Caregiving for Seniors 2011 Conference on Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ Melbourne Hilton Rialto – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Caregiving for Seniors 2011 Conference on Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ Melbourne Hilton Rialto – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thanks to the many generous community sponsors of this event,
there is no charge to Family Caregivers!

Conference Keynote:
Teena Cahill, Psy.D – Nationally acclaimed Speaker, Humorist, Author and TV and Radio Show Host will present “Nurturing the Nurturers.” Her audiences are inspired, motivated, and armed with ideas for managing stress without distress, and enhancing innate resilience to bounce back from adversity.
• Empowering Caregivers to Make Difficult Choices, Viki Kind, MA author of The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making ~ Making Choices For Those Who Can’t
• Caregiver Essentials – our panel of experts representing the Medical, Legal and Social Work Professions will field your questions
• Following your complimentary lunch, enjoy dessert with Dr. Rosemary Laird, Medical Director, Health First Aging Institute, author of “Take Your Oxygen First”
• Valuable Community Resources and Connections to Other Caregivers

Have a kind and respectful day.

The Wellness Community/Cancer Support Community will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 18, 2011, 7-8:30PM

The Wellness Community/Cancer Support Community will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 18, 2011, 7-8:30PM

Cancer Support Community Greater Miami
8609 South Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33143
305/668-5900
Fax: 305/668-0048
info@cancersupportcommunitymiami.org
http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/

If you, or a loved one, are living with cancer, you are not alone. Three out of four families are affected by cancer. It’s a difficult time. Dealing with treatment and its side effects can be a struggle for both patients and families. Juggling family, professional and financial responsibilities can be overwhelming. Coping with the emotional burden can be exhausting.

Too often the practical and medical issues push the psychological issues aside. Patients often keep their deepest fears and worries to themselves, reluctant to share thoughts of hopelessness with family members who are supporting and caring for them. Family members will keep some of their deepest emotions to themselves as well, protecting the patient from feelings of anxiety, despair, and even anger.

There is good news: the Cancer Support Community can help. And it’s FREE.

It’s a place where both patients and family members will find support, education and hope. Support groups address emotional issues for patients and families. Educational workshops get important questions answered in a non-clinical setting. Stress management programs enhance health and well being. Every program is offered free of charge. All are lead by professionals licensed in their fields of expertise.

The comfortable, homelike environment at the Cancer Support Community makes sharing and mutual support easy.

We do not offer medical treatments, alternative treatments, or hospice care. Our services are offered as a compliment to conventional treatment, although anyone undergoing any kind of care is welcome. People come at diagnosis, during or at the end of treatment, at recurrence or several years out of treatment. They all come to learn they are not alone in their fight–whether for physical, emotional or spiritual recovery. Together, they regain a sense of control over their lives and ultimately discover that hope is a valuable tool irrespective of the stage of disease.
Our Mission
To ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.
“My group is one place where I can be totally honest and feel and express my emotions. I leave feeling cleansed and inspired, hope fresh again.” – Participant, the Cancer Support Wellness Community.

Our Philosophy
“Cancer patients who participate in their fight for recovery, along with their healthcare team, will improve the quality of their lives and may enhance the possibility of their recovery.”
-Harold H. Benjamin, Ph.D.
Founder, The Wellness Community (now known as Cancer Support Community)

Our Beliefs Include:
• Many, many people recover from cancer.
• Cancer patients can benefit from sharing experiences and support with others, and need not be alone.
• Cancer patients can participate in their recovery along with their healthcare team.
• Family members and friends of an individual with cancer, including children, can also benefit from information and support.
There is Hope.
The Cancer Support Community Greater Miami (formerly known as The Wellness Community-Greater Miami) is part of a national organization that has been providing services to adult cancer patients and their loved ones for over 28 years. The first Wellness Community opened in Santa Monica California in 1982. In July 2009, The Wellness Community-National and Gilda’s Club Worldwide joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community.

Today, the Cancer Support Community provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of nearly 50 local affiliates, more than 100 satellite locations and online. To find a community-based center in your area, visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org.

Classic Residence of Pompano Beach will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 20, 2011, 11- 1:30

Classic Residence of Pompano Beach will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 20, 2011, 11-1:30. RSVP to make your lunch reservation.

