Nursing Homes|Nursing Home Abuse|Assisted Living Facilities

Food creates emotion. When we add the word healthcare into the conversation, well, one can guess what emotion will arise. Healthcare food services, whether in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), assistant living, skilled care, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, daycare or meals on wheels, have the opportunity to improve current outcomes.

As with any emotional challenge, focusing on the problem and drilling down to identify deficiencies will determine which next steps are needed to solve or limit the concern. The reason the word "limit" is used is that in many situations healthcare consumers may not have a choice in selecting their favorite foods based on medical-related restrictions. With this in mind, the challenge starts in developing and designing food service operations that meet the needs of our compromised food audiences.

Thinking about our targeted audiences, I like to start with our CCRC and assisted living operations. These programs require kitchen designs that resemble a traditional table-service restaurant offering a variety of food selections. However, these designs need to be flexible, to control nutritional requirements and overcome physical limitations.

Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities are much more complicated to design than traditional CCRC or assisted living from a food service equipment and layout perspective. The design and capability of the equipment must allow food service personnel to create the perception of food choices. food service staff must also meet the requirements of patients' nutritional needs, not to mention the 12 or more menu spreads, coordinating med-pass, clinical procedures, meal delivery obstacles and related concerns.

Skilled nursing facilities have historically used hospital-feeding concepts but, over the past few years, have moved away from this approach in feeding residents by creating decentralized buffet-type service programs that help to create more of a perception of choice. Terminology used in the industry is country kitchen or point of service, just to name two. The challenges in trying to offer a buffet food concept include the fact that residents require feeding, frequently wish to eat in their rooms, and limited staffing. The financial abilities of skilled facilities to add staff for meal service is rare, which requires that a food service design maximize staff optimization.

Daycare and meals-on-wheels programs have still other conceptual requirements. Because the audience lives in the community, meal service needs to match the ethnic flavor expectations and social gathering environments of different neighborhoods, which are just two of the factors to which clients are accustomed. This does not take into account the specialty equipment necessary for cooking for table and delivery service, not to mention the skilled staff required to produce the meals.

In each of these examples, healthcare food service designs and concepts need to focus on delivery of service and meeting the expectations of the audience by placing customers at the center of the design and not as an off-shoot of it. Services are not peripheral activities, but are an integral part of society. Just because healthcare has been institutionalized, its food service operations should not lose sight of the service requirements of its varied audiences.

Seniors in British Columbia have a wide range of housing alternatives. From living independently in the family home, to the programs and support offered by different senior housing providers.

British Columbia is the first province in Canada to regulate assisted living residences. The Assisted Living Registrar is responsible for ensuring the safety and health standards at publicly subsidized and private-pay Assisted Living facilities.

In British Columbia community care facilities are regulated by Community Care and Assisted Living Act.

British Columbia has both private and public options for senior care. Government options are subsidized by the provincial government and are referred to as funded, and private options are paid for directly by the consumer and are referred to as market.

Market senior housing options include different levels of care, and can be classified into the following groups:

• Independent Retirement Residences (also known as Independent Living Facilities) - this option is ideal for seniors who are relatively independent, but need help with daily living activities. These activities might include: meals, light housekeeping, laundry, 24-hour emergency response, social and recreational programs. Such residences can range in cost from $1500 to $5000/month depending on the location, amenities, staffing level, and service package options.

• Complex Care facilities (also known as Residential Care facilities) are best suited to seniors who require 24-hour professional nursing and support.

Significant physical frailty and/or cognitive impairment would be the prerequisite for complex care services. In BC, both profit and nonprofit independent operators deliver complex care under contract to government in a campus-like setting. Such health campuses often include Independent Retirement Residences and Complex Care facilities in the same campus, thus allowing the appropriate level of service as residents' health-related needs change. All complex-care facilities in British Columbia are regulated under the Community and Assisted Living Act and must be registered with the Office of the Assisted Living Registrar (OALR). Market complex care can cost up to $8,000/month.

Funded programs include two forms of seniors' housing in BC. They are:

• Assisted Living, known as the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program
• Seniors' Supportive Housing, known as the SSH Program

Independent Living BC (ILBC) program is administered through one of the five regional health authorities in BC, and it's subsidized by both the health authority, and BC Housing - provincial housing authority responsible for subsidized housing. In order to qualify for this program, you must meet the eligibility criteria in the following key areas:

• Applicants must require accommodation, hospitality services, and personal care services.
• Applicants must be able to make decisions on their own behalf, rather than someone making these decisions on their behalf.
• Applicants must be able to respond in case there is an emergency situation (i.e. fire in the building).

If the resident is accepted in the ILBC program, the health authority representative will refer the resident to specific available residences within the region that participate in the ILBC program. Not all of the residences will be available, and there might be a waiting list.

Seniors' Supportive Housing (SSH) program provides specially equipped rental properties to primarily low-income seniors who need some assistance to continue living independently. Such properties are modified to enhance accessibility and improve safety systems. The program also provides support services, such as housekeeping, meals, and social activities. SSH program is administered through BC Housing, and is available in select communities throughout the province.

Sometimes, funded and market units can co-exist in the same project, and in this case there will be effectively two or more programs operating in the same residence. As funded programs require specific elements to be incorporated into the service package, this can define the service package for the entire project.

Choosing a facility for your aging parent, friend or family member can be a vast responsibly. The longer and elderly person can stay independent the better, but there comes a time in their lives that they will need special care and attention that can only be provided by a caregiver or an assisted living facility.

Caregivers are normally a first option as this will allow the person to stay in his or her own home or that of a family member or friend. Unfortunately caregivers are an expensive option and it is not affordable for many older people or their families.

The next option is to look at a care facility that will be able to meet the needs of the person.

Assisted care is less intensive than nursing home care, where licensed nurses are required staff.

