Caregiving for elderly family members with dementia can be one of the most challenging yet frequently rewarding periods of someone’s life.
This is why Kensington Place Redwood City is pleased to partner with HFC to bring the 2023 CareCon event right to your home. In case you missed it, watch below or click here to watch the playlist for the entire event!
CareCon is an always-free, virtual event designed to educate, inspire and empower caregivers everywhere who assist in the daily living needs of Alzheimer’s and dementia family members.
As always, the event was hosted by Hilarity for Charity founders and Hollywood stars Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen.
Part of Kensington’s continuing Promise to care for our residents as we would our own family means we also believe in bringing greater knowledge and skills for dementia-patient caregivers everywhere.
CareCon 2023 took place virtually on Feb. 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PST — and it was an informative, empowering, and uplifting event.
What is CareCon?
CareCon is a free, virtual meet-up created to offer support to people taking care of family members affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s hosted by Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen, the co-founders of Hilarity for Charity (HFC).
All attendees gain access to different expert-led workshops and celebrity panels that explore aging mental health and caregiving stories, both personal and professional.
These events focus on taking care of elderly family members who have dementia or Alzheimer’s, along with the hardships and rewards of being a caregiver in these circumstances.
Guests for CareCon 2023
Not to be outdone by last year’s great success, many guests have were there for the 2023 CareCon including Wayne Brady, Joey McIntyre, and Kate Burton!
The Scotty Caregiver Award
Along with discussions, helpful advice, and resource connections for caregivers, HFC’s CareCon featured the Scotty Award, presented by Kensington Senior Living.
The Scotty award is named after Scott Miller, a loving caregiver who cared for HFC founder Lauren Miller Rogen’s late mother, Adele.
The Scotty Award strives to recognize unpaid dementia caregivers for their above-and-beyond efforts. Anyone can be nominated by friends, family members, or even themselves.
Our nominee from Redwood City is Laura Avalos!
Laura has been a part of our Kensington family for over seven years. She is a caregiver in every sense of the word, for both our residents and her own mother.
Part of the Sandwich Generation, Laura balances caring for her mother and raising her teenage children all while holding a full-time job here. Her love, dedication and compassion are inspiring to us all. We are so proud to nominate her for the HFC Scotty Caregiver Award!
Tips for caregivers of loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s
When caring for an older adult with dementia, caregivers need to take special precautions and utilize a variety of resources to ensure the best care.
Caregivers should also remain attentive to their own support structures, recognizing their own physical and mental limitations and needs.
The best caregivers learn to utilize support resources and manage stress to prevent burnout. Let’s look at these in more detail.
Understand the signs of dementia complications
First, caregivers need to understand the warning signs of dementia complications, including deepening confusion, memory loss, and new changes in behavior.
Knowing these signs can help anticipate and plan for these new challenges by having the appropriate care resources ready.
Establish and maintain a routine for both yourself and your loved one
Second, a daily routine will often help to provide structure and stability for your loved one and reduce stress for the caregiver.
Routines should include regular meal time, physical activity, and leisure periods. Being consistent with the routine can help the elderly person stay focused and may reduce stress and anxiety.
Staying consistent with your own self-care will also help to prevent caregiver burnout.
Establish safety precautions
Caregivers need to take safety precautions to ensure the safety of their loved ones. Supervision while eating, bathing, or taking medications may become necessary. Removing potential trip hazards or items that could be used as a weapon might become necessary. A person with Alzheimer’s, for example, might become aggressive or agitated, striking out at those around them as the disease progresses.
Also keep track of doctor and hospital phone numbers, emergency contacts, and plans in the event of an emergency.
Emotional support
Finally, providing emotional support is an important part of caregiving. Listening to and engaging with the person will often help them feel valued and respected.
It’s also essential for caregivers to recognize the importance of their own physical and mental health and utilize caregiver support resources to prevent burnout. Caregivers can find support from friends, family, and professional caregivers who may be going through similar experiences.
Finding the right resources and partners to help with Alzheimer’s caregiving
Caring for an older person with dementia can be difficult—to say the least.
But with the right resources and knowledge, caregivers can provide the best possible care for their loved one who has developed dementia.
However, almost no one can “go it alone.”
Even professional caregivers with years of experience know that the task becomes much more manageable when you employ the right support.
Seeking out additional resources can help ensure the person is treated with respect and dignity and raise the quality of life for everyone.
Kensington Place Redwood City’s commitment to elderly care
If you’re dealing with caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a similar dementia issue, we can help.
Part of our commitment to our guests—from those who need a little help with day-to-day activities to those with severe dementia—also means reaching out to the larger caregiver community and pooling the best resources we can manage for everyone to use.
Our memory care community team has been specially trained to care for dementia patients (like Alzheimer’s), no matter how their care needs increase. Our two neighborhoods – Connections and Haven – cater to those with early to late stage Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Check out the community at Kensington Place Redwood City to see if we’re a good fit for your loved one. We’re also always looking to add to our team, check out our available career opportunities.
Reach out to us today—it could be the best decision you could make to care for yourself and your loved one.