planning techniques in order to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits.

A Christian Perspective on Senior Care

One of the unique aspects of the human race which has set us apart over the ages is our willingness to honor and to provide for our "seniors". Even Neanderthals seem to have cared and provided for those older adults who could no longer sustain themselves. During the second half of the 20th century, though - at least in the "developed" countries - we achieved a level of prosperity which has largely enabled senior citizens to remain independent. In many cases, retired senior citizens have enjoyed a level of luxury which would have been unimaginable, even incomprehensible to our ancestors.

A Life of Luxury

A surprising number of well heeled senior citizens have elected to move into retirement communities which were designed and are operated to cater to their every need, desire, and whim. Across the United States, there are many such retirement villages and retirement homes, some of which are sponsored and / or operated by church organizations, offering church services, prayer times, and Bible studies on a wide variety of Christian devotional topics. Many of these communities even have multiple levels of care, beginning with independent living in a community of like minded individuals, advancing to assisted living, and eventually to clinical care, as their needs change.

Finding New Purpose

In many cases, Christian seniors have seen fit to spend a portion of their time and resources for mission projects, which have blessed the impoverished, the handicapped, and others whose lot in life is less pleasant. By participating in such benevolent activities, many seniors who might otherwise have felt useless have found new purpose in life. Some have even reported that they finally - after a lifetime of self focused labor - have a sense of a higher purpose, and of true achievement.

For those seniors who were not quite so fortunate, government sponsored programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Food Stamps have made it possible for many retired seniors to at least manage a subsistence level of independent living. There is no doubt that these benefits and privileges have been a great blessing to many people. Even the government programs are in place, at least in part, because of the influence of godly people. We can rightly take pride in the influence which the church has wielded to improve the lives of those who can't provide for themselves.

Multi-Generational Homes Used to Be the Norm

There is another side, though, to this story. Down through human history, multi-generational living has been "the norm", with families adding a room or two as needed in order to accommodate growing families. (Have you heard the term, "Mother in Law Suite"?) Seniors who could no longer handle the rigors of manual labor were accommodated, and their presence in the home with their children and grandchildren was a blessing in its own way. Their experience, wisdom, and spiritual maturity blessed and guided families in ways that extend far beyond the value of earning power and physical labor.

With seniors in the home, the standards of faith and family values were reinforced and stabilized. Such values guided and shaped society, providing the children with role models, and at the same time giving parents an opportunity to "get away" occasionally without the cost and disruption of paid child care.

That's right! Even if Grandma can't do the strenuous housework, she can many times assist with childcare. Grandpa, too! It seems that the prosperity of the late 20th and early 21st centuries has largely swept such blessings from modern homes.

The Cost of Independence

Our society has come to expect that seniors will remain independent. Young people often move far from their parents, so that there is little interaction. When situations arise in which the older generation might have been able to help, they are too far away. Even if the younger generation remains in the same community, families with children rarely share space with grandparents. In fact, in many cases, such an arrangement would be considered unusual, even abnormal.

The worldwide financial difficulties of this decade may force us, as a society, to reevaluate these concepts. This experience, although painful, offers a unique opportunity for the church to lead the way to renewed family values. It may not be feasible for every church to support elder-care facilities, but it is certainly reasonable and achievable for us to promote responsible blending of multi-generational families. In fact, this may be exactly what God intends that we do.

A Biblical Perspective

Does this sound a bit radical to you? Consider the words of our Lord, concerning how "senior citizens" should be treated by their families. (This text is from the "Good News Bible", because it seems to offer the greatest clarity on this particular issue.)

"But you teach that if people have something they could use to help their father or mother, but say, 'This belongs to God,' they do not need to honor their father. In this way you disregard God's command, in order to follow your own teaching. You hypocrites!" - Matthew 15:5-7(a) "Good News Bible"

Ouch! Was that a bit too close for comfort? Think - and pray - about it. Are we, the Church, willing to accept God's direction, even when it differs from prevailing practices of our society? Is He calling His Church, during the present fiscal crisis, to lead in restoring the Home to its' former level of inter-generational love, interaction, and mutual cooperation?

Nursing Home Care - An Overview of Nursing Homes in America

Nursing home centers (also known as skilled nursing facilities) have come a long way over the past few decades. Although they're still not perfect by any means, nursing homes today are much improved over their predecessors. In the 1950's and 1960's, nursing homes (or old folks homes as they were often referred to as) were scary places for senior citizens. Today that trend is changing. Although nursing homes can still be scary, today there is significantly more federal and state oversight of nursing homes. All nursing homes must meet certain requirements, such as having a nurse on staff 24-hours a day, seven days per week in order to keep their doors open and have to meet all sorts of requirements in order to qualify for Medicaid, Medicare and other government funding programs.

Nursing homes are generally for two categories of individuals. The first class are the individuals who need assistance in their daily living activities. This means they can not care for themselves on their own day-in and day-out. They need help with one or more activities like preparing meals, bathing, going to the bathroom, getting dressed and so on. Although a large percentage of this group is made up of older people, there are also many younger people who have physical or mental disabilities and cannot care for themselves. The second category of individuals that normally reside in nursing homes are those individuals who need short term care. These individuals include people who are recovering from injuries, surgeries and other situations where they just need a little help to get back on their feet. These people tend to live in the rehab wings of nursing homes.

Nursing homes are not cheap. Depending on the part of the country, nursing home costs can range anywhere from $1,000 per month to as high as $10,000 per month and higher. These high costs force many people to look for payment and funding alternatives. Government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid help with nursing home fees. Other private options like long term care insurance programs can help as well.

If you are faced with placing a friend, family member or loved one into the care of a nursing home you should research carefully to determine the best place. Talk to people at church, a family physician or other people you respect. Chances are, someone you know has had to research nursing homes and may know of a good one to refer you to. If you do not get good referrals from people you know, a simple Google search can provide a lot of data. Carefully research each option and make sure you tour the facility before you make a final decision.

Nursing Career - Alternative Career Options For Registered Nurses

So you're getting bored with your nursing job and thinking of alternative careers that may be more exciting, possibly expanding your horizons and allowing you to take you and your landau scrubs free shipping onto some new heights of adventures and experiences? Who says you have to be stuck in the hospital you work for, for the rest of your life? There are other options you can pursue without wasting your nursing diploma and career investment. If you dream of traveling the world, why not become a flight nurse? If you want a more thrilling and suspenseful work environment, why not become a forensic nurse? If you wish a more laid-back and glamorous job, why not a writer? And if you crave for more independence, control and power why not consider becoming an entrepreneur or consultant? These are just some of the options laid out for you in the exciting world of nursing career possibilities.

Flight Nurse

A flight nurse assists in the emergency and non-emergency air transfer of injured or ill patients, including inter-facility transport and "scene calls" for medical emergencies and trauma. The role of the flight nurse is to provide patient care, and to be a trainer, educator, administrator, and researcher. This type of work is very challenging and involves working with diverse types of medical professional and patients. It is also physically demanding with a high level of acuity. To qualify, one must be a registered nurse with certification in Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and, typically, Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS). Potential employers include private and public transport companies, trauma centers, and the military.

Forensic Nurse

A forensic nurse works together with law enforcement officials and is involved in the investigation and treatment of victims of child and spousal abuse, sexual assault, trauma, unexplained accidental death, as well as the investigation of the perpetrators of relevant criminal activities. This is a fairly new and challenging job that requires investigative and counseling skills. Possible employers include correctional institutions, acute healthcare facilities, county prosecutor, insurance companies, and psychiatric facilities.

