Help a military veteran find a job

One of the biggest challenges our military men and women face is settling back in to the civilian world – particularly when it comes to finding jobs.

I have always been mindful of the challenges facing our returning Armed Forces. And now with the ongoing financial and employment difficulties that our nation is facing, it has become exceedingly difficult for military folks to find work in the private sector.

In an effort to support members of the United States military who have returned home after serving their country, I have compiled a list of web sites dedicated to providing residents and businesses the opportunity to hire from bases located in their communities.

cdva.ca.gov/VetService/Overview.aspx

PatriotJobs.net

RecruitArmy.com

HireAHero.org

USAJobs.com

HirePatriots.com

RecruitMilitary.com

VetJobs.com

HelmetsToHardhats.org

NVF.org

In addition to these organizations, there are ways you can help a veteran:

Individuals: If you have a job or a chore that needs to be completed at your house, consider hiring a member of the United States military. They will bring the same professional “can do” attitude that they learned while defending the nation. Your project will be accomplished, and you’ll have an opportunity to know these young Americans who have made us proud. You can reach a veteran through the local Veterans Affairs, American Legion or by calling a local drill center. Numerous reserve soldiers fresh from combat are also jobless while they continue to protect our communities and way of life.

Businesses: “Reliable, mature, disciplined, able to follow directions and self start.” These are the character traits that the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard instill in their members. Exactly the same traits every competent businessperson wants in employees.

Now you can “Support the Troops” with more than a yellow ribbon on the bumper of your vehicle.

Please note: There are many other worthy programs to support our troops which you may also wish to use. The above is merely a short list of programs.

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Latest report on Alzheimer’s in California is released

In the next 20 years, the number of Californians living with Alzheimer’s disease will double.

A recent report details the implications that this increase will have on California’s businesses, public programs and families.

Here are facts about Alzheimer’s in California:

Trends among California’s diverse population are changing the face of Alzheimer’s disease:

Alzheimer’s is often underreported and diagnosed at a later stage in the disease among people of color.

The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease will triple by 2030 among people of Hispanic descent, and among those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

The number of African-Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease will double by 2030.

The number of Caucasians with Alzheimer’s will also double, but will account for the largest growth in absolute numbers.

Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease continue to rise:

Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in California.

Compared to other leading causes of death in California, Alzheimer’s disease showed the greatest increase from 2000 to 2004 - 58.3 percent.

Between 2000 and 2004, the greatest increase in reported deaths from Alzheimer’s disease occurred among African-Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Before 2004, Alzheimer’s was not even listed among the top 10 causes of death in California.

1.1 million Californians now provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s:

About 1.1 million Californians currently provide unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. This number is also expected to double. Women tend to shoulder the vast majority of care giving and account for 75 percent of all caretakers.

Caregivers of people with severe memory problems and dementia spend an average of 54 hours per week providing help as compared to 31 hours spent by caregivers to people without memory problems.

Caregivers disproportionately report being forced to miss work, reduce their work hours, quit their jobs or change jobs due to care giving demands.

Family caregivers of people with severe memory problems are more likely than other family caregivers to experience financial hardship, report health difficulties, experience emotional stress and suffer from sleep disturbance.

One in eight California Baby Boomers who reach age 55 will develop Alzheimer’s disease:

One in six will develop some kind of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

By 2030, the number of Californians with Alzheimer’s disease between the ages of 55 and 74 will nearly double. This age group will represent 15 percent of those older than 55 who have Alzheimer’s disease.

During the next 20 years, an average of 11,000 Californians will develop Alzheimer’s disease each year.

By 2030, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in California will nearly double, growing to more than 1.1 million.

Financial impacts will affect all Californians:

California employers experience an estimated $1.4 billion in lost productivity annually from full-time employed caregivers who miss work, reduce their work hours, quit their jobs or change their jobs to care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

The cost of caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease is approximately 31 percent more than caring for a person with a serious physical ailment.

Alzheimer’s disease is a major contributor to Medi-Cal costs: a person with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia costs Medi-Cal 2.5 times the cost of caring for a person not having this diagnosis.

Taxpayers will ultimately shoulder the increased burden placed on Medi-Cal because of rising numbers of people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

To read the full report, click here:
www.alz.org/cadata/FullReport2009.pdf