Saturday, January 4, 2014

Tips In Designing And Decorating Your Living Room


Living room is a room that is usually placed in front of the house. This is where we entertain our guests, conversations among families, reading books and other indoor activities. Observe yourself when you go to other house. The living room will be the first one that we will notice and it leaves a first impression to us on what will be the whole concept of the host's house. It is important to display the beauty of your house to leave a lasting impression to your guests.

A typical living room is consists of sofa, tables, chairs, lamp/lighting, rugs, and television. While designing the living room, there are things we should consider in order to achieve a relax and comfortable room.


  • Decorate the living room into a more user-friendly, rather than dull and cold. Use colors that can brighten the mood of anyone who goes inside. You want your house to be warm and welcoming, and one of the hottest colors and more relaxing is the green color. Green has several shades and it is one of the most flexible colors around. But whatever the color you choose for the color of your walls, make sure it harmonizes the furniture and accessories inside the living room.

  • Choose furniture that will not be obsolete in the coming years.

  • Do not buy sets or groups. Select individual pieces, which mix and work well together. Put the loveseats in the lounge area. Don't put matching chairs inside or other furniture that are over decorated. Do not put a single chair in a corner, or someone will use it and will feel out of the place.

  • Placing the furniture should focus on the focal point, which may be a leisure center, fireplace or a large window. Group the furniture around after selecting the focal point. Always keep in mind the size of your furniture. Make sure that it would fit in your desired space.

  • Add small furniture in the room. This may be a small bench, or a low sofa table. Placing flower vases, baskets and small plants on your table also creates beauty and encouraging environment. Place magazines, journals and newspapers under the table.

  • Place at different levels of lighting in the room. Use a combination of dim and bright lighting. Put table lamps and decorative lighting. It adds warmth and atmosphere in your home.

  • Use area rugs to define seating areas. It helps in determining the seats especially if you're dealing with a large room. Carpets are also useful to cover the carpet or to make the floor look attractive.

  • Keep the fragile antiques away from the area where it could be easily touch or tap by a guest. Place it in inside the cabinet or in a place far from the receiving area.

  • Put small statues or figurines in the corners. Marble statues offer an aesthetic quality and elegance. There are different kinds of statue that represent your personality. So make sure to buy that suits you.

  • Keep cushions up to date by replacement or customization. Replace the dusty curtains, table cloths and cushion cloths. Always keep those cloths clean and scented.

Assault Injuries And The Law


When a person is a victim of a criminal assault or battery, there are many legal rights that should be explored in order to receive justice. This type of justice may include recovering compensation for the damage through civil court, in addition to punishments handed down in criminal court. When a claim is filed in civil court for the damages associated with assault injuries, they are presented in the form on intentional torts, which is basically a lawsuit that is filed against the offending party.

While the terms "assault" and "battery" are often used in combination with one another, they are actually quite different when being discussed in a legal setting. When proving a claim of assault, the injured party must be able to prove that the offending party intentionally acted in a manner that caused the injured party to feel fear that an immediate physical danger would take place. In other words, assault lawsuits do not necessarily depend on the level of physical contact between the parties, but simply the amount of fear that the injured party experienced prior to physical harm taking place.

In order to prove damage in an assault injury case, the injured party must provide "grounds for recovery". This means that the injured party is filing the suit in order to recover monetary compensation for physical damages they have suffered. Because the process varies a great deal from state to state and because it can be quite extensive, it is important to contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in these types of claims. He or she will assess the validity of your case and help you to determine if you will stand to gain a reward that is worth the cost of pursuing legal action.

Since the basis of these claims is centered upon the imminent threat of physical harm, the court also considers how a reasonable person would react in the situation. Because of this, damages are determined by the injured party's proof that the result of this threat, fear, and harm has left him or her with emotional, physical, psychological and other damages. Future damages may also be taken into consideration in certain situations as well. While civil courts can only do so much to assess the value of personal damages, the injured party may also find it worthwhile to file criminal charges that will then be prosecuted by state and/or local government agencies.

There are also various types of assaults that can be brought before a court in order to receive compensation for injuries or damages. These types of cases include: physical attacks, sexual assaults, domestic abuse, and various other types of injuries that were sustained due to intentional harm being inflicted. When the case is proven adequately, and the judge or jury has determined that the offending party is in fact responsible for the assault and the injuries sustained, the award process is then started.

These awards can come in the form of several different types of compensation, and include:

Compensatory Damages: This form of compensation is designed to "compensate" the injured party for any lost wages, medical bills, or other expenses that are a direct result of the injuries sustained from the assault. For example, if a person suffers a broken leg and a concussion because of a mugging, the compensatory damages would be awarded for the total cost of all medical treatments required, as well as lost wages from not being able to attend work.

Nominal Damages: This form of compensation is typically available in civil cases involving assaults, especially if the injured party has not experienced any major injuries. Nominal damages are awarded by a court or jury when they find the offending party has violated the injured party's civil rights by carrying out the attack.

Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are not always awarded, and certain jurisdictions do not allow such damages to be paid in certain circumstances. These damages are reserved for cases that are particularly heinous and are meant to punish the offending party. Punitive damages acknowledge not only the physical harm the person endured, and the expenses related to those injuries, but also are set forth to help deter future acts of a similar nature.

Any time you or someone you know has suffered any type of injury due to a physical assault, it is a good idea to contact a personal injury attorney. He or she is extremely well versed in the laws that govern this issue and will be able to help you establish your complaint, file your paper work, and assess the true validity of your case.

Since this type of civil litigation can be somewhat complicated, and the laws do vary a bit from state to state, a personal injury attorney is your best chance to receive the damages you are truly entitled to receive. Injured parties should never try to file a lawsuit on their own. A personal injury attorney will go after the maximum amount of compensation that is possible based upon the laws of the jurisdiction.

Because assault injuries can leave long term damage both physically and mentally you should always seek prompt assistance. Since evidence can disappear somewhat quickly, people tend to forget what they saw, and witnesses can be difficult to locate you should never wait to proceed with your case. A personal injury attorney will handle every part of the process from collecting information, to contacting law enforcement agencies, as well as determining if a settlement or a trial would be most beneficial.

You should never run the risk of being victimized twice. The assault was bad enough without having to worry about your future, or how to carry on with the disabilities and emotional harm you may have incurred from the incident. A personal injury attorney will work hard on your side to get you the financial and emotional justice that you deserve. The sooner you move forward with your case, the sooner you can begin to put your life back on track.

Speaking to Senior Citizens: Getting Your Message Across


I've been speaking to senior citizens lately, people who live in retirement communities. This can be a tough audience to reach. Attendees may have an "I've heard that before" attitude, short attention spans, or fall asleep. As a speaker, my goal is to keep audience members awake and get my message across.

Yesterday I spoke to residents of a Catholic retirement community that offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing care. I gave my talk in the chapel, a large room for a small group. When attendees entered the chapel, most of them sat in the back. With some persuasive words, and a few jokes, I convinced them to move closer.

Do you speak to community groups? Have you spoken to retirees? These tips will help audience members understand your message.

Re-think your title. A week ago I gave a talk at a retirement community. Originally, the title of my talk was going to be "Getting Your Book Published." Some residents were writing books, but most were not. The Activities Director changed the title to "Self-Publishing and E-Books." This title change worked, and doubled the expected attendance.

Check the seating. Older adults, and I'm one of them, like to sit in comfortable chairs. Some people sat in the back of the chapel because the chairs were padded. As one woman said, "These chairs are more comfortable than pews." To foster communication, you may wish to arrange chairs in a semi-circle.

Make eye contact with every person. This is one reason I asked people to move to the front of the chapel. When you make eye contact the person feels like you are speaking directly to him or her. Eye contact also emphasizes the point you are making.

Use a microphone. Many older adults, including me, have suffered a hearing loss. I was going to speak without a microphone, but a staff member quickly changed my mind. "They will never hear you," she said. 'You have to use the mike." I've used clip-on microphones, podium mikes, and standing ones.

Provide handouts. Your handouts will help attendees to remember your message. If you have several handouts, photocoy them on different colored paper. Handouts can be publicity for you. I gave the extra handouts to a volunteer librarian, who promised to display them in the library. Make sure your name and website address are on all handouts.

Vary the pace. One attendee kept falling asleep during my presentation. To get her attention, I switched the order of my presentation, and passed around books I had written. The woman woke up and stayed awake for the remainder of my talk. I also told a few funny stories to keep audience members alert.

Offer to speak on other topics. As I was leaving the chapel, the activities director and I had a conversation about other topics I speak about. "I have presentations on affirmation-writing and getting a book published," I explained. "If you know of a group that would benefit from these talks, please let me know."

Speaking to senior citizens keeps me on my toes. I often gain more from the audience than they gain from me.

Copyright 2012 by Harriet Hodgson

Feng Shui Tips to De-Clutter and Downsize


One of the highlights of my summer 'vacation' was to downsize!!! Many of my real estate clients are downsizing in order to, for example: 1) hang up the lawnmower and spend less time on yard maintenance, 2) move into a smaller home, town home, or condo with a master bedroom on the main level - for stair-free living, or 3) move to some type of assisted care facility - for an easier, less-stressed lifestyle.