1371 South Ocean Beach
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Tel: 888-494-2177
E-mail: mktgpompanobeach@viliving.com
Web site: www.viliving.com/communities/pompanobeach

For residents of Classic Residence, exceptional amenities and services are not considered extras. Whether you are savoring a freshly prepared meal prepared by our executive chef, taking a swim in the pool, dining with friends in the penthouse dining room or enjoying the music in our piano lounge, our amenities and services are included to enrich your life every day.

Just Steps from Your Door
Art studio
Auditorium
Boat dock
Club-style dining room
Computer center with high-speed Internet access
Fitness center
Heated pool, whirlpool and sundeck
Library
Ocean and beach access
Piano lounge and dance floor
Picnic area
Private dining room for entertaining family and friends
Wellness center

We Take Care of the Details
Concierge assistance
Access to health care resources at the on-site wellness center
Maintenance of home, buildings and grounds
Move-in coordination
Physician referral services
Scheduled transportation for community-sponsored trips and outings
Weekly laundering of bed linens
Weekly light housekeeping

Many additional services, such as a salon, dry cleaning pickup and drop-off, and guest accommodations/meals are available at an additional charge.

Free – Thinking Ahead Workbook and Videos available for those with Developmental Disabilities and other Cognitive Impairments

Good news. The California Coalition for Compassionate Care has created a workbook and set of videos for documenting the wishes of those with developmental delays. (It would also work well for those with other cognitive impairments.) You can get free copies of the workbook sent to you or you can download it directly. It is called “Thinking Ahead.”

Here is the website: http://www.coalitionccc.org/thinking-ahead.php

Thinking Ahead: My Life at the End – Enables people with developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves and stay in control of their lives through the very end.

Thinking Ahead: My Life at the End contains words, symbols and pictures that facilitate discussion with and decision-making by persons with developmental disabilities regarding their values, goals and treatment preferences at the end of life. The DVD serves as an instruction manual, containing vignettes that illustrate in simple, graphic format the purpose and use of the materials.

Thinking Ahead was made possible through a Wellness grant awarded to Alta California Regional Center by the California Department of Developmental Services and reflects a collaboration among Alta California, Golden Gate and Eastern Los Angeles Regional Centers, Board Resource Center and the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California.

* Thinking Ahead English
* Thinking Ahead Spanish
* Thinking Ahead Chinese

To order a free hard-copy of the Thinking Ahead workbook and DVD, send an email to
info@finalchoices.org.

Additional Resources

Providing Hospice Care to Residents of Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled – A guide to facilitate access to hospice services by persons who live in intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled.

Have a kind and respectful day.

When Living Alone is No Longer an Option

When Living Alone is No Longer an Option
Presented by the Thousand Oaks’ Council on Aging

DATE:
January 5, 2011
TIME:
Reception 12 noon
Meeting time 1:00 – 3:00p.m.
LOCATION:
City Hall
2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Reception—Oakroom
Meeting-Boardroom

Guest Speakers:
Author and Clinical Bioethicist Viki Kind,
Long Term Care Insurance Specialist Carol Knowles
Long Term Care Services of Ventura County Ombudsman Kathy Terry,
Lawyer and Estate Planning Specialist Robert Triplett
Moderator
Andrea Gallagher, Rethinking Your Future

“Meet the Speakers” Reception prior to presentations from
12-12:45 in the Oakroom (Next door to the meeting room)

RSVP for reception only or for additional info:
Council on Aging (805) 449-2743 or
e-mail: CouncilonAging@toaks.org

Live on local television and archived on website.
www.toaks.org/seniors

Harris County Public Library presentation in Katy, TX on 11/20/10

Viki will be giving a presentation at the Harris County Public Library in Katy, TX on 11/20/10 from 2-3pm.

The Harris County Public Library system (HCPL) has an annual circulation of over 10 million items. Harris County, which encompasses Houston, Texas, is one of the largest urban counties in the U.S. The HCPL network of 26 community-focused branch libraries is committed to providing excellent customer service, strong collections, and cutting edge information technology for the 21st Century. Reference assistance is available in person, by phone, by email, and “virtually” through the HCPL eBranch.

The Library maintains a collection of over 2 million items, with traditional printed books and audiovisual resources including videos, CDs, and DVDs. Electronic resources on the the World Wide Web, eBooks, and many online databases are integrated into the traditional collection. Reflecting the multicultural nature of their City and County, foreign language materials — particularly in Spanish and Vietnamese, as well as other languages — are included in the collection development program.

