I was reading an article about Kobe, Japan and came across a very telling report which gives an incite in to the dangerous territory we are going as a species. I do not think this attitude is limited to Kobe or Japan, but rather is global. The point of this article is to ask; are you helping the world, or part of the problem?

The following sections of the article on Kobe** basically say it is wrong that women should stay at home and raise their own children.

“…much remains to be done in Kobe and in Japan overall.” i.e., things are wrong and must change.

“…the employment trajectory by age shows radical differences between men and women. At ages 20-24 about 70 percent of both males and females are employed. By ages 25-29, however, male employment jumps to over 90 percent, while female employment falls to less than 40 percent. Female employment ratios rise again to about 50 percent for the population 40-50″

Of course female employment will drop at the age that most women are having children so they can stay at home and raise their children. When the kids are old enough, the women return to work. The statistics only prove that women have the freedom to work, but if they choose to have children, they also choose to accept the responsibility of raising them. When that job is done, they return back to the workforce.

I have to ask, what is wrong with this? Women insist on equality with men and the freedom to work their whole life, while hiring a nanny or putting their infants in day care, leaving their children to be raised during the most delicate formative years by other people.

Yet, many of these women will most likely be seeing a therapist to deal with abandonment issues stemming from childhood or complaining about how hard it is to find an emotionally balanced man. How can the people who support these statistics as improper and in need of change not also see the immense number of people who are suffering emotionally as young and mature adults due to the lack of parental contact while growing up.

A child needs its mother, even more than its father, to develop into a secure and emotionally balanced adult. We can see the vast numbers of people who do not have that emotional stability. However, I have found in countries like Panama for instance, where I am living now, the people are very self-confident and comfortable with themselves. People from cultures such as in Latin America where the mother stays at home and raises the children, do not suffer nearly as much from the weak or fearful characteristics of Americans and other western countries.

We cannot deny nature. Changing how people live and what a woman does is not going to improve our life and world when those changes go against the laws of nature. Humans are probably the weakest species on the planet when it comes to how long it takes for us to become self sufficient. By denying a child its need of a mother during those years, that child will unquestionably develop emotional issues.

If you are dealing with emotional issues such as fear of commitment, attachment, low self-esteem, fear of involvement or approaching people, among many other issues, I ask you to consider one thing; In your search for the cause and cure of your condition, are you considering if you are working towards the eradication of this disease, or its propagation.

If you are looking for estate agents to sell or let your house, the capital offers a huge and varied selection from which to choose.

This is great on the one hand; but on the other it can be perplexing. The main questions that you need to ask yourself are how do you know which estate agent is right for you and will they sell or let your home quickly?

The ultimate aim that any seller or landlord wants to accomplish is a smooth sale or let of their home so it is vital not to be swayed by agents that offer extremely low fees or unrealistically high ideas of what you might achieve.

Neither of these marketing tools will have an effect on how efficiently your house is sold or let so try not to be too tempted by these techniques without prior knowledge of what to expect beforehand.

Always conduct thorough research when choosing estates agent by monitoring how frequently they sell and let properties in your locality that are similar to yours in size and features.

Once you have found an agent that is selling and letting similar properties, it is often worth visiting their offices to meet them in situ and to see how happy you would be using them to market your property.

When you are talking to them, ask yourself whether they seem able to openly and honestly discuss the current condition of the housing market in your area. Do they actually know what prices were achieved, not just the asking prices?

Can they explain the difference? Do they have potential buyers already looking with them who would be looking at your property straight away?

Furthermore, it is important to think about whether they seem willing to take the time to listen to you properly because forging a good relationship with your agent is crucial to selling and letting your house.

On enquiring about the services they provide, you should expect them to carry out effective promotion of your property through different media channels and in their office windows

A free property market appraisal evaluation, the assurance that all viewings will be accompanied by them and free marketing should also be included in their services as standard.

It is also worth checking that your Agent is a member of the Property Ombudsman scheme and if you are letting your property, that they are Members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents.

There are hundreds of estate agents to choose from but by following this advice and approaching agents only when you are prepared and have done your research is the way to go.

Only opt for reputable estate agents that you are confident will sell or let your house in a timeframe and most importantly at a price you are very happy with.

When choosing a home-based care provider, you will be entrusting your own care, or the care of a child or family member, to someone else. This can be a very difficult decision, so it is important that you find someone from an organisation you can trust.

There are hundreds of different home-based support organisations throughout the country. So, how do you know where to start looking? Here are some points for you to consider:

What type of care do you require?

When choosing a home-based care provider, you will need to figure out which type of support you require. It may be home support, childcare, maternity care, aged care, disability support, palliative, post surgical or rehabilitation. Different providers specialise in different areas, so start by looking for a provider who will meet your particular needs.

Are they a trusted organisation?

Look for a company with a good reputation. Organisations such as the Educational Review Office (ERO), Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), or Disability Support Services (DSS,) will often have a list of recommended home-based care providers.

Also, check if your chosen home-based support provider is accredited by organisations such as the Health and Disability Association New Zealand (HDANZ) and the New Zealand Home Health Association (NZHHA). This accreditation means, that the service they provide complies with the Home and Community Sector Standards.

Funding Options

You may have the option to seek private or public care. Discuss your funding options with the home-based support provider you contact; you may be eligible for publicly funded assistance through the District Health Boards (DHBs), DSS or ACC.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay privately, or if you have medical insurance, your insurer may fund your home-based support.

Discuss your requirements

It is important to sit down and have a discussion with your chosen home-based care provider. Ask them to put together a care plan for yourself, your child or family member, and discuss what needs to be done and how often.

Ask about the caregiver’s qualifications and experience to reassure yourself about leaving your loved one in their capable hands. It is often an emotional time and process, so having all the assurances that your loved one will receive the specific healthcare and attention they need in their own home will put your mind at ease.

With a bit of research you will find a home-based care provider who is compassionate, professional and trustworthy. When you do, be sure to get in contact with one of the company’s friendly staff, who will be able to talk you through your home-based support options.

Geneva Homecare is a specialist division of Geneva Health International, which provides a wide range of staffing solutions to the Health industry. Geneva Homecare offers a team of committed, caring, qualified and efficient carers are available for home help and nursing care. They believe in providing quality care and staff that promotes independence and well-being in a holistic, inclusive and respectful way, while meeting specific health needs. Geneva Health is accredited by the Health & Disability Association, are an ACC contracted preferred provider, and a member of the NZ Home Help Association.