Family Ever After Blog

Family Ever After Blog

Archives for December 2020

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Autism Self-Diagnosis in Adults

Awareness of autism and related disorders along the spectrum has grown a lot over the past few years. With this awareness, there has also been a growing trend of self-diagnosis among adults. The symptoms of adult diagnosis are, naturally, different from those exhibited by children. So, what does autism look like in adults?

Autism in Children Versus Adults

When clinicians present an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in children, they use several cues to identify the disorder:

·        Persistent difficulties in social interaction

·        Deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication

·        Sensitivity to visual, auditory, and physical stimuli

·        Intense focus on specific ideas or projects

·        Discomfort in social settings

·        Difficulty understanding social cues

In addition to these basic markers, there are  many other signs of autism. Do these markers look the same for adults who haven’t previously received a diagnosis?

Autism Versus Emotional Imbalance

If adults have experienced these symptoms throughout their lives, they have probably struggled with autism without receiving the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. In this case, an autism self-diagnosis could be a helpful first step in obtaining support and desired treatment.

However, if symptoms have developed in recent years, an autism diagnosis may be appropriate, or the adult could be experiencing an emotional imbalance. Some of the symptoms of an emotional imbalance look a lot like autism:

·        Social anxiety

·        Panic attacks

·        Obsessive-compulsive behaviors

However, other symptoms indicate an imbalance rather than autism. These include severe depression, unexplained sadness, and lethargy.

Treatment Methods for Emotional Imbalance

There are some things adults can do to determine whether they are experiencing an imbalance or adult-onset autism. For example, if adults gradually pick up the activities they once enjoyed, create more flexibility in their lives, and learn to tune out unwanted stimuli, they probably don’t have autism. Treatment for emotional imbalances is widely varied and is often determined by the adult and their chosen mental health professional.

Ways To Get an Accurate Autism Diagnosis and Treatment

Although there are online tests that may help adults self-diagnose their symptoms, the best way for adults to determine whether they have autism or an emotional imbalance is to contact a trained professional. Adults with the diagnosis are generally treated with behavioral therapy and specific tools that differ from those given to children.

Takeaway Points

When adults suspect they have autism, they may look for ways to self-diagnose before seeking help from mental health professionals. When clinicians become involved, they’ll generally use in-person communications and observations to make a diagnosis. Mental health professionals also consider symptoms reported by the adult. At this point, effective treatment is available.

Learn more about how clinicians evaluate autism spectrum disorder at WPS.

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5 Benefits of Moving a Family Member to Assisted Living

Moving a senior family member to an assisted living facility can feel overwhelming and intimidating for everyone, especially if they seem a little unsure about the idea. Change can be scary. Assisted living may make them feel incapable and old, which can lead to a bad reaction. However, just because a chapter ends, this doesn’t mean that a new and more suitable one can’t start. To help your senior family member make the right decision for them, you need to do some research together and let them know the pros. So, here are five benefits of moving a family member to assisted living.

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Reduces Loneliness and Isolation

Nothing is worse than feeling alone, especially as you start to go older. Even if you are a supportive family, many senior family members can feel isolated, especially if you lead busy lives and they have lost people close to them. Assisted living can prevent social isolation as it provides a community environment full of people to socialize with. Staff will encourage partaking in social events, which has its benefits.

Can Help with Finances

Elderly people can find it difficult to keep up with all of their bills and online payments as they grow older. They are also more susceptible to scams. Debt can pile up easily and quickly. This could get your senior family member in financial trouble and cause unnecessary stress. If they make the decision to move into assisted living, they will be able to manage their finances easier and keep their savings safe.

Offers Peace of Mind

Moving your senior family member to assisted living will give you both peace of mind. You will know that they are in safe hands with 24/7 healthcare available to them and plenty of people to make friends with. They will also be able to rest comfortably knowing this. To reassure you and your senior family member, there are considerations to make and questions to ask the staff and residents.

More Focus on Fun and Independence

Many seniors are put off moving into assisted living because they don’t want to lose their independence. However, residents in these communities are usually more independent and have more fun. This is because the customized care services and assistance ensure residents can do what they want to do, when they want to do it. There are also many fun activities and social events for them to take part in.

Safer and Better-Quality Living

Everything about assisted living is safer. The facility will be secured and there will be people on-site at all times. Transportation is readily available and safe, which is perfect for seniors who struggle to drive or can’t afford to own a car. There are great facilities on-site, like a gym and fun classes, which can improve quality of life. Residents can also get delicious and nutritious meals cooked for them.

