James Square Syracuse NY

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 15:00:50 GMT

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 14:59:38 GMT

Have leftover scrapbook paper from making arts & crafts? Make this cute Paper Scrap Christmas Tree Craft. Fun Christmas craft for kids with free template!

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 16:45:58 GMT

Have leftover scrapbook paper from making arts & crafts? Make this cute Paper Scrap Christmas Tree Craft. Fun Christmas craft for kids with free template!

15 Things You Need To Do In April - Society19

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 22:41:27 GMT

15 Things You Need To Do In April - Society19

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 04:20:51 GMT

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 04:16:04 GMT

diy project at home - diy project ideas for home - craft ideas easter#DIY #craft #DIYproject #craftideas #diyprojects

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 04:15:25 GMT

diy project at home - diy project ideas for home - craft ideas easter#DIY #craft #DIYproject #craftideas #diyprojects

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:32:14 GMT

10 Handmade Origami Dresses Scrapbook Supplies Scrapbook | Etsy

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:13:56 GMT

10 Handmade Origami Dresses Scrapbook Supplies Scrapbook | Etsy

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:13:38 GMT

I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled with different methods of storing my 12x12 sheets of Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper (it’s scrapbook paper, which I use all the time in card making). I had it standing upright in a paper storage holder, a bit

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 03:28:41 GMT

I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled with different methods of storing my 12x12 sheets of Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper (it’s scrapbook paper, which I use all the time in card making). I had it standing upright in a paper storage holder, a bit

Seminary is getting closer and closer! I've been busy preparing lessons, getting materials together, and (to be honest) kind of dreading get...

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 07:23:10 GMT

Seminary is getting closer and closer! I've been busy preparing lessons, getting materials together, and (to be honest) kind of dreading get...

President Nelsons Book of Mormon Lists INSTANT DOWNLOAD | Etsy

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 06:37:09 GMT

President Nelsons Book of Mormon Lists INSTANT DOWNLOAD | Etsy

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:31:35 GMT

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:31:14 GMT

DIY Great idea to thank someone for all that they do, whether it's in the office, bosses giving to associates or secretary's or just saying Thank You to someone for helping you out in some way,

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 04:32:49 GMT

DIY Great idea to thank someone for all that they do, whether it's in the office, bosses giving to associates or secretary's or just saying Thank You to someone for helping you out in some way,

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 04:31:19 GMT

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 04:23:12 GMT

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 03:45:35 GMT

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 03:42:26 GMT

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:34:59 GMT

You can make and apron from an old men's shirt. This men's shirt apron makes for one of the cutest upcycles that we've ever seen.

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 05:03:23 GMT

You can make and apron from an old men's shirt. This men's shirt apron makes for one of the cutest upcycles that we've ever seen.

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 05:03:07 GMT

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:34:26 GMT

red bird crafts DIY journal covers using recycled paper

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 05:16:21 GMT

red bird crafts DIY journal covers using recycled paper

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Avril Langevine — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 02:41:48 GMT

AssistedLiving.org respects your right to privacy and we take the protection of your personal information seriously. For the most part, you can visit AssistedLiving.org without us associating information from those visits with your personal information. Any information that you do provide to us is completely voluntary, but some information is necessary for us to render the information and referral services that we provide.

In order for us to provide you with the services we offer, we need to collect your name, email address, telephone number, and zip code. While online, or on the phone with one of our Family Advisors, we may also ask for, and collect, personal information about another person for whom you are seeking senior care referral services, and for you to confirm that you have permission to provide information on behalf of that person.

You may provide personal information such as your name, email address, phone number and zip code in order for AssistedLiving.org to provide you with information and referral services in connection with our sites. You may also provide personal information about another person for whom you may be seeking senior housing and/or care services and confirm that you have permission to provide and/or access personal information for that person.

AssistedLiving.org uses the information that you provide to us to provide you and your family with services that you have requested. We provide families with a free consultation about the senior living and care options available to them in their area, and connect them with those service providers. We are able to provide this free service because of the referral fees that we may receive from senior living and care providers. We cannot provide this free service if we cannot share personal information with these providers.

You can review our Privacy Policy or contact us with questions at privacy@assistedliving.org or by leaving a message by phone toll-free at the following number: 844-201-8423.

If you still want to opt-out of AssistedLiving.org using your personal information, please submit a request here. Please have the following information handy so that we can identify any data, and remove you from the service:

Email Address
Phone Number
First Name
Last Name
If you can remember, the date of your last engagement with AssistedLiving.org

AssistedLiving.org will attempt to identify and update your preferences within a reasonable time frame, generally within 30 days.

You also have the right to know what information AssistedLiving.org collects from you and to request access to or deletion of that information. To learn more, please see our Request About Personal Information page.

The post Do Not Sell My Personal Information appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

Control Your Information

Avril Langevine — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 02:41:45 GMT

You have the right to know which pieces of information AssistedLiving.org collects and request access to, or deletion of that information which we have gathered. This can be achieved by submitting a request on the form located here, and by providing us with the following information which you used to fill out our contact form:

Email Address
Phone Number
First and Last Name
If you remember it, the date on which you first requested information from AssistedLiving.org

You may also call 844-201-8423 and leave us a message with your request if you would prefer. We will do our best to honor these requests in a timely manner, but that may take up to 30 days, or longer in some cases. If you do not provide the information requested above, we will be unable to locate your records, and therefore unable to fulfill your request.

You can review our Privacy Policy or contact us with questions at privacy@assistedliving.org. You may also review our page, Do Not Sell My Personal Information to make requests that we not sell your personal information.

The post Control Your Information appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

10 Products to Get Older Adults Through COVID-19

dharmesh — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 06:04:15 GMT

COVID-19 has everyone staying home, but seniors have been instructed to be especially diligent about social distancing due to their increased risk of hospitalization and death from the coronavirus. With many seniors isolating themselves, their normal support systems may not be able to help them for the time being. But, the need for necessities and support remains. Online shopping can be a great way for seniors to procure things that can make them safer, healthier, and happier, while still following proper social distancing protocols.

Caregivers, family members, and friends of seniors can also utilize online shopping to ensure that their loved one has everything they need while staying safe at home. To help you choose the best items for the senior in your life, we’ve compiled a list of essential products that can help seniors who are aging in place stay happy, healthy and connected to loved ones while they’re physically isolated from family and friends. We’ve also included some ideas for “care packages” that can help support your loved one’s health and mood, whether they live independently at home or in a residential care facility.

Tips for Seniors Shopping Online

Seniors, as well as younger adults, are shopping online now more than ever. As of March 12th, online shopping had increased by 52% compared to the previous year. While younger people are likely used to shopping online, seniors may be new to the experience. The following tips can help ensure that seniors shop safely and wisely:

Be aware of “promoted” products or the “ad” search results on Google, as these companies are paying to have their products appear high on search results and may not actually be the best options.
When available, always read reviews of real customers’ experience with the product or customer service a company provides.
If you find a product that you want to purchase, you can do a Google search on the item to see additional product reviews from other websites.
The price of the item is likely not the total price you’ll pay. Be sure to check the total price, including shipping and tax, before you complete the transaction to avoid any surprise charges.
Make sure your internet connection is secure any time you’re entering your bank account or credit card details to prevent fraud and theft.

5 Essentials for Aging in Place

With social distancing and stay-at-home orders in place, seniors may be coping without their usual resources and supports. Loved ones may be unable to visit them, and any regular social outings or activities are canceled for the time being. Not only can the current situation leave seniors feeling lonely, but it can also pose a safety risk for seniors who typically had loved ones come to help them with their daily tasks or check-in on them.

Isolation can have health impacts beyond safety, too. According to the National Institute on Aging, research has shown that loneliness is associated with a myriad of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a weakened immune system, which is especially important to help seniors fight coronavirus. Loneliness is also linked to anxiety and depression. Finding ways to stay connected with our older loved ones, even when we can’t be physically together, is vital for both mental and physical health.

The following essentials can help seniors aging in place stay safe during COVID-19 and beyond. Some are intended to prevent potentially dangerous incidents like falls, while other items, like tablets and laptops, can be used to access telehealth services and stay entertained and emotionally connected while physically distancing. All of the products can make this difficult time a little easier for seniors and their families.

Shower Chairs

Data reported by the National Council for Aging Care shows that one in four Americans over the age of 65 falls each year, and 80% of falls happen in the bathroom. Showers, with their slick, hard surfaces, can create a dangerous environment for seniors, especially those who live alone. A shower chair can make showers safer for seniors by eliminating the need to stand and move around, and can help seniors who live alone maintain proper hygiene by making showering easier.

When choosing a shower chair, you should look for one that is sturdy, has a no-slip design and/or floor grips, and is easy to assemble (or pre-assembled). One option that fits the bill is Dr. Kay’s Adjustable Height Bath and Shower Chair Shower Bench, which has a five-star rating on Amazon from over 1,000 customers. It is a backless chair, however, so it may not be the right fit for everyone. For more information on the best shower chairs, including standard chairs, stools, and transfer benches, go to our full review of the best shower chairs for seniors.

Walkers

According to the Census Bureau, mobility challenges are the most common disability among older Americans. Mobility difficulties not only make seniors more prone to accidents like falls, but it may also cause them to be less active, which can lead to both mental and physical health problems. A walker can enable seniors who struggle with mobility to move more frequently and safely, even if it’s just around their own home or around the corner.

But, different seniors will have different needs when it comes to selecting the right walker. For example, a standard walker with no wheels or two wheels provides more stability and support, while a four-wheeled walker, or rollator, offers more maneuverability. In any case, you should look for a walker that will easily fit in all of the senior’s doorways and hallways (some measuring may be necessary).

If your loved one needs more support to move around, this two-wheeled walker by Drive Medical, with thousands of positive reviews on Amazon, may be the right fit. Though it’s designed for stability more than maneuverability, it features easy-glide caps on the rear legs for easy movement. If you’re more interested in a rollator, Drive Medical’s four-wheeled walker has received similarly positive reviews on Amazon. To see more options for high-quality standard and four-wheeled walkers, check out our full review of the best walkers and rollators for seniors.

Laptops

While many young people use laptop computers, seniors may not be as familiar with the devices. But, laptops can be a great addition to seniors’ lives, especially while social distancing. Seniors can use laptops to stay in touch with friends and family, for entertainment purposes, and for telehealth, which many providers are using to handle non-emergencies and prevent unnecessarily in-person visits during COVID-19.

There are many high-quality laptops available today from several different manufacturers. When choosing a laptop for your older loved one, consider what they’ll primarily be using it for. If they’ll mainly be using it for video chats and telehealth, a laptop with a high-resolution camera will likely be best. If it will often be used for streaming, long battery life and loud speakers may be the top priority.

Laptops are sold at many major retailers like Best Buy and Target as well as online. For an easy, simple shopping experience, you can purchase laptops on Amazon, like this highly-rated gaming laptop from Eluktronics. The lightweight design and impressive memory capacity make this device a good choice for gamers and casual laptop users alike. To see more options, view our full review of the best laptops for seniors.

Tablets

The Pew Research center reported that tablet ownership is growing among older adults, with roughly one-third of adults over the age of 65 owning a tablet as of 2017. A tablet can be a great option for seniors who mainly need a device for communicating with friends and family, telehealth, and browsing the web. Tablets are a lightweight, less expensive alternative to a laptop while still offering a larger, easier-to-read screen than smartphones.

