Could Illegitimacy Threaten the Legitimacy of the Group Living Business in America?

Millions of Americans cannot live alone and manage the many tasks it takes to have a safe day. This is why a variety of group living options with competent assistance and varying program types are needed.

For decades we have used the term assisted living, albeit loosely, to describe the program models about which we speak this week. Regulatory and other requirements vary state by state but I believe an enemy is lurking. What is that?

That enemy is illegitimacy or programs operating outside of the regulatory radar screen and whose very existence lacks safety, staff development, a consistent program model and clinical acumen. These unlicensed, unregulated, poorly maintained structures are popping up faster than you may think and they pose a threat to not only the legitimacy of the group living business but also the safety and well being of persons they house.

I visited one home the last few weeks with windows so poorly maintained they allowed air to flow in as though they were opened when they were closed. I saw dust so thick on baseboards that an asthmatic would be in serious jeopardy. I asked for proof of staff training in CPR/First Aid and was told it would be faxed to me. 3 weeks later, no fax and I doubt if I will ever see it.

Homes like these have no problem locating or attracting residents. Typically these residents are social security recipients and the disabled. Some qualify for benefits over and above what they are collecting; however, the illegitimacy of the home's operation prevents the operators from investigating such options. Surely you cannot call these programs person-centered.

Real estate used is often sub-standard and fire safety is questionable at best. Medications are passed by persons who have not attended approved direct care worker or medication training and rarely is there any training in behavioral management or in how to complement rehabilitative therapies. In some situations resident privacy and resident dignity are greatly compromised.

Add a more serious concern: These unlicensed homes do not participate in the long-term care workforce background check system. Therefore, no one knows if violent felons are employed in the home, registered sex offenders, pyromaniacs or others who have manifested behaviors which do not complement the expected safety and security of the care delivery environment.

What is perhaps most remarkable to me is that I have found hospitals and nursing homes making referrals to these unlicensed, unregulated facilities just so they can say they discharged a patient to a secure setting and not to the street.

As a result, members of the legitimate American care spectrum are contributing to the decline of neighborhoods and care quality by supporting illegitimate entities who do not subscribe to any one set of standards and whose operations consider themselves answerable to no regulatory agency or clinical protocol. This is troubling.

As a result of a lack of commitment to both community and quality care, the potential list of victims includes neighborhoods, residents who live in these homes and what all of us have come to respect as systems by which we live and conduct business. I heard second-hand that one operator of a home similar to the ones I have described remarked to a colleague of mine, "most of the people I have in my home used to be homeless so I'm doing them a favor."

What an illogical remark. A resident's present or past socio-economic status does not disqualify them from receiving quality services in a safe, well-managed, well lighted, regulated, aesthetically appealing environment.

I am not sure about you but I try and remain prepared for anything or anyone I perceive to be an enemy and I take no prisoners when I have to confront them. Why not treat this enemy the same. How can we do that? Here are a few possibilities:

1. Licensed, legitimate programs should report illegitimate ones to licensing personnel and help protect your line of business from inappropriate intrusion by those who do not support properly managed operations

2. Draw attention to hospital or nursing home personnel who favor these illegitimate programs by alerting American Care News. We will investigate, validate each claim and take the matter to hospital boards of directors and nursing home owners and point out the consequences

3. Make sure your programs shine through their regulatory compliant approach

Legitimacy must affect us in numerous other areas. For now let's just make sure it is not neglected in group living and maybe, just maybe we can put enough pressure on our enemy to make them re-think polluting our long-term care landscape.

Thanks for playing along this week. I look forward to our discussion on May 17th. In the meantime you can read articles like this every week by subscribing to: americancarenews.com americancarenews.com.

Seniors Needs Are Similar to Younger Adults in Many Ways But Considerably Different in Others

Seniors have the same needs everyone else has.

They need food, shelter, some secure income, friends, something to keep them entertained, and good medical care.

But it is also true that seniors may have other needs like handicapped accessibility at home, help with house keeping and shopping, or even skilled nursing and medical care.

While young people might need these things, too, seniors have more health issues and accessibility challenges than young people without disabilities.

But younger people may also have similar needs, too.

It seems sensible to build accessibility into all new or remodeled homes. Anyone who has had knee surgery knows that a few grab bars in the bathroom could really help. Lots of pregnant women would also vote for ground floor bedrooms and baths. And anyone who has had an accident or injury would, too.

So plan ahead.

1. Rig out your home to accommodate any health problems you may develop later or make a decision about where to move to if you get health issues. For instance some seniors are unable to cook at all, much less prepare healthy meals. Get help when you are at this point. Some elder care facilities will do this and other chores for you.

2. Get insurance to pay for elder care you need at some point in your life.

3. Have a living will so family members know what your wishes are if you can't make decisions, understand problems and communicate.

4. Try to stay close to friends and/or family when deciding where you want to retire.

5. Get to know people at Home Health agencies in your area. Know who are the best at what they do.

6. Try to stay mentally alert and involved in activities that keep you interested and happy, even after you have health issues.

7. Get good medical care. Some doctors and caregivers are better than others. If you don't feel comfortable with the care you are getting, get a social worker, pastor, friend or lawyer to be a patient advocate for you. You don't always have to handle everything alone. Get help if you need it.

Many seniors manage at home for most of their lives. But make plans and take actions that make you comfortable and safeguard you. Explore your options before you have to do it after something like a heart attack or a fall. It will make all your decisions easier if you know what you want to do.

Paula Stone is a lifestyle specialist. She works with her husband Ron in his various businesses including an insurance agency specializing in final expense insurance or burial insurance. Learn more at their websites, bestfinalexpenseinsurance.com Burial Life Insurance and bestburialinsurancepolicies.com Burial Expense Insurance.

Distilled Water Causes Early Death

I am sure everyone of us are aware of the health effects of drinking different types of water. Especially in the developed countries household, we don't drink unfiltered tap water which had not passed through the water purification systems for home because of its hazards to our health due to the containing like parasites, chlorine, fluoride and dioxins. So, the most used method (but not the best way) to get rid of all that is to drink distilled water where only water molecules (H2O) are being collected in the distillation process. Other ingredients are being separated due to higher boiling points than water.

It is perfectly right to say drinking unfiltered water is unsafe, however, it is equally right to say drinking distilled water on a regular, daily basis is potentially dangerous. This might provoke the anger to most health fanatics, where they spend higher price to acquire the bottled distilled water as per liter basis. Am I mad or insane to give that kind of comment? It has been long time since people are having the perception that distilled water is a clean and purified water and that's why it is charged more expensively than other drinking water.

Well, hear me out here. I did mentioned "people are having the perception that distilled water is a clean and purified...", it is truly cleaned and purified once you understand distillation process where water is boiled, evaporated, the vapor condensed then being collected as distilled water, which is free of dissolved minerals due to minerals have much higher boiling points. Traces of minerals which has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them had been removed effectively from our drinking water.

Studies shown that drinking distilled water cleanse or detoxify our body system for short periods of time (a few weeks continuously), and that's why some dietitian will include drinking distilled water as part of the programs. However, fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Dipping, washing foods or even cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them (osmosis process), thus the food will be less nutritious.

Distilled water is an active absorber and when it comes into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The more distilled water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Distilled water, being essentially mineral-free, is very aggressive, in that it tends to dissolve substances with which it is in contact. Notably, carbon dioxide from the air is rapidly absorbed, making the water acidic and even more aggressive. Many metals are dissolved by distilled water."

Little that we know, soft drinks and other carbonated drink that we are addicted to and consume frequently, are the most toxic commercial beverages which are made from distilled water. Studies have found that peoples that drink lots of soft drinks (sweeten or not) drain off huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals from the system, into the urine. As the amount of mineral loss considerably increases, the greater the risk for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally associated with premature aging.

Another could be the major concern of most women, that aging and disease is the direct result of the accumulation of acid waste products in the body. Increasing number of health care practitioners and scientists from around the world have been advocating this theory, happinesslifetime.com skin care and cosmetic company have been moving away from acidic ingredients and using water with natural minerals as the base of their products.

Besides aging, correlation between the consumption of soft water (distilled water is extremely soft) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease is also being frequently debated. Cells, tissues and organs do not like to be dipped in acid and will do anything to buffer this acidity including the removal of minerals from the skeleton and the manufacture of bicarbonate in the blood.

