Nursing Homes|Nursing Home Abuse|Assisted Living Facilities

Now that you've decided to become a CNA, you need to get training from an accredited training provider in Texas. A college or nursing care facility that is accredited by the Texas nursing board is your best bet for getting trained. After completing the training you will be eligible for the certification exam that will get you a step closer to becoming a certified nursing aide.

If you can't afford the tuition costs for CNA training, there are a couple of ways you can get it for free. One of those ways is to ask your nearest Job Corps office if they're providing CNA classes. There are four Job Corps offices in Texas. They are located in San Marcos, El Paso, Laredo and Mckinney. Not only do they have CNA courses from time to time but they also offer pharmacy technician and medical assisting courses. Both of those are great alternatives to CNA training should you opt for them.

Another way of getting free nurse aide training in texas is through nursing care facilities. There are a lot of nursing homes in Houston, Dallas and Austin who you can approach for employment. Basically, you should look for nursing homes that are looking for CNA's. You then approach them with an interest to work as a CNA. A lot of these facilities will hire you and then pay to get you certified since there is an imminent shortage of CNA's across the United States. You can rest assured that this will be the case for many years to come since the demand for CNA's is rising every year.

Sometimes, you can contact the nurse aide registry or the Texas nursing board and ask them if the government is having any subsidized training programs. If there are any that are running at that moment, the cost will usually be minimal enough for you to be able to join.

It's not a surprise that most seniors prefer to remain in their homes as long as they can. Moving into a nursing home can make them depressed as they view nursing homes as a place to wait for death. One of their biggest fears is the loss of independence. Living in their own home can be therapeutic for them as they are in familiar surroundings.

In some cases, home care is a great option for the elderly. Being in familiar territory will give them peace of mind. Being placed in a nursing home can mean having fewer choices such as when and what to eat and when to wake up. Also, nursing homes can be really expensive as opposed to home care.

There are many options available to the elderly in terms of their care. They can be provided with homecare whether by a family member or by a paid caregiver. Either way, there will be a cost associated. For instance, a family member providing care may have to deal with lost wages by staying home while hiring someone outside will also come at a cost. These are just some issues involved with having elderly parents. Other issues will force you to discover what is best for them. Whatever decisions are made depends on their needs and wishes. Let's look at some of these areas worth discussing with them.

1. What are your parent's thoughts about being independent? Find out what's most important to them at this point in their lives. Is being close to family and friends an important thing to them? Another thing to think about is if they have health issues which may affect where they live.

2. As your parents get older, things such as living wills and power of attorney become even more important. Decisions like these should be made as early as possible and should involve persons they trust.

3. Aging parents should ensure that all their affairs are in order and understood by the family.

4. What is the state of their health? Should they have a living will or other directives for health care? If they do, what are they? And if they don't, should they?

These are some relevant issues to visit and start talking about with your parents. Keep in mind however, these tips to ensure that whatever dialogue is had, is productive.

Do not waste time as the sooner you start discussing these issues, the more time you have to react. Being reactive as opposed to proactive in a sticky situation is not a good way to deal with aging issues. Also, be sensitive as having to discuss issues such as these can be stressful for them. It's not a very happy time to be discussing their mortality.

Never try to overwhelm them by bombarding them with a bunch of questions at once. Address these issues over time. In addition, if you have outstanding issues with your aging parents, don't attempt to drudge up the past. This is not an appropriate time for reprisal.

Discussing these important family issues before a situation occurs is an essential step in making the preparations for providing adequate care for elderly parents.

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

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

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

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

None of us like to think that we may need nursing home care one day, but according to government statistics just over 50% of all Americans do need special care at some time in their lives. The problem with nursing home care is the cost - and the cost of nursing home insurance is going up almost every week. Fortunately there are several things you can do to lower the cost of your monthly premium and there's one very simple thing you can do - a deep, dark little secret that your broker hopes you'll never find out about - that will cut the cost of your coverage by approximately 30% in less than 30 minutes.

Before we get to the Big Secret for cutting the cost of a nursing home policy by as much as 30% instantly, lets talk about some of the other things you can do that can reduce your premium ever further.

For instance, did you know that you can save money every single month simply by paying your premium automatically each time? If your company doesn't have the hefty expense of sending you a bill every month (a bigger expense than you probably realize) then they are more than happy to pass most of that savings on to you in the form of a lower premium every month.

Buy your nursing home insurance now rather than later. The younger you are when you buy your insurance the less it is going to cost you every month. Also - and this is a fact that many people don't want to hear - almost 10% of all Americans between the ages of 40 and 65 need some sort of nursing home care for at least some time. Getting your policy earlier in life means that you'll pay a much lower premium later in life when money is often more of an issue.

But here's the Big Secret, the secret that your broker hopes you never find out about, the little secret that can save you 30% or more on your policy instantly - and it's so simple you may not believe it can really save you so much.

All you need to do is to buy your policy online. Yes, you read that right. Just buy your policy from an online broker.

How can this save you so much? For two reasons. One, online brokers have almost no overhead to worry about. Since they don't have to pay the rather substantial expense of an office and furnishings (and insurance!) and all the rest they are able to sell you a policy at a wholesale price and still show a profit. The second reason is because of competition. There's a lot of competition online and the only way for an online broker to compete under conditions like that is to cut prices to the very bone.

That may be bad for the agent but it's great for you. For once in your life YOU come out on top when it comes to buying insurance!

There's another way you save, too. When you buy your insurance from the comfort of your own home there isn't a live agent sitting across from and selling you more and more coverage that you never intended to buy and can't really afford. Wouldn't it be great for YOU to be in charge for once?

Even though I've spent a lot of time researching online insurance I don't want you to simply take my word for anything. Instead I want YOU to get online and check out the savings you find yourself. The one thing I can promise you is that you will be amazed by how much you can save simply by buying your nursing home policy online.

