Nursing Homes|Nursing Home Abuse|Assisted Living Facilities

Many people do not realize what would happen if they become disabled and lose their ability to work. Statistics show that approximately 43 percent of individuals between the ages 35 and 65 will become disabled for 90 days or more. If you lose your ability to work and make a living, disability insurance will help you pay your bills, save for retirement, and make your mortgage loan payments. This type of coverage will replace up to 60 percent of your gross income in case you become disabled. Supplemental plans will cover 70 to 80 percent of your salary.

This type of insurance is specifically designed for working men and women. Since accidents and illnesses occur when you expect the least, collecting disability benefits will help you maintain your standard of living and pay for ongoing expenses. Studies have shown that over 30 million Americans between the ages of 21 and 64 are unable to work because of a long-term illness or injury. In order to receive disability benefits, you need to be a benefit-eligible employee or have a disabling condition that qualifies for benefits.

Long term insurance provides coverage for catastrophic illness or injury. This type of policy kicks in once your short-term disability plan runs out. Insurance companies offer policies that vary in the length of payout. Some of these insurance plans will pay out for up to 10 years, while others will pay out benefits until age 65.

As its name suggests, short term disability insurance offers coverage for a limited period of time. The average duration of benefits is six months. The number of weeks you are eligible for disability benefits depends in how many years you worked for your current employer. Hawaii, Rhode Island, California, New York, and New Jersey require employers to provide short-term disability insurance. Short term policies usually have waiting periods ranging from 0 to 14 days. If you purchase long term disability insurance, you will have to wait 30 to 720 days before receiving any benefits. Long term coverage is typically more expensive that short term disability insurance because it covers extended health care at home, assisted-living facilities, or nursing homes.

If you are self employed, consider buying an individual plan. Many companies provide disability insurance online. All you need to do is to search for a well established insurance website and then complete a brief form with relevant details such as your age, gender, health condition, occupation, and income. Based on the information provided, you will receive disability insurance quotes from several companies. After choosing three to five quotes, compare them side-by-side. Select a policy that offers comprehensive coverage at reasonable rates. Keep in mind that many insurance providers offer discounts of up to 40 percent for buying coverage through their websites.

Moving is stressful for everyone, but it's really stressful for those who are thinking about moving to a long-term care facility. I helped my mother and father-in-law make this transition and the process was as hard on me as it was on them.

Would your loved one benefit from long-term care? Are you thinking of making this transition yourself? Instead of avoiding the idea, you may face it head-on. Or as novelist John Steinbeck wrote, "It is in the nature of man as he grows older... to protect against change, particularly change for the better." Even of the pros outweigh the cons, however,you may still feel vulnerable.

Feeling Vulnerable

According to the National Care Planning Council, this approach provides a "homelike environment for people needing or anticipating help with activities of daily living or incidental activities of daily living... This quote comes from a website article, "About Assisted Living."

After you've decided to move you may change your mind. That happened to my mother. I found a beautiful apartment for her and she was excited about moving. Then she called one day and announced, "I'm not coming." I talked with her for 45 minutes, described the apartment and the advantages of Assisted Living. Thankfully, she agreed to move from Florida to Minnesota.

Action Steps

These steps will make it easier for all concerned. If nothing else, they will help to relieve stress because they are proactive.

1. Be careful about self-talk. In his book, Feeling Good, David D. Burns, MD describes the power of negative thinking. "The negative thoughts that flood your mind are the actual cause of your self-defeating emotions," he explains. That's bad enough, but it's easy to slip into what he calls "All-or-Nothing-Thinking," which may lead to unrealistic expectations. When you talk to yourself, emphasize the positives.

2. Do your homework. Find out who owns and operates the facility? What is its reputation? Does it meet health/safety standards? Could you afford to live there? What are the extra charges? Gather as much information as possible and keep it in a separate file.

3. Visit several times. One visit can give you a false impression, so try to visit several times. Get to know the place and the people. My mother visited the high-rise, toured the facility, and several apartments. These visits gave her an idea of what to expect. She was very pleased when she received a welcome bouquet on moving day.

4. Talk with residents. When you visit, talk with as many residents as possible. What do they like best? Is the food good? One of my friends, for example, loves the food service program. "I'm thrilled that I don't have to cook anymore!" she explained. She went on to say that the food didn't taste like the food she used to fix, but "it's good."

5. Start a journal. Expressing your thoughts with written words is one of the best action steps of all. Kathleen Adams, MA, author of Journal to the Self, describes her journal as a 79-cent therapist, available 24 hours a day. "I can tell this therapist absolutely anything," she declares. Writing will clarify your feelings, and nudge you in the direction you need to go.

6. Find out about activities. It's important to stay involved. Judith Viorst writes about involvement in Necessary Losses. "It is easier to grow old if we are neither bored or boring, if we have people and projects we care about, if we are open and flexible and mature enough to submit -- when we need to submit -- to immutable losses."

Moving to Assisted Living may not be easy, but in the long run, it may be the best decision. There's more living to do!

Copyright 2012 by Harriet Hodgson

There is a visible increase in the baby boomers living alone and along with them have increased the services of assisted living. With age and retirement, the first choice of many is to stay independently and some are forced to do so but today there is nothing to worry about. If you have decided to move out of the family and live independently you still have someone to take care of you. Assisted living can come as the best choice for the aging citizens by providing them much needed health care services as well as hospitality services under a single roof. It becomes much more of a family support to the seniors.

Seniors living on their own can at times fail to understand the additional care that they would require and at this tender age special care is needed. Here we are not talking about any religiously fixed services, under assisted living a wide range of health care support services are provided like offering meals, monitoring diet, home maintenance, laundry, managing appointments and most importantly the personal care service. Through this service you get to find someone who can take care of all your needs plus the professionals chosen to be with you are completely trained and offer professed services.

These services are meant to give you the liberty to be on your own, however, at the back of you mind you can be completely free that someone is there to take care of you. Assisted living is an ideal solution for people suffering with Alzheimer or dementia, though used interchangeably but there is a slight difference between the two. People suffering with any of these cannot take proper care of themselves yet they are at times left alone. This is where assisted living is of great help; this disease has to do with the memory loss and family members at times take it as a trouble to deal with such people.