For a number of different reasons, I decided to move from my approx. 1650 sq. ft. home into a 1-BDR apartment! Wow - for sure, this would be an "extreme makeover" - not to mention an "extreme exercise" in downsizing and de-cluttering! However, moving into a new space became a perfect opportunity for me to employ Feng Shui guidelines for de-cluttering.

Here are 7 questions I asked myself - to help de-clutter and downsize in to my new, much smaller digs! And to acknowledge the source of these 'Seven "Clear the Way" Questions,' they are listed on p. 21 in the book written by Terah Kathryn Collins, The Western Guide to Feng Shui - Room by Room. For all the items that I was about to move (or get rid of), I asked:

1 - Do I love it?

2 - Do I need it?

3 - Does it reflect who I am and who I'm becoming?

4 - Does it act as an energy-boosting affirmation for me?

5 - What positive and/or negative thoughts, memories, or emotions do I associate with it?

6 - Does it need to be fixed or repaired, and am I willing to do so now?

7 - If it's time to let it go, am I going to sell, lend, or give it away, and when?

The reality of the situation was that I had to be moved in by August 1st - so I had a specific deadline I had to meet. This was a good thing, of course - because now I was forced to face all of that stuff - in my closets, drawers, attic, and, garage.... boxes of paper, items of clothing I had not worn in years, multiple sets of dishes, old pieces of furniture that I will paint "someday," etc.

My good friend and professional organizer, Katrina Solomon, has a favorite definition of clutter that I have adopted: clutter is postponed decisions and delayed action. And all of the clutter that I had accumulated over the years had become invisible - until now!

One of the reasons I embraced the challenge of moving to a much smaller space was because - like so many of us today - I had begun to feel very overwhelmed and stressed with trying to keep up with a variety of personal and professional obligations and commitments. And I knew intuitively that when I began the process of simplifying and organizing that the net effect would be a feeling of being more in control, less stressed, more inspired - and there would be more time and energy for new projects and creative initiatives. Well, it has all worked out beautifully! I have new-found energy, excitement - and truly feel re-energized and rejuvenated.

How Long Will My Personal Injury Claim Take to Complete?


Unfortunately there is no short and simple answer to the question. All personal injury claims are different, each case is unique and treated as just that therefore some may be resolved very quickly whereas others may take longer periods of time.

Sometimes especially when emotions are already running high, it may be difficult to appreciate why the process can be an extensive one at times. The fact is that personal injury claims are taken very seriously, the sole motive of your personal injury solicitor is to secure the best possible outcome for you regarding both compensation and rehabilitation. However in order to do this, a number of key factors must be fully explored before any compensation can be awarded.

1) The Facts

It is fundamental to all personal injury claim that a full investigation of the incident is undertaken in order to build up an accurate portrayal of how the injury occurred. Despite having expert experience in handling personal injury claims, the injury solicitor did not witness the incident therefore it is important for them to gain a clear understanding of the series of events before, during and after. They will work with you to gather as much information as possible regarding the accident, in a sensitive and professional manner. After assessing the facts, if they believe that you could have a potential case they will guide you through making a personal injury claim.

The more proof that can be established to substantiate your claim, the better. This could be in the form of witness statements, pieces of equipment which caused the injury or photographs etc. With full appreciation that evidence may have been the last thing on your mind post-injury, your personal injury lawyer will offer their expertise to help gather the necessities to affirm your claim. Medical evidence also plays a key part and your injury solicitor will require all relevant medical documentation of treatments and rehabilitation to prove your injuries. Acquiring the relevant information can be time-consuming but it is fundamental to make your case as strong as possible.

2) Liability

Establishing liability is possibly the most important factor of all personal injury claims - it is pivotal to the length of time that the personal injury claim will take. In short, claims typically tend to be settled more easily if the other party is cooperative and admits liability. If they dispute blame then further investigations are likely to be needed which can lengthen the process.

Your injury solicitor will handle all contact with the other party therefore you do not need to worry about this. In some cases, they will quickly admit fault and make a compensation offer for you to consider. However the other party may take a long time to respond to the claim or even deny responsibility altogether. If liability cannot be assumed even after additional investigations, court proceedings may be suggested which can add on more time to the process. This is why gathering as much evidence as possible can be particularly useful.

3) Settlement

Reaching settlement is the last milestone of the personal injury claim journey however once again, the time it takes can be dependent on the cooperation of the other party. Your injury solicitor wants to see that you are rewarded with the compensation that you deserve but negotiation between parties is not always easy.

In some instances the other party may immediately offer a sum which you are happy with yet in other cases, the offer made may seem unreasonable. In this event, your solicitor will try and negotiate to reach the best possible outcome but if this cannot be reached, court proceedings may be suggested which will add time to the procedure. It could also be costly therefore if the offered sum is only slightly short of your expectations, you may want to seriously consider whether going to court would be of any merit baring it mind you could lose the case altogether.

There is no benefit to either party in making the case any longer than necessary. Your solicitor will do whatever they can to ensure that the whole process of making a personal injury claim runs as smoothly and quickly as possible and results in the best potential outcome.

Dietary Needs of the Elderly


As people get older, they may begin to lose the physical and mental strength to take care of themselves. In the kitchen, this can mean forgetting to eat or not having the strength to lift heavy pots and plates for cooking. Sadly, this forced starvation can lead to malnutrition, which can make an elderly person sicker and weaker.

During a person's lifespan, his or her dietary needs change many times. For instance, children need an increasing amount of calcium between ages 1 and 18. However, when someone is 19-50, the recommended daily intake of calcium drops by 300 mg. This is because you are building bone mass up to age 18, and after that, you only have to worry about maintaining that mass. After 50, though, the recommended daily intake amount raises to its highest point to help the elderly battle common problems like osteoporosis.

Thus, even though the elderly may not have the energy to work off extra calories, it is still important that they consume vitamin- and mineral-rich foods in order to prevent malnutrition. This can come in the form of nutrient-laden foods so that the older people do not have to eat as much while still gaining the vitamins and minerals they need. An older person can also consume supplements in order to get their daily intake of nutrients.

Once an older person loses his or her interest in food or the ability to cook, it is important for a caretaker to make sure that their charge receives the necessary nutrients. This may require the older person to move to a nursing home or assisted-living facility.

Frustratingly, however, not all nursing homes take good care of their residents. In fact, recent studies have found abuse in the form of beatings, the "silent treatment," and even malnutrition. Malnutrition causes both physical and mental suffering, and it can seriously shorten your loved one's lifespan.

If your elderly loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse, you should not let this terrible negligence go unpunished. To fight back, contact an experienced Danville nursing home abuse lawyer from Spiros Law, P.C., today.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Hiring a Senior Caregiver - Agency Or Hire-Direct Independent Contractor?


When the time comes for a senior to need additional care services in their home or in an assisted living community, you will have the option of hiring a senior home care agency to provide the services or finding an independent caregiver to hire directly.

Which is the right choice?It is far better to hire a quality senior home care agency to provide care services unless you are the rare individual who has adequate insurance coverage along with a care support team of family and friends to help direct and support the independent caregiver and provide back-up care when they need a day off.

Senior care is far different from child care. A family can successfully hire a nanny as an independent contractor to care for their children. This is because the parents are there every morning and every evening to supervise and monitor the care. In addition, the parents make sure the children understand the nanny is in charge. It isn't the same with senior care. There is usually no one else supervising the care. Seniors are older than their caregivers and because of this, sometimes do not choose to easily cooperate. When memory loss and other illnesses are present, the senior can become extremely difficult. They may know they need care but still be emotionally resistant. This creates a problem for the caregiver and for the family.

A senior home care agency solves this issue by providing a supervisor or case manager to manage the care and support the caregiver. They also provide a substitute caregiver when the regular caregiver needs a day off. And even more vital, the senior care agency is available for the caregiver to call when difficult situations arise (the senior won't take their medications, the senior won't take a shower, the senior won't let the caregiver in) or when they have survived a trying day (especially important when caring for seniors with Alzheimer's Disease).

This additional team support manages caregiver burnout and stress. It also prevents the negative situations which can develop when care issues are not addressed by a third party. Unlike child care, senior care involves managing many life issues such as dealing with the death of loved ones, adapting to new medical conditions and coming to terms with the aging process. And just as special training in children's education makes for a better nanny, special training in caring for specific age-related diseases makes for a better caregiver.

Senior home care agencies provide training and supervision for their caregivers. They also create a Care Plan for the daily routine to make sure the correct needs are being addressed. The care manager can also address changes in medical conditions to the family members to make sure the senior has appropriate doctors, medical equipment and other services to make their situation as comfortable as possible.