We can rest assured that despite headlines in the media, most of our loved ones will be well-cared for in a nursing home or other home-care residence.

This was not the case for my husband and me.

Family members struggle with the guilt of having to place a loved one or question whether or not they made the right decision. When abuse or neglect rears its ugly head, family members are thrust into a tailspin of worry, stress, and despair.

Only twelve hours after we placed my father, he disappeared from the secure skilled nursing home. Frightened, I was already aware of loved ones wandering off and later found dead; some within a half-mile.

On the day he was admitted, my father left the facility among a handful of visitors. Wandering the roads on that cold February night, he was lost some 2,000 miles away from "home." According to the Sheriff's report, a Samaritan spotted a lone man ambling along the freeway in the Mojave Desert. When he stopped to inquire, he learned that my father was trying to go home to Milwaukee.

When we met the administrator at her office that night, the first words out of her mouth were, "I don't know if we can keep your father here."

"What? After all the questions we asked to ensure his safety and their ability to care for a wanderer? Not even an apology? He could have died! How dare you be so insensitive!"

The next several weeks (it felt more like a year) found us ensnared in a nightmare involving attorneys, the ombudsman, and threats. I emphasized my need to hear them admit their mistake. In my mind, this was less about a lawsuit, which they were afraid of, and more about motivating them to review and follow their carefully designed procedures. Because there was no other suitable place nearby at this time, I saw this as my father's sole living option.

Undoubtedly, advised by their attorney, they never admitted any wrongdoing. I still kept after them on following procedures. Over time, our confrontational wounds began to heal and my father remained.

I feared my father might be abused.

When incidences like this occur, it is best to stay involved. As uncomfortable as this was, I held the administrator and the staff accountable. Fortunately, the director of nurses and the administrator rarely had direct contact with my father.

Instead, I developed relationships with the Certified Nurses Assistants (CNAs). They were the ones who spent time caring for my father's day-to-day needs. I learned to look beyond management's rigidity and uncooperative nature to witness the good among the CNAs who provide direct care for our loved ones.

My father's caregivers adored him and felt awful about what we called "The Great Escape."

Why do incidents go unreported?

Consider our situation.

The nursing home was the only nearby secure twenty-four-hour facility at the time. Attacking management and trying to seek restitution or other measures of disciplinary action would have likely incensed management and made things worse for my father. Remember, I wanted to resolve the situation, because I wanted my father to remain nearby. Other options included moving him to another city. Instead of making my father suffer, I chose the more difficult route, so my husband and I and our friends could visit him more frequently.

Like a good leader, I held tightly to my vision of quality care. I monitored staff performance and gave encouraging feedback. So did our friends! The staff learned from us how integral they were to our peace of mind and how much we appreciated how nicely they cared for my father.

Months later, our efforts were rewarded when we learned that management's missteps had gone too far. Eventually, new owners took over and the old management was out.

To show our appreciation, we tried doing special things for the front-line staff. The biggest was our 24-hour delivery service.

24-Hour Pizza Delivery for the Nursing Home Staff

I talked my husband into doing a 24-hour round-the-clock lunch for the care staff. We ordered pizzas and sodas and personally delivered them at lunch time for each of the three shifts. The staff during the night shift greeted us in tears. They explained they rarely see family members, let alone those that treat them to lunch past midnight!

It was a gift the staff talked about for a long time. They felt really special - especially, due to our sleepless sacrifice. To this day, I feel their reactions made our efforts worthwhile.

TIPS to prevent elder abuse while someone else cares for your loved one:

1. Be present.


2. Visit often - at least twice a week. If you can't, ask a friend to visit.


3. Greet and talk regularly with staff members who provide care for your loved one. Make it personal. Paint a picture of your loved one's years as a vibrant and contributing member of society. This will give them a feeling for the whole person for whom they care - not just the impaired one.


4. Bring in treats for the staff every now and then.


5. Treat the staff with respect and express how much you appreciate the care they provide for your loved one--assuming you do! With the average hourly wage for a full-time nursing home caregiver at $11 across the US (about $22,000 a year), many are exhausted; especially, after working at another job just to support their families. A little and consistent appreciation goes a long way!

Bottom Line: Develop personal connections with the people you depend upon to provide quality care for your loved one.

Below is a list of variables to consider when making your choice. Review the list and mark which are important to you.

Is this facility covered by your insurance? For how long? Under what circumstances?

Location- is it close to family and friends? Proximity to friends and family is one of the most important pieces of the decision.

Meals: do you have an option of an alternate at each meal? Are there considerations made for alternative menus such as: cardiac/renal/diabetic diets, vegetarian/vegan; kosher, weight loss/gain?

Do they offer transportation to out-of-the-facility appointments? Is this free or for an extra fee? Do they have rehabilitation available? Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy 5, 6 or 7 days a week?

Do they offer other medical services: podiatry, dental, ophthalmologist/optometrist? Do they have an activities department and what activities are available and how often: music, games, exercise groups?

Is there a chapel and/or minister available, how often? What is the staff to resident ratio?

Are there separate units for short term rehab versus long term care? Do they offer salon services? How often in the week? Do you like the general appearance: colors, lighting, and cleanliness?

Are there private or semi private rooms? Do they provide a TV and phone? Can you bring in your own furniture such as a recliner chair? Can you have pet visits?

A state regulatory agency evaluates all facilities regularly in numerous categories from food preparation to medication errors. You may consider looking at the summary to see how well they performed compared with their competition.

List all the nursing homes in your area. You can find listings in your yellow pages, online using your search engines, in your local Senior Resource guides, asking for referrals from friends, or by asking your primary care physician.

Call to schedule a visit, take a tour, and talk to some of the residents and staff.

After exploring all the options you can feel more confident in your decision.

Tips:

--Definitely take the time to visit. Being in the building and seeing the residents and staff will influence your decision.

-- Proximity is important in choosing a facility, the closer it is to friends/family, the more frequently friends and family will visit.

