High School Technical and Vocational Training Courses

There was a time that vocational training meant focusing only on skilled trades such as being a mechanic or a welder. But since industries have diversified especially with the advent of the computer age, this now offers people better opportunities such as business and information technology.

The American education system offers students many things in primary and in the secondary grade level. Not only do the children learn how to add or subtract figures but also gives the opportunity to be well-rounded individuals.

This is the reason that Allen was able to learn about computers and pushed this person into pursuing a degree in computer maintenance after graduating from high school.

To Allen's astonishment, there are a lot of vocational schools offering courses related to information technology. Some of these places are out of state while there were also those that are just a few bus rides away.

Here are a few tips that will be helpful in high school or even after graduation when looking for technical and vocational training courses.

1. It will be a good idea to check the vocational schools online so that a brochure can be delivered to the home.

One of the advantages of a vocational school over a university is that tuition is much more affordable. There is also internship or apprenticeship that means those who do well will get a job after completing the course.

2. If the person wants to pursue higher education, it will be a good idea to ask if other universities honor this so the student will not have to start over being a freshman again.

3. The student should ask if the vocational school offers scholarships or grants for those who do not have enough money to pay for tuition.

4. The individual should also ask if the vocational school offers this course part time especially for those who have to work and can only come in campus during the evening. If this is still difficult, perhaps asking the school administrator if there is distance learning.

5. It will also be a good idea to check on the success rate for getting a job if one decides to attend the vocational school.

There are a lot of factors to consider before choosing a technical or vocational course to purse. The person should weight the pros and cons of each before making that big decision.

Nursing Home Abuse is Grounds For a Personal Injury Lawsuit

A worrisome problem about nursing homes is that more people are being abused in these homes than ever before. Nursing home abuse is something that can be painful not only to a resident but also to the family members of the resident. This is why abuse can be covered in a personal injury lawsuit.

There are various injuries that can be covered in this type of personal injury lawsuit. These include injuries that were caused by the negligence that was held towards a nursing home resident. False imprisonment by a nursing residence attendant is another event that can cause injuries. Injuries that were caused by ongoing hazards in the nursing home can also be covered in a lawsuit.

The effects of these injuries can be notable signs of abuse. These signs include not only physical pains for a person but also isolation and a loss of one's ability to get one's prescriptions. Mental anguish is another concern to be aware of here.

These injuries and effects of nursing residence abuse can cause this condition to be covered in a personal injury lawsuit. This is provided that proof that relates to the negligence of a nursing residence can be found. This negligence relates to things like a lack of a process to maintain a home or not monitoring employees well enough. The negligence in a personal injury lawsuit will be related to things that a home should have been able to prevent but failed to.

Nursing residence abuse is a disturbing thing that is becoming common in many nursing homes. It is something that can cause an elderly person to suffer in an unnecessary manner. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed against a nursing home that engages in this type of activity.

What Goes On In A Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation Facility?

When caring for an elderly parent or relative, there may come a time when their health conditions require that they be placed in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility. This is typically the time when most people begin thinking about the inner workings of a nursing home. The interdisciplinary nature of caring for patients in a skilled nursing facility makes for a complex coordination of tasks. The ultimate goal, however, is to help each patient meet the challenges of their personal healthcare plan.

Skilled nursing patients in need of health services or rehabilitation may opt for long or short stays in a nursing home. Family and friends may visit their loved one in the nursing facility as the patient progresses on his or her rehabilitation plan. If the patient is ill then he or she may be provided IV medication or put on hospice care. The nursing staff provides continuous care for the resident patients and completes other medical services at the request of each patient's physician.

Persistent health problems and illness can become very serious as a person ages. Surgical procedures can also require physical rehabilitation, in the case of hip and knee replacement surgeries. The staff at a nursing home are well trained and interdisciplinary. These highly trained individuals must work together on personalized patient care plans. The nursing and rehab teams must be able to handle a wide variety of healthcare procedures. Skilled nursing facilities care for their patients around the clock. Accurate patient documentation must be maintained throughout the process. This ensures that the next group of staff members remains up to date on how patients are progressing.

The state Department of Health and Human Services regulates nursing facilities in the individual state that the facility is operating in. The state regulations require that the nursing facilities pass various tests in order to remain operational. The facilities are tested for quality of care and cleanliness among other things, like patient documentation. Higher rated facilities gain more local credibility.

Assisted living facilities and home care options are not best suited to provide proper care for complex health issues. Falling risks and diseases like Alzheimer's, dementia and diabetic complications are more appropriate for care in a nursing home.

A nursing rehabilitation facility typically provides, wound, dementia and diabetic care, IV medication, pain management. Rehabilitation services like, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapies are also made available. A nursing facility will also provide social services and activities along with necessities like, laundry service and basic transportation.

All residents are professionally assessed and an individual care plan is developed. Every employee at a nursing care center must provide compassionate care. With the support of all nursing and rehabilitation staff, every patient should be inspired to reach their goals.

Assisted Living and the Job Shortage

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

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

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

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

Reassuring Care Calls For The Elderly

It's not any fun getting any older and if you have ageing parents it can be difficult to manage as they find it harder to move around due to health or mobility problems and become more and more forgetful. The elderly living alone is a concern for everyone, a slip in the bath or a fall downstairs can be a terrifying and serious worry for all parties.

If you have an elderly loved one who lives alone then the odds are you are worried about their welfare. Many senior citizens like to maintain their independence and live in the home they have probably occupied for many years as long as possible. In other words, they would love to age in place. Reports state that people who are over the age of 85 are the fastest growing population segment of the elderly in America, luckily there's lots of assistance available to help the elderly who live by themselves.

While some senior citizens may be happy to go into residences that offer assisted living, there are plenty of others that are happy in their own homes and may just require a little help now and again. If you don't always have the time yourself to check on their well-being daily then there are other options available.

You, the caregiver, are more likely to realise your elderly relatives need an extra helping hand than they are but the last thing you want to do is take away their independence. If they insist on living alone then it may be smart to get someone in on a part time basis to help them keep the house clean and tidy, even do some cooking, and this way the change isn't too drastic. Employ a gardener to keep the garden neat and ask neighbours, friends and various members of the family to pop in on a regular basis to keep them company and generally keep an eye on them.

Check with a local agency that works with the elderly and find out more about available community resources. They might actually qualify for free programs and assistance to help maintain independence. Various social groups in your area may have volunteers who visit the elderly or those who can't get out much to chat and provide company. However, people don't always have time and there may be some days when no-one has been able to visit, the only way you're going to be reassured of their health and safety each day is by going there yourself or calling them.

For people with really busy schedules however, even calling a few times a day to check your mother or father are up and doing OK can be a task that gets neglected due to lack of time or being in a situation or location that doesn't make it easy to use the telephone. If you simply can't afford to get them full-time live in help or they refuse, don't despair as there is another kind of help at hand. Cost effective solutions can help you care for your seniors with a daily care call programme designed to help them and put your mind at ease.

What does a care call programme entail exactly? Well, it's very simple to get started all you need is a basic telephone - you decide how many times a day you want the service to call the elderly relative, it could be just once in the morning or every morning, noon and night depending on the circumstances. Services are provided everyday, 24 hours a day depending on your circumstances. If the person concerned doesn't pick up then a notification is sent to whoever you have chosen, either yourself or a neighbour or family friend, and you can then make arrangements to check the situation out. Put your mind at rest with reassurance everyday.

For anyone worried about an elderly relatives well-being, whether it is a grandparent having small accidents due to lack of mobility, your dad's failing eyesight, or a neighbour you've known for years that you worry as they become gradually more and more confused, a daily care call or two can mean all the difference. As well as giving you reassurance that all is well, it also offers a support line to the senior, and if anything has happened help can be sent very quickly. An easy service to help aging in place, it's the perfect way to balance effective care for people you love and still be able to get on with the daily routines of your own busy life.

Find out more about independent living for seniors in their homes and make sure those you worry about are safe and protected.

Stuff to add:

"Aging in place" is growing older without having to move. According to the Journal of Housing for the Elderly, it is not having to move from one's present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to changing need. Some 70% of seniors spend the rest of their life in the place where they celebrated their 65th birthday.

Study Shows Nursing Homes Are Havens For Criminals

As our population grows older the number of seniors looking for a peaceful end to their lives by turning to nursing homes and assisted care facilities continues to grow. It is no secret that these facilities are usually understaffed and frequently use employees who are not all that well-qualified. Because of increased emphasis on profitability it is common practice to compromise standards, assuming that there are any in the first place.

When people go looking for a nursing home the last thing they expect is to find a problem with criminals working in the facility. That is exactly what the inspector general of the federal Health and Human Services found out in a recent report. Ninety percent of all nursing homes employee one or more people with a criminal record.

The report goes on to this show that over 40 percent of those employees with a record were guilty of property crimes like burglary, shoplifting, or of writing bad checks. Twenty percent had DUI's and fifteen percent of nursing homes had employees with two or more criminal convictions.

Part of the problem as noted is that the standards sometimes are so low that a background check is bypassed completely. Variation of this problem is that states sometimes only require a background check in the local state. If there was a conviction in the neighboring state it wouldn't show up.

