North Central Senior Center, Nov. 9-13

North Central Senior Center, Nov. 9-13

Menu by Earlene DeWinter, Subject to change

Monday — Chili mac casserole, green beans, corn bread, pudding

Tuesday — Cranberries, turkey, dressing, mashed Potatoes and gravy, broccoli Normandy, Pumpkin Bars

Wednesday — Veterans Day – Closed

Thursday — Barbecue pork patty sandwich, potato salad, cookies

Friday — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

Medicare open enrollment has begun. If you need help verifying your Part D (Prescription) coverage, it will be done by phone appointments or video conference. All documentation will be run off for you to review. With changes coming, it is wise to at least check your coverage to make sure all of your medications will be covered. There is a form you will need to fill out before your appointment is scheduled. You may pick this up at the Senior Center in Havre or call and have it mailed to you. If you are just coming into retirement age please schedule an appointment for any help needed with this also.

It is very important to enroll in prescription coverage even if you aren’t taking any medications so you will not receive penalty charges down the road when you do sign up. Remember, supplements do not cover prescriptions. Some retirement programs and veteran programs do have prescription coverage. Thank you.

The Senior Center is providing medical transportation only for now. Remember to call ahead for Friday’s appointments.

We do have a couple of individuals in the community whom are in need of assistance getting to Great Falls three times a week for dialysis. I am working on getting financial help for the transportation. If you know of anyone willing to help with this transportation, please call the Senior Center.

Congregate folks: We are still continuing to provide meals at the Hill County Senior Center as grab and go meals while we are still closed. If you would like to pick up a meal, please be sure to call the center before 10 a.m. to order your meal. Your meals may be picked at the center from 11:45 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday. If you would like to, you may order a meal for one day or put in your order for the entire week. If you would please let us know which meals you would be like ahead of time it would be beneficial in preparation so we are aware of how much food to fix each day.

With the individuals we’ve lost the last few weeks, I do have some openings for commodities for the Hill County area. Call 265-5464 for an application.

Important phone numbers:

Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Tumbleweed Runaway and Family Crisis Program: 259-2558 (local) 1-888-816-4702 (toll free)

Friendship Line by Institute on Aging - The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warm-line for non-emergency emotional support calls. It is a 24-hour toll-free line and the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-Free Line: (800) 971-0016

For those seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montana’s Warm Line.

The senior center’s doors are still closed to the public. We are providing limited services. Help is being given over the phone when possible.

Remember to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly!!! Maintain your personal space. Stay hydrated, especially with this heat. Do outside activities when it is cooler.

We want to thank the individuals who are making masks, especially those whom have brought them to the center. If you are in need of a mask, let us know. We may be able to direct you to a source.

With people getting out and moving around more, remember to use all precautions. If you do not feel comfortable going out, protect yourself and stay home as much as possible. If you do any traveling, especially out of state, remember the 14-day self-quarantine for your own safety.

Scams are getting worse. Some are being very forceful in trying to get your information. Don’t give them any information. Protect your Medicare by read your quarterly Medicare Statement. Some agents are being sneaky in having things billed to you without you or your doctor realizing it. Also, there will be no new Medicare cards with chips … this is another scam. No matter what, do not give out personal information over the phone unless you are sure of the source. If you inadvertently give them any information, contact the Senior Center for the tip sheet to protect yourself. If you need help call the police department or the Senior Center.

We would also appreciate you tracking the phone numbers and what they were about, the time of day and the date, and bringing the list down to the center so we can make a compilation for the powers that be. Some feel none of these calls are occurring in Montana.

Five tips to manage and overcome intense caregiver stress

1. Share duties

All families are quirky to some level, right? But success comes from a family working together..

I was so impressed to see each of my family members doing things they did best. Not just during the funeral preparation but during the entire caregiving process.

• My aunt was the best suited for hands-on care (she lived with grandma her entire life).

• However, my mom and uncle split the other duties based on their likes and strengths.

• Mom was the runner and driver.

• Her brother would provide respite while my aunt went out with my mom.

• My brothers and dad would fix things or help as needed for basic maintenance and cleaning, and even pet care!

• I live eight hours away but offered ongoing coordination, education, and encouragement.

Get out of the house – even outside every day!

2. Get out of the house

This is critical!

My aunt was able to get out of the house and go with friends regularly. I know it she always felt a little guilty, but it was so important. As my grandma’s care needs started increasing, it was more difficult for my aunt to feel like it was okay to go … but that was when it was even more important for her to get out!

That’s when other people stepped in to provide care.

My mom and uncle would take turns sitting with grandma, or a professional aide (partially paid for through a state-funded elderly program) or other friends helped out. Although I noticed her outings were decreasing, she was getting out to have fun. She also had times where she was able to work on a couple of hobbies at home. My aunt was always proud to show off her progress on her work.

