Employee Newsletter
Volume 1 / Issue 2 Carson City
IDENTIFYING CAREGIVER STRESS
Upcoming In-service / Training
Mark your Calendar
Upcoming In-Services:
April 27th
2:30pm Only
Alzheimer's Association Presentation
Regular Monthly In-Service Dates:
May 24th - 10 or 3
June 29th - 10 or 3
RSVP: You MUST contact the office to confirm which session you will be attending.
Office: 775-883-4455
REMINDER:
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOWL EVEN IF YOU AREN'T NORMALLY SCHEDULED FOR SHIFTS ONT HE DATES. tHIS WILL HELP[ US KEEP OUR ON-CALL STAFF INFORMED TOO.
10 symptoms of caregiver stress
1. Denial about the disease and its effect on the person who has been diagnosed.
- I know Mom is going to get better.
2. Anger at the person with Alzheimer’s or frustration that he or she can’t do the things they used to be able to do.
- He knows how to get dressed — he’s just being stubborn.
3. Social withdrawal from friends and activities that used to make you feel good.
- I don’t care about visiting with the neighbors anymore.
4. Anxiety about the future and facing another day.
- What happens when he needs more care than I can provide?
5. Depression that breaks your spirit and affects your ability to cope.
- I just don't care anymore.
6. Exhaustion that makes it nearly impossible to complete
necessary daily tasks.
- I'm too tired for this.
7. Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns.
- What if she wanders out of the house or falls and hurts herself?
8. Irritability that leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and actions.
- Leave me alone!
9. Lack of concentration that makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks. I was so busy,
- I forgot my appointment.
10. Health problems that begin to take a mental and physical toll.
- I can't remember the last time I felt good.
Ways to Combat Stress and Burnout
Maintain your personal relationships. Don’t let your friendships get lost in the shuffle of caregiving. These relationships will help sustain you and keep you positive. If it’s difficult to leave the house, invite friends over to visit with you over coffee, tea, or dinner.
Prioritize activities that bring you enjoyment. Make regular time for things that bring you happiness, whether it’s reading, working in the garden, tinkering in your workshop, knitting, playing with the dogs, or watching the game.
Find ways to pamper yourself. Small luxuries can go a long way in relieving stress and boosting your spirits. Light candles and take a long bath. Ask your hubby for a back rub. Get a manicure. Buy fresh flowers for the house. Or whatever makes you feel special.
Make yourself laugh. Laughter is an excellent antidote to stress—and a little goes a long way. Read a funny book, watch a comedy, or call a friend who makes you laugh. And whenever you can, try to find the humor in everyday situations. Get out of the house. Seek out friends, family, and respite care providers to step in with
caregiving so you can have some time away from
the home.
7 Activity Ideas for Seniors and Caregivers
Being homebound is a challenge that many of the elderly face. The loss of mobility, independence, and social activity often leads to feelings of loneliness and boredom, which can give way to depression. Don’t let the world slip away from your bedridden or
homebound friend.
What’s out the Window?
For the bedridden, finding joy in life can be quite a challenge. A few small projects can make all of the difference and they all have to do with the view. Your bedridden friend should be in a room with a window. Orient the bed so that your friend can see out of it clearly. Take a moment to check out the view, and then ask the following questions:
• Can people be seen walking by?
• Are there trees, shrubs, or flowers within view?
• Has the landscaping been planned to attract wildlife?
Whether the window faces the front or the back, the activities of people passing by, playing, or working are wonderfully important to a person who can no longer move about freely.
Window boxes, planters, and fast-growing vines all add natural richness to the view, with the added attraction of being a simple, quick, and affordable way to beautify it.
Squirrels, chipmunks, and birds keep all of us entertained, but the bedridden or homebound find their antics especially enjoyable. A bird feeder hanging from an eave or pole will attract many visitors and cheer up your friend or loved one.
