Elder Care Providers

Home Care For Seniors - Are You New To Contact Lenses?

Senior Home Care Services -Do you wear contacts, but only buy them from your eye doctor? Are you looking for an improved option to buy contact lenses? If you have thought about buying your contacts from a source other than your eye care professional, you are not alone. The amount of people with a contact lens recommendation that buy their contacts online or from warehouses is growing. What do you need to know before you buy contact lenses? You probably know that even if you follow the doctor’s instructions for cleaning your contact lenses, they never feel as good in your eyes as when you just take them of the wrap up for the first time. And if you are a bit casual about caring for your lenses, they can feel even worse.

Assisted Living -Modern technology can create healthy contact lenses with a substance that occurs naturally in human cells. Pro clear Compatibles creates a healthy biocompatible lens material that feels comfortable and moist over several hours. This lens is also very dead set against to dehydration, so it is ideal for people who suffer from dry eyes.

Elder Care Providers -How To Wear Contact Lenses for The First Time?

Senior Health -When trying contact lenses for the initial time you might be laughing thinking about which side is the correct one to wear. If you are among the lucky few who can read the laser imprint you would not require a guide to help you through the process. But if your lens has not got a laser impression over it then the easiest way to locate the wearable side of the contact lens is to hold it on your finger tip. Make certain you wash your hands thoroughly every time before touching your lenses this secures them from pointless harmful deposits. When held over finger tip if the contact lens forms a ‘U’ shape with the edges extended outwards it’s inside out. You must reverse it before wearing. A contact lens if worn from the wrong side would not do any harm but would be uncomfortable. A contact lens wearable side is when it forms a simple ‘U’ shape with it edges not flaring outwards.

Caregiver Support -Caring Instructions for Your Contact lenses:

Assisted Living -1. Rinse your hands with soap and dry those 2. Take your contact lens out and thoroughly rinse each side of it with versatile solution, by putting some solution on it 3. Plug your contact lens case with fresh solution, place your lenses in, screw the lid on and leave your lenses to soak for at least 6 hours, or overnight. It is important to use fresh solution every time you place your lenses in it; recycling is not a good idea, in this case. 4. When you are ready to wear your contacts, rinse each side again and pop them into your eyes

Caregiver Support -Visit Your Eye Care Practitioner Regularly:

About the author:

You can also find more info on Contact Lens Solution and Discounted Contact Lenses.Onlinecontactlenseshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about online contact lenses.

Read More From David Faulkner

Senior Home Care Services -

During the past year or so, I have done nearly a hundred talks about my book, “LADIES: A Conjecture of Personalities.” It’s about the First Ladies – the OLD First Ladies, Martha through Mamie. Since they talk to each other and cross through centuries, it is, of course, an historical fiction. In doing so many lectures, I thought it might be interesting to discuss are some of the things I have learned….
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1.Sadly enough, while my audiences LOVE my talks (and they are never the same), not too many actually BUY the book.
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A lesson learned: People need to be interested in the subject or genre. They read what they like to read – sci-fi, romance novels, murder mysteries, etc. So while they may enjoy spending an hour listening attentively and say lovely things about you and your presentation, it doesn’t mean they will outlay twenty bucks to read the book. Do not take it personally.
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2.Be selective in choosing your target audiences. A book about raising two-year-old twins probably will not appeal to the Rotary Club. My book about the “old gals” appeals to a wide range of audiences, but mostly women, and mostly older women at that. I have done well by appealing to Woman’s Clubs, Historical Societies, Libraries, Senior groups, etc.
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A lesson learned: Be very selective choosing senior groups. The “younger” seniors are wonderful. They are still working, still driving, still traveling, etc., and reading. They love having interesting speakers. The older seniors, or super seniors” who live in senior residences or assisted-care facilities are not your best audience for obvious reasons of frailties. Go if they invite you (and if they will pay). Do not solicit them.
Home Care For Seniors -

