Four Tools for Making Difficult Life & Health Decisions

Prospect Park Residence, a full-service senior living community in Brooklyn, NY, will host an informational session for families, caregivers and healthcare professionals titled, “Four Tools for Making the Difficult Life and Health Decisions”.

The event will take place on Wednesday, June 30, 6-7:30 pm. The discussion will be led by author Viki Kind, MA, a clinical bioethicist, medical educator and hospice volunteer.

Reservations are required.

The session will provide attendees with information and guidance on
how to make the right medical decisions for loved ones with care and
compassion while respecting what is or was important to that person.

Prospect Park Residence is located at One Prospect Park West at Grand Army Plaza, directly across the street from Prospect Park. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.prospectparkresidence.com or call (718) 622-8400.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Join Viki for a CME Lecture at Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas on 6/23/10

Join Viki Kind, M.A. author of “The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’t” as she gives a CME Lecture on Improving Healthcare Communication at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.

Sunrise has been re-certified as a primary stroke center for the next two years! The Joint Commission sent a surveyor to Sunrise in February 2010 as part of the re-certification process and the examination of our data, processes and outcomes went extremely well. Sunrise had the first certified primary stroke center in the valley and no other facility in the area offers a more comprehensive program.

When:
June 23, 2010 from 8-9am and 1:15-2:15pm

Where:
Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
3186 S Maryland Pkway
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone: (702) 731-8000

This event is free for all medical personnel.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Join Viki at Barnes & Noble, Las Vegas on 6/23 from 4-6pm

Viki Kind, MA is happy to announce she will be giving a free presentation at Barnes & Noble in Las Vegas, NV on Wednesday, June 23rd from 4-6pm.

Viki is the author of The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’t.

When:
Wednesday, June 23, 2010, from 4-6 PM
Where:
Barnes & Noble
Best on the Boulevard
3860 Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-734-2900

Viki’s book will be available for purchase and she will be on hand to sign your copy!

Have a kind and respectful day.

Denise Brown interviews Viki on 6/21/10 at 9:30am PST

Denise Brown interviews Viki Kind on June 21st, at 9:30AM Pacific on BlogTalkRadio about her new book, The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making. Listen live or download later at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/caregiving

Your Caregiving Journey, with Denise Brown, delves into discussions about your caregiving situations. Each week, she tackles a topic related to the challenges of eldercare.

Denise has authored “Take Comfort, Reflections of Hope for Caregivers”
Denise M. Brown takes 100 words–including the unlikely blizzard, kitchen and umbrella–and then turns each into a reflection. The reflections focus on a family caregiver’s reality, sprinkled with hope. Denise’s insights about the caregiving experience feel like a warm hug, a helpful smile and an encouraging nudge.

“The Caregiving Years, Six Stages to a Meaningful Journey”
The Caregiving Years helps family caregivers of aging relatives answer these questions: Why me? Why now? What now? Follow the journey of two family caregivers as they make their way through the six stages of caregiving. The handbook includes pages for your thoughts and insights, as well as two tip sheets for quick references to the stages, your purposes and your challenges.

Denise also offers coaching. Denise coaches family caregivers in individual and group settings. She also coaches professionals and businesses working with family caregivers.Coaching takes place over the phone with sessions scheduled at your convenience (including evenings and weekends).

Have a kind and respectful day.

Viki interviews Dale Carter, author of Transitioning Your Aging Parent: A Five Step Guide Through Crisis and Change, on June 18th at 9AM PST.

Interview with Dale Carter, author of Transitioning Your Aging Parent: A Five Step Guide Through Crisis and Change, on Friday, June 18th at 9AM PST. You can call in to listen live or to ask questions at (347) 945-5152 at blogtalkradio.com/kindethics.

It is my pleasure to interview Dale as she discusses her new book, Transitioning Your Aging Parents. It was written to help adult children and families navigate the many changes their aging parents will face. Dale Carter has developed a new framework, ADAPT, from her personal experience, her background as an educator and project manager, and a sincere desire to help families and their aging parents. Readers will learn how to use the framework, apply specific strategies, and seek out appropriate resources that are right for their situation. Personal stories are woven throughout to illustrate the concepts.

–Discover how to approach any change or crisis in your parent’s life with clarity and confidence.

–Discover how this new framework will guide you in making the right decisions for your parent while balancing your own personal needs and family responsibilities.

