Elder Care Program Fall 2020 Newsletter |
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Dear All,
I know this has been an incredibly stressful time for you as caregivers. Many of you are trying to do your job from home, which has its own set of challenges, while others are working on campus with increased security requirements and precautions to do so. Some of you are trying to assist school-age children with learning from home, as well as care for the needs of young children who may no longer have regular child care. In addition, the greater complexity of managing care for elderly family members, many of whom have preexisting conditions, and are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19, is overwhelming. Caregiving has become an increasingly complicated balancing act as you struggle to meet the demands of your personal, work, and family lives.
In our support group, Caregiver Connect, and in our Summer workshops, we have explored some of the shared challenges you have had providing care to your elders. We talked about the risks of contagion as well as the risks of elders experiencing loneliness and depression, decreased mobility and increased confusion as a result of social isolation. In a recent article from JAMA International: Meeting the Care Needs of Older Adults Isolated at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the authors state that loneliness and depression may “represent the tip of the iceberg of potential harm” for older adults. While not addressed in this article, an unpublished study in the UK on family caregivers’ well-being and COVID-19, found that as caregivers themselves engage in social isolation, it may have a negative impact on their own mental health, with loneliness being a significant contributor to caregiver depression.
Please know that our Be Well at Work workshops and resources may be helpful to your physical and mental health at this time. Workshops are being offered virtually and are designed to provide ways to help manage the various stressors related to life with COVID-19. The focus this Fall is increasing resilience and fostering your well-being.
As always, the Elder Care Program is here to support you. Please consider making a confidential appointment with me, Maureen Kelly, Elder Care Counselor. I am happy to assist you with your concerns related to Elder Care. I’m keeping you all in my heart as you continue to care for your family members at this time.
Sincerely,
Maureen
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Fall 2020 Elder Care Workshops |
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To register, please click on the workshop titles below
Participants who are not eligible for a UC Berkeley-provided Zoom account can use a Zoom account provided by their institution, can create a free, consumer Zoom account or can dial in via the phone.
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Sep 22, 12:10 - 1:30 pm
Speaker: Natasha Boissier
This workshop will provide family caregivers caring for someone with a neurodegenerative illness with information, resources and coping strategies. We will review the various types of dementias, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia and Lewy Body Disease, their associated cognitive and behavioral symptoms, and current methods of managing these illnesses. We will explore the primary responsibilities of the family caregiver through the various stages of illness and learn about available local and national support services.
Oct 12, 12:10 - 1:30 pm
Speaker: Kathleen Day-Seiter
Thoughtful planning for your and your loved one's future care, includes legal considerations. This workshop will review necessary information and documents you will need in your legal toolbox. These include, *Durable Power of Attorney for health care and finances, *Living Trust, and *Advanced Health Care Directive.
Nov 10, 12:10 - 1:30 pm
Speaker: Maureen Kelly
In this workshop we will identify various losses associated with aging and how these changes may be experienced by an elder, the caregiver, and other family members; recognize grieving as an active and important process; and try to differentiate between grief and depression.
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Be Well at Work Fall Workshops
Be Well at Work has adapted our programs to be accessible, relevant, and sensitive to the unique circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether working from home or on campus, we recognize that faculty and staff have been significantly impacted, all while supporting the needs of family, students, and colleagues.
This Fall, Be Well at Work workshops will be offered virtually and designed to help you manage these stressors, increase your resilience and foster your well-being.
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Join the Elder Care Program for Caregivers Connect. The group will meet virtually on the first Tuesday of the month, and the third Friday of the month, 11 am -12 pm.
These small group meetings will focus on a different topic each month. The format will consist of a brief introduction by Maureen Kelly, LCSW, BWAW Elder Care Counselor, with discussion and Q & A to follow. You are welcome to drop-in for any subject of interest.
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Workshop: UCRP: The Pension Plan |
Tuesday, November 3rd, 10 am - 12:30 pm
The workshop will address the many areas one needs to consider for a successful and satisfying retirement and the benefits available through the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP). Content includes information about monthly retirement income and how it is calculated, cost of living adjustments, and lump sum cash out. The Retirement Savings Program and retiree health and welfare benefits will be discussed. Other UCRP benefits such as disability income, survivor income, basic death benefit and service credit buybacks will also be covered. This workshop is designed to help you increase your knowledge of utilizing available retirement resources.
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UC Berkeley will hold its annual memorial recognizing those in the campus community who have died, including, academic & faculty, emerti, staff, students, post-doctorates, and visiting scholars, on Monday, September 14th, from noon - 1 pm. Due to COVID-19, the memorial will be held virtually.
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In this time of separation, Well Connected and Well Connected Español are available to provide laughs, intellectual stimulation, inspiration, conversation and more, all via groups you can join from home, by phone or online.
Whether you like art or zoology, music or meditation, there is a program for you. Each Well Connected session offers groups and classes on a wide range of topics. You’re sure to find one that interests you. And Well Connected meets 365 days a year, so there’s always a chance to connect.
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Mon Ami is more committed than ever serving seniors and addressing isolation by adapting their services to the new social distancing environment and are donating services and technology to support seniors during the crisis.
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Aging with Agency: Building Resilience, Confronting Challenges, and Navigating Eldercare - Sandi Peters |
“An experiential guide to re-orienting our understanding of late adulthood as one of life’s most meaningful and transformative stages. Aging can bring new fears, challenges, and concerns. Loss of career, loved ones, or changing physical and cognitive abilities can leave us feeling isolated and scared. Sandi Peters shows us that growing older need not mean the end of personal growth. In fact, late adulthood can prove to be the most meaningful and transformative period of one’s life."
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