In assisted care the elderly person will have an own room, studio or apartment. They will also have access to certain services, such as meals, social and wellness activities. If they need help with daily tasks such as bathing, getting dressed or combing hair there will be people to help with that.

Many assisted living facilities have libraries, swimming pools, small shops, hairdressers and other services that will allow the elderly very much the same living conditions they had while living in their own home.

It is very important to allow the elderly person to be part of the decision making. Remember what they need and what you think they need are not always the same. They might prefer a smaller place with less people even if it is not as smart and luxurious as other bigger facilities. They might want to go to a place where they already know people or have friends or family members living.

Seek advice from doctors, spiritual leaders or family and friends in the same situation.

Take the elderly person's medical condition into consideration. Make sure emergency medical services are close by and available. Living somewhere in the country, close to friends or family, might not be such a good idea if these services are not available.

Affordability is also a main consideration. If the elderly person doesn't have the means to pay for this facility you should find out if there are grants available or if an affluent friend or family member can maybe assist.

Some of the services provided at facilities maybe excluded from the given price. Be sure you know exactly what is included and what extra fees will come to.

Making the right choice will ensure many happy years to come for your elderly loved one.

Once upon a time, senior citizens were old people. They were assumed to be suffering from ill health and in need of care. They sold their homes so they could move in with children or move to a care facility. Not any more.

Now senior citizens exhibit the same variety of health and fitness as people much younger. In fact, those who have actively taken care of themselves are probably more fit than those in their teens and 20's who shun exercise and live on junk food.

So, assume nothing, because senior citizens come in many varieties, with many different goals.

Many choose to remain in their homes, while others want a change of scenery. But even those want to sell have different reasons.

Some want to get away from excessive maintenance chores. They'll choose a smaller home with a smaller yard - or perhaps a condo. They may be in failing health, but don't assume so. They may just want to pursue hobbies or take up volunteer work or be free to travel. Many have something they want to do that they couldn't do before, and they don't want to be tied down by a high maintenance home.

Others want to find a new home with a large yard, or even acreage, so they can take up gardening or buy a horse or raise dogs.

Some just want to get away! They'll sell the old homestead and move into a motor home so they can see the places they've been dreaming about for all those years when they were tied to work.

Some want to move to a more temperate climate - they're tired of the cold and snow and want to get outdoors and play all year. Some have always dreamed of living on a lake or in the mountains or on the desert. Some wanted to get away to a small town with a slower pace - or to move to a city with opera houses and art galleries and the theater. But until now, they were stuck because they were afraid to move away from their work. Now they can go where they want.

Of course, there still are those seniors who are selling because they do need to move in with the kids or to an assisted living facility.

Your job as an agent is to not assume anything. If you want to sort your lists, set up a capture on your website with information about downsizing to a smaller home, and a separate capture with information about transitioning to assisted living. You could even have different pages on your site - just like you might have different pages and different information for first time buyers and move-up buyers.

When you get a call to list a home for a senior citizen, go with no pre-set ideas. Wait and talk to the homeowner before you try to anticipate just what kind of assistance they need. Otherwise, you'll risk alienating a new client before you get a chance to show your stuff!

More and more elderly people are opting to spend their golden years in an assisted living facility in lieu of living in a nursing home, with a family member, or at home, alone. One drawback to assisted living for many people who are interested in this type of living arrangement in the elder years is the financial burden of paying for care. In many cases an older adult has prepared well for their future and money may not be such a huge concern, unfortunately that scenario is not as prevalent as it should be. In too many cases the elder adult did some preparation but by far not enough and money is a concern.

There may come a time when an elder adult cannot live on their own any longer they need some help with day to day living activities. Assisted living homes are usually the perfect answer. Of course they are not free and require money to pay for.

Where to Find the Money for Assisted Living Homes

If the elder adult is a homeowner the home can be sold to raise capital to pay for the assisted living home, if they are not there are other options that are available. It can be a combination of financial backing that can be pooled together to pay for the residency.

There are some insurance policies that will cover for part of the care that is provided in adult group homes. Primarily the medical end of things will be covered. If the elder adult was fortunate enough to have some foresight and opted for an extended care option on their policy, then more services will be covered.

To pay for the rest of the care that insurance does not cover, retirement income can be used. Many folks get a check each month from retirement investments that they made with the company they worked with before they retired from. This can go toward the monthly payment as well. In almost every case even if there is not a retirement check coming in there will be some type of government check that is paid each month, this can also help to supplement the costs.

Liquefying assets are another way to find money to pay for this type of care. Selling off stocks and bonds, even selling off cars can raise the money that is needed to keep this option going for a while.

Family Members

In many cases the family members of the elder adult can kick in some money each month to help to offset the cost of paying for the assisted care homes. If there are multiple family members that can help with the costs, then the financial burden would be lightened considerably.

Paying the costs for assisted living homes can be met by pooling resources the cost can easily be met. It is well worth the cost and the effort to find a way to meet

Assisted living residences are sometimes referred to as assisted living facilities (ALFs). They supervise or assist with activities of daily living (ADLs). In addition, the residence frequently coordinates with third party healthcare and service providers on the resident's behalf.

Examples of assistance might include the administration or supervision of prescribed medication, or personal care services provided by a trained staff person or outside service provider.

Assisted living emerged in the 1990's as the next step of continuing care for people who cannot live independently in a private residence, but who also do not require the 24-hour medical care provided by a nursing home. Many senior living providers promote the Assisted Living designation as a philosophy of care and services that foster independence and dignity. The costs associated with this enhanced level of care can vary widely based on geography, services, and need.

There is no nationally recognized definition of assisted living. Assisted Living facilities are regulated and licensed at the state level. More than two-thirds of the states use the licensure term "assisted living." Other terms intended to relay this same level of care include Residential Care Home, Assisted Care Living Facilities, and Personal Care Homes. Each state licensing agency has its own definition of the term it uses to describe assisted living. 

