Caring for the elderly and making a career out of this requires some professional training. In order to become a caregiver, it is important that you develop a set of skills first. The healthcare setting can be an incredibly challenging work environment. Since you’ll be working in situations that require understanding, patience is a trait you’ll just have to master. A respectful, tactful, and gentle manner is fundamental.

Even though there are no specific educational requirements for becoming a general caregiver for the elderly, most employers want to hire candidates with at least a high-school degree. If you have an authorized healthcare certificate though, then your chances of getting a job in this domain are even better.  There are specific requirements to become a licensed or certified nursing assistant or home health aide, but these vary by state.

Elder care career description

Elder care employees have the job to provide top quality assistance, support services and personal care for people that need ongoing or short-term care. Those without a degree in a healthcare field often work under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The personal assistance of elder care employers usually includes help with daily chores such as dressing, bathing, and meals. Caregivers are responsible for preserving as well as gaining the confidence of their client, but also their client’s family members and relatives. Additionally known as health care aides, nursing attendants, and home support workers, these people make sure that your loved one’s independence is maintained for as long as possible.

Caring for elder parents

Sooner or later, we will all become caregivers. But then again, that’s a choice we have to make and not a demand. Some people don’t want to be (or can’t be) caregivers for their aging parents. Being a full-time caregiver for a relative, particularly if he or she suffers from a significant illness (Alzheimer’s, dementia, impairment, etc.), is time consuming. It is important to be prepared, both emotionally and financially.

In the past fifteen years, the average number of individuals choosing to be caregivers for their parents has increased tremendously. Roughly 10 million adults above the age of 50 care for their aging parents. Back in 1994, seniors didn’t have much help from their adult kids; only 9% or women and 3% of men chose this job. In 2008, the percentage grew to 28% in women and 17% in men. Some families help their parents to move to assisted living. If the care need is great, 24 hour per day residential living assistance is available at a variety of places.

Before quitting your daily job to become a caregiver, think carefully!

Most people can’t just quit your daily job to care for parents 24/7. This is a decision that needs a bit of time to materialize. First of all, you need to be aware that you’ll lose your steady income, which will damage your own retirement savings. Second, if you leave your current job, the odds of finding another after you are done with caregiving may be decreased. Would your skills be enough to prospective employers if you stopped working for 5-10 years?

The best thing that you can do in this case is to make caregiving a career. If you’re 100% certain that you want to look after your parent, then do it. But think about your own future too. Consider obtaining a nursing assistant certification, and your chances of finding work in the future are greatly enhanced.

Stay informed

Prior to making any major lifestyle decisions, make a plan. Check your finances and see whether or not caregiving is something you can afford to do and maybe still have a part-time job in the same domain. Make a detailed list with your parent’s financial income and then make a final decision.

There are plenty of websites that can offer assistance. The National Council on Aging features a benefits checklist service, while the National Association for Area Agencies on Aging can help you with extensive information on care giving tips and online support in your area. It is also good to get more information on Medicaid and Medicare.  The more informed you are the better chances your aging parent has of living a happy, comfortable lifestyle.

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Adults in their senior years should start eating healthier than usual to have an increased mental acuteness and become more resistant to illness and other diseases. As we get older it is important to stay balanced, nutritionally and emotionally. Believe it or not, eating healthy doesn’t need to be about sacrifice, and regardless of your age, you should know that healthy food can be delicious. Here are 5 amazing tips to help maintain a nutritious diet in your senior years.

1. Choose the right foods

In order to preserve their general health seniors should include a lot of fruits and vegetables into their daily diets. Whole foods contain vitamins and fiber, which are essential to a healthy digestive system. Berries, melons, bananas and apples are excellent choices. Also, you should include calcium-rich foods to have strong bones. Dairy products should be part of your daily diet.

2. Smoothies

A lot of seniors don’t feel thirsty, so they don’t drink water. Drinking water is important do avoid dehydration and constipation. If you don’t drink water, try a choice of delicious smoothies. Blend coconut water with a banana and some berries and serve for breakfast.

3. Cut back on red meats

Some people just can’t give up eating meat-based foods on a daily basis. As a senior, you should at least try plant-based protein. Apart from being less expensive than meat, they’re healthier too. Lentils, chia seeds, nuts and beans are excellent choices. They can be added to your daily salad, or included in cooked recipes.

4. Enjoy good fats but reduce sodium

Seniors should enjoy good fats because they’re excellent for their general wellbeing. Salmon, olive oil, coconut oil softgels, flaxseeds, walnuts and other fats that are monosaturated should be included into your daily diet. This way you protect your sensitive heart against harmful heart diseases.

