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Choices ~ Healing ~ Love These past few months have been one of sadness, loss, and healing. Many of you know that my mother passed in November. There is a special memorial below and an article on reclaiming my life that I am sure many of you will be able to relate to. While I do have a brother, aunts and uncles, it seems that I am orphaned and finding myself taking everything to completion for my mother. All the legal, financial business, the closing of her cooperative apartment, probate court, and more have been all too time consuming. I was greatly in need of just slowing down and prioritizing all that was necessary in order to lessen my burden. I am sorry I have not been able to be fully present, as I would like to here at the site, at the message boards and in publishing the newsletter. I trust that you all will understand. I felt such a void from within - on that I never imagined I would experiences. But now, as I am back in the flow, there have been so many miracles occurring and it feels good to be alive - so I am truly grateful for my experiences. May your journey be gentle and beautiful! RE: Free Email Accounts At Empowering Caregivers We invite you to join in our complimentary membership at: Join Us. While you are there, please take a few minutes to fill in our Caregiver Survey. Your input is extremely valuable and we will respect your privacy. Your support in filling in our survey will help us and our funders to study the areas where programming is most needed and where it will be most effective. Survey. ~ Our chats with the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation are temporarily discontinued until further funding comes through. We will let you know when they will resume. Robin will Host Monday night chats and Gail will host Thursday nights from 9PM-10PM EST. We also will begin our telephone support groups on Tuesday, March 1st 9PM-10PM EST. Your commitment is needed for a five-week program. Dates are: March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. To find out more information and to sign up, please email: tele-support. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other caregivers and share. A recent guest from Australia who stayed with me shared about their telephone support program and the value of it. It is my sense that this will serve you greatly. We look forward to your participation. Thank you. Mary C. Fridley If you are interested in submitting an article(s) please go to: Submit. You will find a form for submitting your article, bio/profile, copyright permissions, etc. Please review our guidelines for acceptance, submit and we will notify you upon acceptance.
~ Of Ruth & Nathan L. Greenberg
This past November, my mother, Ruth Greenberg transitioned from this earthly plane. There were many ups and downs that we experienced since my father's passing 9 years ago. And, there was tremendous healing in our relationship as well as growth and healing for my mother in her last year. Empowering Caregivers - care-givers.com was born from my experiences in caring for my father with my mother after he passed. It was my mother Ruth, who saw the site grow and expand into the National Organization For Empowering Caregivers. If it were not for her initial support, there would be no Empowering Caregivers or NOFEC. Ruth loved life and in these past years, she found much love, peace and joy through the emails and letters I would share with her from the countless numbers of caregivers who shared their own healing processes with me. She knew that it was all for a higher purpose and reveled in the numbers that we were able to reach out and support. In October she telephoned me in the middle of a special event that I was attending to tell me that her body was closing down - that she had entered the "bardo of 39 days" as we had read in the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying when my father was in his end stages of life. She had never spoken more clearly or conscious as she did when she asked me to support her in these days - most of all she was wanting me to accept it and begin moving on in my own life and work. We both agreed to place her into hospice. We shared so many special times in love and laughter and reflection. Her passing almost seemed sudden as she been ill for a few years, but she held on to see the organization take off. In her final days she told me that I worked to hard - that I cared too much for everyone... that I needed to learn how to take better care of myself first and that the seeds were already sown for successes personally and professionally, for the funding and for my visions to manifest. She reassured me to just surrender and have faith. She was a clear vessel and ready to move on in her own journey. Our relationship and our connection had healed more than we both could ever have imagined. In my own mourning, a part of me has died and there is a part of me that has been reborn with a renewed faith, with more clarity, more strength and such healing that I will always be grateful to my mother and my dad for this evolution of work I will continue to pursue in their honor and memory. Gail R. Mitchell As caregivers we advocate on behalf of our loved ones so their quality of life, their independence and their dignity can be maintained. Many of us become entrenched in our role: many work or have their own families to take care of which cause a lack of self-care. To read the article in its entirety go to: article. Gail R. Mitchell There is anger against Merck with charges that the company had known all along that this might happen, yet aggressively marketed the drug as a safer alternative to older pain medications. There is anger against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency that is supposed to certify that a drug is safe, for not looking closely into the safety data of Vioxx. And there is anger against some physicians for not looking out for their patients and falling prey to the fierce marketing attacks from drug companies. The case of Vioxx is just one example of what happens when medicines can kill rather than heal. The issue of side effects, which is what happened in the case of Vioxx, is nothing new. On October 15, 2004 the FDA directed the manufacturers of all antidepressant medications to add a "black box" warning that describes the increased risk of suicide in children and adolescents given antidepressant medications and notes what uses the drugs have been approved or not approved for in these patients. A "black box" warning is the most serious warning placed in the labeling of a prescription medication. One FDA scientist said before Congress that there are five other drugs out there in the market that can become the next Vioxx and yet the FDA is allowing them to be used by patients. The drugs he mentioned are:
As these stories grab the headlines, it is easy to see how a lot of individuals can feel helpless. There are, however, a number of things you can do. The first place to start is to ask five questions and demand to know the answers. They are: For more information on what you can do to protect yourself or a loved one from being injured or killed by prescription drugs, log on to my web site at www.rxhelpdoc.com Dr. David Nganele Ph.D., MBA Dr. David Nganele is a New York Times-profiled health education expert. He provides individuals with the knowledge and tools to help them become their own best doctor. He believes that "The More You Know, The Better You'll Live." He is also one of the premier writers and speakers on how to identify and manage the cost of healthcare while getting better services. His latest book is "Prescription Drug$; What You Must Know: From Avoiding Medication Errors To Saving On The Cost; A Manual For Your Peace Of Mind." One of our featured columnists, he writes on topics which include prescriptions, healthcare and insurance Free Books Offered For Completing A Survey : Dr. David Nganale, one of our featured experts has written a book focusing on helping caregivers in managing prescription drugs that their loved ones are taking. He has created a survey to help him understand the exact issues that are of concern to you. This will help him to better address your issues. ~ I just got through reading about Empowering Caregivers on the website. Wow! What a great mission. I am casting for an episode of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and this season we are trying to do more multilayer stories focusing on making over people that give to their community, local heroes, if you will - people with a heart of gold that don't have the time or resources to spend on themselves. That's where we come in. We would like to help someone with a "Fab 5" makeover that is truly deserving. If you know of anyone who may fit this bill or if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me through Gail Mitchell Thank you for your time and keep up the good work! Are you juggling work and caring for an aging loved one? You could receive $85 for your opinions. The Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc. is looking for family caregivers to participate in an on-line research study. To find out more about this unique opportunity go to www.orcasinc.com/caregiversfriend. Names and information will not go on a mailing list or be passed on to other organizations. All information is kept confidential. If you have other questions regarding this research you can email caregiversfriend@orcasinc.com or call toll free 1 (800) 934-0626. ~ According to experts, virtually all of today's nursing homes will be obsolete by the time baby boomers start to turn 85 in 2032. Recognizing the need to move away from the institutional model that prevails today, Fund grantees are evaluating the feasibility of small group homes for the elderly that are designed to foster resident-centered care. Preliminary findings from a study of these innovative "Green House" homes show that, in comparison to traditional nursing homes, Green House residents and family members are more satisfied, and workers want to stay and work there. The findings were presented at a Senate briefing on November 8. To learn more about the project, visit Greenhouse Project ~ The Johnson & Johnson/Rosalynn Carter Institute Caregivers Program is pleased to announce the availability of grants to address family caregiving needs stemming from the hurricanes of 2004. These funds are limited and funding requests will be considered as they are received. The total amount available for award is $100,000 and grant awards will range from $1,000 to $10,000. For more information please call: 229) 928-1234 or visit: www.rosalynncarter.org ~ The original three-state Cash & Counseling program will be expanded to another 11 new states that will receive three-year grants of approximately $250,000 each to replicate and expand the program. Cash and Counseling allows people eligible to receive supportive services through Medicaid to direct their own care and live more independently. The 11 new states (joining Arkansas, Florida and New Jersey) include Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. More info: www.cashandcounseling.org ~ The National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving, in partnership with Eisai Inc., have launched a new public education campaign reaching out to family caregivers with critical information they need to take better care of themselves and their loved ones: www.familycaregiving101.org ~ The Kaiser Family Foundation has made available "Talking About Medicare", a guide to help people on Medicare and their family caregivers make informed decisions about health care issues. Included are answers to basic questions about Medicare eligibility and coverage; a chapter devoted to the new Medicare prescription drug law and its implications for consumers; information on supplemental insurance options, the Medicare Advantage program, and long-term care issues; and a state-by-state list of key agencies that can answer more specific questions. Download: ~ The Comprehensive Long-Term Care Support Act of 2004 (H.R. 5110) that would double the funding for the NFCSP (to $250 million), provide for a $3,000 caregiver tax credit, and allow the deduction of the cost of long-term care insurance premiums was introduced to the Congress. The Long-Term Care Support and Incentive Act of 2004 (H.R. 4432) includes a $4,000 caregiver tax credit. Info: ~ Access this website to find the Family Caregivers Support Programs in your state and area. Learn about the eligibility requirements and more. NFCA ~
Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. Og Mandino There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there's only scarcity of resolve to make it happen. Wayne Dyer "The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it." Charles Swindoll The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart. Annie Dillard Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also those who need it so much. Daphine Rose Kingma Every now and then, take a good look at something not made with hands: a mountain, a star and the curve of a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience, and above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world. Sidney Lovett We are all faced with great opportunities . . . brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. Anonymous Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless. Thomas A. Edison Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Winston Churchill When Charlie turned 90 in the nursing home his buddies thought it would be a great joke to smuggle a prostitute into the home for him. So they pooled their money and, late that night, managed to get the girl into the nursing home and into Charlie's room. As she slid into bed with him Charlie muttered, "What are you here for." She whispered in his ear, "I'm here to give you super sex." Without opening an eye Charlie replied, "I'll take the soup." ~ Three doctors are waiting in line to get into the pearly gates. St. Peter walks out and asks the first one, "What have you done to enter Heaven?" "I am a pediatrician and have brought thousands of the Lord's babies into the world." "Good enough to enter the gates, "replied St. Peter, and in he goes. The same question is asked of the second doctor. "I am a general practitioner and go to Third World countries three times a year to cure the poor." St. Peter is impressed and allows him through the gates. The third doctor steps up in line and knowing the question, blurts out, "'I am a director of an HMO." St. Peter meditates on this for a while and then says, "Fine, you can enter Heaven...but only for 2 days." ~ THAT'S IT FOR THIS ISSUE Subscribe: empoweringcaregivers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com REGARDING THE FORWARDING OF THE NEWSLETTER: Please do not forward this letter or subscribe anyone if they have not given you permission. We would like you to share it with others, but we do not want those who are not open to receiving it to be subjected to your forwarding it without their express permission. Thank you. |
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