A newsbasket is on-line Internet publication containing comprehensive aggregated collections of information.


How to Apply For a Senior Care Job - Caregiverlist.com

How to Apply For a Senior Care Job - Caregiverlist.com

 List A:
  • U.S. Passport (expired or unexpired)
  • Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card
  • Unexpired foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp
  • Unexpired Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph
  • Unexpired foreign passport with unexpired Arrival-departure dates
  • Form I-94, bearing the same name as the passport and containing an endorsement of the alien's nonimmigrant status, if that status authorizes the alien to work for the employer
List B (Must also have an item from List C):
  • Driver's license or ID card issued by a state or outlying possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color and address
  • School ID card with a photograph
  • Military dependent's ID card
  • U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
  • Native American tribal document
  • Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority
List C (Must also have an item from List B):
  • U.S. Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration (other than a card stating it is not valid for employment)
  • Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545 or Form DS-1350)
  • Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying possession of the United States bearing an official seal
  • Native American tribal document
  • U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
  • ID Card for use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179)
  • Unexpired employment authorization document issued by DHS (other than those listed under List A)

Young Adult Carers blog | Carers Trust | The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care are now Carers Trust. Action, help and advice for carers

Young Adult Carers blog | Carers Trust | The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care are now Carers Trust. Action, help and advice for carers

 the Young Adult Carers blog, a place for 14-25 year-old carers to share their stories, express their views and share valuable advice. As part of our Charity of the Year work with The Co-operative, Carers Trust is carrying out a range of
projects to support and raise awareness of young adult carers. Find out more on our Charity of the Year pages.

Activities of Daily Living – Checklist, Definitions and Importance - Paying For Senior Care

Activities of Daily Living – Checklist, Definitions and Importance - Paying For Senior Care


What are the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?

The Activities of Daily Living are a series of basic activities performed by individuals on a daily basis necessary for independent living at home or in the community.  There are many variations on the definition of the activities of daily living but most organizations agree there are 5 basic categories.

1. Personal hygiene such bathing, grooming and oral care
2. Dressing including the ability to make appropriate clothing decisions
3. Eating, the ability to feed oneself though not necessarily prepare food
4. Maintaining continence or the ability to use a restroom
5. Transferring oneself from seated to standing and get in and out of bed

Whether or not an individual is capable of performing these activities on their own or if they rely on a family caregiver to perform the ADLs serves a comparative measure of their independence. 
What are the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)?
IADLs are actions that are important to being able to live independently but are not necessarily required activities on a daily basis.  The instrumental activities are more subtle and can help more finely determine the level of assistance required by the elderly or disabled.  The IADLs include:

1. Basic communication such as using a telephone
2. Transportation, either by driving, arranging rides or the ability to use public transportation
3. Meal preparation and the ability to safely use kitchen equipment
4. Shopping and the ability to make appropriate food and clothing purchase decisions
5. Housework such as doing laundry and cleaning dishes
6. Managing medications such as taking accurate dosages at appropriate times and managing re-fills
7. Managing personal finances, operating within a budget, writing checks and paying bills
 The American Elder Care Research Organization
736 Cole Street
San Francisco, California 94117
Telephone: 641-715-3900 Ext. 606151#
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 Eldercare FAQs and Helpful Guides - Paying For Senior Care

Let's Look Together | by Rae-Lynn Cebul Ziegler

Let's Look Together | by Rae-Lynn Cebul Ziegler


Let's Look Together: An Interactive Picture Book for People with Alzheimer's and Other Forms of Memory Loss (A Dementia Activity Book) [Paperback]

October 1, 2009 1932529519 978-1932529517 1
NOW WITH FREE USER'S GUIDE!! VISIT HEALTH PROFESSIONS PRESS WEBSITE TO GET YOURS TODAY. Wake up someone's brain with every turn of the page in this delightfully engaging resource. Featuring evocative images of children, this picture book for adults is to be shared between a family (or professional) caregiver and a person with memory loss to encourage meaningful emotional connections and conversations through therapeutic brain stimulation.

Users of Let's Look Together are encouraged to
Relate to the feelings suggested by the photos, Reminisce about situations triggered in the person's memory, Describe what might precede or follow the photo's action, Tell a story about the child or image, and Find pleasure in sharing the book together.

