What Makes An Ideal Care Home?

When you are looking for care homes for your loved ones, it is important you carry out a lot of research. There are so many of these services available, so there are bound to be some which are better than others. Looking at the characteristics of ideal care homes will help to narrow your search and find the perfect location for your nearest and dearest to be thoroughly looked after.

1) Meet the staff

In ideal care homes, you would expect the staff to be some of the best in their field. These should be caring people who have medical training. The staff should be respected, well treated, supported by management, and valued. How long have people been working there? Usually long service is a good sign that the working environment is a good one.

The management team should be very kind, as well as confident and empathetic. Are they well supported as well, and know when they should go higher up and ask for help?

Speaking to some of the current residents and their families will give you a better understanding of what goes on behind closed doors. Resident's experience is really important to finding the right sort of home for your loved ones.

2) The values

What are the values of your ideal care homes? Some cultures focus around money, while others are all about the people. Look for somewhere which values honesty and respect, which is about humanity rather than the bottom line.

If bureaucracy is the main focus of the home, you might want to raise some concerns.

3) Location

This might not be first priority for everyone, but often finding ideal care homes means finding ones which are accessible. Are there good transport links? Is it easy for friends and family to drop by and visit? If there is a doctor's surgery and places of worship in the vicinity that will also make the home more appealing to a vast range of potential residents.

Whatever sort of care is needed by your elderly or infirm relatives, you should assess lots of different homes in your area to get a good sense of what you are looking for. The environment is key, and sometimes finding the perfect care homes is simply a case of seeing what is available and what feels right to both you and whoever will be potentially moving in in the coming weeks.

The Glamorous Life of a Single Mom

The mere announcement of "single-ness" has men lining up at your doorstep wanting to wine and dine you. A simple post on Facebook stating the dishwasher is broken and every handyman in the county is volunteering his services. You and your kids are thriving and can't imagine why every mom doesn't want this incredible way of life. Money is never an issue because everyone understands your situation, including utility companies, mortgage holders, credit card issuers and landlords. Employers value your work and encourage time off to take care of your sick child, attend a school event or escort him or her to the dentist.

OK... I am sure if you are a single mom and reading this, you are gnashing your teeth and have used some colorful words to tell me I must have lost my mind. And, I am sure in some utopian society on the planet Outerslabovia, this way of life could be a reality. I am not saying there aren't single moms out there thriving so don't crucify me if you are one of them. God Bless and I wish you the best. However, my "single-mom friends" and I are not quite living the dream as previously described.

Take for instance, last night. I just got my 2002 Honda Odyssey back from the mechanic who replaced the transmission. My mechanic, knowing my financial status (abundance challenged) found a used transmission and was able to get me up and going for a reasonable sum compared to installing a new transmission. Seeing that my only credit card is maxed and my bank account doesn't have many digits, my ex footed the bill for the repair. Thankfully, we have stayed on good terms... as long as we don't spend more than a few hours together.

I just get home with my "turd" as I call it with the new transmission and am met at the door by my sixteen year old daughter with her twenty year old boyfriend who are leaving to get Chinese at their favorite restaurant and go to a movie. My daughter quickly reminds me she needs money for a volleyball shirt, karate, lunch money and her gas tank is low. You may be saying to yourself that maybe my daughter needs to get a job so she can cover her own costs. I am not saying you are wrong, but I decided that as long as she was responsible, stayed out of trouble and got good grades, I did not want her to have to work. After graduation, she will start working and will work the rest of her life so I want her to focus on and enjoy being in High School. Secretly I am hoping she will become an Astrophysicists and I can be her full-time gardener, cook and housekeeper. For me, it would be the single mom's version of winning the lottery.

I wish them a good time and head into the kitchen. I open the refrigerator and grab a cold Diet Coke before closing the door and pushing the towel back under the freezer door. It will catch the water when the freezer spontaneously defrosts for no apparent reason. Maybe this weekend I will thaw it totally out so I can get the two other folded towels in the bottom shelf out of the freezer out and start new. The plus side is we now decide what's for dinner by what item has thawed the most each evening. It takes a lot of the time spent on decision making out of the mix.

My nineteen year old son shows up for supper. The hamburger won the most defrosted contest so we are making tacos. He is going to a local Community College on a A+ scholarship that pays for everything except books and lab fees. He will have a two year Automotive Certificate in the Spring but has decided he wants to pursue other options for a career. In short, he loves working on cars and learning how to do so but doesn't want to do it for a living. We combine forces and make short work of preparing tacos and shorter work of devouring them. We are just about to bag the leftovers and start the dishwasher when the "ex" shows up. It seems his "food-dar" is as finely tuned as ever. I mention the clogged drain in the daughter's bathtub since he is a plumber by trade and he grumbles something about her cutting her long hair so she doesn't clog the drain. Between mouthfuls of tacos, he says he will take a look at it "sometime". Not that I really mind her using my shower with her two kinds of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, shaving gel, exfoliator and clippers. It's just that it seems a bit crowded with my one type of gel that "does it all".

