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Helping your aging parent, grandparent, or loved one as they age involves many aspects of ensuring that they are getting the physical and mental care that they need on a regular basis. For some, this is a relatively simple process in that there are clear signs and definitive advice from healthcare professionals that it is time to make a change and increase the level of care that your loved one is receiving. However, there are times when navigating such waters isn’t so simple.
Perhaps your loved one is able to cope with the level of care they are getting to a certain degree, but things are starting to become a bit more difficult. Maybe they are reluctant to consider changes at all, making you feel hesitant to bring up the subject in general. Regardless of what your particular situation may be, there is nothing more important than the health, safety, and comfort of your parent or other aging loved one. This means that you need to be completely aware of how well they are doing in their current situation as well as the signs that it is time to make a change. If you aren’t entirely sure about what signs you should be on the lookout for that something needs to change, here are a few ways that you can know it is time to consider a change in your parent’s living situation. Medical Reasons One of the driving factors behind transitioning a loved one or parent to a different sort of living situation involves their health. Whether it is their physical health or their mental health that has taken a turn for the worse, you should be aware of any such changes that will require more care going forward. If the care that your parent needs is related to their physical health, you will need to assess the level of help they need. This should be done with the guidance and assistance of their primary care physician. It might very well be time to consider a St. Louis nursing home for your loved one. This will provide them with round-the-clock medical attention for a chronic condition. Aside from physical health, your parent’s mental health might be a major factor in how you proceed. For instance, there are memory care facilities that are designed for seniors dealing with dementia and other mental health conditions that are common in the elderly. Self-Neglect Another indicator that it is time to consider a change in your parent’s living situation involves their ability to take care of themselves. Many seniors struggle to take care of things like doing the laundry or regularly washing as they age. If you are starting to see signs of self-neglect either to their person or their home, it is time to look into changing things. Pay attention to everything from the cleanliness of their clothes to the state of their yard and garden. Neglect in these areas can all indicate that a change is necessary.
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Pregnant women need a moderate amount of aerobic exercise every week to help reduce the discomfort many women experience during pregnancy, manage stress, ease back pain and even constipation. Many women are afraid to continue exercising when they find out about their bundle of joy, but it doesn’t have to be scary and can even benefit women who have had little to no exercise before getting pregnant.
Carry on reading to learn about the right exercises for pregnant moms to learn about what kinds of exercises are safe for you and your baby during this wondrous experience. Ready to Begin? Research shows that a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week is ideal for women during pregnancy. Specifically, aerobic exercises such as taking a brisk walk can work wonders in improving breathing and heart function. Even breaking this up into 10-minute sessions three times a day will give the same effect as a full half an hour. Swimming has long been a popular choice of fitness for pregnant women as the water supports the weight of your baby while keeping your heart working. Yoga and Pilates have both been shown to be quite beneficial for women with back pain and emotional stress, however it is important to know the types of poses to avoid. Those who are looking to stick to a similar training regime as before can do exercises such as the Pliè, plank, curl and lift and arm rows. When Exercise is Not the Right Fit For some women, pregnancy can aggravate conditions or preexisting illnesses. If you have any of the following symptoms during your pregnancy, you need to first consult a healthcare practitioner for advice. Preterm labor occurs in the last few weeks of pregnancy, and vigorous exercise can result in bleeding or early water breaks. Women who are expecting twins should not partake in heavy exercise routines, as the risk of going into preterm labor increases significantly. Doctors may suggest that you continue to do some light walking, yoga, or swimming if you are pregnant with twins. If you are diagnosed with hypertension or preeclampsia, you should not be exercising at all. With this condition the placenta is situated over the entire cervix, causing discomfort and pain, but also leads to other bleeding disorders. Out of the Question Exercises There are a few routines that doctors recommend that pregnant women stay away from altogether. These include any movement that jerks or bounces, such as biking, horseback riding and skating. Sports in which there is a chance of being hit in the stomach are a logical no-no, as areexercises where you have to lie flat on your back. There are some cautionary signs to look out for if you are worried that your exercise routine may be harming your body and your baby. Chest pain, trouble breathing, headaches, muscle weakness or pain and swelling, regular painful contractions that are not in line with labor, and most importantly, if you cannot feel your baby moving. The bottom line is: do your research and don’t take on any new exercise routine without consulting your doctor. For women who would like to hear about other pregnant women’s experiences, Moms Into Fitness is a wonderful website filled with resources and exercise videos. Do you have any advice to add? Let us know in the comments. Family vacations are great ways to bond and make some wonderful memories together, but as parents, do you have to take your kids with you on every getaway? No, you don’t. Making time for you and your partner to go away together without your brood in tow could be highly beneficial for both you and your children. Here are some key reasons why going on a kid-free holiday could be just what the doctor ordered for all of you.