In the year 2006 there was a law passed that required the creation of the database of workers. In 2010 the Department of Social Services decided that it would not seek money to comply with the law.

So there is a lack of standardization in requirements for background checks. Additionally, employers are likely the look the other way if something does show up, which is a major concern. Again, financial considerations are at work here. A well-qualified employee will cost a lot more than someone you with a criminal record.

The Obama administration is trying to create a national program to nationalize background checks for nursing home employees. 10 states so far received federal funds to do the background investigations. As you may have guessed, participation is optional.

There is so much pressure to hire someone, anyone, that frequently standards are out the window.

There isn't much that family members can do on this front. And there is no study that has ever been done on the correlation between employees with criminal records and a mounting evidence of elder abuse in nursing homes which occurs in one out of six facilities.

One thing that can be done by family members is to protect a family resident in nursing homes by installing a hidden spy camera. They can easily detect any abuse.

Cost of Assisted Living

In any given year, more than 10 million people, most aged 65 or older, are in the long-term care of assisted living or nursing home facilities in the United States. For their families, that means considerable 'out of pocket' expenses must be dedicated to the cost of assisted living. In fact, some estimates suggest that over 75% of those expenses are borne directly by the patient themselves or their immediate and extended families.

If you and your loved one are considering making the move toward senior living or a nursing home environment, you'll certainly want to know as much about the costs that are involved as you can. The cost of assisted living will no doubt make a significant impact on family finances, but one of the many advantages the concept offers is that it's typically much less than the cost of a nursing home.

Comprehensive care nursing facilities can cost up to 50% more than their counterparts in assisted living. The reasons are fairly obvious; the patients in the care of nursing homes typically have magnified medical and domestic needs compared to those in senior living. As such, everything from medical staffing to liability and malpractice insurance must be dealt with in larger numbers than required for partial senior living. At the end of the day, nursing homes are really just smaller versions of hospitals, while senior living can take any of several different approaches, all of which are generally considered to be closer to a home environment than the classic nursing home model.

So what is the cost of senior living? The answer, of course, is that it depends on a broad range of factors, such as the amount of care needed or the patient's location.

Depending on whether the patient will need intermittent care in his own home or a full-time staff at a senior living building, the difference in cost can range from a few hundred dollars per month for in-home care, to several thousand dollars for an upscale apartment in a room and board facility.

As for location, the same cost of living factors that affect those without senior living needs will have an impact on those who do. Estimates suggest that depending upon which state the patient will reside within, the cost can vary by more than 150%. For example, 2007 estimates point to an annual cost of assisted living in North Dakota at just over $23,000.00 per year. Washington DC, however, would have cost over $60,000.00 in the same year!

The cost of assisted living will always be dependent on a variety of elements. The decision to place a loved one in the care of strangers, professional though they may be, is hard enough without the financial aspects to consider. But with a small investment in time to research your options, you may find that the financial sting of the experience can be minimized without compromising on the quality of care.

Nursing Home Abuse - Dehydration

Nursing home abuse lawsuits are becoming more frequent each year. It is difficult to believe that the staff of a nursing home would be negligent toward their elderly patients, however, many health conditions are at-risk of being overlooked in a substandard care environment. It is important for loved ones of residents to remain alert for any indications that abuse may be occurring. The failure of a nursing home's staff to recognize and treat a patient suffering from dehydration is one typical shortcoming.

The staff of a live-in care facility is responsible for ensuring that patients receive sufficient liquid to remain adequately hydrated. At any age dehydration can cause serious illness, but dehydration in the elderly can cause much more severe conditions. For minor dehydration, headaches and dizziness may occur. Increased dehydration may brin a dangerous fluctuation in body temperature, a weakened immune system, and dangerously low blood pressure.

Family members and loved ones may recognize the condition by observing that a patient's eyes appear to be sunken, or possibly by noticing a slight change in character. Confusion can be a sign that a serious illness is occurring due to the lack of necessary liquids in the body.

Although they can't reverse the sad conditions that have resulted from nursing home abuse, a medical malpractice attorney may be able to assist in holding a negligent facility accountable for the harm it has done. If reported, the parties at fault may be heavily fined or even lose their license. Courts do not tend to take nursing home abuse lightly.

Contact the Des Moines medical malpractice attorneys of LaMarca & Landry, P.C., to learn more about your legal rights in this tragic situation.

Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Schools Should Be Concerned About Disease Carrying Ants

Experts estimate the world is home to 22,000 ant species. Two of them, the notorious, pharaoh ants and fire ants are major problems throughout the world in hospitals, nursing homes and schools. They're creating new headaches for public administrators and operations managers. Why all the fuss? Pharaoh ants and fire ants are more than a nuisance; they're responsible for serious human illness and sometimes even death.

The pharaoh ant is one of the world's premier ant pests. The tiny disease carrying pharaoh ant (1/16 of an inch in length) is difficult to see with a visual inspection. These tiny insects have a translucent, reddish gold color. Although a tropical species, thanks to central heating they are now flourishing in colder climates.

Pharaoh ants live in multi-colonies with thousands or hundreds of thousands of members. They establish huge colonies throughout hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other settings. Pharaoh ants have even penetrated the security of recombinant DNA laboratories (source: Haack and Granovsky). The warmth seeking pharaoh ants build nests around central heating pipes and boiler rooms. They also live in warm, moist inaccessible areas such as inside furniture, behind baseboards and under floors. Pharaoh ants may even find homes between layers of bed linens and in piles of trash and inside appliances. Once they invade a building they're just about impossible to eliminate.

These insects have a wide food preference ranging from fruits to syrups, meats, fatty foods, oily foods and dead insects. In hospitals, nursing homes and schools, these pests easily carry germs from one area to another. Pharaoh ants are known to spread diseases, some life threatening, especially to the sick and elderly.

Researchers have analyzed pharaoh ants found in hospitals - they discovered over a dozen types of pathogenic bacteria. According to The Lancet, one of the world's prestigious medical journals, pharaoh ants captured in nine hospitals were found to be carriers of Pseudomonas, Salmonella spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Clostridium spp.

In severely infested environments, pharaoh ants brazenly crawl into human wounds and dine on blood plasma and wound dressings. These ants can spread bacteria and disease while traveling from patient to patient. Newborns and burn victims residing in pharaoh ant-infested hospitals are subjected to increased risk due to the pharaoh ants' pathogens. In hospitals, they have been observed searching for moisture from the mouths of sleeping babies and from active IV bottles.

It is best to ask an expert to deal with these unwanted guests. If you disturb a colony they split the colony through a process called budding and will create several new nests in adjacent areas. To help prevent infestations in hospitals, nursing homes and schools, keep food in sealed, secure containers and keep areas free of food particles and sweet liquids. These insects contaminate food with the pathogens they've picked up while crawling in buildings.

Red imported fire ants were accidentally brought to the United States from South America in the early 1900's. These ants are aggressive, efficient competitors. They live in large colonies in dirt nests, which form mounds. They eat plants and occasionally smaller insects. Their bites create a burning sensation and painful pustules in about 50 percent of people bitten. Infected pustules can turn into scars.

Fire ants inject their venom by utilizing the biting parts of their jaw and rotating their bodies. They often inject venom into a victim numerous times. People allergic to fire ant venom may experience anaphylaxis; a life-threatening allergic reaction.

People are more likely to be attacked while outdoors, however there have been reports of fire ants stinging people in nursing homes, hotels and homes. Fire ant stings have actually killed a small number of nursing home patients (source: The American Journal of Medicine).

In severely fire ant infested hospitals and nursing homes, cognitively impaired, immobile patients are particularly at risk of a fire ant attacks. An attack may cause respiratory tract obstruction, frank anaphylaxis and the worsening of pre-existing conditions. In Florida, in 2000, Mary L. Morales Gay, an elderly nursing home patient with Alzheimer's disease, died a day after being bitten 1,625 times by fire ants (source: Associated Press). Why was she bitten that many times? Vibration or movement inspires a group of fire ants to bite. It's natural for people move when fire ants swarm on their arms or legs.

Fire ant attacks have inspired lawsuits against doctors and health care facilities (source: The American Journal of Medicine). In 2005, Earl Dean Griffith, while recuperating from surgery in a Florida nursing home, died after being bitten by hundreds of fire ants. The 73 year old Griffith died from a combination of shock and ant poison in his system. Mariner Health Care, one of the nation's largest nursing home chains, agreed to pay his family members $1.8 million. As you can see, fire ant infestations are not just a problem for third world countries, but can be an issue for healthcare facilities and nursing homes in the United States.

Ants of all varieties crawl through their own waste material, animal feces and other waste material as they move around their environment and nest. Their body can pick up and deposit bacteria and other microorganisms throughout hospitals, nursing homes, schools, homes etc. School cafeterias should be extra careful; as these specific pest ants transmit food-borne illnesses such as dysentery and Salmonella on food and food preparation surfaces. Safety measures and proactive professional ant control services may prevent diseases and lawsuits.

Due to the adaptive nature of ant colonies, destroying the entire colony is nearly impossible. Typically pest management companies will strive to control local ant populations. Hospitals, nursing homes and schools should eliminate food particle and sweet liquid messes quickly. Your facility may not currently have disease carrying ants but they are spreading around the United States. It is best to implement a comprehensive ant prevention program with the help of a professional pest management firm to avoid human illness and lawsuits from ant infestations.