Such baby boomers need extra care for which they are assisted by highly trained staff who offer them personal care with understanding and compassion. Security and well being of such people is quite important as they wouldn't even know where to go and what to do. Through assisted living you can stay relaxed that your parents or someone elderly of your family is under 24 hour medical assistance and would never be missing their meals or medicines.

Children have to leave their parents alone mostly because of unavoidable reasons, they have to be at work and earn their living. For them leaving their beloved in someone else's supervision can be a difficult decision but you need to understand that it for the good. Rather than leaving them all alone you can get them help from someone who is skilled and would be taking care of all their needs. Assisted living could be one of your best decisions in life as it's a guarantee of complete care, love and security.

Long Island is a beautiful, fun filled place to spend your retired years: With miles of beaches, hundreds of places to go shopping and enough good food to go around! The following are a number of reasons that make Long Island the greatest place to retire!

1. With lots of ocean front and lake edge real estate, Long Island has very fresh and clean air. Away from the noise, stress, and busy streets of New York City, you can enjoy calm lazy days uninterrupted. Go for a walk along the water's edge, enjoy a book on your patio, and invite a few friends over for a game of cards. The weather is beautiful and your days will be equally gorgeous.

2. There are a large number of retired seniors living on Long Island: Meaning you won't be alone! There will be lots of people your age who share your interests. There are also a lot of places that hold senior activities like bingo, cards, dance classes, craft groups, senior citizen trips, and senior aerobics. You may be retired, but you'll never be bored!

3. Living on Long Island means you're close to just about everything you could possibly want or need. For example, retiring at an Assisted Living Facility in beautiful Lake Ronkonkoma, you are only an hour and a half away from the stunning Montauk Point! Montauk is a great place for a day trip: Pack a picnic lunch, bring your walking shoes, and enjoy the view! It's also only an hour and twenty minutes from Orient Point, where you can catch a ferry over to Connecticut for a weekend vacation. Dropping you off in New London, you are minutes from Mystic, a great little town filled with nice affordable accommodations, lots of shopping, and great food. You can also head over to Mohegan Sun for more shopping, a little gambling, and amazing shows and concerts! And even closer than all that is New York City, which is about an hour away (depending where you are on L.I). And with a train station near by, the trip is a breeze! I don't think I need to tell you about the plethora of places to go, things to see, and stuff to do in the city!

4. Long Island is home to some of the most beautiful beaches around! With miles of sandy shoreline, rolling waves, and clean warm air what's not to love? Plus, the sunsets are beautiful too! Long Island also gives you the choice of two shore lines. The South Shore, which is your typical sandy bottom kind of beach, and the North Shore, which is covered in rocks, stones, and even larger boulders. (Honestly, it's a rock collectors dream come true!) Not to mention, some of Long Island's beaches are placed on the top 10 list of best beaches in America!

5. There are lots of great places to eat scattered all over the island. Plus, Long Island is home to some of the best pizza and bagels in the country! With plenty of fast food establishments, delis, cafes, diners and fine restaurants, there is always something to satisfy your taste buds!

6. Long Island is also home to lots of great wildlife. With places like the protected Pine Barrens and wildlife refuges like the one located in Quogue. There are miles of trails to hike and animals to spy! A great place for bird watcher enthusiasts, photographers, and wildlife lovers of all types!

7. Still not convinced? Look at it this way... many people choose Long Island as their vacation destination, and extremely wealthy celebrities own homes in the Hamptons. If it's worth vacationing to, it's definitely worth living! You can make other people's vacations your life!

When you go to choose how to spend your retirement years, time should be spent considering where you want to live. As housing takes up a great deal of your income, choices may be limited. Some seniors choose to stay in their own home as long as possible while others prefer to move to a retirement community where they will be surrounded by other seniors who share similar interests. Nursing homes are available for those who need around the clock care. What about those who fall in between and need some help taking care of themselves, but want to remain as independent as possible? Independent assisted living is the perfect solution.

An independent assisted living arrangement is perfect for those who can live on their own for the most part, but do need some help with basic daily activities. Research has shown that those who choose this type of retirement setting do so because they need help with an average of three daily activities. This may be bathing, cooking, cleaning or medication. Once the staff has helped with these activities, the resident then goes on with daily life as he or she would if they lived in their home or an active retirement community. It is like having the best of both worlds. The level of care is based on the needs of each individual resident. It is not one size fits all.

Why so many prefer this option is that it allows for more privacy and independence. The senior will still have his or her own apartment or unit. Staff will only come in during the times when the resident needs help. Otherwise, the resident can spend the rest of the day doing as he or she pleases. As many who find themselves in need of care now grew up very independent, this allows them to maintain that freedom without sacrificing quality care and basic needs.

When choosing an independent assisted living facility, there is one thing that you may wish to consider. If you find that your needs change and that you need more care throughout the day or even continuous care, moving to a new facility could be a hassle. You may wish to find a facility that offers both types of care in the same location. This would make the transition much easier for the resident as well as family members involved in the process. Best of all, staying in the same location may allow for more continuity of care. If a problem arises, the staff in the new section may be able to call on the staff from the old section for advice and guidance. This may not be possible if two facilities are involved.

Take care when choosing an independent assisted living retirement facility or community. Be sure to check the staff and also speak with other residents about the care they have received. Retirement living in any form is not cheap so you want to know you are getting the best possible care for what you can afford. Making a move at this stage of life is not as easy as it used to be so you don't want to have to do this unless absolutely necessary. A thorough vetting before you move in can help to prevent this.

It's not any fun getting any older and if you have ageing parents it can be difficult to manage as they find it harder to move around due to health or mobility problems and become more and more forgetful. The elderly living alone is a concern for everyone, a slip in the bath or a fall downstairs can be a terrifying and serious worry for all parties.

If you have an elderly loved one who lives alone then the odds are you are worried about their welfare. Many senior citizens like to maintain their independence and live in the home they have probably occupied for many years as long as possible. In other words, they would love to age in place. Reports state that people who are over the age of 85 are the fastest growing population segment of the elderly in America, luckily there's lots of assistance available to help the elderly who live by themselves.