Twenty-nine full-color photographs portray an array of easily recognized emotions and activities. Joy, tears, surprise, contentment and stubbornness are interspersed with edible delights, unexpected encounters, nurturing family interactions, and more. Simple conversation starters are provided for each image. It all comes together to create a new visual and emotional journey for each person every time the book is opened.

Let's Look Together is for use one-on-one or in groups at home or in formal care settings ranging from adult day services to hospitals and nursing homes.


Memory loss from cholesterol drugs real:

Memory loss from cholesterol drugs real: How it might happen: Statins effect on the brain is real

Researchers from University of Arizona discovered brain cells treated with statins swell, causing a sort of traffic jam in signaling cells of the brain known as neurons; revealed in lab studies. The result could explain why some people taking cholesterol lowering drugs report difficulty thinking and memory loss.

The scientists have dubbed what they saw in the lab as the "beads-on-a-string" effect that is probably more severe than what really happens to people sensitive to statins who suffer memory problems. The study authors say the swelling seen in the brain’s neuron was significant.

 There is also still a lot we don’t know about how they affect behavior and cognition. Another side effect reported by patients who take the drugs is muscle pain

Getting Good Information: Caregivers, Sundowners Syndrome, Dementia

from Aging Wisely Blog

Getting Good Information: Caregivers, Sundowners Syndrome, Dementia: We read a lot of forums, websites, books and articles about all matter of topics related to aging and elder care. With the explosion of information available on the web and, in particular, social media and forums for comments and feedback, there are many caregivers benefiting from sharing information and connecting with others in similar circumstances.

However, the downside to the information superhighway is that it can take you on a lot of wrong turns. We all know the stories of ways the internet has been used by con artists for scams, but another less obvious concern is filtering through information to ensure you are getting accurate information or advice.


Both online and offline, we see a lot of misinformation about dementia and related terms like sundowners syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and memory loss.  It is not uncommon when a family comes to see us to hear that they have not been able to get specific answers about what is going on with a loved one who is having cognitive issues.  Sometimes this is due to fear and no one wanting to seek a specific diagnosis, other times certain assumptions have been made (the symptoms are just "old age") and occasionally the family has gotten blatently incorrect information.
Here are some words of advice for seeking information as a caregiver, whether on issues like sundowners syndrome, dementia, caregiving or preparing for eldercare:
  1. Seek expert sites on the specific topic.  Start with sites such as disease-specific organizations and trusted resources with long histories. 
  2. Find out who is providing the information and review their "about us" closely.  What are the academic backgrounds and qualifications of the people writing the information?  If you cannot locate an "about us" page, you should probably seek information elsewhere.
  3. The best information to get from other caregivers is support and ideas on how they have handled situations.  When it comes to diagnoses, care planning and choosing specific resources, a professional opinion usually serves you better.  Here are some areas where we see particularly bad (or just misguided) information being shared: legal advice, qualifying for benefits/programs and how to do so, diagnosis and treatment information, terminology and resources.  Many times it is not that the information is purposely harmful, it just doesn't necessarily apply to your situation.
  4. Stay away from judgmental or negative commentary.  It is the last thing you need as a caregiver.  If you review a Facebook group or forum site and notice people sharing strong opinions of what a caregiver should or should not do, this may not be a supportive atmosphere for you.  Negativity (and even things like political ranting) can cause you greater anxiety.
  5. Just like with other aspects of caregiving, strategize which ways the internet and technology can help you most.  For example, reading too much about a relative's diagnosis might be scary at first.  Instead, seek information on which physicians or hospitals specialize in treatment or who offers local support groups.  Setting up an online personal health record or using a communications system/online community can be very helpful to caregivers.
  6. Use a combination of information sources to seek resources/care providers.  When you are trying to find options such as in-home care, assisted living, and benefit programs, you may be best served by having professional help in pulling together a care plan.  This can save you a lot of hours of research and heading down the wrong roads

FirstHealth dementia care

Richmond County Daily Journal - Caregivers Family Night to focus on FirstHealth dementia care: FirstHealth dementia care

Melanie Bunn; geriatric nurse practitioner, a dementia training specialist with Alzheimers North Carolina and an instructor of nurses with Duke University’s School of Nursing, .... her life’s work, ... involves the care and concerns of people with dementia.

