Viki will be featured on Author’s Read radio program 7/26/10 at 9am PST

Viki will be featured on blogtalkradio’s Author’s Read program on 7/26/10 at 9am PST.

The Authors Read radio program is a 15 minute program that offers authors, storytellers and poets a chance to read from their published work. There is nothing like hearing a story told the way the writer intended it to be read… straight from the writer’s lips is even better!

Dave and Lillian Brummet, the hosts of Author’s Read have been writing professionally since 1999 starting out as free lance writers – which they continue to do today. To date, they have written 3 nonfiction published books; Trash Talk, Purple Snowflake Marketing, and Towards understanding.

The main focus of their work is to inspire hope in individuals, helping them realize the value of their efforts and encouraging them to become more positive, proactive in life.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Autumn View Gardens in St. Louis will be hosting a lecture on Caregiving on 7/22/10 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Autumn View Gardens in St. Louis will be hosting a lecture on Caregiving on 7/22/10 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Autumn View Gardens is a beautiful assisted-living community located on Schuetz Road in Creve Coeur, a suburb of St. Louis, MO. They have a total of 90 private apartments, including companion suites, with a choice among six apartment styles. All apartments feature private bedrooms, kitchenettes, individual thermostats, large closets, and balconies or patios. Apartments range from 300 to 600 square feet.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Congratulations Winners!!!

Congratulations Winners!!!

Terri Murray
Mitch Feigenberg
Susan Hughes
Laurie Brown
Patricia Raymond
(I will be contacting you for your shipping address.)

Thank you to all the people who wrote and shared your stories with me. You are exactly why I wrote this book. So many people are struggling having to make these tough decisions. My heart is with you.

If you would like to order The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making, the book is available online and at your local bookstore. You can also ask your local library to carry it. (It will take a while for it to get onto the library’s shelf, so if you need it right away, then you should order it for yourself.)

http://www.amazon.com/Caregivers-Path-Compassionate-Decision-Making/dp/1608320413

Have a kind and respectful day.

Viki will be featured on AskMomRN’s radio show on 7/26/10 at 10am

Viki will be featured on blogtalkradio’s AskMomRN’s radio show on 7/26/10 at 10am.

Tamara Walker, RN, the host of MomRN has advice, support, and encouragement to help you on your journey through parenthood. MomRN is walking right alongside you on this path, with two teenage kids of her own. Her eighteen years of motherhood, plus three years as a pediatric nurse, a dozen years as a professional child care provider, and growing up as the oldest sibling of six children has given MomRN a unique variety of parenting experiences and expertise. Her expertise has helped thousands of parents as they strive to be the best parents they can be.

In March 2007, Tamara appeared via video on the Rachael Ray Show providing a helpful parenting tip for a segment on children’s health. She also wrote and starred in “Safety Smarts”, quick safety tips for use between shows for the Smile of a Child television network. Currently, she is a featured writer for Examiner.com and writes articles as the Oklahoma Child Safety Examiner.

The Ask MomRN Show covers a wide variety of parenting, family, safety, and health topics and features several well-known expert guests. Parents are welcome to call in with questions and speak with MomRN and her guests during the show.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Long Term Care Ombudsman of St. Louis will be hosting a presentation on empowering Caregivers to Make Better Decisions on July 22, 2010

Long Term Care Ombudsman of St. Louis will be hosting a presentation on empowering Caregivers to Make Better Decisions on July 22, 2010 from 10am to 12pm.

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of Saint Louis (LTCOP), a United Way agency, is part of a nationwide program which began in 1971 in response to public outcry over abuse and neglect in long-term nursing home facilities. Since its inception there are now over 500 Ombudsman Programs across the United States. LTCOP is the area’s most comprehensive resource that serves residents of licensed long-term care nursing homes and their families.

The St. Louis Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is comprised of professional and specially trained staff and volunteer ombudsman who are assigned to long term care nursing home facilities weekly, getting to know residents and providing advocacy, support, and education about their rights. When requested, ombudsmen act as a voice for resident treatment and care. Ombudsmen can help mediate resolution of grievances and disputes, make referrals and monitor the referrals to see that the problems are resolved. Ombudsman listen to nursing home residents concerns and complaints and work to educate residents about their rights while working with families and facility staff in resolving care and treatment plan issues.

Their mission is “To preserve the quality of life for long-term care residents by empowering residents and their families through education, advocacy and support.”

Have a kind and respectful day.

Lecture at Young at Heart Adult Day Care in St. Louis, MO on July 21, 2010 from 5-7pm

Viki will be speaking at Young at Heart Adult Day Care in St. Louis, MO on July 21, 2010 from 5-7pm.

Research shows that there are thousands of seniors living in our community who do not need a nursing home, but do need help, especially during the day to continue living safely at home.