When performing preliminary research or trying to find a retirement home online, the search term "assisted living" is generally accepted and will yield significant results from both the search engines and the senior living community. Remember to be aware of the fact that the term may be generally accepted, but the definition and service restrictions may vary significantly.

As we progress into the later years of our life, taking care of ourselves becomes harder and harder. This is why there are many senior and elderly care organizations that are available for our use and to provide assistance. Usually the most common and most convenient way is assisted living for senior care. There are many assisted living facilities that are set up just for this cause. The function and aim of these many facilities is to provide help and aid to people that need help in performing the chores and tasks of daily life. Who are these arrangements ideal for? These arrangements are set up for people that are unable to perform some of the needs and chores that are necessary to survival, such as bathing or grooming themselves, or even doing some of the simple housework. People who fall in these categories can consider assisted living facilities in which they are helped out thoroughly with all their needs. Keep in mind that these facilities are not really meant for people that need constant medical care and attention. There are many costs that are involved with assisted living facilities, but do rest assured, they cost a lot less than the amount for nursing homes. The costs are generally between $1500 and $2000 a month give or take a few. This number does depend on the individuals themselves as well. There may be some additional fees added for individual requirements. There are some extra fees for people with other medical needs and disabilities.

With that being said, what do assisted living facilities provide:

1. Assistance for daily tasks such as grooming, eating and bathing - and even more


2. Regular meals, usually 3 times a day


3. Help with exercise and staying fit and healthy


4. Housekeeping and laundry


5. Transpiration help


6. Recreation activities, such as bonding, cultural and church activities.


7. Around the clock service. People living here will always be tended to and will have their needs fulfilled usually without delay

There are many financial aid organizations and other financial aid that is available for such people who are not able to afford a facility like this. The cost of a facilitated living home is a lot less than the cost of nursing centers. Planning ahead and saving money for after retirement and such is very helpful. Assisted living facilities fulfill the many needs that senior may need, without giving up privacy or being totally detached from their previous life.

Caregiving for a loved one is a demanding, challenging job and no one is outfitted to do it alone. For many, the challenges of caring for a loved one are part of daily life. If your senior loved one has difficulty living independently, you have options other than a nursing home, assisted living or other senior care facilities. With home care services, your loved one can receive 'round the clock' or hourly assistance to help them live life according to their needs and on their terms. Even for seniors who only need a little help in their daily living, in home care services may be a good option.

Live-In Home Care

Live-in home caregivers stay for multiple days at a time in the senior's home. They are expected to provide the senior with full-service, day and night care as needed. Live-in caregivers are able to give their complete attention to sustaining a well-conditioned and positive environment for your loved one. When selecting a live-in home care provider, make sure you choose someone who has enough experience and staff to give senior clients proper safety, care, companionship, and emotional support.

Hourly Home Care

Many elderly people do not need 24-hour or live-in care, and so they use their care providers on an hourly basis. For example, they may need assistance and appropriate care only during the morning evening, on Saturdays and Sundays, or when they visit their doctors or other appointments. With this choice, elderly people can get the appropriate care they need, in the proper place and at the right time.

By obtaining help as required, seniors are able to maintain their normal day-to-day schedules as independently as possible. Thus they can thrive by being in their familiar surroundings, with their own possessions and pets as they are given the help they need.

When searching for an hourly, or "come and go" caregiver, you should look for someone with the same expertise as a live-in home care provider. This includes the agency or the caregiver you may hire. Like a 24-hour or live-in caregiver, the hourly person should also be able to provide safety, emotional support, and companionship to their senior clients. They should also be devoted to the well-being and protection of their clients.

Care Outside Home

During hospital admissions caregivers can also be used for providing companionship and monitoring to your loved one. They may also accompany seniors on vacations or travel to insure their comfort and safety. Now you can have your much needed peace of mind knowing a reliable, professional caregiver is there for your loved one.

Here are some things you may want to consider when preparing to find an agency that will provide quality care to your loved one:

Working with agencies

- Conduct an in-depth appointment interview with each selection. Screening applicants on the phone should always be followed with a face-to-face personal interview. Initially this interview will be with the agency management, but later you will want to meet their proposed caregiver(s).

- Be particular of all the tasks, abilities, and daily activities that are required for your situation.

- Discuss compensation and payment schedules. Do not pay for services in advance. Payment should never be made directly to the caregiver, but instead the agency should issue invoices for payment.

- Ask for several work and personal reference sources, and then check them thoroughly. Confirm the information provided, and ask all sources about experience, credibility, punctuality and the care provider's capability to deal with stress and difficult tasks.

- Demand the highest levels of general and professional liability insurance coverage.

- Hire only an agency that has properly background checked and credentialed all of their proposed caregivers. Additional credentialing should also include health screenings, drug testing, proper licensing and training.

Be sure to ask the following questions:

- How are your employees screened?
- Do you guarantee a compatible "fit" of your proposed person with the client?
- Is your agency licensed, and by whom?
- Does your agency have any special accreditations, such as the Joint Commission?
- Are your proposed personnel payroll employees of your agency, or independent contractors?
- Can I see a copy of your business insurance coverage's? Does this include bonding of your employees?
- Do you require an upfront deposit or length of service commitment?
- What are the training programs and standards of experience for your personnel?
- Will you provide specific competency training to meet our unique family needs?
- How, and by whom, are your personnel supervised? Do you charge for these management services?
- What are your processes for emergencies or caregiver cancellations?
- Is your agency licensed and insured to provide medical services as well as basic in home care services?
- How do you include the extended family in the provision of your services?
- Does the program offer transportation, meal preparation, laundry and light housekeeping?
- What is the cost of services? How do you handle invoicing arrangements?

Using these criteria are a great starting point to define the agency and caregiving services that will be required for your situation. Doing this level of homework will protect the client at a critical point in their lives when they need care at home. Doing all these things will allow you to start care with the confidence that you have done your best to select the highest level of care for your loved one. After the start of services, ultimately the real determination about the effectiveness of your decision will come down to the level of the actual care provided in the home, and the relationship that develops with the agency, caregiving staff and the client. This dynamic should be reviewed regularly by the family and adjustments made as necessary to insure continuation of the best possible care for their loved one.

It's hard enough managing the to-do's in our own lives. Add to that the responsibility of in home care - managing every aspect of someone else's life too - and it can be overwhelming. Yet that is exactly what millions of people do each year providing senior services for their aging parents, and it is taking its toll. According to a study by the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 50 percent of those providing assisted living services for their parents experience increased levels of stress and strain, often to the point of being detrimental to their health.

In other words, it does your aging parent little good if you run yourself down to the point of exhaustion while providing for their personal care, companionship or homemaking needs. It is critical that while looking after the mental, emotional and physical health of your loved one that you take precautionary steps to preserve your own.

Follow these 5 steps to ease the stress of caregiving in your life:

1. Maintain a healthy diet. You know how important eating well is to your aging parent. Well, it is equally important to you, so do yourself and your loved one a favor - make it a habit of eating at least three balanced meals a day.

2. Exercise. You need all the strength you can get when caring for an aging parent, especially if they need assistance moving around, so staying physically fit is critical. Equally important, physical activity is a great stress reliever - the perfect way to re-energize yourself so you can be at your best, for your loved one and for yourself.

3. Get plenty of sleep. As exhausted as your body may be from running around all day caring for yourself and caring for your loved one, that often doesn't stop your mind from working overtime, especially at night. Worry is inevitable, but find a routine that helps ensure you get plenty of rest, whether that means a hot cup of chamomile tea before bed or taking naps throughout the day whenever you have an opportunity.

4. Go in for regular medical checkups. When you're caring for someone else, it can be easy to dismiss signs of your own ill health. Or there may be things going on that you're not even aware of. Just to be safe, it's important that you see a doctor on a regular basis, as stress is one of the number one causes of physical illness.

5. Consider professional in home care. Whether you're helping your aging parent just a few days a week or 24/7, you and your loved one can benefit from in home care with a professional caregiver. For instance, Synergy HomeCare is widely known as the most trusted name in home care, providing senior services throughout Arizona, including:

- Personal care services
- Homemaking services
- Companionship services

In home care can be especially beneficial to those whose aging parents are living with Alzheimer's or dementia, as helping a loved one with these conditions can be particularly challenging. You not only need help for them, but respite care for you so you can get away for a while to avoid burn-out.

Understanding the benefits of assisted living homes is important in determining where a loved one will best enjoy their remaining years. The ability to remain independent, yet have the appropriate level of care can relieve stress for both family members and the loved one. There is a big difference between assisted living and nursing home facilities. Realizing these differences can help ease the idea of leaving home behind and moving into a facility with round the clock care.

A nursing home is a place where constant care and monitoring is needed. Those living there are often in the last years of their lives and require a higher level of medical care. The patient is one that is often unable to manage even his or her basic needs including bathing, taking medication, and being mobile. Assisted living homes are more suited for those that still desire and can achieve a level of independent living but would like the security of having professionals around that can assist where needed.

In most cases, the rooms provided resemble apartments. There are very few cases where they are shared, and those cases are almost always requested. The idea is for the client to enjoy his or her freedom and continue to keep his or her home the way they were used to doing. Often, the rooms include a small kitchenette to allow the resident to cook his or her own meals.

A benefit to the living situation is having social activities. Many elderly folks spend their final years behind closed doors in their single resident houses. With this retirement homes program, they are able to maintain privacy but still be in an environment surrounded by others, which provides an excellent social activity calendar. Having a heightened level of activity allows them to live much healthier and longer lives.

The facilities often include group outings and social events. The residents often invite family to the facilities because the events are much more enjoyable and there is little effort needed on the resident's part. For instance, the valentine's holiday is often one where family is invited to join the loved one in celebration of the family. Outings often include shopping trips and special access to local tourist attractions.

When the resident moves in, they are often worried that they are giving up their independence. This is not the case at all. With their own private room, choices of activities, reading rooms, and other ways of choosing to participate or not, the resident is given opportunities to stay active, but the choice of where to participate is solely theirs to make. It is important for them to continue to remain active and take care of themselves.

Even though independence is reserved and maintained, the family and the resident can live without fear of them being alone. Often, family is burdened by having to constantly worry about a fall or making sure the family member is taking care of him or herself. In these facilities, the worry is eliminated because the staff observes at a distance, checking in on them from time to time without being intrusive. If the resident starts isolating himself or herself the family is often informed and asked to make more frequent visits.

Included in understanding the benefits of assisted living homes, the family learns of the safety and comfort that are provided. The loved one is able to continue to lead a healthy and active lifestyle without giving up privacy or independence. They are also able to live without fear of being without assistance should they need it.

As our parents, siblings, and relatives get older, we have to make sure they are being cared for. No matter if they are being taken care of in their home, your home, or in an assisted living facility, you need to make sure they are not being abused. Rest easy with a hidden Granny Cam that will be your eyes while you are not there.

You see a lot of horror stories about the people who are suppose to be taking care of our elderly parents, and are caught on video either stealing money or pills, physically abusing them, or just not taking good enough care of them. The question of if you should have a Granny Cam is not necessary, you owe it to your loved ones to have one. The real question will be which one should you choose? Granny Cams or Nanny Cams are just tiny video surveillance cameras that are hidden inside an everyday item to catch someone doing something they should, or should not be doing. Then, it transmits the video over several different methods so it can be viewed.

