National Memory Screening Day in Koochiching

Littlefork Medical Center in cooperation with Koochiching Aging Options will provide free memory screenings at 912 Main Street, Littlefork, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. as part of National Memory Screening Day, Tuesday, Nov. 13. For more information, call Koochiching Aging Options at 283-7030. Decker’s Family Assisted Living and Dementia Care will be hosting screenings at Ranier Roost, 3443 Pine Street, Ranier, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will also take appointments for later, more convenient screening times. Call 286-5635 with questions.

"Your Feelings Matter" Public Presentation Nov. 15

     Plan to attend a public presentation Thursday evening November 15 on the emotional challenges facing family caregivers. “Your Feelings Matter: Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others” will feature counselors Dr. Willard Johnson and Brenda Crowe speaking on the emotions of caregiving. A focusing and relaxation training with Yoga instructor Christa Heibel will precede the presentations. November is National Family Caregivers Month. Remember: Family Caregivers Matter. Registration begins at 6 p.m. with a welcome and presentations at 6:30-8:30. Light refreshments.

National Family Caregivers Month

November marks National Family Caregivers Month across America. The theme for 2012 is “Family Caregivers Matter!” And they do – here In Koochiching County as well as across the country.  Family caregivers provide daily assistance to manage health care and personal care of a loved one. Over 65 million Americans are considered family caregivers.

Resources are available to help caregivers. An online resource of the National Family Caregivers Association can be found at www.thefamilycaregiver.org. A first step to learning about local and national support options may be to call Leslee Loop, the Koochiching Caregiver Consultant, at Koochiching Aging Options at 283-7030. A recent addition to the program is a monthly group meeting for support called “Caring and Sharing: A Time for Caregivers.” It meets the last Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at Faith United Church in the Falls.

We encourage family caregivers to seek out support, remembering that you, as a family caregiver, matter.

Working Caregivers Lunch Presentation

Please reserve your lunch hour on Thursday, October 18, to attend a “Brown Bag Lunch” with guest speaker Cindy Conkins, Senior Planner at the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging. Her topic will be “Caregivers and the Workplace: Help! My dad has fallen and I can’t come to work!”

An increasing number of family caregivers are trying to balance taking care of a loved one and remaining a productive member of the workforce. How does this affect workers? Their families? Their place of work? And how can workplaces best accommodate the demands on the caregiver? It’s an important topic for families, staff and management.

The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event at the AmericInn. An excellent lunch is provided by Lenard’s. The cost is $9. Please RSVP the Chamber of Commerce at 218.283.9400.

Caring and Sharing to meet monthly

The Koochiching Caregiver Consultant Program of Koochiching Aging Options is offering a new opportunity for informal/family care givers to meet together for mutual sharing and support. The next meeting for “Caring and Sharing: A Time for Caregivers” will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, October 25 in the Fireside Room of Faith United Church. This will be an ongoing opportunity with meetings on the last Thursday of the month. All are welcome. For more information, call Program Specialist Leslee Loop at (218) 283-7030.

Annual Meeting of KAO

            The Board of Directors and guests of Koochiching Aging Options celebrated the completion of an eventful year at the organization’s annual meeting held at the Backus Community Center in International Falls on February 29, 2012.

            Business of the corporation included election of officers for 2012. Elected were Chair Sue Fraik, Vice Chair Susan Congrave, Secretary Julie Lepisto and Treasurer Terry Murray.

Retiring board members Jane Barthell and Everett “Jake” Jacobs were thanked for their service. New board members Kimberly Perkins and Dennis Bush were recognized. Other board members are Kevin Adee and Cynthia Jaksa.

The treasurer reported that the organization, founded in 2009, is in the black financially and has been very successful in gaining support in its first two years of existence.

Highlights of the year were reviewed by Executive Director Douglas Skrief. They included participation in the Live Well At Home Project, bringing Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes to Big Falls, organizing the Plan Well to Age Well seminar, and holding the organization’s first major fundraiser, the “Logging Camp Christmas.”

  The annual report noted that the organization runs a number of programs including the Koochiching Caregiver Consultant Program, the Senior Companion Program, Senior Wheels and NAPS and MAC food box distribution, all coordinated by Program Specialist Leslee Loop.

Future plans were outlined, including more community education events and outreach to greater Koochiching County.