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Calendar "At a Glance"
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A complimentary telephone learning and support program. Select a session right for you.
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Thursday, June 12 at 12 Noon.
"Planning Summer Travel with Older Adults" with Patsy Swatek, LCSW, and Zanda Hilger, LPC
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Thursday, June 19, 12 Noon
"Relaxation: Importance and Techniques" with Evalyn Greb, LCSW
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Wednesday, June 25 at 11 a.m.
"Coping with Stress" with Sharon Lewis, RN, PhD, FAAN
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Sign Up By Phone,
Email or Online
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Register for any scheduled TeleLearning Sessions above by phone at -- 871- 7SOS (7767) or 1(866) 390-6491 (toll-free) (Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.); by email, or go to our website.At no cost, these phone-based sessions connect family caregivers with experts and other caregivers in similar situations.
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Social Media
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Click below to hear podcasts  |
Join Our List
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(You may select multiple lists.)
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Carol's Column
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I was always a good student in school.
Unfortunately, I was that annoying kid like Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series who always held her hand up, confidently waving with the right answer, wanting to be called on. I can remember my elementary school teacher patiently explaining to me that other people need a chance to give the answers too.
That was a long time ago. As a caregiver, I don't always have the right answers. And I'm certainly not always confident.
Memorizing facts and figures has nothing to do with being a good parent or a good caregiver. Being book smart has nothing to do with being street smart or life smart.
Even if we want a formal education on caregiving, the classes for new babies and troublesome teens outnumber the classes on taking care of a loved one. So we end up making it up as we go along, doing the best we can.
Being a "smart" caregiver is tough, because we have to dig deeper than the words on a printed page. We have to let go of the regrets, anger and emotions we carry from the relationship with our person from our younger days. We may have to work through the grief of missing our loved one as they used to be while we deal with our loved one as they have become. Emotions get in the way, making it difficult to think clearly.
The reality is that we may actually have the right answer, but we don't want to admit it. The right thing is too hard, too expensive, too time- consuming, too not what we want the answer to be.
When we're looking for what to do next, we can take cues from family or friends who have gone through the same caregiving role. We can observe doctors and nurses who have a good bedside manner. We can get professional help from a geriatric care manager who can help us work through the answers and our emotions.
Now that I'm older, I don't know as much. My hand goes up to ask a question rather than to give the answer. I'm okay admitting that as a caregiver, I still have a lot to learn.
Carol Zernial
Executive Director
WellMed Charitable Foundation
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Join the Conversation
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Individuals, non-profits and organizations, along with state, regional, and local agencies are encouraged to submit for consideration their information on meetings, educational sessions, or resources for caregivers (of seniors, wounded warriors, and children or adults who have a disability).
Please email details and documents (as a pdf or MS Office document--Word, Publisher, PowerPoint or Excel) promoting the item, along with a contact name, email address, and phone number to: Sue Ellen Lewis, Editor, Caregiver SOS Signals Newsletter/eMail Blasts; email: SueEllenLewis@msn.com: Voice: 210-637-5116. |
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Greetings!
The WellMed Charitable Foundation has made a wide  variety of information available online to Family Caregivers as well as your care recipients. We want you to know about them in support of your caregiver journey. Examples include:
The Caregiver SOS Facebook Page is updated almost daily with the most current information on topics of interest to Family Caregivers, seniors and other interested visitors. We have worked to assure that you find the above sites filled with helpful, interesting and useful topics and materials. |
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MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
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 It may seem that there's nothing you can do about stress. The bills won't stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day, and your career and family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you're in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge: of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, and the way you deal with problems.
Identify the sources of stress in your lifeStress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn't as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren't always obvious, and it's all Read the entire article. |
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HEALTH SAVVY
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Long distance caregiving is not easy. From an activity perspective, it would seem there is not much you can do with a friend or family member, but that is not the case. Here are some suggestions to staying active at a distance with your loved one.