Each person will have different priorities when selecting a tablet, but a good rule of thumb is to always check the battery life and sound quality, two important things for video chatting with loved ones or medical providers.

One of the most appealing things about tablets is their low price point compared to many laptops and smartphones. The top-rated tablet on Amazon, the Vankyo MatrixPad, costs under $150 and has a 32 GB memory with the option to add 128 GB. To see more tablet options that can suit seniors, visit our full review of the ten best tablets for seniors.

Medical Alert Systems

While families of seniors who are aging in place may be used to checking in on their loved one regularly, in-person interaction may not be possible at this time. This can cause a lot of anxiety and stress for family members of seniors who live independently as they worry about their loved one’s safety while isolating. In addition to concerns regarding loneliness, families may worry that their loved one may have an emergency, such as a fall, and be unable to get the help they need in a timely manner.

Medical alert systems provide peace of mind for family members of seniors aging in place and make it significantly easier for seniors to get the help they need if an emergency does occur. With just the press of a button, seniors can connect with trained emergency operators. Some systems even include motion-sensing technology that automatically triggers a call to an emergency monitoring center if a fall or any other abnormal movement is detected.

If your loved one has mobility challenges or a history of falls, you’ll likely want a medical alert device equipped with automatic fall detection (though it should be noted that the technology is not foolproof). You’ll also need to consider whether your loved one is better suited for an in-home system, which is designed to only protect seniors in their home and sometimes yard, or a portable mobile device, which is intended for more active seniors and provides protection anywhere with cellular service. In any case, a durable, water-resistant device and a sufficient battery life should be top priorities for anyone looking for a medical alert system.

There are dozens of medical alert companies in the U.S., but not all companies are equal. To start, check out the devices from Medical Guardian, MobileHelp, and Life Fone. All three companies have a history of reliability and offer several different devices, including both in-home and mobile systems with and without fall detection. For an overview of even more companies and devices, read our full review of the best medical alert systems for seniors. For an easy way to compare quotes from various medical alert providers, check out eMedicalAlerts.com.

Care Package Ideas for Older Adults

For the safety of residents, many senior living communities are significantly limiting or outright banning visitors for the time being. Visiting or bringing a gift in-person to an elderly loved one or friend in a senior living community may not be possible or safe right now, but there are still ways to show your loved one that you care. Utilizing online shopping to put together a “care package” of items for your loved one or friend is a great way to let them know you’re thinking of them even though you can’t visit in-person.

Below, you can read our suggestions for items to make a well-rounded care package for your loved one. The suggested categories of items are both practical and fun and can help keep your loved one healthy and entertained while they isolate themselves in their residence.

Vitamins and Supplements

Having a healthy immune system is more important than ever. Taking vitamins is an easy way to ensure one’s body has everything they need to fight off illnesses and viruses and can be especially beneficial for seniors, who naturally have weaker immune systems than younger adults and may not get all of the vitamins and minerals they need through food alone.

A good place to start is Vitamin D, which has been proven to promote immune response. Low levels of Vitamin D have also been associated with increased risk of respiratory illnesses, which includes viral respiratory infections such as coronavirus. Sunshine Vitamins offers a year’s supply of vitamin D supplements for under $15 on Amazon. Another good option for an immune system boost is Vitamin C, which researchers believe can both prevent and help treat respiratory infections. Amazon manufacturers and sells its own brand of vegan Vitamin C supplements that have over 1,000 positive reviews from customers.

Prostate Supplements

According to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, 30 million men live with prostate conditions that can negatively impact their day-to-day life. Prostate conditions become more common with age, with a whopping 90% of men age 70 or older living with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP). BHP primarily causes discomfort and can lead to urinary tract infections, both of which are never desirable, especially when medical providers may be occupied with COVID-19 patients.

Along with eating a healthy, vegetable-heavy diet, prostate supplements are a simple way to help your older loved one maintain a healthy prostate. The supplements are affordable and easy to obtain through online retailers like Amazon. There are hundreds of options available on the website, including the top-rated Botanica Boost Prostate Supplement for Men. You can learn more about prostate supplements by reading our review of the top 25 prostate supplements for men.

Snacks and Nutritional Drinks

Whether your loved one lives on their own or in a senior living facility, getting snacks and other non-essential food items isn’t as easy as it used to be. Adding some food to your care package can help your loved one feel supported and reduce any anxiety they have about running out of supplies. Healthy snacks like carrot sticks, citrus fruits, and fiber bars hold up well in the mail and offer some nutritional value for your loved one. You may also consider nutritional drinks such as Boost for extra assurance that your loved one is getting all of their necessary macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals while isolating. Glucerna is a good alternative for diabetics and can help keep blood sugar levels stable.

Games and Entertainment

Everyone is going a bit stir crazy as the coronavirus social distancing guidelines drag on, but for seniors who live alone, the loneliness and boredom may be more acute than for most. Including games and other items for entertainment, such as puzzles, in your care package can brighten your loved one’s day and give them something to occupy themselves while isolating.

This 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, available on Amazon, is likely to provide hours of entertainment, and the end result is beautiful, especially for those who enjoy traveling to tropical locations. For those who are new to puzzles, a 300-piece puzzle may be a better option. You may also consider sending your loved one a DVD or two of their favorite films- plenty of classics are available on DVD on Amazon.

Books

Dr. Alan Castel, Ph.D., refers to reading as “mental gymnastics for the brain,” and says that reading may help prevent dementia. Beyond the cognitive benefits, books can provide entertainment, comfort, and serve as a great distraction from potentially anxiety-inducing current events.

If you don’t already know, ask your loved one what their favorite genre of book is. All types of books, from romance to historical biographies, are available online, often in value packs. For example, if your loved one is a fan of western novels, this 18-volume set of works by Louis L’Amour, can keep your loved one occupied and engaged for days, if not weeks.

Brain-game books can also be a great way to keep your loved one entertained and help them exercise their mind. This book has 399 games, puzzles, and trivia challenges to provide hours of entertainment. This option has 365 trivia questions and riddles specifically written for seniors, and is available for under $10 on Amazon.

All of the above items can make your loved one more comfortable while waiting for social distancing measures to be lifted, but none of them can actually prevent the virus’ spread. Information about COVID-19 continues to be updated as experts learn more about the virus, but some advice on preventing the virus’ spread has remained largely the same. To keep yourself and your loved ones healthy while sheltering in place, the best thing to do is still to simply wash your hands.

The post 10 Products to Get Older Adults Through COVID-19 appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

Terms and Conditions

Avril Langevine — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 09:13:56 GMT

These Terms and Conditions are effective July 14th, 2020 for all users, and apply to AssistedLiving.org. To review the previous Terms and Conditions, please click here.

This Agreement contains a binding arbitration agreement, which provides that you and we agree to resolve certain disputes through binding individual arbitration and give up any right to have those disputes decided by a judge or a jury. You have the right to opt out of our agreement to arbitrate. See Section 1 of the Arbitration Class Waiver/Opt Out Clauses below.

AssistedLiving.org is an informational resource to help you and your aging parent(s) or loved one(s). While we hope to provide you with useful information and assistance, we do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; legal, financial, or professional advice; or specific advice regarding which service providers you should use. Any decisions that you need to make about the care of a loved one should be made after engaging and consulting with a professional licensed service provider based upon your specific needs or conducting your own careful review and investigation.

By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of these Terms of Use (this “Agreement”) and our Privacy Policy (the “Privacy Policy”). The terms “we,” “us,” or “our” mean AssistedLiving.org, and its domestic legal operating company, parent company, and each of their subsidiaries and affiliates. The term “Services,” means, collectively, various websites, applications, widgets, email notifications and other mediums, or portions of such mediums, through which you have accessed this Agreement.

Your Compliance with this Agreement

You acknowledge that this Agreement is supported by reasonable and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged. Without limiting the foregoing, you acknowledge that such consideration includes, without limitation, your ability to visit, use and/or submit information to our Services.

You represent that you have the capacity to be bound by this Agreement, or if you are acting on behalf of a company or other entity, you have the authority to bind such company or entity. In order to determine your compliance with this Agreement, we may monitor your access and use of our Services in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Our Services are Not Intended for Minors

Our Services are intended to be accessed and used only by adults and are not directed to minors. As stated in our Privacy Policy, we do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information by anyone under the age of 18 and you should not provide us with any information regarding any individual under the age of 18.

Your Access and Use of our Services

Your right to access and use our Services is personal to you and is not transferable by you to any other person or entity. You are only entitled to access and use our Services for lawful purposes and pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Privacy Policy.

Your access and use of our Services may be interrupted from time to time for any of several reasons, including, without limitation, the malfunction of equipment, periodic updating, maintenance or repair of our Services or other actions that we, in our sole discretion, may elect to take. We reserve the right to suspend or discontinue the availability of our Services and/or any portion or feature of our Services at any time in our sole discretion and without prior notice.

Any action by you that, in our sole discretion: (i) violates the terms and conditions of this Agreement and/or the Privacy Policy; (ii) restricts, inhibits or prevents any access, use or enjoyment of our Services; or (iii) through the use of our Services, defames, abuses, harasses, offends or threatens, shall not be permitted, and may result in your loss of the right to access and use our Services. You shall not modify, scrape, embed, or frame our Services without our prior written permission.

Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Privacy Policy, we may offer you various Services. Below are terms and conditions governing these Services.

You Must Maintain the Integrity of Your Information. To use certain Services, you may be required to provide us with information about you, which may be of a confidential nature and may include personal identifying information, medical and health history information, and/or financial information (“Your Information”). If you provide Your Information to us then you agree to provide true, current, complete and accurate information, and not to misrepresent your identity. You also agree to keep Your Information current and to update Your Information if any of Your Information changes. Our collection, use and disclosure of Your Information is governed by this Agreement and our Privacy Policy.

You Must Maintain the Security of Any Password Issued to You. If our Services require you to create a password to use certain portions of our Services, then it is your sole responsibility to maintain the security of that password. You agree that we shall not be liable for any loss that you may suffer as a result of the authorized or unauthorized use of your password by a third party. You shall not allow any person under the age of 18 to use any Service via your registration or password.

You Must Notify Us of a Breach. You agree to immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your password, any unauthorized use of any account that you may have with us, any violation of this Agreement, or any other breach of security known to you in connection with any product or service available on our Services by contacting us.

You Are Responsible for Your Decisions. We and our affiliates, through the Services, may provide a venue through which you can obtain information and you can find third-party service providers, such as assisted living, senior living, and eldercare providers (“Service Providers”). We do not endorse or recommend the products or services of any Service Provider, and are not an agent or advisor to you or any Service Provider. We do not validate or investigate the licensing, certification or other requirements and qualifications of Service Providers. It is your responsibility to investigate Service Providers. You acknowledge and agree that Service Providers are solely responsible for any services that they may provide to you and that we are not liable for any losses, costs, damages or claims in connection with, arising from, or related to, your use of a Service Provider’s products or services. We urge you to obtain the advice of financial advisors, insurance agents, brokers or other qualified professionals who are fully aware of your individual circumstances before you make any senior living decisions. You acknowledge and agree that you rely on your own judgment and that of such advisors in selecting any products or services offered by Service Providers.

