The most beautiful people I’ve known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.

~ Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

May is a month of possibilities and gifts, when the first layer of spring has already emerged and more consistent warmth arises by month's end. Last May, in recognition of the Wellness Initiative's ten year anniversary, I shared a list of 10 Life Changing Lessons from Family Caregivers. You can read it here. This year, as I round out my 25th year as a clinical social worker, the lessons continue to abound. I have received many wisdom gifts from carepartners over the years which have enriched my life and truly changed the course of my decisions, priorities and relationships. I am eager to share more wisdom from the field in the hopes it encourages something in your own life as well, beginning with a new list for this May and eleven years of the Wellness Initiative. I have focused here on the opportunities of caregiving. With so much out of our control, it’s critical to highlight all that resides within it. Thankfully, we do not have to start from scratch or navigate on our own. Whether you are presently caregiving or not, I hope there is something here for you. Happy May! And may you be well. 


11 Opportunities in Caregiving


  1. Re-arranging and structuring your support network to meet your needs
  2. Letting go of old (self-limiting) stories and ideas to welcome new ways of living
  3. Tracking pleasant experiences more than unpleasant experiences
  4. Permission and ironclad reasons to simply say, No 
  5. Prioritizing your own wellbeing and self-care
  6. Expediting and implementing your own, distinct, rest-of-life care plan
  7. Relating to your grief differently, proactively and creatively
  8. Getting rid of things while honoring their history and making room for space
  9. Investing in your needs as they are linked to patience for life’s many inconveniences
  10. Learning to be OK when others are not
  11. Designing and maintaining a personal Wisdom Council


You can read the expanded list of 11 Opportunities, along with reflective questions, at the button below.

11 Opportunities in Caregiving

— Laura Rice-Oeschger, LMSW

Wellness Initiative Managing Director

Program Registration

Catching Your Breath


May 8, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Virtual

 

Catching Your Breath is a monthly program focused on learning and practicing stress resilience skills for continued health, balance, and well-being. The program is for family caregivers of adults living with a dementia.

Register

Have a Seat


Thursdays, 12 - 12:30 p.m., Virtual


Have a Seat is a weekly guided meditation program.

Join Zoom

Mitten Minds Support Group


May 16, 3 - 4 p.m., Virtual

 

The Mitten Minds Support Group is a monthly support group for individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early stage dementia. The support group provides a space for individuals living with memory loss to meet and learn from others going through similar experiences.

Register

Soothing Word of the Month

May

1. Expressing possibility. Used to introduce a wish or a hope.

2. Expressing permission.

3. The month of May -  likely named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. Alternatively, the name might have come from the Latin maiores, “elders.”

New Research Opportunity for Caregivers

Dr. Amanda Leggett, Assistant Professor in the Institute of Gerontology and Department of Psychology at Wayne State University, and team are leading a new research study and are looking for caregivers to participate. The study, Measuring Dementia Caregiving Styles, is looking at how caregivers are approaching dementia related care, and using this information to tailor supports and services to caregivers’ unique needs. The study team is recruiting unpaid caregivers currently providing some form of physical assistance, emotional support, or financial assistance for a family member or friend who has a doctor’s diagnosis of an age-related dementia.

Link to Study Flyer

Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center

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