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But Wait, There’s More, on a Smartphone Near You

In Business, Media, Opinion, Uncategorized on March 5, 2014 at 1:30 pm

From the DIH Archives. Originally published, April 24, 2012.

dih-logo-SEAccording to a recent survey by CBS News, there are more than 4.6 billion cell phones in the world and the potential for perspective mobile marketing is virtually unlimited. Experts believe that soon mobile marketing will likely become the most influential advertising medium of all time, surpassing even television.

Mobile marketing utilizes the data capabilities of smart phones, tablets and other portable devices as advertising media. The concept originated around 1999 with subscription-based text messaging services that were free to the customer but paid for by sponsors.

Since then, mobile ads have blossomed from short text message blasts to detailed ads, complete with video and sound, sent directly to the smart phones and tablets of buyers when they are closest to shelling out their cash. Sometimes the ads reach potential customers while they are standing in front of the product display in the store. Many ads encourage the viewer to scan the 2-D, block barcode in order to take advantage of special offers.

Sometimes, it can take decades for a new process like this to catch on, often failing on the drawing board. But, with the feverish demand for more and better mobile technology, the field has advanced from in novelty to practical application in only a few short years. Improvements on quality, signal, delivery and service by wireless integrators has only served to increase the response by the consumer to buy more and better smartphones and tablets.

The more devices there are in the hands of the users, the more advertising opportunities exist for business. Some estimates suggest by 2015, more than $163 billion of worldwide sales will come as a result of mobile advertising, in part because of the potential pinpoint accuracy of customer targeting.

It may seem as if advertisers are the only beneficiaries of mobile marketing, but that’s not the case. Consumers are in a unique position today to save money on products and services that they are likely to buy anyway. Often mobile advertising offers on-the-spot, and in some cases exclusive, savings directly through a smart phones – the modern equivalent of an in-store coupon.

Mail order online shopping may also be irrevocably changed by the mobile revolution. Consumers can get an ad for an item on their smart phone, touch the screen a few times, and the product is on its way to their home; quick, easy, and effortless.

For retailers, the advantage is being able to reach a more direct market, giving them more for the dollars spent. But that doesn’t mean it is cheap.

Continuous innovations in technology will require sellers to spend millions more every year just to keep up with the competition. As each company strives to outdo the others, those innovations will grow exponentially to meet the demand and the consumer will be hit broadside with an onslaught of ads on everything from cell phones to blue tooth headsets.

Even in the grocery store, we are bombarded with digital messages!

Even in the grocery store, we are bombarded with digital messages!

Avoiding such a barrage of mobile ads may be near to impossible but the best way seems to be by opting out of every possible source of marketing. For example, free applications (aps) for cell phones and tablets often require the user to be subjected to advertising – that’s how the providers pay for the free ap. Users need to carefully read each screen as the product is installed and used for the first time. Often additional options for the receipt of special offers can be declined only at that time. Once a marketing ap has entrenched itself in your mobile device, there may be no way to remove it.

As an ever increasing number of ads light up the screens of smartphones and tablets, at some point the buying public will begin tuning them out and, indeed, insisting they stop. At present, though, advertisers have their feet firmly planted in the trenches of mobile marketing and they’re not likely to change their tactics anytime soon.

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Arizona legislature emanates ignorance, prejudice

In National News, Opinion, State News, Uncategorized on February 25, 2014 at 10:32 pm

DIH LOGOArizona has done it again. The overwhelming level of prejudice and stupidity emanating from the state’s lawmakers seems to have no limit. On February 20th, the Arizona state legislature managed to push through a bill that would make it legal for businesses to refuse service to gays and lesbians on the basis of, “religious freedom.” Proponents of the bill say that it provides business owners with the right to manage their establishments according to their own religious values.

Apparently the desert heat has affected their memories. This certainly has the familiar ring of southern life prior to the civil rights movement of the 1960s when signs read, “Whites Only” at every restaurant and water fountain. Open, hateful discrimination was touted as religious or moral freedom back then as well.

It’s hard to imagine anyone thinking this was a good idea and how in all that is holy did these people manage to get elected in the first place? If Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who is already known for her racist positions, signs this bill into law, she is setting a sickening precedent, pushing back more than 100 years of civil rights progress in this country.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. (AP Photo)

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. (AP Photo)

The day after the bill passed, Brewer was in Washington for the governors’ summit and told CNN, “I think anybody that owns a business can choose who they work with or who they don’t work with. But I don’t know that it needs to be statutory.”

