When Families Disagree About Caring for Elderly Parents

Along with the stress involved in caring for an elderly parent, there is usually conflict between family members regarding how things should be handled. It helps if everyone can identify not only potential sources of conflict, but ways to deal with those conflicts in a calm and productive manner. Conflict is a part of life. It does not need to become a way of life.

When families encounter conflicts in dealing with elderly parents, those conflicts can become constructive if they produce a positive change in the way issues are dealt with, lead to a unity of purpose, or promote collaboration between family members. This only happens when the focus shifts from "what you want" to "why you want it." One child may want Mom to move to an assisted living facility while another may want Mom to remain in her own home. If each holds to their position without discussing their motivation, it is unlikely that a frank discussion will ever occur. However, if both can talk about why they want what they want, there is a very good chance that their conversation will lead to a discussion that will result in a good solution.

So how can you resolve problems in a productive manner? There are several steps to conflict resolution which lead to positive solutions.

1. Clarify everyone's position - not just what they want, but why they want it. Sometimes conflict arises out of assumptions or false notions. When people sit down and talk openly about their feelings, they often find that there is really not much of a conflict at all.


2. Analyze everyone's position, interests, and issues completely and thoroughly. The more emotionally charged the situation, the longer this may take. Be prepared to spend some time or agree to meet several times to be sure that everyone's position is heard and clearly understood. If you sense that some people may not be speaking honestly or bringing up everything they want to say, try this phrase, "If I were you, I probably would ________" This demonstrates empathy and encourages others to discuss things without reservation.


3. Start to look for areas where everyone is in agreement and write those down. Then begin to prioritize the areas where there is disagreement. Put minor issues first, deal with those, and then move on to bigger issues where there is more disagreement. Sometimes when small issues are resolved the desire to continue resolving problems becomes more intense. Sometimes the mere act of resolving a few small problems demonstrates that there is a possibility that problems can be solved. Always focus on the long-term goal and let the solutions help to reach the long-term goal. Look closely at solutions that don't seem to be steps to meet the ultimate goal. Begin to work together as a group to figure out the best solutions to the problem.


4. If these steps don't work, consider a third party to help with a resolution (social worker, minister, close family friend, etc.) or determine if there are some people involved in the decision-making who really should not be included at all. This can be done by looking at whether or not they are impacted currently by the problem and whether or not they will be impacted by the solution. For example, sometimes grandchildren can become quite vocal about what everyone should do for Grandma, but they do not provide any care to her currently and would not be effected by any new living arrangements. These are people who need to be removed from the decision making process.

Do not expect that every disagreement will be resolved within the family. Sometimes it helps to seek professional help to provide an objective voice. If this outside person is a trained professional such as a social worker, physician, therapist, etc. they may be able to help expand solutions to the problem by identifying other resources that they family may not be aware of.

Choosing A Retirement Home: What Are Your Options?

As we grow old, we start thinking more and more about where we will spend our retirement years. We spend our younger days working hard and saving money for our retirement. As our children grow, they leave home to pursue their careers or start a family of their own. While some children have all the right resources - time and money, essentially - to have their parents live at home with them, others are left with an option to send them to retirement homes.

Although it can be quite sad to realize that your children are not going to be able to fully take care of you when you get old, living in a retirement home can also be a very practical choice.

Disabilities or ill health is commonly linked with age can make living at home a real struggle if you do not have full-time help. Your family may try to do all they can to help you out, but they cannot be there every time you need them. After all they also have their own families and work to attend to. Some people don't even have families to care for them.

For elderlies in any of these situations, choosing to live in a retirement homes or assisted living communities is the most practical decision.

There are numerous advantages of living in a retirement community. The biggest one is that experienced professionals are available 24/7 to provide care and assistance in day-to-day activities, and most especially, emergencies.

Different retirement communities offer different options to individuals. Depending on your physical and medical needs, you can choose any of the following:

1. Nursing Home

This is the best option for elderlies who need full-time - either short term or long term - nursing care. Seniors living in a nursing home are provided with assistance in their daily activities as well as recreational and therapy services.

2. Independent Unit

Retirement villages are made up of several independent units that are each equipped with their own bathroom, kitchen and living room. This is the practical choice for individuals who are able to mostly manage living on their own.

3. Serviced Apartment A hosted or serviced apartment is the type of accommodation for elderlies who need help with personal as well as day-to-day activities, such as dressing, preparing meals, and doing the laundry.

Each type of accommodation vary not only according to service, but the costs as well. You can also expect to pay fixed fees that cover an entry contribution, taxes, management charge, and in most cases, a special levy that is sometimes asked from residents for special projects.

If you and your family has made the decision for you to move into a retirement or senior assisted living community, it is best to know what your options are. If possible, go along with them when looking for your future home.

When Food Poisoning Occurs

When you decide to eat out, rather than making dinner at home you are doing so with the belief that a restaurant has taken care in the meals they prepare. This includes using the required sanitary techniques, properly storing and preparing food and ensuring nothing has passed its expiration date. Unfortunately many people incur food poising as a result of eating out at a restaurant or buying their food from the store. Food poisoning is caused by harmful microbes that live and grow in food. Of the agents that are known to cause food-borne illnesses, they are categorized into toxic agents and infection agents. Toxic agents include pesticides used on food items that are grown, mushrooms and exotic food items that have not been prepared in the correct manner. Infectious agents are made up of parasites, viruses and bacteria.

There are at least 250 variations of food poisoning and more that continue to be discovered. Estimations state that possibly 68% of hospitalization or food-borne illnesses occur from agents that have yet to be discovered. Microorganisms are always growing and adapting, sometimes becoming immune to the defenses we take against them. In 2001 an average of one out of every six people experienced food poisoning from the food they ate. Of that amount, 128,000 of those resulted in hospitalizations and 3,000 led to a death. The common illnesses felt by those who are infected include abdominal cramping, vomiting, fever, upset stomach, dehydration. With the high number of infectious agents there are numerous other symptoms that can occur as well. Often times, food poisoning can be unpleasant diarrhea or vomiting for a period of time as the body's defense to get out the harmful pathogens. Other times it can be much more serious, causing significant or permanent results. If hospitalization is required, the medical bills can be extremely high and may not all be covered by insurance.

Salmonella is a widely known cause of food-borne illness and is one of the cases that is seen the most often. It has made countless news stories, gaining media attention for the outbreaks in common food items such as tomatoes. Every year, around 40,000 cases are reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, while estimates of 1 million are believed to actually occur. Of those cases, around 400 result in a death. Others may be hospitalized for their illnesses, typically including fever, diarrhea or stomach cramping. Salmonella alone can result in around $356 million in medical expenses. When a case of food poisoning causes effects such as hospitalization or a wrongful death, it is necessary to take legal action against those who are responsible for providing the contaminated food. A legal expert can be a great asset to any case. Effectively arguing that as a direct result of the contaminated food that was sold, the individual sustained the damaging effects of food poisoning.

Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation

The elderly are prone to all forms of abuse because of their frail and vulnerable nature. Elder abuse can happen in their home, in a nursing home, an extended living facility or other senior care center. Because of their known vulnerabilities, they can be especially susceptible to financial exploitation and identity theft schemes. The very people who typically commit such crimes against the elderly are the ones who are closest to them and have the opportunity to take full advantage of them.

Aside from the victim's age, elder abuse can affect every race, every socio-economic background, every religion, educational background and geographic location. Elder abuse is a global problem, plaguing nursing homes, extended living facilities and personal residences all over the world.

Unfortunately, many elder abuse victims suffer in silence. Either they have no family members or friends to turn to, or they think that their cries for help will be ignored and they fear retaliation from their abusers. Some victims of elder abuse aren't even aware that they are being victimized and so financial exploitations go undetected indefinitely or until it is too late and the damage is already done.

Many elder abuse victims remain silent because they fear the repercussions their family members might face if they are criminally prosecuted, while others are too embarrassed to admit they have lost their money to unscrupulous predators. Others fear that nobody will believe them, chalking up their allegations to hallucinations or Alzheimer's.

Financial abuse consists of theft or embezzlement of money or any other property from an elderly person. It can be as minor as taking cash from a victim's purse or wallet and as insidious and cunning as turning the victim's property over to the abuser.

It is important to be vigilant if you suspect that your loved one has fallen prey to a predator. Keep an eye out for unusual bank account activity, such as withdrawals from an ATM when the individual was at home or at a time when they could not get to a bank.

Also look for unusual debits on their account, signatures on checks that do not resemble their signature, strange credit card transactions, unpaid bills when someone else is designated to pay the bills, a lack of personal amenities, a change in spending patterns, or the odd appearance of a stranger who begins a close friendship and offers to handle the elder's finances for them.

A clue that there may be something to worry about is social isolation. If friends or family members are being denied visitation or contact with the elderly person, there might be something to worry about. Furthermore, if the elder is not able to speak freely or without the caregiver present, it may give you cause for concern.

Elder abuse can also involve telemarketing fraud, identity theft, and predatory lending. On a more intimate level, even family members can take advantage of their relatives. People empowered with "Power of Attorney" can abuse their position by taking money from the elder's bank, transferring property and even placing the elder into a long-term care facility against their will.

