Have you or a loved one recently received a diagnosis of a degenerative illness or perhaps suffered a brain injury that may require a lengthy recovery period? This is the first in a series of informative articles to assist you with planning for on-going care needs.

Today’s column discusses identifying support services that may be beneficial for your particular situation. There are numerous degenerative diseases/conditions that require planning for the future. Locating support services to help you physically, emotionally and financially are important first steps.

Though the diagnosis may not change, there are options for supporting the best quality of life. Here are a few things to consider when acquiring information and getting a support system in place to help maintain your well-being and quality of life:

• Do some research and learn as much about the diagnosis as possible. If you are not seeing a specialist in that field, consult with your doctor and ask to be referred.
• Meet with a trusted financial planner or lawyer for advice on estate planning and legal documents you want to have in place for future care needs.
• Evaluate your living situation. Is it functional for what is going on, or do changes need to be made? Examples: wheelchair accessibility, property upkeep, and isolation.
• Don’t know where to start? Here are some local agencies that can help you with information and future Case Management assistance:
  • Central VT Council on Aging for anyone over 60
  • Central VT Home Health and Hospice, for all ages
  • PRIDE TBI or CHOICE (traumatic brain injuries)
  • Vermont Center for Independent Living (under 60)
  • Washington County Mental Health Services
  • Project Independence Adult Day Center

Next month, we’ll delve more into the services that the above agencies can help you with.

If you’re looking for help/information on a particular topic, please email info@pibarre.giffordhealthcare.org and we’ll research it for a future edition.

By Shelly Ehrman, RN, Outreach & Caregiver Support Specialist

Project Independence (PI) is Vermont’s first adult day center, established in 1975 and serving adults from Washington and northern Orange counties. PI provides a warm, stimulating, and home-like atmosphere for individuals to spend the day engaging with others in a safe community through activities, exercise, entertainment, and delicious meals. We are fondly referred to by participants as “the club” and a “big family”.

As aging populations worldwide are on the increase and estimated to approach 2 billion by 2050, chances are you or somebody close to you has become part of this statistic. While we would like to gracefully transition into our adult years with physical health, emotional vitality and financial security, harsh realities often hit and we may find our independence being threatened due to chronic illness, disability and the sometimes harsh realities of advancing age. At the same time, isolation and loneliness can move in upon us rather insidiously, depriving us of life satisfaction and purpose.

While social engagement is known to have a profound positive impact on an individual’s sense of well being, conversely social disengagement has been reported to be associated with higher risks of mental health complications, cognitive impairment and mortality. Additionally, statistics directly correlate the health and stress levels of the caregiver with that of the person being cared for.

At PI skilled professional staff members lead creative activities and provide individualized care in a way that respects each person as they are, accepting disabilities and challenges as a universal part of being human. Additionally, we offer extensive resources for caregivers through individual sessions and a dynamic monthly support group. The combination of services instills a sense of purpose for the participant and gives caregivers necessary breathing space and support to become more healthy and flexible in their caregiving roles.

Project Independence offers a solution for isolation and loneliness. If you or someone you know has become isolated and lost their connection to the people and events in life that offer meaning, enjoyment and healthy challenge, reach out to the professionals at PI today. Make a complimentary lunch appointment, come in for a tour and begin a conversation about how to make a difference in the lives of others. Allow the staff of PI to answer your questions and begin paving the way to a healthier more satisfying lifestyle.

If you’re looking for help/information on a particular topic, please email info@pibarre.giffordhealthcare.org and we’ll research it for a future edition.

Caregiving is an emotional journey for the caregiver and the person receiving the care. Throughout the journey, it is easy to become so involved in the physical caregiving that we don’t make time to acknowledge and work through the emotions. Often times a caregiver can experience a wide range of emotions in a very short time span. The person being cared for also experiences all these emotions and as the caregiver, you want to be able to offer love, reassurance, and support to them. To be able to support others, first you must care for yourself emotionally.

Here are some of the common, often hard to admit, feelings caregivers experience and suggestions for coping.

Ambivalence

The feeling of both wanting to do the caregiving and the feeling of not wanting to do it.

Coping: Allow yourself to feel both sets of feelings; everyone has these feelings sometimes. They won’t last forever.

Anger

Have you ever “lost it” while providing care? Anger and frustration are a normal part of being around someone who needs help on an ongoing basis. Sometimes anger ”just comes out”.

Coping: Forgive yourself and find constructive ways to express yourself. Learn to walk away and give yourself a “time out” Identify supportive people you can talk to who will listen to you vent about what happened.

Depression/Sadness

Caregivers are at risk of depression. Sometimes this is a feeling of hopelessness, the inability to sleep or sleeping too much, struggling to get up and face another day or wanting to cry.

Coping: Depression is treatable. If you think you may be depressed, talk to you physician, join a caregiver support group, find a counselor who understands caregiving. Include an exercise program as moving your body is a proven way to relieve some of the symptoms of depression.

Fear

Caregivers take on a huge amount of responsibility and along with that comes the fear of what could happen. What if something happens to me? Am I responsible for things that go wrong? What if I can’t do it anymore?

Coping: It’s important to have contingency plans; so it might make sense to have a back-up caregiver in place in case something happens to you. Check into area homes/facilities that offer respite care and think about how you would handle a medical emergency based on the disabilities the person your caring for has. It is also helpful to talk with someone who knows your situation.

Loneliness

The longer you are a caregiver, the more isolated you can become. It is quite easy to lose your sense of self and see yourself only as a caregiver.

Coping: Learn about resources from your local Area Agency on Aging (CVCOA) about respite programs or Adult Day programs that can help you get a well-deserved break. Look at your wider circle of family, friends, neighbors and spiritual connections to see where you might get some nurturing.

These are just a few of the emotions involved in being a caregiver; for more information, visit the Family Caregiver Alliance’s page on The Emotional Side of Caregiving.

Tips for getting the support needed to be a successful caregiver:

• Reach out to family, friends and neighbors for support and someone to talk to
• Talk with your Physician
• Join a Caregiver Support Group
• Central VT Council on Aging (CVCOA) can help with determining what resources are available
• Central VT Home Health and Hospice (CVHHH) can help with determining what resources are available
• Project Independence Adult Day Program – offers services Mon – Fri from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The information in this article comes from personal experience and from Family Caregiver Alliance.
(https://www.caregiver.org)

If you’re looking for help/information on a particular topic, please email info@pibarre.giffordhealthcare.org and we’ll research it for a future edition.