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Top Five Cities for Retirees
Anthropology is ranked as #1 worst college major? (Note taken to pass to the next generation). Harlingen, TX is the one of the cheapest US cities to live? Let’s see if we can find a job there. I am a sucker for Top 10 lists of any sort, especially when they come from Kiplinger.com, a Washington, D.C. based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice. The latest list of interest is entitled “Best Cities for Retirees.” Heavens, my interest is perked already, although I am hoping for a list of cities that are not primarily located in Florida.
Kiplinger identified the winners by identifying cities with reasonable living costs, strong employment growth, and a population that scores high on measures of education and tech-savviness. In addition, further criteria including number of doctors, climate, and crime rate factored in.
Now that I’ve drawn out the waiting and you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, here they are:
5) Pittsburgh, PA: Although residing in the same state as the Philly Cheese Steak certainly has its benefits, Pittsburgh is the nations safest ‘big’ city and similarly, suffers from few natural disasters.
4) New York City: The big Apple boasts a selection of healthcare, restaurants, museums, and luxuries within a small geographical area. Other services can be delivered right to your door, which seems quite luxurious.
3) Palm Bay, FL: Always want to make your quilting business a reality? Palm Bay, FL is on the list of the best cities in the nation to start a business. Moreover, it has the typical coastal amenities of golf courses, fishing, and, you guessed it: the beach.
2) Corvallis, OR: A small city with mild winters, no sales tax, and a great medical facility (Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center) make Corvallis a stand-out number two. Bring your umbrella, though: there is an average of 149 rainy days a year. We’ll just be singing in the rain!
1) New Orleans, LA: After Katrina, N’Awlins is bouncing back with a boom of refurbished homes. Besides affordable health care and a mild climate the state offers tax breaks to retirees. Property taxes are low as well. Time for some po’boys.
THE GRAND WINNER: Washington DC and surrounding suburbs.
Ok, so I completely inserted DC, as our city of residence has a charm and historical resonance which far outweighs the previous cities listed. (I may or may not be biased). The number of FREE cultural and historical activities are off the charts, as well as the geographical vicinity to nearby cities. Also, organizations such as ACCFamily are staunchly in place to serve and assist families who need additional home resources.
There you have it, folks. My goal was fulfilled: only one of the winners is located in Florida. Now, onto the next list: “The 10 Cheapest Cars to Own.”
For the complete article and accompanying descriptions, check it out here.
Beating the Nasty Flu Bug
The nasty bug is back: THE FLU. Reports of the influenza epidemic have run rampant throughout media coverage the past weeks, meanwhile, just this morning the city of Boston declared a state of emergency with over 700 confirmed cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a map visually showcasing the numbers across the United States: chillingly, the vast majority of States are colored for "widespread" flu outbreaks.
What do you need to know? Who is most at risk? First of all, children under 5, pregnant women, and those 65 or older need to be especially diligent about hand-washing, shared public interactions, and physical contact.
In addition, the simple act of getting a flu shot can be a huge barrier against sickness. The vaccine is still widely available in the community. People can get vaccinated at pharmacies, doctors’ offices, or the county health department. CVS offers flu shots, while many offices have programs which provide free shots to children.
ACCFamily desires to keep your family members safe, so please, get your flu vaccination today and take the necessary precautions with symptoms. We'll beat this bug!
Coping with Clutter
The television show "Hoarders" premiered on HBO with 2.5 millions viewers tuning in. If you are like me, somewhat behind on the cutting edge TV shows, you will ask "What exactly is the premise and trajectory of such a show?" Each show gives a glimpse into the lives of two people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. Whether they're facing eviction, the loss of their children, jail time, or divorce, they are all desperately in need of help. Experts attempt to facilitate the healing process, but cleaning is just the first step. For many, the tossing of small items is akin to throwing away precious mementos. Although the show focuses on the audacious and sensationalized stories (imagine hoarding rats, or huge mounds of trash, etc.), the core issue is something most people can identify. The holidays especially prelude cleaning frenzies. When it comes time to help out your parents or grandparents with cleaning, the list can seem daunting. Even when family is not thrown in the 'hoarder' category, it is difficult to part with tokens, knick-knacks, and otherwise completely unnecessary items which hold a sentimental value. How can you begin such an endeavor? Even with a caretaker or a companion from ACCFamily on your side to help faciliate there can be helpful ways to go about 'cleaning up clutter.' Caring.com published a list of tips for helping with clutter and downsizing, including:
- Realize that you may be dealing with more than "stuff."
