Long Term Care Facilities - What Are They?

Just like anybody else, a day will definitely come when a person can no longer perform basic daily living tasks all by himself. Or, even a worse scenario of getting inflicted by conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia due to aging is inevitable. This is when long term care facilities play its key role of providing a better and a more convenient environment once a person reaches old age.

No one certainly would not want to see themselves be a big burden to their family and relatives in the future - most especially if its formal care they will require the most. Thus, it is important to be aware about long term care facilities which are capable of offering optimum care and quality accommodations for a long period of time.

Long term care facilities or more popularly recognized as nursing homes are fashioned to provide health care assistance to people who demand a different kind of personal care or 24-hour care service. These facilities are built to grant comfort aiding to an individual's medical needs. Such accommodations can come both in private or semi-private depending on the medical condition of the person.

When it comes to finding the right nursing home, it all boils down to assessing what the needs are. Health care needs vary from one person to the other, thus it is important to analyze the individual's medical situation above all. From there, base the search accordingly to the requirements identified to guarantee that the long term care facility is capable of meeting the person's assistance desires.

The costs of these facilities also differ. If experiencing financial restrictions, opting to nursing homes provided by the government is an option. Nursing homes owned by the government cost less compared to others. However, not all are supported by the government. Some of them belong to private individuals and other non-profit agencies. Keep in mind, most of the time, the expenses are based on the duration of stay.

There are nursing homes which are surprisingly less expensive than others. But, remember that some come cheaper because they offer less. Usually they have fewer accommodations and are of inferior quality. Therefore, it is vital to always keep a heads up towards determining which among thousands of nursing homes is worthy enough to trust.

The search for the right nursing home is really challenging but this can be eased through sorting resources which can help you decide on which one to pick. Try to find out what homes are located in your community and learn what you can about them. If there are people who have already opted using nursing homes, ask for their opinions and suggestions. This way, there will be a wider range of options to choose from.

Do further research on completelongtermcare.com/facilities long term care facilities. Know more about long term care costs and completelongtermcare.com/resources/how-to-save.aspx long term care insurance premiums.

Why You Should Consider a House Exchange For Your Next Vacation

Vacation rentals are a good way to save on travel costs, but doing a house exchange can really make your travel dollars go farther. When you exchange homes with someone else, your accommodations become virtually free, and usually, use of a car is included, reducing your transportation costs too.

Chances are, you'll eat a lot more meals "at home," and it's easier to accommodate any special dietary needs or preferences you may have.

Best of all, you'll feel like a local in the place you visit, whether you're going to the South of France or South Carolina. There are houses you can swap almost everywhere.

How to do a house exchange.

Several house exchange agencies have been in business for 40 or 50 years. You can find them online. If you're serious about doing it, sign up with one of the services - the cost is usually around $100 for a one-year membership.

Decide where you want to go and then search the service's database for houses you can swap with. Some agencies have booklets showing their properties. Others have them online only.

The easiest house exchange is a simultaneous one - you stay in someone else's house while they stay in yours. You'll have to coordinate your schedules, so it helps to plan well in advance.

Since you'll probably stay some place for at least a week, make sure there's a lot to see and do in the area. Using the home as a base and then doing day trips in the area is a good strategy.

If your home is in a popular place that lots of people want to visit, you'll have no trouble finding other owners to trade with. If it's located somewhere remote or not well known, it could take you a while.

Arranging the exchange.

Create a short list of properties that you like - it's always a good idea to have a few in mind. Then contact the owners to see if they're interested in your place. It's smart to include lots of photos. But be careful not to misrepresent your home.

Explain what there is to do nearby, and don't overlook something because you think it's obvious. It may not be to someone from abroad. Include what is within walking distance and what's a short drive away.

Get all the details spelled out before you make a commitment. You'll want to know things like if a car is included, and if there's a computer you can use, and what your guests are willing to do, such as water the plants or care for the pets.

Call your insurance agent to make sure your home and car are covered. In most cases they are, and many insurance companies prefer having someone in the home to leaving it vacant.

Don't leave any valuables in your home. Give your house a thorough cleaning or hire someone else to do it. And leave your exchange partners plenty of detailed information about the area, how things work in your home, and who to call if they should have a problem.

Then relax and enjoy having a home away from home in some place you've always wanted to go.

Learn tripplanningguide.com/house-exchange-basics-for-adventurous-travelers more about house exchange here. Or find tripplanningguide.com/is-a-vacation-rental-right-for-you Or vacation rentals here.

The Sandwich Generation

With declining fertility rates and an increased longevity of chronic illness, the boomer generation is facing a huge problem. The typical 45-55 year old woman now spends more time taking care of their parents than they are rearing their children. The "typical" woman works full time and spends 18 hours per week taking care of their 78-year-old mother. One husband and wife couple explains that they have two children, three living parents, a stepparent and a living grandparent for a total of two children to five parents. This case is not unusual for the modern baby boom generation. With common instances of double-decker families, families with four generations of people, the caregiving crunch is definitely going to take its toll for the sandwich generation. Nearly a quarter of all caregiving households provide more than 40 hours of unpaid, informal care to their elders.

Today's eldercare-givers are mostly women; an estimated 73 percent are women. An estimated 75% of women from the ages of 45-55 are now in the workforce compared to just 40 percent in the year 1950. To complicate the matters even further, 40 percent of these women have children under the age of 18 that rely on them financially. This leads the modern elder-caregiver to juggle work, rearing children, and the huge task of eldercare.

The fact is, the average American in the 21st century will spend more years taking care of their parents than rearing their children. In a report by the AARP, nearly half of all caregivers said that had to alter their work schedules, by taking time off of work or rescheduling their days to accommodate eldercare giving. The AARP study also found that some 12 percent of eldercare givers had to leave work altogether to tend to their parents. For corporations, this leads to an ever-increasing amount of absenteeism and unexpected labor shortages.

As Americans decide to have fewer children, there is a gap in the amount of people left to take care of them when they are older. Today's elder generation had an average of four children per household compared to today's boomer generation that has only two children per household.

These problems ultimately, lead to the need for more long-term care initiatives and options for our sandwich generation. Programs such as Independent Living Center and home health agencies are offering services to connect people with affordable home health aides. ConnectingCaregivers.com is also unveiling a service in the coming months to give families a list of prescreened home health aides in their local area to choose from.

For more information concerning respite care and personal care attendates please visit connectingcaregivers.com connectingcaregivers.com or contact Lincoln N. directly at

A memory care facility is a specialized nursing home that provides - in addition to a room and food - full time medical (nursing) care and in-house rehabilitative services, along with close supervision to provide some measure of physical protection for the residents. The home will not be designed as an acute care facility, but the goal at an Alzheimer's care facility should be to help people maintain, as much as possible, their daily independent functioning.

It is obvious that when choosing a care facility or nursing home it is first necessary to consider the needs of the individual for whom you are providing Alzheimer's care. You must determine what special care needs the facility can provide. What type of therapy is available. Ask if these needs and therapy are handled by in-house staff or outside care. What are the qualifications of the individuals who provide these.

