Florida - Orlando

Is a Stroke Preventing You from Enjoying Life? New therapy offers hope and healing in Central Florida Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people 65 and over. Nearly two million brain cells can die each minute during a stroke, leaving behind a wound in the brain. While the effects depend on the areas of the brain impacted, they commonly include partial paralysis, speech impairment, memory problems, cognitive difficulties, and even personality changes.  Physical, occupational, and speech therapies can help stroke survivors recover some lost function and learn to manage their condition, particularly in the first six months after the stroke. After that point, most are told that continued improvements are unlikely. Peer-reviewed, published research suggests that recovery is still possible, even years after a stroke.  A unique protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to trigger the bodys own self-regeneration mechanisms, restoring physical and cognitive functions. Clinical evidence indicates that this protocol can create new blood vessels, stem cells and nerve cells in the brain and improve physical abilities, attention, information processing speed, memory, and other skills.  Does it Work?  Cindy, a 67-year-old widow and hemorrhagic stroke survivor, was left unable to drive, work, walk without assistance, or even comb her hair. More than three years after her stroke, she turned to the Aviv Medical Program, a customized treatment plan built specifically for her needs. Her program included a unique, scientifically proven HBOT regimen along with cognitive training, dietary coaching and physical training to build the foundation for her ongoing recovery. Since completing the program at Aviv Clinics, Cindy can walk without a cane, work, drive her golf cart around The Villages, and even style her own hair.  Because of Aviv, Im now able to do those things, says Cindy. The more progress I make, the more I want to do.  About Aviv Clinics The Aviv Medical Program and this unique evidence based HBOT protocol is offered exclusively at Aviv Clinics in central Florida.  Wondering if the Aviv Medical Program right for you or someone you love? Contact Aviv Clinics for a free, no-obligation consultation with a licensed physicians or visit www.aviv-clinics.com to learn more.   Editors Note: This article was submitted by Dr. Mohammed Elamir, MD, FACP, lead physician at Aviv Clinics. The clinic may be reached at 352-488-2848 or by email at info@aviv-clinics.com.

Maybe it is due to the stereotype of a trust fund baby. Or itcould be the way trusts are depicted on television and film. Regardless, thereis a general misconception that if you arent extremely wealthy, you do notneed to create a trust. That simply isnt the case. Trusts are for anyonewho has assets. With that in mind, trusts are indeed for the wealthy, butthey are for you too. Once you learn and accept that you can benefit from trusts, youmay discover how valuable they can be for you if you have minor children orhave assets worth more than $500,000. Before we go on, we need to address thatlast point. On the one hand, we are stating that you dont need to beultra-wealthy to have a trust, but we also just said that you should considerone if you have more than $500,000 in assets. Though that amount may seem high,it may not be when you factor in your: Home Retirement Accounts Life Insurance PoliciesBank AccountsWhy are we recommending trusts for people facing thesecircumstances? It saves a significant amount of money that would otherwise bespent during the probate process. Generally, probate may cost about 3% of thegross value of what you have. If you have a $500,000 estate, that equates to$15,000. And again, trusts do not pass-through probate. When you fund a trustwith your assets, you no longer own them. The trust does. Your attorney canstill ensure you can access and use these assets (e.g., your home).  Another significant advantage of a trust is that it prevents yourassets from being locked down in probate. If the probate process takes ayearwhich isnt abnormalyour children would have access to the money you leftthem until the probate process ends. Some people may want their children tohave access to the assets and funds you left them immediately. Their childrenmay even be reliant on the money or home you leave behind. Family First FirmShould you avoid probate?The answer to that question depends on your circumstances. When you meet withthe estate planning attorneys at the Family First Firm, we will take the timeto understand what assets you have and where you want them to go. Then we willsuggest the plan that fits your needs.Call us at:1-833-FL-SENIOR or email us at Intake@FamilyFirstFirm.com to schedule your FREE consultation today!

