Caregiver School

A Training Program for the Family Caregiver Go to the episode webpage to download the lesson worksheet

Part 9 Lesson 2 When it is Time to Say Good Bye 05/03/2019

Part 9 Lesson 2 When it is Time to Say Good Bye In the previous lesson of caregiver school you learned about the natural process the physical body goes through as it prepares for death. This lesson I focus on the psychological and emotional needs of the dying and those that care for them. As a hospice social worker my focus was on the emotional well being of the caregiver. It is difficult to let go, to allow your loved one to do what they need to do to die peacefully. But you can help to ease this transition and allow you to say goodbye. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9645878

Part 9 Lesson 1: Letting Go 05/03/2019

Part 9 Lesson 1: Letting Go There comes a time when we must begin the process of letting go of our loved one. When the caregiving journey is coming to an end. Accepting that the journey is ending can be emotionally overwhelming triggering strong feelings of guilt, sadness and fear. But it also can be a time of healing, reconciliation and closure for everyone. As you enter this last stage there are things that you can do or learn that might help ease the stress. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9645668

Part 8 Lesson 1: Caring for the Caregiver 05/03/2019

Part 8 Lesson 1: Caring for the Caregiver In today's busy world we all suffer from times of stress and anxiety. Add the burden of being a family caregiver and you may feel constantly overwhelmed by stress. Understanding what stress is and what causes it are the first steps to managing it. Family caregivers who are unable to manage their stress will find themselves tired, constantly frustrated, irritable or depressed. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9645524

Part 7 Lesson 2: Managing Difficult Behaviors 05/03/2019

Part 7 Lesson 2: Managing Difficult Behaviors Usually family caregivers are dealing with changes in behavior or cognitive functioning long before any diagnosis of dementia is made. Most diseases that cause dementia will follow a predictable path of disease progression and knowing the stages can help family caregivers plan and prepare. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9645329

Part 7 Lesson 1: Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease 05/03/2019

Part 7 Lesson 1: Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease So you are beginning to notice some strange behavior or troubling symptoms. Your loved one is not just forgetting things but does not seem to know or remember. They are not just confused but lost. You know that this is more then just old age more then just a typical "senior moment". So go in search of a diagnosis that explains the symptoms and behaviors. Most are givien a broad diagnosis of dementia but not a lot of help or information on the cause or the treatment. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9645143

Part 6 Lesson 3: Long Distance Caregiving 05/03/2019

Part 6 Lesson 3: Long Distance Caregiving Long distance caregiving can be quite stressful responsibility. Managing affairs from a far and worrying about the "what if's" can be overwhelming. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9645008

Part 6 Lesson 2: When Professional Help is Needed 05/03/2019

Part 6 Lesson 2: When Professional Help is Needed So what do you do when your loved one needs more care then you have time or skill to provide? /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9644822

Part 6 Lesson 1: Staying at Home 05/03/2019

Part 6 Lesson 1: Staying at Home Helping your loved one manage their day to day activities is different for every caregiver. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9644567

Part 5 Lesson 3: Do I Need a Lawyer? 05/03/2019

Part 5 Lesson 3: Do I Need a Lawyer? Do I need a Lawyer is a question everyone asks when talking about advanced directives. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9643637

Part 5 Lesson 2: Getting Their Affairs in Order 04/22/2019

Part 5 Lesson 2: Getting Their Affairs in Order Being a family caregiver involves juggling a lot of different roles and taking on many new responsibilities. Managing your loved one's affairs is three unique areas of responsibility: medical agent, financial power of attorney and Executor of the estate. Each of these roles will require a written document or advanced directive to authorize you to manage these responsibilities. In this lesson we'll go over the role of the medical and financial power of attorney /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9485480

Part 5 Lesson 1: Understanding Advanced Directives 04/22/2019

Part 5 Lesson 1: Understanding Advanced Directives It’s time to get your affairs in order” the words we dread hearing. It signals that the end is near and that there is nothing more that can be done. But the reality is that we need to have put our “affairs in order” long before tragedy strikes. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9485426

Part 4 Lesson 3: Understanding Medical Insurance 04/22/2019

Part 4 Lesson 3: Understanding Medical Insurance If you have been helping your loved one through the medical maze then you probably already have some understanding of the world of medical insurance. Terms like Co Pays deductibles, out of pocket, out of network, HIPPA, informed consent and will all become a second language to you the longer you are a caregiver. The focus of this lesson is using medical insurance as a means to pay for the cost of medical services provided. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9485330

Part 4 Lesson 2: Managing Medications 04/22/2019

Part 4 Lesson 2: Managing Medications When our loved one starts to get a bit confused managing their medications is sometimes one of the first areas out loved one could use some help. But stepping into this new responsibility can be quite a challenge, a source of frustration as well as worry. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9485279

Part 4 Lesson 1: Diagnosis & Prognosis 04/22/2019

Part 4 Lesson 1: Diagnosis & Prognosis Many caregiving journeys begin with a diagnosis of some kind. You or your loved one begins to notice changes or an increase of symptoms that are a cause of concern. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9485165

Part 3 Lesson 4: Creating a Plan of Care 04/22/2019

Part 3 Lesson 4: Creating a Plan of Care A plan of care is just what the title implies a plan of how and who will provide the needed care to an individual. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9484925

