The workshop is called Building Better Caregivers, and it lasts 6 weeks. There is no cost to caregivers; we have a grant from the National Institute on Aging to pay for it. https://caregiverproject.ucsf.edu/
*The ADRC is unbiased and in no way affiliated with this resource. White Cane Day October 15th!
White Cane Safety Day is nationally recognized on October 15 every year. This date and the weeks surrounding it offer opportunities to educate the driving public to the challenges the blind and visually impaired community faces on a daily basis just by doing something as ordinary as crossing the street. People who are blind or visually impaired can be identified by a cane or walking stick that is white in color or white trimmed with red that is held in an extended or raised position or who are using a service animal. There are over 200,000 individuals who are blind or visually impaired in Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s White Cane Law states: An operator of a vehicle shall stop the vehicle before approaching closer than 10 feet to a pedestrian who is carrying a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white trimmed with red and which is held in an extended or raised position or who is using a service animal…and shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid accident or injury to the pedestrian. The fact that the pedestrian may be violating any of the laws applicable to pedestrians does not relieve the operator of a vehicle from the duties imposed by this subsection. According to WisDOT, 53 pedestrians were hit and killed by drivers in 2019, and 52 more in 2020. Overall, more than 1,300 pedestrians were hit in Wisconsin in 2019. The only way to change the trend is to ensure that we are bringing awareness to the role we all play in making sure our streets are safe for all pedestrians, especially those who are blind or visually impaired. Please help us help those who have vision loss to be able to travel safely in our communities by spreading awareness of White Cane Safety. Spotlight "For-profit companies outside of Wisconsin plan to buy two of the four local nonprofits that run a state Medicaid program for people with disabilities and the frail elderly, which advocates fear could lead to cuts in services for about 80,000 of the state’s most vulnerable residents." - Wisconsin State Journal
Please click the link below to read the full article. For-profit companies' entry into Wisconsin program for disabled, elderly raises concern | Local News | madison.com Survival Coalition Survey
The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations is circulating the survey below and I hope you can do the same. The main focus of this survey is to learn more about how the direct care workforce shortage has further impacted family caregivers. If you are a family caregiver, if you work with family caregivers or if you have a listserv that would be appropriate to share this survey with, please do so! Thank you for your help!
You are not alone. Your stories are needed to show policy makers the reality of many people’s day to day lives. Please take the Survival Coalition Family Caregiver Survey before June 17, 2022. Survey results will be used to educate policy makers, shared with media outlets and advocates. Take survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/22SurvivalCaregiverCrisis Older adults play vital, positive roles in our communities – as family members, friends, mentors, volunteers, civic leaders, members of the workforce, and more. Just as every person is unique, so too is how they age and how they choose to do it – and there is no “right” way. That’s why the theme for Older Americans Month (OAM) 2022 is Age My Way.
Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the celebration of OAM. This year’s theme focuses on how older adults can age in their communities, living independently for as long as possible and participating in ways they choose. While Age My Way will look different for each person, here are common things everyone can consider:
(source: https://acl.gov/oam/2022/older-americans-month-202)templates See this article and others in our Richland Center Newsletter. FREE Online Courses for Family Caregivers in Partnership with DHS and GWAAR
Trualta Partnership Helps Caregivers Learn New Skills to Support Themselves and Loved Ones MADISON, Wis., 2/4/2022 – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR) announced today the extension of their partnership with Trualta, a free online educational tool for family caregivers across the state. Trualta helps caregivers learn about health issues, care techniques, and managing care for loved ones during the flu season, the COVID-19 pandemic, and year-round. Learning through Trualta can help individuals needing care live at home longer. Family caregivers can visit WisconsinCaregiver.trualta.com to register. The lessons and activities teach caregivers on topics ranging from how to safely provide hands-on care; how to connect families with reliable support agencies; offers information and video training from experienced professionals in a quick and easy format as well as how take care of yourself and your own emotions as a caregiver. For low-vision users or for individuals who prefer audio instructions, Trualta also offers a "read to me" function. Check out the different lessons available on Trualta here: wisconsincaregiver.trualta.com/r/learninglist. You can also see some tips on Communication with your loved one here: wisconsincaregiver.trualta.com/r/communication "Caregiving is 24-hours a day, seven days a week, so making time for in-person training and education can be difficult, even during normal times," said Bryn Ceman, Caregiver Support Specialist, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources. "Our partnership with Trualta provides an alternative for education and training that people can access whenever it works for them." In Wisconsin, family caregiving is expanding rapidly. By 2040, the 65+ population will grow by 640,000 – an increase of 72% – according to The Governor's Task Force on Caregiving Report released in October of 2020. The tasks caregivers are expected to perform have become more medically complicated, making preparation and access to reliable training increasingly important. "Our goal is to equip family caregivers earlier so that they are better prepared. Most people find themselves responsible for the care of another person with little warning. In the midst of a global pandemic, we realize that caregivers need easy access to innovative resources that complement the training, emotional support and respite services provided by Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and health care providers," said Lynn Gall, Family Caregiver Support Programs Manager, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Anyone caring for an older adult can benefit from Trualta's support. If a caregiver is seeking personal care training tips, education to prevent falls, or looking for caregiver wellness ideas, Trualta can help. Trualta offers connections to location programming and possible funding for those caregivers helping to care for someone with dementia. There is a growing list of topics Trualta can offer support for including someone navigating family dynamics after a new diagnosis, someone looking for information on financial & estate planning, someone needing ideas for caregiver wellness or how to balance working while being a caregiver. To Register: Visit WisconsinCaregiver.trualta.com About Trualta Trualta (www.trualta.com) supports families managing care for loved ones at home via an online learning platform. In partnership with innovative healthcare payers, providers, government and social service organizations, Trualta provides better care at lower cost. Each partner organization is equipped with a customized learning portal through which healthcare professionals deliver on-demand, personalized skills-based training to help caregivers keep their loved ones at home for longer. Currently available in Canada and across 26 US states, Trualta's evidence based is proving that trained, confident family caregivers can improve health outcomes and reduce costs. About the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. The Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. (GWAAR) (https://gwaar.org/) is a nonprofit agency committed to supporting the successful delivery of aging programs and services in 70 counties and 11 tribes in Wisconsin. GWAAR provides aging agencies in our service area with training, technical assistance, and advocacy to ensure the availability and quality of programs and services to meet the changing needs of older people in Wisconsin. About the Wisconsin Department of Health Services The Department of Health Services (DHS) (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/) is one of the largest and most diverse state agencies in Wisconsin, with an annual budget of roughly $11.5 billion and more than 6,100 employees. DHS is committed to protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin, making sure everyone can live their best life. DHS oversees Medicaid, the single largest program in the state budget, the State Office on Aging and other health and social service programs. DHS ensures that the care provided to Wisconsin residents is high quality and provided in accordance with state and federal law; ensures that Wisconsin taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and efficiently by preventing and detecting waste, fraud, and abuse; and works to continue Wisconsin's long tradition of strong health outcomes and innovation. DHS works with local counties, health care providers, community partners, and others to provide alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, mental health, public health, implementation of long-term care, disability determination, regulation of state nursing homes, and numerous other programs that aid and protect the citizens of our state. DHS also oversees seven 24/7 institutions: three centers for the developmentally disabled; a facility for mentally ill inmates; two psychiatric hospitals; and a facility for treating sexually violent persons. When it comes to scams we rarely get to post the good news that the person responsible was caught. Here is a link to a news story where that actually happened. Click here. Of course as always we would like to remind you to be safe. the Wisconsin Department of Justice says, "In any interaction, you should first verify that the person on the phone, in the mail, or by any means of communication is who they claim to be. Never give out identification information like a social security number, date of birth, or credit card number. If the person says you cannot tell anyone about the interaction, threaten you, or request payment of any kind, you are most likely the victim of a scam." More information can be found on their website: Consumer Protection Fact Sheet.
|
Archives
May 2024
|