SENIORS

Caregivers and agencies work together for strong bond

Thank You, caregivers! Last evening, Hastings caregivers met with the 11 Hastings agencies that are here to support them and together we imagined how we might create an even stronger community of support. The conversation was informative to caregivers and service providers alike. Special thanks to Oak Ridge Assisted Living for providing a lovely dinner. Stay tuned to future editions of the Caregiver Corner to learn more about what we discussed last evening.

February 07, 2013

Caregivers are invited to sharing session Feb. 6

Caring for an older adult can be difficult and challenging. A group of area agencies and organizations are working together to offer resources and support. As part of that continuing support, a “Let’s Talk about Caregiving” session will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Tilden Community Center, 310 River St.

January 31, 2013

Look to Caregiver Monday for assistance

Caregiver Mondays is an initiative of The Monday Campaigns, a nonprofit organization in association with Johns Hopkins, Columbia and Syracuse universities. Here is tip No. 2 for 2013: Look to caregiving experts for advice on how to handle stress. In Hastings, you can connect with Mary Salm at Regina Medical Center (651 480 4377) or Lynn Nasvik at DARTS, 651- 455-1560.

January 24, 2013

Caregiver Mondays!

Caregiver Mondays is an initiative of The Monday Campaigns, a nonprofit organization in association with Johns Hopkins, Columbia and Syracuse universities. They will offer tips for caregivers to try out every Monday. If a tip works for you, keep it; if not, try the next tip the following week. Let’s try it! Here is tip No.1: Commit and recommit every Monday. Keep your New Year’s resolutions by using the Monday strategy. Research shows that beginning healthy activities on a Monday helps you maintain them. Stay committed to your goals while managing the demands of caregiving by recommitting each week. If you fall off, try again next Monday. Soon healthy habits will be part of your weekly routine.

January 17, 2013

Caregivers Corner

Caregivers, do you look for help online? Here’s a caregiver resource we’ve come across that gives caregivers an opportunity to reflect and share. http://www.caregiving.com/ articles/blogged/community-caregiving-journal/. Like our “Caring Reflections” below, some of the content is heartwarming, some is light hearted and much of it resonates with caregivers we know. If knowing about more online resources would be helpful to you, please contact Colleen at DARTS (651 234 2222) and we’ll compile a list.

January 10, 2013

Area agencies are available to help caregivers

As one year closes and another begins, we want to wish all the caregivers out there the best for the New Year. May the wonderful moments of the year past fill you with peace as you move forward on your caregiver journey.

January 03, 2013

Coffee and Conversation continues with ‘Retirement – Is Every Day a Saturday?’

The Boomers and Better program of Hastings Community Education is continuing its second season of “Coffee and Conversation” by talking about retirement next month and all interested are invited. The Jan. 17 topic is “Retirement: Is Every Day a Saturday?” and will be presented by Hastings resident and former Allina Clinic staff physician Dr. Bill Spinelli.

December 27, 2012

Caregiver session is planned for February

Upcoming caregiver information: Please plan to join us Wednesday, Feb. 6. Last winter, 10 Hastings-serving agencies met with a group of Hastings caregivers to talk about how we, as a community, could better support the caregivers among us. Now, we’d like to invite caregivers to meet with us once again and let us know how we are doing and how we might do more.

December 20, 2012

Caregivers invited to community information session

Upcoming caregiver information: Last winter, 10 Hastings-serving agencies met with a group of Hastings caregivers to talk about how we, as a community, could better support the caregivers among us. Now, we’d like to invite caregivers to meet with us once again and let us know how we are doing; and how we might do more. If you are a caregiver for an older adult, please plan to join us for a light dinner and conversation from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Tilden Community Center.

December 13, 2012

Wrapping up National Family Caregiver Month

National Family Caregivers Month is over, but the critical role of family caregivers is unending. Let’s keep the awareness, issues, and solutions conversation going year-round.

December 06, 2012

How are family caregivers making a difference?

DARTS Chief Operating Officer, Beth Wiggins, writes a weekly, online journal about her experiences as both a social worker specializing in aging and a caregiver for her parents. Here is one of her many "Caring Reflections" journal entries that speaks to the impact of family caregivers:

November 29, 2012

November is National Family Caregiver Month

Let’s Celebrate Caregivers In 1994, the National Family Caregivers Association began promoting the celebration of family caregivers during the week of Thanksgiving. As interest grew in family caregiving issues, National Family Caregivers Week became National Family Caregivers Month.

November 15, 2012

November is National Family Caregiver Month

Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers”. America's family caregivers are family, friends, partners, and neighbors. Each caregiver’s journey is unique, but universally, they could use a word of support. If you know of someone caring for a loved one, please take a moment to acknowledge them for all they do.

November 08, 2012

Oak Ridge quilters do it again with lap robes for nursing home, quilts for bazaar

The hands are busy cutting, tying and lining up the brightly-colored fabric squares. A shopping cart is filled the fabric remnants. The Oak Ridge quilters are working on quilts and lap robes each Monday afternoon in the community room of the complex. This year, they will have completed more than 52 lap robes for the residents of the Farmington Nursing Home. Another 65 quilts will be offered for sale at the upcoming fall bazaar (Nov. 17), with some of the proceeds designated for Hastings Family Service.

October 18, 2012

Caregiver corner

Upcoming information sessions you might find helpful: Oak Ridge Assisted Living and Oak Ridge Manor will be hosting an informational meeting on avoiding scams perpetrated on older adults on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Manor, 1199 Bahls Drive. Dementia and Memory Loss:

October 11, 2012