The elderly can be abused by family members, conservators, caregivers, trustees, representative payees, financial planners, attorneys and friends amongst others. If you suspect that you or your loved one have been a victim of elder abuse, contact a caring and compassionate estate planning attorney today before it's too late.

Various Types of Senior Housing and Elder Care

When people hear the word senior care, they oftentimes envision disastrous living conditions with caretakers that abuse them. This label can be eliminated if don't rush into any senior care center and plan and do your research before it's time to move in.

Oftentimes there are cases when families suddenly must find a senior apartment for their aging parent(s). Since they know their loved one isn't ready to go into a nursing home. Currently there are many various types of senior care options and facilities out there and this can make it a confusing decision to make. If you are taking into consideration senior care, you'll want to address the requirements and needs of either yourself or your loved one that is going to need a place to live. In the event that you are still able and in decent health, but don't want the hassle of a lot of the obligations and tasks that come with owning a home, you may want to consider moving into an independent living facility. This type of senior housing allows for freedom of your own space and home without tasks like caring for the yard or garden. Depending on the level of care required or needed, many senior living facilities range in the level of care, from laundry service and light housekeeping, no assistance, or to complete 24-hour skilled nursing medical care.

It doesn't matter which state you live in, there are senior care facilities near you. A large amount of independent living communities can be somewhat like duplexes and condos. Usually they are near a large community room or central facility where you can enjoy activities such as social gatherings, meals, bingo and other games. For those that need a little more care and medical attention, you may perhaps find that other semi-independent living facilities offer three fresh meals everyday and 24/7 supervision by the nursing staff.

If you are a loved one or a spouse of a senior or elderly person in need of elder care, speaking to an agent of an elder care referral service will help you in determining which care facility will be the best location for their needs. What is most important is that you take your time finding the right facility for your loved one. This decision is one that should not be taken lightly and you'll want to make the best choice first off!

The Importance of Independent Living Disabilities Programs

Independent living disabilities programs assist people with disabilities to take control of their lives by having the same choices as non-disabled individuals. Disabled people want to continue living with their family, attend the neighborhood school, use public transit, and work in jobs that are in line with their education and interests. They do not want to be pitied nor ashamed.

Private programs have a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of individuals of all ages with mental retardation, learning disabilities, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, emotional problems, brain injury, behavioral health, physical handicaps, and other developmental disabilities.

Independent living disabilities programs offer an optimum environment for self-worth, social acceptance, and growth. To make independence a reality requires accessible housing, accessible transport, as well as employment, training, and leisure.

There are numerous services, which assist with dressing, housework, cooking, getting to work, and even visiting friends and family.

The key functions of independent living resource centers for the disabled include:

Advocacy

Advocates resolve discrimination and denial of services through mediation with the government, business, and service providers. They also recommend system changes to reflect the needs of people with disabilities. They assist with helping the disabled with interacting with appropriate social services.

Information and Referral

These resource centers act as a clearinghouse of information concerning disability. They also make appropriate referrals to assist the community in learning about disabilities and disability related issues.

Independent Living Skills

Classes are developed to help individuals learn basic and advanced skills to achieve self-reliance. Some classes include credit counseling, homemaking, education opportunities, communication skills, assertiveness training, adaptive cooking, mobility training, nutrition and more.

Peer Counseling

One-on-one counseling, group counseling, and peer support assists individuals with disabilities to help each other on a cross-disability basis. Peers provide assistance and support to increase skills and knowledge that will overcome interpersonal, family, social, financial, interagency and other disability-related challenges.

Technical Assistance

Accessibility surveys are completed for anyone interested in architectural modifications for homes, businesses, or public buildings.

Independent living disabilities programs assist in supporting individuals with disabilities in attaining independent living and the right to select their personal degree of independence.

Back Injuries, Bulging Discs & Spinal Cord Injuries After Truck Accidents

Back injuries are the most common injuries that personal injury lawyers hear about. Since your back basically holds you up, one would wonder how it is that your spinal cord seems so easy to injure.? The effects of back injuries can often be devastating.

Spinal injuries and herniated discs can ruin your life. Your back is fundamentally important to your overall physical well-being. Often, an injury to your back will lead to a wide range of other health problems. Damage to the spine is possibly one of the worst physical injuries anyone can suffer. Our spinal cord is the most important structure which allows us to move our body. A recent example would be Christopher Reeve, who after being thrown from his horse in a competition, suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury and became a quadriplegic for the rest of his life.

While you might think it would take a huge amount of force to cause a serious spinal cord or back injury, in fact, a disc can herniate just by a person twisting too quickly. Thus, when a large and powerful tractor-trailer crashes into a small car or motorcycle, this impact can cause serious back injuries. Semi-Trucks are extremely large and can carry a large amount of weight, even more so with an attached trailer and cargo. With this immense weight, trucks become wrecking machinery, carrying more might than anything else on Texas roadways.

Moreover, many tractor-trailer collisions occur because a semi-truck rear-ends a car. When a car is rear-ended, the car's driver is snapped back and forth, severely traumatizing the spine and causing a back injury. When that happens in conjunction with the force exerted by a tractor-trailer, it's disastrous.

Many people have unfortunately been involved in 18-Wheeler collisions throughout Texas and these tractor-trailer crashes have left them permanently and severely injured. In Texas big rig accident cases, it is crucial that appropriate compensation is sought to for both your mental suffering and physical injuries.

Common causes of truck accidents include defective truck equipment, negligent hiring, overloaded trucks, unsecured loads, truck driver fatigue, truck drivers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, unsafe road conditions, and negligent truck maintenance.? Eighteen-wheelers and large trucks?often weigh 10 times more than passenger vehicles.? When a collision occurs, the smaller? vehicle's driver and passenger can be seriously injured.?

Nursing Homes of the Past, Present and Future

The concept of Nursing Homes was not yet known to man in his early days on planet Earth. Based on Biblical accounts, people did not have need for such institutions since people then reached ages of around 800 to 900 years. I wonder if they were using the same calendar systems we have now. That could render their reckoning of time measure, and therefore of the value of their age on earth or longevity indicators, erroneous. Nevertheless, we use their data as a benchmark since there is no popular document yet that refutes that.

Most of these early Earth inhabitants died peacefully in old age without today's symptoms of weakness and helplessness. Others died in battles and wars and therefore no care was needed except burial.

From factual historical and fictional readings, later civilisations had very unfortunate fates for the old and dying. They were left alone in the streets or wilderness, some devoured by wild carnivorous animals. It was such for "primitive" man who seemed not to feel guilt in treating their old and dying like a lowly animal. Only the ageing royals were cared for even into their deathbeds in secure castles and palaces up to the last breath.

Nobody can pinpoint a date nursing homes started to come into being. Written accounts in the West indicates the presence of "poor farms" or "almshouses", established and maintained by the state for its impoverished, most aged and incapacitated citizens, alongside the homeless, the inebriated and the insane. These facilities were characterised by dilapidation and inadequate care services. This was a most lowly and shameful way to spend one's end days and states seemed to encourage that stigma of disgrace and humiliation to keep its ageing citizens from relying on it. It was somehow bizarrely been made a "motivating factor" for the productive age group to work hard and prepare for old age.

The elite of those days dreaded that stigma and some women's and religious groups, in order to avoid such fate for their once-respectable members, established the first models of our present-day nursing homes. But these facilities carried with it an exclusivity reserved for "their own" with better care and facilities, in stark contrast to the almshouses.

The New Deal of 1935 helped promote the idea that US elderly citizens should be federal beneficiaries of assistance on the basis of need. The Social Security Act signed by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt provided old age assistance (OAA) grants to retired workers. Non-payment of these benefits to those living in almshouses paved the way to the establishment of private old-age homes, the precursors of the present-day nursing homes.

However melancholy old age seems to be, it is a fact of life and must be confronted like any other worldly matter. It is not a matter to be needlessly worried about. There are various ways we can prepare for that eventuality in this age of opportunities and sophisticated commerce.

Considering an Assisted Living Facility? What a Great Move!

Elderly assisted living refers to institutions that offer special care for the aged while giving them as much freedom as possible that the place allows. Aged individuals need lots of attention, particularly in the case of their day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, not all aged people have somebody to take care of them at home. Making a move to an elderly assisted living facility is a great idea, provided that you just select the best one for you.

Assisted Living Establishments

While most of these facilities are private and are paid for by private people, there are some establishments that are taken care of by insurance policies. Elderly assisted living institutions come with all the amenities that the elderly require to be comfortable. From special kinds of beds, recliner chairs, wheelchairs, clinics, drug dispensers for elderly, and other such essential accessories, you might be assured that every one of their needs can be taken care of. Assisted living facilities are approved by the state to be in business so it is a requirement for them to have all of the aforementioned services or it could be troublesome to get a license to operate.

Assisted Living Versus Nursing Properties

It's worth noting that, assisted living facilities are different from nursing homes, as the former supplies more elaborate services and care. While it is generally more expensive, seniors get someone to take care of them and they can still get to do what they want with out being constrained by the restrictions of nursing homes. Immobility comes with advanced age and while there are completely different phases, help is provided as needed.

