Eldercare Expert Highlights Anniversary Celebration
Posted: November 19, 2009 at 4:58 a.m.
SPRINGDALE — Dr. Marion Somers shared 10 steps to making elder care easier Wednesday at the Schmieding Center.
Somers will also give the center’s 2009 distinguished lecture at 7 p.m. tonight. The events are part of the Schmieding Center’s 10th anniversary celebration.
She is a nationally recognized elder care expert, author, educator and speaker.
She said at the lunch she was not touring the country to sell her book, “Elder Care Made Easier,” but wants to emphasize three points:
! Tell home caregivers they are not alone.
! Stress that the country is headed to a geriatric tsunami and must be prepared.
! Provide information so caregivers can be part of the solution, not the problem.
She emphasized that point by saying the world’s 65 and older population is predicted to triple by mid-century, going from 516 million this year to 1.53 billion in 2050.
In the United States, that age-group’s population is expected to more than double by 2050, going from 39 million to 89 million.
Somers’ 10 steps range from open communication to fi nancial and legal issues to learning to let go.
“I just looked at my 40 years of experience and took the priorities I wanted to share,” she said. “Communication had to be first in the book and dying had to be last.”
One point she stressed to the audience of about 90 was that caretakers need to remember to take care of themselves.
“They think nothing will happen to them,” Somers said of caregivers. “You see them deteriorate day after day.”
Dr. Larry Wright, the Schmieding Center’s director, said you can’t make that point too often, and it needs to be made early to prevent problems later.
Lecture attendee Karen Hilker of Bella Vista said that was the main point she took from the speech.
Hilker cares for a 90-year-old woman.
“You have to remember the person you are caring for is not the person they were,” she said.
Somers also stressed anyone hiring a caregiver should check their experience and treat them well.
(Advertisement)
« Previous Story
Institute Expansion Plan In Limbo
Northwest Technical Institute hopes to expand its industrial maintenance building someday, but a lack of money keeps the plan in the idea phase. Read »
Next Story »
No Rate Hike For Rural Water Users
Rural water rates won’t go up next year for the more than 5,400 homes and businesses served by the Washington Water Authority under a budget approved Wednesday. Read »
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.