The Legal Aspects of Herpes - To File Suit or Not to File Suit

If you got herpes from someone you may feel like filing suit against the person. You may be wondering if you can win your case and get a lot of money in damages. Well you can file suit against the person and you might win, but you can't count on getting a lot of money. This article will explain why it may not be advisable to go to court.

This is what can happen: You file suit and depending on the circumstances, and court and laws in your area, you may have an easy time or a difficult time winning in court. If it was with someone you hardly knew, the court may rule that since sex with a stranger is inherently risky, both participants assumed the risk of catching a disease. Some courts have suggested that each partner has an obligation to ask the other partner specific questions about disease, and that a failure to ask precludes a lawsuit. But usually the law favours the person who catches the sexually transmitted disease from a partner who knew that he or she was infected, but did not volunteer the fact.

If you do go to court, remember that courts are open to the public, and that everyone will know you have herpes. Would you be OK with that? Before court, the person may admit they had herpes and you must have gotten it from them. However, in court, that person may lie and say that you gave them herpes. Could this happen? Well, it has. People change when they get in court, especially if there is a lot of money involved, or even a modest amount of money involved. You might be able to get medical records that prove the person had herpes before you had sex, but you might not be able to get such proof. It is because the person may have been tested at an STD clinic where you do not have to give your last name, or with a doctor, using a false name. The defendants lawyer will ask all kinds of questions about your sexual history, such as how many partners you have had, and when. You may then have to prove that you did not get herpes from any of them, and this may not be easy to do. It is possible that you can win, and be awarded monetary damages, but now you are aware of what might be involved in winning.

The other possibility is to settle out of court. There will be two lawyers fees to consider, and you will have to at least appear ready to go to court during the proceedings. This is a big bluff, and something you should consider very carefully before spending money on a lawyer. You can get a lawyer to represent you easily enough for this, who may tell you will win for sure. But nothing is for sure, and the lawyer will charge you whether you win or lose.

This article is based on research I have done, but I am not a lawyer, and this should not be taken as legal advice. But I hope it has alerted you to some of what might be involved if you decide you want to take someone to court over herpes.

How To Help Your Elderly Parent Adjust to Assisted Living

The day is going to come when you may have to make that decision that no one wants to make and that's the need to place your elderly parent in an assisted living environment. We can't stay young forever and you can even feel it in yourself that the aging is beginning to rear it's head so it makes it even a harsher reality that you will soon have to turn to someone else to help your parent with daily things.

When it becomes apparent that you are going to need more help you should start researching the different places that are available. It would be ideal if you could keep them relatively in the same neighborhood. If you can do this the move is going to be easier on them because they will still have familiar places around them.

You need to find out how good the medical care is and what the social life is like in the different facilities. You want to make sure that they are well taken care of and that there are plenty of social activities for them so that they are not just stuck in their room all day like a lot of facilities do. You also want to make sure that relatives and friends can be involved as well.

Once you have found a place you feel secure and safe with you don't just want to drop your parent off and that's that! You need to make sure that you visit them as often as you can and at the least call them everyday just to chat for a few minutes. Make plans to take them out to lunch or to a movie once a week. Make sure that you sit down with them and make plans to do something each week and try to keep it the same day each week. This gives them something to look forward to.

Make sure that they have a good meal plan and preferably one that allows them to choose from a list of items like a restaurant and not just the same old thing chosen by those who run the kitchen. You also need to make sure that relatives and friends come sometimes come by at meal time and join them.

If your parent puts you in charge of their money once in one of these facilities, this does not mean that you take care of it all and never talk to them about it. You still need to keep them in the loop and let them know what was spent on what and at times you might want to get permission from them about certain issues. This will help them to still feel like they have some control over their life.

Business Office Administrator Diploma And What To Expect After Graduation

When someone is thinking about taking a Business office administrator diploma program, they may wonder about the results of graduation. Wondering about what kind of jobs are available after completing a program, may helps someone determine if the career path is right for them. This particular area of study may help someone work in a variety of settings which could help to take the graduate to various places. If a student wants to work in a field where their expertise can take them to different environments, then this career choice may be ideal.

Finding out what jobs may be available could begin with a job search on the net. A future student could look at the jobs that are available for that particular study. They can also search out different locations and fields to see how diverse the search can be. Someone may be impressed to see that the range of choice and location will give anyone the opportunity to pick what they want to do.

Running an office place can be a very rewarding job. Most companies have a front end office area where many of the business side of the company is run. These areas may include; book keeping, accounting, pay roll, and other administrative duties. A graduate of the program may have their choice over what area of office work they would like.

Law offices often look for people in this field. They will hire them to help run the front end of their company. They may be responsible for answering the phones, handling paper work, writing documents and managing customers and clients as they come in. These offices could be huge firms or small run companies.

Dealerships will employ business trained people to work in their departments. There are many business positions within a dealership that someone could take advantage of. These roles could include handing the pay roll, dealing with the accounting aspect or managing the books.

A corporate company may employee many people to work in these areas. They will use them scattered on several floors to help and manage different areas of the business. There may be a few positions assigned to each floor and department. Each person may have their own specific role and tasks to perform.

Running an office will have someone needing the proper training. Any training course will focus on many aspects of organizing a company. The sections of the course will help to train the right person to work in an environment that is versatile. A person can handle any job in an office administrative area, once they are properly trained.

Business office administrator diploma may train the right candidate for a variety of jobs. There are a few positions within many companies where a graduate could work. With so many places employing these types of services, any graduate will have lots of choices of where they would like to work. The best way to find out what positions are available would be to contact a few employers to see what they have available. Searches online through job banks may help as well.

How to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

There are a number of things that have to be dealt with after being involved in a collision. Immediately following the incident, the police will arrive to issue any needed citations, fill out an official report, and make any necessary arrests for issues such as driving under the influence. They will also take your statement.

Then, you will have to deal with your own and the other driver's insurance company. They will ask you for your official version of events. Before you say anything that could be self-incriminating, it is important to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer. However, it can be difficult to know where to find a reliable legal representative, if you haven't had to use one before.

You can start by speaking with people that you know. Talk to family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to see if they have been in a similar situation that required the assistance of an attorney in the past. Learn about their experiences, both good and bad. If someone you know has had a case with a positive outcome, contact the truck accident lawyer that they worked with.

If you do not know of anyone who has been in this position before, start your search online. Visit the websites of several local legal representatives. View their credentials and, if necessary, verify them. In addition, you can view testimonials from previous clients to get an idea of the kind of results that you can expect. You can also check news sources to see if a truck accident lawyer from the firm that you are interested in has won any large settlements for their clients. If so, it is likely that a news story was written about it.

After you have narrowed down your choices by speaking with people you know and visiting various legal representatives' websites, schedule a consultation with your top options. Many times, an initial consultation is provided to prospective clients free of charge. That way, you can meet with a truck accident lawyer to discuss your case without any financial worry.

After meeting with your top choices, you should be able to make a decision based on the information you have received. Make sure that when you meet with these attorneys that you get all of your questions answered before leaving the office. It is important to make the most informed decision possible.

It is also important to feel comfortable with the professional that you decide to work with. When you initially meet with an attorney, you should feel at ease. They should be easy to talk to and happy to take their time addressing any concerns that you may have. You should feel as though your case will get the personal attention that it deserves. If you don't feel as though you would be made a priority at a firm, you should look elsewhere for representation.

By taking these factors into consideration, the process of retaining a truck accident lawyer should be fairly simple. Plus, you will have the added benefit of knowing that you did research ahead of time to ensure that you receive high quality representation.

Make an Educated Decision About Choosing the Best Recliner Chairs for the Elderly

Let's face it: growing older is a difficult process and a bit tough to cope with. Not only do the elderly experience varying levels of immobility as they age, they grow to be less able to doing a number of things on account of their deteriorating health and energy levels. For this reason it is very important be sure that the elderly be as comfortable as possible at all times. Recliner and lift chairs for the elderly can surely help.

A little bit of background would be useful before you begin shopping around, since there are such a lot of choices and features. Here are some essential considerations when choosing recliner chairs for the elderly.

Recliner chairs are motorized to rise slowly and tip slightly to enable the individual to stand. They provide independence and comfort to people who face difficulties in rising from a sitting position. Available in several sizes, styles and performance, they are vital and permanent fixtures in most elderly assisted living facilities. Many chairs can be reclined to various degrees for optimum comfort. They are good for people affected by arthritis, muscle ache, back or hip problems, and different associated conditions.

These special chairs are designed to carry almost anybody's weight and come in many fabrics and styles. They are inexpensive on almost any funds; when they're a requirement to offer comfort to the aged throughout the day, they're priceless. When deciding on the correct chair it's possible you'll think about necessary elements equivalent to the weight of the person who will use it, the height of the user and the amount of time the chair will probably be used every day. Recliner chairs for the elderly are expertly crafted with a quiet and smooth lift system that will not be intrusive or disturbing to anyone. The variety of reclining positions might be the most important factor in selecting the fitting chair. Here is an explanation of the three basic reclining options:

- Two Position Recliner Lift Chairs: Two position chairs are probably the most economical and are perfect for a user who won't be spending a considerable amount of time in the chair. It provides the basic sitting position, 45 degree reading position and lifted position to assist the user to get out of the chair safely and easily.