You Acknowledge and Agree that We are Not a Service Provider. We are not a financial institution, insurance provider, senior living provider or other Service Provider. Instead, we, through our Services, may help to connect you with Service Providers that might meet your needs based on information provided by you. We do not, and will not, make any decision with any Service Provider referred to you.

No Guarantee of Quotes, Fees, Terms, Rates, Coverage or Services. We do not make any warranties or representations regarding the quotes, fees, terms, rates, coverage or services offered or made available by Service Providers. We do not guarantee that quotes, fees, terms, rates, coverage or services offered by Service Providers are the best available.

You Do Not Pay Fees to Us for Basic Services. Unless you are a Service Provider or order a specific service through our Services, we do not charge you a fee to use our basic Services. Service Providers may pay us fees for services and to be matched with users of our Services, however. We are not involved with and are not responsible for any fee arrangement that you may enter into with any Service Provider. You acknowledge and agree to this compensation arrangement. You hereby release us of any and all losses, costs, damages or claims in connection with, arising from or related to your use of a Service Provider’s products or services, including any fees charged by a Service Provider.

Requests for Quotes or Offers and Consent to Automatic Telephone Dialing System. Our Services may give you the opportunity to request to be matched with and receive quotes, information or offers from Service Providers (a “Match Request”). Portions of our Services providing this opportunity (the “Match Request Areas”) are only available to residents of the United States, and may not be available in all states. We make no guarantee that you will be matched with a Service Provider if you submit a Match Request. If you make either a complete or incomplete Request, then you agree that Your Information provided in connection with your Match Request may be used and disclosed as set forth in the Privacy Policy. Without limiting anything in the Privacy Policy, you authorize Service Providers, and their affiliates and third-party service providers, to conduct all necessary research with your information, including checking your credit history, if applicable, for purposes of providing you with your Match Request. If you make a Match Request, then you expressly authorize us, and up to twelve (12) Service Providers or their agents or partner companies, to contact you by telephone, fax and email at the numbers and addresses provided in your Match Request, for purposes of providing you with the information, quotes, products and services indicated in your Match Request. You consent and agree that we and our Partners may contact you, via telephone call, text, or fax with an automatic telephone dialing system or prerecorded or artificial voice for telemarketing purposes at the telephone number you provided, even if your telephone number is on a “Do Not Call” list. This consent is not required to obtain our or our Partners’ services or products and you may opt out at any time. Call or text frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Telephone communications between you and AssistedLiving.org may be recorded or monitored for quality control purposes. By providing information or making a Match Request to us, you expressly consent to the recording of these telephone communications. You are solely responsible for complying with applicable laws and regulations in connection with your use of any services offered by us or a Service Provider.

Fees and Payments

Access and use of our basic Services are free. At any time, we may choose to charge fees for various premium features and services, and we will notify you of those charges at the time that we offer features and services for a fee. We may, in our sole discretion, and by notifying you on our Services, change this policy and begin charging for access to our Services and other features and services, and we may, in our sole discretion, add, remove or change the features and services we offer or the fees (including the amount and type of fees) we charge at any time. If we introduce a new service or charge a new fee, we will establish and notify you of the fees for that service at the launch of the service or start of charging a new fee. If we notify you of new fees or changes to fees for an existing service, then you agree to pay all fees and charges specified and all applicable taxes for your continued use of the applicable service.

Public Forums

Our Services may act as a venue, through online support groups, senior services reviews, article and question comments, messaging, chat rooms, bulletin boards and other forums (collectively, the “Forums”), allowing the users to contribute information and make statements (“User-Generated Content”). Please be aware that these areas are public and not confidential. As a result, neither we nor our advertisers endorse any User-Generated Content in the Forums, and you hereby acknowledge and agree that neither we nor our advertisers have control over the User-Generated Content submission’s quality, correctness, timeliness, safety, truth, accuracy or legality by you or any other person or entity in the Forums. You may find User-Generated Content posted in the Forums by other users to be offensive, harmful, inaccurate or deceptive. Please use caution and common sense, and do not rely solely on User-Generated Content published in the Forums. It is neither our nor our advertisers’ responsibility to ensure all posts and questions submitted on the Forums are answered. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and although we have no duty to monitor User-Generated Content and are not responsible for such postings, we reserve the right (but not the obligation) to remove or edit any User-Generated Content in the Forums, for any reason or no reason, in our sole discretion.

Immediately report problems with the Forums to us via our Contact Us page.

Transmissions, Submissions and Postings to our Services

AssistedLiving.org has created community areas, expert comments and group discussions so you can share your experiences, ask and/or answer questions, and share reviews of senior products and services and more. Our community includes people from a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds including professional service backgrounds. We appreciate that AssistedLiving.org’s community reflects the diversity of its users and is an interesting place to share, learn and interact. In keeping with this spirit of community, we have a core set of principles and guidelines that must be followed by all members, participants, content contributors and users.

If you transmit, submit or post information to our Services that is not Federally trademarked and/or copyrighted, you automatically grant us and our assigns the worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free, exclusive right and license to use, copy, format, adapt, publish and/or incorporate any or all such information in any media whatsoever, including, without limitation, the Content (as defined below). Provided that you have obtained prior written permission from us to transmit, submit or post information to our Services that is Federally trademarked and/or copyrighted, you automatically grant us and our assigns the worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free right to use, copy, format, adapt, publish and/or incorporate any or all such information in any media whatsoever, including, without limitation, the Content.

We reserve the right (but not the obligation) to edit, refuse to post or remove your transmissions, submissions or postings. Pursuant to the Privacy Policy, we may review transmissions, submissions or postings made by you to determine, in our sole discretion, your compliance with this Agreement.

You are solely responsible for all your transmissions, submissions or postings (i.e., your own User Generated Content) and the consequences of transmitting, submitting or posting them.

Our Intellectual Property Rights

Our names, graphics, logos, page headers, button icons, scripts, and service names are our trademarks or trade dress in the United States and/or other countries (collectively, the “Proprietary Marks”). You may not use the Proprietary Marks without our prior written permission. We make no proprietary claim to any third-party names, trademarks or service marks appearing on our Services. Any third-party names, trademarks, and service marks are property of their respective owners.

The information, advice, data, software and content viewable on, contained in, or downloadable from our Services (collectively, the “Content”), including, without limitation, all text, graphics, charts, pictures, photographs, images, videos, line art, icons and renditions, are copyrighted by, or otherwise licensed to, us or our Content suppliers. We also own a copyright of a collective work in the selection, coordination, arrangement, presentation, display and enhancement of the Content (the “Collective Work”). All software used on or within our Services (the “Software”) is our property or the property of our software vendors and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. Viewing, reading, printing, downloading or otherwise using the Content and/or the Collective Work does not entitle you to any ownership or intellectual property rights to the Content, the Collective Work, or the Software.

You are solely responsible for any damages resulting from your infringement of our or any third-party’s intellectual property rights regarding the Trademarks, the Content, the Collective Work, the Software and/or any other harm incurred by us or our affiliates as a, direct or indirect, result of your copying, distributing, redistributing, transmitting, publishing or using the same for purposes that are contrary to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Your Use of the Content

We grant you a limited license to access, print, download or otherwise make personal use of the Content and the Collective Work in the form of: (i) one machine-readable copy; (ii) one backup copy; and (iii) one print copy, for your non-commercial use; provided, however, that you shall not delete any proprietary notices or materials with regard to the foregoing manifestations of the Content and the Collective Work. You may not modify the Content or the Collective Work or utilize them for any commercial purpose or any other public display, performance, sale, or rental, decompile, reverse engineer, or disassemble the Content and the Collective Work, or transfer the Content or the Collective Work to another person or entity.

Except as otherwise permitted under the copyright laws of the United States, no other copying, distribution, redistribution, transmission, publication or use, other than the non-commercial use of the Content and the Collective Work as permitted by this Agreement, is permitted by you without our prior written permission.

You may not use any meta tags or any other “hidden text” utilizing our name or trademarks without our prior written permission.

Access and Interference

You agree that you will not use any robot, spider, scraper, deep link or other similar automated data gathering or extraction tools, program, algorithm or methodology to access, acquire, copy or monitor our Services or any portion of our Services or for any other purpose, without our prior written permission. Additionally, you agree that you will not: (i) take any action that imposes, or may impose in our sole discretion an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure; (ii) copy, reproduce, modify, create derivative works from, distribute or publicly display any content (except for your personal information) from our Services without our prior written permission and the appropriate third party, as applicable; (iii) interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of our Services or any activities conducted on our Services; or (iv) bypass any robot exclusion headers or other measures we may use to prevent or restrict access to our Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we grant the operators of public search engines permission to use spiders to copy materials from our Services for the sole purpose and solely to the extent necessary for creating publicly available search indices of the materials on our Services, but not caches or archives of such materials. We reserve the right to revoke these exceptions either generally or in specific cases. Except as expressly permitted in this Agreement, you shall not collect or harvest any personally identifiable information, including account names, from our Services. You shall not use any communication systems provided on our Services (such as Forums or email) for any commercial or solicitation purposes. You shall not solicit for commercial purposes any users of our Services without our prior written permission.

Electronic Communications

When you visit our Services or send email to us, you are communicating with us electronically. You consent to receive communications from us electronically. Although we may choose to communicate with you by regular mail, we may also choose to communicate with you by email or by posting notices on our Services. You agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures and other communications that we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

Your Responsibility for Equipment and Related Costs

You are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all telephone, computer hardware, Internet access services and other equipment or services needed to access and use our Services, and all costs and fees associated with Internet access or long distance charges incurred with regard to your access and use of our Services.

Third Party Links or Access

There may be provided on our Services links or access to other websites or mediums belonging to our advertisers, business partners, affiliates, Service Providers and other third parties. Such links and access do not constitute our endorsement of those third parties, nor the products or services of those third parties. We are not responsible for the activities or policies of those third parties. We are not responsible for examining or evaluating any third party products or services and we do not warrant their offerings. We do not guarantee that the terms or rates offered by any particular advertiser, business partner, affiliate, Service Provider or other third party on or through our Services are the best terms or lowest rates available in the market.

Mobile Devices

If we provide aspects of our Services via an application for your mobile or other device, please be aware that your carrier’s normal rates and fees may apply and that the terms of this Agreement and other agreements within the application apply to your use of such application.

Copyright Infringement

It is our policy to comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, title 17, United States Code, Section 512, including, without limitation, responding to notices of alleged copyright infringement, and other applicable intellectual property laws. We shall, in appropriate circumstances, disable and/or terminate the accounts of users who may infringe or repeatedly infringe the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of ours and/or others.

Notifications (each a “Notification”) of claimed copyright infringement should be sent by either express mail or U.S. mail to our designated agent. Our designated agent contact information is set forth below:

Address of designated agent to which notification should be sent to:

Caring, LLC

ATTN: AssistedLiving.org’s Legal Department

P.O. Box 32217

Charlotte, NC 28232

Pursuant to Title 17, United States Code, Section 512(c)(3), to be effective, the Notification must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner (“Complaining Party”) of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single Notification, a representative list of such works at that site;
Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material;
Information reasonably sufficient to permit us to contact the Complaining Party, such as an address, telephone number, and if available, an electronic mail address at which the Complaining Party may be contacted;
A statement that the Complaining Party has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
A statement that the information in the Notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the Complaining Party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Upon receipt of the Notification containing the information as outlined in 1 through 6 above, and pursuant to Title 17, United States Code, Section 512:

We will remove or disable access to the material that is alleged to be infringing;
We will forward the Notification to the alleged infringer (“Subscriber”); and
We will take reasonable steps to promptly notify the Subscriber that we have removed or disabled access to the material.