Another lesson learned: Be very selective choosing religious groups as an audience. Of course this depends upon the subject matter of your book/lecture. Many church or synagogue groups will be happy to have you as their guest and will enjoy your talk, but few actually purchase books that don’t deal in some way with their religion – at least not in that venue.
Caregiver Support -

3.To charge or not to charge: Fortunately for my financial circumstances, I am not dependent on book sales for a living. So I started out by doing my programs for free, hoping that publicity and book sales would follow. I wound up doing a lot of talks and driving a lot of miles for limited publicity and very few (usually under 10) books sold. Like I said, you have to be interested in the subject.
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By the time I did a couple of dozen free talks and having my audiences LOVE me and refer me along for more FREE talks, I did a little soul-searching. If I am good enough for FREE, maybe I am good enough for PAY. After all, I reasoned, when people call me, they always ask about my fee, indicating they are prepared to pay an honorarium. So I decided that “I don’t charge but my CAR does.” I’ve kept it nominal: If the group is within 20 miles from my home, I charge $50; if it is more than that, I charge $100.
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A lesson learned: Few groups object. My car is happy.
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Occasionally I still do a freebie, or go to a senior care facility (although those facilities usually have a budget for programs). I like doing a good deed, and the “oldies” love hearing a talk on something other than cataracts, blood pressure or managing their incomes.
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Another lesson learned: Do not be afraid to turn down a group if it is far away and they won’t pay. Unless, of course, you usually sell a heap of books. Then you can go to the North Pole if you like.
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4.Finally, know your audience:
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This is important to any speaker, of course, but doubly so for me, since my subject is so varied and can be arranged to suit my listeners. Always ask the Program Chairman (or whoever contacts you) to tell you a little about their members: their general age category, general income category (particularly if you are contacted by a social worker), the general purpose of the group, i.e. charitable, social, academic, etc.) and anything else that may be of importance to the speaker.
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For instance, I was invited to speak at a banquet given by the Ladies’ Auxiliary of a large hospital. So I decided to talk about the health problems of some of the “old” First Ladies. At a “Red Hat Society” program, I picked three First Ladies who I thought they would enjoy having as “honorary members.” For other groups I sometimes choose one or two “old gals” that might be pertinent to their organization.
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A major lesson learned: Do not forget to promote your book and read to them a little. Sometimes I get so carried away about my subject matter that I neglect to encourage book sales. Make sure you talk about your book, why you wrote it, why they should purchase it, why it makes a wonderful gift, and why they should recommend you and your program to their friends.

About the author:

Feather Schwartz Foster is the author of “LADIES: A Conjecture of Personalities,” about First Ladies between Martha Washington and Mamie Eisenhower. An “amateur” (non-academic) presidential historian, Foster has amassed a personal presidential library of more than 1,000 volumes. Her second book, “Garfield’s Train” will be published in summer, 2005. Both books are availble through PublishAmerica.
Author: Feather Schwartz Foster

Assisted Living - A Boxer dog can live for up to 10 to 12 years as long as he gets proper care, diet and exercise. Just like in humans, good health is important to a dog’s longevity and quality of life. Whether you bought your puppy from a pet store or adopt one from a shelter, it is your responsibility to provide him with the things he needed to keep him healthy as well as happy. Below are some points on how to ensure your dog of good health he truly deserves.

Caregiver Support — Feed your Boxer dog with a well balanced diet. Your Boxer dog’s food should include meat as the first ingredient. As much as possible, avoid spicy or rich table scraps and limit the feedings to twice a day. You must remember to never allow your dog any strenuous exercise shortly after meals to prevent a deadly disease called bloat.

Elder Care Providers — Boxers are short-haired breed so they rarely get dirty. Bathe your Boxer infrequently or only if you think that he is dirty or if he smells dirty. Brush the coat regularly using a firm bristle brush.

