retirement community - Choosing the right retirement community for your lifestyle

Choosing the right retirement community for your lifestyle

As we near retirement age, the prospect of moving into a retirement community can be both exciting and daunting. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which community is the best fit for our individual lifestyles and needs.

retirement age 300x144 - Choosing the right retirement community for your lifestyleThe importance of location in selecting a retirement community

First and foremost, it’s important to consider the location of the retirement community. Do you want to stay close to your current home and community, or are you open to exploring new areas? Will the community be accessible to friends and family, or will it require long distance travel to visit?

As we age, the support of loved ones becomes increasingly valuable, and being close to them can make all the difference in our overall happiness and well-being.

Additionally, the accessibility of healthcare is a key factor in choosing a retirement location. Easy access to medical facilities, hospitals, and doctors is essential for maintaining our health as we grow older.

retirement home 300x195 - Choosing the right retirement community for your lifestyleFurthermore, the climate of a potential retirement location is also worth considering. For those with health conditions that are affected by extreme temperatures, a temperate climate can be a game-changer. On the other hand, some may crave the warmth of the sun and opt for a retirement community in a warmer climate.

But location is not just about practicalities. It also plays a role in our overall quality of life. A retirement community with access to cultural activities, such as museums, theater, and concerts, can provide endless opportunities for enrichment and entertainment. A vibrant and diverse community can also offer a plethora of dining and shopping options, making it an ideal location for those who love to explore and experience new things.

However, it is also worth considering the cost of living in a potential retirement location. While a desirable location may come with a higher price tag, it is important to weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks of a less expensive but less desirable location.

Next, consider the amenities and activities offered by the retirement community. Is there a variety of options to keep you engaged and active, or will you be limited in your choices? Do the facilities and services meet your current and potential future needs?

retirement years 300x200 - Choosing the right retirement community for your lifestyleAdditionally, it’s important to research the reputation and financial stability of the retirement community. Are there any red flags in their history, such as frequent staff turnover or financial mismanagement? Can they provide a clear and transparent breakdown of their fees and services?

It’s also crucial to tour the community and speak with current residents. This will give you a firsthand look at the facilities and allow you to get a sense of the community culture and atmosphere. Are the residents friendly and welcoming? Do they seem engaged and active?

Ultimately, the decision to move into a retirement community should be carefully considered and thoroughly researched. It’s a big decision that will impact the rest of your retirement years, so take the time to find the right fit for your lifestyle and needs. With a little bit of diligence and discernment, you can find the perfect retirement community to call home.

 

The Importance Of Using Cascading Style Sheets

The Importance Of Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

freelance programmer 300x200 - The Importance Of Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)Cascading Style Sheets, better known as CSS, have become a staple tool in website design. In short, CSS is the way in which web designers separate the presentation or design of a web site from the structure or the markup. By using CSS a web designer can built his web site so that any style or presentation changes he wants to make in the future can all be handled in one place. This consolidation of resources is not only helpful to the web design professional but also to the site visitor as well.

When you use CSS the idea is to generate very clean HTML markup that has absolutely no built-in styling. That means when you write a heading you use the < h1 > tag alone with no extra tags to define the heading’s font, color, size, etc. Then you built a separate file with a .css extension where you define tag styles. In your CSS file, you would then tell the browser how the < h1 > tag should look. Back on your HTML file you create a link to the CSS file and then any changes you make on that CSS file in the future will instantly be reflected on your site without having to change any of the site’s HTML.

The added bonus of using a separate CSS file is in bandwidth and load times

css programmer 300x200 - The Importance Of Using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

Most modern browsers will cache any files with a .css extension. This is a nice bonus because it means the visitors to your site will have less to download and make your site appear faster. Faster websites aid in website speed and thus better search engine optimization. If you make a change to the CSS file, the browser will be smart enough to recognize the difference and reload the cached copy it has on file. This way you never have to worry about people seeing an older version of your site’s design and making sure it’s w3C compatible

CSS can even be used to style other sites you don’t control as well.

