Being a nurse or care taker of a senior has many challenges and requires a lot of hard work. You go through physical and emotional stress and strain as well as sleep deprivation. Managing your time can be difficult and having the proper training and skills are crucial for this job.

The American Health Care Association has partnered with the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute to create a place where these skilled nurses and caregivers can come and receive professional training and personal development. This workforce center allows workers and providers the proper information that they need.

Providing skilled care for a nurse or caregiver will allow them to be experts in managing, observing, and evaluating their patients care. They provide safe and effective care to seniors at a rehabilitative facility or skilled nursing facility.

As a senior receiving this type of quality care can be rather expensive. The average costs of Long Term Care is $7,698 for a private room in a nursing home. So the big questions is: How are seniors going to be able to pay for Long Term Care costs?

Hybrid Long Term Care Insurance is the answer. Hybrid LTC provides the benefits of Long Term Care Insurance coverage and combines it with life insurance. This will allow coverage for the type of care a senior will need in a nursing home or other type of facility.

The Workforce Resource Center allows workers and providers the information that they need. Training and professional development is provided on the website as well. This past weekend AHCA’s annual convention in California Mark Parkison, president and CEO went over some issues such as the staffing issues and workforce issues. One of the struggles is a record low unemployment figures for administrators.

As part of the roll out for the new workforce center members were invited to share some of their success stories at the convention. With over 350 people who will receive training working at Genesis, only two of those people are working in the facilities.A lot of centers are suffering from lack of highly qualified candidates. Where some just have too many qualified applicants trying to apply for the same position.

“Whereas the nursing home used to be a kind of minor-league assignment for young graduates hoping to one day break into hospitals, Genesis now emphasizes that the rise of higher-acuity patients in the space means real-world training opportunities with patients who may have been in hospitals 20 years ago” says Alex Spanko.

Be sure to checkout “These companies are on the long term care insurance honor roll” where LTC Tree is featured on Clark Howard. 

1.      Green Pepper

Also known as the California Wonder Pepper, this is a common plant that’s easily grown in a container. The Green Pepper plant will only occupy a square foot worth of space and can be conveniently included in many prepared-at-home dishes. In the dead of winter, the Green Pepper can be frozen to maintain that garden-fresh taste.

2.      Zucchini

This is a relatively small plant that does very well in city or backyard gardens. The Zucchini can be grown in a container and still produce the same yields it would if it were grown in ground. Just like the cucumber, Zucchini can be consumed fresh, baked in bread, grilled, or frozen for later use. Given its small size, zucchini can be said to be immensely productive. It produces massive fruits per each plant, and suits your home gardening needs.

3.      Beans

Regardless the specific type, bean plants don’t occupy that much space, and thus are ideal for growing in the urban gardening space. When grown in a raised bed, bush beans can particularly optimize space. On the other hand, pole beans maximize space vertically. You can eat beans fresh, or combine them with multiple dishes. Indeed, beans are an American stable.

4.      Tomatoes

Tomatoes are technically the best vegetable to grow on the city farm. The good news is that tomatoes can be grown in the ground, in a container, in a raised bed, in hanging baskets, upside-down, and in many other ways. In the U.S and around the world, tomatoes are a popular staple that’s used in multiple dishes.

5.      Potatoes

Most beginner city gardeners tend to think that potatoes are hard to grow, but that’s actually not the case. Potato seeds available in the market nowadays can be bred to resist common diseases that affect this plant. You can plant potatoes in a bucket or in the ground within your home garden.

6.      Carrots

If you’re looking to make the best out of your limited city garden space, carrots are probably what you should start with. You should sow carrot seeds 2 inches apart in the ground, or 32 seeds for each square foot in a raised bed. You can also grow carrots in a container. When freshly picked, carrots are a delicacy. They can be prepared with just about any dish, from slaws to soups.

Urban farming is not just a preserve for American cities. Global urban centers such as Singapore are investing millions of dollars in feasible agriculture within the city. The practice has been promoted as an organizational strategy and comprehensive approach that is helping support and engage individual neighborhoods. Urban farming opportunities are also creating self-reliance and exposing youth to intergenerational interactions.