- Three Position Recliner Lift Chairs: The three position is often the most popular because it presents multiple positions such as normal seated, napping position and of course the lifted position to assist the user out of the chair.

- Infinite Position Lift Chairs: The infinite position is ideal for users who will spend most of their day in the chair. It offers probably the most variety and variations, all the standard positions of the three position, such as seated, napping, and lifted. Nevertheless, in addition it has the option for the fully flat bed position and trendelenburg position for individuals who need their legs raised higher than the rest of their body, perhaps with a view to scale back swelling and enhance circulation within the lower extremities. With their independent leg and back controls, the infinite position lift chairs provide the maximum positioning customization for the user.

In addition to the reclining options, there are a number of weight and seat size considerations too. For instance, heavy duty chairs are more massive than regular ones, and have sophisticated lifting and tilting features. They accommodate people standing over 6" tall. They have wider seats and can hold up to seven hundred lbs of weight. On the opposite end, petite reclining lift chairs are great for folks 5'3" or under who weigh under 250 lbs. Petite chairs with broader seats are also available.

Another sensible tip is to contemplate all the other specs that make these chairs even more appealing. Options like arms that flip open for storage, lumbar support, leg extensions, wall huggers, transfer arms, pillow back seat, heated seat/back, warmth and therapeutic massage, separate leg and back controls. These certainly present the last word in relaxation, therapy, and safety. Materials options include fabric, vinyl, fake suede, micro fiber, and blown fiber, bringing folks quite a lot of style choices.

A singular, innovative and sensible possibility is a battery backup, giving confidence to the chair's lift and reliability in the case of a power outage.

The bottom line is that reclining lift chairs are quality investments that assure security and help reduce the risk of injury. They are important to help senior folks lead a comfortable and independent way of life for as long as possible. Now you can make an educated decision about buying a recliner chair for your self or somebody close to you. Choose a custom chair that's designed only for you or a chair with standard options that's good the way it is. Most chairs are available online, so browse through all the pictures and specs and imagine how glad you or the one you love will be in the finest one of your choosing. Order one right this moment!

How To Choose The Right Nursing Home For Your Loved One

The first step in finding the right nursing home for your loved one is to do your research. Start by asking friends or family members if they know of any good homes in your area. Once you have some basic information on a few homes, (such as names and locations) look them up online. This is a fairly simple step and almost all nursing homes will have their own website with a profile of the facility and what they have to offer for your loved one. You will find the nursing home contact information as well on the company's website. Do a comparison of the top five homes in your location taking notes and making a list of pro's and cons.

Once you have your top three choices narrowed down, call and schedule an appointment with each facility. On your visit the marketing team or Administrator will take you on a tour of the facility and go over in more detail of the type of programs that are offered. Most facilities are now known as rehabilitation facilities, they consider themselves as a short- term facility instead of a long- term care facility. If this subject is brought up during your interview ask about the rehab programs they have. What's their track record for recovery and rehab? How many residents have successfully been sent home? If they have a proven track record and good marks they should have no problem with giving you a percentage ratio of the residents who have returned home after a therapy program. Also, ask about the rehabilitation program details: What does it consist of? After therapy, does your loved one have the option of continuing their progress through other means? The next step is to ask questions and a lot of them even if they seem redundant to ask.

While touring the facility be watchful. Observe what is going on in the facility. These companies run 24 hours a day so keep a look out for any possible signs that may give you that feeling of how things are really ran. Do the employees look neat, clean, friendly? Do they look over worked or stressed out? Try and break away from the pack and maybe speak with a few of the employees in private or if possible ask some of the other residents how they like being there. Ask yourself do the residents look clean and well taken care of? Take note of how the facility itself smells. This will tell how well the housekeeping staff is. Observe meal times to see how the residents are treated. Meal times can be a stressful time in Nursing Homes. Some residents can not feed themselves or cut their food for themselves. Are the employees readily available to assist with their needs? Ask what the staffing ratio is. Depending on your state's guidelines it is typical to have one certified nursing assistant to twelve residents. And one Nurse per floor/hall.

The next thing is to take in how the physical appearance of the facility looks. Does it look run down? If so this might suggest a poor quality of care. How can a facility care for your loved one if they can't take care of the building they live in? How large are the rooms, does the facility offer private rooms,do they offer television,or phone service? These are extra costs you may endure on top of the monthly fees for placing your loved one in the facility. You should also check to see is they provide a t.v. or phone or do you need to bring one in. Does the facility offer laundry services and what are the protocols for incontinent cares? Do you need to provide the underliners or do they? You must always keep in mind that you want the facility to be as close to home in comforts as possible. This is a huge change for your loved one. You'll want to pick a place that they will want to be or at least like.

Probably the most important step to take is to check the state's public health site for the facility you are interested in. The DPH does yearly reviews of every home and list their findings on their website. Here you can find reports of any incidents the facility has had. If the facility has a decent track record and you liked what you saw and heard while on your tour then you found the right place for your loved one. If you got that "I'm not sure about this place" vibe then you should check into another facility until you find the one that's right for you and your loved one. This is not a process to take lightly nor can you rush into it either. Do your research before deciding.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse isn't a new phenomenon but it's certainly a growing one. As the population in the United States ages there is a greater need for assisted living apartment communities and full-care facilities for seniors. These facilities are staffed by professional caregivers who do an excellent job. Unfortunately there are exceptions to the rule.

Elder abuse takes many forms. Nursing home or other care facility residents are victimized by theft, physical assault and emotional abuse. What all elder abuse has in common is that the victims are helpless to defend themselves. Negligence is another form of abuse and consists of inadequate care such as failing to feed or provide medicine at the prescribed times.

Emotional abuse occurs as staff verbally berate or insult an elderly person. This type of abuse may go on for years without it being detected. If your elderly mother is in a nursing home and you suspect that she's being abused, what should you do? Well, first of all, take the possibility seriously.

Talk to your mother. Ask her questions about the care she's receiving. Check her for bruising and other indications of physical abuse. Get a feel for how she regards her caregivers and whether there is seemingly unwarranted fear of a particular nurse, aid or other resident.

You should speak to your mother's physician about your suspicions. The doctor will discreetly examine her with your suspicions in mind. If there is any evidence whatsoever of elder abuse you should contact your local law enforcement agency and the state or local social services agency charged with protecting the elderly. Elder abuse violates both criminal and civil laws.

The evidence you have should be presented to law enforcement authorities for further investigation. Relevant evidence includes what you've been told by your mother, other facility residents and the physician as well as the physician's documentation of signs of abuse. Any neglect you've observed such as dirty and unchanged sheets, unnecessary restraints or improper staff attitudes and behavior should be reported. All these things will be combined to help make a case of elder abuse.

Obtaining the services of an attorney for potential civil litigation is an appropriate response if you suspect abuse or neglect. Civil allegations may successfully be established by the preponderance of evidence in civil litigation even if the required proof beyond a reasonable doubt to prove a crime isn't met. A lawsuit will force the care facility to correct the situation and be a strong deterrent to allowing abuse to occur in the future. Just the threat of legal action can launch an internal investigation by facility administrators and correct questionable practices or result in outright firings and criminal prosecutions.

Prevention is the best cure for elder abuse, so be aware and involved in the care of your mother. Listen to her complaints and bring them up to the staff and facility administrators. Make sure you mention to staff that your mother is represented by an attorney in the matter of her care. If you're proactive you won't have anything to worry about.

Assisted Living Facility - Taking Care of Your Special Needs

A lot of help may be required when a person grows old, and this can make it tough for families to take care of the person. Nowadays, families prefer to help elderly people move into assisted living facilities. As elderly people start needing more extra care, they can continue living a relaxed and happy life. Growing old is not a bad thing as long as there is extra care, which is what every aged person wants. The best way to offer this care is to look for a senior apartment. Considering the growing demand of these senior citizen homes, a number of facilities have been built, and each of them caters to the different needs of the elderly people. These days, families cannot take care of senior members at home because it requires a lot of time and patience. People who move into independent senior living can live their lives peacefully. The level of services offered in senior apartments varies from one facility to the next and should be chosen according to the needs of the individual.

For many people who are nearing retirement age or have already retired, choosing the best independent senior living is the biggest task. It depends on the individual whether or not to choose a regular senior apartment or assisted living, as the kind of services offered in both of these facilities varies. Special needs arise with age and it is at this time that an assisted living facility can serve all of your individual needs. Special programs are designed for people with their own specific needs. Apart from regular services like laundry or healthcare services, other personal care services are also offered in these facilities, which makes life for the elderly more relaxed and enjoyable. When people get older, they run the risk of developing any kind of physical problem, and it's at those times that a senior apartment offering special services is the ideal choice for families.

