Helping Survivors Manage

If you are in the Twin Cities area and you are an older adult or a caregiver, join us! Helping Survivors Manage has a booth and we are selling the book at the wholesale price at the event, $10.00 each (tax included). Here is more information about the event. Information provided on www.west7th.org under Senior Programs. I am excited to be a part of it and it should be lots of fun!

Older Adult & Caregiver Health Fair!
**Flu Shot, Flu Mist, High Dose Flu Shot & Pneumonia Shots***
Bring insurance card and photo id for vaccinations.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 10:30-12:00

Lunch
Exhibitors
Door Prizes
Chair Massage
Hearing Screenings
Technology Room
Blood Pressure Screenings
Health & Wellness Workshops

For questions regarding our Older Adult & Caregiver Health and Wellness Fair or to volunteer, contact Jeannie Farrell at 651-298-5493 extension 204 or at jfarrell@west7th.org.

As I speak to people about the book, I make it clear that it is not a book about grief or emotion; it is the business side of death that needs attention. I purposely did not put in flowers and little poems because your emotions don’t need any more stimulation that they already have. Although going through the business side of it was comforting to me and made me feel like I was doing something helpful, the emotional side was calling to me every day as well. A really helpful book I found for my coping was a book called “Losing Your Parents, Finding Your Self” by Victoria Secunda. I read bits and pieces of it over a two year period, as well as meeting with a therapist to help me navigate the unfamiliar waters of profound loss. Self help tools are everywhere, if you think you are the only one who has gone through something, you are not alone, regardless of how alone you may feel. It also helped talking to friends who have lost their parents, one doesn’t really know how it feels until it happens to them, as with most things in life. Peace…

This is a wonderful source of information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension Service that provides tools and worksheets to help address personal property issues after someone has died (and even more helpful before someone has died ). Most of us have had to deal with this in the past and if not, we will likely face it in the future, it helps to have a guide during this stressful time. Peace…

Today, I am thrilled to announce that HVA is selling Begin Here on their online store. Hospice organizations hold a very special place in my heart and I personally know numerous families who have benefitted from the program. I was a hospice volunteer in Orange County, California and I doubt I could adequately articulate the positive affect it has had on my life. Thank you HVA, along with anyone and everyone involved in Hospice. Peace…

When my mom died, my dad had more than the typical challenges of a survivor, my dad was predominantly deaf and my mom was “his ears”. Because he had profound hearing loss his hearing aids helped, but not to the extent that he felt completely comfortable being independent. Here were a few things we had to consider for dad to accommodate his challenges:

-Making sure the fire alarms are adequate, do we need lighted alarms?

-Is a security system necessary since he would not “hear” an intruder like most of us?

-What was the best option for the doorbell?

-What type of alarm clock would work best for him?

-How and where to get a TTY phone and figuring out which type was best for him (and acceptable to the provider; products and services vary by state)

And for each of these considerations, there are collectively thousands of choices.

These are the most important things that seemed urgent and imperative for dad’s safety, but there are many more to consider…do you have more suggestion and/or ideas? Please post a comment to share your wisdom. Peace…