Some browsers have extensions that have been developed to allow you to overwrite a websites style with a CSS file on your local machine. This is especially common with some of the more popular web applications like free email services from the major providers.

Cascading Style Sheets are practically a must for any serious web design professional. There is no excuse to not use CSS in your site designs especially when you consider all of the obvious benefits involved. CSS makes your life easier by increasing the speed and efficiency in which you can update your site’s appearance.

 

disability attorneys

Appealing Your Social Security Disability Claim

Social Security Disability Lawyers

If you apply for disability, Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits and you do not agree with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) decision—you have the right to appeal. When you appeal the decision of the SSA, you are asking them to take another look at your claim. Though the SSA carefully considers all the information presented to them, sometimes the right information is not there or some information has changed. Regardless, you have the right to ask the SSA to look at your case again. If the decision was wrong—it will be changed and Social Security lawyers can help you.

ssdi attorney 300x191 - Appealing Your Social Security Disability ClaimYour Right to Representation

When you are denied benefits and decide to appeal the SSA’s decision, you have the right to representation. There are number of forms that need to be completed, papers to be filed, and deadlines to meet. The Social Security Disability lawyers are familiar with the appeals process and they always put their clients first. For your disability help, they may be able to get you the benefits you deserve.

Starting Your Appeal

If you were denied benefits, you have 60 days after you receive the SSA denial letter to file an appeal. Failure to appeal in this time-frame may cause you to lose your right to appeal. You must appeal a SSA denial in writing, unless your claim was denied for medical reasons, in which case you can appeal online. A Social Security Disability lawyer can help you file your appeal.

The Process

ssi disability lawyer 225x300 - Appealing Your Social Security Disability Claim

The appeals process can be confusing and time-consuming. Below is a description of the process according to the SSA:

  • You or your lawyer sends a signed request for appeal to the SSA.
  • The SSA reviews it to make sure all of the information is complete.
  • The SSA will contact you to complete a disability report and to sign medical release forms if you have not already done so. If you have submitted the report, the SSA will review it to make sure all of the information is complete.
  • The SSA will send your case to the office that determines if you are disabled under Social Security law.
  • That office will request any new medical records that you have listed on your medical report.
  • That office will then review all of your medical records—both old and new.
  • If you have requested a face-to-face review, that office will make an appointment to meet with you. You will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with someone from the office that decides your case. If you want this face-to-face meeting, the SSA will make the appointment with you.
  • The decision-making office will notify you in writing of their decision on your case.

Having a Social Security Disability attorney by your side during this complex process can make the difference between winning and losing your appeal.

Four Levels of Appeal

In the disability appeals process, your appeal has the potential to pass through four different levels of appeal: reconsideration, hearing, appeals council review, and court case.

Disability Reconsideration

When you ask the SSA to reconsider your claim, someone from Disability Determination Services (DDS), who had no part in the first decision, will review the evidence in your claim, along with any new evidence. After the reconsideration process is complete, the SSA will send a letter explaining their decision.

Disability Hearing

If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, you can request a hearing. During the hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), who had no part in the first decision, will question you (and any witnesses you bring) about your claim. The ALJ may ask you to clarify the medical evidence in your case or present new information and then issue a decision. Your SSD attorney will be present through the entire process.

Appeals Council Review

Should you disagree with the decision of the ALJ, you can ask for your case to be reviewed by the SSA’s Appeals Council. The Appeals Council has the right to deny your request for review. If they decide to review your case, they will decide the case themselves or return your case to an ALJ for further action.

Court Case

ssi lawyer 300x200 - Appealing Your Social Security Disability ClaimIf you are denied Appeals Council Review, you can have your Social Security Disability attorney file a case against Social Security in a Federal or District Court.

Reopening a Disability Claim

In certain circumstances you may be able to reopen your claim after you have been denied. According to the SSA, a claim can be reopened within 24 months of the notice of initial determination if the SSA:

  • receives new and material evidence
  • makes a clerical error
  • determines that the evidence used in making the determination or decision clearly shows that the determination or decision was incorrect

Claims can be reopened and revised by a Social Security office, an ALJ, or the Appeals Council within a certain amount of time in a variety of circumstances. Your SSD attorney can advise you about the potential to reopen your claim.

