Across America, daughters and sons balance the work of caring for aging parents with the demands of their careers and raising their own children. Spouses and partners become caregivers to the ones they love even as they navigate their own health challenges. Mothers and fathers resume care for children returning home as wounded warriors. Friends and relatives form
networks to support loved ones with disabilities. All of them give selflessly to bring comfort, social engagement, and stability to those they love.

President Barack
Obama, November 1, 2012

President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation in honor of National Family Caregivers Month. You can view the
text of the proclamation here and see additional background, including this year’s Theme for National Family Caregivers Month.

In 1994, the National Family Caregivers Association began promoting the celebration of family caregivers during the week of Thanksgiving. President Clinton signed the first presidential proclamation in 1997 and every president since — Democrat and
Republican alike — has issued an annual proclamation appreciating family caregivers. As interest grew in family caregiving issues, National Family Caregivers Week became National Family Caregivers Month.

Day in and day out, more than 65 million family caregivers in this country fulfill a vital role on the care team. No one else is in a
better position to ensure continuity of care.  Family caregivers are the most familiar with their care recipients’ medicine regimen; they are the most knowledgeable about the treatment regimen; and they understand best the dietary and exercise regimen.

NFCA coordinates National Family Caregivers Month (NFC Month) as a time to thank, support, educate and empower family
caregivers.  Celebrating Family Caregivers during NFC month enables all of us to:

• Raise awareness of family caregiver issues
• Celebrate the efforts of family caregivers
• Educate family caregivers about self-identification
• Increase support for family caregivers

For more information, contact The Heritage Area Agency on Aging at 319-398-5559 or 1-800-332-5934.

Heritage Agency Sponsors the 11^th Annual Celebration of Caregivers on

The Heritage Area Agency on Aging is hosting its 11^th annual caregiver wellness day event, “A Celebration of Caregivers,” to give support and encouragement to informal caregivers of older adults in East Central Iowa. This free event will help informal caregivers focus on their own health and well-being, through a keynote address and breakout sessions.

The event is on Friday, November 16, at 8:30 a.m. at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services Center (KTOS), 3375 Armar Drive, in Marion.

The keynote will be given Ruth Kolb Drew, the Director of Family and Information Services for the Alzheimer’s Association. Drew will be speaking on “Caregiver Guilt and Depression,” and has personal experience as a caregiver.

This year a 30 minute early bird session, “Dementia and Family Caregiving,” is being offered starting at 8:45 a.m. Participants will also be able to attend sessions on making the most of their loved ones doctors visit, creating a support network and interactive music therapy. Free health screenings will be offered and participants will have the opportunity to enjoy free chair massage or reflexology therapies. The nearby Village Ridge Assisted Living will be offering free respite care, giving caregivers a break to enjoy the day.

A Celebration of Caregivers is in November as part of National Family Caregivers Month and The Heritage Agency’s ongoing commitment to the caregivers of older adults. The Heritage Agency also host several, one hour caregiver education session throughout the year. These events are also free and touch on various topics such as legal issues, home safety, and veterans’ benefits. The next caregiver education session will be on Tuesday, October 30, at 9 am at The Heritage Agency at 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. The topic will be Caregiver Conversations.

These events are free, but registration is requested to ensure adequate materials are available.  Please register by calling the Heritage Agency office at 319-398-5559 or 1-800-332-5934. For questions you can ask for Katherine Hines, Resources and Caregiver Support Program Coordinator.

Speacial thanks goes to our sponsors for helping to make the day possible.

Presenting Sponsors: 

Above & Beyond Home Health & Hospice Care

Aging Services, Inc.

Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Iowa

Bickford Cottage

CarePro Health Services

College of Nursing House Calls

Cottage Grove Place

Emeritus at Silver Pines

Essence of Life Hospice

Hallmark Care Center & Cherry Ridge Assisted Living

The Heritage Agency

Heritage Nursing & Rehab Center/Care Initiatives Hospice

Higley Mansion Care Center

HomeChoice Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care

Hospice of Mercy

Iowa Hospice

Lakeview Village

Mercy Medical Center

Meth-Wick Community

St. Luke’s Lifeline

St. Luke’s Living Centers East & West

The Villages at Marion

Patron Sponsors:

Rose Haven & Lodgeon Lafayette

ResCare Home Care

To The Rescue

Has the person you care for lost interest in the activities they used to enjoy? Or communicated to you they feel helpless? October 11 is National Depression Screening Day and is a great time to talk with the ones we care for and ask how they are feeling.

Depression is a problem for many older adults and prevents them from enjoying life like they used to. The effects can impact energy, sleep, appetite, and physical health. Many people believe that depression is an inevitable part of aging, but it isn’t. There are signs to look for and many steps that can be taken to overcome the symptoms. Unfortunately, many depressed seniors and those around them fail to recognize the symptoms of depression, or don’t take the steps to get the help they need.

