Nursing Homes|Nursing Home Abuse|Assisted Living Facilities

Our bodies are hard-wired by nature to react to stress in a way that was originally meant to protect us against perceived threats from predators and aggressors. The "fight-or-flight" response is our natural alarm system, and a normal psychological and physical reaction to stress. Many of the demands of life such as workload, traffic, financial obligations, taking care of children and aging parents can cause your time clock to keep on ticking. That increased levels of stress hormones can cause serious health problems in the long run.

When you encounter perceived threats such as a large dog barking at you during a morning walk, your hypothalamus sets off an alarm system in your body. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, located at the top your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugar, or glucose, into the bloodstream and enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth process.

Normally after the perceived threat is diminished, the release of stress hormones ceases and your body returns to its normal state. This complex natural alarm system also communicates with regions of your brain that control mood, motivation and fear. Long periods of being stressed and overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can affect almost all of your body's processes. This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including:

Heart Disease
Sleep Disorders
Digestive Problems
Depression
Obesity
Memory Impairment
Skin Conditions, Such As Eczema

Researchers at UC Irvine have discovered that stress hormones also appear to rapidly exacerbate the formation of brain lesions which are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that managing stress and reducing certain medications prescribed for the elderly could slow down the progression of this devastating disease. Frank LaFerla, professor of neurobiology and behavior, and a team of UCI researchers found that when young animals were injected for just 7 days with dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid similar to the body's stress hormones, the levels of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain increased by 60%. When beta-amyloid production increases and these protein fragments aggregate, they form plaques, one of the 2 hallmark brain lesions of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists also found that the levels of another protein Tau also increased. Tau accumulation eventually leads to the formation of tangles, the other signature lesion of Alzheimer's. The findings for this study appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience. The increased accumulation of beta-amyloid and Tau appears to work in a "feedback loop" to hasten the progression of Alzheimer's. The researchers found that the higher levels of beta-amyloid and Tau led to an increase in the levels of the stress hormones, which would come back to the brain and speed up the formation of more plaques and tangles. According to the researchers, these findings have profound implications for how to treat the elderly who suffer from Alzheimer's.

"This study suggests that not only is stress management an important factor in treating Alzheimer's disease, but that physicians should pay close attention to the pharmaceutical products they prescribe for their elderly patients," said Kim Green, a postdoctoral researcher in Neurobiology and Behavior. "Some medications prescribed for the elderly people who live in Assisted Living or Nursing Home environments for various conditions contain glucocorticoids. These drugs may be leading to accelerated cognitive decline in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease." Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nearly 5 million adults in the United States. If no effective therapies are developed, it is estimated that 13 million Americans will be afflicted with the disease by 2050. Dementia Care is available in Assisted Living Facilities Los Angeles as well as other major cities across the nation. Dementia Care is specifically for seniors suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of Dementia.

Assisted living communities often hold social events such as ice cream socials and holiday parties for their tenants to enjoy. While the actual employees are busy with their usual care work, it is typically the time and efforts of volunteers that make these kind of events possible.

Volunteering in an assisted living home can involve simple activities like visiting the residents in their rooms or creative endeavors like decorating and organizing a movie night.

No matter what the task, the most important part is that volunteers provide a warm and loving companionship to people who do not necessarily get a lot of visitors. Many families bring their elderly members into a home out of necessity and make time for several visits a week. However, there is an unfortunate number of residents who spend most of their time alone feeling abandoned and unloved. A friendly, caring volunteer can make an indelible mark on the hearts of these people.

A lot of people are put off by the experience because they don't know what to do when visiting a complete stranger. First-time visitors likely will come to the realization that the resident simply wants someone to listen to their stories and keep them company while they are eating or watching TV. Conversation will likely come naturally, and you may be surprised by how many interesting stories and words of wisdom your adopted grandparent has to offer you.

Aside from providing an open ear, it is important for the visitor to reach out and give the elderly the warmth of your touch. For residents who don't have family to make visits, the only human contact they get is often from the staff during bath time or doctor visits. Something as simple as greeting someone with a hug or holding someone's hand can make a huge improvement upon the self-esteem and happiness of an elderly man or woman.

Another good habit is to schedule your visits at regular intervals. If you are able to make it to the assisted living center every day, try to go around the same time. If you can only go once a week, try to go on the same day of the week every time. It is helpful to provide structure in their lives, and if you stay committed to your schedule, the resident will always have something to look forward to. For someone who may feel their best days are behind them, having a regularly scheduled visit or activity to get excited about will keep him or her in high spirits.

