The Advantages Of Elderly Home Care

As your loved one grows much older, sooner or later they will come to a point when they're no longer able to live on their own. When signs that your aging parents need help become obvious, it's time to decide for their future.

Nursing home care is a common option. Although seniors receive round the clock coverage in nursing homes, they also know that is often the final place they will ever stay. Just the thought of leaving their homes depresses many seniors, and this can further deteriorate the condition of their health. This is why it is important to understand that not all seniors have to go to nursing homes. A nursing home may be a great option for seniors with serious dementia who might hurt themselves when left alone. However, majority of our seniors does not need such radical changes. Many seniors only need some help with the chores that they can no longer do on their own and have someone to visit them and make sure they're doing fine.

Elderly home care is a good option for senior loved ones who are not in need of round the clock monitoring and care. Perhaps your senior loved one is not ill but he is not able to do some tasks without the help of another person. Or maybe he is recovering from an illness or from an operation and only needs someone to help him with personal care, light nursing, medication and even some light mental or physical therapy.

Then nurses and other high level medical professionals will visit him only periodically based on how much care he needs, while still maintaining his freedom and independence in his own home. With elderly home care, your senior parent can stay in familiar surroundings which could be the best place for him to recover more quickly. Elderly people who are able to remain in their own home have more self-esteem. In contrast, those who are placed in nursing homes often feel depressed realizing that they can no longer do the things they used to do.

Studies show that elderly home care is the best option for the over-all well-being of seniors. When it comes to hiring elderly home care you have at least two options. Either you get a provider through an agency or you hire a provider directly. Both of them have their own pros and cons. Here's a detailed discussion of them.

Home Care Agency

The advantages to hiring an elderly home care provider through an agency is that the agency handles all the processes related to screening, hiring or firing, pay and taxes, which you need to do yourself once you choose to hire a caregiver on your own. Another advantage is that the agency can send a substitute anytime your care provider is sick. Also, agencies can provide workers with various skills to meet different needs.

Disadvantage to hiring a caregiver through an agency is that because several care givers are used it could be distressing or confusing for the care recipient. Other disadvantages are that your choices of workers are limited and it is usually more expensive than when hiring an individual directly.

Hiring Elderly Home Care Giver Directly

By hiring an elderly home caregiver directly, there is a greater chance of developing a strong one-on-one relationship between the care giver and the care recipient. Also, with this method you have the freedom to choose the person you think can best provide the needs required by your senior loved one. This is also often less expensive than hiring someone from an agency.

Disadvantages include not having to get a ready substitute anytime the home care worker can't be available and you have to directly handle the processes of screening, hiring or firing, pay and taxes.

Interviewing the Applicant

Should you decide the second option, here are some tips you need to keep in mind during the interview process:

A face-to-face interview with all job applicants is not necessary. You may screen them over the telephone. When doing the initial telephone interview, ask the applicants to give a full description of the job, including the number of hours and days they're available. It is also important that you ask the candidate's job history and whether or not she has some preferences. If a candidate sounds suitable for the job, schedule for a personal interview with him. Ask another family member or the care recipient himself, if possible, to participate in the interview. If you think a candidate has the qualities and skills that you require, ask him to sign a work contract for your mutual protection.

Caregiver Duties - Assisted Living Homes

Being a caregiver in assisted living home is a hefty responsibility. There are a slew of different responsibilities that are assigned. Typically there are several different types of care giver duties in an assisted living facility. The caregiver duties can range from the most mundane chores to the most important. Each duty is specific to making sure that the residents are safe and in a good healthy environment.

Cleaning, Cooking and Conversation

To say that any one person is responsible to only cook or clean is definitely an understatement. Interacting with the residents is the primary function of any caregiver that works in an assisted living home.

Getting to know the residents is an important duty. Knowing someone is fundamental to their well being. Knowing someone by getting to know them through conversation is one of the most important ways to insure someone's well-being. Many times, if a person is not well, the first people to recognize this will be the people that interact with them every day. An employee in an assisted living home is probably most in tune with the resident's health, simply because subtle changes in personality can be picked up on. There may be some cooking and cleaning duties that are assigned but one of the most important duties whether or not assigned for any care giver is to converse with the residents and get to know them.

Medications

Some caregivers at some assisted living homes might be required to dispense medication and monitor the use. There is usually a load of paperwork that has to be kept as part of the residents' care plan. It is very important for the caregiver to keep accurate records. These records can point to any problems that the resident is having with their medication and can be given to the medical provider as a means of tracking any issues. Typically a care giver will have some sort of knowledge and training in medications and what side effects to look for. Generally, those who are authorized to dispense medication in an assisted living facility will have a minimum education of licensed practical nurse or LPN, although in some states, a registered nurse or RN will be the only one who can be assigned to medication dispensing. A certified nurse's aide, or CNA, in some states can seek out further education in order to have the authority to handle medication. This requirement differs from state to state.

Personal Care

There are some caregivers that are tasked with providing personal care assistance. This is one of the most important things for many residents and can really help improve their quality of life. Personal care duties may include bathing, general hygiene care, and dressing. Residents are always encouraged to maintain their own personal hygiene for as long as possible, so not all residents will require assistance with personal care. In most cases a care giver in the assisted living homes will wear more than one hat. They will have many different duties.

Stop Elder Financial Abuse Now!

What could be more despicable than stealing and deceiving the elderly for their money? Elder financial abuse, an issue that was recently brought to the spotlight by Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney, is a crime of exploiting senior citizens for monetary gain. Rooney sued his stepson and others for tricking him into thinking he was on the brink of poverty and forcing him to continue working while they swindle millions using his name.

After the case was settled, people were suddenly more aware of this urgent matter. So, how do you recognize this crime and stop it?

Elder Financial Abuse 101

This crime involves illegal and improper use of a senior citizen's funds, resources and property. Recognizing this crime is easy, however, they mostly happen within the family. Unless other parties observe and get involved, these crimes will go unnoticed.

The crimes involved in elder financial abuse involve trickery, deception, forceful access to funds and properties of a senior citizen. Most people who are guilty of this are caregivers, fraudsters and, sadly, family members.

Here are examples of the exploitations these fraudsters commit:

-Forging the signature of an elderly to access personal checks, credit cards and other financial accounts.

-Stealing prized possessions, cash, and pension checks

-Theft of identity- Most victims of this are senile elderly. Fraudsters take advantage of the elderly's confinement in a nursing facility and use his identity for personal or business transactions. Sometimes, even healthcare companies are guilty of this crime. Some charge excessively for unnecessary healthcare services. While there are those that offer special "prizes", which in the end forces the elderly to purchase. It is a good thing there are many vigilant bank fraud lawyers who take necessary measures to fight against these problems.

How to fight elder financial abuse

Hiring a good bank fraud lawyer to investigate how an elderly's money is being spent is one way of fighting elder financial abuse.

Look for a firm that specializes on elder financial abuse cases. There are many who investigate and litigate fraud actions involving insurance and banking claims. A bank fraud lawyer in this firm will even investigate wrongful death cases.

Here are some other ways you can prevent this abuse from happening:

-Keep your communication lines open with your elderly relatives. Check up on them from time to time.

-Observe, observe, observe! Be perceptive about any behavioral or physical change.

-Do a thorough research on the background of your caregiver! It is unadvisable to choose one through an advertisement. Look for licensed and bonded agency. You may also hire an investigator to examine the credentials of your caregiver. This ensures that your relative is in good hands and the caregiver is not a convicted felon of some sort.

-Keep an inventory of all jewelry, expensive gadgets, and properties. Make sure all the valuables are stored in a safe place.

When you know somebody who may be a victim of this kind of crime, it would be best to tell the authorities or refer a good bank fraud lawyer who can help them. If you know the family and do not wish to be called as someone who meddles in family affairs, you can search the internet and find anonymous hotlines you can call.

Opportunities For Nurse Entrepreneurs

A nursing education often seems limited in the career opportunities, but the truth is that a wide range of potential careers are available for nurses. Nurse entrepreneurs are especially able to open many opportunities that use a nursing education along with business skills to form companies that relate to the medical field, but are not necessarily working in a position as a nurse.

Development Businesses:

Starting a new business in the field of development is a great opportunity for any nurse. A nurse who works in development is able to adapt nursing skills to create new medical equipment, software and other solutions that help improve healthcare.

Development businesses related to the healthcare needs of doctors and hospitals work to find solutions to particular problems. The new technologies, software and equipment developed for medical use must understand the problem as well as the potential solutions that might solve the issue.

By making new equipment for doctors, a nurse is able to use his or her medical training and knowledge as well as the practical application of skills in the workplace. That understanding of medical needs, problems that arise at hospitals and the needs of patients who are struggling with illnesses or injuries makes it easier to find potential solutions.

Home Care Businesses:

A nurse who is interested in maintaining nursing skills might consider starting a home care business. Nurses who work in home care provide services to patients or the family of patients who are not willing to move to assisted living facilities but still need more care than their family is able to provide.