If you are choosing a nursing facility for someone who is presently at home, ask for referrals from your physician, Area Agency on Aging, Alzheimer's support group, friends, and family. Other factors such as location, cost, the quality of care, services, activities, size, religious and cultural preferences, and accommodations also need to be considered. Above all else discuss this with your family. Most families will not all agree on a place or the costs, but get a majority consensus as this will ease the burdens later on when you, the primary caregiver, need to time off an want someone else that is willing to help step in for a while.

When you've located a few facilities that you'd like to consider more thoroughly, plan on visiting each one, both with scheduled and unscheduled visits, and at different times and on different days of the week. As you walk around, take note of what you see, hear and smell.

* Is it a peaceful atmosphere or does there seem to be an underlying level of chaos?

* Do you hear residents crying out or moaning very loudly for more than a minute or two? (Some of this is the disease and to be expected.)

* Do you notice call lights continually flashing or bells dinging where residents are asking for help their room?

* Do the caregivers and nurses respond quickly to aid the residents or do they ignore the calls for help?

* Are there scheduled activities for the residents?

* Is there an activities staff or do the caregivers hand them puzzles and cards?

* Do you see staff members interacting with residents or do they leave them in their rooms or parked in wheelchairs in the hall without paying much attention to them?

* Do the common areas and bathrooms look and smell clean?

* Are the residents rooms and bath areas clean?

* Are the residents dressed appropriately for the season?

* Do they look clean and is there any sign of an untreated cut or bruise?

* At mealtimes, do you notice caregivers helping residents who have difficulty feeding themselves?

* Do they stay with them until they've eaten most of their meal or do they stop after only a few bites and move on to someone or something else?

* What is the quality of the food and do the residents appear to enjoy it?

* When residents become agitated, how does the staff respond?

* What security does the home provide to protect residents?

* Is there a numbered keypad to enter and exit? Does everyone coming and going seem to know the code?

* What systems or physical barriers are around the facility to make sure no resident wanders away?

* Is the overall atmosphere similar to a homelike environment or more like an institution?

* If your family member is still coherent and able to converse, are there other residents with whom they may socialize?

* What is the staff turnover rate?

* What is the ratio of nurses to residents and caregivers to residents?

* Do they work 8 or 12 hour shifts? This is an important point since familiarity and routine is a key element to your loved ones comfort level.

Before signing a contract for care at a specific facility you should fully review the contract and know your rights and responsibilities as the family and also those of your loved one as the resident. Review the admissions agreement carefully and have anything explained in detail that is not fully understood. Spend $150 or so to have an attorney review this for you if necessary. Do not sign any paperwork that has not been fully explained. The admissions contract should, at a minimum, contain the daily or monthly room and meals rate, any specific reasons for discharge or transfer from the facility (these items should apply to your family member if they do them or to anyone else in the facility if done to your loved one), and the policy regarding payment of the daily room rate if the resident goes to the hospital or the family brings the resident home for a short period of time. Is there a reduced or prorated rate or do you continue to pay full price to keep the room/space available?

You may question if you're really making the right decision to place your loved one in a facility at all. This is an agonizing decision that you will routinely question, but remember, you can do no more than your best. If you have done that, then you should not continue to ask more of yourself and know that you have done the best, as an Alzheimer's caregiver, for your family member.

Having traveled the road herself, Lisa W. Smith is an expert at helping alzheimersonlinetips.com Alzheimer's caregivers cope with the emotional, financial, and legal stress of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. She has created an electrifying report, "An Alzheimer's Horror Story: Killing Her Slowly!" which highlights part of this journey. For a FREE copy of this report, visit: AlzheimersOnlineTips.com AlzheimersOnlineTips.com

Advice on How to Value Your Home

It is actually fairly straight forward to estimate the value of your home, especially if it is located in a built up area. Believe it or not most of the tools available to estate agents and surveyors are also available to the general public.

Estate Agents rely on comparable information to gauge what a buyer may pay for your property. If they are good they will know what similar properties in your area area were marketed for and prices they achieved.

In previous times you would have had to scour estate agency windows and local newspaper adverts to get a feel for the housing market in your area. But in the age of the internet everything that you need is available online.

You can get an instant "online" valuation with most of the popular online property web sites. This is usually done simply by typing in your postcode and you will see a rough estimate of prices in your road. You can then select your actual address, and it will provide a price estimate based upon the previous sale price and an index of house price fluctuations in the area. Be careful, these sites are not always accurate and will give you a confidence level of how accurate they feel the estimate is.

If you are registered with an online estate agent, they will usually compile a report of all of these statistics and be able to provide an expert opinion on how to use the data for a property valuation.

The above article was written by Richard Tuck from the Online Estate Agent Turtle Homes.

We are an ONLINE estate agent and we don't have expensive overheads such as high street rents and rates. All you as the vendor need to do is to show prospective purchasers around your property and let us take care of everything else.

For more information, please visit our web site at turtlehomes.co.uk turtlehomes.co.uk

Are Hidden Flaws in Your Business Preventing Your Success?

Ah, the joys of self employment...Good pay, flexible hours, excellent benefits, a wise and business savvy boss...And profitability, lots of profitability! If you're self employed, chances are your own company is missing some of the features that you might consider to be ideal. It's a good thing being a business owner can have other benefits that are not as quantifiable. Things like satisfaction, loving what you do, not dancing to someone else's tune and charting your own course. But no matter how satisfying self employment is, the truth of the matter is this. If your business is to be sustainable, it has to sustain you financially in a way that makes you feel all the trials and tribulations of business ownership are worth the trip.

For one of my consulting clients, that trip has gradually become less and less sustainable and sustaining. They grew tired of the constant battle, the struggle to create enough cash flow to make payroll every week, and the toll the lack of cash was taking on their own lives. They made the difficult decision to sell their business and go back to work for someone else. In the end, the business did not work in one very important way. Their personal financial needs were not being met. For them, that was an insurmountable challenge.

When I speak of my clients' difficulties involving the constant struggle to make payroll and have enough left over to pay themselves, you may think the underlying problem is cash flow. But poor cash flow is only a symptom. The underlying problem is generally a business model that is not well thought out or well executed.

Before you get hung up on the phrase "business model", let me tell you what it means in real world small business terms. Your business model is basically what you do and how you get paid to do it. For an example, let's look at eBay. eBay's basic model is that it makes money by serving as a go between bringing buyers and sellers together. In exchange for providing the meeting ground and facilitating the sale, eBay receives fees. It isn't a complicated business model at its core, the difficulty is in executing the model in a way that satisfies customers and makes a profit for eBay at the same time. If the customers are unhappy, the model fails. If eBay can't operate at a profit, the model fails.

The second half of that equation is where my clients ran into problems. They provide a valuable service to a growing market but providing the service carries a high payroll and a high rate of liability and workers compensation insurances. For every dollar in sales, they pay out about 65 cents in payroll and insurance. That leaves 35 cents of every dollar for rent, utilities, telephone, marketing, advertising, etc. Trying to wring out enough money for the owners to get paid a living wage was usually impossible.

