Birth injuries happen due to various medical reasons. However, in cases where they occur as a result of medical negligence, parents can take legal action against the party responsible. This is where a birth injury lawyer comes in handy to help the aggrieved party understand his rights and ensure the parent proves their case. Given the complications associated with these cases, parents are obliged to look for a good birth trauma attorney cases. Here are useful tips:

Know where to find the lawyer
The traditional methods compel you to call a few friends and relatives, peruse the Yellow Pages or browse the Internet. The readily available reviews on companies’ websites provide adequate proof for you to find a reliable attorney. While all such resources prove useful, the aggrieved party should determine to visit the lawyer’s firm. Here, he will determine how long the firm has been practicing and the kind of birth injury cases it deals in. Request for previous client’s contacts may help erase any fears you may have.

Look at the lawyer’s experience in related cases

Los Angeles healthcare attorney – specialize in various birth injuries: Cerebral palsy, brain damage and bone fractures among others. Regardless of the kind of birth injury the lawyer deals with, parents should focus on the attorney’s experience in similar birth injury cases. Birth injury in Philadelphia is also considered a personal injury case. As such, some victims engage personal injury lawyers to take on their birth trauma cases. On the contrary, personal injury lawyers have little or no knowledge about birth injuries, hence reduce your chances of proving your case.

How to prove your case

The attorney has to show that:
• The defendant (nurse, medical facility, obstetrician) had a legal duty of care to you and the baby
• The defendant is in breach of legal duty
• The defendant’s breach of the standard of care brought harm to your child
The lawyer will also engage expert witnesses to interpret the medical procedures under normal pregnancy and delivery, the complications in your case, and their opinion as to whether the injury occurred due to the complications.

Compensation from a birth injury claim

Where the child suffers severe birth injuries due to medical negligence, the family is entitled to monetary compensation in the form of a trust. However, recent legislative laws limit the amount of damages the plaintiff obtains from a birth trauma claim to provide for both intangible (reduced quality of life) and monetary losses that include:

• The victim’s pain and suffering
• Any future medical expenses
• Lost earnings where a parent’s working hours are reduced or loses employment
• Past medical expenses and extra healthcare costs like counseling in-home care and home modifications

Additionally, in a case where the child has a defect at birth, the parent may also bring a medical malpractice suit against the caregiver or hospital. Here, he claims damages for the emotional distress that arises from the child’s birth defect.

It is, therefore, important that parents enter a lawsuit with particular expectations. Birth trauma cases are different, and the law of torts varies from one state to another. As such, while one plaintiff may win damages for all the above reasons, another obtains compensation for only a few.

Christmas can be a difficult time for some people, especially the elderly but the right senior care for your loved one can really make all the difference.

We all want what is best for our loved ones and when it comes to senior care it can be difficult to know what to do for the best for an elderly relative. Care home are just one of the many options available and if you feel that this may not be the bestchoice for your elderly relative then there are other options available such as live in care which it is worth considering.

Senior care within the home environment can be the perfect choice for an elderly relative who needs some help on a day to day basis but can still benefit from the independence of remaining in their own home, this can be especially true for anyone suffering with dementia where familiar surroundings can really help them.

Familiar surroundings

For an elderly person or indeed anyone who finds themselves in their own, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time with limited contact with other people. As children grow up and move away they may want to spend the day with their own families in their own homes, distance and lack of space may make it difficult for an elderly relative to come and stay with them. They may also be on their own because their spouse is deceased, this of course can make it a particularly difficult time, especially for the first few years.

Being in the familiar surroundings of their own home can really make a huge difference to an elderly person with all their own belongings and familiar Christmas decorations around them. If they are unable to travel to see relatives, whether this is due to distance, cost or lower mobility that makes travelling difficult, this will give them the independence to have family members over. It may also allow them to carry on some of their traditional Christmas activities that they have been doing for years.

Elderly care in the home can help make all of this possible and provide your elderly relative with comforting and familiar surroundings at a time of year that many older people find difficult.

Someone to share with

When family live far away it may not be possible for them to visit on the day but with home care your elderly relative will not be on their own. This can give you real peace of mind. They will have someone to talk to during the holidays, whether they simply want to watch Christmas television or have a roast dinner the main thing is that they will not be on their own. All too often elderly people on their own do not do the traditional Christmas things that they want to, and have been doing for years, simply because it doesn’t seem worth making the effort for just one person.

If you have a home-care job interview approaching, then these techniques can help ensure that your interview is a success.

Applying for your first role as a live-in carer can be daunting. Whether your interview is with a home care agency, or with the family of the person you are caring for; you are likely to be entering an environment to which you are new to and this can cause feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty.

The key to any successful job interview is confidence. While this may be the exact opposite of how you actually feel, appearing confident will ensure that the people interviewing you see your best qualities. Confidence in yourself inspires confidence in your abilities from others which is why it is so important when you are applying for such an important role as a carer.

If you are feeling nervous as your interview approaches, then these tips should help to build your confidence before the big day.

Be yourself

Being a live-in carer is a very personal job and you will spend a lot of time 1-on-1 with your client. Therefore it essential that you let your personality shine through at your interview. There is no point putting on an act as your agency and your client will need to get a good idea of who you are in order to determine the perfect client for you to work with. It is essential that you gel and get on well with your client so you should always be completely yourself from the outset.

Ask questions

As important that it is that your agency and your client like your personality, it is also important that you enjoy the company of your client and you enjoy your role. Think of questions you would like to ask before your interview and prepare a list to take with you to ensure that you don’t forget anything. This will help you to get a good grasp of the job itself, what will be expected of you and whether or not it is what you definitely want to do. Asking questions also leaves a good impression on potential employers as it shows enthusiasm and interest in the role.

