Alzheimer's Day Care Center - Participants Feedback Is Enthusiastic

Relief for exhausted caregivers can be obtained when a senior with Alzheimer's is able to attend a Day Care Center. For example, today's post is the story of a local Alzheimer's Day Care Center, The Santa Maria Wisdom Center, part of the Life Steps Foundation.

It is highly recommended by one of my friends whose 82 year old mother participates. Stella Carrasco, 63, is the sole caregiver for her mother, Mary Chaparro, 82, who has Alzheimer's. They are pictured in the photo on this post at a local Craft Fair. They gave me permission to write about them on the internet so that other people could read about their story.

At 9 am a special bus run by the Wisdom Center picks up Mary, in Oceano, California. Between 3:30 and 4 pm the Wisdom Center bus brings her back home.

The Wisdom Center provides breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack for Mary. Stella said her mother enjoys getting to eat meals with a group. She said it's good for both of them to have some time apart.

The Wisdom Center is very multi-cultural, and people there represent a variety of ethnic groups. There are bilingual speakers on the staff.

Stella has had many years of being the sole caregiver for her mother. The exhaustion and isolation were serious problems, and now that her mother attends Day Care Stella has time to rest, go for walks, play the radio, and other activities that we usually take for granted.

Stella said that before her mother started the Day Care Center she was warned about facilities, but in this case there are no worries. Her mother, Mary, enjoys the Day Care people and activities and loves to go there.

Stella said everyone there is kind and respectful, and Mary enjoys the people, arts and crafts, and other group activities. The Wisdom Center is supplying some colored pencils and drawing paper for Mary, who likes colored pencils better than other mediums for drawing.Stella looks forward to getting together with friends and attending activities now that she has some relief in her caregiving schedule.

Alzheimer's Day Care is available in many areas, and you can check your phone book or the internet to local Day Care in your area.

Book "Elder Rage, or Take My Father... Please!"

When my friends call me, to talk about their problems taking care of their parents, who need help but refuse help, I am going to advise them after this to read Jacqueline Marcell's compassionate and humorous book, "Elder Rage, or Take My Father...Please!". The book, which is about "how to survive caring for an aging parent" asks "Are you at your wit's end with elder care, and coping with an elderly loved one who...

Makes unreasonable demands, wanting all of your time?
Is experiencing memory loss, dementia/Alzheimer's?
Has become depressed, manipulative, distrustful, or hostile?
Refuses any mention of caregiving or eldercare help?"

The list sounded very familiar to me. It reads just like the things my friends say when they call me for help or for a listening ear.

A look at the chapter titles had me lauphing. Chapter 1 is "If It Isn't Ten Things, It's Twenty" and starts with "I've seen fire and I've seen rain drops keep falling on my head".

Jacqueline has had her own radio program for five years and you can hear it at http://wsradio.com/copingwithcaregiving.

Jacqueline Marcell's book is endorsed by a page long list of experts, universities, celebrities, newspapers and so on. The practical information and the true story, uplifted with humor, have been told by Jacqueline at seminars for medical professionals to keep up continuing educational units, on well known televison shows, radio shows, and in personal presentations. She has a busy speaking schedule, and you can check the website schedule to see if she will be in your area.

I felt a little smile coming to me as I read excerpts, and a recognition of familiar situations. How can you help someone who needs help but refuses help? I'm going to read this book.

"Don't Walk the Caregiver Path Alone" on Billboards Now

In Michigan ten billboards with the message "Don't Walk the Caregiver Path Alone" have been placed. The message is the theme for The Caregivers Resource Network, a Michigan based organization. At their website caregivers can take a Self-Check Survey on Personal Well Being, that includes 15 questions to measure physical and psychological problems that caregivers often experience.

The "Don't Walk the Caregiver Path Alone" campaign and the health checklist for caregivers point to the caregivers' needs for resources to help with the often overwhelming job of caregiving.

Examples of problems on the caregivers' checklist include the following:

• Felt completely overwhelmed
• Felt lonely
• Been edgey or irritable
• Had a crying spell
• Felt ill (headaches, etc.)

The "Don't Walk the Caregiver Path Alone" billboards may help alert caregivers and families to the need for resources and support.

Often caregiving is not recognized as having an overwhelming physical and psychological burden on the caregiver. Demands can be seemingly unlimited and exhaustion and stress reach a high level while caregivers try to continue soldiering on as heroes.