The owners were able to keep their heads firmly buried in the sand for only so long. We sat down one day and had a very in depth conversation about what the business could potentially produce for income for the owners in the short and long term. We weighed all the benefits, the costs, and the risks. The bottom line was that the business could not realistically support the owners in a way that would allow them to support their families in even a modest way.

Normally, this type of a hard look at a business reveals any number of opportunities for improving the business. In this case, it simply was not possible to make the changes necessary to make things work better for all involved. Let's explore why...

My client's were first time business owners. They are both professionals with years of experience in their own fields who both found themselves laid off by their respective companies. They knew each other through church and had been friends for some time. Working with agencies set in place to help them find new work, they were introduced to a program set up to help displaced workers start their own businesses. The program provided advice, resources, and structure for new business owners.

The friends decided to explore opening a business as partners. They began exploring different businesses and were drawn to franchising because of the remarkably high percentage of success for franchise outfits. Their interest in franchises led them to investigate a local operation that was selling franchises. The franchiser was new to the franchising business and had sold only one franchise to an employee so the model was largely untested.

The franchiser led the partners to believe that all was rosy with the original business that spawned the franchising. Although the potential business owners didn't know it at the time, this was not the case. The original business and the first franchise were actually operating at a deficit and were being propped up by continued investments of personal funds by the owners. The original owner was far more interested in selling franchises than in giving a realistic view of expected results. The business model had some flaws that made it difficult to do well in this business even though the service was a very valuable one to the target market.

Flaw #1--Slim Margins make Slim Pickin's.

As I mentioned before, every dollar in sales cost 65 cents in payroll and insurances. An additional 3-7% (depending on the price structure they chose in buying the franchise) went for royalties. Once you subtract out rent, utilities, office supplies, and so forth, there was little if any left over for advertising and marketing. And the owners were left without a paycheck most weeks.

Flaw #2--Built in Cash Flow Issues.

Employees were paid every two weeks for work performed. Customers were billed every two weeks for services already rendered. So the cash leaves the bank account before it is received. Naturally the customers often took 30 days to pay so the cash flow for every transaction ran as much as six weeks behind the expenditure for payroll for the work performed.

Flaw #3--Pricing Inflexibility.

Franchisees could not lower or increase their pricing based on the market they were serving. In the State of Maine, where this business is headquartered (and this is true of most areas of our country), there is a wide disparity of resources. The southern part of the state has higher income levels than the northern part of the state. The seacoast tends to have higher income levels than the western mountains. Depending on where your franchise is located you could find yourself priced out of the market.

Flaw #4--No Name Recognition.

When you think fast food, you think McDonald's. When you think McDonald's you picture the golden arches. You have an expectation of what you will get--the restaurant will look a certain way, the food will be universally awful. You know exactly what to expect. The same is true of every other successful franchise--Dunkin' Donuts, Olive Garden, Hardee's, H&R Block, etc. With the business my clients entered, there were no strongly defined franchises so the expectation had not yet been created. This means they had to explain what the business was all about. It wasn't a case of being able to say, "I own an H&R Block franchise" and everyone knows what you are talking about. This makes it an uphill battle.

Flaw #5--No Strong Marketing Program to Build Name Recognition.

Part of the responsibility of the franchiser organization is to do the legwork to build name recognition. The franchiser did some local advertising through events and radio advertisements which was a good start. I have to say, though, that if I am going to consider buying a franchise I want to see some serious commitment to building name recognition before I sign on the dotted line. When you mention the name of the franchise, I want to be able to immediately know exactly what you are talking about. That kind of familiarity takes a very concerted, and usually expensive, effort on the part of the franchiser.

Flaw #6--Where Are My Step by Step Business Building Techniques?

The glory of a franchise is that for any task or challenge I can simply flip open the operations manual and see step by step exactly what to do. With this franchise, the most important piece was missing...How do I build the business? What specific steps do I take to create buzz before the grand opening? What steps do I take to attract the attention of my target market? How do I get the business to a point where I can make a living?

In addressing these issues with the franchiser, it became increasingly apparent to my clients that their grand dream of making minimum wage for themselves was far off in the distant (and very uncertain) future, hence their decision to sell.

Regardless of whether your business is a franchise or a stand alone entity, hidden flaws in your business model can create any number of obstacles and pitfalls for your business. A carefully thought out and well executed business model is a critical success factor for every business large or small. By rooting out the flaws in your business model, you increase your odds for building a business that is both sustainable and sustaining.

Caroline Jordan, MBA, is a veteran small business owner, accountant, consultant, trainer, and author. She is the owner of The Jordan Result, a company specializing in developing real world, practical resources to help small business owners improve cash flow and business operations. She is the author of “Stop the Cash Flow Roller Coaster, I Want to Get Off!” Jordan is also an accounting and business professor. For more tips and articles to help your business succeed visit [CashFlowRollerCoaster.com] and [TheJordanResult.com].

Elder Care and Senior Housing Options - How A Referral Agency Can Help

Do you need help finding senior housing, care or support services for your mom, dad or loved one? Referral Agencies provide information and assistance to seniors, families and professionals, typically free of charge. Referral Agency professionals are experts in senior housing and care options, and related supportive services. Working exclusively with trusted partners, experts ensure clients receive information and referrals to quality providers.

Agency experts begin with a comprehensive client assessment, considering a client's:

personal interests and desires
geographical preferences
budget (long term financial picture)
care needs or supportive service needs

Taking a client's assessment into consideration, information is provided on resources, care providers, and/or communities that best meet the client's requirements. If needed, assistance will be provided arranging tours and appointments. Agency experts are also available to provide solutions during crisis.

Referral Agency may provide information and referral regarding:

Independent Living Communities
Retirement Communities
Home Care/Home Health & Hospice Services
Assisted Living Communities
Memory Care Communities
Nursing Homes
Elder Law Attorneys
Financial Advisors and Estate Planners
Geriatric Care Managers
Senior Relocation Experts
SRES Realtors (senior specialists)
Local, State and Federal Funding Programs
Assistance with Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit
Long Term Care Insurance Representatives

Referral Agency experts spare clients costly mistakes:

Establishing the appropriate level of care, ensuring the correct services and providers are suggested (independent living, home care/home health/hospice, residential care apartment community, community based residential facility, memory care, skilled nursing facility).
Determine how care will be paid for long term, uncover supplemental payment sources.
Determine which services are compatible with available payment sources (private pay, long term care insurance, Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit, Family Care, Medicaid).
Continuous quality review of all service provider partners.
Serve as liaison between client and service provider.
Evaluate client's current providers; if appropriate suggest other or additional options to maximize well being.

Referral Agency experts can save clients time and money as they guide clients to the services that best suit their needs. Traditionally, this comes at no cost to the client or family, as Referral Agencies are funded by the numerous service providers (partners) within their trusted network.

Making life changing decision is never easy. Agency experts are here to support you, guiding you from your initial call, throughout the touring and decision making process, and into your new lifestyle.