Another challenge with a direct-hire independent contractor is insurance and tax issues. Most home owner policies are limited in covering employees in the home. There are people who seek out work with seniors who know the opportunities that exist. One senior client my agency began care services for had previously hired an independent contractor caregiver who had been with her for more than a year. The senior was a widow with no family living nearby. Over the course of the year, the caregiver took out credit cards in the seniors name and used them for their own purchases. The invoices went to the financial manager who did not question them. The caregiver took many liberties with the petty cash purchases and the client's care was not their main concern. I have many more stories of starting care after a hire-direct had first been hired. Some families believe they will save money by negotiating a lower hourly fee, but this is rarely the case. Another client my thought they were paying their independent caregiver less than the agency fee but it turned out the caregiver would take $20 every time they ran a grocery store errand and charge the senior an extra fee for laundry and transportation. Many opportunities exist when no active management is involved.

Many people who hire nannies as independent contractors use a nanny agency for some of the same protections a senior home care agency offers. Maria Katris, owner of Nanny Boutique, says "Many clients repeatedly told me the value of using a nanny agency was in the background check, screening of the nanny candidate and access to additional resources such as our tax information. There is simply one more layer of assurance before allowing someone to work in your home with your loved ones. Furthermore, our clients were very aware of the tax liability involved in hiring a domestic employee and did not want to risk their careers by not paying taxes. We aided them in achieving this goal through education and partnership with a domestic employee tax company."

It is important to be cautious of "free" background checks. Usually such checks are just a name and address match to a social security number. If a website is advertising a free background check, be sure there is another fee they are charging to pay for this service as a solid criminal background check will cost at least $15 and a thorough background check will be closer to $100. Caregiverlist.com explains background check laws by state and what is typically included in a check.

A senior home care agency, as an employer of the caregiver, provides insurance protection and takes care of all the payroll taxes, as required by law. Worker's Compensation Insurance will cover on-the-job injuries (they do happen - dog bites, falls, back injuries). As an employee, the caregiver also has added benefits, including being able to collect unemployment benefits if they are laid off, collecting social security benefits when they retire and other agency benefits such as health insurance, training, team support and bonuses. The agency will also carry professional liability insurance and a fidelity bond to cover theft or financial loss.

Job Outlook For Social Workers


Most areas of social work employment are predicted to increase significantly over the next five to seven years. Some geographical considerations also impact job projections. Current estimates are that for the years between 2008 and 2018 the field will enjoy a 16% expansion of employment. This expansion is considerably higher than that of most other occupations.

Growing Population Of The Elderly

The job outlook for social workers entering the field of gerontological social work is especially good since the population of aging baby boomers will mean a larger demand for social services and health related care. Both public and private demand for social workers dedicated to this population will increase as the population needing this service expands.

Mental Health And Substance Abuse

One of the largest areas of growth in the social work field is predicted to be in the area of mental health and substance abuse. Experts are predicting nearly a 20% expansion of employment in this area of social work. Workers choosing this specialty will see employment opportunities in correctional facilities and in treatment of those released from correctional facilities as conditions of either parole or probation. Private treatment programs are also forecast to see a significant upswing in employment.

Child And Family

Experts predict around a 12% increase in social work positions involving child, home and family services. These workers investigate child abuse cases and are tasked with keeping children safe and placing them in protective and foster care among other duties. Keep in mind, however, that these positions are almost exclusively government funded. A precarious economy and lack of funding could change this prediction of expanded growth.

Public Health And Medical

The job outlook for social workers in the field of medical and public health is excellent. An estimated 22% increase is expected. This area dovetails into the realm of the gerontological social workers since medical and health care services for the aging baby-boomer population is expected to increase dramatically. Both public and private sectors should show significant growth. Private and partially publicly funded assisted-living centers and senior communities will allow for ample employment in the years to come.

Geography

Although a healthy expansion of the social work market is expected, some areas will offer more opportunity than others. The job outlook for social workers in rural areas will be the highest due to lack of competition and the unavailability of training centers that are more common to high density urban areas.

Conclusion

Prospects look particularly good in the field of social work in the near future. All areas are predicted to expand so it's a safe bet heading into this field. Geographical areas and possible public funding cuts are wild cards to keep an eye on.

Nursing Home Or Assisted Living Residence - The Difference


We have become all too familiar with nursing homes. Families in the United States usually move their elderly loved ones to a nursing home for a long-term or permanent rehabilitation service. However, in 1990s, assisted living facilities were born giving the elderly and their families a better option. Assisted living facility is referred to different names in different states. It is also known as senior housing in Colorado while other states refer to it as retirement living home, adult living facility, elderly care housing, among others.

Nursing home is a skilled care facility for senior citizens who need 24-hour medical attention. This is for elderly with chronic medical conditions who needs and requires round-the-clock skilled care, long-term attention, and also for short-term recovering patients after being discharged from the hospital.

On the other hand, assisted living residence is for seniors who cannot independently live in their homes, who need assistance in their daily living activities and would want to grow old in an environment that provides a warm, peaceful, and safe home environment with new and balanced lifestyle and socialization, thus, allowing them to nurture new friendships with other residents and subsequently improve their physical, mental and emotional condition.

Nursing homes typically provide room and board, meals, skilled nursing and personal care, and medication management services, and social and recreational activities for their residents. While senior housing offers long term elderly care and assisted living guidelines which includes the following services: Care management and monitoring, help with activities of daily living, housekeeping and laundry, medication management, recreational activities, security, transportation, and two or more meals per day.

Nursing home long-term patients are being assisted in multiple daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring in and out of chairs or bed, and the like. These also include residents with cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Nursing homes provide a secure environment and an array of services to meet the physical, medical, and social needs of their residents.

Assisted living residents only needs assistance with meal preparation, activities of daily living (ADL), medication support and household chores, and/or require supervision due to a cognitive impairment related to disorders such as mild Alzheimer's.

More than 50% of the nursing home residents were women, and 14% were under 65 years old. The average age of a nursing home resident is 86 years old (Source: US Census Bureau 2007). While more than 900,000 Americans live in approximately 39,500 senior care in the country. The average age of a senior living care resident is 85 years old and the average length of stay is roughly 27 months.

Lastly, the average daily cost for assisted living is still less than half the average daily cost for a private room in a nursing home. The average rate for a semi-private room has increased by 1.1% from $189 daily (in 2007) to $191 daily (in 2008) while the average assisted living rate has increased by 2.1% from $2,969 monthly (or approximately $98 daily in 2007) to $3,031 monthly (or approximately $101 daily in 2008). The average rate for a private room in an Alzheimer's wing is $219 and $198 for a semi-private room in the same wing. Rates vary by region and depending on the number of services included.

Quality of Life - the key difference between living at home and living in an assisted living home.

Finding the Best Nursing Homes


Growing old is one of the facts of life that a few people have not truly digested. There are some people who fear of growing old because of everything else that goes with old age. Lesser strength, weaker body, physical limitations, and incapacities are but some of the signs of aging. Although growing old does not actually mean getting sick, the society has developed a concept that older people need extra care and attention. As such, while older people are not really sick, they have to be placed in a home where they can be taken cared of better.

Nursing homes have been established to cater to the special needs of the old people. These homes are dedicated to taking care of the old people, not only physically but mentally and socially as well. In highly urbanized societies where people are very busy with their jobs, taking care of old family members are not convenient anymore, thus finding a home for them seems to be the perfect solution.

However, before deciding on any home for your loved ones, you should make sure that it is going to be a place where your loved ones could live in happily. There are some important factors that you should consider in selecting a nursing home.

Services. The services that are being offered by a home should be of utmost consideration. Finding the best services that could cater to the special needs of older family members is just the least that you can do for them. It helps to browse the internet for possible homes in the area. In this way, you can get the answers to some of your questions immediately as you log into these websites.

Some of the standard services of nursing homes include: physical, occupational, and speech therapists; nurses; nursing aides; recreation assistants; social workers; and of course, room and board. Nutritionists and psychiatrists are nice additions to the services too.

Facilities. Aside from the services, the facilities of homes are equally important as well. You might not be looking for luxurious homes, but at least the facilities should be decent and functional. Important facilities include toilet and bath; living quarters; recreation; and health. Each of these facilities should meet the standards set by the authorities for homes.

Staff. More than anything else, you should remember that you are entrusting your loved ones to strangers. Strangers in the sense that other than the need to place your loved ones into their nursing homes, you have no prior personal involvement with these people at all. It is therefore important to check on the background, credibility, values, and mission of the personnel and staff of nursing homes. In addition, finding out the ratio of the staff and the residents also helps in choosing the best nursing home for your loved ones.

Overcome Mental Abuse


You have most probably encountered the subject of mental abuse many times and you may have even read a thing or two concerning the subject. If you are someone that has personal experience with mental abuse or any sort of abuse for that matter, then you most certainly have reason more to set aside some time and open yourself to the possibility of having a life that is absolutely free from this often well hidden secret that constantly haunts your being.

In order to be trustworthy in the matter, I shall only say for now, that I have personally experienced the excruciating pain of being mistreated and the utter degradation of surrendering before the administrator of such pain and giving them complete control over thoughts and feelings.

Depending on the severity and length of subjection to abuse, you may or may not have the much needed willpower to distance yourself from people that cause you to punish yourself. Often times, it is hard for people that are not familiar with this problem, to understand, just why does a person choose to stick with the punishment. If you take any bad habit, like smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, in each case, the person is most likely aware that indulging the habit, is indeed harmful and a unnecessary or useless part of life.

