Last Updated on April 20, 2026 by Sarah Wilson 2.5 Days in Cartagena: A Hot, Colourful End to My Colombia Trip Cartagena was the final stop on my two-and-a-half-week trip around Colombia. I arrived just after 2 pm, and the heat and humidity hit me immediately. It felt nothing like Bogotá. I stayed at Casa […]
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Discover the perfect Madrid 2 day itinerary with historic squares, world-class museums, tapas bars, parks, and the best places to stay in Spain’s capital.
The post Madrid 2 Day Itinerary: How To Spend The Perfect Weekend In Spain’s Capital appeared first on Going Awesome Places by William Tang.
Plan the perfect trip with this 4 day Bremen itinerary, including the best things to do in Bremen and a day trip to Bremerhaven. Discover historic sites, museums, and local highlights in this underrated part of Germany.
The post How To Spend 4 Days In Bremen And Bremerhaven In Germany – An Itinerary appeared first on Going Awesome Places by William Tang.
This post was originally published on this site.
Fifteen U.S. airmen were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal in a Tuesday ceremony for their work in flying missions in contested airspace during recent combat operations.
Maj. Gen. Charles Bolton, the 18th Air Force Commander, presided over the ceremony and bestowed the medals upon the Fairchild Air Force Base airmen, assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, according to a Wednesday release.
“These historic missions were fraught with peril and required decisive reactions to dynamic operational environments,” Bolton said during the ceremony. “The way they choose to respond, the way they adapt and work together – that’s what we’re highlighting today.”
During missions in contested airspace, the airmen provided crucial refueling that allowed for other Air Force “assets to continue the fight and return home,” the release reads.
The release says the airmen were involved in Operation Midnight Hammer — the Jan. 22, 2025 U.S. attack on three main Iranian nuclear facilities — but did not detail the extent of their involvement.
Bolton said during the ceremony that the members’ skills and perseverance led to the success of the overall mission, and he acknowledged the efforts of all Fairchild’s personnel in the mission, as well.
“From maintainers ensuring aircraft readiness, to mission planners and support crews, none of this could happen without the collective efforts of our Air Force family,” Bolton said.
The ceremony drew a crowd of around 300 people, the release says, with Fairchild personnel, local community heads and family members in attendance.
Fairchild Air Force Base, located in Spokane County, Washington, houses the force’s premier tanker base and survival training school, according to the base’s website.
The Distinguished Flying Cross recognizes heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight, and the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism in combat.
One of the challenges of obtaining home health care for seniors is its cost, which is often beyond the means of people and their families. The cost barrier is especially true of aides hired through private home health agencies, which is often considerably more expensive than hiring an aide directly.
On my Risking Old Age in America podcast, I recently talked with Wendy Adlerstein, co-owner of First Light Home Care in west suburban Boston, about the benefits of hiring assistance through an agency and what goes into the extra cost. She also calls for statewide licensure of home health agencies to make sure they all provide what they promise.
Here are some extracts from our discussion:
Risking Old Age in America (ROA): How difficult or easy is it to recruit home health workers?
Wendy Adlerstein: It’s definitely a laborious process. We have a team specifically dedicated just for recruiting and hiring. They screen hundreds of candidates. And we really only hire about 3 percent of the people we talk to.
ROA: How has the recent immigration crackdown affected your recruiting or your current employees?
Adlerstein: Unfortunately, we definitely see that there has been a shift. Certainly the pool of caregivers that are available is shrinking. One of the big things that we also see is the renewal process for employee authorization documentation is extremely slow, if not completely stopped.
ROA: How much do you pay your employees?
Adlerstein: In this region, agencies pay caregivers between $19 and $24 an hour.
ROA: And you pay FICA and other benefits?
Adlerstein: Yes. They’re all W-2 employees.
ROA: I understand that Massachusetts is one of the few states that doesn’t regulate home health agencies and that people in your field actually would prefer to have regulation. Why is that?
Adlerstein: Yes, that is a very big topic right now because there’s a bill in the legislature that is getting some traction this time around. It would create standards that replicate what we are already doing. Unfortunately, there are agencies out there that do not follow the same guidelines. This can create some safety issues and concerns for anyone opening their home and letting someone come in without all the proper oversight and background checks. Licensure would standardize and professionalize home care in Massachusetts.
Listen to the entire conversation here.
Topics
00:29 Overview of the Home Healthcare Agency
01:13 Benefits of Being Part of a Franchise
01:52 Wendy’s Background and Journey
02:54 Differences Between Private and Nonprofit Home Care
03:38 Typical Clients and Home Health Aides
04:59 Recruitment and Vetting Process
06:15 Impact of Immigration Policies
08:46 Employee Compensation and Client Costs
14:09 Regulation and Licensing in Home Care
20:12 Challenges and Recommendations 24:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
For more from Harry Margolis, check out his Risking Old Age in America blog and podcast. He also answers consumer estate planning questions at AskHarry.info. To stay current on the Squared Away blog, join our free email list.
Plan your trip with this complete Egypt packing list, including exactly what to wear in Egypt for temples, cities, and desert conditions. Learn what to pack for the heat, cultural expectations, and long sightseeing days.
The post Egypt Packing List – What To Wear, Camera Gear, And More! appeared first on Going Awesome Places by William Tang.