Sue Bettenhausen is the Director of Silver Connections of Wisconsin. Silver Connections of Wisconsin provides free information and referral on housing and care options for seniors. Visit our website at asilverconnection.com asilverconnection.com/

Securing A Home Improvement Loan

We all like to renovate our house, especially if it is a few years old, because over time, every house requires certain improvements. Renovating your house is a big deal, especially if you do not have an unlimited budget, and in such scenarios you can apply for home improvement loans. Home improvement mainly includes updating your flooring, plumbing fixtures and countertops, which will certainly enhance the beauty of your home, but the home improvement project may turn out to be a costly affair. By going in for a home improvement loan, you can change your house as per your dreams and ideas.

Tips for getting a home improvement loan

1) Firstly, you need to have a clear cut picture on what kind of home improvement plans you need to take up. Based on your ideas, you can hire a contractor who will be able to provide you with an approximate budget for the entire project. Once you understand the total amount of money required for the renovation project, you can have an idea how much you can invest on yourself and how much loan you need to borrow.

2) In order to apply for loans, you need to make sure that you have all the relevant documents and details before you go to the lenders. Important documents in this regard include the tax form confirmations of the previous two years', verification documents regarding employment, your credit history or credit report, evidence of any additional income source which mainly includes gains through social security, income proof, debt to income ratio, etc.

3) You can ask for a free credit report from any of the three bureaus which you are entitled to in a year.
In case you take note of any errors, you can sort it out with the credit agencies.

4) You will be surprised to note that as you shop for products and items, you also need to shop for lenders regarding interest rates and also about their reputation in the market. When you choose your lender, make sure that he has a good history and make sure that you are well-versed with the terms of the loan which you are procuring. In case you are getting your loan online, always make sure that your personal information which you are submitting must be through secure means so that you can avoid any possibility of identity thefts.

5) You need to decide whether you have to go in for a home equity line or a line of credit for home improvement. These loan varieties are treated as second mortgages and while the first one represents lump sum of cash at a fixed interest rate while the other loan seems to be like a credit card.

6) Prior to signing the loan agreement, you should read through it carefully and should be well-versed with the entire clause. If you have any doubts regarding the agreement, you should seek the expertise of an attorney or you can also search for another lender.

7) Always ensure that you are able to pay the monthly installments on your loan and if you default out on your loan, there is a possibility that you can lose your home.

Frank is a freelance writer and Education Director for Water damage Local.com

Good credit is an absolute must for a loan originator to be able to put through most reasonable mortgage and mortgage refinancing deals, and with the problem not going away anytime soon, it behooves the loan originator the help their clients with ideas for the credit repair process of improving their credit scores.

This type of credit repair advice is the way that a mortgage broker can turn a potential client into the "real deal" and close their mortgage or mortgage refinancing deal. Also, if done properly, more often than not, the process can take place in a relatively short time span.

Step 1

Realize that rebuilding an individual's credit score is an ongoing process and requires thoughtful preparation to successfully rebuild his or her credit to an acceptable level to obtain a well structured mortgage or mortgage refinancing product.

Encourage your client to be conservative on any new monthly credit score building budget that they will be able to make the payments and never be late on anything. Caution your client not to structure a program with monthly payments that they cannot comfortably make, because being late on any payments will further reduce their credit score and may make a new mortgage or mortgage refinancing of their home impossible.

If there are extenuating circumstances such as divorce, insist that they review their credit program with their attorney before agreeing to anything.

Step 2

If your client's credit card companies have not reported or have understated their credit limits on their credit cards, it can hurt their credit score. For this reason, have your client determine if their credit card companies are understating their credit limits on their cards. Often credit limits are reported as lower than they actually are and frequently may not be reported whatsoever.

While we are on the subject of credit cards, make sure that your client has a minimum of three credit cards or other sort of revolving credit. Many people mistakenly believe that if they have credit cards it actually hurts their credit score and because of this, they cancel some or all of their cards. Their credit score can be more harmed and the possibilities of not obtaining new mortgage refinancing on their home or a new mortgage is greater by simply canceling existing credit cards.

Furthermore, if they do not have any credit cards, have them obtain at least three. If they have trouble with getting typical cards like Visa, Master Card, Amex etc, tell them to try a local department store, or a Home Depot or Lowes. Quite often these types of stores are more lenient in granting revolving charge accounts.

Step 3

Make sure that your client reduces any outstanding credit card balances to under 30% of their credit limit on each of the individual cards. Some people mistakenly think that the 30% figure is based on their overall revolving credit card balance, but this is false. A single card over the 30% balance can nullify the benefit of the effort of having the revolving credit cards in the first place.

If your client has one card over the limit and several others under the limit, if they are limited on cash and cannot pay down the high card, have them see it they can transfer some of the higher card's balance to the lower cards. Have them check first before doing this to see if this type of transfer creates a higher interest rate or any other adverse effects on their credit.

Thus, if an individual has 3 credit cards with a total of $12,000 credit, but two of them have a $2,000 limit and the other has an $8,000 limit, make sure that they keep the $2,000 limit cards under $600 each and the $8,000 card to under $2,400.

Implementing this simple process will cause credit scores to rise, along with the possibility of obtaining that desired mortgage or mortgage refinancing program.

Step 4

When helping your client to raise their credit scores, make it a point to frequently pull their credit reports for them to determine their status as well as any errors on their reports.

Errors are so common on credit reports that over 75% of all credit reports have a minimum of one or more mistakes on them. Just by their being diligent and carefully insuring that any incorrect reporting information is removed, their credit score will quite often go up incredibly. This is certainly one of the easiest and most effective things that your client can do immediately to improve their score dramatically along with the possibility of them obtaining a new mortgage or mortgage refinancing of their existing mortgage.

Step 5

If your client's credit has been damaged to the point of having been sent to a collection agency, they probably will not want to immediately pay off the credit card debt. As incredible as it may seem, this situation can actually be more harmful than having credit card debt sent to a collection agency on their credit record.

When one of your clients have been sent to a credit collection agency, the effect on their credit is low after about two years and is virtually wiped out after four years.

Insure that your client receives a written promise from the collection agency for a "letter of deletion" before they do anything toward satisfying the old credit card debt, because without a letter of deletion, they may hurt their credit problem more than help it. Stress to your client that they should not pay anything on the bill until they receive in writing the agreement for the letter of deletion from the collection agency.

Most people trying to improve their credit to obtain a mortgage or mortgage refinancing on their home think that they need to pay off everything as quickly as possible, but this is one case that paying before you obtain the proper documents protecting your situation can actually seriously hurt your credit. People have in reality completely paid off a debt or negotiated a settlement to learn to their dismay that they now have no leverage to get the collection agency to send the letter of deletion.

Step 6

Finally, if your client does not make paid installments on a car or a boat, have them take out some sort of installment loan with someone like Best Buy or Sears on some needed appliance or with Staples or Office Depot for some business equipment. Credit bureaus look carefully not only at the fact that you have credit, but also the blend of the types of credit that you have. Having just credit cards only is not as advantageous as having credit cards and some sort of installment payment loan.

Be sure that your client watches out for the rates on their new installment loan. Some of these rates can be "out of the roof" and create undo stress on the monthly budget.