Medical Writer

A medical writer (or editor) writes, edits, and proofreads technical materials used for medical research, training and education, communication, sales and marketing, and others. Possible positions for this field include medical writer, medical proofreader, medical copy editor, medical researcher, medical editor, editorial assistant, and managing editor. For those nurses who have secretly dreamt of writing, this is a great opportunity to work flexible hours and combine medical knowledge and experience with writing skills. You can let your hair down and do away with your landau scrubs free shipping! Possible employers for this field include pharmaceutical companies, medical publications, general interest publications, freelance (self-employment), and not-for-profit organizations.

Entrepreneur or Consultant

For those who are willing to take the risk, becoming an entrepreneur-that is, starting your own business-can be very rewarding. Being your own boss requires independence of mind and a lot of creativity. Nurses turned entrepreneurs or consultants can work in almost any aspect of the healthcare industry, and even starting their own private practice.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers - Are They Helpful?

In today's time the numbers of nursing homes are hyped due to the increase in population of old aged people. And as it always happens if the nursing homes increase also there will be an increase in California nursing home abuse. Due to this reason there is a drastic increase in the number of lawyers specializing in this field. Nursing home patients are very easily assailable.

Most of these cases are carried out through the under qualified staff and also some inexperienced people working there. Many a times there are many suspicious deaths due to dehydration and malnutrition due to the negligence of the staff members.

When you enroll a family member into a nursing home you show that you are trusting them for all good and all the bad of your loved one. In this situation If you see any of your person being abused in the nursing home you can anytime contact an experienced and a compassionate nursing home abuse lawyer. He can always help you understand your rights and can also help you go towards your correct course of action.

As soon as a case comes to your knowledge you must contact a abuse lawyer. An investigation can be started as soon as you contact them. Also the best part most of the lawyers work on a juncture fee, this means that they charge you only if your case is successful.

Here talking to a California home negligence lawyer can really be of great help. As they understand yours as well your loved ones concern same as you yourself do. So its no harm in contacting them. Right?

What to Know If You Want to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant

Certified nursing assistants, also known as CNA's are an essential part of any medical team and hence are very much in demand. Certified nursing assistants work under the directives of a supervising registered nurse or a licensed nurse or under a doctor. CNA's are specially educated in healthcare skills so that they can assist the doctors and nurses in a clinic, nursing home or a hospital. The main role of these nursing assistants is to help the patients in their everyday chores like bathing, dressing making beds and serving meals. Taking the patient's blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature and also gathering the basic the basic health information of the patient comes under the role of the nursing assistant. They are required to report all these observations to their supervising in charge. A CNA an also provide assistance in executing medical procedures, making report on a patient's status or escort to medical examination rooms. This is the reason that patients tend to be more in contact with the CNA's rather than any other member of the medical facility because it these nurses who help make their stay in the hospitable more comfortable.

CNA programs are typically run in most of the community colleges or even technical schools. These are short term courses and can be done in less than a year. The only pre-requisition for the degree is that you ought to have a high school diploma. The profession of nursing is a very challenging one and if you have chosen it, you must be determined to face the mental as well as physical demands of the job. The educational and the certification requirements usually are different in every state; however, the basic course structure includes study of the structure and functioning of humans, medical terminology, first aid, CPR, basic patient care, fundamental computer skills and clinical internship. Students are taught how to observe the vital signs, feed, bathe and dress a patient and also provide catheter care. Students learn these skills practically during their clinical internship that they do at a hospital or a nursing home. The complete internship is supervised and graded by a certified health care professional, either a doctor or a nurse. However, before you enroll in any school for the certified nursing assistant program, always ensure that it has been approved by the state agency that is authorized to approve CNA courses and issue program directives in the state.

If you want to become a certified nursing assistant, you will also be required to do seventy five hours of training and then complete a comprehensive examination on the course. There are some states that have some extra requirements for the course, so graduates should first get the details from their local registration board for the requirements. For certified nursing assistants to maintain their licenses, they also may be expected to enroll themselves in continuing education programs every one or two years. Furthermore, if after having been certified in one state, you move to another state, it is very much possible that you will be expected to enroll yourself again for certification in the new state.

Alzheimer's and Sundowners

It's 5:00 p.m., and all of a sudden your calm, serene mother is now very agitated, angry, and maybe even combative. Nothing you do seems to help, and quite frankly, you're nervous and maybe even frightened. It seems as if there is nothing you can do. Take heart; you're not alone, and there is help.

What your loved one with Alzheimer's is experiencing is called Sundowners. It is very common for those with Alzheimer's disease to become increasingly agitated as daylight fades away into night. Why the agitation?

Let's use you as an example. Say you have a child in school, and everyday, you pick her up from school at 3:30 p.m. You've been picking her up since kindergarten, and now she is in the eighth grade. So all in all, you've picked her up for the better part of nine years. How would you feel, if 3:30 arrived, and you knew you had something important to do, but you couldn't remember what it was? What if you felt a strong urge to do something, and the later it got the more agitated you became? And that's just after a nine-year habit.

Now, let's think about your mom. For years and years, your mom took care of the house and your dad went to work. Come sundown, it was time to begin preparation for dinner. Taking care of husband and children was her job. It was who she was. Now, all these years later, she has Alzheimer's disease, and with each passing day, more and more of her memory is wiped away. Now sundown comes, and she knows she should be doing something, but what is it? That's why it's called Sundowners Syndrome. But what can you do about it? How can you help?

There are actually several things you can do. And things you can try. Here is a list of some of some of the things that have been successful for others.

1. Before darkness approaches, make sure the house is well lit. The brightness inside, reduces the feeling of time passing.

2. Buy mini blinds that are a bright color. This also gives the illusion of daylight.

3. Think of what your loved one used to do at the time she begins to get anxious. Was it cook? Take her into the kitchen and give her something to do. Who knows? It might calm her down.

4. Calming, less exciting activities as the afternoon progresses.

Understanding what is happening to your loved one, is the beginning of the solution.

Home Medical Monitoring Technology Priceless for Seniors

Senior medical alert systems offer a line of defense to elderly individuals who may have health problems, and to those who are simply growing more fragile with age. Many elderly home alarm systems also offer services that notify elderly patients when they need to take their medication.

Taking that a step further, medical response system outfits can even provide seniors with a medication organizer that is set up to ensure medications are taken in a timely, orderly fashion, virtually eliminating the possibility of a senior double-dosing.

One of the most appreciated benefits of senior alarm systems is the peace of mind they offer family and friends of the senior. Just because a person is elderly and may need some occasional assistance doesn't mean they no longer desire their independence. A multitude of seniors live in their own homes or apartments for many years with the comfortable of knowing the push of a button on a medical alert bracelet or necklace will trigger a quick reaction from medical alarm responders.

Services and Technology Always Evolving

Until recently, senior medical alert systems required a telephone landline to operate. These types of systems function through the use of a phone line that plugs into a medical monitoring box or panel to establish communication between the senior and the monitoring station. In situations where trouble arises, the monitoring box acts as a "receiver," allowing the elderly adult to initiate two-way communication by pressing the alert button on their bracelet or necklace.

The range on these units is typically around 300 feet. The higher-end units can reach as far as 600 feet. And while typical battery backups on these units last between 12 to 24 hours, the monitoring center for most of these systems will be alerted if a battery is running low or expires.