How Can You Pay for Assisted Living Care?

Assisted living can potentially be a positive lifestyle transition for seniors as they go through the aging process. Moving into these communities can be a relief from the stress of living alone and the responsibility of maintaining a home as you age. Additionally, it can be an opportunity to enjoy social activities in a community designed for people of the same age group who often share similar interests.

However, a major concern for people who are considering making this transition is how they will pay for the comforts of senior living such as apartments and retirement communities. And especially in today's tough economy, these are important money questions that every family should be considering. Here are a few ways people are finding ways to pay for senior care:

Option #1: Self Funded

Self funding means simply paying out of pocket, as many people are able to rely on their own resources to cover the costs of these communities. Options include savings accounts and investments, insurance, and even reverse mortgages. For seniors with significant savings and investments, these funds can be easily directed toward the costs of assisted living.

Option #2: Public Funding

Public funding is a second option, depending on the restrictions and limitations in your state and the type of care you are seeking. While Medicaid often covers nursing care for elderly individuals with certain conditions, the program is more limited in its coverage for assisted living communities. Additionally, Medicaid is only available for those who have lower incomes and fewer assets. This means that not everyone is eligible even if your state does offer some coverage.

Option #3: Long Term Care Insurance

Not every person is in the position to either self fund their senior care or take advantage of public programs, which is why some choose to invest in long-term care insurance. This type of insurance is specifically for the costs of care as you age, and depending on the policy, can be used for both nursing homes and assisted living. These policies are generally cheaper for younger individuals and more difficult to obtain as you age or develop certain conditions. It is important to read the fine print carefully on these policies, as they are highly specific about what they will cover. Some only cover medically necessary assisted living while others will only fund certain facilities. Depending on whether or not you agree with their choice of facility, this insurance may not be the best choice for your future.

Option #4: Reverse Mortgages

Lastly, for seniors who own their homes, reverse mortgages are a viable source of funding for assisted living. The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program allows you to tap the equity in your home hat way you can use the cash for other things.

What am I paying for?

One other important question to ask when determining how you will pay for your long-term care or assisted living is to determine what, exactly, you are paying for. In some cases, assisted living facilities charge a flat rate that includes all of the available services. Other facilities charge a base rate that covers the most basic services and costs for the room. Additional services are then charged on an "a la carte" basis, which can add up quickly if you or your loved one needs a great deal of attention each day.

Differences Between a LPN and a RN

The performance and expectations are much greater for an RN (registered nurse) than they are considered to be for an LPN (licensed practical nurse). On the floor, an LPN and RN may have very similar duties, but the RN has many more medical responsibilities. If you want to know the legal differences specifically, you will have to refer to your nurse's "Practice Act" for the state you live in.

Bedside care is considered the primary practice for the LPN. These nurses tend to be task oriented, while the RNs have to see the bigger picture. RNs have to analyze deeper issuers and consider many underlying conditions, plus how those issues relate to the patient's status.

There are some tasks performed by Registered Nurses that LPN's cannot do and those are: pushing IV's, hanging blood, hanging chemo and titrate drugs. All of these tasks, however, will vary according to the state you practice in. Another similarity between the two is the fact that they both wear the same clothing; Medical scrubs clothing is something that separates the staff from the physicians.

Education Requirements

The main difference you will see in education between an RN and an LPN is that an RN will undergo a lot more training in school than an LPN would. In fact, an RN will go to school for an additional 2-3 years more than an LPN. A Licensed Practical Nurse can usually complete training in about a year and sometimes less. Most Registered Nurses pursue the Associate's Degree or even the Bachelor's in Nursing. The Associate's takes about two years to complete while the Bachelor's takes about four.

Work Settings

Work settings for RN's versus LPN's are technically no different from one another. Since they usually work together, medical facilities usually employ both of them. The majority of RN's, in fact almost 50%, are usually employed in typical physician offices. Industries that will employ large numbers of RNs are home health services, nursing home facilities, hospitals and employment services. The largest employers, to date, of Licensed Practical Nurses are nursing home facilities.

Salary

Entry level Registered Nurses earn nearly twice what an entry level LPN. The annual salary for LPN's usually run around $40,000, while the annual salary for RN's is $57,280. Also keep in mind that there is more room for advancement, in the terms of salary compensation, for a registered nurse. They are able to move into managerial positions and they can even become professors at major or minor universities. These positions can pay $75,000 to $100,000 annually.

Self-Funded GL Policies Viable Despite Soft Market

In a soft market, one might think that alternative risk solutions such as captives and rent-a-captives completely lose their value in light of the attractive pricing of traditional insurance products, but this would be an incorrect assumption. History has shown that alternative risk transfer (ART) products have proven their worth in all market cycles, and yes, that includes the current soft market. While Alternative Market insurance products may not be as sought after in a soft market, their fundamental core benefits continue to reward insureds with consistent profits by offering them greater control over their exposure to risk.

The same applies to situations where an insured desires to self-fund certain exposures, especially general, products and/or professional liability. While attractive pricing may be available in the competitively-priced traditional insurance marketplace, many insureds continue to seek out and/or stay committed to their self-funded general liability program. And in many situations a quality fronting carrier plays a critical role in order to achieve the optimal program structure and desired result.

Background

The cyclical nature of the property-casualty insurance marketplace is well documented, with varying reasons behind the coverage restrictions and high premiums associated with hard markets, and intense carrier competition and declining premiums during soft markets. The hard market of the 1980s was perhaps when ART products came of age, with both captives, rent-a-captives and self-insurance gaining a strong foothold in the property-casualty marketplace. However, insureds still required partners to implement their alternative risk solutions, be it reinsurers, claims administrators and most importantly, fronting carriers to issue the policy.

One popular approach for insureds over this time has been the desire to self-insure and self-fund their general liability exposures. To do so, many established a wholly-owned captive insurance company, and selected their own service providers rather than purchase an "all-services-included" bundled traditional policy. Others chose self-insurance, with both approaches giving them the ability to craft a tailored general liability policy form that truly met their individual needs. Either way, third-party service providers were needed to make it work.

Troubled Times

Captives and self-insurance continued to be popular and effective risk financing approaches during the extended soft market in the 1990s, the relatively brief hard market in the 2000s, and the ensuing and current soft one. Although some insureds opted for low-priced traditional insurance products during soft cycles, many stayed committed to their existing alternative risk structure. Interestingly, others went against the grain and abandoned their traditional approaches and established self-funded general liability programs that gave them more control over their risk exposures.

This ebb and flow continued during market cycles until a perhaps unforeseen event occurred that upset the normal order of things: the worldwide financial crisis that first struck in 2008. Without chronicling all of the reasons behind this crisis, the result was and continues to be more difficulty in obtaining financing from banks and more scrutiny of existing ART structures.

Many insureds with captives and those which pursued self-insurance soon found out that third parties felt more secure receiving general liability certificates of insurance from an "A" rated carrier. In fact, financial institutions often demanded that an "A" rated carrier serve as a front for a general liability captive. Despite their strong balance sheets and years of operational success, a "flee-to-safety" mentality prevailed and surplus lines fronting carriers began to play an even more important role.

Nursing homes with captives are a prime example of this; to obtain HUD financing they needed to provide evidence that a top-rated carrier was providing general and professional liability coverage for them. Home builders and contractors may also require a fronting carrier for their general liability and products/completed operations exposures to satisfy loan covenants or lease agreements

Many types of fronted general liability programs are now available to captives and self-insureds that enable them to maintain their existing program structure on the back-end while alleviating any front-end issues through a partnership with an "A" rated surplus lines carrier.

Potential Fronting Options

Flexibility in program structure is a key advantage of alternative risk transfer vehicles. Under one type of fronted self-funded approach for general liability, an insured may obtain a claims-made and paid policy from an "A" rated surplus lines carrier which reimburses them for losses that arise and are paid within the policy period. The insured typically collateralizes the policy's aggregate limit by providing the carrier with cash and/or a letter of credit, with collateral either being rolled into the next policy term if renewed or returned at expiration. Occurrence policies are also available but often require the insured to post collateral until the statute of limitations or statute of repose expires.

Some of these general liability programs are "working" ones, where the insured intends to seek reimbursement for paid losses from the collateral that the carrier is holding. Others are "non-working" and the carrier serves only as a surplus lines fronting solution, with no paid loss reimbursements being sought. Both approaches offer one important benefit: the insured maintains significant control over its program structure, which is the whole idea behind alternative risk solutions in the first place. It can select the policy limits and sub-limits it desires, coverages can be added, deleted or modified as necessary, and service providers such as a claims administrator and preferred legal counsel are chosen by the insured.

Ideal Candidates

Obviously, insureds that have their own general liability captive or are self-insured are prospects for this type of fronted approach. Ideally, the insured wants to have greater control over their general liability program and is willing to actively participate in establishing loss control procedures, selecting a claims administrator and providing active oversight. The insured should be financially sound and be able to fund not only the aggregate limit of its policy, but also to absorb any losses that may occur along the way. Coverage considerations can range from the typical (general liability, professional liability, products/completed operations) to the unique (products recall, errors & omissions, environmental impairment).