New resources for urban farming

Throughout 2016, new tools and comprehensive literature for urban farming was published, pointing to the increasing popularity of this practice.

a)     Urban Agriculture Toolkit

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its Urban Agriculture Toolkit, which provides details on technical assistance, funding opportunities, as well as useful resources from local, state and federal partners. One of the key areas that this toolkit focuses on is urban planning. Whether launched by a non-profit, cooperative, sole proprietorship or any other for-profit business, any urban farm needs a business plan. Other areas of focus include access to land, water access and use, soil quality, infrastructure, capital and financing, production strategies and market development.

b)     High Tunnels in Urban Agriculture

In October 2016, the National Center for Appropriate Technology published its High Tunnels in Urban Agriculture, a useful resource that identifies the clear benefits of using high tunnels in urban farming. The guide suggests that by using high tunnels, urban farmers can reduce risk and maximize profitability. It explores the basics of building a high tunnel and tackles common zoning challenges that urban farmers often face. The resource also discusses the management of high tunnels, covering areas such as irrigation, soil fertility, pest and disease control. There’s also an additional section on intensive crop production.

c)      Urban Agriculture Act 2016

The Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 by senator Stabenow was announced in Flint and Detroit. This piece of legislation will help forge fresh economic activities, increase the availability of healthier food for families, and contribute to healthier city environments. The Act addresses the needs of city farmers by launching new resources and boosting the flexibility of existing USDA programs. The bill covers areas such as farm cooperatives, growing systems (e.g. indoor and rooftop), research funds, market opportunities, and new technologies.

d)     Vacant Lots to Vibrant Plots

The Johns Hopkins Center for Livable Future published its Vacant Lots to Vibrant Plots literature review in May 2016. This review revolves around the following themes:

• Changing face of agriculture with urban farming as an increasingly popular trend
• Urban farms as sources of additional, healthy produce
• Social benefits of city farming
• City farming and environmental friendliness

Over time, the City of Detroit has established itself as a leading center for urban agriculture. Ti was the first US city to launch urban farming programs that focused on helping the homeless and assisting city residents who were facing economic troubles. In 2014, the Detroit urban agriculture space was worth at least $3.8 million. It’ll be interesting whether this increased availability of resources will challenge cities that are still in the dark to embark on urban farming initiatives.

Choosing a Spot

In general, vegetables require around 6 hours of sunlight a day, so choose a spot that will meet that requirement. If your plants will be partially in shade, things like greens and herbs will be a better choice for your garden. Or you could put your planters on a platform with wheels to move to different spots where the sun is over the course of the day if you really want! You also want to make sure they’re not getting too much wind, as this may damage the seedlings. If you want to keep some of your plants inside, choose a spot by a window so they can get direct sunlight.

Choosing a Container

One great thing about container gardens is that you can use just about any container you have on hand! Plant pots are the obvious choice, but almost anything will work. Baby pools, buckets, old pots and pans, whiskey barrels, even old car tires can be perfect to grow some of your container garden in. The one thing to remember is that plants need good drainage. If you want to use a container that it would be impossible to put drainage holes in, you’ll have to choose something else. You also need to be cognizant that different veggies will need different sized containers. A potato plant or any other kind of root vegetable will obviously need something very deep, and something like a tomato plant that crawls will need enough space for a trellis of some kind.

Choosing Vegetables and Greens

• Some vegetables that do well in containers are:
  Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Onion
• Tomatoes

And basically any herb or salad green will do well in a container. Think of spices that you use often and plant those by the window in your kitchen, for example! Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, and Rosemary are just a few good ideas for fresh herbs to have on hand. Of course what’s most important is to make sure you’re growing veggies and herbs that you and your family will actually want to eat. Growing tons of eggplant is great and cost-effective if your family eats a lot of eggplant, but if no one likes it then you’ll be spending lots of effort on a plant that will end up not being useful to anyone.

Not only is container gardening a fun hobby, it’s also a good way to save money on produce, get fresh vegetables right at arm’s distance, and a good learning experience for kids in the life cycles of plants and learning how to take care of something that depends on you. Everyone can benefit from and enjoy  container gardening!

[j.e.g.]

Nowadays when most people think of Detroit they think of urban decay, bankruptcy, and ruin. And up until recent times those initial thoughts would have been valid.