Elderly individuals have totally different needs, as some continue to remain physically capable despite their age whereas others could develop a few health conditions that would render them immobile. Elderly assisted living caters to the different wants of seniors, as they recognize the fact that there are varying stages of dependence. There are additionally a variety of seniors that prefer to maintain some degree of independence despite being in an assisted living facility.

Recliner Chairs for the Elderly

Besides having well-trained, professional staff on hand to handle the varying needs of the elderly, these facilities are extremely well-equipped with the right furnishings for the aged. For example, recliner chairs made for the elderly are used throughout these establishments. Some recliner chairs even have massage options. These chairs typically vibrate to relieve stress from different areas of the back. This variety is perfect for elderly people, especially since they are prone to musculoskeletal pain. Recliner chairs for the elderly are a necessity for seniors who wish to remain relatively active and social; the chairs are a big part of their everyday routines.

Pill Dispensers for Seniors

The importance of gadgets like pill dispensers can't be denied. They aren't merely practical but they also assist in stopping medication and dosage errors. Pill dispensers are refilled with different sorts of medications allocated for specific days. This makes it easier for seniors to take their medicine when they want it, as they won't need to waste time checking for his or her prescriptions. With pill dispensers obtainable at elderly assisted living facilities, the consumption of medicine is properly regulated. This is just one example of the many tools and accessories used in assisted living establishments.

Making the Best Decision

Elderly assisted living facilities are a necessity in each state, as it is very important that seniors get all the care, consideration, and company they desire during their old age. If you are seriously considering moving into one, do your research and visit each location with a friend or family member. Imagine yourself in the comfort and care of each establishment, note the financial obligations associated with each one, and choose the place that you can happily call your new home.

Home Nursing - What You Should Know First

Normally, any individual desiring of health care treatment for his body condition approaches a health care setting. Based on a doctor's advice, he gets admitted in the clinic or receives outpatient care. With home nursing, individuals can now receive healthcare treatment in their homes. This form of healthcare treatment is useful for people who can't move out of their homes due to any impairment.

This type of nursing is also useful for elderly people who can't travel distances to get admitted into a health care setting. In fact, in more than 80% of cases where people have volunteered for home nurses have said that the hospital or the clinic was too far from their homes, and they would ideally like the treatment to be provided in their homes.

Home nurses normally attend to patients who suffer from chronic ailments like heart diseases, high blood pressure and so on. Such patients would always need services as mentioned below.

- The feeding tubes need to be changed regularly
- Urine catheters need to be cleaned, disposed and new catheters need to be installed
- Wounds need to be dressed
- Blood sugar levels need to be checked regularly
- Injections if any, to be provided.

Home nurses accomplish these tasks, easily as well as professionally too. This allows elderly people, who are non-ambulant to stay in their homes with their loved ones, while the home nurses take care of their healthcare needs.

Home nursing is less expensive than staying in the hospital or the health care clinic. Getting treated in home reduces expenses by 30%, as you don't have to pay for the bed charges and doctor's visit if the patient would have been in the hospital. That being said, these home nurses wouldn't be able to provide medical advice for the patient's illness, so it is extremely important that the patient gets proper and prompt advice from a doctor.

Home nurses thus simplify the whole process of patient recovery post medical treatment. A lot of these nurses do this form of nursing as private practice.

Before hiring a nurse though, be sure you have checked their credentials. It is important for you to have a nurse who knows what she is doing. Normally, these nurses only follow the administrative and medical procedures laid out by the doctor for the patient. Having a professional and a credible nurse does help in speedy patient recovery and is the best thing to happen for the patient.

Elder Abuse Statistics Revealed - 3 Alarming Facts The Statistics Don't Tell You

The latest elder abuse statistics are devastating. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimated that more than a million seniors suffered abuse or neglect in a single year. The estimate in the NCEA report is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Heart Wrenching Truth Is That Most Abuse Goes Unreported.

What Is Abuse?

Abuse is any form of mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older person. Here are some common forms of elder mistreatment:

• Physical, sexual and emotional abuse


• Neglecting an older person you are responsible for


• Taking or misusing an elderly person's property or finances

Fact #1 - Statistics Didn't Include Baby Boomers Suffering Neglect

Baby Boomers make up about 26% of the total U.S. population. Did you know 10,000 Boomers join the ranks of seniors daily?

The astonishing reports of one million neglected and abused seniors doesn't even include Baby Boomers!

I'm not a math whiz but even I can see the number of elderly doubling in the near future!

Fact #2 - Ostrich Syndrome Is Alive And Well

People suffer from the Ostrich Syndrome when they prefer to stick their heads in the sand instead of facing unpleasant situations. The fact that one in ten seniors will experience some form of abuse, is one unpleasant truth we can no longer ignore.

Elder abuse statistics also demolished another piece of our comfort zone. The idea that abuse victims fit a certain demographic is simply not true. Casualties can be found from every walk of life, and every type of family.

Fact #3 - These Statistics Are Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

Did you ever hear the phrase: "Mind your own business?"

Are you aware that minding your own business could make the elderly easy prey?

There are a couple of ways minding your own business makes it easier for abuse to creep in:

1. You become a living example of the saying: "Ignorance Is Bliss".


2. If you don't acknowledge the problem, you won't be responsible for the solution

Minding your own business helps us put on blinders so we don't see abuse around us. Elderly victims too ashamed or afraid to speak up won't be included in the statistics.

Statistics Change All The Time

Recent elder abuse statistics paint a pretty disturbing picture for millions of seniors. The good news is there are resources to help us become familiar with abuse signs and symptoms.

Knowing what to look for and the proper steps to take if you do spot elder abuse can make a huge difference.

Remember... It's our future too!

Caring For An Aggressive Alzheimer's Patient

As your loved ones Alzheimer's progresses, you may notice that they become more aggressive and tend to shout and become physical with you and your family members. Seen more often in men with Alzheimer's than women, this behavior often occurs suddenly, with little warning and no apparent reason. Because it is probably difficult to understand where your loved one is coming from, it's easy to become frustrated, but patience and understanding is necessary to calm him or her down and find out why they are so upset.

Aggression can be caused by several factors including physical discomfort, poor communication or an uncomfortable environment. When your loved one becomes aggressive, try to get to the source of their anger to see if you can make them more comfortable and less upset. Are they tired because they haven't been sleeping well? Are the medications they're taking causing side effects that make them angry or ill? Does it seem like they're experiencing physical discomfort and pain?

Take note of environmental factors that could be making your loved one uncomfortable. Are there a lot of loud noises or people in the room? Do they look lost or confused? These feelings are enough to make anyone annoyed, but for a person with Alzheimer's it can be particularly overwhelming and cause an angry outburst. They may also be frustrated because of their lack of ability to communicate with you. Keep your instructions simple and don't ask too many questions or state too many things at once. Are you acting negatively to towards them or are you irritable yourself? Your loved one may be picking up on your own aggression.

The best way to respond to the aggression of a person with Alzheimer's is to remain calm, patient and understanding. Try to identify the cause and focus on their feelings, not the facts. They may not be able to distinguish between wrong and right and may be confused about what really happened. Don't take their behavior personally and try to remain positive and reassuring. Suggest a different, relaxing activity and limit their distractions so they can concentrate on remaining calm.

During an aggressive outburst, it's important to assess the situation and the danger involved, both for your loved one and yourself. If he or she is acting out physically, stand back and call for assistance. If they're trying to run away, be more assertive and make sure they remain in the house. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using force or restraint because your loved one may become more upset and physical. The anger does not normally last very long and will only be escalated by equally aggressive behavior.

5 Tips for Choosing a Nursing Home

It is never an easy decision to place a loved one in a nursing home. This decision is usually a last resort when the loved one can no longer be cared for at home, or is being discharged from a rehabilitation center or hospital and is not yet fit to go home. Understandably, most people only have to make this decision once, and they never think about it until the moment arrives. As a Maryland Elder Law expert, I have seen many issues arise from not researching and planning for your loved one to enter a nursing home. Below are some tips that will help make the decision a little bit easier and allow you the peace of mind that your loved one will be well cared for.

• Location - Making sure the nursing home is in an area readily accessible for family members to visit makes a big difference in the quality of the stay of your loved one. The longer the resident goes without visits from friends and family has a debilitating effect on their health and quality of life. Plus, regular visits help you hold the residential staff accountable for giving your loved one the necessary care and attention.


• Certified Reports - Check with different rating agencies to see how the nursing homes in your area meet your needs and standards. You can find basic comparisons and ratings online by doing a quick Google search for "nursing home ratings".


• References - Ask the nursing homes you are interested in for numbers of families who have/had a loved one stay there. This way you can ask a non-biased source about the quality of care, timeliness of response to needs or concerns, etc.


• Tour the Home - Take a detailed tour of the facility and observe the interactions between residents and staff, cleanliness, etc. Observe how quickly staff responds to needs of the residents. Ideally, try to get an impromptu tour so that you are not seeing something that may be rehearsed.