Recognizing depression starts with knowing the signs. Some depression red flags include:

• Sadness or Irritability

• Fatigue

• Abandoning or losing interest in hobbies or other pleasurable pastimes

• Social withdrawal and isolation (reluctance to be with friends, engage in activities, or leave home)

• Weight loss or loss of appetite

• Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, oversleeping, or daytime sleepiness)

• Loss of self-worth (worries about being a burden, feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing)

• Increased use of alcohol or other drugs

• Fixation on death; suicidal thoughts or attempts

• Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains

Many are reluctant to talk about their feelings or ask for help. This is especially true when speaking of those over 80 who were raised in a generation where feelings and depression were not often discussed and considered a sign of weakness. Depression isn’t a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It can happen to anyone, at any age, no matter your background or your previous accomplishments in life.

If you have a loved suffering from depression there is help available. For more information on depression in later life you can contact the Family Caregiver Support Program at The Heritage Area Agency on Aging at 319-398-5559 or 1-866-432-4324.

Whether your musical style is toe-tapping country, ol’ fashion crooning, or rebel rousing rock n roll, any Iowan who is a family caregiver or a senior age 60+ is eligible to participate. The spotlight will only shine on soloists, duos, trios and quartets. Registration deadline is August 6th, 2012.

For more details or to receive the rules and entry form, contact: Older Iowa Idol Contest, c/o Iowa Family Caregiver, 5835 Grand Ave Ste. 106, Des Moines, IA 50312, toll free at 866-468-7887.

The Older Iowans Day and Older Iowa Idol are sponsored by the Iowa Family Caregiver Program. Each of Iowa’s 13 Area Agencies on Aging offers assistance through the Iowa Family Caregiver Program putting caregivers in touch with essential services to help in their caregiving role and to meet the needs of their older family member or friend.  For more information about the Iowa Family Caregiver Program visit our exhibit tent located on Grand Avenue of the State Fair on Older Iowans Day!

Caring for an older adult, or adults, can be a struggle both emotionally and physically. For a lot of people caring for a loved one the first days and weeks are the hardest. When you’re starting out as a family caregiver it’s hard to know where to begin, especially if the change in your loved one health has been sudden. In the beginning many don’t identify themselves as caregivers. Family Caregivers are individuals who may do something as simple as taking the person to get groceries to performing the hands on daily care.

The first thing you need to do is educate yourself about the diagnosis. If there is no offical diagnosis but you see a change in your loved one’s health or leval of independence it is important to talk with them about how they are feeling and make an appointment with their doctor. Once you have a medical evaluation and diagnosis the next thing will be to educate yourself about the condition(s) and what immdiate needs the older adult will need to stay healthy and maintain as much independence as possible. One place to find this information is your local Area Agency on Aging. They will be able to put you in touch with resources for not only understanding the diagnosis, but locating the services that can help your loved one stay independent.

The second step will be making sure your loved one has as much imput into their care as possible. This may be hard with a dementia diagnosis but still needs to be doneas much a possible. It can be difficult for the person you are caring for to adjust to the new situation and being respectful to their thoughts, feelings, and wishes in regards to their care can only help them and keep the lines on communication open. One of the first conversations should be to make sure all of your loved ones legal documents are in order. These may include wills, powers of attorney, and any financial documentation. Be sure to include any family that would be listed on these documents so everyone has the same information.

The third step goes back slighty to the first and that is to set up any services your loved one needs. There are many various options avaiable depending on the persons needs and contacting your Area Agency on Aging, or organizations dedicated to your loved ones spicific diagnosis, can be the first step in reaching those services. These groups have listings of the groups and businesses that provide for the needs of your loved one. Also don’t be afraid to go back to your loved ones doctor(s) and ask more questions on their care needs.

The last, but no less important step is to remember to care for yourself. Many caregivers focus becomes so much on their loved one that they forget to look out for their own health. This includes emotional health. The Family Caregiver Program at your local Area Agency on Aging can help you in finding resources for yourself as a caregiver. This includes education on different caregiver topics, support groups, respite care.

For more information, please contact Katherine Hines at The Heritage Area Agency on Aging at 319-398-5559 or 800-332-5934.  She can also be reached via email at katherine.hines@kirkwood.edu. 

A Message from Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee

I join President Obama today in recognizing November, 2011 as National Family Caregivers Month.   This is not only an opportunity for us to honor the millions of family members, neighbors and friends who provide care for their loved ones during times of need.  It is an important opportunity for caregivers to recognize themselves.

Each day, caregivers take on the ultimate responsibility of providing care to a family member or friend with a long-term, chronic or disabling condition.  Ironically, many family members do not see themselves as caregivers, nor do they identify themselves as needing assistance in their role.  Instead, they see themselves as loving daughters and sons, spouses and partners, or parents, siblings and friends doing what anyone would do in their shoes.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) has long recognized these sacrifices. Through the Older Americans Act, AoA administers programs and services designed to support older adults and their caregivers.  Included among them is the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), which assists family and informal caregivers by providing them respite from their daily tasks and access to services, counseling, training and other supports.  We remain committed to administering the programs that make a difference in caregivers’ lives, and working with Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which makes that possible.