Most elderly people don't look forward to going into nursing homes, and for them the best alternative is an assisted living facility. In these facilities, recreational activities are also there to keep the elderly person involved and to maintain the quality of life of the senior citizens. Even if you opt for a senior apartment, make sure it caters to your special needs because only then the elderly person can enjoy staying in the facility. The main goal of any aged person is to live a peaceful and relaxed life, and for that the needs of the aging person need to be met. In these seniors, sometimes independent senior living can also be a good option. However, for this the person needs to be physically fit and active. So, if the senior citizen is looking to have a secure old age with special needs being taken care of and recreational activities on a regular basis, then an assisted living facility is the best choice.

Elder Abuse by Family Members

The abuse of elders is, despite national hotlines, still the dirty little family secret. It takes many forms. Anything from the obvious -- hitting or physically abusing people -- to the more subtle. Shouting, screaming, threatening. Predating financial resources. Then there are the complex forms of abuse. One member of the family takes control of an elder and abducts that person away from the rest of the family. This usually happens between siblings and it tends to occur when only one parent is still alive.

However these adult children see it -- and they always say plenty to justify their actions -- it obviously is a failure of family relationship. It's usually one inadequate child's last opportunity to seize all the love, and all the attention finally. I most wonder just how the parent feels to be caught up in family war between their own children.

Then there are the abuses which everyone sees and no-one quite knows what to do about. Such as the age-disparate married couple. The husband significantly older than his wife. He treates her well, she makes publicly-demeaning remarks about her husband. Their friends are worried, but don't know what to do. In these cases. contacting the adult children can make a lot of sense. Children usually do know the state of relationship between their parents. They're often willing to take in the abused partner.

That's fine if the abused partner is willing to go. What about when either spouse is unwilling for this to happen? What can families do then? Often, alas, families will let the situation ride. Then it's neighbors who call the Elder Abuse Hotline. Verbal and emotional abuse is real abuse requiring action. However, in the current state of elder care, abuse is not uncommon and investigators few. This tends to mean that if there are no bruises to show, action will be slow to zero.

This is why it is so important for family members to be willing to intervene. That requires some courage. An abuser is often likely to have been that person throughout family life. That means there may be a pattern of intimidation that carries through into adult life. The kids won't stand up against Dad.

One way that this situation can be brought under better control is for both parents to move into assisted living. That creates a watchful community around them that can intervene or limit any abusive speech and can call in the police for abusive action. Most adult children can work together to make this happen, especially if they see it as a solution to the parental problems.

Often, a parent-abuser can be someone who seems perfectly nice. You can have good friends and a good reputation and still be guilty of abusing a parent. Of course there are usually reasons -- poor family relationships, alcoholism or drug abuse, greed for the parent's wealth.

If you think an old person is being abused in any way, report it. No one need ever know it was you. But do not leave an elder at the mercy of abuse.

Senior Care Jobs

What opportunities are available for employment in senior care?

Senior care jobs are available in retirement communities, senior home care agencies and nursing homes.  Retirement communities employ managers, sales, support and care staff, usually consisting of a Registered Nurse and a few Certified Nursing Aides to support the community.  Senior home care agencies employ managers consisting of registered nurses and social workers along with office and field staff including schedulers, recruiters, bookkeepers and receptionists or in-take coordinators.  Field staff consists of Certified Nursing Aides, Home Health Aides and Certified Personal Care Assistants (all states in the U.S.A. certify nursing aides and additional senior care certfications vary by state).

What training is required?  Some positions do not require training beyond a caring personality.  Other positions require experience in that area of expertise.  Non-medical senior home care agencies are able to staff companion caregivers in most states.  These caregivers receive caregiver training through the senior care agency and the only requirements are dependablility, compassion and experience interacting with seniors.

What certifications are required?  Retirement communities and nursing homes usually require caregivers to be certified as a nursing aide.  Senior home care agencies are considered non-medical and may require some caregivers who are working in nursing facilities or reimbursed by long-term care insurance to be certified nursing aides or certified home health aides or certified personal care assistants if these certifications are offered in the state where care services are provided.

What are the job duties?  The caregiving job duties will consist of:  companionship, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation (and planning), assisting with personal care and safe transfers, exercise coaching, medication monitoring and errands.  Mental and physical exercises along with social activities may be included in the senior's plan of care.

How do you become certified as a nursing aide?  You should check the certification requirements in your state.  Many community colleges offer nursing aide certification programs and some hospitals and nursing homes may also offer the nursing aide certification.  You are usually able to obtain certification within 6 to 12 weeks, depending on if you attend a full-time or part-time program.  After finishing a certification program, you will be required to take the state exam.  Usually your program will provide you with practice tests.  Skills learned include proper emotional interaction with the senior, along with how to bathe, transfer and maintain cleanliness in the patient's environment.  Feeding tube and colostomy maintenance are also taught.

Are positions full-time or part-time? Both full-time and part-time positions are available as often seniors will only need part-time services in their home when additional care is first needed.  Many times senior home care agencies will need to staff morning or afternoon or evening caregivers in order to meet a senior's care needs, which means a wide variety of part-time schedules are available.  This makes companion care an attractive opportunity for both seniors and students.

How do you find available senior care positions?  It is always a good idea to obtain some experience through volunteering at a senior center, nursing home.  Opportunities also exist through associations for age-related diseases such as Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's Disease.  You may also explore senior caregiving jobs through career centers for caregivers where one application will reach all the senior care companies in your area.

Why Buy Long Term Care Insurance?

Before I discuss reasons for purchasing a policy, it is important to make sure that you understand what these plans cover. They are a type of health insurance, but they are intended to cover the costs of facilities or companies that assist disabled people with daily living activities. This is something that most medical plans do not cover, at least not for an extended period of time and regular use. Some medical plans, like Medicare, may cover short term or irregular care. However, benefits expire after a short time.

Here are some key things to note about long term nursing care:

• Your care could be from a home health aid, a nursing home, and assisted living home, or even an adult day care. It is for disabled people who cannot care for themselves. Some plans only cover certain types of care.


• Even though we call this type of care, nursing care, it does not always come from a registered nurses. It could come from an aid who assists patients with certain activities. They type of care that you will get depends upon what you need.


• Most of the time we tend to associate the need for this kind of assistance with senior citizens. However, many people under age 65 also become disabled and could need some form of nursing assistance.


• Basic Medicare benefits only cover short term or irregular care, and they do not cover long term care!

How Does Long Term Nursing Care Get Paid For?

Sometimes the bills may be paid by Medicaid, but this program is different than Medicare. In some states it may be very difficult to qualify for. Many times, a state resident will have to spend most of their assets in order to start getting Medicaid assistance. In other words, if you do not have any long term care coverage, you or your family will get the bills.

What Should You Know About Nursing Care Plans?

Long term care insurance (LTCi) can pay all, or some of, your nursing care bills. There are many different types of policies and coverage levels, so you should try to research a lot of different plans and companies before you buy! Some things that may vary are your waiting period, daily limits, types of care, and much more. They are also not the only way to plan for the cost of long term nursing care, and you should also explore other solutions.

There are some government incentives to encourage people to purchase nursing care policies. If you purchase a qualified policy, you may be able to deduct the premiums from your income tax. This can give you a tax break and an extra incentive to purchase coverage. It also reduces the real cost of your policy.

These days, many states are also trying to encourage residents to purchase nursing home policies. They relax Medicaid qualification rules for people with qualified nursing care insurance.

Note that qualification rules are different for state plans than they are for the IRS tax deductions. In addition, not all states have passed this legislation yet. A good long term care insurance agent or retirement planner may be able to help you if you do not care to research this yourself.

Preventing Occurrences of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is a worrisome activity that occurs all throughout the country both in nursing homes and at outpatient care facilities, such as in the home of an elderly person. It involves the physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse of an elderly person. Oftentimes, the abuser may be the very person that is relied on to provide care for the elderly person. When something such as this occurs, the elderly person is afraid to voice their opinion in fear of retaliation or the refusal of the care that they need. If you believe that your elderly family member is suffering from some form of abuse or neglect, there are several legal actions you can take.

Some of the signs that are associated with physical elder abuse include unexplained bruising, cuts, broken bones, complaints of pain, and other types of unexplained injuries. Signs of emotional or financial elder abuse can include agitation, exaggerated emotions, anger, withdrawal from public settings, unexplained and unusual behavior towards friends or family, and unexplained withdrawals or purchases from bank accounts. Sexual abuse, a very serious type of abuse seen in nursing home facilities, is signaled by unexplained bruising near the genitals or breasts, complaints of sexual abuse, and many of the other signs that indicate physical abuse. If you believe that your family member may be exposed to instances of neglect, they may be exhibiting signs such as malnutrition, wandering, dehydration, poor hygiene, and more. No matter what type of abuse or neglect you believe your family member to be suffering from, there is something you can do about it!

By bringing the situation, or potential situation, to light, you may stop the abuse in its tracks and possibly prevent a future event from taking place. An attorney will be able to thoroughly review the case, evaluate the potential danger that your family member and others are in, and investigate the situation. If it is found that nursing home abuse or any form of elder abuse is present, including an incorrect dosage of medication being prescribed by a facility's pharmacist or medication usage for off-label purposes, the facility will be held accountable for the damage that they have caused.