-- It's important to remember the old adage "there's no place like home", but you can find facilities that mirror the feelings of home.

-- Choosing a nursing home is not an exact science, you want to visit & tour your options to get the feel of the facility before making your decision.

-- You still have options- even after checking in, if you are not satisfied with your care or service, you have options and can transfer to another facility.

Warnings:

- Some facilities have been rated poorly by state regulatory agencies, the reports are available but you will have to request it.

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.

The duties of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) include a wide range of responsibilities depending where you work and in which state you reside. These tasks vary with the job and facility and also vary somewhat from state to state. There are many laws of responsibility and liability that cover the exact duties of a CNA.

As you go through your formal education and training you will learn more about the law of your state and how it applies to your role as a certified nursing assistant. Your first obligation will be the client or the patient. You will often be responsible for the daily management and routine of your patient. This is especially true for the care of elderly people in nursing home and extended care facilities.

Most likely your second obligation will be to carry out the mission, goals, and objectives of the facility where you are working. Many places today offer intense training and an orientation program to carefully go over the expectation of their workers.

Your third obligation will be to carry out the duties of a certified nursing assistant as you were trained and educated to do and perform. This becomes your major obligation and you will find it very rewarding and satisfying.

One of the specific responsibility of a CNA include making sure the rights of the patient are always protected. This includes the right of privacy, the right to be informed of their health care program and treatment, their right to accept or reject treatment, and the right to be included in their health care plan information.

Because nurses do not spend a lot of time in direct contact with the patient the certified nursing assistant becomes the "eyes and the ears" of the nurse. Your duties will include to keep close watch over your patient or client and be familiar with emergency responses in case of need. In most situations the duties of a certified nursing assistant also include the monitoring of vital signs for your client or patient.

Of course this will involve you taking temperature, respiration, pulse, blood pressure, and level of pain. These are common duties that you will perform everyday on all of your patients. Most likely your responsibilities will also include helping with the feeding process to ensure that patients are eating. You may also be assigned the task of bed-making, hair care, and bed-bath responsibilities.

There are many duties of a certified nursing assistant and the responsibility is enormous and challenging. The reward will also be exciting and very satisfying.

Louis Zhang, Certifiednursingassistantonline dot com

Nursing homes in the United States are doing great service to families of elderly people. It's a pity that some families do not have the time and patience to take care of their elderly members such as their parents and grandparents. But thankfully, there are nursing homes that can do the job for them from bathing the old folks, changing their clothes, feeding them, to entertaining them and putting them to sleep.

Senior citizens aged 65 and above account for most of the residents in nursing home facilities. As of 2004, there were 16,100 nursing homes with 1.5 million residents or 86 percent occupancy rate in the U.S. based on the National Nursing Home Survey.

Sadly, abuses have been found to be increasing in these facilities for elderly folks. Nursing home abuse cases vary from one facility to another with some initiated by staff members and the others caused by the residents. Cases may involve from as simple as neglect to worse cases such as physical injury, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse. What's unfortunate is that many of these cases were not reported leaving the victims still fearful.

The management of the nursing home facility is responsible for taking the necessary disciplinary actions immediately after an abuse is reported. If a staff is the one involved, it's the nurse executive's responsibility to protect the resident and immediately transfer the alleged wrongdoer to another area with no access to residents notably during the investigation proceedings.

The standard procedure is for the head of the facility to immediately conduct an investigation on the abuse issue. Should the nurse executive is not available, the nurse in charge or supervisor present during the incident can start the investigation. Normally, an incident report has to be made. This needs to provide information on the activities taking place at the time, names and statements of staff on duty, details of the resident abused (physical assessment) as well as statements from witnesses, the violator and other residents.

However, while it may be alright to just move the wrongdoer to the kitchen or laundry area of the facility when the matter is looked into, there are still risks involved. If the person alleged to have initiated the abuse remains in the facility, the risk remains and is even greater when there's less supervision in new area where that staff is assigned.

A Federal regulation calls on all nursing home facilities to ensure that violations including neglect, mistreatment and abuse are reported right away to the administrator and other officials. Reporting of violations to the facility's management should be done foremost prior to investigating the issue. Only when criminal cases such as rape occur should the police be notified although some organizations say this should not be so.

Nursing home lawyers also exist to help families who may have complaints regarding their elder's facility and nursing care. They can provide professional advice on what steps to take should families wish to pursue a legal case against the facility or a staff member who initiated the abuse to their loved ones.

Growing old is a reality that each of us must face. We cannot be young forever. Life is a mystery that none of us can fathom. We live, we were taken care of, we grow up to become responsible adults, had a family of our own and take care of our kids as well as parents. But sometimes due to time constraints as well as the inability to take care of an elderly parent we are forced to find a nursing home for them.

Though this may be hard for you but you have to analyze your options well. It does not mean that when you send them to a care home, you love them less. It is very painful for a child to leave the care of their loved ones to other people. Surely, it will not be a good thing but if you are left with no options then there is nothing else that you can do but leave them with the care of other people.

There might be some apprehensions on your part; guilt may be felt at first. But in the long run, you will realize that you made the right decision if you will see you parent happy and contented. Finding the best care home for your parent may be difficult but you could always start searching for the best through the help of friends. You could ask around if they do have an idea whether there is a nursing home they could recommend.

Choose a nursing home that is near your house in order for you to visit your loved one from time to time. The short distance will make everything easier for you. Not only can you visit them everyday, you will also be updated on their status. You could also search online on this kind of homes within your area. Check out the testimonials of those who have tried it first. Check their reputation online as well. They may have a history of abuse that may give you second thoughts of acquiring their services.

Know the fees first and see if you can afford it. Sometimes the financial aspect can be a hindrance in choosing the best nursing home for your loved ones. If you want to compare different quotes or payment options from different nursing shelters then seek the best one that you can get online, for you to seek out the best care for your loved one. Do not let them suffer more but let them enjoy their new life together with other elderly.

