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Archive for October, 2009:
NFCA Teleclass: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps
The following information is from the National Family Caregivers Association. They asked members to forward it. If you are a caregiver for an elderly family member, please register for this free class.
Bad reactions to medications result in 100,000 deaths a year.
Don’t let your loved one become a statistic!
If you are caring for a loved one who is:
- Elderly
- Taking multiple medications
- Seeing more than one doctor, or
- Suffering from multiple illnesses
…your loved one may be at risk. What can a Family Caregiver do?
Join us for FREE to find out.
Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps
A National Family Caregivers Month Event
Thursday, November 12, 2009
2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Time
Free by telephone or on-line
To Register go to
You will find answers to these and other questions:
- When are medication problems most likely to occur?
- What can I do to minimize risks associated with medications?
- What are the questions I should ask doctors and pharmacists?
For More Information
Email: Teleclass@thefamilycaregiver.org
or call: 1-800-896-3650
National Family Caregivers Month is proclaimed every November as a time to thank, support, educate and empower
everyone providing care to loved ones with chronic ailments, disabilities or the frailties of old age.
Please forward this invitation along to your families and friends and encourage all the family caregivers you know to register to participate in this free event by phone or on-line.
Proposed Changes to Georgia Personal Care Home Rules and Regulations
This information was forwarded from the Georgia Advocacy Team (part of Alzheimer’s Association – www.alz.org). If you love in Georgia, please respond.
Proposed Changes to Personal Care Home Administrative Rules and Regulations–In July, a person with Alzheimer’s disease wandered away from the personal care home where she lived in Augusta, and after two days of searching, was found deceased. The Association Vice President for Programs, Services and Public Policy Ginny Helms notified the State that this death reflects the fact that the Personal Care Home regulations do not have provisions ensuring the safety of persons with dementia.
Ginny was invited to discuss the regulations with the Healthcare Facility Regulations Division Chief, Doug Colburn. He and his staff made changes to the administrative rules and regulations that will better protect persons with dementia. The Board of Community Health is holding a public hearing on the proposed regulations on Wednesday, October 21st. We are asking that you write a letter in support of these new regulations and mail or e-mail it to the Board of Health. The deadline for the postmark on the letter, or for their receipt of your e-mail is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, October 22.
To e-mail comments: wmcgaha@dch.ga.gov
To mail comments:
Members of the Board of Community Health
c/o General Counsel Division
2 Peachtree St, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-3159
Key talking points include
- I am concerned that current administrative rules and regulations for personal care homes do not have provisions to ensure the safety of persons with dementia.
- Nearly 70% of persons with Alzheimer’s disease wander.
- Of those who wander, if they are not found within 24 hours, up to 50% risk serious injury or death.
- Existing regulations do not adequately address the risk of wandering and leave residents with cognitive impairment at risk for harm or death.
- I believe that Requirements for Memory Care Services set forth in Section 111-8-62-19 of the Ga. Admin. Comp. Ch. 111-8-62, Personal Care Homes (new) proposed rules and regulations address the concern about lack of safety provisions in personal care homes and the risk of residents wandering from personal care homes.
- I appreciate the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division’s response to the concern expressed by the Alzheimer’s Association, GA Chapter, in developing these rules to help ensure the safety and well-being of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive impairment. I appreciate the Board of Health’s supporting these changes to the administrative rules and regulations.
If you do send an e-mail or letter, please e-mail us and let us know!
Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation (SB22)—Please contact the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Board Members in your area and ask them to approve the inclusion of Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation (SB22) as part of their 2010 GDOT Agenda for action this upcoming Session. Please visit the GDOT website for a complete list of Board Members, district maps, meeting agendas, etc. Their website is: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/Board/Pages/BoardAgenda.aspx.
This would benefit individuals with Alzheimer’s, especially those newly diagnosed who may be beginning to have difficulty with driving and are worried about loss of independence when they lose their ability to drive—especially if their caregiver is a spouse or other individual who does not drive—this will provide another transportation option for them. This will also help to minimize costly duplication of routes and beginning and ending points as various human services agencies pass each other picking up passengers and transporting them often to some of the same facilities—doctor’s offices, banks, grocery stores, dialysis, etc.
If you do send an e-mail, please e-mail us and let us know!
Thank you for taking the action—one voice can make a difference—your VOICE does make a difference to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families!
Family Caregivers Must Take A Break
Round Trip Airfare to Nassau: $324
Cab Ride to Harborside Resort: $33
Seven Days of Solitude: Priceless
For the past year and a half I’ve been taking care of Gladys. Last year I didn’t take a vacation. The only breaks I had were the one or two days a month that my daughters would give me and those were usually partial days. When I became a caregiver, I was told to join a support group and make sure that I made time for myself. I did not join a support group (not my style), instead I began blogging. I also did not make a lot of time for myself.
I read many articles and reports on caregiver burnout and posted information and videos on this blog about burnout. Without a real break I was quickly headed for burnout. So this year my husband and I decided that no matter what, I was taking a vacation.
The Timeshare
Five years ago Fred and I purchased a timeshare at Harborside Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. We purchased a two bedroom lock-out that sleeps eight. The intent was to have enough space for ourselves, daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren to vacation together. That family vacation has yet to happen because shortly after we purchased the timeshare Gladys had a stroke and my daughter began taking care of her.
The Challenges
- My husband is semi-retired. Like many baby boomers, he was one of many people who was downsized right when he was eligible for early retirement. For the past few years he has been either under employed or unemployed.
- Right before Gladys came to live with us, my salary/hours were cut in half.
- I’m not comfortable, yet, leaving Gladys with someone for 24 hours a day.
- My younger daughter canceled so I would have to go on vacation alone.
The Selfless Husband
This year we got a tax refund and Fred insisted I use it for a vacation. He knew I needed to get away. So I took the money, purchased a plane ticket and began to plan my get-away.
The Plan
- Fred stayed at home to fill the role of primary caregiver.
- I typed up a document called Taking Care of Gladys that spelled out her daily routine, how and when medications were given. It also spelled out how we give her showers, where her clothes, linens, etc. are located.
- Gladys medical information, medicare care card, prescription and supplemental insurance cards were left in her HandiRecord on her dresser.
- Nichole, my oldest daughter and Gladys’ first caregiver, came to Georgia and took care of Gladys for the first four days of my vacation.
- I worked through an agency and hired a caregiver to come to the house Tuesday – Friday from 8 AM – Noon to get Gladys up, showered and dressed every morning. It also gave Fred some time to do some things for himself.
- Anita, my youngest daughter, came over Tuesday – Friday evenings to get Gladys changed into her night clothes and into bed.
The Vacation
At the end of September I took a week long vacation to the Bahamas. Just me. I invited a few girlfriends to join me but the timing wasn’t convenient for them. Did I enjoy myself? Yes! Did I get lots of rest? Yes! Did I run around like crazy? No! My vacation consisted of reading and resting. I took three novels and read every one of them. The pool, beach and books were my constant companions.
Did it bother me that I was on vacation alone? Heck no! I was in my element. I love a good book and I love solitude. The value of this trip: PRICELESS!