These units have a number of safeguards in case of issues such as power outages arise. Many of these systems will also override a phone call if the senior is on the phone at the time of an emergency. For an additional fee, an add-on can be installed, which guarantees an emergency transmission will take precedence over a phone call.

In addition to recent upgrades in medication alerts and distribution is the introduction of more sensitive fall detector equipment. Fall and motion sensor technology continues to advance. Not long ago, seniors would have to take a rather significant tumble to trigger a fall sensor. Today, these sensors can detect slighter and less aggressive movements, resulting in fewer incidents from slipping through the cracks.

Senior medical alert systems operating through landlines remain popular as they continue to save lives and offer comfort to seniors and their loved ones. But the new wave of home medical monitoring and alert systems are slated to open up a whole new world to seniors.

Also known as "remote" units, these systems will eliminate some of the limitations of landline-based systems by allowing seniors to travel further from their homes and still be within range of monitors. These systems are also expected to feature enhanced monitoring and tracking capabilities that allow a senior's vital signs to be monitored from a remote location.

While there are costs associated with having a home medical monitoring system in place, they pale in comparison to the expense of a nursing home or assisted living facility. All in all, the freedom and independence these systems offer to our seniors is worth every cent.

Why Long Term Care Facilities Are Not Safe - Two Reasons

I heard a statistic the other day that made me cringe. We've known this day was coming for a long, long time. But when it gets here, reality sets in. Nearly 30,000 baby boomers a week are reaching retirement age.

When Social Security was put into effect, the average lifespan of an American was 65. Today it is closer to 85. As people live longer and more people enter the golden years of their life, they are looking for a place that they can go and live out their final years.

Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are the two most common such places. They are not cheap. For that reason another alternative has sprung up and that is home healthcare assisted-living provided by a professional in the home. But for the sake of this article we're talking about nursing homes and assisted-living facilities-long term care facilities.

Because the increased demand for these services for seniors staffing issues come into play. There is a shortage of nurses, nursing assistants and others in this field. As a nurse told me the other day when we are talking about this issue there is not only a shortage of nurses and others in the field, but they are overworked, underpaid and a certain form of lethargy sets in because of the industry in general.

That makes it a prime breeding ground for elder abuse. Employees who feel undervalued, who are overworked and underpaid tend to feel that whatever else they can grab is dutifully theirs no matter whom the source is. So if they have an opportunity to steal they'll do it.

Is a well documented fact that one out of every six people in a long-term care facility suffers some kind of abuse-physical, emotional, verbal or just about any kind of abuse you can imagine. It is a crying shame that our seniors aren't better cared for, but like so many other things in life it's an issue of money.

So that's one reason why long-term care facilities aren't safe. The second reason is that in a Health and Human Services report just recently issued the Inspector General of that agency he found that 90 percent of all long-term care facilities employed someone with criminal record. Sixty percent of the facilities had two or more convicted employees.

The only way that you as a parent can keep an eye on your loved ones in a long-term care facility is to install a hidden camera. A hidden camera will enable used to detect any abuse on your loved ones.

When are you getting one?

Operations Gone Wrong - Get a Personal Injury Lawyer

We all know that fatal buzzing noise from the classic Hasbro board game Operation. That shrill shriek let players know that their operation to remove the funny bone or the Adam's apple was botched, and that it was the next players turn to play doctor. However, when doctors make mistakes in the real world, it is personal injury lawyers who sound the alarm in a court of law and try to make restitution between the victimized patient and doctor.

Doctors aren't perfect. Medical errors complicate procedures and hurt or kill almost 100,000 Americans every year. When a licensed doctor deviates from standard practices in any way during a procedure, he is committing medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is considered a form of negligence on a medical caretaker's part. Clinic workers, nursing home attendants, hospitals, nurses, technicians, and osteopaths can all be held accountable for negligent work through a medical malpractice personal injury lawsuit.

Situations where a personal injury lawyer can build a medical malpractice lawsuit include a misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of a condition such as heart attacks, strokes, or cancer. Doctors also make mistakes during surgery by committing errors such as leaving instruments inside patient's bodies after the procedure is completed. During a spinal or brain surgery, if the patient ends up with paralysis or brain damage, a lawsuit is sure to follow. Doctors can also make mistakes when prescribing medications, not taking into account a patient's allergies or conflicting medications. Anesthesiologists can also make mistakes when putting people under. At times, tough calls have to be made in the emergency room. Decisions that end up with a patient's limb being amputated or a patient dying a wrongful death often result in malpractice lawsuits.

Depending on the severity of the negligence and the resulting injury, the resulting medical costs and lost wages during hospitalization and rehabilitation can add up to be quite costly. A personal injury lawyer will make sure to recover these costs in damages during the malpractice suit. Damages awarded as a result of a malpractice suit can be compensatory and/or punitive. Compensatory damages can be either economic or noneconomic, and can be assessed for past and future losses such as lost earning capacity, medical expenses, and caretaking expenses. Noneconomic damages only take into account the costs associated directly with the injury, and punitive damages are only awarded in extreme cases of recklessness and severe negligence.

Four medical tenements must be broken in order for a medical malpractice suit to succeed. A personal injury lawyer must prove that the patient was owed a duty by a health care provider. He must then prove that this duty was breached. The breach of duty must directly result in an injury, the damages caused by the injury must be well documented. Using paperwork from your hospitalization as well as professional testimonies, your practitioner of medical malpractice law will stitch together a case showing the negligence which lead to the injury.

A Treatment Tragedy: When Medical Negligence Leads to Wrongful Death

When medical negligence leads to the death of a loved one, it can be a shocking event. After all, doctors, nurses, technicians and caregivers are the people we trust to protect those we love. When a caregiver betrays this trust, our faith gives way to a deep and overwhelming sense of anger and loss. Pursuing some measure of justice through the courts can feel like an overwhelming task, but legal action is necessary if you want to be compensated for your loss. No settlement can replace your loved one, of course, but a wrongful death lawsuit could provide you with some financial security in the wake of this tragedy. Step one is understanding how these issues can arise in a modern hospital.

The U.S healthcare system is often vaunted for its technological sophistication. Most people assume our technological prowess leads to better outcomes, longer life spans, and fewer mistakes. In fact, a recent peer-reviewed article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals the sad fact that the U.S. lags far behind other modern countries in the quality of our healthcare. Among the authors' most eye-opening findings are that American physicians cause 250,000 deaths a year, and that the U.S. ranks behind 12 other countries such as Australia, Spain and Belgium in our rate of neonatal mortality. Clearly something is going wrong. The question is why?

Medical negligence can manifest in a great number of ways. Doctors and nurses nowadays are often overburdened with understaffed emergency rooms and overlong hours - ripe conditions for a deadly mistake. One of the most common is misdiagnosis, or failure to diagnose. Misdiagnosis cases occur when a doctor misreads a patient's symptoms or overlooks an essential facet of their condition. Misdiagnosis can turn fatal if the underlying disease is serious enough, such as with heart disease or cancer. The failure to diagnose is a closely related error in which a doctor misses a life-threatening condition. Breast cancer, lung cancer, myocardial infarct (heart attack), and appendicitis are all common missed diagnoses that can lead to a wrongful death suit.

