As our parents age, many of us are left wondering how we are going to care for them. Here, Stephen Edward Samuelian opens up about senior care options and highlights major differences in skilled nursing and nursing home facilities.

IE: Thanks for joining us today.

Stephen Edward Samuelian: My pleasure… I am always happy to speak about topics near and dear to me, especially senior care.

IE: Let’s talk first about how to talk to your own parents about relocating to a new environment.

Stephen Edward Samuelian: It’s important to include the parent in the decision from the beginning. Even if we see a frail and aging body, their minds are very often sharp and they are perfectly capable of making choices for themselves.

IE: What about when they aren’t? Like as with Alzheimer’s or late-stage Parkinson ’s disease?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: Stay open about what’s happening. Even advanced dementia patients have moments of lucidity and will appreciate your respect and honesty.

IE: What kinds of care options are there for the 65+ community?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: There are retirement communities, assisted living, nursing homes, skilled nursing care, and home health care.

IE: What are the differences between assisted living and retirement communities?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: A “community” is often set up as such with single family homes in a planned development; residents come and go as they please. Assisted living is often similar to an apartment community with a medical and non-medical staff that’s there for assistance.

IE: And skilled nursing care…that’s the same as a nursing home, right?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: No, although some nursing homes do offer some skilled nursing care services.

IE: So what’s the difference?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is required to have a number of advanced medical providers on-site. This will include registered nurses, therapists, and nutritional counselors.

IE: Are SNFs managed privately?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: Yes, they are usually managed by private conglomerates and governed by a board of directors. They report to Medicare for oversight.

IE: Are nursing homes regulated by Medicare?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: No, they are usually regulated by state or local agencies.

IE: Let’s shift gears now. What kinds of medical services are provided at skilled nursing facilities?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: IV medications, occupational and speech therapies, advanced pharmaceutical distribution and monitoring, and wound care are taken care of at SNFs.

IE: So basically, care that isn’t as easy as taking a few pills or checking blood sugar?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: Yes, medical services that require a skilled hand and extensive knowledge.

IE: It sounds like SNFs are best for people who need constant care and supervision?

Stephen Edward Samuelian: Yes, that’s right.

IE: That’s really good information to have and something to think about when we’re looking into care options.

Stephen Edward Samuelian: Yes. It’s not something people often consider until it’s time to start looking…

IE: We appreciate your time today. We’d like to have you back one day, perhaps to talk about building for specific medical needs.

Stephen Edward Samuelian: I’d be happy to!

Among the four major smartphone carriers in the United States, iPhone receives the most kudos from customers, according to a new survey by J.D. Power.

The survey examined the perspectives of customers of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon on their overall satisfaction with these providers’ most popular inventory items. Research was performed over a five-month period ending in February 2014. On a scale of 1000 points, Apple devices received high scores among all participants (849 – Verizon; 853 – T-Mobile; 857 – Sprint; 850 – AT&T).

Over 20 percent of all smartphone owners noted that “price” was the leading factor in their purchasing decision, followed by customer satisfaction and future loyalty. Some smartphone owners cited “features” as the most important aspect, but that rate now lies at 35 percent, compared with 57 percent just three years ago. [Read more…]

Most people believe that a good job these days means a degree in information technology. While it’s true that IT professionals are today’s most in-demand white collar worker, there are still hundreds of vocations that don’t require eye (and brain) strain.

Business Jobs

Market Research Analyst is a nifty job title and a great career for those who want to be “in the know” all the time. These are the people that watch what other people are buying and make sure their clients have the best and most innovative products for their customers. Starting Salary: $43,000

An Accountant is a financial expert who maintains the flow of a company’s (or individual’s) money. Essentially, an accountant accounts for where money is spent, where it’s going to be spent, and when more is coming in. Starting Salary:  $49,000 [Read more…]

The 2014 Employee Benefits Communications survey by GuideSpark has given some interesting insight as to how employees – especially those born in the late 20th century – are accessing information about their benefits.

The traditional methods of benefits have fallen by the wayside due to the way people are finding information today. Meanwhile, the emergence of new Web-based communication channels – like mobile and video – are making handbooks and brochures ineffective.

Less than 25 percent of Millennials said the employee handbook was “very helpful,” while 11 percent said they didn’t read it at all. Employees of all ages say that benefits make a significant impact in their decision to choose (87 percent) or stay with an employer. [Read more…]