Nursing Homes|Nursing Home Abuse|Assisted Living Facilities

One of the most common comments I hear, when an adult child becomes the caregiver to their senior parent is, I wish I would have known how hard it would be. If you are considering moving your mom or dad in to live with you, you'll need to really explore why you're doing it and whether you can keep the responsibility from becoming a burden. There are several questions you should consider before you agree to become a senior caregiver.

What type of resources do you have at home? You'll want an extensive support network to help you through the trials of care giving. Also be sure you have the time to commit to your mom. If you work full time, attend school or are raising young children it's unlikely you'll be able to handle the responsibility long-term without hitting burnout. Becoming a senior caregiver will affect every aspect of your life, so be sure to assemble resources to help you. Those resources might be hiring a housekeeper, in home non-medical assistance, or finding a place for mom to go for respite care. And always schedule time away from the house, for your own mental reprieve.

Is everyone that lives in the home supportive and capable of assuming the responsibility of caretaking if you can't be available? The dynamics of your immediate family and your relationship with them will change after your dad moves in. In an ideal situation your family will come together and share the responsibility, like helping to prepare dinners or reminding dad to take medications. However if someone in the house is hesitant or resentful for any additional duties it will make your ability to manage long-term, much more difficult. If you are sure about taking on the caregiver responsibilities for your dad, make sure that it's not at the cost of your immediate relationships, especially those with your spouse and children.

Do their medical needs require more than you are equipped to deal with? If mom needs help with daily living activities like dressing, bathing, transferring into a wheel chair, or she is experiencing incontinence, it might be more than you can physically handle. Mom may require 24 hour care in the future, if you move her into your home, ask yourself if you capable of handling the schedule then ask how long you can handle it. With today's medical advancements, seniors can often live for years needing 24 hour care. In addition, if your mom has advanced stages of Alzheimer's or dementia, providing care at home may not be the safest option.

Why do I want mom or dad to live with me? Don't move your dad in with the impression that it will be like having a roommate, because eventually you will have to assume the role of a senior caregiver. You'll want to move your dad in for the right reasons. When you are trying to make your decision, consider the emotional, financial, and long-term ramifications of this move. You should never take on the responsibility out of guilt alone; you may end up spending the time you have left with your dad being resentful instead of creating lasting memories.

Are you emotionally ready to become a caregiver for your parent? Watching our parents age is emotional; being part of their every day caretaking is much harder to experience. Be prepared for your relationship with your mom to change, when living together you may fall into your old parent-child relationship. Feelings from your childhood, especially those unresolved, will resurface. In addition, you need to be prepared to parent your parent. You'll be required to make and enforce decisions for your mom, especially if your mom suffers from Alzheimer's or dementia. Being a senior caregiver can be emotionally and physically draining.

What is your long term plan if you find being a caregiver is more challenging than you anticipated? Every good plan requires an exit strategy. Before you agree to have dad live with you, make sure you discuss an alternative living arrangement if you can no longer handle the level of care necessary. Also know when enough is enough, if you start experiencing caregiver burnout, your relationships with family and friends are suffering, and your health has been negatively affected, it might be time to consider the next long-term care plan for dad. That plan may include hiring an in home assistant, adult daycare or even moving them into an assisted living home or a nursing home.

These questions weren't meant to persuade you from becoming a senior caregiver for your parents, rather they are meant to encourage extra considerations for the responsibility.

For many people, aging is a frightening process. Even at age 54, I'm a little concerned about our ability to provide for our needs once we're too old to work. I can only imagine what it's like for those on a fixed income, hearing about the prices of everything going up and up. Fortunately, we have Medicaid, so, in our old age, if we need care we can't afford, the care will be provided. This article is about how to qualify for Medicaid and the reasoning behind those qualifications.

The Reason For Medicaid: One of the biggest fears on the minds of most seniors is the fear of running out of money before running out of time. What an ugly thing to think about. When I was a chaplain in an assisted living facility, I met a number of people who had done this, and I had the privilege of helping one woman through the transition after her assets ran out. There are many assisted living centers available who only charge what Medicaid pays. It isn't luxurious living, but it's there if we need it. That's the reason for Medicaid, so we won't have to worry about running out of money before time.

Contract With The Taxpayer: In order to make Medicaid a reality, everyone who works is taxed a portion of their earnings, to pay the costs, with the understanding that, if they need it, Medicaid will be there for them. The contract is, you will be taxed to pay the medical and living expenses of those who cannot work and have no assets. In other words, for those who actually NEED help. To take money from working parents who are barely meeting their own needs to pay the bills of someone who could pay their own, is obscene and immoral, if not illegal.

Medicaid Abuse: In fact, there are many who make a tidy sum, helping elderly people hide their assets so they can use Medicaid instead of paying their own way. Oh, the lawyers say "preserve," rather than hide, but it amounts to the same thing. I've known people who did this with $ millions in assets. Now you know the kinds of friends I've had! There are doctors and lawyers who will help do this, and it may pass the legal hurtles of our government bureaucracy, but you and I know this is Medicaid abuse.

Medicaid Qualifications: The Medicaid program is to provide your needs when you can no longer do so, yourself. The specific qualifications vary from state-to-state, so I'm going to give you a general description, but here's a link to specific Medicaid qualifications for your state. A single senior can own a home as long as they live there, but once in assisted living, the home is used to pay expenses or to reimburse Medicaid. A small income (or the savings to generate that income) is usually allowed to provide for personal expenses above the cost of care. All other assets would be depleted before qualifying.

If one member of a married couple requires medical and assisted living expenses, the other member can usually keep the house, a car and a monthly income (or savings enough to generate the income) to provide household and personal expenses. All other assets are to be depleted before qualifying for Medicaid.

Although this is a painful and frightening subject, it's good to know a minimum of care is available if we need it. This care isn't something to be aspired to. If you've managed to accumulate any assets beyond the minimum, this program is not for you. There are a wide variety of care options for very reasonable prices. Trust me about this...anyone who loves you enough to be worthy of inheritance would rather you spend every penny getting the best care you can.