“In my life and in my businesses, if I don’t want to do business or if I don’t want to deal with a particular company or person or whatever, I’m not interested,” Brewer continued. “That’s America. That’s freedom.” Clearly, she is all in favor of freedom so long as it’s not extended to people of whom she and her legislative thugs disapprove.

For those who don’t see a problem with giving these folks the legal right to limit service based on this kind of ignorance, imagine the shoe on the other foot for a moment. What if someone passed a law stating a business could refuse service to Christians, again, on the basis of religious or moral freedom? The religious right would literally lose their minds. Of course, this isn’t the first time this kind of law has been passed in a democratic society.

In early Nazi Germany, the eradication of Jews began with laws like this, allowing open discrimination and eventual persecution. In America, minorities and women have only recently emerged from a 200-year limitation of civil rights, often enforced in the name of religious morality, and the fight is still going on in many respects.

In theory, everyone is protected from this kind of legislation, at least on the federal level, by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It says, in part, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

It’s just a guess, but if it passes, Arizona’s law would most likely be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court at first challenge. Even to the layperson it seems to openly violate the 14th and would be determined to be unconstitutional. The problem is that the argument shouldn’t have to go that far for people to see that the bill is unethical.

At last report, Governor Brewer was seeking the counsel of her advisors in order to make up her mind whether to sign the bill into law. Hopefully one of her close cronies is a constitutional law attorney or, at the very least, someone who is not so blatantly ignorant and prejudiced. And if, for some bizarre reason, there are Christians out there who feel this law is just, remember this: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Mathew 7:12. One can only hope.

 

Gery L. Deer is editor of The Jamestown Comet.com an independent columnist and contributor to WDTN-TV2’s “Living Dayton” program. More at gerydeer.com

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You can avoid a visit from creditors.

In Economy, Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on February 19, 2014 at 1:56 pm

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

knockRecently, the credit card company, Capital One, came under attack for contract language that would allow them to show up a customer’s workplace or home, without warning and at any time. The creditor’s contractual fine print came was the topic of an LA Times article on February 18, that ignited a firestorm of consumer anger. According to the column, the contract states that customers can be contacted by mail, phone, email, or by “personal visit” at home or their place of employment.

A statement released by Capital One insists the language exists mainly to permit recovery of large items like boats, jet skis, and so on, through repossession. Without inclusion of the proper wording they would have little legal ground to stand on should the debtor renege on the agreement, adding that they are reviewing the language following consumer feedback.

CCOddly, this is not a new method for creditors. Most mortgage loan servicing companies already send local contractors out to knock on the door of customers who are behind in their payments. Generally showing up in personal vehicles and loitering around the neighborhood until just the right moment, these paid agents ambush the homeowner demanding a payment or insisting they contact the company immediately, or else.

Unfortunately, there is little that can be done about these practices because, somewhere in the miles of paperwork, the borrower signed an agreement allowing this to happen. Whether it’s a home, a car, a boat or a hunting cabin, virtually every large purchase contract has some kind of repossession language included. But with unsecured debt, like credit cards, consumers have a false sense of security and an unrealistic expectation of the consequences.

In an effort to force credit companies to behave more fairly towards customers and help control consumer debt, the Obama administration passed the Credit Card Act of 2009. Among its many fee and rate hike regulations, it also states that the creditor must provide a clear disclosure of terms before a customer opens an account. While the language was made simpler, there was still a ton of information and what the bill couldn’t do was to force people to actually read the documentation provided by the credit card company.

For consumers, the best way to avoid these kinds of problems is to simply steer clear of using credit cards in the first place. But if you’re already in over your head, it might be time to speak to someone about debt management options. Consumer credit counseling agencies can assist in reducing payments and interest and most are non-profit. Appointments are tough to get, however, and require as much documentation as possible regarding your creditors and income information.

If credit counseling is not an option, your next step may well be a personal bankruptcy. Jeremiah B. Webb is a bankruptcy attorney at the Xenia, Ohio firm of Wead, Anderson, Phipps and Aultman, LLC. He said people are often scared of their creditors and generally don’t understand the debt relief process.

“There are many myths surrounding bankruptcy,” Webb said, “beginning with a feeling of failure and that they’ll lose everything they have. Some people believe they can’t afford to file, but if you stop paying those minimum payments and put that money towards a reasonable attorney fee, you can hopefully wipe out that debt and relieve the stress.”

Although creditors publicly state that the door knocking method is a last resort, it leaves their debtors feeling frightened and constantly anxious. Usually, the inability to pay is out of the individual’s control and completely unintentional. Still, there is an underlying responsibility on the part of the consumer to do their best to avoid this kind of debt in the first place.

Credit card companies are ruthless and have no interest in excuses for non-payment. Their job is to make as much money as possible from you for as long as they can. But don’t be afraid. If you’re drowning in debt get help now, don’t give these people a reason to knock on your door. The only failure is to do nothing.

Gery L. Deer is editor of The Jamestown Comet.com, a self-syndicated columnist and business contributor to WDTN-TV2’s Living Dayton program.

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Never go shopping while having a stroke.

In Health, Local News, Opinion, Senior Lifestyle on February 5, 2014 at 7:21 pm

DIH LOGOPresented for your consideration, a middle aged man somewhere in America who awakens one seemingly normal morning to discover his right arm has become a lifeless dead-weight, movable but numb. Puzzled, he pays little attention and goes to the kitchen for coffee but abandons the attempt when his hand is too weak to hold the cup. Strangely, he pulls on his coat and makes his way out the door to his car where he drives to the grocery store. Soon, he realizes that the right side of his face feels heavy and tingling, like it’s sliding off his skull and eventually goes numb.

He tries to speak, but his words are garbled and slow, as if he’d just had a root canal and a face full of Novocain. Somehow he makes it home, but after consulting WebMD.com, he finally accepts that something is seriously wrong. He dials 9-1-1 and struggles his way through mush-mouthing the word, “help,” followed shortly by the pulsing strobes and screeching sirens of an ambulance.

No, this wasn’t some bizarre trip through an episode of The Twilight Zone. Instead, it was a reasonably accurate account of what happened to my friend Jim Karns just a few days ago when he experienced what turned out to be a series of very dangerous strokes.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Maybe so, but, oddly enough, this is not an uncommon story. While he was having coffee, surfing the web and doing his shopping, Jim’s brain cells were being eradicated by a shotgun blast of tiny blood clots which cut off life-sustaining oxygen.

It’s certainly funny to think now about all the silly things Jim was doing instead of calling for help, but a stroke is certainly no laughing matter. Many stroke victims don’t even realize what is happening because symptoms may be so mild as to go virtually unnoticed.

Stroke Risk Chart (Courtesy The Huffington Post)

Stroke Risk Chart (Courtesy The Huffington Post)

Every year nearly 800,000 Americans fall victim to some type of stroke, a sort of “brain attack,” which happens when a restriction of blood flow kills off vital cells. Symptoms can occur one at a time or simultaneously, depending on the type and severity of the stroke.

In Jim’s case, he experienced numbness and weakness in his face and right arm but his legs were unaffected. A bass singer with what most describe as a strong radio voice, during the attack his speech was slow, frail and garbled and he had trouble closing his right eye.

According to experts people experience a combination of symptoms during a stroke including numbness, confusion or trouble understanding other people, impaired vision, difficulty walking, dizziness, or a severe headache that comes on for no apparent reason.

Jim Karn, Magician, performer, electronics technician.

Jim Karn, Magician, performer, electronics technician.

Fortunately, Jim is recovering remarkably well and I would say the best lesson to be learned from his incident is to act immediately. Coffee and the grocery store can wait, and don’t waste time looking up your symptoms online before taking action. It’s thoroughly frightening to think that a person could be driving or doing something equally as dangerous while these things are happening.

Most importantly, never ignore the warning signs of a stroke and call 9-1-1 as soon as possible. If you are around someone who is experiencing some of these symptoms, take charge and call for help right away, even if the individual protests or says the symptoms have subsided.

The best defense against stroke is to try to avoid one, so know your risks. Women, the elderly, African-Americans, those seriously overweight and people with a family history of stroke are at the greatest risk. As always, eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise and get regular checkups to help stack the odds in your favor. To learn more about the prevention and symptoms of strokes, see your doctor or visit The American Stroke Association online at www.strokeassociation.org.

