Realistic Tips and Ideas for Caregivers
May 2016
 The Care Connection at Shepherd's Center Central promotes and supports the advancement of skills, good health, and resilience of caregivers for older adults.
   
Shepherd's Center Central is a not-for-profit community-based organization that empowers mid-life and older adults to live healthy, engaged and independent lives.
   
www.sccentral.org   816-444-1122
MAY is National Stroke Awareness Month
From the American Stroke Association

THINK YOU ARE HAVING A STROKE? CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away. 
F.A.S.T. is:
F Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A Arm Weakness - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward.
S  Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T  Time to Call 9-1-1 - If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Your Elderly Parent is Home From the Hospital. What Happens Next?

The Washington Post, April 21, 2016
Recovering at home means no more hospital staff dispensing medications, taking vital signs or watching for worrisome symptoms. Very often family members, friends and neighbors adopt these tasks. 
This Month's Tip

3 Smart Ways to Arrange Breaks from Family Caregiving

Caring for an aging loved one who needs help is a major undertaking. Balancing this responsibility with other areas of your life, such as work, makes the job even tougher. (It's estimated that nearly 60 percent of family caregivers are juggling caregiving with work outside of the home). As a caregiver, it's crucial to take breaks in order to keep from burning out and jeopardizing your own health, If you're exhausted from caregiving, here are some ways you can give yourself a break while ensuring your loved one gets the care they need.

Read More
Here's Why Alzheimer's Patients Can't Recognize Faces of Loved Ones
What's behind this sad reality of the disease?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A new study sheds light on what is often called one of the cruelest effects of Alzheimer's disease -- the patient's inability to recognize loved ones.

Researchers report that along with causing memory loss, Alzheimer's also seems to affect people's visual perception -- specifically their ability to recognize faces.
We Have More Information to Share  
 
Remember...The Care Connection at Shepherd's Center Central is here to help anyone who is concerned about an aging parent, loved one, neighbor, or friend who needs referrals to resources, care planning, practical advice, guidance in balancing work and family, or stress relief. 
 
The Kansas City Caregiver Support Line provides resources and referrals for caregivers of older adults. Call 816-444-1122
 
Click for info on:   Care Connection
Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

Tuesday May 24, 2016
Grief & Loss in Contemporary Society
(D&T Symposium Sponsored by Comfort Keepers)
 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital
5701 W 110th St, Overland Park, KS 66211
WHO: Nurses (RN/LPN), Administrators (KS Adult Care Home) & Social Workers (LBSW/LMSW/LCSW & Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced) thanks to Grace Hospice (general public, lay persons & other healthcare professionals self-submitting materials welcomed too). CE: 6 contact hours/CEs
COST: $99 Full Rate/$49 if on Comfort Keepers' E-Mail List* ($50 Discount). 
 
SUMMARY: When loss occurs for individuals, the resulting ripple effects of change permeates a family system as individuals move to adjust & adapt to the loss. The grief & mourning journey is unique to each person, however there are some commonalities often shared by fellow travelers on the road. This workshop will explore what is referred to as the grief journey. Attention will be given to the following areas: clinical aspects of diagnosing & treating grief; various grief models; uniqueness of losses such as sudden loss, partner loss or sibling loss; practical interventions to use with those experiencing loss; issues related to trauma; grief over the life span; discussion on the concept of complicated mourning; resiliency & loss; & cultural considerations in working with people around loss & grief issues.  Intent: meet BSRB Diagnoses/Treatment requirements.
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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016
"When Grief Turns into Depression - How the New DSM 5 Differentiates the Two and Helping Seniors Cope with Loss" Presented by Sally King, LSCSW, LCSW
11:30am-1:00pm
Old Chicago Pizza
FREE Lunch and Diagnosis CEU Benefits of Home's Educational Series is designed for Healthcare Social Workers, Case Managers and Discharge Planners practicing in the Johnson County Area.
 