Counter Notification:

Pursuant to Title 17, United States Code, Section 512(g)(3), a Subscriber may counter a Notification by providing a written communication (“Counter Notification”) to our designated agent that includes substantially the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the Subscriber;
Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or access to it was disabled;
A statement under penalty of perjury that the Subscriber has a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled; and
The Subscriber’s name, address, and telephone number, and a statement that the Subscriber consents to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for the judicial district in which the address is located, or if the Subscriber’s address is outside of the United States, for any judicial district in which we may be found, and that the Subscriber will accept service of process from the person who provided the Counter Notification or an agent of such person

Upon receipt of a Counter Notification containing the information as outlined in 1 through 4 above, and pursuant to Title 17, United States Code, Section 512:

We will promptly provide the Complaining Party with a copy of the Counter Notification;
We will inform the Complaining Party that we will replace the removed material or cease disabling access to the removed material within ten (10) business days; and
We will replace the removed material or cease disabling access to the removed material not less than ten (10), nor more than fourteen (14) business days following receipt of the Counter Notification, provided our designated agent has not received notice from the Complaining Party that an action has been filed seeking a court order to restrain the Subscriber from engaging in infringing activity relating to the removed material on our network or system.

We Make No Representations or Warranties Regarding the Content

THE CONTENT AND ALL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO YOU ON AN “AS-IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE OPERATION OF OUR SERVICES OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SERVICES. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF OUR SERVICES AND ALL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

WE DO NOT MAKE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM, ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ACCURACY, CORRECTNESS, OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENT OR THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SERVICES, OR THE SAFETY, RELIABILITY, TITLE, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY, CONFORMITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE CONTENT OR THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SERVICES. IT IS YOUR SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO INDEPENDENTLY EVALUATE THE ACCURACY, CORRECTNESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENT AND THE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SERVICES. WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE THAT THE CONTENT THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING FROM OUR SERVICES IS FREE OF INFECTION FROM ANY VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES, TRAP DOORS, BACK DOORS, EASTER EGGS, TIME BOMBS, CANCELBOTS OR OTHER CODE OR COMPUTER PROGRAMMING ROUTINES THAT CONTAIN CONTAMINATING OR DESTRUCTIVE PROPERTIES OR THAT ARE INTENDED TO DAMAGE, DETRIMENTALLY INTERFERE WITH, SURREPTITIOUSLY INTERCEPT OR EXPROPRIATE ANY SYSTEM, DATA OR PERSONAL INFORMATION. WE DO NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING ANY QUOTES OR OFFERS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH OUR SERVICES.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, INSURANCE PROVIDER, CREDIT CARD PROVIDER, SENIOR LIVING PROVIDER OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WE ARE SOLELY AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN YOU AND SUCH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND, THEREFORE, WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY CONTENT, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY SUCH SERVICE PROVIDERS.

NO PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

ASSISTEDLIVING.ORG OFFERS INFORMATION RELATED TO CARE GIVING WHICH INCLUDES MEDICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, HOUSING, AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO CARE GIVING. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO YOU FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ANY INFORMATION FOUND ON ASSISTEDLIVING.ORG IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR OBTAINING SPECIFIC MEDICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND YOU USE SUCH INFORMATION SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN, ATTORNEY, FINANCIAL, ADVISOR OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL OR LICENSED ADVISOR. NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL OR LICENSED ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON ASSISTEDLIVING.ORG.

NOTHING STATED OR POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE OR AVAILABLE THROUGH ANY SERVICES IS INTENDED TO BE, AND MUST NOT BE TAKEN TO BE, THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE OR LAW; OR FINANCIAL, PROFESSIONAL, OR LICENSED SERVICES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHOTHERAPY, OR PROVIDING HEALTH CARE TREATMENT, INSTRUCTIONS, DIAGNOSIS, PROGNOSIS, OR ADVICE. ASSISTEDLIVING.ORG PROVIDES NO ASSURANCES THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBSITE WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE THE MOST RECENT FINDINGS OR DEVELOPMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR MATERIAL.

Your access or use of our Website and our services does not create in any way a physician/patient, attorney/client, confidential, or privileged relationship, or any other relationship that would give rise to any duties on AssistedLiving.org’s part or the part of our suppliers, distributors, partners, and/or affiliates. We do not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, attorneys, advisors, caregivers, procedures, opinions, advice, or other information that may appear on our Website. If you rely on any of the information provided by our Website, its employees, consultants, or its guests or visitors, you do so solely at your own risk.

The Content is intended only to assist you with senior living decisions and is broad in scope and does not consider your personal situation. Your personal situation is unique and the information and advice may not be appropriate for your situation. Accordingly, before making any final decisions or implementing any strategy, we recommend that you obtain additional information and advice from your accountant and other financial advisors who are fully aware of your individual circumstances.

Limitations on Our Liability

TO THE FURTHEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE SHALL IN NO EVENT BE RESPONSIBLE TO, OR LIABLE TO, YOU, OR ANY THIRD PARTY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT, REVENUE OR BUSINESS, AS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT RESULT OF: (I) YOUR BREACH OR VIOLATION OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT; (II) YOUR ACCESS AND USE OF OUR SERVICES; (III) YOUR DELAY IN ACCESSING OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE OUR SERVICES FOR ANY REASON; (IV) YOUR DOWNLOADING OF ANY OF THE CONTENT OR THE COLLECTIVE WORK FOR YOUR USE; (V) YOUR RELIANCE UPON OR USE OF THE CONTENT OR THE COLLECTIVE WORK, OR (VI) ANY INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES OBTAINED THROUGH OUR SERVICES, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OUR SERVICES, WHETHER RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORTIOUS BEHAVIOR, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF WE AND/OR OUR SUPPLIERS HAD BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES. OUR LIABILITY AND THE LIABILITY OF OUR AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AGENTS ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED 00.

YOU SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR USER GENERATED CONTENT OR THE DEFAMATORY, OFFENSIVE OR ILLEGAL CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY, AND THAT THE RISK OF HARM OR DAMAGE FROM SUCH USER GENERATED CONTENT AND THIRD-PARTY CONDUCT RESTS ENTIRELY WITH YOU.

YOU AND WE AGREE THAT ANY CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO OUR SERVICES MUST COMMENCE WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES. OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.

Certain state laws do not allow limitations on implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If these laws apply to you, some or all of the above disclaimers, exclusions or limitations may not apply to you.

In the event that any limitation on the period of time for bringing an action, claim, dispute or proceeding against us, located in this “Limitations on Our Liability” section, is determined or held to be inapplicable or unenforceable by any court, arbitration panel or other tribunal, then the statute of limitations for the State of North Carolina shall apply to any such action, claim, dispute or proceeding referred to final or binding arbitration.

Your Indemnification of Us

You shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless us and our officers, directors, shareholders, employees, independent contractors, agents, representatives and affiliates from and against all claims and expenses, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, arising out of, or attributable to: (i) any breach or violation of this Agreement by you; (ii) your failure to provide accurate, complete and current personally identifiable information requested or required by us; (iii) your access or use of our Services; (iv) access or use of our Services under any password that may be issued to you; (v) your transmissions, submissions or postings (i.e., your own User Generated Content); and/or (vi) any personal injury or property damage caused by you.

Amendments of this Agreement

We reserve the right to update, amend and/or change this Agreement at any time in our sole discretion and without notice. Updates to this Agreement will be posted here. Amendments will take effect immediately upon us posting the updated Agreement on our Services. You are encouraged to revisit this Agreement from time to time in order to review any changes that have been made. The date on which this Agreement was last updated will be noted immediately above this Agreement. Your continued access and use of our Services following the posting of any such changes shall automatically be deemed your acceptance of all changes.

Our Remedies

You acknowledge that we may be irreparably damaged if this Agreement is not specifically enforced, and damages at law would be an inadequate remedy. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Agreement by you, we shall be entitled, in addition to all rights and remedies, to an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach, without being required to show any actual damage or to post an injunction bond, and/or to a decree for specific performance of the provisions of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section, you agree that any action or proceeding with regard to such injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach shall be brought in the courts of record of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, or the United States District Court, Western District of North Carolina. You consent to the jurisdiction of such court and waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in such court. You agree that service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable laws, rules of procedure or local rules.

Legal Disputes

You and we agree that any claim or dispute at law or equity that has arisen or may arise between us relating in any way to or arising out of this or previous versions of this Agreement, your use of or access to the Services will be resolved in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Legal Disputes section. Please read this section carefully. It affects your rights and will have a substantial impact on how claims you and we have against each other are resolved.

Applicable Law

You agree that the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to principles of conflict of laws, will govern this Agreement and any claim or dispute that has arisen or may arise between you and us, except as otherwise stated in this Agreement.

Arbitration/Class Waiver/Opt Out Clauses

1 You and we each agree to resolve exclusively through final and binding arbitration any and all disputes or claims that have arisen or may arise between you and us (including any affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employees, and agents; including but not limited to those listed in our Agreement to be Contacted by Telephone), whether or not such dispute or claim involves a third party, relating in any way to any aspect of our relationship or any contact between us, direct or indirect, or arising out of this or previous versions of this Agreement, your use of or access to our Services, or any products or services sold, offered, or purchased through our Services (“Dispute”).

1.1 You and we agree to submit the Dispute to a single arbitrator under the then-current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), including when applicable the Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection and the Consumer Arbitration Rules, or, by separate mutual agreement, at another arbitration institution. The AAA’s rules, information regarding initiating a claim, and a description of the arbitration process are available at www.adr.org. The location of the arbitration and the allocation of fees and costs for such arbitration shall be determined in accordance with the AAA rules. As an alternative, you or we may bring a claim in your local “small claims” court, if permitted by that small claims court’s rules.

1.2 The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this section regarding our agreement to arbitrate any Dispute (“Agreement to Arbitrate”), and the arbitrability of the Dispute. The arbitrator will decide whether the Dispute can be arbitrated.

1.3 You and we agree that each of us may bring a Dispute against the other only on our own behalf, and not on behalf of a government official or other person or entity, or a class of persons or entities. You and we agree, if we are a party to the proceeding, not to participate in a class action, a class-wide arbitration, a claim brought in a private attorney general or representative capacity, or a consolidated claim involving another person’s use of the site or our services. You and we agree not to combine a claim that is subject to arbitration under this Agreement with a claim that is not eligible for arbitration under this Agreement. You and we agree to waive the right to a trial by jury for all disputes.

1.4 You may opt out of this Agreement to Arbitrate. If you do so, neither you nor we can require the other to participate in an arbitration proceeding. To opt out, you must notify us in writing, within 30 days of the date that you first became subject to this Agreement to Arbitrate, either by U.S. mail delivered to: Attn: AssistedLiving.org’s Legal Department, Caring LLC, P.O. Box 32217, Charlotte, NC 28232, or by email delivered to privacy@assistedliving.org. You must include: (1) your name and residence address; (2) the email address and/or mobile telephone number associated with your account; and (3) a clear statement that you want to opt out of this Agreement to Arbitrate.