Children learn a variety of skills while engaging in local service projects. Community service is an important part of local community building. Volunteer work develops children's moral character. Skills are enhanced and new interests and talents are discovered. Through service work, children gain an improved sense of self love. They learn to be giving, considerate and compassionate towards people and animals. Listed below are some basic ideas of how parents can begin to get their children involved in the community.

Hospitals
Many hospitals have a wealth of needs for volunteers. Call your local hospital's volunteer coordinator. Children typically will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Some examples of meaningful volunteering tasks are helping to deliver flowers, reading to bed bound patients, or drawing people uplifting pictures for their hospital room walls. Some hospitals have cancer wards where children may need to stay for extended time periods. These longer term patients would surely love to have another child to provide them with companionship and friendship.

Nursing Homes
Nursing homes and assisted living communities welcome young volunteers. There are many activities at these types of facilities. Programs such as crafts, bingo, and social events typically take place at both nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Many volunteer coordinators have a need for room visits to bed bound patients. Some elderly residents may have family living out of state and would greatly appreciate a young volunteer visiting. Children may also read aloud to residents and make cards for them.

Humane Society
The local humane society opens its doors to volunteers of all ages. Dogs need to be walked and interacted with. Cats, kittens and puppies need companionship. You and your child could have a pet food and pet bed collection at church or at your child's school. Contact your local animal shelter to see what child friendly service project needs there are.

Soup Kitchens
Many soup kitchens have numerous needs and welcome volunteers of all ages. Children and parents can serve meals to those less fortunate. In some cases, canned goods need to be stocked and sorted. If the soup kitchen is part of a homeless shelter there may be other children living there. Teaching your child to share what they have and to donate a few of their toys is a great character builder!

When researching local volunteering project ideas, try to think of the interests your children may have. For example, if they adore animals, the animal shelter may be a good match. If your children are fond of cooking projects at home, the soup kitchens should be a great match. When volunteering, be sure to praise your children for their efforts. Encourage them and remind them of what an exceptional job they are doing while helping others.

As the holiday season approaches you may be looking for a practical gift for a mom or grandma who is using a mobility device such as a power chair, medical scooter or walker bag. If this is the case consider bypassing impractical gifts that probably won't get used very often and opt instead for stylish and practical carryall bags for mobility devices. Made from high quality fabrics and trims, featuring feminine designs and available in a wide range of patterns and colors, designer walker bags make for terrific gifts for women who use mobility devices.

As women get older it becomes increasingly difficult to shop for them. They really don't have much need for expensive gowns, fancy perfumes and glass figurines. Also, when women age they go through a process of downsizing and the last thing a woman who is moving into assisted living or a nursing home needs is more stuff. What they do need, though, is a practical and fashionable bag they can attach to a walker, power chair, transport wheelchair or mobility device that can carry all her important medical records, medications and personal belongings.

With a designer walker bag, women who use mobility devices get to regain their individual sense of style with fancy and attractive bags that feature vibrant floral patterns and contemporary silver and onyx damask designs. Before the advent of designer walker bags and carryall bags for mobility devices women had no choice but to either struggle dangerously with a traditional handbag or use dull utilitarian bags one would expect to find in a hospital geriatric ward. In addition to being bulky and impractical these bags only made adjusting to life with a walker or transport chair even more difficult since it simply highlighted the user's disability.

However, when women use designer walker and power chair carryall bags they instantly feel a sense of their style being restored and can move about with pride knowing that people will take notice of the stylish bag and not just the walker or power chair. Just because women have trouble walking doesn't mean they have to sacrifice their individual style. It's hard enough accepting the use of a walking aid without having it compounded by being forced to use an ugly bag that only makes women feel older. With a stylish and functional walker carryall bag, women not only have a practical bag for their personal belonging but also a stylish mobility device accessory that adds a unique sense of her character that will life her spirits as she goes shopping or visits with family and friends.

It's amazing to learn how technology is improving the lives of our aging loved ones as well as caregivers whether at home or in care centers. In my quest for innovative new technologies I've come across the following developments that are addressing both the physical and the cognitive needs of our seniors.

Monitor Wandering with Wandertrack
This wander management system has improved the quality of life in assisted living facilities that use WanderTrack. It's an invisible and wireless system that alerts the monitoring station when a resident, without having to use a GPS, passes through the designated perimeter. Residents can take walks outdoors and their loved ones will have the peace of mind knowing they are cared for without the risk of wandering too far from home. More information is available at silentpartnertech.com

Explore Retirement Homes in Windsor

Dakim BrainFitness
At FrontPorch the Model eHealth Community for the Aging, they started with just a few units and are now a major provider of the Dakim BrainFitness system. Dakim is a touch-screen system of clinically tested brain fitness exercises that through extensive and ongoing research is providing users with fitness exercises for the brain. The system includes more than 300 hours of content and over 100 exercises to keep the brain active, improve memory and help prevent cognitive decline. Complete information is at dakim.com

Carebot by Gecko Systems Helps Seniors recover at home
A fascinating new remote medical monitoring system that reminds me of Rosie the Robot Maid from the Jetsons, is CareBot??MSR (Mobile Service Robot) and is being trialed by Gecko Systems with selected individuals. Typical scenarios where an MSR could be an asset are in the following examples: A patient returns home after major surgery and a complication arises. The Carebot is set up to monitor the patient and transmit alerts of any complications to the Doctor or the Hospital ER and the patient is readmitted quickly.

Carebot's webcam allows caregivers freedom and peace of mind
In another scenario, a senior is staying with family and it's not safe for the caregiver(s) to leave the senior. Carebot attends to the senior with the installed webcam allowing the family to take care of other responsibilities while still being able to see and communicate with the senior at home.

The third scenario is one in which the senior is able to live independently but needs reminders of when to take medications, when Doctor's appointments are scheduled or when visitors are expected. Carebot is set up to remind the user of all of these and more, and is programmed to recognize emergency situations and potentially harmful events. In such situations including a fall, a fire or extended length of time where Carebot has not identified the user in the area, Carebot is programmed with a list of emergency contacts including 911; giving the individual and their loved ones peace of mind. Complete information at geckosystems.com

Gecko makes the wheelchair collision proof
Another innovative invention from Gecko Systems is the Gecko Wheelchair??Upgrade Kit. "This upgrade uses sensor fusion... and sonar range finding in addition to Gecko solid state compass, accelerometer and odometry sensor. The result - an automatic self navigating artificial intelligence software to be collision proof." (From the Gecko Systems Website). They are incorporation the sensor device from Microsoft Kinect in an upgrade kit ideal for placement on most electric wheelchairs.