To avoid the likeliness of developing multiple mineral deficiencies and causing system in an acid state, it is advisable to stop drinking distilled water. Some might be persist ant in consuming distilled water, but supplement by taking minerals pill, which are not as deficient but still not as adequately nourished in minerals as drinking well balance water from a multistage filtration system which leave the good trace of minerals as it should be, as the nature intended. The ideal water for the human body should be slightly alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium and that's why getting a best home water filtration system is so important. The system that can filter or remove all the containing but keeping the good trace of minerals.

I am not trying to scare you off neither threatening you about buying a water purification products, but the true fact is disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of distilled water. Avoid it except in special circumstances. Longevity is associated with the regular consumption of hard water (high in minerals) and choosing the right whole house water treatment system is so vital especially for your love one.

Alvyn Khoo is a health researcher on water purification issues. Visit his site now at absolute-filtered-water-site.com absolute-filtered-water-site.com to get the facts on how to choose the best water purification system.

Senior Home Care Services Has Many Benefits Over a Nursing Home

As the United States people age, the focus on the number of looked for services will have to line up with the quality of the care rendered. For many years a spotlight has been placed on how well residents who reside in a nursing home are treated. Some understand that the level of care an individual obtains is dependent on how much family members are involved. Some mature children have trouble with placing their senior parents in a nursing home because of the negative press. Price is also a part in making this choice. An alternative to nursing homes is senior home care services, which allow a person to stay put in their home and receive the level of care that they will need.

Along with determining the price and care, the types of elderly home care services are chosen based on an individual's situation. Insurance companies have sought ways to trim down the costs of hospitalization and therapy services, which has opened the door for service providers who concentrate in giving these services at an individual's home. This reduces health care costs and allows an older adult to remain in their homes. The home care landscape has grown into a cutthroat business, giving greater options for people to choose from.

The advantages of having home care services rather than staying in a nursing home cannot be miscalculated. The intellectual portion of being able to keep some level of liberty can go a long way to improving the excellence of life for numerous elder adults. Most elderly only require assistance with regular, daily activities which may include transportation to doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, or bathing. Still, others may require more steady care, depending on their disease and how far it has developed.

A person who receives senior home care services can have more private attention than someone who lives in a nursing home. In a nursing home, a partial number of personnel must attend to a number of different people with varying degrees of needs. Receiving care at home can cost less than it does in a nursing home because of equipment costs that are factored into nursing homes. The annual costs of a nursing home differ by state, but in most cases, the costs far go above and beyond the median income of many older people. Those with Medicare soon find out that it only covers a little portion of long-term care, and that treatment is limited to the sort and number of days. The people that cannot come up with the money to supplement the costs of a nursing home could want to give home care services serious thought.

The topic of elderly home care is very broad in nature and I enjoy looking at all the aspects of it. Feel free to look at my other post about the options of squidoo.com/seniorhomecare senior home care services for your loved ones.

Travel Healthcare Staffing Services

Many healthcare professionals working in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in the US opt for travel healthcare jobs. This gives them the opportunity to work in different locations across the country. Healthcare travel jobs also offer carry good benefits and progressive careers.

Services for a Wide Spectrum of Healthcare Facilities

Leading travel healthcare staffing service providers offer staffing solutions at cost-effective service charges to jobseekers and employers throughout the US. These exceptional staffing services are utilized by a wide spectrum of medical care facilities include rehabilitation clinics, home heath agencies, long-term healthcare centers, medical groups, public and private hospitals, educational institutions, universities, government agencies, physicians groups, acute healthcare facilities, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and so on.

Duties of a Traveling Therapist

As a traveling therapy professional, the candidate must have the aptitude to treat persons of all age groups who are struggling with physical, emotional and mental disorders. They must be skilled to implement appropriate treatment plans after analyzing the strength and limitations of their patients. They have to evaluate and record the progress achieved by the patient at each stage of the treatment. For a career in travel health care, it is necessary to possess a master's degree in the concerned program and a state-issued license to work at different sites in the United States.

High Remuneration and Other Benefits

Obtaining placement through the travel healthcare staffing services of a well-known provider enables the traveling healthcare professional to enjoy a good remuneration and several other benefits such as paid housing, 401(k) retirement savings plan, completion bonuses, medical and dental insurance and much more. The pay package varies with employer, industry, location and experience. Working conditions also vary according to location.

Reliable Service Providers for the Best Solutions

Dynamic and qualified healthcare professionals seeking travel jobs can register their names with a reliable travel healthcare staffing service provider.

Travel therakare.com/healthcare-staffing-services.html Health Care Staffing Services - Therakare is a committed therakare.com/medical-travel-jobs.html medical staffing recruiter providing reliable medical staffing services to healthcare providers.

Freelancers and Small Business Owners: What to Look for in a Chamber of Commerce

In a previous article, Why Every Freelance Writer Should Join a Chamber of Commerce, I advised that every freelancer should join a Chamber of Commerce. However, not all chambers are effective.

Here I will outline what every freelancer and/or small business owner should look for before joining.

1. Dedicated Leads Meetings: What are these? Simply put, a time set aside just for passing/getting leads - no hobnobbing, no meet and greet, no speakers - a time just for getting and passing leads.

In my previous article, I outlined how this works, but a quick recap is as follows:

Members are given a specified time (usually 30-45 seconds) to give a short commercial about their product/service. Mine usually goes something like:

My name is Yuwanda Black and I am a freelance copywriter. I write/produce web copy, newsletters, sales letters, brochures and other marketing materials for small business owners. I work quickly and cost-consciously.

Recently, I provided a newly licensed realtor with all the copy for her website in just two days. A good lead for me today is a web designer, printer and/or communications manager.

NOTE: The reason I highlight the word today is that sometimes, as a business owner, you may be targeting a different market. For example, I do a lot of work with realtors and mortgage brokers.

However, I also write resumes. So, the next week, I may target recruiters at staffing agencies. Why? They often need resumes written, rewritten, edited and/or copy edited before they send them to clients.

As this example illustrates, it's important to think carefully about what you want to say during your presentation - because, as I stated in my last article, people listen peripherally UNTIL they hear something that strikes a chord for them.

After all members have completed their commercial, leads/referrals are then passed (hence, the need to be highly specific in your message).

2. Dedicated Leads Meetings - ON A REGULAR BASIS: One chamber I belong to offers networking events on an irregular basis. In my opinion, this is not effective, for the following reasons:

a) People do business with people they know, like and trust: If you don't see prospects on a regular basis, there is no chance to build a rapport. So, you never get to build any of these sentiments.

b) No chance to imprint your brand: If you can't get in front of prospects on a regular basis, there is no chance to imprint what you do on a prospect's brain. Most people have to meet you 3-4 times before they will remember your name, never mind what you do.

c) No chance to get a pulse of the community: Chambers of Commerce are the local business community - eg, realtors, bankers, web design companies, staffing agencies, physicians, etc.

Via this network, a wealth of information is often gleaned about the local economy - eg, how new zoning laws affect x, which companies are closing, which are expanding, types of industries projected to do well in the next 5, 10 years. It is a readily available research vehicle to learn a ton about what you can do to increase your business's bottom line.

For all of the above reasons, it is critical to know HOW OFTEN your chamber meets. In my opinion, it should be at least weekly. One of the chambers I belong to has dedicated leads meetings twice a week - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This allows everyone - no matter their schedule - to attend at least one.

3. Responsive Chamber Representative: As a new member, you are likely to be intimidated meeting other members. Even if this is not the case, you may not know anyone.

A good chamber will have a representative who literally takes you by the hand and introduces you to other members. S/he probably won't introduce you to everyone - but will at least make 2-3 introductions to get you started. It will usually go something like:

"Mary, this is Yuwanda Black. She owns Inkwell Editorial, an editorial services firm in the area. Yuwanda, Mary here has been a chamber member for the last three years. She owns the local print shop. I thought it would be good for you two to get to know each other."

Usually "Mary" will converse with "Yuwanda" about what she does and will introduce her to a couple of more people. Any savvy business owner can take it from there.

NOTE: It can be intimidating to walk into a room full of people you don't know and tell them what you do. But, and you will just have to trust me on this - chamber members are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

They are usually hardworking small business owners just like you - and most will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and at ease. AND, once you get a foothold in the organization, most members really do work to give you qualified referrals.

4. Lunch & Learns: Most chambers have enhancement seminars on a variety of topics of interest to small business owners - how to hire the right sales person, how to live a balanced life, the ethics of business, etc.

These are offered free or for a reduced fee to chamber members. Many times, the seminar presenters are chamber members themselves. Why is this important? It's an excellent chance for you to get your product/service in front of a group of interested prospects.