Summary

Self-funded general and professional liability policies continue to provide significant benefits to insureds through their flexibility: customized policies, claims made or occurrence form, choice of service providers, ability to issue "A" rated certificates when and where required and flexible collateral options to name just a few. Despite the current soft market, self-funding of general liability exposures remains a viable option for many insureds. And when signs appear that a hardening of the market is on the horizon, interest is sure to increase.

Finding Good Hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan

Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and also the capital of the Punjab province. It is the fifth largest city in South Asia and the 26th largest city in the world. Lahore is a favorite tourist destination and The Guardian has ranked it as the 2nd best tourist destination in Pakistan.

In Lahore city some of the major private and government hospitals offer world class medical facilities and provide the latest medical equipments and modern technology. English speaking staff are available in many leading hospitals.

This is a short description of some of the major hospitals in the city of Lahore in Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Lahore General Hospital, situated in Lahore, is a famous hospital in the city and offers modern and comprehensive health care services to the people at an affordable cost. This is a government owned and operated hospital and the provincial government is the administrative authority. Their neurosurgery department is very famous.

Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Lahore is the most renowned children's hospital in the city. This pioneer center was founded in 1990 and offers most effective diagnostic, clinical, preventive and surgical facilities in pediatrics and appoints eminent medical professionals. This is a famous training and research center also. The institute has established school of nursing and school of allied health sciences.

Naz Hospital is regarded as one of the best hospitals in Lahore and is situated at 6-A, Link Shadman Road, Shadman, Lahore. The full fledged general hospital was established in 1980 by a famous doctor and is now managed by an American trained administrator. The modern hospital has three operation theatres, two delivery rooms and all other medical facilities. Ph.+92-42-758 7912, +92-42-758 8711, +92-42-759 1087

Mayo Hospital is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in the city and has been providing high quality diagnostic, medical and surgical services to the people since its foundation in 1871.This government owned tertiary care hospital is attached to the well-known King Edward Medical University. This 1799 bed hospital offers cost effective treatments in 42 out-patient departments and gives 100% free treatment to poor people.

Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), situated in Lahore, is the largest cardiac center in the country and is also the first ISO certified government hospital. This premier health institute with 292 beds and highly sophisticated equipments has been offering world class cardiac care services to the patients for the last 18 years. This tertiary care hospital carries out more than 1700 cardiac surgeries and treats over160, 000 patients annually. This is also a well known research and training center in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Ph.+92-42-9203051-60

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is another well trusted hospital in the city that has been offering modern and reliable medical services to a large number of people since its establishment in 1921. This 700 bed private multy specialty hospital is managed by a family trust, well known for their invaluable services in public health care sector. The hospital employs eminent medical professionals and offers high quality services in all major departments.

Jinnah Hospital, situated at Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani Road,Lahore, is one of the largest and most reputed hospitals and teaching schools in Pakistan. This government owned hospital with 1100 beds offers modern and effective treatments and service in all departments through a team of 65 eminent consultant physicians and surgeons. Most of the training programs offered by this famous institute are recognized by Royal college of physicians, Royal college of surgeons and Royal college of obstetrics and gynecology in UK and Ireland. The hospital treats an average of 550,000 patients every year. Ph.+92-42-9231400-23

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, located in the Lahore city at 7-A, Block R-3, Johar Town, is the most leading cancer hospital and research institute in Pakistan. This charitable institute, founded by Pakistan's most well known cricket player Imran Khan in 1994, has established itself as a centre of excellence that offers latest, comprehensive and affordable treatments to a large number of cancer patients. This 115 bed modern hospital employs 1393 staff which includes 41 eminent consultants, Physicians and surgeons. This HACCP certified hospital has affiliation withUniversity of Bradford (UK) and has Membership of International Union against Cancer (UICC). Ph. +92 42 5945100

Nadeem clinic and maternity home is another reliable hospital in Lahore and is located at the town of Allama Iqbal. The hospital offers modern and complete treatment at reasonable cost and is particularly well known for their excellent services in gynecology and obstetrics. Ph. +92-42-445182, +92-42-445179

Tips For Getting the Best Executive Jobs

Being an executive in a company is a matter of great responsibility. As an executive, you could be given any of the profiles that are instrumental in the day to day working and progress in the company. An executive job will basically mean that you will be at a desk and you will not have much of physical strain, unless you are a sales executive.

A sales executive is different from other executives simply because they may have to move about a bit to meet clients and such. Therefore, barring the sales executive, most other executives have desk jobs and a profile that comprises of them executing whatever decisions have been taken by the management. Here are some tips to keep in mind while looking for an executive job.

Be Professional

If you are looking for an executive job in any company, one of the most important traits that you should possess and present is a maturity and professionalism that counts amongst the best in the business. An executive looks after the day to day working of the company is more often than not the face of the company. Therefore, a lot of responsibility lies on the shoulders of the executive.

Look for the Niche

Executive jobs are available in several niche professions. If you are interested in a particular profession, you would do well to search for such jobs in the said professions. Remember, get a job that you like doing and you will never be working another day.

Make a Genuine, Attractive CV

Your resume is the only document that can go to places where you cannot, so that you reach the place where you really want to. Your resume is the single document which presents your capabilities, ambitions, qualifications and earnestness to the job and is the first impression that the interviewer will have about you. Therefore, make it a point to make the resume professional and concise.

Communication Skills

Whether you are looking for an executive job, a managerial job or even a blue collar job, it is very necessary for you to have communication skills, communication skills are quite important for you to succeed in today's world. You should have decency and communication skills that actually has a good impression on the person whom you are about to meet.

These are just some of the aspects that you should keep in mind while looking out for an executive job. The best place to look for executive jobs is the Internet. The Internet has several job portals that inform the people about various kinds of jobs that are available in different companies. With the help of the Internet, you can look through a variety of jobs within a short time, which will give you an opportunity to better understand your options and help you decide which option you would like to take in.

Also, if you are looking for local executive jobs, you could go through the local media like the newspapers and magazines that are catering to the job market.

Lookbacks & Asset Transfer Rules Are Different For Medicaid & Veterans Long Term Care Benefits

Veterans, here's some important information you didn't learn in boot camp.

If you are a veteran who is over 65 or disabled, you may be eligible for V.A. benefits to cover assisted living, at-home care or nursing home care expenses -- even if your disability did not occur as a result of your military service. Veterans widows may be eligible for benefits, too. In my Florida Elder Law Practice I advise many veterans and families who are struggling to pay for the long-term care assistance they need, but who are completely unaware of the existence of these V.A. aid and attendance benefits!

To get benefits, you'll have to meet certain income and asset criteria... which leads me to another set of little-known but important facts for veterans: Although the V.A. does not have a lookback period when it assesses your assets, Medicaid - which many elderly veterans will want to apply for after applying for Veterans benefits - does. Knowing this distinction could make the difference between losing your nest egg to nursing home expenses or saving a significant portion of your assets. Let's illustrate with an example.

Veteran and Florida resident Bill needs help caring for himself at home. His income and unreimbursed medical expenses qualify him for veterans aideand attendance benefits that cover some of the cost. But with $200,000 in savings, he is over the asset limit ($80,000 limit at this writing on 4/26/10). So Bill transfers his assets to his children. They next day, he applies for V.A. aid and attendance benefits and is approved. So far, so good -- but read on.

Bill's health continues to deteriorate, and two years later, he needs full-time custodial nursing home care. Facing astronomical expenses, Bill applies to Medicaid for long-term care benefits. Bill is surprised to learn that unlike the V.A., Medicaid has a lookback period and examines his prior asset transfers. Medicaid deems Bill ineligible for a penalty period and he now faces paying those enormous nursing home bills out of pocket. It's going to cost the family dearly.

The V.A. and Medicaid are separate agencies. They don't "work together." The V.A. won't tell you about Medicaid's requirements, and Medicaid won't tell you about the V.A.'s requirements. Yet for Florida veterans who want to preserve assets and protect themselves against the crushing costs of long-term care, both types of benefits must be considered together. Veterans benefits and Medicaid benefits are two pieces of the same complex puzzle. For help putting those pieces together, consult a Florida certified elder law attorney with experience in this area.

The Senior Living Resident Gumball Machine - Important Senior Marketing Numbers

Today, I had an interesting conversation with a potential client. He found my website online and was looking for a consultant. We started the conversation and he was telling me about how his current pay per click marketing company is not doing satisfactory work. In fact, from what he was told me, they were awful. He ended up taking over the campaign, and with no prior knowledge of internet marketing, he was able to achieve lower advertising costs than this supposed internet marketing company.

I poked a little further into his business and asked him some questions like, are they using landing pages? Are they tracking conversions? etc.

I then went and asked him a stumper of a question. I asked, how much does it cost you to acquire a new customer? There was a long pause… he said, You know I don't know. It used to cost me $90 a lead, and sometimes I would see them come in for $30… and a $30 lead is better than a $90 one right?

I said, I don't care how much you're paying per lead. I want to know how much it is costing you to get a new customer… He said he really didn't know.

So before we talked more, I gave him was a little homework to do. He's going to go back 6 months and analyze his marketing efforts, and he is going to find out how many customers he brought in over that period of time. Then he'll finally know the number that really matters, how much it is costing hom to get a new customer.