While some senior citizens may be happy to go into residences that offer assisted living, there are plenty of others that are happy in their own homes and may just require a little help now and again. If you don't always have the time yourself to check on their well-being daily then there are other options available.

You, the caregiver, are more likely to realise your elderly relatives need an extra helping hand than they are but the last thing you want to do is take away their independence. If they insist on living alone then it may be smart to get someone in on a part time basis to help them keep the house clean and tidy, even do some cooking, and this way the change isn't too drastic. Employ a gardener to keep the garden neat and ask neighbours, friends and various members of the family to pop in on a regular basis to keep them company and generally keep an eye on them.

Check with a local agency that works with the elderly and find out more about available community resources. They might actually qualify for free programs and assistance to help maintain independence. Various social groups in your area may have volunteers who visit the elderly or those who can't get out much to chat and provide company. However, people don't always have time and there may be some days when no-one has been able to visit, the only way you're going to be reassured of their health and safety each day is by going there yourself or calling them.

For people with really busy schedules however, even calling a few times a day to check your mother or father are up and doing OK can be a task that gets neglected due to lack of time or being in a situation or location that doesn't make it easy to use the telephone. If you simply can't afford to get them full-time live in help or they refuse, don't despair as there is another kind of help at hand. Cost effective solutions can help you care for your seniors with a daily care call programme designed to help them and put your mind at ease.

What does a care call programme entail exactly? Well, it's very simple to get started all you need is a basic telephone - you decide how many times a day you want the service to call the elderly relative, it could be just once in the morning or every morning, noon and night depending on the circumstances. Services are provided everyday, 24 hours a day depending on your circumstances. If the person concerned doesn't pick up then a notification is sent to whoever you have chosen, either yourself or a neighbour or family friend, and you can then make arrangements to check the situation out. Put your mind at rest with reassurance everyday.

For anyone worried about an elderly relatives well-being, whether it is a grandparent having small accidents due to lack of mobility, your dad's failing eyesight, or a neighbour you've known for years that you worry as they become gradually more and more confused, a daily care call or two can mean all the difference. As well as giving you reassurance that all is well, it also offers a support line to the senior, and if anything has happened help can be sent very quickly. An easy service to help aging in place, it's the perfect way to balance effective care for people you love and still be able to get on with the daily routines of your own busy life.

Find out more about independent living for seniors in their homes and make sure those you worry about are safe and protected.

Stuff to add:

"Aging in place" is growing older without having to move. According to the Journal of Housing for the Elderly, it is not having to move from one's present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to changing need. Some 70% of seniors spend the rest of their life in the place where they celebrated their 65th birthday.

Long Island is a beautiful place for senior citizens to happily spend their retirement. Far enough away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, Long Island can be a quiet yet entertaining place to spend your retired years.

Retirement on Long Island includes beautiful afternoons on our sunny beaches, gorgeous sunsets, and peaceful walks down quiet neighborhood streets. There is plenty of fine dining, movie theaters, malls and parks to suit your needs. There's also a lot of fun activities specifically for senior citizens. The following is a list of a number of events that are held all over Long Island for the enjoyment of our beloved seniors!

1. For those seniors who aren't afraid to do something a little different, the Town of Oyster Bay offers ballroom dance instructions for residents 60 and over. Lessons take place at the William P. Bennett Community Center in Hicksville every Monday at 10am. It's a great way to learn something new, have some fun, and stay active!!

2. The Tanner Park Senior Center in Copiague is a great place for seniors to go with friends or meet new people their own age. Open Monday-Friday 9-4pm, they feature card playing, table games, bingo, billiards, lunch, arts and crafts, and other specially-scheduled programs! The Tanner Park Senior Center is a great place for seniors to socialize and keep their minds sharp!!

3. If you want to stay active but that ballroom dancing simply isn't for you then the Rainbow Senior Center in Lindenhurst might be! They offer Bend and Stretch classes Mondays and Wednesdays at 11am. This class is designed specifically for seniors, so don't be afraid it'll be too intense!

4. The Rainbow Senior Center also offers the Arts and Crafts club. A place to share and discuss craft ideas, open Mondays and Wednesdays 10am-2pm.

5. Another great place for seniors is Golden Opportunities at the Senior Community Service Center in Glen Cove. They offer a wide variety of diverse activities including trips, guest speakers, social cubs, exercise and bridge! Membership is free for residents and guest membership is available for Nassau County seniors!

6. And for all you men out there that simply have no interest in playing bridge with the ladies, the Plainview Senior Housing Facility has the North Shore Men's Club! A social club just for men 60 and over.

7. There is also the 'For Men Only' club at the Samuel Field YM & YWHA in Little Neck. The 'For Men Only' club is a discussion group open to men over the age of 80, open daily from 2pm-3pm.

As you can see, there are lots of activities on Long Island for retired senior citizens to stay active. There is plenty of fun to be had and a lot of new people to meet! Before you know it, you might be planning your own trip with your new friends!

Meal times are bar none the most important activity of the day for seniors living in retirement and assisted living communities. Eating is an immensely enjoyable activity when you're young (as evidenced by our 60% overweight population) and for the elderly, and is often the only enjoyable activity of the day. And while fattening home cooked dishes will always be on menus - just watch the uprising if they took away chicken fried steak from anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line - communities should still be striving for quality and freshness.

1. Our seniors spent their whole lives deciding when and what they wanted to eat. Isn't it only fair that they get to do that now? While many communities have limited meal times - and this is not necessarily bad, it's certainly better to have an all day dining program in place. When is the last time someone told you that lunch was served at 11AM sharp? Our seniors aren't children and they're paying a lot of coin to live in these places. Communities should attempt to be as flexible as possible in their scheduling to be respectful of the decision-making ability of these folks, even if they come in at the same time. Every. Single. Day.


2. It's just as important to give seniors the choice of where to sit. Senior communities can be like high school with folks moving in and out of social circles. Wouldn't you get sick of sitting next to the same person every day? What if you didn't like them? Assigned seating should be reserved only for residents with very high care needs who need extra attention.