This also builds your presentation skills - and could ostensibly add another revenue stream to your business. Many times after a seminar I've had attendees approach me about doing some type of work for their firm - ie, an in-house seminar, produce a sales letter, an employee manual, etc.

5. Advertising: The final tip I have is that any chamber you join should have some way for you to get the word out about your business via more than just the networking. Eg, via an e-blasted press release, a job posting board, an online member directory, etc.

One of the chambers I belong to offers all of this. It's usually in some type of limited capacity, eg, no more than one press release per quarter, but is highly effective.

In summary, I was in business for years before I joined a chamber. My thinking was that they were just another organization that wanted a fee and would serve no real benefit. Boy was I wrong!

Building relationships via your local chamber will take some time (remember, prospects have to get to know, like and trust you), but the long-term benefits are beyond immeasurable.

May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to InkwellEditorial.com to learn how.

Homeowners Coverage Plan - Your Desired Home Insurance Policy

Your desire for the best home insurance deal is easy via the internet. People are ignorant of the ideal method to use to get this desired policy. You don't need to go looking for insurance companies in your area while there is a method that gives you all you need just a click away.

Providers are even tired of customers crowding there office to purchase home insurance policy. The internet has such much benefits. It is fast and less time consuming. It gives you the opportunity to get the package you want on your own. You can easily visit any insurance website of your choice and get the any type of coverage you need. No agency fee or extra fee is needed. The services of any insurance broker is not needed. In addition, you can make corrections when you fill it is necessary and you may wish to renew your policy if you feel the service is no longer effective.

Many cheap and reliable policies are there for you to choose. But you are advised to take your time before making a choice. In these insurance websites, get at least five (5) quotes and carefully compare them.

Internet service can only be achieved using an internet-connected computer. You are not restricted to get this services in any specified location. You may decide to use your office or do it under the comfort of your home. The online shopping requires you to be patient and you must be ready to spare 10mins of your time to get the best.

Where To Get Trusted Providers and Compare Their Free Quotes Online?

Here Are My Favorites: compare-home-insurance-quotes.info Home Insurance Quotes / mycheapinsurancepremium.com Cheap Home Insurance

Career in Healthcare Administration

If doctors and nurses are the first things that come to mind when you think of a career in healthcare, you need to think again. Doctors and nurses, while vital to the medical community, still need a host of trained and experienced professionals working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities. Organizations can run smoothly only with the help and expertise of managers and administrators who plan and supervise the day to day running and maintain the quality of services offered. The field of medicine is constantly being developed and re-invented through technological and scientific breakthroughs. Professionals in healthcare administration therefore need to be up to date with cutting edge technology and the changes inherent in such an industry.

Healthcare services as a career is poised to grow exponentially over the next decade or so. With 3.5 million jobs projected, healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the U.S. today. For students in high school interested in a career in healthcare administration, include courses in Math, English, Science, and Social Sciences. A foreign language such as Spanish could also work to your advantage. Entry-level positions in healthcare administration require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree. For a higher-level job or greater earning potential, you could follow up with a Master's degree as well. Most Bachelor's degrees in healthcare administration cover basic theory and an overview of the healthcare industry. Also included in the curriculum is the development of skills such as financial management, leadership skills, business.educationeasy.net business planning skills, and statistical analysis. A good healthcare degree program equips students with knowledge about economics, law, legal and ethical concepts, and the organizational structure in the medical community. Students may be encouraged to volunteer and garner work experience and internship positions at local

healthcare centers as part of their degree program.

If you choose a career in healthcare administration, you are assured of making a significant contribution to community health. There are several job options in this field that you can choose from such as administrative positions in hospitals, nursing homes, private clinics, healthhappinesslifetime.com care agencies, insurance companies, and even HMOs. Entry-level positions include health provider representative, accountants, marketing assistants, and project managers and consultants. Mid-level jobs could include positions such as department managers, contract negotiators, case managers, and marketing directors while senior-level positions include Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial officers and Vice-Presidents of various departments and services. With a health care administration degree, you could be handling a diverse range of responsibilities that include human resources, marketing, staff relations, planning, development, patient care services, government relations, and information systems.

You will be on call and your services will be required to solve problems, make critical choices and delegate and supervise a staff that could number in the hundreds. As you can see, healthcare administration covers a large area and what you do will ultimately depend on the size and type of the medical facility that employs you. Salaries are competitive but work schedules may be a bit demanding as most hospitals work 24/7. To be successful in this field demands a combination of communication skills, negotiating power, analysis of information and the ability to thrive under stress. If you feel this applies to you, then a career in healthcare administration may be exactly what you are looking for.

California College San Diego (CCSD) has trained graduates for new careers in high demand jobs since 1978. It offers associate, bachelor and graduate degrees in healthcare, business management, accounting, business administration, computer networking, computer programming and computer science. cc-sd.edu California College San Diego has the longest running premier Respiratory Therapy program in San Diego and also provides cc-sd.edu/college-degree-program.html accelerated degree programs with its FastFlex courses. Various I.T. degrees like Computer Technology and Networking Degree, Computer Programming Degree and Computer Science Degree are accredited by the ACCSCT.

Choose the Perfect Nanny in Five Easy Steps

If your family is sure a nanny is the way to go for home childcare, then the next step is to follow these five easy steps towards finding the perfect nanny candidate. Instead of starting by seeing what is out there in terms of nanny professionals, begin by turning your focus in on your own family for step #1, analyzing your childcare needs and family situation. Know before ever contacting a nanny agency or other means whether you want a nanny to live-in, or live-out; what kind of schedule the nanny is needed for; what extra tasks like housework the nanny will be required to perform; whether the nanny need to be provided a car, etc. Think about exactly how much you can afford to spend on a nanny's services and take all that information and write it up in a formal job description. With this written description in hand, it's time to find a nanny.

A great place to start when looking for a nanny is with other families and friends that are currently employing a nanny. It is likely that good reliable nannies working in your social circle or neighborhood will know where to refer your family to find the same, whether it be a friend, a former coworker, or a great nanny agency. With step #2 completed, it's time to move on to the technical end of things.

There are many legal and technical details to consider when hiring a nanny, including the International Nanny Association standards which constitute step #3. For example, a proper nanny must be at least 18 years of age, have proof of immunizations, be in good health, and have received a high school diploma or equivalent. If these bases are covered move on to a nanny background check (it's always a good idea to do your own), a thorough interview, reference and work history check, and a review of everything from the nanny's driving record, criminal history, and educational background.. Always be sure a new nanny candidate is legal to work in the United States before accepting her as an employee.

Should everything check out, it's time to move on to step #4 where the nanny spends some time with your family. The child nanny relationship is one of the most important in this situation. Spend time with the nanny including one interview with the her alone, and another with her and the child together. Always be upfront and honest about expectations and job conditions during the interview, and don't be afraid to ask tough questions. This person will be taking care of your child, so you'll want the best possible nanny candidate for the job.

Lastly, don't neglect the fact that you will now not only be a parent, but an employer. As such, you will have to comply with step #5, complying with Nanny Tax laws. This not only encompasses taxes nanny will have to pay, but the payroll taxes like federal and state unemployment insurance tax, and FICA you as an employer will have to pay. The bottom bracket for the tax is any nanny making more than $1,500 per year. If looking to hire a full time nanny she will likely be making quite a bit more than this, meaning you will have to comply with Nanny tax. Most families hire either a personal accountant, nanny agency, or purchase computer software to assist them with the Nanny tax registration and payment process.

enannysource.com/nanny-safety-legal/nanny-salary-taxes.aspx enannysource.com/nanny-safety-legal/nanny-salary-taxes.aspx

About the Author

Steve Lampert is the president of eNannySource, an online nanny agency that brings together families and nannies. Lampert has been helping nannies find nanny jobs and families find nannies. Steve has been in the nanny agency business since 1994. Prior to founding eNannySource in 2001 he ran a successful, award-winning nanny agency in a major city for over 10 years, during which time he worked with thousands of families and nanny candidates. Through this experience, he became familiar with the important steps in a nanny search, which he continues to apply to his business today. To find an excellent nanny or to find nanny jobs please go to: enannysource.com enannysource.com.

What There Is To Know About Senior Assisted Living

Senior Assisted Livings is needed for several individuals as they age and become less capable to perform daily tasks without assistance. In these cases it's necessary to determine alternate living arrangements. Assisted living is often a necessary option for elderly people who are having difficulty living independently. There are several various kinds of facilities that are available.