1.5 If the prohibition against class actions and other claims brought on behalf of third parties contained in Section 1.3, above, is found to be unenforceable, then all of Section 1 will be null and void as to that Dispute.

1.6 This Agreement to Arbitrate will survive the termination of your relationship with us.

2 Unless you and we agree otherwise, if you opt out of the Agreement to Arbitrate, if the Agreement to Arbitrate is found by a court to be unenforceable, if your claim is not covered by the Agreement to Arbitrate, or if you neither are a resident of nor have a principal place of business in the US or Canada, you agree that any Dispute that has arisen, or may arise, between you and us must be resolved exclusively by a state or federal court located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. You and we agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts located within Mecklenburg County, North Carolina for the purpose of litigating all such claims or disputes.

3 Notwithstanding any provision in the Agreement to the contrary, you and we agree that if we make a change to this Agreement to Arbitrate (other than a change to the notice address or the site link provided herein) in the future, that change shall not apply to a claim that was filed in a legal proceeding between you and us prior to the effective date of the change. The change shall apply to all other disputes or claims governed by the Agreement to Arbitrate that have arisen, or may arise, between you and us. We will notify you of a change to this Agreement to Arbitrate by posting the amended terms on our Services at least 30 days before the effective date of the change and/or by email.

Miscellaneous

If any portion of this Agreement is deemed unlawful, void or unenforceable by any arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction, this Agreement as a whole shall not be deemed unlawful, void or unenforceable, but only that portion of this Agreement that is unlawful, void or unenforceable shall be stricken from this Agreement.

The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement, and shall not limit or otherwise affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made in this Agreement, as may be amended by us, from time to time, shall survive your acceptance of this Agreement and the termination of this Agreement.

This Agreement and the Privacy Policy represent the entire understanding and agreement between you and us regarding the subject matter of the same, and supersede all other previous agreements, understandings and/or representations regarding the same.

If you have questions, comments, concerns or feedback regarding this Agreement or our Services, please contact us here.

The post Terms and Conditions appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

Assisted Living Options for Low-Income Elders

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 01:48:00 GMT

Assisted living facilities are an excellent option for elderly adults who are no longer able to live alone in their home, but don’t require the around-the-clock care provided in a nursing home. Unfortunately, it can be incredibly challenging for elders and their families to find affordable assisted living. The high cost associated with many assisted living communities can cause a huge financial strain for many people, but especially for those individuals with lower incomes.

Fortunately, various forms of financial assistance to help cover the cost of assisted living are available for those who qualify. But for many individuals, the process of determining which forms of assistance they’re eligible for and exactly what it covers can be a long and confusing process.

While the costs of assisted living and the financial assistance available for low-income elders vary from state to state, there are resources available for seniors across the country. Read on to learn about some options that can help you or your loved pay for assisted living.

Assisted Living Costs

The cost of assisted living varies depending on the facility. The size of the apartment, the location of the community, and the services the resident requires will affect the total cost of living. Monthly rent is also affected by a facility’s services such as food and dining, personal care, housekeeping, and optional activities and amenities like transportation, outings, and classes.

Different assisted living communities charge for rent and additional services in various ways. Depending on the facility, residents will either pay for an all-inclusive living arrangement or pay fees for individual services on an a la carte basis. With all-inclusive pricing, residents pay one fee that includes their rent, their meals, and services such as access to a fitness center, transportation, housekeeping, and any other amenities the facility offers. With a la carte pricing, residents only pay for the services they will use. Which option is more cost-efficient depends on the resident. For those who intend to use the majority of services that a community provides, it’s usually cheaper to pay all-inclusive. But if residents intend to cook their own meals and do their own housekeeping, it may be cheaper to pay per service each month.

According to Genworth Financial, the average monthly cost of assisted living in the United States is $4,000. However, the cost can be dramatically different from one place to another with monthly average costs as high as $6,000 in the Northeast and as low as $3,000 in the Midwest. If residents also need memory care, they can expect to add on an average of $1,200 per month because of the additional staff and resources this type of care requires.

Additional Residential Care Options

Residential Care Homes

Another possibility for elders is a residential care home, also known as RCFE (residential care facility for the elderly), adult day home, board-and-care home, or personal care home. These small group settings provide basic services (usually meals and light assistance) at a much lower cost than typical assisted living communities or nursing homes.

The smaller, intimate setting may feel more like home than a larger community which can help make the transition easier for many seniors. These types of residences are usually located in houses rather than in large complexes and within neighborhoods. However, the smaller setting means that more advanced care options like memory care aren’t always available, so this choice isn’t fitting for all seniors. Medicaid may also pay some of the cost for residents who meet eligibility requirements.

Assisted Living Conversion Program (ALCP)

Since 2012, HUD has channeled $26 million in grant funding to owners of multi-family housing developments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Texas. These funds have been used to convert existing units into affordable apartments for seniors who need the types of support services assisted living provides, but still want to live independently.

The services provided in ALCP facilities must be comparable to the services typically provided in a licensed assisted living facility, such as help with housekeeping, medication, meals, and personal care. According to HUD, these services must be provided through a licensed or certified third-party service provider.

Eligible projects must also qualify as Section 202 or similar subsidized HUD housing, so the units may be more affordable than a typical ALF. This article explains ALCP in detail.

Defining Income Levels

Whether or not a senior qualifies for low-income status will depend on their income as well as their location.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the low-income limit is “80 percent of the median income for the county in which the person resides.” The median number refers to the midpoint of a range, not the average. So, if income levels for a senior’s county of residence range from, say, $15,000/year to $60,000/year, with $30,000 as the median of this range, a senior who receives $24,000/year (80% of $30,000) would fall into the low-income bracket.

While this definition of low income may still seem quite adequate to someone living at or below the poverty level, HUD makes two additional distinctions. The “very low-income” bracket is no more than 50 percent of the median income (which would be $15,000 in our example), and “extremely low-income” is just 30 percent or less of the median income (which would be $9,000 or under in our example).

When it comes to determining income, remember that the government is considering all income streams, not just the senior’s social security check. HUD counts income from pensions, retirement accounts, IRAs, insurance annuities, and assets such as real estate and cars when assessing eligibility.

Financial Assistance Options for Low Income Elders

The following public and private resources can help low-income elders and their families afford the cost of assisted living. Keep in mind that every assisted living community is a little different, so it’s always a good idea to speak with each facility to learn more about their payment options and what forms of assistance they are willing to accept.

Section 202 Program

Low-income seniors over the age of 62 may qualify to live in subsidized housing via HUD’s Section 202 program, which covers both independent and assisted living environments. Established in 1959, Section 202 is the only HUD program that provides housing exclusively for seniors. These properties are often owned by nonprofit organizations.

The rent-assisted housing is designed specifically to enable seniors and individuals with disabilities to live as independently as possible. Communities typically offer a range of services and activities to support seniors. This usually includes dining options, transportation, and housekeeping but some communities also offer fitness programs, nutrition support, and art therapy.

Although the federal government funds the program, funding is distributed at the state and county levels to nonprofit organizations to build affordable housing for seniors. Along with initial building grants, nonprofit organizations who develop Section 202 housing may receive rental assistance funds to allow them to remain solvent while accepting low rent contribution from residents.

Anyone who is over the age of 62 and qualifies as very low-income based on HUD standards may apply to live in Section 202 housing. Prospective residents will apply directly through the community or facility that they are interested in. To learn more about Section 202 housing that is available in your area, visit the HUD inventory page.

Veteran’s Benefits

Veterans and spouses of veterans may qualify for aid from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Although the VA does not pay a veteran’s rent, it may cover some of the services provided by an assisted living facility. Known as Aid and Attendance (A&A), this benefit is a monthly, needs-based payment above and beyond the VA pension that can help cover the costs of long-term care. It is important to note that a veteran or surviving spouse may only receive Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits (if they are unable to leave their home), not both at once.

As of December 1, 2018, through November 30, 2019, to be financially eligible for A&A:

A single veteran must have countable income at or under $22,577 a year
A veteran with a dependent or spouse must have countable income at or under $26,765 a year

In order to qualify for A&A benefits, a veteran must meet one of the following criteria:

Need assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, dressing, eating, or adjusting prosthetic devices;
Be bedridden;
Reside in a long-term care facility due to mental or physical incapacity;
Have severe visual impairment, with a correction of 5/200 or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.

To apply for A&A benefits, contact your state’s Pension Management Center or visit your local regional benefit office. Since eligibility can vary depending on the state, you should contact your local VA benefits office to find out if your loved one qualifies. In general, you’ll need evidence of need, which typically includes a detailed report from a physician explaining your difficulties completing ADLs. This article explains veterans’ benefits in more detail.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance, or LTCI, can be tricky. While it appears to be a natural hedge against a future possibility of becoming ill or disabled, long-term care insurance is not a catchall solution.

LTCI premiums can be as steep as the cost of care itself, meaning that there is no real financial advantage to it. Additionally, the type of care that is covered varies depending on the given policy, and some essential components of care aren’t actually covered at all.

For example, a “facility-only” policy covers care in a licensed assisted living facility or in a skilled nursing facility, but not in an unlicensed facility or in your own home. Many policies do not cover the cost of memory care. And, there is usually a “waiting” or “elimination” period before someone is able to access funds. The shorter the elimination period you select, the more expensive the premiums.

In some cases, LTCI providers also require a physical evaluation performed by the physician of their choosing before coverage is awarded. Whether or not the elder qualifies for coverage may depend on whether or not they’re capable of independently performing at least two activities of daily living. So, it’s incredibly important to understand exactly what the policy covers and the total costs associated with it before it’s purchased. You can learn more about LTCI here.

Medicaid

There are several different Medicaid programs that provide financial assistance for assisted living. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and 1915 Waivers are the most common form of this assistance and, as of 2019, are available in 44 states. This coverage is expected to continue expanding until it’s available in every state. While some states are transitioning away from waivers to managed care programs for assisted living coverage, residents of those states will still receive the same level of benefit from the program.

Despite many states providing Medicaid benefits for assisted living across the country, these benefits and the eligibility requirements for them vary greatly from state to state. Some states have strict regulation on the size of the assisted living community while others will only cover personal care. To learn more about what programs are available in your state and how to apply, contact your state’s Medicaid office.

Non-Medicaid State Assistance

Many states across the country have benefit programs available to help elderly individuals cover the cost of assisted living. These programs are quite different from state to state, providing different benefits and having different qualifying standards. In some states, money is provided to the recipient and can be used however they see fit, including paying for assisted living care. Other states have more direct forms of assistance, running their own assisted living communities and providing rooms to qualifying individuals at a price that’s much less than a privately run home.

For more information on programs available in your area and eligibility guidelines, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

Social Security

Social Security doesn’t directly pay for the cost of assisted living facilities, but individuals and their families can still benefit from it. Beneficiaries are able to use the money they receive to pay for the expense of an assisted living facility. Additionally, if the beneficiary resides in an assisted living facility, many states will increase the monthly amount to help cover the cost. As with other programs, the specific benefits and eligibility guidelines can be vastly different from state to state, so it’s a good idea to get in touch with your local Social Security office.