• Ask Questions - Talk to the administrator or staff to understand how they respond to family concerns, how care plans are developed, etc. If you are unhappy with any answers, check them off your list. It is very important to be comfortable with how the staff handles the care and concerns of your loved one.

Even though it is the last thing you want to discuss or think about, it is a good idea to know your options ahead of time. If you sense that Mom will not be able to live at home much longer, or Dad is about to be discharged from the hospital and you are not capable of taking care of him, do not wait to decide on a nursing home. Follow the 5 tips above and prepare a small list of possible nursing home options before you need it. This will help reduce the stress in your loved one's time of need.

What Is The Role Of A Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is one of the most qualified positions in the field of nursing. Highly trained NPs are responsible for the primary healthcare of patients but also have the authority and training to administer drugs and fluids.

A nurse practitioner is a specialized position in healthcare and because of the extensive training and educational requirements, you can expect to be training for at least six to eight years.

Although it isn't absolutely necessary to become a registered nurse when you first begin studying to become more qualified, you will eventually have to sit and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to obtain your nursing license.

Whether you undertake an accredited nursing program at a nursing school or online, you will also be required to complete clinical internships that provide you with the practical skills to become a good nurse. As a fully qualified RN, you will be able to work in a hospital or health clinic while completing your more advanced nursing education.

Therefore to move your career forward and become a nurse practitioner, you will need to complete a four-year degree Bachelor of Science Nursing degree (BSN) and also become a fully licensed Registered Nurse (RN). Once you have completed your BSN degree you are halfway to becoming a highly specialized nurse.

You will then need to undertake a Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN), which involves another four years of study. NP degrees provide you with U.S medical board certification in your chosen nursing specialty and you will be able to provide a a wide range of healthcare services..

At the moment, nursing practitioners can practice independently in about half the states in the U.S. This includes evaluating a patient's history and perform physical examinations to diagnose or evaluate a disease or complaint.

You can order, perform and evaluate a patient's lab results. X-rays, EKGs and other tests. Nurse practitioner's have the skills to evaluate and treat many medical illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.

You'll be qualified to write prescriptions for medications, vaccinations and the screening of various diseases. NPs can also provide acute and emergency care and help with child-care, patient education and preventative medical services including annual physical checkups and specialist care.

Although there are common duties and responsibilities of all nurse practitioners, they vary by specialty depending on your particular advanced nursing training and field of expertise. NP specialties include primary care, pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology and psychiatric care.

You'll work in both inpatient and outpatient environments both independently and as part of a highly qualified nursing and medical team. Generally, nurse practitioners are responsible for educating patients about preventative care and treatment, while also prescribing their medications.

Five Best Active Adult Communities in the United States

From the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii to the Atlantic coast of Florida, there are countless active adult communities that provide safe, active, and assisted living for senior adults. It is not an easy task to select five from such an extensive list and it is even harder because the interests as well as the needs of people differ so greatly. The good news is that regardless of what your own particular needs and wants might be there is one that will make your list as the top in the country. The following list is my top five Active Adult Communities in the United State.

* Saddle Brooke in Tucson, Arizona. This Arizona active adult community is one of several in the Robson chain located in Arizona and Texas. It is located near the art and culture of Tucson, Arizona, and features a 36 hole golf facility. It is also close to restaurants and shopping, and has a fitness center and several pools onsite.

* Osprey Cove in the St. Mary's River Basin of Georgia. This Georgia active adult community features a view of Georgia's vast tidal marshland. Money Magazine called Osprey Cove the "number one small town in America." The community features a year round championship golf course designed by Mark McCumber.

* Island Pointe in Merrit Island, Florida. This Florida active adult community features condos with six different floor plans overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway. The Recreation center has basketball courts, tennis courts, a heated swimming pool, and a sauna.

* Beach Villas at Ko Olina, Hawaii. Located on the western side of Honolulu, Hawaii, this beachfront active adult community is the dream come true tropical paradise. It is on the famed Wainanae coast, and features everything one would expect from a Hawaiian beach resort. The rooms all feature natural wood and natural colors that invoke the spirit of the islands and of the sea.

* Yosemite Gardens in Clovis, California. This California active adult community is located near Yosemite National Park, and is famous for the food service that makes it seem more like a fancy restaurant than a retirement community. It has a full variety of social and outdoor activities available, and offers assisted living homes as well as independent living homes.

Your list may differ widely, but these are certainly among the top communities in the country. It would be hard to top them for the richness of the living experience they provide or the beauty of the area around them.

Lymphedema Swelling - Healthy Steps to Follow

If you have lymphedema, a chronic swelling of limb, breast, head, neck or trunk, you are not alone. Millions of people worldwide suffer from this condition, including many cancer survivors like me. While lymphedema can lead to loss of energy and mobility-and possibly even to depression-don't let it get you down. 
 
Like Lot's wife looking back at Sodom with regret for what could no longer be, I used to pine for my pre-lymphedema life and, before that, my life without breast cancer. Days that were carefree, blissfully ignorant-and non-compassionate. I had not yet recognized and appreciated the blessings that come from developing lymphedema. Eventually I came around to enjoy my post-lymphedema life, replete as it is with interesting exercises I'd never heard of before and opportunities to help others reeling from a lymphedema diagnosis. Who wants to turn into a pillar of salt as Lot's wife did? As lymphedema survivors we are to minimize our salt intake, not become it!
 
Besides giving tips on what works for me, a delight of my new life is engaging in appropriate activities. Our bodies require a healthy lymphatic system to optimize immune response and disease resistance. Fluid forced out of the bloodstream during normal circulation is filtered through the lymphatic system to remove bacteria, proteins, and other material that accumulates in the vessels. Unlike the circulatory system that has a pump (the heart) to move its contents, the lymphatic system moves by inertia. Thus, when lymphedema compromises our lymphatic system, we need help to remove built-up matter from congested areas.

Many ways exist to control chronic lymphedema swelling, including therapeutic dancing, active-elongation exercises, deep abdominal breathing, and swimming. A fascinating and fun program I explored to rev up my circulation was Healthy-Steps, otherwise known as the Lebed Method, Focus on Healing. Started by Sherry Lebed Davis, herself a lymphedema survivor, this program may reduce lymphedema symptoms by lowering fluid amassment in affected tissues so that participants can enjoy improved circulation, more energy, and a better attitude toward life. 
 
By focusing on the areas of the body having the largest lymphatic collection sites and unclogging lymphatic "drains," Healthy-Steps opens up the lymphatic system through gentle, rhythmic movements and deep breathing. Healthy-Steps works in conjunction with compression garments to improve their effectiveness in controlling swelling.

Check to see if Healthy-Steps is offered in your area, for example, in medical centers, hospitals, exercise and fitness centers, dance and yoga centers, retirement communities and assisted living facilities. When I took this program last year, I thoroughly enjoyed stretching, ball throwing, interactive social support, laughing and blowing bubbles. I don't have any financial interest in this program, but merely recommend it as a patient who experienced the benefits for herself. 

It has been several years now since I dissociated myself from Lot's wife, someone who looked back with longing on a life no longer available. As a breast cancer survivor with chronic lymphedema I embrace each moment of my existence and take healthy steps toward optimizing my lymphatic system. You can, too!

Geriatric Care Management Schools - The Training Options Available

The expansion of the assisted living and nursing home industry has sparked an increased need for educated individuals to work as managers. Educational training choices to become a manager provide two main areas of study and students can choose from multiple colleges and universities to enroll in. The training options available through geriatric care management schools can help students become successful.

The main focus of education is to teach students to work with the elderly by counseling and assisting them. Training teaches students to coordinate services based on government and insurance regulations for geriatric care management. Managers work directly with patients to help them make major decisions based on their knowledge of the geriatric care industry. In order to meet the demands of a career student's have to posses a bachelor's degree. This makes up the first educational option for students.

Students have different options for training at the bachelor's degree level. Students can complete a program in geriatric care management, social work, public health, or gerontology. These related fields prepare students for a managerial position or for further study inside a degree program. Education focuses on being a manager as well as working with the geriatric community. Clinical issues, management concepts, and aging experiences are some areas of study that students will work through. Some major courses of study include:

*Gerontology and Geriatric Care

Gerontology looks at how people age and geriatric care explores the medical problems related to aging. This course focuses on giving students an understanding of the overall field to enable them to correctly manage the systems involved with geriatric care. Along with the biological, sociological, and psychological effects of aging students learn about the different resources available to the elderly.

*Communication

The issues facing clients are discussed in regards to the role of a professional manager. Communication issues on loneliness, intimacy, general care, and nostalgia make up the overall focus of a communications course. The relationship, attitude, and retirement components of aging are discussed along with how the media portrays the elderly.

Continuing education leaves two different paths, which makes up the second main training option. Students either can work through a post-baccalaureate certificate program or a master's degree program. Certificate programs center on teaching students about managing the human services side of the field and how to integrate the concerns of the client and their family with their personalized care. Working through a master's degree program is the most common education continued after a bachelor's degree program. Students dive into a curriculum that consists of courses in business and human services. They learn how to help their clients understand all medical care options, financial components, and the economic issues concerning geriatric care. Students can expect courses on:

• Psychology of Aging


• Implementing Care


• Legal Issues


• Bereavement


• Health Policies

Students can become patient advocates, health liaisons, case managers, and care coordinators after completing education.