When seniors become a part of an assisted living community, they should be as independent as they can be. You will discover professionals offered to assistant the residents with whatever they might need but generally, the residents of such a facility can generally function on their own but need assistance with certain daily tasks. The residents are usually seniors who are lucid, functioning individuals that may be too frail or have suffered some kind of disability that impedes their ability to totally care for themselves.

The facilities range in the kinds of services which they provide so it is essential to know what services are included in the residency. The living facilities also vary between the several types of assisted living centers. The rooms are generally an appropriate size and will be equipped with all of the basic necessities of a home. The residents may bring in their own furniture along with other items to make their quarters, personal living space. Most facilities usually do not allow pets but certain exceptions may be made for small pets like fish.

Residents that require special medical attention will receive this from a trained medical staff. Medication could also be monitored and administered if this is needed by the resident. The other residents are able to interact during planned social activities. There are actually games, entertainment and social gatherings arranged for the residents. Living in such a facility is often a wonderful means of spending the golden years.

The centers are secured by alarms, cameras and personnel in most cases. The residents can lock their doors. The residents are made to feel safe and secure in the facility. The property is constantly monitored by security staff and the residence are know who to make contact with if they notice any breach in security. There are policies and guidelines the residents are made aware about before becoming residents.

Living assisted facilities can look many different ways. For facilities which are in the city, they tend to be apartments on the upper floors and a common room on the entry floor. In more suburban areas, the facilities could be structured as separate bungalow homes. Each resident has their own unit on the main property. This is very similar to living on their own however they have easily available help whenever they need it.

The assisted living centers work to make life as comfortable as possible for their residents. Each one of these provides several types of services, so you have to know what you should need before becoming a resident. Some even have private vans that transport their residents to numerous locations. Any special request can be honored but this should be discussed with the personnel.

Senior assisted living facilities can be found all around the United States. Both have their own personality and technique of performing their services. Most centers are kept to a moderate number of residents to prevent overcrowding. And also the rooms usually are good and allow the resident to feel at your home.

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Sell Your Home on the Internet

With the internet now being so readily available to most households, the world wide web has become a massive marketplace for pretty much anything that you could ever need to buy. These days that includes a new home. More and more people are using the internet to advertise their property and more and more people are looking there before they even look to the real estate agents. Last year 25% of home buyers bought their property through the internet. That is a staggering number and one which will increase considerably with each year. If you are planning to deal with your own real estate sale then you really should think about trying to sell your home on the internet.

There are many dedicated sites available to you should you decide to sell your home on the internet. These will vary in the services that they offer and their associated charges. On some sites you will be able to advertise your property, but any dealings with potential buyers will be entirely down to yourself. You will just have an advertisement on the site and anyone interested will contact you via your posted telephone number or email address.

Other sites will be more involved in your home selling procedures and will give you help and advice and follow you through the process. You can pay a range of fees depending upon the service that you opt for. Each aspect will carry a fee, such as a charge for listing your property right through to a complete tailor made service which will include the introduction of potential buyers and arranging of viewing times with you. Be very careful when you are registering for a service to help you to sell your home on the internet. Some of the fees structures can be a little complicated and you must always make sure that you are aware of the services that are included in your package. Some will include a service to help you through the legal red tape towards the end of the process, when it is time to sign contracts etc and some are more of an introduction agency for property.

One important aspect of property selling is to make sure that your house looks as good as it can in the photographs. As this will be the first impression that most people will get of the property, you should make it look its best. This may mean waiting for a sunny day rather than taking a photograph in the rain! It may seem a little absurd but it does make a psychological difference to people. They probably will not even realise it, but it will alter their impression! Make sure that the outside and inside of your house are as neat and uncluttered as possible. This is important whether you decide to sell your home on the internet or via more traditional routes. Try to remove as much personal clutter as possible and leave the place neat and tidy at all times.

These days, deciding to sell your home on the internet is a great idea. If you take a quick look at the various websites available you will surprised to see the huge number of people that are using the internet as a real estate market place.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about sell your home on the internet [realestatesellingonline.info/sell-your-home-on-the-internet], please visit Real Estate Selling Online [realestatesellingonline.info] for current articles and discussions.

Entrepreneur Opportunities Online - Web Hosting, Set Your Sights on Big Money

For the computer savvy entrepreneur, a web hosting reseller business can provide a prosperous online opportunity. The Internet has exploded within the last few years and it seems like there are millions of websites online, in fact there are billions of them and more are added every day. These websites all have one thing in common they are all hosted on a server. Being hosted means that in order for a website to be visible on the Internet it must exist somewhere on a computer that can be accessed at any time by anyone. If you have your own website you already have it either hosted or are using your own computer to display it online.

If you have access to an unlimited high speed Internet connection, a server type of computer, all the associated software along with the technical knowledge you can run your own hosting company. For most of us this is a little beyond our reach, but this does not mean we cannot still run a hosting business. Instead we can run what is known as a reseller hosting business.

Essentially hosting a reseller business looks like this; you agree to rent a host server from a major server company. In your contract you opt for the reseller type of account and then you can rent out small sections of your server to other customers. The parent company assumes responsibility for maintenance of the server, supplying operating software along with anti-virus and anti-spam software. This save you a lot of time and money so you can concentrate on taking care of your customers needs.

Once you have your server you can then market space on it to your local businesses, in fact this is a great way to start a home based business. In most areas there are a great number of home businesses that need a way to market their particular business online for a reasonable price; this gives you the chance to help another local business get a good start.

Getting started is easy for the most part, you will need to rent a server of your own and establish your own website on it. Your website should be dedicated to advertising your service complete with articles extolling the virtues of choosing your services over anyone else's. Remember you are trying to start business in an area where there is a lot of competition. Offering a low price is not going to necessarily be enough to secure you customers; you have to have something extra to attract new clients.

Depending on what type of customers you want to attract, you can offer them specialized software tailored to their business or offer to help them find content to keep their site up to date and looking fresh. In fact focusing on one particular type of client can work to your advantage as you will only have to learn software specific to their needs, which will give you a higher level of expertise than a generic company.

Starting locally is the best way to go; many of your local businesses are probably in need of a good website so if you can offer them a place to host their site and help them with setup and content, your new business will flourish.

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Hiring Home Health Aides/Companions for Your Loved One

When searching for care for your loved one, it requires a certain type of work to find what is right for them. To start you should take a pen and paper and make a list of their needs. You might be able to get them some help with their personal activities, such as laundry, bathing, dressing, cooking and cleaning. You might be able to find volunteers, like family and friends, but you might have to hire a Home Health Aide, who provides personal care, cleaning and companionship in their home.

Depending on the needs, only some home care can be given by licensed health workers, like skilled nursing and other treatments for illnesses, that can be performed by a licensed nurse or a licensed therapist. Medicare will only pay for home care if they meet certain conditions, so it is best to check with Medicare before you decide on hire a nurse.

You can hire a home health care agency for care in their home but Medicare usually does not cover home care. It is going to be an expense paid by you or your loved one. Rates vary among agencies and private Home Health Aides, so it is up to you to verify all the information necessary to provide safe and secure care.

For agencies in your area you can look at the Home Health Care website, or the National Association for Home Care. You will find what type of care they would need and where to call for more information.

You may find the below home health services available in your community:

Skilled nursing care/CNA
Homemaker/Home Health Aides/Companions
Personal care aides
Respite care and
Hospice

Homemaker/Home Health Aides provide medical and personal care for the elderly or even disabled living in their own homes or certain Care Facilities. They work under the supervision of an RN or LPN and sometimes a Physical Therapist to provide Health related services. A Home Health Aide is required to record the services they perform and the client's progress. If the Home Health Aide is not certified they are unable to provide certain types of care, such as administering medication.

Personal care and Companions provide housekeeping and certain personal care services. They can also clean the home, do laundry, shop, schedule appointments and accompany the client to a doctors appointment. They are not required to carry a Home Health Aide license if they are not providing certain personal care, they are however required to have a background check and possibly drug testing.

Respite Care:

Respite care is usually provided through the DDD (Division of Developmental Disabilities). They provide Respite Care Providers under their supervision in a home for the disabled to relieve the parents or caregivers and provide them time to themselves while the Respite Provider tends to the disabled client. They also can accompany them to doctor appointments or take the client on outings to provide them with some entertainment.

Respite, is a break for families and can be temporary or permanent and is provided to children and/or adults with disabilities, or with chronic or terminal illnesses, and to children at risk of abuse and neglect. The care can be provided in or out of the clients home and depending on their needs can be ongoing or short-term. Respite care providers are required to complete a course for nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/resources/info/danielleslaw2.html Danielle's Law and receive a certification, have a background check and a drug test and be CPR certified prior to providing care.

