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May is Hispanic Alzheimer's Awaress Month

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More for Family Caregivers

Who are the family caregivers ?

Help is there and just for ask

Not enough money ?

Free Conference

for family caregivers

Learn tips about hands-on care and transfer techniques.Free continental breakfast and lunch plus information and resources.

Date:  Tuesday, June 26 2007

Time:    8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Place:   

Silverado Senior Living 335 Saxony Road, Encinitas CA 92024

Reservations required. for reservations call Southern Caregiver Resource Center

Call 1-800-827-1008

HOW TOBE AN EFFECTIVE

CAREGIVER

Information and Support for Caregivers

Caregiving is the most important and challenging job an individual will ever have. Below are some steps that individuals can take to be effective caregivers.

Work and communicate effectively with the patient. Caregivers care for patients who must deal with the physical effects of the disease and medicine, as well as the psychological and social challenges of living with cancer. Support for the cancer patient includes efforts to:

• Create a climate that encourages and supports sharing feelings.
• Understand that men and women often communicate in different ways and make allowance for those differences.
• Help the patient to deal with anxiety and depression.
• Let the patient make as many of his/her own decisions as possible.
Support the patient’s spiritual concerns. Spiritual concerns raise fundamental questions about life.
Why are we here? Why me? What is a good life? What happens after death? A caregiver can support the patient in thinking about his/her own answers to these questions.

Work with health professionals. Here are some practical suggestions to keep in mind when a caregiver needs information and help from health professionals:
• Be clear about what is wanted and get to the point as soon as possible.
• Have all the information that health professionals may need ready when a call is made.
• Write down the answers.
• Be firm and straightforward about getting the information and the help that is needed.

Work with family and friends. Caregivers should not try to do everything themselves. They should ask for help. Others may want to help but need to be told how. It is important to be clear with these helpers about what they could do to be helpful, as well as the limits of what is expected of them. Friends and family can go grocery shopping, pick up children at school, etc.

Take care of your own needs and feelings. Caregivers need to be at their best if they are to provide the best care. Caregivers must pay attention to their own needs as well as those of the person they are helping if they are to be effective. Caregivers should set limits on what can be reasonably expected of them. They should take time off to care for themselves and ask for help before stress builds.

• Try not to make important decisions while upset.
• Talk over important problems with others.
• Get away from the situation for a while.
• Learn as much as possible about what is happening and what may happen in the future.
• Do not expect perfection.
• Do not dwell on mistakes.

For information on these programs in your area, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800- ACS-2345 or visit their Web site at www.cancer.org

....If you’re assisting a relative or friend over 60 or, you’re over 60

yourself and are the primary caregiver for a relative under 18.

Either way,

you don’t have to go it alone.

The AIS Family Caregiver Support Program is at your side, and on your side. We can help you find the resources you need for training, assistance, support, assessment, and legal services.

Call 1-800-510-2020

Salud+HealthInfo is for information and educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned abut your health or that of a child, please consult your family's physician or health provider immediately and do not try to diagnose yourself.

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