SeniorServ Practice

Mohammad ChowhanAmerican Public UniversitySeniorServ, Adult Day Health CareSecuring Home, Health & HeartAnaheim, CaliforniaInstructor: Dr. Carter-Mccummings, JewelMarch 22, 2018Abstract. I chose my practicum site because of several reasons. Selecting SeniorServ practicum has numerous benefits to facilitate selecting public health career. As an intern, I have the opportunity to experience the type of work that could be performed in the position, to determine if my skills match the work that is essential and to evaluate whether that work is what I could see myself accomplishment day in and day out in a enjoyable career. One of the fastest growing areas of health care is elder care. As people age and find themselves with increased health issues, the need for dependent care often tops their list as they plan for the years ahead. More and more seniors are choosing to stay in their homes as long as possible and that can put a burden on the primary caregivers who may not have the time or the ability to provide the necessary care. Providing a healthy, interactive environment for the dependent adult can give the caregivers relief from constant care for their loved one. There are many opportunities in the adult day care area. Maybe one of these is a perfect match for me. SeniorServ Adult Health Day Care is a non-profit, client centered, day program for older adults living in the Orange County Area. Most of our participants vary in levels of dependency from mild to severe and often have a chronic illness. SeniorServ's main goal is to keep families and their loved ones united within their respective communities and homes for as long as possible through an integrated care program which includes daily activities, Physical ; occupational therapies, nursing and personal care services. SeniorServ Adult Health Day Care operate smoothly is challenging and rewarding. There are opportunities in planning events, transportation, scheduling, finance, public relations/ presentations, fundraising, supervision, crisis management and recruitment as well as meaningful daily interaction with the program participants we serve. Each brings its own reward.IntroductionFor 50 years SeniorServ has been the largest nonprofit senior nutrition and supportive service provider in Orange County, serving nearly  one million meals  to over  10,000 at-risk older adults annually. We deliver programs and services that reduce hunger and improve wellness for seniors so that they may live independently in the homes and communities they love. The organization was originally incorporated in 1967 as Feedback Foundation. In 2006 Feedback Foundation and Senior Meals and Services merged creating SeniorServ,  providing the capacity for meeting the growing and diverse needs of older adults in our community. SeniorServ leverages its 22,000 square foot commercial kitchen and warehouse to process all our foods while providing social enterprise opportunities to the community at large.SeniorServ is proud to celebrate 50 years of programs and services that diminish hunger and loneliness for penurious seniors. Although a lot has changed since our humble beginnings in 1967, one thing that has remained is our commitment to helping older adults stay in their homes, preserve their dignity, and maintain their independence. With your support, we can give support – bringing them healthy meals, providing friendship, and, often, offering the only human contact they have all week long. Home-delivered meals, Case Management, Adult Day Services, health related rehabilitation. Friendly Visitors, Care Circles, and Care Coordination work at keeping seniors in Orange County living in the homes and communities they love. Good nutrition is the basis of good health. Meals on Wheels and Senior Center lunches throughout the county deliver healthy nutrition. Adult Day Health Care safeguards health through supervision, and therapies. Care Coordination reduces health risks after hospitalization. Compassionate care in our Adult Day Health Centers, friends and activities at Adult Day Services, companionship from a Friendly Visitor and support from a Care Circle are just a few ways SeniorServ makes sure older adults are happy, connected and feeling loved. MissionTo nourish the wellness, purpose, and dignity of seniors and their families in our community.Values of SeniorServCompassion: We are caring ; compassionate in all we do. Integrity: We are always honest and ethical. Respect: We treat every person with dignity and respect. Excellence: We deliver on our mission with excellence and professionalism. Communication: We listen and speak openly with each other. Innovation: We create an environment where innovation and possibilities thrive. Indispensable GoalsCollaborate with other elder advocates and seniors focused organizations to develop a strategy for the enactment of federal and state legislation that is of benefit to California older adults. Ensure that basic, essential in-home and in facility support services, both medical and non-medical are available to older senior adults.Develop a