When seeking qualified to care for your loved one it can be overwhelming. Take your time and do extensive research and interview the provider and introduce them to your loved one. It takes a certain type of personality to provide care for the elderly or disabled and they do not always click with certain providers, so be sure they are comfortable before allowing them to care for your loved one. Also, check with the agency or if a private aide to make sure they have a background check, that they are bonded and the Agency or Individual is insured. With these tips you will be able to make an informed decision for your loved one.

How a Nursing Agency Business Will Change Your Life

Our health care system today is already stretched thin. This has something to do with the current shortage. Majority of our health care sectors are nurses and definitely, their shortage will have a major impact on health care services being rendered. Some forums at health care sectors sited incidents why we have to be worried on lack of nurse's manpower at hospitals and nursing homes. They said that because of insufficient pool of nursing staff, their loved ones are not giving proper attention and unfortunately, dies. Studies also showed that because of this shortage, hospital deaths rate increases.

We should be scared for ourselves and our loved ones on the worst effects of nursing shortage. The government, nursing schools, law makers, hospitals and even the general public must find a way to ease this problem.

Experts and analysts projected that shortage will aggravate for the upcoming years. Based on the current number of nurses that we have, demand of nurses will go higher than any other profession. We will have 2%-3% increase of nursing shortage every year making nursing profession as the most sought after job today.

The intensifying nursing shortage is the reason behind the success of nursing agency business. Nursing agencies are booming because many hospitals and nursing homes employ their services to temporarily fill the vacant positions. By doing this, they at somehow eases the problem on nursing shortage.

"How to start a nursing agency" manuals are flooding all over the internet. These are manuals that teaches and guides anyone who wanted to venture into nursing agency, nurse registry, medical recruiting or as an independent medical contractor. Many had proven that "how to start a nursing agency" manuals had made it possible for them to engage into this multi-billion industry.

Gerson Moore is an expert in providing information about nursing shortage solutions, assisted living, nursing recruitment, effective healthcare businesses, and other healthcare-related issues. As a skilled writer in this field, Gerson Moore has been an adviser for online healthcare business starters on startinganursingagency.com How to start a nursing agency

Emergency Supplies -- Where Are They?

As we go through life we have emergencies of various sorts follow us along. Government agencies will respond to community disasters, but we must take care of ourselves the best we can. All of us may be on our own for hours, days, or even weeks after a disaster strikes. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least three days--at a minimum. In some emergencies, such as an influenza pandemic, you may need to prepare for a week or more. Below is a list of items you may find useful if an emergency strikes you:

Emergency Survival Kit: Store one of these at home, at work, and at each child's school or daycare facility. The Emergency Survival Kit should contain the below listed items, as a minimum.

o Dry or canned food and drinking water for each person.

o Can opener.

o First aid supplies and first aid book.

o Copies of important documents, such as birth certificates, licenses and insurance policies.

o "Special needs" items for family members, such as infant formula, eye glasses and medications.

o A change or two of clothing.

o Sleeping bags or blankets.

o Battery powered radio or television.

o Flashlight and extra batteries.

o Whistle.

o Waterproof matches.

o Toys, books, puzzles, games.

o Extra house keys and car keys.

o List of contact names and phone numbers.

o Food, water and supplies for pets.

We all like to live a comfortable lifestyle, but who knows when a disaster may strike. Listed below are some other items you can store at home for use during an emergency:

Cooking Supplies:

o Barbecue or camp stove.

o Fuel for cooking, such as charcoal or camp stove fuel.

o Plastic knives, forks, and spoons.

o Paper plates and cups.

o Paper towels.

o Heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Sanitation supplies:

o Large plastic trash bags for trash and water protection.

o Large trash cans.

o Bar soap and liquid detergent.

o Shampoo.

o Toothpaste and toothbrushes.

o Feminine and infant supplies.

o Toilet paper.

o Household bleach with no additives and eyedropper (for purifying drinking water).

o Newspaper--to wrap garbage and waste.

Comfort:

o Sturdy shoes.

o Gloves for clearing debris.

o Tent.

Tools:

o Ax, shovel, broom.

o Crescent wrench for turning off gas.

o Screwdriver, pliers, hammer.

o Coil of one-half inch rope.

o Plastic tape and sheeting.

o Knife or razor blades.

o Garden hose for siphoning and fire fighting.

This is a general list you may want to go by. It is by all means not a complete list of everything that may be needed if a disaster strikes you. Be prepared and be safe.

Ted Marlett has a commitment to education in Home and Business security. Mr. Marlett has written many articles on home security and personal protection. For more information on your home security and personal protection check out nwsecurityproducts.com NW Security Products.

Clean Those Building Sites

You may be experiencing difficulty in keeping your business or home clean. If you live in Wokingham you can hire a sparkle clean or builders cleaning agency to attend to matters that you don't have time to take care of. As you may have noticed there are many agencies in Wokingham to choose from. This is excellent because you will have competitive prices for the area.

Should you be a business owner in Wokingham you know the importance of having spotless surroundings. A clean restaurant, pub, office building or retail shop will invite customers in. The sparkle clean agencies in Wokingham can render daily cleaning services to keep restrooms, windows and the floors in pristine condition. These aren't the only areas that a sparkle clean business can help you with. If you have landscape or building maintenance concerns a Wokingham cleaning agency can provide you with this attention as well. Choosing the sparkle clean business that can meet your needs and adhere to your schedule is easy.

The Wokingham sparkle clean or builders cleaning business has employees that are highly trained in cleaning and safety issues. They comport themselves in a professional manner and are outfitted in uniforms for a professional look. The employees of an agency will be able to reach those higher areas where dust collects. They will work efficiently and without disturbing your daily business routine. If you need the Wokingham sparkle clean employees to come in after hours, the agency can accommodate this request.

Although we have been discussing Wokingham sparkle cleaners in an office venue they are fully able to help with household cleaning. They can dust the carpet, clean the windows and even take care of dirty upholstery. If there are stubborn stains in your bathrooms the appointed team reponsibile for the work can effectively remove it for you.

Builders cleaning agencies in Wokingham can take care of all the construction dirt left behind before the new home owner moves in. Imagine how much your client will appreciate a builders cleaning in Wokingham. They can place the furniture and enjoy their surroundings. If you are the owner of a new commercial building the Wokingham builders cleaning agency you choose will need to have equipment that will reach all of the windows. References from clients of the builders cleaning in Wokingham should be readily available through online links. This will be a testimony to the quality and efficient nature of their staff.

You may have an older building that requires a facelift, many also need to add the cleanup process as a finnishing touch. These agencies should be able to provide an extensive outside cleaning such as a pressure wash. The sparkle clean and builders clean agencies in Wokingham are generally fully insured. This will give you peace of mind when hiring an agency that should anything be damaged while cleaning it can be replaced for you by the Wokingham sparkle clean or business clean agency. Give your workers a clean, comfortable place to work in with Wokingham sparkle cleaners.

When iving a building a facelift, or just getting rid of old building trash, make it sparkling clean without the effort, outsource your cleaning requirements. Get the mess clreared using a service in your area. for example: cleanuk.net/sparkle-and-builders-cleaning-wokingham.htm Sparkle Clean Wokingham and cleanuk.net/sparkle-and-builders-cleaning-wokingham.htm Builders Cleaning Wokingham should be part of your search focus.

Home Loans 101 - Buying, Refinancing & Getting Lenders To Say Yes

Buying a home is a big step. In fact, it's the most expensive purchase that most people will ever make. Unless you are fortunate enough to be able to pay cash for your new abode, you will soon become familiar with home loan lenders, greeneasylife.com mortgage loan interest rates and all of the necessary paperwork that is required to get your home loan approved. A greeneasylife.com mortgage loan, also known as a home loan, can be a lengthy process. If you want to minimize your time spent working with home loan lenders and start enjoying your home faster, it's the perfect time to learn everything that you can about greeneasylife.com mortgage loans.

When most people purchase a new home, they either plan to live in it for many years or are purchasing it with the thought of later cashing in on the equity if the property value increases. In deciding which kind of home loan to apply for, you must first decide how long you plan to live in the home. A fixed rate greeneasylife.com mortgage loan is a popular choice among those who plan to live in a home for 10 years or more. As the name implies, this type of home loan offers the buyer a fixed rate over the entire life of the loan, which means the interest rate will never change.