Bunn’s role with the Moore Regional nursing staff has focused on building a “care-giving team” with the appropriate tools and knowledge for the individualized care of individuals with “altered mental status.” That can mean the temporary confusion that can accompany an acute illness or the vast mental and physical losses of advanced dementia.

The hospital’s revised protocols on these patients with altered mental status begin at admission during the routine medical assessment that is required of every patient. Patients with an appropriate diagnosis get a gray armband that identifies their altered mental status to the entire care-giving team, and the information is documented in their patient record.

Additional hospital protocols for patients with altered mental status focus on individualized care approaches and specified methods of communication. They also include environmental suggestions for maintaining a “safe, calm, non-threatening environment” such as encouraging frequent family/familiar caregiver visits and avoiding visual and/or auditory elements that could disturb the patient even more.

According to Cheryl Batchelor, R.N., Moore Regional’s executive director of clinical operations, the protocol revisions followed a study of the hospital’s dementia care-giving practices after the husband of an Alzheimer’s patient had raised some concerns.

“He felt we needed to acknowledge the special needs of people with dementia,” Batchelor said. “We thought we were doing a good job, but we were not looking at individualized needs.”
After hearing examples to the contrary during a meeting with the patient’s husband and two other relatives of patients with dementia,

Batchelor, physician champion Jenifir Bruno, M.D., of Hospitalist Services and other members of the FirstHealth nursing staff formed a task force with “cross representation” from all three FirstHealth hospitals.

“We involved as many (disciplines) as possible,” said Tabitha Stewart, R.N., a nurse clinician with Moore Regional Clinical Practice/Professional Development.

Team members reviewed medical literature and contacted other hospitals and various specialists in the area of dementia care. Results included revised educational materials and protocols that were approved by FirstHealth’s Nurse Practice Council.

The admissions database was revised to improve the screening of dementia patients, and the Information Technology department developed a special music-only TV channel for patients who don’t cope well with noise. In addition to Bunn, expert contacts included Dr. Eleanor McConnell of Duke’s Center of Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Education, and Alice Watkins, executive director of Alzheimers North Carolina.

As the various initiatives were rolled out, family caregivers continued to be involved and are pleased with the results. In a recent email, the family member who raised the initial concerns shared the following story about another family:

“At a Dementia Caregiver’s Support Group meeting this week, a participant shared a story about a recent MRH ED visit with her loved one who has dementia. The visit was precipitated by a fall, which resulted in a nasty cut on the forehead. She indicted that he was given a gray wristband. But, more importantly to her, she said the staff seemed much more empathetic to his dementia and accommodating to her than during her previous ED visits, the most recent being about six months ago.
“She additionally noted that upon asking she was allowed to accompany him to imaging where they provided a chair for her while he was given a CT scan.

Read more: Richmond County Daily Journal - Caregivers Family Night to focus on FirstHealth dementia care

Primary Phone: 910-997-3111
Primary Fax: 910-997-4321
John Charles Robbins
Editor
910.997.3111
jrobbins@civitasmedia.com



 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursing_home | nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing facility

Canada
Quebec

Long-term care facilities exist under three types, public, subsidized and private. Public and subsidized differ only in their ownership, all other aspects of funding, admission criteria, cost to the individuals are all regulated by the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services.[3] Private facilities are completely independent from government ownership and funding, they have their own admission criteria. They must maintain certain provincial[clarification needed] standards and require licensing from the ministry.


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United Kingdom

In 2002 nursing homes became known as care homes with nursing, and residential homes became known as care homes.[4]


In the United Kingdom care homes and care homes with nursing are regulated by different organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. To enter a care home, a candidate patient needs an assessment of needs and of their financial condition from their local council. The candidate may also have an assessment by a nurse, should the patient require nursing care. The cost of a care home is means tested in England.