Refiling an Initial Claim

If you have an outstanding appeal, you have the right to refile an initial claim, whether that claim is for the same or a different issue. Depending on the level of your current claim in appeal and nature of your subsequent claim, your claims may be consolidated or continue as separate claims.

 

Is Depression may be Reason Enough to Receive SSDI Benefits

Is Depression may be Reason Enough to Receive SSDI Benefits?

I have Bipolar depression; do I qualify for SSDI?

Can you get disability for depression? Depression or Bipolar depression can be a significant barrier to living a normal life, having normal relationships, and have a normal work life. While treatment can help manage the condition, there can still be struggles for those who suffer with it. As with injuries and other types of illness, supporting oneself can be a challenge for those struggling with bipolar depression.

can you disability for depression 300x169 - Is Depression may be Reason Enough to Receive SSDI Benefits?The Social Security Administration does, however, consider bipolar depression to be an impairment covered by Social Security Disability. As with any other SSDI application, there are specific criteria one must meet in terms of diagnosis and severity of the condition. The Social Security Administration provides two sets of criteria for bipolar depression.

Either of these sets of eligibility requirements needs to be satisfied by providing appropriate documentation. Knowing what types of documentation are best for presenting a strong application can be difficult, and an experienced SSDI attorney can be a huge asset. They can help you represent your case and may compute how much does disability pay for depression.

Mental illnesses may be reason enough to receive SSDI benefits

Among the least-understood disabilities are mood disorders. The phrase itself is not particularly descriptive; one expert likens the fluidity of diagnosis as with cancer. There is not simply one kind of cancer; for example, skin cancer is very different from lung cancer, which is very different from breast cancer. These cancers function differently and attack different parts of the body. In a similar fashion, a mood disorder could refer to any number of things.

how much does disability pay for depression 300x200 - Is Depression may be Reason Enough to Receive SSDI Benefits?Depending on the type and severity of mood disorder, a person might be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Mental illness can be a crippling disorder that can prevent an otherwise able-bodied person from working. To the sufferer, a mental illness is just as debilitating as a physical illness when it comes to being able to work.

Unfortunately for many people who suffer from mood disorders, inquisitive people can speculate about what a person is suffering from without truly understanding it. This appears to be with some of the cases like a patient recently announced that he was being treated at a facility for a mood disorder. Now some update news has come that he has been transferred to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic for inpatient treatment of both depression and a gastrointestinal problem.

The physical aspect of that patient’s woes had not been made public before, but his mood disorder had already been responsible for a seven-week leave of absence from his congressional duties. A sitting congressman taking so much time away during an election year would seem to indicate that his issues are real and serious.

 

skin color palette

How to Digital Paint Skin Tone

Many of you have questions on what are the techniques to use when digital painting skin and how to make it look believable and alive. Many times when we look at beginners’ paintings, the skin tends to look a little bit dull or lifeless. So that’s basically what we want to tackle. We’ll run you through how we created the illustration and hopefully you will have somewhat of an understanding on what to do to create believable and good looking skin.

How to use color

digital painter 225x300 - How to Digital Paint Skin ToneThe first thing that we want to explain you is how to use color. Some very basic principles that you need to follow in order to make your colors pop. Know or study the color wheel. This is really easy to understand but it’s really important as well basically on the top right you see the warm spectrum and on the lower left you see the cold spectrum. You have six primary colors, yellow, orange and red green, blue and violet. Basically, red and blue are your primaries and orange yellow violet and green are your secondaries, but let’s just call them primaries because they’re like the most important. And so yellow orange and red are warm colors, green blue and violet are cold colors. They are important because when you’re painting and your light source is warm, you want your shadows to be cold and vice versa. So, if your light source is cold, you want your shadows to be warm and this doesn’t apply to every situation but most of the time this is what you want to follow.

