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Community Corner

Free Seminar-Who’s At Risk?

Tray Dolan, Neighbor






Who’s At Risk?





Caregiver Workshop Helps County Area Families Avoid the

Dangers of Distress





 

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Curves of Jefferson Township has partnered with HOME

INSTEAD SENIOR CARE who will present a special workshop open to the public on

Tuesday, October 1, 2013, 7pm – 8pm. This workshop


is free to the public so please reserve your spot in advance. We will

be having our complementary session at Curves of Jefferson, 5 Bowling Green

Pkwy. Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Please RSVP by phone


or email to: 973-663-4433 or Curvesjtown@aol.com.








Nearly one-third of adults living Morris/Sussex County are family caregivers who could

be at risk for heart disease, diabetes, depression and various other physical

and emotional maladies as a result of caregiver distress, a potentially

dangerous condition brought on by the pressures of caring for a senior loved

one.


Studies increasingly point to caregiving as a leading stressor for families. In

fact, one U.S. study revealed that more than half (52.8%) of those caring for

individuals with diseases including cancer or Alzheimer’s had scores indicating

depression.*


Included in workshop are two new tools: The Are You a Caregiver Quiz, which is

designed to help a family caregiver self-identify and recognize the role of a

caregiver, and the


Family Caregiver Distress Assessment, adapted for the Home Instead Senior Care

network by Dr. Peter Vitaliano of the University of Washington. The assessment

allows caregivers to determine


their risk for distress and resulting emotional and physical issues, including

depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.


“So many spouses and adult children are unaware of their potential risk of

caregiver distress because they don’t see themselves as caregivers,” said

Andrea Sussman, owner of the


Home Instead Senior Care office serving Morris County. “These new resources

enable them to understand their role, the stresses they may face as a

caregiver, and how that stress might lead to


more serious health effects.”


A recent Home Instead Senior Care study discovered that caregivers are prone to

hiding their emotions and, as a result, their health suffers. Approximately 74

percent of caregivers who hide their feelings


report fatigue, 53 percent report difficulty sleeping, 37 percent report

depression, and 30 percent weight gain or loss.


Research shows that certain characteristics make family caregivers more

vulnerable to caregiver distress, the top being:

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  •  






    • Gender: Women report

    more psychological distress than men (however, male caregivers have more

    negative physiological responses to caregiving, including higher blood sugar

    and insulin levels, poorer cholesterol and immune function, and obesity).











  •  






    • Reluctance to ask for

    help: Caregivers who won’t ask for help are setting themselves up for the kind

    of exhaustion that can lead to distress.







  •  






    • Chronic Illness:

    Caregivers who are already sick or have existing medical conditions, such as

    coronary disease, hypertension and cancer, are more vulnerable to additional

    negative health effects resulting from caregiver stress.





    “It’s important for

    caregivers to understand that stress can impact one’s ability to care. If they

    don’t care for themselves, they may put their senior loved ones at risk.

    Whether it’s support groups, stress management techniques or respite help,

    caregivers need to realize the importance of managing their health, too,” said

    Sussman.





    To reserve your spot

    for the workshop call 973-663-4433, email:     CurvesJtown@aol.com.















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