Caregiver Help Workshop

This week, I attended the Education for Public Health Grant event held at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. The workshop was presented by Elaine K. Sanchez, author, speaker and co-founder of CaregiverHelp.com 

The program details caught my eye:

• Coping with Caregiver Anger and Guilt
• Understanding Caregiver Depression and Grief
• Managing Dementia-Related Challenging Behaviors
• Developing a Plan for Self Care

The presentation was directed at caregivers, nursing students and care professionals. As I watched the young students in the audience, I was glad to see that emerging professionals are being made aware of the unique challenges that Alzheimer's and dementia patients face, as well as the obstacles caregivers have to overcome.

I was reminded to develop a better plan for self care and comforted knowing that others have faced many of the same difficulties we are facing as caregivers.

Disease Progression

Earlier this month, we were shocked and saddened to realize that my mother has begun having hallucinations.

Seeing the stages of her disease progression is disheartening. We are realizing that we are reaching the limits of our ability to care for her in her home. We have begun the daunting task of exploring options for the next phase of her care.