An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is one in which the interest adjusts according to the current market rates. This type of home loan is popular for those who plan to sell in several years in order to cash in on rising property values. Interest-only loans, on the other hand, allow potential home buyers to make payments toward the loan's interest for a specified amount of time.

In determining your eligibility for a greeneasylife.com mortgage loan, your credit report will be accessed so that the home loan lender can evaluate your creditworthiness. Today, the average American's credit score is under 700, but even those with lower scores can be approved for a greeneasylife.com mortgage loan. The truth is that you don't have to have excellent credit to obtain a home loan. In fact, more home loan lenders are granting bad credit loans to those who currently have the ability to repay or have shown improvement in their credit report. Even if you have a bankruptcy on your credit report, most home loan lenders will begin to consider your application after two years.

Before applying for a greeneasylife.com mortgage loan, it is recommended that you check your credit reports from each of the three major reporting bureaus, including TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Inspect each entry carefully and make sure that all notations, including account numbers, balance, payment history and contact information are correct. If anything needs correction, file a dispute with the credit reporting agency and await their reply. When you apply for a home loan, your eligibility and interest rates will be determined by the information contained in your credit report, which is why it should be completely accurate when you are ready to submit a loan application.

If you are considering a home greeneasylife.com equity loan based on your property's current value, there are a number of home loan lenders who are more than willing to accept an application. The amount granted for a home greeneasylife.com equity loan will greatly depend on your home's equity, but it will also depend on your ability to repay the debt. Most home loan lenders offer a free qualification process that will give you a good idea as to how much, if any, you can borrow against the current equity in your home.

The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial advice relating to greeneasylife.com mortgage loans, home loan lenders, bad credit loans or the lending process as a whole. For additional information, consult with a lender who specializes in these types of loans.

Andrew Daigle is an owner, creator and author of many informational websites including information for personal-payday-student-loans.com Auto Loans, Personal Loans, Student Loans and Payday Loans, and Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes [auto-insurance-quotes-cheap.com/] for finding the best auto insurance in your state.

Senior Caregiver Job Applicant Questions

Senior caregiving provides fulfilling work for individuals who are compassionate and dependable. Many opportunities exist as seniors often need just part-time care when family members are not able to check in during the week or when recovering from an illness or surgery. Some caregiving positions require certification as a nursing aide or home health aide and other positions simply require a caring personality. Senior home happinesslifetime.com care agencies typically train caregivers for each assignment. Nursing homes and assisted living communities offer positions as activities director and nursing aides.

What questions should you ask to make sure the individual will be trustworthy and caring? Here is a list of suggested questions which are typically used by professional senior home happinesslifetime.com care agencies when interviewing caregivers to join their care team.

What attracted you to entering the profession of senior caregiver?
Please share a story about an interaction you have had with a senior in your life, as a relative, friend, or caregiver.
Please walk me through your employment history and tell me what you liked the most and the least about each job.
What are your short-term and long-term goals for employment?
Based on your experiences with the elderly, what do you like most about spending time with seniors?
What do you think are a seniors greatest fears and concerns?
What do you think are the characteristics of a good caregiver?
Which of those characteristics do you feel you posses?
What skills do you feel you would need to improve upon or develop as a senior caregiver?
Do you have experience in providing personal assistance (bathing, toileting, feeding)?
How would you handle a situation where the senior does not want to cooperate? Example: the senior does not want to take their medications at the scheduled time.
How would you handle or behave in an emergency situation?
How would you begin to develop a friendly relationship with a new client on your first day?
Please let me know what medical conditions you have personal or professional experience in working with: Alzheimer's Disease/Memory Loss, Parkinson's disease, hip replacement, stroke, diabetes, cancer, M.S., others?

These questions have been developed by human resource professionals with years of experience and will achieve the goal of finding out the caregiver applicant's interest in performing care as an employee and their skills and dependability.

It is also important to perform background checks on potential caregivers.

Beware of any background check service that is offered for free or in tandem with a subscription service as a good background check will cost at least $15.00 for a one-time purchase by an individual.

This is because courts do require an entry fee, similar to how a nightclub charges, and it is important to also have computer records verified by a person in counties that do not keep their criminal databases updated daily.

Most background checks that are given for "free" are simply a name and social security number match. When hiring a caregiver, you may want to learn about the background caregiverlist.com/BackgroundCheck.aspx check laws in your state. The best way to make sure you have all the necessary insurance protections and active management for a caregiver is to hire a professional senior happinesslifetime.com home care agency which will provide worker's compensation insurance, professional liability insurance and a training and performance reviews for the caregiver.

Julie A. Northcutt, President of Caregiverlist.com, works to connect seniors and their loved ones with quality senior care options and caregivers with employment opportunities. Learn about complete senior care choices, along with quality standards, costs and ways to pay and learn about hiring caregivers by visiting: caregiverlist.com caregiverlist.com

Child Care Centers & Services Provide TLC For Children of Working Parents

Child care centers and services provide care and supervision to minors usually under the age of five. Caring for kids is provided and met in different ways and these include care at their home or babysitting, in an organized child care center, and in a provider's home. Other centers & services involving older kids are provided by after school and summer school programs, among others.

There are two main types of services:

center-based and family-based which are provided by persons paid to do these jobs such as pre-school teachers, nannies or babysitters caregivers

Surviving Due Diligence - An Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

The due diligence process is the verification that all representations made by the seller are accurate and correct. Generally, this is an extensive review performed by the buyer in the areas of clinical processes, operational procedures and financial records. It can be an exhaustive process on the part of the seller because each potential buyer is always looking for something a little different than the last.

As a former happinesslifetime.com home care agency owner who has recently undergone the grueling due diligence process the best advice I can give sellers (or potential sellers) is to get organized now! It never hurts to have all important company documents in one place. If a company is selling or thinking of selling, the amount of energy you will invest if you are not organized can be extremely time consuming. I prepared numerous different types of packets to address the inquiries of various potential buyers during my sales process.

Buyers want quick responses to their requests so it is important to be able to produce the information as rapidly as possible. Being organized is the key to getting information to the broker and/or the buyer as quickly as possible. Below is a sample of some of the information requested by the buyer when the due diligence process begins:

Request for Information for Medicare Agency

1. Financial Statements for past three years (month by month and YTD).

2. Bank Statements for three years.

3. Three years of personal and corporate tax returns.

4. Most recent Cost Report.

5. Most current PS&R covering 3 years.

6. Copy of License(s) and certificates.

7. Terms of Current leases and description of real estate.

8. Org Chart with job titles, hire dates and pay rates.

9. Payroll Information including employee information, contractor rates and contracts.

10. Past three years unduplicated admissions by month.

11. Copy of most recent surveys and related POCs.

12. Description of employee benefits.

13. Types of referral sources and admits by referral source.

14. Contracts with Pay Sources and Vendors.

15. Corporate Structure and Ownership and articles of incorporation.

16. List of software and contracts with vendors as applicable.

17. Billing/Payroll process and 2 years of payroll reports.

18. Accounting Process (how is revenue realized).

19. Insurance Policies.

20. Statistics Reports.

My suggestion is to get a large three ring binder, create a table of contents and put a copy of all the above documents in the binder. Secondly, develop an electronic file on your computer with a copy of all of the documents so they can be e-mailed quickly to the broker. It's a good idea to spend the time to download your financials to an Excel Spreadsheet, that way the numbers can be easily manipulated by the broker and/or the buyer as they are verifying the valuation of your company. Many software accounting systems allow the user to export data in an excel format. Set up one workbook called "due diligence" and import as much of the above data into it as possible. It will make life so much easier when a prospective buyer requests information. Finally, update the information on a regular basis to keep it accurate and current in both the electronic format and the hard copy binder.

The final survival piece, in my opinion, is to drop all of your expectations and develop an awful lot of patience. Working with a broker that you trust and feel comfortable with can reduce the stress dramatically. It often takes upwards of six months for an agency to get from listing to close. The emotional roller coaster of the ride can make your nerves stand on its ends. However, just by knowing you have a knowledgeable and experienced representative whose interests are aligned with yours will relieve much of the associated anxiety. The important thing to take into consideration is that the ride ends with a big reward at the finish. Keep yourself organized with your eye on the prize at the end of the ride and you will sail through your experience a lot easier than did I!

Monica Bourke, RN is an Associate with Fleetridge Pacific, a Fleetridge.com Home Care Mergers and Acquisitions firm located in San Diego, CA. She is an experienced consultant in the Home Care Industry. She authored numerous community articles related to Home Health Care and care of the elderly and is a frequent guest columnist with Register Publications.

