Wednesday, December 25, 2019

3 Things To Look for in an Elderly Care Facility

It can be a difficult decision to move to or send loved ones to a senior living facility, but it can also be the best decision to ensure proper care. When choosing a facility, make careful considerations about your needs and what the facility has to offer. Below are three elements to consider when selecting an elderly care facility.

The Safety and Care of Its Residents
One of the top concerns when selecting a facility is how well you or your loved one will be cared for and treated. There are steps you can take to find a facility that treats its residents with respect and compassion. Talk to other residents and ask them for honest opinions about their experience; pay attention to their tone and body language to see if they enjoy being there or seem distressed. As you tour the facility, ask a lot of questions to staff and residents alike, and see how well their answers compare. Look for clean and maintained facilities, and pay attention to the hygiene and grooming of the residents. You can also look up a community to see the licensing and any violations it has.

Level of Freedom
Different facilities vary in the freedom and support they offer, and some facilities offer both freedom and support depending on the resident’s needs. Consider the level of freedom wanted and needed to be content, and the level of support needed to be safe and healthy. Search out residential care facility Missouri that can offer the range of freedom and support that will best care for you or your loved one.

Activities and Events
Moving to a new place can feel overwhelming, especially if social connections are further away. When you tour, ask about classes, events and activities offered. If the facility offers them, it provides opportunities for residents to make friends and participate in hobbies, which is good for preventing loneliness.

A residential care facility can be a great option if you are unable to care for yourself or a loved one. Sometimes the best care we can give is to ask for help.


Sunday, December 22, 2019

Enjoying Life Even When Disabled

There are a lot of people who look at those with disabilities or handicaps as disadvantaged when it comes to enjoying life. However, with the increased national and global attention on inclusivity and accessibility, there are very few things left that those who struggle with mental or physical handicaps can’t do when it comes to fun and vacation. There are entire theme parks and experiences dedicated to meeting the unique needs of an individual who might have difficulty with an area of mobility or cognitive functioning. In addition to the daily living help that DDD support coordination agencies can offer, these special venues provide a moment of escape from the real world.

Disability Theme Parks
Disneyworld is known for being family-friendly and welcoming to individuals of all abilities. The resorts on the property provide dozens of wheelchair accessible activities, and the parks provide wheelchair-friendly ramps for each attraction on the property. Morgan’s Wonderland in Texas is the world’s first theme park that was designed and devoted to individuals with special needs. It is completely wheelchair accessible and offers rides, a splash zone, playgrounds, and sensory zones.

Disability Cruises
One of the most celebrated disability cruises is offered by Royal Caribbean. Called Autism of the Seas, this cruise is dedicated to helping those with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Asperger syndrome, and all forms of developmental, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities enjoy a vacation on the water. Extra staffing and activities give parents and caregivers a much-needed vacation as well.

Disability Bus Tours
When visiting a new city, the sights and sounds can be experienced from the comfort and safety of a bus tour. These are wheelchair accessible and enclosed to protect participants from uncomfortable weather elements. It is a great way for caregivers and their family members to enjoy the activity together.

Living with a disability doesn’t mean life has to be boring. There are many places that can provide both fun and accessibility for those living with challenges.

Christmas Gift Ideas

It is almost Christmas and you are panicking because you still don't have a gift for your loved ones this Christmas. My family has never really cared much about receiving material gifts. What matters most to us is that we are happy and healthy, and that we are thankful for all the blessings that we are received in the 365 days that the good Lord has gifted us with.

But if you are really looking for a gift to give to your loved ones, here are some gift ideas that the receiver will truly appreciate:

  • a book written by their favorite author or about their interests
  • a gift certificate for two to a restaurant, a theater play, a game or the movies
  • gifts that you made yourself - like diy candles, chocolate truffles, even cross-stitch!
  • a gift basket filled with goodies - may it be sweets for those with a sweet tooth, meat basket filled with hams, sausages, liver paste, or wine and cheese and snacks that go with it
  • give gift items that help you give back this Christmas - there are many products out there that when you buy them, the same item will be donated to someone who needs who it or a portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity
These are some of the gifts that I have in mind that I wouldn't mind giving my loved ones this Christmas.

What about you? What are you Christmas gift ideas?





4 Tips to Impove Your Home Security

Creating a sense of security in your living space is an important part of transforming your house into a home. To ensure you and your family feel safe all year long, consider some of these tips.

Secure Outdoor Areas
If you have a storage shed on your property or another building that is separate from the main body of your home, you may want to invest in commercial security door lock systems to ensure that building remains secure at all times. It can be easy to be unaware of potential security issues if you are not accessing your storage shed on a regular basis. By investing in a heavy duty lock, you will help keep yourself safe.