Detroit was once the wealthiest city in the USA, thriving on the automobile industry. The decline of Detroit can’t be blamed on one single thing because it was many complicated economic and racial problems culminating into Detroit eventually declaring bankruptcy in 2013, but the moment when the auto companies started moving their factories overseas for cheaper labor is what can be said to have triggered it. Those who could afford it left the city center for the suburbs in what was later known as “white flight”, while those who could not had no choice but to stay, reducing the city’s population by about 60%.

Today we see Detroit slowly coming back to life, with numerous startup companies taking advantage of the low cost of real estate (many small buildings and houses in the city can be bought for just a few hundred dollars) and cheaper cost of living.

If you drive down the street of an average neighborhood in downtown Detroit, you will see an almost post-apocalyptic mix of well-kept homes with families and abandoned lots with boarded up windows and empty lots. Urban farmers have jumped on this opportunity; because of the steep decline in population, the city has innumerable parcels of empty land that more resemble small forests or plains than you would expect in the middle of downtown.  According to Keep Growing Detroit, there are now at least 1,400 urban farms and gardens all over the city both big and small, and many markets have appeared where those urban farmers can sell their produce, one of the biggest being the Eastern Market.

One group, Hanz Farms, is actually in the process of trying to buy up hundreds of acres of these empty lots and turning them into gardens, farms, and orchards, with the goals of beautifying the city in a way that also provides a learning outlet, food, and jobs for the people of Detroit and be an example of a green economy to the rest of the world.

Detroit has had a rough history and while many people still don’t think of it as a place worth spending time or effort, the urban famers of Detroit are proving that when we take a piece of land that would otherwise be ignored and turn it into a beautiful, useful garden or farm, that can spur change on an amazing level.

One plus for the reduced land and housing prices in Detroit is the fact that Assisted Living facilities and Nursing home have been popping up all over the city as land to build the facilities on is cheap.  Michigan has a huge senior population and unless the senior has long term care insurance to pay for the facility, high land prices can make quality facilities out of reach for most seniors.  The fact that the supply of facilities has been on the rise in the past few years has led to more seniors being able to retire in Detroit where many of them grew up.  A good site to view how LTCI works is this company called LTCTree.  They helped my Mom save thousands when she bought her plan.  Here’s their site on health: https://www.ltctree.com/blog/6-small-diet-changes-to-make-now/

[by J.E. Ghersi]

So how do you go about making sure that you have clean, healthy air in your home?

One of the best ways to accomplish this is by planting certain plants that have been known to breathe both life and color into indoor spaces. These are low-maintenance plants that can be easily grown and kept anywhere within your house, office or business premises.

i)                    Dracaena

Popular varieties of this plant, including the red-edged dracaena, the Cornstalk, the Warneck and many others have been known to dramatically improve indoor air quality. They are easy to maintain and care for since they require infrequent watering, tolerate low humidity and thrive in low light conditions.

ii)                  Bamboo Palm

Bamboo palm is widely recognized as one of the houseplants that expel pollutants from the air within a home. This plant is characterized by cane-like, slender stems and feathery, deep green leaves. The can grow from a lowly 10 inches to a maximum height of roughly 15 feet.

iii)                Philodendron

Commonly used by interior designers and home improvement aficionados, Philodendrons are valuable houseplants. They have an excellent status as air fresheners that thrive under minimal care. They are characterized by glossy, glaring green foliage that can burgeon quite large.

iv)                English Ivy

This is a versatile houseplant that is also magnificent. English Ivy grows well in hanging baskets or pots. It can also be conditioned to grow on a railing or trellis. The plant does a hell of a job when it comes to improving air quality within interior spaces. English Ivy are often aggressive growers that need regular pruning to stay in show shape.

v)                  Spider Plant

The spider plant happens to be one of the easiest air-quality-improving houseplants to grow. This species produces ‘baby spiders’ on a regular basis at the winding end of their wiry stems. They thrive better in moderate sunlight environments but prefer rather humid settings. They are highly recommended for the kitchen and bathrooms.

vi)                Peace Lily

The Peace Lily is a key plant with multiple positive effects when it comes to enhancing the indoor quality of air. It’s relatively easy to care for and adds aesthetic value to your indoor spaces. The plant tolerates moderate-to-high humidity, as well as low light conditions. It is characterized by glossy and thick leaves, as well as dramatic whitish blooms.

vii)              Weeping Fig

Weeping Figs probably weep a lot of fresh air into your home, office, business premises or any other in-building space. This plant is considered one of the most common indoor tree houseplants. Typically, it grows between 4 and 6 feet tall and thrives in environments that have humidity and bright light. However, keep in mind that this plant doesn’t like to be moved around.

viii)            Gerbera Daisy

This is a very popular perennial that is characterized by vivid, large blooms and lush green leaves. The houseplant necessitates very little care and can easily bloom all year through. Gerbera Daisy plants are also commonly referred to as African Daisies, and grow up to a foot tall. They make a preferable choice for cut blossoms.