You can choose hidden cameras that are Color, Black/White, or Color that turns to B/W when it gets dark. You can add a low lux feature that helps you see in the dark, and some of the wireless cameras have a high-power addition that can increase the broadcast distance from 700 to 3,000 feet.

There are four basic types of hidden cameras that use different ways to transmit the video.

• Wired Cameras


• Wireless Cameras


• SD Card DVR Cameras


• Secure IP Internet Accessible Cameras

Wired Cameras: The wired hidden cameras have been around the longest, are the most cost efficient, and offer very good quality. They are tiny wired board cameras put in an everyday item that requires electricity, so a cord won't look out of place. Usually the item will work as planned, like a pencil sharper, can opener, air purifier, or fan.

They also have a male video cable adaptor, so you can plug in a video cable to run the video feed to a Quad, PC, or DVR. A PC can be set up with software to monitor the feed on the computer, or over the internet for additional costs. These work best when your parent is staying at their house or your house, as the video cable might get detected in an assisted living facility.

Wireless Cameras: A wireless hidden camera has an internal 2.4GHz transmitter that sends the video silently across the air to a receiver, which is set up in another room. No hidden cables that could be found, and these make for some of the best hidden cameras, as they can be put inside a Pringles can, tissue dispenser, wall clock, etc. They also have internal battery packs to supply the power to the camera. Since there are no wires or cables sticking out, it is very hard to know it is recording your every move, unless you use a hidden camera detector.

The video could have interference if you use other 2.4GHz devices, or other receivers might tap, or conflict with your signal. You can also feed the video into a PC with surveillance software and monitor them from the PC, or install software that will allow you to monitor the camera from the Internet. This is a good choice for home use, though if you use it at an assisted care facility, you will need to change the battery packs frequently (8-12 hours).

SD Card DVR Cameras: These are the next generation in hidden camera surveillance systems. They use a tiny internal DVR that records the video directly to a hidden SD card for playback later. No wires or signals to be discovered, they are 100% self contained. The advantage of this set up is that you can just set down an item like a desk clock, boom box, or even hang up a wall clock, arm it with the keychain remote, and come back later to remove the SD Card for viewing on a computer or T.V. This is the best camera to use in an assisted living or hospital situation, as there would be no way anyone would know the device is recording their every move.

Secure IP Cameras: If you are looking for a way to monitor your parents without having to buy extra software or hardware, the Secure IP cameras offer a very easy way to monitor them over the Internet. They use the electrical wires in the house to transmit the video directly to your computer, which can be accessed anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.

The camera is hidden in an ever day item like a desk clock or air purifier that plugs into an adaptor, that plugs into the wall socket. The video is carried over the electrical lines to another adaptor that plugs into your computer. Using the installed software, you can see what the camera is doing at any time, and you can hook up to six cameras and monitor them all in real time.

They are best for your home or their home, as the camera will have to be plugged into the wall, into a small adaptor that could be noticed. Not recommended for assisted care living as it only works in the building where the camera is.

These are the four ways you can monitor your parents or loved ones who need assistance with their living. A hidden Granny cam will give you peace of mind and a good nights sleep.

One of the things that is very important to this generation of baby boomer retirees is maintaining their independence. And of all the choices that exist in retirement communities the truth is that assisted living housing is designed to help you as a boomer to stay independent and it means that if you live there, you will be able to get the kind of personal and medical care that you require to maintain your independence.

There are a number of housing setups that offer assisted or assistive living help. These range from standalone units like small houses in a community that looks just like a development anywhere else to apartment s or condos, to individual rooms in a larger building kind of like a hospital setup.

The staff members that provide the services are employed by the management of the living facility and you do not have to pay separately for each kind of care that you may need. This is different from the way a hospital bills you in theses days of accounting for the charges for every item they provide you.

Instead, when you move into a place like this, you and the care representative sit down and make a comprehensive care plan that is custom tailored to your specific needs. This is a good thing because one of the real goals of the assisted living community is to help each senior maintain as much independence as is possible.

Unfortunately, many times these days, if you are trying to arrange residence in a senior community like a nursing home, you must just get by with the services they offer. There is no way to get services that they do not provide unless you arrange for them yourself. This can be kind of problematic because what you wind up with is one set of services for every person who lives there.

Everybody's individual circumstances are different and that is why assisted living housing arrangements are so much better than trying to figure out how to live within someone else's idea of what your life should be like.

Adult living facilities are particularly geared toward the baby boomer generation and they offer a suite of personal care services while still emphasizing the independence of the residents. The services offered are mostly in the personal care area, rather than the services offered by skilled nursing facility like a nursing home.

For instance, many communities provide assistance with dressing, grooming, bathing, and other daily activities. Depending on the state which is regulating the assisted living facility, sometimes the staff can offer assistance with medications, and this is a wise thing to check before considering moving to a residence in an assisted care facility.

Assisted living housing is a great concept that works for a lot of baby boomers. Since the services are tailored to your individual needs, nothing is overdone (which can lead to dependency) and all the needed services are provided. This is a win win situation for a lot of people.

With old age can come a lot of issues, such as dependency, disease, loneliness, among other various problems. Senior living communities, however, can solve these problems. After retirement, most elderly people want to relax, especially if they are in poor health. For all those who are looking for a relaxed and independent life after retirement, retirement communities can meet their individual needs. As someone gets older, there might come a time when he or she is unable to perform even daily chores like bathing, using the restroom, getting dressed, cooking, and eating. This is when the person should go to an assisted living facility where the staff can help with everyday tasks. This is the best choice for elderly parents who want to live separately from the rest of their families after retirement.

