Enter the Age of Home-Based Senior Care

In the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, more and more elderly citizens are choosing to "age in place" by hiring providers of home care. Durham NC residents have much available to them in the way of geriatric health and living services. From the run of the mill nursing facility to luxury retirement communities - seniors have a number of lifestyle options by the time they reach the latter years of their life and determine that they're in need of more care than they themselves, or their loved ones, can provide.

Senior care, Clayton NC to Clayton MO, is not just another small, specialized area of health care - it is an expansive and lucrative business that is rapidly growing into a colossal industry as the Baby Boom generation continues to age, demanding a whole new slew of services - and lots of them. As the population of senior citizens here in North Carolina and across the nation skyrockets, the number of seniors using home care is expected to double - likely by the year 2030. Medical professionals, social workers, advocates for the elderly - not to mention the senior citizens themselves, are quickly discovering they're more comfortable being cared for in their homes than relocating.

Home care services can be chosen based on the needs of the patient. Depending on where you live and what you have available, you can find round-the-clock care providers or nurses to come in just a few hours of the day, on all or just certain days of the week. You can have special needs tended to as long as you have hired an agency that can dispatch medically trained caregivers. And if you're a cancer patient, an Alzheimer's patient, or you're on dialysis, for instance, you can find someone to come into your home to care for you and who has specialized training and experience with some or all of your unique medical conditions.

For sick and aging citizens who don't require health-driven home care, there are plenty of providers that offer basic care services at the patient's home. Lots of folks just need someone to help with things around the house and maybe run a few errands. Maybe your eyesight isn't what it used to be and you're no longer comfortable driving but sharp as a tack and still capable of performing most normal daily tasks. This is a scenario where a provider of home care, Clayton NC or wherever you live, would really work.

Major life decisions deserve a lot of consideration, particularly if they are costly and long-term. When, either alone or with their loved ones, seniors make the choice to age in place, it's crucial that a great deal of thought is put into the hired caregiver. Choose a home care provider in the Durham area that is reputable, well-established and that just feels right to you. Conduct thorough interviews and ask to see credentials for both the agency and the caregiver. This may be the biggest decision you'll ever make.

Written by Jenny Heart. Quality homecareraleighnc.com home care Durham: Receive home care Clayton, Alzheimer's and elder care through homecareraleighnc.com senior care Clayton NC, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest.

Risks to Know About in a Sell and Rent Back Scheme

Although there are many different benefits that can come out of a sell and rent back scheme it helps to be aware of some of the risks that can be associated with it. These risks are ones that deal with a variety of factors that you should know about before you get into this type of plan. They can easily influence various things with regards to one's home.

The first risk comes from how you will no longer be the owner of your own home when you get this type of plan. When entering a sell and rent back scheme you are essentially giving your home out to another agency that works with this type of plan. You are simply going to be seen as the renter of your property.

With this in mind the ability of you to do certain things in your home like make massive renovations or other types of services on your home could be extremely limited. In some cases a contract might be able to say otherwise but this is not always going to be the case. You will need to check your contract carefully to see what this part of the deal entails.

In addition to this while you will be able to pay a rent charge that can be lower than that of what you were originally paying with your mortgage there is no guarantee that the rent charge will be the same during the entire life of your scheme. There is always the risk that the value of your rent payments could end up increasing over time. This can happen due to a number of things including the possible increase in the value of the property that is being used in the contract over time.

You will also be able to get less money off of your home when you sell it and get into a sell and rent back scheme than if you sold off your property altogether. In many cases a traditional type of sale can be one where you can get close to what the property value of your home was. In this type of scheme you will end up getting much less than what you were originally going to get from your home.

While it is true that you can get into a sell and rent back scheme without having to deal with any repossession concerns you should know that you can still become eligible for repossession later on. This will come in the event that you fail to pay off the rent that you will have to deal with. When this happens you would be removed from your property and you will be forced to go somewhere else for a home.

Finally there is the risk of what could happen in the event that the agency that you handle a sell and rent back scheme with folds or goes out of business. If this happens you will be forced to either buy your property or be evicted from your property. This comes from how your property would be placed in the open market as soon as your home is no longer under the control of a scheme. These risks are important to consider when getting into this type of scheme. While you can get all sorts of helpful benefits off of a sell and rent back scheme you can still be at risk of being evicted and you can get less off of your home with this type of plan. Be sure to consider these factors when you are looking into getting into one of these plans.

