Should You Hire an Agent Or Sell Your Home Alone?

There are two main marketing avenues that people choose from when selling their home: hiring an agent or placing the property up for sale themselves. There are advantages of each as we will see later in this article. The choice you make will depend primarily upon your needs, goals and motivation.

Before you make your decision, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully. We have compiled a list of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each option in order to help you do just that.

The Pros and Cons of Hiring an Agent to Sell Toronto Real Estate

There are many advantages that can be yours if you choose to hire an agent to sell your property for you. First and foremost, an agent will be able to expose your property to more potential buyers than you could on your own. Agencies even work together and share listings. So, the simple fact that you are listed with an agency in Toronto means that all agents will be able to show your home to their clients.

Agents also do most of the work for you. You will not have to take the time to show your home or negotiate with buyers. In fact, you will probably never have to speak to the buyer directly. An agent also acts as your advocate and fights for what is in your best interest at all times. Agents know all of the laws as well and can avoid many pitfalls made by novices.

Of course, there are drawbacks too. Agents are expensive and will require a commission of approximately 3 to 6% of the sale price. They will also require that you stay in constant communication with them, and they may ask to show the house without giving you much notice.

The Pros and Cons of Selling Your Own Home

If you want to sell your own piece of Toronto real estate, you will not receive as much exposure as you would if you went with an agent. You will also have to do all of the marketing, showing, negotiating and paperwork yourself. On the other hand, you will not have to pay commission and you can keep all of the proceeds from the sale for yourself.

There are other benefits of selling your home on your own as well. When you sell your own home, you have all of the control. You choose when you show your home and to whom. You can negotiate with buyers directly and offer deals according to their personal circumstances. Keep in mind, however, that you will be doing so without the expert advice of a professional in the real estate business. At the very least, you should hire a knowledgeable lawyer so that you avoid any legal hassles.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make. Again, make an informed decision. Don't sell your home without knowing all of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each method.

Aliyah Lennox is a Toronto real estate specialist working for MyCityToronto.com, Toronto's premier business directory. If you are looking for the very best real estate agents and brokers in the GTA you will find them on realestate.mycitytoronto.com realestate.mycitytoronto.com

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What is the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid?

For those of us that are new to this stuff, the terms Medicare and Medicaid can be confusing. Some folks have one and some folks have the other. Still other people are eligible for both programs. The differences are described below and will help you know which one you need to apply for and where to go to apply for it.

Medicare

This is a federal program that is primarily for the following groups of people:

Individuals over the age of 65.
Anybody of any age that suffers from renal (kidney) failure or disease.
Anybody who is medically or physically unable to work.

Because this is a federally controlled program, the application is available at your local Social Security office. The different coverages are called:

Part A (Hospital Insurance) - Covers care in hospitals, hospice, nursing home facility care and home health care.
Part B (Medical insurance) - Covers outpatient services, home health care services and products as well as doctor's services and preventative services.
Part C (Private insurance) - This is for insurance like HMOs or PPOs that are provided by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These are also called Medicare Advanatage or MA plans and include all Part A and Part B coverage.
Part D (Prescription insurance) - Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs and may assist in lowering costs later.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a state controlled program that is primarily for low income individuals and families. The following groups of people are eligible for Medicaid coverage:

Women who are pregnant
Persons beneath the age of 19
Persons above the age of 65
Anybody who is blind, physically disabled or requires nursing home care.

You can apply for Medicaid at your state's Medicaid agency.

Dual eligibility

Some people are eligible for both programs. Medicare can be utilized as gap insurance for uncovered Medicaid expenses. You will need to apply for each program separately at the appropriate places. Each will need to know about the other, so be honest and give all information that is asked for.

In the area of nursing facility care, both programs have coverage listed. Medicare Part A covers nursing home care and Medicaid has provisions as well. This can help a great deal with the costs incurred by caregivers. If you have your own insurance, the costs may all be deferred and negated through the process. No guarantee on that, but it could happen.

Call your state's Medicaid agency and your local Social Security office for more details and see if you are dually eligible. Whether you need assisted living services or home health care services, you may be able to get it paid for by these programs; at least in part, anyway.

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Legitimate Home Business - Guidelines On Franchising Your Business

Make Sure Your Business Is Right For Franchising

Not every type of business is suitable for franchising, but it usually works well where a wide variety of products or services are involved, for example, where there is a strong demand being created for new or innovative goods targeted toward niche or specialist markets. If your business offers products or services with a broad appeal, or which satisfies a common need, franchising may be a good way for you to grow. This would apply, for example, if you have an existing, and profitable outlet supplying branded items that have a high profile and strong reputation with customers. Many household names have managed their growth via franchising.

Franchising is not so good a choice if your business supplies products or services with a short market life- if it is catering to the latest fad, for example, or with low profit margins. Similarly, if you offer services that involve high skill level and prolong training, such as accounting, or which rely on repeat business from customers with a strong sense of loyalty, franchising is unlikely to be the right option. This might also be the case if the business is dependent on a geographically defined market, as would be the case with a tourist attraction. Enterprises with high levels of audit and control requirement- a financial institution like bank, for example- are unsuitable too, as these outlets can't operate as separate legal entities, which is essential with franchises.

Prepare Your Business For Franchising

As part of the careful research and planning you need to do to prepare your business for franchising, you should identify the elements of your operations that can be adapted in each franchised outlet. You can't franchise a concept or an idea, so you should have business format that has been tried, tested, and shown to have a good track record in a particular marketplace. Your brand name has to be strong enough to attract suitable franchisees. Where appropriate, you should have proven manufacturing processes or distribution systems.

Among the things you'll need to develop are a new accounting system and a business.educationeasy.net business plan for your franchising activities. You'll find it a great help to do "SWOT"- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis for each geographical area in which you'd like to establish an outlet. You'll need to devise and establish support services for your franchisees, as well as initial and ongoing training programs that will enable even relative novices to learn about the various facets of your business and how to then run their own franchises successfully. There will be technical issues in all these aspects of franchising your business, so you should be prepared to call in professional advice at each stage. It is advisable to run a pilot operation for at least 12 months preferably at more than one location, to test the business concept in different geographical areas. When this has been successfully conducted and fine tuning has been done, you can then prepare a prospectus to attract suitable franchisees.

Recruit Franchisees

It will be important for you to be able to attract franchisees of the right caliber to be certain your network is successful, so do be wary of badly run franchise recruiting agencies. Put in place a thorough vetting process for candidates that will allow you to attract highly motivated applicants, You could consider;

* attending franchise exhibitions,

* advertising in newspapers and trade magazines

* setting up or adopting your business.educationeasy.net business website to promote the franchising opportunities.

* registering with reputable franchise centers and brokers.

Drawing Up Franchise Agreements

A franchise agreement is a contract between you and the franchisee. You'll be able to negotiate various aspects of the agreement and there are no hard and fast rules about what it should contain. However, it must comply with Federal Trade Commission and individual state regulations. It must also be clear and unambiguous in starting the rights, duties, and responsibilities of you and the franchisee, and reflect the interests of all members of your network.

When evaluating the agreement you should consider the following issues;

* the rights granted to you and the franchisee,

* your obligations and those of the franchisee,

* the goods and services provided by you to the franchisee,

* the terms, and amounts, of the payments of the licenses, management fees, and other costs you impose,

* the duration of your agreement,

* the basis for any renewal of your agreement,

* the terms by which the franchisee may sell or otherwise transfer their interest in a franchise,

* the terms by which the franchisee may use your trade names, brand names, logos, store signs, and so on,

* your rights to adapt the franchise system to meet new or changed methods and market conditions,

* the franchisee's right to terminate the agreement before it expires,

* the ownership of property, tangible and intangible, provided by you to the franchisee and provisions for its surrender if the agreement is terminated.

Think about whether or not you'll be granting exclusive geographical licenses to the franchisees, and how big the respective areas will be. Also think about whether you'll allow them to pursue other business interests, possibly competing ones, at the same time.

Alfred C. Amaechi is an expert in homebizglobe.com/articles Legitimate Home Businesses. He's been in the business for many years and has authored many books on guide to starting out in Legitimate Home Businesses. His considerable expertise has thrust him into the limelight as he trains prospective business owners to becoming successful in Home-Based Businesses. Do you want to learn more about Legitimate Home Businesses? Visit homebizglobe.com homebizglobe.com for a comprehensive GUIDE and FREE e-books.