A second major source of medical negligence is surgical error. According to JAMA, 12,000 patients are subjected to unnecessary surgery every year. Surgical errors may involve forgotten equipment inside the body, malfunctioning or poorly monitored equipment during surgery, or unnecessary surgery performed because of an administrative error. Because surgery is by definition invasive and dangerous, errors that occur in the O.R. tend to carry lifelong consequences. Experimental surgeries can give rise to wrongful death suits as well, especially if they are performed without due notice or explanation to the patient.

Closely related to surgical error is the question of anesthesia error. Nowadays a great number of powerful compounds are used to help minimize pain and induce an unconscious state, and any mistake made with anesthesia can quickly result in catastrophic injury and death. Wrongful death can occur when a patient's oxygen supply or other vital lines are disrupted or cut during surgery, for instance. Death may also occur if anesthesia is given in too large a dose, or in a form that interacts with other medications in the patient's body. JAMA states that 7,000 medication errors are made every year in this nation, and anesthesia accounts for a significant percentage. The bottom line is that any patient who is not being closely monitored under anesthesia is at risk, which is why it is so important to establish inattention if an anesthesia error ever leads to trial.

Medical negligence is sadly not limited to adults either. Birth injuries that prove fatal are some of the most serious and common in personal injury law. Wrongful death birth injuries typically arise because a poor decision is made or a detail is missed in the chaos of delivery. Some common causes include inattention to the baby heart monitor, tangled umbilical cord, hypoxia leading to brain death, and anesthesia or surgical errors in the act of giving birth. Even a doctor with good intentions can make a grievous error in delivery, so it is important to pursue your claim if you want to be compensated appropriately for this loss.

One final area where medical negligence can lead to wrongful death is nursing home abuse. Just as the name implies, cases such as these take place in nursing homes and arise because of inattention, inadequate care, or abuse. Residents who are infirm or unable to speak may have trouble articulating their ailments, so the staff at such facilities must be unusually vigilant in their care and examinations. When an elderly resident dies because of dehydration, medication errors, infected bed sores, or abuse that is allowed to continue unchecked, the sense of betrayal can be immense. You could stand to earn a significant sum by mounting a wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home and its staff.

Medical negligence that leads to wrongful death is best understood in the context of each individual care center. No matter what the cause and how many factors were involved, the outcome is inevitably heartbreaking. If you retain an experienced wrongful death attorney, however, you should be able to pursue a fair and appropriate settlement for your loss.

Demand For Technical Translations Keeps Growing

Technical translations are different from less complicated standard translations in which an average text is translated from one language into another. Technology and science comprise a wide range of highly complex disciplines and subject matters, and your translation service must be able to to handle these complexities.

Globalization of business has led to the increase in the demand for technical translations. As businesses are going global and numerous large and smaller businesses are expanding into different continents throughout the world, the demand for technical translations is also increasing exponentially.

Many companies invest precious time and money in creating technical materials but do not take sufficient account of the needs of their global audiences. To conduct international business effectively, these companies must present their technical documents in a language comprehensible to the people of the country where they are conducting business.

For normal business correspondence, a general translator who has mastered an average business vocabulary is sufficient for the job. But technical translations demand specialized translators who have in depth know-how of the technical concepts and terminology. Only a specialized technical translator will be able to represent a complex technical text properly in a foreign language and ensure that the foreign audience can fully comprehend the complex technical information conveyed in these documents.

For this reason it is always important to select a reliable and reputable

translation company, whether you are dealing with a translation business in Edmonton or a translation company in Regina. Your translation provider must select highly trained and experienced translators for your project to ensure top quality for your finished translation project. Technical translations may involve the translations of a wide range of technical documents, for example:

• Instruction manuals
• Assembly instructions
• Technical training manuals
• Technical newsletters
• Manufacturing specifications
• Quality assurance documentation
• Software development translations
• Engineering documents
• Software installation guides
• Scientific dissertations
• Product catalogs and texts containing high amount of terminology.

Such translations require a technical expert to accurately deliver a high quality translation. Some of the major languages in which translations are commonly done are Japanese, Russian, German, Swedish, French, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Hindi, Korean, Norwegian and more.

Suppose, if you want to sell your software in a foreign country then you have to offer the software in the local language that people understand there. If you offer your software in the local language then it will be convenient and effortless for the user to use and implement it. Software localization is an important field of technical translations.

Accuracy is critical in technical translations. Even a minor misrepresentation or error in language can be troublesome for the end user if something is connected wrongly or installed incorrectly. Technical translations do not leave any room for errors. For this reason it is in your best interest to choose a translation service provider, whether it be it a translation company in Regina or a translation business in Edmonton, that has a good track record of delivering accurate translations within given deadlines.

Technical translations need to be completed by technical translators with excellent linguistic proficiency and in depth technical expertise. Therefore choose a translation service provider be it a translation business in Edmonton or a translation service in Regina that ensures translations of impeccable quality.

Home Security Helps Elderly Family Members Maintain Independence

Nursing homes are becoming over populated and understaffed. Adult children of elderly parents are concerned about leaving their loved ones in a facility that they cannot constantly supervise. A home security system can extend the amount of time senior and infirm individuals are able to avoid entering extended care facilities and nursing homes. Elderly and disabled residents can maintain independence simply by having an alarm system installed in their own homes, or the homes of their care takers.

Consulting a home security specialist is the best way to tailor make a system that will best suit senior or elderly family members. Options such as a panic button or remote control that can be worn around the neck are available, in case of a fall or other medical emergency. A home with a loved one who has Alzheimer's and should not leave the home alone are good candidates for home alarm systems. If they wander off, the monitoring station has an exact time that the home alarm was activated as they exited the home. The operator will immediately alert the authorities and any family members on their list when an alarm activates and a search can begin with little time lost.

Often, cooking can be a issue if an elderly person is living on their own or left alone during meal time. If a forgetful person starts an oven or stove and walks away, the potential for fire is very high. A home alarm system can be a life saver, especially one with two-way monitoring. An operator can alert the fire department that a special needs person is in the home. In some circumstances, the home security system might even be able to guide the person to safety via the two-way monitoring.

Home security technology advances have taken place to offer more than just fire and theft protection. Monitoring stations have evolved enough to detect when no one is home and a fire breaks out. If your pet is home alone, the fire department will be informed of the type of pet you have and given your pet's name. They'll do their best to get Rex and Mr. Whiskers to safety, just as they would any other member of the family.

Overview of Cases Handled by Cook County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Cook County nursing home lawsuits get filed at the Daley Center which is at 50 W. Washington St. in Chicago across from City Hall. So what is nursing home abuse?

Nursing home abuse occurs when a staff member or another resident causes physical, mental, or sexual injury or exploits a resident's financial resources. Examples of nursing home abuse include unexplained physical injuries like bruises, cuts, burns, broken bones or sprains.

Negligence occurs when a staff member or another resident fails to provide or withholds the necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter or health care. Examples of neglect include bedsores, frozen joints, malnutrition, dehydration, hypothermia, heat stroke, or improper medications resulting in illness.

Illinois law defines a resident of a nursing home as a person 60 or older who is either a current, prospective, or former resident. Residents have the right to proper care, proper treatment, and to compensation if abuse or neglect occurs.

The Elder Abuse and Neglect Program responds to reports of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of persons 60 and older. The Elder Abuse Program has 45 locations throughout the state that conduct investigations, work to resolve abusive situations, and provide services to victims.