Steven Martin is a FSA interim authorized provider of quickpurchase.co.uk/content/sell-and-rent-back Sell and rent back and also provides a Quick property sale and Stop repossession service. He works at quickpurchase.co.uk quickpurchase.co.uk

Mortgage Loans: Your Credit Score and Your Mortgage Application

When you apply for a mortgage or home greeneasylife.com equity loan the mortgage lender will use your credit score to determine how much of a financial risk you are and what interest rate to charge you. Many homeowners do not know their credit score or understand how it is derived; these homeowners overpay their finance charges as a result. Here is what you need to know about your credit score before applying for a loan.

Mortgage lenders use your credit score from the Fair Isaac Corporation. This credit score is referred to as your FICO score. FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850. If your credit score is less than 620 you are considered to have poor credit and are a risk for lending. If your credit score is 720 or greater you are considered to have excellent credit; if you have excellent credit you can negotiate for just about anything you want with your mortgage.

If your credit score is in the neighborhood of 500 you can still qualify for a mortgage; however, you will pay much more for nearly all aspects of the loan. There are mortgage lenders that specialize in poor credit greeneasylife.com mortgage loans; however, you may need to enlist the help of a mortgage broker to find a loan that is right for your individual situation.

As a homeowner it is important to stay on top of your credit score and your credit history. Check your credit reports with the three credit agencies carefully for errors. If you find errors in any of these reports you will need to dispute them. Also, make sure you are making all of your payments on time. A large portion of your credit score is derived from your history of on-time payments. Another way to improve your credit score is to lower your debt-to-income ratio. Pay down the balances on your credit cards and avoid making large purchases prior to applying for a mortgage or home greeneasylife.com equity loan.

To learn more about your your credit, mortgage options, and how to avoid common mortgage mistakes, register for a free mortgage guidebook.

To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid common mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. For a free copy of "refiadvisor.com Mortgage Refinancing: What You Need to Know," which teaches strategies to find the best mortgage and save thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com.

Claim your free guidebook today at: refiadvisor.com refiadvisor.com

refiadvisor.com/pblog mortgages for dummies

Questions to Ask Your Baby Sitter Agency to Get the Best Babysitting Services

A baby sitter agency is there to help you with your babysitting requirements. There will always be times when you are unable to attend to your kids, and that is definitely not uncommon among parents everywhere. However, randomly picking a babysitter from a sitter agency will not ensure the best services and utmost safety for your kids. Therefore, you should take time to review and match candidates to your family's specific needs.

If you want only the best services for your family, consider jotting down as many questions as you can pertaining to the specific service you are looking for from the baby sitter agency. It is essential that you make inquiries so that you get the best assurance and of course, peace of mind while you are not in your home with your kids. Your questions could help you obtain vital references, make comparisons between top agencies, see exactly what your options are, confirm the costs that fit your budget, and be certain about the policies and guarantees involved with an agency.

Now let's talk about what questions to ask. You could ask how many years of experience a babysitter has had, and if he or she has cared for children who are similar to your child's age. You could ask "additional" questions, such as how they would keep your kids entertained or busy while you are gone and if they can cook for your kids. Other important questions to ask is how they would be able to handle emergency situations, if they've completed any babysitting or first aid course, and if they have their own transportation.

Finally, ask about the rate that a babysitter is charging and if he or she can give you some references from previous or current babysitting clients. Finding and getting some assistance from a baby sitting agency is your first step, and the rest you have to personally make sure the sitter you're looking into hiring is qualified, reliable and professional.

You can enjoy Mommy Time without the guilt or worry of leaving your baby to untrained, incompetent sitters. nannies-sitters.com Find a babysitter for your baby. Log on to the best-reviewed baby sitting agencies online and learn howtofindababysitter.com how to find a babysitter for your kids.

Pharmacist Jobs - What Are Some Of The Places A Person Can Work?

At one time or another while looking for work, you may have noticed the multitude of pharmacist jobs advertised in a local newspaper or on an internet website. And, as it has always been in the past, there still seems to be plenty of work for pharmacists, and in many different venues. For your convenience, here are just a few examples of some of the places you could go in a pharmacist career, should you choose one:

Chain stores that have pharmacy services - One of the many roads you could choose to travel is to look for jobs in the pharmacy at one of the big retail store chains that provide this service for their customers as a regular convenience.