This legal action will hold the abuser or abusers responsible for their wrongful actions. In turn, it may also prevent future outbreaks of physical, emotional or verbal, sexual, or financial abuse from taking place. It is very important to your loved one to get the legal help that you need and deserve in a troubling time such as this.

Learning How to Slow Down After You Retire

After working hard for many years, it is time for you to take it easy. Your retirement should be spent relaxing and doing things that you enjoy. However, many retirees end up feeling restless because they have spent so much of their lives in the workforce. If you find yourself feeling bored, then you may need to follow these tips to help you slow down after retiring.

Don't Live by the Clock

After having a set schedule day after day, you may find yourself setting the alarm clock before you go to bed each night. Rather than forcing yourself to follow a timed schedule, start living naturally. Allow your body to wake up when it is ready. Eat when you are hungry, play a game when you feel like it and go to bed when you are tired. You can still keep a loose schedule, but your activities will no longer be dictated by the hands on the clock. This will help you to relax a bit so that you can enjoy your retirement even more, and your body will adjust easily to its natural rhythm.

Volunteer

Many retirees feel uneasy about retiring because they worry that they are no longer contributing to society. If this sounds familiar, stop worrying. You make contributions daily by taking care of your home, supporting the stores in your community and paying taxes. If you feel that this isn't enough, then volunteer. Go to the nursing home to visit with residents. Stock shelves at the local food pantry, or read to the children at the public library. No matter what you choose to do, make sure that it is something that you enjoy and that is fulfilling.

Take it Easy

Don't be afraid to take it easy during your retirement. Invest in some comfortable lift chairs or recliners that will be easy for you to get into and out of. You can use these chairs to visit with guests, read a book, knit or watch television. The lift chairs will also be easier for you to use if you suffer from knee or back pain as you get older.

It can be very difficult to slow down after years of being dedicated to your profession. With some practice and patience, you will soon learn to enjoy the free days that you have ahead so that your retirement will be all that you had hoped for.

California LiveScan, A Real Background Check?

California LiveScan is the state run system administered by the California Department of Justice for criminal background checks and is available only on workers whose work includes working with children, the elderly and disabled. These include law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, non-profit organizations and in-home supportive care agencies. There is no other statewide criminal check available for employers. All school teachers, public and private, recreational workers and nursing home workers must be LiveScaned.

Church pastors and nursery workers are also eligible to use the program. Most churches use LiveScan if they already use it for their affiliated church school. Organizations who use this program send their applicants who have been conditionally hired pending the background check, to a LiveScan vendor who fingerprints the applicant (the applicant puts their fingerprints on a scanner which electronically scans the fingerprint, hence the name) submits the applicant's data online to the state where a statewide criminal check is performed and, if chosen by the organization ordering the report, a nationwide NCIC (FBI files) check is performed. The resulting information is then sent to the participating organization.

This system is one of the best in the in the country, but the purpose of this article is to point out that it does have what I consider to be major flaws that very few people know about. I think that it is very important, especially for parents, to know the system's limitations in hopes that someday the state will tighten the loopholes and more children will be protected.

The LiveScan system places strict limitations on what information is available and how that information is distributed. The criminal history report is sent to the organization's Records Custodian, which may or may not be the person making the hiring decision and in larger organizations it us usually not the same person. The Records custodian is only allowed to tell the person making the hiring decision that the person has passed or failed the LiveScan. They don't even get to know why that person has failed the background check.

SURPRISING FACT # 1. CALIFORNIA LIVE SCAN DOES NOT REPORT ALL CRIMINAL HISTORY The state of California has mandated that only records related to the following categories are revealed by LiveScan: 1. Crimes relating to child abuse or elder abuse 2. Sex Offenders 3. Convictions or incarcerations in the last 10 years as a result of committing: theft, robbery burglary or any felony.

Now, on its face the list above looks pretty good, but let's go over some of the crimes that it doesn't cover and as we go through the list try to think of your child's nanny or her Sunday school teacher engaged in these crimes. Here's a partial list: Assault, Accessory to a crime, Aiding and abetting, Bad check writing, Carrying a gun without a license, Contempt, Domestic Violence, False impersonation, Medicare fraud, Stalking, Drug possession, Indecent exposure, Misdemeanor Prostitution, Lewd conduct, Disorderly conduct, Disturbing the peace, Vandalism, Trespassing, Malicious mischief, Public drunkenness and the list goes on. I don't know about you, but before I would hire someone to work with children I think I would want to know if they are a pot-smoking, bar-fighting drunk-in-public type person. Most people would agree.

SURPRISING FACT # 2. LIVESCAN DOESN'T CHECK FOR ANY CIVIL RECORDS. OK maybe now you are thinking that this California LiveScan doesn't cover as much as you thought and you would be correct. It also doesn't cover any civil court rulings against a person such as Restraining orders, Non-molestation orders, Order for Protection and Injunctions (for things such as stalking). You don't think that is important? The Family Violence Prevention Fund estimates that up to three million women are the victims of domestic violence each year and restraining orders are one important way that they can protect themselves.

SURPRISING FACT # 3 LIVESCAN DOES NOT CHECK THE CALIFORNIA SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY (also known as the Megan's Law registry). THE PRECEEDING SENTENCE IS NOT A MISPRINT; IT'S TRUE! You can verify this by calling the California Department of Justice and asking them. Their number is 916 227-4974. By now you are probably asking yourself, "How in the world can this be true? A state system designed to protect children doesn't even check for drug offenders, wife beaters and sex offenders? That is unconscionable!" Even as I write this I find it hard to believe myself. It doesn't even check the Megan's Law list for sex offenders who have moved to California from another state who are required to register.

BUT WAIT; THERE'S MORE. There are even two more area that LiveScan does not check or report. When it searches criminal records, it only searches records where a person was fingerprinted. For a minor, non-violent crime people are sometimes issued a notice to appear, just like a traffic ticket. People who are arrested in that way are not fingerprinted. I understand that when big cities do things like prostitution sweeps that they sometimes use that method for both the prostitutes and their "clients". Also, if an arrest is found on someone's criminal history and there is no corresponding disposition such as a trial verdict, plea agreement or sentencing information, they withhold the information from you. The following quote is off their website: "Unless otherwise authorized by law, where only an arrest record exists but the Department is unable to obtain corresponding disposition information, the Department shall suppress that arrest information and provide the authorized agency with a response that no criminal history information exists."

As a person who has been in the background check business for 13 years and the father of two college age daughters, I would have designed the system very differently to say the least. I certainly would not have designed in holes big enough to drive a truck through and potentially let criminals have access to children. The more I study this information the more I am convinced that the State of California is more interested in protecting the rights of criminals than protecting children and the elderly. In all my dozens of conversations with pastors, school administrators and law enforcement people I have only spoken to one person, who was truly aware of the built-in limitations of the LiveScan system. Most people assume that if it is the state-run system then it must be the best and most complete.

As I was re-researching the data to write this article I also found that it is possible for someone to have their sex offence crime expunged after serving their sentence, but would still be required to be registered as a sex offender. That is one more very convincing reason to check the Megan's Law list.

Again, if someone was background checking my daughter's teacher, coach, counselor or pastor I would want a more thorough check and I expect better from the State of California on behalf of all children.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Most organizations who use LiveScan have to by state law, but if you have a choice you should consider a private sector background check from a reputable company that gives you all of the criminal information on a county by county basis, checks the civil records, the Megan's Law list and records from any other state where a person may have lived.

When Can Patients Sue a Hospital for Negligence?

When can you sue the hospital or its employees for negligence?

A hospital can be sued for negligence for mistakes that harm or kill a patient. When an employee of the hospital is guilty of negligence, you can sue the hospital. When a doctor working for a hospital makes a mistake, both the doctor personally and the hospital as a whole can be sued. However, doctors can only be sued if they were present and could have prevented the negligence. You cannot sue every doctor in the Emergency Room or surgical floor, only the one who administered or oversaw your treatment. Hospitals can also be sued when a doctor with a history of negligence and medical mistakes was kept on the payroll, thus enabling them to continue harming patients.

What constitutes neglect?

Neglect occurs when someone does not do their job as a normal and competent professional would. Negligence includes not verifying instructions, not following checklists, failing to assist patients in need and not take immediate action in an emergency. There are greater tolerances for mistakes made in life threatening emergencies than general care situations. Malpractice and negligence can arise from a failure to properly diagnose a condition or injury. Negligence can occur when someone is given the improper treatment or the correct treatment is administered incorrectly. Nurses administering the wrong medication and therapists following the wrong protocols are examples of this.

Failing to risk patients of negative outcomes from a medical treatment or side effects of the treatment is also negligence. Recommending a surgery to cure cataracts that can also leave a patient blind is an example of this concept. To sue for negligence, the risk must be significant enough that the patient might have chosen not to have the procedure or treatment if they had known and must have suffered that negative outcome.

Can you sue medical professionals other than doctors at the hospital?