Want to improve the indoor air quality and significantly boost the aesthetic value of your living spaces? Get started with this immensely beneficial and easy to grow houseplants. Bring your city home to live!

I.                    Common Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

Rich in phytosterols, Sage is great for cooling and drying functions in the body. It’s useful in the treatment of common ailments such as diarrhea, high fevers, phlegm and excessive sweating. It has also been used to treat respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, and throat inflammation.

Sage leaves should be dried and eaten, or brewed fresh in a tea. When used this way, make sure to cover your tea with a lead for a minimum of 10 minutes in order to prevent key ingredients from evaporating away. A perennial plant, Sage thrives in hot and dry climates. However, it also adequately grows in milder environments. Plant in sandy soil in a sunny spot within your backyard.

II.                  Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

You probably are already familiar with the massive benefits of peppermint, which relieves gastrointestinal issues such as dyspepsia, gastric emptying disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and colonic spasms. It improves bile flow and calms intestinal muscles. The most widespread (and perhaps the best) use of peppermint comes when its essential oil is extracted through crushing the leaves, packing them in a lidded container and covering with vodka. This is left to steep, with occasional shaking. The longer the steeping, the stronger its extract. Once done, you can strain the leaves to leave out the beneficial extract.

The key active ingredient in peppermint, like in all mints, is menthol. That’s precisely why peppermint tea is an effective expectorant and decongestant. It also soothes coughs and sore throat. Peppermint grows nearly anywhere. However, its plants tend to thrive in partial shades as well as in rich, moist soils.

III.                Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is another great herb that you can plant in your backyard. It increases capillary circulation and boosts antioxidant levels in your blood. The herb’s anti-inflammatory properties tend to help reduce risks of cardiovascular ailments and similar chronic diseases that affect the heart and blood. The best way to consume rosemary is to brew it in tea. It contains a carnosic acid that helps protect cellular and brain damage that’s often caused by free radicals. That’s precisely why it’s a useful herb for combating memory loss, strokes, headaches and neurological degeneration. Rosemary grows in an environment that’s both warm and humid. Dry, well-drained soils are ideal. It doesn’t do well in extreme cold. If you live in an area characterized by heavy winters, consider planting it in a container that can easily be moved outdoors.

IV.                Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

An incredible herb that treats common psychological conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and addiction. Catnip is also known to be a natural sedative for kids, specifically when they are sick. It relaxes the body and soothes the stomach.

Dry Catnip leaves and mix with honey. Can be eaten this way, or brewed in tea. Catnip is a perennial plant that does well in rich, well-drained soils. It will grow in partial shade or full sun conditions.

V.                  Basil

Known to calm nerves, Basil is a great source of fiber. It also detoxifies the liver, and its oil helps clear blemishes on the skin, due to powerful anti-inflammatory action. Basil grows easily either indoors or outdoors. It requires occasional watering and doesn’t involve much care.

Ready to get started, use your backyard to grow these powerful medicinal herbs that can go a long way towards giving your health a boost in the right direction.

Food Field in Detroit, Michigan

Food Field is a city farm that was built on a unique site. The farm supports community-supported farming that provides abundant food supply as well as economic benefits to the neighborhood in which it’s been set up. Originally, the firm was the aged site of an elementary school. Alex Bryan and Noah Link started Peak Produce, LLC in 2011 and revitalized the area into a farm. Their goal? To establish an alternative to the to the conventional, corporate food system. The farm grows what the local community is asking for, from mulberries to salad greens. Community members are also able to volunteer at the firm. In the future, the project hopes to start an aquaponics program that will allow them to raise fish such as bluegill and catfish.