patient-centered community case management model for chronic care and successful transitions along the care continuum including transitions from and to hospitals, other care facilities, and homes. Explore and implement best practices for integrated assessment and treatment mental health, substance abuse, and cognitive decline, including access to a geriatric treatment progress.Enhance awareness of the importance of nutrition, exercise, brain fitness, socialization, and spirituality in the aging well process.Service Delivered in SeniorServAdult Day Health Care (ADHC) is designed for individuals with physical and mental impairments under SeniorServ. This center provides supportive therapies to enable individuals and their loved ones to maintain as much as daily independence as possible. Nursing and MedicalPersonal Care Physical TherapyOccupational TherapySpeech and Cognitive TherapySocial ServicesDietary ; Nutritional ServicesStimulating Exercise HallTransportationRespite for CaregiversWeekly Public Health Awareness Discussion SessionsCollaborations with Other Organizations ; AgenciesSeniorServ has deep collaboration with other organizations and agencies for effective implications. Agencies and organizations are as follows:Alignment HealthcareKaiser PermanenteSCANSt, Joseph HealthActive Care LivingSilveradoLocations of SeniorServAnaheim Health Day Care CenterSanta Ana/ Tustin Health Day Care CenterBuena Part Senior CenterPreceptor's CredentialsMr. Giovanni Corzo, vice president home & Care Services, Overseas SeniorServ's direct care services. Chair of the OneCare Connect Member Advisory Committee (OCCMAC). He represents California MediConnect Plan member (Medicare-Medicaid).Important Public Health Issues Being Addressed in Practicum SiteChronic Health Conditions: More than 80% of elderlies have at least heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Cognitive Health: The most mutual cognitive health issue facing the elderly is dementia, the loss of those cognitive functions. The most generic form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, though there is no cure for dementia, a treatment plan & medications to manage this disease is helpful, like different activities, puzzle-based exercises. SeniorServ has fully fledged sections under physical therapy, occupational therapy and aids for above purpose. Mental Health: A common mental disorder among seniors is depression. Unfortunately, this mental disorder, often undiagnosed & undertreat. But social and other activities-based exercises are very helpful to ease. Promoting lifestyle of healthy living such as betterment of living condition and social support from family, friends or supporting groups can help treat depression. SeniorServ has daily activities including † Lets color it† , Mà ºsica and health awareness sessions. Physical Injuries: The leading cause of injury among elderlies is increasing, due to age, bones cause to shrink and muscle to lose strength & flexibility, senior are most vulnerable. These problems are handled at SeniorServ through education, increased physical activities and practical modification. Malnutrition: Malnutrition in older adults leads to health complications, such as a weakened immune system and muscle weakness. Registered Dietitian and nutrition staff SeniorServ are doing their job to work on healthy breakfast & lunch at regular basis.Sensory Impairments: Sensory impairments, such as vision and hearing, are extremly common for elders. Regading eyes and ears, nursing center take care on daily basis.Bladder Control & Constipation: Incontinence and constpation are common cmplications in senior adults. Center manages elders' food according to their digestive condition. Nursing staff and caregivers are always ready to manage elders' needs. My Contributions at SeniorServHelped Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy staff during therapy sessions.Helped caregivers and nutritional staff during their serving and preparation time.Assisted Activity director during daily tasks and lead small groups.Be part of team who prepared health literature for awareness. I lead small group sessions on public health awareness topics as: Fast Food: Good or Bad Nutrition and Diet Engineered Food for Health Role of Genes in spreading diseases Alcoho, Tobacco and other legal & Illegal Drugs Benefits of Spices, Herbs & Minerals Relationship of Practicum Activities to Student's Academic WorkMy specialty in public health is a reason that I chose SeniorServ for my practicum.Active Living Every Day (ALED) at SeniorServ uses facilitated group-based problem-solving methods to integrate physical activity into everyday living.Enhance Fitness Program is highly adaptable exercise program offering levels that are challenging enough for active older adults and levels that are safe enough for the unfit or near frail.Healthy Moves for Aging Well is a simple and safe in-door physical activity intervention developed and tested by Partners in Care to enhance the activity level of frail, high-risk sedentary seniors living at home. Usefullness, Impact ; Relevance of