August 2017 edition

Montgomery County Maryland sent this bulletin at 08/04/2017 06:21 PM EDT
caregiver support program
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CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS 
 
Washington Metropolitan OASIS   OASIS
New Caregiver Support Group starting in October
Even when caring for a loved one is an act of love, it still takes many new skills and a great deal of energy. It also raises a lot of questions.
OASIS' Caregiver Series will offer a place to learn from the experiences of others and to encourage those who are in similar circumstances.
The sessions will be facilitated by compassionate professionals. Some sessions will spotlight expert guest speakers on a variety of topics to support you in your caregiving journey. Most sessions will allow time for questions and group discussion. This group is strictly for those who are in a caregiver role. This series is sponsored by Family and Nursing Care. Limit: 20
Wednesdays 10:30am-12pm
Dates: October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, November 1st, 8th, 15th, & 29th. (8 Sessions, no class November 22nd)
Location: OASIS is inside Macy’s Home Store, Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7125 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 20817
*Please call 301-469-6800, press 1, then extension 211

alz ass
Alzheimer's Association - Montgomery County
Care-giving doesn't take a break in the summer and neither do we!   
  • Legal Planning for Alzheimer's Wednesday, August 16 6:30-8:00pm
    • Brookdale Potomac, 11215 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
  • Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior
    • Wednesday, August 30 2:00-3:30pm
    • Arden Courts of Potomac, 10718 Potomac Tennis Ln, Potomac, MD 20854
- Coming in September: A Google Hangout support group for younger caregivers!
- Looking for a social program for a loved one with early-stage memory loss? Check out our Memory Cafes!
- Have you considered forming a Walk to End Alzheimer's team? The DC Walk will be Saturday, October 14 on the National Mall. 
To learn more about these education programs or register
Contact lvajpeyi@alz.org or please call 800-272-3900 for more information.


FAMILY RESOURCESNAMI

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Montgomery County
NAMI provides Family Support Groups are for individuals who have a loved one living with mental illness.
All Support Groups hosted by NAMI are FREE and NO REGISTRATION is required.  
For more details contact: NAMI Montgomery County’s Information Line And Email
Phone: (301) 949-5852 (not a crisis line)
Email Address: info@namimc.org


Suburban Hospital - Johns Hopkins MedicineSuburban
Family members and caregivers face their own stresses as they support and care for a loved one with cancer. Come share an afternoon with other caregivers, enjoy lunch, and hear from Sibley experts about what stress is, ways that a cancer diagnosis impacts the caregiver and gain tools to manage your stress. The program will end with seated yoga to recharge your mind and body. Free program, registration required. Register with Pam Goetz at pgoetz4@jhmi.eduor call 202-243-2320.
Click on the following links to read more about ongoing health and wellness programs coordinated by Suburban Hospital throughout Montgomery County: 
Kaiser Hospital - Montgomery County   Kaiser
Are you, or someone you love, living (or caring for someone) with a chronic health condition? Would you like to learn skills to manage your ongoing health condition and get the most out of life? Living with an ongoing health condition such as diabetes, COPD, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, and arthritis doesn't mean you have to be ruled by it. Patients and caregivers welcome! In this six-session class, learn from others how to:
Manage stress and depression, Fight fatigue, Problem solve, Set up action plans to develop physical activity and nutrition programs, Receive a self-care guide book & CD to chronic disease self-management FREE (you must register and attend the workshops to receive the book and CD)
Participants of the program have shown improvements in exercise and self-reported general health, have less doctor visits, and spent fewer days in the hospital.
Who can attend: This program is open to Kaiser Permanente members only.
Referral required: No - Fee(s): Free - Class taught in: English - Number of sessions: 6Medstar
To register for this program, please call 1-800 777 7904 and ask for programs details for Montgomery County MD.

