If you are going to succeed as a caregiver, it is important that you are confident in your abilities. It is also important that you can instill this confidence in the people around you. You need to make sure that everyone has faith in your suitability to manage the situation and take on such an enormous amount of responsibility. In order to achieve this, you will need to prove yourself as a suitable caregiver. Below are eight tips that will guide you through the process.

Free up your schedule

The next step is to free up your schedule. If you are going to thrive as a caregiver, you will need to have plenty of time to dedicate to the person in your care. That is why you need to take a step back and evaluate your lifestyle. Ideally, you should have a clear plan for each week. This will allow you to separate your time into manageable chunks. It will also help you to avoid double booking. In your role as a caregiver, the last thing you want is to be distracted by other commitments. It will be impossible for you to do your job effectively if you are overwhelmed by everything else you need to squeeze in.

Prove that you are enjoying a healthy lifestyle                   

The first step is to prove that you are enjoying a healthy lifestyle. This is a fantastic way for you to show just how reliable a caregiver you will be. Instead of taking regular days off from your responsibilities, you should make it clear that you are definitely up for the challenge. You can do this by making an effort to work out at least twice a week, following a balanced diet, and attend routine health checks. You could even sign yourself up for a drugs screen, just see page for more details. This may seem extreme, but it can demonstrate your open-minded attitude and understanding of responsibility that you have for the role. Why give them cause to question your capabilities, when it is so easy to put everyone’s mind at rest?

Get your finances under control

You will be able to be a lot more relaxed about your schedule if you manage to get your finances under control. Financial security is your best chance of reducing your stress levels and focusing on the job at hand. Why not work with an accountant to explore your options? Alternatively, you could sign up to internet banking and manage your funds independently. Whatever you decide, the most important thing is that you aren’t in a position where you need to take on extra employment or make drastic changes to your current lifestyle. If you are going to be someone else’s rock of support, it is essential that you are completely stable.

Work out to boost your personal fitness levels

Along with emotional support, you will also need to provide plenty of physical support to the person in your care. That is why you should be working out to boost your personal fitness levels. This is especially important if you have a small build. You don’t want anyone to worry that you are incapable of carrying out the more physical aspects of your role. Therefore, you should try your hand at weight training. You should also sign up to exercise activities that require plenty of stamina, balance, and flexibility. These skills could all be of use further down the line.

Embrace philanthropic opportunities

Another brilliant idea is to embrace multiple philanthropic opportunities. As a caregiver, it is essential that you are kind, generous, and understanding. Taking part in charity work is an excellent way for you to make this clear. Of course, your commitments will change as you take on your role as a caregiver. However, in the lead up to this event, you should endeavor to help out in your local community and support important causes. Not only will this help you to broaden your skillset and your experience, but it will also put you in touch with useful contacts that could help you in your role. Perhaps you will work with a charity that supports people who are going through difficult times. Or, maybe you will connect with an organization that could provide you with support when you need it most.

Educate yourself

If the person that you are providing care for is dealing with a specific problem, it is important that you educate yourself as much as possible. Although it is extremely likely that they will have healthcare professionals to take the lead, it is still worth your while reading up on the issues that they are dealing with. This is an excellent way for you to improve the quality of care that you are offering. It is also a fantastic opportunity for you to impress the other people involved in the situation.

Work on your time keeping abilities

You can also impress the people around you by working on your timekeeping abilities. If you are going to prove that you have what it takes to be a caregiver, you need to learn the importance of turning up to appointments bang on time. You also need to think about how you are going to keep to your deadlines when there might be other factors that complicate the situation. For instance, the person that you are caring for might require special equipment for getting around. Or, they might experience a down day that makes it difficult for them to leave the house. Whatever the situation, it is vital that you are an expert in time management.

Improve your patience levels

You should also be an expert in remaining patient and calm in stressful situations. This won’t always be easy, but it is an essential part of maintaining a good relationship with the person that you are caring for. That is why you should work hard to improve your patience levels. Even if you think that you are fairly skilled in this department, working as a caregiver provides a whole new set of challenges. Luckily, it is never too late to make improvements.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.

Email address: maggiehamm

The world can seem like a sad place full of heartbreak and misfortune. On the other hand, on some days it can appear to be a place full of possibilities and beauty. In order to live a balanced life, it is important that you’re able to both give and receive love. While receiving love can make you feel fulfilled, giving love can help the people around you feel the same. In a world full of busy schedules, it can be difficult to find the time to show love to the people closest to you. However, since it is often said that the world needs more love, here are eight practical ways that you could show more of it to the people around you.