Students are encouraged by the industry to complete a bachelor's degree and work for a year or two before deciding if continuing education is for them. The Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education ( http://www.cahme.org/ ) accredits geriatric care management schools and colleges that provide quality educational experiences. Enter a program and learn how to manage the care of geriatric patients.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

The Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

Overview of Assisted Living

Assisted Living, sometimes called Personal Care, is a type of care that supports individuals with their basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and, in some cases, medication assistance or reminders. Residents of Assisted Living communities, whether stand-alone or part of Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), benefit from the community's planned social, educational and recreational programs, as well as the daily opportunities for socialization with peers. Three daily meals are generally provided.

Assisted Living housing tends to be more intimate, offering an enhanced home-like atmosphere. Apartments are generally studio or one-bedroom, with kitchenettes. Safety features such as call systems and handrails are standard.

Paying for Assisted Living

Assisted Living can be paid for from private funds or with a mixture of private funds and long-term care insurance. Supplemental private insurance will not pay for Assisted Living.

Overview of Nursing Care

Often called skilled nursing and rehab centers or nursing homes, Nursing Care communities offer both long-term skilled nursing care and short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. While supporting individuals with their basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, preparing meals, these communities also provide complex medical care in which the services of licensed nurses and therapists (physical, occupational, nutritional and speech) are utilized. These services are often utilized by individuals requiring short-term medical support after an injury, surgery or illness-related hospital stay. Nursing Care communities generally have 24-hour licensed care staffing.

Nursing Care housing is generally a private suite or shared accommodations. Well-designed communities enhance recovery and healing with planned social, educational and recuperative programs, as well as with an emphasis on home-like comforts.

Paying for Nursing Care

Reimbursement for Nursing Care community patients and residents depends largely on length of stay. Different funding sources kick in at different intervals. Short-term rehabilitation stays are often covered by Medicare and/or private insurance, including long-term care insurance. (Certain criteria in terms of length of hospital stay and care requirements while in the Nursing Care community have to be met to receive Medicare payments and it is worthwhile to discuss these with a discharge coordinator at the hospital.) For long-term care residents, private funds, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance are the typical methods of payment.

What To Expect From A Care Home?

Care homes are facilities that cater to people who can no longer take care of themselves and whose family members choose to hire professionals to give them extra care and treatment. Most patients inside a Home are the elderly who are too weak and sickly to care for themselves and avoid ailments.

These types of Homes have evolved from hospital-like institutions to sophisticated centers that cater to the needs of both elderly and young patients. These types of homes offer long-term and short term treatments for different kinds of people. Services such as rehabilitation and physical therapy are often also provided. People should expect many things when they want to admit themselves or a loved one into a Home.

One should also consider that some nursing homes may be located in both nearby areas and remote areas. Choosing the one closer to home will be a better choice.

People should always expect the best performance from the staff. Before admitting oneself or a loved one to a care home, some things should be considered. A good nursing facility has a well trained staff with good working background, on-call doctors and social workers, licensed nursing care staff, and patient care plans. One should choose a care home with well-cared patients, convenient rooms with TV and telephone, and a policy that gives patients the prerogative to choose their rooms.

These patients should be able to live life inside the elderly care home in comfort. People should always expect the best from nursing homes since they are places that aim to treat and give comfort for the weaker ones. An elderly Home should have a well-maintained and attractive facility which helps the patients get better at the soonest possible time.

Aside from the proper treatment and living conditions, good nursing homes also provide the nutritional requirements of their patients. Food plays a very important role in the treatment of any ailment. An elderly Home should prepare good food that is appealing and healthy and is offered in a wide array of choices to satisfy the cravings and nutritional needs of its patients.

One last element of a good elderly care home is the presence of activity centres which helps its patients engage in physical and social activities that will give them joy and improve their skills. The presence of activity rooms with participating patients indicates a good and caring management that will surely treat a loved one wholeheartedly with care.

Medical Alarm Systems Help Seniors Live Independently

As people grow older, a typical concern is the ability to stay independent and enjoy living at home. Unfortunately, aging bodies and minds can lead to tragic accidents, and known medical conditions may make seniors feel particularly vulnerable when on their own. A classic solution to the many potential problems of living alone as a senior is relocation to a relative's house or to an assisted living facility, but leaving home may be an unwanted and emotional experience for some. Thankfully, today's seniors and their families have an effective and sensible alternative: medical alarm systems. With a few simple components and an ease of use that makes systems virtually fool-proof, it's possible to keep reliable help on stand-by twenty four hours a day, all while retaining independence and enjoying the comfort and familiarity of home.

Medical alarm systems are useful for seniors with a wide variety of medical concerns or who face numerous health hazards, but some conditions are particularly well-suited to an alarm system. Those with heart problems or who are at high risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular concerns can take comfort in knowing that fast help will always be on call, and seniors who experience debilitating events such as seizures or stroke can take advantage of a medical alarm system with minimal effort or physical exertion. Medical alarm systems are also great for accidents involving falls or other situations in which getting to a phone may be impossible.

The basic operation of a medical alarm system is simple and allows nearly everyone to take advantage of round-the-clock-assistance. A small device similar to an answering machine is connected both to a phone line and an electrical outlet, and a corresponding beacon device is worn by the user. Typically no larger than a book of matches, this wearable device can be hung around the neck or strung over the wrist as a bracelet, and features a button. When pressed, this button signals the in-home alarm device, and an operator is quickly connected to the home. Through the use of a loud speaker and highly sensitive microphone, the operator and user are able to communicate, and if needed, emergency first responders and family members or friends can be called. In cases where users cannot be heard or understood, a medical alarm service is likely to call paramedics to ensure the user's safety.

Most medical alarm systems operate in a similar fashion, however different models and different services are bound to vary slightly in their offerings. In particular, the policies governing how a service will respond to an emergency are likely to be distinct from one service to the next, and going over these policies before purchase is a wise choice. Users with special needs or concerns should discuss any potential issues with a system salesperson, and family members of friends should make sure the user understands exactly how their system works. When chosen wisely and used effectively, medical alarm systems can cut down on emergency response time significantly and can prove life-saving in circumstances preventing access to a phone or other method of getting help.

Of course, one of the most remarkable benefits of a medical alarm system is the peace of mind it can deliver both to users and anyone concerned about the health and safety of elderly loved ones. When seniors live on their own, the prospect of falling and breaking a hip or experiencing a serious medical emergency can detract from everyday enjoyment, and may even contribute to debilitating anxiety. Friends and family members, too, may worry about the welfare of seniors living on their own, and may struggle with finding satisfying solutions such as periodically checking in. With the help of a medical alarm system, there's no need to worry about not having access to help, making it easier for everyone to go about their business and feel secure.

Medical alarm systems are also more affordable than paying for a monitored residence in a senior care center or other facility. Buyers can expect to pay an up-front fee for the necessary equipment, and a monthly charge that covers the emergency response service itself. Discerning whether any contract periods are necessary is essential during the buying process, as users may want to discontinue service and work with a different company or solution in the future.

Achieving independent living later in life requires dedication and courage, but with the help of solutions like a medical alarm system, staying safe and feeling confident at home are far easier goals. These devices may be small, but the comfort and assurance they can provide both to the elderly and to their family and friends is considerable. With a medical alarm system, getting immediate help is never further away than the push of a button.

Single Parent Families and Child Abuse - The Best Way to Prevent It

Parenting runs along two continuums: abusive and nurturing. One can equate higher incidence of nurturing with less incidence of abuse because the two behaviors are mutually exclusive. In nurturing single parent families, children receive support, have clear boundaries, and live under appropriate expectations. In abusive single parent families, too much may be expected from the children. Empathy for the children is lacking, physical punishment is prominent, and lack of awareness of the children's developmental levels is evident.

It is clear, however, that many single parents who become involved in the child welfare system did not intentionally harm their children; rather their lack of knowledge, skills, or resources led them to harm their children.

The best way to then to prevent child abuse is to help single parents, through effective parent training, to develop their skills and identify resources they need to understand and meet their children's needs and protect them from harm.

Moreover, research has shown that increasing positive parent interactions and emotional communications; and, requiring parents to practice new skills during and away from the training provides for the intended outcome of improving parenting skills and decreasing the children's externalizing behaviors. Furthermore, the long range consequence of child abuse is that children who experience such maltreatment are at greater risk for adverse health effects and risky health behaviors when they reach adulthood.

Some worthwhile goals for an effective parent training program then should include: helping parents to learn ways to discipline their children other than by yelling and hitting, such as redirection (trying to shift a child's attention from something dangerous, such as jumping off a chair to something harmless, such as doing a puzzle.); helping parents learn to teach their children how to control their anger as well as to manage their own angry feelings and stress; helping parents to learn stages of child development and to acquire realistic expectations; making available to parents in-home one on one parent coaching and support groups, and finally, helping parents to learn job hunting and life management strategies. In addition, the program should have a problem-solving focus, provide for active participation, involve the whole family, and target individually identified needs.