This year, we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month by honoring the incredible commitment, dedication and sacrifice of family caregivers.  We encourage each and every caregiver out there to do the same.  

To read the President’s proclamation, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/01/presidential-proclamation-national-family-caregivers-month-2011

Iowans to Celebrate November as National Caregiver Month

There are over 285,000 Family Caregivers in Iowa

Iowa Family Caregivers Give Approximately 319 Million Hours of Care Annually

 (Des Moines, IA) Iowa Department on Aging Director Donna Harvey invites Iowans to celebrate Iowa’s caregivers whom serve a vital role in their families’ wellbeing, as well as the health and long term care of the nation.

“Family caregivers deserve our appreciation and support.  They work tirelessly in the provision of needed care and their dedication helps vulnerable older adults and family members experiencing a disability ,” Director Harvey stated.

*It is estimated that the economic impact of family caregiving in the United States is over 450 billion dollars annually.

Harvey continued, “Family caregiving often times is stressful physically, emotionally and financially so it is essential that our family caregivers are supported with a broad menu of long term living and community support services.”

Iowa’s Aging and Disability Resource Center’s partner with area agencies on aging and the disability community to offer a vast array of services and supports to older Iowans, caregivers, adults experiencing a mental illness or experiencing a disability.  Together they serve as an entry point to a network of services with the goal of ensuring that the services available are easy to find and access.  For information on what supports and services are available for caregivers call the Iowa Family Caregiver Program toll-free at: 1-866-468-7887 or go to the website: www.iowafamilycaregiver.org .  To find out how to connect to additional resources for Iowa’s aging and disability community, visit: www.lifelonglinks.org .

For more information on the Iowa Department on Aging (IDA) go to: www.aging.iowa.gov or call:

 1-800-532-3213.

The mission of the Iowa Department on Aging is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of long-term living and community support services that help individuals maintain health and independence in their homes and communities.

*2009 Caregiving in the U.S. report from the National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP.

November 18 event to honor and support caregivers in the region

The Heritage Area Agency on Aging is hosting its 10^th annual caregiver wellness day event, “A Celebration of Caregivers,” to give support and encouragement to informal caregivers of older adults in East Central Iowa. This free event will help informal caregivers focus on their own health and well-being, through a keynote address and breakout sessions.

The event is on Friday, November 18, at 8:30 a.m. at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services Center (KTOS), 3375 Armar Drive, in Marion.

Pat Giorgio, the owner of Evergreen Estates in Cedar Rapids will present her keynote, “Climate Change: How the Political Climate in Washington is Effecting Seniors.” Pat has been a national presenter for a number of organizations and has been a local presenter for the Elderly Consortium, Chamber of Commerce CEO Roundtable, Alzheimer’s Association and various local organizations.

Participants will be able to attend sessions on holiday stresses, alternative therapies and options for levels of care. Free blood pressure checks, and flu shots will be offered and participants will have the opportunity to enjoy free chair massage or reflexology therapies. The nearby Village Ridge Assisted Living will be offering free respite care, giving caregivers a break to enjoy the day.

This event is free, but registration is requested to ensure adequate food and materials are available.  Please register by November 15, 2010 by calling the Heritage Agency office at 319-398-5559 or 1-800-332-5934.

Speacial thanks goes to our sponsors for helping to make the day possible.

Presenting Sponsors: 

Above & Beyond Home Health & Hospice Care

Aging Services, Inc.

Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Iowa

Essence of Life Hospice

Garnett Place Retirement Community

The Heritage Agency ADRC/ADRC of Linn County

Heritage Nursing & Rehab Center/Care Initiatives Hospice

Higley Mansion Care Center

HomeChoice Senior Care

Home Health Partner

Home Instead Senior Care

Hospice of Mercy

The Living Centers East & West

Mercy Medical Center

Recover Health

St. Luke’s Lifeline

The Views Senior Living

The Villages at Marion

Visiting Angels of Cedar Rapids

 Patron Sponsors:

All Ages Care Services, LLC

Hallmark Care Center & Cherry Ridge Assisted Living

Honey Creek Cottage

Rose Haven & Lodgeon Lafayette

Iowa Family Caregiver Program provides information at the 2011 Iowa State Fair

Pictured is the Iowa Family Caregiver Program’s Tent on Grand Ave. Representatives from the 13 Area Agencies on Aging, including The Heritage Agency, were on hand to meet with fair attendees and hand out information about the Iowa Family Caregiver Program.

The Iowa Family Caregiver Program sponsored the Older Iowans Day at the Iowa State Fair for a second year. The day was held on Wednesday, August 17 and events included Older Iowans Idol, The Iowa Energy Spark Plugs Senior Women’s Dance Team, the Older Iowan’s Spelling Bee, and the Dancin’ Grannies. Even Governor Terry Brandstad was in attendance as a judge for Older Iowans Idol. 

For more information on caregiving, please call 1-866-432-4324.