Try to make life easier for them and that you can do it by choosing the best home for them. Let them be taken care of very well. Do not let life be difficult for you. Now is your chance to make it happen for yourself. Just be responsible of the consequences of your actions. Even if they are in a home for the elderly, still you have the responsibility to help them out and secure their safety. Show them your love and do not let them feel like they are an outcast thus the reason for putting them in a nursing home. Show them love and care. Have fun!

Research published by the National Decubitus Foundation reports that over one million people each year will acquire a potentially fatal bed sore or pressure ulcer of some kind. The same report also found that approximately 12% patients of nursing home patients at any given time have a bed sore or pressure ulcer. That's one out of almost every 8 patients. As shocking as that statistic may be, what's worse is that real bed sore statistics are probably higher. Why? Because many of the nursing homes or assisted care living facilities who have had the highest incidences of bed sores and pressure ulcers refused to participate in the research study.

In this day in age, an unavoidable bed sore or pressure ulcer is rare. There are well recognized and proven medical guidelines that all nursing homes are required to follow which have demonstrated that bed sores and pressure ulcers can be prevented. It can not be denied that most, if not all, of the bed sore or pressure ulcer occurrences in nursing homes are the result of pure negligence. Some examples include instance where nursing home or assisted living patients are ignored for hours, sometimes in urine soaked sheets and clothes and develop bed sores as a result.

Are Nursing home poor?

Typically, when nursing homes and assisted living facilities are asked about these statistics, the usual response is that the homes are underfunded and are too poor to afford additional staff or expensive equipment for bed sore prevention. But is this really the truth, or fiction? Lets analyze the numbers and decide.

Published statistics show that in 1994, the US had 6,374 hospitals with an average of 177 beds per hospital. The statistics show an 66% occupancy rate. This means that about 745,740 beds had patients on any given day. When the bed sore and pressure ulcer percentage is applied to the hospital population, the numbers reveal that are about 80,000 patients with bed sores or pressure ulcers sitting in hospital each day. Take that number and times it by the average hospital stay of 27 days for patients with bed sores, and you find that over 1,000,000 patients develop potentially fatal, yet preventable bedsores per year.

Now lets look at the costs associated with bedsore and pressure ulcer care. Studies show that the average costs about $2,360 for a patient over 65 to be cared for in a hospital each. If the same elderly patient develops a bedsore, the projected hospital stay is now increased by additional 27 days. This means from a pure numbers standpoint, there is about $51,000.00 in added medical costs per bed sore patient. When that number is multiplied by the 1,088,778 patients developing bed sores per year, the sum is an astronomical number of $55,000,000 that is just wasted on bedsore care! Shockingly, experts agree that this is a conservative estimate because bedsore patients are required to stay longer for skin grafting and infections. Add to the mix the thousands of other patients that actually die as a result of these bedsores. To their friends and family, the loss of that life is priceless.

The sad part is that based on the numbers presented above, hospitals and nursing homes can save $44 Billion in health care costs just by preventing bedsores. This money can be used to invest in better technology and enough personnel to provide quality care to patients and long-term residents. That is why many insurance companies now refuse to reimburse medical facilities for the costs associated with bedsore care.

Families should lose a healthy loved one because a billion dollar medical facility would not hire and extra nurse or two to ensure proper staffing. Similarly, nursing homes who spend millions on beautifully landscaped grounds and palatial lobbies in order to attract customers, have no right to neglect patients and cry poor when a resident dies from a bedsore infection. The economics and math demonstrates that the billion dollars that are wasted each year as a result of treating bad care, should be spent on preventive care to improve the quality of life for hospital and nursing home residents in this country.

So your family member, loved one, friend is in a Nursing Home and you are paying a visit? You have put all of your faith and trust into the facility and assume that they will take good care of your Mum/Dad/Relative/Friend but you start to see some signs that alarm you.

How To Recognize Signs of Neglect in a Nursing Home

When the time comes for your loved one to enter into a Aged Care Home you are giving the facility the trust that they will look after your family member the way you would - with love, respect, kindness, caring, and embracing them as a person with feelings. So it will be upsetting to see that the chosen facility is not meeting your standard of care, or even the minimum level of care that all Nursing Homes are expected to meet according to the Aged Care Accreditation team. But do you really know How To Recognize Signs Of Neglect In A Nursing Home?

Aged Care Nursing Homes Care and Services

Each Aged Care facility has to give a level of care according to the Accreditation Standards to receive Government funding. This Aged Care Standards cover such things as health, personal care, lifestyle, safety and quality of buildings and surroundings, and even ensures that the management team fall in line. Once the Home is awarded the accreditation then each year they must go through checks and pass all test to up keep their awards and funding.

If you start to Recognize Signs of Neglect in a Nursing Home that your loved one is living in then you are able to step in a take the matter further by going to The Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme. It is best that you first try to resolve the matter within the Facility but if you feel like the neglect is still occurring and is not resolved then taking the matter is in the best interest of the Resident/your loved one. For more information about Aged Care in Nursing Homes go here.

7 Signs Of Neglect In A Nursing Home:

1. You are visiting your loved one the second time that week and you notice that the resident is still sitting by themselves and have no buzzer near by, nor a drink within reach


2. Your family member is wet upon you arriving with incontinence of urine, and no carer is aware of your loved one being left to sit in their own urine


3. The room your loved one in has a bed that is not made, covered in urine and faeces and smells stale


4. Upon arrival of entering the facility you notice a smell that goes from room to room


5. The bins of rubbish and linen have not been emptied and are sitting in the corridor and its late afternoon.


6. You loved one has come up in a few bruises and there is no explanation for them


7. After hugging your loved one you notice that they have lost a fair bit of weight, and you start to ask questions but no one has noticed that your loved one is not eating... therefore losing weight.