The home care business is a lucrative opportunity for any nurse who is willing to visit a patient's house and provide for necessary medical needs. The business not only provides niche services that cater to the particular needs of patients who cannot or will not go to a hospital or assisted living facility, it also is a company that relates directly to the nursing field.

Starting a new home care business is an opportunity that allows a nurse the ability to begin a business while still providing direct care to patients in need of medical help.

Beauty Businesses:

Nurses are not limited to only the medical field, they are also able to establish a business related to beauty and cosmetics. A nurse understands the potential problems and methods of dealing with problems that might occur in beauty treatments and is able to prevent the worst from occurring as a result.

Beauty businesses, such as opening a spa, is another opportunity that provides nurses with a potentially lucrative company. The beauty niche is always popular and offering treatments like peels, permanent makeup and microdermabrations does not require the services of a physician.

A beauty business might also include the development of new beauty products, such as makeup or hair care items. A nursing education is useful in the development of beauty products because nurses understand ingredients that are common allergens or that might create health problems.

Getting training and an education as a nurse does not mean that the only path available is working in a hospital or doctor's office. Nurses are able to create and establish new businesses that will help potential patients with a wide range of needs. Opportunities are available to any nurse who wants to also work in business.

Copyright (c) 2012 Nurse Entrepreneur Network

Senior Caregiver Job Training

Anyone considering working as a professional caregiver for a senior home care agency, assisted living community or nursing center, must participate in a training program provided by the senior care company or complete a certified nursing aide or certified home health aide program to be qualified to provide care services.

What type of senior care training is available?

The department of health in each state regulates the certification process for nursing assistants.  All states in the U.S. provide certification for nursing aides and some states also provide the additional certification for home health aides (caregivers who work only in homes) and New York state has an additional certification for pesonal care assistants.

Is certification required to work as a caregiver? 

Working as a companion caregiver in the home does not require certification in most states.  Some states do require caregivers who are staffed in senior's homes to be certified as a home health aide or a presonal care assistant.  Senior home care agencies usually provide training for companion caregivers.  Specific training for caring for seniors with memory loss, hospice and age-related diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease, can be obtained from local hospital community outreach programs and from the advocacy associations for the various diseases.

Some associations providing specialized seminars and training information for caregivers are:

• Alzheimer's Association


• Alzheimer's Foundation of America


• American Parkinson Disease Association


• Parkinson's Disease Foundation


• Hospice Association of America

You may also learn senior caregiving skills by taking nursing aide classes and practice nursing aide skills test.  By reading about age-related illnesses and taking a practice exam for certified nursing aides or a sample test, you can quickly gain more caregiving skills.  You may also gain caregiving skills by working as a senior caregiver for a senior home care agency and may want to apply for a position in your area to begin developing your areas of expertise.

Assisted Living For Retirees - Retirement Homes and Communities

Are you worried about your aging parents? If yes, then you can opt for assisted living facilities for them. It is a place where the retirees live in a supervised community. Retirement Homes and Communities are suitable for the ailing retires who want some kind of support. These homes and communities offer assistance with activities of daily living, arranging for doctors and nurses, personal care by a trained staff person. Most of these assisted living communities are located in the sub urban areas free from the traffic noise.

Assisted living for retirees is normally meant for the seniors who cannot live independently. In other words, the assisted living retirement communities are a connection between nursing homes and living communities.

Assisted living for retirees are regulated and licensed at the state level. These homes are also known as Personal Care Homes, Enhanced care, Adult foster care, Adult homes, Residential Care Home and Assisted Care Living Facilities. However, assisted living is the most common term used in United States.

These living facilities offer the retirees with some personal care. The residents of these places are provided with some kind of facilities which include a trained staff who takes care of their bathing and dressing.

It gives the seniors a chance to live independently free from all types of hassles. These lodging solutions provide complete assistance to the seniors. These communities offer personalized care facilities and services to make the seniors feel special. They will get all the necessary facilities in these community homes.

The Retirement Homes and Communities arrange proper medical, health, and dental care services for each and every resident. One can also choose his or her medical practitioner and dental services according to ones preferences. Assisted living residences offer assistance to the retirees who have temporary incapacity due to illness, surgery or injury.

Nowadays, Retirement Homes and Communities are designed keeping in mind the requirements of the disabled people. Bathrooms and kitchens are designed in such a way that they are wheelchairs and walkers friendly. To accommodate the wheelchairs, most of the homes have spacious hallways and doors. Keeping in mind the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), these facilities for the seniors have been included in the assisted living communities. Moreover, these homes also offer recreational and leisure activities. The seniors can also avail basic health facilities and services in these community homes.

Apart from the Assisted living for retirees, there are also some Retirement Homes and Communities in US. You can opt for the luxury retirement community, to make your post retirement period a luxurious affair. The residential lodges of these communities have fully equipped air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. Most of the luxury retirement homes have swimming pools, gymnasiums, fitness facilities and walking trail to keep the retirees fit and healthy.

The independent living retirement community is another type of Retirement Homes and Communities meant for the retirees. These communities are best suited for those who want to stay alone in their post retirement period.

Retirement Homes and Communities give the retirees a chance to enjoy their live post retirement.

Seven Reasons Why Seniors Want to Stay Home

I think that, as a group, seniors are some of the most surveyed folks out there.? Being in the senior home care business I am more acutely aware of the surveys then the normal person and like to see how the results of those surveys match up to my personal experiences.

More times then not the results do not go beyond the numbers to the underlying cause and effect or at least the feelings of those being surveyed.? In a recent survey it was reported that over 80% of seniors would rather live out the rest of their days in the own home and not in an assisted living or similar facility.? That's really not breaking news but it started me thinking about why the seniors are so motivated to stay in their home.

I started doing some research by going over my notes from prospective client families, care recipients and also our wonderful care givers.? So I have come up with seven reasons why seniors want to stay in their home.? These seven do not have real defined borders and have branches or even roots in other reasons.

1. Comfort.? This reason really bleeds over into the others as well but the senior is comfortable in the house where they have lived for many years.? The TV is just the right distance from their chair and doesn't have any reflections on it, they know the HVAC system and where it needs to be for comfort, they have spent years getting the furniture the right size and in the right place.? So why should they leave.


2. Safety.? Now at first glance this might be a reason for going into assisted living but most seniors feel safer at home.? They know the sounds of the neighborhood, when neighbors come home and when they leave and most can move around their house and even their yard blindfolded.? We have a 94 year old client who is almost totally blind and lives by herself but she knows where everything in her house is, even her meds.? She has her morning meds in one location and the bottles are arranged in a specific way and the evening meds are in another location.? She feels safe in her environment.


3. Memories.? They have experienced the entire fabric of life in their home.? Birthdays, holidays, including dry turkeys, disappointments and celebrations, medical issues, retirement, aging and death.? The home has been the foundation of all that has gone on and they don't want to walk away.


4. Independence.? From pre-teen years we all strive to achieve independence and now that the senior has had it for so many years they guard it with all the vigor they can muster.? If the car keys were taken from the senior earlier then this is the last vestige of independence.? Note to family: rescinded driving privileges will be the biggest fight but the home is second.


5. Cost.? Assisted living expenses can run as much as $4,000 plus a month so staying in one's home can be quite a savings.? Add to that the possibility of a reverse mortgage and their monthly bills can be reduced but things like a gardener, pest control, etc have to be managed.


6. Network.? This term might be used with younger folks but even my 94 year old client has a network...a social network of neighbors and friends who check on her and bring her treats.? Many times these social networks are shattered when the senior moves to assisted living.? My mother-in-law who lives with us still talks about neighbors she had ten years ago.? Don't discount these social connections.


7. Family.? Many times the family home is just that and there are extra bedrooms for visiting family members.? Children of the senior can visit and bring their kids and now you have three generations staying connected in a home environment, not just visiting grandma at an assisted living facility.

Back in the day there were only two choices for seniors and that was stay in their home or live with the children.? Now there are so many more choices up to and including resort like living where you eat all your meals in a nice restaurant environment.? The choice we made was to have my mother-in-law live with us, it just made sense and we felt better about it.? But the transition wasn't easy, especially for mom.? But over the years she has settled in and knows exactly how many steps it is from her room to the bathroom.

It is important to hold family meetings with the senior included to discuss how it will work and if additional in home help will be needed for a portion of the day.? In home care can make everyone more at ease if it is decided that the senior will be allowed to stay in their home.

Car Accidents - Who Is Legally at Fault?

You're driving along, doing the speed limit, obeying the traffic laws and out of nowhere an irresponsible driver hits you - damaging your car and slightly injuring you. In that instance it should be incredibly easy to determine fault, legal responsibility.

Unfortunately, that's not the case.

In almost all truck, car or motorcycle accidents, assigning blame (fault) is a lot more involved and complicated than just determining what vehicle hit the other vehicle.

WHAT DOES FAULT MEAN?