Communication is key when it comes to making a big decision like this one. At the end of the day, it is your loved one’s choice whether or not to make that decision, you just need to support them and provide them with all of the information that they need to reassure them.

 

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3 Tips For Talking With Your Family About An Imminent Move

While moving yourself from one home or city to another can be an ordeal, having a family that you’re uprooting can make this whole process even more complicated. But while you might be dreading breaking the news to your kids, having this conversation early and in the right way can make things go much smoother for everyone involved.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for talking with your family about an imminent move.

Get Yourself In The Right Mindset Beforehand

Chances are that you’ve given yourself some time to come to grips with the reality of your move. And while you might be excited or hopeful, you may also be nervous or even upset about what this move could mean for your family. But while having all of those emotions is normal, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got yourself under control before you talk with your kids about moving.

According to Carrie of DistanceParenting.org, your kids will be able to tell if you’re not feeling very good about your decision to move, even if you’re trying to hide it. Because of this, they might feel negatively as well. So to do your best to avoid this, make sure you’ve gotten yourself in the right mindset about your move before talking with your family.

Expect Big Emotions

Once you’ve said your piece about your upcoming move, you should then give your kids time to express what they’re feeling about this news.

As far as the response from your kids, Dr. Sarah Ramsi, a contributor to Psychology Today, shares that there’s a chance that your kids will be upset or feel other big emotions when you tell them what’s going on. In this situation, the best thing for you to do is to allow them to express whatever it is they’re feeling and validate that you understand them. In time, things should calm down as you work through this process together.

Don’t Let Them Think They Have A Say If The Decision Has Been Made

Sometimes, parents come to their kids talking about an impending move before things have really been decided. If this is your plan, and you’re trying to get your kids’ thoughts on the matter, make sure you actually take what they’re saying into consideration.

On the other hand, Diane Schmidt, a contributor to The Spruce, shares that if the decision has already been made, don’t let your kids think that they have a say in the matter. Rather, let them know that you’re here for them if they need anything or want to talk but that the move will be happening regardless.

If you’re thinking about moving soon but are unsure how to best bring this up with your kids, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this conversation.

 

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3 Tips For Getting Your Toddler To Sleep Through The Night

As a parent, one of the best things in life is when your kids start sleeping through the night. Not only does this mean that your little one is likely getting better sleep, but you’re able to get some solid sleep now as well. However, if your toddler isn’t sleeping through the night yet, or isn’t doing so consistently, you may find yourself desperate to make this happen.

To help you in doing this, here are three tips for getting your toddler to sleep through the night.

Go Back To Classic Sleep Training Techniques

When your toddler was a baby, you may have tried some sleep training techniques meant to help him or her learn how to soothe themselves back to sleep. And while you might have thought that sleep training was over, this isn’t always the case.

If your toddler has started waking up at night again, or hasn’t completely gotten the hang of sleeping through the night, Julia Savacool, a contributor to Fatherly.com, recommends that you go back to some of the classic sleep training techniques. Specifically, you may want to try simply revisiting your child in their room if they wake up at night. When you notice on the baby monitor that they’re awake, go in briefly to help them calm down and then leave so they can fall back asleep on their own. While this might take a while to seem effective, it can help your child learn to go back to sleep quickly after waking up during the night.

Create The Right Sleep Environment

One reason why your toddler might have a hard time sleeping through the night could be because their room isn’t set up for the ideal sleep environment.

To create the optimal sleep space for your child, Marygrace Taylor, a contributor to What To Expect, recommends making sure that your child is physically comfortable by not being too hot or too cold. Also, you should consider adding a fan or other white noise machine in their room to block out any sounds that might be waking them up.

Be Consistent With Sleep Habits

What you and your toddler do prior to going to bed can have a big impact on how well he or she sleeps through the night. Knowing this, it’s vital that you’re consistent with your sleep habits.

Ideally, the Cleveland Clinic shares that your toddler should be going to sleep and waking up around the same time every day. Additionally, you and your toddler should go through the same routine each night leading up to going to bed, whether this means taking a warm bath, reading a bedtime story, or singing nursery rhymes.

If you’re having a hard time getting your toddler to sleep through the night, consider using the tips mentioned above to help everyone start to get more rest.

 

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How COVID Is Changing the Way We Manage Our Health

Our world has been flipped on its head by the COVID-19 pandemic. Going to the grocery store, heading to the office, dropping the kids off at school; none of it is the same as it was at the beginning of this year.

 

The pandemic has also changed our approaches to basic healthcare, where something as simple as an annual physical may be far different than years past. From hearing loss management to mental health to changing your medication, here are some ways COVID is changing how we manage our health.

