JANESVILLE — The Aging & Disability Resource Center will host a free Rock County Caregiver Boot Camp on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Job Center, 1900 Center Ave.
Cori Marsh, dementia care specialist at the Aging & Disability Center, and Bonnie Nuttkinson, program and advocacy manager of the South Central Wisconsin Chapter-Alzheimer’s Association, will provide education and support for families coping with memory loss of a loved one.Tag: caregiver
Family should be given opportunity to help
Q My father-in-law recently experienced some health concerns.
As a family member I wanted to offer support and assist in any way I could. I offered to sit with my mother-in-law as she spent endless hours in the hospital, bring a meal over, or help with some chores around the house.
It is not that my offers were ignored, my mother-in-law just politely said, “Thank you so much for the offer, but I am fine.”
Finding at-home assistance for seniors
Q My siblings and I gave our mother the gift of in-home assistance for Christmas.
She lives just outside of Madison and the rest of us live in surrounding counties.
The idea was to provide some support because we can’t be there as much as we would like and mom does not ask us for help.
She was reluctant to accept it at first, but then agreed that she could use some help with certain things.
Program for caregivers offered
BELOIT — Rock County Council on Aging will be offering “Powerful Tools for Caregivers®,” a nationally recognized education program to help family and friends caring for older adults and anyone who cares for someone with a chronic health concerns.
“Taking Care of You — Powerful Tools for Caregiving” is designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves.
This class teaches the caregiver necessary emotional tools to reduce guilt, anger, and depression; how to deal with difficult feelings; taking care of yourself; help you relax; set goals; solve problems; and effective communication with family members and health service providers.
Parishes sponsor ‘Caring for Our Aging Parents’ series
MADISON — As our parents age, they may experience some decline. That can cause a sometimes difficult transition from being their child to being their primary caregiver.
How do we address these changes and challenges with love, strengthened and supported by our Catholic faith? How do we care for ourselves and remain grounded in hope?
Bishop to celebrate White Mass on November 23
MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino will celebrate the annual White Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, at St. Patrick Church in Madison.
Members of the Madison Guild of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) will be attending the Mass with the bishop, asking God’s blessing upon doctors, nurses, caregivers, and patients under the patronage of St. Luke.
All those involved in the medical profession are invited to join Bishop Morlino for this “White Mass,” so named from the traditional color of lab coats and nurses’ uniforms.
Answer health concern questions honestly
Q. My father […]
‘Vision’ becomes better with age
One of the benefits of aging is that our vision improves so much.
What? You say you have more trouble reading the fine print on prescription bottles? And you need stronger light bulbs and magnifying glasses?
Oh, sure, but that’s not the kind of vision I’m thinking about. I’m thinking of hindsight. You know, they always say that hindsight is 20-20.
So here’s what’s so great about it. We have perspective now. We can look back at the things that drove us crazy with worry, like a messy house when guests arrived. But now we know that it was never the picture-perfect house that mattered, but the warmth of our hospitality.
Family should step up
Q My dad has been living with me for the past three years and while I love him and have entered into this arrangement willingly, I am feeling more and more resentful of my siblings. I have a brother and a sister, both live close to me and neither one of them offer to give me a break. I don’t understand how they can just go on with their lives and leave me here to do all of the caregiving. I am afraid I will unintentionally take out my frustration on dad. What should I do? (From a daughter in Janesville).
Looking closely at aging issues
In the next two decades, the proportion of Americans over 65 years of age is projected to increase to nearly 20 percent of the population — more than seven percent greater than the proportion in the year 2000. This difference represents an estimated increase of 36 million people: the population over 65 in 2030 could be around 71 million.