Senior Home Care — Since they are short-haired, they can be very sensitive to extreme elements of weather. They should be protected from cold during bath. During winter, the bath should take place in a well heated area and lukewarm water should be used. The breed is sensitive to warm weather as much as they are sensitive to cold. During warm months, baths should be given in the fresh air. Outdoor fun should be set aside for the moment since hot and humid weather makes him uncomfortable.

Senior Health — Having the characteristics of a strong working dog, a Boxer dog needs regular exercise to keep up with this breed’s boundless energy. Two hours of walking or running or play sessions are enough to make them healthy and happy Boxers you want them to be. Through this, they will be able to maintain good alignment, prevent obesity and prevent boredom-associated behavior such as chewing and digging.

Senior Home Care — Have your Boxer dog immunized with vaccines against parvovirus, distemper, rabies and other vaccines required by law. Consult your veterinarian or local health officer regarding this matter.

Senior Home Care Services — Be aware and understand the health problems your dog more prone to. This health problems include hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, cancers, bloat and Aortic Stenosis (a heart condition).

About the author:

Richard Cussons writes articles about Boxer dog. Visit boxersavvy.com and learn more about Boxer dog training.

Read More From Richard Cussons

Elder Care Providers -

Promotes healthy aging to boomers & seniors

Home Care For Seniors - New York, NY (PRWEB) September 5, 2007 — Irene Pastore, President, announces the opening of SeniorFit Personal Training to promote healthy aging for New Yorkers 50 and over. The need for age appropriate personal training has never been greater. Meeting the demands of the fastest growing U.S. population for safe and effective exercise, SeniorFit is designed to reduce risk while improving quality of life.

Elder Care Providers -”Older adults are looking for personal training that gets results, while providing fun and variety, without risk of injury. In fact, fear of injury may develop into a long-term excuse to avoid exercise,” comments Ms. Pastore, whose ultimate goal is to help boomers and seniors prolong healthy longevity, and independence.

Caregiver Support - Older adults are looking for personal training that gets results, while providing fun and variety, without risk of injury. In fact, fear of injury may develop into a long-term excuse to avoid exercise Pastore says that the older body is more susceptible to orthopedic injury, and that standard workouts for younger adults are inappropriate for the over 50 population. Training sessions have to be adapted to meet the needs of boomers and seniors, while offering challenge, diversity, and enjoyment. Equipment should offer fun and variety, but must be very safe, and easy to use. Thorough health screening, and physician consent, are important criteria that helps eliminate the potential for exercise related injury.

Senior Health -”A client who feels confident that exercise wont threaten their balance, or other existing health conditions, is more likely to stick with the program, and enjoy it as well,” she remarks.

Home Care For Seniors -In addition to strength training, Pastore uses agility ladders, and obstacle courses to help clients improve balance. “Working with this type of equipment keeps the mind alert, and improves confidence. Agility, strength, and balance training, are key in the prevention of falls on slick winter pavement, icy city streets, and subway steps,” she maintains.

Senior Home Care -Whether retired or still working, older New Yorkers are on-the-go, and want to stay in shape. The upbeat Manhattan firm helps them to achieve their health and fitness goals, by providing a full range of home based personal training programs. To make exercise enjoyable, Pastore offers plenty of options. While strength training is the foundation of the SeniorFit program, Pastore integrates variety by offering different types of equipment, and other types of exercise such as Tai Chi, Yoga, Balance Discs, and other fun equipment. Choices are based on ability, health, and personal preference.

Assisted Living -Irene Pastore is a native New Yorker, who has been active in sports and recreational activities since childhood. Her professional career in fitness began in 1996. Pastore is a Specialist in Fitness for Older Adults, and holds several personal training certificates from the International Sports Sciences Association, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Pastore says that a vigorous old age is possible, and that Americans shouldnt use aging as an excuse to deteriorate. For more information about SeniorFit home based personal training, please visit www.seniorfitnyc.com, or call 212-677-6131.

