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September 2005 Vol. 24. No. 9
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
Plus in this issue catch more news, opinions, features, book reviews, and event calendars.
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Singing a hero's song Caregivers deserve accolades by Maggie Kraft I am lucky enough to get paid to spend time with an exceptional group of people. They are the caregivers who attend our three dementia caregiver support groups that meet in McKinleyville, Fortuna and Eureka. Frankly, I am in utter awe of these people and their incredible resilience. Some of these caregivers have been caring for a spouse, others for a parent. Some of them have family members who share the load, many do not. For the caregivers who are caring for their loved ones at home, it is a 24-hour-a-day job. Or as they say, "a 36-hour day." They come from a variety of professions and backgrounds. They range in age from early 30s to mid-80s. They are predominately women, although my last three groups had an even split of men and women. Some of the younger ones juggle work, family and providing care to their parents. For the older caregivers, caring for a spouse and managing their own health problems often become their overriding activities. The majority of people with Alzheimer's disease live at home or in the home of a family member, where family and friends provide almost 75 percent of their care. The rest of the care is "paid care" costing families an average, nationally, of $19,000 a year. Almost all families pay for this care out of pocket. Family caregivers struggle to find help in providing this care. When they find good caregivers, they struggle to find the money to pay for it. People balance their desire to do the right thing for their spouse or parent with the fantasy of perhaps walking away and never turning back, especially when well-meaning family members, friends and professionals feel free to provide a multitude of ideas and "back-seat driving." Caregivers are constantly wondering, "am I doing this right?" The guilt and self-doubt can be overwhelming. Caregivers often come to support groups initially wanting to know the one way to solve whatever problem is facing them at that moment. They need a quick fix, because they just don't have enough time in the day for anything else. As time goes on, they learn from each other that there is no one way, no quick fix, and that is okay, because they are not alone and some things do work. The wonderful thing about these caregivers is their willingness to gather together, again and again, to find out how to help loved ones - and also, how to help other caregivers who are struggling with the same issues. These folks come to meetings, both because they need a place to talk about something that sounds unbelievable to the average person and because they want to be able to say to someone else who is struggling, "I understand what you are going through. I have been there. Maybe this will help you…." Most of us think we have a hard life and we deserve to go home after work, put up our feet and be left alone. When I listen to what these caregivers are dealing with, every day and night, all I can say is that most of us don't have a clue. I salute these caregivers, paid and unpaid, who either by choice or otherwise have taken up the challenge to provide loving care to another. I salute them even on those days where they feel bad because they don't think they have done enough, and on those days when they feel they simply can't do it any more. They are doing what needs to be done each and every day, and many times no one recognizes these efforts. Well, I do. If you are a caregiver and want to feel the support and caring that comes when joining with other caregivers, please join us at one of our ongoing support groups. The door is always open. For more information, call us at 707-444-8254 or go to the web site, www.humsenior.org. Join the Walk for Alzheimer's Oct. 15 Save the date. You can support local Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers by participating in the 16th annual Soroptimist Walk to benefit the Alzheimer's Resource Center on Saturday, Oct. 15. Register now for the two-mile walk that starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Adorni Center. Walk from the Adorni to the Alzheimer's Resource Center, located across from the Humboldt Senior Resource Center on the corner of California and Del Norte in Eureka. Walkers pay a $15 entry fee and collect donations to support their participation. The entry fee includes a T-shirt and barbecue lunch at the end of the walk. Prizes are awarded to the top two walkers who raise more than $500 in donations. This event is sponsored by Soroptimist International of Humboldt Bay. All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Resource Center. Watch for more details in the October Senior News or call 707-443-9747 to request a registration form. Maggie Kraft is director of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center's Adult Day Health Program and Alzheimer's Resource Center. |
Senior News