Obama Announces National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s
By Paula Dirkes | May 16, 2012
President Obama announced a national plan to fight Alzheimer’s including: research, tools for clinicians, caregiver support, awareness and education. Read more here.
Take care of yourself,
Paula C. Dirkes
Topics: Caregiver research, Helpful Elder Care Resources | No Comments »
TEDMED – The Caregiving Crisis Gets Support
By Paula Dirkes | April 23, 2012
From caregiving.com: National Family Caregivers Association is pleased to report that “The Caregiving Crisis” was selected as the 2nd most important health and medical issue of the year at TEDMED2012. Onsite delegates and thousands more at simulcast sites across the country selected the top twenty of 50 Great Challenges that were presented during the conference to be the focus of TEDMED’s work throughout the coming year. A Great Challenge, as defined by TEDMED, is a health-related problem that is big, complex, intractable, fundamental, and virtually permanent (or at least, likely to persist for decades).
Learn more about the annual TEDMED conference here: http://www.tedmed.com/home (The 2012 conference took place earlier in April.)
Take care of yourself,
Paula Dirkes
Topics: Caregiver research, Caregiver Self Care Strategies | No Comments »
Caregiving: Love or Duty?
By Paula Dirkes | April 17, 2012
The article below caught my eye today. I would say from personal experience, love AND duty were involved when my boyfriend Jeff was alive. We starting dating about 6 months after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and were together for almost 6 years before he died. Although he had several brothers who lived within an hour or so from his house, I was Jeff’s primary caregiver/girlfriend. He and I lived about a half hour away from each other, but normally saw each other at least once a week plus weekends. I loved him and also knew what duties needed to be attended to in his house and for his health. Jeff was pretty independent for the most part, but often – due to the chemo and after affects – didn’t have enough energy to buy groceries, cut the grass, make a hot meal or take care of his bills. Although his brothers showed up on occasion, I was the person who kept track of his day to day needs. Of course I had my own house and life too. Sometimes I was resentful that the brothers made assumptions about me as Jeff’s caregiver – I won’t deny that. Sometimes I wanted to scream at his brothers to get more involved. I think they were trapped in denial that Jeff was terminally ill. Read the rest of this entry »
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Husband,98 Cares for 102 Year Old Wife Until She Dies
By Paula Dirkes | March 23, 2012
This is a story of ‘until death do us part’ and compassion fatigue. Reggie Gooch chose to be his wife Millie’s caregiver from 4am-10pm every day while they managed her Alzheimer’s disease together. Although he had some part-time help from a caregiver, he admits it took a huge toll on him physically and emotionally. Yikes! Hopefully he will make it to his 100th birthday. Read more about it here .
Take care of yourself,
Paula C. Dirkes
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Does Your Brain Tell You To Be a Caregiver?
By Paula Dirkes | March 21, 2012
Greetings,
Did you know that when most adults see an infant’s face, that our brain triggers an impulse to take care of the baby? Of course, it is not an absolute ‘given’, but some studies show a clear reaction. I’d like to think the same caregiving impulse happens with vulnerable people in general. Read more here.
Take care of yourself,
Paula C. Dirkes
Topics: Caregiver research, Helpful Elder Care Resources | No Comments »
Caregivers Will Truly Appreciate This Project
By Paula Dirkes | March 9, 2012
Thirty-four year old Kathy Hatfield invited her Dad to come live with her for the last seven years of his live. He had Alzheimer’s and Kathy learned to appreciate the humor that came out of this experience by blogging about it. She now needs our help to get her book published. Whether you contribute $1.00 or $100 you will be helping other caregivers and family members chuckle more and gather strength as they participate in the Alzheimer’s journey together. Read more here.
Take care of yourself,
Paula C. Dirkes
Topics: Elder Care Chuckles, Helpful Elder Care Resources | No Comments »
Chicken Soup, Family Caregivers & Joan Lunden
By Paula Dirkes | March 3, 2012
I always liked Joan Lunden when she and David WhatsHisName hosted Good Morning America. She is a high profile woman who found herself part of the ‘sandwich generation’. I certainly could have contributed a few stories to this book! But alas, they didn’t ask..
I plan to buy a copy. Then we can start writing the next edition.
Take care of yourself,
Paula C. Dirkes
Topics: Elder Care Chuckles, Elder Care Success Stories, Helpful Elder Care Resources | No Comments »
‘I Was Once Like You’ Book Is Worth Reading
By Paula Dirkes | February 29, 2012
Carolyn (Nesto) Haynali cared for her husband who had Alzheimer’s for 10 years – but she didn’t stop there. She also formed the Caregiver’s Army Organization - an Internet support group for Alzheimer’s caregivers. Her book, “I Was Once Like You,” gives readers a glimpse into living with Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on the caregiver.
The book can be found here: CLICK HERE
Topics: Caregiver Self Care Strategies, Elder Care Success Stories, Helpful Elder Care Resources | No Comments »
What is a ‘real’ Valentine’s Gift?
By Paula Dirkes | February 21, 2012
Caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s give the ultimate Valentine’s gift – unconditional love in very challenging situations.
Check out this thoughtful post here.
Take care of yourself,
Paula Dirkes
Topics: Caregiver Self Care Strategies, Helpful Elder Care Resources | No Comments »
Aging Simulation Enhances Caregiver Understanding
By Paula Dirkes | February 3, 2012
I spent about 10 years working in the Older Adult Services department at a local metropolitan hospital. One of my responsibilities was to conduct the ‘Into Aging Simulation’ program for hospital employees and volunteers, and occasionally local media, students or eldercare advocates. The goal was to improve the understanding of caregivers for the elderly and -hopefully – to increase empathy and compassion for the elderly patients and visitors in the hospital – by becoming one for an hour and a half. Program participants were led through a unique ‘lifescript’ that began as an active, independent older adult and progressed to a failing, dependent older adult in a total care setting. The ‘lifescript’ assigned to each participant unfolded with each ‘station’ and gave each participant an awareness of how things might happen (e.g. health changes, the death of a spouse, financial changes, family support changes) and how their ‘lifescript’ lifestyle is affected as a result. Special goggles to simulate macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma were used. Depending on the ‘lifescript’, participants might have to wear adult diapers (over their clothes) due to ‘incontinence’. In the ‘hospital’ station, ‘patients’ are all given gowns (over their clothes) and might have nasal cannula put around their ears and under their nose or have a feeding tube taped to the side of their nose.
Program facilitators played their part too – going from friendly and respectful ‘caregivers’ to busy/perhaps stern/ perhaps impatient/perhaps disrespectful people over the 90 minute program experience. It was not unusual for a participant to withdraw or become combative, laugh or even cry. The last 20 minutes was devoted to a debriefing and participants were invited to share what worked for them and what did not. Most participants reflected on family members who they witnessed growing older. Others reflected on patients they had cared for and how difficult it was to meet everyone’s needs when there was a staff shortage. It is my belief that everyone went away changed by this program. The link below reminded me of the program I used to facilitate – in a small way. Walking a few steps in an older adults ‘shoes’ does expand awareness.
http://www.abc-7.com/story/16664779/2012/02/02/aging-simulation-teaches-empathy-in-caregiving
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