Many Marketing Companies Keep You Hanging On The Edge Of Your Seat With A Big Lie!

There's a big myth that I'm going to dispel about internet marketing and marketing companies in general. When these companies report to you the activity they've been doing, whether it's pay per click, SEO, email marketing, or anything else for your senior living community, they will tout how many clicks they brought you, how many impressions your site saw, the cost per click, and then tell you the cost per senior living lead is $X and that is a great number.

That great cost per lead they are telling you can actually be very expensive. What really matters is how much it costs your senior living community to acquire a new resident. You may only be paying $45 per lead from your pay per click campaign, or be paying $100 for a lead from an online senior housing directory, but what matters to your community as a business is how much it costs to convert those into residents.

Let's look at an example. Say you are paying $45 for senior living pay per click leads, but it takes 50 of those to get a new resident. In this case it is costing you $45x50=$2,250 per new senior living resident. Now consider having to pay $12,000 for a newspaper ad, and that brings in 7 new residents. $12,000/7=$1,714. Finding out these numbers lets you discover your senior living resident gumball machine. You want a new resident, then drop $2,250 on pay per click ads, and out pops a new resident.

Importantly, you found out the newspaper ad is actually $536 cheaper to acquire a new customer! If it continues to produce at these numbers, then you would want to allocate more resources to the newspaper ad then the pay per click ad.

So you now know it takes $1,714 to get a new senior living resident through your newspaper ads. And let's say it keeps this average for a few months or running. Considering the lifetime value of a resident can be multiple $10,000's, then that's a gumball machine I would like to have!

I hope you challenge your senior living marketing company when they tout their low cost per lead. And I hope you go and determine how much it's costing your senior living community to get a new resident.

Copyright (c) 2013 SeniorMarketing.com

Preparing for Summer: How To Avoid Swimming Pool Accidents

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drownings are the number one cause of injury and death for children between the ages of one and four. It is estimated that 390 children under the age of 14 are killed every year due to drowning. The number of people who have to visit the emergency room because of drowning-related injuries is over 5,000 every year. It stands to reason that the highest number of deaths and injury are during the summer months and so it is recommended that extra caution is used during May to August. Where are these injuries the most common? Up to 44% of injuries occur at the victim's home, followed by 23% of injuries occurring at a family member or friend's home.

Even though drowning can happen in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, the majority of fatalities occur at pools. If you have a small child or own a pool, or even if you will be at a pool this summer, there are some safety tips to be aware of which may help prevent an injury or even save a life. First, stay in close vicinity to the pool. It is recommended that you stay within an arm's reach of the pool so that you are able to quickly come to the aid of someone who finds themselves in difficulty. If there is a young child in the pool, watch them at all times. Even looking away for a second is enough to cause a drowning. If you own a pool, install a fence at least four feet around the pool. Also, swimming lessons and CPR lessons could be extremely beneficial.

One hazard to take into consideration regarding swimming pools is faulty drains. Although it may not seem like a serious danger, it could lead to serious injury and even death. The suction of the drain can keep an individual at the bottom of the pool. If hair, clothing, or jewelry is caught in the drain, the victim could also be trapped under the water. There have even been cases of disembowelment where the suction of the drain actually pulls out the intestines or internal organs of the victim. In order to prevent drownings or horrific injuries, you should ensure that your drain is inspected and up to safety standards.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a swimming pool accident, no amount of compensation could make up for what you went through. However, it the accident was caused by the negligence of another individual, they should be held accountable for what they have done. If the swimming pool fell below safety standards or was not adequately fenced off, you could have a personal injury case.

Inside Nursing Homes & Rehab Centers - Physical Therapists I Have Known

Surprise! I am writing this article to tell you some good things concerning nursing homes. Since my associates and I have had the opportunity to visit numerous nursing homes and rehab centers and also numerous hospitals and numerous other medical centers and sections, I can give you a bird's eye view of something that is very important.

I am writing about the physical and occupational therapists -- who are working inside of nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation and care centers. This is probably one of the good things that can happen to someone inside of a nursing home IF they are able to access these treatments/training and exercise sessions. Once residents were allowed to actually go to the physical therapy room, and once they actually got their scheduled time with the therapists, the therapists worked hard and long hours to help the residents get independent.

Even in the very worst rehab center, the attitude and professionalism of the physical therapists and occupational therapists was never in question. Most of the physical rehabilitation employees that we have seen have been right on target with their job. The ones that I saw working with patients were doing their jobs and earning their pay, each and every day. I observed therapists working hard to help residents be successful in therapy. Most of them were polite, professional and hard-working even in the most horrible rehab center. I have to say that and give them credit. These people were there to do a job and they did it. So the problems are not with that particular department inside of nursing homes. Many of the workers that I met, the actual rehab people were excellent, and professional. It is sad that some of them didn't even know that they were working in some of the worst nursing homes in the state. Eventually some of them might learn the true facts. Meanwhile, keep on constant communication with the rehab physical therapists to really find out the truth about what is happening with your patient/family member.

If you visit some of the "bad" nursing homes, you will see equipment that is totally outdated or you will see that there is a lack of equipment and most times that is not the fault of the physical rehab personnel.

So, once the residents actually arrived, they could get good therapy once it was there turn. Problem is the waiting. And the waiting is not the therapist's fault, but it is the fault of administration and owners who do not properly supply the therapy equipment needed. So patients would need to take turns on various equipment and it the equipment was not ready, then patients would use other equipment.

Difference between good and bad centers:

In the bad centers, they had less than adequate equipment. And the ones they did have, they did not have enough of. In the good centers, there was great equipment and there was adequate equipment, so patients are not waiting their lives away for therapy. In the bad centers, patients were told to line up at the elevators upstairs and wait until staff came to get them. The process was slow, and painful. These residents were waiting their lives away. In the good centers, patients had very short waits if any.

IN ALL the centers, both good and bad:

One of the saddest things you might see inside of some bad nursing homes is patients just patiently waiting for the day that they get to leave the nursing home. That is sad; yet that is reality.

Most of the physical therapists have not been damaged by the bad medical centers but if they stay there long enough (in the bad places), they will eventually have their reputations ruined. In some of the places, it seems that the physical therapists are the only really caring and concerned workers who are not goofing off. Most of the physical therapists that I spoke with or saw working with patients were giving excellent care. These workers are educated, informed individuals who seem to have a genuine concern for the patients that they work with. As they work, they see improvements day by day and that makes their work more rewarding.

Once I saw a person who began working in one of the better nursing homes progress from not being able to walk two inches to being able to walk for about twenty feet. So there is hope, progress and a good reason to attend physical therapy sessions at these places if you are stuck there as a patient. If you are thinking of going into the physical therapy occupation, you might want to investigate it more thoroughly, and get all the information you can get about schools in your location.

So, if you have a family member or friend who seems to be lingering on in a nursing home when they should already be at home, make an appointment directly with with the physical therapist to find out what is holding up progress.

Updated 2012

Psychological Abuse in Nursing Homes

When a family must make the difficult decision to place their elderly family member in a nursing home, they expect that he or she will be well taken care of and treated with the utmost dignity and respect in their new place of residence. However, the unfortunate truth is that some residents experience abuse from caretakers in various different forms. Though physical abuse is the easiest to detect, psychological abuse may even more harmful and long-lasting.

The individuals who threaten, manipulate and harass senior citizens living in their nursing homes should be held accountable for their damaging behavior. The best way to make sure that justice is served for your loved one is by bringing this person to a court of law. If this kind of abuse has occurred and can be proven, your loved one may be entitled to financial compensation under the law. In order to increase your chances of a favorable result in court, it would be best to hire an experienced attorney to represent your case. That way, you make sure you claim is presented in an accurate, persuasive manner and help your family member receive the funds to which they are entitled.

Psychological abuse can take many forms and it is important to identify these behaviors early to act swiftly before more damage is done. The following behaviors may be considered abuse:

• Threats
  


• 
  Inappropriate sexual comments
  


• 
  Name-calling
  


• 
  Verbal harassment
  


• 
  Verbal manipulation
  


• 
  Humiliation
  


• 
  Intimidation
  


• 
  Isolation
  


• 
  Embarrassment or shame

No one deserves to live in an environment where they are not respected. Even elderly individuals who need substantial care to accomplish even minor daily tasks should be treated with dignity. When this is not done, you may be able to pursue legal action against those who have wronged you or your family member.

Home Health Aide Certification Guide

One common thread among those looking to become home health aides is the wish to achieve a home health aide certification. Home health aide certification is an important component in achieving work as a HHA as it helps establish authority and experience as well as a minimum standard for the education of the HHA.

Home Health Aide Certification Requirements Each state ultimately has it's own Home health aide certification requirements so students need to check with the appropriate state departments in order to find out what these requirements are. This will allow potential or current students to make sure the HHA certificate training that they are receiving is within the bounds of the law. The most common governmental group involved in this promise is the states department of health. If they are not the proper governing body to inquire about the HHA certification, they will be able to forward you to the proper body. Some states may also require a CNA certificate before allowing HHA training to begin.