Elder Care Providers -Contact:
Irene Pastore
212-677-6131
Fax: 212-473-8268
news @ seniorfitnyc.com
www.seniorfitnyc.com

Author: Irene Pastore

Senior Home Care -

Dementia, Alzheimer\’s, and other mental diseases are accelerated by the,
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* The lack of blood to the brain
* The lack of oxygen to the brain
* The lack of minerals and vitamins to the brain
* The lack of glucose to the brain
* Increase of toxins to the brain.
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The lack of blood to the brain is caused by arteriosclerosis - plack buildup along the arteries causing them to narrow. Arteriosclerosis occurs when you have a diet that causes damage to the artery walls promoting cholesterol and other minerals and nutrients to patch up the damage. Over time, as this patching continues, this area will become narrow and in some case blocks the flow of blood.
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As early as possible it is always recommended that you research what a health diet is. Find a diet that will minimize damage and inflammation in your body. Starting a healthy diet at any age is helpful but the sooner you start the better.
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Ginkgo Biloba has been found effective in increasing the circulation of blood throughout the body including the brain. When this happens more blood moves into the brain and supplies it with the nutrients in the blood.
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Ginkgo Biloba also helps brain cells use glucose and thereby increases brain energy. It helps improve brain cell transmission and brain wave tracing. It helps short-term memory by speeding up the brain cell impulses.
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Using Ginkgo Biloba for dementia and Alzheimer\’s has show to slow down, delay, and even reverse these conditions in some cases. Use of Ginkgo Biloba is more effective when used in the early signs of senility, dementia, or Alzheimer\’s.
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If Alzheimer\’s is well progressed, Ginkgo may have only a slight value. But when Alzheimer\’s and other dementia issue are due arteriosclerosis or lack of blood to the brain, then Ginkgo may provide some relief and improvement in these conditions.
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Here is the type of Ginkgo you should use:
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* Ginkgo Biloba Flavonglycosides Extract 24%, 40 mg per day
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Results in using Ginkgo Biloba can take from 3 - 12 weeks. It is a safe herb and may only have slight side effects such as headaches and dizziness, but these will disappear as you continue to use it.
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If you are faced with signs of reduced mental capacity, Ginkgo Biloba is but one nutrients that can help you starve off it progression. There are many other nutrients that you need to add to your diet to help Ginkgo Biloba do its job better.

About the author:

Rudy Silva is a Natural Nutritionist. To learn more about the other nutrients you need to hold off signs of dementia or Alzheimer\’s go to http://www.for–you.com/dementiaremedies.
Author: Rudy Silva

Senior Home Care -

Due to the aging of America, a dramatic increase in employment opportunities in the elder care, geriatric and senior housing industry is rising.

Home Care For Seniors - (PRWEB) October 9, 2003 –There are 35 million Americans currently over the age of 65, and that number is expected to increase to 40 million elderly citizens by the year 2010. This expanding elder population is generating a dramatic increase in employment opportunities in the elder care industry, and a growing demand for qualified, experienced professionals.

Caregiver Support -To meet this growing demand, ElderJobs.com a new nationwide employment website, has been developed. The site is exclusively for the elder care, geriatric, and senior housing industry, as well as those seeking employment in the field of aging.

Senior Home Care Services -Five years ago Cheryl Culbertson founded Elder Options of Texas, the leading elder care and senior housing website for the state of Texas. Recognizing the need for an employment site that concentrated specifically on job seekers and employers alike within the aging industry, Culbertson created ElderJobs.com.

Elder Care -Employers, human resource managers, and healthcare recruiters are excited about ElderJobs.com because the site focuses precisely on the type of employees they need” said Culbertson. The site accepts resumes only from individuals seeking employment in the field of aging resulting in quality resumes vs. quantity of resumes.”

Caregiver Support -ElderJobs.com is also attracting the attention of hundreds of college graduates with degrees in fields such as Nursing Home Administration, Gerontology and Social Work, who frequent the site searching for employment opportunities, as well as many others seeking jobs in the elder care industry.

