H.O.P.E. – WINNER OF THE TODAY’S CAREGIVER FRIENDLY AWARD

H.O.P.E. – Winner of the Today’s Caregiver Friendly Award

I am so honored that “H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey” is a 2020 Today’s Caregiver Friendly Award Winner. Today’s Caregiver magazine and caregiver.com have been supporting caregivers since 1995. This award recognizes books, media, products, and services that help caregivers along their journey. The award recognition stated “H.O.P.E. enlightens caregivers on many issues that confront all caregivers, not just Alzheimer’s caregivers.” Please see what else they said about H.O.P.E and all the winning products and services here. 

Spreading the Message of H.O.P.E in Caregiving Articles

Caregiving, especially for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s is extremely difficult. My brothers and I were caregivers for our mother who lived with Alzheimer’s for over 11 years. My mission is to help caregivers have a less stressful, more rewarding journey by providing tips, tools, advice, and encouragement. I spread my message of H.O.P.E. wherever I can to reach as many caregivers as possible. I am blessed to  share my message of H.O.P.E. as a contributor to the following caregiver articles:

* “The 30 Most Important Things for Caregivers to Keep in Mind When Receiving Remote Care,” Seniorlink Blog, Angela Stringfellow, August 11, 2020.  View the article here. 

* “Sleep and Alzheimer’s,” The Mattress Nerd, Jennifer Walker-Journey, August 26, 2020. Read the article here. 

* “There is Hope for Alzheimer’s Caregivers,” Carol B. Amos, Senior Moments Aging Care Partners, June 8, 2020. View the article here. 

Spreading the Message of H.O.P.E. through Social Media

Please follow me on social media to receive useful information on Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving. In March I created Telephone Tuesday and on every Tuesday I encourage everyone to call a family member or friend quarantined in a hospital or senior facility. Social interaction is vital for those in quarantine or living alone. Please encourage others to call seniors they know on Telephone Tuesday. Follow all of my posts at :

     *  LinkedIN at Carol B. Amos
     *  Facebook @hopeforthealzheimersjourney
     *  Twitter @Carolbamos

H.O.P.E. NYC Big Book Award Trailer 

H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead has helped hundreds of caregivers have a less stressful, more rewarding journey. H.O.P.E. provides tips, tools, advice, knowledge, and encouragement for caregivers. Each chapter begins with a personal reflection and ends with a checklist. Personal family emails are used throughout to convey information, share thoughts, concerns, and emotions, and to demonstrate some of the concepts.This caregiver guide is available at www.carolbamos.com. Please view the H.O.P.E. video as the caregiving winner produced by the NYC Big Book Award.  

Spreading the Message of H.O.P.E. – Upcoming Events 

I am currently scheduling H.O.P.E. seminars for the remainder of the year. Please contact me if you are interested in a virtual H.O.P.E. seminar for your staff, residents, church, or support group. Here are two upcoming events:

• September 23, 2020 “The Caregiving Principle^®” sponsored by Arden Courts of Wilmington, 2 pm – 3:30 pm. Virtual. Register at [email protected]
• November 5, 2020 Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Forum, 9 am – 12 pm. Virtual. Details forthcoming.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

THE CAREGIVING PRINCIPLE^®:

HELPING CAREGIVERS MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR LOVED ONE DURING COVID-19

Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. I am presenting the H.O.P.E. “Did You Know?” series to increase awareness daily during this month. These social media posts include useful information and statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. Also this month, The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a “Go Purple” campaign and I will share my story to also increase awareness about the disease. The “Did You Know?” series and the “Go Purple” campaign can be found on my social media pages.

Please visit my social media pages at: 

     *  LinkedIN at Carol B. Amos
     *  Facebook @hopeforthealzheimersjourney
     *  Twitter @Carolbamos

H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey     

H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead has helped hundreds of caregivers have a less stressful, more rewarding journey. This award-winning caregiver guide has been reduced to $10 in honor of Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month on my website at www.carolbamos.com.