If you feel like the neglect is dangerous for your loved ones safety then you need to discuss the situation immediately. Even if you suspect that their has been an elder abuse situation then you need to contact the police. It is better to known exactly what has happened then to ignore and find out later that there was a dangerous situation that could have been reported and prevented from occurring again. There more ways to Recognize Signs of Neglect in A Nursing Home - with in many departments.

There are over 14 different home health care franchises out there to choose from as a business opportunity. Which is the right one for you and what are the differences?

Right now, the home health care industry is booming but even without the boom it would still be a good business to get into. It has some features that are particularly good when looking at what type of business to get into. It has repeat customers, is recession resistant, has a management style business model, and has in-demand services.

Repeat customers are important aspect to any business. It is much easier to grow a business when you have a base to work with. You can provide good service to keep your current customers while you grow the business by finding new customers. Plus, with repeat customers, you have a better chance of an existing customer referring your services to someone else since they see you often.

The in-home health services are always going to be needed to some extent because it is based on the age of people rather than some fad.

Typically, you manage this type of business rather than do the physical work. Because of this, you can enjoy a white-collar style position. Also, it is easier to sell a business in the future if you manage as opposed to "being the business."

Right now, the home health care services are in demand and will continue to be in demand so the aging population can stay in their home while they age.

So what are the differences. The main differences are the services provided. Almost all provide non-medical services. In addition to the non-medical services provide, some will provide medical services, staffing services, and placement services.

Non-medical services may include light house cleaning, light cooking, companionship, transportation, bathing, dressing, grooming, repositioning bed-bound patients. Most non-medical services can be provided by a Certified Nurse Assistant or a Home Health Assistant but verify this with each franchise.

Medical services could include wound care, giving medication, physical therapy, blood sugar testing, IV hookups, catheters, etc. Medical services typically require a Registered Nurse to be a director with LPN's or RN's performing the work.

Staffing services are another revenue source that some franchises chose to add. Since you are already finding work for caregivers by getting your own clients, you could easily speak to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living homes, etc to see if you can place employees into their systems. If you have an abundance of caregiver applicants, this seems like a great additional revenue source. Keep in mind, your main focus should be building in-home clients for your caregivers. Also, remember that there are companies that do just staffing for health care workers.

Placement services or assisted living placement services are another revenue source for many of the franchises. When your client becomes unable to live at their home, you can refer them to an assisted living home or nursing home if needed. You will receive a referral fee from the assisted living home or nursing home. You will have the referral agreement created with the homes before you start referring clients.

You may just want to focus on non-medical and/or medical and not worry about the other services. Or maybe you see the advantage of being able to offer those additional services.

Another aspect to look at when choosing the right one is what type of workforce do they have. Almost all the systems make their caregivers employees, while just a couple make them independent contractors. This model can make a substantial difference to your bottom line.

Also, you may want to find out if the franchise company works with Medicare and Medicaid. Some people view this as a positive because of the guaranteed payments while others know the hassle it creates and the lower payment produced by Medicare.

All of these are aspects to consider when you are looking at which home health care franchise to buy into.

We can help narrow down which one is best for you. We are franchise consultants that specialize in the home health care franchises. Our services are free to you, we save you endless hours of searching for the right one, we get you in contact with the appropriate people quickly, and we have other references and material to help you conduct your research.

If you are in the process of looking for a nursing home for a loved one you will want to find the best possible care available. It can be a trying time when you have to watch a loved one be re-located to a nursing home so it is reassuring to know that you have done your part and looked in detail for high quality care. Empower yourself and your family member by taking the time and effort to research all of the homes available to you. This is a rough guide to help make this process slightly easier.

The first thing to do is to research homes in your area or the area you wish your loved one to be re-located to. This can be done via the internet or using the phonebook and you should look to shortlist at least five or six nursing homes to further research.

Once you have taken the time to research and short-list some nursing homes the next step is to call each of the homes and arrange a tour. One useful tip is to listen carefully to the person's voice who answers the phone, take into account their tone and demeanour as this could be a first indication of what the quality of service will be like. Whilst on the phone take time to ask question and be specific. Ask all of the questions you can think of whether they are about the various medical suppliers the home uses or about the available recreational activities for the patients.

When you arrive for your tours of the various homes make sure aware of your first impression, is it airy, clean and bright? You need to assess the atmosphere and best judge whether your family member will be happy staying in the home. Also take into account all of the little details. What is the hospital furniture like? Ask about the equipment, if they mention something you don't know about like bp monitors then you should ask. One of the most important things to do on a tour of a nursing home is to use your own eyes and ears, the tour guide will only tell you how wonderful the home is so you must be on the lookout for negatives. This is not to say that you should go on the tour with a negative outlook you should just keep your eyes open for anything that does not look good. Also remember to ask for an information package about the home, this will help to further research the home.

Whilst you can receive all the advice in the world about looking for the perfect nursing home nothing will compare to your own instinct. Always keep in mind that your loved one will be living in the home you choose and this will ensure that you pick the best possible option for you and your family.

What opportunities are available for employment in senior care?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With medical advances, decline in smoking, more physical activity and better eating habits, and other factors that enable people to live longer, the average lucky person in a western country could expect to spend 18-plus years in retirement.

Let you and I work on solutions together: Email me how you are planning for retirement. Share your ideas for all of us to learn from your insights.

Retirement is one of those life's mirages: you know it is there and coming towards you, and yet it surprises you how fast it arrives. Many of us in Diaspora refuse to see the magnitude of it. Even as retirement stares us in the face, we don't plan for it. The Igbos have an adage: not mentioning death by name does not mean a moratorium on dying. "Ma akpoyi onwu aha, ya di ka o naghi egbu egbu." Although we would rather not talk or think about this modern taboo; talking, thinking, and planning for retirement is something we must do, indeed.

To live those golden years in relative comfort, you need money - lots of it! With a longer life comes more expenses, including medical bills. And retirement benefits from governments and pensions may not be there, as deficits and cutbacks occur.

