GAPS Caregivers/Care Partners
NEXT MEETING: June 8, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on University in Georgetown, room E2.108 in the education building on the right.
Caregiver Resources
- Anticipatory Grief - Grief doesn't just strike once a person dies. In fact, the grieving process can begin when a loved one is first diagnosed with a chronic condition or terminal illness. Learn how to recognize and cope with anticipatory grief.
Age of Central Texas offers monthly FREE “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” courses with some in-person and/or online classes. Please check this website https://ageofcentraltx.org/index.php/caregivers/caregiveru/ for dates and times for the following classes:
· "A Matter of Balance" - emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls and maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.
· "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" - This series of six classes is designed to empower family caregivers of older adults to take better care of themselves. The tools learned from Powerful Tools for Caregivers benefit caregivers by developing a wealth of self-care strategies to better handle the unique challenges faced by family caregivers.
· "Savvy Caregiver" - Taking care of a person with dementia is a role unlike any other, and it requires training. Savvy Caregiver provides in-depth practical training for family caregivers of persons with dementia. Think of this course as professional-level training for the non-professional, family caregiver. During the six, two-hour classes, caregivers will learn about dementia, the progressive impact of the illness on the person, and the skills needed to manage day-to-day life!
· "Empowering YOU to Be a Strategic Dementia Caregiver" - Being strategic is important, because caring for an older adult with dementia can be both rewarding and overwhelming, both frustrating and fulfilling. Learning about the disease causing dementia – and learning new tools to manage daily life – can increase the rewards and ease the frustrations. Being strategic can also equip you to care for yourself as you care for another person.
· “Empowering YOU to Be a Smart and Healthy Caregiver” - Being smart and healthy is important, because caring for an older adult can be both rewarding and overwhelming, both frustrating and fulfilling. Learning new tools can increase the rewards and ease the frustrations, and equips you to care for yourself as you care for another person.
· "Empowering YOU to Prevent Falls” - Falls are both common and costly with billions of dollars spent to treat the injuries of the one in four older adults who will suffer a fall each year. The good news is that most falls can be prevented! Learning ways to prevent falls and putting that learning into action can empower you to keep yourself safe. This two-part fall prevention course uses information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with information from other reputable sources, to give valuable guidance on ways that older adults can prevent falls.
Senior Living Advisors of Austin - Sarah Hyde-Williams, Elder Care Consultant & Dementia Educator/Trainer
Senior Living Advisors of Austin is an elder care advisory service - Guiding families in finding care for an aging loved one through our personalized Senior Housing Placement, Advanced Care Planning and Education/Consulting. Mobile 832-794-8810 / Office 512-593-7669 /
Email Sarah@SLAAustin.com / Website www.SeniorLivingAdvisorsAustin.com
Camille’s Memory Café – The Gift of Time has a program “Camille’s Memory Café” that is a virtual social gathering where attendees share memories, play games, and exchange stories, in a safe, fun environment. It is open to anyone who would like to connect and be with others to socialize. Also, those with dementia are welcomed. The group meets: 1st & 3rd Fridays of every month from 10-11 am. To sign up and participate, please email at education@agiftoftimegeorgetown.org
Parkinson's Foundation Top 10 Essential Caregiver Resources: Top 10 Essential Caregiver Resources | Parkinson's Foundation
- Parkinson’s Foundation Care Partner Program - This Care Partner Program is a series of self-paced online courses designed with care partners in mind and is recommended for anyone caring for someone living with PD, including spouses, partners, parents, children, friends or other family members. They are FREE, just register! This is flexible programming that includes videos, journal prompts and opportunities to connect with care partners around the world about the topics that are most important to you.
- Caregiver guide: AARP Family Caregiving Guides are designed to help develop and implement a caregiving plan for a loved one or friend. Click: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/
- Caregiver U: CaregiverU is a collaboration of more than 20 Central Texas non-profit agencies and community organizations, joining together with AGE of Central Texas to bring support and resources to families that are caring for an older loved one. Classes are offered at no cost to participants. Click: https://ageofcentraltx.org/index.php/caregivers/caregiveru/
- VA Caregiver Support Program - https://www.caregiver.va.gov
- Support Products
- U-Step Walkers - In-Step Mobility, Creator of the U-Step Walker for Parkinson's Disease (ustep.com)
- Bob and Brad massage gun and other physical therapy aids: Bob and Brad | Get Fit, Stay Healthy, and Pain-Free Products
- Gait Belt - Amazon.com: Essential Medical Supply Gait Belt with Metal Buckle, 72 Inch, White 1 Count : Health & Household
- Bathroom Safety Tips for Caregivers (upflushtoilet.com)
- BOOK - You are a Better Parkinson's Disease Caregiver Than You Think: What Every Caregiver Should Know
- Caregiving Basics - Things to prepare when taking care of seniors
- Seniors' guide to medication management (singlecare.com)
- Kristen Neff, “Self Compassion: https://self-compassion.org
- The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs and CareLinx in-home care professionals to offer free respite care to caregivers of disabled veterans. For more info click here: https://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/2020/08/05/elizabeth-dole-foundation-gives-caregivers-of-disabled-veterans-time-off.html?ESRC=mr_200810.nl
- A book for caregivers: No Saints Around Here: A Caregiver's Day by Susan Allen Toth. Description: No saint, as she often reminds the reader, Toth found solace in documenting her days as a caregiver. The result, written in brief, episodic bursts during the final eighteen months of her husband's life, has a rare and poignant immediacy.
Order at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ClVed1 - Anticipatory Grief is feeling grief and loss while being a caregiver. This article provides some caregiver tips: https://www.webmd.com/palliative-care/caregiver-grief-and-bereavement#1
- AGE of Central Texas - has an extensive online list of at-home activities and caregiver resources at http://www.TinyURL.com/AGE-at-home-activities
- Caregiver’s Helpline - PD specialists answer all Parkinson’s and caregiver questions, provide emotional support and refer health care professionals. Call 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) or email Helpline@parkinson.org.
- Parkinson’s Caregiver’s Guidebook - This comprehensive guidebook is for caregivers at every stage of PD. It contains tips and tools to make the caregiving journey as productive as possible. Read or Order
- Avoid Caregiver Burnout - Compassion Fatigue - "I'm at my breaking point... what do I do?" is a common question from AFA Helpline callers right now. Excellent video from AFA social worker, Kara Rogers, LMSW, shares tips and guidance on how to spot the warning signs of caregiver burnout and what to do if you're noticing them. Great 5 minute video: WATCH VIDEO HERE Alzheimer’s Help-Line #866-232-8484
- Caregiver Conversations Video – This 12-minute video has Celebrity Caregiver Clips and Tips from Clay Walker, Della Reese, Joan Lunden and Henry Winkler, also, the video includes Dealing with our Loved Ones UTI Challenges and important advice for Family Caregivers during Covid-19 caregiver.com/articles/celebrity-interviews/caregiving-conversations
- During a recent Georgetown Lewy Body Dementia support group meeting, Anticipatory Grief was discussed. Please find notes below that may be helpful to you in working through this sensitive topic.
| anticipatory_grief.pdf |
| what_to_do_when_a_loved_one_dies.pdf |
The following two checklists outline things to do after the death of a loved one. While we hope no one needs these anytime soon, it's good to have a checklist to help us focus.
| identify_your_losses.pdf |
| within_1_month_of_death.pdf |
See also the "GETTING HELP & INFO" page on this website for more info!
