Golden Age Ministry
For further information, please contact Lois , Dixie or Bob through the Golden Age Ministry at goldenageministry@fairfaxpresby.com .
Information Bank of Available Resources in Church Library
_______________________________
Spring 2008 Free Seminars for Caregivers of Older Adults
FAIRFAX FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM
CAREGIVER'S CORNER ONLINE
APRIL 2008
***********************************************************************
Caregiver's Corner Online is an electronic newsletter produced by the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Family Caregiver Support Program with
funding from the National Family Caregiver Support Program.
"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents
determinism; the way you play it is free will." --Jawaharal Nehru
Dear Readers,
Recently, we attended the joint conference of the American Society on
Aging and the National Council on Aging which was held in Washington,
DC. One of the sessions focused on creating sustainable caregiving
relationships, and the presenter, Dr. Barry Jacobs, stated, "Caregiving
is not a sprint, it is a marathon!" Does this statement resonate with
you as much as it did with us? We are glad over 1200 of you have chosen
to subscribe to our e-newsletter, and hope you find the information
helpful as you journey through this caregiving race.
We have some exciting changes coming your way. Beginning in May, you
will receive Caregiver's Corner Online during the first of the month. If
you have any comments or ideas, we would appreciate hearing from you.
As a reminder, we hope you are able to attend one or many of our free
seminars for caregivers of older adults being held in April and May at
various locations throughout the county. For more information, please
visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/AAA/caregiver/cgsemspring.htm.
Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.
(http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)
IN THIS EDITION:
1. Caregiving Fact
2. Caregiver Tip
3. Did You Know?
--Highlights of 2008 Virginia General Assembly
--U.S. bill addresses long-term care workforce shortage
--NewWell Fund provides hope for a new tomorrow
--Metropolitan Washington Ear provides a free reading
service
--Factors influencing caregivers' ability to cope
identified
--Senior Housing Locator launched
4. Upcoming Events
--Lewinsville Adult Health Care Center hosts presentation
on legal issues related to elder care
--Library co-sponsors VisionQuest Technology and Resource
Fair
--Healthcare Decisions Day
--Alzheimer's Association hosts town hall meeting
--Medicare Rights Center hosts Web seminar for caregivers
--Opportunity to educate Congress about kinship care
5. Online Resources
1. CAREGIVING FACT. According to the National Family Caregivers
Association and the Family Caregiver Alliance, 740,402 Virginia family
caregivers provided 793 million hours of care in 2004!
2. CAREGIVER TIP. AlzOnline offers the following tip for dealing with
wandering behavior: Place a stop sign or a sign saying "Do not enter" on
an exit door. If you have any caregiver-related tips to share, please
e-mail us at caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov.
3. DID YOU KNOW?
--Highlights of bills that passed in the 2008 Virginia General
Assembly. Both Delegate David Englin (D-49th District), and Senator
George Barker (D-39th District) were chief patrons of separate
legislation, HB 805 and SB 290 respectively, which requires the Virginia
Department for Health to establish and maintain a secure online registry
for advance directives. The registry will allow health care providers to
access these documents when needed. Although not funded, this could mean
caregivers would not have to provide advance directive documents at
medical appointments.
Delegate Adam Ebbin (D-45th District) introduced legislation, HB 861,
which now allows a licensed physician assistant or nurse practitioner to
provide certification necessary for the Virginia Caregiver Grant
application. Previously, only physicians were allowed to certify the
application.
Senator Walter Stosch (R-12th District) introduced legislation, SJ 102,
which directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study support
services for family caregivers of the frail elderly and disabled and
community-based caregiver support organizations.
--Senator Boxer Introduces Bill to Address Long-Term Care Workforce
Shortage. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) has introduced the Caring
for an Aging America Act (S. 2708) to address the gap between the
increasing number of older Americans and the lack of providers trained
in caring for their medical, health, and social support needs.
--NewWell Fund provides hope for a new tomorrow. Do you know a
Virginia resident with a disability, or a caregiver of a person of any
age with a disability? Do they need assistive technology? The NewWell
Fund can help eligible applicants obtain low-interest loans for a wide
variety of special equipment (i.e. assistive technology). This includes
loans for items, such as wheelchairs, motorized scooters, Braille
equipment, hearing aids, low vision aids, or communication systems.
Telework loans are also available to help disabled Virginians start
home-based businesses. For further information, please visit
www.newwellfund.org or call 1-866-835-5976.
--Metropolitan Washington Ear provides a free reading service. The
Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing
reading and information services for blind, visually impaired and
physically disabled people who cannot effectively read print, see plays,
watch television programs and films, or view museum exhibits.
Metropolitan Washington Ear daily broadcasts an organized program of
readings of current printed materials, including newspapers, magazines,
books, and publications of various organizations. Special frequency
radios are available on loan for clients of this service. For further
information, please visit www.washear.org.
--Factors influencing caregivers' ability to cope identified. Kelli
Stajduharn, PhD has published an article, "Factors Influencing Family
Caregivers' Ability to Cope with Providing End-of-Life Cancer Care at
Home," in the January/February 2008 issue of Cancer Nursing (Volume 31,
Number 1). The article suggests five factors that influence a
caregiver's ability to cope with providing end-of-life cancer care at
home. These are: the caregiver's approach to life, the patient's illness
experience, the patient's recognition of the caregivers' contribution to
his or her care, the quality of the relationship between the caregiver
and the dying person, and the caregiver's sense of security. For more
information, please visit www.cancernursingonline.com.