A Chance for You and Your Partner to Reconnect Relationships are hard work, and when you add kids into the mix, life will only get more testing. This isn’t to say having children will spoil a relationship; on the contrary, children can make a relationship stronger and happier. However, as being a parent is one of the biggest challenges in life, these kinds of pressure can also put a strain on your relationship. Usually,this is because your attention shifts to caring for your kids, and sometimes this can result in partners drifting apart from one another because there is little time or energy for romance-- but you must make the effort with each other so you don’t start to take each other for granted. Going away together without the kids is the perfect way for you both to reconnect on this level. If you want to find some ideas for a romantic getaway with your partner, look at Mr Hudson Explores or similar travel sites for a selection of guides and tips. An Opportunity for Your Kids to Develop Other Relationships If you’re going to go away without the kids, you’ll need to find someone willing to look after them while you’re away. Whether this is their grandparents, aunt or uncle, or a close family friend, having your children stay with these important figures in your life will help them develop their relationships with them. It’s a wonderful bonding experience and can teach them the importance of making time for extended family members and friends, which will hopefully help them develop healthy relationships themselves later in life. No Pressure to Entertain Going on holiday with the kids can be fun, and if you choose the right resort and destination there should be plenty of activities to keep them occupied. However, as kids can be fickle about what they want to do, and might have a tendency to sulk when they’re bored or tired, there is always a sense of pressure to keep them entertained as a parent so you know they’re having a good time. Going away with just your partner removes that pressure to keep the kids happy, and allows you both to spend time doing what you’d like to do, even if that’s just spending the afternoon sipping cocktails on the beach! You’ll Appreciate Them More You will miss your kids when you’re away without them, but this will only make you appreciate them even more when you finally do reunite, and visa-versa. Additionally, if you have struggled with the idea of not spending every day with your kids, a break for just you and your partner will make you realize you can be apart from them, and that it’s good for you and them to do this occasionally. If you and your partner need some time alone, book a vacation for just the two of you--whether it’s for a week or just a long weekend. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and relaxed. When the draw takes place to choose the groups for a sporting tournament, there are some countries that everyone hopes to avoid meeting. This is because some countries are consistently successful in certain sports. If you have ever wondered why this is the case, here is a brief look at what turns a country into an elite sporting nation.