Besides getting your foot in the door of a company that has the potential for a long, rewarding career, consider the other benefits you could encounter. In addition to getting the regular medical, dental, vacation and profit sharing package many companies still offer their employees, you could also end up with perks like huge discounts on all of their store merchandise, as well as on medications for yourself and family members.

Non-profit hospitals and other medical facilities - Another great route in which to take to start or continue a pharmacist career is by getting a job at a big hospital or at one of your town's smaller medical clinics. Besides the many fine benefits that also come along with working for these types of organizations, there is another thing for you to consider.

Hospital employees, and licensed medical personnel in particular, often end up staying at the institution at which they begin their career - for the whole life of their career. And, during that time, there is often ample opportunity for a person to take advantage of continuing his education in regard to his chosen profession, and in doing so, may get offered opportunities to take higher paying positions with more responsibility.

And, if things like that don't interest you but you do like to "shake it up a bit" are far as working at different locations to keep it "fresh", there will usually be an opportunity or two for you to transfer to another facility within the organization that will still let you maintain your exact job duties in the pharmacy.

Home IV Therapy company - In some countries, such as the United States, there exist private companies that cater specifically to those persons who are in-patients at hospitals, and can go home - provided there is a way to make sure they are still able to get their IV antibiotics, chemo or other medications that they were getting in the facility. And, this is the need that these types of companies fill.

Some of them were actually started by former hospital pharmacists themselves - and now they hire other pharmacy personnel to take doctor's orders and mix up the compounds patients need, right there on-site. Then, they are responsible for shipping it to wherever the patient resides, so the patient or his caregiver can be trained by a nursing home care business, to run and operate the IV - just like medical personnel did at the hospital. You could choose to go this route, and be a part of an organization that provides this alternative to many grateful patients who now have the opportunity to recuperate in the privacy of their own homes.

So as you can see, there are pharmacist jobs all over the board and many different ways to go with them - all waiting for those who are ambitious enough, and wish to get educated in this field.

RPh on the Go offers pharmacists total flexibility to customize their career, competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and personalized rphonthego.com pharmacy career counseling.

When Buying a Spanish Property - Do You Need An Agent? Find Out Now

As many have learnt the hard way - there are agents in Spain who will willingly take you for a ride - and it tends to be the bigger and well known foreign agencies that are the worst (the very ones who say you can trust them). So in this jungle is it worth using an agent to buy your Spanish Property or is it worth going on your own?

There is no doubt that an agent can be of great assistance if they know their area and should be able to help you narrow down your search to a few specific properties. Ideally they should sit with you a while and endeavour to discover your real requirements for your house. But this boils down to much more than how many bedrooms a house has and if it has a pool or not. For example you may see your dream house in a photo, and the agent takes you to view it, but after talking to you he/she discovers that one of you doesn't drive. The house may be perfect but the area is miles from anywhere. Clearly then going to see such a property would be a waste of your time.

You can rest assured that if you visit 10 agents at least 9 of them would take you to see this house. The sad fact is that most agents aren't really concerned about your needs, only whether you buy a property from them or not, so you may end up being shown many houses that really don't fit the bill. You will feel frustrated, dejected and probably begin to think that your dream home doesn't exist.

They may have nothing better to do with their days (and in today's slow market it is probably a welcome relief to be showing houses than sitting in their office drinking coffee). But do YOU really want to be trailing around houses that do not meet your basic needs let alone your implied needs.

Also some agents put you under inordinate pressure to buy and some (like my now friends who bought by a main road) are pressurised into buying something not suitable for them. Don't ever be pressurised by anyone. If you don't feel comfortable with a viewing for any reason - politely say so and exit.

I once asked to see apartments within 200M of the beach and was shown a town house 20 minutes inland (that's 20 minutes drive inland). When I asked why we had come to see it I was told that it was a lovely house. No doubt it was but it wasn't what I asked for. Needless to say we went back to the car park to pick up my car amid protests from the agent that he had some really nice properties to see.

Your time is important and you need to utilise it very carefully. A good agent on the other hand, is worth his (or her) weight in gold. They will help you through every step of the way and guide you through the minefield and ensure you get the best property to suit your needs. At the very least they will try and understand you as a person/family and try to ensure that they match you with an ideal property. It shouldn't stop there though. A good agent will also help you long after the ink has dried - easing you into your new life, helping you locate schools, buying cars finding tradesmen and much more.

How do you find a good agent?