Not preparing for this eventuality does not make it go away. It might even lead to retirement in poverty and misery. Failing to plan means planning to fail. This report is not to scare anyone, unless it is to scare one straight into preparing for one's own retirement. The goal of this article is to inform, to awaken, and refocus commitment to this all important, looming phrase of our lives, if we are lucky enough to get there in the first place.

For those of us in Diaspora, I strongly urge everyone to volunteer to work a few hours in a nursing home during the holiday season. It is one way to give back, and also a way to see, first-hand, what retirement is really like in our host country. Secondly, each of us needs to have in-depth conversations with someone handling the finances of an elderly parent or relative to learn the financial aspects of getting old in Diaspora.

It may help you rethink your choices: building a village mansion without resale value, buying a home and vehicle you cannot really afford, wasting dollars you should be saving, and working yourself to death, when what you need to do right here and now is "cut your coat according to your size."

With real needs ahead, we should focus on important things: our individual and collective retirement, health, education of our children, eradication of poverty, reduction of crime, and fostering of true

prosperity in both our native and host nations.

In Nigeria, we should forsake the politics of corruption, division, suppression, and oppression. Why pay attention to corrupt politicians and leaders who ride around in motorcades full of $100,000 cars, fly in multi-million dollar jets, and live in Saddam Hussein-like mansions while their people lack basic drinking water, electricity, fair roads, sanitation and health care and roofs over their heads? Where women still die needlessly during labor, and countless children perish before the age of five with worse mortality rates than stray dogs, where university graduates can't find self-sustaining employments?

Why worship mortal leaders who plunge the masses into hell on earth? Rather, let us give full attention to more important and urgent matters. We should eschew avarice, hatred, jealousy, and the ugada (upside down) mentality of eating while others starve.

"The primary goal of devising a safe retirement program is to create a sustainable source of income that will benefit you in the long run. Saving money and properly allocating it in different arenas is the first step towards that end," according to Martin Lukac of RateTake.

Every culture has it own way or ways for dealing with retirement. As great as the United States of America is in so many ways, the manner in which many old, poor, and sick Americans are housed in an out-of-sight-out-of-mind way should spur many of us immigrants (who notice this ugly side) to prepare for our own retirement in America. Having overcome adversities in our home countries, immigrants have enhanced threshold for pain; however, we may find retirement in abject poverty in America too much to bear. This is no joke. It is quite a serious matter. It's your life in golden years in preview.

If you think life is challenging during your productive years, think how more challenging it will become when you stop working but still need, at least, 70% (for gentlemen) and 85% (for ladies) of your pre-retirement income just to maintain your current standard of living, if you are in relatively good health. If you have underlying health issues that increase your out-of-pocket costs after insurance, then you are going to need even more funds.

Retirement planning is like insurance planning: you need to have it before you need it. It takes years of dedicated planning and saving to establish enough funds for your old age, according to retirement experts.

For many of us first generation immigrants, our situation is quite unique and will require unique solutions. Many of us have adopted strategies that straddle prevailing retirement programs in Diaspora and those of your native country. These methods are neither mutually exclusive nor are they necessarily compatible. Most of them are untested and therefore fraught with point-of-return uncertainties. In other words, by the time the inherent deficiencies are discovered, you have already retired and don't have time to choose a do-over.

Conditions on the ground and frankly our own myopia in our respective new homelands precluded many of us from starting jobs early where we paid into various retirement systems like social security, 401K or employer pensions programs. Taxi drivers, ice-cream hawkers, house cleaners, child care providers, under-the-table-paid workers, or short-term workers, did not start paying early into the retirement program. Of course, employers were all too happy to oblige us, because they saved money by not contributing their share to our retirement funds.

Compounding is an amazing thing when it comes to savings, either accumulating sizable cushions, or decimating our retirement nest egg. Some of us are using every reason to borrow from our 401K's without understanding the long term disastrous effects. No, you are not paying back yourself the interest incurred. Please educate yourself on how the 401K program works. Those who thought they were outsmarting the system by not paying into, not contributing the maximum, or borrowing against their retirement program are bound to watch their chickens come home to roost when they retire with a depleted reserve.

Many of us were late in homebuying (you are not a homeowner until you have paid off the mortgage) in Diaspora. Before the housing crisis hit hard, some followed the herd mentality by unknowingly buying at the top of the housing market in the boom years. We further exacerbated the situation by using our homes as ATMs, and maxing out Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) loans. Many are now facing foreclosure because we bought homes we could not afford with adjustable rate loans we did not understand, which we cannot refinance (even though rates are low) because of current appraisals and stricter underwriting conditions. Too many of us played the real estate game without first knowing the rules. All the business degrees not withstanding we have still allowed ourselves to fall into this trap.

Real estate should be part of any successful retirement program, so everyone needs to get this part right. Doing it right includes buying right, financing right and paying off the mortgage on your primary residence prior to retirement.

Paying off your mortgage, putting your children through university, and saving for retirement are tall orders and doing them closer to retirement age due to our late start and missteps are even more challenging. That is why prudent use of every resource is in order as we march towards retirement in foreign lands.

How prepared are we to weather the coming storms of inflation or deflation, cuts in entitlements, hikes in taxes, and the additional costs of traveling back and forth to Nigeria?

When that time comes, each of us will have to go down the long retirement road alone. It's not a bad dream you can wake up from to avoid. It will not be a case of "may the last person turn off the light." It might even be a time of "To your tent, Oh Israel."

Although some of us have built houses in our respective villages and made plans to retire there after many years of sojourn overseas, this approach raises many questions: How are you going to retire in Nigeria when your children and, perhaps, grandchildren are here? How can you afford to maintain two homes, one there and another in your overseas base? How can you access medical care in your old age in your village in Nigeria? How can you be safe in your village if the current insecurity remains unabated? Why are you going to rush in when most people want to get out? And if you want to be buried in Nigeria when you die, have you made plans to foot the bill or are you going to let your survivors undergo the rather shameful act of wake-keeping for money so that your body can be flown to Nigeria? Will we start making hay while the sun is shining? When are we going to start fetching water to put out the fire on our burning homes rather than chasing escaping mice? Or are we waiting for greedy and unreliable politicians to do it for us? Who would you rather control your destiny, you or them?