Fault, in this context, refers to the party (person, driver) responsible or legally liable for property damages or physical injuries suffered in an accident. Determining who is at fault is the first step in the victim(s) possibly recovering financial expenses stemming from the accident.

HOW IS FAULT DETERMINED?

In most cases the first step in determining fault for an accident involves the insurance company representative and lawyers reviewing such things as police reports to see if a law enforcement officer cited one party or the other for negligence in the accident. While police citations of negligence or blame do not necessarily prove fault, they can go a long way in assigning responsibility and building a case for a specific party's fault. Other material that the insurance companies and personal injury lawyers will utilize are statements from competent witnesses. Witnesses that had clear, unobstructed and unbiased accounts of the accident can help to substantiate negligence claims by detailing the events that transpired before, during and after the accident took place.

Determining fault - which can be negligent, careless or a willful act - can be the difference between a victim being compensated for property damage, medical costs, lost wages and/or pain/suffering, or not.

Typically, a driver (a person) is at fault because they were:

• Negligent. Negligent driving can come in many forms, like texting-while-driving, drunk driving or any number of instances where a person if careless or unwittingly engaging in behavior that may cause another vehicle or person harm.


• Recklessness: Reckless driving is indulging in behavior where a person willfully or willingly knows that they are going to cause harm.

There are a wide range of factors that go into determining fault. Because of the sometimes substantial - and even life-changing - consequences of a negligent accident, it is critically important that the steps you take to protect yourself after an accident are smart, swift and prudent. The best way to protect yourself, your property and your loved ones after a car accident is to speak with a car accident personal injury attorney to ensure that your legal and financial rights are best protected.

Jobs Galore In The Nursing Home Sector

Some people are born to help others, while some want to help but just do not know what they can offer to those who need help. This is never more apparent than in nursing home jobs which cover just about any employment that one can think of. A nursing home job does not necessarily mean that one needs medical training at all. Indeed, some of the work that is done is what goes on around homes everywhere every day.

For example, there is always a need for companions to people who are not able to get out and about to do their own thing. They may well benefit from just having someone to chat to during the day and this definitely lifts the spirits of those who may be sick or infirm. Indeed, some years ago it was discovered that the elderly did much better when they had a pet to touch and fuss over if they were incarcerated in a facility and some states actually started up pet visits to give them the opportunity to fuss over something.

Cleaning too is one of those things that go on day and night in these kinds of facilities so there is plenty of scope for people to get employment where they can do most good. There will obviously be public areas which have to be taken care of too since visitors come on a daily basis so the standard of cleanliness must be extremely high.

The reception desk will also have to be manned for most of the time and the people here may have to deal with visitors, doctors and other health staff, and file all the reports that are being made too. These desks are often the hub of the whole facility so this is not just a job where paperwork is bandied around. The phones will also have to be sorted out and many calls will come in for the employees, the residents and those who are involved with their well-being too.

The gardens are another area that has to be kept in pristine condition since this is sometimes the only outside space that the people living there will ever see. The upkeep of the grounds is vital if the patients are to be able to get around easily and admire nature which is also uplifting for them too.

There may also be a need for drivers to take people to hospital or for field trips since not everyone is confined to bed in this kind of facility. The helpers here may have to have some minor knowledge of how to deal with folks who are not so fast on their feet, but this is certainly not essential since a health worker is normally sent along too.

Lastly, this just goes to show that there is a lot more to running a facility like this than employing doctors and health staff to care for people. Therefore, those who are interested should surf the net to look for opportunities where they can help others while undertaking gainful employment.

Choosing an Assisted Living Facility - The Feel Is Very Important

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

KH: How long have you been doing this?

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

KH:: What should people look for when they choose a facility? Cleanliness of course...

MV: Right. Obviously you need to walk into the building and go with your gut. You want to look at the residents. You want to look at the staff. You want to see what the physical feel is like. If you walk in and it smells like urine, you're going to walk out. If you walk in and people looked unkempt, you're going to walk out.

What's the longevity of the staff? Does the staff interact with the residents? What does the dining room feel like? Do the residents look happy? Do they look clean? Do you feel like you're getting a hard sell, like you're buying a car? Like you've got to decide right now?

Those are red lights to me. This is a life changing event, so you need to feel that you trust the person that you're talking with and that it feels right. I think the biggest thing is what is your gut telling you? I think another important thing is "How long have you been here? Why do you work here? What's your staff like? What's your background?"

I think those are important things. Again, you can see the building. You can see the staff. Many people get caught up in the numbers: "What's your staffing ratio? What time are your meal times? Do you have special diets?"

Really, you want to know who you are leaving your parent with. What kind of person is responsible for that building and the executive director is only as good as her managers and her care givers. How long have your managers been here? How long have your care givers been here? What's their background? What's their training?"

That's what you want to see. You don't want a revolving door where there's high staff turnover and no stability. You want to know that the people taking care of your loved one know what they're doing and are committed to what they're doing.

Finding a Home For Those With Chronic Mental Illness

For those who have a family member or close friend with a chronic mental illness, life can be filled with challenges. Chronic mental illness takes its toll on families, who often don't have the training or emotional resources to adequately care for their loved ones. It's difficult to navigate the waters of the legal and mental health care systems, and doubly difficult to find a good home for a loved one with a mental illness who can't live on his or her own. Despite a family's dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that their mother, father, brother, or sister receives the care he or she needs, it's not always clear what housing and care options are available or suitable. Here, then, is a review of six of the most common types of housing and care available for those with a chronic mental illness.

Nursing Homes: Because those who are mentally ill sometimes are in need of long-term medical care, there are times when a nursing home might be necessary or appropriate. However, many nursing homes aren't equipped to adequately address mental health care issues. When selecting a nursing home for a loved one, ensure that it specializes in serving those with chronic mental illness.

Residential Care Facilities: Most people with chronic mental illness receive the appropriate level of care in residential care facilities. Typically, they provide 24-hour staffing, room and board, and assistance with medications and scheduling mental health care appointments. These kinds of facilities are generally not locked.

Adult Care Facilities: Adult care facilities are more family oriented than residential care facilities, but generally provide the same level of care. They are more appropriate for those whose conditions are stable. Adult care facilities are not locked, and some do not provide 24-hour staffing. Family Care Homes: The family care home setting is more of a typical home in that it serves a much smaller number of residents and is not generally staffed 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, many subsidies for those will chronic mental illness will cover this level of care, even though the individuals may need the services of an adult care or residential care facility.

Assisted Living Units: An assisted living unit, as its name implies, is most appropriate for those people who are high functioning and stable. With assisted living, there is minimal staff supervision and residents typically live in apartments and receive services like meals, laundry, and medication supervision. Assisted living can also be a bridge to independent living, in that if someone successfully participates in assisted living for a year, he or she may be able to transition to a traditional apartment. Psychiatric Units: Psychiatric units are either based in or affiliated with hospitals. One type of psychiatric unit specializes in short-term acute care, most often when a person is a danger to himself or herself, or others. The goal in this situation is to stabilize the individual and transfer him or her to another kind of facility. The other type of psychiatric unit is one that is affiliated with a state hospital, and is often a locked facility for those needing longer-term care.

When Do I Place My Elderly Parent In The Hands Of Senior Care Experts?

Planning care for an elderly parent is a difficult decision and one that many families confront, often with conflicting ideas, when their aging parent shows signs of decline. The only universal answer is, "It depends". There is no one answer that fits all. What does your parent want? If it's to stay in their own home, as is often the case, can you or other family members provide a safe environment and the necessary care to keep them there? Consider the costs to you, emotionally, as well as financially. Too often, a loving caregiver's health declines faster than the one they are caring for. If you are caring for your parent now or considering doing so, keep this in mind: you must recognize the stresses on you and your family; your spouse and children need you, too. Once your parent is gone, at some point they will be, will you still be there for your own family? Here are some things to consider and to discuss with other family members: siblings as well as your spouse and children.

1. What is your relationship with your parent? Are you or your parent often impatient, short-tempered, continually critical or demanding of each other? Or, are you caring for your parent now and exhausted?

2. Dementia posses challenges when wandering or other behaviors are beyond your control and are a risk to your parent and others. You can restrict their wandering by keeping outside doors locked as long as someone is with them, and it does not interfere with escape in case of fire or other disaster. You cannot lock them in a room or tie them down. Adult protective services will step in, as they should.

3. Does he or she require intimate personal care (injections, incontinence, bed sores, other wound care, etc) that goes beyond your ability to provide? Some people are able to remove themselves from the discomfort of those tasks and provide the care, no matter what. If that is not you, don't force it.

4. Fragile health requiring skilled nursing care is more difficult to manage at home, though not out of the question. If the doctor thinks your parent has less than 6 months to live, and you really want to keep them at home, you can engage the services of Hospice. They will provide the necessary skilled care wherever your parent is, whether it is at home or in a facility.

5. Social interaction with friends and family are important to all of us. For elderly people, who are limited in their ability to get out on their own, socializing with others where they live is important. If aging-in-place (remaining in their own home) means loneliness and isolation, then they are likely to decline more rapidly.