Healthcare And Well-Being For Every Age

In this present time, there are millions of men and women who are very concerned with health and wellness.

Partly because of their age, these men and women have to deal not only with many health related issues, but also with financial issues and how they affect their health. Many of them have to choose between getting their prescriptions filled or buying groceries. This in turn affects their physical health. This is the beginning of a spiraling cycle.

If you are reading this and you are in this position, there is help to stop this cycle. Specifically, if you live in the United States, there are a lot of resources that you may not have considered. Let's see what some resources are that can be contacted right in your own town.

Most states have Area Agency on Aging offices that will help you get food and even find you help paying your utilities. They will visit your home. Do you need medical care or a caregiver so that you can continue to live in your own home? Believe it or not, there is even help with that.

There are visiting nurses and even visiting physicians. There are home health happinesslifetime.com care agencies that can set you up with someone who can come to your home to do basic chores including laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. Most states have funds available to help you pay for this type of care. These home health care providers will even help you with bathing and dressing if that is necessary.

Whether you are disabled or just having health problems, and you are not quite the age where you are qualified for social security and Medicare, there are other programs that can help out. Some large department/food stores offer low cost or free prescriptions. Many of them even deliver those prescriptions to your home. Once you have a program to cover your medical needs, you can even have your prescriptions mailed to your home.

If you are having a difficult time paying for groceries, there are churches and other organizations that will make sure you have enough to eat. It is time to take that first step and admit that you would appreciate some help.

Even though you may feel embarrassed, please talk to your doctor about your situation. You will find that there is more support available than you realized. You have cared for others all your life; now it is your turn to receive some help.

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Nursing Home Jobs: A Booming Industry

Why Choose Nursing Home Careers or Assisted Living Facility Jobs?

With over 4 million baby boomers turning fifty, the number of senior citizens is soon to be double its current size. Along with the influx of elderly patients comes a need for people to care for them in retirement homes and skilled nursing facilities. Choosing the right retirement home position allows you to make money while helping a vulnerable population. You may also receive health and wellness benefits, retirement, tuition reimbursement and the ability to choose from three different work shifts. Some facilities even pay for non-medical staff to go to school to become qualified or therapists with a guarantee of retirement home employment following graduation.

What Type of Nursing Home Jobs Are Available?

A retirement home requires a large staff to run efficiently. Daily patient care falls upon the registered nurses, licensed practical caregivers and certified nursing assistants. Physical, occupational and speech therapists, as well as their assistants often perform specialized rehabilitative services. Many retirement communities have on-site pharmacies needing a pharmacist and pharmacy tech to staff them. Physician's assistants, qualified practitioners and physicians often make rounds and some maintain permanent nursing home careers as full-time staff. There are also many non-clinical retirement home positions such as receptionists, accounting, managerial, food service and maintenance.

What Qualifications Do You Need for Nursing Home Employment?

Qualifications for these positions range from a high school diploma or GED to a medical degree. Most medical Assisted living and retirement home employment opportunities require a college level education in order to obtain a license. Registered nurses require a minimum of an associate's degree and licensed practical caregivers require a specialized certificate, as do certified nursing assistants. Therapists of all specialties commonly hold a minimum of a master's degree with assistants holding an associate's degree or bachelor's degree. Pharmacists, physician's assistant's, and nurse practitioner's all hold a master's degree or higher. Physician's must be a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy and hold a state medical license. Receptionists, secretaries, personal assistants and some managerial positions may require a high school diploma, college or job related training.

Where to Look for Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home Careers?

When looking for retirement home careers, many people choose to start with the internet. Many internet sites allow you to search specifically for retirement community jobs and some sites cater to finding only these jobs. Newspapers commonly have assisted living and assisted living jobs under office work, professional and medical categories. Employment agencies can also help you find assisted living and assisted living careers in your area. Another possible venue for assisted living facility or retirement home employment is the actual facilities themselves. Often, introducing yourself to the human resources director can humanize your qualifications and give you a leg up against the competition.

Employers, Medical Staffing, Hospitals and Retirement Communities can Hire for all types of Nursing Home Jobs and Post a Job for every kind of Nursing Home Jobs - CLICK HERE: nursing-home-jobs.net Nursing Home Jobs. Job Seekers can Also search for Nursing Home Jobs Needed or Available.

How to Find & Hire a Private Caregiver

Hiring a caregiver to come into your home or to provide additional care in a facility can be nerve-wracking. How do you know who to trust? How do you know who will be a good fit? This article addresses those concerns and will help guide you through the process of hiring a private caregiver.

Some people find caregivers through a homecare agency or referral service in order to keep things simple. Hiring a private caregiver is usually the most inexpensive option, but it means you'll need to do the work that an agency or referral service would normally do for you: as an employer, you'll need to cover payroll taxes unless that person works as a contractor, and, to be on the safe side, you should also perform a background check.

Where to Find Private-hire Caregivers

* Ask for referrals from people you know and trust in the medical community, including discharge planners, physicians and social workers.

* Let people around you know that you're looking to hire a caregiver. You may be surprised at how many leads you find, and word-of-mouth recommendations are sometimes the best ones.

* Search online job boards such as Craigslist.

* Place an advertisement in the newspaper or via online forums.

Assess Your Situation

Before calling any caregivers, make a list of what the job will entail and what your expectations are for hiring a professional caregiver. Be as detailed as possible. For example, telling a job candidate that you need someone to take care of your mom for three days a week only informs them that it is part-time work. Make notes on what is most important:

* When and how often do you need a caregiver? Is it likely to change soon? If so, will it be a problem?

* What duties would you like the caregiver to perform and how often? List out the duties and frequency (e.g, light housekeeping weekly, driving to doctor's appointment as needed, and aiding with bathing every morning).

* Do you need any specialized care, such as for dementia or incontinence?

* What are the qualities a caregiver would need to make the environment safe and happy-patience, a sense of humor, or the ability to stand his or her ground? The caregiver you hire will be spending a lot of time with your loved one, so this is a significant issue. What are your loved one's pet peeves? Disorder or messiness? Smoking in the home? Bring these up when you speak with the caregiver.

Caregivers are People, Too!

* Live-in caregivers should have a comfortable, private area set aside for them.

* Live-in caregivers cannot be on call all the time; everyone needs personal time.

* Make sure that shift lengths are reasonable.

Research Your Candidates

Once you've identified the caregiving duties, then you're ready to screen candidates by phone and begin scheduling interviews. On the phone, explain what your needs are and make sure the candidate has experience, training and the physical capability to do tasks such as transferring or bathing (if applicable). Let them know you will be checking their references and performing a background check. Ask interviewees to come to the interview with a Social Security card, driver's license, listings of prior home addresses and references, and a resumé. Download Gilbert Guide's Caregiver Employment Sheet to help keep track of candidates.

Background Checks

Performing a background check on potential caregivers is imperative. Background checks can include credit reports, DMV records and searching county, state and/or federal criminal records. You must have written consent from the potential caregiver in order to perform a background check. Gilbert Guide's Caregiver Employment Sheet has an authorization at the bottom of the form. Many law offices and private investigators can perform background checks using specialized databases; fees range from about $70-300 per hour. Online background check companies usually cost less, and most charge based on the scope of the search-for example, how many counties or states must be searched and what type of records you require. If you go this route, it's helpful to have a list of the candidate's previous addresses. Oftentimes search criteria can be even more specialized if you call the agency directly, rather than utilizing online forms, which are generalized.

The Interview

Interviews are always tricky because they require you to assess a person in a short amount of time. The following are a few questions and talking points for interviewing a candidate.

* How long have you worked as a caregiver?

* Tell me about your past work experience.

* What did you like or not like about your previous jobs-and why?

* Do you have any specialized training or experience?

* Are you willing to perform the following duties? (List the duties you require, including any future needs that you anticipate. If your loved one enjoys cooking but her arthritis may require need aid with cooking later see if the caregiver is willing to do so.)

* What activities do you think would be appropriate for my loved one?

* How would you deal with my loved one being combative?

* When are you happiest at work? (What makes work a good experience for you?)