As of April 2009 in England, the lower capital limit is £13,500. At this level, all income from pensions, savings, benefits and other sources, except a "personal expenses allowance" (currently £21.90), will go to paying the care home fees. The local council pays the remaining contribution provided the room occupied is not more expensive than the local council's normal rate, currently £364.48 for Hampshire for example. If the resident is paying more than this the council will not pay anything and contributions from a third party or charity must be found or the resident move to a cheaper care home. Between the lower and the upper capital limits, the resident pays their income less personal expenses allowance + £1/week for every £250 capital between lower and higher limit. The council pays the rest, subject to the same conditions as before. It is therefore preferable to find a home within the council's limit if council funding is likely to be required to avoid a forced move later. Patients with capital over more than £23,000 pay the full cost of the care home, until the total value of their assets fall below the threshold.[5] Patients who require additional nursing care are assessed for this.[6] and receive additional financial support (£103.80 weekly) through the National Health Service (NHS). This is known as Funded Nursing Care.


The NHS has full responsibility for funding the whole placement if the resident in a care home with nursing meets the criteria for NHS continuing Health Care. This is identified by a multidisciplinary assessment process.[7]


Care homes for adults in England are regulated by Care Quality Commission, which replaced the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and each care home is inspected at least every three years. In Wales the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales has responsibility for oversight, In Scotland Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland otherwise known as the Care Inspectorate, and in Northern Ireland the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland.


In May 2010, the Coalition Government announced the formation of an independent commission on the funding of long-term care, which was due to report within a 12-month time frame on the financing of care for an Ageing population. It delivered its recommendations on Monday 4 July 2011. The Care Quality Commission have themselves implemented a re-registration process, completed in October 2010, which will result in a new form of regulation being outlined in April 2011. [8]
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United States

In the United States, there are three main types of nursing facilities (NFs).


Intermediate care facility (ICF)


An intermediate care facility (ICF) is a health care facility for individuals who are disabled, elderly, or non-acutely ill, usually providing less intensive care than that offered at a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Typically ICF is privately paid by the individual or by the individual's family. An individual's private health insurance and/or a third party service like a hospice company may cover the cost.
Assisted living facility (ALF)

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Rest home for seniors in Ceský Tešín, Czech Republic


Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities (ALFs) are housing facilities for people with disabilities. These facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs); ALFs are an eldercare alternative on the continuum of care for people, for whom independent living is not appropriate but who do not need the 24-hour medical care provided by a nursing home and are too young to live in a retirement home. Assisted living is a philosophy of care and services promoting independence and dignity.[9]
Skilled nursing facility (SNF)



A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a nursing home certified to participate in, and be reimbursed by Medicare. Medicare is the federal program primarily for the aged (65+) who contributed to Social Security and Medicare while they were employed. Medicaid is the federal program implemented with each state to provide health care and related services to those who are below the poverty line. Each state defines poverty and, therefore, Medicaid eligibility. Those eligible for Medicaid maybe low-income parents, children, including State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIPs) and maternal-child wellness and food programs.[citation needed] seniors, and people with disabilities.


The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that oversees Medicare and Medicaid. A large portion of Medicare and Medicaid dollars is used each year to cover nursing home care and services for the elderly and disabled. State governments oversee the licensing of nursing homes. In addition, States have a contract with CMS to monitor those nursing homes that want to be eligible to provide care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Congress established minimum requirements for nursing homes that want to provide services under Medicare and Medicaid. These requirements are broadly outlined in the Social Security Act, which also entrusts the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the responsibility of monitoring and enforcing these requirements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is also charged with the responsibility of working out the details of the law and how it will be implemented, which it does by writing regulations and manuals.[10]

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Typical nursing home staff


Administration

Once a patient has moved into the nursing home, their relatives may not have significant contact with the administration team, unless there are specific concerns that arise. Depending on the size of the nursing home, the administration staff may be very small, consisting of only a handful or people, or it may have dozens of staff responsible for individual departments (i.e., accounting, human resources, etc). Most states require nursing home administrators to have a license to run a facility.


Support personnel

Some staff members focus solely on caring for the buildings and grounds. Custodians, maintenance staff, and groundskeepers, for example, keep the inside and outside of the building in clean, working order.


Additional support personnel also include people who may have some contact with the patient in the nursing home, but it may not be daily or even regularly. For example, nursing homes may have an activities director who is responsible for planning and implementing holiday events, daily and weekly educational and social activities, coordinating special visitors and religious services. Larger facilities may have multiple staff members, such as chaplains or activity assistants, who take on some of those roles. Physical therapy staff may also be available, depending on the home.

