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Why One Woman Feels ‘Blessed’ To Live in a Nursing Home

By U.S. News & World Report

For many people, entering a nursing home spells gloom and doom. You’re no longer caring for your own home, making your own food or doing the things that have always been part of your life. But the upshot is that you no longer have to clean the house, cook your meals or get bogged down by old habits. For some people, going to a nursing home opens a new chapter in life — one in which they can have fewer worries, make new friends and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

This is true for Polly Kyles, 84, a resident of Heritage Health Care & Rehab, a nursing home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Kyles has lived there for almost a year, and is president of the residents’ council. At Heritage, she says she feels like she’s on vacation, or “on a mission” to help people enjoy their remaining years. U.S. News spoke with Kyles and her daughter, Tracy, a nurse at the facility, about what to look for when selecting a nursing home and how to enjoy life once there. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.

When did you start thinking about living at a nursing home?

I was having mini strokes. I was falling, and I couldn’t get up. I was living at home by myself, so I started thinking seriously about a nursing home. We had a family conference with my four children. Two of them wanted me to live with them. After talking about it, I told them my preference was to enter the nursing home where Tracy worked. I felt like that was the best thing I could do. I could spend some time with the residents and have a good time. Not many people say that coming into a nursing home. I’ve never felt like I was in a nursing home. I feel like I am on a vacation or a mission trip.

What was your first day like?

I was ecstatic when we got here — I knew this is where I was supposed to be. People welcomed me almost like a welcome committee. I’ve had better care than I’ve ever had in a hospital. When my family got me moved in, I met my roommate. We have a lot in common: We’re both the same age; we’re both cold-natured; we both like to play Dominoes. She has a little more dementia than I do, but I try to help her remember things. We get along well.

What sorts of activities do you do at the nursing home?

I’ve never seen a place that had more activities. We have games galore. We do play dominoes, and we play bingo twice a month. We play balloon volleyball. We have several singing groups that come in; we’ve even had Elvis a time or two. Once or twice we’ve had someone come in to play the harp. Probably at least once a month we cook. One day, we made chicken and dumplings from scratch. Cooking at home was my hobby.

What types of friendships have you formed there, and why do you compare your time at Heritage to being on a mission trip?

I like to visit the people who are bed-bound; I read to them. I take CDs to some of their rooms and play them. I try to encourage people because they can get down easily having to stay in bed.

I could write a book about the friendships that I have made here. I have three people. One has cerebral palsy. He can’t talk, but he won my heart the first day I saw him. Another one is a lady who I knew years ago, but I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was a little reluctant to be in a nursing home. She has both legs amputated. I have to put myself in her place sometimes. I visit with her a lot, and I read to her to help her have a different mindset. Another one is also bed-bound. I met her when I came here four to five years ago for therapy after hip surgery. She captured my attention. When I came back, she was here; they said I’ve learned more about her background than anybody has because I guess she trusts me. She is beginning to have a cheerful spirit. She’s very talented; she likes to do needlepoint; but she’s had a stroke. I feel like I’m on a mission to encourage people to make the best of their lives. There are more people here who came not because they wanted to [but because they had to].

How is life at the nursing home different than other chapters in your life?

There are so many more things [I do] that I couldn’t do when I was home. Now I’m not having to clean; I’m not having to do my wash; I’m not doing my dusting. I love making homemade rolls, and I can’t do that here, but I get to do so many more things that I couldn’t do when I was home. I’m having a ball. I also feel safer here with the staff taking care of me than I did at home by myself.

Tracy, what criteria did you have, as a family, in selecting a facility for your mom?

It was pretty much a no-brainer for her to come here since I work here. We looked at a place that was closer to her home, but it looked dark and dreary. And for the workers, it was just like it was kinda their job. I didn’t want her to be there. It’s more like a family here. The residents are made to feel like it’s their home. I want her last years to be as good as they can be.

Polly, what advice do you have for people who are considering going into a nursing home?

Go with a positive attitude. A lot of people come here to die. I told myself, ‘I’m going to the nursing home to live.’

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Why One Woman Feels ‘Blessed’ To Live in a Nursing Home originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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