Getting efficient exercise, both physically and mentally can be a challenge for some seniors who have disabilities, lack of physical assistance, or financial difficulties. Nintendo’s Wii Sports brings mental and physical exercising to seniors instead of seniors having to seek it outside their homes. It’s not just the kids playing video games these days. Retirement and com/features/NursingHomes.aspx”>nursing homes
and other senior assisted living facilities
, have opened their social hours to include Nintendo’s Wii for mental as well as physical activities.
Wii Makes Exercising Fun and Stimulating for Seniors
Now seniors can bowl, box, play tennis and golf right in their living room, what’s more is that they have to physically get involved. Seniors will find themselves standing up and swinging the virtual golf club, using the controller to wave their arms as they play tennis or sweep the air to bowl. It may not be overly straining, or cardiovascular, but the low-physical exertion and mental processes all help keep them and their brains active. Seniors can even participate in Wii Fit- purposely created to provide indoor-exercise.
Some Wii Fit “Games” For More Active Seniors
• Aerobics
• Balance Board
• Strength Training
• Yoga
Some of Wii Fit’s games may not be appropriate for all seniors but for more active seniors, some of the more cardiovascular games will prove great results. The more oxygen the brain receives, the better their mental health. That’s another reason why exercise is so important for physical and mental health. When people exercise, they take in more oxygen.
Some retirement homes are making the Wii apart of daily living because of its popularity and exercise/ stimulation benefits. One retirement home in Chicago has a daily Wii bowling tournament where they have set up a fan for seniors to dry their hands on before they have a turn. The social benefits of Wii are almost as important as the physical and mental stimulus. Isolation and loneliness can be a problem for many seniors, but a friendly game of tennis or golf can encourage a wealth of comments and friendly competition.
Instead of grandparents not being able to relate to their children’s video games, now grandchildren can teach them how to play! It may not be the same thing as taking grandchildren to the Zoo or outside to play catch, but at least grandparents can interact with their grandchildren on a new and fun level of this generation’s game playing, while keeping physically and mentally fit.
Watch the video related to assisted living
Rain Man” in one critical way, he is fully capable of living a fully independent life which makes him unique among people who have sever autistic disorders. He had emerged from the “other side” of autism with the ability to function successfully. He is even able to explain what is happening inside his head, an amazing feat in its own. Rain Man is a 1988 film drama written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass and directed by Barry Levinson. It tells the story of an abrasive, selfish yuppie, …
Help answer the question about assisted living
Do you have to qualify for Disability Benefits in order to get on an assisted living program?I dont qualify for Disability as of right now, but i should this fall. I need to move out of my parent's house, and give them a break. Right now, they are the ones who have to take me everywhere. And I only ask to go places I need to go. And its still too much on them. Since my stepfather works away, he's not usually here to help my mom in taking me to the doctor. The reason I dont qualify is because of my resources. As far as medically, I do qualify. I need my independence. As much of it as I am able to handle. I'm 20 years old right now, and am on my parents insurance until i turn 21 this year. What is involved in the process of getting on an assisted living program?
I live in a rural area. No public transportation.
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About the author: Melissa Peterman is a web content specialist for Innuity. For more information about assisted living facilities , or nursing homes. go to Great Places.
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Check these out:
http://www.yellowpages.com/Akron-OH/Assisted-Living-Facilities?From=qpiCityState
Basically it would depend on if she is going to be on any state or government assistance; if so, then yes, they will take any assets in order to offset the cost. If she is not, her personal property should remain her own. She can also consider selling or putting her property in someone else's name (one of her children perhaps), but check into the laws in your area as there are sometimes time frames that are applicable.
Hi,
Having recently had my mother in both of these types of facilities, it differs by level of care and also the staffing requirements.
In a nursing home (sometimes called skilled nursing of SNF), the patients typically require more advanced therapies like IVs, wound care, PT or OT. SNFs have strict requirements in most states regarding the number of RNs, LVNs and CNAs per patient. These facilities can be long-term care but are also used as transitional facilities for folks that are recovering from surgeries (i.e. someone needs IV antibiotics for a month).
Assisted living is not really medically oriented. It is designed to provide assistance with daily tasks like dressing, cleaning, bathroom, etc. Some facilities have a no-dimentia policy and some are licensed to care for alzheimers patients. There are not strict requirements for nursing or LVNs on staff, and most do not require full-time nurses. Most use med-techs for medication management. The patients in assisted living are mostly all long-term and there can be (with the right place) a more familial environment.