Direct care staff

Nurse at a nursing home in Norway


The direct care staff have direct, daily contact with the patient. The following are types of direct care staff included in all nursing homes:


    Registered nurse (RN)
    Licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
    Certified nursing assistant (CNA)

   
Staffing requirements


Federal law requires all nursing homes to provide enough staff to adequately care for residents. There is no current federal standard for optimal nursing home staffing levels. The nursing home must have at least one RN for at least 8 straight hours a day, 7 days a week, and either an RN or LPN/LVN on duty 24 hours per day. Certain states may have additional staffing requirements. CNAs provide care to nursing home residents twenty four hours per day, seven days a week.


Services

Nursing homes offer the most extensive care a person can get outside a hospital. Nursing homes offer help with custodial care—like bathing, getting dressed, and eating—as well as skilled care given by a registered nurse and includes medical monitoring and treatments. Skilled care also includes services provided by specially trained professionals, such as physical, occupational, and respiratory therapists.



The services nursing homes offer vary from facility to facility. Services include:


    Room and board
    Monitoring of medication
    Personal care (including dressing, bathing, and toilet assistance)
    24-hour emergency care
    Social and recreational activities

   
Occupational Therapy


Some of the individuals that are housed in a nursing home need ongoing occupational therapy. Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) “promote the health and participation of people, organizations, and populations through engagement in occupation” (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2008). OTs and OTAs provide intervention in areas of occupation such as: activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing, dressing, grooming; instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) including home and financial management, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation (AOTA, 2008). They also develop and implement health and wellness programs to prevent injuries, maintain function, and improve safety of residents. For example, OTs and OTAs can take a leadership role in developing and implementing programs to educate clients on compensatory techniques for low vision, customized exercise programs, or strategies to prevent falls. Occupational therapy practitioners may also consult with other staff within the facility or in the community on a variety of topics related to increasing safe engagement in activities. Occupational therapy practitioners can provide a variety of services to short- and long-term residents of a SNF. Based on a client-centered evaluation, the occupational therapist, the client, caregivers, and/or significant others develop collaborative goals to identify strengths and deficits and address barriers that hinder occupational performance in multiple areas. The intervention plan is designed to promote a client’s optimal function for transition to home, another facility, or long-term care.


Physical therapy


Some of the individuals that are housed in a nursing home need ongoing physical therapy. This can be for any number of reasons. Perhaps a person has motor skills that never fully developed or have stopped functioning for some reason. Perhaps an individual has undergone a surgery or medical procedure that requires some manner of physical restitution on a personal level. Nursing homes offer specialists that are well versed in the field of rebuilding muscle or helping one regain their confidence when it comes to doing something physical. This is one of the most common therapies that are done in these nursing homes.


Medical needs



Nearly all residents in a nursing home have the need for some type of medical need. It can be anything from basic care of a medical inadequacy to something more specialized such as someone that is missing an appendage. These nursing facilities can take care of just about any medical need that needs to be taken care of. Most of the staff at these nursing homes has ample training in how to deal with patients that have some manner of specialized need. In fact, the staff that interacts with the patients the most are normally registered nurses that have spent years training for any situation that they may encounter during a patients stay at one of these nursing homes.


Companionship


Payment for nursing home care can be made through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and personal funds.



    Medicare is a federal health insurance program providing health care benefits to all Americans age 65 and over. Insurance protection intended to cover major hospital care is provided without regard to income. Medicare will only provide 100 days of nursing care, and only if a person requires skilled care and is referred by a doctor when discharged from the hospital. If a person needs custodial care alone, Medicare will not cover it. Medicare only pays for skilled care in a nursing facility that has a Medicare license.
   
   
    Medicaid is a joint federal/state health insurance program providing medical care benefits to low income Americans who meet certain requirements. Nursing home care is covered through Medicaid, but the requirements and covered services vary widely from state to state. To become eligible for Medicaid coverage, people usually have to spend all of their assets first. This means that they might pay for nursing home care out of pocket initially. Once their money runs out, Medicaid would kick in. It's a good idea to work with a lawyer who specializes in elder law when determining Medicaid eligibility.
   
   
    Private long-term care insurance is a health insurance option that, if purchased, supplements Medicare coverage. Private long-term care insurance policies vary greatly. Each policy has its own eligibility requirements, restrictions, costs, and benefits.