Specifically for elder abuse and neglect allegations, Illinois has a program called the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to assist residents and family members. An ombudsman is an appointed official who investigates complaints of elder abuse or neglect. They inform residents and families of their rights, resolve complaints, and advocate for proper care.

In Cook County, The Chicago Department of Senior Services assists with claims of abuse and neglect against the elderly. It is located at 30 N. LaSalle, Suite 2320, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2586.

Malpractice lawsuits provide compensation for victims and act as a safeguard to ensure that proper standards are followed in the industry. If you or a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect, you should contact an experienced attorney to assist with your claim. All claims handled by abuse attorneys are investigated and pursued without any upfront cost to the client. Claims are pursued on a contingency basis which means that there is no fee unless the client wins. If the client wins, the attorney will recover a portion of the awarded damages. Through contingency fees, everyone can receive the best representation, regardless of his/her economic status.

The Importance of The Dictionary of Occupational Titles in the Social Security Disability Process

As discussed in other articles, the Social Security Disability Process involves five sequential steps. Key to this process is vocational expert ("VE") testimony which is based upon the Dictionary of Occupational Titles ("DOT"). This article addresses the DOT.

At the Social Security Disability Hearing, the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") uses VE testimony which itself is based upon the disability claimant's testimony and the DOT. The VE's testimony is key because the ALJ lacks the expertise to offer conclusions regarding the claimant's vocational abilities.Thus, VE testimony serves as the foundational building block of the Social Security disability determination hearing process. Without the VE testimony, a complete, accurate, and reasonable decision would not be possible. It is important for the disability claimant's attorney to understand how the VE is supporting his or her conclusions. Thus, it is important to understand the DOT.

The DOT is a publication of the U.S. Department of Labor that provides basic occupational information by classifying jobs into occupations based on their similarities and also defining the structure and content of all listed occupations. Interestingly, this source was last modified twenty-five years ago, and the latest edition, the Fourth Edition, of the DOT was last updated in 1991.

In addition, the United States Department of Commerce (U.S. Census Bureau) has replaced the DOT with the Standard Occupational Classification ("SOC"). Because the DOT is obsolete, a link no longer exists between Census Codes and the DOT, which means that no useful source of job information provides data for the titles in the DOT.

Furthermore, many jobs listed in the DOT no longer exist and many jobs that now exist are not yet listed in the archaic DOT. Nonetheless, a VE often attempts to categorize a claimant's previous work using a ratio of equivalencies to jobs listed.

Essentially, a VE must statistically break down the source data to estimate the number of jobs available in the appropriate categories of the DOT. This is a complicated endeavor, and if a VE has not received education or training in occupational analysis, then the VE's qualifications and testimony lack reliability.

The claimant additionally faces an uphill battle if the claimant wishes to challenge the reliability of the DOT because the SSA relies so heavily on the DOT and both the fourth and fifth steps of the sequential process are entwined with data found in the DOT.

To understand the intricate roles that the VE and the DOT play at the fourth and fifth steps, it is essential to have a solid understanding of these steps.

Daily Living Aid Tools For Elderly People And Patients

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

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

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

Denying Senior Sexuality and Intimacy

Many residential facilities are denying seniors their right to have sex, to have intimate relations with others and even the right for closeness!

Just because you are over age 50 doesn't mean you stop being a sexual being. People don't operate on an 'on' and 'off' switch for the need of sex and intimate closeness due to age. In fact, the need for touches of friendship and caring, and intimate contact and companionship as we age is great as seniors tend to have fewer opportunities for it.

Why I'm up in arms is because of how many residential facilities and even hospitals have set up rules or blocks for seniors on having sex, intimate relations with someone, companionship and so forth.

Example: Assisted Living - many facilities will not allow someone to stay overnight if a senior had a boyfriend or one-night stand. The doors are usually locked in the evening until morning too. If the boyfriend were a resident, there would likely be no problem but if the boyfriend is not a resident, it all of a sudden becomes an issue. How much time can he spend visiting, eating or participate in activities with his girlfriend can become an issue too?

Second example: husband dying in the hospital and wife by his side holding hands from her chair. Her need is for closeness but the hospital will not allow her (no medical reason why she can't) to get up in bed with her husband and just quietly hold him and sleep together as they had for decades. Fortunately, relatives took matters into their own hands and locked the door and helped their Mom up onto the bed where she slept and held her husband. Many believe her ability to live well after his death was because of that closeness at the end.

Third example: nursing home not allowing residents to have sex together or with visiting spouses. No cuddling in bed, either! Even prisoners get conjugal visits but our seniors can't?

Fourth example: if family is caring for their aging parent or elderly relative, most of the time, no thought has been considered for how the senior can continue to be a sexual being. It actually seems to be a thought most caregivers want not to consider but they need to.

As I said before, just because a person is a senior, the sexuality switch didn't just get 'turned off'. It has been proven that people, who are in relationships or married, live longer. So what is everyone doing to make sure the quality of life is good for seniors in the sexuality and intimacy department so they can live a happy and long life?

Also, why aren't more residential facilities allowing couples to live together while receiving different levels of services? Is the issue of money, services and so forth so difficult that they can't find a way to allow the basic physical right of seniors to have sex and intimacy not only made possible, but encouraged and supported?

Psychological studies clearly show that people need touch in order to be mentally healthy but also physically healthy. Denying Seniors their rights to be sexual beings, to have closeness with spouses/significant others/friends, just because they live in some type of facility is not OK and not in the best interest of the residents.

Many seniors are likely not to move to a residential option when they would like to or need to, because they may not be able to stay together or because the rules of the facility would deny them their rights to intimacy. Residential options, hospitals and State licensing boards need to address this important issue. Family caregivers need to address this issue too.

We are sexual beings, even when well over age 50 but our society doesn't seem to want to address that need and make it possible for seniors to have intimacy easily, even when we know that it promotes better mental and physical health and leads to living longer and having a better quality of life.

What are your thoughts?

When It's Time For the Nursing Home With a Poem

The Nursing Home

I wrote this piece in 1982. It's about my great grandmother. After 98 years she could no longer care for herself. She told me she was mad because she had lost a contest with her older sister. What contest? Whoever lives the longest wins. Her older sister lived to be 101.

"I was often with her at the nursing home. Her hair was cut short and permed. In the past her thick snow white hair reached down and past her mid section. She looked at me and didn't  seem to recognize me right away but her eyes were not so good. While talking to her I realized her hearing aid was old. Squeezing my hand in hers our palms began to sweat. We were afraid to let go. I didn't want to let go.

She told me she would never get better that getting old was not so nice. Her legs were like rubber. Her good hand was squeezing and petting mine. She told me how soft and firm my skin was. She got so tired but she didn't want to sleep afraid she would miss the day. She had so few days left.

She told me that the nurses were very nice there (especially a very young male nurse). She told me that she hated being helpless. She wanted to live in her own home. I could see the tears in her eyes. I could feel the tears in mine. I knew she would never go back home.

The family told her the nursing home was a school and that when she learned to walk she could get up and walk right out. We thought she would forget. But of course she did not.

She told me that she was in college but that she would never get out because her walking classes were only once a week. If only they would walk her more she wished out loud.

The family just kept waiting, looking at her sadly, hugging her and loving her. Some were fighting when she left the room for therapy over who would take her to the bathroom next...but loving her.

She told me that she was afraid to die. So was I. I was afraid for her to die and afraid to die myself."

Now it's 2009. I wonder about my parents. I wonder about myself.