If any of the above applies, then hiring caregivers to provide in-home care or placing your parent in a care facility are your best options. There are numerous in home caregiver agencies. Hire a care manager to assess your situation and make recommendations. Assisted living residences are available, from homes in residential neighborhoods accommodating 5-6 individuals, to large multi-story complexes for many individuals and with many services. Some of them are sponsored by different faiths. Skilled nursing facilities, i.e., nursing homes, take individuals who, as the name suggests, need skilled nursing care. If your parent is transferred from an acute care hospital at the doctor's recommendation, then Medicare will cover the cost for up to the first 100 days. If you admit your parent from home, you must pay the bill.

I am a proponent for keeping a loved one at home whenever possible, if that's where they want to be. Trained caregivers are caring, nurturing people, and they are more removed emotionally, than you are. This distance enables them to manage the more difficult aspects of care while still treating them with respect, and hopefully humor. In my own experience (many others have reported this also), my father didn't listen to me, his "child", despite the fact that I was an elder care professional. He ignored me or often did the opposite when I made suggestions; but when his caregiver gave the same advice he would say, "good idea", and do it willingly. I stepped aside, supervising from a distance, and let it flow organically. When the time comes for you to make this difficult decision, discuss it with your parent, siblings - all of them, and your own family. If you can't all meet in person then have phone conferences, or email "conversations". Don't leave anyone out of the discussions - it will come back to bite you later if you do. If your parent isn't capable of making realistic decisions include them anyway. They need to feel included and know they have a voice in the matter.

Interview Tips for Nurses

Whether you're an experienced nurse or just out of nursing school, interviewing for a job can be stressful. The best plan of attack, as with most anything, is to be prepared. The following are a few simple tips to prepare.

• Take a copy of you resume with you. Even if you have previously submitted a copy, whether in person, mail, email, or by fax, make sure you take a hard copy of your resume to the interview. Things can get lost in the shuffle, and just because the human resources department has a copy, does not necessarily mean the person interviewing you will have received a copy.

• Dress appropriately. This should go without saying, but I have been shocked, many times, by what I've seen nurses showing up in for a job interview. The best rule for most interviews is to show up in clothes similar to what you would be wearing on the job. With nursing, this is a little different. Unless you are coming to the interview right before or after a shift at your current job, and the interviewer already knows this, it is best not to wear scrubs. As a nurse, you want to present a professional appearance, so clothing appropriate for a professional office job would be best. No jeans, sweats, or sneakers please. And conservative is best. Nothing low cut, or too short.

• Never bring up salary at your initial interview unless is first brought up to you by the interviewer. In most nursing facilities, salary is not discussed until a job offer is made. But, be prepared ahead of time for questions regarding salary. It is fine to put negotiable on the application, but know ahead of time what you would actually expect, what the norm is for someone with your experience at this facility and the minimum you are willing to take.

• Practice your answers for the most frequently asked interview questions, such as: what is your biggest strength, your biggest weakness, (you want a weakness that can actually be a positive, such as caring too much, or working too hard, etc.), what would you do if you saw that a co-worker had a bad attitude, or wasn't carrying their weight.

• It should go without saying, but be on time for the interview. Allow yourself extra time for the little emergencies that might crop up such as traffic, detours, getting gas and having to stop at more than one station because one of them is out of fuel, (yes, it happens).

Being prepared for the interview is the biggest step towards getting your dream job, don't blow these simple measures.

Nursing Home Abuse Litigation Increases Thanks to Aggressive Lawyers

Florida and Texas have the most nursing home abuse lawsuits in the country, which is why you'll see advertisements for many Florida nursing home abuse lawyer all over billboards, park benches and buses. Lawyers specializing in nursing home abuse are on the rise, but so are lawsuits.

However, though this scenario could seem like an example of American litigation-frenzy gone overboard, it's also led to major changes in the Florida nursing home industry. Nursing homes are literally shaking in their boots as they clean up their acts and make significant improvements to their levels of care. Instances of reported abuses are down and state homes are scoring higher on inspections.

So, why are the number of lawsuits still going up?

Until changes are made to the laws in Florida, the number of abuse, negligence and accident lawsuits filed on nursing homes will continue to rise. As a result, nursing home operators and workers must be extra diligent to avoid any form of potential lawsuit. To do so, they're making significant improvements.

So, if improvements are being made in senior care, then why are lawsuits on the rise? One significant factor is the recent passage of several Florida state statutes that permit a Florida nursing home abuse lawyer (the plaintiffs' attorney) to be awarded their legal fees if a nursing home or assisted living facility is found to have violated a senior resident's rights.

And though these laws were passed with the best intentions as a way to protect seniors and ensure they receive proper representation, they have been distorted by several lawyers who profit from what is now an industry. As you walk down the streets of Tampa Bay, which are flooded for ads for attorneys to represent you in nursing home cases, you can see that there is clearly a dollar to be made.

What does all this mean for nursing homes?

As the number of lawsuits increase, so does the cost of insurance and legal fees for nursing homes. This can put a nursing home in financial jeopardy or in a position where they are unable to obtain the insurance coverage they need to operate.

What does all this mean for nursing home residents?

The greatest impact on residents is that Florida nursing homes are increasingly more aware of industry standards and protecting residents against potential abuse. Unfortunately, the high costs of lawsuits, litigation and insurance premiums is often passed on to residents and their families.

What is the importance of Chapter 400?

Chapter 400 is a Florida statute designed and written to protect the residents of retirement and nursing homes. It's essentially a clear list that safeguards a resident's rights such as financial rights, civil rights, religious rights and privacy rights along with freedom from abuse and other personal infringements.

Chapter 400 is clearly a necessary statute to protect elderly residents from abuses. It should be read and understood by every Florida nursing home abuse lawyer, along with all nursing home operators and employees in the state.

Different Types of Nurses and Their Roles in the Community

Nurses play a vital role in the health care industry. They provide basic care to patients and attend to patients' needs and perform basic duties. Nursing is the most diverse of all the health care professions and nurses practice in a different and wide range of settings.

Types of nurses

Certified Nurse Assistant or CNA - they are known as nursing aide, or as Home Health Aides or HHAs. They work under a registered nurse's supervision and assist patients in their daily tasks. Their main role is to closely observe their patient's health status; reactions to medication and treatment and update their supervisor or the registered nurse. They work in hospitals but they can also be found in nursing homes, hospice facilities, private homes and adult living facilities.

Registered Nurse or RN - registered nurses are able to perform various duties including providing treatments, educating patients and family members about a patient's medical condition and treatment, and they are able to provide them advice and emotional support. Registered nurses are degree or diploma holders and they can choose to further their career by acquiring advanced education in other specialties relating to particular conditions, area in the body or a certain type of patient such as children or an area in the hospital such as the Emergency Room or Operating Room. They are also in charge of directing or giving directions to licensed practical nurses and nurse assistants.

Public Health Nurse or PHN - they are registered nurses who specialize in the area of community health. They travel to patients' homes, community centers and schools. They work with individuals and families to provide accessible medical solutions to health concerns in particular communities.

Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN - licensed practical nurses work in hospitals, private homes, clinics, and long term care facilities providing basic care to patients. Employment in the field requires completion of an approved and accredited practical nursing course and a clean criminal record. They are able to perform basic laboratory exams, administer injections, and they are responsible for monitoring their patient's medical condition and reporting it to their supervisor or the registered nurse on duty. They also assist their patients in taking baths, eating, and even deliver assist in delivery of infants.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or CRNA - aside from the completion of a bachelor's degree in nursing, certified registered nurse anesthetists spent two to three years of formal education in their specialization and have been certified as nurse anesthetists. They provide care for patients whoa re about to be given anesthesia before they undergo a surgery, during the surgery and after the procedure.

Occupational Health Nurse - occupational health nurses are usually found in companies working as company nurse providing basic health care to employees and workers. They also assist in the preparation of paper works for employees requiring admission to hospitals and out patient services that is beyond the company's clinic or medical facility. They can offer counseling and give advice on medical concerns, occupational hazards and safety issues concerning the industry they work for. Most of the time, they are part of the company's payroll and are considered direct employees to the company.

Nursing Home Abuse

Those that have experienced pain and suffering due to negligence on the part of nursing home employees may be eligible for compensation. A lawsuit may be filed against the staff member or institution responsible for the carelessness. People who file these law suits are not only searching for the money they need for medical bills, but may also wish to prevent future abuse in the assisted living facility. Many of today's medical malpractice suits are related to nursing abuse. The growing number should cause concern to anyone entrusting the care of their loved one to the care of others.