The popularity of sport in the country One of the major factors of any country’s sporting success will often be the sporting ability of the previous generation. If a team has a lot of success in their sport, they will inspire the next generation to start playing. For example, whenever Andy Murray does well at his home tournament in Wimbledon, the tennis courts around Britain are filled with young children picking up a racket for the first time. If one of those young people continues to practice and train in the sport, then they could one day end up having the same success as Andy Murray. This is one of the main reasons why some countries seem to have continued success in some areas – because the passion for the sport is passed from generation to generation. Research by sporting nutrition brand Myprotein found that while America has had the most success in the Olympics, Australia is in fact the sportiest country in the world. When you look at their past success in sports such as cricket, rugby and even tennis, it is clear to see why. Once those inspiring players and athletes retire, they are still able to share their wisdom on training properly and eating the right nutrition to provide the energy needed to succeed. Does the climate lend itself to the sport? Another major factor in the likelihood of a country being successful in a particular sport is the climate. Just like the movie Cool Runnings suggests, it was always going to be unlikely that Jamaica would have a successful bobsled team. The hot temperatures make it a lot more difficult to keep a training track up and running compared to a much colder country like Russia. A particular climate could even have a big effect on an athlete’s performance in a particular tournament. For example, an athlete could be the number one in their country at a particular sport but might struggle to adapt to playing in a different country’s climate. If the temperature is much hotter or much colder, their body might not be able to perform as well. This is why many football teams based in colder climates travel to hotter countries to train during their summer break - so they can prepare themselves to play in hotter temperatures if needed. The best athletes need the best facilities Unfortunately, just like anything in life, money has a big impact on a country’s ability to train and develop athletes. For most of the world’s greatest athletes, their sport is their full-time job. The only way that this can be possible is if they can receive enough money or funding to pay for their salary, so they can focus completely on becoming the best athlete possible instead of having to worry about training alongside a job. For some of the richest countries, this funding is readily available. For other countries, there just isn’t the money to spare on certain sports. Some sports, like football, are able to fund themselves through sponsorship on items like stadium banners and playing kits as well as the big advertising revenues when games are shown on television. For other sports (especially Olympic sports where the athletes are really only seen by a worldwide audience every four years and sponsorship is not allowed on kits) it can be a lot more difficult to raise enough revenue to fund the purchase of essential equipment, let alone a salary for the athlete. Even some of the biggest events, like the 100-metre sprint, which only last a few seconds, still require a lot of funding for the athlete to train enough to reach the most elite levels. Unless you have immense natural talent, it is highly unlikely you would be able to compete on the world stage if you treat the sport as a hobby rather than a career. Power of the population Another major factor of a country’s ability to find successful athletes is quite simply down to numbers. If you have a large population, you have a better chance of producing an extremely talented athlete within that population. As some countries, like the USA, have hundreds of millions of people, there’s a much wider group of people to choose from than some of the smaller countries, which might have less than a million people. A great example of this is looking at Great Britain. In Olympic sports, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland collectively compete as part of the same team, known as Team GB. When it comes to other sports like football or rugby, they all have their own separate teams. While England (the most populated country) is still able to field a consistently successful side, the other three countries often struggle to qualify for some of the major football tournaments. The X Factor Of course, while all of the reasons mentioned are good indicators of why a country might be better than another in a particular match, game or tournament, there is not always one strict rule. Sometimes the underdogs suddenly stun the rest of the globe with an incredible performance, even if their country has never previously had a good record in the sport. Sometimes there may just be a generation of players, or even a particular squad or athlete, that have the ability to succeed despite all of the odds being against them. That unpredictability is the reason why people love to watch sport and why it is one of the most popular hobbies across the world. Learning gross motor skills is crucial for all children, helping their muscles grow bigger and stronger and carrying out more complex physical movements such as riding a bike or learning to swim, if they’ve not been taking classes since they were very young.
Although your child will naturally learn these abilities simply by exploring the world around them, there are tried and tested ways that you can help them to develop their gross motor skills. From setting up an obstacle course in your backyard to playing tug of war to utilizing push and pull toys, keep reading to discover how you can support the development of your child’s gross motor skills. What are gross motor skills? As briefly mentioned above, gross motor skills are movements that use your child’s large muscles, such as their arms, legs, and torso. There are several key components of gross motor skills. These are: • Balance • Muscle strength • Coordination • Motor planning • Body awareness • Weight shifting • Muscle endurance What activities can I do with my child to improve their gross motor skills? If you would like to give your child a little extra helping hand with the development of their gross motor skills, the below activities and games are perfect for this. 1. Pushing and pulling Whether your child loves nothing more than pushing their dolls around in a pram or they can’t get enough of their pull along tractor, push and pull toys are ideal for building upon several components of gross motor skills. Although you may be tempted to help your child as they learn the art of balance and body awareness, you are better off letting them make their own mistakes and learning how to use their own body themselves. Click here to discover a selection of beautiful wooden push and pull toys that your child will love and that can be passed down from one generation to the next. 2. Navigating an obstacle course An incredibly cost-effective option, you can set up an age-appropriate obstacle course either in your home or in your backyard. If your child is very young and you are worried about them hurting themselves, use a selection of pillows, cushions, and rugs to create a safe course in your living room. Try to pick obstacles of varying heights to challenge your child further and increase their spatial awareness. 3. Playing tug of war For slightly older children, tug of war is a great way to develop their gross motor skills further, working all the key large muscle groups in their bodies. This fun game that your child will love also improves their weight shifting abilities and core strength. Why not try a few different tug of war positions to work even more different muscles, such as sitting down, kneeling, and standing back to back. Other great gross motor skills activities include: 4. Hopscotch 5. Catch 6. Bowling 7. Bouncing on a trampoline 8. Dancing 9. Climbing rope ladders 10. Chasing bubbles Being a mom is demanding and you are likely to have days when you feel exhausted and stressed out! Stress management is crucial, and you must make time for yourself and schedule relaxation, however busy you are. The following tips will help you manage parenting stress and remain calm in your busy life.