Seeing my son and his dad off for the night, I head out to the car to get my book so I can relax for the evening reading the latest Stone Barrington mystery. I walk through the kitchen on my way to the couch and nearly slip on liquid that has puddled on the floor. The on again/off again leaky dishwasher has decided to urp its water all over the kitchen hardwood. After turning the dishwasher off and mopping the floor, I turn to see my daughter's calico cat watching me from the countertop. I swear she secretly finds great amusement in our misfortunes and while she looks interested on the outside is covertly laughing her ass off on the inside.

What Gas Products Are Available For The Modern Household?

With the rising costs of electricity combined with the decreasing supply of this resource, more people are looking at using non-electrical appliances and products. We are all aware of a variety of electricity products on the market but what gas products are available that could be used as a replacement?

We are living in the 21st century and we all want to enhance our homes so that they look modern and are functional. Many people seem to associate gas products with the olden days but this is no longer the case. There are many modern gas appliances available.

Gas Stoves. Over the years this gas appliance has become more popular in demand due to its many benefits. It has factory fitted safety features that make it easier and safer to use. They are designed with stylish features that fit in perfectly to the modern kitchen. Using these stoves can save you a lot of money in the long run because the cost of gas is lower than that of electricity.

Gas Ovens. People think that these ovens don't offer the same baking ability as its electrical counterpart. Contrary to popular belief, these ovens are able to heat up quickly and offer temperature consistency during baking just as well as electrical ovens. In other words, baking a cake in a gas oven is the same as baking it in the electrical oven that you are used to. These ovens are also designed with modern kitchen in mind and will enhance the look of your kitchen.

Gas Heaters. During the winter months, this is a popular product to use. Over the years more people have discovered how beneficial these heaters are. They use gas cylinders that are available everywhere. They are cordless, so you don't have to worry about someone tripping of electrical cords. They quickly heat up a room and maintain a comfortable heat with its variable heat settings. They have a sleek modern design that looks fitting in any room.

Gas Geysers. Yes, that's right, you also get geysers that work on gas. They don't look like the old fashioned geysers that we are all used to. These are sleek units that are designed for the modern home and have a capacity that is suitable to your requirements.

There are modern and stylish gas products available for your home. Purchasing gas appliances could enhance the features of your home while also saving money on electric bills and not having to worry about the decreasing supply electrical energy.

Check Your Seashells

Life often gets in the way! So many of us get caught in the "small stuff" in life and lose perspective on how precious each and every day can be. While stewing about my next blog, I happened to be on Facebook, catching up with friends and colleagues and came upon a wonderful journey shared by one of those colleagues. Being a lover of the sea and lifetime collector of seashells, I guess that may have been what caught my eye initially, but this story isn't really about seashells.

Let me share this warm and recent story from a colleague as he returned from a California trip and his experience seated next to a 7 year old. This is his actual story, word for word and I ask you, at the end of the story to reflect on your life and whether it's filled with seashells or something much more valuable!

"On the last leg of my plane ride home from California I sat next to a 7 year old girl named PARIS. She was on her way home from beach camp and was as full of personality as anyone I have ever met. She wore a lanyard around her neck and in the lanyard were 12 seashells she had collected from the beach.

She proceeded to tell me that these 12 were the most awesome seashells on the whole beach and that she had spent hours looking for them and that she couldn't wait to give them all to her mom.

During some turbulence one of the seashells fell out of her lanyard and rolled under the seats. I immediately started to help her look for the shell she had lost. I assumed she would be upset the entire rest of the trip if we couldn't find it. And I really didn't want a crying 7 year old next to me for 4 hours.

After about 2 minutes of looking she told me to get up off the floor and not to worry. She looked at me and said...

"Don't worry Bryan, it's just a seashell. It's not like it's my whole life. My mom will just be happy I made it home alive. I can always get more seashells, but I only get one mommy and my mommy only gets one of me. No need to be upset over one seashell."

I was speechless. Even at 7 years of age PARIS already knew between material items and meaningful ones. I immediately reflected on my life and whether or not that's how I look at my "seashells."

I firmly believe God sat this little girl next to me on purpose. Too often we place over emphasis on material items and lose sight of what's most important. And when it happens, don't forget the words of a spunky little girl named PARIS.

Saving Energy With Bedding

The amount of energy we consume affects everything we do in our lives. The amount of energy a person consumes varies greatly. The increasing costs of energy can have a dramatic effect on our quality of life. Something as simple as having the right bedding can decrease your energy bill each month.