The collision proof upgrade kit was recently sold to a Japanese wheelchair manufacturer and is being fitted with the joystick operated electric wheelchair. The user of the wheelchair operates the joystick as usual and the GeckoNav system automatically navigates according to the direction the operator wishes to go while avoiding stationary and moving obstacles.

Mealtime is a very significant part the day. It is a time to nourish and 'refuel' - but also to socialize and unwind. This doesn't change when people move to seniors housing. In fact, the dining experience may become even more important.

Having a say in what to eat, and in what kind of environment, enables senior housing residents to maintain the type of dining experience they were accustomed to before moving to assisted living. To accommodate this desire, many communities offer dining rooms complete with wait-service, entertainment and, of course, top-notch cuisine. Some menus even include delicacies such as filet mignon and prime rib. There certainly is a trend to go from institutional foods to more high-end foods, says food consultant Meureen Boyle of Boyle consulting. At the same time, she added, residents also still demand what she calls 'comfortable foods' such as macaroni and cheese and meatloaf.Combining the old way with the new way, Maureen says, seems to work best. What is most important is to offer choices.

A high-quality dining experience is a key ingredient for customer satisfaction in long-term care, according to ALFA's 1000 National Assisted Living Resident Satisfaction Study. While quality of care is always of foremost importance when selecting a senior housing environment for oneself or a loved one, the 'quality-of-life' services, such as dining, can make each day more enjoyable. When gauging the quality of dining services in a senior housing community, Maureen Boyle advises making sure the staff provides good 'wait-style' customer service, waits on one table at a time (serving everyone at the table simultaneously) and treats each resident as an honored guest. It's also important to look for menus that are reasonably varied to suit individual tastes. A variety of serving styles is essential as well. Instead of ordering at the table and having their food brought to them, some residents may prefer to dine buffet-style from time to time. Many residences offer all of these choices.

If a physician places a resident on a special diet, it's important to ascertain that the food services staff can tailor meals to meet the resident's nutritional needs. It can be a challenge motivating a resident to eat who is on a special diet, especially if the food they've been prescribed is not the food they want to eat. To make this easier, meals should appeal to all of the senses. Taste, texture and color should balance out as much as possible and meals should be eye-catching. Overall, the better trained the food services staff, the greater the customer satisfaction will be.

As you tour an assisted living or retirement residence, ask these key questions:

- Does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, every day?
- Are snacks available?
- May a resident request special foods?
- Are common dining areas available?
- May residents eat meals in their units?
- May meals be provided at a time residents would like, or are there set times?

The dining experience in senior housing has changed a great deal over the years with a focus on greater customer service and satisfaction. The good news is that senior communities are listening more to what residents want and going out of their way to provide a meal that is both pleasurable and reminiscent of the way residents have been used to eating all of their lives.

My mother was 80 when my father died. She still drove, was relatively healthy, had an active social life, and had good friends nearby and a supportive church community. With a little help from her children and hired helpers she was able to manage the household and handle all the tasks of daily living. Two years later she voluntarily stopped driving. Then she had some health problems. Gradually her friends left the neighborhood. Then she fell a number of times, suffering minor injuries.

Friends and family did everything we could think of to improve her situation. We encouraged her to hire more help. We called and visited more often. We made small changes in her physical environment to make it safer: installed grab bars, removed throw rugs, signed her up for a medical alert response service, moved the microwave so she could reach it easier, etc. Still, she fell and fell again.

When she went into the hospital for a pacemaker, we started thinking about whether it made sense for her to return home after rehab. Over the years she had told us emphatically that she wanted to stay in her own home, and asked us to help her make that happen. How could we suggest to this fiercely independent woman, that maybe it was time to move? We tried to find more ways to ensure her safety and a good quality of life at home, and eventually decided to talk to her about our concerns.

How do you know when an elderly person can no longer live alone? Of course, there's no easy answer to this problem that is increasingly common as people live longer. There are, however, signs that families, caregivers, and the seniors themselves can look at in order to assess the situation, including:

• Uncharacteristic behavior
• Mental confusion
• Forgetfulness
• Falls
• Weight loss or gain
• Social isolation
• Depression, lack of interest
• Acute changes in appetite, energy level, sleep patterns, social interactions, housekeeping, or appearance
• Difficulty taking medication correctly and performing other health-related tasks

Evaluating a senior's situation and making a list of concerns makes it easier to take a rational look at this emotionally charged issue. Caregivers and seniors can go down the list and figure out if anything can be done about each concern. Social isolation might be lessened by time at a senior center, for example, where activities keep seniors engaged and active. A walker, handrails and "grab bars" in important places like bathrooms and hallways can reduce the risk of falling.

A list of concerns lets you take an orderly approach to the problem. When you can no longer match each concern with a viable solution, it may be time to consider other "aging in place" accommodations or moving to a fully supportive environment, like an assisted living community. It goes without saying that the senior needs to be an active participant in the process. Just because an elderly person is having difficulty performing certain tasks does not mean he or she is unable to think, reason, and make decisions.

The end of independent living is a major life transition; it's a process that takes time. Respectful communication between family members, caregivers, and the senior will help bring the discussion to a positive conclusion-but don't expect it to happen overnight.

Realizing that your loved one can no longer live independently is stressful. Actually preparing for a move of this magnitude can be traumatic. These tips are provided to prepare your parents for an impending move, with hopes of making the transition to assisted living a more peaceful experience.

1. Involve your loved one in the discussion. Months before the impending move. Have them provide input about what services/amenities they need in their new home. Take them on tours of assisted living and nursing homes. Talk with them often about the move, using encouragement and positive reinforcement. Someone suffering from dementia might not be able to make important decisions regarding their care, but they would still appreciate being able to decide if their favorite chair will make the move too. Most seniors want to maintain their independence, so DON'T make all the decisions for them.

