Nick and Adele were enjoying life as parents of teenage girls when they started noticing changes. Adele was teaching school and Nick worked at IBM. Nick was only 53 years old when doctors diagnosed him with a form of dementia that strikes early and causes progressive changes in personality, language and judgment. Family could see that the Nick they knew …
Prelude Group Respite is held the third Tuesday of the month from 1 – 4:30 p.m. This free service is offered to Caregivers of seniors with dementia and makes it possible for them to take a break while their family member participates in meaningful activities with their peers. Participants enjoy playing games, music, crafts and some holiday-inspired activities. Caregivers tell us it’s …
The fear of falling keeps many older adults from experiencing life to its fullest. Many seniors need to use a cane or walker to steady their steps. Unfortunately, a walker can feel like a barrier between the frail, elderly and their loved ones. Emily hopes that knee surgery will make it possible to walk across the room without a walker. …
Caregiving involves many challenges, some of these require learning new skills. Being flexible and trying new things can help. Caregivers may need to develop new ways to relate to a family member if his or her ability to communicate or remember things is impaired by an illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. During a recent Caregiver Academy retreat, Lou Paules, …
The Center for Volunteer Caregiving and Meredith College students are teaming up to reduce older adults’ risk of falls through safety modifications and in-home exercise programs. Funded through a Council of Independent Colleges grant, the students will have the opportunity to form meaningful connections with seniors. “CIC hopes that this pilot project will serve as a first step toward the …
Life often takes us on a roller-coaster. I was caring for my father in 2006, while working, plus going to school full-time. I had no idea how physically taxing all this would be. It took a toll on my emotional and mental health. I was alone in caring for my Dad, as family did not live in the area. Although …
Do you know what color chicken lays green eggs? The answer is just one of the many unexpected things that came when Marge was matched last fall with a volunteer named Jade. Marge is 73 and has lived in the same home for more than 25 years. She raised a family in the home and was the primary caregiver for …
If you happened to have driven past the Five Points Center for Active Adults in Raleigh last week, you may have noticed a smiling crowd gathered in the parking lot, eagerly watching as Jenny Womack, Clinical Associate Professor for UNC’s Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, demonstrated and offered advice on the best ways help those who use assisted …
Summer time is especially harsh on the volunteer force at The Center for Volunteer Caregiving. Volunteers are taking on extra activities or going on extended vacations. This can leave a large gap – called a summer slump – on our volunteer teams. There are several people waiting for a volunteer including 76-year-old Annie, pictured above. Annie’s story is remarkable. Four …
Guest blogger: Elena Muller, pictured above with a Care Receiver, is one of The Center’s guest bloggers. Elena has been a volunteer with The Center for Volunteer Caregiving since 2013, She has helped several Care Receivers and most recently began helping with Prelude Respite, a no-fee program designed for Caregivers. Older. Americans. Month. Three separate words but when combined they …