Finding Appropriate Housing in Your Area

Of course, your final decision on a facility will depend on more than cost alone. You’ll want to find a community that fits the needs of your loved one in a convenient location that will also keep them happy and fulfilled each day. HUD has compiled an exhaustive multifamily inventory of housing units for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Though not all housing units qualify as assisted living, they are all subsidized HUD housing for seniors and persons with disabilities. You can click the link for your state, and begin to make inquiries at locations that sound promising.

The post Assisted Living Options for Low-Income Elders appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

The Best Gifts for Grandmothers

dharmesh — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 14:40:25 GMT

With the holidays fast approaching, it is time to begin thinking about getting a gift for your grandmother. Grandmas are notoriously hard to buy for. If your grandma seems to have all her needs and wants already met, your gift options may seem sorely limited. Plus, many of our grandmothers do not directly tell us what they would like as a gift. This only makes the gift-giving process more confusing and complicated. Instead of the usual flowers, though, you can still get your grandmother something meaningful and unique.

We compiled a list of grandma-approved gifts that will surely light up your grandmother’s day this holiday season. From unique picture frames to infusing bottles, this list will provide you plenty to choose from for this holiday season – and many more to come.

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Budget Gifts for Grandmothers

1. Best Grandma Ever Coffee Mug

Almost every grandmother drinks tea or coffee. If your grandmother does, this “best grandma ever” coffee cup might be the perfect gift solution. It’s simple yet specific enough to fit any grandmother’s tastes. Plus, it is enormous and can hold up to 11 ounces.

Key Features:

Easy-to-grip handle
11-ounce capacity
Microwave and dishwasher safe

Cost: $14

2. Classic Box Sign by Primitives

This is the perfect decorative sign for a new grandmother. It’s simplistic black and white design makes it able to fit into any design scheme. It freely hangs on a wall or stands on its own, making it versatile as a design piece. Plus, the cute quote makes it a perfect gift for anyone’s grandmother.

Key Features:

Black and white
High-quality wood
Hangs or stands

Cost: $13

3. Family Tree of Life Memory Locket

For a truly personalized gift, give your grandmother this personalized locket pendant. You can place a birthstone inside corresponding to each grandchild, giving this gift a personalized fill and sentimental meaning your grandmother will love. This set comes with a set of 24 birthstone charms to allow you to personalize it yourself as well as the locket to put them in. A secure magnetic seal keeps all the charms firmly inside.

Key Features:

Complete gift set
Personalized
24 pieces of birthstone gems
Magnetic seal

Cost: $12

4. Floral Trimmed Box Sign

If your grandmother already has more picture frames than she can count, this simple box sign might be the perfect gift. It features a sturdy construction, simplistic design, and heart-touching quote. Designed to stand completely on its own, the best part about this gift is that it requires not set up. It is ready to be displayed from the moment you get it.

Key Features:

4 by 4 inches
Sturdy construction
Can stand independently or hang up

Cost: $8

5. Grandma Engraved Bracelet

This simple, engraved bracelet is a wonderful choice for anyone’s grandmother. Its simple silver design makes it fit any personal taste, and the lobster claw hook fastening makes it easy to take on and off. Plus, a hypoallergenic construction makes it gentle on the skin and allows it to maintain a long-lasting sheen.

Key Features:

Hypoallergenic
Lobster claw hook
Chain measure 8 inches

Cost: $13

6. Gift for Nana Mug by ThisWear

Does your Nana have a sense of humor? If so, you should consider purchasing this large tea or coffee mug. It has the quote “they call me Nana because I’m too cool to be Grandma” printed across both sides; a gift that will surely be loved by any grandmother with a funny bone.

Key Features:

11-ounce capacity
Microwave and dishwasher safe
Premium, full-color printing

Cost: $14

7. Glam-Ma Pillow Case

If your grandmother loves style, getting their nails done, and other stylish past times, they might enjoy this pillow. It reads “glam-ma: a glamorous woman with grandchildren who is too young and fabulous to be called grandma. It is made out of cotton and measures 14 inches by 14 inches.

Key Features:

Cotton
Embroidered quote
14” x 14”

Cost: $14

8. Hydracy Fruit Infuser Water Bottle

What can be more valuable than the gift of health? This infuser water bottle allows your grandmother to easily and naturally flavor her water while also receiving extra vitamins and nutrients. The large capacity of this water bottle features also makes it easy to stay well hydrated, which is increasingly important as we age. With many color options available, it is easy to select one to fit your grandmother’s style.

Key Features:

32-ounce capacity
Easy to use
Very easy to clean
Simplistic design
Many colors available

Cost: $15

9. Infinity Collection Grandma Bracelet

If your grandmother prefers more simplistic, less-showy jewelry, this is a great option. This sleek bracelet is designed to be beautiful without being needlessly showy and “loud.” It is easily adjustable from a 6” to 8” wrist and comes with an easy to fasten lobster clasp. It is also available in three different colors to more perfectly fit your grandmother’s style.

Key Features:

Three color options
Lobster Clasp
Adjustable

Cost: $10

10. Retro-Style Peacock Necklace

Depending on your grandmother’s style, this might be a very fitting gift. This necklace features a unique peacock design in five available colors including green, red, blue, light blue, and purple. With a wide selection of colors available, it is easy to match it to your grandmother’s favorite color or eye color. Plus, this necklace is extremely inexpensive.

Key Features:

Five colors available
Unique peacock design
Packaged in a golden gift box

Cost: $10

11. Tea-Drops

Tea is wonderful, but it can also take way to long to make. If you’re using loose-leaf tea, you might have to stand over a hot stove for nearly half an hour before you have a perfect cup of tea. If you grandmother likes tea, it is likely that she wishes it was more accessible and easier to make. With these tea drops, it can be. Simple drop one of them into a hot cup of water, wait for it to dissolve, stir, and then you have tea. No fuss. No wait.

Key Features:

Insanely easy to use
Efficient
Variety pack

Cost: $13

12. The Grandmother Book

Are you interested in learning more about your grandmother? Or maybe your grandmother has a knack for family history and an endless stream of stories to tell? If this describes you, then you might want to check out this “grandmother book.” It is like a baby book but is about your grandmother. Purchasing this and asking your grandmother to fill it out will provide you with hours of fun discussing the interesting tidbits inside.

Key Features:

Space for special photographs, report cards, family trees, and other cherished keepsakes
Hardcover binding
A wonderful way to record your grandmother’s story

Cost: $15

Mid-Range Gifts for Grandmothers

13. Baby Keepsake Handprint Frame

Looking for a gift for a new grandmother? This might be the perfect option for you. This frame contains a quote, room to place a baby or child’s handprint, and a slot for a picture. It comes ready to set on any coffee table or nightstand.

Key Feature:

8” by 8” frame
Sentimental poem
Room for handprint and picture

Cost: $25

14. Distressed Grandmother Picture Frame by Malden International Designs

A simple picture frame is always a good go-to gift for a grandmother. This one features the word “grandma” along the top as well as a lovely quote across the bottom. It comes with an easel back to be painlessly set on a table.

Key Features:

Easel back
Wipes clean
Lovely quote

Cost: $17

15. Grandma Chalkboard Print

This meaningful and unique chalkboard gift is the perfect decoration for your grandmother’s home. This quote print is a great decoration by itself but is also thin enough to be framed. It can hang by itself and sit up on a table. Made with durable PVC board, this print will last for years to come and stand up to whatever wear-and-tear your grandmother throws at it.

Key Features:

Unique print
High-quality
Made of durable PVC board

Cost: $25

16. Hand-Painted Artisan Wine Glass

Is your grandmother not the coffee or tea type? Then you might want to look into the hand-painted wine glass. It features the words “best grandma ever” and is shipped in a decorative gift box. It can hold up to 15 ounces.

Key Features:

15-ounce capacity
Artisan blown glass
Hand-painted design

Cost: $21

17. Not A Day Over Fabulous Tumbler

This stylish tumbler glass is an adorable gift if your grandmother has a sense of humor or likes wine. This unbreakable tumbler is the perfect container to hold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. From her morning coffee to her evening wine, this container keeps your grandmother’s beverages safe and prevents spilling. We particularly recommend this gift if your grandmother tends to be clumsy.

Key Features:

12-ounce capacity
Vacuum insulated
Humorous quote

Cost: $25

18. Pavilion Stoneware Mug

Get your grandmother the mug to top all mugs this holiday season. This high-capacity stoneware mug can hold 18 ounces of coffee or tea, more than enough to suit even the biggest coffee-addict. It is both dishwasher and microwave safe. Plus, it is beautifully crafted and features a simple quote.

Key Features:

Says “best great grandma ”
18-ounce capacity
Dishwasher and microwave safe

Cost: $23

19. Personalized Egg Art Print

For a truly unique gift, gift your grandmother this adorable egg art print. Featuring an egg for every grandchild, you can personalize this gift by having the names of each grandchild printed on an egg. With many fonts and colors available, this gift is extremely customizable.

Key Features:

Very customizable
Up to 20 eggs and names

Cost: $25

20. The Grandparent Gift Life Story Frame

This is an adorable triple-picture frame that is destined to become a precious belonging of any grandmother. It holds three pictures to highlight three important times in your grandmother’s life – their childhood, when they become a mother, and when they became a grandmother. If you’re stumped on what to get your grandmother, this is a great gift.

Key Features:

Holds three pictures
Classic black frame
Beautiful keepsake frame

Cost: $25

21. Willow Tree Hand-Painted Keepsake Box

Most willow tree decorations would make a perfect gift for your grandmother. But, this one is particularly appropriate due to its design and versatility. This sculpted box is three inches long and one and a half inches tall, perfect dimensions for a jewelry box.

Key Features:

Beautifully carved and painted
Sentiment written inside the box: ”Love that transcends the years.”
Durable

Cost: $17

High-End Gifts for Grandmothers

22. Jewelry Necklace with Swarovski Crystals

No grandmother can resist a gorgeous necklace like this one. This necklace is skillfully manufactured in an independent workshop and hand polished. With many color options available, there is bound to be one that will match your grandmother’s tastes and preferences. Whether she would enjoy a simplistic blue one or the multi-faceted rainbow version, this necklace is sure to wow her this holiday season.

Key Features:

Three color options
Specially crafted
Classic heart design

Cost: $26

23. Lady Colour Sapphire Necklace

Wow your grandmother this holiday season with this vibrant and elegant necklace. Featuring a sapphire heart and two shooting stars and engraved with “I love u to the moon and back,” this necklace is the perfect reminder of just how much you care about your grandmother. Made with a Swarovski crystal, it truly doesn’t get much more high-quality than this necklace.

Key Features:

Made with a Swarovski crystal
Engraving on back
Lead and nickel free

Cost: $35

24. Qualtry Personalized Throw Pillows

This personalized throw pillow allows you to create a truly personalized touch to your grandmother’s gift. You can print up to 15 names on this pillow, creating the perfect opportunity to gift your grandmother a pillow displaying the names of all her grandchildren. Printed on durable, washable fabric, this pillowcase is designed to last for years to come.

Key Features:

Up to 15 names
Washable
Reversible

Cost: $34

25. Willow Tree Grandmother Figure

This hand-crafted figurine would look wonderful in any grandmother’s home. It comes packaged in a fitted box perfect for gift giving and clearly communicates the bond a grandchild and grandmother share. The neutral design and colors help it match effortlessly with your grandmother’s other décor.

