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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.
NFCA Says Contact Senators/Congressmen About Health Care Reform
This note is from Suzanne Mintz of the National Family Caregivers Association. Please forward as you see fit.
Dear NFCA members and friends:
I know you’ve heard it before but NOW truly is the time to speak up for the health care reform we all need! It is time to contact your senators and representatives. They do want to hear from you. Contact information is included at the end of this email.
Tell them you are a family caregiver, who you care for, what their diagnosis is, and how long you’ve been a family caregiver. Add a sentence or two about your specific situation.
Here’s NFCA’s message about reform. You can use it as is or modify to fit your style.
Family caregivers provide 80% of the care for our nation’s chronically ill and disabled population. We know from personal experience how poorly our loved ones are cared for in our present system which is focused on acute care and paying for procedures and not holistic care that is carefully coordinated between personnel and across settings.
System delivery reform by which doctors and other healthcare providers will be paid to provide good chronic illness care will make a huge difference in the health and wellbeing of our loved ones. It will also improve our health and wellbeing.
We urge you to pass legislation that authorizes multiple pilot projects across the country focused on providing comprehensive chronic illness care. We urge you to pass legislation that is focused on the whole person, not on procedures. There are so many examples around the country that show this approach saves money. Such programs are examples for the fundamental changes CBO has called for.
Use this link to find the local office of your senators and representative.
You can go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov to find emails and phone numbers.
You can learn more about the details of pending health care legislation and specifically what it means to family caregivers on NFCA’s web site. Please let us know if you sent a message or visited your elected officials. Your feedback is important. So please send us a note at info@thefamilycaregiver.org and in the subject line write: Speaking Up. Thank you!Take care,
Suzanne MintzPresident & CEO
PLEASE FORWARD THIS E-LETTER ALONG TO YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS and ENCOURAGE ALL THE FAMILY CAREGIVERS YOU KNOW TO JOIN THE NFCA COMMUNITY OF CAREGIVERS. THERE IS NO COST! Just click here: http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/
Free Subscription to Today’s Caregiver Magazine
One of my Twitter friends, Gary Barg, sent me this e-mail announcing a complementary subscription to his magazine. Please forward to anyone who may be interested.
July marked our 14th year of publishing Today’s Caregiver magazine and we are excited about being able to offer complimentary subscriptions to the digital edition of the publication.
We look forward to presenting all of the same award winning articles, advice, support and caregiving celebrity interviews as has been in the print edition of the magazine since 1995. With one exceptional addition; with the digital edition, we will be able to provide links, video and audio interviews to enhance the experience.
To receive the complimentary digital edition:
