caregiver support

Don’t Miss These Caregiving Events!

Posted by admin on February 26, 2016   |   No Comments

There are several upcoming FREE caregiving events in Boulder County that you should check out and pre-register. The National Caregiver Training Program will begin on Thursdays starting April 7 – May 12 from 1:30pm – 4:30pm. Call 303-678-6116 for registration through the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging.

The 11th Annual Caregiving Symposium will be held May 19 from 9:30am-5:00pm at the Plaza Convention Center in Longmont. You can attend some of the sessions or the entire day. There will be many exhibitors to provide resources for caregivers. Pre-registration is a must. Call the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging at 303-678-6116.

Below is a list of on-going monthly support groups for caregivers in Boulder County. These groups are very beneficial for participants.

Caregiver Support Group (Boulder)

For caregivers of older adults. Meets every Tuesday, 4 – 6 p.m. Golden West, 1055 Adams Circle, Boulder. For information:  Ina Rifkin, 303-554-5668, or Don Dick, 303-444-0743 or 303-570-6375

Caregiver Support Group (Boulder)

For adult children concerned about aging parents. Sponsored by Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, Boulder Jewish Family Service, and City of Boulder Senior Services.  Meets second Thursday of each month, 5:30 – 7 p.m. East Boulder Senior Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder. For information:  Jodi Ansell, 303-415-1025 or jansell@jewishfamilyservice.org

Caregiver Support Group (Boulder)

For spouses and partners of older adults. Meeting times and locations vary.  For information:  Ellen Knapp, 720-217-9614 or ellen@ellenknapp.com

Caregiver Support Group (Longmont)

For caregivers of older adults. Meets first Monday of each month, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (if the first Monday is a holiday, meets on second Monday). Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Avenue, Longmont. Light dinner provided. For information:  303-651-8414

Dementia Caregiver Support Group (Boulder)

For caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. Meets first Thursday of each month, 12 – 1:30 p.m.  East Boulder Senior Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder. For information, call Alzheimer’s Association Helpline, 1-800-272-3900, or email coloradosupportgroups@alz.org

Dementia Caregiver Support Group (Boulder)

For caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.  Sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. Meets second Tuesday of each month, 11 a.m. -12:30. East Boulder Senior Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder. For information:  Alzheimer’s Association Helpline, 1-800-272-3900, or coloradosupportgroups@alz.org

Dementia Caregiver Support Group  (Longmont)

For caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. Meets second Tuesday of each month, 12 – 1:30 p.m. Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Avenue, Longmont. Light lunch provided.  For information:  Alzheimer’s Association Helpline, 1-800-272-3900, or coloradosupportgroups@alz.org.

Dementia Caregiver Support Group (Louisville)

For caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. Meets second Thursday of each month, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Louisville Senior Center, 900 W. Via Appia, Louisville. For information:  Alzheimer’s Association Helpline, 1-800-272-3900, or coloradosupportgroups@alz.org

For more information about resources for family caregivers of older adults, call 303-678-6116 or email infocaregiver@bouldercounty.org

 

Free Respite Services for Family Caregivers

Posted by admin on November 11, 2015   |   No Comments

November is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month. The theme for this year is RESPITE. There are several organizations that offer financial assistance as well as volunteer companions to provide respite for family caregivers.

For Boulder County residents, the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging provides up to $500/year in reimbursement for the cost of hiring a substitute caregiver. This money can be used for a friend, family member, home care provider, adult day program or long-term care facility. They also offer a program that will match a trained volunteer to be a weekly companion for 2 hour visits. Call 303-441-1617 for more information.

The Woodward Respite Fund will provide a grant up to $1,000 for a family caregiver  providing dementia care in their home. Visit their website for more information on how to apply.  http://www.woodwardrespitecare.org/apply.htm

R     is for “Rest and Relaxation”

        Everyone needs a little “R and R” – especially family caregivers. Relaxing is the best way to return refreshed to handle your many responsibilities as a caregiver.

E     as in “Energize”

Caregiving is often round-the-clock 24/7. Respite isn’t simply “getting a few hours off.” It’s necessary to help you re-energize, reduce stress and provide care for your loved one.

S     as in “Sleep”

Caregivers often have sleep problems. Address sleep problems and insomnia before they take too great a toll on your health.

P    is for “Programs that can help you”

Respite – which can be in the home or out of the home – can be hard to find but there are programs available to help you.

I      as in “Imagination”

Let your mind run free; read a book; see a movie. You have been so occupied with the nuts-and-bolts of caregiving that refreshing your mind will actually help you be a better caregiver.

T     as in “Take Five”

…or better yet, take ten.  Do you find yourself saying, “I wish I had  just ten minutes to myself”? Don’t feel guilty. You need a reprieve – a few minutes to temporarily disengage.

E      is for “Exhale”

A simple breath in and then a long exhale can help you focus and increase your vitality. A few deep breaths can give you more energy, reduce stress, and lift your mood.

New Year Resolution – Join An Online Health Community

Posted by admin on January 20, 2015   |   No Comments

If you are entering 2015 as a caregiver or a recently diagnosed patient, you may want to check out the multiple online health communities available for support, treatment options and inspiration. Membership is free. These web sites allow you to share your success with medication, medical providers, and strategies for managing symptoms. You can also learn from others who have firsthand experiences with your illness about helpful resources as well as suggestions on what to avoid. These online communities will play a role in helping you to make better informed decisions about your care plan.

Two of the more popular communities are Inspire.com and PatientsLikeMe.com.

http://www.inspire.com/

http://www.patientslikeme.com/

These companies make money from advertisers and by providing research data to life sciences companies to enable them to develop medication, diagnostic tools, and medical devices to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

For example, Inspire.com currently has 16 groups dedicated solely to caregivers. There is a group for caregivers dealing with childhood cancer and another for Down syndrome. There are 48 groups dedicated to digestive system disorders like Crohn’s disease and appendicitis. 23 mental health groups are currently available that include Alzheimer’s, autism, and depression.

If you are in need of encouragement and advice from others that understand explicitly what you are going through, then you should consider joining an online health community this year.

 

 

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