Lock Down Your Garage
Go out of your way to ensure your garage is completely locked at the end of the day to help prevent unauthorized entry. In addition to securing your garage door via slide lock, make sure you lock the door that leads from your garage into your home.

Check Doors and Windows
Do a quick check of all of your doors and windows to determine if someone could easily break past your home's defenses. Consider upgrading your doors if they don't appear to have strong door frames. You may also want to upgrade your windows with security bars or protective films that help prevent an intruder from shattering the glass. Make it a habit to lock all of your doors and windows before going to sleep each night or when you go to leave your home.

Use Landscaping to Your Advantage
You can use strategic landscaping to help keep your home more secure. Use prickly plants underneath windows. Place lighting that will give your yard's aesthetic a boost while also illuminating the area to discourage intruders at night.

Through mindfulness and home upgrades, you can help keep your family safe.

How To Plan a Successful Fundraising Event

When your company, business or group needs to raise support, a local fundraising event is a great way to earn money while connecting with your community and getting your name out to the public. However, without the proper approach and the right planning, it could turn into a stressful situation. Even worse, you could end up earning very little for your effort or even taking a loss if you don't make the right choices. If you want to plan a truly successful fundraising event, be sure to follow these three steps for every type of fundraiser, big or small.

Work With a Party Planning Company
You might think that hiring someone to provide a good or service is counter intuitive, but working with party planning companies ny can help you create the type of event that generates more income. If you want to attract more people, these professionals can help provide an experience that stands out and draws more donors to your door. It's also important to think about number of guests you'll be working with. You may actually save money by hiring a pro instead of trying to accumulate the supplies yourself.

Advertise Early
When it comes to fundraising, last-minute advertising could ruin the entire endeavor. Make sure you're sending out invites and posting the event at least four weeks early to give people a chance to clear their calendars. On the other hand, make sure you're sending reminders close to the event as well. Keep your fundraiser on the forefront of your guests’ minds for better attendance.

Know Your Audience
Plan an event that caters to the needs and interests of your target audience. If you work with a lot of families, consider a kid-friendly carnival with inflatables, games and tasty snacks. A formal dinner may go over well if you focus on business professionals. If young adults are interested in your business, host a cocktail mixer with a DJ. 

A well-planned fundraiser can be very lucrative in many ways. With the right attention to detail, you could have a successful event for your organization.

Time to Party!

The Christmas season is that time of the year to celebrate parties. Almost everyday, there is an invitation to attend this gathering and that party and this reunion and that Christmas market. Whether you are the one invited or the one inviting, it is customary to observe some rules as a courtesy to the host or as host to your visitors.

If you are the invitee, appropriate items that you can give to your host may be the following:

  • bouquet of flowers in a vase or potted plant
  • a bottle of wine
  • home decoration such as candles, photo frames, holiday ornament
  • baked goodies
  • guest soap, guest hand towels

If you are the hosts, it is always a good idea to give your guests any of the following:

  • a bouquet of blooms that you decorated the table with
  • flavored oils and vinegars are a trend these days, your guests will appreciate getting one
  • card games which you used to entertain your guests while waiting for the food to be served or as an ice breaker
  • handmade gifts for those who are crafty outside the kitchen - this is a surefire way to delight your guests

Oh, and never ever forget to say THANK YOU! For the invitation if you are the invitee and for coming if you are the host!

So there you have it. Now that you know a thing or two about good manners and party etiquette, it's time to party! Enjoy the Holidays everyone!

Getting Ready To Make the Big Move to a New Home

Whether you have moved a dozen times, or this is your first big move, you know there will be a long list of things to buy, remember, and accomplish. Here are a few tips to help you stay on top of everything you can’t possibly remember.

1. Supplies
Purchase your moving supplies St Louis MO, as you need them rather than spending hundreds of dollars on items you aren’t sure you are going to use. Select your favorite size box and purchase a dozen. Don’t forget the bubble wrap, tape dispenser, labels, and wrapping paper.

2. Organize
Make a family game of organizing the house. This includes setting up boxes in the garage where items can easily be tossed that family members want to donate or discard. If you have little ones, you may want to make sure your children don’t take the game too literally!

3. Packing
Many professionals will tell you to clean before you pack, but the end result is that you will need to clean each room every time you spend the day packing. There is always something such as collected dust, discarded papers, and even hidden candy wrappers in children’s bedrooms. Don’t forget to clearly label each box for ease in identification in the new house.

