Monthly Archives: November 2016

Choosing a Type of Senior Retirement Home

Sometimes living at home is not an option as we get older. Some may require additional care and medical tasks on a daily basis. It may simply not be safe to live at home. When any amount of additional assistance is needed, it is best to evaluate all of the possible living options. There are many different types of retirement homes and assistive retirement communities available to seniors. The specific type of community that works best for one person will depend on the level of assistance that is required in their day to day life.

Minimal assistance

Sometimes only a small amount of assistance is needed. The senior may require medical assistance that cannot be given in their home. A senior?s family members may simply feel more comfortable knowing that there are staff and medical professionals available in the event of an emergency. Seniors in a minimal living community, such as an independent living home may not actually receive any assistance at all. They may simply live in a community that has easy access to needed resources.

The retirement homes may be similar to independent homes, but are placed into a secure senior community. Employees of the community may visit the seniors on a daily basis, or as needed. There may be transportation available to the senior main house where a variety of activities are provided. Seniors may have the opportunity to eat meals together in the main senior house, but may also choose to make meals on their own in their own living area.

Moderate assistance

Moderate assistance types of retirement homes are often needed when the senior requires some type of daily care. This could include post operative care or it could be the daily care of a medical condition. Moderate care may also be used for those developing the symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer?s disease. In this type of a setting, seniors may live in closer quarters, but are still given a level of independence.

A moderate amount of assistance types of retirement homes will often include help with daily activities. Seniors are likely to be provided their meals. They may be encouraged to participate in activities to increase their enjoyment. The happiest retirees engage in three to four activities regularly, the least happy, only one or two. This type of living arrangement is the most common of the elder care options.

Maximum assistance

Some seniors require around the clock care for safety. The assisted lifestyle usually involves a nursing home setting. Assisted living residences at this level typically provide or coordinate 24 hour supervision, three meals a day plus snacks in a group dining room, and a range of services that promote resident quality of life and independence, including personal care services, health care services, medication management, social services, arrangements for transportation, laundry service, and housekeeping and maintenance.

Nursing homes provide the most assistance to seniors and are also probably the safest option. Seniors have the benefit of having someone 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If there is a medical concern, it can be taken care of immediately. This is a great option for personal care for seniors who require extra daily medical assistance. It can also be beneficial for seniors who have recently had medical procedures done and are unable to do any of their normal daily tasks for themselves.

Regardless of the types of retirement homes that seniors choose, most find satisfaction in this type of a living arrangement. According to the 2009 Independent Living Report by the ProMatura Group, LLC, research shows that when you become part of an independent living retirement community, you are more likely to make new friends and try new things, most report a better experience than they expected.

How Movers Can Help the Transition to the Next Big Chapter

There is a great big world to see. One of the best ways to see it is to keep moving, finding new homes to use as home base along the way. Of course, not everyone wants to have the lifestyle of a wanderer. There are homebodies who prefer to stay put in a place where they know the people, area, and communities, and where they know they will be comfortable. Whatever your preference is, chances are there will be a time at some point that you will need to move from one place to another. And at that point, you’ll need to decide if you can make the move on your own, with the help of family, friends, and neighbors, or if you’re going to need to call in professional movers.

You are going to need more than movers
Moving can be a big hassle. There is often an excitement that comes along with moving to a new place, but the actual shift of all of your possessions from one place to another can get a bit overwhelming. Not to mention there are so many other aspects of moving, apart from the transition of boxes and furniture.

Naturally, the farther away you are moving, the more there is to do. Moving down the street is not going to require devoting excess amounts of time to getting to know your neighborhood. Moving to a new city is not going to entail familiarizing yourself with new state laws. Moving to a new state does not necessitate learning a new language.

But no matter how close or far you go, you will need to change your address. And this is a good example of the great amounts of planning that must go into the move even before you let the movers in. It is a good idea to submit a change of address notice about two weeks before the day of the move so that you can have greater peace of mind that you will not be missing any important pieces of mail in the transition. With everything that you are dealing with, finding that personal, confidential information is being sent to the wrong place and potentially ending up in the wrong hands is not something that you need to add to the load.

Having movers do the heavy lifting
Once you do start to get everything arranged and start to watch the pieces fall into place, it is going to be a welcome help to have the moving van show up. A good moving service will be prompt and respectful, handle your possessions with care, and guarantee a safe and timely delivery to your new home. The right moving company, whether they are commercial movers or specialize in residential moving, will get the job done efficiently and without raising any concerns for you in the process. While there are almost 45 million Americans moving to a new home each year, all with different moving styles, everyone going through that process can probably agree on the need for a moving company to satisfy those basic elements involving time and peace of mind.

