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Whether your family agrees on most topics or no topics at all, there are bound to be a few conversations that everyone needs to gear up for in order to be able to be productive and respectful. But just because these conversations can be hard doesn’t mean that they can’t be worth it or aren’t necessary, especially when they have to do with things like caring for elderly family members. Luckily, there are things that you can do to increase the odds of these conversations going well for everyone involved.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for talking about sensitive topics with family members.

Give Everyone A Heads-Up

The last thing you want to do when you’re planning to have a hard conversation with your family members is to make them feel ambushed. So to help ensure that you don’t put people on the defensive from the get-go, it’s wise to give everyone a heads-up about what you’re planning to discuss when you all meet together.

By telling everyone what you plan to talk about when you sit down together for this conversation, you’ll be giving them a chance to get their thoughts together and come into the conversation ready to share what they think while also having an open mind for what everyone else is planning to say as well.

Try To Stay On Topic

When having tough conversations, things can quickly spiral out of control. Old hurts and previous conversations can get brought up and really derail the point that you’re trying to convey or the decisions you’re attempting to make when things like this happen.

To avoid this, try to do your best to stay on topic with the specific reason you met with your family to have this conversation. If other things start to get brought up, try to bring everyone back to the matter at hand and leave these other conversations for another time.

Don’t Make It Just One Conversation

While you probably don’t want to have hard or uncomfortable conversations with your family members every time you see them, sometimes making these potentially taboo topics more commonplace in your routine conversations can help them be easier for you to broach together. So if there are things that you don’t typically talk about but that everyone could benefit from being a bit more clear on, consider having these types of conversations more often so that some of the weight of them can become easier for you all to bear.

If you want to have conversations with your loved ones about sensitive topics and have these conversations end well, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make this happen.

 

Truly, one of the most frustrating things ever is water damage in your home. And not only that, it’s often very inconvenient for all the real damage to your property and well-being it causes.

Still, there’s a right way to handle such a situation, and here are 3 important steps for you.

Safety First

Water damage can result in electrical and safety hazards, so it’s crucial to prioritize safety to prevent injuries or accidents.

You want to locate the main electrical panel and switch off the circuit breakers – with a wooden stick or non-conductive object – if possible. Avoid electrical panels if they are in or near standing water. When it comes to gas, you don’t want to forget to shut off the supply valve.

Then, wearing rubber gloves and boots is really important, particularly when dealing with potentially contaminated water. This means minimizing the risk of direct contact with harmful substances. In fact, in instances of severe water damage or immediate threats, you don’t want to hesitate to evacuate the premises. Safety takes precedence, and returning only when it’s deemed safe is paramount.

 

Assess and Document the Damage

Grasping as well as documenting the extent of the damage is essential for planning and is crucial information for insurance claims. Identifying and documenting the water source, whether it’s a leak, flood, or other issues, means assisting professionals like emergency plumbers and contractors in helping you deal with the aftermath. And taking clear photos or videos of the affected areas – capturing damage to walls, floors, and belongings, is really valuable evidence for insurance claims as well.

For example, confronted with a roof leak, you want to strategically document yourself placing buckets to collect dripping water, utilizing towels to absorb excess moisture, and using plastic sheets to cover furniture; as well as plenty of pictures of water stains on the ceiling and any damaged belongings.

Contact Professionals

Water damage restoration experts can assess the situation, mitigate further damage, and offer guidance for a proper recovery process.

Of course, you want to reach out to reputable restoration services. Ask around for recommendations, or at the very least read online reviews so that you know you’re contacting a respected water damage restoration service for a professional assessment with the expertise and equipment required for the cleanup and restoration process.

For example, in the event of a burst pipe flooding your basement, you want to make contacting a competent water damage restoration company a priority because you want a team with the know-how to properly assess the damage, extract water using specialized equipment, and implement drying techniques to prevent mold growth so that there’s a comprehensive recovery process.

While endlessly frustrating, the consequences of water damage can be greatly mitigated, especially if the right steps are taken in the beginning. So keep these tips in mind.

When you put your older loved one into a nursing home, you want to make sure that they’re receiving the proper care that they deserve. In most cases, families find that they’ve made the right choice, and their senior loved one is in good hands.

However, there are other situations that ultimately result in nursing home abuse, and require a lawyer. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse may not always be immediately evident. Seniors are often in a vulnerable state of mind, and may not be able to express what’s happening to them in clear terms.

