Finding Someone Safe to Care for Your Kids

Baby Gates: An In-Depth Buyer’s Guide

There is so much in the media about children being mistreated that it is very difficult to decide who they will be safe with. If you need a nanny or a babysitter, how do you know that they are responsible enough to give your children the care they deserve and you want them to have? You should never just accept someone because they are convenient; there are processes you need to go through to be sure.

What Do You Need And What Can You Afford?

Childcare costs are often the second biggest expense for families in the US after housing costs such as rents and mortgages. You need to look carefully at what you need and then at how much you can afford to pay. With babysitting averaging at $16 an hour and full-time nanny’s earning more than $650 per week, it is an expense that you have to be certain you can afford before taking anyone on.

Of course, you will always find people that will work at a lower rate, and that is fine as long as they fill the criteria you have for the person caring for your children. Do some research and find what the going rate is in your locality, and that will be much fairer for you and whoever you employ.

See if you can move the hours around as it could be better to employ someone for two full days rather than for a few hours five days a week.

Nanny Agencies Are Not Always The Best Way

Nanny agencies are not always the best place to find the perfect babysitter or nanny. To start with, you need to be confident that the relevant background checks have been carried out and there have been instances in the past where false information has been provided regarding these from nanny agencies.

The only way to trust the checks is to do them yourself.  See if you can find a company like Jumio, but who will work with parents/nannies, for an identity verification check, and take up any references they have provided, ones from past employers will usually throw up a red flag if they had a problem with them. Check out their social media pages, as these will show a truer picture of their personality.

Speak to friends and relations to see if they can recommend anyone, and there are also nanny and babysitting sites that have qualified people advertising their services.

No one would suggest that all nanny agencies are bad, but you still need to do the checks yourself to be certain they are right. 

Interviews Next

When you get to the interview stage you need to be well prepared. Have your questions ready and answers to any questions you expect them to ask you. Try to avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no as you will not learn much about them that way.

Do not expect them to automatically know all the answers regarding your children, as some things will depend on your practices with child-rearing.

Anyone that you think might be suitable, let the children meet. Try to leave them alone for just a few minutes and see how things are when you return to the room.  If you do this with 2 or 3 candidates you will find that your children have a preference, and that is great of it agrees with yours.

Have A Trial Period

A trial period is vital just to see how things work out before making it a permanent arrangement. Set a period of a month or so and see how the children and the nanny are getting on after that.  

Always be aware of your children’s reactions. This does not just apply to nannies and babysitters but to anyone, they come in contact with. Children do not generally shy away from people without reason, so be wary of anyone they do this with.

Some parents go to the extent of having cameras fitted around the home when this happens, but if you do this you should inform the person providing the childcare that they can be seen.

Reviews

Every two or three months you should sit and chat with the nanny to find out anything they are not happy with, and vice versa. This should be seen as a review of their performance. It is a chance to reward them if they are doing exactly the job you wanted, or to point out things that need to change.

This chats can be useful for you and them, but the people that should benefit most from them will be the children.

Related:
At What Age Can I Place My Child Into Daycare?
What Are Your Thoughts On Good Childcare?

Sorrento Retirement Home

 When-is-it-time-to-move-to-a-retirement-home.When a loved one gets older, it can be more challenging for them to care for themselves. When this happens, you have a couple of options. First, you can have your loved one move in with your family; however, this isn’t an option if you don’t have an extra room. The same is true if you work long hours because your loved one will still be alone all day.

The best option for your loved one is Sorrento Retirement Home. According to Statistics Canada, 2.6 percent of the elderly population in Canada live in residences designed for senior citizens. If you aren’t sure if a retirement home is right for your loved one, you should consider how they can benefit by moving to Sorrento Retirement Home.

#1 Health and Safety

One of the best reasons to look into retirement homes for a loved one is their health and safety. If your loved one lives alone, they can take a nasty fall and could be on the floor for hours and even days before they are found.

According to Canada Statistics, every year, one in three seniors aged 65 and older is likely to fall at least once. Fortunately, your loved one will be safe in a retirement home, and skilled caregivers will check on your loved one to ensure they are safe.

In addition, if your loved one needs extra care, assisted living is a possibility. Most retirement homes have an assisted living wing, where your loved one will receive their medication on time and always have immediate access to a doctor.

#2 New Friends

Loneliness is common in elderly people who live alone, especially if they can’t drive or get around independently. According to the Government Of Canada, 40 percent of seniors experience loneliness regularly.

Moving your loved one to a retirement home can prevent loneliness and depression. They will have a chance to meet new people who live right down the hall to spend time with. In addition, your loved one can eat in the dining hall with other seniors, and a retirement home can provide your loved one with a social life.

#3 Fun Activities

You won’t need to worry about your loved one getting bored when moving them to a retirement home. Most facilities have various activities throughout the day, such as gardening, dancing, card games, exercise classes, and yoga. In addition, many retirement homes take field trips to shops and to entertainment venues, giving them a chance to get out for a while. These are all things your loved one can’t do if they live alone.

#4 Better Quality Of Life

Moving your loved one to a retirement home will provide a better quality of life. Not only can they live independently and safely, your loved one will have new friends and can take part in daily activities. This gives your loved one a reason to get out of bed, and they will be happier.