Surprise Visits

In this present age of technology, physical contact can seem like something that is becoming extinct. People have become so accustomed to instant messaging, texting, and social media, that visiting friends and loved ones no longer seems to be a common occurrence. Visiting people, however, is a way to make them feel appreciated and loved. It takes extra effort and is a way of showing people that you’re thinking of them and have them in mind. If you want to make the people around you feel loved, why not plan a surprise visit? You could choose a day that you think they’ll be home and bring a small thoughtful gift along with you. If you have the sort of friend that doesn’t like surprise visits, then you could let them know ahead of time that you want to stop by.

Support

You never know what people are going through and how afraid they may be to talk about it. For this reason, reaching out to those around you is critical. Some people are battling heartbreaks, the loss of loved ones, financial hardships, addiction, as well as other challenges and are in desperate need of support. This is when friends and family come into play as they can offer the support needed to help them get through tough times. If, for instance, you have friends or family that you know are battling addictions, you could help them find rehab centers as a way of helping them recover. Additionally, you could offer support while they’re in rehab and also once they come out. No matter what it is that the people around you are going through, there are ways that you can support and make their burden lighter to carry. It could be by talking to them often, speaking positive words to them, or encouraging them not to give up. It also doesn’t hurt to ask them how you could support them so that you can give them exactly what they need. If it happens that you’re still stuck on ideas for showing support, you could send a care card, tell someone how important they are in your life, thank them for their help and contributions, give compliments, and also genuinely praise their strengths.

Birthday Wishes

A birthday is an event that only happens once a year, and it’s a chance to celebrate life. While some people make more of a big deal out of it than others, it is a chance for you to appreciate those closest to you and show them some love. Remembering so many birthdays can be challenging in the midst of busy work and life schedules. For this reason, it may be a good idea to pop important birthdays into your calendar on your phone and set reminders. If you happen to be Facebook friends with those close to you, then you’ll probably notice that they provide you with notifications when it’s a friend’s birthday, so that’s a way of remembering as well. You could send them a thoughtful message, send a gift to their house with a card, or take them out to celebrate if you have the time. If they’re celebrating and happen to invite you, honoring their invitation is also a way of showing love. You could even go the extra mile and plan a surprise birthday party for a friend or family member if you really want to go all out. A birthday is one of those occasions in a year where someone can be celebrated for their existence. When you remember that day and show love, it is likely something that those around you will appreciate.

Encouraging Texts

Life is an uphill battle for many people, and it can be easy to become discouraged. People are often looking for encouragement to keep them going as a result. If you’re good at cheering people on and sending warm words of encouragement, then why not make a habit out of it? You could choose a day of the week to send selected contacts a nice text message that could help lift their mood and spirit. There are several ways you could go about doing this which include sending messages through instant messaging apps or through SMS. You could even take it a step further and post your messages on social media if you would like to reach a wider audience of people. If you choose, you could compose the messages on your own or look for encouraging quotes online that you could send out. You never know just how much this could brighten up someone’s day, give them a little hope, and make them feel more loved.

Generosity

Simple acts of kindness can go a long way in making those around you feel loved. There are so many ways to be generous and carry out acts of kindness. You could choose to do so by giving material things or as mentioned above, spending quality time, or showing support and encouragement. If you choose to give material things, there is no end to what you could do. If, for instance, you notice one of your friends has a need such as a TV, and you have one that’s idle at home, you could give it to them. You could likewise offer financial support to those who need it or give away items that you’re not using to those around you who may need them. When you’re shopping, you could also think about picking up things for those around you that may meet pressing needs. It may be interesting to also note that outside of making the people around you feel loved, another benefit of generosity is that it can also make you feel good.

Quality Time

Spending one to one time with those around you is a simple way to make them feel loved. There are so many things you could choose to do in your quality time together but what’s most important is that you do it together. You may choose to go for a walk, indulge in some type of entertainment, or have a relaxing day in. If you’re stuck on what else you can do when spending quality time with someone, you could also try something you’ve both never done before to ensure your time together is more memorable. This could mean engaging in adventure, trying new food, or exploring new sports together. As long as you get to talk, laugh, be yourselves and show each other love, it should be time well spent.

Grocery Shopping

Sometimes all it takes to show a little love is a thoughtful gesture such as buying groceries. Next time you pop into the grocery store, you could consider buying groceries for a neighbor or elderly person in your community. You don’t have to go overboard and could just stick to a few healthy food items such as fruit, vegetables, and perhaps bottles of water. If you don’t want to buy food items, you could stick to household essentials like toilet roll, detergent soap, and other things people are likely to use on a daily basis. You may want to send someone groceries but find you do not have the time to buy them and drop them off as well. If this is the case, you could think about ordering them from a supermarket that does home deliveries and getting them delivered to the person’s house as an alternative. Buying groceries may also be a good idea for someone who just had a baby, has just come from the hospital, or is recovering from any kind of illness.