Making the move
The preferences, habits, and trends of movers are vastly different, depending on a number of different factors. While on the one hand you have about 57% of people who have never moved from the state that they currently live in, the other side of the coin shows that about 15% of people in the United States have lived in at least four different states. Around 63% of adults have moved to a new neighborhood at least one time over the course of their lives, and the remaining 37% have never uprooted from their home towns. Moving can be the result of several different situations, from a desire for a change of scenery to something more professional. Around 40% of all moves are related to job reasons, about 42% are motivated by personal reasons, and the last 18% are relocations tied to government or military duties.

Moving does not have to be a headache. With the right planning and the right amount of help, you can be on your way to happily starting the next chapter of your life in no time.

Assisted Living: 4 Questions You Need to Ask

If you have an elderly loved one who is going to need some help with daily tasks and/or medical problems, you need to look into the assisted living options that are in your area. A retirement community may be simply that- a community where people are retired. Or, it may be a secure unit nursing home that gives residents a lot of help in their daily lives. Some residents need more assistance than others.

To be well, assisted living is a great option for many elderly people. It gives them the help they need when they need it. Some residents need to have help with things like hygiene and getting out of bed. Others need a higher level of nursing care because of ill health. When you’re assessing the extended home living residences in your area, make sure you know which types of care they provide.

When you are called to a care residential facility, this may mean that there is a problem with your loved one. There are times when the assisted living facility will call you and want to update you or to call you to come in because of a problem. Take time to tour the facility before they move in.

At a certain point, we all have to explore our senior living options for the long term — either for ourselves or the ones we love. Caring for an elderly loved one yourself is very commendable, but it can also be a source of overwhelming stress. Even if your loved one is highly functioning in both body and mind, he or she may still need assistance with certain tasks. That’s why so many loving family caregivers eventually look into an assisted living community.

Understandably, most people have a lot of questions about assisted living services. If you’re wondering about the options at your disposal, a senior referral service can help you focus on what type of care is best for your situation. To assist you in this process, we’ve made a short list of the four questions you should ask assisted living services to determine whether they’re right for you and your loved one:

What exactly is assisted living?With so many different tiers and types of long term care, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or confused. Think of assisted living communities as one step up from independent living. While an independent senior living community lets residents be entirely on their own within a retirement community, assisted living is a residential option that provides assistance for certain daily activities. When researching a specific facility, make sure you are 100% clear on the services they do and do not offer.
What amenities are provided?Assisted living services will vary a bit depending on the facility, but there are some core features that they usually provide. Typically, assisted living services will include help with bathing, dressing, eating, toiletries, walking and transportation, laundry, and housework. They’ll usually provide 24-hour supervision when necessary and a secure environment. Most provide three meals per day (plus snacks) in a dining room, access to medical services, fitness programs, medication management, and social activities all in a secure environment. Staff members can also help with other needs or unanticipated problems. In assisted living, medical assistance can be obtained much more quickly than in an independent facility in the event of an emergency. If there’s a particular amenity your loved one would benefit from, make sure to ask your senior referral service if it’s included before choosing an assisted living facility.
How can I tell if my loved one is ready for assisted living?Although many seniors would like to live at home for the remainder of their life, this often proves to be difficult or nearly impossible. Even if you live in close proximity to your loved one, caring for a family member yourself can take its toll. If the needs of your loved one have become more than you can handle yourself, even with in-home help, it’s probably time to consider another option. If you have concerns that your loved one might be in an unsafe environment, has trouble getting around, or may feel socially isolated, assisted living can be an immense help. If you notice that your loved one is neglecting personal hygiene, proper nutrition, or household maintenance — or feel they’re acting strangely or have sustained physical injury when on their own — you should definitely consider calling assisted living services.
Will assisted living cost more than a nursing home?The cost of senior care varies a lot depending on the facility you choose and the area in which you’re located. However, assisted living may actually cost less than a nursing home or even in-home care, depending on certain factors. Long term care insurance and community-based waivers can help pay for the cost of assisted living facilities. And of course, using a senior living referral service can help you to locate a great facility that’s within financial reach for your family.

Looking to find out more about the senior living options that are available to you in Tucson, AZ? We can help you and your loved one find the best facility for your situation and preferences. Please contact us today to get started.