A Note on Screening

Make sure you don't have any discriminatory policies in your screening process. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that you ask for permission, in writing, before pulling a job candidate's credit report. Also, if you do not hire that person based on his or her credit report, you must send the applicant a copy of the report, the contact information of the Consumer Reporting Agency and information on their rights to dispute the report.

During the interview, let applicants know everything you can about the job-think of details that would be important to you, if you were the employee. Some questions and concerns may include:

* People with whom the caregiver will need to interact (Do you have a policy about visitors? Will anyone be stopping by the home?)

* Tardiness or absenteeism

* Benefits and wages (When and how will the caregiver be paid?)

* Vacations and holiday pay

* Petty cash (Will you leave small amounts of money for expenses or will you reimburse the caregiver later? Be sure to require receipts if it's the latter!)

I Don't Have Time!

If time is an issue, hire a caregiver through an in-happinesslifetime.com home care agency; the agency will perform all the background checks and match you with a caregiver who suits your needs.

Cheat Sheets are a Good Thing

Verbal instructions can be helpful, but don't anticipate that a caregiver will remember everything you said on the first day. Write down important information so he or she will have a reference. Include details on the care recipient, the home and emergency protocols. Keep a copy in a central place in the home.

About the Care Recipient (see Gilbert Guide's Face Sheet):

* Likes and dislikes

* Normal diet and any restrictions to it

* Any mobility issues

* Current medical status and/or illnesses (include any signs of an emergency)

* Possible behavior problems and how to best deal with them

* Any exercises or therapies (include schedule, if applicable)

* Medication list

About the Home or Apartment:

* Security precautions and keys

* Location of medical supplies

* Location of food and cooking items (include explanation of any related appliances)

* Location of cleaning and washing supplies (include instructions for appliances)

* Location of fuse box, flash lights, light bulbs and candles

* Location of clothing or extra linens

About Emergencies:

* Name and phone number of first person who should be contacted after 9-1-1

* Doctors' names and phone numbers

* Other important contacts

A Well-run Home is a Happy Home

One of the most important things you can do with any employee is to keep the lines of communication open. It involves more than simply making your expectations clear (although that's very important!). The following are a few hints on how to create a smooth-running and happy home.

* Schedule informal meetings. Ask the caregiver how things are going. Has he or she noticed any recent changes in your loved one's health? Is there anything you can do to provide better support?

* Speak up. If you feel your expectations are not being met, let the caregiver know in a gentle but firm manner.

* Create a comfortable environment. The caregiver should have pleasant working conditions, with a comfortable place to take a break (or a comfortable room and bed for live-in help).

* Equip the caregiver with the tools for success. Provide the caregiver with the supplies necessary to do his or her job.

* Show your appreciation. Complimenting the caregiver's work and skills, giving small gifts or bonuses, or providing perks such as partial or full travel reimbursement are all wonderful ways of expressing gratitude.

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The Family Caregiver

With every passing day, the role of the family caregiver increases in importance. Why? Because, as our elder loved ones reach the point they are no longer able to live safely, prepare nutritional meals, maintain the household and themselves, adult children gradually begin to assume more and more responsibility for their well being.

With that added responsibility comes additional stress. There are the self-imposed guilt trips. How can I focus on my spouse, my children and my career when I need to spend time with Mom and/or Dad in their time of need? Their demands upon my time have become all-consuming and I'm at my wits end. How do I balance their needs with my need for a life of my own?

Quite often the adult children find themselves in a position of having to make difficult choices. Would Dad be better off in an assisted living setting? How can we afford to hire caregivers to help our parents in their home? Perhaps I could take better care of Mom if she moved in with us? Should I consider caregiving as my full time job and give up my career for a while?

Nothing is easy in this world of care giving. We find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of becoming parents to our parents. We don't know what to do next. There are organizations who offer assistance, but often we don't know where to look. What do I ask for? What can I expect to receive for money spent? How do I find the right services for my loved ones?

First things first

The legal aspect of care giving is of the utmost importance. The necessity of your loved ones having a will, a living will, advance directives and assignment of powers of attorney are imperative. Without some legal direction, there is only so much you can do, even in a time of crisis. If there is no documentation currently in place, consult with an elder law attorney to determine what is needed. Then begin that all-important conversation with the elders involved.

Make a call to your local Area Agency on Aging. This nationwide organization has an office in almost every city in the country. They offer assistance through their help lines, benefits assistance, caregiver support groups and much more. Talk with your loved one's physician. Perhaps he/she can refer you to organizations and services specializing in the needs of the elderly.

Ask your friends. Chances are they have been, are now, or are anticipating being in the same place you are. The therapeutic benefits of a friendly chat with someone you trust are many. But, most important, speak with your elder loved ones - initiate a conversation about what they want and why. This may be the most challenging conversation you've ever had, but it will be worth the effort put forth. They may tell you that everything is just fine the way it is; that they don't want to be a burden on you. On the other side of the spectrum, they may insist that you to step in, put your life on hold, and care for them full time - according to their expectations.

If you have siblings (and assuming you are in accord), call a family meeting. Determine who is best able to take on certain responsibilities so that you are not carrying the entire load alone. But don't forget to involve Mom and/or Dad in these discussions. It is, after all, their lives you are discussing.

A learning experience

Whatever your circumstances, your relationship with your elders, or your own desires, I believe you will find that this time of your life can be one of enlightenment, enrichment, and more rewarding than you ever dreamed possible. You have been given a gift - although it may not seem like one now. A gift of sharing another person's journey toward the end of the road. You may be surprised at what you learn . . . not only about your loved one, but about yourself.

As my Mother said many times, "This too, shall pass." And when your job is done, when your loved ones have left this life, you will look back on this time as one of growth, of self-realization, and especially of love.

Linda S. Thompson is founder and president of Life Path Solutions, who specializes in helping you understand, work, and live with those around you. She is the author of Every Generation Needs a New Revolution. Linda is available to speak on various topics about the generations and can be contacted through her website. For more information about Linda's books, Workshops in a Box, and lecture topics, along with other free articles, please visit her website at LifePathSolutions.biz LifePathSolutions.biz/

7 Questions to Ask About Home Health Care

There may come a time where you, your parents, or another elderly relative living in the low country of South Carolina, may need the services of a local happinesslifetime.com home health care agency. Nobody wants to become injured or sick, but life happens, and when it does, know that there are great institutions offering home health care in Charleston.

Before approaching the various agencies providing home health care in Charleston, make a list of questions. When talking to the various representatives write down the answers, so you can compare them afterwards. The information you gathered during these conversations will then help you to make an informed decision.

1. What kind of services do you offer? Do they include: bathing and grooming, dressing, light housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, medication reminders, as well as eating and feeding assistance, and incontinence management?

2. Do the caregivers working in home health care in Charleston also take care of pets?

3. Is emotional support available? The loss of their independence can be traumatic for some patients, as well as dealing with their health issues.

4. Do you provide both short and long term assistance? You need to make sure that short term commitments can be extended in case a recovery is not going as smoothly as predicted.

5. Are the caregivers engaged in home health care in Charleston supervised by registered nurses? Do they receive ongoing in-house training?

6. Is professional support staff available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?

7. Will supervisors and registered nurses always be accessible to answer my questions? Although you may be satisfied with the initial information you received, other concerns may pop up later on. If that happens, you want them answered by professionals you can trust.

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Appreciate Your Spare Time With Respite Care

The words "respite care" are erroneously used to refer to many short term care options for. Although convalescing or terminally ill patients are sometimes helped, it is actually the caregiver benefiting most from this type of care. Typically the caregiver is a friend, loved one, or close family member providing unpaid around the clock care.

If a condition is not one that calls for hospitalization, care decisions are made by the doctor. Insurance companies cut off funding for institutional care after particular diagnoses are reached and sustaining care can be provided away from the institution.

Given that today privately funded care is affordable to few, the preponderance of patients are placed under the care of willing family members.

In due course, family members reach a breaking point. Typically, they have families of their own, children to look after, jobs to carry out, homes to keep up, and a horde of various responsibilities. Previous to the advent of this type of care, there was no one to take over patient care when caregivers had to tend to other responsibilities. This had resulted in cases of caregiver burnout, elder abuse and patient abandonment.

Appreciating the spare time provided means governmental agencies recognizing that funding for these programs is vital for success of the at home care model. What are the different forms of support care?