Assisted living is a special kind of home. There are three major reasons why any elderly person should live in a retirement community: they can feel cared for while maintaining their independence, can receive medical assistance, and stay healthy in a well-organized environment. Senior living communities offer a number of facilities that give the feeling of a home away from home. Once a person moves into these facilities, a personalized service plan of the assistance required of the resident is written. These retirement communities are an ideal place for people who want to keep living a stress-free and enjoyable life. These facilities, or retirement homes, offer excellent healthcare services and have qualified health professionals to take care of the senior citizens.

In assisted living, the right kind of assistance is provided to elderly people so that they can lead a happy life without giving up their freedom. These kinds of senior living communities are the best choice for your parents. Families and friends need to educate senior citizens to make an informed choice in terms of retirement communities so that they can continue to enjoy their old age. Families need to understand that there is no exact way to judge which assisted living community is good and which is not because it depends on the individual needs of the elderly person. Among all of the senior living communities, assisted living is one type that is especially well-organized. Since assistance is offered in the retirement communities also, it is up to the aged person which facility is best.

The major concern of the senior citizens entering into any assisted living is whether they will get the care they deserve or not. If this question is answered, then they can spend the rest of their lives happily in senior living communities. In today's fast-paced world, there may be times when your parents have to live alone. They might need someone to take care of them and their needs, and this is when assisted living becomes the best choice. With this kind of facility, they can live life easily and enjoyably.

Retirees who are seeking a living environment that is secure, comfortable, and attractive, that will continue to meet their needs as they grow older, are finding more and more options available to them. Very popular are continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), which are becoming more common throughout the United States and in some countries overseas.

CCRCs are self-contained communities that offer a range of living options, from houses and townhouses in which seniors live completely independently, to areas providing assisted living and yet other areas providing skilled nursing care. Typically, a senior moving into a CCRC must be in reasonably good health, and is expected, at first, to live independently. As the resident's needs change over the years, he or she would then move to other areas of the CCRC that offer more care as necessary. Because these services are all typically included in the original contract, the senior or family members are not faced with sudden decisions during a health emergency; the CCRC will make adjustments to the resident's living situation and automatically provide the needed care. And because the costs are all agreed to beforehand, there are no sudden financial crises either.

CCRCs are generally designed as campus-like environments, with a community center and various other amenities on-site, such as exercise equipment, hair salons, cafeterias, and hobby shops. Most routinely arrange programs and group activities, encouraging a sense of community. And most offer transportation to events and facilities in the surrounding community: concerts, sporting events, shopping, and more. There is no obligation on the part of residents to participate in any of these activities, but the option is always there.

On moving into a CCRC, there is always a contract that outlines payment terms and services offered. Usually, a new resident must pay an entrance fee in a lump sum, which guarantees lifetime housing and specified services, plus ongoing monthly payments. In some CCRCs, the resident may actually purchase a condominium or cooperative unit via an equity agreement; there are still monthly fees involved, and the fee structure may change should the resident need to move from the condo into an assisted living facility. And some contracts are fee-for-service only.

These fees can vary considerably. Entrance fees can start as low as $20,000 for rental units, while buy-in fees can cost $500,000 or more. Monthly fees can range from $500 to $3,000, depending on the contract. Medicare and Medicaid will cover some nursing and medical care at certified facilities, as will any private insurance or long-term care insurance that you already have. Be sure to discuss all of these options when you are considering a CCRC; the sales staff can help you sort through your payment options, and may require that you enroll in Medicare, or apply for Medicaid in the event that you run through your own resources.

Many CCRCs seek accreditation through the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF), an independent organization that is internationally recognized. CARF encourages health and human services facilities to improve their standards; CARF accreditation is not a one-time "seal of approval," but an ongoing process. CARF establishes long-term relations with the facilities that it approves, and CCRCs that have been thus accredited are generally more reliable, and maintain higher standards, than those that have not.

Everyone knows that sleeping is important for feeling healthy and boosting your immune system. The old adage says that you should try and get eight hours of sleep per night, but this isn't necessarily the case for everyone. Eight hours is just an average time, you might require more or less, depending on how your brain is hardwired. Some people can even get by on as few as five hours per night. For senior citizens, getting enough sleep is especially important because of the effects that it can have upon their health. Seniors will naturally see the strength of their immune system decline as they get older-sleep can help to recharge this part of your health. If you are already struggling to stay health, consistent and beneficial sleep is going to be very important towards maintaining a good level of health.

In an assisted living facility, sleep can become a bit easier to get. There are fewer stressors when you live in a facility and this can make falling asleep a whole lot simpler. In addition to this, there are other things you can do to maximize your sleep time. Creating healthy habits is going to be extremely important here. For example, even if you are prone to waking up early or tossing and turning, keeping yourself on the same bedtime schedule each night will be helpful. For example, if you are trying to compensate for a bad night's sleep by going to be earlier than normal, you might be putting undue stress on yourself. Going to bed to early might actually lead to more tossing in bed and you face the possibility of staying awake even longer than you would if you went to bed at your normal time.

Another habit to get into is to not exercise too late in the afternoon or evening. Working out might exhaust you muscularly, but exercise revitalizes the brain. If you exercise later in the day, your brain might be wired when it comes time for bed-thus making you stay up later than what is healthy. Experts recommend that you do not exercise within the four hours prior to bedtime. Exercise is important, but you want to get it in a healthy fashion, not one that will be detrimental to other aspects of your health.

Finally, you want to limit your alcohol intake. A glass of wine might make you feel sleepy, but you do not want to overdo it. If you want to drink (as long as it's in moderation), have a glass of wine with your dinner, rather than right before bed. Alcohol can interrupt our healthy sleep cycles, so you want to make sure that you are indulging yourself in a positive fashion.

Assisted living can play a big role in your sleep patterns. The structure that this service provides to senior citizens can improve your sleep patterns and this has the potential to improve your health. If you are looking for extra help, this is definitely something that you should take into account.

