Aging Elements - PAA · Dear Friends and Supporters of PAA, ... Having an advance directive in your...

Dear Friends and Supporters of PAA,

As we enter November Congress has passed a two year budget bill which removes the threat of sequestration and hopefully allows Congress and the President to concentrate on matters other than avoiding government shutdown. The Older Americans Act budget has not been finalized but we are optimistic significant cuts will be avoided.

November also ushers in the Holiday Season and affords families the opportunity to spend time together. This is a great time to celebrate accomplishments of the older generation and take pleasure in the promise of the younger generation. It is also a time to assess caregiving needs and to show appreciation for family members who serve as caregivers.

Families are encouraged to have “The Conversation” about advance care planning which is really all about knowing and being able to honor another’s wishes for care if they cannot communicate. Having an advance directive in your electronic health record ensures “you” have planned ahead with decisions about the care you want, and should receive, at a time when difficult decisions have to be made.

For seniors and family caregivers PAA is your source for information and supportive services to enable you to maintain quality of life as you deal with challenges that may come as part of the aging process. We are there to assist year round but particularly during the Holiday Season. I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

William MasseyPeninsula Agency on Aging CEO

PAA Virginia PAA_Inc www.paainc.org

Peninsula Agency on Aging Monthly Newsletter

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November 1, 2015 Issue 5

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illiam M

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Caregiving during the holidays can be stressful and joyful as well. Seeing a loved one taking part in the holidays and enjoying the spirit of the season can be very rewarding. But let’s face it, just getting to the holiday season with it’s added expectations and additional cooking and buying and dressing up the house, can take nothing short of a Herculean effort, especially when you are already often exhausted from caregiving. If your loved one is ill during the holidays that adds stress to your family exponentially.

Caregivers may feel resentful towards other family members who they feel have not offered enough assistance. Managing care for someone who has a cognitive impairment may leave caregivers feeling that they will not be able to participate as fully as they would like in family gatherings. Already feeling overwhelmed with caregiving tasks, stressed-out caregivers may view traditional holiday preparations as more of a drain of precious energy than a joy.

Following are some suggestions that may help make the holidays more enjoyable for you and your loved ones. Keep in mind that the holidays can, in fact, provide unique opportunities to seek better communication, connection and support from family and friends.

An opportunity for communicationIt’s hard to know how much to communicate about a loved one’s decline in cognitive functioning and personal care needs. Whom do you tell? How much do you tell? Although it is understandable to have reservations about discussing a loved one’s impairments, honest communication about the realities of the caregiving situation offers others the opportunity to respond with assistance. Sharing the truths of your situation may help reduce some of the feelings of isolation and lack of appreciation common in caregivers.

Holiday greetings and a brief noteSome caregivers have had success in writing a brief note describing the person’s condition and enclosing it in a holiday greeting card. This can be a nonthreatening way to inform distant or uninvolved relatives about the realities of the caregiving situation. If written in a tone that’s not accusatory or guilt-inducing, family members may be more forthcoming with assistance or, at least, have a better understanding of the effort you are putting into providing care.

William Massey, CEO Peninsula Agency on Aging, Congressman Bobby Scott, & Gerald Patesel, Director of Community Services PAA

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Caring Through the Holidays

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Reference: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-and-holidays-stress-success

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Let sleeping dogs lie?It is common for caregivers to be disappointed with family members who they feel are not “pulling their weight” in caregiving responsibilities. If this holds true for you, and your goal is to enjoy the holidays, you must decide how much and when to communicate this disappointment. Consider clearing the air before the holidays or perhaps resolve within yourself to put those feelings on hold, with the intention to discuss the matter after the holiday season passes. In the meantime, enjoy the holiday!

Be clear about your energy levelLet family members know that your caregiving duties are keeping you very busy and that you only have so much energy for holiday preparation and hosting duties.

Accept the need to adaptCaregivers often have to adapt their traditional role or experience of the holidays. This may mean allowing another family member to host more time-intensive festivities. You may

Schedule one-on-one timeWhile caregiving, it is easy to get caught up in all the tasks of personal care and homemaking chores. Make a point of setting some time aside this holiday season to enjoy the person you care for in a relaxed, one-on-one context. The best activities are those which take advantage of long-term memory—usually less impaired in people with dementia. Try looking through family photo albums or unpacking holiday decorations, which may stimulate memories.

Reflect on the rewardsReflecting on the rewards of caregiving can help maintain your self-esteem. It may feel very rewarding to know that you are fulfilling a vow or promise you have made to the person for whom you provide care. Your caregiving may be an expression of living up to your personal ideals or religious beliefs. You may also be experiencing a great deal of growth as you learn new skills and meet challenges in ways you never imagined possible.

A little thank you goes a long wayAfter the holidays, write a thank you note to family members or friends who spent time with your loved one. Emphasize the positive impact their visit or brief time spent with your loved one had on them. This may reinforce positive feelings from their visit and diminish any discomfort they experienced. They may then be more encouraged to visit again or be more supportive of your efforts.

PAA Supports Family CaregiversRoughly 1/3 of family caregivers spend more than 30 hours a week on caregiving tasks (Care.com 2014 survey). Caregivers handle tasks that range from personal care, feeding and transportation to those that are more medical in nature.

To help area family caregivers be prepared for the broad range of tasks and support they provide to their loved ones, Peninsula Agency on Aging, in partnership with Thomas Nelson Community College, Colonial Behavioral Health, and Colonial Heritage Community Foundation, offers a free monthly lunch and learn series.

Seating is limited and registration is encouraged.



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• Information & Referral Services • Care Coordination • Caregiver Support

• Transportation • Home Delivered Meals • Care Transition Intervention

Rock for Rides!We are looking for some amazing teams to help us raise money for our RIDES transportation program.

All you need to do is create a team of family, friends & coworkers. Register and gather donations and rock in your team’s rocking chair non-stop during our Mingle & Jingle event. 100% of the proceeds raised will be donated to the Williamsburg RIDES program. Rocking chairs are generously provided by The Pavilion.

RIDES provides non-emergency medical transportation for seniors 60 and older and the disabled of any age. Service is available for residents of Williamsburg & James City County.

G E T T I N G H E L P & K N O W I N G W H E R E T O G O

Friday, December 4th 10am-2pm

312 Waller Mill Road Suite 105 Williamsburg, VA 23185

757. 345.6277www.paainc.org

Peninsula Agency on Aging

MINGLE INGLE&

Food

Information

MusicRaffle PrizesRock-a-Thon



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Our new website is live and providing you with all the great information you need regarding Nutrition, Transportation, Care Services, Volunteering, ways to help make a difference and so much more. We hope that you will find the information easy and accessible.

www.paainc.org

We welcome any comments or suggestions regarding our new website. We want to ensure that you are finding the information you need.

Feel free to contact our Marketing Manager: 757.933.2618 or [email protected]



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Community Forum on Aging34th Annual

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 • 8:00am-1:00pmChristopher Newport University David Student Union

Aging for the fun of it!



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NEWPORT NEWS739 Thimble Shoals Blvd. Suite 1006

Newport News, VA 23606

Phone: 757.873.0541

WILLIAMSBURG312 Waller Mill Road, Suite 105

Williamsburg, VA 23185

Phone: 757.345.6277

Save

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Save the Date!

A public forum to educate the community on aspects of the aging process through workshops, speakers and open discussions.

Presented by Peninsula Agency on Aging & CNU LifeLong Learning Society

If your business is interested in sponsoring, contact our Marketing Manager at 757-933-2618 or [email protected]

Currently seekingSPONSORS & VENDORS!

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