It is important to properly research homes prior to moving a loved one. Things to consider include location, reputation, and services offered. However, it is impossible to ensure that a home will be free of any abuses. Despite the price or reputation of a facility, the staff can still be negligent in their care. It takes the awareness of the residents and their families to recognize any calamities that may be occurring. Some of the many signs that abuse include:

繚 Complaints of residents

繚 Bed sores

繚 Bruises

繚 Broken bones

繚 Infections

繚 Deteriorating facility

繚 Signs of sexual abuse

繚 Mental confusion

People trust nursing homes to take care of their loved ones. Without a nurse or doctor's help, it may cause the elder's heath to deteriorate at a faster rate. There is no reason that the large amount of money people pay for this care should result in the abuse of a loved one. Yet in is a cold hard fact that a large number of medical malpractice cases concern nursing home abuse.

Visit the website of Indianapolis nursing home abuse attorney Hankey Law Office, P.C. for more information on the dangers and legal ramifications of abuse.

Independent Living for the Elderly

Senior care is an issue facing many families. People are living longer and are in better health than ever before, but as people age, help and assistance can be required to ensure that people are living full, enjoyable and safe lives.

Many seniors feel comfortable in their own homes and do not want to be uprooted and moved into an assisted living community. As people get older daily tasks can become more difficult and a person may think they have no other option but to move from their home.

However, there are now a number of developments and inventions that can help a senior live independently at home. People can be hired to provide in home senior care. These workers range from fully trained medical professionals, who could deal with illness and diseases, to companions who are there to do household tasks and provide company to the elderly person. These people can either live in or visit at appointed times.

As a person ages, doing simple tasks independently may become more difficult, however there are many labor saving devices available to assist seniors to live independent lives in their own homes. The bathroom, with its slippery surfaces can be a hazardous area that is usually of particular concern to the senior and their family, luckily there are many devices available to assist seniors in this area.

Shower chairs

The most useful invention for a senior bathroom user is a well built shower chair with wheels. A shower chair is a specialised device that enables a user to be moved safely around the bathroom with access to all bathroom facilities including the toilet, shower and vanity basin while seated in the comfort and safety of the chair. Shower chairs are compatible with most bathroom layouts and different models are available to access different types of showers. Most shower chairs also roll over the top of a standard toilet enabling a completely safe toileting experience with no need for the user to sit unsupported on the toilet. Shower chairs can also have a commode fitting. By providing a way for the bathroom user to remain seated while in the bathroom the shower chair alleviates the risk of the user slipping on the wet bathroom floor or a caregiver injuring their own back while lifting the person they are looking after. Shower chairs provide the bathroom user (and their family members) with peace of mind that they can safely and with dignity carry out all their bathroom requirements.

The following bathroom aids can also provide reasonably priced assistance for senior bathroom users, but they do not provide the same level of safety that can be found by using a shower chair.

Grab bars

Grab bars made of either metal or plastic can be installed on any wall in a bathroom and are designed to provide people something to hold onto when walking on a slippery bathroom floor.

Toilet frames

Toilet frames, made of metal or plastic provide free standing grab bars around an already installed toilet. The bars can assist a person to lower themselves onto a toilet and to stand up again once they are finished.

Raised toilet seats with or without bars

Raised toilet seats can also be installed over existing toilets. They are a very thick, usually plastic seat that sits on top of the toilet. They provide extra height to the toilet for people who find regular toilets too low to use comfortably or safely.

Non skid or slip mats

Bathroom floors are notoriously slippery, especially when they are wet. Installing non slip or non skid flooring can be costly. A more affordable option is to buy non slip or skid mats and place them on the floor.

I've Been Injured At Work - What Should I Do Now?

If you have been injured at work, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. However, many workers who suffer a workplace injury find that their worker's compensation claim has stalled or does not resolve in their favor because they are unfamiliar with how the system works. Furthermore, in certain situations, an injured worker may have additional claims against their employer that fall outside the workers compensation system. By following these useful steps you can build a solid case for your workers compensation claim and protect yourself on additional claims that might be available:

1. Seek medical treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. If you are seriously injured, call 9-1-1. Provide the doctor with all the details surrounding your injury so this will become part of your medical treatment records. Be sure to keep copies of your medical records related to your workplace injury.

2. Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Request a copy of the employer's incident/accident report and keep this with your records.

3. Document the incident. If possible, take photographic documentation. Be sure to take pictures of any injuries, machinery or equipment involved in your injury and any incident scene details. Keep a written log of the incident, including the name of any machinery or equipment involved in your injury, and the names and contact information for any individuals who witnessed your injury. If any safety equipment has been removed from machinery involved in the injury such as a safety guard, be sure to document and photograph this hazard.

4. Consult an attorney as soon as possible. An experienced worker's compensation attorney and/or injury attorney will evaluate your case and will explain what your rights are. An attorney will help your worker's compensation claim process smoothly by ensuring that all appropriate documentation is submitted. An experienced worker's compensation attorney may also advise you of additional benefits that you may be entitled to. An experienced injury attorney will be able to assess if you have additional claims to pursue to obtain justice.

A personal injury attorney will maintain objectivity and work with you to find the best resolution to your case. A qualified injury lawyer will be able to determine, based on your specific circumstances, whether your claim is best resolved through mediation- saving you time and money. Additionally, if your claim goes to court an experienced injury lawyer will handle your claim effectively to get the best possible jury verdict.

Trends in Assisted Living

Assisted living communities have become increasingly dedicated to innovation and an emphasis on hospitality in order to remain competitive during challenging economic times. Understanding the resulting assisted living trends will be helpful to families that are in the process of exploring the various options available for aging loved ones.

Assisted Living Trend #1: Wellness Programs to Enhance & Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

In 2009, the age of residents moving into assisted facilities nationwide averages 84.6 years. As seniors continue to wait longer and longer to leave their homes and move into senior living communities, the industry seeks to extend their length of stay by promoting health and wellness among their residents. Nearly every major competitor has developed a multi-dimensional program to include a variety of exercise classes and/or access to neighborhood fitness clubs, healthy meal options as well as spiritual and educational opportunities. Amenities and services that reflect this emphasis on wellness include the availability of on-site massage therapy, exercise equipment made specifically for seniors, computer training with specialized equipment and large screens as well as flexible hours for dining to accommodate medical appointments and activities. The success of such programs improves the general health and well-being of current residents and attracts new residents who are increasingly dedicated to maintaining their active lifestyles.

Assisted Living Trend #2: Larger Apartments and Increased Apartment Amenities

Between 2006 and 2009, the number of apartments in assisted facilities has decreased from a nationwide average of 63 to 54. This statistic reflects a trend in combining two apartments in order to accommodate residents who prefer larger living spaces. Whereas studios used to be the most common type of assisted living apartment, one-bedroom units are now more preferable and allow residents to keep more of their furniture and belongings that make their new apartment feel like home. In addition, many couples currently moving into assisted facilities prefer separate bedrooms for improved sleeping. Amenities frequently include spacious walk-in closets, 9-foot ceilings, balconies and/or patios to accommodate pet owners as well as enhanced kitchenettes with microwaves and small refrigerators.

Assisted Living Trend #3: Increased Flexibility in Financing Assisted Living

In light of current economic conditions, an increasing number of assisted communities are participating in Medicaid. According to a collaborative research project conducted in 2009 by the Assisted Living Federation of America, nearly half of responding assisted care providers have licensed up to 25% of their apartments for Medicaid. Other communities that may not accept Medicaid are partnering with companies that provide financing options such as a line of credit to facilitate move-ins prior to home sales. These types of options are very helpful to seniors who are reliant on the equity in their homes in order to afford assisted care. Given the number of veterans currently moving in to assisted facilities, providers are also dedicated to publicizing and promoting the Veteran's Aid & Attendance program. For more information about eligibility requirements for this program, visit the Veteran Aid website. Finally, it's never been a better time to ask assisted living communities about waiving entrance fees, locking in current rates and receiving assistance with moving expenses!

Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Homes - Communication Tips

As a long term care administrator I have experienced many family members over the years that have been great advocates for their loved ones in my assisted living and skilled nursing communities. I have also seen many who have worked hard at being an advocated but who have been less than effective.

It is important for families to be champions for their loved ones care and quality of life. So I would like to offer 4 quick tips to help increase your effectiveness.

1. Write vs. Talk - When an issue arises that requires your attention you can get really good results by putting your concerns in writing. A written letter hand delivered to the administrator requesting resolution and or a meeting is a powerful communication tool.

A letter generally requires a written response as a minimum which means the resolution will be well thought out and thorough. Along the same lines it is a good idea for you to understand what the grievance policy is for the community and use as needed.
 
2. E-mail Exchanges - By developing an e-mail relationship with the administrator you get a deeper level of access and increased frequency of communication. My only caution is to use with restraint.
 
3. Company Policy vs. Licensing Regulation - At times family members will request things the facility refuses to do. Pay attention to the reasons given. If they say it's against "company policy" you may have some flexibility. However if your request is a violation of "licensing regulations" there may not be much that can be done.
 
4. The Good and the Bad - There are few things in life that are all good or all bad and senior care communities are no exception. A great way to ensure your concerns are taken seriously is to make sure you communicate the things that the community is doing well from time to time. When a family member only communicates negativity it is hard to take their concerns seriously over time. Try and balance your comments to be more effective.