Young at Heart Adult Day Care provides high quality care for an aging senior, or a family member with a cognitive or physical disability that limits their safety at home. Young at Heart is a good alternative to a nursing home for many people who are not ready to leave their home; and a great option for family members getting worn down with worry and the round the clock commitments of time to provide in-home support.

Owned and operated by Peter Nicolazzi and Laura Bone, Young at Heart Adult Day Care is licensed by the State of Missouri and is a Medicaid Provider. They are also members of the Missouri Adult Day Services Association. Pete has a history of over 20 years in a variety of social work settings. Most recent experience in the past 8 years has been working as a geriatric medical social worker in long term care. Voted Best Customer Service Award of 2003 from Barnes-Jewish Extended Care for superior performance and service to Patients, Families, Visitors and Staff. Laura brings 20 years of nursing experience with a specialty in Rehabilitation Nursing. Voted Nurse Manager of the Year of 2001 from Rehab Care Group. Clinical experience include medical/surgical, acute rehabilitation and Emergency Medicine. Laura is a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. Laura is currently serving as Vice President on the Missouri Adult Day Services Board.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Booklist Magazine Reviews The Caregiver’s Path!

Whitney Scott of Booklist Magazine review’s “The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’t.”

Have a kind and respectful day.

When your loved one is incapacitated, who will make his or her decisions?

Who should make the decisions when this person can’t? The answer to this question could be any one of the following:
Person specified on the Advance Directive
Conservator or guardian
Spouse
Significant other/partner
Adult child of patient
Parent
Adult sibling
Relative
Friend
Family
Healthcare team
Administrator of the nursing home (in some states)

While this is a general list, the answer really depends on where you live, what the patient has specified and if the court has gotten involved. Each state calls the decision maker by a different name: surrogate decision maker, agent, proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare. The laws that determine who should make the decisions also change state by state. For example, the administrator of a nursing home may be allowed to make the decisions in one state, but can’t in a different state.

Another rule that varies is the law that dictates a specific hierarchy of decision makers. A hierarchy means there is a legal order to who will be allowed to make the decisions for someone who has lost capacity. You may need to ask the social worker, the bioethics committee or the legal department at the hospital to help you figure out the appropriate laws in your state.

Here are some tips to consider when choosing your decision maker.
1. Pick someone who will understand what the doctor is saying.
2. Pick someone who knows you well and has listened to what you want.
3. Pick someone who won’t fall apart in a crisis.
4. Pick someone who will do what you have asked, even if it difficult to do.
5. Pick someone who is close by geographically.
6. Write down whom you don’t want to be involved in the decision making.
7. You can pick two or three people to work together as your decision makers.
8. Your spouse, significant other or partner may not be your best choice, and you may want to choose someone else.
9. In the “Other” section of the form, state whom you do and don’t want to be told your medical information.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Making Difficult Life & Medical Decisions presentation at the FSGA Annual Conference 7/17/10

Viki will be giving a presentation at the Florida State Guardianship Association’s (FSGA) Annual Conference on 4 Tools for Making Difficult Life and Medical Decisions on 7/17/10 at 10:50am.

FSGA is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1983 for the improvement of guardianship services. Governed by a Board of Directors representing five geographical areas of the State, FSGA is dedicated to promoting the protection, dignity, and value of incapacitated persons through ethics, advocacy, and the dissemination of information.

FSGA’s mission also includes a focus on furthering the professionalization of guardians as accountable court representatives through education, networking, and legislative action.

Guardianship is the management of the affairs of someone who has been judged unable to manage their own affairs. Generally guardianship is ordered by a court on behalf of someone who is called a ward of the court. A guardian assumes the rights of the ward to make decisions about many aspects of daily life. A guardian is directed by ethics and statute to make decisions in the best interest of the ward.

FSGA members include professional private guardians, corporate guardians and fiduciaries, attorneys, social workers, care managers, government agency and court staff and others interested in the support and advancement of guardianship services and alternative protective services.

Have a kind and respectful day.

n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow 7/18/10 and 7/19/10 in St. Louis

Viki will be attending the n4a’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow all day on July 18th and will be presenting on July 19th from 3:15-4:15pm.

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is the leading voice on aging issues for Area Agencies on Aging and a champion for Title VI Native American aging programs. Through advocacy, training and technical assistance, they support the national network of 629 AAAs and 246 Title VI programs.

They advocate on behalf of their member agencies for services and resources for older adults and persons with disabilities. Action characterizes how they move their agenda forward, and when there is a question about aging, they have the Answers on Aging. They work with their members in achieving their collective mission of building a society that values and supports people as they age.

The n4a 2010 annual conference and tradeshow that runs from July 17-21, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch in St. Louis, MO will celebrate, showcase and facilitate the replication of the most innovative policies, programs and services that assist older adults and people with disabilities.

Have a kind and respectful day.

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