Senior Health -Job seekers benefit from the free resume posting services, immediate access to a variety of educational sites offering job-seeking tips & tools, career news & resources, as well as a variety of resourceful links to national and statewide organizations.

Caregiver Support -ElderJobs.com is connecting qualified eldercare job seekers with eldercare employers, filling both of their employment needs.
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Author: Cheryl Culbertson, Founder

Senior Home Care -

New senior housing development could become one of countrys few LEED-Certified Communities.

Elder Care Providers - Shoreview, MN (PRWEB) June 17, 2008 — http://www.ecumen.org - Aging services provider Ecumen, one of the countrys largest non-profit senior housing companies, is developing green senior housing for North Country Health services in Bemidji, Minn. It is seeking to be one of the countrys few LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) senior housing developments.

Elder Care Providers -The $20 million senior housing development, to be owned by North Country Health Services and developed by Ecumen, is being built using environmentally friendly or “green” features and methods. For example, underground parking will lessen impervious surface space and reduce water use, lighting features will prevent light and energy waste, and many construction materials will be harvested locally.

Elder Care - This will be a community that promotes healthy, successful aging and that honors and celebrates a persons life to its very end. North Country Health Services and Ecumen plan to submit the project for third-party LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council.

Elder Care -”Three words stood out as we began to shape this project - mission, vibrancy and sustainability,” said Jim Hanko, president and CEO of North Country Health Services. “The new housing will complement our mission of assuring a lifetime continuum of quality healthcare services, it will be a vibrant community that allows people to live in Bemidji for a lifetime, and it will help sustain natural resources that we all share.”

Caregiver Support -”This project fully embraces a philosophy that aging is all about living,” said Sandy Bensen, North Country Health Services (NCHS) vice president of senior and community living services. “This will be a community that promotes healthy, successful aging and that honors and celebrates a persons life to its very end.”

Elder Care Providers -Slated for a late-summer groundbreaking, the senior housing development will include independent living apartments, assisted living apartments, and memory care apartments. The link to the NCHS mission is most evident with the “aging in place” concept where older adults can move in not needing any services and as they age, assisted living services are brought to them when they need them and on an ala carte basis. All living spaces will link to Neilson Place, the North Country Health Services skilled nursing care center that opened in 2004. The project is anticipated to open in the fall of 2009.

Senior Home Care Services -When completed, the Anne Street site will have more than 148,000 square feet of livable space in two buildings. Eighty catered living apartment homes, which feature independent living and assisted living, will have underground parking. The one-story memory care building will have 27 studio apartments.

Assisted Living -Other features will include a library and media center, grand fireplace lounge, commercial kitchen and dining room, two guest motel-like suites, a hair salon and barber shop, community room, fitness room, and outdoor patios and walking paths.

Elder Care -”Were extremely proud to be working with North Country Health Services and helping make this shared vision become a reality,” said Steve Ordahl, senior vice president of business development for Ecumen.

Senior Health -About North Country Health Services:
North Country Health Services (www.nchs.com) is a community-owned, not-for-profit health system comprised of North Country Regional Hospital, Neilson Place, Baker Park, Bemidji Medical Equipment, and the North Country Health Services Foundation.

Caregiver Support -About Ecumen:
Ecumen (www.ecumen.org) is based in Shoreview, Minn., and is one of the largest non-profit senior housing, services and development companies in the United States. The name Ecumen comes from the word ecumenical, which in turn is derived from the Greek word for home: “Oikos”. Ecumens mission is to create “home” for older adults wherever they choose to live. Ecumen is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has 4,000 team members. Ecumen writes about news and ideas that are shaping the future of aging services at its Changing Aging blog: http://www.ecumen.org/changing-aging/.