Short term respite care encompasses perhaps only a couple of hours or an evening off for the caregiver. This is frequently used for an evening out with spouses, parent-teacher conferences, or stress-relieving shopping trips.

A longer short-term option is week long; this puts a patient under the care of a competent professional caregiver who can take over when the family caregiver is on a longer break. Both these short term alternatives are used at assorted times during the year.

Supportive respite care is necessary with a family caregiver caring for two or more patients needing home nursing or healthcare. The caregiver often works side by side with the family caregiver, easing their workload. In certain cases it is out of the home and duration varies conditional on the program operating the respite center.

Read my fountia.com/respite-care/guide guide to respite care for more complete information, and visit my blog, fountia.com to read how to fountia.com/respite-care/provider-choosing choose providers

Asbestos Floor Tiles And Asbestos Siding

Floor tiles that contain asbestos are very prevalent in homes that were constructed before the 1970's. Asbestos containing floor tiles became popular because of their low cost as compared to other types of floor covering such as wood and marble.

Asbestos floor tiles can be a health risk. If the tiles are worn, or damaged the asbestos fibers can become friable or air born. If the floor tiles are water damaged they are equally a problem. Foot traffic can cause mechanical damage to these floor tiles. Sanding or removal of the floor tiles can also cause the asbestos fibers to get into the air.

When asbestos fibers enter the air, they can cause a number of illnesses and health issues, including lung cancer, as well as other diseases. Asbestos-related illnesses are dangerous and can be fatal. These types of asbestos caused diseases may take several years or longer before presenting symptoms.

Asbestos floor tiles should be removed by a reputable asbestos abatement company. The contractor will take the steps necessary in order to avoid asbestos being released into the air.

Another less but less desirable method to deal with the asbestos is to cover it with another floor covering. This will not cure the underlying problem of having the asbestos tiles but is a way to protect the tiles from being damaged. Carpeting is a good choice because it is installed with a pad. The pad along with the carpeting will help keep the asbestos tiles from mechanical damage. Just be sure not to damage the floor tiles while installing the carpeting. Linoleum and vinyl are other options to cover asbestos containing tiles.

The existence of asbestos floor tiles should be disclosed to any potential purchasers of your home. It is not ethical not to disclose the presence because if the buyer decides to remove the floor covering installed over the asbestos, the asbestos floor tiles can become damaged. As home inspectors it is next to impossible for us to determine the type of materials that are under the new floor.

Another place that asbestos was used is on the siding of homes. Asbestos cement is a hard siding and is composed of a mixture of Portland cement and asbestos fibers. The siding was banned in the country in the mid 1970's.

Asbestos siding became popular because in 1920 a major fire prevention organization recommended the siding because of its fire resistant properties. The agency was recommending the replacement of highly flammable wood siding with the asbestos siding which is very fire resistant. The use of asbestos siding really became prominent in the 1940's and this is the decade in which many homes have this type of siding.

In 1970 the health risks associated with asbestos exposures grew and became more prominent. As the anti asbestos sentiments took hold the US federal government stepped in and banned asbestos from building products in 1973.

It has been well established that asbestos can cause serious health problems if it is inhaled. Asbestos can cause two major types of cancer asbestosis and Mesothlioma. Both of these cancers can be fatal in the majority of instances. However, asbestos siding if it is in good condition does not present a health hazard. This is due to the cement component that is in the shingle. The cement binds the asbestos fibers and prevents the fibers from becoming air born. The EPA has established that asbestos is a health hazard when it is in a friable or in an air born state. The only way that the asbestos fibers can get into the air is for them to be damaged mechanically.

Asbestos cement building products such as siding are not considered hazardous unless they are disturbed. If the siding is damaged by chipping, sawing, grinding or sanding this will allow fibers to enter the air. Then the asbestos is considered in a friable state and a health hazard. Deterioration or wearing of the siding can also lead to particles becoming airborne and potentially dangerous.

Proper care of asbestos cement siding is very important in order to avoid damage and deterioration. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and cracks very easily which can cause asbestos particles to become airborne. A professional siding contractor can replace the damaged siding with fiber cement siding that does not contain asbestos. Specific fiber cement materials have been manufactured for repairs that are intended to look like asbestos cement siding. All asbestos containing materials must be discarded properly. In some states you can take the damaged siding to a landfill that can handle asbestos. In other states specific waste disposal facilities need to be used.

Asbestos cement exterior cladding has been in use for many years, Home inspectors in Middlesex County New Jersey are likely to encounter asbestos cement siding when inspecting exteriors. Knowing some of the health risks associated with this type of siding can be useful when answering questions about asbestos, although any specific concerns should be deferred to the appropriate healthcare professional.

For more information on looksmarthomeinspections.com/Middlesex_County.html Middlesex County NJ Home Inspections and home inspections throughout New Jersey visit looksmarthomeinspections.com Home Inspection Service in NJ.

Pregnant? Adoption Is An Option

Many years ago, I wrote an article that still applies today. I've updated a few things. Here's the article:

Each year 750,000 unmarried teens become pregnant. Of these, 32% opt for abortion,

while less than 4% place their babies for adoption.

Abortion or adoption! Murder or abandonment! I'm so confused! thought Jill as she stepped off the downtown bus. My friends say keep the baby, but this is serious...the future of my innocent, unborn baby is in my hands.

Jill froze in front of the adoption agency door. I can't do this, she thought as she spun around, shoved her hands in her pockets, and scurried back to the bus stop just in time to choke on the exhaust fumes hurling from the departing bus.

I'd give anything to take back that one night with Michael, Jill wished as she fanned the fumes from her face. But here I am, 16, single, and six months pregnant. Responsibility. Well, I sure blew it that night. But I can't blow it again. Tears welled up in Jill's eyes and she turned around. I can do this, she told herself and she swallowed hard, blinked, took a deep breath and walked through the door marked "Abortion Alternatives - Specializing in Open Adoption."

"Hi, how can I help you?" asked the adoption agency receptionist.

"I need information on adoption," Jill said, snorting back a sniffle and glancing around the softly lit room. "No one knows I'm here, so can I please talk to someone right now?"

"Sure, have a seat," said the receptionist as she handed a box of tissues to Jill. "An intake counselor will be with you shortly.

"Hello, my name is Barb," said the intake counselor as she shook Jill's hand. "Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable."

Comfortable? She'll thought, Lady, my jaw joints are about to shatter from grinding my teeth. But aloud she just said "Thanks" as she plopped into the low easy chair.

"What can I do to help you, Jill?" asked the counselor.

"Well, I got your name from my church pastor," Jill said. Then she cleared her throat. "But I don't know... I've always felt sorry for kids who were adopted. It's as if their parents just threw them away when they were born. They never saw them and never knew who they looked like. But if my pastor's right about adoption being different now, I think it might be the best choice for my baby." Jill's voice cracked. "I don't want my baby growing up in a single-parent home like I did," she said and took a big gulp of air.

"OK, Jill," said the counselor as she scooted her chair forward and leaned toward her. "I'll give you an overview of what open adoption involves and what support and assistance this agency can offer as you make plans for your baby's future.

"An open adoption gives you the opportunity to choose your baby's adoptive family. We show you resumes from families we feel could provide happy, loving, and stable home environments. Of course, these potential adoptive parents have been screened for criminal backgrounds and child abuse," the counselor explained.

"Can I meet the people?" Jill asked.

"Yes, you can decide if you want to meet them face-to-face. You will have the choice of how much contact and involvement you wish to maintain with the adoptive parents as your baby grows up and as you go on with your schooling, work and personal life plans. Our agency can act as intermediary for you to send and receive pictures and letters, or you may have direct contact with the adoptive parents, if that is what you choose.

"Once you child as an adult, he or she will have the option of reaching you through our agency. So you're bond with your child is never completely broken if you choose this loving and caring adoption option."

"OK, that's what I can decide," said Jill. "But what about the baby's father?"

"That's a good question, Jill," said the counselor, reaching for pamphlets behind her desk. "We do encourage the involvement of the birth father and birth grandparents in the adoption process. You will all have counselors and support groups available throughout your pregnancy and after the baby is placed. And you may all want to meet with others who have experienced open adoption. Here is some information for the birth father and birth grandparents."

"What if I change my mind and want to keep my baby?" asked Jill.