Last Updated on April 20, 2026 by Sarah Wilson If you’re looking for an easy weekend escape from busy Bogotá, the colonial town of Villa de Leyva is a great choice. I spent 1.5 days here and loved the slow pace, mountain views, and relaxed atmosphere. Getting to Villa de Leyva I booked my bus […]
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Discover the best time to visit Puerto Rico with this seasonal guide covering weather, crowds, hurricane season, and the best months for beaches, festivals, and budget travel.
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Home care for elderly people is somewhat misunderstood as a medical service. While it can include home health, home care is practical aid that brings bonus benefits: socialization, cognitive stimulation, personal empowerment, dignity, and comfort for your aging loved one. Families also benefit from peace of mind and vital support.
ADLs are activities of daily living. According to the National Institutes of Health, the ability to carry out these tasks defines an individual’s level of functioning (more here). Someone who cannot carry out ADLs requires intensive assistance, whether that’s from a family caregiver or a professional.
Examples of ADLs include:
Someone who cannot do these activities independently often ends up in full-time care outside their own home. While this is sometimes the best option, it can come with downsides in the form of the senior’s lost sense of agency, comfort, and dignity. In addition, not all families can afford this option, or want it. In this case, they turn to in-home options (their elderly parent’s home, or moving them into their own).
Another type of ADL assistance is for IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living. Some of these are:
Professional caregivers typically work on a customizable basis in your elderly loved one’s home, performing ADLs and some IADLs. (Many of our clients see their caregiver daily for a few hours, or just a few days per week.) Some benefits of in-home care are:
Decreased hospital readmission rates. Post-discharge care is known to impact whether a patient makes a full recovery without additional hospital visits. A professional caregiver monitoring your loved one’s routine—everything from taking meds on time to drinking water—means the doctor’s aftercare instructions are followed. It also means attentive help to prevent falls and quick response to emergencies, like post-surgical infections.
Cleaner, safer living environment. A caregiver can help keep your loved one’s home tidy and organized, reducing the risk of falls and other injury and preventing overwhelm from incomplete chores. On paper, a caregiver is doing dishes and laundry and making the bed; in practice, they are maintaining an uplifting, tranquil, and sanitary living environment.
Quick and informed eyes and ears. A caregiver is alert to changes in your senior loved one’s health, including mental health. They will notice depressed moods or pessimism, as well as frequent headaches or shaking hands. They will notice signs of cognitive decline and memory loss. They may hear about questionable activity before you do, like online or phone-based scams. They will also quickly know about home maintenance needs, like a drafty door or a leaking sink. Their routine attention ensures you know sooner about issues that need a response.
Socialization and cognitive support. If the caregiver is a good fit, your elderly loved one will look forward to spending time with them. Along with practical assistance, they provide conversation and moral support. They can also play games with your loved one to keep them intellectually engaged, encourage creative activities, or help them do their PT-approved exercises to maintain brain and body health. Beyond tasks like cooking and cleaning, a caregiver helps raise your loved one’s spirits and live a fuller daily life.
Family support. A good caregiver will educate the family about their senior’s care and available resources they might not know about, based on their experience with many other elderly clients. They are a wealth of knowledge about routines that work, self-care and respite care, and getting what you need from a busy healthcare provider.
Agency and self-direction. Caring for the elderly in their own home, versus in an institution, gives them a greater sense of independence. They are able to voice their preferences, from the temperature in the house to what they’ll have for dinner. Particularly when your loved one begins to need more help, options for elderly care at home can feel easier to accept and get used to.
Beginning home care can be intimidating. When it comes to your elderly loved one, broaching the subject takes sensitivity and empathy, as well as preparation. Gather information about your options, costs, and benefits your loved one qualifies for. (Veterans and their spouses tend to underuse their available VA benefits.) Take stock of their needs and desires, and get their genuine consent to make a collaborative plan.
Families sometimes have differing opinions about how to help parents or grandparents, who will do what, who will pay for what, and who will be a point of contact. Make an intentional plan with siblings and be transparent about what your loved one needs in terms of care. Home care is often a lifesaver when everyone has full time work and children, or when families are spread across the country and can’t be physically available.
When screening agencies and caregivers, look for verifiable experience and qualities such as reliability, patience, and interpersonal abilities. Use reviews and references. Get deeply involved early on so you can feel confident trusting them in the long term.
In-home care can be the best alternative to providing all their care yourself or moving your loved one into a care institution. If your loved one needs home care, our VetAssist mission is to make home care easily and quickly accessible for those who qualify through the VA Pension with Aid and Attendance benefit. Veterans Home Care can help you determine whether you or your loved one will be eligible to receive the benefit, which can cover some or all of the cost of home care, and we make it easy to apply. Chat with us via our website, or call us at (888) 314-6075.
The post What Is In-Home Care? An Overview of Support for the Elderly and Their Families appeared first on Veterans Home Care – VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit.
Last Updated on April 20, 2026 by Sarah Wilson After enjoying the peaceful mountains of Salento in the coffee region, arriving in Bogotá felt like stepping into another world. The city is busy, energetic, and full of contrasts. To make things easy, I pre-booked an airport transfer. I based myself in La Candelaria (the old […]
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