However, by recognizing the most common signs, you can take action and ensure that the abuse comes to an end. Here are some of the telltale signs to look out for.

Unexplained Injuries

Do you notice that your loved one suddenly has inexplicable bruises or perhaps strange marks? You want to pay close attention to any injuries that pop up, particularly if they are frequent. If they have the same kind of injuries popping up, then this is a red flag. Perhaps most important is the explanation that the staff member gives.

If a staff member provides vague or suspicious explanations, then it’s reason to be concerned. You should be particularly concerned if you notice that these injuries are popping up in places where they may have been improperly restrained— think risk, ankles, or the neck area.

Behavioral Changes

Is your loved one suddenly acting differently? Is their behavior unrecognizable? If this behavior changed since they moved into the nursing home, then this is something you should not ignore. Particularly if their behavioral changes include being withdrawn or anxious. These kinds of changes may suggest psychological abuse.

This is important to note, because many people who aren’t familiar with abuse assume that abuse is only considered abusive if it’s physical. However, psychological abuse can be just as if not even more damaging. So pay attention to any abrupt shifts in behavior.

Basic Needs Neglected

Another form of abuse that may not show any bruises is neglect of basic needs. Although this may seem insane to imagine someone could be capable of this kind of abuse, withholding basic needs like food and water from seniors does and can happen. You’re paying money for someone to be bathed, fed and well looked after in a facility. So if you notice that your loved one is losing weight, or doesn’t appear to have been bathed, then you need to bring this up with a supervisor. An explicable weight loss or inadequate personal hygiene is a serious concern that should be addressed.

Social Isolation

One of the most common signs of abuse in a nursing home is social isolation. Abusive caregivers encourage their victims to isolate themselves from their friends and family. If your once loving and attentive family member is now refusing to see you, then you should investigate further whether there may be something else going on.

Over the last four years in the UK, there have been some changes concerning sexual harassment law revolving around the term upskirting.

Under UK law, upskirting is now considered to be on the same level as voyeurism, which was usually restricted to individuals who would watch sexual acts of other people through windows.

However, if you have been accused of upskirting, it is not something that you can simply skirt away from. It is a very serious offence, and if you find yourself on the receiving end of this accusation, you will need to seek the advice of a trained sexual offence solicitor to help fight your case.

In this article, some of the common queries relating to upskirting will be answered so that you can get a bit more information about this illegal act.

What is upskirting?

As briefly mentioned earlier, upskirting is now part of the voyeurism act in the UK, which puts it in the same category as the traditional peeping Tom. Upskirting is an intrusive act in which a person uses a smartphone or a camera to take photographs of somebody up their skirt. However, it is not restricted to this solely and can be performed by taking pictures down someone’s shirt or up someone’s trousers. Upskirting is done for the sexual gratification of the person taking the photo, and the person who is in the photographs is not aware of this act; therefore, upskirting is also a breach of privacy.

What should I do if I’ve been accused of upskirting?

If you have been accused of upskirting, the first thing you need to do is seek the advice of a sexual offence solicitor. This is not a minor accusation anymore, and if you are found guilty, there can be severe consequences for your future career and your name in general.

What is the sentence for this in the UK?

If you are found guilty of upskirting anytime after the 12th of July 2019, you can face two years

in jail. This means that if you are accused, you really need to seek help as soon

as possible to get your side of the story across. At this present moment, however, historical incidents of upskirting prior to the 12th of July 2019 are not considered sexual offences.

Will I be put on the sexual offence register?

Yes, under UK law, if you were found guilty of upskirting, you will be entered into the sexual offenders’ register, which, as mentioned earlier, can have a serious impact on your job choices and other aspects of your life. So, you must seek legal representation as soon as possible if you find out that you have been accused of upskirting.

What can a solicitor do to help me?

A sexual offence solicitor will be able to take your side of the story and gain evidence to prove your innocence in this area. It is worth noting that all sexual offence representatives in the UK are now trained in the upskirting law and will know the legal ramifications and be able to offer you up-to-date advice.

 

Are you curious to attend that new virtual reality place on your local high street, but have some questions about it?

New to the world of experience days, there are now many companies that can offer you and your family virtual reality (or VR) days and in this article, the most common questions asked about them are answered. So, read on to learn if they are the ideal day out for you and your children, or if they are better suited to a stag night!