Author: Mike Yanke

Senior Home Care Services -

Although our focus is on elder care options it is important to remember that life-changing conditions that threaten independent living are not limited to the elderly. People of any age can experience challenging conditions due to illness or injury that interfere with normal activities of daily living. When a decline in function renders a person unable to live independently, there are many care options to consider in regards to the kind of care they’ll receive and who will provide it.
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It is my desire that the following summary of care options will be helpful to those needing care.
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Hospitals
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Hospitals usually keep patients with acute medical conditions until the acute condition is resolved. However, this is not always long enough to allow the patient to become independent and safe enough to return home.
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Hospitals serve an important function by saving the lives of those with life-threatening conditions, but when patients are medically stable they must move to another type of facility.
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Because the present healthcare environment imposes tight funding restrictions on hospitals, it forces them to reduce the duration of a patient’s stay. The allotted time is rarely sufficient to return patients to their prior level of function. At this point, patients and/or their family members must decide what to do next.
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The care option that’s right for your circumstances depends on availability, accessibility, price, expectations and the patient’s age, condition and recovery potential.
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Swing Bed Programs
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Progressive hospitals offer Swing Bed Programs. To move from acute care to Swing Bed is no more than a paperwork move. However, patients on the Swing Bed Program can continue to qualify for Medicare benefits as long as they make progress in physical therapy, and as long as they demonstrate good rehab potential.
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Rehabilitation is the key in these facilities. Patients are involved in therapeutic exercises, functional training, balance training, and gait training. The Swing Bed Program functions as a skilled nursing facility.
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Regional Rehabilitation Centers
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Qualifying patients may transfer from an acute hospital to a regional rehabilitation center. These patients receive intensive rehab that usually consists of a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
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Stays are typically one to three weeks, after which the patient must either transition to their home or to another care facility.
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Nursing Homes
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Nursing homes, referred to as care homes, convalescent homes, rest homes, and elder care centers, vary in size and type. Skilled nursing homes can, in some cases, carry on the rehabilitation the hospital began. If the patient is able to consistently show physical progress and good rehab potential, Medicare may reimburse for a certain number of days.
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Physical therapy and occupational therapy can include therapeutic exercises and training in activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, grooming, etc). When patients reach a plateau in their progress, they are either discharged or sent to a non-skilled nursing facility. Medicare does not provide financial assistance for non-skilled facilities.
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The best nursing homes provide restorative services. A restorative aide performs simple exercises and assisted ambulation with patients that do not qualify for the skilled services of a licensed physical therapist. Nursing homes are a good choice for individuals who require lots of care or who lack the rehab potential to progress to a rehabilitation facility.
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Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs)
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ALFs provide care for individuals who have a much higher level of independence than do those who require a nursing home. They usually have a private apartment-like setting where the residents can be reasonably independent. Meals and varying levels of care are provided.
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Assisted living facilities are designed for those who have a good degree of independence, yet are not able to live independently in their own homes. ALF’s typically do not offer physical therapy, exercises programs or restorative therapy services, and Medicare offers no assistance.
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Adult Foster Homes
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These facilities offer a home-like environment and the best possible staff-to-resident ratio. The State allows a maximum or five residents in Oregon Adult Foster Homes. Other states vary. Residents are given home-cooked meals and activities that are relevant to their interests.
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In Oregon, adult foster homes are licensed as level 1, level 2 or level 3, based on the experience and capabilities of the care providers. Level 1 foster homes provide for functional residents who require only minimal assistance in their activities of daily living. Level three residents require care in several activities of daily living and may even be bed bound.
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Although adult foster homes specialize in elder care and retirement age residents, people of any age can live in them.
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Family Caregiving
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Sometimes, families want or need to care for their loved ones in their own home. This seemingly overwhelming task can be handled in two ways: One way is by hiring personal in-home caregivers to provide the needed care. Someone needs to coordinate the caregivers to ensure consistency. When 24-hour care is needed the expense can far exceed any of the above options.
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A second option is to personally care for your loved one yourself. This could necessitate leaving your job. This ambitious task can be done if you take care of yourself to prevent burnout and to avoid falling ill. If you take this route you might consider having a personal caregiver come in once or twice a week to relieve you.
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Transitional Care
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Often, patients are not ready to return home after leaving the hospital. Various life-changing conditions, such as a hip fracture, knee or hip replacement or stroke can make it impossible to safely transition home. Even conditions like pneumonia or bowel obstructions can start the deconditioning process that makes a person less stable on their feet and puts them at risk for falling.
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It’s imperative to maximize a patient’s level of function in order to ensure their safe transition home. Transitional care units have emerged to fill this gap. Transitional care units provide various degrees of rehabilitation that can include physical therapy and occupational therapy.