These tips are great ways to improve the effectiveness of your communication with any given long term care community. Please check out my blog for more great information on helping families navigate assisted living and skilled nursing.

Alzheimer's Care - Choosing a Memory Care Facility For Your Loved One

Putting a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision regardless of the circumstances. In the case of Alzheimer's, most research shows that at some point in the progression of the disease a nursing home becomes the right decision for the family. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there are nearly 2 million people currently living in some form of nursing home. Over 90% of these residents are over 65 years old and most require 24 hour supervision due to some physical limitation or dementia. However, due to the increase in "familial Alzheimer's", aka Early On-Set Alzheimer's, there are many people in their 40's and 50's that are now requiring long term care.

A memory care facility is a specialized nursing home that provides - in addition to a room and food - full time medical (nursing) care and in-house rehabilitative services, along with close supervision to provide some measure of physical protection for the residents. The home will not be designed as an acute care facility, but the goal at an Alzheimer's care facility should be to help people maintain, as much as possible, their daily independent functioning.

It is obvious that when choosing a care facility or nursing home it is first necessary to consider the needs of the individual for whom you are providing Alzheimer's care. You must determine what special care needs the facility can provide. What type of therapy is available. Ask if these needs and therapy are handled by in-house staff or outside care. What are the qualifications of the individuals who provide these.

If you are choosing a nursing facility for someone who is presently at home, ask for referrals from your physician, Area Agency on Aging, Alzheimer's support group, friends, and family. Other factors such as location, cost, the quality of care, services, activities, size, religious and cultural preferences, and accommodations also need to be considered. Above all else discuss this with your family. Most families will not all agree on a place or the costs, but get a majority consensus as this will ease the burdens later on when you, the primary caregiver, need to time off an want someone else that is willing to help step in for a while.

When you've located a few facilities that you'd like to consider more thoroughly, plan on visiting each one, both with scheduled and unscheduled visits, and at different times and on different days of the week. As you walk around, take note of what you see, hear and smell.

* Is it a peaceful atmosphere or does there seem to be an underlying level of chaos?

* Do you hear residents crying out or moaning very loudly for more than a minute or two? (Some of this is the disease and to be expected.)

* Do you notice call lights continually flashing or bells dinging where residents are asking for help their room?

* Do the caregivers and nurses respond quickly to aid the residents or do they ignore the calls for help?

* Are there scheduled activities for the residents?

* Is there an activities staff or do the caregivers hand them puzzles and cards?

* Do you see staff members interacting with residents or do they leave them in their rooms or parked in wheelchairs in the hall without paying much attention to them?

* Do the common areas and bathrooms look and smell clean?

* Are the residents rooms and bath areas clean?

* Are the residents dressed appropriately for the season?

* Do they look clean and is there any sign of an untreated cut or bruise?

* At mealtimes, do you notice caregivers helping residents who have difficulty feeding themselves?

* Do they stay with them until they've eaten most of their meal or do they stop after only a few bites and move on to someone or something else?

* What is the quality of the food and do the residents appear to enjoy it?

* When residents become agitated, how does the staff respond?

* What security does the home provide to protect residents?

* Is there a numbered keypad to enter and exit? Does everyone coming and going seem to know the code?

* What systems or physical barriers are around the facility to make sure no resident wanders away?

* Is the overall atmosphere similar to a homelike environment or more like an institution?

* If your family member is still coherent and able to converse, are there other residents with whom they may socialize?

* What is the staff turnover rate?

* What is the ratio of nurses to residents and caregivers to residents?

* Do they work 8 or 12 hour shifts? This is an important point since familiarity and routine is a key element to your loved ones comfort level.

Before signing a contract for care at a specific facility you should fully review the contract and know your rights and responsibilities as the family and also those of your loved one as the resident. Review the admissions agreement carefully and have anything explained in detail that is not fully understood. Spend $150 or so to have an attorney review this for you if necessary. Do not sign any paperwork that has not been fully explained. The admissions contract should, at a minimum, contain the daily or monthly room and meals rate, any specific reasons for discharge or transfer from the facility (these items should apply to your family member if they do them or to anyone else in the facility if done to your loved one), and the policy regarding payment of the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short period of time. Is there a reduced or prorated rate or do you continue to pay full price to keep the room/space available?

You may question if you're really making the right decision to place your loved one in a facility at all. This is an agonizing decision that you will routinely question, but remember, you can do no more than your best. If you have done that, then you should not continue to ask more of yourself and know that you have done the best, as an Alzheimer's caregiver, for your family member.

Career Goals For Nurses

As with any other field, nurses should look into what their short and long term goals are, in order to advance themselves career-wise. Nurses may be considering these objectives if they're already in school, or are planning to enroll in advanced education. Factors to consider when goal-planning as a nurse include:

1. The Desired Position:

Planning for a general nurse in health care settings? A Bachelor's is well-suited for this position.

If you have goals as a nurse practitioner, midwife, clinical nurse specialist, anesthetist nurse, administrator or educator, then a higher education requirement will be needed, which is detailed below in the article.

2. The Working Environment:

Would you like to work in a hospital, a nursing home or a medical office? Industries with the highest nursing employment concentrations as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, include general medical and surgical hospitals, home health care services, offices of physicians, nursing care facilities and outpatient care centers. There are also opportunities to work as a visitation nurse, or in niches such as travel and cruising, or in schools.

3. The Compensation Package:

In any career plan, the compensation package will be one of the top things to consider, and whether this salary meets the lifestyle preferences of the individual. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for registered nurses in the year 2011 was $69,110. Think about whether or not the package includes benefits like a health plan, 401K and other popular perks.

4. The Educational Requirements:

Once you've determined the position, compensation and environment you want to work for, consider what educational requirements are needed for that goal. A supervisory nursing position for instance, will require a Bachelor's in Nursing Education. A master's degree is able to propel a general nurse into a supervisory role within a year or two, depending on the school's course length. The good news for nurses is that they are able to pursue higher education while working by going to school online, on weekends or in the evenings.

These are some of the most important factors to consider when planning for nursing goals. One surefire way to meet objectives more easily is with a plan. While there will certainly be uncontrolled variables, having a step-guide will help planners move from entry-level employment into more professional roles.

After a assessing, planning and implementing long and short term goals, nurses can then go on to periodically evaluate their own personal fulfillment in the field, and decide what needs work. Nursing one's career with goal planning, as most will find out, is the best way to succeed.

CNA Salary - Is It Worth The Extra Study?

Certified nursing assistants (CNA) work in healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities for disabled individuals. These front-liners in the healthcare industry perform a wide variety of roles and responsibilities including but not limited to taking vital signs, assisting in personal hygiene needs, and transferring patients from one place to the next within the facility. Of course, these competent individuals should have completed their CNA training programs and passed their CNA certification exams.

The profession is one of the fastest-growing in the healthcare industry for several reasons. As the population ages, more and more individuals require short-term and long-term medical care in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. This is where certified nursing assistants come in. Add in the good salaries and benefits packages available for certified nursing aides and you, too, will be interested in it as a career.

Range of Salaries

And speaking of salary, exactly how much does an employed nursing aide earn in a year? Like with all professions, the answer depends on several factors including experience of the individual on one hand as well as type of facility and geographical location on the other hand. Even in the same establishment or in the same city, the salary for two certified nursing aides of similar work experience will be different.

For example, your lower salary reflects your employment status as an entry-level staff while the salaries of your senior colleagues reflect their seniority in the organization. It may also be that your higher salary in a nursing home in comparison with another nursing aide in a hospital boils down to the size of these establishments.

Experience as a Determinant

In general, however, certified nursing aides earn according to their level of experience and employment status. As you gain more experience, you are more likely to enjoy higher salaries. It also helps to put the lessons you have learned during CNA training to good use as an employee.

On average, nursing aides with less than a year of experience can earn $20,000-$31,000 annual salary while those with up to four years of experience will enjoy $22,000-$32,000 per year in basic salaries. Nursing assistants with more than 5 years of experience can earn $25,000 to $34,000 a year, aside from the perks of the job like bonuses. Of course, the CNA certification of these front-liners must be valid and updated for employers to keep them on the job. So, you had better take note of this fact of life.

Other determinants in the salary of certified nursing aides are:

• Type of facility - Those who work in veterans' hospitals, private homes and private offices tend to earn more ($24,000-$38,000) than those who work in nursing homes ($18,500-$30,000) and hospitals ($20,000-$32,000).

• Location - Those who work in metropolitan areas are more likely to earn more than their rural-based counterparts.

Yes, the money is good, indeed!

A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting an Assisted Living Business

Because of various reasons, the demand for assisted living facilities has been rapidly growing these days - probably mainly because of the very fact that the baby boomers are now getting close to the retirement age. Most of them have already retired. These facilities provide housing solutions and special need care for the elderly people and those who are physically disabled or have accessible problems. However, unlike nursing homes, these facilities do not provide round-the-clock assistance to their residents. The facilities they provide include a moderate level of assistance in things where the residents need special care. They also offer meals and private living areas for the residents. These facilities are best suited for those who are suffering from the pain of living alone. Following are some of the steps that you need to consider if you are planning to start an assisted living business.

