Caring for the CaregiverRight to Flourish

January 4, 2013• Introduction – Western Connecticut Area

Agency on Aging: Who We Are / What We Do

• Caregiving for Your Loved Ones – Preparing for the Journey

• Managing Self Care: Basic Principles

• Managing Caregiving Stress

• Benefits of Good Communication

• Reaching Out – Using Community Resources

• Q & A

Livia Fiordelisi, Care ManagerNational Family Caregiver Support Program Coordinator, LFiordelisi@wcaaa.org

Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, 84 Progress Lane, Waterbury, CT 06705203-757-5449 - 800-994-9422 - www.wcaaa.org

Acute =/= Chronic

Chronic Illness

No cures

Long-lasting

“Normal” changes

Uncertainty

Acute Illness

Cures available

Short-term

Return to normal

Dealing with certainty

vs.

What do you think?

QUESTIONS to

CONSIDER

1 Challenges Alyce and her

family faced?

2 Changes in Alyce?

3 How well did Alyce take care

of herself?

Don’t become another Alyce

QUESTIONS

ABOUT ME…

1 What can I learn?

2 What changes do I need to consider?

3 What do I need to do to take better care of me?

It’s up to me!

MANAGING

SELF-CARE

MEANS…•Take responsibility.

•Have realistic expectations.

•Focus on “what I can do.”

•Communicate effectively with others.

•Deal with our emotions.

•Set goals and work toward them.

Taking Action

TAKE BETTER CARE

OF MYSELF

POSSIBLE STEPS:POSSIBLE STEPS:

1 Make doctor’s appointment

2 Take half-hour break

3 Ask son to stay with Dad

4 Walk 3 times a week

Don’t ignore it—Do address it!

STEPS TO

MANAGING STRESS

1 Recognize warning signs EARLY.

2 Identify sources of stress.

3 Identify what YOU can and cannot change.

4 Take action.

Discuss Report for partner

Complete

these

statements

…1 My warning signs of stress

are______________.

2 Sources of stress for me are_________________.

Ignore it—it festers

RESULTS OF

NEGLECTING

STRESS

•Increased health problems

•Disrupted relationships

•“Burnout”

•Depression

•Decreased quality of care

THE SERENITY

PRAYER

…grant me the serenity to

Accept the things

I cannot change,

Courage to change the things

I can, and the

Wisdom to know

the difference.

—Reinhold Niebuhr, 1934

Accept what I cannot change

CHANGES I CAN

MAKE

•Change a situation

•Change my perception

•Change my response

GOOD

COMMUNICATION...

Benefits both listener and speaker

•Prevents misunderstandings.

•Builds relationships.

• Increases chances of being heard.

•Reduces stress and frustration.

•Enhances problem solving.

Keys to open the door…

COMMUNICATING

WITH THE MEMORY-

IMPARIED PERSON

1. Have realistic expectations.

2. Keep it short and simple.

3. Use repetition.

4. Do not argue or correct.

5. Be aware of your body language.

6. Use touch.

Strike it Rich

LOCAL RESOURCES

Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging203-757-5449 800-994-9422www.wcaaa.org

Independence Northwest (disability services)203-729-3299www.independencenorthwest.org

Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter1-800-272-3900www.alz.org/ct

Parkinson’s Disease Association, CT Chapter1-877-282-7328www.ctapda.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) CT Chapter

1-800-215-3021www.namict.org

Strike it Rich

WEB RESOURCES

CT Department of Social Services. Elder Services www.ct.gov/agingservices Learn more about Connecticut’s National Family Caregiver Support Program page and other helpful programs.

Eldercare Locator www.eldercare.gov The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services.

ElderCare Online www.ec-online.net A site for those caring for aging and parents and elderly loved ones. They are committed to providing senior resources, home health care advice and an online community where supportive peers and professionals help improve the quality of life for caregivers and elders.

Family Caregiving 101 www.familycaregiving101.org A joint venture of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) to recognize, support and advise family caregivers.

Strike it Rich

WEB RESOURCES

FCA: Family Caregivers Alliance www.caregiver.org/caregiver FCA is a public voice for caregivers. FCA programs—information, education, services, research and advocacy—support and sustain the important work of families nationwide caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions.

National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren chhs.gsu.edu/nationalcenter The National Center was established in 2001, within the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State University. The group’s aim is to support grandparent-headed families in order that they may secure a promising future for their grandchildren.

National Family Caregivers Association www.nfcacares.org The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well being.

The Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregiving www.rosalynncarter.org Dedicated to establishing local, state and national partnerships committed to building quality long-term, home and community- based services. The Institute provides family caregivers with effective supports and making investments that promote caregiver health, skills and resilience.