My father is dying slowly from cancer. My mother is getting on in age but probably has twenty good years left if genetics play a part. I don't ever want to have to make the decision to put anyone in a nursing home. I don't ever want anyone to have to make the decision to put me in one. I've decided I'll choose my own home and check myself in. I'll pretend that I believe it's only for a little while.

Yes, I'm still somewhat afraid of dying....but more afraid of living long enough to revert back into an infant. However, I don't think I'll care much at that point. I just don't want to go painfully.

I wrote this poem about my great grandmother, Unabelle McCallum when I was about 17. She had it hanging on her wall for a very long time. I hadn't had my children nor my grandchildren at that point or the poem would have been much much longer.

I'm Not Yet Born

A solemn breeze passed through the sky

I'm not yet born.

It carried tenderly the seed

Through winters morn

And placed it in a bed of sand

To root a home

I'm not yet born, but leaves came forth

The bright sun shone

And from the tree came many seeds

The wind still blew

And carried them and laid them down

To start anew

And as time flourished through the years

The wind blew by

It carried forth another child

Through summer sky

Then I was born to see above

The great tree bend

We all look up and now I wait

To catch the wind.

Debra K. McKee

Copyright 2008-2009 © Debra K. McKee

Top Five Highest Paid Nursing Jobs

Did you know that in the health care allied industry, registered nurses form the largest in terms of numbers? Approximately sixty percent of RNs are working in hospitals. Though they are required to work for long hours on irregular shifting and may be called on a moment's notice, the position is still high in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing career is projected to grow up to 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.

Moreover, the nursing profession offers a number of career advancement paths to higher-paying jobs. With the high demand for this profession, the roles and responsibilities of nurses are becoming more dynamic as well. Besides working in hospital institutions, they can choose to apply in different health care areas where nursing services are highly needed. The decision to choose the area of practice depends on several factors like professional expertise, work setting requirements, personal interest and compensation. Yes, compensation. Since, the nursing career is a very taxing job, nurses should be compensated properly. If you are like the many, who is aspiring to succeed in this career, following are the top nursing jobs today that are offering high pay and compensation to successful applicants:

Nursing Administrators/Directors
Nursing administrators and directors are the people responsible for supervising and managing not only the nursing department, but all the other allied health professionals employed by the health care institutions. The Chief Nursing develops and monitors the overall budget and expenditure, performance and conduct reviews or employees in line with the requirements set by state and federal regulators for patient care. Average salary of Nursing administrators and directors are $176,475 per year.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
In the past thirty years, this industry has dramatically grown, offering nurses a greater extent of autonomy and choice in their desired field. Today, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists is one of the highest paid nursing careers today. Their primary role is to administer anesthesia to patients. They also communicate with surgeons, dentists, anesthesiologists and podiatrists on whether the medications are safe for the patients or not. On average, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is earning $135,000 per year.

Nurse Researcher
Their average salary is $95,000 per year. They work as analysts. They may be hired by private companies or nonprofits organization. They are responsible for publishing research studies based on collected data on health care products, services and practices.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
Like the nurse researchers, they are receiving an average pay of $95,000 per year. They are the ones who provide immediate care and consultation to patients suffering from mental health disorders.

Travel Nurse
Travel nurses receive one of the most competitive pay and benefits in the industry, sometimes much better than nurses who are working in full-time and permanent positions. They normally garner between $30 and $50 per hour while on assignment. Many companies allow their nurse travelers to join in their 401(k) plans as well.

Truly, the nursing career is very promising in terms of career advancement and monetary pay and benefits. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean nursing salary in the United States in March 2008 was $65,130. Specialists earn more. Then again, since not all nurses have 4-year degrees, the highest paid nursing jobs are those which require staff to have bachelor's degrees, graduate degrees and special training. When looking for a nursing specialty, consider the above posts and see if you fit in the requirements before you apply.

Family Assisted Living - A Home Away From Home

Family assisted living is called so, because your dear ones stay in a family-like atmosphere, while getting help with the problems they face in their day-to day life. The administrative staff of the assisted, living service stays in close contact with the residents and takes care of their individual needs.

Assisted Living Vs. Other Old Home Facilities

Assisted living is usually a preferred choice of residence for senior citizens, as compared to other live-in facilities such as a nursing home or old care home. While a nursing home is more suitable for people with medical complications, old care homes are very small set-ups with very few residents and limited amenities.

Most old age challenges do not require medical intervention but only physical support, with a large number of recreational and daily living amenities, which only Family assisted-living can provide. Such facilities give importance to self-sufficiency and privacy and offer little or no medical care. The may have some or all of the following features: emergency call, housekeeping, all meals, transport on call, day centers, health centre, year round workshops, activities, events etc.

Taking Special Care

There are many disorders associated with old age. Coupled with old age problems, these disorders can make matters worse for the elderly and their families. Several family assisted, living units have unique facilities for individual with special needs. They provide care to patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cognitive disabilities and terminal diseases.

Before, finalizing on a particular family assisted living, check for the following:

o That the neighborhood is planned in accordance with the needs of the residents.
o That the staff is pleasing and responsible.
o That the residents look to be satisfied with the services and friendly with each other.
o That the cost and charges are within your expectations and financial reach.
o That the meals are hygienic, nourishing, and appealing.
o That the atmosphere is like a family.
o That the staff is well trained, qualified and skilled to deal with the needs of the elders.
o And most importantly, all the facilities and services as promised by the community are available.

Making The Move

The main factors that influence the decision with regard to the choice of assisted-living facility are: location, type of facility and particular needs of the resident such as leisure facilities, nutritional needs etc.
The period of 25-30 days after moving your dear ones to family assisted, living, is very crucial for both you and them. You may suffer from a feeling of guilt for not being able to look after your dear ones on our own. The old relatives, on the other hand, will take some time to adjust to the new environment and may not feel comfortable, being away from home.

How to Create Senior Trivia Questions For Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

Creating good senior trivia questions can be a little harder than it would first seem. Usually it is a matter of simply asking yourself what a good question would be for an interesting answer. Although it doesn't sound like a difficult thing to do, once you test your questions on someone else you can better gauge how easy or how difficult they really are.

When looking for good senior trivia questions of your own, to stay in keeping with a particular senior facility or a seniors own life, the people they know and the events that have taken place in their life, you need to simply begin by writing down many answers. Be careful that your answers are not too difficult for most people to be able to answer. It can take the fun out of a game quickly if most people just become spectators of who else will guess the answer first!

Once you have a list of answers, formulate the question. Slowly add more detail to complicate it. If you add details immediately you might make it too difficult right away, and because you know the answer, you may not think to revisit it for revision. Take these steps going carefully through all your answers, and then test them out on several people.

If you have a seniors facility with seniors of varying memory capabilities and they will all be participating, it is important to keep in mind that some questions be very easy, even obvious, for these select patients. If playing trivia with seniors that have memory difficulties, you may like to try visual cues in addition to asking the questions. For example when asking the questions, "How many legs does a chair have?" or "Who was the main actor in the TV show 'Gunsmoke'?" you could hold up pictures of a chair, or the actor James Arness, respectively. (Nurses or caregivers can offer slight help to individuals, but be careful not to make it obvious to the others!).

Prizes can be fun to use with trivia games. Don't save them all for the end of the game; for the person who got the most right answers, for instance. Offer some prizes for whoever can guess some of the more complicated questions, who can guess the fastest, or who can guess 'how many of' questions. The air can get electric with some on the edge of their seats and many with the answers on the tip of their tongues!