2. RESEARCH, put in the time to make sure it's the right long-term care option. Finding the right long term care facility is key to making the transition. Make sure you do a full background check on the facility you choose, including independent reviews and citation checks with the state. It's just as important to find a place that's safe as it is to find a place where the staff is loving. Most important, make sure the assisted living or nursing home you choose can provide them with the right level of care. Consider hiring a senior placement company to do the research and coordinate the entire transition to assisted living or a nursing home.

3. Take tours of many different long term care facilities. There is a negative stigma associated with assisted living and nursing homes, some people get the image of sterile hospital care with several patients in one room. Fortunately this care has been replaced with communities that promote independent living, wherever possible. To create a more comfortable image, take tours of many different types of communities and care facilities. These tours will give you insight to the priorities of the management and staff. Also try visiting them at different times during the day.

4. Tour the dining hall, have a meal or two. One of the biggest complaints of assisted living facilities is "the food is terrible". When you tour these facilities, also be sure to dine with them, maybe 2-3 times each, at different times of the day. This will give you a very clear indication of the quality of food being prepared.

5. Choose a location that is close enough to "home". You may have chosen a luxury assisted living facility, but if it's too far away from family, your loved one may still feel alone and isolated. Make sure the location is convenient to allow friends and family to visit easily. Consider throwing a house warming party, so that everyone knows the routine to visit, and is comfortable visiting on their own.

6. Decide what will happen to their home together. "I can't go because this is my home." Address this issue in advance by creating a plan of what will become of the family home. Consult a real estate agent who specializes in senior advisement. Sometimes just knowing the details are covered will alleviate the stress.

7. Help them sort through their things. Another concern is "I can't leave my things". Help alleviate these concerns by helping sort through their lifetime of memories, finding new places for their things, and assuring them they will be cherished by the new person. You can consider hiring a senior move manager who will pour over the memories with them, and help the senior sell the items that might be of value.

8. Create a warm, inviting and familiar environment in their new home. Make the new facility seem as much like home as possible, bringing in pictures, pets, even furniture from the last place. This can make the space feel more inviting. You'll need to check with the assisted living or nursing home on what items are allowed before moving things in.

9. Try to have the Senior keep the same routine. If the Senior has gone to coffee at the same place, with the same people for 10 years, try to make that appointment a priority. Often the concern is I have to "give up" my life to move into a long term care facility.

10. Provide a list of activities and transportation to them. Nearly all long term care facilities offer activities in house. Some even provide transportation to outside activities as well. When transportation is not provided by the long-term care provider, look into independent transportation companies that only service the elderly. Showing the many social opportunities available can give Seniors a greater sense of independence.

Family caregiving sometimes brings out the worst in families. It's hardly ever totally easy even with everyone on the same page.

Imagine then that some of these scenarios were going on in your caregiving family. If they aren't, then you are already far better off than you thought.

I'm going to set aside the obvious pictures of inadequacy. The errant son who comes home to barely take care of Dad, while running that little methamphetamine lab out in the garden shed. Clearly, everyone knows that's bad.

It's when you get to white-collar caregiver bad-hats that the age-old battle of siblings becomes -- well -- sometimes quite astonishing.

For example, the sister who drove all the way to Indianapolis from Santa Fe to kidnap her mother in the middle of the night from the senior apartment complex where her mother was living very happily. She put everything in her SUV that fitted and the rest they left behind. Then she drove her mother to the southwest, installed her in her home and never told her sister where their mother was.

Consider the two sisters who removed their father from their brother's house, where he was being happily and properly looked after. They installed him in an assisted living facility he didn't want to be in and forbade their brother to visit his father there.

The East coast brother who wouldn't let his West coast sister care for their father at home, who then took that father and placed him in a care facility where he didn't visit him.

The two sisters who took their mother back to Kansas, leaving her second husband behind in Arizona. Two more sisters who refused to let their 98-year-old father live in the care of his good friends in the town he'd lived in for most of his life. Instead one of them took him to Texas, not to live with her, but to be put in a care facility there.

What is this all about? It's the special behavior of siblings behaving badly. Most often, it's the final playing out of old family struggles, siblings unable to forgive some perceived inequality of love. The examples I give here did not involve parental neglect or abuse.

Sometimes it's the final revenge for not getting equal attention in childhood. Sometimes it's grabbing final control over a parent who somehow affronted the adult children, often through remarrying after the death of the other parent.

As a longtime observer of caregiver families behaving badly, not much surprises me. In fact, the quite unusual scene of a family behaving very well is more of a surprise -- and really I'm not a cynic.

In my town, some years ago, an entire family of seven children came together from all over the United States to make a family plan for the care of their mother with dementia. They decided to help three of the siblings to purchase a property, create a care environment and give total support to the care of their mother for the next four years until her death. Now that is holy work.

It's also what family care of elders should ideally always be about. If siblings but realized it, caring for a parent is your last chance to heal the relationship and many of your childhood wounds. Of course, it takes courage. But the rewards are immense. You never lose the strength you grew in the process.

Living in Tennessee presents a varied lifestyle for many. Residents enjoy an alternative lifestyle, community lifestyle, family lifestyle, opportunity lifestyle, parenting lifestyle; relationship lifestyle to teen's lifestyle. And the best part of living in the wonderful state of Tennessee is that you can choose your lifestyle in accordance with your taste and preference.

Here are important focal points about the classic lifestyle of the state:

1) An alternative lifestyle in Tennessee includes the Venus project that is meant to maintain the dynamic equilibrium in human beings. The lifestyles that are counted as the alternative lifestyle in Tennessee are categorized at omplace, science connection, green matters, angel coin, love and pride, urban outings, tipi tarot, Wendi and other websites.

For details on how to make the family lifestyle more lovable in the Tennessee, it's advisable to use lifestyle themed online resources such as family tree magazine, Venus project; we are family foundation, Alateen, American family safety, concerned united birth parents, centre for successful fathering, OneGreatFamily, sittercity and family on board.

2) The exotic region of Tennessee is famous for the variety of lifestyles that are found there such as the traditional and modern lifestyles. One can find any and every kind of happenings there; for example, the nightlife in Tennessee is categorized as the most chic and happening for party goers; pubs, bars and other places of adult entertainment abound.

