Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Video Phone is Changing the Way We Communicate Forever

By Nick Dreyer founder of Aim High Concepts

Today, more than ever, it is vital to keep your loved ones around the country close. With the world headed in the direction it is headed, your relationships that you have built are the one thing that is certain in these uncertain times. With the capability of technology today, it is much easier to stay connected with the people that are important us.

The Iris 3000 Video Phone has given people the ability to see their friends and family from all over the world on a daily basis. Nowadays, technology has nearly erased geographic boundaries for families, friends, and colleagues. E-mail and instant messages make communication easy and convenient but it takes away from that personal touch.

The Iris 3000 Video Phone has combined face to face communication with the cost savings and convenience of talking over the telephone. It brings back that personal element when talking to your loved ones around the globe.

Having the ability to see the person you are talking to over the telephone has changed many people's lives. Staying in touch with your kids that go to college in a different state has never been easier. The Iris 3000 Video Phone is allowing parents to keep tabs with their children miles away without breaking the bank paying costly phone bills or inconvenient in-person visits. You can see your daughter's new Halloween costume while you are out of town on business. You can introduce your newborn baby boy to his grandparents from 1500 miles away.

You will be able to conduct face to face meetings with business associates two continents away without ever setting foot in an airport. There is no better way to keep in touch than face to face. The video phone network is possible because of the advances of VOIP. Basically it is converging voice, video, and video conferencing into the mainstream.

Now, every one can enjoy the benefits of this service. Because VOIP can be used anywhere in the world with a simple Internet connection, it is allowing people to stay connected in new and exciting ways.

Another great advantage with this service is that because VOIP is used over your Internet, the long distance calls are free. People are saving hundreds of dollars every year with this tremendous breakthrough. Communicating across the globe has never been cheaper and the quality of service is second to none.

The Iris 3000 Video Phone is the next great thing in telecommunications but you don't have to be super rich to own one. In fact, the Iris 3000 Video Phone is one of the best quality products of its kind on the market and yet it is extremely affordable. With the economy in the gutter right now, value is more important than ever and you get exceptional value with this video phone and its service. The ability to conduct business and stay connected with family and friends is always important.

But it's hard to find the time to pick up the phone and say hello. We try, but the fact is that e-mail, phone calls, and still images just don't do it anymore. Now you can see the action, hear the voices, and feel like you're in the same room when using the Iris 3000 Video Phone. Discover how easy video communication can be. See how it will literally bring your relationships much closer together. You'll wonder how you ever survived without it.

For more information on the video phone concept visit: www.kimsuchsmith.acnrep.com (Bringing Families Closer Together -- Nursing Analysis & Review). I would like to use the videophone to help long distance families keep in touch.

My name is Nick Dreyer founder of Aim High Concepts. We are an online marketing firm that specialize in online marketing techniques. We are currently partners with ACN ( America's Communication Network) to help introduce the Iris 3000 Video Phone into the marketplace. For more information on the Iris 3000 Video Phone check this link. The Iris 3000 Video Phone is only available through an authorized dealer of ACN. http://www.videophonetechnology.net

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Know the Difference Between Hiring Private Caregivers and Using a Home Care Agency in Southeast Minnesota

I found this article in the Wall Street Journal and decided to pass it on to all of you. If you are considering hiring home care services, it's important to know what the family's legal and financial responsibilities are when it comes to private caregivers. Ultimately, in may be a better option to hire a home care agency. See link to the Wall Street Journal article below, and as always if you have questions or need help, please visit my website, www.nursinganalysis-review.com.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123742280124379005.html

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Elder Mediation Resolves Family Conflicts in Southeast, Minnesota

“My daughter is insisting I move in with her,” complains Martha. “She just wants to control my life and take away my freedom,” she continues. Jenny, Martha’s daughter worries that her mother keeps falling, and fears one day she will break her hip or hit her head. “I’ll take my sister to court before I will let her get control of mom and my inheritance,” exclaims Jim about Jenny’s desire to move her mother in with her.

It is amazing how quickly formerly cordial relationships between family members will sour when the family has to deal with care of elderly parents or inheritance at their death. Sometimes the consequence of dealing with the final years of elderly parents can break families apart and create long-lasting animosity.

The National Care Planning Council has seen an increase in requests from caregiving children for help in solving disputes with siblings. In one case, the caregiver was being sued by her sister for abusing their parent and stealing the Social Security checks. In another, the caregiving child would not allow siblings to see their mother, claiming they would take advantage of her.
A lot of times it is a “she said,” “he said” situation with neither party really understanding what the elder person needs or wants.

Some families find it hard to communicate with each other when their parent is in need of care. Perhaps when they grew up together they were not accustomed to come together as parents and children to work out problems. And now those children are older and taking care of parents and they don't have this family council strategy to rely on. It may seem unnatural to them. But that is often exactly what is needed, especially in situations where perhaps one child is caring for the parents and the others are left out of the loop.

Children all have a common bond to their parents and as a result a common obligation or responsibility to each other. When disagreements arise, suspicions begin to grow. Suspicions or distrust often lead to anger and the anger often leads to severing the channels of communication between family members. This can occur between parent and child or between siblings or between all of them.

