National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated each November, is a time
to recognize and honor family caregivers in the Northeast Kingdom and across
the country.
“Celebrating family caregivers during November enables all of us to
raise awareness of family caregiver issues, celebrate the efforts of family
caregivers, educate family caregivers about supportive resources, and increase
support for family caregivers,” said Meg Burmeister, Executive Director of the
NEKCOA.
The Council supports family caregivers with a number of resources and classes aimed
to reduce the stresses and challenges of caregiving. Every month, there are two
support groups for grandparents taking care of children and for caregivers of
Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. In addition, classes are provided regularly
that support caregivers: Powerful Tools for Caregivers
is a six week
class for family caregivers to help reduce guilt and stress, anger, and/or
depression, and increase confidence. Managing Stress
is a
one-evening workshop based upon Powerful Tools for Caregivers to help caregivers
manage the daily stresses and challenges faced as a caregiver and Effective
Communications Strategies
is a two-hour education program developed by the
Alzheimer's Association. Participants learn how to decode the verbal and
behavioral messages delivered by someone with Alzheimer's or dementia and
identify strategies to help them connect and communicate at every stage of the
disease.
Pam Smith, the Council’s Director of Client
& Caregiver Team Support, who leads the above mentioned classes, was
recently named a Master Trainer for Powerful Tools for Caregivers, the national
program sustained by extensive collaborations with community-based
organizations that provides training and support to family caregivers.
“Family caregivers can face a significant number of challenges, and these
challenges can increase to a level that may affect the relationship with the
person they are caring for,” said Smith.
“Every caregiving relationship is unique and we are testing a new
program, called TCARE® that helps to assess key factors with caregivers to
monitor these relationships over time and provide the support they may need as
they change.”
The NEK Council on Aging is the first in the state of Vermont to test TCARE,
described as an assessment tool for the caregiver that categorizes different levels
of stress or burden, consequences of not dealing with the stress, and
strategies to reduce it. Until TCARE,
there were no formal means to monitor the health and welfare of the caregiver.
Caregiver Carol Roy of Norton, who is taking care of her mother, was recently
assessed by Smith using the TCARE program. “I recommend TCARE. The assessment
tool went very smooth and helped me understand where I was in my caregiving
journey. It was comforting to know I am on the right track for providing the
best care I can for my mom.”
“Caregiving experiences are just as unique as the people involved. The caregiving
role unfolds over time as the caregiver takes on greater
responsibility--helping with everyday household affairs, personal care, and
decisions,” said Smith. “The Council is being proactive in how we can support
caregivers as they journey through this experience. We encourage caregivers to
reach out to the Council to obtain the key support and services they
need.”