If the face is in the light and there is only one light, so face has some yellow, some red, some oranges. The face is mostly in warm light and the shadows down are bluish violet, so this is cold and the face, it’s warm. You may want to keep that in mind when you’re painting. If your light source is warm you want your shadows to be cold, and if your light source is cold, you want your shadows to be warm. That really makes an image pop. It’s a really easy principle to understand and to apply, but you need to know it. Many beginners say they really don’t know about these things even though they’re really simple to apply to your paintings, they make such a huge difference. You don’t have to fully understand the whole color spectrum and how it works but slowly kind of ease into it. Try to understand the basic rules that apply to colors. Just remember, if your light source is warm you want your shadows to be cold.

Set the base skin color first

Next, we’ll just run you through how we created this illustration and the steps we’ve taken and what went through my mind and why we’ve done certain things that we’ve done. What you see here is the original sketch. It’s not too detailed, it’s pretty loose, but it has enough information for me. To get started at painting, and also, a quick tip is to maybe have your sketch in a slightly reddish tone, it helps later on when you’re painting, to make it look a little bit more natural, a little bit more human. We created a base layer and this is just a flat color and most of the time, it’s also the skin color. We set the skin color first before we start painting anything else. With the skin color palette, what you want to pay attention to is that it’s not to saturate it and not to desaturate it. And not too light and not too dark, so you want a kind of a mid-value. Something that is comfortable to look at. If you look at the color wheel, it’s a pretty natural at the end and nice color. It’s not something that’s too bright, not something that’s too saturated, and not too dark. It’s kind of like a really comfortable mid value.

Give all of the other things a flat color

skin tone palette 200x300 - How to Digital Paint Skin ToneNext up, give all of the other things a flat color. Hair color is going to be a flat color at first, eye color, lips, any accessory that subject wears. Give these things a flat color. Give everything a flat color, these act as your base layers and from there, just start shading and kind of take little baby steps. You don’t want to go in there and expect it to be like finished in ten minutes. You want to really take it one step at a time and work towards your goal in small steps. These are the base layers and then from there, you can start shading slowly. So many beginners take the skin color and then they just use a darker color to paint on top and obviously that’s not going to look pretty good. The kind of color looks muddy and it doesn’t look very natural and nice, and it kind of flattens out the whole image. It will make it look very dull, so you don’t want to have muddy colors. In order to avoid that, what you do is you need to shift the U of the color. That’s my skin color and then we shift the use to another color and then make it slightly darker to make it look way more natural. Do not only use lighter and darker versions of your base color to paint. It’s going to look very dull, the shading layer is the very first level of shading and it’s pretty basic and it it looks pretty terrible in the first place. We would say but that’s a part of the struggle. So in the beginning, most of your paintings will look kind of bad but you just have to fight through that phase and have good faith and hope that it’s going to work out in the end.

The first layer of shading that you apply, don’t go overboard and be really cautious and paid a lot of attention. Try to hit the main points of shading and this is really important. You don’t want to go in there too fast and and do like final touches. You need to see what works and whats not, and also, when you’re painting females, you don’t want to put in too much shade because it starts to make them look a little bit old. You need to have a nice balance between soft and hard shadows and edges. Just keep it simple and one step at a time.

Simple layer of lighting

Do the same thing for all of the other layers and add a simple layer of lighting. Know where your lighting came from. For example, if you knew that the lighting was coming from the top right, so just add simple layer of lighting and then just kept going. Add some basic shading to her hair, again really basic but you can see that the more layers of shading that you’ve added, the more it comes to life. The second layer it looks already much better than before and then the third layer of shading to her hair it makes a huge difference. Don’t rush it at all. Take it one step at a time really slowly. Start deleting parts of sketch and until what’s left is the main image. Keep working on it on another layer of detail and the delay of shading, you can see shade in her nose ring  and some more lighting to her hair and eyebrows.

