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Caring for a Loved One? Check Out Our Local Online Series.

Posted on 12/11/24 by Ted Carey

We know family caregivers’ responsibilities can be challenging. There are times it may seem overwhelming. AARP is here to provide family caregivers some solutions that may save them time and money and provide them with more support.

In honor of National Family Caregivers Month in November, AARP Massachusetts offered an online series to empower caregivers with knowledge, resources, and strategies to navigate your caregiving journey effectively. Below, you'll find the recordings.

Whether you are a caregiver now or may be in the future, this series has something for you!
 

Making Cents of Caregiving Costs

Making Cents of Caregiving Costs

In this session, we’ll introduce essential information caregivers need to more easily manage the costs and complexities of caregiving - information on creating a health care plan, choosing a power of attorney and budgeting for housing and transportation costs, for example.
AARP’s Financial Workbook for Family Caregivers is reviewed, and we explore how to incorporate the tips into your caregiving.

Navigating the Dementia Care Journey
In collaboration with The Alzheimer’s Association

Navigating the Dementia Care Journey In collaboration with The Alzheimer’s Association

Presented by Brent P. Forester, MD, MSc., and Thomas Harrison, authors of The Complete Family Guide to Dementia: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Parent and Yourself
Dementia is harder for families to care for than any other illness, but families often don’t plan ahead for this and wind up in a cycle of stress and crisis. Journalist Thomas Harrison and leading geriatric psychiatrist Brent Forester explain the unique challenges of dementia caregiving and the need to "care smarter, not harder" in order to help loved ones maintain the best possible quality of life. They also discuss how families and professional caregivers can work together more smoothly to improve outcomes, not just for the person with dementia but for the family as well.

Six Pillars of Brain Health

Six Pillars of Brain Health

Find out what your lifestyle would look like if you filled it with brain-healthy behaviors. A lifestyle that supports brain health can make a big difference to your well-being throughout your life, and it’s within your power to make the daily choices that can get you there.
Learn about “six pillars” that support brain health. These lifestyle habits include cultivating social connections, managing stress, getting high-quality sleep and moving around more, for example.

Caregiver Conversations: Journey of Hope
In collaboration with The Alzheimer’s Association

Caregiver Conversations: Journey of Hope

No one size fits all when it comes to caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Caregivers may provide help with personal care, paying bills and coordinating medical care while also providing emotional support for the person living with dementia and extended family. Regardless if you are a caregiver close by or caregiving from a distance, as the disease progresses, one’s role as a caregiver also changes. It is helpful to know what to expect and how to prepare. In this panel discussion caregivers share tips, strategies, and lessons learned throughout their journey.
Panel Discussion was moderated by Sandra Harris, State President, AARP Massachusetts, Co-founder and Co-Leader of the Massachusetts Coalition to Build Community and End Loneliness.

HomeFit

AARP MA Homefit Presentation

Discover smart design changes you can make for a safer and more comfortable home. Small home improvements can make a big difference in your life. They can make your home a space that enables you to “age in place,” to thrive as your living situation changes. They can also make life easier for visitors of all ages, from grandchildren to adult children and friends. Learn about the free AARP HomeFit Guide, which can help you assess each room in your house and offers home-improvement tips on everything from installing comfort-height toilets and shower seating to choosing slip-free rugs and exterior lighting that doesn’t require a ladder to change the bulb.

Managing Celiac And Other Dietary Needs Around The Holidays

Managing Celiac & Other Dietary Needs around the Holidays

In this final session of our fall caregiving webinar series, we will have representatives from the National Celiac Association (NCA) joining us and helping us to understand celiac disease and other gluten-related conditions. The only treatment for celiac disease is a strict adherence to the gluten-free diet, so NCA will be sharing with us how to safely eat gluten free outside of the home and what you, as a caregiver, can do to safely prepare food for any setting and occasion. As the holidays are upon us, we want to ensure that our friends and family members with dietary restrictions can enjoy the festivities in a safe and delightful way.



Family and friends are the backbones of America's care system, providing the bulk of care for older people in the U.S. as they strive to live independently. If you are not currently a family caregiver, at some point in your life you either will be a caregiver or need a caregiver.

AARP Caregiving Resource Center at https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/
For Massachusetts specific caregiving resources check out: https://states.aarp.org/massachusetts/caregiver-resources
To help advocate for caregivers, send us an an email ma@aarp.org

This story is provided by AARP Massachusetts. Visit the AARP Massachusetts page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide
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