3) Tennessee is among the best places available for retirees, as the cost of living is low here. Retired people can afford buy homes at reasonable rates.

4) Tennessee is also the perfect destination for those looking for a rural lifestyle. Residents can also get a taste of world class city life in major cities like Memphis and Knoxville.

5) Tennessee offers world class health services and affordable housing to residents. And one of the best parts of enjoying a Tennessee lifestyle is assisted living: a non- institutional setting promoting individual liberty and dignity for the residents and also encouraging community and family involvement.

6) Another popular benefit in the state is the low cost property that is available here in good numbers. Quality living at a reasonable cost means a sought after place among those looking for a reasonable yet quality lifestyle with the average expenditure on housing, transportation, food and groceries, health care, utilities, clothing and entertainment at about ten percent lower than the national average.

7) Another excellent aspect of living in Tennessee is that the residents are free from a state property tax burden. Their property taxes are usually determined and collected on the basis of the locality. Other beneficial features of living in Tennessee are its low sales tax of about six percents on food ingredients and zero tax on prescription drugs.

8) Tennessee is also famous for its cowboy lifestyle and western way of life. There are dude ranches and guest ranches spread all over Tennessee promoting cowboy lifestyle. You can still see cowboys in their cowboy boots with western gun holster, riding on their horse, herding the cattle and performing other tasks. You can also get a taste of this cowboy lifestyle by visiting these ranches as a tourist or working their as a help during your visit.

With so many tax benefits and low cost of living, Tennessee for sure offers an affordable yet classy lifestyle. Check it out for yourself!

Adult children face a difficult decision when choosing an assisted living environment for a parent in need. Finding a community that offers a comfortable, homelike setting, along with one that addresses safety and medical needs is extremely important. Technology advancements have greatly improved the management of both delivered and self-administered medication for seniors.

Electronic Medical Administration Record (eMAR)

Electronic medication administration records (eMAR) is a software program that uses bar coding technology to submit and fill medication prescriptions. The system uses hand-held scanners that read bar codes and utilize Bluetooth wireless technology to transmit drug data to a terminal. The information is relayed to the pharmacy and then connected to nursing stations. With this technology, nursing staff are assured that they have the right patient with the right medication. The eMAR system manages prescription data including medication classification, types, dosages, number of refills and patient refill history. The system also utilizes real-time prescription status tracking.

Electronic Prescribing (e-Scribe)

The technology of e-Scribe is being used more frequently with both physicians and pharmacies in providing improved medication management. This software program uses paperless prescriptions that allow pharmacists to process prescriptions electronically. Using e-Scribe technology makes it possible for pharmacies to effectively monitor patient medication status. With e-Scribe, physicians can also directly enter and change prescriptions as needed, including medication dosage and schedule, without needing to call or fax orders to the pharmacy. The result is a faster response time and reduced errors that are common when paper prescriptions are used.

Automated Dispensing Carts and Cabinets

Another advancement that helps to improve the safety and efficacy of medication administration is the use of both automated dispensing cabinets and carts. Cabinets provide computer-controlled storage, tracking, dispensing and documentation of medication distribution. Carts provide the same medication security features but are also portable to be used by the bedside of patients. Automated dispensing units contain drawers that lock electronically to secure medication, further ensuring patient safety. Along with improving safety, implementing automated dispensing units aids in accountability of medication inventory and supports improved efficiency with billing processes.

Self-Administered Medication Support

For seniors who are able to take their medication independently, there is newer technology to support their continued autonomy in carrying out this important task. In regard to self-administered medication, there are devices such as multi-alarm watches and pill boxes that provide reminder alerts to help seniors take their medication at the correct time. Talking pill bottles are another technological advancement to support self-administration of medication for patients. With these devices, providers can record a message about specific medication instructions. The instructions can be played back as a helpful tool to assist with independent medication management for seniors.

Currently there are many important innovations in technology being utilized to improve medication management for seniors. These useful tools facilitate increased accuracy, efficiency and overall safety of medication management for patients. When families are faced with the decision to seek an assisted living community for seniors, an important consideration is its use of advanced medication management to best ensure resident health and safety.

As a society, we tend to think that as our seniors age that they become hermits who prefer to stay inside rather than doing anything at all. As people live longer and longer we are beginning to see that this is not true. Seniors are continuously active parts in the community and continue their social lives as they age. This article will take a look at some of the things that seniors do in their social lives to show that they are still active, vital parts of our community. Before you judge what you think that seniors should be doing, you should hang out with them during their activities and see how much they have fun.

You would probably be surprised if you saw seniors at a happy hour drinking more than just a glass of wine right? Well, prepare to be amazed. There are all sorts of groups around the country that get together and have their own version of a happy hour. I have had the pleasure of joining my grandparents before at one of their happy hours. Like you, I judged it before I went and thought it would be boring. What I found was an energetic, fun loving group that was having a blast sitting around drinking with their friends. Just because you age, doesn't mean that you do not get to have fun.

Just because you age it doesn't mean that you can just let yourself go. That is why you will still see seniors getting out and being active. There are plenty of things that seniors can do for fun outside. If they are able, they can get out and exercise, garden, enjoy photography, or even paint. These are just a few examples of things that seniors might enjoy doing outside. Let the active seniors in your area be an inspiration. They have every excuse to let themselves go but they don't. So why should you?

Playing games is another thing that seniors like to play. Can you name any games that seniors typically enjoy? Sure, we hear all the time about the stereotypical games for seniors. Bridge, Bingo, Dominoes, and chess are just a few of the games that come to mind when we thing of things that seniors enjoy. These games allow seniors to continue to be active and social in their environment. They are also a great activity for them to keep their memory up.

As you can see there are plenty of things for seniors to do in their lives. As they age, they will actually just have more free time to do the things that they love to do. In fact, as we go to work and carry on our hectic lives, we should be jealous of their life of leisure. If you are worried about a senior in your life, then you can research your senior care options and discuss a future life plan with them together. A lot of times you will find that they are still active, healthy parts of their community and would prefer to live that way as long as they can. Growing old doesn't have to equal a boring life.