Yes. Any medical professional affiliated with a hospital can be sued for negligence. This includes nurses, physical therapists, medical technicians and pharmacists. First responders such as paramedics and firefighters have broad protection from medical negligence claims, due to the difficulty of acting during emergencies, unless they are employees of the hospital and provide care at the facility. Good Samaritans are rarely sued for negligence unless their actions are reckless.

What types of damages are available when someone sues a hospital for negligence?

There must be a specific injury as well as actual damage to sue for negligence. You cannot sue a hospital because you were unhappy with the level of service.

• Physical pain and suffering


• Medical bills with other medical facilities or practitioners to treat the condition caused by the hospital's neglect, injuries caused by the hospital or diagnose what the hospital failed to find.


• Lost income due to the inability to work or lost income of the individual who died


• Medical bills resulting from additional treatment at the hospital if the patient had received the proper course of treatment.


• Costs of physical therapy or assisted care while recovering

What the CNA Test Is Like and What to Study

If you are in the process of completing your CNA training program, you may wonder what the CNA test is like. To get the test results you deserve, it is important to understand what the exam consists of and how to take practice exams to better your chances of passing. With the right expectations and the right study materials, you can put the knowledge you gained from your training program to work and earn your certification. Do your research, study the right topics, and pass your CNA test the first time you take it.

Components of the CNA Exam

When you are researching what the CNA test is like, you will need to review your own state's requirements. Each state develops their own CNA exam based on what the state requires you to know to earn certification. All CNA exams consist of two different components: written and skills. Test takers must pass both the written and clinical skills area of the exam to receive their certification. Written test questions use a multiple choice format and most states include around 70 questions. The skills part of the examination will require the student to show competency in performing 5 hands-on skills. These different skills are selected from a large list of skills at random. Because you will not know which skills you will be tested on, you will need to become familiar with each skill to pass your exam. An administrator will grade the skills tested based on the students ability to demonstrate the skills. The percentage required to pass the exam will differ in each state.

Skills to Practice for Your Exam

If you have a CNA exam scheduled and you are not comfortable with your hands-on skills it is important to practice. If you are not sure what skills to practice refer to the list below and become familiar with each task:

* wash hands
* using a bedpan
* cleaning dentures
* feeding patients
* giving a modified bed bath
* applying knee-high stocking
* calculating a patient's pulse
* counting respirations
* removing gown and gloves
* making an occupied bed
* measuring blood pressure
* measuring urinary output
* performing motion exercises for the knee, ankle, and shoulder
* catheter care
* position clients on side
* mouth care
* food care
* transferring

Make sure to focus on the areas you are struggling with prior to your exam date to ensure you are competent.

Some schools offer exam study guides and study sessions prior to your exam date. If your school does not offer a crash session, consider investing in a reliable CNA test study guide. Take practice tests and get together with classmates to practice the skills portion. When you and your classmates work as a team you can help each other build your skills and knowledge. Study, study, study and pass your test the first time. If you fail one portion of the test, most states allow you to re-test the component you failed.

Assisted Living: Elderly Loved Ones' Safety is Focus

Convincing elderly loved ones to move from the comfort of the home they've known for years into an assisted living situation can be one of the toughest hurdles for families to face. The best way is to start the conversation sooner than later, while your loved ones are still in good health. Getting them used to the idea beforehand will make it easier when the time comes. But what if you haven't discussed it nor made plans for a transition? If it is time for your loved ones to alter their living situation--here are some things you should do.

Think Safety First

Keep in mind that your loved ones' safety is the most important thing. If you know that they cannot remain in their own home safely, don't let your emotions override what you know needs to be done. Don't wait for a broken hip, a car accident, medicine overdose, or a crisis call before you step in. Recognize that when you were a child, your parents would have done everything possible to ensure your safety. Now, as hard as it is, you have to be the "parent", and make the best decisions for them.

Consider a Multi-Level Facility

A multi-level facility offers additional services, preventing the turmoil of another movie if your loved ones' health declines. Many seniors start out with their own private apartment and progress through stages of assisted living and eventually to skilled nursing and dementia care, all within the same facility. They may be able to bathe, dress, and take their own medications now, but it's a blessing to know that services can be added if needed. And many times the friends they have made along the way progress along with them, providing the comfort of familiar faces.

Get References

The best way to evaluate a facility is to talk with families who have a loved one living there. Drop in on the weekends during peak visiting hours and discreetly ask about the accommodations, service, activities, cleanliness, food (be sure to eat a meal there yourself), reliability, personnel, etc. If they had it to do again, would they move their loved one there? What do they wish they had known? Also, ask the administrators if there are any liens or lawsuits filed, and ask to review their licensing and certification reports. Also, check with your local Area Agency on Aging and their long-term care ombudsman's office. If the facility will not put in writing that there aren't any legal problems--keep looking!

Ask About Activities

Adult children are often filled with guilt for moving their parents, that is, until they see them flourishing in a new environment, making friends, and participating in activities they haven't enjoyed for years. Ask the activity director what/when activities are offered, such as: field trips, games, crafts, educational classes, singing, dancing, gardening, cooking, bingo, exercising, movies, interaction with children and animals, etc? Be sure to monitor the director and the frequency of these activities regularly.

Create a Relationship

Once you've selected the right place, ask the administrators to help convince your loved one to move, as they are very familiar with this problem and deal with it daily. Ask if someone can call your parents to try to develop a relationship over the phone. Perhaps he or she could drop by (while you just happen to be there) to invite your parents to a get-together. A few days later, casually drive you parents there, just to say hello to that person who was so kind to drop by. Seeing a familiar face is usually very helpful. Remember, any kind of change can be very scary for an elder. Take things slow, gradually reinforcing the idea of moving, with their safety your goal.

Create a Need

Another idea is to have the administrator ask for your loved one's "help" with something. Could they, for example, help with the bingo, cooking or singing classes? Perhaps they can help prepare lunch for the seniors there. Telling your loved ones that they are "needed" and giving them a "job" will help them feel more comfortable about going there. They will make friends, which can then ease the transition to moving there. Also, ask their doctors to encourage the move, emphasizing safety.

Reach for Support

Realize that since the beginning of time, everyone who has ever been lucky enough to have their parents reach old age has experienced the pain of watching their once-competent loved ones decline. We all know it is a part of life, but there are no words that can prepare us for the sorrow. Reach out for help from family and friends, join a support group right away--and don't even think you can do it alone!

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LVN Courses Offer a Wealth of Opportunities

Nursing has long been regarded as a noble and quite critical roles for working professionals. Nurses have been held in high regard for many years now, and their role in the world of health care is one that is indispensable. If a career in nursing seems like a great fit for you, or if you are seeking a career opportunity that offers competitive wages and a position that is always in demand, training as a licensed vocational nurse can be an excellent choice.

LVNs Perform Many Jobs
If you decide to attend a LVN college to receive your license, you will find that the career choices available to you are surprisingly diverse. LVNs are employed in a wide range of facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, corrections and mental health facilities, and much more. Duties range from various aspects of patient care, such as managing records and taking vital signs, to communicating with doctors and nurses in order to ensure that the best level of patient care is being provided. A role as an LVN is a critical one in many different healthcare settings, and it provides the path for an excellent career with ample room for advancement or further education and licensing.

Today's LVNs Are as Diverse as the Roles they Fill
A look at recent facts and figures regarding LVN professionals shows that they are as diverse in makeup as the roles that they fill. Today's LVN positions are filled almost evenly between age groups as well as ethnic groups, and data shows that today's graduation rates are almost evenly split between adult education and nonprofit programs and private or for-profit schools and programs. Acute care facilities do provide the largest employment group, followed by nursing facilities, but home health agencies, professional employment services, and other settings do employ a large number of California LVNs*.

A Vital Role in a Modern World
No matter what improvements and advancements are made in the field of healthcare technology, the need for nursing professionals will always be tremendous. LVNs provide a crucial role in the health care industry, and the job is one that is essential to proper patient care. Seeking employment in a career that is both financially profitable and emotionally fulfilling is critical to long-term job satisfaction for most individuals, and when selecting an LVN program, CA students will find accelerated choices make it easy to get started on a fantastic career track and to financial independence sooner than later.

*According to California Healthcare Foundation data, LVNs show great diversity in terms of age and ethnicity, as well as education choices, while job roles are most common in acute care and nursing facility settings. (Source: www.chcf.org, 11/2010).

Sexual Violence Allegations in Nursing Homes Seldom Result in Arrest

Authorities have investigated at least 86 cases of sexual violence against elderly and disabled residents of Chicago assisted living facilities since July 2007, but only one of those cases resulted in an arrest, a Chicago Tribune investigation has found.

Nursing homes are supposed to be safe places where the elderly can comfortably live out the rest of their lives. But a full 25 percent of Chicago convalescent homes made reports of rape and sexual assault.

Who is allegedly abusing nursing home patients?

In most of the reports, other patients were the alleged abusers. Only a few of the reports cited convalescent home staff or visitors as the attackers.

Illinois is one of the only states that allows younger, mentally ill patients to be placed in convalescent home

with seniors. Not surprisingly, assisted living facilities with the worst records of sexual violence also have the highest percentage of mentally ill patients and substandard staffing levels.