4. Services
Remember to cancel all your delivery services, utilities, and service providers, such as lawn care. You will also need to change addresses on credit cards, at insurance agencies, and with subscription plans. Contact the services before you move and give them a start date. This can help ease your stress about forgetting someone.

Moving doesn’t have to be a dreadful time filled with anxiety and despair. If you begin early and take the time to enjoy yourself in the months before the move, you can keep your stress level under control – and you can probably remember everything you were worried about forgetting.


Soon To Be Ludwigsburger

It has been almost two years since we started on our house-hunting journey. It was not easy, especially that the housing market is very competitive lately. We have been through a lot of home visits, visited a number of prefab house developers, even went to the open house of one of the developers factories, visitied house construction sites. Almost all of our weekends were spent going on these.

Thankfully, the search is over. But once it was decided that the house we chose will be sold to us, which is by the way not a newly built one, everything was like a whirlwind. With the decision came more appointments and visits, this time to the bank for the financing, to the attorney's office for the notary and signing of the contract to sell, and a whole lot more. Suddenly, everything became official. 

And we still a lot to do before moving day... but at least we still have the time to prepare: about 8 months at least to pack, re-register, notify the immigration office of our pending move, notify the electric, water, telephone companies that we are moving soon and to schedule when the lines should be transfered, and all the other formalities that need to be done when one moves from Place A to Place B.

We are excited and at the time overwhelmed with this new milestone in our life as a family. But I know that with God's guidance and help and advice from good friends, everything shall go well. And yes, from Stuttgart we will be moving to Ludwigsburg. We will soon no longer be Stuttgarters but Ludwigsburgers.

So help us God!

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Tips for Throwing a Large Party

Whether you’re hosting a party with an extensive guest list for a friend or family member’s birthday, anniversary or graduation, for example, ensure the event goes smoothly by thoroughly planning for the event. Preparation is key to arranging a gathering that you will enjoy just as much as the invitees and the guest of honor.

Set a Budget
Determine the essential elements of the event – such as the venue rental, invitations, food and beverages, decorations, seating, utensils and entertainment – and create a budget. If the necessities still leave you with money left over, add such items as party favors, a photographer or additional activities. Because you’re planning for a special occasion, it’s easy to go overboard. Stick to the plan without adding extras that will leave you with bills that you’ll have to contend with months after the soiree.

Rent What You Can
Despite the fact that you may be trying to cut costs, consider renting some of the important elements that may be stressful to gather yourself. Opt for a chair rental Hawaii or a service that provides seating, tables and linens rather than pulling together items from friends and family that may be mismatched, uncomfortable and inconvenient. Professionals may also save you time since they’ll set up and clean up after the event.

Prepare as Much as Possible in Advance
If you’re handling aspects of the party such as the food and beverage preparation yourself, reduce stress by delegating wherever possible. Find recipes that you can prepare in advance and heat and serve the day of the event. Choose simple drinks that you can pre-mix or allow guests to create themselves. Taking care of the details ahead of time will allow you to greet and mingle with your guests rather than being stuck in the kitchen.

Head off potential problems with organization that accounts for every element of the big bash. By planning meticulously, delegating and sticking to the assigned budget, you won’t have to worry about snags during the event or have any regrets when it’s over.


Filipinos Celebrate Simbang Gabi in Stuttgart

For Filipinos, Christmas will never be complete without the Simbang Gabi. It has been a crucial part in the Christmas tradition of Filipinos in preparation for the birth of Jesus and is thus celebrated the world over. Wherever there are Filipino catholics in whichever part of the world, you can expect to find this tradition celebrated in one or more churches.


The Catholic community here in Stuttgart started the Simbang Gabi eucharistic celebrations last Sunday, 15th December 2019 at 8:00 in the evening at the St. Maria church in Stuttgart-Mitte.


Organized by the PMG (Philippinische Muttersprachliche Gemeinschaft), the eucharistic celebrations are attended by Filipinos and Germans from Stuttgart and its neighboring cities. Even Filipino communities from as far as Frankfurt am Main and Augsburg come to Stuttgart to join in the celebration.


What makes the evening masses a heartwarming experience are the happy smiles of the Filipinos, the Filipino spirit of brother/sisterhood, the Christmas parols (lanterns) that give the church a more Filipino flair and the abundant Filipino finger foods that await each and everyone to share after the mass.

If you happen to be in Stuttgart between today and the 23rd of December, drop by the St. Maria Church at Tübinger Strasse (near Gerber Mall) and experience the Simbang Gabi and celebrate a piece of Filipino Christmas with us.