Many business owners have already recognized the need and importance, in focusing a portion of their advertising to senior citizens. This rapidly expanding market is projected to grow in excess of fifty million people over the next fifteen years, in North America alone. Seniors of today are active, healthy people who are involved in everything from sports to social committees. Advancements in medical science, plus the wide spread notion of healthy living, has made senior life a fun and enjoyable period, where it is not unheard of to live past eighty years old virtually free from health ailments. With that being said, do you know what seniors want from your business? Guaranteed, there is at least one aspect of your company that appeals to this growing senior demographic. Another aspect to keep in mind is that seniors are also the largest growing group of computer users, with the percentage of daily users rising every year.

Seniors have proven to be smart and savvy consumers who can contribute too much of your overall profits. Many businesses that pride themselves on quality and service will already have a large senior client base. This is one of the most crucial points of interest; seniors are intelligent people who hold high value in quality and assurance. Giving customers a "no questions asked" satisfaction guarantee can make a world of difference to the senior consumer. Do not forget, this generation was raised in a time when it was not uncommon to bind contractual agreements with a promise and a handshake. Although times have changed slightly, seniors are still quite receptive to these business tactics. Make sure to connect with your customer, and always add your personal guarantee, it goes a long way for your consumers and visibly reflects on your profits.

Now that we have established the importance of reaching out to this growing demographic, do you know how to design your ads, listings or classifieds? Start by looking at different ads by companies who have been actively involved in senior life, these companies include retirement homes, nursing homes, home care and assisted living facilities. Many of these types of businesses have developed successful advertising campaigns which have been in place for years. These ads offer a great tool for planning and developing new listings for your business. Although you may offer a different product or service, look at the ad layout to see where they have placed the images in relation to the text. Look for the style of font which has been used, the size it is and the wording. Remember in many cases these ads have been developed by someone who, in all likelihood has a background and education in marketing. Use this to your advantage. Develop a few different ads specifically geared to seniors and get ready to begin.

We now understand the importance and direct impact the senior market has on your business. Your ads, listings and classifieds have been designed in thoughtful way and modeled after already implemented advertising campaigns. It is time to start testing different methods and ways to get these advertisements in front of your target market, the senior population. Begin with free or low cost avenues of media. This way you can get an idea of which advertisement shows the most response. Was it a classified ad, or maybe well placed business listings? This can give you a good understanding of what has potential for growth and what possibly does not. Try doing this a few times; the information collected will help direct your advertising campaign, saving you time and money. Start by searching out free classifieds for seniors, or retirement listings online. The internet provides many sources of low cost advertising, yet it is important to seek out websites that are directed to the senior market. Check in to local news papers and smaller magazines, these forms of media can often be inexpensive and very successful. Find as many low cost forms of advertising as possible, and start using them. Once you have your results, it is time to throw out what does not work and focus on what does. With this new found knowledge you will surely get the most out of your advertising dollars while establishing your name within the senior marketplace.

The day is going to come when you may have to make that decision that no one wants to make and that's the need to place your elderly parent in an assisted living environment. We can't stay young forever and you can even feel it in yourself that the aging is beginning to rear it's head so it makes it even a harsher reality that you will soon have to turn to someone else to help your parent with daily things.

When it becomes apparent that you are going to need more help you should start researching the different places that are available. It would be ideal if you could keep them relatively in the same neighborhood. If you can do this the move is going to be easier on them because they will still have familiar places around them.

You need to find out how good the medical care is and what the social life is like in the different facilities. You want to make sure that they are well taken care of and that there are plenty of social activities for them so that they are not just stuck in their room all day like a lot of facilities do. You also want to make sure that relatives and friends can be involved as well.

Once you have found a place you feel secure and safe with you don't just want to drop your parent off and that's that! You need to make sure that you visit them as often as you can and at the least call them everyday just to chat for a few minutes. Make plans to take them out to lunch or to a movie once a week. Make sure that you sit down with them and make plans to do something each week and try to keep it the same day each week. This gives them something to look forward to.

Make sure that they have a good meal plan and preferably one that allows them to choose from a list of items like a restaurant and not just the same old thing chosen by those who run the kitchen. You also need to make sure that relatives and friends come sometimes come by at meal time and join them.

If your parent puts you in charge of their money once in one of these facilities, this does not mean that you take care of it all and never talk to them about it. You still need to keep them in the loop and let them know what was spent on what and at times you might want to get permission from them about certain issues. This will help them to still feel like they have some control over their life.

In an assisted living environment, caregivers are often thought of only as "hired help."  In fact, both short and long-term relationships with caregivers offer benefits far exceeding assistance with daily living. 

The acceptance that caregivers are play an important role in the daily happiness of both the patient and family can lead to a far more positive assisted living experience.  

For residents, caregivers play a number of different roles, including:

• A friend. Just like having a roommate, the caregiver and your loved one will spend a lot of time together. And just like a roommate, a caregiver and your loved one can become great friends (or not, but that's a different discussion). The resident and caregiver have become very good friends, going to events together, watching movies together and chatting like good friends do. At many times, the "caregiver" side of their relationship is minimized, and they are friends. This is a good thing!


• A listener. The transition to assisted living can be difficult for many people. It was especially difficult for many to move from being so independent to becoming so dependent. Caregivers can be great listeners and counselors. In many cases, their experience gives them a far greater understanding of these challenges than you, and they can be a great resource for your loved one to talk through the issues.


• A cheerleader. It can be tough to get motivated for the activities of the day, physical or occupational therapy or just to get out of pajamas in the morning. It's often tough for all of us. Caregivers can serve as a great cheerleader, giving pep talks when necessary to get out and enjoy the activities of the day.


• A big brother or sister. Often in assisted living, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. A caregiver can be the first line of defense to ensure your loved one gets what they need, when they need it.

For families, caregivers can play a whole different set of important roles, including:

• Your eyes and ears. While I am lucky enough to live close to my mom, many families live far away from their loved ones. A caregiver can be your eyes and ears about general care, food, services, activities and all the other daily things. They can also share with you the reality of things, as sometimes situations can get exaggerated. Being defensive as we are, it's good to get both sides of the story before you approach management with a complaint. Example: sometimes residents think their kids are overprotective, but if they stay in touch with the caregiver, they can ensure things are okay while at the same time giving the resident his/her space.