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist from Jamestown, Ohio. More at http://www.gerydeer.com

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Liberals and corporate America must co-exist

In Business, Charities, Economy, Local News, Media, Opinion, Politics, Uncategorized on January 22, 2014 at 11:52 am

DIH LOGOIt wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that most liberals with a severe opinion of corporate America are primarily on the left-wing extremist end of things. But their voices are heard, nonetheless, and help to further expand the gap between left and right.

I recently posted to my social media page a paraphrased quote from a conservative business owner expressing her outrage over a liberal commentary on how businesses shamelessly promote themselves to generate sales. Her response was as follows, “Liberal bleeding hearts always seem to hate corporate America, right up until they want money for something.” Needless to say, the woman’s comment was not taken well by some of my liberal Facebook friends.

Regardless of how they want to think of themselves, liberal-based non-profits are, in fact, corporations in business. Although the term “non-profit” could be debated in many respects, they are still in business to create a product that generates revenue and pays salaries. In fact, they pay employees very well. The current CEO of National Public Radio pulls in about $1.4 million a year, a number that the network’s news commentators would likely find deplorable were it related to a commercial business chief.

So, how does one respond to a conservative business person who remarks, “If I advertise my business then the liberals call me vulgar? But it’s perfectly acceptable for them to go on TV and beg for money to keep their non-profit going. Why is that ok?” Seems like a simple question, but the answer is a bit more complex.

Corporate advertisers are regularly accused of manipulating consumers into buying. At the same time, non-profits (typically liberal causes or organizations) are just as manipulative when asking for “member support,” or however they decide to word it. Is there a difference? Not really. It’s actually more about perspective.

debt calamityLiberal non-profit heads will argue that what they do is for a greater good; people helping people, and so on. At the same time, they will accuse the conservative business owner of being interested only in turning a profit and getting rich. He, in turn, will refute the charge, saying that he’s offering a quality product for a premium price and doesn’t need to “guilt” anyone into handing over their money, all while employing people and keeping the economy going.

Mr. Conservative Business Man will also add to his statement that several times a year some non-profit knocks on his door wanting a handout, to which he responds with a nice, fat check. No one loses. People are employed, consumers get what they want – and if they didn’t want it, there’d be no product – all while the non-profit gets to keep its doors open.

The truth is, non-profits could not exist without big business. It just can’t be done. The majority of money given to public charities and social causes, as well as larger efforts like PBS, all comes from big business or charitable trusts created from successful corporate endeavors. To argue that people in corporate America make “too much money,” is also ridiculous, since the majority of U.S. companies are classified as small business, owned by middle-class people.

Several of the arguments against the Facebook quote I noted earlier focused on what one poster called, “a certain political persuasion speaking in absolutes,” and she couldn’t have been more accurate. This entire concept is based on black and white vision with no gray areas of mutual understanding. Fortunately, most people who are successful, either in business or non-profit management, understand that both have to co-exist to survive.

Corporate America has the responsibility to help those less fortunate but to do that they first have to be successful and self-sufficient. Simultaneously, non-profits have a responsibility to balance needs with wants and manage both budgets accordingly. We all have to do the best we can and work together so there will be good jobs, sustainable social programs and a strong economy.

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business contributor to WDTN-TV2’s Living Dayton program. More at http://www.gerydeer.com.

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Going off the mobile grid.

In Dayton Ohio News, Education, Local News, Opinion, Technology, Uncategorized on January 16, 2014 at 5:48 pm

dih-logo-SEAlmost a century ago, American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) considered the prospect of a wireless telephone but quickly abandoned the idea. Today, that move certainly seems at the very least shortsighted. But with a total U.S. population at that time of 180 million, the idea of a future with more than 320 million wireless subscribers was unimaginable.

The information superhighway (Do people even use that phrase anymore?) is truly at our fingertips and it’s also in our pockets or purses and on our hips.  It’s everywhere and it’s with everyone! At the grocery, at the mall, at work, stuck in traffic, at a boring neighbor’s barbecue; and it is only getting better and faster.

GERY_GRIDBut, like the song says, every rose has its thorn and there is an ugly downside of the mobile frenzy – constant connectivity. In the blink of an eye, we were unable to escape the beep, buzz, and ringtone of our smartphones and iPads. It was hard enough to get away from the daily grind when we weren’t carrying the office around in a hip pocket, but now it’s nearly impossible.