--Senior Housing Locator launched. The National Council on Aging and
SNAPforSeniors announced the launch of the Senior Housing Locator, an
online navigational tool that provides America's seniors and their loved
ones access to a current and comprehensive database of more than 60,000
senior housing communities nationwide. The resource can now be found at
www.BenefitsCheckUp.org.
4. UPCOMING EVENTS.
--Lewinsville Adult Day Health Care Center hosts presentation on
legal issues related to elder care. Judith Mitnick, Elder Law Attorney,
will speak to caregivers on legal issues related to elder care from
5:30-6:30 p.m. on April 14 at the Lewinsville Adult Day Health Care
Center, 1609 Great Falls St., McLean, VA 22101. Refreshments will be
served. To register, please call 703-734-1718; TTY 711.
--Library co-sponsors VisionQuest Technology and Resource Fair.
Adults with vision impairments, their families, friends, and coworkers
are invited to VisionQuest, the Fairfax County Public Library's free
assistive technology and resource fair, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 12 at
the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. For
more information, please call the center at 703-765-4573; TTY 711.
--Healthcare Decisions Day. Virginia's third annual "Advance
Directives Day" will be held on April 16. Advance Directives Day is
designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health
care decisions related to end-of-life care and medical decision-making
whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves. Advance
Directives communicate these important health care decisions. For more
information, please visit
www.vsb.org/site/public/healthcare-decisions-day.
--Alzheimer's Association hosts town hall meeting. People living
with Alzheimer's disease will have the opportunity to discuss issues
they face, and share helpful resources, programs and services. The
meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 (noon) on May 12 at the Grand
Hyatt in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit
http://www.alz.org/townhall/meetings.asp.
--Medicare Rights Center hosts Web seminar for caregivers. The
Medicare Rights Center will be providing a free educational Web seminar
that will explain what you need to know as a caregiver, how to get care
for your loved one, your rights and loved one's rights, and how to make
sure you are taking care of yourself as well as your loved one. The Web
seminar will be held from 1:00 -2:30 p.m. on April 10 and includes a Q&A
session. Please visit www.medicarerights.org/webinars.html to register
for this seminar.
--Opportunity to educate Congress about kinship care. The Third
National GrandRally will be held at 1 p.m. on May 7 at on the West
Grassy Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Hundreds of
grandparents and other relatives raising children are expected to
educate members of Congress and their staff about the needs of children
and kinship care families. The Children's Defense Fund is co-sponsoring
the GrandRally with AARP and other partners. For more information,
please visit http://tinyurl.com/3r6zkm.
5. ONLINE RESOURCES.
--Educational resources for family caregivers, www.caringtimes.org.
--National, not for profit membership organization which gives
support to wives, husbands, and partners of the chronically ill and/or
disabled, www.wellspouse.org.
--Source of mobility and assistive products for people with
disabilities, www.ableproject.org.
************************************************************************
PLEASE NOTE: Items are included for informational purposes only and do
not imply endorsement by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging or Fairfax
County Government.
If you have any comments about this newsletter or suggestions for future
issues, please contact the Fairfax Family Caregiver Support Program at
caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-5401.
To unsubscribe from Caregiver's Corner Online e-newsletter or change
your subscription information, please visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/email/lists. Look for the heading, Health and
Human Services.
For information on programs and resources for older adults, people with
disabilities, and caregivers, please call the Adult and Aging Intake
Line at 703-324-7948 or TTY 703-449-1186 and ask to speak with an Aging
Information Specialist, or visit Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Web site
at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
***********************************************************************
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging
CAREGIVER'S CORNER ONLINE
March 2008
***********************************************************************
Caregiver's Corner Online is an electronic newsletter produced by the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with funding from the National Family
Caregiver Support Program of the Older Americans Act.
"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from
themselves." -James M. Barrie
Dear Readers,
Have you noticed the hint of spring in the air? It signals Daylight
Savings Time, forcing clocks to spring forward. For many of us,
especially caregivers who are often sleep-deprived by as much as an hour
a night, losing another hour can have some serious consequences. So,
please remember your body as well as that of the person you are caring
for has to adjust to this time difference.
IN THIS EDITION:
1. Fairfax Family Caregiver Support Program
and Partners Offer Spring Seminar Series for
Caregivers Beginning April 2 - Free Registration
2. Reinventing Your Neighborhood: Creating Supportive
Communities for All Ages, Saturday, April 12,
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County
Government Center - Free Registration
3. Caregiving Fact
4. Caregiver Tips
**Making "check up" phone calls more fun
**Soothing sleep disturbances
5. Did You Know?
**Vietnamese Senior Information Line launched
**9-1-1 for emergencies, but 2-1-1 for information
and referral services
**Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke relocates
**Low-Income seniors need to file tax returns
**Tax information available for kinship caregivers
**Older adults have the highest rates of traumatic
brain injury (TBI)
6. Upcoming Events
**Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregiving offers
Telephone Learning Series
**Sully Senior Center offers AARP Driver Safety
Program
** "Caring for Your Parents" airs on PBS
7. Online Resources
1. FAIRFAX FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM AND PARTNERS OFFER SPRING
SEMINAR SERIES FOR CAREGIVERS - FREE REGISTRATION. A series of free
seminars by experts on a variety of caregiver-related topics is being
offered at various locations throughout the county. An opportunity to
talk with other caregivers will occur at the end of each seminar. The
seminars begin April 2 with "The Organized Caregiver," which will be
held from 7-9 p.m. at the Kingstowne Center for Active Adults, 6488
Landsdowne Center - Activity Room, Alexandria, VA 22315.