Organize your time Most moms have to balance various daily tasks and activities. This might include dropping the kids off at school, getting to work on time, taking the kids to their after school clubs, and preparing a family dinner. Trying to schedule all of these activities can be stressful, and you must organize your time well. Being organized will help you streamline your routines, save time, and avoid stress while you go about your busy day. According to advice on simplifiedmotherhood.com, you can use a family planner to make lists at the beginning of the week tohelp you organize your family life. Ask your family for help Caring for children is hard work, and it can be physically and mentally draining. Taking care of a family is even more challenging when you’re working or have other demands on your time. If you’re starting to feel stressed or burnt out, then don’t be afraid to ask for help. Every mom needs some time for herself, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about needing a break. You probably have plenty of family members and friends who would gladly step in and look after your little ones for a few hours. This will give you the chance to run errands, complete jobs, or simply enjoy some peace. You might also want to consider hiring help such as a cleaner or gardener. Having assistance with these tasks will make your life less hectic and reduce stress. Find effective stress relievers Stress management is crucial, and every mom should find ways to release feelings of stress. Make sure that you schedule some ‘me time’ to unwind and reclaim your calm. Here are some simple ways to reduce stress: ● Exercise to boost your mood and burn off anxious energy. ● Pamper yourself with beauty treatments like a face mask. ● Start a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings. ● Meditate or do breathing exercises. ● Listen to relaxing music. Try some of the above suggestions to unwind the next time you feel stressed. Various supplements can also promote feelings of relaxation. For instance, taking CBD may improve your mood and reduce stress. You can find many different CBD products like CBD gummies UK and CBD drinks. Taking supplements like CBD may alleviate stress and increase your sense of wellbeing, although there is currently not enough medical evidence to support this. Final word Being a mom is a wonderful experience, but it can also be demanding and stressful. Learning to manage stress is an essential part of effective parenting and will help you maintain good health and wellbeing. The above tips should help you organize your time efficiently, alleviate parenting stress, and have more quality time to spend with your family. Educators in the US start on an average salary of $38,617, but this varies with state, level, experience, sector, and training.