2020 Schedule    

Covid-19 has prevented Alzheimer’s support groups from meeting in person at a time when caregiver support is extremely critical. H.O.P.E. seminars are now presented online. Please contact me if you are interested in a seminar for your support group, church, conference, or workplace. Seminars include: 

     *  Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
     *  This is my Caregiving Story 
     *  H.O.P.E. for the Caregiver (current/future caregivers)
     *  Balancing Caregiving and Career (current/future caregivers)
     *  The Caregiving Principle^® (dementia caregivers)
     *  Seven Steps to Prepare for the Caregiving Journey (current/future caregivers)                   

Please register for my next seminar presenting The Caregiving Principle^® on June 16^th sponsored by Artis Senior Living. Please visit my website for updates to my schedule.

The Caregiving Principle® : Helping Caregivers Meet The Needs Of Their Loved One During Covid-19 

I along with my brothers Ronald and Michael were caregivers for our mother, Elizabeth Boyd who lived with Alzheimer’s disease for over 11 years. We worked together extremely well as caregivers but sometimes encountered difficult situations with our mother. I analyzed these tenuous situations and developed The Caregiving Principle^®, a framework for all caregivers.

The Caregiving Principle^®uses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to define the needs of a person as physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow states that if the physiological need (air, food, water, and sleep) of a person is not met, this deficiency will have a physical impact on the body (for example, dehydration, constipation). When the safety, social, and esteem needs are not met, the deficiency may affect the mind and behavior: “The body gives no physical indication, but the individual feels anxious and tense.” Caregivers can use The Caregiving Principle^® to understand and meet the needs of their loved one especially during this covid-19 period.

Physiological Need: The physiological need is similar to activities of daily living (ADLs) a set of daily tasks needed for personal care. It includes transferring, toileting, bathing, dressing, eating, and sleeping. If covid-19 has impacted meeting some of these needs (closed day program, loss of outside help, etc.), caregivers should make changes to ensure that these needs are met. Exercise (walking), increased fruits and vegetables, and adequate sleep can help boost the immune system of everyone. 

Safety Need: The need for safety according to Maslow encompasses “freedom from fear, from anxiety and chaos.” Routines and familiar people and surroundings provide a sense of security. Establish a daily routine. If your loved one was in a day program, try to mimic that routine of eating, mental exercise, physical exercise, and entertainment. Avoid having your loved one watch the news even if it was part of their routine. Guard your phone conversations. Remain upbeat and positive to help your loved one feel safe. 

Caregivers must do everything reasonably possible to prevent exposure to covid-19. My husband is at higher risk because of his age. He has stayed at home. We both have had online doctor and other appointments. I only go out once a week for food and supplies. I leave non-perishable items in the garage for a few days and decontaminate everything that comes into our house, including food, mail, and newspapers. I think of myself and everyone and everything around me as a carrier of covid-19.

This is an extremely difficult time for caregivers concerned for their loved one in a quarantined facility. Speak with the staff regularly. Understand their policies. Speak with the families of other residents. Take advantage of Facetime calls or entranceway visits. Send cards with family pictures if allowed by the facility to help meet the social need. 

Social Need: The social need is the need for belonging, love, and affection. If this need is not met, the person will experience feelings of alienation, strangeness, and loneliness. This is one of the most difficult needs to meet during this period of social distancing and quarantine. Let your loved one know how much you love them and appreciate having them in your life. Look at family pictures and reminisce. Call and/or Facetime family and friends, or go for a walk or car ride. There are many online concerts and museum tours that your loved one may be interested in. Identify small projects. I recently planted gladiolus bulbs with the thought that the quarantine will be over when they bloom. 

Esteem Need:  The esteem need is defined as a “desire for a high evaluation of themselves for self-respect or self-esteem, and for the esteem of others.” Continue the grooming routine even though your loved one may not leave home. Continue to treat your loved one with dignity and respect. Ask for their advice. Give them positions of respect by asking them to bless the food or by serving them first. Let them make some decisions, “Would you like to go for a walk or listen to some music?” The news and restrictions imposed by covid-19 can easily frustrate a caregiver but do not take your frustration out on your loved one. Stop and regroup. Go to a different room, play some music, meditate, or call a friend. We will all get through this. 

Self-Actualization Need: Self-actualization, defined as man’s desire for self-fulfillment or accomplishing what a person is capable of becoming. Let your loved one do all that he is capable of doing. It may take longer or may not be exactly the way you would do it, but give them an opportunity to contribute. Try some new activities. I just bought a kite from the dollar store and putting it together and trying to keep it airborne was different and entertaining.