Selected Practicum on My Planned CareerDuring my stay at SeniorServ, I learned so many new things plus polished my existing skills.I am planning to work for wellness center or advising center that gives awareness in public health, regarding nutrition, healthy activities and social interactions.My Recommendations for the Future Direction of Practicum SiteI recommended them for health awareness discussion among seniors. I started that since in the beginning on weekly basis.I touched topics on nutrition, healthy living, daily fitness exercises.I talked to different senior groups on general health.I recommended to director that talk to individuals and find out their interest and link that help to improve their health.Recommended and be part of leading short talks about health and social issues.Practicum Students should have access to seniors' personal/medical records. Due to my recommendations, I assist SeniorServ's nutritional staff. All centers like SeniorServ don't allow volunteer to physical help in PT & OT areas without initial training. Center is ready to do arrangements for practicum/Inter/volunteers to have initial PT & OT initial training.Evaluations of Overall Practicum Experience & SuggestionsInvolve older adult and youth groups in planning appropriate intergenerational volunteer opportunities for seniors to remain engaged in the community.Integrate a wide range of updated older adult health, recreational, and fitness related activities, such as Pilates and spinning, into existing programsTo enhance the quality of academic learning about elder care issues and policy in various disciplines by integrating meaningful community service into courseworkPracticum DeliverablesFit or Fat (Exercise Program) CopyWeekly Discussion Session Progress Reports (Copy)Mentor/Practicum Agreement (Copy)Leisure ActivitiesDaily Visiting Schedule of Seniors to Nursing Room Brain GamesMonthy Log of Practicum Student at SeniorServ.(Copy)ReferencesHarrigan, B. (2018). Senior Internship. Retrieved March 23,2018 from http://www.natickps.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=121475&pageId=575756Weaver, R. (2017). Health Promotion and Wellness Management. Retrieved March 23, 2018 Fromhttps://academics.rowan.edu/shp/departments/hes/programs/undergraduate/healthPromotion/internshiphpwm.pdfRekdal, A. (2016). How interns shape the culture and tech of 20 Chicago companies. Retrieved March 23, 2018 fromhttps://www.builtinchicago.org/2016/07/20/internship-programs-chicago-tech-companiesNiering, G. (2016). Internship Reflection Papers. Retrieved March 23, 2018 fromhttps://www.conncoll.edu/media/website-media/centers/goodwin-niering/greenlivingdocs/Class-of-2016-Internship-Reflection-Papers-Booklet.pdfKumar, S., Preetha, GS. (2012). Health Promotion: An Effective Tool for Global Health. Retrieved February 21, 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3326808/ American Heart Association (AHA. (2015). Eating Fast Food. Retrieved February 21, 2018 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/DiningOut/Eating-Fast-Food_UCM_301473_Article.jsp#.Wo4G9q6nHIU Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). A Public Health Action Plan to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke. Retrieved February 21, 2018 from https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/action_plan/pdfs/action_plan_full.pdf National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI). (2017). Three Public Health Training Needs Rise to the Top. Retrieved February 21, 2018 fromhttps://nnphi.org/three-core-competencies-rise-to-the-top-of-the-list-of-public-health-training-needs/ omplete and submit 15 – 25 page reflective paper (12-pt Times New Roman font; double spaced; title page; page numbers-bottom center; APA style, citations & at least  7 references)**The format of the final paper may vary based upon the student's location and activities; however, the following items must be discussed:a. Provide an overview of the practicum agency (organization's mission, organization's goals, location, collaboration with other local, national or international public health agencies, preceptor's credentials)b. Describe current public health issue(s) being addressed during the course of student's practicum experiencec. Describe contributions the student has made during their involvement in practicum experienced. Summarize the relation of the practicum activities to student's academic work and/or concentration areae. Summarize the usefulness, impact and relevance the selected practicum on the student's planned careerf. Provide recommendations for the future direction of practicum agency addressing public health issues on a local, national, and international levelg. Evaluation of overall practicum experience (assessment of overall experience, positive and negative aspects of experience, new skills/knowledge gained, suggestions to faculty for improving future practicum experiences)h. Submit a copy of your deliverables online (Your paper WILL NOT be graded and will receive a zero grade if deliverables are not attached with your  reflection paper).

