ElderLife Matters For Caregivers and EmployersWritten by Linda LaPointe
PRESS RELEASE For free distribution in any medium. Word count 727 at 60 characters per line Contact: Linda LaPointe, sospueblo@yahoo.comWork & eldercare is a difficult marriage for half of all employees who are caring for an aging loved one. You may know facts: The cost of absenteeism, shortened or interrupted work days is $29 billion a year. The cost of replacing employees who leave due to eldercare responsibilities is $4.93 billion a year. Many spend up to 8 hours per week on phone with eldercare issues, come in late & take more time off. One half of employees care for dependent adults. Three fourths of elder caregivers are in workforce. One third of caregivers acknowledge their eldercare responsibilities interfere with work. These issues not only concern employer, they also greatly concern employee who wants to do a good job. Yet most caregivers don’t know what kind of help or information to ask for and often tell Linda LaPointe, CaregiverCoach, “It’s difficult to concentrate on a project when I feel like you should make a call or stop in to check on Mom & Dad.” “Education is key,” LaPointe says, “so caregivers have some idea what to expect and how to help.” Having seen both sides of aging situation as a former administrator and now as a Geriatric Care Manager, Linda LaPointe remembers day she knew what she would do to help families in crisis. She tells us about it: The 60ish man looked to be assisting his father from passenger side of car, when he suddenly and shockingly, in one swift movement, slammed car door, leapt to sidewalk and yelled, “You old f------ son of a b------!”, leaving older man in car. Watching this from next car, it was final straw. I was determined to develop a simulation so that adult children of aging parents could get some idea what it must be like to grow old and how they can assist their loved ones, as so often they don’t know what to do. The hurt, fear, anger, defeat, exhaustion; I’d seen it all, over and over again. I could not remember how many times I had told caregivers, “S/he isn’t doing that on purpose just to upset you.” Some, relieved, believed me. Others, resentful, would never believe me. In My Shoes: Growing Old is now a boardgame. “People can attend days of lecture and seminars and not be as affected as when they spend one hour moving around gameboard, living ‘in my shoes’, as one who is aging.” declares Linda LaPointe, author of simulation. She has watched players “come away with more understanding, patience and empathy after they have ‘experienced’ being an elder facing many challenges, joys and losses.” It is good for employee assistance professionals, administrators and direct supervisors as well as workers who are caregivers.
| | A Frightfully Good TimeWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
It's almost Halloween - days are slipping past, but they too can be a lot of fun - all leading up to a great family/friend time for all. This year, try placing your scarecrew at a table (an old one from your garage or shed) or make one from two saw horses and a flat board. Instead of 'ol straw hat, place a chef's hat on his/her head and make sure he/she has an apron. Then load on bountiful Fall harvest (pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, apples, etc.). Heads will turn to check out new chef in town. *** Instead of just setting out a big bowl of goodies for family and friends to enjoy while watching TV, playing games, or sitting by that bonfire - Place a handful of your choice of treats in an ice cream cone, or waffle cone. You can even make colorful cones from heavy paper, rolled in a cone shape, and taped. Place in your scariest bowl and let fun begin. *** After a hard day of helping to decorate great outdoors - let your children have fun in tub - Spray shaving cream into plastic containers and add just a quick drop of food coloring in each one in colros of Halloween - yellow, orange, monster green, etc.
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