"We are here to help you with whatever decision you make, Jill. You can change your plans anytime during your pregnancy," said the counselor. "We provide you with information on pregnancy, adoption and parenting. We can give you referrals to doctors and arrange for housing and financial assistance."

"Do I have to pay for anything myself?" asked Jill as she tucked the tissue in her pocket.

"Medical fees, legal fees and living expenses are paid by the adoptive parents. We are not layers, but we can advise if your needs are being addressed. There is no financial cost to you for our services at this agency."

"What if I find a family on my own?" said Jill.

"Our agency can help you in that situation also, and there is still no cost to you for our services. Our goal is to help you plan for your future and for the future of your baby, whether you make a decision for single parenting or for open adoption, "said the counselor as she reached into her righthand desk drawer. "Here's a booklet for you, Jill, that outlines what we've been talking about."

I still don't know what to do, she'll thought. But the last bus comes in 10 minutes. "Well, I guess I need to think about all of this. It's a big decision and pretty scary." Jill hoisted herself out of the chair. "Thanks for the information and pamphlets."

"You're welcome, Jill," said to counselor, patting the girl's shoulder. "You've already chosen the loving decision to give your baby life, Jill, and I feel that your child will be well-loved whether you parent yourself or make an adoption plan.

"Call or stop by anytime. We're here to help you," said the counselor as she opened the door for Jill.

GETTING HELP IF YOU'RE SINGLE AND PREGNANT

Prenatal care and counseling are important to you and your baby. So get help or early. Objective professionals and is training to counselors can offer support during this stressful time.

Where to start:

Begin with an adult you trust: A parent, an older sibling, your minister, a school counselor, your doctor, a social worker or a psychologist. Ask for referrals to reputable agencies on adoption.

Ask the reference librarian at the local library for help in finding books on pregnancy and adoption and for local social service agencies' names and numbers.

Look in the Yellow Pages under "adoption" or "abortion alternatives."

What to look for in an agency:

Do they offer information and counseling on parenting and open adoption and abortion?

Is individual and group counseling available to you throughout your pregnancy and the adoption planning?

Will they provide support during delivery and during the grieving period following the separation from your child?

Are counselors in groups available to support the birth father and birth grandparents?

Will be agency provide the same resources if you change your plans from adoption to parenting or if you find an adoptive family on your own?

Do they offer medical care, housing, transportation and other maternity-related expenses?

Will they act as liaison for future contact between you and the adoptive parents, and ultimately between you and your adult child?

The key factor in your choice of an agency is your comfort and assurance that you will have the support of the caring, non judgmental, professional staff and the necessary resources available no matter what your final plans are for your baby.

Original Article appeared in "Listen" magazine.

Copyright 1999 Nina Bryant

Right now, there's a FREE AUDIO INTERVIEW at AdoptionOptionNow.com AdoptionOptionNow.com

Nina Bryant is a birthmother who chose adoption for her baby. She is founder of AdoptionOptionNow.com which offers resources and tools that can help birthmothers, adoptive parent, adoptees and everyone touched by adoption.

Licensed Home Health Care Tips

We all hit certain milestones in our life...like driving our first car, going to college, getting married, buying a home, having children and then eventually caring for aging parents. That last one is the part of life that no one wants to think about but it eventually arrives for most of us: the day when life has come full circle and our parents now need round the clock care as they did when they were infants. Fortunately for seniors, in the twenty-first century home health care products and services have evolved to a point where there are ample options to choose from when deciding how to care for our aging or ailing loved ones.

You should look for an experienced company that will be able to provide comprehensive home health care services for elderly loved ones. Look for features such as a care plan written by a registered nurse, preparation of meals based on client needs, facilitating a safe environment, assistance in moving around such as from bed to chair, reinforcement of medication schedules and assistance with personal hygiene. These are all tasks that would be a full-time job for a family member.

A reputable, state licensed home care agency employs all of its personnel and caregivers, which means employees go through rigorous background checks, are insured and bonded by the agency as well as supervised by a state licensed registered nurse.

Individuals trying to hire a private caregiver will not have access to the resources necessary to establish client safeguards and as a result could end up putting their loved one in harm's way. Paying a private caregiver and dealing with aspects of insurance and employment such as withholding state and federal income taxes is not something that the average person is familiar. In fact, it is downright complicated and time-consuming with plenty of pitfalls, the worst of which is an IRS audit of your financial records. Nobody wants that.

Home health care agencies provide all the services and care you will need for the aging loved one in your life. A good agency goes to great lengths to ensure its caregivers are supremely qualified and handpicked to care for your loved ones on a daily basis or as much as you need. They provide a variety of services such as meal planning and preparation, health and hygiene, homemaking duties such as laundry and light cleaning, and caregivers can be shuttled right to your home in most instances. They even provide socialization and companionship.

Bob Thomson is an experienced home care consultant, writer and researcher who reviews experthomecare.com NJ Home Health services for consumers. When loved ones need professional home health care in New Jersey, Expert Home Care is the obvious choice with nearly three decades of experience and friendly, professional service to over 5,000 clients! Save time & frustration by visiting their website: experthomecare.com experthomecare.com

MLM Success Secrets, How to Make Money in MLM - 20 Ways

1) Focus on just one MLM business. Many MLM distributors, think that having more than 1 MLM company is great because it provides multiple streams of income. Problem is that it also dilutes your focus, thus inhibiting your ability to attain maximum growth potential, and exposure for any one MLM program. You ultimately end up competing against yourself. Better bet, focus on one MLM and build it up to a self-sustaining enterprise, and then perhaps seek out another MLM opportunity. When you offer many MLM programs you foster confusion, distrust and your prospects will sense an air of insecurity and unprofessionalism about you. People want to make sure you are committed to a particular MLM business before they will commit.

2) Recognize that MLM is a people business. It is a relationship business. The only way to succeed in MLM is by training and mentoring your group. It's not the product, the company or the comp plan that matters the most. It is your people, and whether they know how to succeed under you, and are motivated enough to stay in your MLM business with you.

3) Find an up-line sponsor who can be a great mentor to you and your down-line. He or she should provide strong leadership, training, sales materials, ideas, and support. This is a duplication business that works like a franchise, so you want to make sure that you select a team with a recruiting and training system that is easy to replicate, to succeed in and to show others how to do the same.

4) Set success goals. Make them as detailed as possible and focus on these goals every day that you are in the business. It is amazing how goal setting and focusing on those goals on a daily basis, actually programs your brain to steer you towards achieving those goals.

5) Select an MLM company that is easy to explain and to understand, with simple to understand products, and compensation plan. Keep it simple. This way the whole process (the selling, training and recruiting process) will flow smoother.

6) Seek and recruit a down-line that is sales focused, and preferably has some MLM experience. Most importantly though, find those who are hungry for their own business, success, and money. They must be coachable and not a "know-it-all". I would rather have 100 hungry and coachable (for knowledge, success and money) distributors, than 1000 'know-it-alls'! Teachers by the way, make great MLM candidates because they tend to have good people skills and they like to teach. MLM is a teaching and coaching business.

7) Get to know each member of your team, so that you are able to help them achieve their personal goals. One-on-one mentoring is important because everybody is unique and has unique wants and needs. You need to know what those are so that your down line stays focused and motivated because she will know that you care and are trying to help her achieve maximum success. Once again, learn all you can about people and the different personalities, because this is a people business.

8) Choose a company with great, consumable products. For example nutritional products always work, because they are consumable, on a day to day and monthly basis.

9) Avoid MLM programs that charge excessively for their marketing materials and that want you to stock up on product inventory. The great MLM companies are not greedy, and greed is the reason that leads to an MLM company's eventual demise.

10) Choose an MLM program that allows you to place your personally sponsored people wherever you want on your group matrix / organization chart. This is a great feature in that it allows you to assign people under an up-line that may help them succeed better. People work best with certain people and this is why this feature is so important!

11) People do not care about your credentials or about how much you know. They care about how much you care (about them). So when recruiting, make sure you load your pitch up with how much you care about them, and how your team will help them to succeed (assuming of course, that is the case!).

12) In a recent MLM survey, it was discovered that the 3 most important things that prospective MLM distributors want from an MLM business opportunity is 1) How can there up-line (you) help them, 2) The support that they will receive, 3) The training provided. If you can focus your recruiting pitch to addressing these 3 wants, you can recruit people all day long! Least important was the company's management experience.

