Better Living, March 2015

A special supplement to The Daily Nonpareil

March 2015

Better ng i v i L LifeLong Links: Iowa’s Connection to Resources

Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol See Page 3

See Page 2

Making Sure Your Elderly Loved Ones Are Eating Well See Page 6

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LifeLong Links: Iowa’s Connection to Resources For residents of Iowa, information about aging, disability, and community resources has become a great deal easier to access thanks to LifeLong Links.

LifeLong Links is Iowa’s “no wrong door” access point for individuals age 60 or older and individuals age 18 and older with a disability to find information, resources, and community services.

Iowans are just one call or mouse click away from receiving information and answers that they need.

“The greatest aspect to me,” says Connections Area Agency on Aging CEO, Barb Morrison, “is that in a time of need Iowans and their loved ones no longer have to worry about where to start the process for accessing information

and assistance.

They don’t need to remember the names of multiple agencies, or what each agency can offer in terms of services.

The only name they need to know is LifeLong Links.”

Once a call has been made, LifeLong Links staff will make the appropriate connections for the individual needs of the caller.

A LifeLong Links staff member stays with you each step of the way, making warm transfers whenever possible.

No giving you a list of phone numbers to call. In addition to the statewide toll-free number and the LifeLong Links website, face to face meetings are available with certified Assistance and Referral professionals or certified Option Counselors who can explain the avail-

able options for consumers, their families and their caregivers. They also provide follow up to make sure you get the assistance needed.

Iowans no longer need to worry about who to call or where to start.

LifeLong Links - the first and last place and number you need to know!

Contact us at 866-4687887 or lifelonglinks.org.

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Your home.Your care.Your pace.

Your home is best and Immanuel Pathways’ goal is to help you continue living in your home as long as possible.

Our program provides a complete system of health care.

The service is called PACE, which stands for: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide primary and hospital care as well as prescription drugs, adult day services, transportation and so much more to our participants. Services are provided in the home, at the PACE Center and in the community.

For complete program details and benefits, please call 712-256-PATH (7284).

MCC LifeLong Links is Iowa’s “no wrong door” access point for individuals age 60 or older and individuals age 18 and older with a disability to find information, resources, and community services.

1702 N. 16th Street Council Bluffs, IA 51501 www.immanuelpathways.org PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-PACE program services. Emergency services are covered. Participants may disenroll at any time.

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Better Living

Friday, February 27, 2015

Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol a project of Northeast Iowa AAA

Permission granted to AAAs to reprint these articles with credit given to Iowa SMP. This document was supported, in part, by Grant #90MP0161-03, from the Administration for Community Living/ Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services.

Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.

Does Medicare Cover Genetic Testing or is it Fraud?

Have you seen or heard of any ice cream socials and cheek swab events? I know, it may sound odd, but there have been reports of a scam where people are going to apartment complexes and senior centers offering an ice cream social… and doing a cheek swab test to see what medications you genetically can or cannot take.

They advertise that Medicare covers this test and that it serves as a blue print of what doctors can reliably prescribe you.

The people promoting

genetic testing to Medicare beneficiaries could be using this test to commit Medicare fraud and abuse. Medicare does NOT cover this. (California SMP-Jan. 22, 2015) If you see or hear of any such events, call Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-423-2449.

Be Aware: • Never give your Medicare number to strangers.

• Never give your Medicare number to anyone offering a “free” service.

• Never accept medical supplies or equipment from a door-to-door salesperson.

• Never provide information to someone on the telephone claiming to be from Medicare.

Medicare does not call beneficiaries unless they call Medicare first.

• Never keep mail in your mailbox for more

than one day. People can steal your personal information right from your mailbox.

• Always review your Medicare Summary Notice – most healthcare fraud involves billing for services not provided and double billing.

• Always shred your Medicare, healthcare and other important documents before throwing them away.

• Always keep a calendar of your doctors’ visits and medical tests.

Compare your calendar to your Medicare Summary Notices. Contact Iowa SMP for your free Personal Health Care Journal.

