Caring for the
Caregiver
Support Programs are Critical as Baby Boomers Age November is
National Caregiver Awareness Month
(November 16, 2004) - National
statistics indicate that older caregivers end up in institutional care
settings more often than those for whom they provide care. Caregivers tend
to give so much attention to a chronically ill family member that they end
up neglecting their own physical and psychological health.
Lutheran Social Service is
working to change that. Statewide LSS operates the Caregiver Support and
Respite Program in 31 counties. Through the program, trained volunteers
give a break to family caregivers by being present in the home and
allowing the caregiver to get out for errands or socialize with friends.
George and Josephine Oberg, of
Duluth, signed up for the program several months ago. Josephine uses a
walker and has trouble with her eyesight. Sue McNeill, caregiver respite
volunteer, comes every Wednesday morning to offer companionship, help with
various tasks, and allow George to attend his weekly Kiwanis meeting and
visit the grocery store.
"We are so thankful for Sue,"
said George. "I am able to get out of the house to tend to errands or
meetings. It's so nice to know that your wife is in good hands and that
you don't have to worry about her."
"Sue reads to me, and helps me
write letters and compose poems," added Josephine, a 78-year-old retired
teacher. "I really do need a little help. Sue is a godsend."
Family and informal caregivers
provide 80% of all long-term care support and helping to keep them healthy
is critical to Minnesota's long-term care system, explained Peg Kirsch
Lee, program manager for Lutheran Social Service.
"Caregiving is a labor of
love, but it can be exhausting at times," said Kirsch Lee. "Our program is
really designed for the caregiver. Everyone needs a break now and then.
But oftentimes, family caregivers don't recognize themselves as a
caregiver, and are not seeking services that are available to make their
job easier."
Through Lutheran Social
Service's Caregiver Respite Program:
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LSS screens and trains respite
workers who go into the homes of caregivers and provide non-medical care
to chronically ill family members so the primary caregiver can have relief
from their pressing responsibilities.
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LSS also facilitates caregiver
discussion groups that meet monthly. In these groups, caregivers learn
from one another, gain strength from each other, and realize that they are
not alone in their enormous task of providing continuous care. Speakers
are occasionally invited to make a presentation to the group.
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LSS also conducts caregiver
workshops and community presentations to provide information about
caregiver issues, develop partnerships to benefit caregivers, and provide
training for those who are interested in providing care to a chronically
ill person.
If you're helping an older
person and are in need of support or anticipate that you might be in the
future, Lutheran Social Service can help. Please call 1.800.488.4146 or
visit www.lssmn.org/respite/
More volunteers are also needed.
Lutheran Social Service of
Minnesota (LSS) offers a wide variety of human support services relating
to the basics of life-food, shelter, safety, physical and emotional
well-being. The non-profit organization, headquartered in St. Paul, serves
over 100,000 Minnesotans yearly with operations in 300 Minnesota
communities, and employs over 2,300 people. LSS serves all people
regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, disability or age. Comprehensive information about statewide
services can be found through the agency's web site at
www.lssmn.org