13) Clearly explain the concept of residual (repeat) income. I started my own insurance agency in 2006 because I have always believed in the concept of residual income; which is ongoing monthly commissions for work performed in the past. You need to make sure your team understands clearly the power and benefit of residual income. If you can explain it clearly to them, they will never want to leave your opportunity because they will appreciate that, as their MLM business grows, their residual income (which is kind of like a pension) will keep growing exponentially month after month as they keep growing their business (unlike a pension)!

14) Sell the sizzle, not the steak. Surveys show that over 87% of all people would love to earn money from home. So this is an incredible need that MLM fills. Explain to your prospects all of the great benefits of your MLM business, such as: Unlimited income potential, residual income, flexible hours, work from home, no office expenses, no commute, no boss, low start up cost, free training, can work it part time, etc.

15) Select a company with a compensation plan that allows you to benefit most from building deep rather than wide. The reason here is that, as mentioned previously, people want to know how you can help them succeed in their MLM venture. By building deep, your down-line benefits as the new distributors that you and your team recruit, may automatically flow underneath them, with no effort on their part! Of course the comp plan must be structured so that they too are required to participate in the recruitment effort. Our MLM company requires only 3 personally sponsored, in order for a distributor to qualify for maximum commission potential!

16) Invest in your business. Buy books about MLM success. Purchase leads. If you don't treat this like a business, neither you or your team will take it seriously enough to achieve the maximum income potential.

17) Use lead capture pages. Our team benefits from personalized capture pages that allow them to capture the name, email and phone number of people that visit their unique or company website, so that my team can follow-up with them, and email additional information to them.

18) Get your own Website domain. Eventually you will want your own website(s), as this will allow you to personalize yourself, and gain credibility. Domain names are so cheap nowadays. Of course you can use these in sync with and to compliment the free websites that some MLM companies (such as ours) provide.

19) Associate yourself with an up-line that offers internet based marketing tools. The days of knocking on doors and calling the white pages are pretty much over. Today, the internet dominates the minds of the masses, and that is where they go to search for just about anything. So needless to say, you want a team that can help explode your recruiting success via the web. You want to associate with a team that can show you how to setup your own webinars, online training, or even better, an up-line that will do it all for you!

20) Find an up-line that offers free leads or business.educationeasy.net lead generation systems, sponsoring systems, and prospect follow-up systems (i.e. drip marketing, or auto-responder services). My group, for instance, enjoys free mentoring, free training reports, many great tools, free leads, webinars that they can forward to their own prospects, etc. We show our team how to generate experienced MLM leads who are hungry for what we offer. Then we train them for free for anyone in our team! It is all setup for our team in a turnkey platform.

I hope this information has been of some help to you. Best wishes for a successful year.

By Robert Hernandez

Robert is an Author, MLM trainer, Founder and CEO of Frontier Insurance Agency, LLC, a NJ based insurance agency. For free information on all of our preferred MLM program(s), lead generation system(s) and related success ideas, opt-in on the following link and we will forward these to you: nuriche.turnkeybiz123.com nuriche.turnkeybiz123.com

Disillusioned With American Women? Discover Beautiful Russian Women!

If you have grown tired of the exhaustion that is often the result of dating American women, it is time to discover other breeds of women who can challenge the standards set by the women you have dated in the past. Beautiful Russian women offer something completely different, and many men have already discovered that there is something better out there. A relationship does not have to include a lot of drama, mind games, and deception. In fact, no serious, committed relationship should include any of those things!

While there are very beautiful American women who men fall all over, most of them are so stuck on themselves that they are difficult to get along with long term. The demanding attitude of many Americans who feel they deserve everything to be handed to them has gotten old with many men, and that may also include you. When you are tired of trying to please a women who seem perpetually unhappy, you need to search out beautiful Russian women who can make you happy with less the hassle!

Russian women have the old fashioned values that used to be a given with American women. While many Americans no longer want to have children, let alone stay home and take care of them, it is not difficult to find beautiful Russian women who desire this lifestyle more than anything else. It is not that they have nothing else to do in their own country, as many of the give up successful careers in order to get married and form a family elsewhere. Russian women just have traditional family values and they really want to start a family, care for their home, and keep their husbands happy.

Sit across the table with many single American women and openly admit that you want to have a large family or desire a wife who will stay home until the kids are grown, and most of them will bolt immediately. It has grown to be almost a sin among American women to focus more on family than their own career goals. Yet with Russian women this is not so. While many Russian women have career aspirations, they are also very into having a family and maintaining a happy household.

In other areas, Russian women often surpass American women as well. Many are better educated than the typical American woman, and a lot of them have their own career expertise as well. These women may surpass other women when it comes to their knockout beauty, but the have the brains to stimulate you in other areas as well.

When you take on a beautiful Russian woman as your bride, you are getting much more than a mother for your children. You are receiving the gift of a woman who prides herself on cooking and caring for all of your needs. It is not uncommon for beautiful Russian women considering marriage to ask for pictures of your kitchen. This may seem odd if you are accustomed to dating Americans who would rather hire a cook or go out to a restaurant than cook, but for Russian women it is essential that they know how to feed their family. Your Russian bride will be spending a lot of her time in that kitchen!

The actual differences between Russian and American women are best experienced for yourself. Some men find it unbelievable that they did not find this desirable alternative much earlier in their life!

Dating Russian women? Fed up with paying extortionate fees for viewing videos, chatting, or letter translation on Russian dating websites? Well it doesn't have to be this way! If you are looking for one of the best russiandatingclub.eu russian dating membership web sites on the internet, then you must check out RussianDatingClub.eu. You will be able to meet the same gorgeous, sexy Russian women you would see on other web sites, but all you pay is one low monthly membership fee. We have a huge database of friendly, beautiful Russian women who are waiting to meet you. russiandatingclub.eu Dating Russian women has never been this easy or this cheap! Remember - one low monthly membership fee allows you full access to all the Russian ladies you can handle! Use of chatrooms, instant messaging and of course email are all included. Registration is free, so sign up right now.

Proven MLM Training Tips to Explode Your Home Based Business

Chances are that if you are reading this article you are either struggling to sign people up into your home based business or you have a desire to increase your current enrollment numbers. You would be more than thrilled to find some proven MLM Training Tips on how to make more money in less time. Are tired of seeing the same people get up on stage telling you how much MORE money they have made while putting forth the same efforts as you? You have probably also come to realize that your Company's Training is not giving you the results you need, despite the fact that you believe in the opportunity. After all, you have bills to pay and collection agencies do not take your hope as payment. If this is you, then KEEP READING! You are worth more money than what you are making and there are people out there who have turned their businesses around simply by implementing these 5 Simple MLM Training Tips.

MLM Training Tips #1: IF SOMETHING HAS NOT WORKED FOR YOU IN THE PAST - STOP DOING IT!!

Repeating something that has not worked for you in the past is the sign of insanity. Do not waste your valuable time and hard earned money on training methods trying to force something to work. Stop listening to everyone trying to tell you about those traditional methods that got them to the top twenty years ago. They may have worked for people in the past but not in the market. TODAY! Network Marketing has changed more in the last 5 years than it has in the past 50 years. I have seen many colleagues put themselves right out of business following plans that were not working for them simply because they were told by their upline to just "hang in there and never quit." Doing the same training methods that are not working for you over and over again will always get you the same results, ALWAYS!

Let me save you dollars, energy and time by saying - STOP! Do not take it personally if something does not work out that you tried and failed. Failure is a part of success. Repeated failure from using the same MLMTraining methods and doing the same thing over and over leads to NEVER succeeding. Be creative and try new training methods. Start thinking outside of the box instead of holding on to something that just is not there. If everyone else is doing it, SO WHAT! They probably are not getting results either and they do not want to admit it. You deserve to set much higher targets than that for yourself and for your home based business.

MLM Training Tips #2: TREAT YOUR BUSINESS AS YOUR OWN BUSINESS, NOT PART OF YOUR UPLINES BUSINESS!

Most of us enroll into a company only to ultimately become a gopher for our upline. The average network marketer enrolls only 2.5 people into their business before they give up and quit because they were not trained as a marketer. They used systems and Company Training methods that were not designed to make money in this business. They are designed to make your company succeed instead of you, the small guy. Companies know that even if you drop out, you will bring them a few people and about 16.2% will stick around and consume their product faithfully. They do not do this intentionally to rip you off. For them, it is strictly a numbers game. If thousands of people out there are doing the same thing as you, the company will still make money in the long run even with the high drop out rate.