- Draw the line at safety.
- Start small.
- Declutter in a systematic way.
- Be kind
- Frame decisions as yes-no questions.
- Avoid tackling the house in one go.
- Pack representative bits of favored items (not the whole kit and kaboodle).
- If it's meant to be a gift or legacy, encourage giving it now.
Besides reading the above articles, mosey on over to ACCFamily.com to see how our staff can support your family in such an endeavor. Cleaning is not just for spring!
Living Resolutely: Moving from Good Intentions to Strategy
Time to break out the treadmill, measuring tape, and logbook: It’s January 2nd 2013. “Happy New Year” is easily shouted on New Years Eve, whilst the still small voice murmurs the next day holds a change, a new horizon to pursue.
Exercise more. Eat healthy (which equates to less chocolate . . . and hopefully lose weight). Take more time for family and friends. Re-vamp the wardrobe. Watch less reality television. The list continues on in a hodge-podge fashion.
Despite the good intentions, nothing substantial was ever accomplished with a toast and a cheer. Resolutions and LIVING resolutely takes strategy, a plan of action, and persistent discipline. How are you going to REALLY start exercising every day and TRULY avoiding the chocolate at the bakery you pass every day?
Here at ACCFamily, we want to wish you a happy new year not just by statement, but by urging you to sit down, resolutely, to carry out those good intentions. On the superficial front, you CAN re-vamp your wardrobe, so long as your budget balances first! You CAN spend more time with cherished family and friends, perhaps by limiting time online and arranging those coffee dates with intentions of not canceling.
Maybe one of the things you will need to do this year is to reduce stress on your spirit. If you have the honor (and burden) of caring for an aging relative, ACCFamily can help! Here is a link to our website www.accfamily.com. Let us help you with your 2013 resolution strategy, perhaps in a way you never imagined.
Let’s make 2013 a year of shattering intentions and living resolutely!
Twas the week before Christmas . . .
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house
all Creatures were scurrying with spirits aroused
for the timeline to Christmas rushed closer each day
Presents and family and extravagant soirees
To do lists lengthened like unraveling cloth
While stresses conquered in evergreen and mauve
Why the crazy fuss and why all the bustle?
Why all the money and holiday hustle?
The light in the east showed the hope of the globe
Sorrow turned joy as crimson love overflowed
As Christmas day dawns and darkness abates
ACCFamily says: Merry Christmas! Happy new Year! Celebrate!
Wait . . . a Nutritious Christmas Dinner Table?!
As eggnog makes its appearance onto grocery shelves and cinnamon settles in for the long haul of winter, the holiday topic of sustenance and libations are near the forefront of every conversation. Long standing traditions and authentic recipes are discussed while standing in front of a stove. Sauces simmer, cookies bake, and the aroma of the holidays permeates the olfactory senses. Meanwhile, beliefs hold that diets go out the window and nutrition hibernates during the month of December. Luckily, ACCFamily wants to see you and your family embrace the knowledge that holiday meals can INCLUDE nutritious options that keep in tradition of favorite foods.
Take the examples of yams, cranberries, pomegranates, lentils, and cocoa. Each of these items contain helpful benefits to your help and can be added in a variety of ways to your holiday meals. Check out the article over at cookinglight.com to see the specific benefits and possible uses in meals.
See you at the nutritious Christmas dinner table.