3. Knowledgeable Food & Beverage Director. All the better if the chef is a nutritionist (and in some states it's the law). Even if no need exists now, he or she should be able to tell you what they can and can not do in the event diets change for health reasons. Diabetes, chewing problems and diverticulitis, among many others - are fairly common ailments among an aging population and something to think about when considering a move.


4. Quality and Quantity. Look to see how extensive the menu is. Residents should be given at least three options at every meal, one hearty, one healthy, and one light. Even home style dishes should be made with fresh ingredients and a minimum of salt, and served with fruits and vegetables that will be pleasing to any palate.


5. Cleanliness and Atmosphere. Keeping the kitchen and dining room clean are incredibly important to help prevent the spread of illness within a more frail population prone to picking up every little bug. Check food safety inspections and be sure to walk all the way into the dining room (and in the kitchen if they allow it) to make sure staff looks clean and crisp, salt and pepper shakers free of any visible debris, table surfaces sanitized, and glasses and silverware spotless.


6. Don't forget to try the food. While every community claims to have the best around, make sure you ask to try it for yourself. Your taste buds don't lie and it will give you a much better idea of what the community is really like as a whole.

So often I hear frustrated clients tell me, "Help, my elderly parents are so stubborn and they are driving me crazy!" I completely understand this frustration as I have been there too. My elderly mother became more and more forgetful as she got older. She would forget to eat and drink. She was too frail to drive and her life consisted of playing solitaire, watching TV and waiting and hoping that someone might stop by for a visit or give her a call. Trouble was, she never had anything to talk about because she had become so isolated from the world. She refused to move to a senior community and expected me to be available at a moments notice - even though I lived hours away and had a family and full time job. I was so worried about her and frustrated too. So, I get it. I really do. I understand what it's like to be a parent to a parent. I got through it. I help my clients get through it and you can get through it too. Here are some thoughts that might make you, as a parent to your parent, feel a little better.

First of all, it is important to understand that the Senior in your life is experiencing a lot of loss- sometimes on a daily basis. It doesn't matter if they do or do not believe in the necessity of moving to a safer place. It still hurts and our patience is required. They are most likely losing more of their independence on a daily basis. They have already suffered some physical and mental loss and are feeling sad, confused and probably a little angry too. They may have lost their beloved life partner. Seniors will often say "no" just because they can as it is the last bastion of their independence. If they move, they are leaving memories, familiar surroundings, neighbors and friends behind. They don't remember how to make friends and aren't particularly eager to make the effort to do so again.

If you are the adult child of a Senior, you are feeling a lot of loss too! Your role has been reversed and it feels uncomfortable and overwhelming. You remember when they were young. You hate seeing them lose their independence. If they have to move, you will miss the old family home too! You also wish things could stay the same. You feel guilty that you can't keep them in their home. You feel guilty that they can't live with you. You feel guilty that you have to take so much time away from your own family and career. You feel guilty that you feel angry when they make demands on you. You feel guilty for feeling guilty!

Wow, that's a lot of anger, sadness and guilt all around!

Relax, trust and know that as the adult "parent to your parents", that regardless of what you are feeling, you are bringing the love, nurturing, patience and care that you received as a child, back full circle to them. What a privilege. What a gift. Even if they don't appreciate it, you are helping them move forward and live safer and happier lives. Be content with knowing that. Living alone is not fun. Living alone is boring. Living alone when you are a Senior can be dangerous.

Sometimes your aging parents will absolutely refuse to move under any circumstances. In that case, offer them solutions. You can't be with them all the time. They can't be left alone. So ask them what the solution might be? Just being faced with having to solve the problem will encourage them to let go and let you decide for them. If they are worried about what to do with 40 years of accumulated possessions, help them choose what to take, get them out of their house and into their new senior community first. Then you can clear the house of their excess stuff. You can't do it when they are still living in their new home. It's too traumatic for everyone concerned. If you can't take care of the move yourself, hire someone through NAPO National Association of Professional Organizers, or NASMM National Association of Senior Move Managers to do it for you. You can find a professional near you through their national website.

On the day of the big move, pack a suitcase and/or a banker's box for your senior in preparation for the move. Mark it carefully and be responsible for it. It should contain all critical papers, medications, valuable jewelry and any other important documents you can think of. Moving is very unsettling and the fear for Seniors of losing important things is great. Seniors can fall into a state of panic if they cannot find certain items. Help them feel safe about these things. Take them out of their home before the movers arrive and don't deliver them to their new home until it has been unpacked and completely set up. I like to tell my clients that their parents will feel like they've been "beamed like Star Trek" into their new home and, it will feel like home - beds made, food in the frig, everything put away, cable TV installed, pictures on the wall, mementos on display.

In their new Senior Community, your parents will be watched and cared for around the clock. You will be assured that they are eating and drinking - a lot of seniors "forget" to do this and fall ill. They will make new friends and have new people to tell their old stories to. The can share life experiences with their peers. They will also be intellectually stimulated once again, which might bring back some of their lost cognitive abilities. They will be encouraged to re engage in the world-and most importantly, they will be SAFE.

Once they have moved, you will feel better too! You will be relieved that they are safe and watched over. You will know that they are eating properly and drinking fluids. You will know that their lives are now richer, with new friends and lots of activities to look forward to. You will enjoy your visits with them once again and you will get your own life back in the process.  

Senior caregiving provides fulfilling work for individuals who are compassionate and dependable. Many opportunities exist as seniors often need just part-time care when family members are not able to check in during the week or when recovering from an illness or surgery. Some caregiving positions require certification as a nursing aide or home health aide and other positions simply require a caring personality. Senior home care agencies typically train caregivers for each assignment. Nursing homes and assisted living communities offer positions as activities director and nursing aides.

What questions should you ask to make sure the individual will be trustworthy and caring? Here is a list of suggested questions which are typically used by professional senior home care agencies when interviewing caregivers to join their care team.

1. What attracted you to entering the profession of senior caregiver?


2. Please share a story about an interaction you have had with a senior in your life, as a relative, friend, or caregiver.


3. Please walk me through your employment history and tell me what you liked the most and the least about each job.


4. What are your short-term and long-term goals for employment?


5. Based on your experiences with the elderly, what do you like most about spending time with seniors?


6. What do you think are a seniors greatest fears and concerns?


7. What do you think are the characteristics of a good caregiver?


8. Which of those characteristics do you feel you posses?


9. What skills do you feel you would need to improve upon or develop as a senior caregiver?


10. Do you have experience in providing personal assistance (bathing, toileting, feeding)?


11. How would you handle a situation where the senior does not want to cooperate? Example: the senior does not want to take their medications at the scheduled time.


12. How would you handle or behave in an emergency situation?


13. How would you begin to develop a friendly relationship with a new client on your first day?


14. Please let me know what medical conditions you have personal or professional experience in working with: Alzheimer's Disease/Memory Loss, Parkinson's disease, hip replacement, stroke, diabetes, cancer, M.S., others?

These questions have been developed by human resource professionals with years of experience and will achieve the goal of finding out the caregiver applicant's interest in performing care as an employee and their skills and dependability.

It is also important to perform background checks on potential caregivers.

Beware of any background check service that is offered for free or in tandem with a subscription service as a good background check will cost at least $15.00 for a one-time purchase by an individual.

This is because courts do require an entry fee, similar to how a nightclub charges, and it is important to also have computer records verified by a person in counties that do not keep their criminal databases updated daily.

Most background checks that are given for "free" are simply a name and social security number match. When hiring a caregiver, you may want to learn about the background check laws in your state. The best way to make sure you have all the necessary insurance protections and active management for a caregiver is to hire a professional senior home care agency which will provide worker's compensation insurance, professional liability insurance and a training and performance reviews for the caregiver.

With Orange County's population hovering around 40 million people, it's no surprise that the need for Alzheimer care in Orange County is on the rise. The good news is that services ranging from adult day care specializing in Alzheimer's care to assisted living and skilled nursing care options are available.

Adult Day Care

Alzheimer's Family Services Center (AFSC) is a one-of-a-kind facility in the county. It provides adult day care specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals suffering from dementia related diseases. Along with day care services, they offer support for caregivers to help equip and encourage them meet the challenges they face. AFSC is licensed by the California Department of Public Health. For more information call 714-593-9630.

Residential Alzheimer Care in Orange County

Residential Alzheimer care is available in Orange County. Homes such as the Cottage at Artesia Gardens which offers a unique residential environment that provides the assistance and security needed to care for those with Alzheimer's. Other larger facilities include choices such as:

• ACE, Advanced Care for the Elderly (Anaheim, CA): This residential care facility provides personal care in a home environment. The licensee is a Registered Nurse with experience in Dementia, Alzheimer's, stroke, Parkinson's and more.


• Carline's Guest Home (Santa Ana, CA): Warm, family environment provided to residents.


• Hollybrook Senior Living at Orange(Santa Ana, CA): Each memory care resident is assigned a designated caregiver. This caregiver reports even subtle changes in the resident's behavior or condition and works as the point of contact for family members.


• Sunrise of Tustin (Santa Ana, CA): Provides a monthly visit by a registered wellness nurse as well as other services. Amenities include secured landscaped walking paths so residents can get fresh air.

Skilled Care Facilities

• Silverado Senior Living Tustin-Hacienda (Tustin CA): This facility provides expert clinical care in a warm, loving environment. Staff includes a full-time Registered Nurse who oversees a team of licensed nurses and caregivers. This is a pet-friendly facility.


• Walnut Village (Anaheim, CA): Walnut Villages Summer House is a memory care facility that offers a secure location in a "protected memory support neighborhood within the village."


• Emeritus at San Juan Capistrano (San Juan Capistrano, CA): The Emeritus dementia care program, was established with a focus on the residents with an understanding of memory loss.

Financial Factors to Consider

As you investigate the different options available for Alzheimer care in Orange County, there are financial factors to take into consideration. After determining a facility provides the quality and type of care you're looking for, it is important to ask about payment methods. Do they accept Medicaid or your long-term care insurance? Are you eligible for Long Term Care Medi-Cal?

No matter which type of Alzheimer's care facility you choose, most of the time costs are all-inclusive. However, it is important to ask whether or not additional charges will be incurred for supplies like incontinence products. Also be sure to check on prices for private versus semi-private rooms because this can make a difference. As you make this decision it is important to realize that privacy becomes less of an issue as Alzheimer's disease progresses. In fact, companionship of a roommate may actually be beneficial.

When you need to lose weight, going at it on your own can be downright difficult. It is really tough to make the sacrifices that will lead to a healthier you. Even though you know that it's important to not be obese, you still may find that losing the pounds and keeping them off for good is extremely difficult. This is one of the many reasons why assisted living is such a great resource. You can find all the support that you want when you live in an assisted living facility. Whether it is the caring and compassionate staff that helps prepare your meals and takes care of you, or if it's simply the support of your fellow residents, assisted living presents a unique and controlled setting for you to effectively reach your weight loss goals.

Counting calories is tough. You need to be dedicated and you need to be thorough. It's true that if you want to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in. This can be tough to measure, but luckily, most assisted living facilities can accommodate you in this respect. Figuring out your rough caloric needs is actually pretty easy to do. Once you do this, all you need to do is incorporate some light exercise, and you will start burning those calories even faster. This is a tried and true method of losing weight.

With so many health problems linked to obesity, it is a wonder that more people don't take full control of their lives and shed the pounds that might cause them ill effects. The bottom line is this: if it were easy to do, more people would do it. Losing weight can be very difficult for some people, and it's for this reason that having a support system in place will help you to reach your goals more easily. Losing weight is tough, so take it one day at a time and rely on the structure that you have in place. Everyone wants to see you succeed, and your assisted living staff members and caregivers can be your cheerleaders.

Ultimately, it comes down to you. It's your responsibility to care for yourself. If you want to lost weight, that's your responsibility too. No one can take credit for this other than you, so you need to own both your failures and your successes. If you have a setback, it's not a big deal. Learn from it and move on. When you reach your goals, don't forget to thank those who have helped you, but really, you need to be proud of yourself, too. Losing weight is a big accomplishment and if you can do it, you deserve to take some credit.