Start treating your home based business like you are the CEO and PRESIDENT of that enterprise. The truth is. - YOU ARE! You have complete control over what happens in your business and YOU are responsible. You do not need to follow a training system which costs you additional money that your upline has designed for you with no guarantee of success. You can grow your home based business to levels of incomprehension simply by using the proven MLM Training Methods and knowing how to market your product to the right people.

MLM Training Tips #3: POSITION YOURSELF AS AN EXPERT IN YOUR INDUSTRY!

Establishing yourself as an expert by using proven training methods is crucial to your success. No matter what you are marketing, learning positioning tactics will ultimately have prospects begging to join you in business. Forget about 3-way calling. That is making your upline the expert. And talking to your friends and family, or people who you meet in public, will not work either. These outdated training methods are not designed for your personal success, they work well for the success of the company as a whole. If you have always wondered about the people on stage who receive the big checks year after year, they get them through positioning - NOT because they continue to talk to their grocery store checker every day.

The only thing that is stopping you is the proven MLM Training Methods of how to position yourself as a leader. Marketing is marketing and it does not matter what you are selling.. You cannot have a massive amount of prospects without mastering the art of positioning by using the proven training tips and techniques...

MLM Training Tips #4: STOP LEADING WITH YOUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!

Lead with your product or service not your business opportunity. Proven MLM Training methods will teach you why people who join you just for the business opportunity will drop out at a rate of 95% or more. It is impossible to grow a successful business when all you are promoting is a business opportunity that is currently making you little or no money. But the people who join you because of your wonderful products and services will stick around and many of them will become your very best business builders.

Just say you are marketing an anti-happinesslifetime.com aging skin care product line. Does it make sense to sponsor your Uncle Pete when his happinesslifetime.com skin care usually consists of a bar of soap and maybe an extra splash of Old Spice when he is feeling frisky? The answer to that question is - No Way! Uncle Pete may do you a favor and join the business and buy some product, but when Uncle Pete does not make that big money, guess what happens? He quits the business and stops using them because his involvement was NEVER about the APPRECIATION or USE of your great products. This is probably one of the most important Training Tips most distributors learn too late and end up quitting the business.

MLM Training Tips #5: STOP FOLLOWING INTERNET SYSTEMS THAT OFFER EXPENSIVE LEADS!

If you are following a training "system" that offers expensive leads without any guarantee that they will work for you, STOP! Quit the system and cut your losses. For the most part, these systems are put together by top distributors and designed mostly to supplement their already incredible incomes while you, the struggling distributor, get stuck with the bill. I bet you did not know that you can get the same quality leads by yourself for a fraction of what you have been paying. IT'S TRUE! If you are spending more than 25 cents per lead, who do you think is making the money - the lead company, the coop or you. It is definitely not you. Most of the leads stink whether they cost 25 cents or $25.00. The best leads are the ones you generate yourself by using proven MLM Training methods..

The market is over-saturated with disgruntled people who dropped out after having spent their life savings following their dreams the wrong way. The good news though, is that you do not need to give up. You just need to change your way of thinking and learn how to be a marketer by using proven training tips and techniques. Marketing is marketing, no matter what the product. As long as you have a desire and a belief to share your product, there is still hope to change your business around for the better.

William Winch is a Certified Business Growth Specialist whose mission is teaching other struggling entrepreneurs how to expand and explode their home-based businesses without breaking the bank. A former High School and College Business Educator and Counselor, he coaches and mentors from his home office in Rochester, NY. If you are interested in receiving his FREE Hidden Truth Report For Network Marketers on how to explode and expand your home-based business, click on on thefreemlmpowerreport.com FREE REPORT or by calling him directly at (585) 271-3767 for a free business consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Being a Foster Carer

WHAT IS FOSTERING?

Fostering means looking after children or young people in your own home for either short or long term placements, or for periods of respite, whilst their families are unable to provide care for them.

Whenever possible, children return to their birth family, but if they are unable to do so, other plans are made for them, such as long-term fostering, or adoption.

Many aspects are considered before a child is placed with you and every effort is made to ensure that the child and your own family are well matched; this includes taking into account cultural and religious considerations.

 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOSTERING FOR AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY AND A LOCAL AUTHORITY?

Local authorities recruit foster carers to care for children and young people for whom they hold legal responsibility.   However, if they do not have an appropriate placement with one of their own foster carers, they will ask independent agencies if they can offer a suitable foster home with one of their foster carers instead.   Sometimes this is because the young person has complex needs, or they cannot be placed with other children in the household, or they may need to be placed in a family group together with several other siblings.  

Because of the high level of need that these children present, independent agencies provide their foster carers with a very high level of support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.   Agencies also pay their foster carers a professional fee as well as an allowance to cover their costs;  they also provide regular training and specialist support to enable carers to meet the needs of the foster child(ren) they look after.

CAN WE BE FOSTER CARERS?

You need no written qualifications to be a foster carer.   You do need to have an ability to care for and protect children to the very high standards that we require.   Most agencies welcome people from all ethnic origins, whether they are married, or have a partner and irrespective of sexual orientation. However you will be expected  to have some experience of caring for or working with children and young people.   Potential carers also usually have to be over 25. You can live in either private or rented accommodation, but it is essential that you have at least one spare bedroom which can be used for fostering.

You will probably be required to undertake initial training along with further on-going training whilst working as a foster carer.   This is usually a contractual obligation and enables you to keep pace with the many legislative changes that occur, whilst also improving your skills and knowledge level.   In addition, foster carers are actively encouraged to gain an NVQ qualification (although this is not compulsory).

HOW OLD ARE FOSTER CHILDREN?

From birth to beyond 18 is the full range. Children will only be placed with you that match your family, preferences, skills and accommodation.  

WHY ARE CHILDREN FOSTERED?

There are many reasons why children are fostered.   Sometimes it is simply because their family cannot cope due to illness or bereavement, so a child needs to be looked after by foster carers for a short period of time.   At other times it may be necessary to find a safe place for a child who has been living in a harmful or unhappy situation.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOSTERING?

These types of fostering are the most frequently requested.

Short Term  -  this can mean anything from a few days to a number of months.   The purpose of this type of fostering is to enable Social Services to offer support and assessment to the child's family in order to make decisions about whether the child should return home or move to a long-term foster carer.

Long-Term (permanency) - increasingly, long-term fostering is being referred to as 'permanency'.   This type of placement is for children whose families are unable to look after them until they reach adulthood, but who will continue to be very much part of the child's life; because of this, adoption is not an appropriate option.

There is an expectation that long-term foster carers will make a commitment to the child until they reach the age of eighteen years and beyond if necessary.

Respite  -  respite might be a period of a few hours, overnight or for several days or weeks.   The purpose of this type of fostering is to give families help at times of crisis, such as a hospital admission, to support other carers who may need a short break from the fostering task, or to help if they have a personal situation which means they cannot foster for a brief period of time.

Mother and Baby  -  often if a mother is very young (a teenager), or perhaps has special needs, Social Workers like to place the mother and baby with a family who will support and care for them while the mother learns the skills and responsibilities associated with parenting.  The timescale of this type of fostering can be from several weeks to several months and will largely depend on the progress the mother makes in learning to care responsibly and appropriately for her child.

WHAT ABOUT FINANCES?

Foster carers are usually paid a weekly amount to enable them to provide the child with a high standard of care.   This covers all costs such as food, pocket money, clothing, normal travel to and from school etc.;  it also includes a payment element for foster carers.

Foster carers are self-employed and therefore responsible for their own income tax.

If you would like to know more please visit the Safehouses North website at safehousesnorth.org.uk safehousesnorth.org.uk

Qualify and Get that Home Improvement Loan with these Steps

What do you do if your house is several years old or you love the neighborhood you live in but hate your house? Then it is probably time you do something about it and make some major improvements. You'd be surprised how something like updating the flooring, countertops and plumbing fixtures will add value to your home, both monetary and personal. There is just one problem. It can be quite costly and one of the reasons why you should consider a home improvement loan instead of a new home.