Turning Christmas Mania into Merriment
These days many people equate the word 'overwhelming' with the Christmas season. While orchestral sleigh bell music rings and dreams of an idealistic White Christmas invade, the simple reality is the dreaded "TO DO" list crowds most of our thoughts. Gifts? Food? Travel plans? Budgets? December is a like being on a sled, poised at the top of the hill, when released starts shooting madly down the hill. An issue often overlooked is the schedule on Christmas Day: when will most relatives arrive? Are there any food restrictions? Will the noise created by the kids make Granny's confusion worse? Who will take Grandpa to the bathroom if he needs it? Holidays are great times to come together and build memories…but ACCfamily hopes they are not bad ones! We want to arm you with a great list of tips for family caregivers, including evaluating the environment, remembering holiday traditions, and asking for help.
If the holidays will turn the most normal, considerate of folks into madmen, then imagine the distraction of going into the bustle without answering any of the questions mentioned above. Let's all take a moment, breathe, and implement the actions included in this informative article. If you need an extra set of hands on Christmas (or before), call ACCfamily. We can arrange a caregiver to be with you and your loved one throughout the day. Now, the possibility of a truly merry Christmas day exists.
Lifted Myths of Chiropractic
Craaaaaaaaack. I inwardly shuddered. The popping sound reminded me of a muffled gunshot grated on my nerves and catapaulted me into a daydream of broken bones, necks, and limp rag dolls.
Haunted Halloween house? Nope. More like a visit to the chiropractor's office.
Even with proven successes and an increase in insurance coverage for alternative health solutions, there remains a hazy aura of mistrust surrounding the field of chiropractic. Like any unfamiliar place or topic, many misperceptions exist about this legitimate health option. A good number of people will rave for days about the miraculous wonders of regularly chiropractic appointments, from the disappearance of migraines and tension headaches, to a decrease in arm and shoulder pain. An informative article outlined common myths and subsequent answers in this field.
ACCFamily, grounded inWestern medicine, is a supporter of alternative health solutions to make life comfortable and pain-free for your loved ones. Many preventative measures can be emphasized in daily lifestyles, with chiropractic being a solution for back, neck, and various other pains.
We just have to ignore the cracking.
More to be Thankful for than Turkeys
There's more to be thankful for than just turkeys. Although, that's a hard competition. A recent article poked some amiable fun at the tradition of sharing "What we are thankful for" around the Thanksgiving table. The author, using a somewhat mocking tone, focuses on our cultural obsession with technology and entertainment. From I-Phones to Hulu, he creates his own hipster "gratitude list."
Luckily, ACCCompanion Care does not fall under the hipster category nor even the 'technologically obsessed,' however, we will embrace the word 'grateful.'
ACCFamily is grateful for the dedicated and selfless service of caregivers, who besides committing their professional careers to serving others, walk a path littered with the shattering of romance. ACCFamily is grateful for their perseverance to an often forgotten age demographic.
ACCFamily is grateful for the country and city in which we live and work. A country founded on principles, a hard-work ethic, and opportunity.
ACCFamily is grateful to not only our internal staff, but our network of external proponents.
ACCFamily is grateful for an opportunity to serve families of all ages in the profession of 'care.'
Lastly, ACCFamily IS grateful for turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Emotional Connections needed in Healthcare
"Thank you," I offhandedly and distractedly said to the Chick-fil-a server. "My pleasure," came back to me in a chirpy and cheerful voice, intent on service.
No matter the location, Chick-fil-A across the nation has a track record of service dedication, loyal followers, and, well, good food. What prompts such loyalty?
In a completely different professional field, what ignites such loyalty to Apple?
Emotion. Who would have guessed? 83% of consumers would pay more for a product or service from a company they feel puts them first. Not only that, but healthcare is the number one field the mass population seeks to feel emotional connections. Huh. Emotions really do count.
The ironic point? In a recent nationwide brand survey, the top 10 breakout brands on the emotional front did not include any healthcare companies.
Luckily, ACCFamily can relay such news without qualms, because as an entity we pride ourselves in not only providing the best homecare service, but commitment to our clients. Emotional commitment. The emotional front has been taken and conquered in the world of ACCFamily. We put our clients first.
