Caregivers
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Even AARP’s expert on caregiving was bankrupted by caregiving costs It’s not easy being a caregiver for a sick or elderly parent or relative. Nor is it cheap. Family caregivers provide an estimated $470 billion worth of free care to loved ones, according to the Wall Street Journal, and spend an average 26% of their personal income on caregiving expenses. A third of caregivers use their own personal savings to pay the bills. Twelve percent take out loans or borrow from others. It’s such a financially perilous situation that AARP’s own caregiving expert, Amy Goyer, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019 as a result of attending to the needs of her ailing parents. She simply ran out of cash after more than a decade looking after her mother, who had a stroke, and her father, who had Alzheimer’s. by David Lazarus / KTLA.com / Published February 21, 2022
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Caregivers are often advised to seek help to lessen the caregiving workload. For many individuals, the natural place to turn for such help is family. Family Caregiver Alliance’s Holding a Family Meeting fact sheet provides information on how to approach the subject, advice on creating an agenda, lists key points to consider discussing, and explains potential conflicts that may arise.
Here's a great article to read that gives eight tips on how to provide assistance — and help yourself, if you are experiencing caring for a loved one while retired or are anticipating this scenario in the near future.
This quick read, written by Richard Eisenberg, hits on some of those high points and gives a bit of healthy advice in the process. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, free help is immediately available.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, via phone, text and online chat, offering people compassionate care and support from trained crisis counselors for individuals, families or their loved ones. One does not have to be suicidal to call 988 but can reach out when experiencing any behavioral health crisis. 988 call services are available in English and Spanish, along with interpretation services in more than 150 languages. Texting 988 and online chat are currently available only in English. Veterans and military service members can call 988 and press “1” to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line. October 26, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST | Online
Maintaining a balance between taking care of loved ones and setting healthy boundaries for yourself can be challenging. Learn how to express your own needs without guilt, strike a healthy balance between caregiving and self-care, and tips for negotiating compromises with a licensed therapist. Fine print: Certificates of attendance are provided at no cost. CEUs are not provided. Everyone who registers will receive the webinar recording & resource info 24 hours after the live event. About the instructor: Jaymi Dormaier is a Licensed Master Social Worker with ten years of experience in the mental health field. In Jaymi's career as a social worker and therapist she has worked with diverse populations focusing on anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, foster care, adoption, homelessness, and addiction. She is passionate about helping others live a life they love. To register for this webinar, click the button below. Pain is a signal that something may be wrong in your body. You’ve probably been in pain at one time or another but found that it often goes away as the body heals or with treatment. However, many older people may have ongoing pain from health problems like arthritis, diabetes, shingles, or cancer.
A few things you can do to help manage your pain and feel better are:
The National Institute for Aging has released an informative booklet discussing different aspects of pain experienced by older adults. To view the booklet, click the button below. If you have older family members or loved ones, you may worry about their health as they age. Aging increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and dementia. The good news is that adopting and maintaining a few key behaviors can help older adults live longer, healthier lives. As a family member, it’s important to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors in your loved ones — it’s never too late to start!
For tips on healthy aging, click the button below. Deciding to become physically active can be one of the best things you can do for your health. Exercise and physical activity are not only great for your mental and physical health, but they can help keep you independent as you age.
To learn more, click the button below. ![]() Many factors may influence your risk of dementia, including genes, environment, and lifestyle. You can’t change some factors, but, as with many diseases, there may be steps you can take to help lower your risk. Learn more about how leading a healthy lifestyle is important for your health. To learn more, click the button below. If you do not see an aging friend or relative often, changes in his or her health may seem dramatic. In contrast, the primary caregiver might not notice such changes or realize that more help, medical treatment, or supervision is needed. Or, the primary caregiver might not want to accept the fact that the health of his or her spouse or parent is failing.
As a caregiver, you can provide support by helping an aging friend or relative get the care they need. To learn more, click the button below. If you don’t see an aging parent or friend often, changes in their memory and function may seem dramatic. In contrast, a primary caregiver like a spouse might not notice such changes or realize that more help, medical treatment, or supervision is needed. Talk with your loved one and the primary caregiver about your concerns. Consider these conversation tips:
For all that’s been said about the pandemic, we should be talking more about its impact on family caregivers – especially caregivers who are now returning to the workplace.
Millions of people fall into this group. Seven out of every 10 U.S. workers provide some form of care, often at personal cost. And now, more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, they face new challenges as they increasingly spend more time back in the office. Click the button below to read more. The guide walks through four steps to fighting elder financial abuse: prevent, recognize, record, and report. It lists red flags to watch for, shares some common scenarios, and includes resources you can use to help your loved one.
Click below to download the new Spanish version or the English version of the guide for free. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Prevent foodborne illness during emergencies and disasters.
Check out these Resource Materials from USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. September 18th - 24th, 2022
Join the National Council on Aging in observing Falls Prevention Awareness Week, September 18-24, 2022. The week is a national health campaign observed on the first day of fall to increase awareness around falls health and injury prevention. The NCOA has created Falls Free Check-Up, an online screening tool that can serve as a first step for older adults to learn more about falls risk and steps to prevent falls and accidents. To take the Check-Up, click the button below.
- Oregon.gov
For many people in Oregon, dealing with the wildfires has been especially difficult.
For those directly affected by the fires and evacuations, these traumatic events can bring feelings of stress, anxiety, grief, worry and anger. Even those who were not directly affected by fires and evacuations this year but have experienced them in the past may feel these emotions again. Seeing news reports or images of current fires or hearing about fires affecting loved ones can drive feelings like anxiety and stress. Click the number below to be connected with the Safe + Strong Helpline; someone to talk to or find mental health resources. Being a primary caregiver, particularly for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other health conditions, isn’t an easy job. For many, the role can be emotionally, physically and financially taxing, which can lead to caregiver fatigue or burnout.
Knowing how demanding caregiver roles can be, a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature highlights the importance of why caregivers need respite care, or a short-term break from their duties, which can be arranged for several days or weeks. Read the full synopsis by Alyssa Hui, a freelance journalist and a former TV reporter and radio host, by clicking the button below. September 14, 2022 through November 2, 2022 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST | Online - FREE
The Dementia Information Series is a comprehensive 8-week series on Wednesday evenings is designed for families who are caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. You can understand the disease, learn how it affects your relative, how to access support in the home and community, how to cope, and how to communicate. Register as early as possible to reserve a spot for this popular education event. To register for this event, click the button below. September 13, 2022 |9:45 AM - 11:30 15 PST | Online
This webinar hosted by the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio will discuss incontinence products in the context of caregiving. It will be presented by Janet Firestone, National Account Executive Medicaid, Principle Business Enterprises/ Tranquility Products. To RSVP and obtain access instructions, call Jennifer Forshey at (419) 725-6983, or email her by clicking on the button below To register for this event, click the button below. |
Caregiver
Whether in a medical professional setting or personal homes, Caregivers are caring and caring takes energy, wisdom and compassion. This Caregiver Blog is here to give you insight, encouragement and tools, not just to give care but to survive and thrive while doing it. Archives
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