Also, unlike the credit cards which you should keep in perpetuity, obviously, revolving credit comes to some point at which the loan is satisfied and the monthly payment ceases. Tell your client that this is not a "license to spend", but if they are wanting to increase their credit score, they should not pay cash for larger ticket items, but instead, put a large cash down payment on the item and obtain an installment loan to finance the remaining balance. Financing a smaller amount can actually lower loan interest payments thus lowering the monthly payment; all of which makes your client more likely to improve their credit score and get a new mortgage or mortgage refinancing of their home.

Phillip P Gilliam is a devoted husband and father to three daughters. He has lived in Florida for over 20 years and originally comes from Dayton, Ohio. He has a passion for business management [home-mortgage-refinancing-mortgage-company.com], marketing and finance and has been utilizing software and technology for over 37 years. If you wish to get in touch with Phil he can be reached at [home-mortgage-refinancing-mortgage-company.com]

Which Are the Best Nursing Home Alternatives For You and Your Family?

Deciding that an elderly relative needs care can be a difficult and worrisome experience. Many families debate whether a long-term care facility is best or if their loved ones would be better suited to one of the many available nursing home alternatives. Finding the care facility that is right for your family may be easier than you think. But the first step is to become aware of the different options and educate yourself about their benefits, qualities and possible negative aspects of each. Here is a brief description of two nursing home alternatives and what they offer:

Companion Agencies or Homemaker Services

This is a great choice if your relative is simply in need of help and support with daily tasks but is not in need of medical assistance. For example, companion and homemaking agencies will lend a hand when preparing meals, making daily shopping trips, clean and complete housework and can be a guiding companion when leaving the home for leisurely outings. However, neither the staff at a homemaking service or a hired companion can assist with medication, bathing or bathroom needs. This is the perfect nursing home alternative for any senior who is mentally healthy and would like to stay in their own home, living an independent life.

In-house Health Agencies

Similar to a companion agency, in-house health agencies will visit the elderly in their home and provide some daily companionship. However, the main difference between the two services is that a health agency can provide healthcare services such as assistance with medications, dietary advice and even speech or physical therapy. Due to their ability to supply medical services, in-house health agencies are required to be licensed in their area and as a result can be easily found and contacted through local hospitals or senior lifestyle developments. In-house health agencies are a good alternative when your loved ones may need medical assistance on a daily basis or are in a transitional period between living on their own and moving into a permanent care facility.

If you are your family are searching for suitable nursing home alternatives consider speaking to your family physician and asking for any referrals or recommendations they may have. Or contact your local senior center for the information needed to contact services in your area.

Dee Cohen is a licensed social worker and discusses socialworkprograms.org/nursing-home-abuse.html Nursing Home Abuse and articles on socialworkprograms.org/depression-counselling-trauma-psychotherapy.html Depression Counselling at her social work site for those interested in the mental health field.

Things You Need to Know About Dealing With an Adoption Agency

There are several things you should to know when adopting a child and if you have an cooperation with the adoption agency. Here are some of them for anticipation.

First, do not deceived that the agency or agent you are cooperation with promising you a no-wait adoption, certainly you are being conned. Adoption process always take time, and not easy for adopt a child although the birth parents are nice. This cause the adoption will have a important crash on a child life. You are adopting a child, not a pet that you can bring home in the similar day. So you must be distrustful about a no-wait period which offered.

Second things, usually private adoption agencies are funded secretly and manage for income, different with a public adoption agency, it is logical that they may ask for fees upfront. But it is not logical or even tolerable for that thing if they request an upfront fee too much. For this case, you can look another adoption agency.

Third, be careful if your agency do not want telling you about information of the child. Because adoption agency should to telling all they know about the child, like the backgrounds and their birth parents. If the private adoption agency is not eager to disclose information at all about their procedures and about your potential adoptive child, it is possible that they are concealing unreal facts and they are an illegal company in costume.

Fourth, you must be doing double check any account offered to you concerning the profile of your adoptive child. In some cases of wrongful adoption, an adoption agency will purposely deceive you concerning certain characteristics of your adoptive child character or conditions that might not make him ideal anymore in your eyes. Although you still get the adoption child eventually, but maybe he or she is not include in your qualified and this could be an emotional disaster for both of you.

Make a cooperation with a private adoption agency can be quite dangerous, even they promise for more privacy and expediency than public adoption agencies. So be careful with each step you choose, the center of attention not only on adopting a child for the precise reasons but also for right means.

For more information about this article, you can read in Children for Adoption [cow251.com]

Favorite Staffing and Personnel Franchise Business Opportunities

Though you may not expect it, the personnel and staffing industry is an ever-growing market in the US economy; currently, reports claim that staffing has become an $87bil industry. There is a very real need for jobs in our country, and when there is a need for employment, there is also a need for professionals who can connect people with those jobs, and that is precisely why the staffing industry is booming. If helping skilled Americans find the right business opportunities for their training and talents sounds like a worthwhile endeavor, here are 8 great staffing franchises that can get you there.

General Staffing

There are many companies that provide basic staffing to their clients, regardless of what specific field the client may work in within white collar American business. There are three options that stand out as excellent choices.

One industry leader is Snelling Staffing Services. With 50 years of experience in personnel franchises, the company's name has become associated with professionalism and success. They provide everything a franchisee could need, from training and advertisement all the way down to payroll services for your staff, and no previous experience is required for a new franchisee; the franchisor will teach you everything you need to know.

An up-and-comer in the staffing franchise world is SEEK Careers/Staffing Inc. Founded by a female entrepreneur, it has become one of the biggest staffing businesses in Wisconsin and is poised to spread further into the nation. For anyone looking to get in on the ground floor of a growing business, this is the opportunity.

Let's not forget Remedy Intelligent Staffing, a franchise business built on the shoulders of men and women who left positions as business executives to establish their own small businesses. With a network of 300 franchises run by such long-time business professionals, they have developed a communication network that allows all franchisees, no matter what their level of previous business experience, to connect with one another to answer any questions or concerns they may have. It's a lasting and functional business, but one wired to help even the newcomer succeed.

Medical Staffing

Though general staffing agencies provide excellent opportunities to get ahead in a budding market, a more specific sector of the staffing world that provides equally great business prospects is the area of medical staffing. Medicine is one of a handful of businesses that will inevitably grow as the population does, and currently, the industry has outgrown the number of available medical professionals, leaving many hospitals and care facilities without the necessary staffing. Two franchises available to you are working to change all that by equipping entrepreneurs to work in the medical staffing industry. One such business is Unlimited MedSearch, a work at home franchise that affords its franchisees computerized staffing systems as well as a well known and strong presence at various recruitment events. Another medical alternative is Health Career Agents; a great home based business, they provide franchisees with all the training necessary to start matching medical professionals with jobs in no time. What's more, the franchisor gets owners on the fast track to building a support staff of trained recruiters and sales consultants.