With over 1,000 public computers available for access to electronic resources including the Internet, HCPL and other library catalogs, as well as numerous general and specialized databases made available through library subscriptions, information technology at HCPL is world class. All public service computers also offer the full MS Office suite making word processing (MS Word), database management (MS Access), spreadsheet (Excel), and presentation (PowerPoint) software available to all Houstonians. A growing number of branch locations offer laptop computers for check-out on a Harris County Library Card and even wireless connectivity for customers who wish to bring their own laptops to the library. Kurzweil technology is installed at strategic locations throughout the library network to enable effective use of electronic resources for customers who are visually impaired. Library staff offer ongoing training on library resources, software, and equipment resources.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Viki will be presenting with POLST Coalition in L.A. on 10/28/10

The Coalition for Compassionate Care of California is a statewide partnership of more than 95 regional and statewide organizations dedicated to the advancement of palliative medicine and end-of-life care in California. Their mission is to promote high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care for all Californians.

POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a form that states what kind of medical treatment patients want toward the end of their lives. Printed on bright pink paper, and signed by both a doctor and patient, POLST helps give seriously ill patients more control over their end-of-life care.

Membership is open to any organization or individual that wants to support high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care for all Californians.
Membership Benefits include:
* Connection to a statewide, multi-disciplinary effort to ensure quality end-of-life care
* Access to cutting-edge ideas, tools and resources
* Timely legislative updates
* Networking at the annual CCCC membership conference
* CCCC’s monthly email newsletter
* Listing as a member on the CCCC website
* Discounted registration fees for selected CCCC programs, events and materials
* Being part of a larger public policy voice to impact end-of-life issues

Have a kind and respectful day.

2010 Memory Walk – Los Angeles, CA November 7, 2010

Viki will be exhibiting at the 2010 Memory Walk – Los Angeles benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association on Sunday, November 7, 2010.

The Memory Walk is a 5K Walk at Century Park, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA starting at 7am PST. When you register for the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®, you’re joining a nationwide community of thousands of people who are standing up and participating in the fight against this devastating disease.

Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $300 million for the cause.

All Memory Walk donations benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

They provide services to those affected by Alzheimer’s; advocate for policy change and research funding; and advance research toward prevention, brain health treatment and a cure. Their organization has offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and chapter affiliates nationwide that serve the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s every day. Their vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Interview with Pamilla DeLeon-Lewis, “Empowering Women with Breast Cancer,” on Oct. 27, 1PM Pacific

Interview with Pamilla DeLeon-Lewis, “Empowering Women with Breast Cancer,” on Oct. 27, 1PM Pacific – blogtalkradio.com/kindethics

This will be an amazing interview with an amazing woman. She is one of my heroes.

http://www.pamilladeleon-lewis.com

Pamilla is the CEO/Founder of the Caribbean American Breast Cancer Organization (CabcoUSA) and she wears several hats. This quintessential woman is the daughter of the late great award winning calypso legend, Rafael deLeon aka The Roaring Lion. She is a breast cancer survivor and an award winning poet and author, and the ‘Woman of the Year 2006;’ she is on the Board of Advisors at SUNY Downstate Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, and is dedicating her efforts to empower the Caribbean and African American Community in its fight against cancer.Through her confrontational poetry, her songwriting, her motivational speaking, and through media she boldly challenges the enemy, by literally laughing at cancer daily. Chuckling Choonks is a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher affiliated with Dr. Madan Kataria’s School of Laughter Yoga and a Certified Coach Practitioner.
This breast cancer activist is also a Brooklyn Team Leader of the Legislative Ambassador for the American Cancer Society.

She has two books available. Her recent book, “Side Effects – The Untold Story,” is available on Amazon. For more information go to www.pamilladeleonlewis.com. Her award winning Book of the Year- 2005 is a Life-affirming triumph over breast cancer chronicled ” Smiling Thru the Tears: A Breast Cancer Survivor Odyssey” By Pamela deLeon-Lewis