Make a rule that you must go out on a regular basis. Hopefully, it becomes easier to leave the guilt at home the more you go.

3. Get outside help to overcome intense caregiver stress

She had outside help – Although some of the help came from family and friends who volunteered, she also received help and services from several agencies.

Caregiving is not something that can be done all alone for the long-term.

My aunt definitely wasn’t alone (and you shouldn’t be either).

The house was clean, and grandma received exceptional care. I just wish my aunt would have taken better care of her own physical, emotional and mental, and spiritual health needs.

As grandma’s care began getting more intensive, it became more time consuming and exhausting for my aunt. She spent a lot of our visits talking about caregiving duties.

4. Know when stress on the care giver is too much

Knowing this now, I wish our family would have considered a discussion to watch for a couple of goals or milestones. Every family will have different situations, but it is important to identify:

• When more help is needed. This can be determined by:

• How many hours/day are needed for direct caregiving

• How much lifting is needed

• Having a family discussion upfront is a great starting place. It removes the ‘giving up’ feeling because the entire family is watching for milestones that had previously been declared to be too much for one caregiver.

• When it is time for a facility or possibly hospice care. Nobody wants to talk about these things. But it is easier to have the discussion if a framework is set up from the beginning. It is especially helpful to ease guilt during the most difficult periods.

Caregiver stress is a real thing and can be dangerous but there are things that can be done to overcome it. Implementing precautions like sharing duties, getting the primary caregiver out of the house, and getting outside help can provide a tremendous amount of support.

Additionally, setting up a plan to know when even more help is needed or when to move your loved one to a facility or hospice care is also extremely valuable.

5. Use your faith to improve your self-care to overcome intense caregiver stress

I didn’t know it then, but I wish I would have known that I could have used my faith to improve my self-care.

In order to fulfill our calling, or serve the Lord to our fullest we need to be mindful of our self-care. The Lord created our bodies and they require self-care.

It doesn’t matter if we think we don’t have time, don’t need it, or even if we feel unworthy to focus on ourselves. We still need it to live out our purpose at our highest ability.

It is likely you are not just taking care of just one person. You may also be trying to take better care of yourself. You take care of others too. Whether you care for your children, support your spouse, serve in a ministry, or maybe even all of the above, it takes strong motivation to make your self-care a priority when you are caring for others.

So consider taking care of yourself as a way to worship and honor the Lord. Find more information here.

In closing, I know that it can be difficult to overcome intense caregiver stress. And, I also know how fast that feeling of overwhelm can happen. So, please implement strategies to support your family caregiver!

And, if you are the primary caregiver, you are going to experience the brunt of the stress, so be especially mindful of your self-care.

Remember these suggestions:

• Share duties

• Get the caregiver out of the house

• Get outside help

• Set caregiving milestones to determine when it is too much

• Use your faith to improve your self-care

The rest of my story … my struggle to overcome intense caregiver stress

On that fall day when I received the phone call that started it all, I picked up the receiver, and my mom stated, “Lisa, my sister passed away today!”

With the death of my aunt, I needed to take care of my grandma. As a nurse, I was ready to do what needed to be done.

Caregiver stress impacts emotions

In a blur of what I assume was packing and phone calls, I somehow ended up on a flight home within a very short time. I numbly sat in the airport during a layover trying to figure out future care options for my grandma.

After I arrived, I noticed we all felt stress, nobody slept well, and there was that constant weird feeling that we were so very busy, but yet not doing anything to move forward. Even though I knew we were all feeling stress, I felt irritable dealing with my family and felt like I was the only one who could do things right for my grandma.

I began to understand how personal emotions can impact a care giver’s day or mood.

Caregiver stress takes over priorities

The stress of caregiving for my grandma caused some tunnel vision so to speak. My only focus was on giving care to grandma. There was no hunger, exhaustion or … anything else. Suggestions from my family to rest or to let someone else take a turn went ignored.

The caregiving experience with my grandma wasn’t at all like the typical nursing caregiving I was familiar with performing.

At work, I knew I was part of a team of other qualified nurses. Nurses quickly hand off care to the oncoming shift nurse. I am comfortable with others taking a turn, feel hunger and fatigue after a 12-hour shift and set limits and only connect emotionally on a professional level.

Caring for my grandmother, I couldn’t let go. I loved her and wanted to do it all for her. Only, I couldn’t see that I wasn’t:

• Providing skilled nursing care, and anyone (who is willing) can learn caregiving

• Taking care of myself-care needs

• Going to be able to give my best long-term

• Saving my mental energy to find a long-term caregiving solution

And just like that, caregiver stress took over my priorities.

So, remember these suggestions:

• Share duties

• Get the caregiver out of the house

• Get outside help

• Set caregiving milestones to determine when it is too much

• Use your faith to improve your self-care