Several different types of parent training exist, such as models designed for parents who just want additional information to be sure they are doing the best job they can, and models that address specific needs, such as families experiencing child behavior problems or families in which child maltreatment is a concern. The program described above emphasizes the latter.

Care Options For Seniors After They Have Experience a Stroke

Seeing a love-one or close friend after they have suffered a stroke can prove intense. It's likely that you play a deciding role in how the elder receives care right away and further down the line. In the beginning, it may prove difficult to predict if the elder can return home or to a home-like setting. If they can, their ability to care for themselves will be in doubt. The need for assistance will be a genuine certainty. All this equates to a serious lifestyle shift. Quite often, these can lead to heightened emotions for the elder and those involved. Read on for a look at care options worth considering if some you know has become disabled due to stroke.

If a stroke victim can return to their house, home care aides provide care at an affordable cost. In fact, they typically offer less expensive care compared to other alternatives. Common roles include cleaning and doing laundry, assistance with bathing and grooming, plus they often help with medication as well as measuring vital signs. A home nurse is another possibility you may want to consider. They provide a higher level of care but at a heftier pay rate.

For a lot of people, work and family obligations can make caring for a love-one at home full-time flat-out impossible. Still, you'd like to keep them at home at least part time. If you find yourself between a rock and a hard spot like this, then you may want to consider an option like adult day care or a senior respite center. These provide care for elders recovering from a variety of setbacks, and offer personal care, therapy, and pastimes like arts and crafts. An adult day care center lets you tend to your responsibilities during the day or take a needed break from the demands of elder care. In the evening or otherwise suitable time, your loved one returns home with you. Quite possibly, an adult day care facility can deliver the ideal mix of personal care and urge to remain home.

Not everyone will have the good fortunate to receive home care after suffering a stroke. In this event, you may have to look at placing your parent or loved-one in a care facility on a permanent or part-time basis. An assisted living facility can offer a more affordable option for the senior capable of remaining semi-independent. Assistance often arrives in the form of meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, bathing, grooming, and dispensing medication. More than likely, you won't have on-site medical help at assisted living facilities. Residential care facilities offer a similar makeup, but the residents receive closer supervision and living style is more communal. Sometimes a nursing home offers the practical option if the stroke is a heavy one. Unlike an assisted-living facility, a nursing home provides skilled medical support 24/7. The care provided is more personal and more intense. Many stroke victims will experience changing conditions, for better or worse, in which case a continuing-care community may prove beneficial. Continuing-care facilities provide every type of care, from assisted living to full nursing within a single compound. This eliminates the need to move from one care facility to the next.

Daddy's Girl - Why Girls Need Their Daddy

Fathers Day is the perfect time to reflect on how very important fathers are. We all know how much boys need their dads, but what about girls? Do they need their dads as much as boys do? Can mothers provide everything a girl needs, or is there something very special that only a father can provide?

Fathers are vital to their daughters. The way a woman feels about herself is very much dependent on how she was treated by her father as she was growing up. Without a father's unconditional love, girls can grow up to have low self-esteem and low self-image. The lack of a father's love can leave a girl with serious self-worth issues, especially if she perceives that her father abandoned her. Girls who've grown up without a father's love can subconsciously crave male attention and seek to fill this void in unhealthy ways. Feeling 'not good enough' for a good loving relationship with a man, they are vulnerable to becoming involved in abusive relationships or becoming promiscuous. They are more at risk of teenage pregnancy due to going through puberty earlier and becoming sexually active at a younger age. Women who have missed out on their daddy's love are also more at risk of developing depression.

It's been heart-warming to witness the relationship blossom between my husband and our daughter over the past five and a half years. I remember standing at the doorway of our daughter's bedroom one night as her father tucked her in and said goodnight. "Daddy, you're my true love", she said as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. Gracie, like most other four-year-old girls loves fairytales--stories of princes rescuing princesses, true love's kiss, and happily ever after. Her daddy is her prince, her protector, her provider, and her true love. It brings me such joy to see how different my little girl's experience is to my own.   

Sadly, like me, there are millions of young girls growing up today without their daddy's love. Their prince, provider and protector is not there to give his princess the special love that only a father can give. Today, up to around a half of marriages end in divorce. This means that many children are growing up in homes where they are separated from one parent, most often their father. Unfortunately, in some cases, mothers are unnecessarily preventing their daughters from maintaining vital contact with their father because of the pain and bitterness of divorce. Sadly in many homes, instead of love, some girls are being abused by their daddy. Sometimes daddy's present in the home but he just isn't there for his daughters. Then there are the children conceived outside of a committed relationship who are being left to be raised by their mother. There are also many children being raised by only their mothers, who choose IVF in their desire for a child. Is it possible that many mothers as well as fathers do not realise just how much their children, regardless of their gender, need both a mother and a father?

Unfortunately for me and my siblings, my father was a violent alcoholic who was ripped from my life when I was a child. We didn't even get to say goodbye. I have very few good childhood memories of him, but I remember how much my heart ached when there was no contact after we were separated. I grew up craving my father's love and found myself in painful relationships, feeling unworthy and starving for the love of a man. I went through two divorces, debilitating clinical depression, sexual abuse and domestic abuse.

Thirty-three years later, I had the chance to see my father as he lay in a nursing home close to death. Thoughts of him brought up some painful memories, but I had managed to finally find happiness in my life. I was remarried with a beautiful family. It was time for me to move past my pain and forgive my father. The timing was perfect. It was the best thing I could have done--for both of us. I remember seeing him for the first time after all those years. He was a frail, broken old man, nothing like the man I had known and loved as a little girl. I went there hoping to help him through his final days but I didn't realise just how much it would do for me. It did more for me than years of therapy had. For the first time I ever remember, my father told me he loved me. Thank God we were given this opportunity as he died only weeks later. I lost him once again, but at least this time, we got to say goodbye.

RESTRAINT - What Does That Mean in a Nursing Home Setting?

If you look up restraint in the dictionary, you may see one of these definitions: (1) the act of restraining, holding back, controlling or checking; (2) the state or fact of being restrained; deprived of liberty; confinement. But what does the term "restraint" mean in a nursing home or hospital setting? You may be researching facilities and learn that one has a restraint free policy. The Virginia Administrative Code Section that speaks to Nursing Home facilities defines a "Physical restraint" as "any manual method or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to the resident's body that the individual cannot remove easily which restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one's own body." 12 VAC 371-10. The same section defines a "Chemical restraint" as "a psychopharmacologic drug (a drug prescribed to control mood, mental status, or behavior) that is used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat medical symptoms or symptoms from mental illness or mental retardation that prohibit an individual from reaching his highest level of functioning." 12 VAC 371-10.

Although these are more technical definitions, they mean the same thing - either something tangible or a medication that restricts the movement or level of function of an individual. So why would you want to restrict the level of function or movement of someone?

Imagine an Alzheimer's patient that has poor awareness of her surroundings. Would a device that prevented her from leaving the nursing home be helpful? Or, consider someone who becomes aggressive toward others due to dementia - wouldn't a psychopharmacologic drug that helps control that behavior be appropriate? The answer as to whether or not these physical or chemical restraints should be used is neither simple, nor clear. Families and friends of nursing home residents need to educate themselves on the use of restraints, their pros and cons, and make decisions regarding their use accordingly.

For starters, what are examples of physical restraints?

• Bed rails


• Wheel-chair straps / seat belts / lap buddies


• Meri-walker


• Walker with wheels


• Door restraints

Why would a facility consider using any of these with your loved one? Maybe to prevent falls, which is always a goal, but other consequences can be equally devastating. Hundreds of people every year get caught in bedrails and suffer injury, strangulation, and frequently death. Keeping someone in bed or limiting their ability to get out of bed may also put the individual at risk of developing pressure ulcers or bed sores and incontinence. Additionally, there are mental and psychological effects that occur when you limit someone's freedom and take away simple choices, such as when to get out of bed.

Meri-walkers may provide some stability for an ambulating resident but accidents frequently happen when residents in meri-walkers are faced with stairs, changes in the floor grade etc. Not only will the momentum of the walker help cause a fall, but the device itself may become entangled on the person and cause greater injury.

Wheel chair straps may prevent someone from getting out of the chair, but again, what if they come to a stairwell and have no means of stopping, getting up or preventing the fall. The injury could be fatal.

Chemical restraints can be equally dangerous. If a resident is given too much medication, they may have decreased appetite and suffer dehydration or malnutrition. They may also be less mobile, and at risk for pressure ulcers. If they are mobile, many medications may cause focus and balance problems, leading to increased fall risk. The risks are many and must be considered by the prescribing physician to evaluate dose, frequency etc.

Unfortunately, thousands of families have dealt with accidents, injuries and deaths caused, in whole or in part, by the use of physical and chemical restraints in medical care settings. Our office has handled cases involving each of the above restraints scenarios. Unfortunately, injury involving restraints are not uncommon. The lesson we take from these experiences is that restraints should only be used when absolutely necessary, and only if families have had the opportunity to speak to a physician about the known risks and benefits. So while they may sound like a great idea at first, please do your homework and ask the facility the following:

• How many other residents use this restraint?