Part 3 Lesson 3: Effective Communication 04/22/2019

Part 3 Lesson 3: Effective Communication Since this part of caregiver school is about holding a family meeting and creating an effective care plan, I would be remiss to not discuss some of the pitfalls of poor communication. Many families have the best intentions in communicating but never learned how to do so effectively. But it is a skill that can be learned. Now this is a huge topic But I will focus to family caregiving and the five roadblocks that you will probably encounter from your loved one. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9484703

Part 3 Lesson 2: When Conversations Go Wrong 04/22/2019

Part 3 Lesson 2: When Conversations Go Wrong Previously we discussed the importance of having a family meeting or at least conversations. Increasing disability or incapacitation can make this complicated. When dealing with human beings and human emotions you can expect to have some conflict. In this lesson I'll teach you how to anticipate and avoid some of the more common reasons for conflict. You'll learn how to have a conversation not a confrontation. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9484433

Part 3 Lesson 1: The Family Meeting 04/22/2019

Part 3 Lesson 1: The Family Meeting Many experts who work with caregivers will at this stage strongly advice you to hold a family meeting. This is where you with your loved one and all of the family involved in their care get together and discuss their needs, express concerns and formulate a plan. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9484127

Part 2 Lesson 4: The Needs Assessment 04/22/2019

Part 2 Lesson 4: The Needs Assessment Family caregivers struggle with knowing when to step in and help and when to leave well enough alone. Maybe your 80-year-old mother is fine living alone right now with just some occasional assistance. But what additional help could she use now and what do you anticipate her needing in the future? /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9483881

Part 2 Lesson 3: When Driving Becomes a Problem 04/22/2019

Part 2 Lesson 3: When Driving Becomes a Problem As you think about limiting or eliminating your loved one’s ability to drive remember that you are not just taking away keys and assuring their personal safety you are also limiting their autonomy and independence as well as yours. Who will have to start driving them when they stop? Making this decision for someone else has the potential to create a significant amount of conflict and should be done so cautiously and only as a last resort. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9483749

Part 2 Lesson 2: When there is cause for concern 04/22/2019

Part 2 Lesson 2: When there is cause for concern In this lesson we continue our discussion of normal aging and focusing on how it affects our brain function and its emotional toll. I will also cover how to tell when some changes might be a sign of something more serious. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9483620

Part 2 Lesson 1: Understanding Normal Aging 04/22/2019

Part 2 Lesson 1: Understanding Normal Aging In Part 2 of Caregiver School you will learn how to assess your loved ones abilities and disabilities so that you will have a clearer understanding of when and how you might step in and help. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9483443

Part 1 Lesson 3: The Devastating Diagnosis 04/22/2019

Part 1 Lesson 3: The Devastating Diagnosis For some the beginning of their journey as a family caregiver is obvious. A sudden heart attack, stroke, accident or injury requires a family member to step up and take charge. So what do you do if you are suddenly thrust into the role of family caregiver? Priorities change, planning becomes a more urgent need and the learning curve is steeper and more critical. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9483191

Part 1 Lesson 2: The Six Essential Steps 04/22/2019

Part 1 Lesson 2: The Six Essential Steps Many families find themselves well into the role of caregiver before they realize what has happened. Whether suddenly at a hospital bedside or slowly over time, families quickly realize just how difficult caring for someone can be at times. They search for information and answers to help make better choices and feel more in control. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9483017

Part 1 Lesson 1: The Four Journeys 04/19/2019

Part 1 Lesson 1: The Four Journeys Not all family caregivers are the same nor are they struggling with the same issues at the same time. Each of you is on a unique journey with your particular loved one and their individual needs and concerns. Some of you are more active in your loved one's care, while others have a much smaller role. Your unique circumstances can make a big difference in the amount of time or skill you will need to provide the best care. It is important to understand the different path that your caregiving journey might take so you can be prepared for the challenges ahead. Depending on the reason for the caregiving journey some of you might need to do more work and preparation upfront while other have more time to plan and prepare. This audio series is for information and educational purposes only. I do not provide any legal, medical or financial advice. My goal is to provide you with general information, so that you can seek out professional assistance from the appropriate subject matter expert. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9461231

Caregiver School Introduction 04/19/2019

Caregiver School Introduction Are you one of the 40 million? ~ That is the estimated number of unpaid family caregivers in the United States today. And as our population ages and life spans are longer more of us will be finding ourselves caring either for an elderly parent or an aging spouse at some time. Family caregivers are usually unpaid and certainly not trained professionals. Most new family caregivers greatly underestimate the enormity of the task ahead. Many feel like they are “flying by the seat of their pants” having to make quick decisions with long-term consequences. Caregiver School is a training program designed to provide the needed information and education to help you be a more effective and less stress family caregiver. This nine-part program covers a variety of topics that will help you provide the best care for your loved one and yourself. Download and print the Course Outline to see that I will cover a lot of really basic yet important information that you will need to help you be a more effective and hopefully a little less stressed family caregiver. This audio series is for information and educational purposes only. I do not provide any legal, medical or financial advice. My goal is to provide you with general information, so that you can seek out professional assistance from the appropriate subject matter expert. /episode/index/show/patthorne/id/9461063

Caregiver School

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