The coming of age of baby boomers has drawn more attention to home-based senior care services. For many it is the difference between remaining in the comfort of their homes and having to relocate to a senior care facility. These days, senior home care services bring health care and assisted living services to millions of individuals suffering from mobility issues, chronic medical conditions, physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, and dementia in a variety of forms.

Inviting an elder care or senior care worker into a loved one's home is a major step and should be considered in depth. Ensuring that your loved one is treated with kindness and respect is only the beginning; however, finding just the right care provider requires patience and an idea of what you are looking for in a provider. Here are some guidelines that should be considered when selecting a senior and elder care services.

Proper Licensing

It is important to be sure that and senior care service is licensed properly. Each state has particular regulations in place to monitor home health care agencies; current licensing of a senior care service means that the agency has passed all associated inspections, is adhering to necessary regulations, and is meeting with all state and federal guidelines required. A list of senior and elder care services can be obtained through your state's Department of Health.

Accurate Servicing

It is important to ensure that the senior care service you select can meet all of your needs so that you do not have to rely on multiple services or become frustrated about a lack of service. Although most home healthcare providers give potential clients a list of available services, not all senior and elder care providers are the same. It is important to be detailed in the type of service you require when interviewing prospective service providers; if they do not outright state a service that you need, s simple question or request for accommodation may be all that is needed.

Hours

Be sure to clarify the service hours that are available. Some individuals may need overnight care which requires a senior or elder care service that operates on a 24/7 basis. Also, check to see if your necessary schedule would be performed by a single person or several people over the course of shifts.

Emergency Policy

Emergencies and accident happen; when they do you want to be sure to immediate care given. People need to feel comfortable that their senior care service along with the individuals involved act quickly, responsibly, and calmly. A competent elder and senior care provider will have policies and procedures in place in the event of an emergency. You can request a copy of these procedures at any time from service providers.

Care Plan

When searching for a senior care provider, look for one that has an active interest in what their patient and families are saying. A senior care service that interacts with their clients and values their input can help craft a care plan that will best suit all involved. The plan should detail the client's treatment, the administration of the treatment, what service will be provides, how those services will be delivered, and how often the care plan should be re-evaluated.

Method of Payment

The method of payment for senior and elder care services is an important consideration when selecting your provider. Most home health care providers accept Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, group insurance, military benefits, and workers compensation; however, should a loved one not be covered by any of these, arrangements for private payment will need to be made.

Do Your Research

By all means, do your research. Once you have gathered a list of potential providers pull as much information about them as you can. Local agencies, word-of-mouth, and state agencies will all have information regarding regulation violations, complaints, and other favorable and unfavorable intel. Background checks can also be performed on agencies through a variety of services, usually for a nominal fee.

Home, no matter how humble or grand, is an oasis of comfort and privacy. It wraps its loving arms around its occupants and soothes with the familiar rooms, belongings and routines. Seniors live longer and happier aging in place. Elderly Home Care allows these senior citizens to stay safely in their homes and enjoy their freedom and flexibility. Specialized programs can be adapted to the needs of each individual. The three times to call these professionals are when someone needs help with general household chores, personal grooming or the day-to-day functions of living.

Concern about the well-being of an elderly loved one is a great reason to arrange for help. Hiring an aid to work a few hours a week assisting with harder household chores, shopping or accompanying the senior citizen on social outings are beneficial to both parties. The concerned person will get weekly updates on current conditions and senior citizens have someone to visit with and help with hard-to-do chores.

Extra hands for personal grooming offer security. Having someone help a person into a shower, wash their hair, do the laundry or prepare meals keeps people at home longer. They can continue to enjoy the neighborhood and the normal activities. This is an inexpensive alternative to retirement centers and assisted living.

Elderly Home Care allows frail or disabled people the luxury of staying in a place they love. This level of care may require full-time assistance. These professionals are trained in moving people from a bed to wheelchair, assisting with eating and bathing, following doctor's orders and dispensing medication.

Allowing senior citizens to remain in the comfort of their home longer is easy to do with Elderly Home Care. These programs can be customized to meet the requirements of each person and improve their quality of life while assuring concerned family members and relatives the loved one is safe.

As the population ages, the demand for assisted living facilities just keeps rising. Older people don't want to or need to be consigned to nursing homes, but they may need some help at home. This is where assisted living communities fill a growing need.

Assisted living is for people who want to live independently as long as they can, but who need help with their daily activities. They don't need constant care, but can't quite manage on their own. Many facilities also offer medical care, but it's not as intensive as nursing home care. An individual service plan is usually created for every resident upon entry into the community.

For real estate investors, this is a new niche to be capitalized upon. There are fewer assisted living communities than the demand requires. Most of the existing facilities provide either less assistance than residents need, or, like nursing homes, are meant for much frailer individuals. Demand is particularly high in upper and middle class neighborhoods located in major cities.

There are two different ways to create an assisted living development. One is through converting existing buildings, such as apartment complexes and retirement buildings. Converting these buildings requires an assessment of feasibility, since the interiors must usually be wholly renovated to provide easier access for the physically disabled. An on-call nursing staff must also be provided. Because of these requirements, owning an assisted living facility is more like owning a group of hotels than a conventional development. Because of this, developers who want to get involved in assisted living development should have some experience in health care or retirement fields, or be able to hire a management team that has this experience.

Pay attention to the location, design, and general character of your assisted living development, whether you're putting in a new facility or renovating an older building. A good question to ask yourself is where you'd like to live when you get old enough to require assisted living. Make sure that your feasibility study includes the local demographic in the area you're hoping to develop. Your assisted living development will look different depending on the age, income, and requirements of the prospective residents. Also, analyze any competing facilities in the area, since they'll have an impact on your project. Some projects have been overbuilt because of developer optimism, and haven't yet managed to reach a sustained occupancy.