Thinking along these lines, reveals a pattern of behavior that defies rationality and that is seemingly illogical for most human beings. However, there are many smokers, drug addicts and people that are constantly abused in the world today, so where does it all begin to make sense? In order to really understand, you need to give the pattern of behavior the attention it deserves, do not undermine the power it wields and the powerful effect it has on living.

I believe that habits are one of the essential building blocks of daily life, in other words, we create habits to automate life and to put routines into blocks that the brain categorizes in order not to get bogged down with a thousand and one little details. There is some absurdity in this because if you look at it from the top, you realize that all these habits make up the largest habit of all, which is staying alive.

I am sure there are behavioral specialists who could write many books on the subject but in my effort to stay close to the subject at hand, I will only say that habits form an integral part of our life and as such, the brain by means of evolution and programming, gives them a superior level of importance, thus allowing them many times to slip the radar, even when there are clear signals of danger.

To further understand why a person tolerates mental abuse, it is key to go back to the moment where it first started. By far, the worst cases of mental abuse are those in which it starts from a young age and for a number of reasons. Children are in a phase of constant growth and their brain is in the delicate phase of laying the foundation of thought that will help them get through adulthood, not that abuse should ever be accepted but in children the consequences are more likely to be life long and devastating. Children are also less able to escape from it where as the adult will more often have a choice, even though it is quite common for many adults and especially women, to become addicted to the abuse and in turn unable to flee from it.

There are a many reasons why a a grown person may feel unable to let go and seek shelter from abuse, most certainly where there are dependencies involved. A housewife that has no personal income may allow herself to be constantly abused in order to escape the responsibility of taking complete responsibility for her life, thus being forced to earn her own living. It may be fear based, often abusive spouses will threaten with physical abuse in order to keep their stronghold of control over the other person. In such cases, the person being abused may be overcome with such fear and refuse to take a leap towards regaining control of their life.

If any of this strikes a chord with you or someone that is close to you, know that this is for the reason mentioned above, I am actually speaking this from personal experience and an understanding which I have gained through the desire to claim my own life.

Ultimately, it is a psychological problem which you need to acknowledge, pretending it is something else will not diminish its capacity or duration. There are no new methods to combat this but there are many choices, even though it may seem like there are none. The first and most obvious choice is to formally recognize that it is a real problem. You may indeed always be aware of the abuse but you may not really target it specifically, again a force of habit which creates a invisible layer that protects the habit from direct and targeted attack. I am not sure why or how but habits definitely have qualities of living things, they have life, longevity, a defense mechanism and a number of other qualities that are only visible once you begin to actively combat them.

One of the most important messages I wish to convey to you is that, if you are unable or feel drained by the lifelong effects of mental abuse, humiliation and the fear involved, begin by seeking professional help. Seek help from groups, institutions, law, family or friends. No matter how alone you may feel, know that there are always fine human beings that will hear you out and not turn away from a desperate plea. Unless you are sure to have the will to break free from an abusive person, you must seek help, no matter how difficult or embarrassing it may feel to talk to others, trust me, they will not judge, ridicule or blame you.

Senior Home Care


Once if you're getting aged or your parents, or any of your family members get elder it needs to care for them. These people always need a hand to do their day to day activities too. Some elder people they cant even walk one step without the help of someone. More over many adults prefer to stay at home as they are getting aged. Senior home caring is about caring elder people and so as to maintain their health good. It is a great idea for helping our old aged parents and other people to maintain as much control of life as possible. There are many products available now a day in order to improve the health of elder people and thus to improve their quality of life. One such product to care the elder people is the adapted equipment. Adapted equipment used for senior home care that it helps to achieve the goal of caring your beloved aged peoples. Also when caring elder people there should need to understand their needs and how come make practical the senior caring.

There are many books, videos, pamphlets etc available in the market which includes a verity of steps and precautions to carry while caring the old, aged people. Some websites also provides help to customers to learn the lessons of caring for senior people at their home or at the old age homes. For handicapped or such disabled people there should always need a person to take care of them at each and every intervals of time. In these cases the adapted machine helps you improve the quality of elder people life. Adapted equipments are considered to be a great help for senior home caring. This equipment usually includes some common place products such as elder safe step ladder, wheel chair, grocery store scooters, large-handled eating utensils, bottle openers etc. These tools can make home caring for seniors a little bit easily and quickly. This equipment sometimes costs more to buy or hire. So it is an important to consider both the cost and quality of equipments used for senior home caring. Along with determining the cost and quality of adapted machines it is a good option to buy appropriate caring machine based on an individual's situation.

Retirement care home also means caring for adults after they get retired form their job or business. As many seniors they seek the home retirement to live either at their home, at a nursing home, or at a retirement home after they retire from their job and responsibilities. A nursing home, retirement residence etc could be a choice for retirement caring for adults that they will get the all mode of caring and health care at resident care homes. But many families are trying to set up the facilities and home caring to adults with in their home. Retirement care home is a choice to provide residence and home care to both elder people and younger adults who they have any of physical or mental disabilities.

Healthcare Management Advice for New Graduates


The healthcare administration degree is just one of the best degree programs to choose from for a future full time job or career. Having said that, in many cases this certification is confused with other degree programs. These degree or graduate programs can include the MPH or MA degree. Whereas a few do look comparable, the aim of these graduate university programs are drastically different than the MHA or Master of Healthcare Administration Degree. As you will likely understand, it is imperative to gather the accurate facts when looking for a future career or occupation.

The healthcare administration degree permits someone to specialize in medical care management. This does not just simply involve hospitals or clinics, but also whatever type of firm in the healthcare industry. Illustrations of jobs can include administrators, executives, or marketing positions. Having said that, the principal intent of this degree is to help you to grasp ways to run healthcare companies. Many other graduate university programs provide an ordinary or general knowledge of medical care small businesses, but this degree genuinely provides you with in depth understand of the healthcare industry.

Several other degree programs present you with understanding in medical care but do not go into the management of these organizations. You will take a variety of diverse courses in these programs that are limited to medical organization supervision. These programs include stats, management, finance, and leadership. Additionally, a person's degree courses will very likely involve a place of employment or traineeship. These positions are already presented for you via your college. Many online schools offer this, having said that typically it is on campus programs that will have this requirement.

These programs do have specifications for admission though. These requisites require an examination and a college education. Your field doesn't matter though. Truly make certain that you perform well and have a very good GPA. Similarly, work knowledge in your school will aid you to form your abilities as a future leader in the market place. It may also guide you into being admitted into Health Care Management Degree Programs.

As soon as you have applied to a Healthcare Management Degree Program, you will see what is sincerely being presented. You will definitely match up with a number of diverse people in the market place who can help you to get a place of employment or an understanding of how the marketplace works. Additionally, you will meet different lecturers from distinctive backgrounds. This tends to permit you to increase your net work in hopes of uncovering an occupation after you conclude. During the very first year you need to search into volunteer programs to obtain knowledge and experience in the healthcare industry. A certification could help you, however know-how will just add to that.

Soon after you have concluded the program you are likely to expect a bunch of diverse opportunities. These options range from different management roles in quite a few sectors. Soon after you have shown that you can be a success, you could have the prospect to achieve the management level. These placements are extremely rewarding and pleasing. Also, you will be able to impact people young and old on a daily basis by way of health and healthcare.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Alternative Cellular Energy Pigments: A Unifying Concept for Energy Medicine


Summary

Complex intracellular inclusions were identified in brain cells of patients with non-inflammatory stealth virus encephalopathy. The cells showed extensive disruption of mitochondria leading to the suggestion that the inclusions were providing an alternative (non-mitochondria) source of cellular energy. Pigmented intracellular inclusions and extra-cellular materials were similarly identified in stealth virus cultures.

A characteristic feature of these cultures is the progressive lessening of the cytopathic (cell damaging) effect that coincides with, and is dependent upon, the accumulation of these pigmented materials. Tissue culture and direct patient derived materials exhibit various qualities consistent with their functioning as energy transducers. Specifically, they are composed of conglomerates of finer particles that can display fluorescent, electrostatic, sound resonating and variable magnetic activities. Individual particles contain various combinations of different minerals. They can act as both electron donors and electron acceptors in redox reactions and can also generate gas bubbles from water.

The viability of cells in cultures containing alternative cellular energy pigments (ACE-pigments) can be influenced by exposure to external electromagnetic, magnetic and sound frequencies that have no discernable effects on normal cell cultures. Enhanced cell growth and survival occurs upon exposure to relatively low intensities, while cell destruction occurs at higher intensity external energy exposure. Various natural products show ACE-pigment like activities, including a capacity of protecting cell cultures from the cytopathic effect of stealth viruses. These products are suitable for double blind clinical studies.

Introduction

Plants and certain bacteria derive energy in the form of sunlight to covalently link hydrogen and carbon atoms to form carbohydrates. This photosynthetic process is mediated by chlorophyll molecules that can specifically absorb photons corresponding to the blue and red components of sunlight. The photons elevate the energy levels of particular electrons within the chlorophyll molecules that can then be used in an electron donating (reducing) reaction between carbon dioxide and water to yield carbohydrates, such as glucose.