Old Meets New
An old favorite, the jigsaw puzzle, often becomes difficult when vision and arthritic fingers combine to make manipulating tiny pieces impossible. Many elderly jigsaw puzzle fans re-discover the joys of puzzle assembly by purchasing 50 to 100 piece puzzles usually sold to young children.
Coloring is fun for seniors stuck in bed. There are many detailed coloring books that range in subject matter from great art to marine mammals, making them perfect for adults. Large size crayons are easy to hold.
By adopting a few of these tips, caregivers can brighten up the world for those they care for.
Volume 1 / Issue 1 Carson City
Volume 1 / Issue 1 Carson City
Start the Year off Right!
Upcoming In-service / Training
Mark your Calendar
Upcoming In-Services will be at 10:00 am or 3:00 pm on the following dates:
January 19
February 23
March 30
Contact the office to confirm which session you will be attending.
775-883-4455
Left Top: (clockwise) Lynn T., Sherry C., Caleb, Jaquelina, and Lisa.
Left Bottom: (clockwise) Marvin, Roxy, Jaquelina, Lynn T., Esperanza, and Bongi (friend of Marvin).
Care for the Caregiver in you
Think of your body like a car. With the right fuel and proper maintenance, it will run reliably and well. Neglect its upkeep and it will start to give you trouble. Below are some tips from
www.helpguide.org.
Keep on top of your doctor visits. It’s easy to forget about your own health when you’re busy caring for others. Don’t skip check-ups or medical appointments. You need to be healthy in order to take good care of others.
Exercise. When you’re stressed and tired, the last thing you feel like doing is exercising. But you’ll feel better afterwards.
Exercise is a powerful stress reliever and mood enhancer. Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes on most days. When you exercise regularly, you’ll also find it boosts your energy level and helps you fight fatigue.
Meditate. A daily relaxation or meditation practice can help you relieve stress and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness meditation. Even a few minutes in the middle of an over-whelming day can help you feel more centered.
Eat well. Nourish your body with fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean protein, and healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil. Unlike sugar and caffeine—which provide a quick pick-me-up and an even quicker crash—these foods will fuel you with steady energy.
Don’t skimp on sleep.Cutting back on time in bed is counter productive — at least if your goal is to get more done.
Most people need more sleep than they think they do (8 hours is the norm). When you get less, your mood, energy, productivity, and ability to handle stress will suffer.
Holiday Open House
How great it was to see everyone who could attend our Interim Healthcare of Carson City Holiday Open House on December 22. Most of our employees work in the field and don’t often have a chance to mix-n-mingle nor does the office staff get to see everyone all the time. Fun was had by all!
Caregiver Luncheon 2016
Every November the
Nevada Caregivers Coalition recognizes and honors Caregivers at an Annual Caregiver Recognition Luncheon. This year the luncheon was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at the Atlantis Casino and Hotel, Reno. Every year The Coalition looks for nominations in specific categories. Some examples of these are; Family Caregiver, In-Home Paid Caregiver, In-Facility Caregiver, Dual Life Caregiver (Employee and Primary Caregiver), and Caregiver for a Veteran.
Our office nominated a caregiver in each category and they were invited to attend the luncheon. Every year we consider our caregivers, who are all "unsung heroes", and contemplate nominating ones who exemplify each category. It is a challenge since there is often more than one person who excels in each category. It was a great time all around and provided a wonderful opportunity to recognize only a small number of caring individuals in our community.
Interim Healthcare of Carson City along with The Nevada Caregivers Coalition want as many as possible to receive the recognition they deserve at the Luncheons. We look forward to the coming year!
FINAL THOUGHT
Thank you for all that you do. Without the wonderfully giving and outstanding caregivers on our team we would not be successful. A large part of gaining new clients is through word-of-mouth so every one of you contributes to reputation. Every little thing and every small act of kindness is noticed not just by the families of our clients but by those who observe us or hear about us through them. So, thank you, for being who you are and caring for those who need it.
At Interim HealthCare, we know what to look for when it comes to whether a loved one can remain safe and independent in their own home. This simple and free quiz can help guide you when making that important decision.
Take The Quiz Now