Obtain License
As per the laws of the state, every such facility needs to obtain a license first. Therefore, you can start by applying for the license. The process can be a bit complicated and lengthy, but if you are genuine in your efforts and are well prepared, you should not find much difficulty. You will have to attend interviews with different authorities. Everything that you have mentioned in your application will be inspected thoroughly. In particular, the state will want to make sure that the kind of services you are promising are something that you are capable to provide. You can contact the Chamber of Commerce or the concerned State's department to get detailed information about the requirements to start an assisted living business in your area.

Type Of Facility
The next thing that you have to consider is the type of facility that you want to offer - whether you want to cater to a large number of residents or just a small number of people. You will have to choose the facility building accordingly. If it is a small scale business, you can probably go ahead with a single family home, but if you want to provide services to a large number of people, you will need a multi-story building.

Financing
If you are going to start your assisted living business on a small scale, you can probably go with self financing, but if it is a large project, you will have to look out for other financing options as well. You may like to take a business loan from a bank - for that purpose, you will need to show a very good project to the bank. The idea is to convince the bank that your business is going to be successful one and that you will repay the loan in a timely manner.

You will have to be very careful while choosing your staff members. Make sure that you hire only the certified medical staffs who can effectively handle administrative and operational tasks as well. Once you are through with everything, you will have to do effective marketing of your assisted living business.

Las Vegas Nursing Homes

Las Vegas is considered the entertainment capital of the world. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state of Nevada. It is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. There are many people who cannot adjust to a changed pattern of a retired life. While some want to live close to their friends or family, there are others who want to live in nursing homes, retirement homes, or home health care centers. In Las Vegas there are many nursing homes that are attended by physicians for the residents. Some nursing homes are also homes for the mental or disabled children or adults.

Nursing homes provide a suitable atmosphere for ailing people to have a pleasant recovery. They are made to feel at ease with different recreational activities that are regularly conducted. Specialists in different fields attend to the patients regularly. It becomes very convenient for them, as they do not have to move to distant areas for treatment. The physicians provide medical support besides providing medication, and treating serious medical conditions.

There are many people who are not able to take care of their elders, due to their job constraints or other important responsibilities. In such as situation, nursing homes are the most suitable place to shelter them. At times, physicians such as cardiologist, themselves recommend them to stay in nursing homes. The atmosphere of a nursing home is lively, with a number of old or retired people who share their experiences and enjoy different recreational activities.

In Las Vegas there are a number of nursing homes. Internet provides an access to these homes, and helps people know about the facilities that are provided. People can easily select an appropriate home closer to their residence. There are articles and reviews that compare various nursing homes. It gives a clear idea about the services or overall atmosphere of the nursing homes. Generally, nursing homes are located away from the busy areas of the city. The main focus is to encourage or support active adult living.

All the Benefits That Go Along With Independent Living

Pennsylvania residents, if you are an active senior citizen you should know about the benefits that go along with Independent Living in PA. Independent Living facilities in Pennsylvania have become so much more then "life care" communities, or facilities that provide health care, security, housekeeping services, and dining services. The best Independent Housing communities provide all those services and more, excelling when it comes to creating the "lifestyle" their residents want. This includes superior dining services with flexible hours, a wealth of services and amenities that encourage residents to lead an active and healthy lifestyle with fitness and exercise, as well as educational programs, tennis and golf, and other group activities as well.

Seniors enjoy Independent Living in PA communities, as they grant the freedom from certain responsibilities and provide the option of travel, and increased leisure time to take courses or volunteering wherever one may wish. You can enjoy longer fitness workouts, pursue activities at leisure, and live your life as independently as desired. Independent Housing ensures that residents have time enjoy the lifestyle they want- lawns are mown, snow is shoveled, and housekeeping tasks are taken care of, with security services around the clock to ensure the well being and safety of residents. Whether you need someone to turn a mattress, hang a picture, or change a light bulb, someone is available to help you out.

Independent Living Facilities in PA provide exceptional medical care. They offer Brain fitness training programs (think faster, focus better, and remember more), an Electronic Medical Records System, and Smart Med Charts to keep residents in the best health. Properly trained staff and a warm family atmosphere indicate a quality retirement community for those who choose independent housing. Independent Living means that there are minimal rules and policies affecting residents- far fewer then retirement communities and assisted living facilities. Visitors are welcome all the time, and the only rules in place are those that the majority of residents desire.

Many Independent housing communities are available for seniors who wish to live in their own apartment or private housing and enjoy the freedom to do as they wish while enjoying a active lifestyle- but at the same time know that in the event of an emergency, they will receive the treatment and help necessary. Independent Living gives you the option to live in your own apartment and enjoy as much social interaction with other close by residents, while maintaining your own schedule and coming and going as you wish. Independent housing apartments and residences also ensure you are part of a safe community-you can live your life as you wish but feel secure as you go about your day. Learn more about Independent Living and other upscale retirement communities.

Do You Know How To Avoid Elder Abuse? Speak To An Elder Law Litigation Attorney

Little is more heartbreaking than watching a loved one of advanced age struggle with poor health, deteriorating mental capacity, and loss of quality of life. Unfortunately there are people who prey on the vulnerable for their own gain; those who take advantage of, intentionally harm or neglect the aged are guilty of elder abuse. This type of abuse can occur anytime anyone interacts with an elderly person; often family members are the perpetrators, but those in positions of authority also have the power to harm a vulnerable older person -- a financial advisor, a health care practitioner, or staff at an elderly care facility. In the case that your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse, you may wish to pursue legal action. Litigation attorneys are trained to advocate on behalf of your parent, relative, or loved one, ensuring their rights are not violated further, and financial compensation is made when appropriate

Elder Law Protects Your Loved One From Financial Abuse

Perhaps the most common type of elder abuse is in the area of finance. Family members may see an opportunity to benefit from handling financial affairs as power of attorney; skimming funds or paying oneself a "wage" for handling finances is unethical, just as coercing a loved one to leave you money in their will against their wishes is also. If you suspect that there is wrongdoing with respect to any aspect of an elderly person's finances, a litigation lawyer can help. A solution may be as simple as contacting the public guardian or trustee office on the person's behalf so an audit can be done. In serious cases of financial wrongdoing, litigation attorneys can file an emergency power of attorney to replace the abuser; they can also begin litigation proceedings to advocate on the elderly person's behalf, and bring the perpetrator to court to defend his or her actions.

A Litigation Attorney Can Assist With Disputes Over Health Care

In some cases, the elderly have designated oversight of their health careto an advocate, but their advocate does not act in their best interest; they may decide on care that is inexpensive or inadequate (in order to increase their inheritance, for example). At other times, the health care provider is abusive verbally, physically, or by neglect. Medical malpractice of an elderly patient is another instance in which the expertise of a litigation attorney would be required.

While it may not always be possible to protect an elderly person from abuse or neglect, it is within your power to be informed about what to do when health care has been compromised. A litigation attorney can advocate for temporary guardianship should abuse be evident, and can also take steps to begin a legal process to remove the rights of an abusive advocate, and when appropriate, sue for compensation.

Speak With A Litigation Attorney Before Abuse Can Take Place

Attorneys with expertise in elder law may be able to help you and your family before your parent or loved one is vulnerable to abuse. Often a litigation attorney will be available to help with will and estate planning, which will ensure the person's wishes are protected (and minimize the risk of coercion from less than ethical influencers with regard to wills and estates). Consulting with an elder care lawyer about end-of-life issues, long term medical needs, as well as general estate planning and administration will ensure everything is in order before your loved one is ill or deemed incompetent to make decisions -- and is prone to falling prey to abusers.

Elder law was established to protect the elderly and their families from wrongdoing with respect to healthcare, finances, and wills and estates. Consult with an attorney who specializes in elder law and be informed and prepared in advance of illness and the death of your loved one. Developing a relationship with an attorney you can trust before you ever need to take legal action will ensure that you and your elderly loved one feel safe and protected, and hopefully, never have to go to court to defend your loved one's rights.

Choosing a Care Home

Today, there are residential care homes available for people of all ages and for a range of disabilities but in this article, we'll be looking at elderly care homes. Choosing the most suitable home for you or for somone that you're looking after can be quite a complicated decision.

If you're a carer, the first thing you'll want to do in most cases is to get an assessment from social services for the person that you look after. This will settle whether or not they should need residential care and can suggest other available options. Social services can give you and the person you look after information about care homes and might even be able to assist you in finding a suitable one.

It's still worth getting in contact with social services, even if the person you are looking after is unlikely to be eligible for any financial help with care or nursing home fees. The assessment they give you can be really helpful when it comes to making decisions about care, plus it can be a valuable source for further information.