What is VR and how does it work?

A virtual reality experience in London is a computer-simulated 3D environment, that you can move around in or engage with while wearing a headset. This engagement with the 3D surroundings often works by a device in the headset tracking your eye movements and adapting the 3D landscape to where you are looking or how your eyes are moving.

What does the typical experience include?

This will depend on where you attend for your VR experience.

However, typically, you will be given a demo session to help you learn how to use the equipment and to familiarise yourself with the VR environment. This is also a good time to talk to the team who is going to be supervising you and ask them questions.

Then, your experience will follow and should last from anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour. Based on the company you book with; you may be able to win medals too for your bravery or high score in the game. Great!

Can I play if I have epilepsy?

Many of the makers of VR headsets etc. advise against playing them if you have epilepsy.

This is because of the frequent use of strobe lights in the games or the quickly changing light settings that accompany many of the game scenarios.

But to be on the safe side, it is always worth discussing suitability for such things with your doctor alongside advising the company you want to book an experience day with.

Are there age restrictions on games?

Many places that offer VR experiences have age restrictions on their games. And yes, this is usually related to the content of the games themselves.

Considering that most VR games revolve around an attack scenario, such as zombies or other associated horrors/survival cliches, it is easy to see why they wouldn’t want children engaging in such games!

However, many VR companies can offer child-friendly experiences too; these will usually be shorter than the age-rated experiences. But, as always, call ahead before you book anything!

Are most VR experiences expensive?

In short, they are not as pricey as you may think.

As VR has become more popular as the focus of a day out, more companies can offer it to patrons. And as a result, there is now competition on how little companies can charge if you want to have a day out chasing zombies.

But, as is the way with most experience days, the quality, time and other aspects of your VR experience will differ. So, before booking anything, it may be worth having a conversation with the suppliers about what is included in the price, so you can be sure that you are getting good value for money.

Video has taken over social media. While having something witty to say in a post or comment will still help propel your brand forward, what’s really going to be the needle moving on your brand is having video content that people love, connect with, and want to share. However, creating this type of video content is not easy. Even with the right variables, it still takes a decent amount of good luck to get any real traction.

So to help move the odds even closer to your favor, here are three tips for creating videos that will get lots of views on social media.

Tell A Story

When planning out the video that you’re wanting to post on social media, arguably the first thing you should think about is the story you’re wanting to tell. Without a solid story, there’s very little chance that people are going to spend their time watching the video you’ve posted.

For your own sake, you’ll want to choose a story that also goes along with the goal that you have for your overall social media strategy as well as what you’re hoping to accomplish with this specific video. By keeping all of these things in your mind and creating a story for your video that people find compelling, you should be able to get a decent amount of views for that video.

Keep Your Most Valuable Content At The Beginning

For many people and brands, it can be tempting to put the most important or valuable information at the end of your video so that people watch the whole thing. However, while you might think that this will make people more intrigued, the opposite is often found to be true.

If you’ve promised to deliver something to your viewers in the title or thumbnail image for your video, it’s best to put that thing at the beginning of your video. This will help your viewers feel like they can get something valuable out of your content in a very short period of time, which can help you build more trust with them in the future.

Make The Right Video For The Right Platform

You can post videos on quite a few different social media platforms now. However, not every video should be posted to every platform. Certain types and lengths of videos are going to do better on specific social media platforms.

For example, longer videos tend to do better on Facebook. But on Instagram, you’ll want to stick with videos that are generally no longer than about a minute. So depending on the type of video you created and the type of brand you have, you’ll want to be sure that you’re posting it at the right time and to the right people.

If one of your goals for this year is to get more views for the videos you post, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you achieve this.

If you’ve been sexually harassed, there’s only so much you can do as far as getting legal justice. So once you’ve started down this path, what your main focus should then be on is learning how to heal yourself emotionally after this trauma. While everyone is going to react to sexual harassment differently, there are things that everyone can do to come to terms with what has happened and try to find the strength to continue on.

To help you see how this can be possible for you, here are three tips for emotionally dealing with being sexually harassed.

Find A Way To Get Some Closure

Sexual harassment can take a toll on people not only emotionally and mentally but physically as well. So to help yourself move on from what has happened and close the book on this part of your life, you’ve got to find some way to get closure after harassment has taken place.

Depending on where the harassment took place and who it was that was harassing you, you might need to do things like end some friendships, find a new job, start some different hobbies, or make other big changes in your life. And while it might not seem fair that you’re the one who has to take these steps, for the sake of your mental health, not retraumatizing yourself by staying in the situation is going to be very important.

Create A Strategy For Self-Care

When people have experienced trauma that often comes from being sexually harassed, it’s very common to not feel like yourself for a while and not feel the desire or motivation to take care of yourself as you once did. But for your well-being, it’s vital that you find ways to practice self-care.

To do this, you should try to develop some strong habits that will encourage you to be physically healthy while you’re working on your emotional health. These habits can include things like getting regular exercise and fresh air, eating foods that will fuel your body, and getting a healthy amount of sleep each night.

Talk To Someone You Trust

Although you might feel embarrassed or ashamed of the sexual harassment that’s been perpetrated against you, the last thing you should be doing for your emotional health is keeping all of your feelings inside. This can cause you a lot of physical problems on top of your mental and emotional stress. So if you don’t already have someone that you trust and can talk to about what happened and what you’re feeling, seek out a qualified counselor or therapist to help you through this tough time.

If you’ve been sexually harassed, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you on your path to emotional healing.

 

 

Unfortunately, as much as people might get married hoping that it will last forever, statistics show that it is less likely than it ever has been before to remain together forever. People married between the ages of 20 and 25 have a 60% chance of getting divorced, particularly during the time COVID19.

However, age doesn’t seem to have much to do with it as the divorce rate has doubled over the last 20 years for people over 50 years old. The fact of the matter is that people are more willing to walk away than they once were in the past. Here are some of the reasons why.

 

Abuse

 

A lot of people would like to be able to stay together forever; however, they are in a toxic situation that is often abusive. Abuse doesn’t always have to mean physical harm. In some cases, abuse can be emotional or psychological. People who feel that they are a victim of abuse may not leave initially; however, after a while, they realize their situation won’t get any better.

It often starts small and starts to snowball over the years. When the victim starts to feel like there’s no way out, eventually, they seek to end the relationship. Today’s society, unlike a few decades ago, has many more resources available for victims of abuse. People feel like it’s more realistic to walk away in today’s modern society.

 

Married For The Wrong Reasons

 

Because of impulsive marriages in places like Las Vegas, a lot of people find themselves in a relationship that doesn’t make sense. People who rush into marriage are much more likely to end in divorce. Whereas people who take their time and slowly cultivate the relationship are much more likely to find themselves with someone who will stand the test of time.

 

Financial Stress

 

The economy is shakier than ever for a variety of reasons. Although couples try their best not to let stresses like money affect their love, it often ends up getting the best of them. Financial struggles can make even the calmest of people turn incredibly anxious. Couples who allow the stress of their finances to dictate their lives may find themselves unable to rekindle the relationship.

 

Long Life Expectancies

 

The fact of the matter is that people are living longer than they ever did before. It’s no surprise that after a while people may get more sick of each other. Once upon a time people didn’t live past 40 years old. However, now that people are living well into their 90’s and sometimes well over 100, they may not necessarily feel like staying with the same person the entire time. Logically, longer lives mean more divorces.

 

 

 

Thanks to numerous technological advancements, gambling has now gone global. Everyone is now able to access gambling sites on their devices via popular online casinos. The industry faces major opposition and stereotype from society and governments, which imposes heavy regulations on the industry.

Gambling is a hugely profitable industry that brings along with it poor gambling behaviours in society. This twist puts pressure on government institutions to find a balance between protecting its citizens and reaping revenues from the venture.

Some countries have outlawed gambling and imposed stiff penalties on those that take part in the activity. However, it is legal in other countries where both players and the government reap millions.

Two gambling hotspot cities – Las Vegas in the US and Macau in China – could make anyone assume that the two countries top the list of the top gambling countries of the world. However, there are other bigwigs that give the two a run. Some of them are:

1. Australia

Australia is popularly called a gambler’s haven. According to some research studies, over 80% of adults in Australia engage in gambling. The casinos in Australia serve all gamblers’ needs from entertainment and lotteries to betting. The policy of no-tax-on-winnings heightens practice since you usually take home whatever you win.

The country’s stability and huge emphasis put on recreation make it attractive for gambling. Other factors, such as the healthy economy and high quality of life create a 24-hour gambling economy.