“It’s almost as though you took all my years of training and managed to put order to it. The ADAPT method of caregiving will decrease stress and give great comfort to families in the eldercare world. My fear is that we can’t get it out to people fast enough.”

~ P.K. Beville, M.S., Founder, Second Wind Dreams & Geriatric Specialists

To buy: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/transitioning-your-aging-parent-a-5-step-guide-through-crisis/10909385

Dale’s website – http://www.transitionagingparents.com/

Have a kind and respectful day.

Hospice Radio with Dr. Zoe A. Lewis interviews Viki on June 14, 10AM pacific

Hospice Radio with Dr. Zoë A. Lewis interviews Viki about her new book, The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making – Making Choices for Those Who Can’t on June 14th, 10AM pacific, on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/drzoehospiceradio

Active in both physician and community education on Alzheimer’s disease and end-of-life care for more than 15 years, Dr. Lewis has presented for Medical Grand Rounds, State and National level conferences, and at skilled nursing facilities and nursing and medical schools across the country. In 2009, she was one of many chosen faculty speakers in her area of expertise, ‘dementia and hospice care’, for the National Council on Aging. and has presented in the past for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization on volunteer service in hospice.

Dr. Lewis is an internist, hospice physician,author, consultant, radio show producer and host and national speaker. She is actively promoting her books, “I Hope They Know: The Essential Handbook of Alzheimer’s Disease and Care,” and “La Guía Holística para la Enfermedad de Alzheimer”. She appears for community service grassroots outreach, often by invitation from the Alzheimer’s Association local chapters at a variety of venues.

“Keep Your Wits! Seasoning For Reasoning”, is her current research project. This is book for Alzheimer Disease Prevention, looking at diet and exercise as possible strategies for prevention. Hope Through Knowledge Resources is a Miami Beach, Florida, privately funded grassroots semi-volunteer coalition, operating as a national web-based resource with newsletter and internet radio program serving as a focus on aging, dementia care and end-of-life care issues. The focus of the community outreach is to meet the needs of consumers, the general public and service providers by describing an array of existing services, programs and resources for the general public.

Website: http://hopethroughknowledge.org/
Books: “I Hope They Know… The Essential Handbook on Alzheimer’s Care”

Order her book in English: http://www.virtualbookworm.com/bookstore/product/I_hope_they_know.html
Order her book in Spanish: http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bookstore&Product_Code=I_Hope_They_Know_SPANISH&Category_Code

Have a kind and respectful day.

Empowering Caregivers to Make Good Decisions Event in Thousand Oaks – June 12

Grand Oaks Senior Living Proudly Presents – Viki Kind, MA

Author of The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’t

A Free Educational Seminar for Families and Caregivers
“Empowering Caregivers to Make Good Decisions”

When:
Saturday, June 12, 2010, from 1:30PM to 3:30 PM
Where:
Grand Oaks Senior Living
2177 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
(Note: Please park on Thousand Oaks Blvd.)

Viki’s book will be available for purchase and she will be on hand to sign your copy!
A percentage of proceeds will be donated to the Hospice of the Conejo

Refreshments will be Served
RSVP by June 10, 2010 to 805-370-5400

Have a kind and respectful day.

Helping our patients get the help they need when their senses fail

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) http://www.asha.org

It is so important to make sure that your senior patients get check ups for both hearing and seeing. Don’t assume that the mental changes you are seeing mean there is a brain or psychological issue. Sometimes it is a senses issue. And your patient may or may not know it is happening since it changes happen slowly over time. I didn’t realize that my dad had such poor vision until I sat with him during his eye appointment. Then I understood how much he was missing and how I needed to make sure we modified his space to help him with his visual limitations. I wish the doctor had taken a more proactive approach to helping me with my dad. Instead, he just documented what was happening and moved on to the next patient. I sure could have used his advice and guidance about what this vision loss meant to my dad and how I could help.

Language barriers also create an obstacle to getting what one needs. Unfortunately, I see healthcare professionals discount or ignore someone with speech limitations and turn to the family member instead. I know we are all rushed in medicine but we have to take a stand and say no, I am not going to rush this person through because my patient needs me. It also happens in our day-to-day life when we want someone in front of us in line to hurry up but they can’t because it takes them longer to speak.

Just because people can’t speak well or speak fast, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a voice in their lives. There are other ways to communicate. People can write, type, point to words or pictures on a board or sign. Many times it is just about having patience. Having the patience to sit still while the other person finds the words. And what I have found with my hospice work is that people communicate even when they can’t say a word. So, sit still and listen. You make a difference when you do.

