Senior Housing and Assisted Living

Stairlifts are great electronic devices which are designed to assist individuals who find it difficult to maneuver up and down stairs. These machines are a great aid for those who have disabilities, are elderly, or a combination of both. There are numerous different kind of lifts available and it pays to follow these 5 tips to help you find the right one.

The first step is to determine whether a stairlift is the right option for the individual or individuals that are going to use it. There is little point in purchasing a stairlift if the people who need to use it will not be able to get on or off it themselves.

If you are considering getting a lift, it is crucial that you measure the stairway accurately, taking all the necessary measurements. It is necessary to have all of the correct measurements to make sure that the chosen lift will fit adequately in the property’s stairwell. It is also best to thoroughly check the lifts available to see if they are suitable for straight stairs or stairs that have a curve.

It is important that you make time to conduct some research on the lifts that are available on the market. Find out what their features are and whether the cost of installation is included in the total cost. You may find it helpful to speak to a physician to see if models you are interested in are suitable for the person or persons who will be using the machine. Also check that the company that is selling the lift is reliable and grab any opportunity presented to you that allows you to try out the lifts you like.

If you prefer, you can actually rent a lift instead of buying one. There are several companies in the marketplace that specialize in stairlift rental and you can easily trace them on the internet. This is a great option for those who are temporarily incapacitated, if they have just had major surgery and are in the recovery process for example.

If you want to rent a stairlift, it is likely that the minimum rental period will be 6 months. Most companies offer a choice of a 6 month or 12 month rental period and will include any costs associated with maintenance or repair within the monthly fee. Make sure that you choose a company that can offer what you need. Not all of the organizations can offer a choice of both curved or straight lift options.

Essentially, the very top tip for choosing any of the stairlifts is to thoroughly check all the details of the companies. Find a couple of reputable companies and make sure that they answer all of your questions satisfactorily. Do try out models of lifts if you can as this is the best way to assess that you are getting what you need and above all, value for money.

Find out more about the advantages of installing stairlifts in your office or home today! When you have the proper stairlift maintenance, you can get canned on your stairlifts indefinitely.

The very best money market rates of interest, similar to CD and savings account rates, are extremely low at this time. If you’re on the lookout for interest earnings, you’re going to be extraordinarily disappointed. With rates this low, it is pretty hard to make any meaningful income from your money without taking risks. So, as to get something with a better rate of return, you will have to invest in stocks or something else that has risk. It’s a troubling time for many individuals who rely on interest income and with out it, their lives have been harder to live.

High yield doesn’t mean what it used to as right now, and anything that is classified as high yield is what they used to call “low yield”. No one is making much money at this time through their “safe” investments whether those investments are in money markets, CD’s, Treasury bills or any other type of government investment vehicle. It is a waiting game right now and you just have to tighten your belt and ride this awful economy out. There will be better times ahead and we just have to get through this to get to them.

No one seems to talk much about how low rates of interest hurt retirees and older folks the most. People who are retired and living off fixed incomes ought to have much of their money in things that are safe and guaranteed by the government FDIC insurance. Right now though, anything like that is earning very little which can have an adverse effect on all older people.

Many seniors rely on interest as a major part of their income and with rates being so low, they are in big trouble. We will all be senior citizens one day and it is something we should all be concerned about. It should be brought to light that this bad economy is hurting the older people and it is not just the younger working class that is suffering.

When you think about it, low interest rates are really just one other form of redistribution. Low rates don’t harm people who have little cash and in reality it helps those who want to borrow because they’ve nothing. Those that do have cash and want to make money from interest now make very little. Democrats all the time speak about income redistribution and helping the little man and these low interest rates are just one way they are accomplishing that with little publicity.

Please take a look at my web site if you are looking for more information about money market interest rates. You might also be looking trying to find out when will interest rates go up?

Costs for long term care in the US continue to rise but a recent study shows the cost for in-home care is rising at a much slower pace.  According to Genworth’s 2010 Cost of Care Survey, the cost to receive care in the home has risen at an annual rate of just 1.7 percent over the past five years. That compares to annual increases of 6.7 percent for assisted living facilities, and 4.5 percent for a private room in a nursing home, over the same period.  Genworth states that 73% of its initial benefit claims are for home health care.

Some highlights include:

Nursing Home Costs Continue to Rise

In 2005 the median annual rate for a private nursing home room was $60,225, compared with the 2010 median annual rate of $75,190. This means that Americans can expect to pay approximately $14,965 more per year today for a nursing home than they had to pay in 2005.

Home Care Costs Holding Steady

In contrast, rates charged by home care providers for "non-skilled" services have not experienced significant growth over the past five years. The national hourly private pay median rate charged by a licensed home health agency for a home health aide was $17.50 in 2005, while the 2010 hourly rate has gradually risen to $19. Home care rates have remained in check partly due to increased competition among agencies, the availability of unskilled labor, and the absence of costs associated with maintaining stand-alone health care facilities.

The Least and Most Affordable States for In-Home Care

Genworth’s 2010 Cost of Care Survey revealed that Alaska, Minnesota and Rhode Island are the most expensive states for home care, at a median rate of $25 per hour for a home health aide provided by a state-licensed agency. The most affordable states are Alabama and West Virginia, at a median rate of $15 per hour.

"Long term care is not just about nursing homes anymore. Care options have expanded dramatically over the past several years to include a far greater choice of settings that reflect the ways in which individuals prefer to receive care," said Buck Stinson, President, U.S. Life Insurance Products at Genworth.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability recently announced the award of over $6 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration.  The contract was awarded to Mathematica Policy Research for a two-year period and is aimed at building the infrastructure necessary to support and conduct research on the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of systems of care for people with disabilities. 

"With the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration, we will make necessary data improvements to better understand health and support services for people with disabilities," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The data collected will allow the Office on Disability and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine the effectiveness of different services and supports being provided, and in turn, improve care for people with disabilities."

Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NHP) last week announced results of operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. NHP saw revenues increase by 5% compared to Q1 2009 to $102 million.  The company showed a lower net income of $31 million in Q1 2010 versus $49 million in Q1 2009 that included a $21 million gain on sale.  NHP’s diluted funds from operations (FFO) for the first quarter was $64.9 million compared to $61.5 million in 2009.

"We began 2010 with a strong balance sheet and an enviable liquidity position. Leveraging our excellent financial position with improvements in the capital markets and the economy, we acquired during the first quarter seven medical office buildings and made an $80 million loan secured by 26 medical office buildings located in seven states," commented Douglas M. Pasquale, NHP’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Subsequent to quarter end, we have completed an additional $58 million of investments bringing the year to date total to $438 million," Mr. Pasquale added.

NHP Q1 2010 Earnings Release

The government of Canada and Ontario recently announced the funding of approximately $4.8 million for 40 new affordable housing rental units for seniors and persons with disabilities.  These 40 affordable rental units are part of an 80-unit project with approximately $4.8 million in federal and provincial funding is complemented by $10.1 million in municipal financial incentives.  The Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.

"Locally, this achievement gives a hand-up to individuals and families who need safe, affordable housing that meets their needs," said Minister Raitt. "Our government is investing in this project to get the local economy moving, creating immediate jobs and economic stimulus for the community."