Assisted living development is a great new field for real estate investors if you do your homework. You'll need to know who's moving in, what they can afford, and what their needs will be, as well as the usual development requirements. While there's some special skills required in running an assisted living facility, the right staff can go a long way towards eliminating problems. America's population is growing older, and soon, it will need a place to live. Opportunities in assisted living development only stand to increase as time goes on.

Who are Parents? The people who raised us, took care of all our needs as we grew up, making sure that we turned into good young men and women, ready to go out into the world, and make our own way. For the most part, they were successful. Most of us are on our own, making at least enough money to survive (which I admit is getting harder to do in today's economy). In some ways, they are still raising us, even after we enter middle-age, and are raising our own kids.

We still see them during the Holidays, and, if we still live close enough to them, we may see them every week. But, if you're like me, you may have slacked off a bit on keeping in touch with them. Maybe the every-day stresses of life are weighing so hard on your shoulders that you just don't even have time to think about how they are doing.

My Dad has remarried after my parent's divorce, and he and his wife have two homes; one in Gainesville, Florida (about 160 miles away from me), and one in Roscommon, Michigan (1800 miles away). They make the trip every spring and fall, taking 2 to 3 days to travel. I don't see them much, maybe a couple of times a year, including Christmas, even though it's only a three hour drive. I did make 3 weekend trips to Gainesville last spring, while Dad was recovering from some major surgery, but haven't seen them since then. We occasionally talk on the phone, but definitely not often enough.

My Mom lives just across town from me. I rarely see her either. She lives alone in a mobile home park, but has a lot of friends that she sees almost daily. She is there year-round, and she used to travel quite a bit, but not so much anymore.

I don't know why I don't visit with her more often. It's not a question of whether or not I love her. My work has me on-call 24/7, but I don't get that many after-hours calls, maybe 3 or 4 a month, so that's not it. I live with one of my sons, and work out of his garage, where I have an office set up. I have good transportation since I bought my boss's '99 Suburban. It only takes about 8 minutes to drive to her house. So, why don't I go see her more often? I really don't know. I know that I should.

So, how many of you are like me? How many of you have slacked off, even if your parent(s) live(s) close by.

How many of you have placed your Mom or Dad in an assisted living facility and don't go to see them? I should point out that this is the biggest fear of Seniors, when they are faced with the possibility of having to go live in a facility. They are afraid that you will put them in there, and then forget them. Sure, they'll have new friends to meet and play cards with, but they'll miss the people they love.

Would you take away from them the joy of watching their grand-kids grow up? Would you let them think that they are useless, and have been thrown away? Ask yourself if you would like your kids to treat you like that.  Ask yourself how much invaluable wisdom your parents could share with you.  And you shouldn't deny your children from having interaction with their grandparents.  The ties of the family have made this country strong for a couple of hundred years, and if we totally lose that, I think this country will fall apart.

There has been a lot of talk about how we can keep our Senior Loved-Ones at home longer, and there are some in-home systems out there now that can help. These systems can provide valuable information to you about how Mom and Dad are doing. One of the best ones out there uses small, wireless motion sensors placed around the home, that keep track of their activity levels. This system was created for use in Assisted Living Facilities, but when they tried it in a residential setting, it actually proved itself invaluable in tracking the senior's activity levels, posting the info on a secure website, and automatically sensing problems early; notifying the sons and daughters when a problem first starts. This is very valuable, and much more accurate than waiting for Mom or Dad to finally admit that they're not sleeping much, or haven't been feeling too well. You can actually know about the problem before they do, in some cases.

Now, this system doesn't relieve you from visiting with your Loved-One. There is absolutely no excuse for you (or me) to not visit with them once in a while. It merely presents information to you, so you can assess what they may need. You can even give their Doctor access to the system, so that he/she can look at it for themselves.

Well, we are all going to grow old eventually. It's inevitable; a fact of life. So, let's employ the Golden Rule right now. Treat your Parents the way that you are going to want to be treated by your children. Your kids will see how you treat your Parents, and will learn from your example. 

So long, for now. I'm going to call my Dad and then head over to visit with my Mom.

For many, Skype is more than an opportunity to video chat. It's an opportunity to bring those most special to us into the rhythms of our daily life. Here are some creative ways people are using Skype to connect.

Using Skype to Connect With Children:

Show and Tell - scan the camera to different parts of your home, showing your collections or gifts and drawings sent by them; aim your camera outside the window to show your view?

Play games - e.g. Simon Says or children's board games such as Candyland, etc.

Sing songs together - use a children's?CD or be brave and sing without?

Use puppets to entertain?

Read a book together - send the book in advance?

Celebrate birthdays - arrange for cake in both places and choose games can do over Skype

Use flash cards - see how many the child can answer?

Draw or paint together?

Do science projects - e.g. plant a seed and watch it grow??

Using Skype to Connect With Teens or Adults:

Facilitate a family book club

Organize a family fantasy sports league

Cook together - send recipe in advance, buy ingredients and make dish simultaneously

Play board games - e.g. chess, checkers

Conduct a regular family teleconference with extended family - e.g., aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews etc.

Have a baby or wedding shower - eat together and watch new bride or mom open gifts sent in advance

Eat holiday meals together

Continue the rhythm of daily life - keep camera on while go about daily life. ?Until a family could be reunited with a parent who was transferred to another part of the country, each left their Skype connection open. They ate dinner at the same time and each then went about their normal routine knowing the other was on the other end of the line.??

With seniors in assisted living or with dementia - Use Skype to connect with?those in assisted living who often have difficulty talking on the phone.? Many assisted living facilities are discovering the value of Skype and now offer it.

There are numerous ways others?are using Skype to stay connected. But whatever way people use to help make the connection, it's the connection that's valued. ?Said one user, "I record the sessions just to listen to family members when I'm alone."?????