Medstar Montgomery County hosted events   
Tai Chi (Tuesdays) 
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
MidCounty Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road 
Silver Spring, MD 20906

Senior Strength & Balance (Wednesday Mornings)
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Longwood Community Recreation Center
19300 Georgia Avenue
Brookeville, MD 20833

All Cancers Telephone Support Group
Please join in this new group whose goal is to provide a safe place to talk about ways to cope with the stress of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Hope Connections’ oncology social worker, Stephanie Stern, facilitates this telephone support group and will encourage you and the other group members to know that you are not alone and that support is available! Learn new ways of coping and enjoy the connection with others who are on a similar journey! Meets the First and Third Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 12 noon to 1pm
Conference call-in number and to register for the first time, please call our clinical oncology social worker,
Bunny Ebling at 301-570-7878 or email her at bebling@medstarmontgomery.org

Family Caregiver Alliance Webinars  FCA
Founded in the late 1970s, Family Caregiver Alliance is the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care for loved ones at home.
FCA, as a public voice for caregivers, shines light on the challenges caregivers face daily and champions their cause through education, services, and advocacy.
The services, education programs, and resources FCA provides are designed with caregivers’ needs in mind and offer support, tailored information, and tools to manage the complex demands of caregiving.
https://www.caregiver.org/fca-webinars

SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS

Are you facing the day to day challenges of caregiver with an every changing loved one. Have you started to feel overwhelmed by the choices and what needs to be done now and to in the future. Consider discussing you needs with an elder care manager. As a professional trained provider the elder care manager can help you navigate the decisions in a timely manner and set plans in motion that will supported your loved one and ensure as a caregiver your well-being is maintained.  aging life care

The Aging Life Care Association Resource Guide provides individuals with resources they need to plan for Senior living or navigation through challenges associated with aging. The guide features both expert articles and details listings. The unbiased articles are written by professional to educate consumers about all the options available to help senors and their families. The comprehensive listings provide current information consumers need to find a professional or organization to meet their unique needs.

The Aging Life Care Association™ (ALCA) is an organization of practitioners whose goal is the advancement of expert assistance to aging individuals and their families. ALCA is committed to maximizing the independence and autonomy of aging adults and strives to ensure the highest quality and most cost-effective health and human services. Through education, advocacy, counseling, and service delivery, ALCA members assist older persons and their families in coping with the challenges of aging.
ALCA promotes the highest standards of practice. Membership in ALCA is open only to qualified individuals with specialized degrees and experience in human services, including social work, psychology, gerontology or nursing. Those who are at the Advanced Professional level of membership hold one of four ALCA-approved certifications. Only members of ALCA can call themselves Aging Life Care Professionals.
Hardcopy and online resources available, visit: http://www.aginglifecare.org/


LGBT and Care-giving  lgbtq
If your loved one is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), you’ll want to make sure the caregiver is respectful, competent and professional before arranging for care. It’s important to openly discuss any concerns you or your loved one may have with each other, as well as potential caregivers.
As Americans live longer, greater attention is being paid to the concerns facing aging adults and caregivers. While many issues are the same for all older adults and those who care for them, some unique considerations arise for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people dealing with aging.

The information below is a fraction of available information about LGBT-friendly care, support and useful information, click on each for weblink:
LGBT Aging Center  
AARP feature on LGBT and Aging 
LGBT Elder Initiative  
ASA LGBT - Inter-sectional Approach Services and Care-LGBT Elders Report 
LGBTQ seniors face discrimination in long-term care (PBS story)and LGBT community How to Find Care ('15 PBS story) 
LGBT Caregiving, FAQ's 
LGBT Caregiver Concerns 
The Ins and Outs of LGBT 
Finding LGBT Friendly Care 
Gen Silent is a 2010 documentary film, directed and produced by Stu Maddux. The documentary follows the lives of six LGBT seniors living in the Boston area who must choose if they will hide their sexuality in order to survive in the long-term health care system. It has been screened at numerous colleges and universities as well as in front of government agencies and healthcare organizations.It premiered at the Boston LGBT Film Festival and has won numerous awards at others.
The title of the film is a reference to the generations of older LGBT people who remain in the closet or re enter the closet out of concern for their safety or quality of life. As a result of the documentary, the term Gen Silent has increased in use as a way to refer to this group. 