UnconVENTional Aid
Hurricane Sandy dumped her rage on the East Coast last week, smashing through homes, destroying power lines, and causing a stand-still transportation scene. Shots flashed across the news of evacuating city residents, rising water, and destruction. And then the stories started trickling out. Stories of generosity and goodwill; stories of rescues and food drops for the immobile and marginalized; stories of hope. Stories formulating in darkness, slowly being revealed in the light. Irony at it's finest to watch the goodwill of man follow a disaster of catastrophic proportions. An article called "UnconVENTional Aid" was published on a craft blog on Halloween outlining a spectacular series of events happening post-Sandy. The story of a wheel-chair bound crafter acquainted with a couple apartment-bound and living with some disabilities through social media, who ultimately brought back-up batteries for oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, and food through a scavenger hunt and network of connections. Wow. The power of social media; the power of the goodwill of an acquaintance; the power of the general public who donated - all apparent themes.
ACCFamily offers unconVENTional Aid in a society where the marginalized are often the elderly and/or disabled on the fringes of society. No natural disaster is needed for the goodwill of our companions to show: the dedication to assistance is every day. While epic and crazy stories like the one mentioned above are not advertised daily in grand fashion, it's because we're living it every day. We're here, day in and day out, offering our lives for the sake of others.
"Cyberchondria," says Dr. Google
A woman sits at a computer, face illuminated by the hazy glow of the computer, while panic slowly rises in her throat. The somewhat mundane symptoms seem to point to a most dramatic diagnosis. Her pointer finger scrolls furiously as she reads the analysis from her convenient, in-home doctor possessing a silent voice: Dr. Google. Now Dr. Google is a doctor of worldwide proportions, possessing an inordinate amount of resources at his disposal, and is always available with the snap (or click) of a finger. While his countenance may be somewhat lacking and knowledge questionable , the convenience seems to far outweigh any qualms.
So his word is final.
Entering a time when vast numbers of people have Internet access and search engine capabilities, the reliance on information and the latter 'Dr. Google' seems to be creating a number of Cyberchondriacs. Having access to 24/7 information is certainly helpful, but informed interpretation (aka medical doctors) over unwavering trust wins every time. With seniors being the fastest-growing group to go online, a recent study in The Journal of Health and Aging relayed that though they are less likely to research their condition online, they are the most likely to trust the information they find. Dr. Google can certainly 'spit up' a lot of information, but he should not be wholeheartedly trusted.
One of the services ACCfamily provides is a nurse to accompany your loved one to doctor's appointments. In this way, your loved one has not only a real registered nurse to help understand what they are feeling, but a trained professional to accompany your loved one to interpret their doctor's advice, ask specific questions concerning their condition, and understand suggested cures. ACCfamily also has companions that encourage medical inquiries to informed health professionals. While tech support and computer usage is helpful across all ages, discernment is necessary in wading through the Internet landscape. The latter task can be navigated with families or with help from ACCfamily in a reliable manner, so Dr. Google does not have the last say in diagnosis.
A Taste Down Memory Lane
Aroma. Taste. The sublime amalgamation of flavors sitting on your tongue, permeating your olfactory senses, and transporting you to a memory of decades past. A tomato sending you back to your mothers garden? A frankfurter that represents the first baseball game with your father? Or perhaps penny candy with a taste that reminds you of certain friends?
I stumbled across an article this week from CNN Health called "Taste: It's in your nose and memories" which proceeds to outline misperceptions regarding taste and then outlining lessons from science that prod people to think about eating in new ways. A thorough list follows, with bullet points including titles such as:
"You Like What Your Mother Ate."
"Your Tongue Map is Not exactly Right."
"Nostalgia While Eating Refers to Smell."
Intrigued? Wondering how ACCfamily intersects with the article content? ACCFamily provides caregivers who cook for your loved one. Although not as good as your mom used to do it, ACCfamily caregivers make sure your loved one keeps the memories coming by cooking the meals they enjoy. Meanwhile, I'm headed to the grocery store to take a walk down memory lane.
