Meals can be a challenging time for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. However, there are steps caregivers can take to help make mealtimes successful. Consider these tips:

• Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and way whenever possible.
• Offer just one food at a time instead of filling the plate or table with too many options.
• Be patient and give the person enough time to finish the meal.

Check out NIA’s infographic to find more tips to make mealtimes easier for a person with Alzheimer’s.

August 4, 2022 | 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM PST | Online
 
Conversations with Dr. Tam Cummings - A Monthly Education Series for the Dementia Caregiver

Dr. Tam Cummings will discuss common behaviors witnessed by dementia family caregivers including:

• Cursing
  
• Movement changes
  
• Hunting and gathering
• Accusations of theft
• Taking away the car keys
• Sundowning
• Bathroom issues, including toileting and bathing
  
• Bedtime issues
  

We will also review the five senses which addresses changes leading to potentially dangerous or annoying behaviors. Stress relief tips will be shared, and handouts will include materials to self-measure caregiver stress and self-compassion.
 
Questions can be directed to VirtualSeminars@arden-courts.org.
 
To register for this event, click the button below.

National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) Presents - Choosing a Health Care Power of Attorney
 
This webinar on advance care planning and healthcare decision making will focus on four critical elements in healthcare decision making and advance care planning:

1. How do you help someone identify the person “who” can serve as a healthcare power of attorney?
2. What options exist for people who have no unpaid supports in their lives? What is the role of the service provider and how can we help people find that person “who” can serve as a decision maker?
3. What are the implications of culture on helping someone identify “who” can be their healthcare power of attorney?
4. What is the role of state surrogate decision making laws in designating “who” will make a healthcare decision?

 
This webinar will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PST

Depression is a common ailment among adults in the United States. The National Institutes of Health estimates about eight percent of adults in the country suffered from depression in 2020. Family caregivers are no exception, and may be at increased risk due to the stresses and difficulties of caregiving. Unfortunately, many caregivers experiencing depression either may not recognize the signs of depression, be ashamed to admit their “weakness,” or feel they are too busy with work and caregiving responsibilities to seek help.

For caregivers who feel they may be or are suffering from depression, exercise, a healthy diet, the support of family and friends, and consultation with a trained mental health professional may help prevent depression from getting worse over time. Click 'More Information' below for an overview of the risk factors, signs, and treatment options for depression.

by Calvin Hu, Education Coordinator, Family Caregiver Alliance

A four-part series, each video covers a specific disease providing need-to-know information including guidance for every stage of each disease, what to expect, financial concerns, and how to prepare for your caregiving role. Every video is also accompanied by fact sheets and essential resources guides.

Although more than 1 million women in the United States experience menopause each year, little is known about its impact on health. National Institute on Aging (NIA) -funded researchers are working to better understand menopause and how women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds can benefit from that scientific knowledge to live healthier lives — before, during, and after their reproductive years.

This article explores some of the topics scientists are studying, including midlife-related changes and menopause, potential treatments for symptoms, and the connection between menopause and the brain.

July 26, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST | Online
 
Join the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging for an informative webinar discussing how older adults and people with disabilities can protect their assets against financial exploitation. Information will include how to properly draft powers of attorney, the use of trusts in legal planning, and the rules and guidelines of Medicaid.
 
To register for this event, click the button below.

Oregon Care Partners' featured webinar this week is "How Communication Influences Care in the Non-Dementia Adult Population" starting Tuesday, July 19 at 5:30 pm. Join this webinar to learn how your personal communication style impacts interactions and outcomes with the person in your care and gain strategies to create more positive results.

The mistreatment of older adults can be by family members, strangers, health care providers, caregivers, or friends. Abuse can happen to any older adult, but often affects those who depend on others for help with activities of everyday life. Learn how to recognize some of the signs of elder abuse so you can step in and help. For example, you may notice that the older adult:

• Seems depressed, confused, or withdrawn
• Appears dirty, underfed, or dehydrated
• Has unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, or scars
• Has unpaid bills or recent changes in banking or spending patterns 

There are several more signs of elder abuse. View the full list and find out how you can help if you see signs of abuse.