When it comes to home health care, choosing the right specialists can be somewhat of a struggle. Requiring a lot of time, dedication, expert knowledge and plenty of patience, home care specialists who absolutely love their work are sometimes hard to find - but looking online can really open up new possibilities for people searching for the highest quality and the most affordable prices. Starting prices comparison websites can be a good idea. And here are the factors you need to be looking at.

Dependability and trustworthiness are the first two factors you should be considering when looking for personal care experts. You should always stay on the safe side and look for certificates, diplomas, references and other documentation that proves the eligibility of the specialists in question to do the job as best they can. It is not too much to ask for those documents as the health of people is to be cared for, so you should not feel out of line for doing so.

Expert knowledge and experience are also important factors to consider. Visiting nurses have to be experienced in a particular field that is of interest to you so you have to make sure you check those skills from recommendations or simply by setting the test period and observing the patient-nurse relationship for a time. Whatever it is - recovering from an illness, a chronic condition, or the need for constant assistance - the specialist in question should have enough experience to do their daily duties with ease.

Compatibility of patients and assistance has been known to enhance any relationship but when there is a lack of understanding, problems may arise. To see if this or that person is perfect for the job in terms of how the two people get on with each other the only thing to do is to have them come in for a test period of time and gauge the situation. When you have a case of an irritable patient that has a temper and is negative in disposition, you surely can benefit from someone with a lot of patience and plenty of love to give. Sometimes people simply don not mix well, and this will be apparent early on, because usually compatible people click right away.

Great equipment and technical support can also be important when it comes to choosing the right as sited living facility or staff for your home. With special conditions or recuperating from serious disease you have to make sure you can rely on the best technologies out there that can help your loved ones overcome this difficult period in their lives.

These tips are designed to help you get the best care possible within the budget you are working with. We hope they are helpful and wish you luck.

The fast advancement of technology has resulted in the conception of up to date equipment and exceptional methods in the area of medical rescue and management of emergency situations. One high point is the personal emergency response system.

These developments have proven to be a blessing in disguise for elderly folks and individuals afflicted with bodily ailments. It is a fact that said people are more vulnerable to accidents. Seniors and sick persons have lost much of their strength and independence making them incapable of dealing with unpredicted dangers. It is a big relief not only for powerless and elderly persons along with their families that emergency medical alert systems continue to proliferate. This means that there will be lesser trepidation that something disastrous will happen to these susceptible old men and women.

Today, senior citizens are purely one push button away from emergency assistance. The more important piece of the puzzle is to learn fundamental operations of emergency medical alert systems through instructions given by manufacturers of such equipment. Most of these modern contrivances are two-way voice units which are connected to telephone wires. When pressing conditions take place without warning, all you have to do is to depress the button linked up with the emergency monitoring unit. There is also an option of installing portable transmitters that can be placed anywhere in the house.

The personal emergency response system has been enhanced to make it more convenient and beneficial for the aged. One of the primary reasons for the refusal of elderly people to leave their residences and transfer to assisted living facilities is the anxiety that nobody will help them in case of any emergency or accident while living alone. There are also senior folks who are apprehensive about losing their sense of independent lifestyle in a retirement home. Purchasing these unique paraphernalia will help them handle these issues. Likewise, the old people become conscious that their self-worth and independent lifestyle are kept intact.

Some companies that provide such systems have collaborated with call centers which receive calls and send them to the healthcare provider. There are various procedures. One is that operators are tasked with the responsibility of assessing an actual situation and provide callers with instructions. There is also an automated response procedure or the co-called home alarm company.

Subscribers of this personal emergency response system should find out the time of coverage of the medical alert company and all details pertaining to response time and outsourcing of calls. Costs and payment terms change so this can be discussed directly with the company. These special products are now being conceptualized and produced to deal with different types of settings such as chronic sicknesses and choices of patients. The progress has been quick but technical experts are still in the middle of introducing new to make the system more responsive and useful for users. Definitely, at the start of this year, producers of these devices will have more bright ideas and innovations that will satisfy their customers.

Do You Fully Appreciate Your Own Services?

Management and staff members in assisted living repeatedly tell me how good they are at caring for seniors. However, their marketing often does not communicate that viewpoint in a way that the consumer needs to hear it.

For example, in a recent "Talk'in About Care" training session attended by representatives of many facilities, I asked the group if giving out medications to their senior residents was an innovative service. People hesitated and looked at one another. Finally, someone said they didn't think so, and that became the consensus of the room. The reasoning - common, expected, nothing special.

The logic seemed to be that if everyone in assisted living is giving out meds (and hopefully, they all do it very well), it would not be important to the consumer? So this "everyday" professional specialty is normally listed among services, but seldom highlighted.

The Eyes Of The Beholder

I then brought it to the group's attention that I just read an article in McKnight's Long-Term Care News that stated "Older adults make more than half of all trips to the emergency room for adverse drug interactions." My students were not surprised to hear this and agreed that it is a major concern for seniors and their family members. So my conclusion to them was that they have a target market that places a high value on a service they provide. At the same time, they feel it is a very important (but common) service and are proud of how well they provide it, yet they still undervalue this service...and neglect to claim its marketing advantages.

Common Marketing/Communication Mistakes

Assisted living companies and staff members often communicate value in their terms. This can lead to their target markets not understanding and/or relating to the message that is given or the value of the service being offered. Here are four mistakes that senior care providers frequently make.

1. Highly value what they do from an industry insider viewpoint. This tends to over value a service and/or not connect well with the consumer. Example: The salesperson raves about how their facility is just like home, while the prospect looks around and sees little similarity to their three bedroom, 2 bath home that is filled with 25 years of memories and provides feelings of comfort.


2. Undervalue what they do because they do it every day and take its benefits for granted. Example: Give out meds with set procedures that include checks and balances, but do not highlight a 10 Point Medication Management Program that is in writing and on their website.


3. Neglect to utilize a service they already provide to address an important issue of a target market. Example: Offer exercise and stretching classes, but do not relate or highlight how these services help those with arthritis to maintain or improve grip, balance and/or flexibility.


4. Neglect to package services together that they are already providing to address an important issue of a target market. Example: Sticking with the arthritis example above, do not promote an Easing Arthritis program even though they offer exercise and stretching classes, along with providing a menu and nutritional supplements that decrease inflammation, ice pack therapy, massage of stiff joints and medication management.

Speak Their Value, Increase Move-Ins

Value in assisted living must absolutely start with the management and staff. However that value must be communicated to the consumer in a way that makes sense to the end user/caregiver/decision maker and will be seen as resolving their issues. Three ways to accomplish this are:

1. Providing innovative services that are seen as valuable to your target markets.


2. Packaging services and amenities into programs that address the needs of target markets.


3. Target and serve niche markets that have specific needs that match the benefits of your innovative services and programs.

When the consumer values an innovative service (or package) that addresses their need, the providing facility gains a selling advantage. In addition, that service often becomes a measure of comparison. So in the example above, facilities who do not offer their version of an Easing Arthritis program on their website and/or on their tour are immediately put at a competitive disadvantage.

These services do not have to be new (although new services can be a huge plus). They just have to provide important benefits to those who need them. Then work hard to improve your communication of that (consumer) value...and train your staff to relate that value. By doing so, recognition and referrals will go up, decisions will be made faster, and your move-ins will increase.

As the country is dealing with harsh times, it's becoming harder for the elders of our society to find homes that have the ability to take care of them. Not only are many assisted living facilities deteriorating in their standards of comfort and care, the seniors who need to live in these homes are finding it harder to pay for their high costs. Fortunately there are government grants for assisted living for seniors that are intended to counteract these hardships.

The quality of a senior center and care facility is incredibly important since so many people are relying on the services they provide. The standards a person should expect to find in an assisted living facility include, but are not limited to, properly trained nurses and aids, clean rooms, healthy food, and well kept living spaces. Sadly there are many of these facilities that are not up to par since they can't afford to hire a good staff or keep up with repairs. Many government grants are available to these facilities to help them improve on their business and make their facility a better place for the people who live there.

Another problem people notice when it comes to assisted living for seniors is that there just aren't enough places that provide it. Some areas don't even have any kind of senior citizen home and families are forced to send their loved ones out of town just to get the care they need. The government has created grants to meet this problem too. There are grants at the ready for people and organizations willing to take old or unused buildings and turn them into a brand new facility.

For those people that can't afford to live in assisted living facilities, grants are available to help with costs. Please check government websites for more information.

Moving an individual with Alzheimer's into a facility such as a nursing home or assisted living can be traumatic for everyone involved. A recent study by the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center has found that there are things which can be done to help with the move. The study, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, finds that prior experience in adult day care may help individuals suffering from Alzheimer's make the transition from home to facility much smoother.

In general, seniors moving from their home into any type of facility or downsizing to a smaller home need special attention and assistance. With an Alzheimer's patient, the stress of moving is far greater. Taking them out of comfortable surroundings into a totally unknown environment appears to increase the rate of cognitive decline.

This is consistent with clinical reports of increased confusion and behavior problems so common with those suffering from dementia during acute hospitalization or when traveling away from home.

The answer appears to be a gradual transition by starting with adult day care and then moving into a facility once the individual is comfortable with the change. "It makes perfect sense as we get feedback in the form of reviews from people who have put loved ones into assisted living facilities and nursing homes. After reading this study and reflecting back on comments left, it does seem to correlate that individuals who have made the transition slowly, using adult day care and home health care seem to have fewer complaints."

It appears that individuals who spend more time in day care experience less cognitive decline once they move into a facility full time. This means that if a person goes to adult day care between 3 - 5 times per week, they will not experience an accelerated cognitive decline. A person who goes less, such as 1-2 times per week will experience a faster decline, but will still get some of the benefits over a person who goes directly from a home environment to an assisted living facility or nursing home.

The best situation may be to find a nursing home or assisted living facility which also has an adult day care component built in. This way, the individual can slowly get used to his or her new surroundings and will make the transition much easier.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes on Aging, which leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people, including Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Information for this article was found on on the Science Daily June issue

When aging parents come to the point when assisted living seems like the best choice, it is usually their baby boomer children who see it first. Perhaps the adult children live in another state. Perhaps they are unable to visit Mom or Dad often enough to feel comfortable leaving them alone.

The death of a spouse or a gradual loss of independence in self care-any of these reasons may lead to the adult child's decision to move the parent. As an assisted living facility representative is likely to tell you, it is often the adult children who first come to look the place over, later bringing their parents to see the place for themselves. These adult children are the hidden consumers of services.

Assisted vs Nursing Home

As the hidden consumers, what do the adult children of aging parents need to understand about these facilities? Very simply: what the facility can't do. Invariably, the sales pitch tells you what the facility can do, which is fine, and to be expected. But as a consumer, you must understand the difference between assisted  and nursing care. First, an assisted living facility is not a nursing home with fancy furniture. Assisted living is not licensed to give nursing care.

Typically, assisted living facilities are places where elders live in a supervised community, with some personal care services available. Meals, social activity, and help with the activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing are all usually offered at such facilities. The focus is on providing a healthy social environment and preventing social isolation. It is a worthy focus, as isolation is dangerous, and widespread among elders whose independence is declining.

If your parent is in fragile health and seems to be steadily declining physically or mentally, be cautious about choosing an assisted living facility over a nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility). No one chooses a nursing home first. Nursing homes are more like hospitals, as they must be to deliver skilled care to frail seniors. But if your aging parent needs nursing care, and must be watched day and night, or you believe that he or she is likely to need such supervision in the near future, it is the only choice.

Assisted living facilities are not licensed by Medicare or Medicaid to give skilled care. Some have a separate skilled nursing facility on-site or nearby, but it will have its own license to deliver skilled nursing care. That license does not apply to the assisted living component, even the two facilities are located on the same campus or are operated by the same parent company.