Key Features:

High-quality construction
Hand-crafted
Beautiful

Cost: $35

For even more great gift ideas, check out The Best Gifts for Seniors

The post The Best Gifts for Grandmothers appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

4 Downsizing Tips for New Assisted Living Residents

dharmesh — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 00:39:33 GMT

As people grow older, it makes perfect sense to establish some sort of assisted living arrangement. Assisted living communities offer great opportunities for seniors to remain independent while helping their families care for their needs.

But if a senior is used to more space, it can be hard to fit all of their belongings into a space that might resemble college apartment. It doesn’t matter if the move is from a small one-bedroom apartment in Milwaukee or this historic Milwaukee suburban mansion — downsizing for assisted living needs can be tough.

That’s why we’ve put together this handy list of four downsizing tips to make a move as painless and efficient as possible.

Get Rid of Clothes

You don’t have to go full minimalist just because you’re moving into an assisted living community. But small spaces mean less closet storage, and there’s no better time to evaluate all of your belongings than when you’re already digging them out to pack them up. If you haven’t worn that pair of shoes in more than a year, or if you’ve never actually used that extra set of sheets, don’t go through the hassle of packing and moving them in hopes that “maybe this year!” you’ll get around to it. Instead, donate or sell things you don’t use. By paring down your unused or excessive possessions, you’ll have fewer boxes to buy and to move, plus you can get a boost for the donation on your next tax returns.

A few good resources for donations: Goodwill, Soles 4 Souls, and Dress for Success.

Donate Entertainment

One thing your smaller space REALLY doesn’t need, unless you’re an aspiring film-maker or archivist, is a big stack of videos or DVDs. And if you’ve embraced the streaming revolution, the same thing goes for boxes of CDs, tapes, or any other outdated data storage facility. Instead, why not donate those old tapes to a local shelter or Goodwill? Other, more specialized programs — like DVDs for Vets and Books 4 Cause — also accept entertainment and media.

Multi-Purpose Furniture is Key

In a large apartment or house, you can divide rooms by purpose: The dining room is for dining, the bedroom is for sleeping, the living room is for lounging on the couch in your pajamas. But in an assisted living community, every little thing should have a meaningful purpose. Your furniture should reflect that multi-purpose ethos. Consider a couch that can also convert into a bed, or a small table with leaves that allow it to work as a desk or expand to accommodate a dinner party. Bookshelves are a great way to add more surface area while also using vertical space — use them to hold not only your favorite novels, but also stereo equipment and small decorations.

Consider a Family Storage Unit

How often do you re-read Middlemarch? Even if you can’t bear to part with your eight-track collection, how often do you listen to the tapes? Renting a storage unit will allow you or your family to keep the clutter without crowding your living space. In a smaller space, a single object can really change a room. So simply switching objects — small furniture, decor, even books — from your storage unit to your new assisted living community space can totally re-make your living area.

The post 4 Downsizing Tips for New Assisted Living Residents appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

James Square Health and Rehab Center: Pinned to James Square Syracuse on Pinterest

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 07:09:08 GMT

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James Square Health and Rehab Center: Syracuse Nursing Home James Square Receives Excellent 5 Star Review

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Caregivers and Finances: How to Make Ends Meet While Providing Care for a Loved One

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:12:42 GMT

Caregivers want their loved ones to be as comfortable, happy, and healthy as possible. That’s why, when people decide to provide care for a family member, they find themselves putting their loved one’s needs ahead of their own. This often means that caregivers make professional and personal sacrifices while providing attentive, loving support for others. In many cases, they encounter financial struggles because caregivers have to cut back on their hours at work or quit their jobs altogether.

If you are a caregiver who is concerned about your financial future, you need to know that you are not alone and that there are a few financial aid options available to you. We explore the following topics to help you learn how to spend more time caring for your loved one and less time worrying about your finances:

General Financial Challenges Caregivers Face
Financial Aid Options for Caregivers
Tax Incentives and Other Financial Help

General Financial Challenges Caregivers Face

One of the main reasons caregivers face financial challenges is they need to cut back on the hours they work in order to provide care for a loved one. AARP’s recent report on caregiving in the United States found that an estimated 40 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult in 2014, and that 60% of caregivers balanced being employed with providing care to a loved one.

Yet, caregiving often becomes a full-time job, and if caregivers cannot hold their traditional job, they face financial difficulties. In fact, a recent survey shows that 80% of all long-term care in the United States is provided by unpaid or informal caregivers. Studies also show that 75% of caregivers who experience financial strain as a result of providing care to a loved one are women.

Unfortunately, many people face the decision of whether to leave their job to become full-time caregivers. The decision certainly is not an easy one: those who choose to care for a loved one lose not only their income but also lose their retirement benefits and health insurance. And, nearly 15% of caregivers also provide financial support to their loved ones, which leads to depleted savings accounts or retirement accounts.

Financial Aid Options for Caregivers

If you have some forewarning that your loved one will need to become a care recipient, and you are interested in becoming a paid caregiver, you should educate yourself about home care costs, financial planning, and financial aid for caregivers. You may discover that your loved one can afford to pay you to care for him, or you may realize that it is more affordable for your loved one to become a resident of an assisted living facility than it is for you to care for him.

If, however, you need to become a caregiver sooner than you anticipated, there are some financial aid options available for caregivers to receive compensation. For example, you may be eligible to receive aid through Medicaid’s Cash & Counseling program or veteran-directed home and community-based services program. Some people who remain employed can take advantage of employee benefits such as paid leave for caregiving.

Tax Incentives and Other Financial Help

Some caregivers who are ineligible for financial aid look for other options for payment. One option is tax incentives. Those who meet certain qualifications can deduct medical expenses and mileage and benefit financially. You also may be able to claim your care recipient as a dependent on your tax return. It’s important to keep in mind you will not receive your incentives as quickly as you will financial aid.

Another option is to determine whether you are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. People who have no alternative but to quit their jobs to become caregivers may qualify for unemployment insurance (UI). The key is to determine whether you live in a state that is friendly to caregivers and considers caring for a loved one a compelling reason and good cause for choosing to leave a job.

People often have to make a difficult choice: quit a job and lose income and retirement benefits to become a full-time caregiver or try to juggle employment and caregiving duties. Studies and surveys find that caregivers do face financial hardship. However, some financial aid and alternative options for becoming a paid caregiver are available to people who want to support their loved ones with loving, attentive care.

Images via Pixabay by sabinevanerp and maxlkt

The post Caregivers and Finances: How to Make Ends Meet While Providing Care for a Loved One appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

Assisted Living for Veterans: Benefits You Didn’t Know Existed

Jacob Tuininga — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 02:29:30 GMT

Veterans give their all in the service, yet may find it challenging to resume their civilian lives, especially if they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Reintegrating into the community can be a long, hard road.

And even later in life, veterans face an additional hurdle if they need to move into an assisted living facility (ALF): the high cost of care.

Fortunately for veterans and their surviving spouses, there are benefits available to help alleviate the financial burden that comes with long-term care in an assisted living facility.

Aid & Attendance: Little-Known Benefit A Boon for Vets

One of the most overlooked financial resources for veterans in assisted living facilities is the Aid and Attendance benefit. Offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Aid and Attendance is a monthly, needs-based payment above and beyond the VA pension that can help cover the costs of long-term care.

Aid and Attendance is for veterans who need the aid of another person to safely complete the activities of daily living. Examples can include the need for assistance in getting around, dressing and undressing, eating, grooming, using the toilet, and bathing. Without the ability to perform these tasks on their own, an individual can’t live independently and therefore requires the aid of another individual. A veteran’s need for this benefit doesn’t need to be the result of their military service.

If a veteran has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia, Aid and Attendance is typically awarded. This is because the disease usually requires individuals to be in a protected environment to stay safe and well.

The funds received from Aid and Attendance benefits are not awarded specifically to cover the cost of living in an assisted living facility, but they can be used for that purpose.

This website explains in clear language how the Aid and Attendance pension works. As of 2017, A&A pension can provide up to $1,1830 per month to a single veteran, $2,170 for a veteran with a spouse, $1,176 per month to a surviving spouse, or $2,903 per month to a couple who are both veterans. A veteran with a sick spouse is eligible for up to $1,438 per month. That’s a lot of much-needed money that can be put towards the cost of assisted living each month.

Eligibility May Be Easier Than You Think

Navigating eligibility requirements can be overwhelming for veterans and their loved ones, especially if an illness has already set in. Fortunately, eligibility for assistance may be simpler than many might assume.

Many veterans and their families are unaware of this benefit, but even those who know about the Aid and Attendance pension tend to overlook it as a resource if the veteran is still independent, but has a spouse who is ill. In this situation, if the spouse’s medical expenses completely deplete the couple’s combined monthly income, the veteran can still file as a veteran with an ailing spouse.

As this New York Times blog post on the New Old Age makes clear, “To qualify, a veteran need not have suffered a service-related injury. He or she only had to have clocked at least one day of his or her 90-day minimum military service during a time of war, and need caregiving for activities of daily living.”

As of 2019, to be financially eligible for Aid & Attendance:

A single veteran must have countable income under $22,577 a year
A veteran with a dependent or spouse must have countable income under $26,765 a year

This worksheet will help you calculate “countable income.”

In order to qualify for A&A benefits, a veteran (or spouse) must also meet one of the following criteria:

Need assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, dressing, eating, or adjusting prosthetic devices;
Be bedridden;
Reside in a long-term care facility due to mental or physical incapacity
Have severe visual impairment, with a correction of 5/200 or less in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.

Eligibility varies by state, but the benefits can be significant. Contact your local Veteran Affairs office or an elder law expert to determine whether you or your loved one qualifies. Because health care benefits and later life housing are so critical for veterans, it’s helpful to review all the options currently available.

How to Apply

The forms required to apply for A&A benefits can be found on the official VA website. Once you’ve completed the forms and compiled the required documents, you should make copies and keep the originals.

The application and process for A&A benefits can take quite some time to complete. Gathering the necessary paperwork and supporting documents can take families weeks, and it often takes around 9 months to receive approval once the application has been submitted. However, if the applicant is over age 90, you can request expedited approval with your application.

Submitting a complete and error-free application can help speed up the process – you’ll be able to avoid delays that result from needing to gather more paperwork or make corrections. Since applying for benefits can be a complicated and confusing process, many families enlist the assistance of a Veterans Benefits Advisor to guide them through the process.

What Aid and Attendance Does and Does Not Cover

While the A&A benefit does not cover the entire cost of an assisted living facility, it can help pay for some of the services that they provide. This is a boon for a veteran or veteran’s spouse who requires long-term care.

It’s important to note that A&A benefits are paid in addition to the monthly pension amount and won’t be paid without eligibility for the Pension. But since A&A allowances increase the monthly pension amount, people who aren’t financially eligible for a basic pension may become eligible for pension at the increased rates.

Basic Pensions: A Solution for Rising Care Costs

VA Pensions are a monetary benefit for veterans over the age of 65. These pensions are not specifically awarded to cover the cost of an assisted living facility, but the funds may be used however the veteran sees fit. If the veteran isn’t yet in an assisted living facility, the funds can be used for services like home care aids or adult daycare facilities.

The basic pension is awarded to healthy veterans over the age of 65 who financially qualify as low-income or meet other special requirements.