• A concierge. It takes a lot of coordination to get your loved one to activities, doctor appointments, beauty appointments, therapy, etc. Each one of these things requires phone calls, follow up, etc. A caregiver can help to off-load much of these from you and help manage your loved ones daily weekly and monthly calendar.


• An influencer. As close as you may be with your loved one, there will always be certain topics or issues in which your opinions are not appreciated. Example: Many residents hate going to the doctor. No matter what family members say, residents can often gets defensive and and refuse to be convinced that a doctor visit is required. Because of their own experiences, they may have an aversion for doctors and hospitals. A caregiver can be an alternative communication channel, based on a different type of trust and many of the roles above, and they can be effective at helping to open them up to a different point of view.

There are more, but these are the big ones and certainly enough to get you thinking. 

While it may take a while to find the right caregiver, interviewing and evaluating caregivers on more than just their ability to provide care can be beneficial.

Fighting depression is an important part of staying healthy while we age. For many seniors, the answer lies within assisted living. This might seem like it doesn't make much sense, but in reality, it is quite simple. Many senior citizens face depression because their lifestyles have changed. For instance, they may have recently lost a spouse or another close family member. Or, they might feel isolated because of the difficulty that they have leaving their home. While depression is an organic illness, it is quite possible to treat it via other methods besides antidepressants. Psychiatrists generally approach their treatment of depression through a three-fold manner: medication, exercise, and counseling.

Living in an assisted living facility most closely resembles the counseling section of the generally accepted treatment approach. Being surrounded by their peers, it is more difficult to feel the isolation that one might experience if they were cooped up in their home all day. And while being around people that care for you might not exactly replace a lost loved one, it can still give you the feeling of self worth that may have begun to disintegrate. Assisted living really is therapeutic for many senior citizens because of this reason.

The importance of the social aspect of assisted living cannot be overstated. There are many studies out there that show that being around your peers can help fight off depression. There are also studies that indicate that good mental health will often translate into better physical health, too. By staying ahead with your mental health, you are going to be taking better care of your total body health. This is a very important part of aging in a healthy manner.

Exercise also is a vital part of staying depression free. The science behind this is actually pretty simple. Prolonged aerobic activity elevates levels of serotonin within the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter chemical that resides within our brains. When serotonin levels are up, the electrical impulses that our neurons (brain cells) use to communicate are sent much more easily. A fast firing brain is less likely to be a depressed brain.

What does this have to do with assisted living? Well, people are much more likely to exercise when their peers are doing so too. In assisted living, they often facilitate group exercise activities a few times a week. More importantly, in a regulated setting like an assisted living facility, there are activities designed expressly for senior citizens. While an elderly person might struggle to exercise on their own, in a secure place complete with trained supervision, exercise becomes a whole lot safer.

These combined features make assisted living residents much less likely to suffer from depression. It won't cure everyone, but it severely reduces the mental stress that someone is under. This can only have positive results.

Every human being that exists on planet Earth must engage in specific daily duties. From working to recreational activities, it is quite obvious that humanity has a need to be very busy. Personal obligations must be executed. Sometimes they are as simple like brushing your teeth or taking a bath and sometimes they are difficult. These actions that must be carried out on a daily basis are typically referred to as "Activities of Daily Living " or simply ADLs.

Unfortunately, there are millions of people that cannot function with the simplest of tasks because of an elderly age or some type of disablement. The performance of personal hygiene, occupational responsibilities, recreational activities, etc. is curtailed as a result of these impairments. ADLs is a reoccurring term used in healthcare circles to refer to daily self-care activities within an individual's place of residence, in outdoor environments, or both. The inability to perform ADLs is sadly all too common for millions of people worldwide. This lack of functional status of the individual necessitates some sort of assistance and without it depression can set deep within the psyche of the individual. Depression can cause devastating results. People can lose the will to live because of this debilitating emotional disposition.

ADLs are typically categorized within two compartments:

1. Basic ADLs - Includes eating, dressing, getting into or out of a bed or chair, taking a bath or shower, and using the toilet. In essence, Basic ADLs have to do with the fundamental necessities of life.

2. Instrumental ADLs- Activities related to independent living and include the ability to use the telephone, get to places beyond walking distance, go shopping, prepare meals, do housework, do laundry, take medicine, and handle money. In summation, Instrumental ADLs deal in particular with actions that are not necessarily required for the "essentials" of existence.

As one ages impairment reaches greater levels as they are illustrated in a rising disability over time for those in their 60s and for those in their 70s. Activities of daily living (ADLs) are "the things we normally do" in daily living including any daily activity we perform for self-care (such as feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming), work, homemaking, and leisure.

This impairment is not relegated strictly to geriatric individuals but as well to those who have been injured in some type of accident or individuals who were born with genetic abnormalities.

Because there are millions of people that are in dire need of some sort of assistance to carry out ADLs there must be something to help them. Mobility aids are specific devices that can ensure that the elderly and the disabled can carry out their daily activities with dignity. Mobility aids include but are not limited to the following:

Walking Aids- includes assisted canes, crutches, and walkers. These devices improve stability by providing additional points of contact as the individual endeavors to traverse horizontally. Additionally, they help to reduce lower limb loading and assist in generating movement.

Wheelchairs and Scooters -These vehicle type instruments substitute for walking by providing a wheeled device on which the user sits. Wheelchairs may be either manually propelled (by the user or by an aide) or electrically powered. Mobility scooters are electrically powered.

Stairlifts - A stairlift is a mechanical device for lifting people and wheelchairs up and down stairs. Sometimes special purpose lifts are provided elsewhere to facilitate access for the disabled.

Bath lifts - They are designed to help people get in and out of the bathtub safely. They gently lower the body into the tub and after the person enjoys a relaxing bath, they gently raise them to the top. There are so many types of bath lifts in the market, that it is a difficult choice for the buyer. However, it certainly helps knowing what is available, helping one decide what they want. Different ones cater to different needs.