Electrons can subsequently be withdrawn from carbohydrates in the form of chemical energy for synthesis of other types of life sustaining organic molecules and for the generation heat. Protons typically accompany electrons in electron donating (reduction) and electron capturing (oxidation) reactions. The term oxidation is used since oxygen plays a major role as an electron acceptor to form water.

Chlorophyll utilizes only a minor fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Not only does this seem rather inefficient but the question can also be asked what was the energy used to synthesize the original chlorophyll molecules. Energy could conceivably be derived from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and/or from other less well understood forms of energy.

Viruses can cause cell damage by various mechanisms including simple competition for the metabolic resources available to the cell. I have defined a grouping of cytopathic (cell damaging) viruses, termed stealth viruses, that fail to evoke an immune mediated inflammatory reaction (please refer to http://www.s3support.com for a complete list of publications). The best characterized stealth virus originated from the cytomegalovirus of African green monkeys. The virus was isolated from a patient with the chronic fatigue syndrome, with a similar but not identical virus isolated from a patient with a manic depressive, bi-polar illness.

The virus induces a severe acute disease in cats followed by considerable clinical recovery in spite on an absent inflammatory response. Similarly, the cytopathic effect in tissue culture tends to abate over time, especially in infrequently fed cultures. The mechanism of this striking recovery process is attributed to materials that accumulate in tissue culture supernatants since reactivation occurs upon replacing the tissue culture medium with fresh medium. Reactivation can be prevented by including supernatant materials from repaired cultures into the re-feeding medium.

Unusual intracellular and extra-cellular materials were previously noted in the brains of stealth virus inoculated cats and in the brain biopsies of various patients with stealth virus encephalopathy. They were periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive and also readily seen using the cationic Stains-all dye.

Irregularly shaped inclusions were also noted on electron microscopy of both animal and human brain biopsies. The highly ordered complex structures of some of these inclusions suggested that they were fulfilling some cellular function. Given the marked disruption of the cells' mitochondria, it seemed reasonable to postulate that the inclusions may be providing an alternative (non-mitochondria) energy source. The following data support such a conclusion.

Complex Inclusions in a Brain Biopsy from a Stealth Virus Infected Child

The child's illness evolved over seven months from what was initially considered to be a conduct and attention deficit disorder to an apparent neurological disease. In spite of markedly abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), his early neurological examination was essentially normal. A brain biopsy showed lipid accumulation within glial cells without accompanying inflammation, and was considered non-diagnostic by the attending and referral neuropathologists.

After extensive clinical reviews in major medical centers, a second brain biopsy was performed at Stanford University , this time with sections prepared for electron microscopy. Apart form the lipid vacuolization and mitochondria damage, the attending neuropathologist failed to report on any of the inclusions shown in Figures 1-8 of the article posted on the s3support.com web site.

Pigmented Particles, Threads and Ribbon-like Structures in Stealth Virus Cultures

Representative photographs of the cytopathic effect occurring in stealth virus cultures are also available on the web site. The repair and reactivation processes are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the published article "Stealth virus culture pigments: a potential source of cellular energy." Exp Mol Pathol. 2003: 74:210-23 . Many of the cell clusters become pigmented and the pigmented material can coalesce into discrete particles, some of which are extruded into the tissue culture medium. Various threads and ribbon-like structures can also develop in stealth virus cultures.

They can show intricate patterning and can exist as either hollow tubes or flat bands. Both by scanning electron microscopy and auto-fluorescence microscopy, the particles can be seen as conglomerates of finer particles. The tread and ribbon-like structures are also auto-fluorescent with wide excitation and emission spectra. The particles can occasionally show magnetic activity which is characterized by a degree of variability in sensitivity and responsiveness that is not seen with inorganic metallic objects. Electron dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis shows that the particles contain various minerals with individual particles displaying quite distinctive patterns of mineral composition.

The particles can show both electron donating (reducing) and electron accepting (oxidizing) reactions. The former is readily demonstrated using the chromogen MTT as an electron acceptor. It can also occur with reagents such as iodine in alcohol. Oxidation is seen with the appearance of calcium oxalate crystals following the addition of ascorbic acid to medium containing ACE pigments. The particles can also generate gas bubbles when placed in water. A remarkable feature is the variability seen over time with many of these properties. The particles appear to exist in both a "charged" and a "discharged" state. Individual particles will also commonly resonate when exposed to wide band sound frequencies.

Using a sound generator, each particle will commonly exhibit a rather narrow range of movement activating frequencies. Externally applied electromagnetic, fixed and pulsating magnetic energies, and sound waves can show effects on isolated ACE-pigments and on the viability of stealth virus cultures. It is easier to demonstrate cell destructive effects using light, X-ray and magnetic energies, but low intensity energy exposures have clearly benefited some cultures. Both sound and magnetic energies can induce considerable movement of freely floating cell clusters.

ACE Pigments Derived from Stealth Virus Infected Patients.

Similar mineral containing particles have been found in dried perspiration from stealth virus infected patients. They can exhibit rapidly reversible electrostatic properties suggesting internal movements of electrical charge. They are auto-fluorescent and can be both reducing (electron donating) and oxidizing (electron accepting). They can also generate gas bubbles from water.

Erratic movements of the particles in liquid suspensions may account for what earlier investigators have termed pleomorphic microorganisms. The occasional transformation of the particles into thread-like forms is also consistent with the mistaken belief that the supposed bacteria could transform into fungal forms. It is likely that ACE pigments are also responsible for so called delusional parasitosis or Ekbom's syndrome experienced by occasional patients with severe psychiatric illness. They may also explain mistaken reports of head lice in stealth virus infected patients.

Natural Products and Subtle Energies

An assay for the electron shuttling activity of ACE-pigments has been developed and applied to a number of natural products, including a Japanese plant extract and a material designated Enercell. Interesting patterns develop during these reactions that appear to be subject to environmental influences. These reactions are currently being used as a potential sensor for non-conventional forms of energy that may influence their physical and/or chemical properties. Other highly energized natural products can contain microscopic energy rich particles that show remarkable motility and that could easily be mistaken for bacteria.

Although not as well characterized as electromagnetic radiation, most physicists realize that other radiating forms of energy do exist. Included in this category are so called dark energy, phonons, biophotons (chi, orgone) and what is variously referred to as the ether, subtle energy, or zero-point energy. Understanding the potential reciprocal interactions of living organisms and the ether is rendered difficult because of the lack of suitable detection methods.

The restricted patterns of the minerals in individual ACE pigment particles suggested the existence of selective mineral affinity forces that favor the attraction of like substances. Minerals have mainly been studied in inorganic forms. Increasingly, it appears that minerals can exhibit quite different properties when either single atoms or small microclusters. Minerals can also behave differently when incorporated into organic and even silica based complex molecular lattices.

The concepts of orbitally-rearranged monoatomic element ( ORME ), molecular energy transduction with superconducting coherent energy emissions, and gravity defying elements, have been proposed to explain some of the unique features of these altered states of mineral existence. The field of biophysics is currently addressing the potential harmonization of energy patterns within living organisms and even between organisms separated by considerable distances. The experience of various healers would also suggest that conscious thought may be able to alter these harmonizing energy patterns.

Clinical and Agricultural Studies

Given their strong activity in the electron transferring assay system and testimonial evidence for efficacy in various disease states, a number of these natural products have been selected for detailed double blind, placebo controlled studies. Subjects with illnesses potentially attributable to stealth virus infections, and subjects who manifestly are lacking in energy production would be selected. Among the latter group plans are underway to test patients with various wasting syndromes (including cancer cachexia), children with severe diarrhea and asphyxiated newborn infants. Studies on both experimental and livestock animals can similarly be performed.

An advantage of the energy based approach to therapy is that it removes the focus away from using products as a means of enhancing the immune system. The new approach allows for a two way extension of studies to be conducted in an agricultural setting. Thus many products destined for evaluation in human and animal studies can be objectively assessed for their growth enhancement of various plants and crops. Conversely, natural materials that promote the quality of agricultural products may find usefulness in both animals and humans.

Co-ordination of Effort

It would be desirable to have an organizational structure that would encourage open communication among individuals contributing products, performing efficacy assessments and conducting basic research. Sound financial management and good public relations are also essential. The Government, Industry and Major Academic Institutions have, unfortunately, tended to put money-driven self interests above that of the public.

A fledgling non-profit organization termed S3Support has been joined by an Applied BioPhysics Foundation to form the Progressive University and BioPhysics Institute. Its primary goal is to develop and promote a nationwide endeavor to more rapidly bring the enormous benefits of energy based clinical and agricultural science to mankind. This effort can be assisted by increasing the membership of health care providers, farmers, researchers, administrators, public spokespersons, patients and their family members, etc., in the Applied BioPhysics Foundation.

Top 3 Benefits of Assisted Living


Making the decision to move from your home to an assisted living residence can be a difficult one. Generally it becomes the decision of the elderly individual's children, who begin struggling to take care of their parents in their own home.

Fortunately, seniors are finding it easier and easier to live comfortably in an assisted living home - mostly because of all the perks they receive as residents.