Registration is not required, but strongly encouraged. Online
registration and a complete listing of the seminars are available at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa/caregiver/cgsemspring.htm. To register by
telephone or to request reasonable ADA accommodations, please call
703-324-5205, TTY 703-449-1186 or e-mail caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The seminar series is sponsored by the Fairfax Caregiver Seminar
Consortium whose members include: Fairfax County's Department of Family
Services' Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, Family Caregiver Support
Program; Department of Community and Recreation Services; Health
Department, the Fairfax County Library; AARP Virginia; Alzheimer's
Association; Alzheimer's Family Day Center; Shepherd's Center of
Oakton-Vienna; and Thomas West Financial Services. The program is partly
funded by the National Family Caregiver Support Program.
2. REINVENTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: CREATING SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES FOR
ALL AGES, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 8:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. AT THE FAIRFAX COUNTY
GOVERNMENT CENTER - FREE REGISTRATION. Caregivers are invited to this
free half-day event featuring representatives from seven
neighborhood-based service organizations, including two in Fairfax
County, that help neighbors find a variety of services including raking
leaves, home care, and even buying theatre tickets. Each organization
was organized by and for people 50+. Speakers will discuss how they got
organized and what services they provide.
Fairfax County, AARP and other community partners are sponsoring this
event which will be held on Saturday, April 12, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at
the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway,
Fairfax 22035.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly will
welcome participants. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has been invited.
For free registration, or to request ADA reasonable accommodations,
please call 703-324-7746 (TTY 703-449-1186), e-mail
April12@fairfaxcounty.gov (be sure to include your name, address, phone
and e-mail) or register on-line at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa/onlreg/reinvent.htm.
3. CAREGIVING FACT. According to an AARP Public Policy Institute 2007
report, "Valuing the Invaluable: A New Look at the Economic Value of
Family Caregiving," the value of the services family caregivers provide
for "free" is estimated to be $306 billion a year. That is almost twice
as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services
combined ($158 billion).
4. CAREGIVER TIPS.
**Making "check up" phone calls more fun -- A long distance
caregiver told us she sometimes ran out of interesting things to discuss
with her mom during her regular phone "check up" calls. So, she
purchased two identical Sudoku books and sent one to her mother. Now,
they spend time working through the logic-based placement puzzles
together. They also try knitting new stitches and various patterns while
on the phone together, and then talk about whether they liked them.
**Soothing sleep disturbances -- Family Caregiver Alliance suggests
playing soothing music or providing a massage to loved ones who
experience sleep disturbances or night-time agitation related to
dementia. If agitation increases after nightfall, keep the house well
lighted and close curtains to shut out darkness. For more information
and tips on caring for a loved one with dementia, please visit their Web
site at www.caregiver.org.
If you have any caregiver-related tips to share, please email us at
caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov.
5. DID YOU KNOW?
**Vietnamese Senior Information Line launched. Vietnamese seniors
seeking information on county and community services can dial
703-538-2190 and talk to trained volunteers who speak their native
language from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The program is staffed by volunteers trained by the Department of Family
Services' Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and supervised by the Boat People
SOS's family services and health and mental health departments. The
volunteers speak Vietnamese as well as English.
The Vietnamese Senior Information Line is modeled on the Korean Senior
Information Line which began in September 2006. The Korean line is a
partnership project of the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, the Korean
Community Service Center of Greater Washington and the Korean Central
Senior Center. The Korean Senior Information Line, 703-324-3543, is
available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
**9-1-1 for emergencies; 2-1-1 for information and referral
services. Northern Virginians can now call 2-1-1 for information and
referral to health social services seven days a week from 8
a.m.-midnight. Call 2-1-1 to find a day program for your parent with
early stage dementia, senior recreation opportunities, transportation,
or a wide range of other important services. Fairfax county residents
needing information and assistance on health and human services can
still call 703-222-0880 and speak with a social worker. The hours of
operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
**Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke relocates. The new office for
the Shepherd's Center is located at 8922 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax,
VA 22031, and their telephone number is 703-323-4788. Please visit their
new Web site at www.fairfax-burkesc.org for further information.
**Low-Income seniors need to file tax returns. According to the
U.S. Internal Revenue Service, more than 130 million households will
receive economic stimulus payments beginning in May under the Economic
Stimulus Act of 2008. The only way to get the stimulus payment is to
file a federal tax return for 2007. This filing requirement also applies
to some people who do not normally file, including many low-income
seniors and recipients of Social Security benefits and people who
receive certain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
certain Railroad Retirement benefits. For more information, please visit
www.irs.gov and review the Q&A on the Economic Stimulus Payments.
If low-income seniors need help filing their income tax returns, they
can take advantage of two income tax assistance programs. Fairfax
County's CASH (Creating Assets and Hope)/Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Program offers free federal and state income tax help to low- to
moderate-income taxpayers. Clients should bring photo identification and
Social Security cards for all taxpayers, spouses and dependents. The
service is offered at 12 sites, hours and days vary by location. For
more information, please call 703-324-5171 or visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/partnerships/cash.htm.
Free help in preparing and filing state and federal returns is also
available through the AARP Tax-Aide program. This program provides free
tax assistance service for low- to middle-income taxpayers, with special
attention given to those 60 and older. AARP's volunteer preparers will
be at several locations throughout the county. A partial listing
follows.
Walk-in clients:
Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 5-8 p.m.
Columbia Pike Branch Library, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington
Tuesday, 1:15-7:45 p.m.; Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive, Centreville
Tuesday, 1-8 p.m.; Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
For additional tax sites, please see page 9 of the February issue of the
Golden Gazette or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa/ggonline.htm.