The studies and statistics show, as covered in previous posts on this blog, that caregivers' own health often gives out. Lifespan can be shortened, lifting injuries occur, and depression and anxiety are found at high levels in caregivers.

Self-Care for the Caregiver - Who Has the Time Or Money?

A good night's sleep, a breakfast of high protein cereal, and a long, slow walk are some of the ways I have been taking steps for self-care of myself, as a caregiver. But, I know that for many caregivers having the time available for self-care is difficult or impossible, like a luxury. The recent article on CNN about Caregiver Syndrome gave a name to the effects of caregiving stress and emphasized how important it is for caregivers to use self-care. The previous post on this blog explains an article and study that shows Alzheimer's caregivers are at risk for a shortened life.

Regarding my own self-care, now that I'm 55 years old I have joined a local seniors group, the Central Coast Seniors, located at 1580 Railroad St., Oceano, California, and the phone is (805) 481-7886. I plan to take some of my caregiving clients with me to the activities. I know they will enjoy the outing. That way I can visit with friends, play Bingo or Bridge, be part of a fun club, and meet more friends. I plan to bring an elderly senior whom I am assisting so that person can watch or participate too. The group also provides health classes for seniors, Friday night group dinners, and health screening workshops.

The Caregivers Network at caregiverresource.net lists time off, sleep, keeping a sense of humor, educating yourself, and making realistic commitments as some of the important parts of self-care for the caregiver. Isolation for caregivers is an important problem, and getting together with relatives and friends can be difficult if a caregiver does not have any time off.

Recent articles discussed Alzheimer's caregivers who were visited once a week by a social worker who provided training and coping skills. The caregivers who received this training experienced less stress when compared to caregivers who did not receive training. The problem is that many caregivers do not have time to find training and go to classes because life is a daily struggle with multiple demands.

The lack of time for the caregiver to devote to self-care is a big part of the problem that needs to be solved. Support groups can provide sharing and counseling. But, finding someone to affordably step in to provide caregiving can be difficult. Lack of financial resources to hire paid assistance means a family caregiver has multiple ongoing demands without rest, recreation, or time for friends.

Most people are familiar with the steps for self-care, but there is simply no time for themselves.

Some of the possible options for assistance might include checking with local agencies, such as the Area Agency on Aging, to find out about programs they have for providing outside caregivers to help out with housecleaning and other tasks.

Adult Day Care provides a way for a caregiver to have some time to rest and renew. The adult who goes to day care can have social time and activities in a safe place with assistance available.

A part-time outside caregiver can be hired but this can be too expensive for many people. In my area, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA, agencies charge from $17 per hour to $25 per hour. A registry that does criminal background checks has caregivers for $10 to $15 per hour, but the employer must then get the necessary insurances, do payroll, and supervise. Independent caregivers start at around $10 per hour, but background checks, insurances, payroll and supervising are duties of the employer. For seniors who live alone and need help, there are 24 hour, stand-by-assist caregivers. A month can run from about $7,000 to $12,000.

Often caregiving is very customized to meet an individual's needs, and it is not possible to have a well meaning neighbor stop by for awhile to help a family caregiver have time for self-care. Toileting, dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia, and helping people who are using walkers or wheelchairs are activities that require skills and knowing the individual's routine.

Family caregivers and paid caregivers often are unable to take time for themselves. As Gail Sheehy asked in a recent article at parade.com, "Who will take care of the caregivers?"

Health Problems of Family Members Who Are Caregivers

Research and statistics show that family members who are caregivers are often less healthy than non-caregivers, and that they may neglect themselves in order to take care of others.

Doctors refer to the family caregivers as "hidden patients" and the term "caregiver burden" describes the physical, emotional, and financial toll of family members providing care.

The website for the AARP(American Association of Retired Persons), has an article discussing the exhaustion, stresses, and health problems of caregivers. The article discusses signs of caregiver burnout and what to do.

In a search of the internet for caregivers vs. noncaregivers I found a lot of research divided into groups. For example, I found studies of elderly spouses taking care of a spouse, sandwich generation caregivers taking care of elderly parents and children, and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's or Dementia.

There are also many blogs about caregivers for people who have specific medical conditions, and their stories and coping mechanisms are discussed.