Trivia is particularly useful in a care facility or senior center when focused around a holiday, or a month long theme such as Christmas or Luau. There is trivia available for purchase for almost every occasion, country, ethnic origin, or entertainment media you can think of. If finding or purchasing the trivia you need is too difficult, then you can simply design your own questions as I've outlined above. Of course, it can be very helpful to get many other people contributing their ideas for the trivia questions too.

Nursing Jobs From Home - Yes, You Can Work From Home!

Do have a dream of working from home? Does the career that you are in seem to be hopeless for allowing a work at home opportunity? There are more work from home careers now than ever. More and more companies are allowing their employees to telecommute. More and more professions are developing opportunities in the work from home field. Even professionals such as nurses can find jobs from home. Yes, it may be surprising, but there are nursing jobs from home that are available out there for nurses that are interested in working from home for whatever reasons.

Case Manager

One available nursing job that can be done from home is a case manager. As a nursing case manager you have patients that you contact on a daily basis by phone to give them important information about their medical condition. You also provide information about medications, side effects, daily care of wounds, nutritional information, exercise information, etc. As their case manager, you can also answer any questions they may have and, if necessary, refer their case to a home health nurse that will actually go to the patient's home to see them in person.

Teach Nursing Classes Online

You can also teach nursing classes on line as an on line instructor. This is a great nursing job from home. You can use your nursing skills and expertise to help future nurses gain college credits they need to become a nurse. The type of courses you would be eligible to teach and the rate of pay you would receive would depend on the policies of the institution that is offering the job.

Telephone Triage Services

There are also telephone triage services that hire nurses to work from home. A telephone triage service offers nursing jobs from home for registered nurses to provide after hours services to doctor's offices and twenty four hour service to hospitals. These companies hire registered nurses to answer questions for people with non emergency medical concerns. For those people with true emergencies, you would need to refer them to their nearest emergency room or ER.

Even if you didn't know it, there are several job opportunities for nursing jobs from home. Work at home jobs can provide many benefits to you, as well as your family. These benefits can include flexibility, less time away from family and general overall happiness with your career.

If you are interested in working from home and want to find more information on nursing jobs from home, search the internet to find job opportunities. There are many legitimate job banks that offer just such positions. Source: Workfromhomejobsinc dot com

Understanding The Requirements For A Business Management Degree

Business management is one of the most popular undergraduate degree programs available. The degree provides a firm base for nearly any leadership role in private corporations, educational institutions or even government departments. They are essential for many higher-level managerial or executive-level positions. The degree is even a good fit for individuals who are entering professions such as teaching, healthcare or engineering, since it indicates that the graduate has a firm and well-rounded understanding of the organizational components of a business. There are several points to understand about a business management degree.

Education
Most programs require four years of study. Students learn technical knowledge and management skills focused on dealing with team members or employees. The technical knowledge covers simple accounting, finance and analysis. Students spend time learning about organizational structure and behavior, basic management techniques and relevant business law. Many classes are dedicated to teaching leadership skills. These include motivational techniques, conflict resolution and workforce development. The combination of business and leadership education creates graduates who are capable of functioning independently as the head of a department or corporation. Graduates can manage budgets, deal with employees and create effective plans for the future.

Specialization
Many students who pursue a business management degree choose to specialize in one or more areas. There are programs focused on specific industries such as healthcare, information technology or accounting. Some programs include subsets of larger industries, such as early childhood teaching or hospitality. These specializations are useful when a student has a specific career path in mind before graduation. Some careers, like those related to the sciences and engineering, often require specialized degrees because of the unique challenges that are present in the workplace. Although there are specializations available, a generalized degree in management is still desirable in most positions.

After Graduation
Some graduates from business management programs go on to pursue a master of business administration (MBA). An MBA qualifies graduates for the highest leadership positions in the largest companies in the world. An MBA program usually allows a similar specialization to the one chosen for the undergraduate degree. Most individuals work in a profession after graduation for a number of years until promotion into an administrative or leadership role. The skills of the graduate along with specializations or other educational achievements will determine exactly which jobs are available. A graduate could work in a bank, an aerospace firm or even a university as an administrator in the financial aid office. The choice is up to the personal skills and preferences of the individual student.

Assisted Living Homes Help Seniors With Their Bucket Lists

"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." Those are the famous words of Edward Cole which was the role played by Jack Nicholson in the 2007 movie The Bucket List. The touching movie was about about writing a "bucket list" which contained a list of things he and his friend wanted to do before they died. The main characters of the film that were accomplishing their dreams have inspired the young and old to think about their dreams and find a way to fulfill them. Many seniors are starting to think about their own bucket lists early on so they can accomplish them while they're still relatively active. Many Assisted Living Homes and Senior Marketing companies are channeling their efforts to encourage seniors to make their bucket lists so they consider their old age as a new take on life.

The term "senior" covers a vast range of age groups. Making a distinction between baby boomers, who in 2010 are age 46 to 64, a 70 year old, a 75 year old and someone 80 and older is paramount to providing relevant and meaningful information in areas such as navigating daily life, healthcare, education, and even merchandising. Whatever age one decides the time is right for charting their wish list, many are getting assistance on doing just that. Assisted Living Homes, Senior Marketing services and Hospice centers are getting in touch with nonprofit organizations that help seniors and those on their death bed fulfill their last wishes.

A number of businesses have also popped up based on the idea of helping seniors create their wish lists. 10 years ago Bob Haverstick started a company called Never Too Late which specializes in making the aspirations of senior citizens and terminally ill adults come true. The company has fulfilled over 2,000 wishes in a decade, garnering unusual and funny stories along the way. "We want to continue to make wishes happen for the elderly and for adults with a terminal illness and create more spinoffs of our organization," says Haverstick.

"Once people hear about the mission or read about a wish in the newspaper or see a wish unfold on TV, they want to become volunteers or send funds to help support the cause." Haverstick's Indianapolis based company has the goal of helping people live each day filled with energetic compassion and translating that mind set into the world of "wish making." The company offers programs where elementary school aged kids visit seniors in long term care and assisted living facilities and become pen pals with residents who have no one left to visit or write them.

Some seniors around the country are using their computers to share their personalized wish lists on social networks. They're blogging their way to fulfillment with dream lists that include activities such as sky diving, scuba diving, parasailing, riding a "Harley," getting a tattoo, bungee jumping and yes, seeing Paris. It may be slightly more practical for some seniors to think "outside the bucket" and envision a few aspirations that are more suited to accommodate physical limitations, not to mention budgets. "Good" bucket list fulfillments for some seniors should leave footprints on their memories, and not compromise their pocket books or their frail bones!

Some seniors might prefer simpler bucket list suggestions such as learning to draw or paint, playing an instrument, reading that novel they never got around to or learning to use the computer. Many physically fit and active seniors go back to school and continue their education as their bucket list wish. Activity directors in assisted living homes have also created online "travelogues" or Power Point presentations that would allow residents to take virtual tours to anywhere in the world. This could make seeing Paris or even climbing Mt. Everest a reality all within the premises of their assisted living facility. Most people in their latter years still have important items left on their bucket lists and all they need to do is pursue their passion, one step, one day, one wish at a time. By the year 2030, the total number of people in the U.S. over the age 65 will soar to 71.5 million -- one in every five Americans. Live your life to the fullest by fulfilling your dreams!