**Tax Information Available for Kinship Caregivers. The National
Women's Law Center has information on tax credits for families with
children in the household, including grandparents raising their
grandchildren. For more information, please visit their Web site at
http://tinyurl.com/3dks78.
**Older adults have the highest rates of traumatic brain injury
(TBI)-related hospitalizations and deaths, and falls are a leading cause
of this. Please visit www.vahealth.org/civp for more information about
the Virginia's Department of Health (VDH) campaign on preventing falls
that lead to traumatic brain injury.
6. UPCOMING EVENTS.
**Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregiving offers Telephone Learning
Series. The series is designed to provide free, helpful information to
caregivers and others. By dialing a toll-free number, you can listen to
a panel of experts discuss caregiver-related topics, and at the end of
the discussion, you are invited to ask questions. The next topic,
"Finding Quality Care: Evaluating Services for your Loved One," will be
held on Thursday, March 20 at 2 p.m. For more information or to
register online, visit www.rosalynncarter.org.
**Sully Senior Center offers AARP Driver Safety Program. On
Tuesday, March 25 and Friday, March 28, 2008 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sully
Senior Center, 5690 Sully Road in Centreville, will offer the AARP
Driver Safety Program. This class is the nation's first and largest
classroom driver refresher course specially designed for motorists who
are 50+. It is intended to help older drivers improve their skills while
teaching them to avoid accidents and traffic violations. Participants
will receive a certificate upon completion of this course that entitles
them to a discount with most auto insurance providers. The two-day class
is $10 and participants must attend both days to complete the course.
For more information about the AARP Driver Safety Program, please call
Lynn Lott at 703-322-4475, TTY 711 or e-mail
lynne.lott@fairfaxcounty.gov. Space is limited to 25 participants.
** "Caring for Your Parents," airs on PBS on April 2, 2008 at 9
p.m. The 90-minute film will be followed by a 30 minute discussion by a
panel of experts. A Caregiver Handbook and accompanying handouts will be
available online at www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/.
7. ONLINE RESOURCES.
**National Caregivers Library has many topics which may be of
interest to you. The Web site address is http://tinyurl.com/36v6ej.
**Online magazine for caregivers, www.caregiver.com.
************************************************************************
If you have any comments about this newsletter or suggestions for future
issues, please contact the Fairfax Family Caregiver Support Program at
caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-5401.
Please note that these items are included for informational purposes
only and do not imply endorsement by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging or
Fairfax County Government.
PLEASE NOTE: To unsubscribe from Caregiver's Corner Online e-newsletter
or change your subscription information, visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/email/lists. Look for the heading, Health and
Human Services.
For information on programs and resources for older adults, people with
disabilities, and caregivers, please call the Adult and Aging Intake
Line at 703-324-7948 or TTY 703-449-1186, and ask to speak with an Aging
Information Specialist, or visit Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Web site
at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
------------------------------------------------------------
This list (AAAFAMILYCAREGIVERS) is hosted by the government of Fairfax County, VA (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/).
************************************************************************
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging
CAREGIVER'S CORNER ONLINE
February 2008
***********************************************************************
Caregiver's Corner Online is an electronic newsletter produced by the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with funding from the National Family
Caregiver Support Program of the Older Americans Act. Our goal is to
provide information to support you as a family caregiver of an older
adult.
Dear Readers,
As we celebrate the month of valentines and love, we would like to send
you a Valentine of thanks for all you do!
IN THIS EDITION:
1. Grandparents Day on February 23
2. Virginia Caregiver Grant
3. Reinventing Your Neighborhood: Creating
Supportive Communities for All Ages on April 12
4. Adult Day Health Care Centers
5. George Mason University Looking to Interview
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
6. Free Healthy Cooking DVD
7. Cervical Health Awareness
8. Diabetes -- Stay on Top of It
9. Health Information for Older Adults
1. GRANDPARENTS DAY ON FEBRUARY 23. Fairfax County is sponsoring
"Grandparents Day Off" on Saturday, February 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
to provide grandparents (and other relatives) raising children a day off
while providing fun activities for the children. Grandparents can drop
off children, ages 3 to 12, at the following locations:
Gum Springs Community Center
8100 Fordson Road
Alexandria, VA 22306
Southgate Community Center
12125 Pinecrest Road
Reston, VA 20191
This free program is offered by the county's departments of Community
and Recreation Services, Family Services, Systems Management, and
Fairfax County Public Schools. Pre-registration is required. To
register or for more information, call the Department of Family
Services' Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-3517, TTY
703-222-9693. For reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Nancy Coffey,
Department of Family Services' Children, Youth and Families Division at
703-324-7723, TTY 703-222-9452.
2. IT'S TIME TO APPLY: VIRGINIA CAREGIVER GRANT. The Virginia
Caregiver Grant Program provides annual grants of up to $500 to people
who provide care that is not reimbursed to a needy relative. Only
applications postmarked between February 1 and May 1 are accepted. Call
the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging Intake line at 703-324-7948 for an
application package. Grants are awarded for care provided for at least
six months of the previous calendar year. Checks are issued on or
before December 31 of the year in which applications are received,
pending funding by the General Assembly.
3. SAVE THE DATE -- "REINVENTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: CREATING SUPPORTIVE
COMMUNITIES FOR ALL AGES" ON SATURDAY, APRIL 12. Fairfax County and
community partners are sponsoring a half-day community forum on
Saturday, April 12, 2008, "Reinventing Your Neighborhood: Creating
Supportive Communities for All Ages." The event will take place at the
Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax and will feature speakers
from several supportive neighborhood organizations including the famous
and pioneering Beacon Hill Village from Boston, Massachusetts.
