Hope Hospice is pleased to offer a series of twelve classes designed to provide training, education, support, and resources for those caring for loved ones with chronic or disabling conditions.
This program is available at no charge to community members, however, donations to Hope Hospice are greatly appreciated.
Register for Upcoming Classes
April 14, 2018 – Navigating the Healthcare Environment/Advocating for Your Loved One
Understanding your rights and learning to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals are keys to successfully advocating for your loved ones and yourself within our complex healthcare system. Guidance is provided in handling hospitalizations (including the discharge process) and utilizing strategies for keeping track of health histories, medications and medical appointments.
May 19, 2018 – Necessary Evils: Exploring Legal and Financial Issues
When facing the incapacity of a loved one, reliance on professionals will ensure that families receive the most accurate information about options and protection. A local elder law specialist will share information about establishing powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships, trusts and wills; paying for long–term care and accessing government assistance programs; examining elder abuse and fraud; and implementing advance health care directives.
June 9, 2018 – Living with Dementia: Optimal Well–Being and Activities of Daily Living
Providing personal care for a loved one with dementia can present overwhelming demands on the caregiver, often leading to frustration and exhaustion. This class will explore effective strategies for managing the activities of daily living (dressing, eating, bathing, toileting, walking, transferring, etc.) with the goals of promoting optimal well–being and personal identity for the patient and maintaining the physical and emotional health of the family caregiver.
Family Caregiver Education Series – FAQs
What: Hope Hospice is pleased to offer a series of twelve classes designed to provide training, education, support, and resources for those caring for loved ones with chronic or disabling conditions.
Who: Any community member engaged in the role of family caregiver or expecting to soon become a caregiver is invited to participate.
When: Classes will be offered monthly on Saturdays (no class in January; two classes in February and March). Registration and light refreshments will begin at 9:45 a.m., and classes will be held from 10 a.m. to noon.
Where: Hope Hospice/Home Health, 6377 Clark Avenue, Suite 100, Dublin (2nd floor conference room).
How: Register for open classes above. For further information, check the FAQs and/or contact Debbie Emerson, Community Health Educator at debe@HopeHospice.com. Registration is ongoing throughout the series.
Class Overview
Classes will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – noon at Hope Hospice.
NOTE: There will not be a class offered in January.
February 10, 2018 – Living with Dementia: Understanding Behavior as Communication
Since dementia changes the ways that individuals think, perceive, and use language, it is important to understand that those with dementia frequently communicate their wants and needs through their behaviors. With the goal of promoting meaningful connections between the individual with dementia and those providing care, this class will demonstrate ways in which behaviors can be assessed, interpreted, and responded to in a manner that can help to manage cognitive deficits and improve the quality of life for all involved.
February 24, 2018 – Living with Dementia: Behavior as Communication – Practical Application
Responding to dementia–related behaviors takes understanding, patience, and practice. This class will build upon the knowledge gained in the previous class, Understanding Behavior as Communication, and provide participants with more specific information about responding to the individual with dementia and strategies for handling common behaviors such as wandering, agitation, sundowning, hallucinations/delusions, resistance to care, aggression, etc. The focus will be on person‐centered care and fostering respect and dignity.
March 10, 2018 – Making Decisions About Caregiving
Handling sensitive topics and making difficult decisions, especially when emotions are high, is never easy. This session will cover information about formulating a care plan, working together with family members and exploring various care settings including in-–home and residential care, distance–caregiving, community services and resources, and relocating loved ones.
March 24, 2018 – Living with Dementia: Caregiver Burnout and Family Dynamics
The stress and strife a family experiences as it watches a loved one with dementia decline can be staggering. The constant fluctuation of changing roles, uncertainty about the future, and fatigue may ultimately result in disputes, dysfunction and compromised health. This class will focus on devising strategies that will help families to work together to develop caregiving solutions with the goals of minimizing stress and strengthening relationships.
April 14, 2018 – Navigating the Healthcare Environment/Advocating for Your Loved One
Understanding your rights and learning to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals are keys to successfully advocating for your loved ones and yourself within our complex healthcare system. Guidance is provided in handling hospitalizations (including the discharge process) and utilizing strategies for keeping track of health histories, medications and medical appointments.
May 19, 2018 – Necessary Evils: Exploring Legal and Financial Issues
When facing the incapacity of a loved one, reliance on professionals will ensure that families receive the most accurate information about options and protection. A local elder law specialist will share information about establishing powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships, trusts and wills; paying for long-term care and accessing government assistance programs; examining elder abuse and fraud; and implementing advance health care directives.
June 9, 2018 – Living with Dementia: Optimal Well-Being and Activities of Daily Living
Providing personal care for a loved one with dementia can present overwhelming demands on the caregiver, often leading to frustration and exhaustion. This class will explore effective strategies for managing the activities of daily living (dressing, eating, bathing, toileting, walking, transferring, etc.) with the goals of promoting optimal well–being and personal identity for the patient and maintaining the physical and emotional health of the family caregiver.
July 14, 2018 – Essential Skills for the Family Caregiver
Many family caregivers are asked to perform a variety of medical or nursing tasks, thus enabling their loved ones to remain at home. Caregivers will be trained in basic skills such as wound care, operating medical equipment, bathing, toileting, and transferring, understanding medical terminology and implementing personal and home safety measures.
August 11, 2018 – Understanding Advanced Illness
At times, it seems as if what may have started out as a single medical diagnosis morphs into many, especially with the elderly patient. This session looks at a variety of illnesses and provides guidance in determining when curative care may become palliative (comfort) care. Caregivers will receive useful information and guidance about the most prevalent co-existing medical conditions among the elderly and chronically ill.
September 8, 2018 – Self-Care for the Family Caregiver
To effectively care for others, one must first take responsibility for one’s own well–being. This session will contain information about the caregiving experience, challenges and rewards, stress management strategies, obtaining support and assistance and utilizing resources. Participants will receive valuable information about anticipatory grief and coping with emotions.
October 13, 2018 – Facing End-of‐Life Issues and Handling Grief and Loss
No matter how thoroughly one has prepared for the inevitability of death, when the time comes it still can be a shock to the system. Caregivers will receive information about what to expect in the final days of life, transitioning to palliative (comfort) care, hospice services and making funeral arrangements. Additionally, the complexities of grief and loss will be examined, and participants will be provided with coping strategies for themselves and their families.
November 10, 2018 – Medicare: An Overview and Update
Medicare, the federal health insurance plan for people 65 and over and those with disabilities doesn’t have to be confusing. Experts from the local Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) will share information about coverage, options for supplementing Medicare, consumer rights and protections, changes for 2019, hospital and skilled nursing facility rights, and detecting and reporting fraud and abuse.
December 8, 2018 – Healthful Meal Planning for the Elderly and Chronically Ill
Planning and preparing healthful meals for loved ones is one of the many challenges family caregivers face. Hope’s registered dietitian will share valuable information about caring for the nutritional needs of elderly and/or chronically‐ill adults, including: identifying the obstacles to healthful eating; avoiding nutritional deficiencies and nutrition-related disorders; and practical tips and suggestions for preparing meals that are healthy, satisfying, and easy.
For more information or to register, please contact Debbie Emerson at debe@HopeHospice.comm