FARM:shop in London, UK

London’s Dalston’s FARM is a self-proclaimed pilot ‘urban farming hub’. It offers workspaces, small-scale farming endeavors, and a café for local residents. It was launched in 2001 by a successful eco-social design firm. FARM:shop, as it’s officially known, is a good example of thriving urban agriculture. Before the project commenced, the area used to host a neglected storefront. Today, the space is now full with high-tech indoor allotment, small-scale aquaponics fish farming, and a Polytunnel. The goal of the project was to demonstrate that it’s possible to grow food without needed acres of land. The next milestone for the establishment is to construct a massive rooftop farm where vegetables will be grown and fish raised in eco-friendly ways.

Singapore’s Sky Greens

In a small country where local produce only makes up about 7% of the consumption, Singapore’s Sky Greens farm has been a breakthrough city farming project. Founded by Jack Ng, the vertical farming at this location is an efficient and environmentally sound solution. Indeed, the project happens to be the world’s first-ever (low carbon) hydraulic water-driven city farm that diminishes the levels of energy and amount of land needed for conventional farming approaches. Produce from Sky Greens, despite being a premium good, is sold competitively at grocery stores in the country. Considered that Singapore imports most of its food from Indonesia, China, Europe and the U.S., Sky Greens is an example-setter regarding approaches that could be used to feed an ever-growing population.

Texas Distributed Urban Farming Initiative

Located in Bryan, Texas, this is a significant urban farming endeavor that was launched to transform empty lots. The project’s goal was to inspire residents to consume healthy food encourage both tourism and entrepreneurship. Abbreviated as DUFI, the firm was able to grow cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and cauliflower in pallet and raised bed gardens during the past winter. The project promotes a healthier community and employs garden spaces for field trips and events. This has been a great way to reconnect the community with their food system.

Sharing Backyards in Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S

This initiative has been providing a solution for individuals who don’t have land but still want to locally grow their own foodstuffs. Through its website, the project asks this group of people to take advantage of unused yard space. People who have unutilized property can share their location, and others who are looking for space can search nearby location at no cost. The project has made maintaining a community garden easier and more collaborative.

These five projects are just an example of what can be done. More cities and urban jurisdictions around the world are launching major farming initiatives with the goal of tapping into the ample benefits of urban farming.

But other than turning civic blight into lively blossoms, are these urban farms any good? According to a new report released by the Center for a Livable future at Johns Hopkins, the answer is not as straightforward. To start with, there’s the good news – urban farms contribute to easier and cost-friendly access to fresh foodstuffs. It also potentially contributes to reduced emission of greenhouse, increased training opportunities for the workforce, higher property values, opportunities for community involvement, and improved sequestration of carbon.

Well, these are clear, black-and-white benefits. There’s no denying them.

Tyson Gersh is a farm manager at co-founder at Michigan Urban Farming Initiative, Detroit. His one-acre farm has outputted over 50, 000 pounds through the last four seasons, providing a supply of fresh vegetables and fruits that low-income residents otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Mr. Gersh agrees that urban farming engages communities and revitalizes neighborhoods. It’s big impact on a relatively smaller group of people. But when it comes to ending hunger, it doesn’t work.

The Johns Hopkins report asserts that urban farms are superb neighborhood centers, rather than hubs of agricultural (commercial) production. Apparently, growing enough plants to service the food needs of urban dwellers is a huge challenge for urban agriculture. Globally, at least 20 percent of the world’s total food production takes place in urban areas. But the U.S. is still very far from that number. The City of New York, which is at the forefront of urban farming in the U.S, is transforming suitable vacant plots into productive farms that feed up to 160, 000 residents. But compared to the city’s population of 8.4 million, this is a drop in the ocean.

The other main challenges for urban farming outlined in the report include poor management practices for the soil, inefficient utilization of resources, and health risks attached to airborne pollutants. The report also acknowledges that city farming is a new area that needs to be promoted. For instance, researchers need to gather more data and engage farmers, in order to encourage federal organization such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other bodies to prioritize it.

Ms. Palmer at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future says that despite the significant challenges highlighted in their report, it was not intended to discourage city farming. The real intent, she says, is to help everyone understand both the negative and positive impacts of urban farming. Although this revolutionary kind of farming won’t be feeding any other soul living in cities, it’s still a transformative and powerful trend.