ISBN: 1413770703 PublishAmerica Smiling

Thru the Tears is a collection of over 100 poems documenting Pamela deLeon-Lewis’ journey through, and eventual triumph over, breast cancer. If the cover, which shows a smiling and radiantly healthy-looking young woman is any indication, she’s doing well. Indeed, one is startled to learn, through these poems, that deLeon-Lewis is in her 50s, and a grandmother. The cycle begins with intimations of wrongness as the poet attributes the beginning of her cancer to her father’s death and the stress of 9/1 1 which sent her career as a consultant into disarray. She even dreams of being told she has cancer. Yet, when the news comes in real life, it’s a shocker. She writes in “Dream Becomes Reality”: “I knew there was something wrong; Daily the signs were getting so strong.” The resulting poems confirm and reaffirm her absolute faith in God. Some of them read like prayers or Psalms. A series of wonderfully angry poems shout her defiance in the face of life-threatening illness, as in the lines of “I’ll Stand Tall”: “But I refuse to stoop to you. You can’t conquer me at all.” She refers to the cancer itself as DeMon, a play, one guesses, on “demon” and “The Man,” the oppressor, the thing that’s out to do her in. There are homages to friends, to the “Chemo Squad” and the “Radiation Squad.” Yet while she lauds the help of her squads, she doesn’t spare the reader the agony of her treatment: “I had sores in my mouth; I couldn’t eat. Pains in my legs, my feet, and my hands; I had pains in my eyes, pains in my head. So much pain it was blowing my mind,” (from “I Remember … Part I.”)

There are poems of gratitude for the medical team that helped her, her daughters, her grandchildren, her aunties, her mother, her dead father, her neighbor, her younger daughter’s babysitter, the folks in a cancer support chatroom, Oprah Winfrey (“Ms. Oprah Winfrey is positively the world’s greatest incentive for me”) and even a stranger who smiles at her on the street, and poems. There are poems that remind the reader that the aftermath of even a successful battle against breast cancer is hard. She still has pain, she can’t lift her right arm, and the treatment even damaged her brain. Some poems contemplate what it’s like to have one’s right breast amputated (she used to refer to her breast as “lost”). When we learn that the doctors have found a calcification in her left breast, the suspense is comparable to anything in a murder mystery novel. Our relief when we find out that all is well is thorough. The book ends with a poem by her grandson, Jahlani Andrew Roberts: “I am happy to say she is now Cancer Free!!! Now she has time to hang with me.” Smiling Thru Tears is a triumphant, life-affirming book.

Viki will be presenting at the WRC-NAPGCM Conference on 10/16/10 from 10-11:15am PST in Costa Mesa, CA

Viki will be presenting at the WRC-NAPGCM 20th Annual Conference on 10/16/10 from 10-11:15am PST at The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA.

The 20th Annual WRC-NAPGCM (Western Region Geriatric Care Management)  “Professionalism & Excellence: Navigating the Course” Conference will be held October 14-17, 2010 in Costa Mesa, CA.  In addition to great networking, many opportunities to visit with exhibitors and dynamic general sessions, they will be offering a total of 15 incredible breakout sessions with clinical, business and legal/ethical sessions offered at each time.

A Geriatric Care Manager is a health and human services professional, such as a gerontologist, nurse, social worker, or counselor, with a specialized body of knowledge and experience related to aging and elder care issues.

A Professional Geriatric Care Manager (PGCM) is a member of the National GCM Association and has committed to adhering to the GCM Pledge of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The PGCM assists older adults and persons with disabilities in attaining their maximum functional potential. The PGCM strives to respect the autonomy of the individual and delivers care coordination and support services with sensitivity to preserve the dignity and respect of each individual. In addition, the PGCM is an experienced guide and resource for families of older adults and others with chronic needs.

Professional Geriatric Care Managers can offer:

Evaluations to identify problems, eligibility for assistance and need for services.
Personalized services specifically to meet the client’s wants and needs, including information referral and placement in facilities. Customized care plans are designed to institute the appropriate services.
Counseling and support to seniors and their families.
Liaison assistance for families at a distance.
Accessibility since many GCM members are available after hours and on weekends.
Continuity of care management to reduce miscommunication, time, stress, and costs to clients.
Monitor the quality of services being delivered by service providers such as the health care system.
Efficiency and flexibility because GCM services are streamlined and client-centered, not complicated by bureaucratic red tape.
Cost control. GCM members strive to reduce inappropriate institutional care and overuse of services. They match the service to the client’s needs and help contain costs. Ongoing monitoring can prevent costly crises and unnecessary hospitalizations.
Quality control. GCM has adopted standards for practice for all its members. In addition, all full members are reviewed for educational and experience requirements prior to acceptance into the Association.
Review of financial, legal, or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists to avoid future problems and conserve assets.

Have a kind and respectful day.

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