• Always count your pills after you have picked up your prescription. If you are short pills, complain to your pharmacist.

• Always report possible fraud.

If you identify or sus-

3

pect fraud, errors or take away your driver’s abuse, call the Iowa SMP license. at 1-800-423-2449.

• Scammers may use Source: IRS Newswire fake names or bogus IRS identity numbers, Tax Season Scams seem to know your SSN, • This is the season send fake IRS mails, use when scammers will fake caller ID, pretend use devious ways to with follow-up calls to steal your refunds or be the local police, DMV, get more money from or immigration service you.

– to make you believe • Scammers will get a they are the IRS. hold of your Social SecuAvoid tax identity rity number OR YOUR theft in the same way MEDICARE NUMBER you protect yourself to file a false income tax from Medicare identity return and collect your theft: PROTECT YOUR refund.

MEDICARE NUMBER! • Scammers posing For more information, as agents for the Inter- contact Iowa SMP at nal Revenue Service 1-800-423-2449.

(IRS) will claim that • News distributed you owe “back taxes” by Nancy Creery, Iowa and demand you pay Senior Medicare Patrol them. If you don’t, they Program Coordinathreaten to arrest you, tor, Northeast Iowa deport you if you are an Area Agency on Aging immigrant, shut off your (NEI3A), Waterloo, IA, electricity and water, or ncreery@nei3a.org Welcome Home To Beautiful rent-assisted homes for residents 62+ /or disabled.

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Senior Centers/Meal Sites Centers follow the menus on page 11 of the Better Living Courier. Please contact your local center or meal site for the suggested contribution rate for individuals age 60 or older. Please make meal reservations one day in advance. Menu available at your local senior center or meal site.

Region 1, Sioux City: Aurelia – (712) 2796900; Akron – (712) 5683120; Centennial Manor Apts. – (712) 279-6900; Cherokee Community – (712) 279-6900; Correctionville City Hall – (712) 372-4791; Fairmount Park – (712) 279-6900; Ida Grove Comm.

Ctr. – (712) 364-2498; Le Mars Sr. Center – (712) 546-6740; Mapleton Comm.

Center – (712) 8811032; Marcus Sr. Citizen Center – (712) 3764495; Merrill Civic Center – (712) 938-2503; Moville Sr. Center – (712) 873-3095; Remsen Beck Park Shelter – (712) 7862044; Riverside Lutheran Church – (712) 2796900; Sgt. Bluff Sr. Center – (712) 943-4669; Ute Senior Center – (712) 885-2228; Region 2, Council Bluffs: Atlantic – (712) 2433599; Council Bluffs at The Center – (712) 323-

5995; Carter Lake – (712) 347-6102; Clarinda – (712) 5422932; Dunlap – (712) 6432244; Glenwood – (712) 527-4213; Harlan – (712) 7552757; Irwin – (712) 7823367; Logan – (712) 6442229; Malvern – (712) 624-

8985; Missouri Valley – (712) 642-3215; Neola – (712) 4852179; Oakland – (712) 4823353; Red Oak – (712) 6233497; Sidney – (712) 3743053; Stanton – (712) 8262782; Villisca – (712) 8265182; Woodbine – (712)

647-3011.

Region 3, Creston: Adair – (641) 7425202; Bedford – (712) 5233522; Clearfield – (641) 782-4040; Corning – (641) 3224608; Creston – (641) 7822447; Greenfield – (641) 743-8907;

Lamoni – (641) 7846123; Leon – (641) 4464433; Mount Ayr – (641) 464-2190; Orient – (641) 7438907; Osceola – (641) 3426221; Tingley – (641) 7724499; Afton – (641) 7822447 or (641) 340-2654; Lorimor – (641) 7822447 or (641) 763-2883.

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Friday, February 27, 2015

Debt Collections & Debt Collection Scams

A debt collector is someone who regularly collects or attempts to collect consumer debts owed to others. If you’re in debt, federal and state laws provide you with some protections in how creditors or debt collection companies can collect on what you owe.