Debbie Burak, founder of VeteranAid.org explains, “The VA classifies any veteran at the age of 65 to be permanently and totally disabled regardless of your physical state. The classification of ‘disabled’ entitles the veteran or widow to a Basic Pension if he/she meets the net worth and income criteria. The same is true for the surviving spouse. No Physician’s Statement is required for filing for Basic Pension.”

Who’s Eligible

Determining whether or not a veteran is eligible to receive a pension can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding all of the financial requirements.

To be eligible to receive a Basic Pension, a veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one of those days being during active wartime.

Additionally, the veteran must meet at least one of the following requirements:

Be at least age 65 with limited or no income
Be totally and permanently disabled
Be a permanent resident in a nursing home facility
Receive Social Security Disability Insurance
Receive Supplemental Security Income

How to Apply

You can apply for Veterans pension benefits online or download, print, and complete the VA Form 21P-527EZ, “Application for Pension”. Once the paperwork is completed and the required documents are collected, you can mail your application to your local Pension Management Center.

If you prefer to collect or submit forms in person. you can visit your local regional benefit office. To find your local regional benefit office, use the VA Facility Locator.

If you are already receiving the pension and only need to apply for the increased pension amount for A&A or Housebound benefits, you’ll need to contact your local Pension Management Center. You’ll need to have medical evidence, such as a physician’s report that confirms the need for the increased benefit amount.

Other Options

While Aid and Attendance provides much-needed assistance, it may not be the best option for every veteran – especially for those confined to their home. In these cases, Housebound benefits are available to provide financial assistance for disabled veterans.

What Are Housebound Benefits?

Similar to Aid & Attendance, Housebound benefits are an increased monthly pension amount that is added on to the basic monthly pension amount. This benefit is for veterans who are housebound, or confined to their immediate premises because of permanent disability. Veterans can also receive Housebound benefits if they’re living in the home of a relative or confined to their unit or room while institutionalized.

Eligibility

Like A&A benefits, a veteran can not receive housebound benefits without first being eligible for Basic Pension, but the housebound benefits do increase the monthly pension amount, so veteran’s who aren’t financially eligible for a basic pension might become eligible for pension at the increased rates.

A veteran may be eligible for Housebound benefits if they have a permanent disability that confines them to their home. This generally means that the applicant only leaves the home for medical appointments and requires the assistance of another person when they do leave their home. But it may also mean that the individual is unable to leave their home to obtain things they need to continue living on their own or are in an institution and can’t leave their unit without the help of staff.

A veteran can’t receive Housebound benefits and Aid and Attendance at the same time, but they may receive the higher of the two benefit amounts.

How to Apply

You can apply for Housebound benefits by writing to the Pension Management Center in your local area. If you prefer to collect or submit forms in person. you can visit your local regional benefit office. To find your local regional benefit office, use the VA Facility Locator.

You’ll need to include copies of any medical evidence that supports the need for the Housebound benefit, preferably a detailed report from a physician. In addition to detailing the disability that has left the applicant housebound, it should include information regarding how mobile the individual is, where they are able to go, and the activities that they’re able to do on their own in a typical day.

Submitting a complete and error-free application can help speed up the process – you’ll be able to avoid delays that result from needing to gather more paperwork or make corrections.

Navigating the financial needs of veterans who need assisted living care is always a stressful endeavor for loved ones. Thankfully, these benefits can help alleviate the financial burden that comes along with costly long-term care.

The post Assisted Living for Veterans: Benefits You Didn’t Know Existed appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.

What Are IADLs or the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living?

dharmesh — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 04:03:16 GMT

IADLs or the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are more complex than the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) needed for basic unassisted living and go a long way in improving the quality of life for elders.

Needing help with some areas of life when aging is relatively common- according to research, approximately 18% of adults over the age of 75 require assistance with one or more IADLs, while nearly 11% require ADL assistance. The majority of elders get along fine without ADL assistance, however, about half of all admissions into long-term care are due only to the inability to complete ADL’s without assistance. Examples of ADLs include:

Bathing and showering
Choosing appropriate clothes and getting dressed
Using the bathroom without assistance
Walk, and get in and out of furniture and baths
Eat meals independently, not including cooking the meals but simply using cutlery

A simple way to refer to IADLs is by remembering the mnemonic SHAFT – Shopping, Housekeeping (or housework), Accounting (or managing money), Food preparation and Telephone/Transportation. IADLs are different from ADLs in that the basic essential functions of survival are not threatened. You’ll be able to live by yourself but you may find yourself unable to manage tasks such as:

Managing your budget, including using the ATM, writing checks, and remembering your bills- you might find yourself coming up short for necessities like food
Remembering to go to doctors appointments, and taking your medications as prescribed
Planning and preparing meals, which could also pose significant safety and health risk
Being able to do housework and prepare your meals.
Doing your own shopping – be it groceries, clothing, or anything else you need.
Using the telephone and computer as a means of communication
Managing transportation – be it driving, or hiring cabs or taking public transportation
Managing your household in its entirety – including pet care if you have any pets
Any and all extracurricular activities – be it maintaining a hobby or socializing with friends, family, and peers.

Usually, when a person is unable to perform their IADLs or ADLs at home, they must seek outside help to make sure they stay healthy. This can mean hiring an in-home caregiver or a paid relative to move into your home, or moving into an assisted living community.

What is the Difference Between ADLs and IADLs?

A frequently asked question is the difference between the Activities of Daily Living vs. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. ADLs are essential to unassisted survival. A mnemonic that can be used to typically define ADLs is DEATH: Dressing (the ability to wear clothes in an acceptable fashion), Eating (feeding self so as to be in perfect health), Ambulation (walking, sitting and then standing up, getting in and out of vehicles), Toilet (ability to use the facilities and & wipe/wash self without help) and Hygiene (bathing to maintain proper hygiene). If a person fails to perform one or more of these activities, then his or her ability to live independently and without care has diminished considerably. This person may need long-term assisted living immediately.

Are IADLs Essential for Living Unassisted?

Think of it this way – while things like being able to bathe, walk, go to the bathroom, eat, and take adequate rest are the activities “essential” for the survival of a person, IADLs are activities that are not necessary for survival but do aid a person in living life to the fullest. The very definition of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living is that these are the things that help an individual flourish as a person in the community, and be completely self-reliant in his or her care and health.

A person struggling IADLs does not necessarily translate into needing assisted living; rather, he or she may need some help to perform these tasks every now and then. So, it’s time for friends, family, and paid care to pitch in as and when needed. It can also be taken as an indication to get a full check-up done, so that any and all medical needs can be taken care of.

The inability of an individual to perform IADLs can indicate one or many potential issues going on, as well as serve as warnings for worse problems. Some causes of the memory slippage that tends to be the first step in the progression of IADL loss include:

Mental fog caused by medication side effects, interactions, or overuse
Simply not getting enough sleep can cause or worsen memory problems
The beginning of dementia often involves memory loss, and can have many causes
Medical issues such as nutritional deficiency, or worsening pre-existing conditions

IADLs need to be taken as an indicator; if a person is repeatedly failing to do them, it’s an indication to get help. Living with IADL dependence doesn’t have to be difficult- from using assistive technology, home modifications, or bringing in outside care, to considering life in a retirement community, there are numerous ways to promote your independence while living with IADL dependence.

How to Talk to Someone About Their IADL Dependence and Care Options

Frankly, it can be extremely difficult to walk up to someone – especially your own parents – and tell them that they haven’t been managing their lives properly be it financially, socially, or even personally. They may view it as an unwelcome intrusion into their way of living or their independence. When it comes to senior care, it’s difficult for the parent to accept this role reversal – for the children to become the caregivers and the parents to become the dependents. However, the process of caring for your aging parents comes with its own set of unique benefits, such as increased time to learn about your relatives and form a stronger bond.

The good news is, you wouldn’t be the first person in this position. According to the AARP, across the US approximately 42% of caregivers are children caring for their aging parents or grandparents, and 12% of caregivers are spouses who are aging as well. The good news is, there are many resources for family caregivers, including support groups for caregivers and their dependents, as well as other areas of aging like dementia care.

It might be in the best interest of your loved one to let them discuss their IADL dependency with their healthcare team. Professionals will be able to help by providing information backed by the most recent science and research regarding the specific issues facing them, give medical and other advice and prescribe medication as necessary, as well as provide referrals to outside professionals, support groups, and social services programs that can help pay for aging care. What seniors may feel uncomfortable or even embarrassed about discussing with the children, they can freely talk about with their medical caregivers and between the trio – the individual needing help, the family and the medical professional – a solution can be worked out to the best benefit of the person in question.

Assisted Living Facilities

Many people make the decision to move to an assisted living facility (ALF), or community, once they become unable to perform their own ADLs and IADLs, as not everyone is able to modify their home to accommodate aging. In an ALF, independence is ensured for older adults who are in the process of losing one or more lifelong abilities, such as in the case of ADL dependence. Whether this is through memory loss, degenerative disease, or simply breaking down due to the process of time, the facility staff is trained to help people help themselves for as long as possible, in whatever ways they choose. Residents are able to live in their own spaces, make their own decisions, come and go as they please, and have the lifestyle they choose, regardless of ongoing health conditions.

One of the great features of choosing a retirement community is that you are able to seek out the perfect place to retire, based on your unique interests and preferences. Some communities are set up like apartment buildings, with each resident having their own studio or one- or two-bedroom apartment, either alone or with a roommate. Other places are set up cottage-style, with a campus full of cozy houses, each housing several residents, and connected with garden paths. Depending on your level of care needed, there are nursing homes that are set up more like hospital rooms, for those who need 24-hour nursing and intensive healthcare services.

Benefits of Choosing an Assisted Living Community

Many people are resistant to the idea of moving into a retirement community, due to the stigma that ALFs are for the very old and infirm who are ready for the final retirement. The number of people that choose to retire in a community is actually very low, with only 3.1% of adults aged 65-85 doing so instead of aging in place. However, after age 85, that percentage climbs to over 9%.

When people do opt for moving into an ALF, it is most commonly because they are unable to perform their ADLs on their own, and would rather retire comfortably surrounded by professional help that can step in when needed for things such as preparing meals, and getting out of the bath, so they can live independently as possible, as well as safely. Assisted living communities are staffed by a well-trained team of medical professionals to help dispense medication, assess any injuries that occur throughout one’s daily life, and help keep an eye on residents’ ongoing health conditions.

The licensed medical team is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the staff and programming offered to residents at assisted living facilities. In addition to caring for all your health needs, there is usually a gourmet chef and full wait staff for serving meals, an activity director with a team of assistants and volunteers, and a maintenance crew to ensure all housekeeping chores are tended to.

Cleanliness and safety are vital, but are not the most important aspect of a comfortable life. Retirement communities spend a lot of energy focusing on ways to make their residents the most comfortable and encourage them to live the lives that are as fulfilling as possible, honoring their lifelong interests and habits. Aging can be a difficult process and it is crucial to have an appropriate team in place to help you ease into older ages easily.

Assisted living communities are designed to care for your body as well as your spirit, and every home has its own unique philosophy to encourage its residents to live their best lives as they grow older. Visit these pages to read our helpful guide on different retirement options, or to find an assisted living community near you.

The post What Are IADLs or the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living? appeared first on AssistedLiving.org.