 

Hearing Tests

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As you find yourself stuck at home, you may have noticed that your hearing isn’t quite what it used to be. Whether it’s having to raise the TV volume with your remote control or a noticeable ringing in the ears, hearing loss may be more of a concern for you than ever.

 

While in-person appointments with audiologists are limited these days, online hearing tests are available to assess where your audible issues may lie. If you discover that a hearing aid may be needed for the highest hearing performance, you can look into the latest treatments and equipment, including the Signia hearing aid for hearing loss and other hearing needs.

 

Signia hearing aids are designed with rechargeable batteries to make for superior connectivity and audio quality with daily use, including the ability to stream audio, like phone calls, TV, and music. A pair of hearing aids has become almost minimal accessories, down to the size where they can barely be seen, and create a natural experience of hearing.

 

Mental Health

In this current state of affairs where we are restricted to our household for most of the day, mental health is more important than ever. Thankfully, telemedicine has allowed patients to continue a high level of therapeutic care from the comfort of their homes. With the touch of a button, online therapy is right at your fingertips, allowing mental healthcare to be more accessible to those at home in quarantine. Dr. Bruce Rubenstein, a board-certified psychiatrist for over 25 years, has found that psychotherapy has gotten people through the most difficult of time while reflecting on the important things that give them stability in their lives.

 

There has become more of a personal preference towards telemedicine, as it spares traveling to a doctor’s office and allows for a more open calendar to conduct psychiatry appointments remotely with your smartphone.

 

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Vision Tests

Just like hearing tests and therapy sessions, online vision exams are able to evaluate your eyesight with just the touch of a button on your computer or iPhone. Online vision tests can determine how sharp your sight is, as well as your sensitivity to light, color-blindness, or the possibility of astigmatism brought on by blurry vision.

 

Online vision tests are designed for healthy adults who already have a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, and are at no risk for eye disease, like high blood pressure and diabetes.

 

Some of these tests are accessible through apps on your smartphone, with results that can direct you to proper ophthalmologic care. Some apps not only allow you to book follow-up appointments with a registered professional, they let you purchase glasses and contact lenses with a fresh prescription for your eyesight.

 

Physical Examination

Doctor’s offices and hospitals have found themselves forced to adapt to these difficult times, with limited in-person capabilities. However, physicians are now finding innovative ways to take on appointments, while respecting COVID-19 protocols.

 

Medical practices have allowed for appointments to take place in person with limited physical contact, with masks and other PPE required depending on the patient. Telemedicine appointments are available with the touch of a button, with a surge in sessions conducted over a computer or iPhone.

 

With so many questions on the future of healthcare, hospitals are adjusting to surge capacity and restructuring workforces to allow for accessibility to medication for patients, as well as standards of care known before. Whether you need to schedule an appointment with an audiologist, a psychiatry professional, or conduct an online eye exam; you can still proceed with important healthcare treatments from the safety of your own home.

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How to Find the Perfect Gift For All the Family

Finding gifts for our loved ones can often be one of the trickiest things to do in the holiday season, especially when you feel overwhelmed with choices of what to get for everyone. To help you work out the perfect gift to bring a smile to your family members’ faces, read on for some great suggestions of meaningful presents to wrap up this year.

Choose something practical

A practical gift might not seem like the most exciting at first glance, but if chosen well, it can be something truly meaningful that reminds the recipient of their relationship with you, whenever they use the item.

When it comes to buying a practical gift, there is always something for everyone. Keen cooks might enjoy some exceptional kitchen tools and kitchenware that will stand the test of time, while an ardent DIY fan will always appreciate a well made tool to add to the cabinet. There are great practical options for kids too, such as beautiful stationery for school, or sporting equipment for a team member.

Gift a subscription

If you can’t find one item that you can decide on, you could instead choose to give someone a whole year of gifts. A subscription to something they would enjoy can be a brilliant gift for a family, and there are plenty of different kinds of subscriptions to choose from.

For fashion lovers, a magazine subscription might make a wonderful gift, while someone who loves life’s little luxuries may really adore a subscription from Scent Magic, for a regular variety of perfumes to enjoy.

Give them your time

A gift doesn’t always have to involve spending enormous amounts of money and long lines in store. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts a person can receive can be the most deceptively simple. A gift of time might not immediately seem like a lot, but for someone with a busy lifestyle, it can be a welcome treat.

