Notes From Our Caregivers Workshop

This is the final installment from our blog posts on our Family Caregivers Workshop that was held August 15th.

It was a good day.  We arrived early, got set up and were ready to greet our speakers and participants by 9:30 AM.  The workshop started at 10 AM.  Each participant received a Resource Binder that included:

• A list of caregiver resources
• Cobb County Resource Directory for Senior Citizens
• Telephone Tips and Techniques for Caregivers
• 10 Tips for Family Caregivers
• Catalog from The Alzheimer’s Store
• Catalog from the Caregivers Health Mart

We also had giveaways from The Alzheimer’s Store, Angel Companions and Gary Barg of caregiver.com.

Our first speaker, Carrie Springer is the marketing director for  Woodland Ridge Assisted Living Facility and Adult Day Care.  Carrie is also a gerontologist who cares for her adult brother and her parents who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.  Carrie is intentionally soft spoken and has a way of speaking that draws the listener in and keeps their attention.

My notes listed with bullet points

• there are 32 types of dementia – some are reversible
• early 20′s and 30′s are usually the years dementia patients remember
• they like photographs of family and friends – have them blow up
• negative behavior is fear based
• their optic nerve is often altered and causes them to see strange things
• they lose the ability to see certain colors, green is the last color they lose
• carpet and patterned floors are not good for dementia patients – they may see things that are not there

Key tools for working with family/friends with dementia

• humor
• music
• exercise
• healthy environment (order allows the mind to relax)
• adequate rest
• create a schedule and stick to it
• keep vaccinations up to date
• get flu shots

Rest

Carrie also talked about the importance of caregivers having some Me time.  Her Me time is Saturdays until 5 PM.  As caregivers, we must take care of ourselves.  If we keep going until we are exhausted, sick or depressed, we won’t be any good to anyone, including those we care for.

Medicare/Medicaid

Our other two speakers, Jeff Ray and Ronnie Kendrick from WellCare of Georgia fielded questions about Medicare and Medicaid.  They were well informed and very adept at answering questions.  Our participants said they got a better understanding of Medicare and Medicaid.

The best thing I got from the workshop was a referral for another geriatrician for Gladys.  We will be visiting with her real soon.

I hope this synopsis has been helpful.  Let me know what you think.

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