Paragliding your way to Fitness
Mary Hardison of Ogden Utah wiggled, or rather, leapt her way into the Guiness Book of World Records by Paragliding Tandem. At age 101. She didn't want her 75 - year old son to outdo her. This great-great grandmother with a seemingly hardy personality and persistent attitude encouraged her tandem partner to go upside down and perform tricks as the rest of her family watched below in expectation. Typical behavior for this charitable matron? Why yes, as she excitedly rode all of the adult rides at Disneyland at age 90. What about Faujah Singh, the 100 year old who entered the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and finished in grand style, securing his place in the Guiness Book of World Records?
Clearly, age does not constrain the physical capacity of the human body, as Faujah and Mary clearly demonstrate.
Granted, such accomplishments are not common across the board, but the importance of physical fitness and its numerous benefits has been proven over and over again. Yes, age effects cardio capacity, strength capabilitiy, and flexibility, but there are hobbies and exercises that allow the older generation to stay active. The key is remaining aware, 'staying on top of the issue' per se, and not pushing exercise to the wayside with excuses of time crunches. ACCfamily can help if the person you are caring for has not been able to be as active as Mary Hardison or Faujah Singh. If you are caring for someone who is struggling to stay independent in their own home or has lost mobility to the point that you are becoming nervous about their safety, ACCfamily can help reduce this stress by arranging a caring person to be there. ACCfamily caregivers not only insure safety, but we even extend the independence of those in need by doing the laundry, shopping for food, and going to doctor's appointments with your loved one. It is a great feeling to have an expert close by! Mary had a professional paraglide pilot fly her in circles. Your loved one may soon be flying circles around you with the help of ACCfamily!
Children's Books and Alzheimers
"Mommy, why didn't Grandpa remember my doll? Amelia? He called her Beatrice!" "Well, honey, Grandpa just . . . forgets things sometimes. That's all."
The child absentmindedly strokes her doll's hair, pondering the strange utterances that spun from her Grandfather's lips. She is trying to piece together the pieces of a strange puzzle, while the Mother's mind is like a jackrabbit, bouncing around from issues like compassion, loss, the attempt to protect childlike innocence, honesty.
It's difficult to live, let alone explain some of the medical issues that arise from old age. Alzheimers, dementia, and other diseases are hard to imagine for adults, let alone children. While many families try to sweep encounters and strange behavior under the rug, others want to engage their children in a safe but forthcoming manner. Thankfully, in recent months a number of children's books have swept the market on the subject of Children and Alzheimers. Not all are thorough or compelling, but there are a few of pedagogic value with engaging storylines. These also open the door for future media on the subject with the eventual goal of combining comprehensiveness and literary merit.
A Figurative Round of Applause for the Selfless
You know the high you get from attending a baseball game or conference, standing as one with thousands of others cheering a common cause? Then, after the day of intense excitement, animated discussions are had regarding the powerful speakers; the well-trained and talented pitcher; or the amazing food. The stars of the event are the ones in your exact line of sight, broadcast over large screens and resounding in your ears. The rare occasion is when a person remarks, "Wow, that event was great - the dishwashers really went out of their way to clean the dishes and keep them sparkling."
"Oh yes," the other replies enthusiastically. "The maintenance men fixed the bathroom faucet in complete optimism, as the line out of the bathroom became mutinous and raucous. I admire their calm dedication!"
Wrong.
A typical conversation would follow the lines of, "Dude, can you believe the handsome CEO spoke about gaming in the workplace? Ahhh, such power coming from a place of humility. That guy is top notch."
"Did you see that pitch at the bottom of the 7th? We'll see replays of that in the coming weeks."
We're easily captivated beings that concentrate on the image at hand, literally right in front of our eyes. We compliment events and people that are announced in grand fashion, and then give a mandatory light applause to the general statement of 'the people behind the scenes who helped make the event possible." The truth is, though, that the light smattering of applause is for the real heros who make hypothesis' become realities. The unseen, the uncherished, hard-working individuals who strive and commit hours of unglamorous work. The real heroes. The epitome of selflessness behind the scenes.