In some cases, though, the collection attempt may be nothing more than a scam.

Laws Limit Initial Contacts by Debt Collectors A debt collector may contact you or your family in person, by mail, email, telephone, fax or telegram.

However, a debt collector may not contact you at unreasonable times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (unless you agree to it), and cannot contact you with such frequency that it could reasonably be considered harassing. A debt collector may contact people other than you or your attorney to find out where you live or work, but may not tell others that you owe money.

A debt collector may not contact you at work if he or she knows your employer does not approve. And a debt collector may not visit your home at times other than your normal waking hours. He or she may not visit you more than once in any 30-day period for each debt (unless you agree to further visits).

Follow-Up Contact by Debt Collectors A debt collector is required to send you a written notice within five days of first contacting you.

5

will be subject to arrest, card, pre-paid money cards it or claims he or she can’t that you have committed or a money wire transfer. provide it, then the debt a crime. The debt collector collector isn’t legitimate.

If You Suspect a Scam may not falsely claim that You should insist that the If you suspect that it’s person calling provide you he or she is an attorney or falsely threaten to take a scam, simply don’t talk with written information legal action that the credi- to the caller and hang up. about the claimed debt tor does not reasonably If you’re not sure whether through the U.S. Mail – Your Rights it’s legitimate, ask the not email – which is your You may stop a debt intend to take. caller for his or her name, legal right. Do not procollector from continuing address and phone num- vide or confirm personal Debt Collection Scams to contact you by writSome criminals will ber, who he or she rep- or financial information to ing a letter to the collector telling him or her to pose as debt collectors. resents, the creditor and someone who calls you, as stop. Once the debt col- They’ll claim that you owe details about the debt. If the call may be an identity lector receives the written money tied to a loan or the caller refuses to provide theft attempt. notice, he or she may not debt and that you must contact you again except pay immediately. These to confirm that they will types of criminals are not contact you again or aggressive, convincing to inform you that they and threatening. It’s poswill take some sort of spe- sible they accessed some cific action. If you orally information about you or Interested in becoming a request a debt collector to a debt you may really owe, Hospice Volunteer? stop calling you at work, or may make up the scePlay music, bake cookies and cakes, sew, he or she must do so for nario entirely. ten days. You must follow office work, read to patients, read off Bingo These cases almost up with a written request, at Nursing Homes and many other things. which is valid until you always involve claims state otherwise in writing. that you must pay now or Call Jordan Sherbondy face serious consequences.

A debt collector must They may convince you - Volunteer Coordinator identify himself or herself that you are about to face at 712-325-1751 and identify the name of a lawsuit, or may even or 800-591-2273 the creditor. He or she may face arrest if you don’t pay not harass you, including immediately. They will Proudly serving Southwest Iowa for over 20 Years. using abusive, profane or most often insist on pay411 East Broadway • Council Bluffs, IA • www.aseracare.com obscene language. The ment by credit card, debit debt collector may not make false or deceptive statements when attemptWhen someone you love becomes a ing to collect a debt, such as falsely claiming that you The notice must include the amount you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe money, and your options if you dispute the debt.

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Better Living Making Sure Your Elderly Loved One Is Eating Right

6 Friday, February 27, 2015

he elderly, who are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, may have a hard time getting all the nutrients required for a balanced diet. If you take care of an elderly parent or grandparent there are plenty of steps you can take to help them get adequate nutrition as they get older.

Getting the proper nutrition is important for people of all ages but eating right often becomes difficult for seniors.

The elderly, who are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, may have a hard time getting all the nutrients required for a balanced diet.

Malnutrition often presents itself as weight loss, disorientation, and lightheadedness and is often mistaken for illness or disease. If you take care of an elderly parent or grandparent there are plenty of steps you can take to help them get adequate nutrition as they get older.

The best way to find out why your loved one is not eating well is to pay attention and ask them questions. Be encouraging of honesty and openness and reassure them that they are not a burden to you or anyone else in your family.