Why are police reluctant to arrest suspects?

Police often have trouble arresting suspects in these cases because they can't gather enough evidence. Well-meaning nurses may clean rooms and patients after an attack and destroy evidence. Many elderly patients also fear retribution from their stronger attackers that they must continue to live with, so they hesitate to press charges.

Some also blame police for giving up too easily. As many mentally ill patients in Chicago nursing homes are already convicted felons and sex offenders, there's a good chance they would end up right back in the nursing care system. Patients suffering from dementia also have trouble describing events and make poor witnesses on the stand.

What is being done?

Though the disconnect between reports of sexual assault and arrests is huge, the state of Illinois and the federal government are sending negligent nursing homes a clear message. Somerset, the Chicago assisted living facility with the highest number of reports, stands to lose both its license and its federal funding.

To address the bigger problem of where to house the mentally ill, the state plans to relocate 700 nursing home patients to their own apartments in a program called Money Follows the Person. The money used to pay for their convalescent home care will be diverted to independent living services.

Assisted living facility victims of sexual assault may also have a civil claim against the convalescent home for negligent hiring (if the accused was an employee) or negligent supervision (if the accused was a patient). For a civil suit, the victim or their family should contact a civil attorney familiar with sexual assault claims and assisted living facility claims.

Dementia Sibling Wars

Family caregiving sometimes brings out the worst in families. It's hardly ever totally easy even with everyone on the same page.

Imagine then that some of these scenarios were going on in your caregiving family. If they aren't, then you are already far better off than you thought.

I'm going to set aside the obvious pictures of inadequacy. The errant son who comes home to barely take care of Dad, while running that little methamphetamine lab out in the garden shed. Clearly, everyone knows that's bad.

It's when you get to white-collar caregiver bad-hats that the age-old battle of siblings becomes -- well -- sometimes quite astonishing.

For example, the sister who drove all the way to Indianapolis from Santa Fe to kidnap her mother in the middle of the night from the senior apartment complex where her mother was living very happily. She put everything in her SUV that fitted and the rest they left behind. Then she drove her mother to the southwest, installed her in her home and never told her sister where their mother was.

Consider the two sisters who removed their father from their brother's house, where he was being happily and properly looked after. They installed him in an assisted living facility he didn't want to be in and forbade their brother to visit his father there.

The East coast brother who wouldn't let his West coast sister care for their father at home, who then took that father and placed him in a care facility where he didn't visit him.

The two sisters who took their mother back to Kansas, leaving her second husband behind in Arizona. Two more sisters who refused to let their 98-year-old father live in the care of his good friends in the town he'd lived in for most of his life. Instead one of them took him to Texas, not to live with her, but to be put in a care facility there.

What is this all about? It's the special behavior of siblings behaving badly. Most often, it's the final playing out of old family struggles, siblings unable to forgive some perceived inequality of love. The examples I give here did not involve parental neglect or abuse.

Sometimes it's the final revenge for not getting equal attention in childhood. Sometimes it's grabbing final control over a parent who somehow affronted the adult children, often through remarrying after the death of the other parent.

As a longtime observer of caregiver families behaving badly, not much surprises me. In fact, the quite unusual scene of a family behaving very well is more of a surprise -- and really I'm not a cynic.

In my town, some years ago, an entire family of seven children came together from all over the United States to make a family plan for the care of their mother with dementia. They decided to help three of the siblings to purchase a property, create a care environment and give total support to the care of their mother for the next four years until her death. Now that is holy work.

It's also what family care of elders should ideally always be about. If siblings but realized it, caring for a parent is your last chance to heal the relationship and many of your childhood wounds. Of course, it takes courage. But the rewards are immense. You never lose the strength you grew in the process.

And a Child Shall Lead Them

It seems that she had been crying ever since she came to the nursing home five weeks ago. It was hard on her only daughter, Marie, to make the arrangements for her mother, Rose, to be placed in the home. She had to deal with so much guilt over the placement and she struggled with it ever since her father, Joe, died about three years ago. But she had three children at home ranging in age from five to eleven and who required a tremendous amount of attention and care from her. Those circumstances just wouldn't allow her to give her mother the care that she required and deserved. And now, despite what the social worker had indicated about the "normal adjustment period", her mother's constant crying and asking to go back home was unbearable and it far exceeded the time element that the social worker had indicated was "normal".

Actually, Nana...that's what they all called Rose in keeping with Italian tradition...was very young. She was only sixty two. It was such a waste of a beautiful, bright, giving, talented and loving woman but the Alzheimer's diagnosis sometimes made her revert to being a little child who just couldn't be trusted to care for herself. She would leave the house without saying anything and just wander the neighborhood. Either her husband or a neighbor would spot her and, knowing that she had a medical problem, they would bring her back home. Oftentimes she would cook something and leave the burner lit after she finished. Joe kept a close eye on her and while he was alive they were able to do pretty well. His death seemed to make her condition even worse. They had been married for over forty years and had come to rely on each other for so much.

Thankfully, Marie's husband, Jim, was a very loving and supportive man who helped Marie through the tough times of placing her mother in the nursing home. He, too, was very close to Rose and would be the first to suggest that his mother-in-law come for dinner early and play with the children. She was a wonderful grandmother who doted on the children as grandparents should and they all loved her and being around her. She would play simple little games with them that she enjoyed playing while growing up in the old neighborhood.

She was the eldest of eight children and it seemed that she was caring for someone her whole life. She was very close to both her family or origin and marriage. She had many friends. She was much loved and respected by everyone. And that's what made her being placed in a nursing home so difficult for Marie. Her mother had spent most of her life caring for others and now her daughter was unable to care for her. Apart from the obvious guilt that Marie was feeling as a result of that fact, culturally the expectation was that children should care for their parents in their "old age".

Now, it happened that Joseph, Marie's second eldest child who was seven was experiencing some problems of an emotional nature. He was a quiet youngster who kept to himself a good deal and seldom if ever spoke his feelings. He was having problems in school both academically and socially. The other children were making fun of him and trying to goad him into becoming angry. Anger was the emotion he was most capable of expressing. Otherwise, there was a "lifeless" look in his eyes...almost as if he were depressed. His older brother would often come to Joseph's rescue by fending off the children who were taunting him and that often resulted in some physical confrontations which, of course, would invite even more reactions from Joseph's peers.

Jim and Marie were beside themselves. They just didn't know what to do to help their son. They tried talking with him, pleading with him, bribing him and punishing him but nothing seemed to work. He would cry and promise to contain himself but the pattern of his attitude and behavior persisted. His withdrawal seemed to become even more pronounced after the episodes of anger and confrontation occurred. It was clearly a "vicious circle".

One day, Marie was talking with a girlfriend when the subject of animals came up. Her friend indicated that she and her husband finally gave into their daughterwi's persistent requests for an animal. She, too, was a "clean freak" and felt that the work necessary to take care of an animal was more than she would bargain for but they gave in and bought a hamster. She went onto say that her daughter's attitude had changed dramatically since they purchased the pet in that she was acting more responsibly and seemed much happier. Marie knew her daughter and realized that Joseph's quiet withdrawn nature was very much the same.

She went home and talked with Jim and after much discussion, they decided to talk with Joseph and the rest of the family about getting a pet. Naturally, all of the children were very enthusiastic about the idea but Joseph's reaction was very different. For the first time, she saw "life" in his eyes. He became animated and began to plead with them to get a dog. He promised that he would take care of it...bathe and feed it and do whatever was necessary to keep him in the house. Interestingly, his siblings didn't seem to mind his talking about getting a pet and commandeering its care...they just wanted a pet.

Now, it should be noted that in many respects, Marie followed in her mother's footsteps in her maintaining a clean home. In fact, it seemed that all Marie did was clean despite Jim's objections that she was working too hard. Her mother would say "you can eat off the floors in my house" to indicate how proud she was of her cleaning frenzy. In light of all of that, one could understand why Marie would "drag her heels" in consenting to get a dog. But she was desperate and conceded while realizing that her cleaning role would probably need to intensify.

Well, Champ was the "pick of the litter" and was chosen to become a full-fledged member of the family. He was the furriest, funniest and the most "in need of affection" of all of the other puppies. In a word, he was "cute". When exposed to the choice of which puppy they would bring home, Joseph was the first to speak up and say "I want that one". His siblings seemed to agree and so it came to pass that Champ became the extra mouth to feed.

Almost immediately, Joseph took over the chores associated with having a pet. He worked with the dog after listening to the breeder's suggestions as to how to toilet train the dog and followed his recommendations to a "T". He fed, bathed, groomed and played with the dog whenever he had the chance. But the most interesting part of the story is that Joseph's attitude and behavior changed. He began to smile more and seemed to enjoy taking care of Champ instead of begrudging his role as parents might come to expect of a youngster. He would spend extended periods of time with Champ in his room just talking with the animal about his day in school, his feelings about things that happened to him during the day and even how unfair he thought his parents were when they would discipline him sometimes.