There are individual factors you should take into account when choosing a care home. Everyone has different needs, so consider what you or the person that you're caring for will require:

• Where is the home located? Is it close to family and friends? Are there local shops and things to do? This will vary from person to person, but being close to family and having a stimulating local environment are always good things to have.


• Is the retirement home you're looking at focused on individual needs, providing them as needed or will residents be expected to adapt to a particular regime?


• What arrangements are there for visitors? Can residents come and go as they please? Depending on your personal circumstances, this could be a very big factor.


• What is the support within the home like? How will you be able to communicate with staff and are there any support groups or regular meetings?

There are of course many more issues to consider but these give an outline of where to start. Another thing to consider is inspection reports - if there is a particular home you have been considering, check the most recent inspection report to see how well the home is performing and if there is anything of concern. All care homes for adults are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Along with the information you can get from social services, there are various other ways to find out about care homes and residential nursing that would be suitable for you or the person you look after.

You can contact a voluntary organisation, like Counsel and Care or Age UK. There are other organisations you can contact if you or the person you're caring for has a specific need, such as Mencap for people with a learning disability or Mind who specialise in mental health.

Easing the Transition to a Nursing Home

Moving to a long-term care facility can be difficult, but there are a number of steps that family members can take to ease the transition. By taking an empathetic stance and considering your loved one's emotions, you can choose actions that are both comforting and appropriate.

Fear and loss of control are two of the most common feelings among those admitted to nursing homes. To help your loved one combat those feelings, make sure that he or she is kept well-informed about what is going on. To the greatest extent possible, keep your loved one involved in the decision-making process. Where that isn't possible, offer explanations as to why things can't be done in the manner that he or she prefers. When it comes to choosing the home, make every effort to accommodate preferences, except in cases where safety could be compromised.

Feelings of anger or abandonment are not uncommon among those admitted to long-term care facilities. As with many things, when it comes to addressing feelings of those feelings, actions speak louder than words. Show your loved one that you intend to play an active role in his or her life, regardless of who takes care of the primary care duties. Visit often, and encourage other family members to do the same. If possible, make an effort to bring your loved one to family birthdays and holiday parties. The only way to alleviate feelings of abandonment is to prove that they have no merit.

Anger can be more difficult to deal with, but in most cases, the best course of action is to let it go. Just as parents understand when their teenagers proclaim their hatred for the parents, you need to understand that anger may be a necessary step for your loved one. If you continue to provide love and support, those feelings should pass in time. If they don't, a counselor or religious advisor may be able to help.

With many nursing home residents, there is a great deal of sadness. Dealing with chronic pain or illness can be a difficult reminder of things to come. Religious beliefs may be called into question, and many residents become very depressed. If a spouse has already died, the resident may feel like giving up. These are not signs of mental illness as much as they are signs of normal reactions to very difficult circumstances.

Instead of trying to make feelings of sadness go away, try to divert your loved one's thoughts to happy memories and enjoyable hobbies. Work at making your loved one feel warmth and love for the remainder of his or her days. Working together on a scrapbook or family photo album can be an enjoyable activity that calls to mind hundreds of good memories. It also helps your loved one feel that he or she is leaving something behind that the family can enjoy for years to come.

Show your support, understanding and caring for one another during this time, and be reassuring, making organized plans for who will visit and how often, and arrange some activities together to look forward to in the near future.

The move to a nursing home represents a stage of life that requires many changes, but the elderly person still has a vital role in the family and should be reminded of this as often as possible. By working together, a successful transition is indeed possible, and can serve to strengthen family bonds and create new precious memories.

Find out what services are offered by the nursing home in the way of allowing a gradual introduction to the facility before the move. Are there meetings you can attend together, social activities, or other means of helping your elderly family member to feel more comfortable and confident ahead of time? Psychological preparation, and a clear sense of what to expect will help you all figure out how to make a successful transition to a nursing home.

Oddly enough, the hardest part of moving to a nursing home may be dealing with the change in scenery. After many years in a family home, an institutional environment can feel harsh and unwelcoming. Helping your loved one to personalize his or her room can go a long way towards making it feel like home. Family photos, favorite plants, and familiar blankets and pillows can make a room more personal. A small stereo or headset with favorite music might be helpful to some residents, and many facilities will even allow family members to bring a beloved pet in for visits.

Helping the staff get to know your loved one can also help make the transition easier. While it is important to ensure that medical information gets to those who need it, try sharing some personal facts, too. If your loved one had a particular love for gardening, you may find that a nurse on staff has the same interest. Those types of connections can make a nursing home feel more like a regular home.

Just as every resident is different, every transition is different. You may find that your loved one's needs are different than someone else's, and you might make mistakes, but the fact that you are making an effort is the most important part of all.

Nurses Stand Up to Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has swept devastation over the entire eastern coast of the United States, uprooting trees, crushing houses, and flooding everywhere. During this natural disaster, most people were hunkering down in their homes, trying to stay warm and hoping for power. But the nurses of the area were hard at work, dealing directly with the fallout of the hurricane, and desperately trying to keep their patient's stabilized.

Perhaps the most famous story is of Margot Codon, a nurse at the NYU Langone Medical Center in the neonatal intensive care unit. On Monday night, the extreme flooding caused not only the power to go out, but the hospital's generator to fail. All the respirators and monitors keeping patients alive were now just heavy silent lumps of equipment. The staff was forced to evacuate patients, among these, a newborn who was only 8 hours old and still breathing on a respirator. It took a team of six people to safely move the infant and all the necessary equipment -- now being manually operated -- down nine flights of stairs in the darkness. Codon held the child and manually pumped air into the baby's lungs the entire way. Codon has been a nurse for 36 years and claims she has never experienced anything quite like this.

In Staten Island, nurses of the Visiting Nurse Service continued their care even as the hurricane whipped on around them. They tried to see most of their more stable patients on Sunday and prep them on disaster care scenarios, so that their time could be spent with essential patients on Monday and Tuesday. As phones were not working, these nurses actually drove in the storm to their patient's houses to make sure they were all right. One nurse almost walked into a live wire, and others left their own ruined homes on hold while they tended to their patients.

Many nursing homes had to be evacuated during or after the storm and there are still patients trying to find a place to go. There is definitely a need for another look at the backup nursing homes and hospital systems our country has in place. Luckily, the nurses are working hard to pick up the slack -- taking care of twice as many patients in spaces that are incredibly overcrowded, making house calls for patients who are not in critical condition and have a place to go, training family members on basic care for short term assistance.

Now, as the country is starting to get the clean up for Sandy under control, the coast is being threatened again, this time by a northeaster storm. This storm is expected to bring the same issues that Hurricane Sandy did, albeit in smaller doses. In the Rockaways of Queens, over 600 nursing home and adult care center residents are being evacuated before the storm hits. These facilities were already running on generator power and the evacuation is an effort to be preemptive.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of all the amazing things nurses have done in the face of disaster. There are many more tales that have not been told or may never be told, as they are considered just a part of the job. But that's what a nurse does -- they flourish in emergency and remain calm for their patients. It does bring up the question, how do you react in emergency situations?

The Benefits Of Working In A Nursing Home

If you are looking for a career that offers more than just a paycheck, working in an elderly care center may be the right option for you. Many people want to go to work each day and return home feeling as if they have made a difference in the lives of the people around them. Though this can happen at any place of employment, some people need a more concrete way to give to society and feel as if they are enriching the lives of others. Nursing home jobs provide an opportunity to care for a part of the population that needs it the most. Having a nursing home job is a very rewarding experience. If you are comfortable working with elderly people and you really want to feel as if you are making a difference and giving back, work like this may be great for you.

One of the main benefits is the opportunity to care for people. The residents of your elderly care center will depend on your for whatever you provide. This may be medical care, but it can also be dining, companionship, maintenance of their personal space or information and education. Whatever you are trained to do, it will be helpful to help people during their golden years. Even if you are not skilled in the medical field, you can still work in an environment like this and it can still be very rewarding.

In addition to altruistic benefits, you get personal benefits, as well. Since you will be around seasoned citizens all day, you will be able to share in the wisdom they have accumulated over the years. So many people work with their peers. This means day in and day out, you are spending time with people are just a few years older or younger than you. If you work in an elderly care center, you have a large group of people who have done a lot of living and can share their personal lessons, experiences and wisdom with you. Though not everyone you meet will be up for a long chat about life, there are many who are happy to share their stories and adventures with their caretakers.

Depending on your age, you may be faced with being a caretaker for an elderly person in your near future. People who are middle-aged and younger are on their way to caring for their own parents as they age. This can be a difficult and scary experience for those who have never gone through it before. Working in an elderly care center enables you to have the experience before you are dealing with it personally. Though it will not be the same, you will understand a lot of what you need to do and understand what your parents are experiencing when the time comes.

Finally, working in an environment with elderly people helps you get comfortable with your own aging. Seeing the rich and fulfilling lives the people around you lead will give you ideas for your future. Just because you are aging does not mean you need to stop living. Working in an elderly care center puts things into perspective and helps you cope with emotions.