Here are the top 3 benefits of moving into assisted living homes:

1. Social Activities. An assisted living home is kind of like a big party for seniors. It's a place where men and women of a similar age can meet, live and experience all the perks of a great social life again. From trivia night, bowling and movie night to everyday games and activities, living in a home with other seniors can actually end up being a really great time. Some residences even offer beauty salons and spas for their residence - now that's living comfortably, if you ask us!

2. Less Housework. The biggest benefit of moving from your own home to an assisted living environment is eliminating the housework. Cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry and all of the other tasks that go along with maintaining a home are difficult for an average person; imagine what it's like for seniors. Assisted homes hire staff to do all of these things for you. The only thing left for you to do is enjoy your time. Sounds like a good plan.

3. In-House Medical Care. As you get older (especially once you become a senior citizen), doctors appointments become more and more frequent. Unfortunately, it also becomes more and more difficult to arrange transportation to these appointments (especially considering most seniors no long have driver's licenses). Assisted living residences offer in-house medical care so you never have to leave because of an appointment. Suddenly those routine checkups don't sound so bad.

We're not saying that everything about assisted living is great; there are some cons. While the decision to move opens up many doors for senior men and women, the financial burden can be hard for some to handle. If you have the money, we strongly suggest looking into this type of residence. The stress relief and social aspects of assisted homes are priceless...well, almost priceless.

Medical Surgical Nursing - One Of The Top 10 Most Rewarding Careers?


When it comes to the Top 10 rewarding careers, nursing should most certainly make that list. With better than average pay and tons of intangible rewards that comes from helping people, there are few other professions considered as noble as this one. Many who choose to enter the field do so with their eyes set on a medical surgical nursing career to really capitalize on the benefits the profession has to offer.

Medical surgical nursing is a bit more specialized than many other areas in the profession. These nurses tend to require a little more training, whether in school, on-the-job or both. Those who choose to go this route should make sure they have a few necessary characteristics, however. These include:

* Endurance. Medical surgical nursing can be very demanding, especially when things happen to go wrong in the operating room. This means a two-hour operation could turn into a four-hour ordeal. A medical surgical nurse will be expected to endure the entire time, performing at the peak of his or her ability.

* Stress handling ability. While not all operations create high-stress situations, any could turn that way on a time. With this in mind, those who want to enter medical surgical nursing will need to be certain they can handle the pressures that might come along with the job. There's no do-overs in the operating room.

* Willingness to take orders. While all nurses must be able to take and carry out orders, medical surgical nursing can present more face-to-face encounters with doctors than other areas of hospital work. Those who don't mind constant contact with doctors thrive in this area.

* Ability to stomach blood. All areas of nursing come along with some sights, sounds and smells that are not very pleasant, but medical surgical nursing professionals tend to see it all - all the time. If a nurse is in the slightest bit queasy, this might not be the specialty for them.

* Willingness to take extra classes. Since medical surgical nursing is a specialty, there might be extra certifications involved, and extra course work, depending on the state in question. Since surgery techniques are always being improved, continuing education is a must for those entering medical surgical nursing.

Medical surgical nursing can be a fantastic specialty for those who like to really get in the center of the action in helping patients. The specialty is not for everyone, however, and should be carefully weighed before it's pursued.

Many Roles of Nurse Practitioners


Nurse Practitioners begin as registered nurses and obtain additional education and certifications. The qualifications for certification vary by state. Nurse Practitioners must first gain experience as a registered nurse, while working with patients along side an experienced Nursing Practitioner or physician. They may then apply to nursing schools that offer advanced practice programs.

Nurse Practitioner jobs are available in a wide variety of clinical settings such as hospitals, private physician offices, schools, county health clinics, home health care agencies, nursing homes, and even prisons.

A Nursing Practitioner is allowed to exercise a great deal of autonomy and independent judgment in her practice. Most provide basic care focused on common illnesses and injuries and in many states are authorized to write prescriptions. Nursing Practitioners offer greater access to primary health care at reduced costs. Some Nurse Practitioners specialize in treating patients long-term with common chronic conditions including, high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma. A Nurse Practitioner has a strong focus on disease prevention and patient education.

Other areas of advanced practice nursing available in Nurse Practitioner jobs:

Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) - provide prenatal care, deliver babies, and provide post-partum care to normal healthy women. A CNM must graduate from a state-approved school of nursing and pass a national licensing exam. A CNM must also hold at least a Master's of Nursing or higher degree.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) - administer anesthesia to keep patients pain free for all types of surgery in hospitals, doctor's offices, and dental practices. A CRNA is a registered nurse that holds at least a master's degree and must also pass a national certification examination.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) - deliver specialty care in a number of areas including: cardiology, oncology, neonatology, OB/GYN, pediatrics, neurology, and mental health. The expertise of a CNS elevates the quality of patient care. She anticipates and troubleshoots problems and complications with an emphasis on prevention.

Sub-specialty Areas of Nursing

Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse (CWON) - provide expertise for patients and staff nurses in the area of wound, ostomy and continence care.

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) commonly known as ear, nose and throat - provide care and consultation for children with tracheotomies. This type of CPNP coach staff nurses who are novices and provides education for parents, when their children will be discharged from the hospital. They may also participate in programs designed to educate school personal such as teachers, principals, and school bus drivers in the basic care of children with tracheotomies.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) - These healthcare professionals are dedicated to promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding worldwide. They possess credentialed knowledge and experience to manage maternal-child breastfeeding success.

Rehabilitation Nurse Specialist - focuses on getting patients back to normal daily activities following serious injuries and strokes. They practice in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care settings.

Dealing With Nursing Home Abuse


People are oftentimes too inclined to rely on anyone with medical certification. This is sometimes the most persuasive way for truly disgraceful people to hide the abuse they visit on others. Senior abuse is far too often seen and some of its manifestations can be fatal. It doesn't always take forms that are easy to detect. A few of the warnings of nursing home negligence that may shock you include:


  • Sudden change of personality or cognitive function

  • Problems with memory and emotional fits that are not typical for the victim

  • Deep depressions and a disinterest in visitors

  • Nervousness and anxiety that are not normal for the individual

  • Dirty fingernails, toenails and teeth

  • Poor hygiene

The insidious element about nursing home negligence is that many of its symptoms are very corresponding to those of advanced, age-related illnesses. The fundamental key to detecting them is that they tend to be somewhat alarming. Oftentimes, elder abuse results in something feeling alarming about your loved one; you may not be able to say what, but something is not right. It is important to consider all the evidence rather than just looking for one tell-tale sign of abuse or negligence.

The mental issues associated with elder abuse normally include depression, anxiety, and a near catatonia. These mental illnesses oftentimes are the aftermath of an elder being over-medicated. Nursing homes with unqualified and immoral people on staff will sometimes do this to simply make caring for the patients less of a hassle. If you believe your loved one is over-medicated and you're not getting anywhere with the staff, you may want to try an outside doctor to get immediate relief. You should also consider that over-medicated is simply a nicer term for overdosed, and that should clarify to you exactly how dangerous nursing home mistreatment can be. The sooner you seek help, the better.

Nursing home abuse lawyers have the kind of expertise available that enables them to help you in ways you probably hadn't considered. If your loved one is in a dangerous situation, it is critical to get them out of the facility as soon as possible. Due to the fact that nursing homes are medical facilities, incompetent staff members with a medical certification to back up their stupidity and callousness can be extremely dangerous. If this has happened to your loved ones, you may be able to get financial compensation for what they've been put through.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The Advantages Of Becoming a Physical Therapist


Physical therapists are health professionals who help in restoring function, relieving pain, and improving the mobility of the persons with disabilities. They treat accident victims and patients with disabling conditions such as arthritis, fractures, low-back pain, head injuries, heart diseases, cerebral palsy and more. Physical therapy specialists advice several exercise programs to increase the strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, coordination and range of motion of the disabled individual. What is more satisfying than bringing back a disabled person to his normal life style?

To become a physical therapist, one must have a master's degree in physical therapy from an accredited institute and a state license. Moreover, he should possess strong interpersonal skills so as to communicate with the patient and his family. The physical therapy job demands scores of patience from the practitioner.

Physical therapist jobs are gratifying in the sense that board certified physical therapists can practice in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, long term care centers, acute care hospitals, nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, educational institutions, and more. One of the advantages of becoming a physical therapist is that you can opt for temporary, travel, per diem, contract, part-time, full-time or permanent placements.

Another advantage of becoming a physical therapist is that you get to know more people of different age groups, values, cultures, and faiths. The advantages of becoming physical therapist do not end there; qualified and skilled physical therapy professionals receive competitive salaries and excellent benefits as well.

Physical therapy improves the health and fitness of the patient. A physical therapist plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life of disabled people by developing their strength and lifting up their spirit. As the opportunities for physical therapy jobs are expected to rise, it is definitely a lucrative career option.