Contact Tracey Dickey, LMSW, LCSW at tdickey@benefitsofhome.com or 913-209-1188 for reservations.
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Free Elder Care and Asset Protection Workshops
Surprising ways to pay for your assisted living or long-term care costs WITHOUT selling your home or leaving your family without a dime!One of the biggest fears that many people have today is the fear of having their life savings wiped out if they need long-term care. It is important that you understand what you can do to protect your hard-earned assets! It is extremely important that you know about these changes, and how they may affect your estate and long-term care planning! A free informational workshop hosted by Elder Law Attorney, William G. Hammond with KC Elder Law.
 
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 - 6:00pm
Wilshire at Lakewood
600 NE Meadowview Drive, Lee's Summit, MO
 
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - 6:00pm
Brookdale at Wornall Place
501 W 107th Street, Kansas City, MO
 
Attendance at these brand-new meetings is FREE, but seating is limited. You can reserve your spot on our website http://kcelderlaw.com/Workshops/ or call our office at (913) 338-5713 in Kansas or (816) 220-4119 in Missouri.
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Thursday, May 5, 2016
Engaging Ethically in Clinical Settings -- Boundaries, Self-care, and liability issues with Clients (Ethics CEUs) Social workers will be eligible for 1.0 hour CEU.
Speaker: Sally King, MSW, LSCSW, LCSW
9:00am to 10:00am
Location: Brookdale Overland Park Glenwood
9201 Foster Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
Complimentary admission.  Breakfast will be served.
RSVP to acardona@brookdale.com or (913) 385-2052.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2016
"An Introduction to The Diagnostic, Treatment, and Ethical Considerations of Working with Traumatized Older Adults." Free Dinner and 1 Diagnosis CEU.
Speaker: Sally King, LCSW, LSCSW
5:00pm-6:30pm
Old Chicago Pizza
Benefits of Home's Educational Series is designed for Healthcare Social Workers, Case Managers and Discharge Planners practicing in the Johnson County Area.   
Contact Tracey Dickey, LMSW, LCSW at tdickey@benefitsofhome.com or 913-209-1188 for reservations.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2016
Age Positive Ideas for an Age-Friendly Future
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
This one-day conference will offer innovative ideas to help you enhance current programs and develop new ones.  Hosted by a partnership of regional organizations, this conference is best suited for professionals and volunteers working in senior centers, community centers, libraries, park districts and other venues that offer programming to older adults.
 
The Age Positive conference will provide a forum for innovative program ideas, as well as workshops on advocacy, fundraising, partnership development and business planning.
 
The cost is $25 per person and registration is limited to 200. Limited scholarships will be available. Scholarship applications are available online.
CEU credits: The Mid-America Regional Council will supply a letter confirming attendance at the Age Positive Conference. Participants may self-submit an application for individual continuing education credits.
For conference, registration and scholarship information, visit The Age Positive Website.
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Friday, June 17, 2016
Addiction By Prescription?: Older Adults and Substance Abuse
Speaker: Sally King, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW
8:30-11:30a.m.
Johnson County Community College
3 Diagnosis CEUs
Consider a Planned Gift. Please donate. 

Please consider making a charitable bequest to Shepherd's Center of Kansas City Central in your will. Legacy gifts provide future support for charity. Any individual, at any time, can create a legacy gift. It can be as easy as naming a charity on the beneficiary form of a savings, checking or pension account, or through a more complex instrument such as a trust. 

To make a bequest to SCC, simply include these words in your will:
"I give to Shepherd Center of Kansas City Central, a
non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, located in Kansas City,
MO, __% of my estate for general purposes."

To create a residual charitable bequest, use these words:
"All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both
real and personal, I give to Shepherd Center of Kansas
City Central, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, located
in Kansas City, MO, for its general purposes." 

Visit us at www.sccentral.org. Call us at 816-444-1121.
Shepherd's Center Central |  816-444-1122 |  www.sccentral.org
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