Have a kind and respectful day.

National Nursing Home Week – This Year’s Theme – “Enriching Every Day”

Thank you American Health Care Association for these wonderful ideas about making this week special at your local nursing home and making sure we don’t stop there but work to enrich every day. http://www.ahcancal.org/events/national_nursing_home_week/Pages/Activities.aspx#specialservices

Enrichment through Words…

Grab a Pen and Make a Friend! Do you like to write and receive notes? Then Grab a Pen and Make a Friend! Having a pen pal club is a great way to learn about others and start an enriching relationship through the sharing of stories and interests. All you need for this activity is a pen, paper and “pal.” Of course, pen pal writing could also occur on the internet with e-mail. The activity could be small, with residents writing to other residents or staff. Take it a step further by partnering with another facility, local high school, volunteer group etc. At the end of the week, encourage residents and other participants to reflect on what they learned (or hope to learn) about others. Consider Grab a Pen and Make a Friend a part of every week throughout the year and watch relationships blossom and grow! Don’t forget to order the official 2010 National Nursing Home Week® pens!

Poetry Reading A literary art, poetry can bring deep reflection and comfort, inspire a conversation and enlighten the mind. With a focus on enriching, the act of poetry reading can illuminate the atmosphere of a nursing home through spoken words. Consider hosting a poetry reading at your facility. Have an “open mic” where anyone is welcome to read a poem they select or share their own poem! Family members, friends and others from the community can also listen and share their poetry too. Make it a memorable event with tea and cookies and invite everyone to attend and participate. Afterwards, have a question and answer session or an open discussion.

Don’t forget to advertise this event in the community section of you local newspaper. See the PR Tips for more information.

“Thank You” Note Scavenger Hunt Thank you notes not only show gratitude, but also add a personal touch that can be cherished and remembered for years. This week, encourage residents to write a note of thanks to their favorite staff person or fellow resident. Have them reflect on a characteristic that makes that person unique and put it into words. During the week, ask residents to post or tape the notes all over the facility and have staff members find them and read them out loud to share with everyone during a Staff Appreciation Lunch. Staff can even write a thank you note back!

Share Stories with the Veterans History Project Do you have a veteran in your facility? Consider honoring him or her during NNHW by sharing their story with the rest of the world. The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American veterans. Stories can be told through personal narratives, letters, photos and other ways. Stories and materials submitted to The Veterans History Project will be archived and housed within the Library of Congress online database and available to Congress and researchers who visit the Library of Congress. Visit the Library of Congress for more information, registration and tips for hosting a community event in honor of your veteran. To share your veteran’s story online, consider uploading a video on YouTube and sharing it on Facebook!

Enrichment through Music…

American Senior Idol Do you think your residents have what it takes to be the next American Senior Idol? You don’t have to turn on the television to watch stars be born, just look to the talent at your facility! This week, invite residents (and staff too) to sing songs that enrich the heart and the mind. A little healthy competition is always a good way to generate interest and participation in an activity. Everyone can earn a reward for participating (see pages 11-14 for NNHW themed products). Make your American Senior Idol a fun competition by getting other residents and staff involved as judges and inviting the community at large to attend. You can ramp up the excitement by inviting your local high school glee club or show choir to “open” the competition with a performance. Many high schools have a community service requirement in their student curriculum. Check with your local school system for details.

“Senior Prom” A good way to keep up the momentum during NNHW is to have a “Senior Prom.” Bring back those treasured high school memories or create new ones. Try partnering with local high schools to participate in their Prom or host one right in the facility. Allowing young and old to mix and mingle gives new meaning to the phrase “Senior Prom.” This event can create long lasting memories that will be talked about well after graduation!

Don’t forget to advertise this event in the community section of you local newspaper. See the PR Tips page for more information.

Enrichment through Images…

Take Pictures As the activities and fun continue throughout the week encourage residents and staff to make these memories last by taking pictures. Equip them with disposable cameras and encourage all to take a snapshot of their favorite moments. Once you develop the pictures put your creative thinking cap on. There are several ways to use the photos.

You can:

* Post photos in resident rooms and throughout the facility;
* Put together and display a facility-wide collage of all the pictures for all to see;
* Make a slide show and display it in the cafeteria or activity room for as long as you like;
* Encourage residents to share their favorite photo during a group activity; or
* Have a contest to turn the best pictures into a 12 month calendar.