Essay Sample on Effects of Recession on Students

Essay Sample on Effects of Recession on Students Example Essay on Effects of Recession on Students: (College life has many challenges that lead to a combination of problems that are propelled by inefficiency in service delivery as well as incompetence. These can be dealt with all the same if proper procedures are taken by relevant stakeholders). As inevitable the recession might seem to be to the economic life of the world, its effects have proved to be more widespread and devastating than we can imagine them to be. Imagine waking up to find firms and industries downsizing their workforce, prices of basic commodities rising by the minute, cost of healthcare being far from affordable, crime rate and insecurity being the only topic of the day due to super high cost of living, and as if not enough, the most important sector of civilization, education becoming so expensive beyond the reach of the modern day small family that tags its future on the little kids dressed in their school uniform hoping that one day they will finish school and get employed with a decent income to bring back home. These forces youth to resort to crude money making methods like selling drugs, prostitution and theft. The Recession is the period when the economic output is decreasing instead of increasing thus having the effect of reducing tax revenues to the government. This Forces the Government to dig deeper into reserves and external borrowing to suffice its expenditure, thus plunging the economy into debts, causing effects such as inflation. Inflation directly boils down to the individual citizen who has to spend more on goods and services as the cost of living escalates. Crime rate has been increasing as a result of the high cost of living brought about by recession. This is as a result of many students resorting to theft and fraud in order to get an extra dollar for their upkeep and tuition fees. This will lead to student living with fear as their property is always at risk of loss and they are afraid of being harmed due to the violence that is associated with stealing. The rise in crime rates will affects the concentration of students as they cannot fully concentrate on their studies because of concern on the security of their property. Crime rate also brings about insecurity around the campus since the affinity of students to steal has risen. This creates an in conducive environment for studying and thus the students grades will drop significantly. Parents are not able to support students effectively because some have lost their jobs due to employers downsizing firms. This will cause a degree in performance of students because low standards of living give the student a hard time and thus they are not able to have concentration in their studies thereby affecting their performance in class. In order to achieve good grades, peace of mind is essential to be able to grasp what is being taught during lectures and personal studies. This is evident by a survey done about the recession and its effects on students, where it reported that one in four students would receive less financial support from their parents or guardians as a result of the recession. A survey done about recession effect on graduate employment shows that many students are scared that they will not be able to get employment when they graduate because of the recession. Students will become extremely demoralized when they work so hard to get perfect grades, only to realize that there are no employment opportunities for them in the job market. This makes some students even drop out if college to start self proprietor businesses in the attempt to make a living. Or in other cases, drop out completely since they cannot be able to pay bills as they no longer participate actively in part time jobs which initially enabled them to pay some or most of their bills like housing and school fees. The tuition fees of most students is funded either by loans from the government or financial institutions. The recession leaves the students stranded with hefty loans because even after finishing college, they are unable to service their education loans since they are unemployed. This no twithstanding, the heavy interest rates that are attached on the loans upon borrowing are attached to this effect. Budget constraints also affect a very sensitive department of student loans and aid. This department focuses on helping students have a smooth education by trying to meet their financial needs, I personally being a beneficiary of this program. Cut backs on this department will force other students out of college and might lead to unrest in college which normally disrupts studies for a while. On the issue of budget cuts or budget constraints as a result of recession, we find that budget constraints affect the college programs, for example; course offering programs and general student activities like sports and extra curricula activities, outreach programs and inter campus programs among others. We find that all these programs might end up competing for funding because of reduced funding due to the budget cuts; hence all of these programs have to consider taking the financial cut backs to coexist and allow the programs to continue even though they can barely start with these minimal funds. The other issue is on the number of classes offered. There are fewer classes offered in college and this makes it difficult for students to meet their intended goals. This leads to students paying very high for tutorials since the college has no more tutoring rooms. Books have in turn become very expensive for normal students to buy. Finally, these effects of recession and budget cutbacks being just the tip of the iceberg, recession and budget cuts heavily affect our studies and general welfare as students here in college, all we ask and pray for is for the government to see into it that at least students are considered as a special group who haven’t fully developed their own wings to fly independently, thus to support us during this harsh times by exempting us from budget cuts and allocating emergency kitties to support us during the recession. Also, to see into the issue of unemployment such that fresh graduates are absorbed directly into the employment category swiftly to at least enable us to clear the heavy education loans that are pegged to our certificates. This at least will give us a chance to not only start our own lives, but to support our young ones at home and our families who have put a lot of effort in our education to see us succeed in the future. Help us build a brighter future.