OPPORTUNITIES
National Hispanic Council on Aging - HISPANIC CAREGIVER TOWN HALL MEETING
Thursday August 17   NHCOA
The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) is planning a caregiver town hall meeting for August 17 at the Civic Center in Silver Spring
Native Spanish language current and past caregivers are encouraged to attend

DETAILS
DATE/TIME: Thursday, August 17, 2017, Breakfast 8.30am, Program runs till 1pm
• As part of this event Montgomery County’s HHS Area Agency on Aging will host a County/non profit resource fair (same location) 12.30pm – 2pm
LOCATION: Great Hall – Silver Spring Civic Center, Maryland (Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD, 8525 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
“NHCOA's Montgomery County, Maryland, Empowering Communities to Age with Dignity event will include a conversation about supporting Hispanic caregivers through education and training. The program will also include a discussion on the importance of civic participation and local empowerment among Hispanics to achieve the common goal of building a stronger America for all.
NHCOA's welcomes a broad constituent base, including Hispanic older adults, caregivers, providers, advocates, and community and political leaders, all interested in advancing ideas and solutions to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults and their caregivers in Montgomery County, Maryland.”

Please RSVP essential to Christine Perez at events@nhcoa.org or 202-347-9733 before August 10, 2017 as spaces are limited. Breakfast and refreshments will be included.

Growing Old without a Spouse or Close Family - Learn how to be prepared and self determined irrespective of your relationships
USA News Article - http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/10/26/no-spouse-no-kids-no-caregiver-how-to-prepare-to-age-alone

Rockville Senior Center
English for Speakers of Other Languages Program   Rockville Senior Center
for age 60 and better
Starting August 28 and running through Fall the Rockville Senior Center is offering a range of English language and profiency classed for older adults.
This is a awesome opportunity for non native English speakers to gain support and encouragement to improve their conversation and comprehension skills.

For more details contact : email: rscEnglishProgram@gmail.com or call: 240-314-8810
Rockville Senior Center 1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville, MD



MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S DIVERSITY SUPPORTS

Montgomery County's Asian American Health Initiative  AAHI
The mission of the Asian American Health Initiative is to identify the health care needs of Asian American communities, to develop culturally competent health care services, and to implement health education programs that are accessible and available for all Asian Americans in Montgomery County.
In support of this mission, AAHI works:
To conduct in-depth data collection, analysis, and reporting of the health status among the different ethnic groups in the Asian American community;
To expand and improve the existing health services available to Asian Americans;
To ensure the availability of quality health care directed to the specific needs of the different ethnic groups in the community;
To provide outreach programs to inform and educate different ethnic groups about the accessibility and the availability of health care services;
To remove barriers preventing all ethnic groups in the Asian American community from receiving a fair share of health services.
http://aahiinfo.org/

Montgomery County's African American Health Program   AfHH
African Americans and people of African descent in Montgomery County will be as healthy and safe as the rest of the population.
http://aahpmontgomerycounty.org/en/ Upcoming Events http://aahpmontgomerycounty.org/en/events  
GOALS
Raise awareness in the Montgomery County community about key health disparities.
Integrate African American health concerns into existing services and programs.
Monitor health status data for African Americans in Montgomery County.
Implement and evaluate strategies to achieve specific health objectives.
STRATEGY
Bring together community partners and resources in a collaborative and effective manner to support AAHP goals.
AAHP focuses on six major health areas: infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, oral health, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Services provided include outreach, health education, support groups, and nurse case management. The program is staffed by registered nurses, health educators, and community outreach personnel.

Latino American Health Initiative   LAHI
The mission of the LHI is to improve the quality of life of Latinos living in Montgomery County by contributing to the development and implementation of an integrated, coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent health wellness system that supports, values, and respects Latino families and communities.
http://www.lhiinfo.org/es/
Overall functions
Enhance coordination between existing health programs and services targeting Latinos.
Provide technical assistance to programs serving the Latino community.
Develop and support models of programs and services to adequately reach Latinos.
Advocate for policies and practices needed to effectively reach and serve Latinos.
Who is involved with the LHI?
The LHI is comprised of staff members from the Department of Health and Human Services and a group of volunteer professionals and community leaders. These individuals work as a team to inform the Latino community about the LHI and to collect feedback from them regarding their health concerns. In addition, this group acts as the planning body for the LHI and advocates to improve the health of Latino communities.
 


MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAREGIVER RESOURCES
If you are a family caregiver in Montgomery County and seek assistance, contact:  

Montgomery County Government's Aging and Disability Services Helpline MCL
part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
240-777-3000
ADRU website
The ADRU serves seniors and people with disabilities, and offers resources to help people to remain in the community safely and independently. Resources that may be discussed include but are not limited to: long term care planning; assistance with activities of daily living; adult day care; home health care; transportation options; File of Life; senior centers adult foster care; group homes; assisted living; nutrition and mental health options. The ADRU is also the entry point for customers for an intake for case management services, including Adult Protective Services (APS). The Office has workers to discuss caller concerns and situations and if needed, for any additional follow up.  Office hours are Monday and Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the office is open from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
ADRU has a designated bi-lingual Spanish specialist on staff.  All staff can also provide support through high-quality translation and interpretation, minimizing cultural and linguistic barriers.
 