What Does Assisted Living Offer?

Assisted living is one of the options you have when it comes to retirement. Many people live as long as they can in their homes until they need a bit of help every now and then. Others need help more often because they have health complications or they may not be as flexible as they used to be. That is when it is time to turn to this type of facility and find out what your options really are. You may be surprised by how much control and opportunity there is available to you in such a setting. Now is the perfect time to get this type of care, too.

The Support You Need

Every assisted living facility is a bit different. More importantly, the types of services you need and do not need are really up to you. This means that you can obtain the right type of care for your situation. If your needs change, you can get more or less of the care you need as well. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that you should get the attention you need to live a healthy and happy life. Customized services can help to make that possible.

Typical Options Available

In many situations, these communities provide a number of different things for individuals. They provide a staff that is available around the clock. They provide opportunities for you to relax and spend time with others. They offer personalized care for the room and board you need. Most also provide aid in health needs, such as providing help with medications.

Do you need transportation to and from the various activities that you are a part of? If you do not drive any longer, this may be an important consideration for your needs. Do you want someone to help with the more challenging household tasks you need to perform? This includes laundry, cleaning up and handling cooking?

Your health needs matter too. Some facilities provide help with prescription medications. They can help you with personal hygiene needs. Some will work with you to ensure you get to and from doctor's appointments, as you need to.

You may want a location that provides you with the features and amenities you really want to have and need to live the quality of life you desire. For example, you may need features like access to cable TV and in-room features.

Assisted living is a type of care level that is specific to your needs. You can find a provider that will ensure you get the level of attention and care you need so you no longer have to worry about all of those too-hard tasks.

Car Accident Lawsuits in Texas

Dealing with a car accident in which you were not at fault can be a traumatizing and costly experience that has the potential to have debilitating effects on your physical, mental and financial well-being. Considering the fact that Texas personal injury cases have a two-year statute of limitations, taking care of your situation in a timely and efficient manner is vital.

Knowing your rights and discussing your situation with a qualified attorney, will make this process much more straightforward and less stressful, allowing you to focus on getting your life back together.

Types of Car Accidents

There are many different types of accidents that are eligible for personal injury claims due to the negligence or carelessness of another. Some of the most common accidents in Texas include:

- Low Speed Impact Crashes
- Rear End Impact Accident
- Head On Impact
- Side / T-bone Collisions
- Uninsured Motorist Accidents
- Whiplash Car Accident Injuries
- Defective Roads
- DUI / Drunk Driver Accidents
- 18 Wheeler / Semi-Truck Accidents
- Accidents where passengers are injured

The transgressor in these situations is considered to be acting negligently if they are engaging in excessive speeding, driving under the influence, using a cell phone, failing to pay attention or avoid hazards on the road, or if they are unable to adjust to the road's condition.

Car Accident Lawsuit Process

After consulting with a personal injury lawyer, he or she will file a petition in Texas Civil Court claiming that the other driver was at fault and is liable for your damages. The only way to have a chance at receiving the damages is to prove that the other driver or party was acting negligently. A negligence claim in Texas involves the following elements:

- Duty - The victim must be able to prove the defendant owed them a duty to act in a reasonable manner when operating their motor vehicle. This is a general duty and is required for every driver who drives in Texas.

- Breach - The victim must also prove the defendant breached their duty by failing to act with reasonable care when operating their vehicle.

- Causation - The victim is required to prove the defendant's conduct was the actual and proximate cause of the resulting injuries.

- Damages - The victim must have suffered some type of injury resulting from the defendant's careless or reckless actions (or inaction).

Texas law requires that the plaintiff must be able to prove all of these elements by a preponderance of evidence. The burden of proof for the plaintiff is quite low, with only 51% of the evidence needing to be in the plaintiffs favor in order to win. This is considered comparative negligence, and is the civil procedure that Texas and the majority of other states follow.

As for the specific damages, Chapter 41 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code defines the types that are permitted in the state for a car accident lawsuit. Included are economic damages (compensation for any actual financial loss), non-economic damages (compensation for physical pain and suffering), exemplary damages (punitive damages for the defendant if they acted with gross negligence) and compensatory damages (additional economic and non-economic damages that may be rewarded).

According to 禮16.003(a) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the Statute of Limitations allows you to pursue legal action for a car accident or property damage up to two years following the occurrence. The same amount of time (2 years) also applies to those who suffered a bodily injury in the car accident.

Protecting Our Aging Parents From Identity Theft and Financial Abuse

People over the age of 60 often feel vulnerable to violent crime, but they are far more likely to become the victims of Identity Theft, Financial Exploitation and Fraud.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that 27.3 million Americans became the victims of identity theft in the past five years and the Justice Department says it is the nation's fastest growing crime. Seniors are particularly vulnerable because they often have excellent credit that they may not use or monitor frequently. If living in some type of assisted home or facility, their information or personal valuables may be insecure.

Identity theft happens when someone uses your name and personal information to fraudulently obtain credit, merchandise or services. Your identity may be used to open new credit card accounts, take over existing accounts, apply for loans, rent an apartment, obtain utility or cell phone services, steal or transfer money from bank accounts or secure employment.

Older women are singled out as targets by fraudulent telemarketers and other scam artists, in part because they are perceived to be more polite and trusting of strangers. Fraud can occur in any number of ways. Marketers call on the phone offering services or products or offers and applications can arrive in the mail. These days, internet savvy elders are being scammed into buying unseen over the web.

Telemarketing and mail fraud, for example, are a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. Telephone con artists are hardened criminals who tend to be very skilled, sound believable and prey on you when you're feeling lonely. It's sometimes difficult to know whether a sales call is legitimate. The most common scams are sweepstakes or prize offers, travel packages, vitamins, magazine subscriptions, investments, charities, and fraud recovery scams.

The very worst part of being victimized is the painstaking process of restoration . The average time it takes to restore adulterated credit or identity is 1500 hours and can cost hundreds of dollars. Even then, the restoration is not guaranteed and can follow an elderly person and even his or her family for years.

The best medicine is prevention. Please educate your senior parents and yourselves about these crimes and the steps necessary to prevent these tragedies from affecting your loved ones.

Here are some simple tips to get started STAYING SAFE:

1. If someone calls trying to sell something and you feel pressured or uncomfortable - hang up the phone.

2. Register for the National Do-Not-Call List at (888) 777-3406.

3. Stop pre-approved credit card offers call (888) 5-OPTOUT or opt-out.cdt.org

4. Never send money or give your credit card, account number or social security number to an unfamiliar party. Wait till you have received written material about any offer or charity.

5. Lock your Mailbox.

6. Have any contracts reviewed by a trusted professional on your side before signing anything.

7. Take your time making any financial decision.

8. When out, leave your purse, wallet, credit cards, and identification home whenever possible. Carry little cash Don't let it dangle from your wrist.

9. Don't leave your purse in a shopping cart unattended for even a moment - including while you are loading packages

10. Arrange for government and pension checks to be directly deposited to your bank.

11. Examine your credit card bills and account balances to look for unauthorized charges or withdrawals.

12. Use a shredder to dispose of documents containing private information and pre-approved credit card offers.

13. Be stingy with information if someone calls or sends you an unsolicited e-mail.

14. Avoid strange ATM's.

15.Add password protections to your bank and brokerage accounts.

16. Monitor your credit report from all three major credit-reporting agencies to check for fraud.

17. Enroll in an identity theft protection and restoration program