- Decide how you will stay connected. Today, there are many forms of communication.
- Write letters, send cards for every occasion, and send postcards from wherever you might be. Even if your older friend or family member doesn't return letters or cards, still keep in touch.
- Use your computer to e-mail or Skype if your older family member or friend is connected electronically. Skype is so much more personable.
Read the entire article.
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WANT TO FEEL BETTER?
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Relax. You deserve it. It is good for you,
and it takes less time than you think
(from www.webmd.com)
You don't need a spa weekend or a retreat. Each of these  stress-relieving tips can get you from OMG to om in less than 15 minutes.
1. Meditate
A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. "Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain's neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress," says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach.
It's simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Focus your attention on reciting -- out loud or silently -- a positive mantra such as "I feel at
Read the entire article.
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CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY?
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6 tips for finding funding for respite care costs when you need help looking after someone who is elderly or has disabilities or special needs.
We know the story. You're too busy to find respite care and you're pretty sure you can't afford it either. But we also know you probably really need it after juggling care for an aging parent or special needs child, while trying to manage the rest of your life. Providing care can sometimes mean missed work days or reduced hours, and finances can become strained. For many caregivers, seeking relief through respite care, where someone else takes over your caregiving duties for a while, seems prohibitive. But you might be surprised to find that there is respite care coverage out there. We asked Kelli Davidson, author of "Taking Care of Mom and Dad - A Baby Boomers Resource Guide," and Mary Stehle a senior care advisor with Care.com how to start looking for care funding before you're desperate for it. Read the entire article.
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LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
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Safe Travel Tips for Older Adults 
Before you board a plane, train, cruise, or get in your car for a vacation, be sure to check out these expert tips from the American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging. Whether you are traveling overseas or just a short distance from home, it is important to plan ahead for your healthcare needs. To enjoy a safe and healthy trip, make sure to factor in the following expert tips and recommendations:
Find out if you need to update your vaccinations If you're traveling overseas, you may need certain vaccinations before departing-up to 6 weeks before you leave, in some cases. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Travelers Health website to learn what measures you and your fellow travelers may be required to adhere to when traveling abroad. Read entire article. |
Caregiver SOS: On Air
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Caregiver SOS: On Air is an hour-long weekly program that airs at 6 p.m., Sundays on NewsTalk 930-AM KLUP
The program is sponsored and presented by the WellMed Charitable Foundation.
Links to listen to recent shows via podcasts or download from iTunes.
Topics and Guests Featured in May-June
(Guests and/or topics subject to change)
June 8 - Tina Lopez, Director, Feik School of Pharmacy, University of the Incarnate Word - "Do you know your medicine cabinet?" June 15 - Dr. Laura Mosqueda, University of California Irvine - "Dementia and elder Abuse." June 22 - TBA June 29 - Annette Juba, AGE of Central Texas - TBA July 6 - Carol Levine, United Hospital Fund - "Living in the Land of Limbo: Fiction and Poetry About Family Caregiving" |
TeleConnection Session Details
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These hour-long phone-based sessions are designed to connect family caregivers to experts with helpful information and other caregivers by providing needed emotional, educational and social support. These sessions, courtesy of the WellMed Charitable Foundation, can be accessed from anywhere via your phone: no need to get dressed up, find transportation, or get a sitter.
Register for any TeleLearning Session by phone: (210) 871-7SOS (7767) or 1 (866) 390-6491 (toll-free); Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; by email, or visit our website.
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Features Important Topics, Including:
- Planning Summer Travel with Older Adults
- Relaxation: Importance and Techniques
- Coping with Stress
The new Session Schedule format includes a brief description of each session, simplifying the process for caregivers to select a session. The individual session flyers have been discontinued.
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Thursday, June 12 at 12 Noon.
"Planning Summer Travel with Older Adults" with Patsy Swatek, LCSW, and Zanda Hilger, LPC 
Learn and share ways to think and plan ahead for traveling with older adults you care for or when they stay home and need special attention.
