ElderLink Virtual Support Call for Family Caregivers of Older Adults

2022 Schedule for Support Calls

Please join us in welcoming and learning from our guest speaker from Fairfax County Department of Family Services Family Caregiver Support Programs. To be highlighted are the many wonderful offerings including how Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging provides caregivers with evidence-based programs, educational webinars and workshops, and resources and services focused on caregivers’ needs as well as other supportive caregiver resources, and more, to help you along your caregiving journey. There will be time for questions and answers and discussion as well.

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are often accompanied by challenging behaviors that we are not always prepared to handle. When loved ones become angry or aggressive, it is not unusual to feel hurt or frustrated. Reminding ourselves that the exacerbated behavior we are seeing is a result of the disease and not the person's choice may help us better cope with these feelings. Many of us have experienced these behaviors. How have you dealt with these challenges?  What successes or learned lessons could you share with other group members?

Please join us in welcoming and learning from our guest speaker, from Inova Health Care System, who will shed light on this important topic. Many of us face questions about advanced medical treatment, care planning, and end of life decisions for our loved ones in crisis situations. It can be extremely difficult and stress-inducing to find ourselves having to sort through the options and make those decisions in an emergency or at the end of life. Whether you feel your loved one can be included in this type of conversation, or not, we will help you think about discussions that need to be had and the decisions that will benefit all to be made in advance, if possible. There will be time for questions and answers and discussion as well.

Many caregivers grapple with the ethical dilemma of not being completely truthful with their loved ones in certain situations. “Therapeutic fibbing” is when you tell a fib, omit the full story, or bend the truth to fit the reality of a person who has dementia or other cognitive disorder, in an effort to minimize unnecessary confusion and increased agitation. Please feel free to join us in sharing your experiences, challenges, and successes in using this calming, beneficial, and humane approach with those who may be struggling to make sense of the world around them.

Please join us in welcoming and learning from our guest speaker, from Cherry Blossom PACE, the multitude of health care services and support offerings to promote independence for aging adults at home. There will be time for questions and answers and discussion as well.

Please join us for an open forum on caregiving issues, questions you may have, as well as feedback and suggestions for the support call going forward.

Even with good planning, caregiving is an unexpected adventure. Let's talk about the downs and the ups, the lows and the highs, the challenges and the victories of your caregiving journey.

Some topics in caregiving are especially difficult to talk about. Join us for a discussion about those problematic moments, deal-breaker situations, and taboo topics in a safe environment. (Note: This is not a replacement for individual professional support or counseling.)

To quote AARP, "For some family caregivers, the holidays can be a joyful time when spirits are lighter. It feels good to care for loved ones and enjoy time together, celebrating with family traditions. But for many the holidays also bring added stress – an already busy caregiver finds there’s even more to do during the holidays. Something’s gotta give!" During our virtual support call, we will discuss some ideas and share tips with one another to help make it through the holiday season with more joy and less stress.

Finding the Rewards and Unexpected Joys of Caregiving. This topic brings to light the many good things caregivers do and how we, as informal (family, non-paid) and formal (professional) caregivers, are in this journey together with our collaborative and cooperative relationships. Please join us to share your observations about what it means to you to be a caregiver and unexpected moments of joy you may have experienced.

Caregiving can be challenging and, combined with caregivers often putting others ahead of themselves, burnout has the potential for being a real concern. Sometimes finding the humor in a situation and laughing out loud with your loved one is the best choice for that moment. Let's talk about ways we can build our physical and emotional resilience and use humor for both your and the care recipient’s well-being.