Be prepared

Becoming a live-in carer is a big responsibility and is unlike any other job. It is not something that you should decide to do on a whim and potential employers will be able to spot candidates who have not thought their decision through. In order to leave a good first impression, and also to ensure that you are up for such a challenge, you should do your research on the job role and the agency to which you are applying. A quick internet search should result in information on the care agency, their goals as a business as well as their ethical approach to caring, and you can find out more at The Live In Care Hub and other websites about the duties and responsibilities of a live-in carer.

Relax

The best tip for any job interview is to relax as much as possible. Preparation beforehand can help with this, but also remember that people in the care business are compassionate and kind and these are the people who are likely to be conducting your interview. Smile and take a deep breath before you enter the room and let your personality do the rest.

Here are some simple, useful tips to help you make the most of the festive period when you are caring for someone living with dementia.

By 2025 there will be over 1 million people living with dementia in the UK. The condition can be challenging at any time of the year, but at Christmas even more so as emotions are heightened and the day to day routines likely to change.

If you are caring for someone with dementia and find the prospect of Christmas difficult to deal with, here are a few things that can help you approach the festivities in a festive spirit without getting overwhelmed.

Try To Get Involved When You Can

Christmas doesn’t have to mean people remain separate from all the activities going on just because they have dementia.Putting up a few decorations and writing some Christmas cards can be great ways to get involved without being in stressful situations or environments. Or why not try making some decorations and Christmas cards – there are plenty of festive craft products at this time of year to use for a fun activity.

Slowly Introduce Christmas

Routine is important for people with dementia, so it might be a challenge putting up all your decorations or writing all your cards in one go. Instead, try slowly putting the tree and the decorations up so you can gently get used to them without a major change to the home environment. Or try a small, ready-decorated table-top tree that won’t take up too much room.

Do Avoid The Christmas Crowds

Christmas shopping is stressful for even the most calm, level-headed person. One major part of the stress is the crowds and the loud shops with lots of people in them and usually loud music playing. You can avoid this by doing shopping online so you don’t have to brace yourself for the shops. If you are an older family care-giver and not proficient online then why not ask a younger family member to help you, and the person you care for, with some online shopping tips. That can be a great way to involve younger people in your festivities.

Alternatively get help at this stressful time of year by having homecare services where a professional carer can come to your home and help out with caring for your loved one. You can find out more about home care and live-in care from the non-profit group The Live-in Care Hub.

Enjoy Memories

Memories you can enjoy with friends and family will help Christmas be an enjoyable time. Hunt out a favourite song, a film or old photos – enjoying memories from the past is a really lovely way to enjoy Christmas for people living with dementia.

Don’t Expect Too Much

Remember you don’t need to do too much just because it’s Christmas if all it does iscreate additional stress – it should be a joyous time after all. Health and wellbeing are more important than anything else and people should feel safe and happy not stressed and frightened. Many people with dementia find a change in routine at Christmas stressful and the crowds and noise can be scary. So keep to routines and limit the amount of social activities if the situation becomes overwhelming.

Great gift ideas and inspiration to help you get the perfect gift for your elderly loved one, including thoughtful and practical ideas and options.

Buying Christmas presents can be challenging, especially when you are buying for the older loved ones in your life who seem to already have everything they need.

It can be difficult because you want to make them smile, and you want to give them something they will love, but often writing down a gift idea for them draws a blank.

If you can relate to this challenge and you’re struggling to think of what you can buy an older loved one this Christmas, take a look at these 6 Christmas present ideas to help inspire you to get them the perfect present this festive season:

1. Your Time

It sounds like a cliché but, your time really is the most important gift you can give anyone, especially an older relative who may be struggling with loneliness at this time of year. Even worse, your older relative may not feel they can let you know they would love a coffee and a cake, rather than a wrapped gift. According to statistics, around50% of people will hide their feelings at Christmas to make others happy.

So why not wrap up a little stocking filler like some socks or hand cream to give, but make the actual gift an afternoon tea at a local posh eatery or even a weekend away with them? Your time is valuable to them, and that could be the best gift you give them this Christmas. If they have live-in carers, do speak to them about accompaniment for help with care on days out.

2. A Personal Sat Nav

Mini sat navs are a safety item that help loved ones ensure their elderly relative is safe. It is a practical gift but a very useful gift that could provide peace of mind for everyone.

3. A SAD Light

Seasonal Affective Disorder can be reallydifficult for those who struggle with it and the elderly spend more time indoors than others, so are likely to get even less exposure to the happy feelings released when we go out into the fresh air and natural light. An SAD light could be a great gift to help them get a therapeutic dose of artificially replicated natural light.

4. A Smoke Alarm

The chance of an elderly person dying doubles if they live on their own and without a fire alarm. It is an effective Christmas gift you could buy somebody, complete with a connected vibrating pad for their bed if they are hard of hearing (the pad vibrates if the alarm goes off).

5. A Hot Water Bottle

Some elderly people may still have the same hot water bottle they have had for decades, making it unsafe and difficult to use. Why not buy them a brand new one so they can have their bed warmed up and cosy during the colder winter nights?

6. A Christmas Hamper

Why not give them the gift of a beautiful Christmas hamper you have made? It could include all sorts from tasty hot soups, to blankets, fluffy socks, and even safety accessories like those mentioned above.

Does Your Relative Need Some Support?

It may be that your relative needs more than a special gift this year to truly improve their quality of life. Maybe they have been struggling with household chores or, they have mobility issues and aren’t keeping their usual routines because of it. If you have noticed they are struggling but might not be saying, why not speak to them about getting some help? Assisted living, live-in carers, home care, care homes and nursing homes are all potential options to help them get a better quality of life. The first step is speaking to the GP and getting a care assessment. You will also find lots of handy information about live-in carers on the Live-in Care Hub website.