Finding bad agents is easy. Finding mediocre ones equally so. So how do you pick out the good from the bad? The easiest way is to ask questions. Many people advocate only using agents who have API membership - this is the Spanish Estate Agents association (or one of them). However whilst current membership extends certain safeguards on the client, not all API registered agents are still registered. Equally not all non registered agents are bad. Wow what a battle - how do you judge?

Prepare a list of questions to ask them - the following is a sample, but not exhaustive, list

o How long have they been in business

o How many clients have they dealt with

o What services do they offer their clients both during and after the sale

o What commissions do they charge

o Do they speak good Spanish (if not how can they possibly operate in Spain)

o Do they translate all documents in English

o Can you speak to some previous clients

and anything else you deem important. Also ask in local bars (specifically Spanish ones) who they would recommend - the Spanish don't like estate agents and so will only give you recommendations that they believe are good.

What about going it alone?

So let's assume you decide you don't want to use an agent. How do you find a property yourself? In the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol you will find many publications (CB News, Inland Trader, Costa Del Sol News, Sur in English). However these are English Language papers and so you will in the main be dealing with English owners (a lot of whom have over realistic ideas as to the values of their property). Also be wary because a lot of agents advertise in the local papers in the lineage ads. Why - It is cheaper to do so and a lot of people just go straight past the main display ads for agents.

The internet is obviously a good source with sites such as ThinkSpain.com and Kyero.com - but these tend to be mainly agents advertising. In fact most of the properties advertised on the internet are agents. You may find a few For Sale By Owner type sites - but not many for the Spanish Property Market.

You can also pick up a copy of the local Spanish Papers (in the Valencia region a great source is Levante). These have adverts by Spanish People for property. You will find these comparatively cheaper than similar properties in the English Speaking Press.

You could also drive out to the areas you would like to live in look for Se Vende Signs (for Sale), ask at bars, in streets and anywhere (obviously this requires a knowledge of Spanish) but you would be surprised how many properties are up for sale but not advertised - there is a great jungle telephone system working out here. Many a time I have asked about property for sale to be told that neighbours have properties for sale - and the prices being asked are considerably less than you find in the estate agents.

Finally you could locate a buyers agent who would only act on your behalf. Be wary though many so called buyers agents are really just estate agents or collaborators who use the term to lead the buyer into thinking they are working for them. If it is a true buyers agent you should be paying their commission not the seller (or their agents)

So If you choose to go it alone make sure you do your homework - locate your area first then locate your property.

To use an agent or not? If you find the right one they can make the process so much easier. There are a few good ones. There are also many who have the best intentions but don't really know their right hand from their left, and there are others who will rob you blind if you let them But if you have no other option then just make sure you choose wisely.

Vince Barnes is the owner of SpanishProperty-Direct.co.uk SpanishProperty-Direct.co.uk – a website aimed at informing buyers about the process of buying in Spain and keeping up to date with news and regulations affecting the Spanish Property Market. He has also just published the book – “The Insiders Secret Guide To Buying A Property In Spain – The Book Estate Agents Don’t Want You To Read” – available at [spanishproperty-direct.co.uk/book.htm]

When the Elderly Refuse Care

You've spent hours pouring over information regarding elder care; you've researched and developed a plan of care for your elderly loved one that should be etched in gold! You're feeling so relieved, knowing that they will now be safe at home, and a caregiver will be there with them when you can't...until the day arrives when the caregiver comes to meet them, and your loved one refuses to open the door! What do you do now?

There can be many causes for this reaction to your plan. Perhaps they feel a loss of control in their lives. Maybe they resent feeling like they aren't trusted to be alone at home any longer, and their self esteem is hurting. Maybe they're afraid of having a stranger in their home. Maybe they want their privacy and don't really understand why they need help in the first place! The way you respond to your loved one's concerns may eventually determine if your "golden" care plan is going to be successful or not.

Before you even begin to initiate your care plan, include your loved one in the "research project." Make sure they feel like they are a part of making the decisions as to who to hire, when the caregiver should come, and what type of care they may need. Even if they aren't completely sure they need the help, it may give them the added confidence they need to know that you still value their input and respect their opinions.

If your loved one is fearful of having strangers in their home, listen to their concerns and let them know you understand. When deciding who to hire, make sure you go to a reputable agency that does criminal background checks and has good referrals and testimonials. Reassure your loved one of those things when you make your final choice. Make sure the caregiver comes to meet them for the first time when you are there with them, and give them a chance to form an initial impression before you insist on keeping that particular caregiver. Usually after just a few visits, the apprehension dissolves into a cheery, trusting relationship that your loved one will truly enjoy.

