To all the family members out there who have made the decision to become the primary caregiver for a family member or friend, thank you for all you do and please remember to take care of yourselves, as well.
There are resources available to help you and your loved ones. Browse the resources below for some that may be of use to you.
Care for Caregivers Event Featuring Cathy Wurzer & Dr. Jessica Zitter | Oct. 13, 2021
pioneerpbs
Care for Caregivers Event Featuring Cathy Wurzer & Dr. Jessica Zitter | Oct. 13, 2021
If you’re not a caregiver now, odds are good you will be soon. New research from AARP shows more than one in five adults — a total of 53 million Americans — are now unpaid family caregivers. Pioneer PBS and the Southwest Initiative Foundation along with several other partner organizations teamed up to bring awareness to the crucial role caregivers play in the online screening and discussion event held Wednesday, October 13 at 1 p.m. Event participants watched the 25-minute film, Caregiver: A Love Story, which highlights an essential, yet largely unseen workforce — the family caregiver. The screening was followed by a discussion between MPR News and PBS host and founder of the nonprofit End in Mind, Cathy Wurzer, and physician and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dr. Jessica Zitter of Do No Harm Media. The event was free and open to the public through YouTube.
“Thanks to support from SWIF, Pioneer PBS can convene this event in partnership with several organizations in our viewing area who are providing services and resources to the family caregivers in our communities,” said Shari Lamke, Pioneer PBS president and general manager. “Our goal is to focus public awareness on the ‘invisible patient’ — those who are caring for loved ones with memory loss and chronic or terminal illness — and to inspire our region to do all we can to support them,” Lamke continued. “The most important thing we can do is to help our caregivers know that they are not alone, that there are resources to help them and that they are valued,” Lamke added.
The October 13 screening event was held in front of a limited live audience at the Pioneer PBS studios. Most participants joined the event online and sent in questions to Wurzer and Zitter via chat. Co-sponsoring organizations included the Granite Falls Living at Home Block Nurse Program, the Remember Project, the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging and Prairie Five Community Action Council. Staff and volunteers from these organizations were part of the audience as well as those providing care to family members. “We hope this event can serve to connect people across the region,” said Mark Roisen of the GFLAH Block Nurse Program. “Every community needs to raise awareness and bring communications and networking resources to this issue,'' he added.
Support from Southwest Initiative Foundation comes from its Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Endowment Fund, which maximizes the social and economic contributions of elders throughout southwest Minnesota by keeping them well and engaged in community life. “Our vision is for all people in our region to thrive, at all ages and stages of life,” said Nancy Fasching, SWIF’s Vice President of Community Impact. “We know through research, community information and personal experience how important caregivers are and appreciate Pioneer PBS bringing this program to our communities.”
#CaregiverALoveStory #CathyWurzer #Caregivers #PioneerPBS #DrJessicaZitter
WEBSITE RESOURCES:
| The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA)MNRAA provides advocacy, information, resources and assistance so that older adults can maintain the lifestyle of their choice.
- Senior Linkage Line: 1.800.333.2433
- MNRAAA Website: mnraaa.org
- Click here to download the Regional Caregiver Consultant Directory PDF.
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| End In MindHere’s a curated set of resources for you to use within your communities and your household. Please use these tools freely to start thinking about what it means for you to live with the End in Mind. If you are interested in holding your own book club, TED Talk discussion, or other event and would like support, please contact info@endinmindproject.org.
- Resource Tools to Help You Live More & Fear Less: https://www.endinmindproject.org/resources/
- Click here to get a Caregiver Care Package for yourself or send it to your favorite caregiver.The package includes: A small notebook to keep track of important information; reference materials for caregivers, including a checklist and a bookmark; and A bracelet that says “caregiver."
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| Jessica Zitter & Do No Harm MediaWe hope that Rick and Bambi’s story inspired you to either get, or give, help. Improving the lives of family caregivers will “take a village” and everyone has a role to play.
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| Prairie Five Community Action6W Regional Transportation, Aging Adult Services, Child Care Aware, Early Learning Scholarships, Energy Assistance, Emergency Services, Food Programs, Head Start/Early Start, Home Repairs, MNSure & Medicare Assistance, Outreach Offices, P5 Meals, Tax Clinics & Rent Rebates, Transportation and Weatherization.
