Are you or someone you know caring for an aging family member in your home or an assisted living facility?  If so, you understand how difficult it is to unexpectedly find yourself in the role of primary caregiver to that loved one. It can be a full-time job, often taking an emotional, financial or even physical toll on the caregiver.

This is why Queens University of Charlotte and The Ivey (adult day care center) are offering a Caring for the Elderly community program that provides valuable, essential information to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to care for the elderly (see below for topics and schedule). The program is broken up into five sessions held on Saturdays in March 2012. You may register for sessions individually or attend all five.

As part of this partnership, The Ivey's adult day care center at 6030 Park South Drive will open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm to allow registered participants of the series to drop off elderly family members for a special rate of $20 per person each Saturday.  Advanced registration for adult day care is required by calling The Ivey at 704-909-2070. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

Our instructors and speakers are experts in their fields. Please note that this is a non-credit program.

*Watch Lynn Ivey, CEO and Founder of The Ivey, discuss the program on News 14.*

Did you know that almost 70% of caregivers are women, and the constant stress can take up to 10 years off the caregiver's life?  Watch this recent special from ABC World News with Diane Sawyer to learn more: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/ElderCare Don't let this happen to you... our program can help!

Spring 2012 Program:
●  Date: Five Saturdays in March 2012
●  Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (coffee and lunch provided)
●  Price: $29 each or $125 for all five sessions
● EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $20 each or $100 for all five if registered by 1/31/12
● Location: Queens Sports Complex & Conference Center (2229 Tyvola Road, Charlotte, NC 28210)

2012 Speakers and Topics:

Session 1: March 3
●  Lynn Ivey, Owner & President of The Ivey: Adult Day Care Services
●  Debi Lee, Elder Rights Coordinator for Centralina Council of Governments: Options for Elder Care, Including Assisted Living, Long-Term & Home Care; Community Resources; NC Ombudsman Program
●  Cindy Greer, CRTS, Owner of Transition with Care LLC, and Karen Chisholm, MSW, CRTS, Co-Owner: Assisting Older Adults with Relocation; Reducing Relocation Stress

Session 2: March 10
●  Janice Davies, Attorney at Law: Elder Law and Estate Planning
●  Joel Bunkley, Attorney at Law: Long-Term Planning (Includes Special Monthly Pension Benefits for Veterans)
●  Aaron Terry, Trust & Fiduciary Specialist, VP Wells Fargo Private Bank: How to Recognize Financial Abuse

Session 3: March 17
● Marilyn Morenz, RN BSN, CHPN, Education & Resource Manager for Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region: Advance Care Planning (Living Will & Healthcare Power of Attorney); Hospice & Palliative Care
●  Lynne LeBlanc, RN BSN, Parish Nurse: Medicare Coverage (Long-Term, Home Health, Rehab, and Hospice & Palliative Care)

Session 4: March 24
●  Zachary White, PhD: Challenges & Rewards of Caregiving; Caregiver Identity; Caregiver Burnout and Strategies
●  "Time to Connect": Get to know others attending the seminar; share personal experiences, suggestions and concerns as caregivers

Session 5: March 31 -- CANCELLED
●  Cynthia King, PhD, NP, CNL, RN, FAAN: Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease; Communicating with Your Healthcare Provider; Self-Care for Caregivers

Register for all five sessions here.

 

Thank you for the generous production donations from ParentGiving.com!

 

Helpful Resources:

●   alz.org/northcarolina
●   caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=847
●   www.caregiving.org/data/Emblem_CfC10_Final2.pdf
●   centralinaaging.org
●   www.nytimes.com/ref/health/noa_resources.html
●   www.unpreparedcaregiver.com
●   www.vba.va.gov/VBA

 

Questions? Contact Heather Roberts, RN MSN, at robertsh@queens.edu.