Tips from Our Caregiving and Receiving Experts

If you are 40 or your parents are 70 it’s time to start talking!

Last week, October 18th, the members of the panel on Caregiving and Receiving, sponsored by the Women of Temple Sinai (WTS), provided valuable information that everyone will need at one time or another. 

Those who are long distance caregivers can call upon the Jewish Organizations where their loved ones live for referrals including mediation for those siblings who have differing views about the care needed.  There are also valuable web sites one can consult.

 It is extremely helpful to keep two copies of a personal health journal – one at the home of the person needing assistance and one at the home of the contact person.  The easily found brightly colored folders should contain all the health information that a physician would need in an emergency situation.  Linda Garvin provides a list of important health information on her free web site, www.healthmanagerbayarea.com. Click on Case Management and scroll down to Great Tips for keeping a health journal.

Ada Burko, from the Suse Moyal Center for Older Adult Services of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) explained the many services the agency provides such as information and referral, counseling, care management, and pre-planning assistance. This is a wonderful place to begin when faced with helping someone. The professional staff knows the Bay Area community and all that is available. Their website is www.jfcs-eastbay.org.

Jane Malmgren from Home Instead Senior Care stressed the importance of communication between seniors and their children. She called the conversation about future plans in case of illness or infirmity, The 70-40 Rule, in which parents begin a discussion with their adult children about end of life issues and the 40-70 Rule where the adult children initiate a conversation with their parents about aging and how they feel about their future. If you are 40 or your parents are 70 it’s time to start talking. 

Jane Malmgren’s website is: www.homeinstead.com/272

Dan Fendel explained how Temple Sinai’s Caring Community functions and what it provides our congregants.  When someone needs emergency help such as meals, care giver relief, or other short term need, contact the clergy who will notify a member of the Caring Community. Someone in your neighborhood will contact you and organize assistance.  The Caring Community also sends out congratulatory and condolence cards.

 If you would like to be a part of the Caring Community, please call Dan l or Sue .Some useful websites: 

National Family Caregivers Association www.thefamilycaregiver.org; phone (800) 896-3650.

Family Caregiver Alliance www.caregiver.org, phone (415) 434-3388

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