Generally speaking, HHA certification includes between 75-100 hours of course/class work as well as practical training. At the end of the training period, all HHA credentials will require the applicant to pass a written state exam as well as a practical skills test. Since some states also require CNA training or other classes, it is not uncommon to receive a CNA certification as well as a HHA certification at the same time.

Why do we need Home Health Aide Certification? Some potential HHA candidates wonder why all the need for certification exists. The short answer is that most home bound care recipients receive their care via medicare. In order to meet federal regulation, and receive medicare dollars, HHAs must be certified in their state. There is also a national HHA credential offered via the National Association for Home Care (NAHC). This makes it possible for HHA students in all states to receive their HHA certification.

At the end of this journey to HHA credentials, the HHA student will be recognized as a certified HHA. This will allow the HHA to work directly under a registered nurse and begin their career as a HHA.

Finally, there exist a number of HHA agencies that will offer HHA cert free of charge in return for a period of work that is contractually agreed to. These certifications are often times high quality as the student will need to be able to jump directly into the work force after their training period is over. One benefit of this arrangement is a guaranteed job after graduation. This should make any potential HHA certification seeker happy as the desire to help people should be strong in any HHA candidate.

Recognizing and Preventing Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes

Entrusting your loved on to the care of a nursing home is a difficult decision. It can be all the more painful if you discover that your loved one is experiencing abuse in his or her new home. Nursing home abuse can take a variety of forms and may not be noticeable immediately. Your loved one could be physically, emotionally, or sexually abused. In addition, abuse can take the form of exploitation, such as fraud or theft, or may have been neglected or abandoned by caretakers or medical professionals.

Even if your loved one is in good mental health, he or she may not bring the abuse to your attention. Just as in other forms of abuse, the victim may not fully understand the situation and therefore may not know how to react. The victim may feel embarrassed or ashamed about the abuse, or he or she might fear repercussions from the abuser.

How to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse

The best way to prevent abuse is to take precautions to choose a quality facility for your loved one. To assure you choose a proper home for your loved one:

• Research the background of the home. Each facility should have a public record of inspections, and although inspections might not be completely accurate, they can give you some overall information about the quality of care at the home. Facilities are required to publicly post their inspection reports.


• If your loved one has special needs, find a facility that specializes in providing for these needs. For example, some homes cater toward patients with Alzheimer's disease, which others may contain special medical equipment like ventilators.


• Get recommendations from other people about any nursing home you are considering. Contact relatives, friends, local senior citizen groups, support groups, doctors, or others that may have experiences with facilities in the area.


• Visit the home. Although you can collect a wealth of information from outside sources, a personal visit to the nursing home can answer any remaining questions and give you a feel for the way your loved one will be treated.

One your loved one has made the transition to the nursing home, it is important to stay alert to his or her condition. Some signs that your loved one may be experiencing abuse include:

• Physical indicators, such as marks, bruises, burns, broken bones, and abrasions.


• Depression, withdrawal from normal activities, or a low level of alertness.


• Unexplained financial problems, which may indicate theft or fraud.


• Weight loss, bedsores, poor hygiene, and unmet medical needs, which may signify neglect.


• Controlling, threatening behavior from caretakers.


• Tense relationships and arguments between your loved one and his or her caretaker.

Home Health Care Vs Facility Placement - Options in Elder Care

It always makes me sad to hear the families of an elder say "Mom made me promise to never put her in a nursing home". That is simply a promise that most families today cannot keep. If a caring son or daughter finds that they have to break that promise, they may feel guilty for the rest of their lives. Mom probably asked for that promise because the nursing homes she remembers were dark, institutional places which would be considered substandard in America today. Today's family structure and the financial challenges of elder care, make facility living a very common choice. When an elder shows signs of not being able to perform the basic activities of daily living, families or concerned professionals must step in. It is actually against most state laws for a professional to be aware of an elder in trouble without taking some reasonable action to secure their safety. There are many indicators that an elder is no longer safe at home alone. The basic litmus test is to ask yourself is: "Could this person save him or herself if their home were on fire? Would they be able to call 911 and communicate their exact location? If left alone for any period of time are they at risk for physical abuse or financial exploitation? Do they have the skills and resources to meet their daily hygiene and nutritional needs? The answer is "NO" for many American elders who live home alone.

Independence vs. Isolation

Many of my elderly clients who were trying so hard to maintain their independence by living alone at home actually maintained nothing more than an isolated existence punctuated by the occasionally call or visit from friends and family. This type of isolation was also coupled with medication errors or abuse, self neglect and unsanitary housekeeping. A person living in this situation will often "bloom like a flower" in the right retirement facility environment. It is amazing what three hot meals a days, social interaction, clean sheets and regular administration of medications can do for a person's mind, body and spirit. A person who lives alone is more likely to fall and lay alone on the floor for days without being found. A person, who lives alone may make poor choices such as keeping, (or worse,) spoiled food in the refrigerator. If a person lives alone, there are many signs of illness that no one will notice during sporadic short visits. Medical appointments may be missed and prescriptions left unfilled. Many people feel that they are honoring their aging loved one by letting them live alone, even though all the tell tale signs of self neglect are apparent. There is no honor or dignity in being found on the floor after one has laid in their own excrement for three days. Unfortunately, many families will wait for this type of incident before insisting on either home health care or facility placement. If an elder is physically or verbally abusive to family and care givers, they are much more likely to be left alone to make their own decisions, regardless of how dysfunctional their situation may be. Elders with difficult personalities are many times more likely to be abused by caregivers. They need more supervision, not less.

American Family Dynamics and the Pressures of Today's World

I hear people say "Americans don't take care of their elders like other countries do". Well that is not my experience. The adult children who consult with Geriatric Care Manager or other eldercare professionals are very concerned about their parents. They love them and they want the best care their money can buy. That's the clincher: what their money can buy. In America, caregivers, maids, etc,, are expensive. Perhaps in another country where slave labor is commonplace, people can afford plenty of care. But in this country it costs $12.00 per hour (or more) for a home health aide. At eight hours per day, that is $96.00 per day. That is $2,880 per month or $34,560 per year - more than the average working American earns per year. The average woman gets a social security check of less than $500.00 per month. Do the math and you will soon see that unless you are wealthy, many people cannot afford to keep their elders in their own home with a part time caregiver or even in their children's home with a caregiver.

Now couple this financial problem with another very real problem. Most middle income women in their fifties, who are caring for their elderly parents, are also trying to hold down a job, help their young-adult children and maintain a marriage. If a middle income woman stops working to care for her parents, she and her husband either cannot pay their bills or they must significantly reduce their standard of living. I know a few husbands who are fifty-something and feel they have worked too hard and too long to have their dreams of retirement evaporate because someone else's needs are suddenly more important than their own. Now that Americans have come to grips with the concept that it takes two incomes to live well in this country, they are more determined than ever to have a retirement. Paying $35,000 per year for a caregiver can take a huge chunk out of the retirement savings. Frankly, most people couldn't afford to do it even if they wanted to. Because most Americans' net worth is in the equity of their home, selling the family home is the most common way to finance elder care services. If the family home sells for $100,000.00 and the average cost of an Assisted Living Residence is $36,000.00 per year, an elder can afford to live in that Assisted Living for 2.7 years. Coincidently, the average amount of time a person lives in an Assisted Living before moving on to a nursing home is 2.5 years.

Many adult children, who do have the desire and financial means to bring their elders to live with them, still cannot. They cannot because the medical or psychological needs of the elder are beyond their capacity to manage. For example, if Grandma is sweet and docile by day, but "sundowns" or grows agitated as evening falls, this poses a difficult problem for the caring family. When some people experience dementia or other medical issues, they may stay awake all night. They sometimes wander out of doors or rummage through drawers and closets. This behavior will keep the whole family awake at night. If a working family cannot sleep at night, this situation will become intolerable very quickly. Some adult children have been raised by violent, aggressive parents who are now violent aggressive elders. Children who have been raised under these conditions need not feel obligated to bring their parents to live with them, despite the pressure they may get from outsiders who do not know the real story.

Elders and their families who are trying to make difficult choices about elder care benefit from a professional assessment from a geriatric specialist. Professional care managers can offer an objective opinion based on a clinical evaluation of the physical and cognitive status of the elder. Physicians, hospital case managers, facility admissions coordinators and social workers can also offer advice about appropriate placement of an elder or even suggest how to set up services in the home to best meet the elder's needs.

Home Health Care - Stay Home without Being Alone

At the very least, any elder living alone should have a medical alert system. This is a necklace or wrist band with a panic button that can be pushed in case of emergency. If the button is pushed a dispatch center receives the signal and makes and attempt to communicate with the elder through a speaker placed in the home. If the elder needs help or does not respond to attempts to communicate, emergency services will be dispatched to the home. Many services will also contact friends and family to notify them that assistance is needed. A good candidate for this device is one WHO DOES NOT have memory loss as memory loss makes it difficult to learn to operate new appliances.

There are two basic types of home health care services: Medicare and Private Duty:

Medicare Home Health is free but can only be accessed if ordered a physician. Medicare will only authorize the free home health services if specific events have happened such as a recent hospitalization lasting three or more days, or a recent change in health status, etc. Medicare will send a Registered Nurse to evaluate the elder and that nurse decides if other professionals such as physical therapists, social workers, dieticians, etc. should perform evaluations. Each professional will determine what services they will render and for how long. Medicare services are temporary in nature and are not offered on a full time basis. The average visit by the nurse, aide and therapist is less than one hour each. Even Medicare home health aides only stay long enough to bathe and dress the patient.

