The Community Health website provides information on community health services including information on how families can find high-quality babysitters, nannies and senior caregivers including community care and online health resources available for babysitting, tutoring, care-giving and home health care.

• Child Care

  Child care assistance resources for finding information on child care including child care services, child care providers and child care costs.

• Senior Care

  How to go about choosing from among the community care options available for senior home care, senior care communities and senior health care.

• Medicare

  What is Medicare and the difference between original Medicare and Medicare advantage plans that are currently being offered by leading health and medical insurance companies.

• Medicaid

  The Federal aid program to provide medical assistance to those who might otherwise go without medical care.

Here are a few pointers to guide you when choosing a babysitter for your kids. These elements can help you choose among child care providers in your community and find the babysitter that best matches you, your kids and your family situation.

Choosing a Babysitter – Trust Your Instincts

Above all, select the babysitter that seems best for you and your child. Whether you think it’s important to find the right person based on the age of the children to be cared for or that the caregiver live near your home in your community, you ultimately know best. Begin by contacting the babysitter and offer an appointment for an initial meeting. Bring your child with you to the meeting to better evaluate the potential relationship and feel free to meet other babysitters to better compare. You may want to meet the babysitter a second time to refine your interview before giving the final “Yes”.

Choosing a Babysitter – Childcare

Feel free to express the childcare issues you care about. What experience does the babysitter have caring for children or toddlers; how many and what ages? Talk with the babysitter about the organization of the day: meals, outings, naps, activities. Is the babysitter familiar with the library and parks in the local community? How were previous positions awarded and what was their term?

Choosing a Babysitter – Positive Parenting

Pay attention to the observations you’ve made about the babysitter. Are the indications favorable? Observe the babysitter’s surroundings. Is the housing clear, pleasant and secure? Try to meet with other parents whose children the babysitter has kept. There’s nothing like a good child care reference and direct testimony from previous child care jobs and experiences.

An Au Pair is a young woman or young man, normally between 18 and 26 years old, who engage in a living language experience to provide community child care services in a host family’s home for a period not exceeding 18 months.

The au pair helps the family with daily household chores that do not require any special knowledge such as cooking, childcare, shopping, etc… The host family cannot ask the au pair to do heavy work or work requiring special skills. The au pair should not be considered a “jack of all trades”. The au pair is NOT a hired domestic worker. In general, the au pair must not work more than 30-45 hours per week and he or she must have at least one day off per week. Safe housing and food of decent quality are provided by the host family and for their work as a family helper, the au pair earns a weekly stipend from the host family.

A cultural exchange visa under sponsorship must be obtained and the host family must provide that the au pair can attend language courses of in the amount 6 credit hours. It is also advisable to have family insurance which also covers the au pair.

Au Pair Requirements

The au pair must have graduated with the equivalent of a high school diploma and be proficient in English. The au pair must be able to provide child care and character references and also pass a criminal background check in addition to completing the paperwork necessary to obtain the cultural exchange visa.

Au Pair in America

The Au Pair in America program is organized with the intent to permit foreign nationals with the opportunity to live with an American host family in the United States and participate in the home life of the host family while providing child care services while attending a US post-secondary educational institution.

Medicare is medical coverage for people age 65 or older. Medicare health coverage also includes community health provisions for people with certain disabilities including those with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant.

Medicare Health Plans

Health coverage through the Medicare program is typically obtained through the original Medicare plan or through a Medicare Advantage Plan. The cost of the Medicare health medical insurance plans may vary depending on the plan, medical coverage and services used.

• Medicare Part A

  Hospitalization is provided by Medicare Part A. The patient can choose their own doctor but in some cases costs may be higher than under Medicare Advantage Plans.

• Medicare Part B

  Optional medical coverage is provided by Medicare Part B.

• Medicare Part C

  Medicare Advantage Plans including HMOs and PPOs combine both hospital and medical coverage under one plan offered by private health insurance companies that have been approved by the Medicare program.

• Medicare Part D

  Optional prescription drug coverage from private health insurance companies is covered under Medicare Part D. Health insurance companies cover medically necessary drugs under these health plans.

• Medigap

  Medigap is a Medicare supplement insurance policy. You can choose to buy this coverage to fill in gaps in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B coverage. Cost may vary by type of policy and health insurance company.
  

Medicaid is a U.S. government program that provides health assistance to needy persons. It’s purpose is to improve the health of people who might otherwise go without medical care for themselves and their children. Medicaid is not primarily directed to the elderly for senior care but is rather a medical assistance program for the impoverished and needy. Eligibility for Medicaid depends on financial need and is primarily for those with low income and low levels of assets.