How can you get involved? Whatever your particular religious affiliation may be, there is probably a church group in your neighborhood that periodically organizes visits along with other community volunteer work. You could also sign up with a nationally recognized nonprofit, such as Adopt-a-Grandparent or AmeriCorps. Otherwise, you can go independently - just visit a local facility and ask if they need a hand.

When it comes to operating an assisted living facility, there are several things that you have to keep in mind. Successful operation of such facilities requires a balance of reimbursement demands, customer service, regulatory, and management. As an operation manager, keeping this balance is going to be a big challenge for you. In order to deal with this challenge, you must be proficient in managing budgets, human resources, training, capital improvements, and in handling costs. Besides all that, the management professionals in this type of facility have to keep up with technological and medical advancements as well.

Academic Qualification
You must have strong academic qualifications in order to be a successful management professional in an assisted living facility. You must have at least an MBA degree with emphasis in healthcare - better, if you have a master's degree in healthcare management. If you are one of those innovative highly ambitious ones, you can even start your career right after obtaining a 4-year business degree. In that case, you will have to keep improving your qualifications by obtaining advanced degrees and certifications while having practical experience in a facility. You may not be making big money right from the beginning, but the kind of experience you will get will open new doors of opportunities for you.

The Facility Must Be Duly Licensed
Before you join an assisted living facility as a management professional, it is very important for you to make sure that it is duly licensed by the state. It is also important for you to keep in mind that laws require them to update their licenses every year. A facility that was licensed last year may not get a renewal this year because of poor performance. There are certain building and safety requirements that these facilities must meet in order to obtain the license. Some of these requirements may include accessible kitchen appliances, balance bars in the bathrooms, and the need for ramps.

Keep Up With The Services
Once you join an assisted living facility, you must try to keep up with the services by having regular meetings with managers and getting updates on everything that is going around in the facility, including client care, housekeeping, and meal preparation. You must also tell the facility staffs to provide you weekly reports.

Set Guidelines
For the successful operation of an assisted living facility, it is important for you to set certain guidelines and make sure that everybody is following those guidelines. You must be very clear about the kind of services that your facility offers. It is better if you send a copy of all the details to the respective families and patients. They must know what level of care they will get in your facility.

But beware, don't make false promises. When you make a promise, you will have to keep it because you are the one who is operating the assisted living facility. Overall, if you keep in mind the above things, you will be able to operate your facility successfully.

Presently 60% of those over 65 will need long term care at some point. Nursing home care averages $200/day or $73,000/year. Assisted living averages $35,000/year. And unskilled home care generally starts at $15/hour.

Long term care insurance is designed to bridge the gap where Medicare or private insurance ends. But it can be expensive and it is difficult to estimate how much you will need. Or whether you will use it at all.

Enter the Hybrid

Blended or hybrid insurance products are now on the market from reliable companies. These offer life insurance and annuities combined with long term care benefits. So if you need the LTC benefits they are available, but if not the annuity or life benefits can be tapped or passed to heirs.

Some Considerations

Look carefully at the details of these hybrid policies as compared with traditional LTC policies. They will likely have larger up-front costs which should be balanced against simply purchasing a smaller LTC policy along with a separate annuity product that will give you guaranteed payouts starting at age 65.

Also look at whether a policy offers inflation protection. If you are in your 50s now, the $200/day coverage you buy now may be worth much less unless the policy adjusts benefits annually for inflation.

Under new U.S. federal rules, benefits paid out under annuity or life policies are tax free if you use them to purchase LTC insurance. This is a recent change, and will save you the 25% or more tax you would have otherwise paid. Federal tax law also allows you to deduct the cost of LTC premiums paid so long as you otherwise itemize deductions.

Deferred Annuity Hybrid Deferred Annuity Hybrid

Since this is an annuity product, you should first determine that an annuity fits with your retirement planning. Typically one invests over many years, and earnings accumulate tax deferred. There is protection against loss with a guaranteed income beginning on a certain date.

If your long term care needs exceed what you have planned for, or you see tax benefits to using the annuity payouts for such care, the hybrid policies are useful.

Examine what triggers LTC coverage, what exactly is covered (home care, nursing care, assisted living, etc.), how much is paid per day, how long the LTC benefits last, and what early withdrawal penalties may be.

Choose a waiting period-the time before benefits start--with which you are comfortable. This will depend on how much other insurance or cash you have to tide you over until benefits begin.

You can also create your own hybrid if you presently have an annuity by using payouts tax-free to purchase the LTC insurance.