This telelearning session is open to all at no charge. Registration.
Thursday, June 19, 12 Noon
"Relaxation: Importance and Techniques" with Evalyn Greb, LCSW
Do you get to the end of the day feeling like you have been completely drained of all energy and are unhappy with yourself? This session will discuss the need for relaxation in your daily routine and some proven techniques to lower your stress. You will hear other caregivers share the ways they have learned to relax.
This telelearning session is open to all at no charge. Registration.
Wednesday, June 25 at 11 a.m.
"Coping with Stress" with Sharon Lewis, RN, PhD, FAAN
Dr. Lewis is a recognized expert on caregiving issues and is the developer of the Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers. This session will explore specific coping strategies in relation to addressing caregiver stress. Participants will reflect on how they respond to stress and how they can develop appropriate coping strategies for their caregiving situation.
This telelearning session is open to all at no charge. Registration.
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Caregiver Connections with Dr. Jamie
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It Is National Safety Month:
Emotional Safety-What Does It Really Mean?
Jamie Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CAP, CFT*
I am enamored with this quote from the author, Anais Nin, "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Truer words were never spoken when it comes to embracing our own emotional safety as caregivers, the topic for this month's self-care offering.
Most of us have known the feeling of being safe on the lap of a loved one when we were children. Feel-good places and the feelings that accompany them may become imprinted on our hearts and in our memories. Sometimes the memories fade but the feeling remains and then, sometimes those feelings are betrayed by life circumstances as we grow up. Read entire article.
*Jamie Huysman is a noted psychologist and author of several books on caregiving, including Take Your Oxygen First. He is the Vice President - Provider Relations for WellMed Medical Management.
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Social Security Information for Caregivers
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Question: I help my mother care for my 84-year-old grandfather. He goes to an adult day care about 2 or 3 times a week for a few hours. There is a man at the adult day care center who I suspect is being used by his caregivers just for his Social Security check and his retirement money. I do not know for sure, but I get the feeling something is not right. What can I do to report my suspicions? Answer: You can report Social Security fraud, waste, or abuse directly to Social Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The most convenient way is through their website at http://oig.ssa.gov/. You can also call the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST. Read the entire article.
*Oscar Garcia is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration.
You can direct your questions to him at: SSA, 411 Richland Hills Drive, San Antonio, Texas, 78245. You can also email him at Oscar.h.garcia@ssa.gov.
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Resources and References
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From the NCOA Center for Healthy Aging:
From the AARP Bulletin: Behavioral Management in Dementia Presented by: Dr. Thomas Weiss, Geriatric Psychologist - Dr. Weiss walks us through the care and management of dementia patients with this new webcast on "Behavioral Management in Dementia." This informative video offers information on symptoms, epidemiology, assessment as well as strategies and therapies (both non-pharmacologic and pharmocotherapy) for managing the complex behaviors seen in patients with dementia patients.
- This is a must watch for anyone caring for someone with dementia!
To watch, go to: http://tinyurl.com/orfp995 |
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Caregiver SOS Resource Centers
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 The Caregiver SOS Centers are beginning various new informational series, including new Alzheimer's support groups and the Stress-Busting Program for family caregivers. Go to the website: Click Here for specific contact information.
 Examples of ongoing classes include: Diabetes Self Management, Chronic Disease Self Management, Healthy Eating, and A Matter of Balance--along with general and women's support groups, crafts and health-related activities. A resource library is available. See the Activity Calendars below for the current schedules. |
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In Closing . . . .
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W e hope you found this Signals newsletter both useful and informative. Please share it with caregivers you know, your friends, and colleagues by clicking on 'Forward to a Friend'. (Since Signals is optimized for the Internet, forwarding it through your email system very seriously alters the appearance.)
Carol Zernial, Executive Director
WellMed Charitable Foundation |
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