Locating Caregiver Support

Locating Caregiver Support - The purpose of this article is to help identify choices that are available when a family member needs additional support. Teepa Snow, a renowned Caregiving trainer, shared that over thirty percent of family caregivers will pass on before the person they are taking care of. That point was quite a shock until I was placed in that role. Some of the discoveries that were made are: -

• Resources such as “A Place for Mom” are OK to talk to and it's fine to review properties they recommend. However, care and nursing homes may have to pay to be recommended. So, they may not be the best choice.

• “Grannie on the Move” is a local group that provides placement assistance. They are co-located with an estate attorney.

• Upon the onset of a serious illness, we found that a Palliative Care team, which normally consists of a practitioner, pharmacist and social worker, can review your case, provide continuous care and provide guidance, they may recommend placement as a condition progresses.

• Before the progression of any cognitive or otherwise debilitating condition (such as Lewy Body, Parkinsons, or Multiple Systems Atrophy on the alpha-synuclein protein spectrum and Alzheimers on the amyloid protein spectrum) takes away the ability to understand and sign legal documents, it’s critical to have Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney ready, POST/DNR, Trusts and wills completed. We were not ready. I completed that work after diagnosis.

The primary caregiver will need respite of some kind to relax and/or run errands. I contracted with Brightstar Care for four hours a day. They got Eileen up, showered and ready for lunch. They took her to the rec center for the senior lunch until Covid hit. Brightstar provides outstanding service if we disregard human factors issues. We often did not have the same aide every day. So, I had to retrain a new aide from a care spreadsheet that I created to bring the CNA’s on board. -One of the most valuable Caregiver Support groups was Caregiver Navigators. They analyze your situation at a global level and make recommendations for your well being and that of your family member. It's a free service. The link is below: https://caregivernavigator.org —

UPCOMING CLASSES:

• A free class is offered periodically to train caregivers how to exercise selfcare so that they can better take care of their family members. It’s funded by the Jannus organization. The Class is titled “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”. The next in-person class is in Caldwell. It starts on Sept 16th. Mike Crane will be a co-leader for that class along with another Nampa resident.

• A free online/virtual class is also available starting on August 28th, 2024.

• Please contact Mike for a copy of the invitation. Attendance is Limited,

MEMORY CAFES

• Held in Meridian at the Orchard Park Library on the fourth Thursday of each month. It starts at 1PM.

• Held in Nampa at the Nampa Library on the fourth Friday of each month. It starts at 1PM.