Life Insurance Hybrid

These policies aim to provide your beneficiary with life insurance death benefits regardless whether you use the LTC benefit. Some even compensate a family member for parental care. The prices are generally locked for your life so inflation protection is not an issue. And most policies do not require traditional life insurance medical exams.

If you find yourself in a financial pinch you may be able to retrieve all of your principal without a surrender charge or penalty.

The challenge can be that to get the most from such policies, you may have to make a large one-time purchase. Some plans allow this to be spread over a few years. But you or your beneficiaries are very likely to get it all back at some point-and then some.

Look at how long the LTC "rider" allows LTC to be paid and compare that to average nursing home stays-presently 2 to 2.5 years.

Generally the greatest benefit to these hybrids comes in the form of LTC protection. For example, a one time $100,000 premium hybrid policy from John Hancock provides 6 years of LTC at $84,192 for a total benefit of $505,152. This would of course diminish life insurance payouts accordingly, but not below a minimum $5,000 "burial expense" payout.

If the universal life policy options described above are simply too expensive, consider purchasing a LTC policy and also a small term or universal life policy of $50,000 or so to compensate your estate for the LTC insurance premiums you would pay over a 20-25 year period. That way if you never need the LTC insurance your estate will break even--provided you calculate the life insurance premiums into how much coverage you carry.

Believe it or not... Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes for hospitalization in our older population. Not only do warm temperatures contribute... but, dry indoor living conditions also increase body heat that forces them to excrete fluids in order to stay cool, thus creating a need for more hydration.

In fact, the elderly need up to 10 percent more fluids. On average, the adult elderly person should intake at least six, eight-ounce glasses of water per day.

Some of the signs and symptoms that dehydration is taking place include... dry mouth, light-headedness or dizziness, darkening of urine, increased weight loss and muscle weakness. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure and even death if not recognized and treated.

To prevent dehydration, make sure fluids are easily available. Set up a hydration schedule offering fluids every couple of hours. It is also wise that the elderly eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in water such as broccoli, tomatoes, oranges and such.

When you suspect that dehydration has already set-in, contact a medical professional immediately. Fluid and food in-take should continue if tolerated. The World Health Organization in the 1960's approved an oral solution that helps the absorption of water and electrolytes.

Now, I'm not a doctor, but the recommendation by the 'WHO' is still used today and may be considered for elderly persons in remote areas or who cannot access a medical professional. The solution is as follows:

3/4 Teaspoon of Table (preferable 'sea') Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
4 Tablespoons Orange Juice
1 Quart/Liter Water

As we age, our body composition has less water in it, which makes the elderly more susceptible to dehydration.

Younger people have 70 percent water content in their bodies, while elderly adults only have 60 percent or less (According to Ransky Law). Other contributing factors for dehydration in the elderly include a lowered thirst response, swallowing difficulties. The elderly also have more health problems and when sick, people need even more fluids to stay healthy, making it extremely important to keep up with water (fluids) intake.

The train left the station.

The passenger next to me began a friendly conversation and ultimately asked me "In what kind of settings would a sign language interpreter be needed?". This lovely lady was unfamiliar with Deaf Culture and was just making polite conversation. I was afraid my answer sounded a bit 'flip', but I replied "Only in places where communication is needed". This led us into a discussion trying to imagine all the possible scenarios. We can start with the most familiar.

Medical Sign Language Interpreter - think about it. Visits to the Doctor, Dentist, Chiropractor, Counselor, Physical Therapist, Surgeon, Group Therapy, Urgent Care and Emergency Room...

Legal Interpreter - jury duty, serving as a defendant or witness, consultations to gain knowledge regarding rights and potential actions...

Educational Interpreter - elementary school, middle and high school, college, PTA meetings, training centers, driver's education classes, workshops, self-help seminars...

Entertainment ASL interpreter - Deaf actors, producers, directors, hearing actors needing to learn sign language, production companies needing to learn the inside scoop regarding Culture and body language, stage performances, concerts (lots of deaf people love really loud music!)...

Corporate Interpreters - deaf employees participating in meetings and conferences, conventions, collaborations with team members.

Personal Sign Language Interpreters - Weddings, funerals, class reunions, job interviews, graduations, religious services, DMV, real estate issues, investment consultations, tour groups, car buying, cosmetic surgeon (no miscommunication wanted here!)...

And the list goes on. Think about your daily / weekly / monthly life and how often clear communication is necessary. How frustrating would it be to attempt ALL of these transactions using lip reading and writing. Something as simple as ordering a Happy Meal at the Drive-thru becomes nearly impossible.

