A NEW PLATFORM FOR VIRGINIA FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Introduction and Invitation

by Dr. E. Ayn Welleford, Co-Chair, Education Core, VACAPI

With family caregiving accounting for 80% of all long-term care and over 740,402 caregivers in Virginia providing 793 billion hours of care, we are facing a major challenge that will only expand with the projected growth of the aging population.  Virginia Department for the Aging's Commissioner, Julie Christopher, indicated during a meeting of December 2006, that one of the most important issues in resolving this challenge is to bring together every organization that has an interest in the issue and work together, as a united front.

With this as a preamble, we implement Commissioner Julie Christopher's direction by initiating a new dynamic community for Virginia caregivers, dedicated to learning, sharing and formulating concrete solutions to the wide scale of problems relating to caregiving.  Developed as a set of topic-driven forums and anchored in monthly newsletters and live discussions, this new platform will serve to report on the latest scientific findings, to promote learning and debate, to speed the dissemination of new ideas and create an effective dialogue across disciplines, industries, organizations and geographic areas.

One of the distinctive features of this free-for-all community would be its approach to discussing specific topics, which, effectively, would parallel the caregiver's perspective with the one of the health professional, support service professional, etc., as well as your very own.  By complementing these angles on the same topic with live discussions led by top researchers and clinicians in the field, we realize a multi-dimensional library of interrelated debates, solutions and perspectives. 

The Education Core of VACAPI - in charge with editing this virtual community - is comprised of academic experts, professionals in the field of support services as well as caregivers who work together to ensure a high-quality of information and services.  Should you wish to become involved with this group, we want to hear from you!  Just drop us a quick line at virtualcenter@alzpossible.org.  

We invite all of you out there to join our forums, subscribe to our monthly newsletter and learn with us about care strategies, community resources, family issues as well as local and regional resources. 

This online community does not endorse any specific product or scientific approach.

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HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN OR YOUR LOVED ONE'S PHYSICIAN?

Our first issue, May 2007, deals with how to communicate with your physician or your loved one's physician so that you feel you are being heard and are getting the results you know are needed.  Many of our caregivers take a list, bring along an advocate, or in drastic times find another physician. What approaches have worked for you?

Read this issue, play the webinar and submit your comments in our forum.

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FALLING AND THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Our second issue, June 2007, deals with the connection between falls and Alzheimer's disease.  The perspectives of a caregiver, gerontologist, chiropractor and educator are combined in an issue that accompany the live discussion held the 24th of July. 

Read this issue, play the webinar and submit your comments in our forum.

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SKIN BREAKDOWN AND THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

The issue of Alzheimer's and skin care - especially during the advanced stages of the disease - is one of the most difficult challenges to overcome in the process of caregiving.  Skin is our lifelong protection from heat and cold, sun, undue exposure to germs or harsh chemicals, and injuries of all kinds.  It’s not only a cosmetic matter but a necessity to pay attention to how our skin is faring over time.  Read more about this issue and review the webinar of the 28th of September, noon EST.

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INCONTINENCE - CHALLENGES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

The inability to control bladder or bowel function may occur in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease and can be connected to a number of factors including not being able to get to the bathroom quickly, not knowing or recognizing where the bathroom is located, having difficulty getting clothing off quickly enough or being busy and forgetting to go. Incontinence can also be caused by other physical illnesses and is sometimes treatable.  Read below to to learn more about the topic, submit your comments in our forum and join us for another exciting live discussion.

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STRATEGIES TO AVOID MEDICATION-RELATED PROBLEMS

The use of medications in managing dementia along with its associated behaviors remains a critical aspect of disease management.  A variety of factors influence the responsibility for the administration of the medications such as the actual number of medications, side effects, cost, drug interactions, etc.  Read Dr. Patricia Slattum's article on the topic, submit your comments in our forum and review the recording of the exciting live discussion.

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Partnering with Your Doctor: A Workshop for Persons with Memory Problems and their Care Partners

Mary Ann Johnson, Program Director, Alzheimer's Association Greater Richmond, led a live discussion on Partnering with Your Doctor on the February 29, 2009 at 12 pm EST. Ayn Welleford, PhD, moderated the live event. This webinar was designed to assist families caring for persons with dementia and the person themselves tips to make the doctor visit more effective.  It teaches participants to keep logs for behavior and medication as well as questions that may develop between doctor visits.  

The program highlights seven key strategies and include making the doctor a part of this partnership.  With limited time that a doctor is able to spend with each patient, this program will make those few minutes much more effective by planning and sharing information ahead of the visit.  Review the presentation slides and recording at www.alzpossible.org/newsletter/may07.html#discussionII

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Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia:  Living Well to Care for and Preserve Cognition

In putting this topic together, Dr. Kimberly Taylor of the Virginia Commonwealth University and Mary Ann Johnson of the Alzheimer's Association Greater Richmond Chapter have brought to our attention the need to stress the importance of good nutrition, socialization and exercise.  Moreover, as they will both describe in the live discussion of the 28th of April, this combination of a healthy diet, keeping fit and interacting with others are not only for the persons diagnosed with dementia but also for their care partners.  Adjusting to the new challenges of the disease and defining new strategies to improving the quality of life and living for both, person with Alzheimer's and care partner, will be at the core of this newsletter and an invitation to join in with your own solutions, experiences and questions.   

This webinar will:

- Provide a general understanding of the two most common forms of dementia and present the risk factors for cognitive decline
- Stress the importance of good nutrition for the person with dementia and their care partner
- Showcase healthy habits to encourage good nutrition
- Provide cooking tips to add vitamins to foods and supplements to promote good nutrition
- State the importance of exercise and socialization to aid in good nutrition
- Examine preventive strategies that include nutrition and physical activity
- Discuss a plan to integrate these strategies
- Discuss the risk of caregiving
- Present the "10 Commandments."  

Review the issue at www.alzpossible.org/newsletter/dietandexercise.html and tune in to the webinar recorded the 28th of April!

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