50+ Lifestyles

The Impact of Caregiving

By Peggy Dykes
Community Relations Director
Milestone’s Area Agency on Aging

More and more families and individuals are providing occasional or daily care for an aging parent, an ill spouse or disabled friend. Many manage by helping out with a few things, but it becomes challenging when called upon to solve complex issues or provide hands-on support for medical and personal care. It can affect family life, job performance and the personal health of the caregiver. Nearly one in four households are involved in providing physical and emotional assistance to older relatives and friends.

Increasing life spans with better management of chronic health conditions, shorter hospital stays, insurance restrictions and fewer homecare services have increased caregiving responsibilities. Family caregivers are taking on greater obligations for longer periods of time. Increased responsibilities can result in major health complications for the caregiver including high levels of stress and poor physical health. In addition, most family caregivers are not prepared to be caregivers and provide care with little or no support.

The Quad City Family Caregiver Conference was created eight years ago to provide a gateway to caregiving information. It will be held at a new venue this year on Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Rogalski Center, St. Ambrose University Campus at 2100 N. Ripley, Davenport, IA. Parking is accessible by entering from Lombard Street.

Speakers will begin at 9 a.m. with “insights on aging” and at 10:30 a.m. with a discussion on “listening to what matters”. A variety of exhibitors will showcase their services available to both Iowa and Illinois caregivers and the individuals they are caring for. The conference is brought to you by Milestones Area Agency on Aging (AAA), St. Ambrose University, Western Illinois AAA and the Alzheimer’s Association who will all be on hand to answer questions and guide you through the maze of caregiving issues.

It’s FREE and pre-reservations are not necessary. Light refreshments will be provided and participants can enter drawings for door prizes. If you have questions, please call Peggy at Milestones (563) 484-3147.

Peggy Dykes is Community Relations Director at Milestones Area Agency on Aging. She can be reached at (563) 484-3147, ext. 212 or at pdykes@milestones aaa.org.