The nurses behind the doctors. The caregivers behind closed doors. The event organizers behind the keynote speaker.
There are selfless heroes everywhere. Now let's give them a round of applause.
The Faces Behind Statistics: The Reason for ACCFamily's existence
With the Baby Boomer generation's age on the rise and closer scrutiny of nursing facilities and assisted living rampant on the news, it seems everywhere you turn there are discussions spawning over the topic of elder care, homes, caregivers, and alternative options. Care-giving, in particular, is a task that many families 'accidentally' fall into. One day a daughter is flowing in her daily routine; the next she is providing care for an aging relative. Family caregivers, in particular, while being admired either for financial frugality or patient love, walk a tired and forlorn path littered with many stresses. The National Family Caregivers Association recently released statistics regarding family caregivers, including misperceptions of gender numbers, statistics of depression, and total money 'saved' by family care-giving. Many of the numbers are quite staggering and present many 'hidden' issues of family care-giving. For example, over 61% of family caregivers suffer from depression some or most of which results from not receiving aid from other family members. One study calculated that American businesses lose between $11 - $29 billion each year due to employees' need to care for loved ones.
ACCFamily came into existence in order to walk alongside family caregivers and let them retain their respective title of son, daughter, cousin, husband, wife. ACCFamily makes having a caregiver help you at home a legitimate option. Partnering with your family is a passion that drives the mission of ACCFamily and what we will continue to strive for. Allowing us to take some of the load you bear is not a cold choice to be made, but rather a decision that lessens many of the statistics above, while opening up a door to new relationships. ACCFamily is eager to share your burden.
Bring on the Treadmills.
At Googleplex, the (you guessed it) Google Headquarters in California, one can find a healthy cafeteria, massage therapists for de-stressing, and games when you need a break. Chesapeake Energy offers employees a 72,000 square foot gym while Cicso brings in car care companies twice a week to take care of oil changes. Gyms? Coffee shops? Foosball tables? Sounds more like a carnival than a workplace if you ask me! No, this article isn’t pushing in your face the perks you don’t have at your current job nor bragging about other companies out there. Obviously, said companies have numerous resources at their disposal. Merely stated, a change is occurring across the nation tying healthcare with the environment in which a person spends the majority of their day.
A new report by Aon Hewitt recommends eight human behaviors that must be contained to bend the cost curve of projected health expenditures. Such behaviors include poor diet, physical inactivity, poor stress management, among others. The behaviors contribute to fifteen chronic conditions including diabetes, coronary artery disease, obesity, and cancer. To top it off, a report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have projected that by 2030, half of U.S. adults will be obese. An article from CNN articulated the summary quite nicely: “Healthcare costs to bulge along with US waistlines.”
Apparently, the carnival mentioned above has some legitimacy – incentives, gyms, and other programs are being implemented to cut healthcare costs, with the unsaid purpose of promoting a healthy lifestyle. Now obviously, an employer cannot influence every module of an employee’s life, but small steps in health and wellness, along with stress management, just might save some bucks.
So, get your boss to bring on the treadmills and massage therapists.
Hector: A Robot Who Helps the Elderly
What is the first image that pops into mind when contemplating robots? The docile and lovable Wall-E? The raging Terminator machine beneath the Arnold Schwartzenegger exterior? Or perhaps the un-patented but crowd-winning robot dance move? As seen above, there are numerous scenarios regarding robots that range from benevolent to, well, malevolent. One can argue the day long about the possibilities of robotic intersection with human life, while the fact remains, technological advances are being made daily regarding artificial intelligence and technology. The question still hovering in the air, however, is the depth of intersection with daily human life and the possible aid it can bring.
A recent article showcased a Dutch-designed robot named Hector, who despite movable eyes that were deemed 'creepy,' served as a helpful companion to elderly suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment. Preliminary tests are still being run, but Hector's primary job is to remind the recipient of medication schedules, proposing a walk, or keeping track of schedules. Check out the links below to see Hector in action.
Click Here for video
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