Home Health Care

Free Home Health Aide Training
By EM August
The first step to taking free home health aide training is making sure you meet the requirements. First of all, a potential course seeker will need to be over the age of 18. Next off, the student will need to be able to read and write English at at least a 6th grade reading level. While not required to take courses, having a clean legal record will be an important step in making sure the health aide will be able to qualify for a job after the free home health aide training is finished. Finally, a potential job seeker should be able to lift somewhere in the are of 45-65 pounds. If you can meet these requirements, you will be all set to pursue a career and education in the home health aide field.
The best way to proceed with free health aide training is to reach out to a local HHA agency and see if any courses are available. Home health aid agencies are monitored at the state and federal level by the health service department of record. This ensures that the proper and in demand skills are being taught and that the student will learn to do their job the legal and proper way. The other reason for this oversight is to ensure that the trained HHA is able to receive payments from medicare or medicaid (which requires state sanctioned training).
Contacting an Agency for Free Home Health Aide Training
Free Home Health Aide Training
When contacting the HHA agency, you should be straightforward and ask specifically if there is a free HHA training available. If there is, go ahead and ask about the requirements and time frame of these classes. Agencies often times require that you work with them for a certain amount of time after receiving free health aide training but this can be viewed more like a paid internship than anything else. The standard time period is 1 year. When applying for free training make sure to ask about this part of the deal.
Another way to search for free HHA training is to ask your local state Department of Labor. They should have information about what, if any, free HHA training is available. Some states may provide free training directly with no expectation that the student work for the state. These courses are often time aligned with unemployment training.
The other chief method of finding free home health aide courses is to go online. There is a plethora of free HHA training available. To find these courses the first step is to head to your favorite search engine like Google and just do a simple search for "free HHA training" and see what comes up. Keep in mind that online coursework is often times harder than in person course work due to the lack of accountability so this option may not be best suited for everyone. Also be aware that there are many organizations that will claim to be accredited HHA agencies or education institutes but are not. It is recommended that you all up your state health services department to find out more about the free online courses you come across.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6642359
Three Health Care Myths
There are lots of myths about health care these days. With the recent passing of the new health care law commonly known as Obamacare, rumors and myths abound. People who haven't been able to afford insurance worry about being fined for not having coverage. Others who have been denied coverage in the past wonder if they'll now be able to get the insurance they need. Nearly everyone is nervous about the cost of health coverage premiums going through the roof. I'd like to address some of the more prevalent myths that many people have today concerning this topic.
People with pre-existing conditions can't get health insurance
Some people who have been denied coverage by major medical companies might believe this one. They desperately need health coverage but may have been turned down again and again. Believe it or not, there are companies out there that NEVER turn people down. Some might be asking "How can I find one?" The answer is through a health insurance broker. They deal with multiple companies including those that accept everyone. Pre-existing conditions don't have to prevent you from getting the coverage you need for you and your family.
Health Care isn't affordable
The cost of health insurance has risen dramatically over recent years. Some people have chosen to play Russian Roulette hoping to avoid major medical bills while saving on monthly premiums. The problem is that people don't get enough options from their employers or just don't shop around. Each individual has to decide the value of health coverage for themselves, their family, and what they can actually afford. A health care broker deals with dozens of plans and can usually find one within your price range that offers the protection you need.
Premiums always go up
Some people think that even if they can afford health insurance now, eventually their rates will go up and they won't be able to afford coverage in the future. This may come as a shock, but there are companies out there that NEVER raise their rates. How can you find such a company? Once again the answer is a health insurance broker. Most companies won't promise to keep your rates the same, but there are a few who keep their rates low and consistent. How? They are limited benefit plans that allow the insurer to know their cost limits so they don't have to raise their rates every few years.
With the right information people can see through today's myths and make intelligent decisions concerning their health care needs. If you have a pre-existing condition you don't have to live without health insurance. Although they may have limited benefits, there are plans out there that are affordable. Lastly, you can have peace of mind that the plan you choose won't raise its rate and leave you without coverage. A health coverage broker can help you find the plan that is best for you and your family.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6627597

Is Your Child's Coughs and Colds A Sign 
of Illness or Allergy
By Juanita Swindell
When a child gets sick, it is always a stressful and confusing time. Do they have the flu, the common cold or an allergy attack? Even the simplest symptoms, like coughs and colds can send the average parent into panic mode, until they can get the child to a pediatrician to find out what is really going on. In this article we will give you the symptoms you need to watch for, and explain the difference between a simple illness and an allergic reaction.
Coughs and Colds
The most common reason that toddler age children are brought to see their pediatrician in an emergency situation is because they have suddenly developed a cough or cold, without warning. The good news is that most toddlers, and older children, will experience at least three to ten colds a year, especially if they are of school age and each one could last up to 14 days before all symptoms disappear. It is rare that any of these colds will develop into something worse, especially if you treat the symptoms accordingly, under a doctor's care.
Colds are caused by the rhinovirus, one that is especially easy to transfer from one child to another. Coughing without covering their mouths, or sneezing and then touching a commonly shared item will immediately transfer the virus to someone else, unless precautions, like hand sanitizers, are taken. The symptoms of a cold include sneezing, a runny nose, coughing, a mild fever and sore throats. As it works its way out of your child's system, as their immune system takes over, their nose might become stuffed, and their coughing will worsen, as the body tries to get rid of the building mucus. If you are concerned that it might be something more, take your child to their pediatrician for a checkup.
Respiratory Infections
In rare cases, the coughing will linger on after the rest of the symptoms of a cold have left. There might be leftover mucus caught up in the nasal passages or chest, and the coughing is a sign of it clearing up. If you do not notice any release of mucus, nothing coming up when your child coughs, then take them to see their pediatrician for a checkup, in case it may be a sign of something else, like a mild respiratory infection.
If your child has a cough, as well as a persistent fever, chronic mucus, or their breathing becomes labored, a trip to the pediatric is very important at this stage. Treating them at home with over-the-counter cough medicine, even those that are age appropriate may not be enough. Symptoms like these could mean that they are developing bronchitis, pneumonia, croup or even asthma, and should be examined closely by your pediatrician.
Allergies
A lot of allergies can have the same basic symptoms, exactly like those of coughs and colds. Not all children develop a fever during a cold, and the only way to determine for certain that it is a cold is to visit the pediatrician. However, if, your child develops a rash, their breathing becomes labored, or you can feel swelling around their throat, under their chin, or alongside their ears, it may be the beginning signs of an allergic reaction. Some parents, especially those with allergies themselves, will make it a point to have their children undergo the basic allergy tests that their pediatrician can administer. Just because the parent has an allergy or asthma, it does not mean that the child will but it is always best to be on the side of caution in these circumstances.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6647596