There comes a point with aging when it becomes increasingly difficult to complete normal and important daily tasks on our own. People with Alzheimers or dementia usually need support to manage their daily routines, activities, and tasks, but needing help to complete daily activities isnt limited to seniors with cognitive impairment. It is very common that as we begin to age, we begin to develop a range of issues that might make it difficult for us to complete our activities of daily living, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, broken bones, arthritis, general loss of muscle tone and balance, vision and hearing loss, and medication side effects, among many others.What are activities of daily living, and what can we do to make sure these daily tasks that serve as early warning signs don't get overlooked?What are ADLs and IADLs?Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are the technical terms for the vital daily tasks and activities that we need to complete on a daily or weekly basis to live a healthy and fulfilled life. A healthy and independent adult should be able to complete the full range of activities in both of these categories. Once limitations begin to appear, and ADLs or IADLs begin to be neglected, long-term care becomes a viable option for providing help to complete the tasks.Activities of Daily Living are the six essential skills that are needed to manage basic physical needs. These six essential skills include:Bathing: Maintaining good bathing and personal hygiene habits ensures that individuals feel relaxed, refreshed, healthy, and positive about their appearance. Bathing and personal hygiene are a vital part of a daily routine and are the first activity that should be looked at when assessing if a loved one is capable of providing care for themselves. If their hygiene or bathing habits begin to be neglected, an in-home care providers can assist with getting in and out of the shower or tub, help with physically bathing, washing, cleaning, toweling, and preparing to leave the bathroom.Toileting: Being able to use the bathroom independently is obviously an important daily task, one that will show if an individual is capable of living independently. Bathrooms can be dangerous and difficult to navigate as we begin to age, so if your loved one begins to be nervous to go to the bathroom alone, has to go extremely frequently, or has difficulty physically getting on and off the toilet, an in-home caregiver might be the best choice to assist them.Continence: To maintain day-to-day normalcy and independence an individual should be able to control their bowels and bladder fully. This can often be an embarrassing and difficult subject to speak about, but it is important that it is addressed. The underlying causes of incontinence can sometimes be reversed if the discussion is broached honestly and early.Feeding Yourself: This is mostly an issue for those suffering from diseases like Alzheimers and Dementia, where seniors can have trouble remembering to eat at all. Severe issues can also cause severe shaking or degraded hand-eye coordination that self-feeding can become nearly impossible. In these cases, an in-home care professional can assist with feeding an individual in need of care. Even if an individual doesn't require hands-on feeding, an in-home caregiver can also be helpful for preparing healthy, nutritious, and regular meals.Dressing: Dressing isnt limited to just getting clothes on, it also means dressing appropriately for day-to-day activities. Independent seniors should be able to differentiate between what should be worn for different weather patterns, as it could be dangerous to go outside under or over-dressed. Adults should be able to handle fasteners, buttons, etc on their clothes without assistance to consider this skill as a pass.Mobility: Functional senior mobility doesnt necessarily mean running a marathon or going outside to shoot the basketball around. You should be able to get yourself out of bed in the morning and start your day without any major physical setbacks. Essentially, as long as you can move around your house without direct assistance, this skill is a pass overall.Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are more complex actions that involve important parts of day-to-day living. Examples of a few major ones include:Meal Preparation: Even before physically cooking a meal, the knowledge of how it is done and recalling recipes come into play. For seniors suffering from early-stage Alzheimers or Dementia, this hurdle alone may be too much to get over. Physically, you must be able to make measurements, handle hot stoves, reach into cabinets, and lift potentially heavy ingredient bags.  You must also be mentally healthy enough to remember recipes and plan out nutritious and healthy meals for the day or week. What this skill boils down to is whether or not you can cook healthy food consistently enough to maintain a balanced diet.Housekeeping: Senior homes that are neglected for long periods of time quickly become extremely dangerous to live in. Eventually, simply walking around can become a serious hazard if you arent capable of simple housekeeping and cleanup. Hundreds of thousands of seniors are injured annually in falls, and illnesses that result from those falls can often be fatal. If you are unable to maintain a well-kept home, an in-home care professional to help with cleaning and maintaining the home is the best course of action.Transportation: Both mobility and challenges with short-term memory can make transportation a challenge for seniors. Being able to get around outside the home to buy groceries, go to the doctor, and visit family and friends are all extremely important factors in a seniors continuing health, and they all depend on having access to safe transportation. In-home care professionals can assist you with traveling in your car, securing your trip, and making sure you get to your destination and back home safely.Why are ADLs and IADLs Relevant?Most doctors agree that if a person declines enough (either cognitively or physically) that they can no longer perform an ADL or IADL on their own, this should be taken seriously. It is very common that once one skill is failed the others will soon follow, unless the cause of the issue is addressed quickly. ADLs represent the first warnings of potentially serious issues and should never be ignored.It is important to check in with your aging loved ones regularly to assess their condition. If you begin to notice any of the vital tasks (IADLs and ADLs) that are starting to be neglected, it is time to have a discussion about in-home care. Securing in-home care from a trusted provider is the best way to ensure that the quality of life or safety of your loved one does not decline in conjunction with the loss of these day-to-day skills.American In-Home Care and our sister companies Advocate, Douglas, and Whitsyms always refer qualified, and screened care providers for home health care in Tampa and surrounding areas that are compassionate and ready to help assist with activities of daily living. Contact us at 1-844-505-0004 to schedule your free in-home consultation to discuss which care options are right for you and your family.

Selling your items is a big commitment, but you can get cash for your things. There are a lot of options out there, but this article will focus on three separate ways to get your possessions sold: Online sales Auction salesEstate sales Online SalesFrom Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to Next Door and Ebay, there are a variety of ways you can sell everything from furniture to clothing. You have to do the work which includes posting your items with photos and a description, setting a price and dealing with questions from interested buyers. This takes some time and you should be cautious about who you are meeting if you agree to sell something to a stranger.  Auction SalesAuctions sales are an easy way for someone else to do the work for you. You can choose to have an auctioneer come to your home and hold a sale on your property if you have enough possessions. The advantage to using an auction house is that they have experience with what is popular and sells well. Plus, people follow certain auction houses which can bring an automatic audience for the sale.  Estate SalesEstate sales are a way to clear almost everything out of a home. Typically, estate sales are used when someone needs to move out quickly or after a death of the homeowner. Estate sale professionals can charge you several different ways such as one price for the entire sale or a portion of the proceeds. Make sure you understand all the terms upfront and look for someone who is bonded and insured since people will be on your property.  WayForth can help you or a family member with our comprehensive moving solutions including downsizing, space planning, packing and moving, and unpacking, and settling in your set-up in a new home, contact our moving professionals today at 817-697-4478 or go to our website to learn more!