Neighborhood service organizations are organized by community members to
serve the specific needs and wants of community members. While no two
are the same, most sponsor a concierge or information and referral
service that links members to a wide range of services including
transportation, grocery shopping, yard work, handyman services, and
theatre tickets, as well as in-home health care. Some use volunteers
and most involve an annual fee.
Additional information on the April 12 event, including registration
information, will appear in next month's Caregiver's Corner Online. For
more information on the event, contact the communication manager of the
Department of Family Services' Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at
grace.lynch@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-5277.
4. ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE CENTERS -- FOR CARE, RESPITE, AND MUCH MORE.
The Fairfax County Health Department has six adult day health care
centers (ADHC) for adults needing supervised activities. The centers
offer activities planned by therapeutic recreation specialists, health
care monitoring, and personal care assistance. They also provide
breakfast, lunch and a snack. Centers operate Monday through Friday,
from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fees are based on a sliding scale. Door to
door transportation is available through Fastran.
Contact one of the centers below for more information:
Annandale Center
7200 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
703-750-3316
Braddock Glen Center
4027B Olley Lane
Fairfax, VA 22032
703-978-0502
Herndon Center
875 Grace Street
Herndon, VA 20170
703-435-8729
Lewinsville Center
1609 Great Falls St.
McLean, VA 22101
703-734-1718
Lincolnia Center
4710 N. Chambliss St.
Alexandria, VA 22312
703-914-0226
Mt. Vernon Center
8350 Richmond Hwy, Suite 137
Alexandria, VA 22309
703-704-6050
5. GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY LOOKING TO INTERVIEW GRANDPARENTS RAISING
GRANDCHILDREN. George Mason University is looking for grandparents who
are raising their grandchildren to be part of a research study on
grandparent-headed households. Grandparents and grandchildren (12 years
and older) are eligible to participate. The purpose of this project is
to explore the relationships between the grandparents and grandchildren
and to discuss their day-to-day experiences. Interviews take place in
the home and take about an hour. Each family will receive a gift card
to a local store for their participation. For more information, contact
Cathy Tompkins at 703-993-2838 or ctompkin@gmu.edu.
6. FREE HEALTHY COOKING DVD. A free DVD, called Healthy Cooking, is
available through the Virginia Center on Aging. The DVD includes tips,
facts and advice on preparing simple and healthy entrees, sides, and
desserts. It was developed by Henrico County Television (HCTV) with
help from the Area Planning and Services Committee for Aging with
Lifelong Disabilities (APSC). Contact Ed Ansello at eansello@vcu.edu.
7. CERVICAL HEALTH AWARENESS. Did you know that, worldwide, cervical
cancer is the second most common cancer in women and that women over 65
are more likely to be diagnosed with and are at risk of dying from
cervical cancer? Did you know Medicare pays for one screening Pap smear
every two years for low risk beneficiaries and one screening Pap smear
every year for high risk beneficiaries? Educate yourself about this
cancer and prevention through pap smears at http://tinyurl.com/2drl84.
8. DIABETES -- STAY ON TOP OF IT. More than 18 million Americans have
diabetes and one out of three people who have diabetes are unaware they
have it. This serious disease often goes undiagnosed in seniors because
many of the symptoms seem harmless and are mistaken for "old age." For
symptoms, treatment options, and everyday activities to help control the
disease, visit http://tinyurl.com/3c7ffn.
9. WHERE TO FIND IT.... A Web site, developed by the National Institute
on Aging and the National Library of Medicine, both part of the National
Institutes of Health, features health information for older adults. You
can find it at www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov. Consumer-friendly answers on
Medicare with a special section dedicated to caregivers can be found at
www.medicareinteravtive.org . The government site for Medicare is
www.Medicare.gov.
************************************************************************
PLEASE NOTE: To unsubscribe from Caregiver's Corner Online e-newsletter
or change your subscription information, visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/email/lists/.
If you have any comments about this newsletter or suggestions for future
issues, please contact the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at
caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-5401.
Please note that these items are included for informational purposes
only and do not imply endorsement by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging or
Fairfax County Government.
************************************************************************
For further information on programs and resources for older adults,
people with disabilities and caregivers, call 703-324-7948 or TTY
703-449-1186, e-mail fairfax_aaa@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
************************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
This list (AAAFAMILYCAREGIVERS) is hosted by the government of Fairfax County, VA (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/).
CAREGIVER'S CORNER ONLINE
January 2008
***********************************************************************
Caregiver's Corner Online is an electronic newsletter produced by the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with funding from the National Family
Caregiver Support Program of the Older Americans Act. Our goal is to
provide information to support you as a family caregiver of an older
adult.
Dear Readers,
New Year's greetings to you from the staff at the Fairfax Area Agency on
Aging!
Whatever your hopes for this year, our hope is for you to have a chance
to take some time for yourself each day, and to know you are a valuable
part of your loved one's care system. We also hope that we will be able
to support you in your caregiver role.
Winter is here, and you may have suspended long leisurely walks and
outdoor activities until spring. Since exercise pumps up both your
health and mood, we encourage you to develop an in-home program. Use
home exercise equipment, jog in place, exercise to music, try yoga with
a video tape or televised instructor, or just clean the house with
"gusto." See the article below on Channel 16's Yoga class and the
SeniorNavigator.org article on making healthy lifestyle choices.
Remember to care for yourself so you can care for others. Check out the
continuing series on balancing caregiving and work demands and note the
coming community events and public information.