The eNotes Blog Ten Thanksgiving Thoughts FromLiterature

Ten Thanksgiving Thoughts FromLiterature Thanksgiving is a time of abundance: of food, of family, of friends. Here are ten thoughts from authors who have reflected on the holiday in many different ways. 1. â€Å"One Day is there of the Series / Termed Thanksgiving Day. / Celebrated part at Table / Part in Memory.† ~ Emily Dickinson 2.   â€Å"’I do like to begin seasonable and have things to my mind. Thanksgivin’ dinners can’t be drove, and it does take a sight of victuals to fill all these hungry stomicks,’ said the good woman, as she gave a vigorous stir to the great kettle of cider applesauce, and cast a glance of housewifely pride at the fine array of pies set forth on the buttery shelves.† ~ An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott 3.   Historian and essayist Sarah Vowell knows not all family gatherings are Norman Rockwell scenes. Here are a few lines from her essay, The First Thanksgiving, from her collection, The Partly Cloudy Patriot: When I invited my mom and dad to come to New York City to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house, I never expected them to say yes. Not only had they never been to New York, they had never been east of the Mississippi. Nor had they ever visited me. Ive always had these fantasies about being in a normal family in which the parents come to town and their adult daughter spends their entire visit daydreaming of suicide. Im here to tell you dreams really do come true. 4.   Oh, my! Its fruitcake weather, Buddy! ~ From The Thanksgiving Visitor, in Truman Capotes A Christmas Memory 5.   If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, thank you, that would suffice.   ~Meister Eckhart 6.   For each new morning with its light, / For rest and shelter of the night, / For health and food, for love and friends, / For everything Thy goodness sends. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 7.   From humorist Dave Barry: Thanksgiving is also a spiritual time of quiet reflection - a time when we pause to remember, as generations have remembered before us, that an improperly cooked turkey is - in the words of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - a ticking Meat Bomb of Death.† 8.   Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.   ~William Shakespeare 9.   Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for annually, not oftener if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians.   Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white mans side, consequently on the Lords side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments.   ~Mark Twain 10.     Anne Frank: I do not think of all the misery, but of the glory that remains. Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun, go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God. Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself within and without you and be happy.

The ABCs of APR Everything You Need to Know

The ABCs of APR Everything You Need to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When you look at a loan or credit card offer, you’ll see the term â€Å"APR,† or annual percentage rate, popping up all over the place. What is APR, exactly, and why is it important when taking out a loan or choosing a credit card? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about annual percentage rate and how you can use it to understand the annual costs of a loan or credit line. To start, let’s establish a working definition of APR. What Is APR? What is APR? What does APR stand for? APR stands for annual percentage rate, and it tells you the total amount of interest and fees you’ll pay each year on borrowed money. It’s a more comprehensive value than interest rate, and it’s meant to help you compare loans and credit cards on a standardized basis. APR is presented as a percentage of the total amount borrowed, or the principal. That being said, APR works differently on loans than it does on credit cards. Let’s take a closer look at both, starting with loans. How Does APR Work on Loans and Mortgages? On a loan or mortgage, APR tells you to the total amount of interest and fees you’ll pay each year. The types of fees depend on the type of loan. On a personal loan, for instance, a common additional fee is an origination fee. On a home loan, the main additional fee is closing costs. If your loan or mortgage doesn’t have any fees, then the APR will equal the annual interest rate. Let’s say you borrow $100,000 at a 5% interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. You pay $1,000 in closing costs. Your APR, then, is 5.1% (interest rate + closing costs, as a percentage of the principal). You would pay $5.10 each year for every $100 you borrowed. APR includes closing costs, so it’s a more realistic representation of your long-term costs than the annual interest rate is. Because of the Truth in Lending Act of 1968, lenders must calculate loan APR in the same way. This consistency allows you to compare offers and clearly see your long-terms costs. APR gives customers a quick and easy way to compare the terms of loans or mortgages on an apples-to-apples