Note: Photos from Mayette Matzelt, Cherebel Albano,  Rev. Jonathan Ramoso


Saturday, December 14, 2019

Helping Children Cope with Fear of Dentist

Because dental hygiene is vital to your children’s overall health, they must undergo regular checkups and treatments – even if they’re scared of the dentist. Take steps to assuage their fears and make them more comfortable in the chair to enable the visits to go more successfully and smoothly.

Find a Specialist
Choosing a kids dentist Jacksonville over a regular practitioner may make it easier for children who fear the visits. Not only will these professionals have offices with décor, toys and an atmosphere that caters to kids, but they will also be specially trained to deal with emerging and developing teeth with instruments smaller than the standard equipment. In addition, the entire staff may be taught the right demeanor to deal with children, making the entire experience more soothing.

Play Pretend
Prepare your child for his visit by showing him generally what to expect. Use a toothbrush to count his teeth and give him a mirror to see what the dentist will look at when she examines his teeth. Encourage a bit of excitement by finding children’s books featuring popular television characters that describe what they experienced during their first trip to the dental office.

Don’t Overdo It
When discussing the visit with your child, choose your words carefully. Don’t introduce extra concepts that may increase his fear, such as the potential for getting a shot or drilling to fill a cavity. Don’t comment that the experience won’t hurt if he’s never expressed the fear that it will, for example. Answer his questions with brief, positive statements and assure him that the dentist will help him have teeth that are clean and strong.

Make dental visits more relaxing for your children – and the office staff – by laying the groundwork that can make each trip less stressful. Establishing a trusting and maybe even enjoyable relationship between your kids and their dentist can ensure a lifelong commitment to oral health and safety.



Wednesday, December 4, 2019

House Hunting

It's been 10 years since we moved here in Stuttgart. 10 years of paying rent, which could have been spent to pay off mortgage for our own home. But it is not easy to find your own abode in this part of Germany because the prices for houses or apartment have sky-rocketed in the last 3 or 4 years. If you want to settle in a place very accessible by public transport, where schools and stores for daily needs are just within walking distance, you would have to pay a hefty price for it. Newly built homes are also way too expensive - you would have to pay more than half a million euros to get one. 

And if you want to get a loan from the bank, you would have to first have a permanent residency in order to get a long-term loan approved. In our case, it should be possible. 

The good thing about getting a housing loan at this time: the interest rate is relatively low. Depending on your capital and the selling price, you could get an annual interest between 1.01 - 1.35% per annum. This is indeed a very good time, and you can arrange for a fixed interest rate for 10-15 years. 

So where I am trying to drive at with this post? Well, it is a good time to buy your own house if you are financially sound to get a loan from the bank. But with so many people looking to buy their own home and with a very limited number of properties for sale, the competition is very high. You would need not just capital, you would need a lot of patience and a little bit of aggressiveness and a lot of luck to be chosen as the buyer.

As for us, we are still looking... hopefully the search will one be over one day and we will finally be able to move into our own home sweet home. 


Benefits of Professional Carpet Cleaning Services

Carpets play an essential role in almost every home. They are one of the most frequently used items in a household. As such, how you take care of your carpeting impacts your life. Your floors are exposed to an array of dirt sources whenever anyone walks on them. Also, pets may sometimes urinate on your carpet, not to mention the endless spills, oil stains and food crumbs. A carpet that is not well cleaned can pose health issues and may not last as long. That’s why you need professional carpet cleaning services.

Improved Air Quality
You have perhaps been in a situation where you have guests getting uncomfortable with the smell from your carpet. Even if you routinely vacuum, it’s embarrassing to put up with the stench. Professional carpet cleaning services use the right products to eliminate any odors and enhance your indoor air quality.

Quality Cleaning Equipment
One of the primary benefits you will get when you hire professional carpet cleaning in Calgary is the use of quality cleaning supplies and tools. Using a simple brush to clean your carpet may not get rid of all the spills and dirt. Professional carpet cleaners have the right cleaning supplies and equipment appropriate for your carpet fabric. That means that the professionals can effectively get rid of stubborn stains on your carpet and extend its lifespan.

Reduced Health Risks
You are probably wondering about the health risks that can arise from a dirty carpet. The truth is that your health could be at risk when you don’t thoroughly clean your rugs. Exposure to mold spores and tiny dust mites can be harmful to your health. That’s why you need a professional to clean and sanitize your carpeting to get rid of such contaminants embedded in the fibers.

Most carpets last for years when you take good care of them. With a professional cleaning service, you will most likely extend your flooring's lifespan. Enjoy these and more benefits when you hire professional carpet cleaning services.


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