These home improvement loans are becoming rather popular with homeowners and contractors. They are a great alternative to moving and gives independent contractors work to do. What makes them so popular is that they don't require you to use cash for your home improvements and the interest on these loans are tax deductible. Here's how you can get a home improvement loan and your dream home:

Take the time needed to find out what work needs to be done to your home. Call in a few different contractors to give you some sample estimates on the price for the job or jobs. You'll need to know this number in order to figure out the total spending cost of to determine how much money you should borrow.

Put together a file of all the documents and numbers the lenders require you to have. It is important to include necessary items like tax forms for previous years, a detailed credit history, verification of employment, proof of any other income you may have like social security, paperwork which shows your debt to income ratio and some type of proof of income. A simple pay stub will suffice.

Ask your bank for a free credit report. They shouldn't give you a difficult time with this request since under federal law, you are entitled to one per year. Once you have it, read over it carefully. If there are any discrepancies, contact the appropriate agencies and file a dispute.

This next step is all on you and how much work you want to put into it. You now need to go around shopping lenders for the best interest rates and reputation. Choose a lender that is reliable and has an established track record. Remember the old saying that is something is to good to be true? Well that holds true here too. So don't get suckered into signing something before thoroughly reading over everything. If you are doing everything over the internet, then make sure that site is secure as to avoid any chance of identity theft.

Think about what type of loan you would rather. Would a home greeneasylife.com equity loan or a line of credit for home improvement work better for you? Both act almost as second mortgages, but a home greeneasylife.com equity loan is a lump sum of money that is repaid at a fixed interest rate. A line of credit is almost the same as a credit card. It has a revolving balance with repayment on the principle at a variable interest rate.

If you do take out that second mortgage, be sure you are able to make the monthly payments. You can lose your home if you default on the loan. Create budget and set your monthly expenses before signing the loan.

Before you sign anything, read over all of the fine print. If you have any questions or concerns of any type about the terms of a loan, don't sign it. Speak with an attorney that can help you or find another lender that makes their terms easier to understand. The small fee for speaking to a professional or lawyer is a lot cheaper than becoming a fraud victim.

Merit Capital Advance looks at the big picture by offering a financing program that provides small businesses with meritcapitaladvance.com fast business cash. It is the most convenient way to get a meritcapitaladvance.com small business cash advance when you need it most. Visit Merit Capital Advance at meritcapitaladvance.com meritcapitaladvance.com.

Finding the Best Nursing Home For Our Family Member

Choosing a nursing home is a task that needs much scrutiny and attention. It is a place where sick or old people who need much attention and medical care can stay. A nursing home can be an excellent facility where people go for special care or constant medical supervision.

Scouting for Nursing Homes

In looking for the best nursing home, there are different factors or pointers that we need to consider. The first step is to prepare a list of nursing homes in the area and the best place to look for the contact number of these homes is in a directory or yellow pages. The location and how to contact them should also be in the book. You can also check out the background if they have any pending case or given any disciplinary action in the past.

Once you have a list, you need to call them one by one then weed out some of them. After creating a master list, it is time to visit each of these homes. You need to observe the establishment or building, the facilities that they have, and check the well-being of the residents. If most of their patients look unhappy or unhealthy then it is not a good place to hand our grannies.

They should have various activities for their patients or residents depending on the needs of each one of them. These will prevent boredom which eventually create a monotonous life making them unhappy. The activities should not depend on the administrator's wants or likes but should be based on each patient's needs and enjoyment.

Check their entertainment rooms and different facilities that they have. If our old loved ones love to sing, check if they have facilities or programs to let their patient sing and have their dances. Check the activities that they are offering and see if our grannies will love them or will bore them.

A good nursing home should have an experienced nutritionist, the food is also one point of enjoyment for them.

One of the important points that we need to consider in looking for nursing home is their state rankings. But sometimes it does not mean that if they are on the top rank, they are the best. Consider the needs and preference of our family members who will stay there. Remember that they will spend most of their remaining days in that place. Just imagine yourself living in that place so we need to consider a lot of factors. Visit them one by one and observe them with your very eyes.

Nursing homes are the best alternative for hospitals. We need to research to look for these establishments. Let us not only focus on the entertainment that they are offering but also take into consideration on the medical aid they are giving. Check if they have doctors or nurses round the clock and also for the number of caregivers they have. Their personnel should be patient and in good health because they are the ones to whom we will endorse our parents.

We need to put energy, time, effort and money in finding the nursing home for our family. Though it is very difficult for us to place them in this place but once we think that they will enjoy their stay, it will give you peace of mind and as well as joy for them.

For More Information See: How to startanursinghome.com start a nursing agency visit startanursinghome.com startanursinghome.com

The Ins and Outs of Giving Away Your Home When Going Into Residential Care

Many people fear that if they need to go into Residential Care they will be forced to sell their own home. As an Englishman's Home is his Castle, naturally, people wish to ensure that their home is passed on to their children or grandchildren.

Accordingly, many people make a decision to transfer their home into the names of their children. It is important that you take independent legal advice as to the implications of doing this, so that the advantages can be raised against the disadvantages before you make an appropriate decision.

We want to give our home to our children - Are there any problems?

There are a number of pitfalls:

You may still be responsible for the building insurance and general maintenance. To prevent any future problems, it is necessary to discuss with your children and establish who is to pay for all major outgoings of the home.

Your children could ask you to pay rent. The only way around this would be to have a lease back in your favour, or a Declaration of Trust from your children.
If your children become divorced or bankrupt, their ex-spouse or Trustee in Bankruptcy could have a claim on your home.
If your children use the house for security for a mortgage, then you could find yourself in the hands of the Bank/Building Society should repossession occur.
Problems can arise if your children die before you do, and no provision has been made in their Will. You could be homeless. The gift may affect their Inheritance Tax position. Inheritance Tax may be payable if a person dies and leaves an estate over £325,000 (tax year 2009-2010).
There are complicated tax implications if you transfer your home and still live in the property and your estate, including the value of the home, is worth over £325,000 (tax year 2009-2010).
The Transfer may affect your children's Capital Gains Tax position. If you own your own home and live there, no Capital Gains Tax is payable when you transfer ownership on any gain made on the original purchase or acquisition price. Your children will acquire the property at its current market value. There may be Capital Gains Tax payable by your children when they eventually dispose of the property and they should obtain independent advice on the implications.
If the onus behind the gift is merely to avoid Residential Care fees, then Local Authorities do have powers to set aside gifts made within a certain period of going into Residential Care, and they can also use Insolvency powers as well. Different Local Authorities have different views as to how far back they can check.
If you are in receipt of means tested state benefit and you give your home away, the Benefits Agency have much further reaching powers than Local Authorities.
It is therefore very important to take legal advice before giving away your property, and your children should be advised to seek independent advice as well.

What about giving one half of the property away?

Most people own their own property as joint tenants. This means that when one of them dies the property will pass to the survivor. Alternatively, you can sever your joint tenancy, so that the property is owned as tenants in common. You can then either give your share away in your lifetime, or put it into trust for the next generation, or dispose of it by your Will.

This would have an important advantage in that should the surviving spouse need to go into Residential Care, the Authorities could only take into account that person's one half share of the property, and not the whole.

How about purchasing a property with my Children?

There may be problems in that your children could be forced out of the property if you go into a Nursing Home or Residential Home. You will need to consider carefully whether an inter-generational household is likely to work.

It would be sensible to take legal advice as to putting the house into trust to avoid having your name on the title deeds.

Sheltered Housing

Sheltered Housing complexes for the over fifty five or sixty five present quite different problems.

These purchases are often quite expensive and there are restrictions about who can buy the property, who can live there, and issues regarding pets and future sales. You will need to check the service charges and ground rents, how and when they can be increased.

You will need to check whether the property can be occupied by your child or children if they were to reside with you to look after you, or if you have a younger wife/husband, if she/he could continue living there after your death. A qualifying buyer system often operates, that is, you can only sell to the management company, or to people of a particular age, group or type. This may severely restrict the purchase price. In all matters relating to property you should take full legal advice before making any formal decision.

Jo Robinson heads up operations at FB Wills Direct a division of Flint Bishop Solicitors. Find out about making fbwillsdirect.com/make_a_will.html online wills quickly and cheaply at our web site fbwillsdirect.com fbwillsdirect.com or contact