The constant mobile distraction is certainly not limited to business professionals, or even adults. School districts have now begun to ban smartphones from classrooms and even entire school grounds just to keep the students’ attention. We are so connected that we’re even missing out on some of life’s most amazing events.

A friend recently shared an anecdote about a man who was in the delivery room for the birth of his first child. Amidst all the breathing and pushing, he was preoccupied with his cell phone, texting with someone about work. Before he realized it, the baby had been born and he totally missed it. I don’t know how true that story is, but it’s not impossible to imagine.

Watch the Living Dayton tie-in segment with Gery Deer and Shaun Kraisman. Click the photo to watch.

Watch the Living Dayton tie-in segment with Gery Deer and Shaun Kraisman. Click the photo to watch.

And then there’s me. Since my first Commodore VIC-20 computer appeared under the Christmas tree in 1981, I’ve been immersed in technology. I’ve been a programmer, a database developer and a systems administrator. I’ve designed websites and developed social media marketing campaigns. Suffice to say, I know my stuff. But nothing prepared me for how mobile technology was going to grab my life and shake it like a rag in a dog’s mouth!

As a self-employed freelance writer, my day is spent connected to some kind of technology from the time I wake up until I pass out from exhaustion 20 hours later. From my iPhone to my Kindle Fire, I’m constantly surrounded by WiFi gadgets and mobile broadband receivers of all kinds.

For some people, the ability to disconnect from that level of techno-submersion is a serious challenge. But, with a little trial and error, I found easy ways to disconnect without being totally out of touch.

One of the biggest problems with all of this mobility is a lack of personal boundaries, with yourself and others. Back when there were only a couple of phone extensions in the house, many families would not allow calls to be made or received past a certain time of day. A level of courtesy long since gone prevented people from calling during the dinner hour or on a holiday. With a little self discipline, the restrictions can be set regarding cell phone, email and social media time.

When you work for yourself, you don’t have the luxury of watching the clock and a home office keeps the job on your mind almost continually. Fortunately, my office is not in my home, but I’m still connected, even after I lock up for the day. Over time, it was necessary for me to impose what I call “black out” hours; when I don’t answer the phone, I don’t return emails and I don’t post on social media.

I had a particularly hard time sticking to the black outs because, at first, I was always worried about missing that one all-important call that could make or break my career. Trust me, nothing is that important. And, if it is, modern caller ID technology helps you to screen calls so you get to decide whether or not to answer.

Other people need to understand and respect your boundaries as well. Unfortunately, however, it’s up to you to educate them about your availability. Remember if you train people that you answer email, texts and phone calls at all hours, they’re likely to take advantage of that.

Here are some other suggestions that might help you keep your real and cyber lives in better harmony.

  • Time your activity. Keep track of your computing time. You might be surprised how much time you actually spend with your mobile devices.
  • Out of sight, out of mind. Remove your phone and other gadgets from convenient access so you won’t be continuously tempted to check texts or Facebook.
  • No tech at the table. Parents who want better communication with kids should restrict technology use at the dinner table. Of course, that means you have to rule by example. Relationships are better when people talk while sharing a meal.
  • Put down the phone and drive. Besides being safer, listening to music or just some quiet time on your commute might help ease a stressful day.
  • Resurrect an old hobby. For some people, mobile computing has overtaken time once spent on more relaxing pursuits.

Finally, my best piece of advice is to just hit the off button. Shut down the laptop, eReader, and smartphone and do something with family or friends. Go for a walk, visit a museum, read a newspaper or a book – yes, they still make paper ones – just disconnect. Going off the grid a few hours a day can really help you – psychologically, emotionally and professionally.

Click to watch the television interview tie-in that goes with this supplement.

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Are you happy, or just think so?

In Education, Opinion, psychology, sociology on January 15, 2014 at 9:22 am

DIH LOGOThey say … and I admit I’m not totally certain who “they” are in this context. But they say, happiness is just a state of mind. In fact, the same, “they” also believe all reality is just in your head; that your own thoughts create the authenticity of the world around you. Yes, I know, that’s too much heavy thought for such a short column, but it offers an interesting concept.

