By Andrea Davis , Daily Sun Senior Writer
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In the Village of Lake Deaton,
Kerry Hughes, left, and Cort Cheney take apart a bed as member of the
Pickleballers Helping Seniors.
Bill Mitchell, Daily Sun
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Caregivers sacrifice more than they let on.
Taking care of a loved one is a 24-hour-a-day job. Breaks are difficult or impossible to come by.
But caregivers living in The Villages can find support in neighbors, friends, support groups and nonprofits.
The
2020 update for AARP Family Caregiving reveals that the number of
family caregivers in the U.S. increased by 9.5 million from 2015 to
2020, reaching 53 million. More than 1 in 5 Americans are family
caregivers.
AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson believes that
number will continue to grow as more of the population moves into a
phase of life where help is needed to live independently.
"While
it is too soon to say what this portends for long-term care, it's
reasonable to assume that families are even more likely to try to find
ways to help keep frail parents or spouses at home if they possibly
can,” he said.
About 30% to 35% of the population of The Villages
serve as caregivers, according to Dr. Jeffrey Lowenkron, Chief Medical
Officer for The Villages Health.
"The term 'caregivers' is a broad
term, and many individuals find themselves providing some type of
caregiving to others, such as a parent, friend, neighbor, volunteering
for assisting the elderly and/or disabled, or charity work," Lowenkron
said in a statement. "In addition, many spouses living in The Villages
provide caregiving to their loved one within their home."
Since
the pandemic started, even more family members have taken on caregiving
roles. Without them, their loved ones would have to leave their homes
and move into assisted living facilities, said Sarah Jane Glynn, a
sociologist with the National Academy of Social Insurance, a nonprofit
in Washington, D.C.
"Having a family caregiver keeps them in a
familiar place with a routine that they are used to, causing less stress
for the patient," she said.
Among caregivers in the U.S., 55%
said they would not have identified as caregivers before the pandemic
because they were able to access resources making them feel less lonely,
according to a study called "The Impact of Caregiving on Mental and
Physical Health” conducted last year by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The
commitment of time, labor and emotional support this role requires can
have a substantial impact on caregivers' physical, behavioral and
emotional well-being, study authors said.
The Villages has more
than 150 support groups, and some of them provide opportunities for
caregivers to enjoy an activity with their loved one or drop off their
loved one for a few hours so they can take a break to run some errands,
get a haircut or just get some much-needed rest.
A support group
can even become a "second home" for the patients and the caregivers,
said Sandra Ricciardi, of the Day-Break Club of The Villages.
"They
look forward to coming here," said Ricciardi, of the Village De La
Vista. "For those couple of hours a week, they are able to go do
something for themselves and then return back to the role of caring for
their loved one."
Ricciardi founded the Day-Break Club in 2013 because she saw a need for it.
"When
I moved to The Villages, there was nothing like this club," she said.
"I created it as a safe place where caregivers could leave their loved
ones while they took a break. It's easy to get burned out and the
pandemic didn't help."
Many of the caregivers and their loved ones
who are part of the club consider the other members like additional
family, she said.
When the club put meetings on hold because of
COVID-19 safety guidelines, Ricciardi continued to visit members on a
one-on-one basis, giving her time to allow caregivers to socialize and
complete errands.
"I wanted to make sure caregivers were getting a
chance to step away if needed," she said. "It's very easy to burn out
if one doesn't occasionally take a break."
The group held a
spaghetti luncheon in October 2020 to give club members a chance to
socialize in a safe and distanced environment. About 35 guests were
served in shifts.
"It was a great opportunity to allow the members
a moment to catch up with friends, while still taking their safety as a
priority," Ricciardi said. "They were so glad to be there that many
eyes sparkled with tears as they came back to their second home."
The club has not resumed weekly meetings but Ricciardi hopes to get them going again soon.
The
Multiple Sclerosis Village People group in The Villages also provides
support for patients and their caregivers, with a mission of "breaking
down barriers so members can live life to the fullest." MS is a disease
in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of
nerves.
Caregivers help loved ones continue to do the things they
could do before they were diagnosed with the disease or before it
progressed to the point of needing assistance. Sometimes it can be as
simple as helping put on shoes. Other tasks are more difficult, such as
getting someone out of bed, helping them wash their hair or helping them
make and eat breakfast.
Gail Gibson, of the Village of St. Charles, is a member of MSVP and takes care of his wife, Betty, as her MS progresses.
"She is still mobile," Gibson said. "And she fights every day to try new things."
Gibson
spends some of his mornings at the archery ranges throughout The
Villages, and while Betty doesn't want him to stop doing what he loves,
she also is looking for a way to join him.
"MS is a downhill type
of disease," Gibson said. "Betty is strong, so it hasn't quite affected
her to the point she can't walk. Her biggest battle right now is
balance, but she is determined to take on the challenge."
Gibson
said MSVP was founded in 2003 and has around 180 members. He said the
support of the group makes a huge difference in his life, because he can
turn to the members if he needs a hand or has questions.
"We are
like a family," he said. "We are always looking out for one another and
lending a hand when we can. It's a very encouraging and supportive
group."
While their meetings just resumed, they spent the last few
months getting together on the second Tuesday of each month at Fiesta
Bowl to bowl and have lunch together.
"We just bowl a single
game," said member Andrea Springer, of the Village of Amelia. "It's a
way for us to get out and socialize with people dealing with the same
issues while being safe. We have some who are in wheelchairs and we use a
ramp to help them bowl, but we all work together to make sure we can
laugh and have some fun."