The Medicaid community health program is designed to help people in need pay for medical care. Community Medicaid eligibility is based on medical expenses including healthcare from doctors, nurses, hospitals, clinics and can include:

• The cost of drugs and medical supplies
• Premiums for health coverage insurance
• Transportation to and from medical appointments for health care for Medicaid recipients who would not otherwise be able to access medical services

Receiving Medicaid

Medicaid may be received through the Federal Supplemental Security Income program funded by general tax revenues, which provides assistance to persons based on need. Depending on the rules of the state in which you live, Medicaid also pays the medical bills of certain people through the Medicaid Spend Down program which is similar to a health insurance medical coverage co-pay amount that must be paid before Medicaid assistance can be received.

Medicaid Eligibility

People who have limited income and resources are among those who should apply for Medicaid. Medicaid eligibility requirements include:

Medicaid Residency Eligibility

You may be eligible for coverage if you are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant based on state residency, citizen or alien status and social security number

Medicaid Financial Eligibility

Financial Medicaid eligibility requirements are based on income and assets

Medicaid Categories

Those who are aged 65 year old or older, blind or disabled may be categorically eligible for Medicaid

Medicaid Enrollment

Many groups of people are covered by Medicaid but certain requirements must be met. To enroll in Medicaid, complete and sign the Medicaid application form, provide any necessary proof of eligibility and promptly report any changes in circumstances which may effect a person’s eligibility for Medicaid assistance

Tips for babysitting and how to find a babysitter including choosing an agency, specific training for childcare services, at what age can someone start babysitting and balancing job and studies with the baby sitting. Remember, when it come to child care, don’t panic and always try to keep a cool head.

Finding a Babysitter

• It is often handy to have a trusted baby sitter. Some organizations and online health forums offer lists of baby sitters. The best thing is to find a sitter referred by someone you know. That way trust will be more easily established. Search for a babysitter living in your neighborhood. Look at the bulletin board at your local supermarket or church, babysitting candidates will often leave an ad. Above all, know the baby sitter before you have a need for one. Do not wait until the last minute to find the childcare provider that will be looking after your little ones. Contact the potential babysitter and let them come to meet your child. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises and your children will be more confident and you will be too.

  Babysitting Tips

  Naps

  A good nap is key to a successful evening. Better to spend 20 minutes to lull a child to sleep than three hours waiting for the child to unsuccessfully fall asleep.

  Babysitting Tricks

  Bedtime

  Observe the rituals of the child. Some children need their blanket. Ensure that all items necessary for for falling asleep are there before starting to read a story to the child.

  ]]> http://www.communityhealthguide.org/finding-a-babysitter/babysitting-tips/feed/ 0 http://www.communityhealthguide.org/health-programs/community-health-eduction/ http://www.communityhealthguide.org/health-programs/community-health-eduction/#comments Wed, 15 Mar 2006 07:38:40 +0000 Community Health Journal http://community-health.info/?p=132 Community Health Programs

  Featuring an exciting array of programs and courses to serve community health initiatives including online registration. Find detailed information and offerings for continuing education, specific educational health education programs and physical health and wellness that you can register for in your local area.

  Health Classes

  Many communities will extend community and health education classes offerings such as:

  Swimming

  It’s never too late to develop swimming skills and learn to enjoy the water! Work at your own pace from basic fundamentals to more advanced swimming skills. Swimming instructors can help you develop the proficiency and confidence you desire to make you feel safe in, on and around the water and help make swimming an integral part of family health or your own personal health program.

  Karate

  Learn a Martial Art which dates back over 3000 years. Karate focuses on self discipline and self defense and teaches how to deal with aggression, non-aggressively.

  Yoga

  Yoga is made up of sequences of postures. The postures bring strength and flexibility and are synchronized with respiration. Important for mental, intellectual, spiritual and overall physical health and well being.

  Reflexology

  Reflexology can benefit anyone from children to seniors and every age in between. Reflexology is the modality of applying pressure at specific points on the feet, encouraging improved communication to glands, organs and all parts of the body. Reflexology is being performed in many hospitals and wellness centers. Become familiar with reflexology concepts and
  benefits and learn fitness http://community-health.info/?p=100 Senior Care Options

  There are many housing and service options available for home senior care. It’s important to understand your own personal needs and preferences to select the right community health housing and service options from those that are available.

  Community Health Senior Care

  Home Health Care

  Alzheimers Care

  For those exhibiting alzheimers symptoms, community health care resources are available

  Continuing Care Retirement Community

  Hospice Care

  Adult Day Care

  Senior Apartments

  Independent Living

  Assisted Living

  Dementia Care

  Nursing Centers

  Rehab Centers

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