If everything we know as reality is determined, not by the people and things around us, but, instead, from our own thoughts then how real is it, really? OK, that’s a bit much to take in, even for me. But suffice to say emotions are created and altered by thoughts. So, are you happy? Or, do you just think you are? In the end, if “they” are correct, it doesn’t even matter.

Most people can change how they feel simply by altering their thoughts or, at least, their perception of a situation. That is, unless you suffer from some type of chemical issue in the brain that causes your feelings to spin out of control no matter what you’re thinking. And we’re not going to get into any of that because I am simply not qualified to talk about the subject.

But for most, it is entirely possible to alter your state of emotion and change how you react to outside influences just by shifting your thoughts. For example, many people get upset when a child breaks or spills something. Unless someone is done physical harm, what is there to get upset about? Have you ever heard the saying, “don’t cry over spilt milk?” It’s a bit of good advice telling you not to whine about the accident, just clean it up and move on.

GDEER-BLUE_SHIRT_FROM_ABOVEIn my opinion, sometimes it’s really hard to get that one, nagging negative thought out of your head. So, I think that altering your way of thinking is more about prioritizing than anything else. In other words, pick your battles.

If you drop a dish or your child dumps Kool-Aid all over that new white rug, does it, in the grand scheme, really matter? Assuming, of course, there is no malicious intent involved. After all, regardless of the political incorrectness of the idea, kids really are just bad sometimes. Either way, getting angry and blowing your top at yourself or the child isn’t going to put the dish back together or “unspill” the drink.

Now what if your husband decided to fire up the new grill he got for Christmas inside the garage? No, I don’t know why someone would even … never mind, just go with me here. In this situation, there is a potential danger to your family so it’s worth getting a bit more upset, but you have to control your thoughts to keep from becoming hysterical.

It will serve you better and help you remain calm if you focus on preventing a potentially devastating situation than to immediately punish your idiot husband. Take the proper steps, ensure everyone’s safety and solve the problem. That’s what I mean by changing the way you think.

Needless to say, altering lifelong behavior, good or bad, doesn’t happen overnight and it’s certainly not easy. It takes practice and diligence. Whenever something happens that throws your day into an uproar, try not to get upset. Try hard to focus on a solution to whatever’s gone wrong and look forward to the positive outcome.

I’ve often argued that people make some of the most important decisions in life based solely on emotion rather than rational thought. Even the faithful are guided almost entirely by pure emotion. Making decisions actually becomes easier, and more productive when done from a logical perspective.

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business writer based in Jamestown, Ohio. More at www.gerydeer.com.

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Aging in place: Helping seniors remain home longer

In Economy, Home Improvement, Local News, Opinion, Senior Lifestyle, Uncategorized on January 8, 2014 at 11:26 am

DIH LOGOCurrent statistics show approximately 1.3 million American seniors now reside in nursing homes at an annual cost of more than $83,000 per room. As more of the population comes to retirement age in the next decade, those numbers are expected to triple. Some seniors, however, are choosing to invest money to modify their current homes to meet specific accessibility needs so they can remain there as long as possible.

The professional building trade refers to it as, “aging in place,” adapting an existing home to serve as a long-term residence including the retrofit of service equipment such as grab bars, ramps, side-entry bathtubs and so on. Other alterations include the widening of hallways, lowering of cabinets and sinks, or the addition of an elevator.

Some builders now offer certified contracting services for the express purpose of refitting a home for longer occupancy, regardless of disability. For the last several years, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has provided a specialized certification called, “Certified Aging in Place Specialist, or CAPS. The program is designed to educate contractors on the latest methods and products for creating a safe, supportive environment in a senior’s existing residence.

The number of seniors living in retirement communities and nursing facilities is expected to triple in the next decade.

The number of seniors living in retirement communities and nursing facilities is expected to triple in the next decade.

Keep in mind that when you hire a Certified Aging in Place Specialist you are buying a service rather than a product. Each CAPS professional draws from a different knowledge base and will approach your project from a unique perspective, focusing on your needs.

Marty Walling, owner of Marty Walling Construction, LLC, in Riverside, Ohio, has been an NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist for more than two years. According to Walling, the process should be all about the individual experience and meeting the needs of the resident.