Private Duty Home Health can be arranged on a full time, part time or live- in basis. Many Long Term Care Insurance policies will pay for home health care. The amount of care one can get and the duration of the services varies depending upon which policy they purchased. If someone does not have insurance, they must pay out of pocket (or private pay) for any services. Typically a private home care agency will offer services at a minimum of four hours per day. Typical eight hour shifts are 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm and 11pm - 7am. Many elders complain that an agency sends them a different caregiver each day. In order to avoid having the same aide, that as much as possible, order care every day for at least eight hours. This will allow the agency to schedule the same person for all your shifts. Because labor laws do apply and the agency would have to pay overtime for time which exceeds 40 hours per week, you will most likely have at least two to three caregivers on a full time case. The average hourly rate is $14.00 per hour. A live-in will cost about $150.00 per day. A live-in lives in your home and drives your car (or theirs for a mileage fee) and you are expected to feed them as well, even if you go out to dinner. By law, a live- in is entitled to two hours per day of free time. They can do what ever they like, including leaving the house during their break. If this arrangement will not work for your situation, consider hiring an aide around the clock. Around the clock care is typically delivered in two twelve hour shifts which are done by two different caregivers.

One aide comes to the home from 8am until 8pm and is relieved by the second caregiver at 8pm until 8am. Around the clock care can be delivered in many schedule formats. A live- in is expected to have their own private bedroom and bathroom although many agencies are flexible on this issue. The live- in is expected to be awake all day and have at least 7 hours of sleep at night. If the elder does not sleep at night, a live- in arrangement will not work. One option is to have the live in ($150/day) plus hire a caregiver to come to the house and stay up all night with the elder ($14.00. hour for eight nighttime hours). This costs $112 + $150= $262.00 per day. The only other alternative is to have around- the- clock care which will cost $14.00/hr X 24 hr=$336/day. Adding the eight hour night shift to the live in, saves about $3,000 per month. The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension is available to qualified veterans who need a caregiver in their home on a regular basis.

Types of Adult Housing and Facilities:

Independent Living Facilities usually offer small apartments with some meals included in the price. A person who lives in an Independent Living Facility is expected to manage their daily care needs on their own, but the staff would readily recognize if needs increased and assist the resident in obtaining the needed help. Some facilities have extra care services available for additional charge to help the resident "age in place." Others may ask a resident to move out if their needs exceed the scope of that particular facility. Limited transportation is usually provided although many residents are still driving when they enter an Independent Living Facility. These facilities may cost anywhere from less than $1,000 per month to over $5,000 per month depending upon the luxury amenities and location.

Assisted Living Facilities usually offer hotel size rooms with the option to share a room or pay extra for a private room. Three meals and snacks are usually provided as part of the price. Residents are expected to need some assistance with their daily care needs. Medication administration is strictly supervised. The State laws dictate who can live in an Assisted Living. The State does not want Assisted Living facilities to house nursing home candidates or Nursing Homes to admit people who could function just as well in an Assisted Living Facility. Assisted Living residents must be able to walk and transfer ( from bed to chair or chair to standing) with the assistance of only one other person. An Assisted Living resident can be left alone in their room for two hours or more. Nurses aides are on duty around the clock. Registered nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses are on duty at least during the daytime. Many medical services may make rounds and visit residents at least monthly. It is not uncommon for an Assisted Living resident to never have to leave the building for a medical or beauty appointment. Prices may range from under $1200/month to over $8,000/ month, once again depending upon the amenities. Medicaid has a program called the Medicaid Waiver which can pay part of the cost of the Assisted Living. However, funds have been historically limited and waiting lists can be long. The Veteran Aide and Attendance Pension is designed to financially assist qualified veterans who need the services of an Assisted Living facility

Dementia Specific Facilities are designed especially for the memory impaired resident. The building, floorplan, furnishings, décor, activity program and even the lighting have been scientifically engineered to enhance the lifestyle of residents with dementia. Many Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes offer a dementia program or dementia unit, but there are entire facilities which specialize in this unique population. Dementia Specific Facilities can be either Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes. They are secure in order to prevent residents from wandering off the property and getting hurt or lost. The price for this extra level of care is usually about $1,000 to $2,000 more per month than a non-specialty building.

Nursing Homes are State regulated and are inspected at least annually. A person who needs a nursing home generally cannot live safely in an Assisted Living environment. A typical resident is either wheelchair bound or bed bound. Those who can walk around freely may need the nursing home environment because they need constant medical supervision. The medical component of this environment is similar to a hospital or hospice setting. The emphasis is on rehabilitation or custodial care rather than socialization and activities. The ICP Medicaid Program (institutional care program) will pay for the room, board and medical costs of those residents who meet the financial and medical criteria. It is possible to plan in advance to help an elder meet these strict criterion.

Financial Realities

Keeping an elder at home with a caregiver can be the most expensive option of all. Many families feel keeping their loved one in the comfort of their own home is priceless. If a paid caregiver cost $14.00/hour, eight hours per day is equal to $2,880.00 per month. Around the clock care exceeds $10,000 per month. Independent Living Facilities cost an average of $2,300.00/ month and provide no personal assistance. Assisted Living Facilities range from about $2,500/month to $5,000/month and provide limited care. A Nursing Home (without ICP Medicaid assistance) can cost from 5,000.00 to $7,000.00 per month and will provide total care.

Anyone considering hiring home health or moving an elder into a care facility of any type should have their elder's current needs assessed by a qualified professional who can ascertain the elder's current medical/psychological and financial needs and anticipate future needs/solutions. With careful, realistic planning, caring for an elder does not have to be a financial or emotional nightmare. Making the right choices for you and the elder you care about is easier when you enlist the help of people who know the eldercare community and all that it has to offer.

Becoming a CNA That Specializes in Child Care

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) provide hands-on care and complete routine tasks that are essential to patient care. But the CNAs do not just work in hospitals and nursing homes. Some become a CNA to specialize Pediatric Certified Nursing Assistant in medical facilities or become a CNA for children in other settings.

The CNA training program was specifically designed to train people to work in nursing homes. That is because the Federal government mandates the presence of CNAs in these facilities and wanted to insure quality of care standards were met. In fact the CNA certification form even states that you have completed the program and are now competent to work as a long-term care facility nurse aid/assistant.

A CNA develops the skills to help people dress, bathe, move to chairs or wheelchairs, eat, take vital signs, and so on. In general, the CNA provides routine and essential assistance to residents that maintain their hygiene, comfort and quality of life.

These are all tasks that translate extremely well to the care of children. The Pediatric CNA or CNA for children works in a situation where children are present. Work environments that care for children include day care facilities, hospitals, and private homes. The CNA professional works under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. If the appropriate medical personnel are not present on the job, then a CNA can provide care giving services or child escort services but cannot practice as an independent CNA.

The CNA experience from working in nursing homes and medical facilities will be a beneficial foundation of experienced and can be used to springboard into a career in pediatric care. There are a number of jobs available for CNA certified personnel to escort mentally and physically challenged children, provide care giving services in a day care setting or on a children's unit in a medical facility.

There is no specific course work required to become a CNA who works with children. However, after one gains certification and work experience a CNA can start to specialize in a particular field of CNA work. A CNA can participate in continued education further specializing their body of work experience. The more job experience gained, the more it will be reflected positively on a resume and the greater the chances of employment in that specialized area.

Nursing Home Administrator - Roles and Responsibilities

Nowadays, nursing homes not only provide care for the aged people but also with younger patients as well. This is true for patients who are physically and mentally impaired. At times, even healthy adults enter these care facilities because of the physical, occupational, and rehabilitation services that these facilities provide. That is why the need for nursing home administrators is really in demand. There are two main tasks in this kind of career. First is to manage clinical and administrative relationships and second is to ensure that the other related services are on the right track.

Typically, the responsibilities of a Nursing Home Administrator is supervising staff and employees, handling financial issues, medical care, medical supplies, facilities and added tasks as demanded. In pursuing this kind of career, good skills in managing people, nursing, financial and medical concerns of the nursing home are vital. Moreover, having people management skills, as well as enough understanding about finances, nursing, and medical skills would be essential for an assisted living facility. Additionally, the responsibilities run from patients and staff counselling, supervision of budgetary limits of the organization, managing training of staff and welfare programs for patients, and accomplishing the role as a supervisor in the facility. To have a successful career as an administrator, consider the following guidelines:

Education Requirements

As a Nursing Home Administrator, you need to complete no less than 4-year, bachelor's degree in the field of health services administration, public administration, or long-term care administration. An administrator is dedicated in both medical and health services management. Comparable to any other application for a job, requirements may differ by place of employment or state. If aspiring for a higher place to work in large institution, an extra 2-year or masters' degree in related field would be required. Some of the usual courses in these kinds of programs are working in fundamental skills and practices, the science of aging and long-term care, gerontology, and health behaviour. Once you completed the state-approved program, the next thing to do is to pass the licensing examination for the Nursing Home Administrators.