Alzheimer’s Association  alz
1.800.272.3900
alz.org
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Access information and resources through the Association's web site and free, professionally-staffed 24/7 Helpline, with translation services in more than 200 languages. Education programs and support groups are offered both in the community and online.
Get the emotional support you need.Support groups provide a place for friends and family to share valuable information, caregiving tips and
concerns throughout the Alzheimer's journey.If you are considering attending a support group, note that schedules and times change occasionally.
Please call our 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 before attending a group for the first time to verify meeting information,
obtain directions or other information about the group.
Are you unable to attend a support group in person? ALZConnected®, powered by the Alzheimer's Association, is a social networking community designed specifically for people with Alzheimer's disease and
their family and caregivers.

Holy Cross Caregiver Resource Center     holy
301-754-7152
holycrosshealth.org/caregivers-resource-center
To see the latest caregiver offerings visit: http://www.holycrosshealth.org/caregiversupport
The Holy Cross Caregiver Resource Center is a wealth of information and supportive services for caregivers. If you’re living with aging parents, or caring for a loved one or friend, the center is your go-to resource for support, education and the latest on healthy aging, and disease diagnosis and treatment.
The center’s health information library is a complimentary service that provides caregivers access to books, DVDs, audiotapes and videotapes on caregiver issues and health-related topics, as well as pamphlets, AARP publications and reprints of health-related articles. Other caregiver resources of this hospital library include brochures from local resources, and listings of aging adult services in our community.
The center’s complimentary newsletter is published three times a year to provide you with tips, book reviews, resources, articles on care giving, and listings of the center’s upcoming seminars, lectures and support groups. View the latest issue of Caregiver News and sign up online or call 301-754-7152 to add your name to our mailing list.
The center also hosts a Caregiver Telephone Helpline at 301-754-7152 to answer questions about services and resources for caregivers.
The senior resources’ center also hosts our caregiver support groups, where spouses and adult children can share sorrows and problems, joys and successes, resources and solutions. The center also periodically sponsors caregiver education classes featuring information on everything from handling your aging parent’s finances and first aid—to CPR. View caregiver classes and support group information.


Montgomery County Police Autism/IDD/Alzheimer's Outreach Program  IDD
240-773-6525
montgomerycountymd.gov/lifesaver
and Interview with: Officer Laurie Reyes - Dementia Friendly America 2017
The Montgomery County Police Autism/IDD/Alzheimer's Outreach Program provides a layered approach to Alzheimer's/Autism/IDD safety and awareness through education, follow up, and response. 
Upon request, Montgomery County Police provide wearable ID bracelets to County residents at risk of wandering and getting lost. These can help first responders and others identify a family caregiver to contact in the event an individual becomes lost or needs medical help and cannot fully explain their situation.
To learn more about the County's Public Safety team's DFA initiative visit:
Police, Fire and Rescue info video’s:
Senior's Today interview with: Lt. Jamie K. Baltrotsky, from the County's Non-Emergency Intervention & Community Care Coordination Program 
and Interview with Police and Fire Chief's on County's Dementia Friendly America Outreach

Respite Services of Montgomery County  ARC
301-816-9647
http://thearcmontgomerycounty.org/what-we-do/respite/respite-seniors.html
If you reside in Montgomery County and are an unpaid, live-in, primary caregiver for a frail senior citizen, you may apply for respite care from The Arc Montgomery County.
Our respite program can provide short-term relief for a few hours, a day, a weekend, or sometimes longer. However, respite care is not a substitute for ongoing care or adult day care. It's just a way to support families who take care of their loved ones at home. Families can choose from many respite care venues, including the family home, adult medical day programs, and approved respite facilities.
Respite may provide a subsidy to pay a Respite Care Provider (RCP), but it is not an entitlement. Eligibility for a subsidy does not guarantee funds for each respite occasion requested. There is limited funding for respite care and our goal is to assist as many families as possible each month.