If they just don't agree that they need the help, you have unfortunately entered into the greatest challenge of all, especially if your loved one is suffering from altered thought processes and is unable to identify with your concerns. This may be the time to be loving but firm with them, and let them know that there really isn't a choice when their safety is at stake. Reassure them that your motive is to help them live at home for as long as they can safely do that, and let them know you're on their side. Make compromises if you can safely do so; for instance, have the caregiver come the same number of visits per week, but maybe for shorter time periods. Try referring to the caregiver as the "cook" or the "housekeeper" ...let them know you want to pamper them! Make sure your loved one realizes they aren't expected to entertain their "guests", and they can go about doing whatever they would normally do if no one was there. On the other hand, if your loved one enjoys socializing, suggest a lively game of cards when their caregiver is there, or some other activity with them that your loved one would enjoy. Persistence is the key...in time, your loved one will grow to accept their new lifestyle and the friction will dissipate.

Remember, in the midst of all these issues, your own health and lifestyle are also important. Caregiver burnout can be a real threat to you and your family if your loved one doesn't cooperate with the plan of care you have worked so hard to design for them. Don't allow yourself to be manipulated by a false sense of guilt if your loved one has difficulty making these adjustments. In time, they will realize that you have their best interest at heart, and they may even grow to appreciate you for it!

Jo Nelson, RN is the owner of Servant's Heart Homemaker Services, a personal care assistance company. For more information, check out their website at servantsheartservices.com servantsheartservices.com or email Jo at

Making Money with Legit Online Paid Surveys

You can make money with online surveys and anyone who is looking to add a little income to their household will want to investigate this interesting opportunity. There are legitimate companies that offer to pay consumers to answer questions about their products and services. There are also companies online that charge a fee to connect potential survey contractors to those agencies seeking comments and direction.

Before signing up with any agency that offers marketing research or with make money with surveys opportunities, interested parties are advised to take some time and check out the promises offered. The truth about most dollar generating opportunities is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Most legit sites do not ask for a fee to sign up you should stay away from sites that ask for a fee. Making a little extra money online is what many people, from all walks of life and diverse circumstances, would like to do. Working to make money with online surveys is an opportunity to work flexible hours and on an individual schedule.

There are several ways to work within the Internet surveyors system, giving those interested a variety of methods to make money. These opportunities are great for those looking to add income to an already existing salary, or to bring in a little support while taking care of other obligations. Students, stay at home moms, retired folks, or even full time workers can all make income by answering market research questions involved with various surveys.

Visit [top5-rzg.blogspot.com] to learn about some legit sites that you can get paid every month for filling out surveys!

Home Health Care - Professional Medical Care in the Comfort of Your Home

When suffering from an illness or recovering from an accident, there is no place you would rather be other than at home with the people you love. In such situations, home health care is the perfect solution that keeps families together, helps them adjust to a new lifestyle and affords greater dignity.

To put it simply, home health care is the health care service offered in a patient's home. In addition, most leading providers like offer a wide spectrum of home care services ranging from in-home nursing care following a hospital stay, to assistance with daily living activities such as shopping, cooking or dressing.

The home health care industry is revolutionizing health care all over the globe. For instance, in the United States, Girling has been providing a variety of quality care services to people in their homes for more than 38 years. Continued commitment to ensuring the finest standard of health care has made Girling an undisputed leader in the health care industry. The services of Girling are now available in Texas, Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Illinois.

Amedisys is one of the top providers with agencies located across the United States and Puerto Rico. Amedisys services offer a great range of medical services like skilled nursing, personal assistance services and pediatric home care. Whether you are recovering from illness, injury, childbirth or simply need extra help at home, Amedisys provides the level of care to meet your specific needs. However, before deciding on any agency, you must confirm how long the agency has been in service, if the agency is licensed by the state and certified by Medicare.

ALL health care providers working with Gentiva are highly skilled certified, tested and bonded. Gentiva also offers insurance specialists to verify the exact insurance coverage available so there will not be any financial surprises. Home support services from Gentiva thus offer solutions for the daily challenges of living while allowing patients to remain independent at home.