Other Staffing Sub-categories

Though they do the same essential work as the other staffing franchises here, these next few do so for different demographics of people, which makes each one unique. Protingent Staffing, for instance, still deals in white collar jobs, like most of the general staffing businesses, however, the specific angle they take is matching clients with technical and engineering jobs. It may seem like too small of a group, but those are two of today's most booming industries, so the opportunity for success is still large. And just as large a staffing opportunity is available in the market of nannies. The in-home service industry is always in high demand, and whether people are looking for a trustworthy nanny for their kids, a family cook, or a math tutor, Nanny Poppinz franchisees are given all the training and equipment to track down just the right person and link employee to employer. Finally, Personalized Management has narrowed down their staffing services to the restaurant, retail, and hospitality sectors. With the lowest total initial investment of all staffing franchises, their goal is to get franchisees set up and working as quickly as possible. So if a more specific staffing franchise is what you're looking for, there are options.

Regardless of what kind of staffing you get into (general, medical, technical, etc.) the possibilities for the personnel franchisee are endless. As long as there are businesses looking for the right people, there will always be demand in this field.

Find more

The home study is to assess you and your lifestyle in the areas of stability and financial solidity to ensure that a child placed in your home will be well cared for. You don't have to be considerably wealthy in order to adopt a child, but you do have to show a pattern of being financially responsible with your income and your monthly debts. Families that have a large amount of debt may be encouraged to work towards reducing their debt in order to adopt. (This clinician has never denied a family due to debt, or known of families being denied due to large amounts of debt). It is not a freeze frame snapshot of your current situation of any area that is being reviewed; but rather a panoramic examination of many areas. Tax returns for the previous 3-5 years are provided to the home study provider, as well, to demonstrate a pattern of income.

It's important to already have an idea of the age child you are interested in adopting. Babies or young children will have different needs than an older child. You may have to consider having additional locks on your exterior doors, especially if you have a pool or lake outside the back door. Steps may need a safety gate to prevent falls and to keep young toddlers out of dangerous areas. Outlets will need to be covered with protectors. It's also good practice to have smoke detectors in each bedroom and in the main areas of y our home. A fire extinguisher is essential, kept in the kitchen or garage. Guns have to be locked away, and the ammunition kept in a separate location, also locked.

It is not necessary to have all of these things in place, especially if you are months away from being matched or placed with a child. It is necessary to have a good understanding of the development of the child you are interested in, in order to know what safety devices are crucial for you to have in place.

In 2006, The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was passed in order to establish a national registry of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect. In all states, there is a process established to have this registry consulted in order to determine if you have been involved with that state's Department of Children and Family Services. The registry will have case-specific identifying information that is limited to the name of the perpetrator and the nature of the substantiated case(s) of child abuse and neglect.

In addition, you will need to consider who you would name as guardian of your minor child in the event of your death. You will need to provide the guardian's name, contact information, and an explanation of why you chose that individual or couple. It is recommended that you go ahead and name these people in your will, if you have one. I was recently asked by a birth mother if she would get the child back if something were to happen to the adoptive parents. The answer is no. The adoptive parents will make this decision.

Most states require criminal background clearances on three levels, local, state, and federal. Arrests may show up on one, two or all three of these clearances. This doesn't mean that if you've ever been arrested, you can't be considered as a parent. The cause of the arrest is considered, as well as the length of time since the arrest. There is a considerable difference in writing bad checks ten years ago and assaulting your significant other just last year. While some states offer specific guidelines about what offenses will prevent you from adopting, a lot of states leave that decision up to the individual social worker. It is best to mention any questionable arrests in advance and try to get a sense of how the social worker will respond.

Other sections of the home study will include accessing the stability of the marriage, discipline plan, and how to nurture and celebrate the child's culture if different from yours. Some agencies and/or countries require adoptive parents to take continuing education courses. If adopting from the foster care system, you may have to take a 20 hours class in advance of adopting. There are obviously many variables, depending on the state you live in, the country in which you want to adopt, and whether you are adopting from a private agency or foster care system.

Though the home study may seem overwhelming, if you can do your homework and be prepared, the process will go smoothly. The social worker or home study provider should be viewed as an ally. His/her job is to help prepare you for parenthood, which is the ultimate goal.

With a strong desire to help families live healthy, happy lives, Tracy has devoted her life to working with children and families. This interest has been the driving factor behind her commitment to education both formally and by career experience. Tracy earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from Florida State University after having already secured her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Auburn University.

Tracy has become well versed in domestic and international adoptions. She can answer all questions regarding the homestudy process and can assist you with starting in your adoption journey. Before becoming the Founder and Executive Director for The Adoption Authority, Tracy completed numerous homestudies and post placement visits for several agencies throughout Georgia and Florida.

Tracy is a dedicated professional who has worked with countless families regarding parenting concerns, including children with special needs, behavior issues, and developmental disabilities. Detail oriented, Tracy has studied the dynamics of merging families and developed strategies and techniques to minimize the impact on children and parents.

Tasks Should Be Complete Before Moving at New Address

Have you inform in all offices about your new address if no, start it now. Before starting, bring together contact information of the companies, envelope, postage stamp, Electoral roll change of address form, Postage stamps and printer.

Create a table and write the names, phone numbers, addresses, websites/email addresses, etc of the company and person you want to inform about your new home. Now make a list and Mail/ call them one by one. After informing tick on the name in list so you don't waste your time to inform them again. When complete follow the given instructions:

Now make list of the following

Banks/lenders

Electoral roll

Health care professionals

Insurance companies

Schools/universities

Gas agency

Electricity office

Water supplier

Home phone provider

Mobile phone provider

Internet provider

Call to the peoples on your list

Change your address online if possible using net

Write, print and send letters to the people/companies that require changes of address/important details in writing.

Each time you change address, add another column to the table. This column can be used to tick off each person/company when you have informed them of the change.

Before you start contact, make a quick list of the information you need to give them, for example: you may need to give them a new residential address as well as a new home phone number.

At last check your list to see if you need to add/remove any person or company from the list. Make similar list to informing all your neighbors, friends, colleague, relatives about the location and address of new place. Don't forget to tell them the name of nearer landmark.

There are many items that you'll need immediately when reach at your new home or in transit way. So keep an extra box with you for the following:

Soap and shampoo Pouches

Painkillers

Specs and regular medicines

First Aid box

Scissors and knife

Power cords and batteries

Tissues and Towels

Tea and coffee maker

Material for making tea or coffee

Disposable glasses, plastic bags and plate

Torch and cell

Light bulbs

Flashlight

Blanket and linens

Alarm clock

Local phone book

Screwdriver and hammer

Map of the new area

Also clear your bills and cancel delivery of milk, magazine and newspaper before leaving your home.

Shun Common Work at Home Scams

There are many work-at-home programs on the internet now. If you do a goggle search you will find many that will interest you. However, you need to be careful as con artists who touted scams through the Newspaper, US mail and Telmarketing.educationeasy.net emarketing are using computers to reach potential victims.

To protect yourself from scammers, learn to recognize the most common work-at-home scams. They include:

1. Chain Letters: A typical Ad goes like this: "Make copies of this letter and send them to people whose names we will provide. All you have to do is send us ten dollars for our mailing list and labels. Look at the chart below and see how you will automatically receive thousands in cash return!!!"