Important Skills Requirements

To be a successful administrator and to excel in this kind of profession you should have great skills and understanding in health care and business fields. If you want an effective career as a Nursing Home Administrator, an utmost ability in understanding complex and inconsistent information would be very helpful, as well as promising and key leader with great communication skills would be very essential.

Employment And Economic Outlook

After completing all the qualifications, the next step is to post your resume on the internet and register in several job advertisements. The help of the internet is very important in your career search to find out the different job openings both locally and internationally.

Based on the United State Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Nursing Home Administrators fall into the bigger group of medical and health services managers, wherein a 16% growth in employment in this field. It will continue to prosper up to 2016. In 2006, the median earnings for this career are around $73,340.

Finally, in any health care profession it is important to practice patience and discipline. If you are lucky to get shortlisted, prepare for a background check performed by every management on any applicant before finally qualifying them for the job. You will definitely land the job if you have varied work experience in a hospital environment or related facility and if you have all the needed skills, certification, and education.

Common Accidents Involving Firefighters

If you are a firefighter and have been injured on the job, it is important that you seek legal advice. Being a firefighter is a dangerous job, but if you have been injured due to another person's negligence, you could be entitled to make an injury claim. There are many different ways in which firefighters can become injured. Some of the common accidents involving firefighters which can lead to making injury claims include the following:

Road Accidents

As part of their job, firefighters are mostly required to travel in fire service vehicles. If a road accident takes place in which a firefighter gets involved due to no fault, then an injury claim can be possible against the party responsible for the accident.

Training Exercise Injuries

A firefighter's job involves responding to emergency situations which includes protection of property and life by combating and extinguishing fires. But before they are ready to deal with real life situations, they are required to undergo training which is quite similar to the real life situations they will find themselves in during the course of their employment.

However, if the training exercises which they are required to undertake are not executed or planned properly, then it is likely that they can get involved in accidents and sustain injuries. If you have sustained training exercise injuries due to another person's negligence, it may be possible for you to pursue an injury claim.

Defective Equipment

The PPE or personal protective equipment is a crucial part of a firefighter's safety. Injuries can occur if firefighters have not been provided with suitable personal protective equipment or if a safety equipment is damaged or is missing. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that all safety equipment is well maintained. If there is negligence or failure on the part of the employer, then a claim can be made against the employer.

Operational Injuries

Injuries to firefighters can also occur during fireground operations. Every year, a large number of firefighters get injured on firegrounds and other operational incidences such as road traffic accidents. In such cases, injury claims can be made against the responsible parties. If the responsible party is the employer, a work injury claim can be made against the employer. If it is a negligent driver, a claim can be made against the insurers of the driver and if it is an occupier of a premise, then an injury claim may be possible against them.

Overview of Contingency Fees - Attorneys Who Only Get Paid If They Win

A contingency fee means that an attorney agrees to take on a case without charging any up front or hourly fee. In exchange for working for free and taking the risk that a recovery will be made, the lawyer receives a percentage of what is recovered when the case is over. While lawyers in every state handle some cases on a contingency basis, this article specifically provides an overview of cases Illinois attorneys can handle on the basis of they only get paid if they win.

In Illinois, contingency fee cases are most commonly found in injury cases like workers compensation, personal injury, medical malpractice and nursing home abuse. There are occasionally small fees to obtain medical records in a malpractice case. Other cases include legal malpractice and class actions. Illinois legal malpractice cases attorneys will want to see financial damages as a result of an attorney's unprofessional conduct that would make it financially worthwhile. For example, if a divorce attorney's misconduct resulted in less than desirable visitation, a lawyer will probably not take the case on a contingency basis. However, if as a result of a divorce lawyer's unprofessional conduct the client losses $100,000 from the ex's pension, a legal malpractice attorney may take the case on a contingency basis. In class action cases, attorneys work on a contingency basis because so many people have been wronged that if the lawyer wins the damages awarded will be substantial to compensate all of the clients. The attorney will take a percentage of the damages awarded to compensate for the work.

Other cases that are sometimes, but now always done on a contingency basis include challenges to a will, commercial litigation, overtime or compensation cases from employment law, collections (if the amount owed is enough) and some child support cases. When challenging a will in Illinois, a lawyer can work on a contingency if there is a real dispute. Illinois law prevents them from taking a percentage of what is recovered if it is just normal representation of an estate. In employment law and overtime cases, lawyers will work on a contingency basis if the dollar amounts owed are large enough. For example, if a client is missing one paycheck a lawyer will probably not take the case on a contingency basis. In child support cases, it is rare to find a lawyer to work on a contingency unless there is money that can be collected.

Lawyers are prohibited from handling a divorce or criminal case on a contingency basis in Illinois. Illinois attorneys also do not handle defense of civil lawsuits on a contingency basis because there would be no way to get paid.

The fees that an Illinois lawyer charges for a contingency case depends on the type of case and risk involved. In workers' compensation claims for Illinois, the law limits the fee to 20% of any settlement. In medical malpractice cases there is a fee schedule that changes depending on how much is recovered. In most other matters, it is customary for the lawyer to recover 1/3 of the money awarded. In some cases this fee will go as high as 40% or more, especially if there is a trial and/or appeal.

Caring For an Elderly Relative Versus Nursing Home Care

There may come a time when it becomes necessary to think about the future life of an elderly relative when it becomes obvious that they are no longer able to live independently or provide for all of their own care needs. There are a number of options including bringing in home care services through agencies in their local community. These may include visiting companions, home duties services and nursing services. There are services that provide transporting and shopping services to help your elderly relative remain living independently however, there may come a time when this is no longer viable.

If an elderly relative experiences frequent physical or mental difficulties they may require ongoing full time support. It's decision time. Before you make the decision about how to manage this situation you need to consider many factors.

There are basically two choices, your elderly relative co-habits with you or they go in to a nursing home facility. A care assessment of the needs of an elderly relative will need to be done and will dictate if the co-habitation option is appropriate. It is important that there is a care assessment completed before any decision is reached. Their doctor is the best person to speak to about how to get a care assessment done. The assessment will determine the level of care that is required for your elderly relative. If your elderly relative is assessed as high level care needs that the decision will be taken out of your hands, it may be that your relative will not be permitted to live with you because it is assessed as medically unsafe.

If the assessment comes back with a low level of care needs there are further considerations. Could you manage caring for an elderly person 24/7? Where are they going to live, in their home or in yours? Most elderly people go to live with their adult children so there are a number of questions about this.

Is there physically enough room at your home? Will your elderly relative have their own room? Most elderly people are used to having their own place and own space, it is therefore important that they have their own bedroom at minimum. This is somewhere they can spend time or retreat to where their right to privacy is ensured. You will also need to consider the impact on others in your home, how will they feel about an elderly relative competing with them for your time.

Time factor is another consideration. Do you have time to provided care and support to your elderly relative in the way they deserve? If you are employed full time or have other major commitments on your time think about what it is you can offer. Would your elderly relative be safe if they are left alone for long periods of time? This will need to be thought about and discussed.

Is there enough room in bathroom facilities so they can get in and out with ease? Does railing need to be installed to ensure their safety? You will need to measure the bathroom facilities to ensure that there is room to install railing when the time comes. This will improve your elderly relative's sense of independence for bathing and toileting.

There will be a number of decisions about your elderly relative's home if they come to live with you. If they own the property decision will need to be made about whether to keep the property or sell it. If the property is kept, there will need to be planning around maintaining the property, decisions about which person will be responsible for looking after the home. There are benefits and pitfalls to this option. There is another option of renting the home; this also has benefits and pitfalls. Get well informed about all of these options to save problems in the future.

Another consideration is the cost factor. It may not seem to be appropriate to bring up money as you feel this is something that you want to do for your loved one however it is extremely important that your elderly relative does not become a financial burden. This can be a major deciding factor. Caring for people is expensive and as time goes on your elderly relative may require many medications, physical aides and your home may also require further modification or remodeling.

Even after all this is decided there needs to be other plans in place. What happens when your elderly relative becomes too frail or ill for you to continue care? Then the nursing home option will need to be considered.

There are many considerations in choosing a nursing home for your elderly relative. Location is high on the list. They have been living with you for some time, and will initially miss the close contact you had with them. If they are close by you will be able to visit frequently to assist in their settling in to a nursing home. Other important considerations will come under cost and level of care provided.

It is always an excellent idea to visit all of the reputable nursing homes in your area. Make appointments and see for yourself what the facility has to offer. Meet with management and employees and obtain information that is important to you. For example ask about daily activities, menu, medical care, emergency care, palliative care and how complaints are managed. Observe the residents in the facility, do they look well cared for and how do the employees address them? It is important that you feel the residents are respected by the nursing home employees. It is also important that the nursing home's visiting hours are not too restricted. This will allow you to visit when it suits you. As a general rule there should be some visiting hours available in the morning and afternoon of each day.

There are many considerations to be taken into account; after all, this is a big decision. It may be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. Everyone feels some obligation to provide care to and elderly relative, however this is not always possible or appropriate. There will be many impacts to your life, elderly relative's life and the entire family's lives. There are practicalities that need to be assessed and thought through carefully. Thorough planning is essential to decide on the best care options for your elderly relative.