Doctors & Nurses Not Required

Many assisted living facilities do not have any licensed nurse on staff, and may have no nurse connected to them at all. Because they are considered non-medical facilities, having a licensed nurse is not required by law. Even if a nurse is employed by the assisted living facility, the nurse cannot give hands-on care in the form of dressing a wound, administering around-the-clock insulin, administering oxygen, or other tasks that are defined by the federal and state governments as "skilled nursing care."

Skilled nursing care may only be administered within a facility that is licensed to do so. Legally, this kind of facility is licensed as a skilled nursing facility, although it may have a different business name that it markets itself as, such as an "extended care" or "long-term care" facility. Medicare and Medicaid also designate these homes as skilled nursing facilities.

Because skilled nursing facilities bill Medicare and/or Medicaid for skilled nursing care, they must comply with many complex legal regulations and requirements. Assisted living facilities are regulated by the state Department of Social Services, not the Department of Health, which regulates nursing homes. Assisted living facilities do not have the same safety or administrative requirements as a skilled nursing facility, and they are prohibited from giving care they are not licensed to give.

Limitations to Specialized Care Waivers

There are exceptions to some of the federal and state government's licensing requirements. For example, a licensed assisted living facility may take care of residents with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, if it has a waiver to accept this kind of resident. The facility must also have certain protections in place to prevent injury to its demented residents.

However, it is still prohibited from restraining a demented resident who has a tendency to wander. There are many other limitations to what an assisted living facility can do, even with waivers. Taking care of residents with dementia can be unpredictable, and skilled nursing can become necessary as the disease progresses.

When an aging parent has to move out of the family home, or out of a long-term residence of any kind, the move can be difficult, even traumatic. If you are considering assisted living as an option for your loved one, be sure your focus is on the long run. Carefully consider what he or she will need a year down the road. Moving an elder twice within a short period can be extremely hard on both of you, so make your decisions based on the overall picture, not just on what the assisted living facility can do for him or her right now.

As hidden consumers, adult children must be fully aware of the limits of assisted care. Assisted care facilities can be wonderful and supportive environments for residents who don't need skilled care. If you are considering assisted living for your aging parent, be sure this kind of place is a match for your parent's needs.

There probably aren't a whole lot of people who haven't dreamed of having an rich, unknown uncle die and leave them a bundle of cash, even though we know it isn't likely to happen. Many of us do, however, count on inheriting at least something from our parents' estate to help ease the way through retirement. The seniors who learned frugality while living through the Great Depression were able to stash away large amounts of money that their baby boomer children were never able to amass. Some blame this on the spending habits of the boomer generation while others know that the extra funds to save just weren't available for most of them. Still, everyone needs an alternative plan rather than just waiting for their inheritance.

Seniors are living much longer these days. Even if your parents have a fairly comfortable estate, it only takes one major illness and a nursing home stay to substantially eat away at it, leaving nothing for anyone to inherit. The money belongs to your parents who rightfully believe that they should be allowed to spend it as they see fit. It's possible they aren't interested in leaving a lot of money to you thinking that if they could save enough for retirement, you should be able to do so, too. You should never count your chickens before they hatch.

The typical American family has changed a great deal in the decades since World War II. What was once a tight nuclear group of parents and children has now turned into a mixed conglomeration of step parents, step children, ex-spouses, and siblings who do not retain a close relationship due to the physical distance separating them. Families are no longer the close-knit groups they once were, and these dynamics mean that the already-sticky situation of dividing an estate amongst the heirs is even trickier than ever. In many instances, hard feelings abound, and family members sever all relations with each other on a permanent basis. That's obviously not what Mom and Dad would have wanted to happen within their family.

Because of the years of recession and unemployment, more people than ever are on shaky financial ground, and this leads to fighting over funds that become available from an estate. This fact coupled with the dwindling funds of seniors who are living for many more years has created a volatile situation, and thinking you'll inherit anything from your parents can mean counting on an impossible dream which can leave you in desperate straits for the many more years of your own life, especially with the government constantly wanting to reduce social security.

There are a number of options to consider when selecting a long term care solution for your aging loved one. Unfortunately, adult day care is one option which is often under-utilized and over-looked. In-home care and assisted living are some of the more popular care options; however adult day care should be considered for a number of different reasons. While awareness of the benefits is limited, trends do show that it is growing in popularity.

Below are the top 12 things you probably did not know about Adult Day Care.

1. Affordable: Most day programs cost a fraction of what other care services cost. Typically a day costs averages $60 per day including meals. In-home care costs average about $20 per hour or $160 for a full day of care (8 hours).

2. Socialization: Adult day care offers a great social opportunity. Studies show seniors who feel lonely have a significantly greater chance of developing dementia and heart conditions. Socialization is one of the key benefits.

3. Medical Support: Centers often have medical support services like nurses to help manage medications and other daily clinical needs.

4. Staff Continuity: The staff remains consistent allowing for better continuity of care. With in-home services, often the caregivers change daily or weekly creating gaps in the care.

5. Quality Care: Adult day cares are regulated and/or licensed by the county and/or state level assuring proper staffing ratio and qualifications.

6. Variety of Activities: Day center programs offer a wide variety of activities way beyond TV and Bingo. There is exercise, art, music, brain games, computers, current events, and so much more.

7. Alzheimer's/ Dementia support: Many centers have special programs designed specifically for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Creating safe and engaging environments.

8. Family Activities: The family is included in special programs throughout the year creating a sense of community.

9. Caregiver Respite: Adult day care provides much needed respite to families who struggle daily with the pressures of full-time caregiving.

10. Caregiver Support: Most centers offer support groups where caregivers will find that they are not alone when having to manage the care of a loved one. The stress can be overwhelming, but finding others who share the experience can offer a great deal of relief.

11. Rehabilitation Services: Many centers have rehabilitation services to support individuals who are recovering from a fall or stroke. Services can include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

12. Nutrition: Seniors often have challenges with their nutrition, at an adult day care program the meals are prepared by qualified nutritionists and are well balanced and nutritious.

13. Peace of Mind: One of the most important things that Adult Day Care can offer is the peace of mind to family caregivers who know that their aging loved one is in a safe, fun, socially-engaging setting where they are happy and well cared for, while not risking financial ruin.

For more information, contact SarahCare Adult Day Care Centers at info@sarahcare.com