“A CAPS professional is trained to identify and recommend attractive design solutions that create a safe and comfortable environment for individuals who want to age in place,” Walling said. “Aging in place is more than the simple addition of grab bars and bathtub seating. These modifications offer seniors the ability to live in their own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level.”

But not every contractor is right for these kinds of jobs and consumers should do their homework before hiring. The first step is to contact the NAHB to find a CAPS designated builder in your area. This is a niche market and few remodelers have the proper certifications.

Next, have a meeting with the builder in the home to be remodeled and discuss the needs and expectations of the project. Attendees should include the caregiver and, if possible, the individual who will most benefit from the alterations. He or she can demonstrate any accessibility problems in their existing environment so the builder can properly adapt solutions to the need.

Expense and time are also of importance and should be discussed as soon as needs are assessed and products are selected. Walling noted, “Project costs will vary with need but the average bathroom upgrade, for example, takes about two weeks to complete and the resident can remain in the home while the work is done.”

Décor should also be considered when making changes to existing furnishings. “Savvy CAPS builders will work with designers to incorporate color and style to match the home’s décor and do their best to avoid the sterile, hospital look,” Walling said. “There are safety products available that blend right in with the current design of the space which can sometimes make the modifications less obvious.”

It’s also important to stress that this kind of remodel is helpful to all types of people, not just the elderly or disabled. Alterations can be made for any need and it is all about making the homeowner more comfortable and providing them with a feeling of safety, security and ease of access.

If you or a loved one are considering nursing care because of accessibility and you own your home, an Aging in Place upgrade might be the right solution. A CAPS specialist can help you determine what works for you or whether the changes are practical, mechanically and financially. In either case, the safety and security of the resident should be the primary concern.

 

Deer In Headlines author and Living Dayton business contributor, Gery L. Deer in the "Stafford Jewelers Diamond Room" at WDTN.

Gery L. Deer is an independent business contributor to WDTN-TV2’s LIVING DAYTON program. More at http://www.gerydeer.com.

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Language skills lacking in American education

In Children and Family, Economy, Education, National News, Opinion, Technology, Uncategorized on December 18, 2013 at 12:45 pm

DIH LOGOIn June of 2013 the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences released a report stating the United States is losing its long-time advantage in language and social sciences. Honestly, I didn’t need a federally mandated report to know that Americans are suffering from a chronic lack of language skills.

Every day I read business letters, websites, reports, technical documentation and a mountain of other material supposedly created by professionals but which exhibit the communication skills of a seventh-grader. Even basic sentence structure and punctuation seem to elude people today. Of course, it wasn’t always so.

Once upon a time, American education stressed the importance of what was somewhat inaccurately referred to as, the “three R’s” – reading, writing, and arithmetic. In those days, being able to read and write was considered paramount to a bright future and that’s never been truer than it is today. As information technology advances via the Internet and its collective user devices, one would expect people to actually become better communicators rather than the opposite.

Despite the low-tech, no-budget educational systems of the old days, it’s entirely possible Americans living a century ago may have been far better educated and communicative. Back then students of different grades spent the early school years together in a one-room schoolhouse having the basics repeatedly drilled into them. It might have been redundant by today’s standards, but people seemed to be better able to communicate.

WRITING R USRemote educational technologies coupled with strings of poorly strategized legislation have led to what I consider to be the isolation of the American student. Individualized study, Internet-based classrooms, severe budget reductions in schools and a constant decrease in human interaction have all contributed to the decline of language proficiency. Many states have even removed the teaching of cursive handwriting from the curriculum, a skill, in my opinion, that helps promote a more thoughtful, creative approach to the written language.

Today, however, humanities programs have continued to lose favor, not to mention funding, to high-tech and STEM schools. If you’re unfamiliar, STEM is an acronym for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, and refers to a school that specializes in those fields.

All well and good, particularly in today’s high-tech job market. But if these kids never learn to properly write a letter or give a verbal presentation, what’s the point? Having an engineering background myself I can personally attest to the fact that effective writing is vitally important in high-tech fields, yet communications courses are still not a priority for many schools.

Writers used to be highly respected, experienced professionals no matter what their area of expertise. Not anymore. Just ask anyone and you can bet he or she is a “writer,” making it harder for those more qualified who are trying to make a living. I don’t work cheaply, because I have two decades of experience writing for publishers and commercial clients and I am good at what I do.