skin tones palette 300x200 - How to Digital Paint Skin ToneThe crucial step is if you only have like four different colors or five different colors and her skin is looking pretty lifeless. The shading is pretty nice but there’s no life to it. If you look at a photograph, there’s something about it that makes it look believable. So we need to replicate that when we are painting. This is crucial, so with the next layer, you can add pinks, reds and and oranges. The reason for that is the physical skin on a human is just a thin layer and underneath the skin there’s blood, bones and flesh. So you need to let that shine through the skin. If you look at a person’s nose, most of the time it’s kind of orange or reddish because there’s blood under the skin area of the nose and also the ears and other parts of the face. Sometimes you see a really bright light shining through the ears, for example, have you ever like took a torch and let it shine through your fingers and you see kind of the light shining through and it looks kind of orangey, reddish. That is because it’s shining through your skin and your skin is basically translucent so it lets the color underneath show through. You need to pay attention and study the color and some anatomy to know where to place these colors.

Add depth to make it not to look flat

You don’t want your painting to look flat and so in order to, add depth. Add contrast to your painting by adding darker colors and brighter colors to it. Whenever there’s contrast, it adds sharpness and also depth. While adding darker colors, you can see that it starts to pop instantly. It makes such a huge difference and also you can see, there’s a really bright orange it’s because there’s the translucent skin and the ambient light is shining through. Those effects will make your skin color painting look believable. The shadow is basically an area where light doesn’t get to and this time, just add a few more shadow. The more you pay attention to these things the more believable your paintings will look.  The  more you know about these things, the better impression you will leave to the viewer and and sometimes the viewer doesn’t know what makes an image good. They just don’t know but they they have a sense for a good image, they just can’t tell what’s good about it. So it’s view the artist, who needs to create that perfect illusion and kind of fake reality with which you’re painting.

Digital Painting

girl digital art 300x210 - How to Digital Paint Skin ToneWhen you’re painting digital, you have the freedom of applying filters of going back of having your sketch on top of everything. Use these advantages when you’re painting and start painting on top of your sketch for the first time.  The huge difference to the painting, overall it just adds a big layer of realism to the whole painting. Add layers and just see how much life your digital painting gets from it. Layers and highlights makes it pop. There’s something about highlights that just finalize your image. You may want to add one more extra layers of detail before I was really happy but even if I showed you this painting right now you would probably like it but to me personally I needed an extra layer of details. Don’t get caught up in this endless cycles, if needed, keep working. If it is not good enough, sometimes just call it quits and move on to the next painting. You don’t want to like get caught up a week in one painting and not get anything else done. You would rather create something that’s not a hundred percent perfect but maybe 80% and get to work on the next piece because quantity goes over quality when it comes to getting better at drawing.

If you’re working on a client commission then definitely want to give it all you want to do like a hundred percent maybe even more but when you’re working on personal pieces and you just trying to get better, then don’t focus on perfection, focus on quantity. Do as much as you can and that’s one of the best ways to get better in a shorter amount of time.

Professional Elder Care Provider

When to Know if You Need a Professional Elder Care Provider

A person does not always remain physically strong and mentally alert. As he grows older, his vigor weakens as well as hind mind. There may be some who even reaching the octogenarian age can still physically and mentally perform normal activities on a day to day basis. Some of these activities involve maintaining personal hygiene and regular take their meals without any help. But these people are fortunate ones who were endowed with such strength. professional elder care 300x200 - When to Know if You Need a Professional Elder Care Provider

In a family, it is usually the parents who suffer from the sad reality that they need some help and they need professional elder care from a convalescent home. The primary responsibility of taking care of the welfare of the older ones in the family is passed on to family members, their sons and daughters.

Hence, a family who has an elderly member has to be placed in care centers or senior care facilities to be well taken care of by nurses and professional caregivers or home health aide. How then will you know that your older folds already need professional senior care?

Lack of Physical Activities

Many elderly people lack the vital strength to perform their daily tasks. As a person grows older, he cannot do certain activities like he used to before. Sons and daughters who have other responsibilities and obligations may not be able to provide the much needed assistance needed by their parents. As such, there is a need to get professional senior care providers or right at home care.