Resolved: You are special. And so is your loved one.
IN THIS EDITION:
1. Steps to Balancing Eldercare and Work
2. Little River Glen III: Olley Glen Meeting Notice
3. Healthier Choices for 2008
4. Switching to Indoor Exercise
5. Cost of Caregiving Doubles Previous Estimates
6. Housing Repair and Modifications: Local Resources
7. Fairfax County Metrorail Elevator Alert
8. Virginia Caregiver Grant
9. Mild Cognitive Impairment Workshops Starting
10. Did you know?
1. STEPS TO BALANCING ELDERCARE AND WORK. If you have been following
previous issues of Caregiver Corner, you are on your way to developing
an effective balance between work and your role as a caregiver. You have
assessed your work situation and caregiving responsibilities. You
determined whether caregiving is impacting your work performance and you
reviewed your job responsibilities, the amount of flexibility in your
schedule, and the level of trust between you and your supervisor. You
then considered your concerns about the elder's situation and how the
elder viewed his/her situation. You made sure you had current
information about how the illness or disability affects the elder now
and in the future.
Based on those assessments, you determined whether you were the right
person to be in the role of primary family caregiver and identified
areas of need at work and in your caregiving role. Finally, you
researched the resources available at your job and in the community.
Now it's time to take the next step -- Create a list of possible
solutions to meet identified needs. Whenever possible, please include
the elder and any other interested family member in this process. You
may find it helpful to put this information in the form of a chart. For
example, under the heading, *Issues or Concerns, you may list *Need to
get Mom up each morning. Under the next heading, *Possible Solutions,
you may list *Change schedule to come in 1.5 hours later each morning,
or *Hire a home health aide. Then under the next heading, *Action Steps,
you may list *Submit written request for later start time, or *Contact
local Area Agency on Aging for list of home health agencies.
Hopefully, this plan will help you secure a sense of control and help
you get and stay organized as work and caregiving responsibilities
change. You may want to consider a contingency plan for times when you
need someone to step in for you, such as times when you are sick or your
home health aide is not available.
Since October 2007, Caregiver Corner has been running monthly articles
on balancing the demands of family caregiving and paid employment. These
articles are based on a presentation by John Paul Marosy, author,
educator, and president of Bringing Elder Care Home, LLC. His Web site
is www.bringingeldercarehome.com.
2. LITTLE RIVER GLEN III: OLLEY GLEN MEETING NOTICE. Braddock District
Supervisor Sharon Bulova will host a community meeting to discuss plans
for the third phase of construction of Olley Glen, an independent living
project for seniors.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at
the Little River Glen Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax, VA.
Staff from the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority and
Little River Glen will attend the meeting in order to present the
current plans as well as answer questions and respond to concerns.
Currently, the project consists of Little River Glen, a 120-unit
low-income independent senior residence. This original facility also
includes a senior center that was completed in 1990. The second phase of
the project, Braddock Glen, was completed in 2006. This added a 60-unit
assisted living residence and an adult day care center. The adult day
care center provides personal day care as well as educational programs
on caregiving for family members.
Similar in design to Little River Glen, the third phase will consist of
90 units of independent living residences located in three two-story
buildings with elevators. Universal design, a set of best practices
intended to ensure accessibility to all residents, will be employed
throughout the buildings. When a residence is designed with features for
use by all people, including individuals with disabilities, it minimizes
the number of structural impediments to assistive technology or
accessibility improvements, thereby avoiding expensive renovations at
later dates.
3. HEALTHIER CHOICES FOR 2008. At the New Year, many of us resolve to
make healthier lifestyle choices. Healthy eating is a good place to
start. It's every bit as important for caregivers to eat well as it is
for those for whom they provide care. For healthy eating tips and to
obtain a listing of the United States Dietary Guidelines, visit
http://seniornavigator.org/vaprovider/consumer/snArticle.do?contentId=25
4.
Source: SENIORNAVIGATOR E-QUICKTIP, January 4, 2008.
4. SWITCHING TO INDOOR EXERCISE. Just because winter has forced you
indoors doesn't mean you have to put off your exercise resolutions. Find
a good video tape or DVD or tune into Channel 16 for an introduction to
an ancient but effective mind/body workout. In her five-part series,
HathaYoga Instructor Hinda Sacks presents a flowing cycle of simple and
gentle moves, known to shape and tone muscles, improve flexibility,
enhance circulation, build strength, and increase stamina. The schedule
is Sunday at 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.; Thursday at 9:30 a.m.;
Friday at 9:30 a.m.; and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Check it out at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable/channel16/yoga.htm.
5. COST OF CAREGIVING DOUBLES PREVIOUS ESTIMATES. The out-of-pocket
cost of caring for an aging parent or spouse averages $5,531 a year,
according to the nation's first in-depth study of such expenses, a sum
that is more than double previous estimates and more than the average
American household spends each year on health care and entertainment
combined. The National Alliance for Caregiving released "The Evercare
Study of Family Caregivers - What They Spend, What They Sacrifice" in
November 2007.
The study found that 17 million people, or over half of all caregivers,
are spending more than 10 percent of their annual income on caregiving
expenses. The study also showed that the most common expenses were
household goods, food, and meals. One-third of the respondents said that
they have dipped into their own savings to help with care. The full
study is available at www.caregiving.org.
6. HOUSING REPAIR AND MODIFICATIONS: LOCAL RESOURCES. The Home Repair
for the Elderly and/or Disabled Program of the Fairfax County
Redevelopment and Housing Authority provides minor home repairs to
eligible low and moderate income older homeowners residing in the
property, as well as accessibility modifications for homeowners with
disabilities. For more information or to request an application, call
703-246-5154, TTY 703-385-3578 or visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/seniorhousing/hrep.htm.