Aging in Place Use In-Home Senior Care Services

If you have a senior citizen in your life that you are no longer able to care for, or who is no longer care for himself or herself, senior care might be the best option for this person. There are many facilities that are well-equipped to be able to take care of seniors, as well as any health problems that they might have as they are aging. For example, there are many senior living apartments that may be available in your area. There are also senior care facilities for those who might need a little bit more help to be able to function every day.

If you want to learn more about home care services for seniors, you might want to talk to someone who provides adult care in home. It would also be a good idea for you to go online and learn everything you can so that you can approach knowing all about senior care, including always home senior care. If you educate yourself as much as possible when it comes to senior care, you will be able to make sure that you are putting your loved one into the best possible hands when the time comes.

Do you need senior care or another type of caregiver to provide in-home assistance for yourself, a spouse, or other family member?

In the United States, there are approximately 5.7 million family members that provide informal care within their or another family member’s home. This care is provided to family members that may be suffering from long-term illnesses, are disabled, or that are aging in place within the home.

One of the fastest growing population segments is people 85 years or older. In 2012 alone, there were approximately 5.9 million people over 85.

Most seniors want to continue living in their own homes, which is referred to as aging in place. Almost 90% have stated that their wishes are to remain in their own homes so that they are able to live by their own rules. In fact, 42% of seniors have claimed that being able to live by their own rules is of major importance to them, and is listed as one of their top three reasons.

Since many seniors continue to be active, being able to live in their own homes makes a difference in their mental and emotional state. After retirement, the average age being 63, seniors that report being the happiest are those that engage in three-to-four activities on a regular basis. Those that claimed not to be particularly happy, or were the least happy, only engaged in one or two activities.

After retirement, many individuals may not need regular assistance. However, when or if this changes, 82% choose to remain in their own homes. Interesting to note is that very few of these individuals would choose moving to a facility or a family member’s home. Furthermore, 9% would choose to move to a care facility as opposed to 4% that would choose to move to a family member’s home.

Genworth Financial conducted a study where it was found that over half, or 55% of the participants, were afraid of burdening their family. These individuals also stated that they were less concerned about dying than being a burden. In fact, they were five-times more worried about burdening their families with issues related to a long-term illness or other events necessitating regular care.

One of the major concerns of needing long-term care is, of course, financial. In a recent study, it was found that of the primary caregivers polled, 83% contributed financially for long-term care experiences. The average amount that was contributed was $8,800.

This study also found that when spouses provided primary care, approximately 44%, had increased stress as a result of providing this long-term care.

In 2000, there were 13 million people that needed some type of long-term care. It is currently estimated that there will be 27 million people needing some form of long-term care by 2050. These care options include senior citizen in home care, residential care facilities and/or skilled nursing facilities.

If you’re looking for a caregiver to provide assistance within the home, there are a variety of options. When you contact a caregiver agency, they can respond to your questions and concerns. Whether you need a home care assistant a few days a week or a full time caregiver, a caregiver agency can discuss their available in home care services.

6 Tips for Buying Your First Home

Are you looking to buy your first home? You are not alone. Nearly one third of people who are looking to at a home for sale are buying their first home. There are some things you can do to make the process a lot easier and more pleasant.

Take advantage of seminars for first time home buyers. Many cities have agencies that offer free, educational seminars to people who are looking to buy their first home. In some areas, housing non-profits offer similar programs and seminars. Before you start looking for a home for sale, getting more education on the home buying process can really help. They can give you a much better idea of what you can expect when you are dealing with lenders and others. They can also give you guidance about government programs that are designed to help people buy a home. There may be help out there that you are not aware of. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) both have programs to help first time home buyers. These can be especially helpful for home buyers who do not have perfect credit scores.
Look at your finances. If you have not looked at your credit report, you should. Get a copy of your credit report first. Next go over all of your expenses and look at how much money you have coming in every month. This will help you determine how much you can afford to spend each month on your mortgage. You need to really spend come time on this. There are other costs involved in home ownership so you need to take all of that into consideration when you are working out your budget. You may find that you need to save up a little more before you start to look for a home for sale. That is ok but you cannot really get started with any of it until you know where you stand.
Make a list of what you want and what you need. Most people who are buying their first home do have to make some compromises. It is hard to get everything you want when you look at a home for sale. Before you start looking around at your choices in homes for sale, you should think about what you absolutely need in a home. This includes the location. If you have children, you may need to buy a home in an area with a good school district. If you do not want to drive to work every day, you may need to find a home that is located closer to where you work or near some public transportation. Think about your needs for parking and the amenities you both need and want in your home.
Look into your options for pre-approval for a mortgage. Talk to the financial institution you bank with about getting pre-approved for your mortgage. This can be helpful for a number of reasons. It will give you a better sense of what you can spend on the purchase of your new home. This will also narrow down your options when you go to look at a home for sale. This can make the process a little easier.
Shop around for your mortgage. You should talk to different financial institutions about your options for mortgages. If you do not get the deal you want from one bank or lender, go to another one. Talk to your local community banks and credit unions. They have mission statements to help local people buy homes and start businesses. Many people are able to get better rates and deals on mortgages. They can also be really a lot more helpful for first time home buyers who do not have the best credit score.
The right real estate agent can make a big difference. Most of the people who go with real estate agents say that person was helpful when they bought a home. About 78% of all home buyers report they liked working with their real estate company. Finding the right one can help you navigate the home buying process.