basis. By knowing the APR, you can use an APR calculator to calculate your monthly payments and figure out how much you’ll end up paying in fees and interests. Usually, a lower APR means you’ll spend less money over the long term. To see why, consider the example of a $200,000 mortgage below with two loan APRs that differ by just a few percentage points. Thanks to the 1968 Truth in Lending Act, all lenders must calculate APR in the same way. Examples of APR on a 30-Year Mortgage Let’s consider two scenarios using a $200,000 mortgage. In the first scenario, you get a 5.5% APR on a 30-year mortgage. In the second, you manage to get just a 5.2% APR over 30 years. By comparing the two rates, you can see how much money you save in the long run with an APR that’s only slightly lower than another one. Scenario 1: $200k Mortgage With a 5.5% APR Using Bankrate’s APR calculator, let’s consider a $200,000 mortgage over a 30-year term with a 5.5% APR. To pay off this mortgage over 30 years, you’d have a monthly payment of $1,135.58. After 30 years, you’d end up paying a total of $408,807. Since you initially took out $200,000, this means you’d end up paying $208,807 in interest and other fees. Scenario 2: $200k Mortgage With a 5.2% APR What if your APR was a bit lower, say 5.2%? How much would you save in the long run? With a 5.2% APR on a $200,000 loan, you’d pay $1,098.22 a month for 30 years for a total of $395,361. Your additional costs would add up to $195,361 - a large amount, but significantly lower than the costs incurred with a 5.5% APR. You would pay $13,446 less on a $200k, 30-year mortgage with a 5.2% APR than you would with a 5.5% APR. As you can see, getting a mortgage with a slightly lower APR can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. When you're shopping for a mortgage, you should compare offers to get the best deal. Now that you have a sense of how APR works on a loan or mortgage, let’s look closer at how annual percentage rates work on credit cards. When you're choosing a 30-year mortgage, remember that a difference of just one or two percentage points in an APR can make a big difference in your long-term costs. How Does APR Work on Credit Cards? When you look at a credit card, you’ll see several APRs. Credit cards have different APR for different types of transactions, like one for making purchases and another for transferring cash. For most people, the APR related to making purchases is the most important rate. On credit cards, APRs don’t typically include additional fees related to cash advances or late payments. Rather, they reflect the daily periodic rate, or the interest that’s calculated on your account each and every day, over the entire year. If you want to know your daily periodic rate, then you can simply take the APR and divide it by 365. How do credit cards come up with APR? They use the U.S. prime rate and then add their own margin. For instance, the prime rate could be 5% and the issuer could charge a 12% margin. The APR, then, would be 17%. APR on a credit card could stay the same from year to year, or it could fluctuate along with the U.S. prime rate. APRs that change are called floating or variable APRs. Your APR may also depend on your creditworthiness, as you’ll see in the example below. People with higher credit scores get a lower APR, and people with lower credit scores get a higher APR. Credit card companies may also offer promotional APRs when you open a new account. You could get 0% APR on purchases for the first year. After that promotional period, the APR would return to the normal rate. While you’ll see a lot of promotions regarding APR from credit card companies, you should keep in mind that APR may not matter. In fact, it shouldn’t even be a factor for many people. Read on to learn why. Are you making a purchase? Transferring cash? A credit card usually has several APRs, one for each kind of transaction. APR on Credit Cards: Does It Matter? If you pay off your full credit card balance every month, then you will never have to pay interest. For all intents and purposes, your APR is always 0%. To use a credit card responsibly, you should always pay off your full balance every month. Credit card interest rates are high, and carrying a balance is one of the quickest ways to get into debt. If you’re spending more than you can afford to pay off within the month, then you need to step back, make a budget, and take steps to control your personal finances. If you’re using a credit card well, then the promotional and regular APR offers should not matter. Instead, you can choose a credit card based on other perks, like cash back and travel points. Speaking of travel rewards, let’s look at one of the best cards for travel points, the Chase Sapphire card, to get a sense of its various APR structures. If you pay off your full credit card balance every month, then your purchase APR will be 0%. Example of APR on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Here are the various APRs on the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, as borrowed from its website. Notice how it offers a range of rates, based on your â€Å"creditworthiness.