Realizing that expressing himself was a new phenomenon, his parents marveled at the changeover that occurred. And something else happened as well since Champ's arrival. Instead of Marie's doubling up her household cleaning routine, she would sit and play with the dog while the children were at school. There seemed to be a fresh, new attitude in the family all because of Champ's presence in the home. About a month after they had the dog, Marie and Jim went to the school for their much dreaded teacher conference. They expected to hear that Joseph was behaving in ways similar to other times when they had gone for conferences but this time they were going to counter those reports by talking about the changed attitude they were observing at home. Instead, they were told that there seemed to be a significant difference in Joseph's behavior over the last month or so. The teacher couldn't explain why but it was welcomed. She indicated that his behavior was more appropriate and he was beginning to invest himself in forming friendships instead of inviting taunting and conflict.

Now, the family would religiously go to Nana's nursing home every Sunday to see her. Every time they went, though, they were greeted with the same depressed, pleading attitude wanting them to return her to her own home because she just wasn't happy there. Marie had talked with the social worker recently and was told that Rose was on a new medication which might hold her Alzheimer symptoms in check but it needed to take its course for several week s before they could conclude whether or not it was the treatment of choice. The social worker also recommended that they bring Rose home with them for a good part of the day but her crying and depression created an aura that Marie and Jim felt would become a problem for the children. Recently, in fact, they decided to leave the children home when they went to visit because of the sadness it caused them to see their beloved Nana in that state.

Perhaps it was Marie's wishful thinking but she saw a minute change in her mother's behavior despite similar reactions as in the past. She seemed a bit more lucid and attuned to the moment with a greater sense of emotional interaction with her family. Still, it offered a "ray of hope" that her mom would make a better adjustment. Then, one day, Joseph in his excitement ran out of his room after spending his time with his "best friend" and announced to his mother that he thought it would be a great idea if Nana could meet Champ. His reasoning for making the request was that he realized that Nana wasn't happy and because Champ made him happy, maybe he could do the same for her. This came as a shock and so she put off making a decision by uttering her famous "we'll see" response.

Actually she just wanted some time to discuss this with Jim. When they did, they both concluded that it couldn't hurt anything and, besides, if it would help Joseph it would be worthwhile. Although grandparents aren't supposed to have "favorites", but Joseph seemed to be her favorite. Apart from the fact that he was his grandfather's namesake, Joseph's withdrawal symptoms seemed to require a bit more attention from her than the other children and that's what she was very good at doing...taking care of others.

And, so, Joseph and Champ accompanied their "parents" to the nursing home the following Sunday. Joseph's exuberance was clearly visible. His parents said they were going to make arrangements for Nana to come outside so that she could meet Champ and so the dog wouldn't bother the rest of the patients. In fact, she told Joseph, Champ probably wouldn't be allowed in the home because of health laws.

Nana looked forlorn as she was wheeled out in a wheelchair to the garden area outside the main entrance. Her head was bowed in her usual depressed posture. When Joseph saw her he exclaimed "Nana, we have a surprise for you". Upon hearing his voice, she raised her head slowly to see him proudly holding Champ in his arms. He ran to her and said "See Nana, this is the surprise. This is Champ". And, as if introducing two humans he proclaimed "Champ, this is Nana". At first, her face was expressionless. Slowly, ever so slowly, her eyes seemed to "lighten up" and a smile began to cross her lips. "Hello Joey" she finally said, "what do you have there?"

Joseph went into a detailed explanation of how he was the one who chose Champ from the litter and how he was the person mainly responsible for his care and how they'd spent many hours "talking" in his room and how Champ always listened and understood everything he was feeling and saying. Her faint smile broadened into a grin and she put her arms out as if to want to embrace her "Joey". Of course, if she embraced Joey, she'd have to embrace Champ as well and Champ always liked hugs. As they embraced and almost immediately, Champ began licking Nana's face.
Now, remember Nana's attitude about animals. Attitude be damned. After kissing her grandson all over his face as she once used to do, she asked if she could hold the dog. Joseph gladly handed Champ over and the dog just cuddled up in her loving arms. Both Marie and Jim started to cry at the sight of this wonderful apparent transformation in Rose.

Well, to make what is probably too long a story just a bit shorter, Nana began asking to come to Marie and Jim's home. She would play with the children in some ways similarly as to her doing so previous to her diagnosis. However, she always left some time to play with Champ as well. There was a partial return to the Nana they all knew and loved. No one was sure whether it was the new medication or Champ's entrance into her life but no one really cared either.

Champ was given special permission by the nursing home administrator to visit...not just with Rose but with the other patients. In effect, Champ was adopted by the home. Most especially, those patients who seemed depressed or who shared in Rose's diagnosis were able to have that same smile turn into a grin as with Rose upon her first introduction to Champ. They just loved him. Another byproduct was that by virtue of Champ's involvement with the other patients and the reputation that was attributed to Rose, she once again started making friends. People began to confide in her as they had once done and she felt useful once again doing what she did best.

This is not a "miracle story" and although fictional, has been repeated many times in nursing homes throughout the country as administrative staffs have come to realize the therapeutic value that animals have on patients living in their confines. The positive effects are almost immediate and long-lasting. I have a veterinarian friend in the Buffalo, N.Y. area who encourages many of the owners of the pets that he treats to visit nursing homes on a regular basis. And we're not just talking about a diversion; we're talking about THERAPEUTIC VALUE. Many SPCA's throughout the country are instituting programs to help people come to realize the lessons taught as in this vignette. There certainly is something therapeutic about being able to talk with "someone" who always listens, never judges or interrupts and who gives the best advice that can be given...a nice wet kiss on the face.

What Should You Do With Your Parents' Home If They Are Put Into Care?

Putting a loved one into care is an incredibly emotional and stressful experience; I know, we had to do make the decision on behalf of my mum when dad was suffering with Parkinsons and dementia.

In mum's case we were lucky, she could still afford to stay in their home even when paying for dad to be in a special care home. As mum's home was big enough to create a bedroom downstairs and we had a loo on the same level, eventually as dad's illness progressed, we were able to bring him home for the last few months.

However, not everyone is as lucky as we were so I've written a quick guide to different circumstances you may find yourself in so you know what options are available to you and you can try to work out what the best thing to do is.

Lone parent goes into a residential/nursing home or hospital temporarily

Firstly, despite some horror stories, if your loved one is in a home or nursing home for however long, no one can force you (or them) to sell the property. However, what will happen is if your parent is getting financial support to help for care at home, that money is likely to be stopped after four weeks of being in hospital.

It is important to remember if you have a loved one in temporary care and they are feeling poorly and frail, what happens to their home while they are away could be quite stressful. As a result, it is a good idea to put their mind at rest and either discuss a plan of action or let them know what you are going to do.

Sadly another fact of life is that if your parent hasn't been very well, and especially if they are suffering with any dementia related illnesses, that they have managed to keep up to speed with all their bills such as phone/gas and electricity/TV licence etc. Check with each service what you can do to keep the power/line active while keeping the bills as low as possible.

Whatever you decide, the first thing to check is your parent's home insurance. If the property is going to be unoccupied for more than 30 days and you do not advise your insurance company, the insurance may be invalid. Speak to the insurance company to see what you can do or go to specialist companies such as Towergate who will insure the property cost effectively.

Once you've sorted the insurance, then it's important to decide whether you are going to leave the property empty or whether another family member might stay there (who your parent will trust) or you can consider renting the property out.

Leaving a Property Empty Long Term

If you leave the property empty, then follow our 'empty property checklist' to make sure that you keep it as safe as possible for when your parent returns:-

Empty Property Checklist

1. Make sure the property is insured for being empty for more than 30 days (or whatever the current home insurance covers).

2. Turn off the gas, water and all plugs so the property is kept safe.

3. Cancel or redirect as many deliveries as you can, such as milk, newspapers or other mail.

4. Ensure you have an alarm or something that would alert YOU or neighbours if they are around, that the property was being broken into.

5. Either ask a neighbour/friend to visit the property a couple of times a week or do it yourself and ensure all post is read and throw away (or cancel) anything that is no longer needed.

6. Make sure that the curtains or blinds are closed/opened regularly.

7. Enhance security by having lights/radio etc coming on at different times of the day.

8. Ensure that the garden is kept in as good an order as possible. Contact 'Help the Aged' as they may be able to suggest a good value gardener that's been checked by them.

9. In summer months, be on the lookout for unwanted visitors such as ants.

10. In the winter, check that the boiler still works.

Finally, when your mum or dad does come home, check the place over thoroughly a few weeks or so beforehand, especially if your parent may need some help or changes to the property post nursing/hospital care.

Renting an Owned Property

If you want to rent a property out, you are likely to have to do this for six months or more. You will also need to incur costs to let the property legally such as:-

• Energy Performance Certificate


• Gas Safety Certificate


• Electrical Safety Certificate OR self certifying that the electrics are safe

You also need to bear in mind that if you take a tenant on, you will need:-

1. An up to date tenancy agreement.
2. To protect deposits in a tenancy deposit scheme.
3. To carry out credit checks on the tenant.

