2013 Caregiver Series: tentatively scheduled for Wednesdays in May, 2013, at Athens Public Library.  More information by February, 2013

This site is for caregivers. Here you will find links to online resources as well as lists of agencies and other resources.

Each spring,  the Geriatric Medicine Department offers its annual Caregivers' Series at the Athens Public Library with support from Case Western Reserve Geriatric Education Center.

Click  the 2013 Caregiver Series below for the schedule or click here link to download a copy of the brochure (available February, 2013). The brochure is available as a PDF file, which requires the free Acrobat Reader program; if you don't have Acrobat Reader installed, you can obtain it from Adobe Systems Inc. by clicking here.

Click on the links below for additional information and resources.

• 2013 Caregiver Series -- Reservations not required.

• 2012 Caregiver Series: Click here  for brochure

• 2011 Caregiver Series

• 2010 Caregiver Series

• 2009 Caregiver Series

• 2008 Caregiver Series

• Respite

• Resources

  Caregiver organizations

  Respite/Self-Care

  Advance Directives

  Miscellaneous

  Medicare

  Music

  Nursing Homes

  Assistive Devices

  Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia

  Booklets and Other Publications Available Online

  Reading List

Those who have been caregivers,

Those who currently are caregivers,

Those who will be caregivers, and

Those who will need caregivers."

~Rosalynn Carter

Annual Caregiver Series 2012

• Making Transfers Easier and Safer & Assistive Devices
  James Odenthal, Dr. P.H., P.T, OU College of Health Sciences and Professions School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences

• Advance Directives, Guardianship and Other Legal Issues
  William Walker, Attorney at Law

• Selecting Residential Care and Understanding Code Status
  Cynthia Kuttner-Sands, M.D., OU-HCOM, Department of Geriatric Medicine

• How to Talk to Doctors
  Penny Shelton, MD, Holzer Health Systems, Athens

• Preventing Boredom: Activities to Keep You Going
  Deena Webster, Activity Director, Kimes Nursing and Rehab Center

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2011 Caregiver Series

• Ergonomics and Independent Living: In-Home Tools & Tips

• Diana Schwerha, Ph.D., Russ College of Engineering and Technology

• How to Deal with Disruptive Behavior: Cues and Clues

• Joan Stroh, L.P.C.C., L.S.W., private practice

• Staying  in Motion: Preventing Falls

• David Russ, Ph.D.., P.T, OU School of Physical Therapy

• Prevention of Complications: Yes, You Can

• Maureen Clother, D.O., OU-HCOM Dept. of Geriatric Medicine

• Palliative Care: Myths & Benefits

• Tracy Marx, D.O., OU-HCOM Dept. of Family Medicine

2010 Caregiver Series

• Keeping Your Own Brain Working Its Best
  Find out how to optimize your memory as you age.

• Julie Suhr, Ph.D., Associate Professor, OU-Dept. of Psychology

• Making Transfers Easier and Safer
  Practice transferring individuals who cannot stand or move unaided.

• Averell  (Tootie) Overby, Dr. P.H., P.T, Director, OU School of Physical Therapy

• Medications and Memory
  Learn how medications can impact memory positively & negatively.

• Wayne Carlsen, D.O., Chair, OU-HCOM Dept. of Geriatric Medicine

• Vitamin D’s Vital Role in Health: What You Need to Know
  Discuss effects of Vitamin D and what is considered an adequate level.

• Jen-Tzer Gau, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, OU-HCOM  Dept. of Geriatric Medicine

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Caregiver Series 2009

• Where’s My Keys: Normal vs. Abnormal Memory Lapses

• Julie Suhr, Ph.D.

• Dealing with Challenging Behaviors

• Joan Stroh, M.Ed., L.P.C.C., L.S.W., private practice

• Medicare & Medicaid: Clearing the Confusion “Blueprint for Lifelong Planning”

• Mindy Cayton Area Agency on Aging

• Nursing Home Placement: When & How

• Wayne Carlsen, D.O., OU-HCOM Dept. of Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology

• Taking Care of Yourself : Physically, Emotionally & Spiritually

• Kim Valentour, M.S.

