Caregiver Connection

Stories & Resources to Help You Help Others
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Online Workshops Start Tomorrow!
This free 6-week program will help you take care of yourself while caring for a relative or friend. (No professional caregivers, please.) Sessions are designed to help whether you care for a parent, spouse or friend in their home, a nursing facility, or long distance. Please note: These workshops do not focus on specific diseases or hands-on techniques, but are designed to help the caregiver stay grounded, relaxed and engaged to provide the best care. All sessions presented online through easy-to-use Zoom.

  April 7 - May 12 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Topics include: Taking Care of You, Communicating in Challenging Situations, Learning from our Emotions, and Mastering Caregiving Decisions
Thank You to Our Professional Caregivers
Breeda Miller spent years as a personal caregiver to her mother and a caregiver by profession. This brief video expresses her profound appreciation to every professional caregiver for their energy, enthusiasm, expertise and commitment. Now more than ever, we thank each and every one of you. Watch Now

My Journey with Sumi*
by KC Mehta

We're All in this Together
Compassion Knows No Boundaries
The Islamic Center of Greater Detroit (ICGD) is working with the Mayor’s Office in Rochester Hills (where we live) to help seniors buy groceries, medicines, and other essential items.

A volunteer from the ICGD has been buying groceries for us. I text a list of items I need from Costco. Before delivering the groceries, they call with the amount and leave the groceries and receipt on the front porch where I leave cash in an envelope for them. This way we maintain social distancing.

Every evening, I take Sumi for a car ride as she loves going for a ride. Since we were going to be out anyway, I told the person who was going to buy groceries that I would meet him in the Costco parking lot. A young volunteer from ISGD was inside Costco and FaceTimed me the items to ensure that he bought exactly what I wanted. Minutes later he came out with the groceries and placed them in my Pacifica’s rear compartment that I remotely opened. I had previously placed money for him there, avoiding physical proximity. A seamless transaction!

Humanity, in the days of coronavirus, transcends religion. In a country with the majority of people of Christian religion, a young Muslim volunteer helps a senior Hindu!

*Sumi was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 59. She and her husband KC, a former engineering executive at Chrysler, had been happily married for more than 40 years but KC had done little caregiving. He wanted to change Sumi, but soon learned that  he  needed to change to best meet her needs. KC shares his memoirs in Caregiver Connection to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease and help others in similar situations find solace. 

Remote Help with Scams, Fraud, Identity Theft & Managing Money as a Caregiver
Stay protected during the Coronavirus outbreak.
No need for an in-person visit.

Successful Aging thru Financial Empowerment (SAFE) provides  FREE  financial coaching to older adults and their caregivers to manage money securely and accurately. Schedule an appointment with Program Director LaToya Hall to talk by phone or computer now: l.hall@wayne.edu or 313-664-2608 . Assistance is safe, confidential and free.