New Jersey - Bergen and Passaic Counties

1. Do Your Research Dont just hire the first mover you come across. Look for online reviews and ratings from past customers. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the company. Look for mover associations and certifications that prove the company is legitimate.   2. Get a Written Estimate Always get a written estimate of the total cost before signing a contract. Dont rely on verbal agreements or estimates over the phone. Know exactly what youre paying for, including any additional fees or surcharges. Some scam movers will offer a low quote initially, only to hike up prices later by adding fees not mentioned in the contract. 3. Insurance & Coverage Ask if they carry insurance and find out what type of coverage, they offer in case something is damaged or lost during the move. Legitimate movers will carry insurance that covers damages that occur during transportation. Without it, youll be responsible for the costs of any damage.  4. Review the terms of Service Take your time to review the terms carefully and dont sign it until you understand everything. Read the fine print and ask for clarification on anything you dont understand. Look for the cancellation policy in case you need to change your moving date or cancel entirely. A legitimate mover will make sure you understand everything before you sign.  5. Get their Contact Information Get contact information for the company and their employees in case you need to follow up on anything during or after your move. Make sure to get a working phone number and email address for the company in case anything goes wrong. If you have any questions, contact the company directly rather than relying on a third party. Make sure the company provides accurate addresses to avoid fraudulent activities.  6. Make a List (or Request One) Make sure to make a list of the content in your home, especially your most treasured items. Or get a copy of the inventory list with all items being moved. Dont be afraid to ask for a copy of the list, even if the movers are in a hurry. Make sure the inventory list is detailed and accurate to prevent damage, missing or stolen goods.  7. Never Pay the Full Amount Upfront Legitimate movers wont ask for full payment before the move is complete. Theyll usually only ask for a deposit upfront (a 25% deposit is the standard). Instead, pay the deposit and only pay the full balance after the move is complete, and youve verified that all your items are there and in good condition.  For more information on how to protect your move, read our blog here!  Let WayForth help you with your next move by utilizing our personalized services. These include downsizing, space planning, packing and moving, unpacking, storage and settling into your new home. Contact our moving professionals today at 1.844.WAYFORTH. 

I sneak around the corner in my red shoes. If he sees me, he will scold me. I shouldnt be wearing them, he says. They are dangerous. Maybe he is right, but I love my red shoes. They make me feel alive. They make me want to dance. They remind me of when I was young and could wear any shoes I wanted. Now, at age 91, my step is slower. I no longer dance. The physical therapist at the assisted living facility where I live tells me I should be wearing sensible shoes, flat with Velcro closures. I do most of the time, but today I want to feel young. I slip on my red shoes. Everyone notices. They all like my red shoes, expect for Elizabeth, who thinks red shoes are risqu, no matter your age. That adds to the fun. My step is lighter in my red shoes and so is my spirit. Perhaps that will help me move quickly enough not to get caught by the physical therapist. It is easy to tell our aging loved ones what they should and should not be doing. Often the motivation is genuine concern for their safety. But it is important to remember that each thing they are asked to give up represents part of their identity. Something as simple as the shoes one wears can impact the way they view themselves. So, approach the topics which need to be addressed to keep your loved one safe, but do so gently, respecting the person and recognizing what youre asking them to do may not be as simple as it seems. Patty Masterson-Kane, LCSW and Patty Hemphill, LCSW are partners in Elder Care Options, a Geriatric Care Management Agency. They help families coping with issues related to aging and changing care needs and can be reached at 201-848-8539.

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) vary greatly in their ability to provide high quality individualized Rehabilitation services to patients. Patients, families, & healthcare professionals often choose a SNF based on geographical factors, physical plant (e.g. interior/exterior design, meals, availability of private rooms); also, often used in the selection process is an environment that is clean and odor-free, as well as positive regulatory agency reports. Although these factors can play a role in the decision making process, other very important factors that should be considered are often overlooked. Successful Rehabilitation, measured by positive functional outcomes, can best be achieved in facilities that provide highly individualized Rehabilitation services -- where there is a close working alliance between patients/families/caregivers & a highly skilled team of healthcare professionals. The goal of this team is to maximize a given patients physical, functional, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, & leisure potential --often after life changing/catastrophic illness. Healthcare professionals that should be part of this team include primary care physicians (PCP), and physiatrists, who should work closely side by side. While the PCP attends to the general medical needs of the patient, the physiatrist --a physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation -- attends to the patients individualized Rehabilitation program. The physiatrist serves as the team leader of a group of individuals, which include, but is not limited to: occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, recreational therapists, patients and their families/caregivers. Also important to the Rehabilitation process is around the clock availability of highly qualified nursing staff, as well as the easy availability of other healthcare consultants as needed. There should be close attention to the proper equipment needed for rehabilitation and the actual amount of time that a patient actively participates in the rehabilitation program, and this should reflect the actual needs of the patient. The proper matching of a specific patients need for rehabilitation services and the services that a specific SNF can actually provide, will help to maximize a successful rehabilitation outcome; this is turn, will help to minimize psychological & financial difficulties for the patient and their family -- during a usually very stressful period in their lives.Editors Note: This article was provided by Jose A. Alonso, M.D., full time physiatrist on staff at Prospect Heights Care Center. Dr. Alonso is the Medical Director of Rehabilitation Medicine Services, Prospect Heights Care Center located at 336 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, The PM&R Center, P.A., Englewood, NJ and Assistant Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. He can be reached at 201-678-1800.

Recent research has found important connections between cardiovascular wellness and brain health. So important are these links that the Center for Disease Control and the National Alzheimer's Association has launched Maintain Your Brain initiatives. A daily walk can benefit both physical and mental health for all ages and provide powerful benefits for your brain according to the 2005 Sept 22/29 issue of JAMA, the Journal of American Medical Association. The article notes that older adults who walk the most have lower risk of dementia and intellectual decline.We all know the obvious benefits of exercise but knowing the statistics of what happens to your body if you are not active may be motivating, because every system of the body is affected, according to the Journal of Neuroscience, Sept. 2005. Immobility affects strength, which decreases 10-20% per week of immobility. Meanwhile muscle strength decreases 15% per decade from age 50-70 and at a rate of 30% after the age of 70. Bone density - of particular concern for women - can decrease 1-2% for every week of immobility. Cardiovascular resting heart rate increases 1 beat for every 2 days of immobility. The respiratory system is affected with mechanical restriction of breathing, building up mucus secretions. A general lack of flexibility causes muscle contractures. And skin is affected with decreased immobility causing edema or fluid retention and general breakdown of the skin. Knowing this, it's time to get up off the couch!Exercise derives its meaning from a Latin root meaning to maintain, to keep, to ward off. In order for exercise to be successful, according to medical professionals, exercise should be planned, structured and repetitive to improve or maintain physical fitness - even a simple walk 30 minutes a day will be helpful.Every year there are a multitude of walking events that offer walk opportunities to raise awareness of health issues and provide fun ways to stretch your walking goals. Examples include the Alzheimer's Memory Walk, see www.alz.org/memory walk, or for a bigger challenge check out the breast cancer 3 day walk at www.the3day.org. Beginners should review www.thewalkingsite.com, which offers advice on how to begin a walking program. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step start now.Editor's Note: This information was submitted by Emma Justice, MSA, Marketing Director at Senior Care & Activities Center Adult Day Care. She can be reached at 973-783-5589.