Realistic Tips and Ideas for Caregivers
August 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
Caregivers: Beware of Health Scams Aimed at Aging Parents
You see the ads everywhere these days-"Smart Drugs" for long life or "Arthritis Aches and Pains Disappear Like Magic!" or even statements claiming, "This treatment cured my cancer in 1 week." It's easy to understand the appeal of these promises. But there is still plenty of truth to the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

15 Senior Living Trends

Seniors today have more options than ever before. Whether they choose to stay in their homes or make a move to a senior living facility, they increasingly have the ability to seek out a living situation that suits their particular needs. And technological innovations continue to provide options that make them safer and more connected to loved ones.

Here are fifteen senior living trends that are shaping the way seniors of today, and those of the future, will live out their retirement years.


Continue reading
This Month's Tip

Traveling Wisely With Seniors 
Taking Care to Make Sure Everyone has a Memorable Time, by Leeza Gibbons for Senior Helpers®

My Top Five Tips Most of us love to travel, and many families are on the move this summer! If you have a senior in your family, there are some simple considerations that can make any trip more successful. At Senior Helpers® I am lucky enough to hear great tips on all kinds of things from real caregivers facing real challenges. 

Here are my TOP FIVE TIPS from what I've learned about traveling with the seniors you love: Whether you are going across town or across the globe, the secret is PLANNING!

SEASONED CHICKEN, POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
TOTAL TIME
Author: Sarah Olson
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
  • 1.5- 2lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • ½ lb. fresh green beans, trimmed (about 2.5 cups)
  • 1.25 lb. diced red potatoes (about 4 cups)
  • ⅓ cup FRESH lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • ¼ tsp. onion powder
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Start by placing the chicken in a 6-quart slow cooker, in the center. Next add the green beans on one side. Then for the potatoes, you will need to mound them high off to the other side.
  2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic cloves.
  3. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken, green beans and potatoes.
  4. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  5. Note- Do NOT use lemon juice out of squeeze bottle and expect this to taste good! :)
I used my Oval 6-quart Slow Cooker for this recipe.

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

New to Medicare
Monday, August 15, 2016     10:00am - 11:30am
Central United Methodist Church 5144 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64112
Is it Time to Think about Medicare?  Confused by all the Parts and Plans?  Medicare mail piling up on the dining room table?  Join us for a FREE workshop
We don't sell insurance, we empower you so you can make the decisions
Please RSVP  816-444-1121

"A Look at Loss as We Age - The Latest Research on Getting Through Grief"
Speaker: Sally King, LCSW, LSCSW, RYT 200
Tuesday, August 16, 2016     5pm-6:30pm
Location: Old Chicago Pizza in Overland Park, KS
Benefits of Home's Educational Series is designed for Healthcare Social Workers, Case Managers and Discharge Planners practicing in the Johnson County Kansas Area.  Free Dinner and 1 Diagnosis CEU for Johnson County Social Workers
Contact: Tracey Dickey, LMSW, LCSW at tdickey@benefitsofhome.com or 913-209-1188 for reservations.
 
Vibrant Living for Men
Thursday September 1, 2016       8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
The Piper Assisted Living and Memory Care  2300 N. 113th Terr, KC, KS 66109
This all-day workshop will explore options for helping men to live more vibrant and satisfying lives. We will discuss the current state of most activity programs, which are often heavily focused toward activities enjoyed by women. We will also identify the reasons activities and pastimes can't just be left to Activity professionals anymore.  Everyone needs to be involved. This practice makes for an environment that opens the door for everyone in the organization to share their passions and interests. Relationships flourish and spontaneous things begin to happen. As men begin to rethink what they can and would like to do, they often find new purpose and meaning in their lives, and their once-vibrant spirits rise again.
Marsha Poulsen    marsha.poulsen@actionpact.com
    414-258-3649
 
Navigating to 100
Saturday October 8, 2016    8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Christ Community Church 14200 Kenneth Rd., Leawood, KS 66224 
We want to empower you with expert knowledge for the aging journey. This includes information in: financial, legal, healthcare, long term care, life transitions, and more. This symposium puts older adults, caregivers for aging family members and expert professionals that serve them together. You will be building a roadmap to navigate the aging process. Don't wait until you or your aging family members are in crisis. Have the information you need provided to you by experts in the aging community. Have a clear path on the journey of aging well.
Here is the link to the early registration for the event:Registration Event
Contact:  Hannah Rues, ConciergeCare, Inc. 
913-553-6226 ext. 700    

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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