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| The Remember ProjectThe Remember Project uses the arts to help communities become more dementia friendly.
- Resource Tools from The Reminder Project: https://rememberproject.org/resources/
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| Granite Falls Living At Home Block Nurse ProgramLAHBNP programs provide a safe and educational social environment to interact and grow.
- Programs from Granite Falls LAHBNP: https://www.lahgranitefalls.org/programs
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| Aging Well in Rural Minnesota | Pioneer PBSAge well in rural Minnesota with age-friendly opportunities. Compass has been working on stories about programs designed to help people age with dignity in southwest Minnesota. Funding for this series is provided by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging.
- Watch playlist of Compass produced videos featuring service providers and caregivers: https://www.pioneer.org/compass/aging-well/
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| Vine Faith In Action Caregiver SupportCaring for an elderly family member can be a rewarding experience. It can also become physically and emotionally exhausting. Caregivers need to know that by taking care of themselves, they will be able to provide better and longer care for their loved one at home. VINE staff facilitates regular caregiver support groups, offers caregiver coaching, provides other caregiver resources, and is willing to advise adult children who are involved in the care of their aging parents.
- Caregiver Support Services: https://vinevolunteers.com/services/caregiver-support/
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| AARPAlzheimer’s Association AARP Community Resource Finder is a database of dementia and aging-related resources powered by Carelike®. The online tool makes it easy for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, family caregivers and those involved in making care-related decisions to find local programs and services.
- Local Resources and Solutions: https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/Alz/AdditionalResources
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| RetireGuideYour Guide to a Better Retirement. At RetireGuide, we're dedicated to providing the most up-to-date and accurate information about financial decisions that affect your retirement.
- Home Page: https://www.retireguide.com/- Benefits & Discounts for Seniors: https://www.retireguide.com/guides/senior-benefits-discounts/- Medicare: https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/
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| Asbestos.comOlder adults are learning more about the cancers and other health risks that might affect them. Age is the most significant risk factor for developing cancer. People 65 and older comprise 60% of all cancer patients. To raise awareness, we recently published a Seniors Guide to Cancer that covers topics like wellness tips, the importance of seeing a doctor, and preventive measures.The Mesothelioma CenterLearn about a free web resource that provides information and support to people affected by asbestos exposure and mesothelioma cancer.Mesothelioma cancer is a disease brought on by asbestos exposure. Due to its long latency period, about 20-50 years, 80% of those diagnosed with the disease are seniors. Mesothelioma patients will often require full time care at some point, which can put a strain on caregivers. We've created a great support guide and a mesothelioma symptoms guide that you could check it below:
- Home Page: https://www.asbestos.com/- Seniors Guide to Cancer: https://www.asbestos.com/cancer/senior-cancer-guide/- Guide for mesothelioma: https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/- Mesothelioma Support: https://www.asbestos.com/support/- Mesothelioma Symptoms: https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms/
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| SingleCareIt’s not uncommon for seniors to be placed on an extensive medication regimen. We created this guide to educate people on how to safely simplify this often complicated process. The guide offers practical advice on:
- Exactly what Medicare covers- The details of each different Medicare plan- Medicare enrollment options and periods- The differences between Medicare and Medicaid- Additional resources for seniors
- Home Page: https://www.singlecare.com/- Seniors' Guide to Medicare resource: https://www.singlecare.com/blog/seniors-guide-to-medicare/
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| AnnuityAnnuities can help seniors build tax-deferred savings to handle retirement costs like healthcare and living expenses. But for those who find themselves caring for an aging loved one, the concept can be a bit intimidating. Our site has extensive information on the different types of annuities, tax implications, and why seniors are often targeted to buy annuities. Here are a couple resources below that I think would be very useful for the visitors of your site:
- Seniors & Annuities: https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/seniors/- Health Care Costs in Retirement: https://www.annuity.org/retirement/health-care-costs/
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| MesotheliomaAt Mesothelioma.net we are honored to provide elderly patients with comprehensive information covering everything up to specialized care, financial aid, assisted living, and much more.
- Mesothelioma Cancer Support: https://mesothelioma.net/
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