Using an Agency is the Best Way to Find Domestic Staff

When life gets hectic, there is absolutely nothing wrong with delegating personal responsibility to a domestic staff. Having a little extra help in the home can reduce stress, and make life more enjoyable. With the help of a personal assistant, housekeeper, gardener, nanny, or other domestic staff member, you can finally have a little extra time for yourself. What you choose to do with that time is completely up to you.

It is important to know that in order to find dependable help with impeccable references, using an agency is the best way to find domestic staff. While placing an ad in the newspaper yourself may be a tempting thought, it is actually never a good idea. Everyone reads the newspaper, and, honestly, you have absolutely no idea who it is that is answering your ad. Although a person may claim to have references, and may even give you the names of ex-employers, how do you really know that these references are for real? In all honesty, you can't. And you certainly don't want to place a domestic staff inside your home, to work among your most personal possessions, without knowing for certain that they are reliable and honest.

If you truly want to feel confident in hiring a domestic workers, use a dependable agency that can supply you with honest, hard-working individuals. An agency will do all the necessary background checks for you, and will ensure that you are hiring someone that you can rely on. Domestic staff agencies hire out only the most qualified men and women with years of experience and proven references and job history. With the use of an agency, you can just sit back and relax while they find the best person or persons for your requirements.

What type of help are you looking for? Do you need a personal assistant to help with your everyday life? Or how about a nanny who can help tend to the children while you are at work? Perhaps a housekeeper can help keep your home looking tip-top at all times. Whatever you require, you will get the best help available by using an agency to help find a

domestic workers suited for your needs. They specialize in matching the right employers with the right domestic staff, and having the right staff can make life so much easier and less stressful.

Claire Meade Recruitment is one of the UK's premier domestic staff, live in carer, clairemeaderecruitment.co.uk housekeeper and nanny agencies. They have some of the most reliable and professional domestic staff on their books and have helped clients to find the best staff for their needs. To find out more, contact them today.

Solid Home Business Income - How to Capitalize on Two Massive Market Shifts

Every 6 seconds another "Baby Boomer" is retiring. This is a major consumer-driven market shift that will continue to happen for the next 2 to 3 decades. This phenomenon is beginning to affect several major industries like Government and Health Care.

One of the major industries seeing tremendous growth has the distinction of being one of the largest industries on the planet already. Travel, a whopping $7 trillion/year industry, is expected to double in only a few short years. This makes sense if you think about it. What do most people say they would do if given the freedom of time and money? Travel...Travel...Travel.

We are in the midst of another market shift as well. This of course is the full throttle stampede into the information technology age, to include mobile devices and the Internet. Actually purchasing products and services online has become second nature to millions of consumers and businesses alike. Think back when you made your first online purchase; were you a bit nervous? Now think about all the transactions you've made online in just the last month?

These two major trends have collided. It is estimated that more than 80% of all travel is now booked online. It's no secret that a multitude of brick-n-mortar travel agencies no longer exist. Home-based referring travel agents are taking full advantage of the changing marketplace. To coin an often overused phrase, "They are at the right place at the right time".

When looking at starting your own home business, many experts believe it's best to position yourself at the leading edge of a large, rapidly growing industry. If the consumer is buying "it" anyway, why not buy "it" from you? This is of course assuming you can deliver the same product(s) at real competitive prices.

More often than not, people fall into the rut of selling products or services that consumers don't even know they need. Or, in some cases, the consumer is already buying them from someone else and you need to convince them why your "much more expensive" products are better. In this situation, the marketer is creating the "demand", not the consumer.

It requires a lot less effort to align yourself with products/services that consumers are already demanding, provide competitive prices and your personal service. This is the way of the smart home business owner.

Curtis Reznicek operates a successful home based travel business. His background ranges from 10 years spent in the U.S. Army to being a high school technology instructor for 8 years where he also coached basketball. His current travel business is booming with no slow down in sight. He's currently looking to mentor others with a desire to be successful in their own business. Visit his website at [WranglerTravel.com]

Important Research Before Choosing A Nursing Home

By following several simple steps you can learn a great deal about the nursing home you are considering for your loved one. There are sources of public information which will help you avoid selecting a facility where residents have been neglected and abused.

Sources of Information About Nursing Homes

Both the State and Federal governments gather information about the quality of care delivered by all licensed nursing homes.

Where to look

Medicare has a website called Nursing Home Compare at medicare.gov/NHCompare and each state's department of health services has a similar website or document center. Information about violations of Federal and State regulations regarding the quality of care at each facility can be found on these databases.

What to look for

Each state's Department of Health Services is required to survey every nursing home in the state at least annually, to determine whether they comply with Federal and State quality of care regulations. You can contact these agencies and inspect their surveys to get a sense of the care your loved one can expect at the facility.

Neglect and Abuse

There are many signs of neglect and abuse you should look for in these records. For example, was the facility cited for any of the following: failing to follow physician's orders, failing to report a change of condition to the patient's physician, a large number of facility acquired pressure ulcers, etc.

Selecting the right Nursing Home

Nursing Home residents deserve quality of care and with a little research you can go a long way in minimizing the risk of neglect and abuse.

Martin J. Solomon is a nationally recognized Elder Abuse Attorney. To learn how to protect your loved one in a Nursing Home and the warning signs of abuse and neglect, visit nursinghomeadvocates.com nursinghomeadvocates.com

What to Do When Selling Timeshares

The truth is, selling timeshares is not always easy. While you may be able to give someone a fantastic deal, it is likely that you will not make a profit from selling your timeshare. Hopefully, you were able to use and enjoy your timeshare so that you can get all the value out of it.

There are several things that you must do when selling timeshares. Since you may only get 10-25% of what you paid for it, each little thing you do could help you save money.

The first thing you must do is decide if you want to sell by owner or find a real estate agent or broker. The latter will cost you extra money, but the former can be more difficult.

If you choose to use an agent when selling your timeshare make sure they are licensed. This is your protection in case something goes wrong in the sale. You will have to research the state and country that your timeshare is in to see what sort of regulatory agencies there are. Then you must make sure that you choose an agent or a broker that complies with those agencies. The benefit of using an agent is that the complex paperwork associated with selling timeshares is taken care of. Also, these companies have access to potential buyers and marketing systems that individuals do not.

Additionally, if you choose to use a broker do not ever pay upfront fees. Instead, make them work on commission. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement where the agent will get you the highest possible price so that they can get the highest possible commission.

If you choose to sell by owner then you will have to advertise yourself. There are special magazines and websites that help timeshare buyers and sellers meet. If you choose to sell by owner you can save thousands in commissions and fees.

Whether you use an agent or sell by owner it is important to have an appraisal done. The only way to unload a timeshare is to market it at the right price. Timeshare appraisals will come out and look at the property and the desirability of the area to let you know how much your timeshare is worth.

Hopefully this information will help you get started selling timeshares. Do your research to ensure that you engage in a good and smooth transaction.

Learn more about sellingtimesharesnow.com selling timeshares because you could be sellingtimesharesnow.com selling timeshares now

Special Care For Special People

When nursing homes or assisted living facilities are not an option for care, many families will choose to hire a private caregiver to either live in the patient's home or come on a daily basis to give care. Care for the elderly in home has become a popular alternative to the traditional forms of elder care. Home health care can ease the burden of care without causing the remorse associated with leaving a loved one in a strange facility. There are numerous agencies available that will send certified employees into private homes to assist the elderly, thereby eliminating the need for institutional care.

Home health care is a great way to ensure quality of life for people with health issues. Most elder care agencies will include, with a contract, personal care, financial assistance, help with shopping, doctor visits, meals, light housekeeping, making sure the client follows a proper medication schedule, etc. Most clients can expect to be introduced to a prospective caregiver. Once a suitable caregiver has been approved by both the company and the client, that caregiver will remain with the client for the entire length of the contract.

Anyone is eligible for at home care. Advances in medical technology allow even the seriously ill patient to convalesce at home. Many patients become well acquainted with their caregiver's and start to consider them a part of the family. Those that are able, will buy their caregivers gifts or help them pay their bills. Patients can become very attached to their caregivers. Sometimes, if a client chooses, they can buy their contract out and hire the caregiver, to which they are attached, privately.

As with any health related issues elder care is not cheap. Long term care can be expensive and taxing on a patient's finances. Most agencies that offer care for elderly in home accept long term care insurance. What is long term care insurance? Long term care insurance is not medical insurance. Long term care insurance enables people, who feel they cannot afford home health care, to live their life with peace of mind. Knowing that you or your loved one will be able to afford the cost of home health care is invaluable. It is, however, better to get long term care insurance before a medical incident happens as precondition standards apply to long term care insurance.