You can legally do all this yourself, but if it's your first time, it's wise to use a recognised service as otherwise you may fall foul of the law or end up with a tenant that causes more hassle than it's worth.

When the tenant moves in, you'll need to:-

1. Make sure all furniture and appliances are checked independently to meet fire safety legislation.
2. Have an inventory, ideally from a member of the The AIIC.
3. Secure specialist buy to let insurance to protect the property from rogue tenants and any damage.

Finally, remember that any excess rental income versus allowable costs your parent receives could be taxable, so you'll need to check this out too!

What to do if a lone parent is moved into a residential/nursing home permanently

This is such a tough time for everyone. Sometimes it's a relief all round, other times it can be very tense. Depending on your circumstances, you have two courses of action: to sell the property or rent it out.

Whether you decide to rent out the property or sell it often depends on three factors:-

1. Is your parent 'happy' to let go of the property or do they still think they will come home at some stage? This can be the case especially if people have dementia.

2. The state of the market. If the market isn't particularly buoyant, for example at the moment, then it might not be the ideal time to sell.

3. Whether you and your parent want to sell the 'family' home.

Essentially, if you haven't already, you'll need to deal with issues such as 'Power of Attorney' to allow you to take over your parent's affairs. The Alzheimer's Society explains this quite well, although your parent doesn't need to have dementia to have a Power of Attorney, but you will need their consent.

It is important to speak to your parent on a 'good day' and ask them what they would like to do, explaining all the different options and the pros and cons of each of them.

Pros and Cons of Different Options

Buying your Parent's Home
You might decide to rent out your own home (or sell) and buy your parent's home instead as it might be bigger, and just what you are after. Before you do this, you need to talk to a legal expert and an inheritance tax expert to find the best way for you to do this, for your circumstances.

Sometimes this option can be a real bonus to a parent as when they come to visit they are still coming back to their own home. However, it's more complicated if there is more than one sibling.

Pros
Your parent can come back for visits to their own 'home'.
May mean you secure the property you want for your family.

Cons
Difficult option if you have brothers/sisters as you might not be able to agree on a fair settlement.
Need to seek tax and legal advice which will cost several hundred pounds.

Equity Release
If you don't want to sell your parent's home now and renting it out won't cover care fees, then you could consider releasing some equity until you decide what you want to do longer term.

For more information about equity release, read our Equity Release guide. Make sure that any company you contact about equity release is a member of SHIP.

Pros
Relatively easy and quick to secure funds
Can help if money is tight during a stressful time

Cons
Can be more costly than selling up or renting
It's not an instant solution, so will take some weeks to set up

Selling your Parent's Home
In some cases you may have little choice but to sell the home to help fund your parent's costs of being in residential/nursing care. There have been some media reports of people having to sell their homes to fund their hospital care.

Pros
Makes a clean break with the home so your parent can move on.
The money can help support your parent while in care, helping to choose which home they go into.

Cons
May be too stressful for your parent to let go of the property.
If selling in a poor market, it may mean that it takes a while to sell the property and you have to sell at a discount to find a buyer.

Renting out your Parent's Home
This might be a good option if your parent hasn't yet accepted that they need to sell their home, or it's the right thing for them. It may also be helpful if the market isn't very good and it's taking some time to sell a property.

Pros
Leaves your options open so you have some time to decide what to do with the property.
Can help fund care costs if required.

Cons
Renting a home requires checks and changes to the property and will incur costs prior to renting.
Tenants could cause problems or damage the property.

What are your options if you have one poorly parent and one well parent?

On the one hand this can make things easier, as often, the parent who is well will be able to help make the decisions and they will often want to either stay in the home or move, so it takes renting out of the equation.

Ideally you'll need to discuss with both parents what they want to do, but it's important not to rush into anything. Many people making decisions at times like this when stress levels are high, end up making the wrong decision and then incurring more cost later on as they 'change their mind'.

As a result, it's important to consider lots of questions and then decide on some options which, ideally, can be trialled.

For example, when you have two parents, one of whom is ill either temporarily or long term, it's important to think through not only the next few months and the next year, but also what happens when only one parent is left. A hard thought I know, but it's often what people don't think through and the consequences of not working this out can incur further unnecessary costs later on. I know this is hard to do, but some may be better off staying in their own home, others may be better off downsizing and some may be better off moving close to a family member.

Top 10 Things to Consider when one parent is poorly or needs care

1. How 'attached' to the area are your parents? Are all their friends there? Do they have hobbies such as bowling/theatre nearby that they would miss if moved?

2. How adaptable is the home they are in? Does a downstairs bedroom/bathroom facility exist or can it be created?

3. Is it possible or practical to have care at home in the short or long term? How much would this cost?

4. Are there people nearby that can help in an emergency?

5. If one of your parent's is a carer of the other, how would you manage if they became ill?

6. If your parents do trade down, what equity would be left over after the sale to buy another home?

7. Would an ordinary property be OK or would your parents benefit from retirement living in specially built properties or warden aided facilities? What would be the additional costs of this type of property?

8. What facilities would the new property need to have? What is it likely to cost?

9. If a parent needs regular hospital/residential care, what transport facilities would be required long term? A car may be fine now, but can your parents get their easily by public transport/taxi?

10. How much can you as a family help with the care, what's practical, what other help and support can you secure?

There are lots of organisations that can help you with these decisions, for example 'Help the Aged'. Alternatively, your local social worker should be able to help and you should be allocated one during your loved ones stay in hospital or care. It's important to liaise with social workers as they understand the rules and regulations of funding short and long term care, and what other financial or home support help you are entitled to.

Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse

When the choice is made to leave a loved one in the care of a nursing home, the expectation is that he or she will be given good care by professionals. Everyone who has had to make this difficult decision wishes that their loved ones are being treated as if they were family by their caretakers. A nursing home can be a very positive environment for the elderly. A good facility will provide excellent care in a cozy, yet clean environment that fosters deep friendships. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

As the elderly population grows exponentially, the need for care is dire. There are currently more than 36 million people over the age of 65 in the U.S. As the Baby Boomer generation transitions from middle age to older adulthood that number is expected to grow to 86.7 million by the year 2050. Neglect is already at an all-time high and as the demand for care grows, this neglect and abuse is likely to become much worse.  Workers are likely to become more overworked and exhausted than ever. When this happens, workers become negligent and lazy when it comes to specific details.

Forms of Abuse

There are many ways in which individuals may be harmed while under the care of a nursing home. Some frequent complaints include:

o Poor medical care

o Bed sores

o Failure to report accidents

o Broken bones

o Bruises

o Infections and diseases

o Untreated illness

o Untrained or unstable staff

o Unclean surroundings

o Slip and fall hazards

o Undercooked food

o Disregard for food allergies

o Yelling or insensitivity

These instances of negligence or abuse are often made worse because the elderly at the nursing homes are often unable to fully communicate their feelings and needs to friends and family. This communication breakdown also results in gravely under-reported instances of negligence and abuse. There are an estimated one million instances of senior citizen abuse in nursing homes or assisted living facilities every year.

While general neglect is the most common form of abuse, those in nursing homes are also at risk for mismanaged health care and physical, mental and emotional abuse. Elderly individuals in nursing homes should be routinely checked for any signs of physical or mental abuse. If abuse is suspected, immediately remove the individual from the nursing home. He or she should then be evaluated by a doctor and the incident should be reported after a full diagnosis. For more information on nursing home abuse and negligence, contact Wisconsin area lawyers

Caring - The Top Prerequisite For Working in Senior Care

When trying to decide which line of work will be best for you, it helps to find out what the most important skill, requirement or prerequisite is needed to succeed at it. Senior care is a popular option these days, especially since it isn't affected too much by tough economic times; after all, people age and need extra care, even during a recession. If you're interested in pursuing a career in senior care, there's one skill that is absolutely mandatory if you want to succeed: caring.

Caring People Apply Within

There's no question that the typical nursing home job involves and requires many different skills. However, caring is the one that matters the most, since it has such a major impact on how you conduct all of your work. People who excel at assisted living jobs care passionately about what they do - and about helping the patients and clients who they work with every day. In other words, a genuine desire to help and take care of other people is imperative when it comes to senior care jobs. If you're only interested in looking out for yourself, then you should probably pursue work in a different field.

Why Caring Counts

The assisted living industry revolves around patient care. If the people living in a nursing home aren't taken care of, then the entire operation is going to fail. The staff of any given assisted living facility is its backbone; each employee is an important piece of the puzzle. If you decide to pursue assisted living jobs or a nursing home job, you need to make sure that you're going to fit in well and that you're going to be an asset to the team as a whole. Above all else, you have to have an authentic desire to help and take care of the people who the facility revolves around.

Do You Have What it Takes?

It's easy to qualify for a nursing home job on paper; it's what's inside that will determine whether or not you succeed in your chosen field. Whether you're interested in hospice jobs, nursing home administrator jobs or an RN job in a nursing home, the overarching and most important quality that you should have is caring. That caring not only pays off well for the patients who will be in your charge, but it will pay off enormously for you. As you help make patients' lives better on a daily basis, you will be rewarded with the knowledge that your caring is making a real difference in their lives.