5. Cook smart and avoid bad carbs

Vegetables should be sautéed or steamed versus fried. Instead of vegetable oil use olive oil, and thus preserve the good nutrients. Don’t boil food in order to preserve nutrients. Stay as far away as possible from bad carbs; these are commonly found in refined sugar, white flour, and white rice. These foods can cause weight gain and spikes in your blood sugar levels.

Most elderly care situations will consist of at least one instance for rehabilitation after a major illness such as a stroke or heart attack.  Other needs for this include knee or hip replacement,“post-surgery” care, or “wound healing” among others.

How do you make sure your family member gets the best rehabilitation scenario possible?

There are three things that will get you started for this inevitable obligation.

First:

It is imperative that you get advice from your physician.  He or she can assist you with detailing the specific medical plan for after-care your elder will require.  It needs to be determined what the overall goals are for their continued health and how to itemize and prioritize these objectives.

Second:

You need to do some research for an excellent rehabilitation center and/or home care specialist.  The professionals who work in the senior health fields are trained to cover many kinds of rehab needs including dementia care, pain management, cognitive impairment and more.

This kind of ongoing medical supervision can help you attain two major aspirations: regain the abilities for daily living and reduce the rate of returning to the hospital.

Senior home care can help your loved one transition back to their own residence and be as actively mobile as possible.  This is where the third item on the list comes into play.  By obtaining a medical alert system for the senior, it will help stave off possible emergency situations.  It would be detrimental for a patient to fall after having joint replacement surgery and lengthen their convalescence.

A medical alarm can notify emergency personnel when the person cannot call for help by conventional means.  A senior living alone and recuperating from a medical condition has enough difficulty managing the day to day functions and may panic in an unforeseeable situation that dictates emergency care.

When the level of anxiety is decreased by using a home medical alert system, prompt attention can save that person’s life.  Simply depressing a button on a device worn to mimic a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant or bracelet, will summon assistance for a myriad of emergency situations.

A medical alert system can work in emergency and non-emergency situations and help the recuperating senior feel better as they move forward in their rehabilitation, thus securing a more positive outcome.

Reviews Bee is here to help you evaluate the systems and aid in choosing the right one for your loved one’s needs. This will help alleviate the fear associated with your family member’s recovery.  Visit our site today and feel more confident about the rehabilitation process for your senior!

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Many people become caregivers with little or no warning. Unless this happens to be your field of expertise then you will not be ready for the challenges which will lie ahead and how best to deal with them. Even if this is something that you have trained to do and are happy to dedicate your life to caring for others there are some basic things which should always be avoided:

1.      Stealing

This is probably the most obvious statement to make but it is essential to remember that this is one of the biggest fears of many older people. You not only need to not steal, you should also be aware of any situations that might leave you either open to temptation or open to an accusation of stealing.

2.      Texting and web posting

Mobile phones are everywhere and you will probably have one with you whilst you are performing your caring duties. However, when you are providing care your focus should be on your patient and not on the latest web posting. The phone should only be used in times of emergency; otherwise leave it alone and focus on your patient.

3.      Services outside the contract

The more you care for a client the more you will become attached to them and this can then lead to ethical problems.  You may wish to help them and are happy to provide additional services for free. It is vital for your professional career to ensure that anything over the original contract is agreed in writing and signed off.

4.      Making decisions for the client

Your client is still a person and should be involved in any decision concerning his or her well-being or healthcare requirements. You should never leave them out of the loop when faced with a decision. It may be preferable to limit their choices in order to make it easier for them to make a choice, but you should never rush them to make a decision. You are on their time and they will probably not be worrying about time. It is also essential to accept their decision if your client says no to something you know they should have, such as medication. You will simply need to try a different approach later or speak to your manager concerning it.

5.      Shaming

It is quite possible that as your client ages they will ask you to help them with something more personal. This request may shock you or make you feel uncomfortable. It will probably have been very hard for them to ask you to assist with something that they used to do independently. Always keep a neutral, professional approach.

6.      Stubbornness

It can be tempting to refuse to do something that you do not consider to be your job or that you are not comfortable with. A good caregiver will not be stubborn, but will demonstrate to the client that she is flexible in her approach. This will help you to build a good level of communication, which is essential to providing good care and to learning from any mistakes. Additionally, you will build a relationship with your client which will make your life and theirs easier.