Remind them that they are important to you and that you are there to take care of them. Some of the possible causes of poor nutrition include a decrease in sensitivity of

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the senses of smell and taste. This affects their ability to taste and enjoy food making them less likely to eat food.

Another cause is side effects of medications which sometimes reduce appetite, make food taste strangely, or cause nausea.

Many seniors are also on fixed or limited incomes and out of worry for money, they may cut back on grocery expenses or eat lessnutritious foods in favor of expensive nutritious food. Seniors also experience physical difficulties as they become frailer with age and deal with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Simple tasks like peeling fruit or standing for a long time to cook a meal become too challenging.

Here are some practical tips to ensure that your elderly senior is getting proper nutrition.

Offer them nutritionally dense foods because many seniors don’t eat as much as they should.

The food they do eat should be as nutritious as possible: Offer whole and unprocessed foods that are high in calories like healthy fats like nut butters, nuts, and olive oil, whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole grain cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, and proteinrich beans, legumes, and dairy products.

Make food that is aromatic and flavorful. As

elderly people’s senses become dulled with age, it is important to make foods that smell strongly delicious in order to stimulate their appetite.

You can intensity flavors with herbs, marinades, dressings, and sauces.

Combine textures such as yogurt with granola and switch between a variety of foods during one meal to keep food interesting.

Make eating a family occasion. Depressed seniors who feel lonely and isolated are less likely to take the time to sit down to eat a healthy meal. Sit down with the whole family or invite them over on a regular basis.

When mealtime becomes an interesting and fun occasion, seniors are more likely to eat

and more likely to enjoy many fruits, vegetablesPsychology Articles, and what they are eating. whole grains.

Cut back on high Promote healthy snacks in between sodium meals and food meals. Many seniors with high saturated fat don’t enjoy large meals content. so an alternative solution is to plan for several mini-meals throughout the day. Make the meals nutritionally dense with

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Better Living

Friday, February 27, 2015

How to Care for an Elderly Person or Senior

your loved one.

Talk to the doctor and to anyone else who may have the wisdom and knowledge to help you care for the elderly member of your family.

Know what to expect, what medications are required.

Using services provided by a certified inhome caregiver from a professional agency can assist you in times that you need that extra help.

Keeping all important information in one file is important and this includes all medical information including test results, names and phone numbers of doctors, appointment dates, hospital cards, and insurance information.

If your loved one is taking a lot of medications, make a chart to help keep track of what medication is to be taken and when.

Always be sure the home is safe.

If your loved one uses a walker be sure throw rugs are secure, and there are no obstacles for them to trip over.

Install safety railings should this help.

If your loved one can get confused at times, it’s also a good safety precaution to have a baby gate positioned high enough in the door frame at staircases so Physical that they can not fall Considerations Get informed about down. the physical needs of

Spend time asking them about their past life, sharing there great experiences of life.

Teach elderly or senior persons about the Internet and latest technology in market will help to keep them busy with Internet and can spark new life.

It is not always easy caring for an elderly person.

Their physical condition, health issues and their emotional state can present challenges for you, the caregiver.

There are no doubts that caring for an elderly person is admirable, but it certainly comes with stress and at times can be overwhelming.

Far too many people feel guilty that they can not care for an elderly person on their own.

Life presents far too many challenges and more often than not raising a family, paying into a mortgage and keeping food on the table can be challenging enough let alone adding to this caring for an elderly loved one.

Although this can be challenging – it is not impossible.

Preparing yourself and your family members for the transition is essential in order to make this work well.

Emotional Considerations Spending time caring for the elderly does not have to be all about taking care of their personal needs.

Spend time asking them about their life.

Everyone has stories to share about their life and some seniors have great experiences to share.

Teach an elderly person about the Internet.

Many elderly people are nervous about computers and teaching them about all the amazing benefits of the Internet can spark new life in the person you are caring for.

The brain likes to stay active and no bet-

ter way to do this than to play word games, crossword puzzles or even some board games such as Scrabble.

