A complimentary telephone learning and support program. Select a session right for you.

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.

(You may select multiple lists.)
 

Someone recently pointed out to me that caregiving has become mainstream, commonplace.  

 

Consider the evidence: The television mini- series, The Strain, is a show about researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who are investigating an outbreak of vampirism. One of the researchers, Dr. Nora Martinez, has to rescue her mother from assisted living because it's being overrun with vampires.

 

As if caregivers didn't have enough to do, we now have to battle the undead in addition to everything else.

 

But if caregiving and vampires are the new normal, this could be good news - in a weird sort of way. Most caregivers feel isolated and alone. They think they are the only ones going through this situation. If a caregiver sees another caregiver battling the powers of darkness on TV, she'll know there are others out there like her.

 

She'll see that caregivers need tools specific to their own caregiving situations. Dr. Martinez may need basic things like silver bullets, an ultraviolet light and perhaps some hand-to-hand combat training (wooden stakes or crosses don't appear to hurt these vampires). Regular caregivers may want to start out with other basics such as information on available services, education on Alzheimer's or cancer, and perhaps a support group.

 

Dr. Martinez realized that the assisted living facility in which her mom lived had problems; it had vampires. Regular caregivers may face a similar realization that their loved one isn't living in a safe situation. Dad may no longer be able to stay by himself in his own home. Or the assisted living facility may not be able to handle mom's growing medical problems.

 

Dr. Martinez is on the run with her mom. Caregivers understand this feeling completely. We run from medical appointment to medical appointment, to the pharmacy, grocery store, and other chores. We often feel like we are running for our lives. This leads to caregiver stress. Unrelenting stress takes down our immune system, and leaves us more susceptible to whatever is going around - we could become the next vampire because we have nothing left in us to fight.

 

Dr. Martinez may be smarter than the average person, but she still has her own problems to face. She may be a scientist, but she doesn't always have the right answers. She may be trying to save the world from imminent doom, but that can be an everyday occurrence for the average caregiver.

 

So I'm glad that caregiving has gone mainstream. Caregiving is a part of our normal lives, and television is reflecting that reality - except the part about the vampires, because that's not normal.

Carol Zernial,
Executive Director,
WellMed Charitable Foundation

 

 

A representative payee is an individual or organization appointed by SSA to receive Social Security and/or SSI benefits for someone who cannot manage or direct someone else to manage his or her money. The main responsibilities of a payee are to use the benefits to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs.  

 

A payee must also keep records of expenses. When SSA requests a report, a payee must provide an accounting to SSA of how benefits were used or saved. Read more. Guide for Individual Payees for printing. 

 

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.

• Dealing with Challenging Behaviors
• Social Security Repesentative Payee
• Hearing Loss and Communications

Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD) is only one month away! We're excited to announce the winners of this year's Falls FreeŽ Photo Contest, whose pictures will be used to promote the event. First place went to Annapolis Senior Activity Center's photo of Tai Chi students doing the "Golden Rooster" pose. If you missed our FPAD webinar, make sure to view the recording to get tips on how to launch a more comprehensive approach to falls prevention programming in your community-and reach new audiences of older adults. See all photo contest winners | Watch FPAD webinar | Get resources.

Caregiver SOS Centers are safe, confidential community resources where caregivers and family members can chat with other caregivers, and find out about wellness activities, information, support, and education.

During September, the Centers will focus on falls prevention education and inforrmational activities. They are beginning various new learning series, including new Alzheimer's support groups and the Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers.

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.

1301 E. Fern, McAllen, TX 78501
956-630-6668