It is always worth it to find ways to decrease your energy consumption. From taking cooler showers to walking instead of driving, it all adds up in the long run. When you think you are getting the best price for something, you may actually end up paying more and using much more energy. For example, many people drive around trying to find the best price on gas. They often end up spending more and consuming more energy than if they would have simply paid the few cents difference. A better idea would be to consolidate your trips or drive less often. Maybe you can carpool or get a vehicle that consumes less gas.

You can conserve energy by turning down the thermostat or keeping it on a low (under 70 degrees) temperature. This not only is healthier for you but conserves our precious limited resources. Many people sleep with one sheet over them. Not only is it not good for your skin, it can be very costly as well. By covering yourself with a comforter you can lower your thermostat, possibly savings hundreds of dollars per year.

The best way to conserve energy and be comfortable at the same time is to purchase a high quality down comforter. When you cover up with a down comforter with a fill of 750 or more, you can turn the thermostat down an extra five degrees. This probably sounds like a scary proposition to a lot of people, but a good down comforter will keep you toasty all night long. The fill power is a measure of the down cluster's ability to trap air. The higher the fill power is, the warmer you will be. Not only will it keep you warm in the winter, but cool in the summer. For those that like to keep the windows up all year round, the fill power is especially important to you.

When you get up in the morning be sure to set your thermostat so that the other rooms in the house are at a comfortable temperature, especially the bathroom. When you turn down the thermostat you will start to realize immediate savings on your energy bill. When you buy a high quality down comforter, the money spent will be well worth the money saved on energy. You also get the added benefit of doing the right thing for the environment, which helps everyone.

What A Tangled Web

Sometimes I come across the kind of story that I will really love. The kind of story that shines a light on who we are and aren't as human beings.

It concerns a woman who lives in the Australian state of Tasmania, called Clodagh Jones who was married to marine scientist Robert Jones for 52 years.

For the last ten of those years she was wife as well as carer when Robert Jones spiralled into dementia, which eventually took his life in 2011. Here's where the story starts to get interesting.

Robert Jones was a hoarder who apparently kept everything that passed across his desk or took his eccentric eye.

Clodagh Jones was a professional indexer. It's about being pedantic and meticulous. Clodagh had been recognised for her work. She won an award for her incredibly detailed guide through the journals of a well-known Tasmanian explorer.

You can probably see where this is going.

After her husband died, Clodagh began emptying boxes of stuff that he had kept. It was all kinds of stuff. She'd turned up patents for fishing gear, photographs of famous philosophers, even top-secret papers for work he did for the UK Defence Department during the Cold War in the 1960s. But through her diligent searching, meticulous Clodagh found a box of papers, she was probably never meant to find, that would literally change her life forever.

Hidden among his archives were letters he had written to his lovers, photographs and receipts for jewellery that were presents for his many mistresses.

Clodagh, who had borne him three children and nursed him devotedly for ten years through a cruel and insidious disease, was understandably shocked by this revelation.

But after she had recovered from her shock what Clodagh did next might surprise you.

Of the many lovers her husband had throughout his life she discovered one to whom he had professed particular devotion. She was a much younger woman.

So Clodagh wrote her a letter. Not one full of vitriol, spite or vindictive anger. In fact it was the exact opposite. It was a warm letter admitting that she had only just discovered the affair and while the news of it was devastating, she was also intrigued.

Clodagh ended the letter by asking the woman to write back to her believing that her husband's lover might be able to tell her things she never knew about the man she'd been married to for 52 years. To her surprise the woman replied almost immediately, admitting to the affair and apologising for all of the hurt she had caused. But that was not the end of the matter. In an even more surprising twist the two women who shared the one man have become firm friends.

Life - A Journey or an Adventure?

Having been properly sick, well properly for me, these past 2 weeks, and having been in hospital, only for the doctors to admit that I have got a viral infection, apparently without a name, and that I need to take it slow or else I will damage my heart, has really put me towards thinking about my motto in life.

It's a hard punch in the face when you think that you live a healthy life, with exercise, good food, good skincare and the adequate amount of self-improvement only to find that none of that matters when life decide to make your journey an adventure.

The road to recovery certainly has been alarmingly slow, and I can see it on my daughters' faces when they come home from school wanting to share their day, and I'm not quite up for all that energy. The disappointment that sprouts on those little faces is heartbreaking, and it certainly makes me wish that I could just get this on the mend thing done now! But I guess, if it wasn't for my healthy lifestyle, I might still have been in hospital, and the road to recovery would have been even longer.

A healthy lifestyle has always been my goal, to exercise at least 3 time a week, to make vegetables part of at least 1 meal a day, to have the fruits in the house, free access to that rather than to sweets, to do the fish rather than the red meat, to play outside with the kids instead of ending up in front of the Television for hours without end, and mentioned last, not because it's in any way the least of it, but to read. To have my both my daughters learn, understand and have a love for reading.

I began my website for everybody out there that has the same intense need or want for a healthy life as I. That place where I could just let loose, and talk about products that I love and my experiences, to find the like-minded people out there who shares my love for life.