The authority's Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP) helps county
homeowners make home improvements. Homeowners are provided technical
assistance in determining what improvements need to be made and low
interest loans to help pay for these improvements. For more information,
please call 703-246-5155, TTY 703-385-3578 or visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/hilp.htm.
Hearts and Hammers, a program of RPJ Housing, addresses a variety of
repair needs ranging from code violations to preventative maintenance
that if unmet could lead to more costly repairs. To apply for this free
home repair program call 703-528-5606.
7. FAIRFAX COUNTY METRORAIL ELEVATOR ALERT. The elevators in two
Fairfax County Metrorail stations, West Falls Church and Van Dorn, are
currently under construction and will be out of service until
mid-February. During this time, Metrorail customers who are unable to
use the stairs or escalator and who plan to enter or exit these stations
should call 202-962-1825 before their trip to pre-schedule a free
shuttle service. Buses or vans will be stationed in the area to
accommodate all customers and will be dispatched upon request. To check
the status of Metro trains, buses, elevators and escalators throughout
the system, visit www.metroopensdoors.com/ or call 202-962-1212.
Customers can subscribe to receive customized eAlerts via e-mail, cell
phone, pager or personal digital assistant of all rail, station and/or
bus disruptions at
www.wmata.com/riding/alerts/metrorail_alerts.cfm?fromMenu=AlertsAndAdvis
ories.5.
Source: Disability E-news, December 7, 2007.
8. VIRGINIA CAREGIVER GRANT. The Virginia Caregiver Grant Program
provides annual grants of up to $500 to caregivers who provide unpaid
care to a needy relative. Grants are awarded for care provided for at
least six months of the previous calendar year. Checks are issued on or
before December 31 of the year in which applications are received
pending funding by the General Assembly. Applications are accepted
between February 1 and May 1 of each year. Applications postmarked prior
to February 1 or after May 1 will be disqualified. The application
package can be requested locally by calling the Fairfax Area Agency on
Aging at 703-324-7948.
9. MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT WORKSHOPS STARTING. Workshops for people
with mild cognitive impairment and their families begin on January 21
and 22, 2008. They will be held at the Alzheimer's Family Day Center
located at 2812 Old Lee Highway, Suite 210, Fairfax, VA.
Sessions on Mondays at 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Tuesdays at 1:30-3:30 p.m. will
be offered for six weeks. Thanks to a grant, there is no charge, but the
program is limited to 12 participants. Call 703-204-4664 for more
information.
10. DID YOU KNOW? The Family Caregiver Alliance has Fact Sheets for
caregivers in Spanish and Chinese. Topics include caregiving, dementia,
hiring an aide, assisted living, and more. Perhaps you know someone who
would like a copy in these languages. For more information, visit
http://caregiver.org and look for the "Fact Sheets and Publications."
************************************************************************
If you have suggestions for future feature articles, please contact the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov or call
703-324-5401.
Please note that these items are included for informational purposes
only and do not imply endorsement by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging or
Fairfax County Government.
************************************************************************
For further information, please contact an Aging Information Specialist
at the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-7948, TTY 703-449-1186,
or e-mail fairfax_aaa@fairfaxcounty.gov. Visit our Web site at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
************************************************************************
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging
CAREGIVER'S CORNER ONLINE
December 2007
***********************************************************************
Caregiver's Corner Online is an electronic newsletter produced by the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with funding from the National Family
Caregiver Support Program of the Older Americans Act. Our goal is to
send you information to support you as a family caregiver for an older
adult.
"The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know
that works is the family." -- Lee Iacocca
Dear Readers,
Despite the best intentions to have an enjoyable holiday season, the
stress of added activities, even the fun ones, can overwhelm caregivers
who are already on overdrive. Here's a Caregiver's Corner Online reprint
of stress-busting tips to help you better manage this holiday season:
**Keep celebrations simple. The commercialism in our society can
make one feel guilty for not decorating, or buying, or celebrating enough. Simplicity is
a good rule for anyone.
**Lighting a candle, attending religious services, or singing old
familiar songs can lift your spirits and your loved ones.
**Let others help. Be ready to suggest a task for potential helpers.
**Plan some time for yourself. You need and deserve time to do what
energizes you so you can be there for the one who needs you.
**Reminisce about celebrations and traditions with your loved ones.
**If you receive cards and letters, enjoy them, but don't feel you
need to respond immediately.
**Keep in touch in your own time. Sending Valentine's Day cards
instead of December holiday cards may work better for you. February is a less busy time.
**What can you give thanks for? Remembering this will help you keep a positive attitude.
**Make one simple resolution, and develop a plan to make it happen.
**If you are a long-distance caregiver, ask those who live near your loved one how you can help.
**HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!**
IN THIS EDITION:
1. Fairfax Area Caregivers Participate in Virginia Video
Conference on Caregiving
2. Winter Weather Emergency Supply Kit - A Good Idea
3. Steps to Balancing Eldercare and Work
4. Social Security Benefits Application Tool Kit
5. SeniorNavigator "Ask the Expert" about Sore Throats
6. Previous Editions of Caregiver's Corner Online
1. FAIRFAX AREA CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATE IN VIRGINIA VIDEO CONFERENCE ON
CAREGIVING. Caregivers across the state shared their stories at the
Video Conference for Caregivers of Older Adults on November 13. Hosted
by the Virginia Caregiver Coalition of the Virginia Department for the
Aging, the program addressed the emotional toll of caregiving, family
dynamics related to caregiving, and resources for caregivers. Caregivers
and professionals attended the video conference site for the Fairfax
area at the Health Department in Fairfax.