• Will it make my father more mobile or less? Will you monitor him accordingly?


• What will you do to make sure he does not get caught in the bed rails or wheelchair strap?


• Will you review the use of the restraint monthly - if so, may I attend?

If the facility will not provide any additional monitoring because of the restraint, then its use should be very limited. At the very least, make sure the physician and facility are on the same page, and understand your concerns.

Understanding the Job of Gerontology Nursing

With the rapid aging of the American population resulting in more and more seniors in need of continuing medical care, the health care industry has responded by devoting more attention than ever before to the unique treatment needs of elderly patients. The nursing segment of the health care industry has responded with equal vigor, and many nurses now focus their educational endeavors in the field of gerontology - the care of older adults. Gerontological nursing is now one of the fastest growing patient care specialties, and an area in which growth is expected to continue for at least the next several decades.

Gerontology nursing specialists are charged with providing treatment and care within hospitals, nursing homes, private medical offices, and even patients' homes. These nursing professionals also serve important roles in areas involving administrative, educational, and management responsibilities. Many elder care nurses serve within clinics and community centers, veteran care facilities, and acute care centers for the elderly.

Beyond the traditional educational requirements for a career in nursing, gerontology nursing specialists also take courses designed to provide them with unique specialty care skill sets to help them deal with the diverse range of treatment challenges posed by the elderly. Most programs provide mentoring and advisors who are responsible for arranging for the nurses' training in areas of health assessment and protection, theories on elder care, analysis of complex cases, management of common conditions endemic to seniors, and pharmacology. In addition, these mentors and advisors help to place gerontology nurses-in-training into clinical environments where they gain critical first-hand experience treating the needs of the elderly.

In some programs, nursing specialists are also given instruction in genomics to enable them to better understand the role that genetics plays in the aging process. As a secondary part of the gerontology education process, genomics helps in the understanding of why certain therapies are more effective in certain types of patients, and why some patient groups are more susceptible to certain chronic conditions than others. Other specialized information provided to gerontology nurses involves nutrition and physical therapy training that can assist nurses in helping the elderly to maintain a higher quality of life through improvement in overall fitness.

Gerontological nursing generally offers a slightly higher salary than standard general nursing opportunities. The latest national averages for this field of nursing indicate an annual salary of more than $55,000. As with other jobs in the nursing industry, the salary is dependent upon a host of factors that include geography, the experience level of the nurse, and whether the job is located within a hospital, private office, or home health care setting.

Salaries on both the east and west coasts of the United States can rise to as much as $70,000 or more, while those in certain areas of the Midwest tend to be somewhat lower than the national average. However, the benefits afforded to many in the nursing profession, when coupled with the actual salaries, create an overall compensation package that enables most gerontological nursing practitioners to remain near the top of their profession in terms of income earned.

The Typical Lawsuit in a Personal Injury Case - Part Four

Now that depositions are completed, the personal injury case can now be fairly evaluated by both sides for possible settlement.

Mediation. Almost every personal injury case will go to mediation. Either the attorneys will agree to attend mediation or the court will order mediation. Mediation is an informal settlement conference. Both sides will meet at the mediator's office. The mediator will work with each side individually discussing the pros and cons of their case in an effort to get the parties to come to some sort of agreement. Many times mediation is successful in reaching a settlement, and sometimes it is not. Because settlement is completely voluntary, the mediator does not decide the case nor can the mediator force the parties to settle. If the mediator is successful in getting the parties to settle the case, then a short settlement agreement will be signed at the mediation. Even though the parties will execute more formal settlement documents after the mediation, the agreement signed at the mediator's office is legally binding.

Trial. If the parties are unable to settle their personal injury case, then the personal injury case will most likely go to trial. The Texas court will set your personal injury case for trial depending on the court's docket. The personal injury case can be tried before the Texas judge or a jury. In order for the case to be tried before a jury, one of the parties must request a jury trial. Unlike mediation, the Texas insurance adjuster does not participate in the trial of the case, except maybe as a spectator. Legally speaking, the trial is between the two named parties to the suit. If it is a car accident case, then the plaintiff would be the injured party, while the defendant will be the other driver. The insurance adjuster is not mentioned during the trial, nor is the defendant's insurance company. This is probably the most frustrating aspect of a typical personal injury trial. Throughout the entire case the injured party is dealing with the insurance adjuster. Then when it comes to trial, the jury only sees the actual parties to the accident and doesn't even know whether or not insurance is involved at all. Some states do allow direct actions against the insurance company in a personal injury case, but not Texas. The jury only sees and hears from the two parties, any witnesses, and the lawyers.

Budgeting For Senior Care - How Much Does Elder Care Cost?

The Costs of Senior Care Options

When planning for our retirement, most of us allocate money into a 401K or another savings program to take advantage of tax write-offs and to make sure we will be able to enjoy a nice lifestyle when we are no longer working from 9 to 5. We imagine using the money to supplement our monthly social security checks to enjoy vacations and other leisure activities while taking advantage of all those senior discounts.

The financial company advertisements assist us with the visions of enjoying gardening, sailing and relaxing during our retirement years. They don't show the other side of the reality which includes health problems which accompany aging.  Along with a longer life comes an increased chance for developing an age-related disease, such as Alzheimer's Disease or Parkinson's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease is now the sixth leading cause of death, according to the Alzheimer's Association. As we all witnessed from watching former President Ronald Reagan battle the disease, a senior with Alzheimer's Disease can live for many years, while requiring a caregiver to assist with their daily living. As Medicare does not pay for long-term senior care (only stays of 100 days or less in a nursing home for rehabilitation after a hospital stay, with doctor pre-approval, with only the first 20 days paid at 100% by Medicare), the costs can quickly add-up.

What are your senior care options when you need caregiving assistance for your activities of daily living?

• Senior Home Care Agency
  


• Nursing Home
  


• Assisted Living Community
  


• Continuing Care Retirement Community

How much do these options cost?

Based on prices effective as of January, 2009, here are the costs:

• 
  Senior Home Care Agency: $15 - $25 per day/$190 - $350per day (Most common hourly rate = $19, Most common daily rate = $225)


• 
  Nursing Home: $145 - $400 per day


• 
  Assisted Living Community: $3800 - $5,000 per month


• 
  Continuing Care Retirement Community: Down payment @ $250,000 + $3,000 - $5,000 per month

These costs are consolidated to account for the lowest to highest fees nationwide.

What are the ways to pay for these senior care options?

1) Private pay with your own savings
2) Long-term care insurance policy
3) Qualify for Medicaid care (nursing home only with the exception of a few states experimenting with home care, must have assets of $2,000 or less)

Remember that senior home care agencies actively manage the caregivers and provide for all the necessary insurance and payroll taxes for the caregiver as their employee. This guarantees that a substitute caregiver will be available when the regular caregiver cannot make the shift and provides active training and management of the caregiver.

When evaluating nursing homes, you should inquire about their ability to provide for your care if you end up needing to spend down your assets and go onto Medicaid insurance. Medicaid is administered by each state and provides for the needs of very low-income seniors, with the minimum in assets usually around $2,000. Most Continuing Care Retirement Communities do provide for care should a senior spend down their assets and need to be covered by Medicaid insurance. These communities also usually will refund a portion of the deposit upon a senior's death, based on the number of years and services actually used. As demonstrated by their name, they provide peace of mind for seniors by continuing to provide care at all levels of need, from independent living to around-the-clock nursing care.

Remember, Medicare does not pay for long-term care, which means to effectively plan for your senior care needs, you must plan for where you want to receive the care and save to pay for the care services either in a nursing home or in your home. While less than 7% of Americans over the age of 70 currently have long-term care insurance, it is predicted that more than 50% of Americans will have long-term care insurance in twenty years, as people witness their parents burn through their life savings to pay for their senior care needs. Research the options and manage your investments to allow you to choose your preferred senior care and look for unbiased, third-party information as a credible senior care resource

CNA Certification Can Help You Get a Great Position As A Nurse

The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving and provides many career opportunities for people who want to enter the field of patient care. Certified Nursing Assistants are health-care employees who are responsible for providing direct care to patients who are unable to take care of themselves. Common responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, assisting patients with getting out of bed, bathing and dressing patients and providing emotional support. Someone interested in this career must undergo CNA training and pass a certification test before being allowed to provide care to patients.

A Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) can find positions in many different medical environments. Medical offices, hospitals, therapy centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are just the most common places of employment. As the Baby Boomers enter into their senior years, the need for CNA's in assisted living facilities is anticipated to triple. CNA training can be completed in a very short period of time. During your CNA training you will learn everything you need to pass your state exams and to work in a professional environment. Many people who enter into the course are surprised by the amount of knowledge they already have in the field.

Many places have their own rules and it is up to you to determine whether you would like to go to a school, a nursing home, or other location to get your learning. Some schools offer CNA Certification classes and then you can move up to becoming an LPN and even an RN. Depending where you want to go the best way is to start at the bottom and move up. This will help you determine if it is the right field for you.