Caregivers can have a less stressful, more rewarding experience during covid-19 by understanding and trying to meet the physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization need of their loved one. 

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

CAREGIVING DURING COVID-19

Dear Caregivers and Friends,

          My prayers are with you and your loved one. Let us do our part to flatten the covid-19 curve by adhering to stay-at-home policies and social distancing practices. Try to maintain a routine with your loved one and limit news time to essential coverage. Do something fun or funny everyday. Try to remain positive and hopeful. Reach out to community resources if you need help or are overwhelmed. The Alzheimer’s Association Helpline is available 24/7 at  800.272.3900.

I hope this information will help you or someone you know.

         I pray that you and your families are doing well. It is difficult to comprehend not being able to visit a loved one in a senior facility. So I pray to God for his strength and covering for us all.

Dear Caregivers and Friends,

            My prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. Please remain positive and hopeful. Here is information that can help you as a caregiver.

Covid-19 Articles and Videos for Caregivers

“Apart, Not Alone: A Guide for Remote Caregiving During Covid-19” by Amy Goyer. https://get.aloecare.com/covid-19/

“Using What You Know To Provide Connection When You Are Apart” by Teepa Snow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cabPJdMO0q0&feature=youtu.be

“How To Preserve Your Mental Strength When Everything Is Uncertain” by Paula Davis-Laack. https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauladavislaack/2020/03/17/how-to-preserve-your-mental-strength-when-everything-is-uncertain/#7a799ae251e0

“Grocery Shopping Tips in COVID-19” by Jeffrey VanWingen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDuwc9KBps&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2QfW5B0xS9E7fNLY4I5n9oNU-Ff4g7HP3S8ORqo0WXT-U5sENRFdalCI4

“5 Questions to Ask if Your Loved One Is in a Quarantined Facility” by Christina Ianzito. https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/questions-for-quarantined-facility.html

Caregiver Education and Support during Covid-19

• Virtual Memory Cafes with Cafe Connect^®                                                               

With most in-person Memory Cafes suspended during these challenging times, Café Connect® is where to find “Virtual Memory Cafes” around the world. To find a Virtual Memory Café visit https://www.memorycafedirectory.com/cafe-connect/

• Alzheimer's Association April Virtual Education Webinars 

Attend by phone or online. Register today. Call the 24/7 Helpline to register: 800.272.3900.                                 No one should face Alzheimer's alone. Call the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline or visit https://www.alz.org for information on Alzheimer’s disease, covid-19, and resources.

a. Effective Communication Strategies

Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Register online at: https://action.alz.org/MTG/69743256

b. 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's

Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Register online at: https://action.alz.org/MTG/69727137

c. Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors

Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Register online at: https://action.alz.org/MTG/69742513

d. Effective Communication Strategies

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Register online at: https://action.alz.org/MTG/69745084

• H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer's Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead has been reduced to $8.47 (50% off) with free shipping in the U.S. Many Alzheimer’s Support Groups have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Caregivers can benefit from the encouragement, advice, tips, and tools in H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey. H.O.P.E. has helped many caregivers have a less stressful, more rewarding journey. Visit https://carolbamos.com/books (50% off), Amazon, or bookstores to purchase H.O.P.E. 

Social Media

Caregivers please follow me on social media to receive useful information on Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving. This month I am sharing pertinent information on Covid-19 and caregiver tips from “H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer's Journey.” Follow me at:

     *  LinkedIN at Carol B. Amos
     *  Facebook @hopeforthealzheimersjourney
     *  Twitter @Carolbamos

Easter Weekend

Sight & Sound is broadcasting the play "Jesus" this Easter weekend. This state-of-the-art Christian theatre in our area incorporates live animals in their performances. Watch the free streaming on TBN on your favorite device anytime April 10 -12 or tune in to the TBN channel. Click here for previews and more info: https://www.jesusevent.com. 

2020 Schedule

Many of my 2020 events have been cancelled or postponed because of restrictions due to Covid-19. Please visit the events portion of my website in June https://carolbamos.com/events for updates to my 2020 schedule.

PLEASE BE WELL