Don’t forget to post your pictures on the NNHW Facebook Fan Page!

Enrichment through Crafts…

Quilt A timeless activity for residents and staff is quilting. This popular pastime allows all participants to chat and learn more about each other while unleashing their creative ability through fabric. Most likely, you already have a quilting superstar in your facility who can help everyone get started. If not, check your local newspaper to contact your nearest quilting club for assistance or get started on your own by visiting How to Make a Quilt. The quilt can be donated to a local library, a homeless shelter, or it could be kept in the facility as a token from the week. A lap quilt is another great idea! Don’t have time to make enough for everyone? Have everyone help to make a smaller number of lap quilts and raffle them off to residents during the “Senior Prom.”

Birthday Boxes Everybody has a birthday, and NNHW is a great time to remember them. Birthday Boxes are a simple idea that can bring tons of cheer throughout the year. During NNHW week, ask residents to decorate their own Birthday Box. These can be tissue boxes, shoe boxes, or any small box with a lid. After the decorating is done, have residents and staff write down special notes about everyone else and put them in the respective Birthday Box. As an alternative, write birthday notes during the birthday week. After all notes are collected in the Birthday Box, read them aloud. Residents can then put their notes in a scrapbook or on their own wall for all to see!

Enrichment through Special Services…

Staff Appreciation Day Make one day all about the staff. Honor staff that strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Plan a special lunch in honor of them, invite families and have volunteers from the community serve them. During the lunch have residents tell why their closest caregiver is so important to them. Encourage resident families that have a special bond with staff members to show their appreciation with flowers or gifts. You can even reach out to your local media contact and encourage them to profile an outstanding staff member in a local publication or news cast.

Prayer Service A prayer service can enrich the spirit as well as the heart. During this special week, invite all to attend a special service celebrating the members of the nursing home “family” and to remember those that have passed on. Consult with your facility’s spiritual advisor to arrange the details of the service. This serves as a perfect prelude to a Mothers and Fathers Brunch.

Mothers and Fathers Brunch This Mother’s Day, kick off NNHW by hosting a Mothers and Fathers Brunch. Show all mothers and fathers just how special they are by preparing and serving a delicious meal in their honor. Plan a three course brunch menu, complete with hearty breakfast foods, tasty cheeses and meats.

Complete the brunch with a savory dessert. Involve local boy or girl scouts by having them perform a special salute and then serving all mothers and fathers. It’s a great way to nourish the body while enriching the heart!

Memory Garden Springtime is a perfect time to commemorate the passing of loved ones or friends with a memory garden. Planting a memory garden is a beautiful exercise that can heal the heart. Engage residents and staff in this unique activity by involving them from the get-go. Choose a sunny spot where several people can gather. Personalize the flowers or plants that you select by reflecting on those individuals to be remembered. You may select their favorite flowers or favorite scents. You could also select a plant that symbolizes them in a unique way. For example, a chrysanthemum expresses wonderful friendship while magnolias represent dignity. Forget-me-nots are beautiful flowers that can be planted throughout the garden. You can also include small statues, objects or plaques that carry special meaning.

Join me at Circle of Care Leeza’s Place 4th Anniversary Party – Book Signing and Fundraiser

Join me at the Circle of Care Leeza’s Place 4th Anniversary Party!!! May 14th – 3-5PM

Come and celebrate another wonderful year of giving and receiving at Circle of Care Leeza’s Place in Sherman Oak, on May 14th, from 3-5PM. Viki will be signing books and donating a portion of the sale of her new book, The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making – Making Choices for Those Who Can’t to this terrific organization.

Circle of Care Leeza’s Place
5000 Van Nuys Suite 110, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-817-3259 F 818-817-3263

Circle of Care Leeza’s Place is an intimate and safe setting where caregivers and loved ones recently diagnosed with any memory disorder can gather for education and support, and to prepare themselves for the challenging journey ahead. Developed in response to the challenges Leeza Gibbons and her family encountered while seeking specific and needed support, and funded in full by the generosity of our community through the Circle of Care Foundation, Circle of Care Leeza’s Place offers new supportive settings for the purpose of
Educating, Empowering & Energizing.

All programs are FREE OF CHARGE & held on site unless otherwise noted.
Please feel free to contact Stefanie Elkins at 818-817-3259 or selkins@leezasplace.org.

Have a kind and respectful day.

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