Nitha Manu is a freelance content developer specialized in SEO articles. She writes on a wide variety of ranging from health and finance to travel and technology. To know more about her check out her blog nithamanu.blogspot.com nithamanu.blogspot.com

What to Look For in Private Health Care

When it's time to consider private health care there are a few things that you need to know before you begin. Staying home is the number one choice for seniors and sometimes it is not possible but until you get to that stage you can make it possible for you or your parents to stay at home. Home care can become expensive and that is why it is important to plan everything out before you begin looking for someone.

Most of the time you don't need anyone until you have spent days in the hospital with your senior loved one. They may have fallen or they may have a condition that became worse and put them in the hospital. Now you are exhausted and you are feeling overwhelmed and you need help now. You can't just call anyone to help out you need to interview a few people first. Until you find the right person there should be enough family, friends, and neighbors that can help with care until you can hire someone to take over.

You can obtain a list of private sitters from the hospital before you leave. You may also want to call senior agencies in your area that also provide assistance to help the elderly in the community. These services can range from personal care to home chores or driving your parent to the doctor or run errands.

Before you call anyone you need to determine what services will be needed. This should be a family discussion to determine how to best get the help your parent needs. Prepare yourself notes when you are ready to make the phone calls. Include their name, number, years of experience, and when it would be possible to interview. Be sure to only schedule for interviews for two to three days. That is so you can hurry up and get the help you need and each interview will be fresh in your mind.

When it's time for the interview invite them to your home if you don't feel comfortable inviting everyone to your parent's home for the interview. Have a list of questions ready for the potential private sitters including their past health history. You may want to take into consideration if someone has seizures or if they cannot lift over a certain weight. If your parent falls are they going to be able to help them? What if they fall ill while they are taking care of your parent? You want to make sure that you find out ahead of time.

Finally narrow your search down to two or three and then allow your parents to be the deciding factor, after all they are the ones who will be dealing with the private care taker personally. One of the main arguments between parents and their kids is that it's hard to find middle ground that can help. Parents still want to be in charge while kids feel as though they can make the better decision so make sure that you meet in the middle and everyone can be a part of the decision making.

To learn more about this and other health related topics please visit besthomehealthcare.com BestHealthHomeCare.com which specializes in all topics related to home healthcare especially in bringing together home healthcare providers with those in need of home healthcare.

Long Term Care Insurance Shopping Tips

It's hard to face the reality of needing long term care. But more and more people are realizing that if they do need it, they may lose their entire retirement assets just to pay for it. It's now considered part of a smart financial plan to have long term happinesslifetime.com care insurance if you don't have enough assets to cover the costs and still maintain your standard of living. The insurance can seem expensive so keep these points in mind when shopping for quotes.

Your age, health and desired benefits are the biggest factors that affect how much you pay for long term happinesslifetime.com care insurance.

The older you are, the greater the chance that you may need long term care. Thus insurers will charge more to insure a 65-year-old than a 55-year-old. A recent study* released by the American Association for Long-term happinesslifetime.com Care Insurance showed that the difference in yearly premium between a 55-year-old in good health and a 65-year-old in good health -- for the same benefits -- averaged almost $700 more.

The benefit affects your premium. You can choose a per diem amount for most policies based on what you think you may need. For example a policy may pay $30, $100, or $300 per day. The higher the benefit, the more your premium will be. Also, you can choose different lengths of waiting period before your benefits kick in. The longer the waiting period, the lower your premium should be.

Rates can vary between companies, so the most important consideration when shopping for long term happinesslifetime.com care insurance is to get comparison quotes. When you're comparing different company quotes take a look at the following:

1. How much does the policy cost per month and per year?

2. Is there an inflation adjustment feature? How much does that feature cost?

3. What services are covered? (Nursing home, at-home care, assisted living care, etc.)

4. What is the waiting period before benefits start?

5. How much does the policy pay per day for the services? How long does the benefit last per service? Is there a lifetime benefit maximum?

6. Are pre-existing conditions covered? What conditions are covered?

7. Is the policy guaranteed renewable?

8. Does the company have a financially strong rating from an independent rating agency?

Once you select a policy, take the time to read through it carefully. If you don't understand any part of the policy, ask questions.

*2006 National Long-term happinesslifetime.com Care Insurance Price Index

Scott Lunt is a freelance writer with over 15 years experience writing insurance-related articles. You can compare loweryourinsurance.com/insurance-quotes.html long term care insurance quotes and find more tips on saving on car, home, life, health and long-term care insurance at loweryourinsurance.com LowerYourInsurance.com.