The only people who benefit from chain letters are the mysterious few at the top of the chain who constantly change names, address, and post office boxes. So beware.

2. Envelope Stuffing: According to the US Postal Inspection Services, "In practically all businesses, envelope stuffing has become a highly mechanized operation using sophisticated mass mailing techniques and equipments which eliminates any profit potential for an individual doing this type of work-at-home.

3. Disguised Pyramid schemes: The common Phrases used include amongst others:

a. Let others do the work: This little phase has pyramid schemes written over it. The offer is usually for a non-existent product. You will be given information on buying bulk mail that gives you instructions for getting others to promote this "product" and all you will have to do is count your millions. Right! Don't fall for this.

b. Recruit: this can be defined as engaging in finding new members, employees, students etc. The use of this word 'recruit' in any work at home program should be a tip off to you that the program is a pyramid scheme. Upon proper investigation you will realize it is a farce.

You should be very cautious when browsing the internet and responding to unsolicited offers. If an ad seems too good to be true, it probably is.

To avoid being a victim of scammers, both on and off line, look for the following warning signs:

· Overstated claims of product effectiveness

· Claims of 'Inside' information

· Requirement of money for instructions or products before telling you how the plan works

· Exaggerated claims of potential earnings, profits or part-time earnings

· Claims of 'no experience necessary'.

To evaluate tempting on-line businesses, follow the same signals that tip you off to potential frauds in print and other media. Check on the reliability and integrity of the business or the person offering you the work at home opportunity before sending any money.

However, should you become a victim of work at home scammers, ask the company for a refund. If they refuse or give you an evasive response, tell them you plan to notify law enforcement officials. You can also contact your local Better Business Bureau to lay your compliant, or your local or state consumer affairs agency.

About the Author:

To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: [HomeBizAtYourFingerTips.com]

Freelance Grant Writing Myths

Many people think grant writing is a mysterious endeavor, but to those of us who have made it a career, it is rewarding, interesting work. It may seem puzzling because each grant maker has a unique vision and application process, but with dedication, I believe anyone who likes to read and write can achieve success as a freelance grant writer.

Myth number 1:

Grant Writing is Hard

Grant writing is not hard, unless you hate to read and write, and then it can be a miserable chore. It really is not rocket science. It is more like putting a model airplane together. There are a lot of pieces and you need to follow the directions correctly in order for it to look like an airplane when you are finished. For people who are detailed oriented and enjoy a challenge, it can be great fun! The key is to read and re-read the grant application. Identify the instructions (make notes) and follow them. Most of the work a grant writer does is not writing-it is researching, reading, talking to clients and helping them summarize their project. The final step in the process is the writing. Just like a model airplane-you lay out the parts, match them up to the instructions and recheck everything before you open that bottle of glue.

Myth number 2:

Grant Writers are Creative Writers

Wrong again. Grant writing is not creative writing. You do need a command of the English language (if you are writing for US grants) and you need basic grammar skills, but the funding agency dictates what you write. Almost all of them tell you exactly what information they want and where they want you to put it on an application. It needs to be a compelling story of your client's project, but this can be accomplished without advanced writing skills. In fact, many grant reviewers know nothing about the projects they are reviewing, so the shorter the sentences and the easier the story is to follow, the better. For example, I currently write grants for the health care industry and one Federal granting agency told us that they have volunteer reviewers all over the country, some who know nothing about health care. This means I need to write clearly about the importance of 'telehealth home care for rural patients' and explain each point in language that the average person can understand. This is not creative. It's not even great writing.

Myth number 3:

Only Needy Non-Profit Organizations Can Get Grants

Nope. I have worked with several multi-million dollar organizations that received very large grants. Each funder has a mission. There are big social problems they want to help solve. The organization that comes closest to proposing a realistic solution is the one that wins. Grant makers tend to be more interested in your client's proposed remedy than in their persistent problems. (You will have to explain both in the grant application, but the focus should be on how their project is the best solution and why it will be successful.)

Myth number 4:

Grants are Free Money

This is my all time favorite. People who have never written a grant actually believe this! Grants are in fact investments in society by the government, corporate or private foundations to impact social problems. These funders want to see a return on their investment in the form of lives changed, research initiated, communities impacted, etc. They are usually willing to provide seed money-part of the cost of a project to help get it off the ground-but I have seen very few grant makers willing to pay 100% of the costs of a project. Occasionally a Federal agency or large foundation will announce a grant that claims no matching funds are required, but they will also tell you that to be competitive you need to put up some funds of your own or have other funding partners.

It is beyond the scope of this article to go into the details of grant writing, but suffice to say that freelance grant writing is challenging and rewarding. There is nothing quite like finding money for groups who are changing people's lives. It is truly worth pursuing if you are looking for meaningful work and enjoy puzzles or model airplanes.

Ms. Strotheide has been in the Community Development field for fourteen years and written successful grants for organizations, cities, and counties in several states. She has six years of successful freelance experience. She currently works fulltime writing and administering grants for the health care industry.

She has created a guide with more information on starting your own 7day.bizgrantwriting.com Grant Writing Business.

Legalizing Your Home Based Business

Working from home or running a home based business can be very exciting, lucrative and challenging. Nevertheless, it is relatively the same as for any other business. It is also subjected to the same rules, regulations and laws which apply to any other business, regardless the size or type of business.

Just because your home business may be a solo operation, at least in the beginning, it does not excuse you from the rules and regulations which regulate all other businesses.

Explore and Follow the Legalities for the Success of Your Business

Obviously you wouldn't want your business to face any problems at any time during your business career. Therefore, it is imperative for you to learn the details of all regulations associated with your business. You will need to spend few dollars to make certain that every law and regulation at the local, state and national levels are strictly followed. You should also consider hiring professionals to help you, keeping in mind that you should shop around to develop a team of professionals that you feel comfortable with and who will fit your budget.

In order to avoid any legal issues, aggravation and/or heartaches associated with your business, you'll need to follow a few basic guiding principles before starting your home business.

Identify Your Local or State Government Laws:

You should contact your local government agencies to fully understand the laws and regulations which are associated with your home business. The information is usually provided for free and you can even get some of it over the telephone. however, a personal meeting with the government officials will give you a much clearer understanding of the requirements and will allow you to develop a personal relationship with the regulators. You will find that this meeting and relationship will worth all your time and efforts later if you develop a problem regarding the regulations.

Required Zoning Permits:

To start any kind of business, you'll need to get the required permits from the zoning officials. Contact the City Planning Department in your City for advice regarding the specific zoning and occupancy requirements necessary for your type of business.

Contact Your Accounting Firm:

Contacting your Attorney and Accountant, is also critical and highly beneficial when starting your home business. These professionals will also guide you with the paperwork and procedures required for starting your type of business.

Determining Your Tax Requirements:

Before starting your home business, it is important for you to find out about the various tax forms which are needed for the uninterrupted continuity of your business. Most of the forms and requirements usually depend on the nature of business, location of your business, number of employees etc.