It is often at this point that a neutral third party can come in and repair the damage that has been done and help correct the problems that have come about because of the disagreement.
A practitioner experienced in elder mediation is a perfect choice for solving disagreements due to issues with the elderly.

WHAT IS ELDER MEDIATION?
Mediation is a non-adversarial approach to solving disputes. Mediation is a process of bringing two or more disputing parties together and having them mutually negotiate a solution to their disagreement. The mediator is not a judge and does not render a decision but is there to make sure that communication flows freely between the disputing parties. Elder Mediators are trained in the art of negotiating resolutions between elderly parents and family members. Mediation can achieve results that the family by itself may not be capable of realizing or have the expertise of achieving.

Here are some reasons that make Elder Mediation so valuable.
• A trained expert on communication gives the family a perspective it could not gain by meeting together on its own;
• All family members involved meet and prevent problems from arising by anticipating situations that may cause disputes;
• Allows for the mediator to invite experts such as care managers or other care providers into the meeting to educate the family and give them a new perspective;
• Allows parents to focus on their abilities rather than their limitations;
• Allows children to come up with and consider options not thought of previously;
• Encourages uninvolved family members to become involved;
• Allows parents to express wishes and desires that had previously gone unuttered;
• Allows for a neutral third party to challenge family members and make them take responsibility for their actions;
• Promotes consensus of all involved which in turn creates a much higher rate of compliance with the plan than with any other process; (the success rate for compliance with elder mediation is estimated to be about 80% to 85%)
• Requires a written plan with specific responsibilities which makes compliance feasible.
There are many organizations and companies throughout the country providing expertise in “Elder Mediation” to help seniors and their families. You will also find that mediators often have many coincident professional accreditations such as, Professional or Geriatric Care Manager, Elder Attorney, Clinical Social Worker or Certified Mediator.

In choosing a mediator, consider your needs. Is there a need for a medical assessment to determine the type of care? Are legal concerns with inheritance or family business or power of attorney, the main need? Perhaps, just bringing the family together to communicate on what needs to be done and who will do it is the agenda for now.

In one case, after months of dispute with her parents over their health and safety issues, Connie enlisted the service of a professional care manager mediator. “Bringing a neutral person with a professional and compassionate attitude into our disputes was the best thing for all involved,” Connie recalled. “My parents shared their concerns and listened with acceptance to mine. All of a sudden we could communicate and work out a plan that they could live with and I could relax knowing they were safe.”
Seniors Use Mediators to help the family plan for long term care.

In the National Care Planning Council's book, “The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” the process of creating your own “Care Plan” before you need it is introduced. Quoting from the book:

“If the current or future caregiver wants the other persons attending the meeting to give support with respite care, transportation to doctors, etc., everyone needs to be aware of this and in total agreement to do it. All must also be willing to work with the member of the family, friend or professional who is designated as the Personal Care Coordinator. If you feel the communication will be strained, consider having a professional mediator present. The mediator will be able to keep things calm and running smoothly and help work out each person's concerns.”

“The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning” book can be found at http://www.longtermcarelink.net/a16four_steps_book.htm

Where to Find an Elder Mediator
• In your local phone book, on the internet or with your community senior services.
• References from friends and neighbors
• Contact the local area agency on aging
• Contact your state bar association
• Contact a local university or college and asked to speak to the department that provides mediation training and ask for a referral.
• On the internet look up mediation in your area
• Yellow pages in local phone books

The National Care Planning Council lists Professional Mediators throughout the United States on its website at http://www.longtermcarelink.net/a7mediation.htm
List your Elder Mediation service
National Care Planning Council
www.longtermcarelink.net
800-989-8137

Visit me with any questions at www.nursinganalysis-review.com!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

When is A Good Time To Consider Geriatric Care Management in Southeast Minnesota?

Here’s a great link to an article that is helpful to anyone considering starting elder care, home care, or geriatric care management services for an aging loved one.

Just click on the link below, and as always if you have questions or need help, please visit our website at www.nursinganalysis-review.com.

My Mother’s Memory is Failing…..
http://donigreenberg.com/2009/02/28/dear-j-mother-memory-something/

Monday, March 2, 2009

What will a Geriatric Care Manager Do for My Family in Southeast Minnesota?

Care managers have a wide range of services. Consult with your local geriatric care manager in Southeast MN to find out more about what services they specifically provide. Here’s a list from the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers that may be helpful in understanding the care manager’s scope of practice.

  • Conduct care-planning assessments to identify problems and to provide solutions.

  • Screen, arrange, and monitor in-home help or other services, including assistance in hiring a qualified caregiver for home care.

  • Provide short- or long-term eldercare assistance for those engaged in local or long distance caregiving.

  • Review financial, legal, or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists.

  • Provide crisis intervention.

  • Act as a liaison to families at a distance, overseeing care, and quickly alerting families to problems – especially important when families are engaged in long distance caregiving for a loved one.

  • Assist with moving an older person to or from a retirement complex, assisted care home, or nursing home.

  • Provide consumer education and advocacy.

  • Offer eldercare counseling and support.

Some PGCMs also provide family or individual therapy, finance management, conservatorship or guardianship assistance, and/or caregiving services.