If you worry about an elderly loved one living alone, moving them to a retirement home will be safer and more fun than living alone, and you will have peace of mind knowing they are safe and enjoying their golden years.
[…]
A Roundup Of Retirement Resources (For Those Nearing The Elusive Age)

Home Renovations You Should Not Do Yourself

Home-Renovation-Image-Julie-WhitmerDo it yourself (DIY) projects are more popular than ever. They’re a great way to ensure you get the exact update you want, and they can save you quite a bit of money in the process.

Paint the walls, switch out light fixtures, and tear out the carpet, but when it comes to other projects, they’re best left to the professionals.

Here are four home improvement projects that you should never do yourself.

Replacing a Roof Home-owners-should-hire-professionals-for-roof-replacements

Roofing systems can be expensive, and it’s easy to see why. They are a home’s first defense against the elements. Unfortunately, many homeowners make the mistake of trying to replace their roof on their own only to end up with the very thing they were trying to avoid—a damaging leak.

It’s really best to hire a professional for the job. They will make sure everything is installed properly. You can even look into roof financing options that will make the replacement more affordable.

Electrical Work

There are some electrical home improvement projects you can do on your own. Changing outlet covers and replacing light fixtures are two DIY projects that most homeowners can handle, but when it comes to in-depth electrical work, you need to hire a professional electrician.

Dealing with electricity can put you in danger of being shocked. A bad electrical job can even cause a fire and destroy your home. If you’re looking to install an outlet or a light fixture where there isn’t one, or the wiring in your home needs an update, don’t do it yourself.

Major Plumbing Repairs

Electrical work is especially dangerous for a homeowner. That isn’t the case with major plumbing repairs, but doing it wrong can end up costing you a lot of money.

Without the right plumbing repair or replacement, you could end up with a leak, or worse yet, flooding your home. All that water can result in mold growth and costly remodeling repairs.

A few plumbing projects that should be left to the professionals include:

  • Toilet installations
  • Shower and tub installations
  • Water heater installations
  • Valve and tube replacements
  • Sewer pipe work

Structural Changes to Rooms

Tearing out a wall sounds like the easiest DIY project of all. You just need a sledgehammer and a strong arm! Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.

Before you tear down the wall, you have to consider what’s inside it. There could be electrical wires or plumbing located in the wall. If you’re living in a two-story home, you could be dealing with a load-bearing wall. In order to make sure you don’t end up with even more costly repairs, it’s best to leave knocking down any walls to the professionals.

When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to call in a professional team to assess your project. It costs less in the long run to do it right in the first place than it does to botch the job and end up calling a professional to fix it anyway.

Related:
What Are The Essential Tools For Home Repairs
14 Roofing Tools: What It Takes To Build A Shed

This post may contain affiliate links and I might receive compensation
if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.
Learn To Make Woven Wall Hangings - 6 Easy Projects for First Time Weavers

Safety Tips to Help You Avoid a Vehicle Accident

Safety-Tips-to-Help-You-Avoid-a-Vehicle-Accident.People who’ve never been in an accident before may not fully comprehend how devastating an accident can be. Not only could you suffer physical pain, but you could also deal with a permanent injury, financial losses, mental trauma, and other difficulties associated with your accident.

If someone else caused your accident, you might consider talking to a Charlotte car accident lawyer to receive assistance with filing a car accident claim. The person who caused the accident could be required to pay you compensation for causing the accident. 

If you would like to avoid being in an accident, there are some things you can do. While you can’t prevent every accident (because you can’t control the actions of others), you can prevent some accidents by following safety advice.

Tips for Avoiding a Vehicle Collision

You can decrease your chances of being involved in an auto wreck by following safety tips. Here are a few vehicle safety tips below.

Never Drink and Drive

This tip seems obvious, but it’s important to be reminded of it once in a while. People often get complacent, and they come to believe they are invincible. They forget that their actions have consequences and their actions affect others. Never drink and drive, because you are mortal. You can be injured or killed in an accident.

Additionally, you want to watch out for drunk drivers, because they’re always out there. Keeping an eye on other drivers can help you avoid an accident. Don’t just drive nonchalantly, oblivious to the dangers around you. Be proactive about your safety, and you might avoid an accident.

Put the Phone Away

Distracted driving is becoming as dangerous as drunk driving. Taking your eyes off the road can be worse than seeing the road through blurred or double vision. 

One easy way to avoid being in an accident is to never engage in distracted driving. Cell phone use is obviously one of the worst forms of distracted driving, but there are other forms. Putting on makeup, changing the radio station, or eating while driving is all a few forms of distracted driving.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Did you know that roads themselves can be dangerous and cause accidents? You are probably told all the time to watch out for reckless drivers, but how often are you told to watch out for the road? The road can be just as hazardous as dangerous drivers. 

Potholes, poor sight lines, unsafe intersections, and other road issues can lead to accidents. Make sure you consider the road you’re driving on and pay attention to danger zones.

Don’t Drive Drowsy

Life is hard, and you can get tired at the end of a long day. Or at the beginning of a long day, really. Driving while sleepy puts yourself and others in danger. 

Make sure that you get enough rest before setting out on a trip. If you find yourself feeling sleepy, pull over and get some rest or some coffee. Don’t try to push through it, because you might not make it to the other side.
[…]
Figuring Out Who Is at Fault for Your Car Accident
What Happens When You’re Hit by a Distracted Driver?

This post may contain affiliate links and I might receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.
spa gift baskets $15 off $120 or more

HTML Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com