For at home care that offers a wide variety of services, care for the elderly in home is an acceptable way to keep an aging family member happy and safe while ensuring their safety and regularity of care. Home health care can be affordable with the right type of insurance. Making the choice to use a home health care agency instead of an elder care facility is not an easy one. The most important issue at hand is maintaining a good quality of life for family members in need of assistance.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about care for elderly [elderlyhomecaretoday.info/special-care-for-special-people], please visit Elderly Home Care Today [elderlyhomecaretoday.info] for current articles and discussions.

10 Points You Should Look Out For in a Network Marketing Company Before You Join

As you all know there are many companies out there. If you were to Google 'work from home' you would get over 300 million results to sort through! For a newcomer it can be pretty daunting so this list should help and give a few pointers.

1. Your upline. Support, training, mentoring, coaching, whatever you want to call it, it is so very important. A good sponsor will provide reassurance and guide you through the early days and can help to get your business going. The motivation and encouragement are also a huge help. Some people can do well without an upline, some cannot. You choose if you are confident enough to find your own way.

2. Business Tools available. Find out whether you will be able to plug into the internet system in your group or not. It can make a big difference to your business.educationeasy.net lead generation and branding success.

3. Products or services. Make sure they are reliable. They should certainly be consumable so you get re-orders and build your customer base. Are they guaranteed? Are they safe and have they passed the standard regulatory checks? Can you get an unlimited and reliable supply? Most importantly...do they work?

4. Stability of the company. How old is it? Is the company established in its own right? Is it ethical? Is the particular industry flourishing? If you find anything except a positive yes for any of those questions you should think about looking around a bit more.

5. Territory. Will you be limited to a certain area to operate in? A no territory limit is better. Is there room for you to start in your area or is there a market for it? Do some research, it will be time well spent.

6. Entry Fees. If you need to pay a lot of money to join, be careful you are getting a product or training that will bring more than your investment, either in resale value or in knowledge. If you pay small money you should still receive something, whether it be products, training, catalogues, etc.

7. Getting Paid. You should get paid a commission on what you sell and what your recruits sell. You do not want to join a company that pays out solely on how many people you bring in.

8. Buy back Policy. Check that the company or maybe your upline will buy back from you if cannot sell something or you want to quit. They usually will and should do at a discount if the product is as new. You don't want to be left with a room full of product you have no intention of selling.

9. Direct Selling. Make sure the company is registered with the appropriate Direct Selling Agency.

10. Follow your Instincts. Even IF all the points listed are ok but you have a bad feeling, don't join. You are better to follow your gut instincts from the start as the business is YOURS, not the company's and not your upline's. As always, be true to yourself. Be disciplined. Be open-minded. Be moral. Most importantly, enjoy it!

Good Luck!

About the Author
Nick is a successful Network Marketer and has been involved for over 15 years, using both the old school and new techniques to operate his ever growing international organisation. Growing networks online, if you would like to connect with him on Facebook and Twitter username is nickmitchell01 on both, where you can also find interesting links concerning network marketing.

5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vet For Your Dog

Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals (as opposed to one who treats large and small - like horses, cows, cats and dogs.) Your community may only have vets that do a little bit of everything - and there's nothing wrong with that, if that's all that's available, but I'll remind you - you usually go to a specialist for your health issues, don't you?

If you're new in the community, or haven't needed a vet before - word of mouth is a great way to start looking for a new vet. Ask everybody you can get your hands on - co-workers, friends with pets, local humane societies or shelters. Ask questions: are they happy with their vet? Do they like the way they're treated when they take their dogs in?

If your dog is a particular breed, check with the local or state breed associations to find out who they use, or local breeders. This can be especially useful if you buy a puppy from a local breeder, because the vet will have seen your puppy and know at least some of his history.

You may want a holistic vet. Go to their website at ahvma.org ahvma.org and check out their referral directory. Or contact them via phone at (410) 569-0795

You may also be interested in a veterinarian who has been trained in acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture XE "Acupuncture" Society. Log onto their website XE "International Veterinary Acupuncture Society" at ivas.org ivas.org or call 970-266-0666.

Once you have a referral from someone you trust, here are some questions to ask:

1. What services does the vet offer?

Is it a one-doctor office, or a multi-doctor practice? As vets try to streamline services many are consolidating practices and forming partnerships and group practices. There's nothing wrong with this - just be aware that you may not always see the same vet. And find out if they offer 24 hour emergency services, or if he or she is affiliated with someone in the area who does. Like everything else in life, illness or accidents don't always happen between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

2. Does the vet offer a full surgery suite with on-site lab work? X-rays? Ultrasound?

If the vet has to send all lab tests to an outside agency to be processed, you may be getting popped with additional charges because those tests aren't being performed or processed in-house.

3. Get a fee schedule.

Cost is usually one of the biggest considerations for dog owners, and it should be lowest on the list of importance, at least in my mind. Not because cost isn't important - of course it is, but - if you have a vet that you're happy with - who gives your dog the best care you can possibly find in your area - does paying a little extra for that care really matter in the long run?

4. Check out the physical characteristics of the facility.

Is it clean, or does it smell? Are the ads or magazines in the waiting room current? (That may not sound important, but if the staff and doctors aren't keeping up-to-date on the latest and greatest information, this may not be the place you want to bring your dog.)

5. Communication - by that I mean how well does your vet communicate with you?

Will he or she explain the condition or illness in terms that you can easily understand, or do they try to confuse you with high-tech or medical jargon? A good vet will go over treatment options with you, explain necessary tests, review x-rays or test results, give complete and clear instructions for home care or further testing requirements, etc.

Take your time to do a complete and thorough evaluation before choosing a new vet. Your dog's life literally depends on what choice you make. Make it a careful one.

Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!" To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit: tinyurl.com/6u2cj tinyurl.com/6u2cj

SEO Agency - Factors to Consider Before Choosing an SEO Agency in Sydney - Part 2

In this article I will pick certain city for example Sydney is a large city and located in the state of NSW in Australia. Sydney is also the home of 4.3 million people. Now choosing the right SEO agency is very difficult and may not know where to start. Sydney's main locations are North Sydney, South Sydney, Western Sydney, Sydney CBD and the eastern suburbs of Sydney. To find a good SEO agency you need to consider the following factors:

High Ranking VS Number of Visitors:

Is SEO about high ranking? Do you think if you rank higher then that is the best result? No if you ask me I rather higher number of visitors over high ranking. I believe SEO is about increasing number of visitors and increase business.educationeasy.net business leads generation. Ranking high is good but will not beat high visitor as visitor will be a potential customer. The perception is higher ranking will bring higher visitors and this is not true if you ask me. Why? Because the page title and page description may not be appealing enough to attract visitors to your site. A good SEO agency will take this issue into consideration to produce a better result.

Conversion Rate:

A conversion rate is converting visitors to client. A good SEO company should give you a good advice on your website conversion rates. SEO agency can make your website more appealing by adding strong to call action such as call us now, make an online enquiry and so on... This technique will increase the business lead.

Guarantee:

A company that offer guarantee is a good company. A company that offers SEO ranking position guarantee is not professional because they have zero control over the search engine algorithm. Google and other search engine companies will advise the business community not to trust a company that offer search ranking position guarantee as this mean this SEO have an insider who knows Google secrets. I can assure you that Google algorithm is one of the world most kept secretes and only few people in Google know about Google algorithm. Therefore if an SEO company offers you #1 ranking guarantee then you need to find another one. A professional company may guarantee number of visitors or higher business.educationeasy.net business leads.

Company search engine ranking position for SEO phrases:

Not necessarily true if an SEO company is ranking higher than other companies is better. However it is a good way to show leadership in the industry. Sometime is hard to rank higher than other companies due to high number of links over the years and it may cost allot to outrank these companies an I'm saying six figure number to outrank these companies. However I see if a young company is out ranking these dominant companies then it is a great way to prove leadership over the older companies. As I advised earlier it is not the age or experience it is the performance that matters.

Package Details:

It is important to get a good SEO deal that matches your need. Some companies offer optimization per keyword, which is not the best. I believe the deal should really include optimising your entire website for all related keywords

I finally say you need to find a company that guarantee you a high number of visitors for lower rates. Having considered the case studies and you should not care if the company is large or small.

Sargon Odisho
Principal of Search Engine Pro
The leading firm for searchenginepro.com.au SEO Agency, seoservicessydney.com.au SEO Services Sydney