November is National Caregiver’s Month and National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month; a month to show support and recognize the everyday efforts of those caring for a loved one and for those whose lives are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. Thank you.

“If you have met one person with dementia, then you have met one person with dementia.”  
— Professor Tom Kitwood, University of Bradford, United Kingdom – Person-Centered Dementia Care 

Dementia may mask the unique characteristics, abilities, interests, preferences and needs of a person, but it can never remove them completely. A person living with dementia does not cease to be the person they once were.

Four things to know about dementia:

FACT: Those caring for a loved one with dementia contribute greatly to the quality of the life of their loved one, but serious consequences can be created for the caregiver due to the physical, mental, emotional and financial burdens caregiving creates.  
 

“I matter. My life matters. My feelings matter. I am doing powerful, important work for my loved one —  but I still matter.” —  Cindy Laverty

Some caregivers find their life purpose in caregiving. However, many caregivers accept the caregiver role out of a sense of duty, loyalty and love. Caregiving is not what brings purpose to their life, and that is fine.

The mental, physical and financial burdens of caregiving create a high risk for caregiver burnout.

Retirement is often viewed as our reward for hard work throughout our careers.  But retirement is a change, and any change requires adjustment.  It is not unusual for retirees adjusting to retirement to experience stress, anxiety, and depression.  This presentation will share coping ideas and tips to help you to thrive mentally and emotionally after retirement.

As adult children, it is natural to want to provide our aging parents with the best care and support possible. Sometimes moving them into our home may be a natural or necessary next step. Multigenerational households are becoming more and more common. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, one in five Americans lives in a multigenerational home.

Caring for an older loved one can be difficult, especially when that loved one resists our help. How do you help someone who doesn’t want help, or downplays the need for help? As caregivers, we walk a fine line between making sure our loved one is safe and taken care of without restricting their independence. But there may come a time when they are no longer able to care for themselves or make good life choices. At that point, we have to step in. It becomes our job to protect them; that can become a struggle of wills, creating both emotional and logistical challenges.

Stress is an unavoidable part of being a caregiver. It comes with the territory. Caring for an older loved one is both mentally and physically exhausting, and often there is no relief in sight. But it is important for your long-term health and well-being to find ways to take care of yourself and manage stress. Taking care of yourself is an ongoing, conscious effort. Being able to recognize when you are overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated or resentful is important not only to you but also to the person you care for.

Are you ready for the summer child care schedule? When thinking about summer child care for your school-age children, it can be a bit stressful and costly. Many parents greet this time of the year with excitement and a bit of anxiety. There tends to be a lot of juggling to create a reliable summer child care plan. Finding the right summer options will require some intentional planning and focused time.