† The first is the one that applies to credit card purchases, while the others have to do with other transactions. INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST CHARGES Purchase Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 16.24% to 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Balance Transfer APR 16.24% to 23.24%, based on your creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Cash Advance APR 25.24%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Overdraft Advance APR 25.24%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. How does Chase Sapphire calculate its credit card APR rates? It uses the U.S. prime rate as of December 22, 2015, which was set at 3.5%. According to Chase, â€Å"We add 12.74% to 19.74% to the Prime Rate to determine the Purchase/Balance Transfer APR...We add 21.74% to the Prime Rate to determine the Cash Advance/Overdraft Advance APR.† As with many other lenders, Chase sets its own margin and adds this margin to the prime rate. Then, it assigns APRs based on the creditworthiness of each individual. Again, credit card APR might not come into play if you pay your balance off in full from month to month. It’s still important to know what you’re signing up for, though, just so you understand the costs that you can incur from using a credit card. In closing, let’s go over the key points you need to remember about APR, including what it is and how you can use it to decide between loans, mortgages, or credit cards. Some credit cards have a floating APR that fluctuate along with the prime rate. APR: Just the Basics APR, or annual percentage rate, works a little differently on loans than it does on credit cards. A loan APR tells you what percentage of your loan or mortgage you’ll be paying in interest and other fees each year. Because it incorporates costs beyond interest, APR is a more inclusive rate than interest rate. If there are no additional costs, then the loan APR will be the same as the annual interest rate. Since all lenders must calculate APR in the same way, APR helps consumers compare loan and mortgage offers on a standardized basis. In most cases, you’ll save money by getting the lowest APR you can. If you’re comparing credit card offers, remember that the â€Å"purchase APR† is likely the most relevant piece of data. Ideally, you won’t be paying any interest on your credit card. If you always pay off your monthly balances in full, then you can choose a credit card based on its rewards and points structure rather than on its various APRs. Whenever you’re taking out a loan or opening a card, make sure to read the ins and outs of any contract before you sign it. By looking at APR, you can gain a clear understanding of your long-term costs. What's Next? Which credit card is best for you? Check out our personal spending quiz to find the best credit card for your habits. Do you want to take a more proactive approach to managing your finances? Check out our 7-step guide for taking control of your personal finances. Are you starting to think about investing in the stock market? Check out our full guide to figure out what kind of investor you are and learn how to invest in the stock market.

Ardipithecus Ramidus and Its Relationship to Humans and Chimpanzees Term Paper

Ardipithecus Ramidus and Its Relationship to Humans and Chimpanzees - Term Paper Example The hominoid gap is the first and is said to date back to approximately 22-32 million years ago. This is the period that the human and ape ancestors were diverging from the monkeys’ evolution path. The other gap is the hominid gap and is estimated to date back to about 4.5 to 14 million years ago. It is believed that during this period, the human ancestors and extant ape ancestors separated from a common evolution path. Hominids refer to the human ancestors after the divergence from the last common ancestor with extant apes. Recently, fossil evidence bridging the hominid gap was discovered in 1992 in Aramis, Northern Ethiopia by a group of researchers. The discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus changes the initial belief that the common ancestor between man and extant apes looked more like a chimpanzee. The characteristics of the Ardipithecus ramidus are more similar to those of humans and therefore, the extant apes must have developed their traits after their evolution path and th at of humans separated. This discussion explores the Ardipithecus ramidus’ relationship to Chimpanzees and humans. Ardipithecus Ramidus Ardipithecus ramidus is believed to be 4.4 million years old and its discovery has changed the belief that human beings evolved from chimpanzees. Ardipithecus ramidus walked upright like humans and had a big toe for holding trees like apes. Before the discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus, the oldest early human skeleton was that of Australopithecus afarensis, also known as Lucy. Lucy is believed to be 3.2 million years old. Australopithecus afarensis was also discovered in Ethiopia and had many common characteristics with human beings. Therefore, the earlier ancestry between humans and apes was missing. The first specimen of Ardipithecus ramidus was