There are many ways that you can offer someone more time and connection. Busy parents who are stressed and tired may appreciate a regular offer of a helping hand, or a chance to take a break themselves. For younger family members who might be feeling overlooked by adults’ working lives, the chance to spend quality time together doing a fun activity of their choice can be a great way to bond and make a valuable connection.

Make them something yourself

Homemade gifts are often associated with reams of sticky tape and misshapen ornaments, but they can actually be great gifts, when done well. Think of your skills and use them to create something special.

If you are an expert in the kitchen, some delicious homemade treats can make the perfect present, especially when presented well. Try making a hamper collection of jams, pickles, preserves, or baked goods. If woodwork is more your thing, you might like to craft a practical but beautifully made item that can be used around the home.

 

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Keeping Your Kids Occupied at Home

Because of the pandemic, families are spending significantly more time at home than they did at this time last year. While many kids understand what’s going on and the need to stay at home, it doesn’t make it any more pleasant. Kids get bored easily without a plan for structured activity. As a parent, you might be asking yourself, “what can I do?”

Parents have a tendency to recommend the obvious; reading, playing a board game, etc. When children reject those ideas, they end up sitting idly at the computer or television, and sometimes they even pick fights with each other. Times like these call for more creative ideas

The infographic, Engaging At-Home Activities for Kids, suggests a variety of ideas you might not have thought of otherwise. The piece provides ideas for crafts, learning and healthy activities that can keep kids occupied for hours. You might even catch a break and get some of your own work done!

Most of these ideas are cheap and don’t require a lot of money or resources. In fact, many of these suggestions involve using free online resources. As long as you have an internet connection and a printer at home, you can provide kids new coloring pages, puzzles, games and math worksheets. It’s easy, and we hope our suggestions are only the beginning of ideas for keeping your kids busily learning!

Take a look at the infographic we created to let you in on a few ideas that we came up with for combating boredom at home. We hope you use these as a springboard to come up with more ideas. Whatever you may think of the Internet for kids, remember: It’s a helpful resource for children’s learning websites and activities. Read on if you’re ready for your kids to start having fun at home!

Engaging At-Home Activities for Kids from ClickInks

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How to Buy Insurance for a Rental Property

Rental properties are a great avenue to earn additional income. If renting out a residential property for the first time, you may not realize the risks and liabilities that tag along. You need landlord insurance to cover any liabilities arising in a home where you don’t reside.

Whether you’re renting out an apartment, home, or space inside your own home, you need to buy insurance for rental property to protect yourself and your property.

Why You Need Landlord Insurance

Landlord insurance gives a landlord an added home insurance coverage for exposure to any lawsuit filed by the tenants. Whether you’re renting out a house or apartment unit, you need to get the insurance for a rental property to cover the risk that arises out of renting to a tenant.

Consider the below scenarios:

  • Lost Rental Income: You may find that a tenant has paid the rent, but you never received it. Now, the same tenant wants to sue you for wrongful evictions.
    • You can handle this situation with landlord insurance, as it offers temporary rental reimbursement to cover the money.
  • Property Damage: The tenant may leave something on the stove, and the house catches fire, destroying your personal property and appliances which you rented along with the property.
    • To handle this situation, you can get coverage for risks, such as a natural disaster, fire, earthquake, electric/gas malfunction, etc. If possible, choose a policy that offers replacement cost rather than actual cash value.
  • Liability Protection: Sometimes, a tenant may be injured badly while cleaning the window. In a lawsuit, they may claim that their injury is your fault and try to make you pay for the medical bills.
    • You can get coverage for medical or legal costs that arise if any tenant or visitor suffers injury due to a property maintenance issue.
  • Your insurance for rental property will not only cover the property but will provide liability coverage, protecting you from such lawsuits.

Rental Home Insurance for Your Basement Apartment

If you want to rent out a section of your property or a basement apartment, you need to check with your insurance agent first. It may be necessary to secure your separate entrance. Make sure you remain compliant with the carrier’s requirements.

Don’t just choose a minimum coverage if you’re renting out a room. Insurance has to be taken for a rental unit that is attached to your home. At least, write a clause in your lease that requires a tenant to carry rental insurance at all times during the lease.

How to Get Rental Property Insurance?

When shopping for insurances, make sure you ask your homeowner insurance provider about a bundle of options. Don’t simply assume that it will cover all damages and liabilities while you’re not living in the property. Before you begin price shopping, talk to your agent extensively about the type of rental dwelling, consider what you need to address, and protect your rental property.

If you’re looking to protect your home and rent it out nicely, landlord insurance is necessary. It offers additional landlord liability coverage for the risks associated with being a landlord.