Volunteer  

Another way to show love is by volunteering. Volunteering is different from the rest of the suggestions as if you opt to volunteer; it’s a chance to help people that you don’t know. There are so many places that you could choose to volunteer at such as homes for elderly people, in hospitals, at local charity’s and even at youth clubs. You should think about a social issue that interests you and how you can contribute your time and skills to help improve that issue. You could even consider a volunteer vacation if you want to be a little more adventurous.

Finding time for the people around you isn’t always easy, but it is vital. No matter how much of an introvert you are, we all need people for different purposes. Everyone needs a little love at some point in their life so showing it in whatever way that you can is a way to contribute to your community and make your world a better place.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.

Email address: maggiehammond57@gmail.com

How to Fund Your Medical Practice

If you’re a medical professional who wishes to open their own practice, you might be feeling overwhelmed by all of the costs that are involved. In addition to finding the perfect location, you also need to consider how much you’ll pay your staff and what your supplies and equipment will cost. But, once you’ve crunched some numbers, you’ll have a much clearer idea of just how much funding you’ll need in order to get off the ground. Here are a few tips on how to get the funding required.

Try Crowdfunding

Believe it or not, crowdfunding could be a good way to get the money that you need to start any type of business, including a medical practice. The key is transparency, as that will help people trust you and believe in your project. Let people know how their donations will be used, and what they could expect in return for their help. So, for example, if you are opening up a dental practice in Washington, you could list out the costs of real estate there, as well as the cost of a dental hygienist salary Washington, so that you can let people know where the donations will be going and why the donations are so necessary.

Traditional Loans

In addition to asking the public for direct support in opening up your medical practice, you could also opt for traditional loan options. For example, you could get a long-term financing option in the form of a loan from a local bank. Or, you could even go for a small business loan from a lender. Consider opting for a loan that can provide you with the lowest possible interest rate and the longest repayment term possible, as that could make it easier to repay the loan over time. Just be aware that you may need to wait a few months before you actually receive the funding, and you will need to fill out quite a bit of paperwork. But it will all be worth it once you are approved and you can use the money to get your practice off the ground.

Short-Term Options

If you aren’t keen on the idea of taking out a long-term loan or you aren’t able to qualify for one, you could instead get the funding that you need via an alternative loan like a line of credit or a short-term loan. This will provide you with a more immediate flow of the cash that you need, but the drawback is that these types of loans will usually also have short repayment terms and high-interest rates. But if you are in need of fast money to make an equipment purchase or to replace something that broke, this could be a good way to go.

As you can see, you do have a few options when it comes to funding your medical practice. So, if it’s your dream to help people heal, don’t get discouraged, as you can get the money that you need to have the career that you will love.

 Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.

Email address: maggiehammond57@gmail.com

When someone needs care, whether it is because of illness, disability, injury or old age, it can be as important to help them keep their sense of personal identity as it can to offer the practical assistance they need. This is particularly important when someone is learning to live with a new condition or recent deterioration and may feel depressed about the fact that they don’t feel like they can still do the same things they could before. They may even feel as if they are no longer the same person.

Outer Appearance and Personal Identity

A helpful factor in keeping someone’s sense of identity when they are dealing with a situation in which they need care is helping them retain their personal sense of style and their appearance. If they are no longer able to shop for their own clothes, dress themselves, or do personal grooming tasks that they may have done before, such as styling their hair, applying makeup, or shaving, they may have to rely on other people or on you for these things. It is important that they still feel like they are in control of the way they look and that their taste is taken into account when other people are helping them with these things.

Why Fashion And Personal Style Can Be Mentally Important

It may seem fairly trivial when compared to things like dealing with chronic pain, a long-term illness or a disability to worry about superficial things like fashion and make-up, but it can be more important to the patient than you might think. In fact, cancer patients can feel far less stressed and more able to face their day to day treatment programs when they have access to things that make the impact on their physical appearance because of chemotherapy as minimal as possible, such as wigs, make-up to disguise lost eyebrows and eyelashes, and gloves to cover damaged nails. For many people, looking as much like their healthy selves as possible helps them feel better, and can also help them feel like they can have normal interactions when they are out and about, rather than people knowing that they are sick and treating them differently.

Fashion is important too because it is something deeply personal that most people have decided for themselves over the years. Whether someone dresses in a way that stands out, follows the latest trends, dresses in a classic, smart way, or favors a comfy, casual and laid-back look, this is all a reflection of their personality. They may feel uncomfortable or depressed if they can no longer express themselves in that way, or if they no longer have control over how they look and the person responsible for dressing them or choosing their clothes doesn’t do it how they would themselves.