Types of Car Accidents


Car accidents occur every day, with millions occurring each year. Many are reported to police and insurance companies, while some may be handled by the parties involved themselves. When they do occur, the results can be devastating. There are a number of types of accidents, each able to cause substantial harm to the victims. A single vehicle accident occurs when only one car is involved. This can be a driver that loses control and crashes into a telephone pole. When weather conditions make the roads slick, the chances for single vehicle accidents can greatly increase.

When two or more cars are involved, the accident is known as a multi-vehicle accident. Both of the parties may have made an error that led to the incident or one of the drivers may have been neglecting to take road way precautions and as a result, crashed into the other vehicle. T-bone accidents can cause great damage. The blow to the car can come in from the side; making a T shape between the two cars. The sides of the driver or passenger doors can be hit, meaning there is not the same amount of protection from the car as when the front or back are hit. This can often be seen at an intersection when one car runs a red light as another car with the right of way is driving through the intersection. Rear end accidents are when one car is struck from behind. When a driver misjudges the amount of time it will take to properly stop, or they do not notice that the driver in front of them has put on their brakes, the car may end up crashing into the back portion of the car in front. If there is another car in front of the car hit, such as when they are sitting at a stop light, the car may be propelled into the car in front of them leading to further damage.

A head on collision is when the main blow of the accident occurs to the front end of the car. When two cars are driving on opposite sides of the street, an obstacle such as an animal in the road may throw on of the other drivers into the opposite lane, causing both cars to strike each other at the front end. These types of accidents can cause great injuries and fatalities since the force is greater when both cars are coming towards each other. With all types of accidents the increase in speed will only add to the amount of damage that is caused. Due to the large forces involved in car accidents, personal injuries that are suffered by those involved can be extensive. When injured by another driver's mistake on the road, seeking compensation to pay for medical bills and damages is important. An attorney can help you obtain the funds you need.

Eight Types of Nurses


Nurses are respected and valued members of the medical community. They play a critical role in the health care field. Although the medical field is made up of many types of nurses, they are all exciting and rewarding careers. The following list outlines many types of nursing careers:

- Registered Nurse (RN): Registered Nurses work in almost all areas of the health care profession. They perform many tasks that include: administering treatments such as medications, performing certain medical procedures, monitoring vital signs, advising and supporting patients, educating patients about medical conditions, and keep families up-to-date on a patient's status. Registered Nurses can specialize in certain medical areas

- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA): Certified Nurse Assistants are also known as nurses' aides, patient care technicians, home health aides, and home health assistants. CNAs are employed in a number of health care fields. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, and adult living homes. CNAs perform a number of duties that include: monitoring health such as recording a patients temperature, pulse, and respiration, helping patients eat, bathe, and dress, helping patients walk, keeping patients rooms in order, providing nutritious meals, answering patients' call bells, and making beds. They may also help patients to exam rooms and even assist with simple procedures. CNAs report to a Registered Nurse.

- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): Although Licensed Practical Nurses have less training than Registered Nurses, they are employed in all areas of health care. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, and medical clinics. LPNs perform such duties as monitoring a patient's overall condition, giving injections, recording vital signs, and applying dressings. They will also assist patients with personal hygiene and report any treatment reactions

- Critical Care Nurse: A Critical Care Nurse works with seriously injured and ill patients in the hospital. This type of nurse works in the ICU (intensive care unit) or CCU (critical care unit). Their job is to care for patients who are being treated for serious and life-threatening illnesses.

- Travel Nurse: A Travel Nurse is a nurse that travels to different areas and provides short term support when there is a nurse shortage. They will fill in when a full time nurse goes on maternity leave, during peak work times, if a nurse has a long term illness, or if a nurse is on an extended vacation. There assignments are short term but they are highly paid. An assignment usually runs for about 13 weeks. Travel Nurses often work in hospitals and medical clinics. Employers will provide many benefits such as free housing and health insurance.

- Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN): Theses nurses perform the same job function as licensed practical nurses. LVNs provide certain medical services such as giving enemas, treating bedsores, bandaging wounds, and recording vitals. They also assist patients with bathing and dressing.

- Public Health Nurse (PHN): These nurses are registered nurses who have specialized in community health. They often go to community centers, homes, and schools where they assist individuals and families with health concerns. They work with community organizers regarding health related issues. They also perform the same duties as registered nurses.

- Nurse Practitioner: A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has specialized training and education which allows them to carry out many tasks normally performed by a doctor. Such tasks include diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. Some states allow practical nurses to write prescriptions.

These are just a few of the more popular areas of nursing. Nurses are on the front lines of health care and are usually the first people patients meet when faced with a health issue. Nurses provide valuable support for patients and their families making them an indispensable part of the health care community.

In-House Nursing Programs VS Nursing School: Which Is Better?


The health care part of the economy is one of the very few that continued to grow even in the midst of the greatest economic recession that has ever hit the United States. But for that very reason, nursing schools have become competitive places in the past few years -- if you're thinking about how amazing it would be to help people heal while you make a good living, you'd better have a plan. 

Starting At the Bottom

You might want to start as a nurse's assistant and work your way up the ranks from the inside, taking the nursing programs offered at your hospital. There's nothing wrong with that; it'll get you the social and political connections you need to be at the top of the totem pole by the time you get there. But it does take an awfully long time, and you might find you get upset when people from the outside -- the ones who went to nursing school -- get hired to be your superiors despite your experience and connections.

On the other hand, you can get started quickly -- getting a Certified Nursing Assistant diploma only takes three months, and that's if you don't take the accelerated course. And once you have your CNA, you can walk into almost any hospital, nursing home, or other major medical institution and have at least a ground-level job.

Starting In the Middle

You might want to skip the startup and jump straight in as a Licensed Practical Nurse. It's nice to jump into a position that pays in the middle five digits up front, there's no doubt about that. Of course, to get there you'll have to take 2-3 years of nursing education. Some hyper-accelerated courses (usually online) might allow you to get your LPN in only nine months, but only if you're extraordinarily motivated and dedicated.

The upside is starting in a position that involves a little less grunt work and a lot more autonomy than being a CNA. The pay and benefits are significantly better, and the opportunities for moving into a specialization (which pay even more) are abundant.

Starting At The Top

Of course, you could go for the full 4-6 year nursing school experience and start working as a Registered Nurse right at the get-go. There's a lot of demand for RNs in the US, and they command some surprising salaries. Of course, they also owe quite a bit of school debt for that nursing education, so a significant portion of those funds are going to pay back those loans.

On the plus side, an RN is a leader in her workplace. Only an RN has any significant potential to move up to administration and take a command position, but even those that don't generally end up in specialist slots that draw in a very decent salary.

In the end, there are significant benefits and drawbacks to each plan -- and none of them is 'right'. You can start with in-house nursing programs or go to six years of nursing school; in the end, there are good reasons to do either. Figure out which one works with your priorities, and once you choose a plan, commit to it. That's the best way to start a career in nursing!

Nursing Employment - What It Takes to Become a Successful Nurse Professional in a Competitive Market


Employment in Nursing - What it Takes to Become a Successful Registered Nurse, Traveling Nurse, or other Nursing Professional

Do you like helping people? Have you ever thought about becoming a successful nurse? If so, we can help you. While certain professions are currently on the way out, nursing industry positions are on the rise. Namely, the nursing industry is one of the quickest developing fields. As the number of different types of homes providing specialized and individualized care continues to grow, the nursing home industry job market is growing and the many types of jobs needed in the nursing homes.

Before you can become a nurse you need to understand the difference between the different types of nurse. Here is a list of different Nurse positions:

1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA): A CNA is also known as a nurse assistant or home health assistants (HHAs). Essentially, CNAs provide patients with assistance all aspects of their daily living tasks, working under the supervision of a registered nurse. CNAs work in hospitals, as well as in different types of nursing homes, adult living facilities, and even in private homes. They maintain a close interaction with patients, and inform their reporting nurse of any changes.
2. Registered Nurse (RN): A Registered Nurse (RN)Registered Nurse is the most prevalent and the largest occupation in health care. An RN performs a variety of duties including providing treatments, educating patients and their families about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients and family members. Depending on the level of experience and specific field, RNs may choose to specialize in areas of health care relating to a particular condition, an area of the body.
3. Travel Nurse: A Travel Nurse is a very exciting position. The Travel nurse is an RN who takes travel assignments, working in hospitals across the nation for upwards of 3 months at a time. They work in various hospitals that are experiencing a strong shortage of nurses, and their working conditions will vary from one assignment to the next. As far as the industry goes, these nurses are highly paid and enjoy generous benefits, since their services are in such high demand.
4. Public Health Nurse (PHN): A Public Health Nurse (PHN)Public health nurses are RNs with specialized training in community health. These nurses work with local resources, articulating community health concerns to local health planners and policy makers, and assist members of the community to voice their own problems and concerns.
5. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN: An LPN effectively performs in all areas of health care, and have more training than CNAs, but less than RNs. LPNs provide basic bedside care such as taking vital signs, preparing and giving injections, applying dressings and ice packs, and monitoring the patient's overall condition. LPNs also observe and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments, sometimes performing routine laboratory tests.
6. Nurse Practitioner: A Nurse practitioner is an RN who with additional education. Namely, and NP has completed additional courses and specialized training in order to function as a doctor. They take on additional duties in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and in many states they may write prescriptions.
7. Work with an Experienced Resume Writer: A resume is your key to success. In this competitive job market, a resume is your BEST Career tool. Most of the time, it is your only method for getting your foot in the door. If you resume is riddled with spelling or grammatical errors, it will be discarded. By hiring a Certified Professional Attorney Resume Writer with EXTENSIVE HR experience, you can guarantee that you will have a legal professional help you achieve your career goals.