In Palm Springs, California, The Deaf Seniors Foundation is thinking ahead. Today, many seniors visit Senior Centers or live in Assisted Living and Retirement Homes across the U.S. How would you like to live in an environment where nobody understands your language? Your native language is ASL / Sign Language and you are unable to communicate with the residents you see every day. The staff expects you to read lips and write things down. Complete isolation...

Now imagine the same deaf senior in an environment where everybody can sign. Laughter and hands flying and a sense of community at a delicate time of life...

As our train arrived at the station, I wished I had kept track of the times she said "I've never thought about that".

Here's hoping that awareness is contagious as we all journey on.

For a number of reasons there has probably never been a better time to buy and start a health care related franchise business. In this article you will find some of the top and most compelling reasons to consider starting your own health care franchise today. This includes info about some of the emerging social, demographic, and economic trends in the marketplace that bode extremely well for the healthcare industry in general. As well as some of the advantages that franchising can offer to individuals who want to maximize their chances of owning a successful business.

Favorable Market Trends:

With the inevitable aging of the huge baby boomer generation it is estimated by the US Census that by the year 2030 over 70 million Americans will be over the age of 65. This population trend will produce enormous business opportunities in the senior health care services industry for savvy entrepreneurs who position themselves to serve this fast growing age demographic. In particular non-medical and in home care services are expected to be one of the hottest growth segments in health care industry as more seniors choose to decline residing in assisted living facilities for a number of reasons including economic.

Fastest Growing Industry:

By all estimates the Health care industry overall is still the fastest growing industry in the US and demand for services will continue to expand for the foreseeable future. In particular the home care services industry is expected to grow significantly in the next decade. This bodes well for small and locally owned businesses (including franchise businesses) that are positioned to provide non-medical and in home care service to seniors and the elderly.

Recession Resistant Industry:

For many reasons, including the fact that health care spending is generally considered a necessary expense and not discretionary, the health care industry is widely regarded as extremely recession resistant, if not recession proof. Thus owning a recession proof business or franchise can obviously provide a small business owner with a level of security and predictability about the future that is very enviable in this day and age.

Turnkey & Proven Business:

One of the hallmarks and biggest advantages of buying a franchise business is that it allows you to go into business for yourself, but not by yourself - which should ultimately increase your chances of success. Today most established health care franchises can offer a turnkey and proven business model with a track record of success that you can verify in the due diligence process before you sign a franchise agreement. This includes the opportunity to talk with other franchisees in the system to help validate the viability and profitability of the franchiser's particular business model.

Low Start-Up Costs:

In general many home health care and assisted living services franchises being offered today are relatively very affordable and have low start up costs. This is particularly true when you compare the costs of opening a more traditional retail brick & mortar type franchise like a fast food restaurant. Some health care services franchises even have the option to be operated form a home-based office which can also help lower your initial start-up costs as well as significantly help reduce your monthly overhead expenses.

As the bulge in the population known as the baby boomer generation starts to reach retirement age and beyond, senior housing is becoming a real issue. Assisted living is a popular option these days, but there is an important consideration to take in when doing the evaluation of various facilities.

What is assisted living? It is a community based lifestyle for seniors. It provides them with more care than living alone, but is not nearly as all encompassing as a nursing home facility. The community element makes the concept of assisted living very popular with seniors.

You might be thinking the above paragraph really doesn't define assisted living all that well. You're right. The reason is also the consideration that you must take into account when evaluating various assisted living facilities. The simple fact is there really is no absolute definition of an assisted living facility.

Assisted living is often pitched as an absolute concept, but it is not. You might visit two assisted living communities and find night and day differences between them. Some will feel like a retirement home that has slightly been spruced up a bit while others will feel like a full blown village catering to seniors. As you can imagine, this second version is far superior to the first.

The bigger issue to keep in mind, however, is that there is vast variation between assisted living facilities. This means you should continue to visit them until you find a location that the senior in question likes. The placement services are usually free, so there is no expense other than your time, involved in doing the viewings. It is a big decision, so making the effort to find the perfect spot just makes sense.

To this end, it is also important to think outside of the box a bit. If you live in a cold climate, it might be wise to think about relocating to an area that is warm. Old bones tend to prefer the heat to the cold, so hopping online to look at locations in Florida, California, Arizona and so on is worth the time it takes to click and point. The only downside is this can create a sizeable distance between family members, but the occasional vacation can be used to create family gatherings.

Assisted living is very popular with seniors looking at housing options these days. The variation available in the field is so vast that you should take the time out to take a look at the different options available under the "assisted living" flag. You'll be surprised what you can and cannot get at different locations.