The number of older adults with dementia is forecast to more than double in the next 40 years. Training people to care for these individuals - both professionals and families is paramount in improving the quality of life for the caregiver as well as the care receiver. Is it time to get back to basics in our approach to education and training?
Losing sleep, poor eating habits, irritability or short tempered - these symptoms may start small and snowball quickly into what is referred to as caregiver burnout. Professionals and families need to know what to look for and how to help caregivers. It's a serious matter and growing, as more families are caring for their loved ones at home with little or no help.
The rapid pace of our aging world is changing the face of every facet of our society from health and long term care, to faith communities and business establishments. Across the spectrum, issues such as these are at the forefront of leadership discussions:
Looking back to my years a family caregiver, I wonder if I'd worn a badge that read "Fragile - Handle with Care", it might have been easier for others to understand me. Why I often had puffy eyes from crying, or scatter brained from sleep deprivation. I can remember a certain period of time when I was issued a number of traffic violations...speeding through a school zone of all things (my children were both in elementary school at the time). Thank goodness this was before cell phones. There were times when I simply wasn't myself. I was emotional, physically and spiritually worn out and burned out. Thinking clearly was often a challenge because I was overwhelmed.
Our guest blogger is AGE-u-cate Master Trainer, Sue Wilson, LMSW, CADDCT, CDP - 360 Elder Solutions (www.360eldersolutions.com)
I'm always energized after attending and speaking at conferences. Learning about creative programming, new technologies being developed and how we are preparing for the next wave of seniors makes me even more excited about our future as a training and education provider. To be in the senior care industry today means adventure at every corner!
According the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seniors age 80 and older have the highest rate of fatal crashes per mile driven - even high than for teens. As our aging population rapidly increases, the driving dilemma is most certainly everyone's business and a problem that must be addressed at many levels.