7.      Not respecting boundaries

Your client will have expectations of what service you are offering and what they expect you to do. You should also have an idea of your role and what behavior and tasks are appropriate and what is not. It is important to define these boundaries and to maintain your boundary even if your client wants more. You need to know what you can do and what you cannot do; this will ensure you provide the best care possible.

By Edward Francis and Foresthc.com!

Choosing a nursing home for a family member can be stressful because there’s so many critical details to consider. You want to be sure you choose an affordable place that can provide the level of care needed, but you also want to be sure it is a place where he or she will be comfortable. Sorting through the information can feel overwhelming.

Fortunately, caregivers have online resources that can help them determine which nursing home would be the best fit for their family member. The following online resources provide advice on how to prepare for choosing a nursing home and allow families to compare nursing homes based on user reviews and government data:

1.    HealthGrove

HealthGrove is a health news and information website that provides data and research tools, such as its nursing home compare feature. Users can find nursing homes in their area and compare them to others based on the “smart rating,” which is a number calculated based on ratings of health inspections, staffing, quality measures, overall medical care and more.

2.    A Place for Mom

This referral website provides details about senior housing options, including independent living, nursing homes and care facilities for people with certain illnesses. Users can search for nursing homes in their area based a variety of amenities, including activities, care services, diet, religion, language and more. They can compare facilities and amenities, read user reviews, see scheduled events and even learn more about pricing options.

3.    Health in Aging

The American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation website helps caregivers understand what to look for when searching for a nursing home and provides information on how to pay for nursing home expenses. The site also lists step-by-step guides on how to begin the search and a checklist of questions to guide you in making a decision about a nursing home.

4.    Care Pathways

This directory provides statistics about local nursing homes, including occupancy and insurance accepted, and state inspection information for individual facilities. Users can see deficiencies and explanations about each listed in yearly reports and whether or not it was corrected the next year. This website would be most beneficial used in conjunction with other resources.

Finding the right nursing home can be time consuming, but diligent research can ensure your loved one is safe and happy. Examine what costs are covered by Medicaid, ratio of attendants to residents and whether they are equipped to provide the care your loved one needs.

About the Author

Sarah Blanchard is the marketing manager for Winburn Bequette, a plaintiffs law firm that represents victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in Arkansas and Missouri. Follow her on Google+ and YouTube.

Studying your family history can be a complicated process, especially if you want to go back as far as possible or trace different branches of the family tree. Creating a template for your family tree is one way to organize information and break it down into sections that are easy to manage. Begin with a small template that is limited to three or four generations.

The Benefits of a Small Family Tree

When organizing your information, it can be easier to find people you are searching for or recognize their relationships with each other if you use small templates. Choose a person and trace his or her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Fill in the information as you discover it and it won’t seem as overwhelming as with a large template of numerous generations when most of them would be blank.

Choosing the Right Template

You can search online and find all kinds of templates. Some will work better for your purpose than others. If you are tracing your family’s genealogy, you won’t need to include photos, but you will want space to write information about each person. Create a template with the person’s name and lines for the birthdate, date of death and marriage date.

It may be helpful to list locations for each of those events or other relevant information that you may need in your research. One of the reasons that a small three- or four-generation template is ideal is that it leaves you extra space to write more.

Entering Information

While you want to have easy access to the most important information about your ancestors, especially if you are traveling, do not try to include every tidbit about your family members. It will clutter up the template and make it difficult to read. Instead, keep it short and simple. Abbreviate as much as possible. For instance, date of birth would be DOB, date of death would be DOD and so on.

Consider using an online template where you can type the information instead of hand-writing it. This allows you to make changes or even erase information or people as you need to without having to start all over with a blank template.

Store your family tree online as well so that you can easily access it if you are traveling and need to look up information as you research. This also makes it easy to print or email a copy of the tree to others who may be helping you in your research.

The most important thing in choosing a template for your small family tree is to find one that works for you. It should fit your needs, be easy to use and look appealing to you.

If you are beginning your research into your family history, start with finding the right family tree template. It makes it much easier to record and keep track of data. Plus, it is fun to share with others who share your interest in genealogy.

Suzie Kolber created http://obituarieshelp.org/free_printable_blank_family_tree.html to be the complete online resource for “do it yourself” genealogy projects.  The site offers the largest offering of <a href=”http://obituarieshelp.org/free_printable_blank_family_tree.html”>free family tree templates</a> online. The site is a not for profit website dedicated to offering free resources for those that are trying to trace their family history.