Australia is the land to spend your fortune making merry. The rich sporting culture of cricket and football activities exclusively fits the gambling culture. Australia’s gambling freedom attracts players from various countries who want to feel the thrill, creating billions for the economy.

2. United Kingdom

The UK has one of the biggest numbers of active gamblers. Dating way back in history, gambling has been a primary recreational activity in the UK. The numbers have increased because of online gaming fostered by significant innovations in the country.

Since gambling has been around for so long, most people are brought up knowing it as a great way to socialise. Modern technology has only made it easier for people to practice.

3. China

Although online gambling and land-based casinos are prohibited, China’s young generation has taken over state lotteries and sports betting. These create revenues of over $50 billion for the country.

Asian cultures emphasize their beliefs on superstitions regarding luck, fate and fortune. They uphold the trio with sentimental value and link losses and wins to ancestors. Luck, for example, is considered a favorite of the gods.

Profound cultural factors have made the activity hard to ban. You will often find people in street corners and open joints gambling using cards and Mahjong. Wherever you see a huddle of five people, you can be sure they’re gambling.

The enthusiasm for gambling in China’s economy made the government licence the activity. This is especially true of the city of Macau. Macau is one of the most popular gambling cities in the world, bringing in nearly $35 billion in revenue.

4. India

Although gambling in India was banned long ago, online poker games have created an inherent problem for the country. Blame it on the population or technological advancements; the middle-class population is taking to gambling at a higher pace than their counterparts in first world countries.

Online gambling is popular because of the engaging atmosphere made possible by live streams of high definition videos. The live streams give people the experience of land casinos.

Diwali is another occasion where families stay together to play cards and bet on them. This makes poker and other card games acceptable and even desirable for much of the Indian population.

5. Ireland

The horse racing culture in the country has seen Ireland become an important gambling economy. Most people are raised on horse farms, where the activity is nurtured from childhood. How beautiful! Imagine knowing the tactics of the game at a younger age. You’d have probably been a billionaire by now.

The Irish love a gamble, and the authorities are aware of this. To make its people happy, laws in the country provide hatching grounds for gambling. The casino industry is unregulated. The activity is perceived as harmless, and household names in the activity, such as Paddy Power and Betfair, deliver precisely what the people need.

Conclusion

Different countries offer a different sort of gambling experience. You could choose to visit them or take a shot at online gambling from the comfort of your home.

 

After waiting for some time to sell your property, it might not be a good feeling if you still can’t close a deal. You have to be patient and try your best to advertise your property as much as you can. However, you might be close to a deal soon. These are the signs that you will probably get the transaction you want.

Someone keeps asking more detailed questions

When you have a new potential buyer, the questions will be more general in nature. If the property seems interesting, you will receive more questions from this potential buyer. However, if this buyer doesn’t seem interested at all, you will receive no follow-up questions. Therefore, if you still keep getting inquiries after your initial conversation, you’re close to a deal. No one will spend enough time to discuss with you if there’s no chance to buy the house.

There are more interested parties 

At first, you might find it complicated to look for the right buyer. However, it might be surprising if you receive a surge in inquiries about your property. It could mean a lot of things. First, it means that your property is becoming more valuable, given its location. The area saw economic progress in recent years, and a lot of people are willing to move there. These potential buyers will compare the properties in the area, but they will compete with each other until they can settle with a great choice.

Other properties in the area are getting sold 

If the other properties in the neighborhood are selling quickly, it’s a sign that it won’t be long before you can sell yours. There won’t be enough houses in the area for everyone. If you offer a property that has excellent features, it means that you will find the perfect buyer soon. It’s even possible that some people are willing to buy real estate due to the possibility of increased value in the future. It’s more of an investment than an intention to reside in the house. Therefore, you can expect more inquiries in the future and even ask for a higher amount before closing the deal.

Wholesale buyers are available in your area

If there are wholesale buyers in your area, it means that there’s a huge demand for properties from their pool of buyers. You can contact them and ask if they can come over and assess your house. You will receive a fair assessment and an offer in no time. If you think that the amount is good enough, you can sign the agreement and walk away with cash. These wholesale buyers are easy to partner with, and they already made transactions with several homeowners in the past. If that’s something that interests you, type sell my house fast Miami in Google. Check the details based on your search and decide if it’s a path you would like to pursue.

Hopefully, you can get what you want and walk away with enough money out of this transaction.