As long as mankind lives, he or she must engage in some sort of activity. This is vital for survival. From the mundane to the complex, existence requires many types of actions to be carried out in a functional capacity. This is what "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs) are defined as. It is unfortunate that multitudes of individuals that exist on planet Earth cannot execute these activities in particular. Fortunately, mankind has developed these wonderful mobility aids to assist these individuals in their time of consternation and depression. Happiness, contentment, and self-esteem can once again be restored to the elderly and the disabled.

Visit Home Accessibility For Aids to Assist in ADL's

The following information is available for individuals who are in the process of making a decision about home care or an alternative to assisted living facility living. If your loved one has decided he or she would prefer to remain in the comfort of their own home rather than an elderly living facility, take the time to decide the best in senior care option for your loved one; it's important to thoroughly research any professional in senior home care provider who will be visiting your home on a regular schedule.

If you've decided on home care as an alternative to assisted living facilities, the following information is important to consider before starting your search. First determine which type of services you or your loved one will need. It may be best to consult a physician or hospital discharge planner for assistance in evaluating your loved one's special needs and care requirements. After acquiring the names of several service providers, take the time to consider their offered services and reputations. Here are a variety of questions to ask senior care providers and other individuals concerning the track record and history of an elderly living facility alternative care provider:

• How long have you been in business as a provider of home care services?


• How do you select and train your employees?


• Do you provide nurses and/or therapists who evaluate patient home care needs?


• Who supervises the provision of care?


• How do you involve or include the patient and his or her family in care plan development?


• How do you bill for services?


• What procedures are in place in case of emergency?


• How is patient confidentiality handled?


• Can the home care provider supply a list of references?

Before choosing your senior living facility alternative and settling into a home care plan that works for you, remember that a little initial research can go a long way towards making the patient/senior care provider relationship beneficial to all.

An Alternative to Assisted Living Facilities: Assisted Living Care

You want your parent, friend, or loved one to enjoy their freedom and independence for as long as possible, and remain comfortable in their own household. As an alternative to elderly living facilities, home care is becoming a popular choice for seniors, as it enables them to remain in the safety and comfort of their own home, and relieves care giving duties from relatives and family members. Often times, your loved one may need help with activities or tasks that go overlooked-such as opening jars, driving, maintaining a clean household, and bathing. An alternative to assisted living facilities, home care provides support for those in need with personal care and daily activities and can provide part-time, full time, and as-needed support.

However, it's important to understand that senior living caregivers do not always provide health-related services. Home health providers offer medical care, such as trained nurses or physical therapy services for seniors. Assisted living caregivers assist with non-medical senior care.

As your parents age they may require assistance, but assisted living care enables your parent or loved one to continue living independently for as long as possible.

Consider assisted living care as an alternative to assisted living facilities. Your loved one may only need care for a few hours a day, but their quality of life can improve significantly with in-home assistance. Although this decision may be emotional and challenging, it's sometimes necessary to keep your loved ones safe, cared for, and comfortable.

I'm here with Margie Veis, the Executive Director of Summerhill Villa, an assisted living facility in Santa Clarita, California. Hi Margie.

Margie Veis: Hi Kirk.

KH: How long have you been doing this?

MV: I have been an executive director for ten years, all of them at Summerhill Villa.

KH: This is an assisted living facility.

MV: Correct.

KH: Why is assisted living important?

MV: Assisted living is important because it can be a great alternative to living alone in your home, or living in a skilled nursing facility. It's that other alternative.

KH: What exactly is assisted living?

MV: Assisted living is a non medical alternative. We're licensed by the Department of Social Services and it's non medical, so we can have people live here that are independent or those that need assistance with personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, meal making, laundry, medication assistance.

The biggest difference is we're not a skilled nursing facility so we don't have doctors on staff, we're not required to have nurses on staff, we don't do nursing care. We can't give injections, and we can't have IVs. We are that intermediate care for those that say: "I don't want to be at home, and I don't have medical needs. I just need some custodial care." So an assisted living can be a great choice.

KH: What do you say to people that say: "I will keep my parents at home at all costs?"

MV: I hear that a lot. Sometimes that works. My biggest question is - Is it safe? If it is safe, there are options that you can do to live at home. There are some people who are not going to leave their home. You can't force them even if there is a safety issue but you can get home care. It's costly but that's an option.

Some choose to have a family member move in so that there's somebody there, so there are ways to make it work but you've got to weigh the financial and the bottom line - Is my parent safe at home? That's the real question.

As the years pass there comes the sad truth that our parents are not going to stay young forever and it may get to the point that your elderly parents are going to need some kind of help to get through their daily life. This can be extremely hard on both you and your parents and it can also be very draining on your emotions especially if you feel guilty because you can't take care of them yourselves. When you do realize they need help you should know how you can find them a good caretaker so that you can feel secure in knowing they are being well taken care of.

When it comes time to make this decision you should get together with the entire family and discuss whether you parents can stay at home with some help or if they are going to need something with more help like a nursing facility or an assisted living facility.

You should also find out by contacting Social Security to see if there are any benefits offered that will help out with the money that will be needed for this kind of care. After you do that you should find out if there are other members of the family that might be willing to help you pay for whatever Medicare won't pay for so that you can come up with a some sort of budget for your parents care.

Go and visit the ElderCareLink.com website and register there so you can have access to the different resources that deal with taking care of elders. They also have a search where you can find caregivers in your area, find senior housing and elder care management that provide great articles about the elderly.

Another place you can get help to find caregivers in your area is Care.com and you can search for caregivers by entering in your zip code. They too have articles that center on seniors that can help you with different issues your parents might be facing.

Another helpful website would be New Lifestyles Online and they will try to help you make the best decision when it comes to your senior parents care. They will go into detail about the different types of care such as assisted living, independent retirement communities, nursing homes, home care, etc. They also will give you plenty of information on other services and products available for seniors. They also give you information on licensing for most states that has to do with this kind of care.

If you are leaning towards having home care for your parents don't forget to visit the website Visiting Angels. This is a national network that is non-medical but is a private duty home care agency that gives senior care, personal care, companion service as well as respite care. They do all of this in order to try to help seniors stay in their homes for as long as they can.