What are the top routes to success as a teacher? Could you increase your teaching salary easily and affordably? What is the role of a teacher? Teachers work within education facilities such as elementaryand high schools, as well as in higher education establishments, like universities. They adhere to the standards of the state and the school in order to deliver the curriculum through daily lessons. Teachers must be able to deliver lesson content interestingly and understandably, using course materials. They need to be able to modify their methods to suit individual students and administer work to be completed in class, or at home, as well as set tests to grade students’ understanding. The ideal skill set depends on many variables, such as student age, class attitude, and subject(s) taught. Private vs public schools Research reveals that the average salary of public schoolteachers is surprisingly higher than their private school counterparts, even with the same experience level. Research has shown that, on average, private schools pay secondary school teachers a base salary of $44,720 and elementaryschool teachers $36,260; whereas, public schools pay secondary school teachers an average base salary of $53,520, and elementary school teachers $52,620. State-to-state differences Montana has the lowest average base salary at $30,036 and DC has the highest average base salary at $51,359. However, when looking at the average teacher salary, New York comes first with $79,639, and South Dakota last at $42,668. Experience levels In research combined from both the private and public sectors, 2-4 years of experience win a salary average of $37,510. The same research concluded that with an excess of 30 years as a teacher, the average salary in the US is $57,605. What common benefits accompany the teacher salary? A 2020 report showed that 71% of educators surveyed received medical insurance, 61% had access to dental care benefits, 52% received optometry benefits, whilst 28% receive no benefits at all. Increasing a Teaching Salary Here are four tips to a higher salary for any teacher: Up your work hours In most schools, experience raises, often called “steps,” are implemented to help encourage teachers to commit to the job. This means that even if you do nothing, your salary will increase annually, most likely for the first 10 years of your career. Analyze your teaching contract to find and calculate this figure. By working full-time hours, you can maximize this, year after year. The specific number of hours you could work will depend on your other commitments and your employer’s preferences, however, 35 hours per week (or over) is classed as a full-time position. In addition, teachers often complete lesson plans from home, which can eat into family and personal time. To avoid this, aim to use your workday to complete these tasks where possible. Work smarter, not harder. Keep an eye on cost-of-living adjustments Almost every year, the cost of living is adjusted, and often increases to correlate with the economy and within location-specific guidance. This payment is intended to assist with living, transportation, and general financial outgoings;however, any teaching materials should be budgeted for elsewhere. Further your education If simply waiting for an annual raise feels too constrictive, take the initiative to further your education and make the jump to a higher paycheck. Taking a more active role in any workplace can be challenging, but improving your skills is a great place to start when you want to climb the ladder. Any teacher will need a bachelor’s degree (BSc) from an accredited university, usually taking a minimum of four years. With an extra master’s degree (MA) and increased experienced, salaries can increase to as much as $85,927. Of course, for this salary range, a master’s degree in education and 45 years of experience is not enough--for this level of compensation a high-level position with increased demand and responsibility is often needed. The qualifications needed can be completed online, in full, meaning you can start building a higher salary, with no attendance commitment, or travel fees. Find a suitable MA education distance learning programme to advance your salary! In many states and districts, you can even access further education for free, or fully funded by your institution. The government want to employ and retain highly competent teachers to educate the leaders of tomorrow, which means that your professional improvement is in both of your interests. To do this check out the column payment structure on your salary schedule and calculate how many credits you need to move up a column. Next, reach out to the human resources department at your institution and enquire about the district’s maximum number of credits funded in a year. With this information, you can figure out how long a substantial salary increase would take, and what the resulting figure would be. However, bear in mind that having your education funded will most likely mean that you do not graduate as quickly as if you’d self-funded. Should you have the resources to fund your further education, taking classes and being awarded credits as quickly as possible will speed up the process. Relocate Your location has a strong correlation with salary when it comes to educators. Moving to a different district, such as New York, could increase your salary by up to $36,000. This is an undeniably huge leap, and it could be easier than you think. Even though it could mean relocating across the country, consider neighboring districts that wouldn’t involve such a drastic lifestyle change, but could see a huge jump in salary! How can I increase my overall income? If you’ve exhausted every salary trick, consider going it alone, alongside your 9-5 job. Tutor Privately Although this may stir up images of late nights and excesswork, teaching privately can be a great and rewarding way to increase your income without taking your focus away from the education sector. Provided you do not copy your institution’s curriculum, you can even take your skills to an online platform and educate more widely and earn more passively. In conclusion The salary of teachers in the US depends on many factors, namely: your years of experience, location, position, and level of education. There are several ways to increase your teaching salary: up your workload, access further education and advance your skills, and follow the salary averages by moving institutions! If you have kids or dream of raising a family in the future, you’ll want to choose a career that offers a certain level of flexibility. While some people enjoy being a stay-at-home parent, this isn’t the best option for everyone. If you want to achieve your professional goals, if being a single-income household isn’t an option, or if you’re a single parent, holding down a job might be one of your top priorities.