The group Caring Neighbors lends a hand
to caregivers and others who may not yet need a caregiver but have a
hard time doing some activities by themselves. The group provides rides
to medical appointments, grocery shopping and any other type of errand.
Founder
Anne Bosler, of the Village of Hadley, has recruited volunteers for the
past four years, with the mission of starting up several Caring
Neighbors programs throughout The Villages. Hadley Caring Neighbors was
the first, followed by Summerhill Caring Neighbors.
"Ideally,
six or more neighbors are needed to start the program in a village,”
Bosler said. "Hadley Caring Neighbors began with six members in 2016 and
now has over 50 members.”
Once the program has the required
number of volunteers, it will partner with United Way of Lake and Sumter
Counties, Bosler said.
United Way provides background checks on
volunteers and supplies materials such as brochures, name badges, a
dedicated phone and documentation guidelines.
"In addition,
several volunteers from existing Caring Neighbors groups are ready and
willing to contribute in any way to help a new volunteer group get up
and running,” Bosler said.
The group continues to expand and now has five chapters throughout the Central Villages region.
"As
more people move to The Villages, we are seeing more people needing
help," Bosler said. "As The Villages continues to expand, we hope to
expand with it. Some Villages residents have a hard time giving up their
independence and our group helps out in any way we can."
In the
Village of Gilchrist, two residents who started a program in 2018 are
continuing to lend a hand to their neighbors. They call their group 214
Assist and they help with many different tasks.
"I think the
program is a good thing and important to those in our neighborhood,”
said Bob Heit, co-leader of the program. "We help people with tasks they
think aren't important, like getting a ride somewhere."
When COVID-19 happened, the neighbors found ways to work around the virus while staying safe.
"We
would hold virtual meetings once a month just to check in," said Joyce
Doblosky, leader of the program. "We wanted to make sure everyone was OK
and if they needed something, one of us would be able to assist. My
husband, Jack, and I started doing online groceries just to keep us safe
from the crowds and it made it easy to order something for a neighbor
when they needed something."
The group has more than 22
ambassadors keeping an eye on the 140-or-so homes in the village,
including watching their houses when they are out of town.
"We
still check the email and help any way we can, but we keep all
communications digital,” Jack said. "One of these days we will go back
to 'normal,' but right now, it's about keeping us all safe. We do miss
spending time with our neighbors though."
When Joyce broke her ankle in 2020, an ambassador from the group got her mail for her.
"When
one has an injury, even a little task feels like it takes forever," she
said. "Having someone around who was able to help me, even by getting
my mail or helping me with groceries, it made a huge difference and is
one of the reasons I am glad we have this group."
They also drive other residents to appointments and errands so they do not have to seek outside help.
"We
have all come together to help one another in some way, shape or form,"
Heit said. "Without the communication and being able to rely on each
other, we would all be in trouble and our happy spirits would diminish."
Pickleballers
Helping Seniors formed in 2020 during the pandemic to help residents
who cannot do things on their own or just want someone to talk to.
"We
make grocery store and pharmacy trips, provide technology assistance,
assist with the mail or just hang out and have conversations together,"
said Doug McClintock, of the Village of Pennecamp.
McClintock is one of the seven board members who started the group.
"We
just got together in our golf cars while keeping our distance so we
could remain safe," he said. "We started talking about the situation our
community was in and how people in need might need a hand and we just
set out to help."
The group has more than 100 volunteers helping out and volunteers don't have to play pickleball to be in the group.
To learn more about the group and how to get involved, visit pickleballersservingseniors.com.
As the group takes on additional volunteers, they are looking for more ways to help out their neighbors.
"We
are always open for new volunteers, especially as we are expanding our
services into the nursing homes and helping with light yard work," he
said.
Recently the group helped Keren Pekkanen, of the Village of
Lake Deaton, who takes care of her husband who has dementia. Members of
the group took apart a bed, moved it to another room and put it back
together.
"The bed is really heavy and bulky," she said. "I
wouldn't have been able to get it apart and put away the way I needed to
without their help. I have worked with this group before and I cannot
say enough praises about them."
Pekkanen has been filling in as a
caretaker for some of her other loved ones as well, and when she is
unable to do a task, she calls the group for their help.
"Sometimes,
I am unable to leave the person I am helping and it means I have to
find someone who can assist me while I continue my care," she said.
Pekkanen has called on the group a couple of times since its formation and said she would recommend them to anyone in need.
"They
are always so polite and willing to help," she said. "Even if it's a
small task like hanging something on a wall or helping in the yard, they
are quick to assist without complaint. It gives me the opportunity to
focus on caring for others and it gives me peace."
Linda Tucker
was in the process of starting a new nonprofit called Dementia Pals last
year before the pandemic started. The group would pair caregivers or
volunteers with someone needing assistance in groceries, company,
errands or day-to-day activities.
"It was going really well," said
Tucker, of the Village of Fernandina. "But then COVID happened and we
had to delay. Then we ended up in Massachusetts longer than planned
because of my husband's health."
Tucker plans to continue setting up the nonprofit when she returns.
"There
is such a need for it," she said. "So many caregivers need an extra
hand so they can go out and do whatever it is they need to do. It's hard
caring for someone who may be in a condition where you can't leave
them, but at the same time, you don't want to make it feel like they are
a burden because they aren't."
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