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About a year and a half ago, Carolyn Gerich, an employee relations
specialist in human resources, organized a staff development seminar
on issues involving elder care.
Each session of the human resources department's monthly series
of seminars draws about 30 employees. Nearly three times as many
attended the one on caring for aging relatives.
Diane Boyce, also an employee relations specialist in human resources,
was one of the almost 90 employees to attend the session. After
it, she was one of several to suggest that CWRU start a support
group for people dealing with eldercare issues.
The University's Eldercare Support Group-one of the first groups
of its kind and still one of very few like it at universities
or businesses-just finished its first full year of providing much
more than emotional support to those tending to aging relatives.
And the group is changing its name as a result.
"When a lot of people think about a support group, they think
of people sitting around telling sad stories and feeling sorry
for themselves," Boyce said. "But these eldercare meetings are
very informational. Sure, we get to know each others' stories
and offer emotional support, but we also provide answers and resources."
The monthly meetings of what is now called the Eldercare Resource
Group connect employees to University and community services,
like agencies that offer day care for elderly or sources for equipment
needed to make modifications to a house. The meetings also feature
informational speakers ranging from social service organizations
providing tips on communicating with people with memory problems
to attorneys offering advice on estate planning.
Even CWRU faculty and staff share their expertise. Stephen Post,
professor of biomedical ethics, has spoken to the group on the
ethical issues of dementia, and May Wykle, dean of the School
of Nursing, will be presenting on eldercare issues from a nursing
perspective.
The lunchtime meetings of the Eldercare Resource Group alternate
between the second and third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of
each month to accommodate the schedules of more employees. Most
are held in 13 Crawford Hall.
The next meeting, on September 18, will feature attorney Todd
Bartimole, who will speak on planning for the costs of long-term
care. Amy Severino of Home Instead, a local respite program, will
address the group October 17 and provide free lunch to all who
attend. Reservations are required for the October meeting and
may be made by e-mailing Diane Boyce at dlb22@po.cwru.edu
before October 15th.
"People really benefit from coming to these meetings," Gerich
said. "It's sometimes hard to get away from the office, but this
is an hour away that can help an employee be more focused and
more productive."
In addition to offering more than emotional support, the Eldercare
Resource Group provides a service to more than just those directly
taking care of an aging relative. Debbie Andrews of CWRUnet Services
attends meetings on occasion even though she does not currently
tend to an elder.
"The meetings are very helpful," Andrews said. "It's nice to
learn information on eldercare issues, so I will be prepared when
or if I need to care for things like this in the future."
Annette Wong, a former CWRU employee whose husband works at the
University, attends the meetings regularly. Wong has aging parents
living out of state that she helps care for from a distance.
"One of the best things I've learned from this group is that
you have to take care of yourself or you can't take care of your
loved ones," Wong said. "It's not easy caring for a parent 24-7.
These meetings provide very valuable information on self-care
like relaxation techniques and short-term care options that allow
caretakers to take a break every now and then."
For more information about the Eldercare Resource Group, including
a schedule of meetings and speakers, go to http://www.cwru.edu/finadmin/humres/eerel/ecsg.html.
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