Let us all work on this together. Let us all learn from each other. Share your insights and knowledge and perspectives here. What are you doing to prepare for your own retirement? Why do you think your way is a better course of action? E-mail me your concise and practical ideas in one or two paragraphs. I will compile the responses and publish it for all of us to learn from and possibly adopt. This will be a practical and here-on-earth way we can learn from each other to prepare for this eventuality. Credit will given to you and if you would rather not have your name mentioned in the compilation article(s), please state so in your e-mail and I will abide by your wishes.

The easiest way to pay for nursing home care for an elderly or disabled family member is also the hardest. You write the monthly check. It hurts because the average yearly cost is now $70,128.

Before writing a check, it makes sense to talk with a knowledgeable attorney or accountant so that your family does not overlook tax deductions or available benefits. For example, if you pay more than 50% of the support for a relative who meets certain gross income guidelines, then you may claim the relative as a dependent on your own federal tax return. You might also qualify for the dependent care credit which is available for a dependent parent who needs full time attention.

The I.R.S. also permits a tax deduction for qualified long term care services. Many of the costs incurred in a nursing home can qualify for the medical expense deduction under a proper plan as long as it is set up by a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Medical expenses can be claimed as itemized deductions, so long as they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. Qualified health insurance premiums, long term care service and other eligible medical expenses can be added together to meet this cutoff. If you pay nursing home costs for a parent or disabled family member, it is important to consider this deduction.

Many people turn to Medicaid to write the check for nursing home care. The program is jointly funded by the states and the U.S. government. The first hurdle is that your family member must have a medical reason to be in a nursing home. It is not a housing program. The next hurdles are the income and asset guidelines. The single person guidelines for Medicaid limit assets to $2,000 in the bank, possibly a car, some personal property and a prepaid funeral account. The rules are more generous for spouses. A spouse can keep approximately $100,000 in assets and the family home. If any assets were given away within five years prior to applying, those transfers may block your family member from eligibility. The guidelines do vary from state to state.

Considering that some government statistics predict that 50% of U.S. population will spend at least some time in a nursing home, it is a good idea to consider long term care insurance. Our average stay is 11 months. Long term care insurance policies have many different features, including daily benefits, elimination period, inflation riders and benefit length limits. Two good starting points are to be sure that any policy you purchase is tax qualified and that the insurance company is sound. Since long term care insurance is a new product and the companies have had limited claims losses, it tends to be reasonably priced.

The United States Veterans Administration is another possible source of nursing home care. The U.S. Veterans Administration maintains about 115 nursing care facilities. That is a very small number to house all of our veterans. They have about 300 beds each and there is some availability for spouses of veterans, surviving spouses and certain eligible parents, such as Gold Star mothers.

Medicare is another checkbook but its funds are very limited. It doesn't come out until a patient spends three days in a hospital and is prescribed to a nursing home by a doctor for "skilled nursing care." After 21 days you have to write checks for a significant co-pay of $128 per day. A medi-gap policy can cover this but your own checkbook comes out again for full pay after 100 days.

It pays to plan and consult ahead and long term care insurance may be a bargain in the long run.

Joseph M. Hoffmann, Esq. is an attorney in Newton, who helps clients with trusts, estate planning, Wills and related transactions.

There are many different areas of practice that the registered nurse can investigate in the nursing home. Not only does the registered nurse have the option of practicing in a clinical area of the nursing profession, they can also decide on a career in nursing that entails only administrative duties such as an MDS Coordinator position that is unique to the long term care industry. This position deals with medicare and medicaid reimbursement criteria.

Nursing homes offer the new graduate or any nurse, flexibility that they might not experience if they worked in a hospital setting. The patient acuity level can sometimes be less, but this depends on whether or not the nursing home is a skilled facility or an intermediate facility. Usually at nursing homes, the nurse only dispenses medications and does treatments, because the CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant performs most ADL's for the residents. ADL's are activities of daily living, and they consist of bathing, dressing and grooming the resident.

Scheduling of the nursing home registered nurse can be more flexible too. Many nurses choose to work part-time, and according to a recent report, approximately 21 percent of registered nurses worked part-time. Many nursing home facilities, allow the nurse to choose their own hours, providing a great option to working mothers. According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, 7 percent of registered nurses hold more than one job. Nursing home schedules allow the nurse to work the hours they want in order to accommodate a second job.

RN jobs in the area of geriatrics are plentiful because the nursing home atmosphere isn't usually a popular choice among new graduates, or nurses looking for a change in the work environment. However, registered nurses that choose to work in a long term care facility can sometimes get very lucrative sign on bonuses as a result. These homes are also a great option for the older nurse who wants to return to the nursing field but is hesitant because their clinical skills need refreshing.

Many hospitals offer refresher courses to registered nurses who are reentering the nursing practice after an extended absence. Nursing homes usually don't offer such courses, however, they can provide some valuable hands on experience in an environment that can offer a lower stress level than that of a hospital. The pay scale for registered nurses in the nursing home are very competitive, and sometimes they even exceed that of the hospital. There are also many hospital affiliated long term facilities that offer identical pay and benefits of the hospital they are affiliated with.

It is important to note that the job outlook is very promising for the RN, as the health care industry is thriving. From 2006-2016, the Bureau Of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses are anticipated to generate approximately 587,000 new jobs, which is one of the largest numbers of all occupations. Registered nurses also comprise the largest occupational group in the health care industry. RN job prospects are excellent, and the nurse can achieve even more flexibility in their careers if they choose employment in a long term care facility.