For some people, fashion can be about even more than taste and personality; it can have some sentimental attachments, too. Some people like to wear things that remind them of something or give them a sense of belonging, like custom morale patches from military units they belonged to, class rings, or football jerseys. Others like to make obvious statements with what they wear, for instance, wristbands that show the causes they care about or t-shirts related to their favorite bands.

When you give a lot of your time to others and put their needs before your own, then you’re partly neglecting yourself. Helping and supporting others is hugely rewarding and crucial for making them feel loved and appreciated. However, to do this to the best of your ability, you need to look after yourself and make sure you’re well and able before assisting others. You’re going to be of most help when you’re feeling fit and healthy so try and be kind to yourself and careful not to put your own needs on the backburner. Remember to be kind to yourself and care for your own needs as well as for others. Being kind to yourself is a necessary requirement of being a healthy and well-rounded individual so do your very best to be kind each day.

Get The Help You Deserve

Be kind to yourself by recognizing if you need an extra helping hand here and there. There’s absolutely no shame in saying you need some assistance, so if you’re struggling with addiction and substance abuse, then seek professional aid. Recognize that you’re having some trouble staying afloat and reach out. You deserve to get back on the straight and narrow, so have a look around and conduct some necessary research to discover where looks good to you and promises to suit your needs. If you’re unsure about where to begin and who to turn to, then you just need to get started. Use The Recovery Village to get the ball rolling towards unearthing your best recovery plans.

Accept Your Mistakes

Getting hung up on mistakes you made in the past isn’t going to help you move forward and into the present. Instead, you’ll spend time thinking over your past mistakes and, quite frankly, wasting time. You cannot change the past, so accept your mistakes and vow never to do them again. You learn from the mistakes you make, so allow them to be a lesson to you and learn for the better from them. Thoughts of your past mistakes can plague you, especially if your mistake had a large impact on your life and changed how you live. However, you must accept that the past in the past and nobody is perfect. People change and grow, and so can you. Be kind to yourself and learn to accept any mistakes you’ve previously made.

Learn To Forgive Yourself

Leading on from accepting your mistakes, you must also learn to forgive yourself. Harboring self-hate and self-blame is toxic and will not help you to get over your past mistakes. Learning to forgive yourself is a process that takes time and effort, but it’s well worth it once you’re there and you’re able to come to terms with any past misdemeanors. Perhaps even, the instances you deem as being mistakes are far from being your fault. You might, in fact, need a professional to help you through means of therapy and explaining your position with the voice of reason. If you believe you could benefit from receiving therapy, then do not hesitate to contact your doctor, and begin getting the help you deserve.

Focus On Your Strengths

Be kind to yourself by focusing on your strengths and practicing the activities you’re good at instead of the ones that you have trouble with. If you’re adept at a particular sport and it makes you feel good to play it, then continue to do exactly this. When you’re good at something, you’ll receive a natural buzz from getting involved with it. So do more of what you’re good at for your own pleasure and sense of fulfillment and aptitude. Although it is said that if at first, you do not succeed, then you must try and try again, this doesn’t ring true for everything in life. If you’ve got to a certain and ripe old age, and you still haven’t got the hang of knitting or playing baseball, then it’s safe to say that it’s just not for you. Learning a new skill in life can be beneficial to keep your mind and body supple, but if you’ve tried and failed multiple times before, then hang up your skates and admit defeat.

Surround Yourself With Loved Ones

Be kind to yourself and make sure you’re surrounded by those who love and care for you. Surround yourself with friends and have fun with them. Laughter is a great medicine, so get out and about and start having a laugh getting involved with fun activities. Remember to stay active and fit, so incorporate socializing with your friends with exercise. Consider playing tennis together or going swimming while chatting and enjoying your time spent with loved ones. Be kind to yourself and surround yourself with individuals who are kind to you. Do not waste your time on toxic and harmful relationships with critical people who don’t make you feel good about yourself. Be kind to yourself and let these relationships come to a natural conclusion.

Nourish Your Body

Be kind to yourself and learn how to nourish your body to the best of your ability. As the saying goes, “your body is a temple,” so treat it that way. After all, it’s the only thing that’s truly yours, and it is going to be with you until death. Your body sees you through the brightest and the darkest times of your life, and it’s here for the long haul, so treat it kindly and love all of the hard work it does just to keep your heart beating and your lungs full of life. Your diet can, unfortunately, take a backseat when it comes to being kind to yourself. However, you need to ensure this doesn’t happen and that you’re giving your body the best fuel to power itself. Your diet should be fiber rich with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, complete with complex carbohydrates and good sources of protein such as free range eggs, tofu and nuts, and seeds. Be kind to yourself and nourish your mind and body with a good diet and plenty of vitamins and minerals.