Evelyn Carroll of Springfield shared wisdom she gained as a working
caregiver for several family members. She reminded the group that no one
is born to be a caregiver and people need help when they assume this
role. You need help from family, friends, co-workers, and others, she
said, and you have to take it one day at a time because each day is
different when you are a caregiver. Caregivers from other areas of the
state joined the discussion. Evelyn Chevalier said daily exercise, a
good spouse, and her faith keep her going each day. Debbie Wampler said
her mother taught her the song, "Keep on the Sunny Side." She said she
and her mother still sing it together, despite her mother's Alzheimer's
disease. (The words to well-loved songs and prayers are often retained
by people who have dementia.)
A few caregivers addressed coping with the repetitive actions and speech
typical of a person with dementia. They said they keep in mind and
explain to their children and grandchildren that these behaviors are
characteristic of the disease and are not the actions of a person trying
to test your patience. Mrs. Wampler said, "We caregivers are special
people...and we make a difference in the lives of our loved ones. Let's
band together, hold hands, help each other, and keep on the sunny side."
The department hopes that this video conference will motivate other
family caregivers to continue the work they are doing. The Fairfax Area
Agency on Aging is committed to providing programs throughout the year
to support caregivers, including informational seminars and events,
support groups, limited respite care and assisted transportation.
2. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT - A GOOD IDEA. Because ice
storms and blizzards can knock down power lines, freeze water pipes and
prevent you from traveling, county residents should be sure to have a
home emergency supply kit, including:
--At least a three-day supply of food that won't spoil.
--One gallon of water per person, per day.
--A battery-powered radio (people with hearing impairments should
consider signing up for the Community Emergency Alert Network--CEAN--at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cean and obtaining a cell phone with text messaging
capacity to receive CEAN messages).
--A flashlight with extra batteries.
--A first-aid kit.
--An extra supply of prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
--A plan for those with special needs who may need to stay in your
home because they lost
utilities from a storm. Those with special needs could include
the elderly, people with
disabilities and the medically frail.
Additional information on assembling an emergency supply kit is
available online at Fairfax County's Emergency Information Web page,
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency.
3. STEPS TO BALANCING ELDERCARE AND WORK. Previously, readers were
encouraged to assess their situation at work and at home to determine if
they were the right person to take on the role of primary family
caregiver. For many, they were the ONLY person. The next step toward
creating a personal caregiving plan is to learn about resources
available at work and in the community.
Human resources departments are a good place to start, especially if
your company has an Employee Assistance Program. These programs usually
offers free phone consults and face-to-face appointments with licensed
social workers and psychologists who can provide counseling and
information on local resources.
If you need to take a short leave of absence, ask your human resources
representative about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Since
1993, federal law offers eligible workers up to 12 weeks a year of
unpaid leave for family caregiving without loss of job security or
health benefits. Although valuable, the FMLA does not help those who
cannot afford to take unpaid leave. Also, there are a number of
limitations to the FMLA, and not all companies are required to provide
the benefit. For more information, visit the Web site at
www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/.
Area agencies on aging specialize in helping older adults and their
families find the help they need and offer various services to meet the
range of caregivers' needs, including:
--Information to caregivers about available services;
--Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to supportive services;
--Individual counseling, support groups, and caregiver training to
assist caregivers in making
decisions and solving problems relating to their roles; and
--Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from
their caregiving
responsibilities.
Please note the contact information for the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging
at the end of this newsletter.
4. SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS APPLICATION TOOL KIT. Need help with the
application process for Social Security disability? Social Security now
has a Disability Starter Kit which helps applicants prepare for the
disability interview and guides them through the application process. It
also gives general information about the Social Security disability
programs and the benefits determination process.
The tool kit can be accessed at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/. For
more information or to request that a kit be mailed to you, call
1-800-772-1213, TTY 1-800-325-0778.
An online application for Social Security disability benefits can be found at
www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/.
Source: Disability Services E-News, November 16, 2007
5. SENIORNAVIGATOR "ASK THE EXPERT" ABOUT SORE THROATS.
Question: My father's throat has been sore for approximately two weeks
and has even gotten worse since he first began feeling the pain. How
long should a sore throat last? My dad is quite stubborn and has not
wanted to see a doctor about the problem. He thinks it's just a cold
due to the change of weather, but my better judgment tells me it's more.
Answer: Typically, a sore throat lasts about one week. Since your
father's throat has been sore for over that length of time and has
progressively worsened, he should be evaluated by his primary care
physician. It may be that antibiotics are necessary for the treatment
of his condition. Ask your father to also take notice of any other
associated symptoms such as fevers, chills, headache, or enlarged lymph
nodes. This information should be shared with his doctor as it will
help him/her better diagnose the cause of the sore throat.
Source: www.seniornavigator.org
6. PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF CAREGIVER'S CORNER ONLINE NEWSLETTER. Current
and past editions of the Caregiver's Corner Online newsletter are
available online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa/caregivers_corner_nl.html
************************************************************************
If you have suggestions for future feature articles, please contact the
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov or call
703-324-5401.
Please note that these items are included for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging or Fairfax County Government.
************************************************************************
For further information, please contact an Aging Information Specialist
at the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-7948, TTY 703-449-1186,
or e-mail fairfax_aaa@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Visit our Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
************************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------
This list (AAAFAMILYCAREGIVERS) is hosted by the government of Fairfax County, VA (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/). |