Remember, fulfilling the above legalities is critical to your business success. Each of your business partners (ie. Attorney, Accountant, etc) will be available to you. They often offer free advice to begin with, however be prepared to pay them for their services later. It is really wise of you and in your best interest to spend the time and money at the early stage to meet with them rather than repenting later because of heavy fines or even the legal actions against you and your home based business. Keep in mind "Pre-Planning and Prevention are better than the cure" and it especially applies when starting your own business from home.

There are many professionals who extend their expertise to you over the internet for reasonable prices. You should compare their services and fees with various local firms and then decide which firm will be the best one for you to team up with.

It is critically important in starting your business that you do your due diligence carefully to avoid serious pitfalls later. Your success will depend upon your attention and focus to detail when initiating your business.

James Otto Gray
(503) 559-3790
E-Mail: But what about me? I can barely pay the bills!" exhorted my client one chilly fall morning.

"Mr. Jones, not to worry. Let me explain how this works...."


First of all, the spouse living at home (or "in the community" as it's known; hence, this spouse is called the "Community Spouse") never has to pay anything toward the nursing home bill of the spouse receiving Medicaid in the nursing home. Thus, even if the Community Spouse has Social Security of $1,200/month and a pension of $4,000/month, the Community Spouse does not have to contribute one dime to the care of the Institutionalized (nursing home) Spouse.

But if it's the other way around, then in that case, the Community Spouse is entitled to a contribution from the Institutionalized Spouse. The federal government resets this amount every year on July 1, to keep up with inflation. The 2006 figure is currently $1,650 per month. It is known as the "Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance" or MMMNA.

So if Mr. Jones, my client, is trying to live off his meager $900/month Social Security check, but his wife, a retired college professor, receives a $1,600/month pension check, then he will be entitled to siphon off a minimum of $1,650 - 900 = $750 per month from her check. (The rest of her check ($850) must be paid each month to the nursing home, and Medicaid picks up the balance of her nursing home expenses.)

"Whew, that's a relief," says Mr. Jones. "But that really doesn't cover my expenses! I have very high monthly bills. Isn't there any way I can get to shift even more from my wife each month?" Indeed there is, Mr. Jones!

Under the federal rules, there are several ways for Mr. Jones to increase his income allowance from his wife. First of all, if he has shelter expenses that exceed a certain amount, he can get an automatic increase, up to the maximum MMMNA of $2,488.50 (again, this figure changes annually, this time on Jan. 1 of each year).

The "excess shelter allowance" (ESA) is the amount by which Mr. Jones's costs for his rent or mortgage payment, condo fees (if any), real estate taxes and homeowner's insurance, and either the standard utility allowance (currently between $198 and $546, depending on the state) or, if his state does not use such an allowance, the actual cost of utilities (heat, electricity, gas), exceeds 30% of the MMMNA, i.e., $495 in 2006. Some states even permit you to use the higher of the standard utility allowance or actual cost of utilities when calculating whether or not you qualify for the Excess Shelter Allowance. Once again, you need to check your own state's regulations on this point.

So, for example, if Mr. Jones's total shelter costs were $1,000/month, then his $1,650 MMMNA may be increased by $1,000 - 495 = $505/month, to a total of $2,155. Since this amount is still under the maximum permitted MMMNA of $2,488.50, he's okay.

"But I have very high prescription costs, and I need home health care, too, that I have to pay out of my own pocket! What about those?" pleads Mr. Jones. If the Community Spouse still needs more income, he or she can request a Fair Hearing before the state Medicaid agency or even seek a court order for an increase in the monthly payments from the Institutionalized Spouse.

As you can see, with proper advice from an elder law attorney, it is possible for the spouse living at home to shift more income from a spouse in the nursing home who is receiving Medicaid coverage, thereby causing Medicaid to bear more of the burden and allowing the at-home spouse to continue to live a comfortable life.

? 2007 by K. Gabriel Heiser

Attorney K. Gabriel Heiser has devoted his legal practice to Medicaid planning, elder law, and estate planning for the last 23 years.

NOTE: For more information on this topic and other Medicaid planning techniques, see MedicaidSecrets.com MedicaidSecrets.com, which describes an exciting new 256-page book written by attorney Heiser, "How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets." You don't have to go broke to get Medicaid to pay your nursing home bills, you just have to know the rules and planning techniques. For the first time ever, you can learn the inside secrets of high-priced estate planning and elder law attorneys, in attorney Heiser's new book.

Home Business Deductions - A Way to Pay Less Tax

Getting legitimate home business deductions does a lot of good to people who are into business in terms of savings in money for taxes and other government fees. The responsibility of individuals as well as business organizations in paying taxes is an inevitable thing. The agency of the government responsible for collecting such fees will always be running after you. They are also very meticulous about how much taxes you pay and the accuracy of the computations and declaration of facts made in the statement of accounts. For this reason, many people always look for legitimate deductions that could be declared so as to lessen the amount of taxes that will be paid.

If you are working right at your own home, charging home business deductions would always come beneficial. This works by declaring expenses that is related to the modifications and improvements made to the house when it is being converted to a business office as well as the expenses that are incurred to make it operational. Things that were indirectly expended for the business could also be charged if it later redounded for the benefit of the business. This should not be over used however as the government can be very strict about reviewing such facts.

When claiming for home business deductions, an individual or work manager of the home based business must see to it that the internal revenue agency will be convinced of the existence of things mentioned and that every item enumerated as among the expenses are supported with legal papers. Most of the time, the officers of the internal revenue office demands pictures of the office as well as other proofs before applying it in the computation of taxes that has to be paid. This should not intimidate a person however as the things that the internal revenue office would require are often the basics such as pictures and official receipts.

There are several things that could be considered for home business deductions. The first one is the actual repair expenses made to the house. Expenses for things like repainting, assembling and restructuring of the house can be charged as a deduction. Even equipping the part of the home turned into office with the necessary furniture such as tables, chairs and lighting can also be treated as deduction. The owner of the business should however be careful not to include in the claims of deduction expenses that were incurred for the other parts of the house that are not used for business purposes.

Indirect expenses incurred during the operation of the business can also be claimed as home business deductions. In this category falls things that are not actually necessary for the operation of the business but is important in terms of security and in attracting clients to come over. An example of these items is having installed a security system to ensure the identity of the people coming in. Advertisements and printing of signage and other notices can also be considered. There are still lots of items that falls here, the consideration of which will depend on the internal revenue officer appreciation of the facts.

In sum, these home business deductions make home based business even more profitable. Not only do you get to be in control of your own time and schedule but you are also able to save in terms of legal fees. It is one thing that a person employed in a corporate place should think about. There is still nothing can beat working at home and not having a boss to worry about. Plus you are able to escape very high taxes.

My name is Bob Freedman and I've been working online for over 10 years. In that time, I've gained a huge amount of knowledge about working online. To learn more about homeworkjobscenter.com/home-business-deductions home business deductions as well as other great working from home jobs and techniques check out my dedicated home work jobs center website homeworkjobscenter.com homeworkjobscenter.com.