The process of buying a home is long and complicated. You can get through it much easier with these tips.

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Can Ibogaine Clinics Treat Alcoholism?

Most of the news stories you’ll see about ibogaine clinics talk about how this “miracle drug” can be used to treat very serious drug problems, from opiate addictions to cocaine addictions. These hard drugs are notoriously difficult to kick, and any treatment program that claims to cure them is sure to raise a lot of attention.

But what about other addictions, such as alcoholism? While alcohol addiction is often perceived as less “serious” than other hard drugs, it’s also much more devastatingly common. A 2014 survey suggests that over 130 million Americans consume alcohol on a regular basis, and this addictive substance can lead to fatal health issues as well as impaired driving on the roads. Many former alcoholics face a lifetime of recovery; the mantra “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” is key to many 12-step programs encouraging people to abstain from drinking, even if cravings persist.

Ibogaine therapy involves the use of a psychedelic drug that is said to eliminate addicts’ cravings and desires for any kind of drug. If it works for methadone and methamphetamines, would it also work for alcohol?

While the drug is still mostly experimental (and illegal in the United States), studies so far suggest that it can be effective for reducing up to 98% of opiate withdrawal symptoms, as well as significant reductions in cravings for stimulants and alcohol.

Most alcoholics in recovery are taught that they are never free from addiction, that the temptation may always haunt them. But what if ibogaine could eliminate those cravings, and make the lure of alcohol a non-issue for former addicts?

Since the drug’s legal status makes it incredibly difficult for researchers to conduct further trials and studies, it may be a long time before we know the answers for sure. However, many people have already taken a leap of faith and traveled to ibogaine clinics in Mexico, South America, or parts of Europe in an attempt to quell their cravings for good.

Some U.S. health experts warn that there aren’t yet enough long-term studies to analyze the lasting effects of the treatment. But others still say that this is too promising a cure to ignore. The future of ibogaine may be up in the air, but one thing’s for sure: America’s drinking problem isn’t going anywhere.

Looking at Condos for Sale to Find Your Dream Home

When you are looking for the perfect place to hang your hat, it can often seem like a daunting process. There is so much to consider, and if you are looking to buy instead of rent, you want to make sure that your money is well spent, making the decision process that much harder. Unless you are working on the new construction of a freshly made home with the use of unlimited funds, chances are the very first structure you wander into to check out is not going to meet all of your expectations. The next one might not either, or the next, or the next. In fact most buyers spend an average of 10 weeks searching for the right space, and end up looking at about 10 different places.

Looking at condos for sale

Everyone has their own specific idea for what constitutes the perfect home. Some people like the idea of the white picket fence, or a secluded, serene cabin, or a house that looks just like all the others in the suburbs. But there are those who want something else, particularly in large cities. Luxury real estate could of course come in many different forms, but looking at luxury condos for sale in the city has a particularly strong draw for those who would identify as city folk. When discussing with your real estate agent about what types of homes you want to look at, make sure that you clarify that you aren’t interested in just any real estate for sale, but that you want to see the ideal condos for sale.

Moving trends across the country

Some people want a brand new start somewhere completely different. Or perhaps moving to a new house or condo is the result of landing a new job. But many people who are preparing to invest in a new home are already pretty well established and happy with where they are. Thus, the quite short median distance between the abode buyers left behind and their new home, which works out to be only about 14 miles. But wherever the new home ends up being, there is no denying that people continue to be on the move. The National Association of Realtors has reported that recently, over the course of one year, 5.25 million houses were sold. And the U.S. Census Bureau has shown that during that same time period, about 510,000 new homes, that had just been constructed, were sold.

Everyone deserves to come home to a place that they love and feel the most comfortable. And shopping around for that dream home, while it can take some work, can also be quite fun.