I often got questions like these from friends and family, so ended up started a blog to discuss these kinds of issues. Feel free to check it out, or send me a private note if you want to chat more. Good luck on the new gig!
Ryan
http://assisted-living-guide.blogspot.com
You should be able to get information from a home health care provider on how to get assistance from the government and be able to get appliances, etc. free or for little money. If you call a home health care company, you can just get the informaiton to the goverment offices that help with this sort of thing. My neighbor did this and got a new fridge free because her social security wouldn't cover it but she was able to get what she needed for free. Good Luck.
contact the state for their guidelines and criteria
Hi! Congratulations on getting your CNA! That's an accomplishment!
Your pay probably depends on experience, and certainly depends on what area of the country you live in. In our area — Chicago suburbs — the average a CNA makes is $11- $16 an hour. I used CareerBuilder.com to research this. You enter your own zipcode, and it spits out averages. Other areas of the country, especially the South and rural areas, likely pay much less than this.
At an assisted living facility, the residents are rated according to level of care they need. Some are still pretty "with it" and need very minimal care, such as only a wake-up call, transfers, bedmaking, or stand-by assist with bath/ shower. However, many people could still be a High Fall risk, even if their mind is good, because their balance is not so good anymore.
Others need MUCH more help, even to incontinence care. Especially in the "Memory" or "Reminisce" units, for people with Alzheimers or dementia, the residents might need a good bit of personal care — feeding, dressing, and toileting.
Many CNAs like working in Assisted Living facilities because often the residents are not as debilitated physically and mentally as those in nursing homes. Often they become very close to their clients — like family– and they relate on a very personal level.
(TIP: An important tip for every CNA to remember is that most older folk do NOT like being called "honey" or "dearie" or being talked down to like a child. Speaking in a respectful way is always the best policy. It does not mean you have to be formal — just don't belittle their intelligence just because they might have some memory or physical problems.)
Many hospitals will not hire an inexperienced CNA, because the fast pace of a hospital is not the place to perfect your skills. So, many CNAs get nursing home experience first, and then they see if a hospital will hire them. Also, some hospitals use fewer un-licensed staff these days than they used to, preferring to try to keep to all RN/LPN staff. However, other hospitals have such a shortage of staff that they are willing to hire even inexperienced workers.
You would probably want to make sure ANY facility you hire into has a good orientation program — don't hesitate to ask questions about how long theirs is, and what is covered, and who you can ask when you have problems or questions.
There is no doubt that the CNA is an important member of the health care team. Often, it is the experienced CNA who recognizes that skin is starting to break down, or that "something is just not quite right with" Mrs. "X", and asks the RN or LPN to look in on the resident or patient. The wise RN and LPN will listen to the reports of the CNA.
i hope this helps! good luck on your career! And remember, some facilities will help pay for further schooling after you have worked with them a while. Keep this in mind if you decide to go on to your LPN or RN.
kathy, MSN, RN
According to the National Alzheimer's Association, statistical data such as that you're seeking isn't really maintained at a national level. Each state has its own HQ, so unfortunately, the best way to get national data would be to contact the HQ for each state and use the data collected to extrapolate an aggregate number.
That said, there's a national-level Alzheimer's Association Library that was recommended by the director of public education at the National HQ. That library may maintain records from each state, so you could get the information you need from one source.
You can contact the Alzheimer's Association Official Library at (312) 335-5767.
I do not agree with your reasoning about the accompanying person deduction (a $50 per day lodging deduction for an accompanying person who is required to travel with the patient for treatment away from home) applying to the spouse. There is no section of the IRS code that supports your position.
In fact, the wife could be living in the facility without a spouse, it happens all the time. While the husband is in the facility only because his wife is there and he chooses to be there, it is not necessary that the husband accompany the wife in the assisted living facility. His lodging would not be deductible.
Only the portion of the fee for the wife which is related to medical treatment would be deducted as a medical expense. If the fees cannot be separated between husband and wife, I believe the IRS would accept 50% of the fee as a medical expense for the wife. If there is a surcharge for nursing care for the wife, of course add that to the normal charges. The wife's meals are also deductible, but not the husband's.
There is no extension of the time limit for an amendment in this case.
As much as they want.