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Caregiver Series 2008

• Resources for the Caregiver

• Joan Stroh, M.Ed., L.P.C.C., L.S.W., private practice and Cathy Ash, L.S.W., Area Agency on Aging

• Legal Issues

• William Walker, Attorney-at-Law

• Making Tough Decisions

• Wayne Carlsen, D.O., OU-HCOM Dept. of Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology and Joan Stroh, M.Ed., L.P.C.C., L.S.W., private practice

• Physical Activity

• Edward Potkanowicz, Ph.D., Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions

• Dealing with the Health Care System

• Tina McClelland, R.N., University Medical Associates, Geriatric Clinic and Joan Stroh, M.Ed., L.P.C.C., L.S.W., private practice

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OU Respite Volunteer Program

The Ohio University Respite Volunteer Program, includes a network of trained volunteers who will provide in-home relief to  caregivers of adults in Athens. Click here to download a brochure.

 During volunteer visits to the home, the caregiver has the option of leaving or remaining at home with the volunteer. Respite services are also available for caregivers who do not necessarily live with the person receiving care.

"We respect caregivers and realize they know tremendously more about the patient than (students) with an academic base," said Brooke Hallowell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ohio University School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences.

All volunteers must complete a training session with program coordinators and are restricted to graduate and some undergraduate students from the School of Hearing and Speech Sciences.

The program benefits caregivers and their loved ones in direct and meaningful ways, and provides students a wonderful way to contribute meaningfully to people in our community," said Brooke Hallowell, Ph.D., Director, Ohio University School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences. Respite activities are tailored to each individual family's needs

 For more information, contact Dr. Brooke Hallowell at 740-593-1356.

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• Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging: http://areaagency8.org/

• Service Provider Directory: http://areaagency8.assistguide.com/

• Southeast Ohio Aging & Disability Resource Network: http://www.areaagency8.org/services/ADRN

• Southeast Ohio ADRN Network of Care: http://seohioadrn.oh.networkofcare.org/aging/home/index.cfm

• Family Caregiver Alliance   www.caregiver.org   ***

• Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas: http://www.agingcarefl.org/caregiver

  • Four Stages of Caregiving

  • Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

• National Family Caregivers Association  http://thefamilycaregiver.org

• Appalachian Community VNA Hospice & Health Services, Inc., provides links to a number of sites that provide information for caregivers. http://www.acvna.org/index.php/links/35-client-and-caregiver-links

• National Family Caregivers Association
  Telephone: 800-896-3650
  http://www.nfcacares.org
• The Family Caregiver -- Who are America's family caregivers?
• Ohio Department of Aging Aging Connection
• Dr, Amy Caregiver Wellness: http://www.dramycaregiving.com/information_education.html
• Family Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/home.jsp
• National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition
• The Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA) serves as the statewide voice for resource families, uniting the voices of children and families involved in adoptive, foster, kinship and respite care: http://www.ofcaonline.org/
• Family Caregivers Online: http://www.familycaregiversonline.com
• National Council on Aging

• Written by a Financial Planner and an Estate Planning Attorney

• Worksheets to record details relating to your financial, legal and insurance affairs

• Professional insights on a host of legal and financial issues

• Step-by-step guidance for your heirs

• Worksheets to record funeral preferences and obituary information

• Comprehensive document locator system

• Websites and contact information for relevant government agencies

• Document organizer to store your most important documents

• Forms CD to make electronic copies of your information

• Choices: Living Well at the End of Life: An Advance Directives Packet

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Wallet Size Advance Directives Cards

• Appalachian Community VNA Hospice & Health Services, Inc.  The social workers with ACVNA & Hospice provide assistance for patients wanting to complete the Medical Power of Attorney and the Living Will and also have copies of Choices.

• Gunderson Lutheran: Nice review of terminology and different aspects of advance directives

Assistive devices

Ohio University
Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701
740-593-2205