Always remember to be understanding because as we get older we tend to be very set in our ways and this means being stubborn at times.

If the person you are caring for is being very

stubborn and it is not a big issue, let it go.

If the stubbornness is over something that is not negotiable it’s much easier to handle and you’ll have much less stress when you know to expect it.

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Where To Find The Safest Treatment For Hypertension In Elderly People

Elderly people due to ill-effects of old age have weak organs and poorly functioning systems, their physical and mental abilities and endurance is low and fragile. This is why herbal supplement is the safest treatment for hypertension in elderly people.

Elderly people due to ill-effects of old age have weak organs and poorly functioning systems, their physical and mental abilities and endurance is very low and fragile, this is why herbal treatment is the safest treatment for hypertension in elderly people.

Herbs are natural medicines which do not cast any side effects; these enhance body’s own mechanism to counter the causes of hypertension.

Apart from these, herbs possess curative, preventive and nutritive properties, these supplement necessary minerals and nutrients to cure deficiencies and energize organs and systems of the body.

With healthier organs and bodily systems elderly people can control their blood pressure effectively and safely.

Use of herbs is widely recommended as safest treatment for hyperten-

sion in elderly people.

Heart pump blood with certain pressure to allow it to reach each and every organ of the body, blood carries nourishment and oxygen which are vital for providing energy to all the organs and keep them functioning.

When a person is physically or mentally stressed-out heart pumps blood with higher pressure to supply energy and nourishment in higher amount to the organs of the body.

But when a person has high blood pressure regularly and for most part of the day it becomes a serious condition and can even become lifethreatening.

In elderly people even slight rise in blood pressure for some duration can be a source of various health related issues.

Since prescription drugs do not address root causes of hypertension and also cast side effects after a certain period that is why herbal treatment is recommended as the safest treatment for hypertension in elderly people.

Herbal treatment can be taken for longer duration and even as a precautionary measure to avoid the problem before it affects with-

out worrying about side effects.

One single herb cannot work as complete treatment; combination of herbs which compliment each other’s effects is the effective way to treat hypertension. But working-out proper dosage and proper combination requires deep knowledge. To resolve this problem Stresx capsules have been designed by using all the effective herbs in right doses and perfect combination to provide holistic treatment to the problem of hypertension.

Regular course of these capsules deliver curative, preventive and nutritive properties of potent herbs and keep blood pressure within normal limits naturally. Today use of Stresx capsules is the most effective, convenient and safest treatment for hypertension in elderly people.

Stresx capsules contain herbs which relieve

excess pressure on heart and strengthen heart muscles; these benefits cure problems like irregular heart beats or rapid heart rate.

These capsules also work on thinning of blood, platelet aggregation and preventing clot formation, due to these benefits circulatory system of the body is maintained and remains smooth. Stresx capsules prevent hardening and narrowing of arteries and veins which one of the major causes of hypertension in elderly people.

Digestive system gets weaker in old age which

creates deficiencies and weakness in the body, Stresx capsules supplement nutrients and useful minerals to the body for higher energy levels.

By maintaining healthy heartPsychology Articles, smooth blood circulation and higher energy levels in the body naturally Stresx work as very effective and safest treatment for hypertension in elderly people. These capsules are free of side effects and safe for prolonged use without any medical prescription.

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Better Living

Better Living

Friday, February 27, 2015

9

Better Living (Senior Davis, Ida Grove Director: Karl McCarty, Remsen Board of Directors Courier) is a publication Director: Jill Beasley, Treasurer: Tom Prescott Board Chair: Gary of The Daily Nonpareil Director: Cathay Council Bluffs Frederiksen, Council Hoogestraat, Glenwood and Connections Area Director: Kari LiverDirector: Bonnie God- Pringnitz, Anita Bluffs Agency on Aging.

Director: Dick Sievers, more, Kingsley Secretary: Lorraine den, Bedford The publication is distributed by The Daily Nonpareil to approximately 17,000 households in Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison counties.