Poor Eating Habits and Poor Hygiene

The inability to maintain proper hygiene particularly to take a bath regularly is common among elders not because they do not want to but because they lack the capacity to do so. With the assistance of a professional caregiver, proper hygiene is fully observed. It is also the same thing with eating habits. Senior care providers know what specific foods and meals to give to their patients.

Medical Condition

Elder Care 300x200 - When to Know if You Need a Professional Elder Care Provider

Many elders suffer from different kinds of medical conditions. The most common would include diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For seniors who have any of these medical conditions, it is important to ensure that they take their medicines and they get the necessary senior care. Unfortunately, not all sons and daughters can provide professional and medical care needed by their elders. They just do not have enough knowledge and capacity. To ensure that the needs of the elders are handled well, professional senior care provided by caregivers or nurses is very important.

When a person gets old, things can get really difficult for them. But you can make it more comfortable and easy for them if you will look for a quality senior care center or facility with certified senior care providers and good features and amenities. Professional caregivers and nurses can provide not just medical assistance but as well as physical care. Join the senior living podcast on Google Podcasts.

 

social security lawyers near me

5 Tips For Getting The Social Security Disability Benefits You Deserve

Denied Disability?

A 2018 report from the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that almost one in five people in the U.S. have some sort of disability. For many of these people, disability benefits keep them financially afloat, and when their disability benefits are denied or revoked, they need to get them back as soon as possible. If your disability is keeping you from being able to work, but you have been denied disability benefits, here are five tips on getting those benefits that you need and deserve.

disability advocates 300x205 - 5 Tips For Getting The Social Security Disability Benefits You Deserve1. Appeal Immediately

If you’ve been denied benefits, don’t put off this first step. In most instances, you must make your appeal within 60 days of being notified that you weren’t getting disability. Filing an appeal can also take a very long time, so the sooner you appeal, the sooner it can all get sorted out legally. Don’t procrastinate; take steps to appeal as soon as you can.

2. Find Someone to Represent You

Although you can represent yourself, you stand a better chance if you hire an experience disability attorney to take on your case. Seek a reputable disability attorney in  Arizona or wherever your local jurisdiction covers.  There are many that are ready to represent you and make sure you get your deserved benefits. Hiring a professional who is experienced in the area and field will allow you to be sure that you haven’t left any stones unturned that could improve your case.

3. Fill Out the Form to Receive Benefits While Appealing

If you were on disability and then lost it, you may still be able to keep those benefits while you’re in the appeals process. This will help tide you over during what can occasionally be a long legal journey. Within ten days of receiving your notice, fill out and return form Form SSA-795, which you should receive along with the notice. If accepted, your benefits will not be terminated until a decision is made at your hearing. Be sure to follow up after you’ve filed to make sure that the form is processed quickly and properly. Keep in mind that it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil!

how to claim disability 300x200 - 5 Tips For Getting The Social Security Disability Benefits You Deserve4. Visit the Doctor Regularly

The more well-documented your disability and medical history, the easier it will be to obtain an appeal. In general, if you aren’t seeing a doctor every two to three months, your disability may be revoked, as the assumption will be that your condition has improved. Regular doctor visits can not only help prevent you from losing your benefits in the first place, but can also help provide documentation of your disability should you need to appeal.

5. Stay Polite and Cordial

This sounds like a small thing, but it can make a difference. The appeals process can take a while and can require a lot of paperwork. No matter how frustrating the wait, it never pays to get angry at the people working on your case. Staying on their good side will make things more pleasant all around, and, who knows, it may even get your case extra attention when it comes down to your appeal. Build and preserve those relationships no matter how frustrated you may feel. If you’re unsure where to start checkout how to apply for disability in Arizona as a great resource to start your disability application process.

Getting your disability benefits may take some time, but by following these tips and hiring the right attorney, you stand a much better chance of winning your case. Start today and claim what you deserve!