discovered in 1992. The fossils were found in sediment layers which are approximately 4.4 million years old. The skull, arms feet, pelvis, and teeth were later discovered. The features of Ardipithecu s ramidus such as lack of ape-like canines show that she was not an ancestor of modern chimpanzees (White et al., 2009). Studies of evolution have been trying to determine the reason for the distinctiveness of human beings in terms of being bipedal, having high intellectual and technological capabilities, and other traits that distinguish them from extant apes. Before the discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus fossils, the evolution of humans was based on the characteristics of African apes. It was believed that these unique abilities that humans possess evolved from the modification of the traits of chimpanzees and bonobos, which are the closest human relatives. Human behavior was viewed as a modification of the chimpanzees’ characteristics such as the dominance of males, hunting, culture, upright feeding posture, among others (Harrison, 2010). The discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus sheds light into the period of hominid development after splitting from the common ancestor with ap es. Before Ardipithecus ramidus was discovered, scientists believed that the last common ancestor looked more like a chimpanzee than humans. They believed that the modern apes got many of their traits from this ancestor, such as walking on knuckles and hanging and swinging on trees. Characteristics of apes such as short backs, limbs, and pelvis which are appropriate for walking on knuckles and arms for swinging and hanging on trees were believed to have originated from the last common ancestor. It was believed that after the split, the human ancestors dropped the characteristics of the common ancestor such as sharp canines and walking on knuckles while the ancestors of the chimpanzees retained them up to the present. However, these beliefs are refuted by Ardipithecus

The Real Expense of Illegal Immigration Research Proposal

The Real Expense of Illegal Immigration - Research Proposal Example It has been estimated that the added cost to the federal government will be more than $15 billion per year when the present illegal aliens become citizens and begin collecting welfare benefits. The proposed bill will add greatly to this number because it will encourage a new surge of low skilled workers through its guest worker program. Traditionally, immigrants to the U.S. were less likely than those born in America to collect welfare. This historic arrangement has radically changed over the past three decades. Today, immigrant families are at least 50 percent more likely to receive federal benefits than those born in this country. Additionally, immigrants are more likely to adapt their lives to rely on the welfare system and studies have shown the longer immi ¬grants stay in the U.S., the more likely they are to be on welfare. To further aggravate the situation, when an illegal immigrant becomes a citizen, he can legally bring his parents who also have the right to become citi ¬zens. The estimated long-term cost of overall federal benefits could exceed $50 billion per year for the parents of the 10 million beneficiaries of amnesty. â€Å"In the long run, the bill, if enacted, would be the largest expansion of the welfare state in 35 years† (Rector, 2006). Approximately half of current illegal immigrants do not possess a high-school level education. Welfare use among this group and for low-skill immigrants granted amnesty is three times the rate for the U.S. born citizens.

A Job Well Done Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Job Well Done - Essay Example A Job Well Done She did not tell me to do this or that; she just let me do things on my own. One of the toughest things to do was getting out of bed early to prepare breakfast. My younger siblings had to make do with cereals and milk for breakfast because I am not so comfortable working at the kitchen. I brought my mother something to eat in her room, a sandwich and some warm milk, went back to the kitchen because I also had to clean the table afterwards and put everything in the dishwasher. That time I felt like it was the longest morning in my life. I got used to going out of my room when breakfast is ready then go back to my room after eating. After doing the morning chores, I checked our refrigerator to see what I can prepare for lunch. I had no idea what to cook so I just stared blankly on the vegetables and meat that was in the refrigerator. I kept thinking I have to prepare a decent meal for my mom so she can gain back her strength and get better right away. It’s a good thing that we are so equipped with technology that the internet can give you all the small details in cooking – just like a guide for dummies. I ended up making some pasta for me and my siblings and a soup for my mother. It was my first time to cook pasta just by myself. Even if I had the convenience of canned spaghetti sauce and ready to cook pasta, it was still a tough job to do because I had to make sure that I will be able to cook something worth eating.