Most states require that you have CNA training and pass a board exam before entering the field. The exam is quite simple if you have been trained, and the monetary benefits are well worth the effort. CNA's earn a good living and many people who enter this career find that they pursue further training and become nurses. CNA programs are available through campus based education or distance learning programs. This allows anyone with an interest the capabilities of going to school on their own terms. Because many of these programs are accelerated programs, students may find themselves with a new career in less than a month.

With the current economic situation, it can be difficult to find and maintain a career. For those who enjoy taking care of others and providing loving support to those who need it, becoming a CNA is the right choice. CNA training is the first step to this wonderful and emotionally fulfilling career.

Wide Variety of Careers Available in Nursing Homes

There are many different careers you can have at a nursing home. If you enjoy working with the elderly and making an important difference in a person's life, a nursing home career may be right for you. There are positions available for people with different levels of education, experience and skills.

Positions are available for orderlies who have high school educations. These people are largely responsible for cleaning, personal care of patients, helping patients to move from one location in the home to another and delivering meals. They may also help with activities and interact with family members.

There are typically two types of nurses working in nursing homes. Licensed practical nurses can perform many of the duties that registered nurses do, but there are several important differences. Registered nurses typically have bachelor's degrees in nursing while LPNs usually have only associate's degrees. In addition to the difference in years of education, there is a difference in the licensing examinations that each must take before they can begin working.

Each state has a different set of requirements for what LPNs and RNs are allowed to do but most consider LPNs to provide basic nursing needs while RNs may provide treatment that is more advanced such as starting an intravenous line. Often, in long-term care settings, both types of nurses work together to provide patient care.

Other positions available in long term care facilities include nurse managers who oversee the care of patients and handle the interaction with family members. They are responsible for tracking a patient's progress and noting any changes in either health or behavior. When necessary, they interact with doctors and hospitals to be sure patients are receiving the care they need.

Most nursing homes also have doctors who are either on staff or are affiliated with the senior's home. They make regular rounds to check on patients and be sure they are receiving appropriate care.

Other positions available include occupational therapist, physical therapist, hairdresser, recreational activities coordinator, marketing director, and facility manager. Accountants and file clerks interact with state agencies, private individuals, and insurance carriers.

Some other positions you may not realize are available include chefs and kitchen staff. Some facilities hire wait staff to serve patients meals in a communal dining room.

Social workers help patients to understand why they are being admitted to a nursing home facility. They work with the family to be sure that the patient and family have the services they need. They also ensure that everyone's needs are being met.

Therapists and psychologists or psychiatrists may be employed at a nursing home to provide counseling services to patients and families and to deal with the depression and other mental health issues that can sometimes flare up when a person enters a nursing home.

There is a wide variety of careers available in nursing homes. The common denominator in all of these positions is that they offer opportunities to interact with older patients and improve their quality of life.

New Boise, Idaho Patio Home Community Offers Five Floor Plans and Reasonable HOA Fees

Nestled in the center of Boise, Idaho, the new community of Englefield Green is for those age 55+ and offers patio homes (town homes) for sale. This is a small development with just 84 homes, and construction began in 2007. In addition to the town homes, Englefield Green is planning an onsite assisted living section and a memory care section and just broke ground on the new 85-unit assisted living building in September, 2009. Homebuyers in Englefield Green do not have a direct connection to the onsite medical-related facilities, but they are close by if needed down the road.

Englefield Green offers five floor plans, and all homes are Energy-Star efficient. Each residence is built on one level (although some homes have a second story bonus room) and comes with an oversized, two car garage and a private patio. Current resale homes start at $179,900 and have two bedrooms, two baths and 1,320 sq. ft. The most expensive home for sale is priced at $339,900 and has a modified English Tutor design, along with three bedrooms, two baths and 2,430 sq. ft.

Open floor plans, 9 ft. to 11 ft. ceilings, gas fireplaces, large living rooms, a security system, plush carpeting, door level handles and kitchens with center islands are standard. Hardwood floors, granite tile in the baths and kitchen and upgraded lighting packages are found in the higher end properties. All residences are fully landscaped with a front yard and a backyard that is maintained by Englefield Green.??

Monthly HOA fees are very reasonable, just $92, and include the lawn maintenance, snow and ice removal and access to the clubhouse. The developer, Thompson Homes, is a family enterprise with 39 years of experience building homes in Idaho.?? Amenities are not overwhelming, but there is a new clubhouse with a community kitchen, a business center and a fitness center. A pond and walking paths create a pleasant outdoor setting.

As Englefield Green is built out, and the assisted living section is completed, there will be access to an aquatic center, and scheduled transportation and a meals plan will be offered (for a membership fee that is to be determined). There is no activities director, so residents have to keep themselves entertained.

Boise (population 585,000 in the surrounding metro area) is a growing city in southwest Idaho. Over the last few years, it has attracted more retirees, and today 30% of the population is age 46 or better. This is a safe city and has won national recognition as a place with a high quality of life. Its overall cost of living meets the national average.

Mountains are to the east, but Boise sits on a flat, high plain (2,700 ft. elevation) and has four distinct seasons. Summers can get hot with temperatures in the 90s (and very little humidity), and winter temperatures can dip into the teens, 20s and 30s. Snowfall averages roughly 2 feet per year.

Using Social Networking to Find a Senior Care Job

These days, the job market is more fiercely competitive than ever - and decent jobs aren't all that easy to find. Things are quite a lot easier for those who are looking for senior care jobs, but tracking down the right assisted living jobs still requires a bit of creativity and finesse. Putting as many different resources to work for you as possible is one of the best ways to track down the nursing home job that's right for you; social networking websites are something that every serious job hunter should use. Learn more about using social networking sites to find nursing home administrator jobs by reading on below.

Connect Through Facebook - It seems like everyone has a profile on Facebook nowadays. The site has become a valuable tool for connecting with others. As you search for a nursing home job, browse around on Facebook to make some important connections. Let your existing network know that you're seeking an RN job or another job in the field and ask them to pass your name along to others. You never know - you might just hit pay dirt!

Use Twitter to Spread the Word - Although you are limited to 140 characters or less, Twitter can be a savvy way to spread the word about your job search. Post your resume online, then use Twitter to send a link to it out to the world at large. Use hashtags and targeted keywords that relate to assisted living jobs; you might pique the interest of a human resources manager somewhere. Remember, if you post your resume on a non-secure site, make sure your email address is in a format where it won't get a lot of spam like changing the @ symbol to text - i.e. name -at- email.com.

Get Active on LinkedIn - Anyone who's searching for senior care jobs without an active LinkedIn profile is missing out on a lot of valuable opportunities. Create and maintain a current LinkedIn profile; try to connect with as many people within the industry as you can. The larger your network is, the easier it will be to find the RN job of your dreams.

Interact on Senior Care Blogs - There is a plethora of blogs out there that relate to the senior care industry in some way. Look for the most active ones and get in on the conversations that are happening there. Include a link to your LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook profiles in your signature and you might just attract some interest.

Get Involved with Online Industry Networks and Associations - Track down reputable online networks or associations, like the National Senior Living Providers Network, and use them as social networking resources. It's just one more way to get your name out there, and it's another savvy way to make additional connections on other social networking websites. The more connected you are, the easier it will be to find topnotch nursing home administrator jobs and other senior care opportunities!

The Benefits of Being a CNA

Most of the individuals that have found themselves becoming interested in a health care industry profession will do research on the various certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs offered in their local area. CNAs are generally the first line of contact between patients and the hospital/health care facility staff, and are working under the supervision of the nurse to provide adequate patient care and give the nurse vital information regarding the patient's condition.

Most of a CNA's tasks are related to hygiene and personal care for the patient, including giving hem baths, grooming patients, helping them with feeding, assistance in going to the restroom, keeping abreast of their vital signs and health condition, patient transport via wheelchairs and gurneys, and keeping a written record of all relevant patient information. Emotionally, the CNA will be responsible for interacting with the patient and providing support professionally and socially during the patient's stay in the health care organization.

It's not uncommon for the majority of CNAs to see the job as a temporary placeholder to a future career goal as a registered nurse (RN), and their time as a CNA can open several doors. Many hospitals who mark a impressive trait in their CNAs will sponsor their educational efforts in becoming an RN, and the CNA role is a vital element of hands-on experience in the work field towards the successful completion of major nursing programs.

One of the biggest draws towards a CNA career is the fact that the profession doesn't require any prerequisites to enter (aside from a predisposition towards helping patients during their stay in a health care organization) as long as they carry a high school diploma or GED. Most CNA training programs are offered at various health care organizations, and local community colleges, and are completed after a college semester (or in most cases weeks before a full semester's term is over). Covering studies in anatomy and physiology, the nursing basics, control of infectious diseases, and nutritional courses the CNA student will obtain a certificate upon passing the final exam, and can then register as a certified CNA with the NAHC (National Association for Home Care)

CNAs make anywhere from $23,000 and $30,000 in yearly salaries when first starting out. As their experience and skill sets grow, and depending on the health care organization they work in, the salaries will grow from there. With job opportunities in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, private home patient care environments, and mental health care institutions the CNA is in high demand with a variety of locations. It's a great way to get one's foot in the door of the consistently growing health care industry, and is one of the few jobs today expected to increase in demand significantly over the next decade.