An additional 8,000 copies are distributed through a volunteer network to people age 60 and older in Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby counties in Iowa.

Address all correspondence to: Better Living/Courier Coordinator, Connections Area Agency on Aging, 300 • JAMIE L. COX • LONNY L. KOLLN II W. Broadway, Suite 240, • LEE R. RANKIN • BENJAMIN J. WISCHNOWSKI Council Bluffs, IA 51503; • FRANK W. PECHACEK, JR. or call (712) 328-2540 or OMAHA, NE TREYNOR, IA OAKLAND, IA HARLAN, IA CARROLL, IA CLARINDA, IA 712.322.6000 712.487.3444 712.482.6999 712.755.1111 712.792.0001 712.542.1070 toll-free at 1 (800) 432421 W. BROADWAY, SUITE 200, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 51503 9209; or you can contact 712.322.6000 OR WWW.WILLSONPECHACEK.COM us via the Web at www. connectionsaaa.org.

LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTORY

Consult these local attorneys for all your legal needs.

Advertising Information The Daily Nonpareil of Council Bluffs represents the Better Living section.

Advertising rates are available by contacting retail advertising at (712) 328-1811.

The advertising deadline for the next issue is the 13th day of the month prior to the running of the ad.

Connections AAA

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325-9000 • www.telpnerlaw.com

The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This disclosure is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa. A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered.

This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Better Living

10 Friday, February 27, 2015

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How To Choose The Best Care Homes

As your parents begin to age and reach a point in their lives where they are beyond elderly, it’s time to consider alternatives from them staying at home on their own.

As your parents begin to age and reach a point in their lives where they are beyond elderly, it’s time to consider alternatives from them staying at home on their own.

It’s a tough decision to make instantly.

This is your mother or father, and their happiness is important to you.

If this is the first time you’ve looked into care homes for the elderly, it’s a great place to start because the following article gives an in-depth look at how to choose the best ones.

Basic Four Principles There is a set of moral groundwork that begins when looking into care homes.

The first point is that the home needs to be located in a convenient location that is close to all family members.

There is no way that it will be right next to everyone but somewhere accessible in the middle is the best. 67% of children with elderly parents say that they choose a spot no more than 30 km away because it was easiest to get their on a daily basis.

The home should also provide ideal care, a welcoming environment, and the cost should be

affordable.

Steps to take The first thing to do before you choose the perfect care homes is to get together a list of potential candidates.

Start by compiling a list of possible homes that are in your local geographic area.

There are online databases that you can research on the Internet or local newspaper articles that have compiled previous best of lists.

Each home should have been given a rating of 1 to 5 starts. Never choose one that goes below 3.

The ratings will ana-

lyze how the nursing staff treats its patients and its adherence to strict European regulations.

The second most important thing on your mind for reviewing care homes should be your loved ones safety. In 2000, before strict policies were enacted in the UK, over 47% of elderly patients reported abuse from staff.

This is not the story you want to hear from your feeble and vulnerable mother. If you read any questionable reviews or safety violations about a potential home, quickly eliminate

it from your list.

When your visiting the location in person, check for things that may have gone unnoticed in official state reports.

Things like rusty pipes or frayed carpets should reflect neglect in the staff’s morals.

Lastly, you need to review the staff’s relationships with other patient in the care homes.

There should be at least 1 staff member for each elderly patient in the facility. This number guarantees that everyone will get the right amount of attention. Check out the employee turnover in

the business’s local country records.

A large number of people leaving on a daily basis generally reflect an unhappy staff. Dismal staff equates sad residents.

Avoid any places like this. If you’ve gotten down to two or three final choices of homesComputer Technology Articles, spend a full day there and follow around a couple patients.

It’s always a good sign if the same nurse cares for the person throughout the day because this indicates potential for strong loving relationships.

The Daily Nonpareil

Better Living

Friday, February 27, 2015

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Please make reservations one day in advance. Modified diets may be requested when making reservations. All meals include coffee and 2% or skim milk. Bring a friend!

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Better Living

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