Still, that seems to count for nothing when publishers are cash poor and I’m competing for work against the latest blogger cranking out poor quality content for free. Unfortunately, the ability for anyone and everyone to publish online has diminished the public’s intellectual expectations of quality content.

Qualified editors are likewise disappearing from the professional landscape. An increasing number of publishers are selling newspapers, magazines and books with scathing grammatical and technical errors making even the professionals appear amateur and sloppy.

It’s no wonder these skills are dying off even more rapidly than we might have anticipated even just five or six years ago. Increasingly, people are communicating not in words, but in a cyber-shorthand, through texting and instant messages. Words are abridged to their most needed letters making our written language read like a vanity license plate.

In order to remain competitive and relevant on the global stage, American education must enhance language and social science programs. If we put as much effort into reading and writing as we do into having the best football team, just imagine what our students could achieve.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and co-founder of the Western Ohio Writers Association. More at http://www.gerydeer.com

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So many topics, so little substance

In history, Local News, National News, News Media, Opinion, Politics, World News on December 11, 2013 at 8:30 pm

DIH LOGOAs the year draws to a close, I’ve been planning the final few topics for Deer In Headlines in 2013. So far, I’ve got ten political topics, six personal, nine general and two holiday-related; none of which jump out at me as interesting to you, my readers. It could be I’ve decided that the absence of a subject is a topic in and of itself. Let me explain.

How much time each day do you spend thinking or worrying (not always the same activity) about things you can’t control? Are you readily preoccupied with global issues that have little or nothing to do with your daily life? What is it that really motivates you to get out of bed each day? I think we are just spending far too much time worried about nonsense.

I think maybe we are overly concerned with problems and situations that 1) have nothing to do with us directly, or 2) about which we can do absolutely nothing. Focusing on these things only wastes time and energy and takes our attention from far more pressing matters.

For example, a great leader was lost last week when Nelson Mandela passed away. Strangely, to me at least, it wasn’t really that much of a shock; the guy was 95, after all. What was shocking, however, was how little time the media and bloggers (no, they’re not interchangeable) spent discussing the Obama selfie photo and the fake sign language translator instead of focusing of the former South African president and his achievements.

It’s truly maddening that our attention was overtaken not on the legacy of a true hero but on how to politicize whether the president should have been smiling during the memorial. Think about it, that’s kind of a big deal. He was taking a cell phone picture with the prime ministers of Great Britain and Denmark. He had good reason to smile, even if Mrs. Obama seemed indifferent. But I think even that was out of context. We have no clue what she was thinking or what happened just before and after the picture.

President Obama speaks at Nelson Mandela memorial with reported "fake" sign language interpreter. Photo Courtesy AFP, Pedro Ugarte.

President Obama speaks at Nelson Mandela memorial with reported “fake” sign language interpreter. Photo Courtesy AFP, Pedro Ugarte.

Given the state of the world today, instead of criticizing them, we should be grateful that there are two world leaders willing to be in the same picture with the American president in the first place. I believe Mr. Mandela would have been gratified that people were getting along and smiling as they celebrated his life, including Obama’s handshake with Cuban leader Raul Castro. At least we’re not shooting at each other.

Every day we’re confronted with bad news. I work in the media but try to ignore much of the negative. I have enough of my own problems and I needn’t concern myself with the ridiculousness of the latest Washington scandal or whether the president should have shaken hands with a dictator. Who cares? No one but the pundits, that’s who.

Pundits are supposed “experts” in a particular field called upon for comment by the news media. Sadly, most of these so-called experts are nothing of the kind. They’re often just celebrities who tend to be publicity hounds and find a way to know something about everything at precisely the right moment. Once again, there we go worrying about things that have nothing to do with us. Why do we care what these people think about anything?

Most pundits are so far removed from average people there is no way they could relate to the trials and tribulations of holding a job, paying a mortgage or trying to determine the source of your next meal. They just don’t get it – and they don’t care.

Taking this back around to the idea of the non-topic, as we slide headlong down that snowy slope into the Christmas holidays, remember to stay focused on what matters to you and yours. Ignore the sensationalized news and the nonsense spewed out of Hollywood. Your life and the lives of your family and friends are what make the most difference in your world so center on those things and you’ll be much happier.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent  contributor to WDTN-TV2’s “Living Dayton” program. More at gerydeer.com.