Last year, the world's only Titanic survivor faced a quandary. Millvina Dean was only two months old when the great ship sunk, in 2008 she was in her mid-nineties and needed money to pay for a nursing home to live out the rest of her days in relative comfort. What to do?

Well, like many people the world over, Miss Dean took a long look at her assets - and decided to sell them. More precisely, she decided to sell the mementos she still had of the disaster, a suitcase full of clothes her family was given to help them begin a new life. The auction of the wicker case and clothes, along with rare prints of the ocean liner and letters her mother received from the Titanic Relief Fund, raised almost $54,000 - ten times more than she thought it would.

It's official: getting old is expensive. If you are lucky enough to live a long life, chances are you'll eventually be paying for it by the nose. Many people end up having to finance their own care near the end of their days, and it can cost a fortune. In fact, the New York Times reckons that an independent-living facility can cost up to $9,000 a month - that's about what a a New York penthouse could cost!

If you are looking into a nursing home - defined as a home that provides 24/7 care as well as administers medicines and even some medical procedures - for you or a loved one, here are some ways to pay...

Reverse Mortgage. This is a mortgage that allows homeowners to convert part of their assets into cash. Kind of like a home equity loan. Ask for professional advice if you are interested in going down this route, and only deal with a reputable lender. Be aware that the loan must be paid in full if you fail to have the home as your primary residence for one year or more, ie, if you stay in a nursing home for more than 12 months.

Long-Term Care Insurance. Most people do not have this type of insurance, but it can be very helpful if you do. The earlier you start to pay the more you will accrue - and the less you will pay initially. It is advised to take this route only to avoid burdening family members with bills for your care, and not if paying the premiums could become insurmountable. And remember you will not be sold a policy if you already have a health condition such as Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's.

Medicare or Medicaid. It's estimated that about 45 percent of all spending on long-term health care is covered by Medicaid, while about 11 percent is covered by Medicare and Social Security. The rest is paid for by the individual, by and large. Medicaid is both federal and state funded, and there are strict rules regarding who qualifies.

Win the Lottery. What could be better? Don't forget you need to buy a ticket first. And keep in mind that statistically, you have a better chance of walking up to a complete stranger and correctly guessing their telephone number than you have of winning any lottery at all. Still, every week there are winners!
繚Inherit a Fortune. Easy and simple, this is a fantastic way to afford a nursing home - as well as a new Porsche, a vacation in the Bahamas and a college education for all the grandkids. Great if you can get it. Most of us can't - even if we hire a treasure hunter to find out if we are a long-lost heir to some incredibly rich dead soul.

Check Into a Veterans' Nursing Home. In theory, all veterans should have a place waiting for them when they need it. In practice, so many people need places that people on the lowest incomes usually get first priority. Check to see if you qualify before counting on this option.

Get Help from Other Family Members. Often family members will club together and pay what they can to insure that their parents or aging relatives are cared for when they need it most. Unfortunately, in many case family members simply don't have the funds - or have them earmarked for other priorities, such as Junior's college fund and Barb's new house in the 'burbs. Don't make the mistake of expecting a cash gift - you may be greatly disappointed. It's better to have an open talk in advance to learn whether any funds will be forthcoming, however uncomfortable this may be.

Top Tips for Paying for Care

Affordable long-term care will be a priority for many of us, but protecting our assets and savings should be a top priority as well. Here are some tips to do just that...

Don't give away all your assets. Remember the government can look back five years - if you gave away money that could make you ineligible to receive Medicaid for a period of time.

Avoid what is known as "spousal impoverishment," when the spouse who is left at home can also be left destitute as his or her assets are used to pay for the other person's nursing home care. You are allowed to opt out of having your assets count against you.

Read the fine print. It may sound like a fab idea to have a home equity loan or the equivalent, but know what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line.

Hire a good, honest lawyer - if you can find one. Someone who specializes in Elder Law will be your best bet, as he or she will have years of experience in this type of thing.

Sadly, Millvina Dean died this May at the ripe old age of 97, in a private nursing home in the town of Ashurst, Hampshire in England. As the last survivor of the Titanic, her death was a memorable event. Three years earlier she had broken her hip and needed specialist care, and the sale of her historical memorabilia helped her through the most difficult times. We should all be so lucky!

If you are considering a career in mental health nursing, you will gain experience in giving treatment, care and support to clients with moderate to extreme emotional, mental and psychological problems. Mental health nursing jobs offer you the opportunity to work in a diverse environment. Some of the roles you will find yourself performing in include, assisting in identifying client's problems and doing preliminary assessments, monitoring and reporting on the mental condition of the client and helping clients to manage their mental illness and give counsel and support. You will also give prescribed medication to clients and facilitate and organise therapy groups. Helping clients with personal-care and day to day activities will also be part of your job description along with visiting clients in the community and networking with community organisations, employers, government agencies, the police and lawyers.

Mental health nursing jobs will provide you with the opportunity to specialise working with a range of different groups of people such as the elderly, families, women, children and adolescents, Maori and Pasifika people and offenders with mental health illnesses. You will also be able to specialise in areas such as crisis assessment or telephone triage where you will gauge mental health needs and risks based on symptoms reported to you via the telephone.

As a nurse in this specialisation you will be skilled in many areas such as knowledge of different nursing methods and theories, psychiatric disorders, different diseases and illnesses and how the body works. You will also be knowledgeable in areas of medicines and treatments, and the effects these medicines have on patients and you will be skilled in counselling and therapy techniques. You will also know the ins and outs of relevant legislation and your oral and written communication skills and listening skills will be excellent. Things such as organising and decision-making will become second nature to you. You may work for hospitals, nursing homes and community care services and you will spend time in the community making calls on clients. Mental health nursing jobs involve a lot of contact with a diverse group of people that include other health professionals, clients and their families, community agencies and police and ambulance officers. The salaries for nurses in this profession are around $44,000 to $66,000 and you will potentially be able to advance your career by moving into clinical specialist roles within the health industry or into research or management and education roles.