Although many parents work, they are sometimes hesitant about furthering their career, taking on additional responsibilities or applying for promotions. While this is understandable (being a parent is a full-time job in itself, afterall!), there are career paths which offer flexibility, job satisfaction and a great work-life balance. If you’re eager to join the healthcare sector, or you’re already working as a nurse or other medical professional, enhancing your qualifications can give you new challenges to embrace and may even offer a more flexible working environment. To find out whether a nursing career is the right option for you, take a look at why becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner is the ideal choice for a working parent: 1. Work Anywhere Healthcare services are required in every location, all over the world. This means your role as a Family Nurse Practitioner will enable you to work in any state, which is ideal for working parents. Whether you’re settled in your current community or you plan on relocating in the future, you can feel confident about finding work where you choose to live. What’s more – your location can affect your earning power too. Although Family Nurse Practitioners earn well above the national average salary in every state, some locations equate to a higher salary. To find out which states offer the most lucrative financial rewards for Family Nurse Practitioners check out this blog post. 2. Flexible Career Progression Most healthcare professionals choose to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) after gaining experience as a Registered Nurse (RN). While your Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Associate’s Degree in Nursing will provide you with the competences and skills you need to practice as an RN, the experience you’ll gain while working will stand you in good stead if you want to become an FNP. However, a full-time, campus-based course is rarely a viable option for a working parent. If you were required to give up your current job and relocate in order to enroll on an FNP program, for example, it would require significant financial and practical disruption. Fortunately, nursing offers flexible career progression, which means working parents can embrace their potential and pursue their professional ambitions. You could choose to enroll on an online Master of Science in Nursing program with an FNP specialty, for example. Being able to study part-time, from any location, can provide the flexibility you need as a working parent and enable you to further your career while still being active and present at home. 3. Choose Your Hours If your job offers limited options when it comes to scheduling, it can be difficult to juggle your professional and personal responsibilities. With nursing, however, you can work a variety of shift patterns, which can be ideal for healthcare professionals with young children at home. If your partner works during the day, for example, you might choose to work night shifts so that someone can be at home to care for your children. Alternatively, you might decide that early morning shifts are best suited to your home life, as they enable you to be with your kids after school and in the evenings. As well as choosing a nursing role that offers a flexible schedule, you may also decide to work on a part-time basis at some time in the future. This can be a helpful alternative while your kids are young, for example, and gives you the option to return to full-time work when your kids get older. 4. Increased Autonomy When you’re working as a Registered Nurse, you’ll typically be employed by a healthcare organization, a physician or, in some cases, by a patient directly. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, you can continue to work in this way, or you can choose to operate with a higher degree of autonomy. The level of autonomy granted to Nurse Practitioners varies from state to state, so some locations will require you to work under closer supervision than others. In 22 states, however, Nurse Practitioners are able to work in ‘Full Practice’, which means you’ll have the maximum amount of autonomy possible. As such, you could choose to open your own clinic, start your own business, hire other medical professionals, and choose your own hours. While launching any type of business requires hard work and dedication, the rewards can be tremendous. What’s more – the flexibility and autonomy you’ll gain will enhance your experience as a working parent and allow you to create a work-life balance that enhances your wellbeing. 5. Employment Opportunities If you choose to remain an employee once you’ve qualified as a Family Nurse Practitioner, you’ll be pleased to know that there will plenty of job opportunities available. The job outlook for Nurse Practitioners is expected to grow by 45% between 2019 to 2029, with more than 117,000 new roles being created. This highlights the potential for the consistent employment, varied roles and job security that comes with being an FNP. Studying an Advanced Degree If becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner sounds like the right career choice for you, you can get your plans underway by enrolling on a Master of Science in Nursing program. By selecting a reputable and accredited course that offers the relevant specialty, you can reduce the time it takes to obtain your qualification and begin working as an FNP sooner than you think. While there’s no doubt that being a working parentcan be tricky at times, choosing a path that offers flexibility, job security and professional fulfilment will help to ensure your career has a positive impact on other areas of your life. |
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