Older adults may be more likely to have heat-related health problems. Being hot for too long can cause hyperthermia — a heat-related illness. It is even riskier for older adults, who may be more likely to experience heat-related health problems compared to other adults. Learn how you can stay safe during hot weather with NIA’s latest infographic.

Oregon Care Partners
Webinar - Safe Medication use in Older Adults
Wednesday, July 13 at 1:00 pm

This important webinar can help anyone who is assisting an older adult with medications learn about age-related risk factors and understand the importance of regular medication reviews. This class will help you monitor for adverse medication side effects and improve communication with doctors and pharmacists. 

July 26, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST | Online
 
New and even experienced family caregivers can feel overwhelmed by the difficult challenges of caring for others while still caring for themselves. But nearly 50 years of family caregiving research can provide some answers about how caregivers can best cope. Please join Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., as he discusses applicable research findings on what helps and hurts family caregivers during the long caregiving years.
 
To register for this event, click the button below.

Caregivers find themselves jumping from one task to another: making breakfast, followed by helping their loved one complete their morning grooming and dressing regime, followed by a doctor’s appointment, then clearing those breakfast dishes to make room for lunch preparation.  
 
The to-do list goes on and on. 

From: Senior Matters

The Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) program at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers helps create stronger, healthier, more resilient families by supporting the unsung heroes behind our heroes: the caregivers. These friends and family who take care of America’s wounded warriors do so, in many cases, at the expense of their own health and well-being. The challenges that our veterans face can affect the entire family, but services and programs rarely focus on the caregiver.
 
OFC provides eight free and confidential one-on-one coaching to the families, friends and supporters of those who have served our nation and returned home with either visible or invisible injuries. OFC is tailored to each caregiver’s unique needs and delivered virtually on their schedule.
 
For more information about Operation Family Caregiver, click here. To enroll, click the button below.

Our work life now includes our life’s work – caring for a family member with a chronic illness or disease or injury. How do we make room for both experiences in the workplace? How do we take time during our work day to manage our stress and worries? How do we console our colleagues who grieve?
 
The Caregiving Years Training Academy has come up with a free new tool to caregivers for managing caregiving, grieving and working. A Workbook for Your Workplace Wellness shares tools to help you manage your experiences as an employee, a co-worker and a family caregiver.
 
The workbook includes a Worksheets section which features tools to use daily and weekly to manage your stress, grief and wellness.
 
To learn more, click here. To view or download the workbook, click the  button below.

Use the following room-by-room checklist provided by the National Institute on Aging to alert you to potential hazards and to record any changes you need to make to help keep a person with Alzheimer’s disease safe. You can buy products or gadgets necessary for home safety at stores carrying hardware, electronics, medical supplies, and children's items.
 
To view the checklist, click the button below.

Local Social Security offices are offering more in-person appointments and have resumed in-person service for people without an appointment.
 
As in-person service expands, the Social Security Administration expects its offices to become increasingly busy. The SSA strongly encourages beneficiaries seeking assistance to continue to go online, call for help, and schedule appointments in advance.
 
The Social Security Administration has provided a fact sheet for those seeking assistance. To read the fact sheet, click the button below.

Caring for an older family member often requires teamwork. While one sibling might be local and take on most of the everyday caregiving responsibilities, a long-distance caregiver can also have an important role.
 
As a long-distance caregiver, you can provide important respite to the primary caregiver and support to the aging family member.
 
To learn more, click on the button below.

Caregiving can be rewarding, but difficult. Learn how you can put yourself back on the priority list.

Download the entire infographic, click on the button below.

Share this infographic and help spread the word about caring for yourself while caring for others. Copy and paste the URL and post it to your social media account (Twitter, Facebook, etc.).