About the author:

Tom LeBlanc PT has been a physical therapist for over 30 years. His experience includes working in all of the above caregiving environments. He is currently developing a FREE TeleSeminar on Caregiver Secrets. He also hosts Home Entrepreneurs News (www.home-entrepreneurs.com), a site dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business seekers find the business that is right for them. One of his “featured Businesses” is detailed in his article, Become a Personal Caregiver.

 All Rights Reserved Home Entrepreneurs Corporation

This article may be copied as long as the following information box remains.
Author: Thomas LeBlanc

Home Care For Seniors -

With the support of the health and elder care businesses operating within North Carolina, Senior Approved Services will prove to be a viable solution for the elderly and family caregivers while saving the government countless dollars.

Senior Home Care Services - North Carolina (PRWEB) September 19, 2006 — Senior Approved Services (SAS) has served more than 8,000 seniors across the United States since 2003 at no cost to the senior and without asking or expecting supportive dollars from Federal or State funding. Thanks to a North Carolina entrepreneur, an active advocate for the elder population, Senior Approved Services is now represented within the state of North Carolina.

Senior Home Care Services -North Carolina resident, Mr. Dan Taylor, has generously agreed to sponsor Senior Approved Services for the entire state of NC. Please see http://www.seniorapproved-northcarolina.com.

Caregiver Support -Mr. Taylor is an attorney, creator of “The Parent Care Solution,” and author of “The Parent Care Conversation,” Penguin publishing. He is generously donating 10% of his book sales to a fund that will be used to help seniors in need throughout NC.

Senior Health -The demand for additional resources to serve both the needs of the aging population and supportive programs for the family caregiver within NC is clear.

Senior Home Care Services -The aging population within the State of North Carolina is expected to increase at the rate of 47% by the year 2030. (Source: 2000 U.S. Census records)

Caregiver Support -25% of the entire current population of NC identifies itself as a family member providing some level of care on behalf of a loved one. (Source: 2005 NC Division of Aging and Adult Services)

Caregiver Support -Seniors, family caregivers, social workers, discharge planners and even EAP groups make use of SAS service free of charge. The company is supported by; forward thinking, caring, elder care businesses that recognize the need to protect the elder population from contracting with less than desirable companies.

Elder Care Providers -Each Certified Senior Approved Service must adhere to a code of ethics in its daily operations. The ethical business practices of health and elder care-related services, resources, and products is proven through the successful completion of an ethic-based consumer-driven survey process.

Elder Care -Barbara Mascio, founder of Senior Approved Services (http://www.seniorapprovedcertification.com) states, We are grateful to Dan Taylor for sponsoring the North Carolina version of Senior Approved Services. The web site (http://www.seniorapproved-northcarolina.com) currently provides local NC links, a North Carolina specific calendar of events, and helpful information for family caregivers. Our next step is to add a recommended provider list of verified safe reliable NC-based services.” Mascio continued, “We are working to meet the challenge of locating North Carolina business serving the senior citizen population who meet our standards and are prepared to accept new clients.

Assisted Living -Complimenting existing programs, SAS is poised to make a positive impact within NC. The goal of Senior Approved Services is to develop a “One-Call-Solution.” This opens up a tremendous opportunity for any business that serves or sells to the senior citizen.

Author: Barbara Mascio

Home Care For Seniors -

Myths associated with selecting quality nursing home care suggest quick and easy ways to identify quality care. In fact, relying on these myths can lead to disastrous results. I have identified a few of the most common myths in hopes of helping you avoid some of the problems commonly found in many nursing homes.
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1. The Smell Test
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You’ve heard it repeatedly: “The best way to determine the quality of care a nursing home provides is to be alert to bad odors when you visit the home.”
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It seldom, if ever, works. Why? Nursing home administrators have heard the very same advice. As a result, they are particularly sensitive to unpleasant odors in any area that might receive visitors. Almost all will do their best to remove offensive odors as quickly as possible, even when it means avoiding their primary responsibility to their residents.
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2. The Personal Recommendation
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Recently, I heard a guest on a radio talk show state that the very best way to find great nursing home care is to get recommendations from a friend. Like other myths, there is a grain of truth here, but you must check whether your friend has had extensive interactions with the nursing home recommended. Often that is not the case.
Assisted Living -

Last weekend I dealt with an emergency call from Jim, a friend who had placed his mother in a nursing home recommended by a friend. Although she was recuperating from a stroke, no nurse or aide checked on her condition for more than 14 hours. Jim discovered her in the morning with many cuts and bruises, her bedsheets soaked in blood. He was astonished that anyone would recommend such a poor care facility.
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“My friend said her grandmother was in this particular nursing home,” he reported. “So, I thought it would be good care.”
Caregiver Support -

“How often does your friend visit her grandmother?” I asked him.
Home Care For Seniors -

“I didn’t think to ask,” he responded.
Assisted Living -

“And did you check the latest survey for that nursing home?”
Caregiver Support -

“No,” he answered. “I thought a personal recommendation was all I needed.”
Senior Health -

Jim’s mother is now back in an area hospital. No one knows yet how much damage this experience caused to her recovery.
Caregiver Support -

3. You Get What You Pay For
Senior Home Care Services -

Nowhere is this statement less applicable than in nursing home care. In fact, I’d replace it with another shibboleth — “Buyer Beware.” Our own research, encompassing more than 6000 nursing homes and more than 100 assisted living facilities shows no relationship between cost and quality of care. You may find quality care in an expensive facility, or you may not! Similarly, the fact that a facility is low-cost does not indicate whether you’ll get poor, average, or quality care. You have to do your homework. Relying on price as the sole indicator of quality care can lead to disastrous results.
Assisted Living -

4. Adequate Staffing Equals Quality Care
Senior Home Care -

A recent report by the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging indicated that quality care for a single nursing home resident requires more than three hours each day of nursing and nursing aide time. However, statistical analysis of the latest federal database on nursing home deficiencies indicates no relationship between quality of care and staffing levels. This finding is consistent with a number of university studies.
Elder Care Providers -

What should you look for, then, in nursing home staffing levels?
Senior Health -

There is a level below which nursing homes are so understaffed that quality care can not be provided. I’d suggest that you not consider any home providing a level less than two hours per day per resident. For levels greater than this, I’d focus not on the number of hours available for care but on the motivation of staff available to provide care. Those who are motivated to care for the elderly will do so. Those who are motivated only by a paycheck will probably provide shoddy care regardless of their numbers.
Assisted Living -

5. A Well-Known Chain Will Provide the Best Care
Home Care For Seniors -

This is another myth that can lead to tragedy. Sometimes, well- known companies do provide top-quality care. In other instances, however, a quick review of newspapers and magazines will show you other companies with long records of legal troubles stemming from accusations of neglect and abuse. One such company has been sued simultaneously by several states’ attorneys general.
Senior Health -

How will you know? The company is not likely to tell you, so you won’t know unless you take the time to look into the company’s historical performance.
Assisted Living -

There you have it — 5 myths exploded!
Home Care For Seniors -

What does work? There is no substitute for your own personal investigation. With a little research, with personal visits to nursing homes before you sign anything, you can avoid many of the difficulties that have come to those who relied on such myths.

About the author:

copyright 2002, Phyllis Staff. Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, and the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them (2002).
pando19@direcway.com

This article was posted on December 27, 2002

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