Renton Assisted Living


The city of Renton's transformation from a fledgling outpost on the trail to Seattle to a dense urban center began in the 1930s when it became home to coal mines and logging equipment manufacturing.

During World War II, the Boeing Airplane Company settled there and the city's population exploded as people moved to the area to work at the manufacturing plant. Renton's booming industry and population have attracted urban development and amenities that can suit the needs of any Renton assisted living resident.

Renton Recreation

Seniors in Renton have numerous options for entertainment. The city offers retail, leisure and recreational activities at The Landing, a retail, residential and dining complex. The Landing is home to several major retail chains, restaurants and a 14-screen Regal Cinema.

Renton assisted living communities are some of the most well adorned in Washington due to their close proximity to the only IKEA store in the state. The Swedish-based furniture retailer is know for its inexpensive yet stylish furnishings. The store's massive warehouse is also home to a restaurant and food store specializing in Swedish cuisine.

Renton Activities

Many assisted living facilities provide a scheduled rotation of activities for their residents, but Renton senior living residents can also find recreational activities and social programs at the Renton Senior Activity Center.

The center offers free, drop-in access for seniors age 50 and older to services such as health screenings, legal advice and weekly transportation to local grocery and department stores.

Renton residents have access to great music performances from the Renton City Concert Band which showcases wind and percussion instruments from local musicians.

The band performs at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center which is open year-round and hosts an assortment of musical, dance and other performing arts groups.

Renton Medical Facilities

Seniors can't take advantage all that Renton has to offer if they aren't feeling well, which is why Renton assisted living residents are fortunate to live near Valley Medical Center. Valley Medical Center is recognized for its treatment of stroke, sleep and joint conditions, as well as for providing outstanding treatment for patients with heart, cancer and neurological conditions.

Renton seniors may also visit Overlake Hospital Medical Center in the nearby city of Bellevue. The Overlake is home to a level III trauma facility, a specialized Senior Care program and a nursing program that is part of a national system of training nursing staff about the needs and care for elderly patients.

Renton Transportation

The Renton transit center is a major mass transit hub where residents from Renton senior living communities can hop on a King County Metro Transit bus to get anywhere within the city limits. From there, they can also catch a Sound Transit double-decker bus for a day trip into Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma and other nearby cities.

Seniors who have limited mobility may qualify for the ADA Paratransit Program and are eligible to take advantage of Metro's Access transportation service. The Access shuttles are specially equipped to handle wheelchairs and provide shared ride service along existing bus routes.

Renton assisted living seniors can enjoy quality living facilities, first-class medical care, and a wealth of recreational and cultural activities to keep them healthy and engaged. Find assisted living for your loved one by browsing our Renton assisted living page.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Forms of Nursing Home Abuse


Nursing Home Abuse

There are few things as tragic as abuse targeted towards those who cannot readily defend themselves. Because of this it is painful when someone you care about falls victim to neglect and abuse in an elder care facility. While there are many forms of abuse which can occur in a home for elderly care, it is important you are aware of the most common forms in order to better protect yourself and those you love.

Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse

Elderly individuals in nursing home care vary in their levels of health, mobility and independence. However, all elder care home residents can easily fall victim to neglect when caretakers act negligently and without care. Some common forms of nursing home abuse include the following:


  • Physical abuse, such as forceful grabbing and hitting

  • Sexual assault, either performed by other residents or by caregivers

  • Fraud and theft from residents

  • Mental and emotional abuse, such as humiliation and verbal abuse

  • Isolation practices and other detrimental practices

  • Malnutrition and improper feeding practices

  • Improper medicating practices, such as over medicating or leaving out vital medications in the daily doses

The victims of these forms of abuse and neglect are likely to suffer greatly from the experience. From emotional trauma and physical pain to a financial burden there are a number of hardships that can arise from these unpleasant experiences. Because of this it is imperative those responsible for the experience are held accountable for their role in causing harm. If your loved one has been harmed in their elder care home, an experienced legal professional can help you seek compensation.

Great Activities for Seniors in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Homes


Senior citizens that find themselves in nursing homes or even in one of those assisted living facilities can at times can fall victim to boredom and become apathetic due to it. If they are not kept active it is had to stay excited about anything and it will not be of any help in trying to help their minds to stay young for a longer period of time. A lot of times in these facilities the people who work there are overworked and simply don't have time to come up with things for their residents to do. If you would like to help seniors have more active lives, get in touch with one of these facilities and see if you could volunteer to do some work with their seniors.

Once you find a place that will allow you to work with their seniors there are a variety of different things that you might be able to do to help keep the seniors more active and less bored with their lives. One thing you might consider doing is help them start up a newsletter for their nursing home or assisted living facility. You might be surprised at how many seniors are talented writers and poets and you can use those talents to have them write news articles, fiction articles as well as poetry that could be added to the newsletter. This will let them share their talents with others and will keep their minds active and it will give them also a reason to pay more attention to what's going on around them since they are going to want to be able to write interesting pieces for the newsletter.

Another good idea to try and do is to set up an arts and crafts show. Check with your seniors with regards to the kinds of crafts they like to do and have done and take those talents and let them create a variety of different items. Once they have done this you might see if the nursing home or facility will allow you to open up the arts and crafts show to the public. This way a variety of different people will have the opportunity to purchase these handmade items. It will also help these seniors with any self-esteem issues they might have. It will make them feel important and needed again.

Consider setting up different kinds of exercise groups all varying in levels of complexity because you want to be able to include even those that might be restricted to a wheelchair. You could have yoga, simple stretching exercises, take them to community pools where they can get some aquatic exercise, whatever you can think of that's going to help them benefit from the movement of the exercises.

If there is a special event coming to town like the fair, or a special speaker, consider taking a group out to one of these events. Even take them to your local Saturday Market or out to a park as a group activity. Getting them involved with doing things outside of the facility is going to go a long way in helping them feel better about themselves and feel healthier.

Finding a Nursing Home - How to Deal With the Emotional Factor of Moving to a Care Home


In your senior years, one of your major tasks may be to find a nursing home. In fact, finding and moving into the right caring home is the key factor in determining the quality of your life. By choosing the right care home for your needs, you're entering an environment especially designed for people with your particular circumstances. Your new care home is a place where you can relax and not worry about the practicalities of daily life. You just need to focus on being as happy as possible. But this is not as simple as it sounds. For one thing, finding a nursing home and moving in is a very emotional experience.

So let's consider the emotional factors involved in moving into a caring home. Like all major life changes, it gives rise to a number of fears. These fears, which include fear of regimentation, of losing your identity and being institutionalized, can have profound emotional effects on the new arrival at a nursing home. The fact is that arriving at your new care home can be a daunting business and how you handle it will depend on your personality. If you're the resilient type, you can take it all in your stride. But most people experience a sense of anxiety, bewilderment and dislocation when first entering residential care.

So what can you do about this? One important way to do this is by finding a nursing home that you feel comfortable in. You shouldn't view a nursing home as just a building with a range of facilities and a collection of staff; you should view it as your new home, a place where you're going to spend most of your time in the future.

That's why it's important to visit every care home before deciding to move in. With luck, you'll find a place that feels just right but in any event, a detailed examination of potential nursing homes will mean that when you come to move in, it will be less of a surprise.

Other than visiting the homes and talking to residents, you should also ask questions about you potential new home. You need a find out to what extent you can maintain your independence. The fact is that caring homes vary considerably in their adherence to fixed routines.

So you need to find out answers to questions such as:

How much flexibility there is regarding meal times and bath times? Being able to follow your own routine as much as possible can help you feel more independent.

What are the visitor arrangements? In the early days, regular visits will help dispel in the initial sense of dislocation and loneliness. And are your pets allowed to visit?

What personal items can you bring with you? Obviously you'll probably have less room that your former home. But being able to bring your own small items of furniture and hang your favourite pictures will go a long way towards creating a homely atmosphere.

What organised activities are there? The best way to become part of a community is to be socially active. This way you'll feel a sense of belonging and quickly make new friends. Likewise, if you're used to being out and about, you should check if residents are encouraged to step outside the home.

Obviously living in a residential care home is regimented to some extent, and fixed routines have to be the order of the day. Flexibility varies from home to home and depends on such matters as budgets, staffing and facilities. But by creating your own personal routine and environment as much as possible, you can retain much of your own lifestyle and so avoid much of the emotional turmoil.

Failure to deal with the emotional consequences of moving into a care home can be serious and can have a profound effect on your emotional well-being and ability to adapt to life in your new home. So choose your new nursing home with care, make it your own special place, and join in the social life. In this way, your new nursing home will be not just a place to live and be taken care of, but a place where you can thrive and enjoy a whole new lease of life.